Pages Past— March 18

On this date ...

March 16, 1970: Kenneth Schlientz was re-elected Tucumcari mayor at the reorganization meeting of the City Commission. Tommy Thomas was selected mayor pro-tem.

March 13, 1960: Two Oklahoma men and a 17-year-old Missouri boy were in Quay County’s jail after being arrested at a roadblock east of Tucumcari. The roadblock was established after police in Vega, Texas, reported three men had left a filling station without paying for gas. The station attendant told police the men had at least two guns in their car.

March 17, 1960: Congress Bowl announced it was building a 12-lane alley on West Gaynell in Tucumcari. Construction was scheduled to be complete in late August. The bowling alley would be equipped with automatic pin setters and a snack bar, builder Henry Schupp said.

March 13, 1940: Health Department officials said measles in Tucumcari had spread to “epidemic proportions,” the Tucumcari Daily News reported. Most of the 25 cases reported so far were among children at the Four Points school, officials said.

Their business ...

March 13, 1940: Brewer Barber Shop announced in a newspaper ad that Joe Burton had located in the shop and was welcoming all of his patrons. The barber shop also announced Louis Williams, formerly of the Rex Barber Shop, was now in charge of Brewer’s double shoe-shine stand.

March 18, 1955: Penney’s was hosting Ladies Day with “traffic-stopping bargains.” Sales included men’s “genuine” fur felt hats for $2, men’s all wool suits for $25 and ladies’ nylon fleece short coats for $12.

Transitions ...

March 15, 1960: John Travis Snider, 82, a pioneer farmer from McAlister, died in his son’s home near McAlister. Snider came to the community in February 1907 and had operated his farm and ranch continuously since then.

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. Contact him at: [email protected]