Pages past — Jan. 11

On this date ...

1975: A Clovis man suffered two broken legs and multiple facial lacerations in a farm accident four miles north of Farwell. Manuel Martinez, 43, of 404 Johnson St., was crushed between a pickup and combine while picking corn, witnesses said. He was rushed to Memorial Hospital in Clovis by Farwell ambulance driver Smokey Gast.

1965: About 200 people attended the annual Melrose Chamber of Commerce Banquet. Mayor C.B. Myers was name citizen of the year and praised as “the man behind the progress of Melrose.” Clovis Chamber of Commerce Manager Bob Spencer was the guest speaker, telling the community that most Clovis residents supported Melrose efforts to fight off school consolidation proposals. “We think the folks in Melrose know better what the Melrose schools needs are than anyone else,” he said.

1955: Seven graves, exactly seven feet apart, had been discovered in Tucumcari along U.S. 66. Bones believed to be human and animal were discovered about two feet underground as workers prepared to build a cafe. Officials said there were no “legal burials” at the location. Some of the bones were sent to an anthropologist in Santa Fe to try and determine their age.

Sounds of faith ...

1973: Hy-Tones Music Studios at 1614 Main in Clovis was “Your sacred music center,” offering sheet music, tapes and records, according to an advertisement on the Clovis News-Journal’s church page.

Thank goodness for that ...

1948: A newspaper ad claimed a medical test had “proved” Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound was a “great way to relieve ‘periodic’ female pains.” A spokeswoman declared, “It’s grand, girls!”

Pages Past is compiled by Editor David Stevens. Contact him at:

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