Pages past — Dec. 20

On this date …link

1973: Skippy Hawkins, 15, of Clovis, died while playing on a frozen Greene Acres Lake. A nearby gas station attendant saw the ice break and ran to help the struggling boy, breaking ice himself as he tried to reach him. Don Loring’s legs were badly bruised from the ordeal, but he was unable to save the teen from drowning.

1970: Someone police described as the “meanest thief” broke into B.L. Wilson’s Clovis home at 308 Cactus. Police said the thief opened every package under the family Christmas tree. Wilson, whose family was not home at the time, said he was not sure what had been taken.

1862: Washington Ellsworth Lindsey was born in Belmont County, Ohio. He moved to New Mexico Territory in 1900, settling in Portales where he opened a law office. Lindsey and John Brown Sledge formed the Portales Townsite Co. and sold lots from 1902 to 1911, according to the New Mexico office of the state historian. Lindsey became Portales’ first mayor and was New Mexico’s third governor. The statue outside the Roosevelt County Courthouse honors Lindsey, who is buried in the Portales cemetery.

Something different …

1970: The Treasure Chest, at 117 W. Fourth St. in Clovis, “across from the old post office,” was open just in time for Christmas. The store advertised “beautiful candles” from Austria, in-laid wood works and Venetian glass from Italy and Edinburgh full lead crystal from Scotland.

Nice clothes …

1952: Jack Holt the Clothier, at 304 Main, offered Knox & Stetson hats, Hart Schaffner & Marx top coats and McGregor sweaters and sports shirts. There was no charge for gift wrapping.