I was 5 years old, so memory is not exact of that time, but it seems to me that Mae McGalliard played the organ to give sound to the movies being shown in the Opera House. I realize now that is not true, but I did go with my mother and father and stand on the seat next to grandma. I didn't know it then, but Herman Wagner was the projectionist.
Mancos Times, Aug. 4, 1939
The 115-day drought was broken last Friday morning when the rain came down in torrents. Almost an inch of moisture fell that day. The last rainfall was April 3.
There will be a dance at Community Hall with Monte LaFrance and his swing band, Friday, August 4 - admission 75 cents. (I have no idea where that hall was located but more than likely it was the Opera House.)
James Smith, J. Lewis Halls, Vosco Burnham and James Goff drove to Kirtland Sunday to attend stake priesthood meeting. (James Smith married Mary Jane Ellis, my grandfather's sister, in 1885. He lived on the land he homesteaded for 64 years and passed away in 1952. Vosco Burnham married Myrtle Fielding in 1914. He served on the Red Mesa school board for 17 years. He was the father of Ellen Burnham Paquin and passed away in 1963. Lewis Halls married Vida Burnham in 1906. They had one daughter, Grace Halls. he passed away in 1974. James Goff was the Mancos ward bishop but passed away in Cortez in 1981.
The last of the water in the Mormon reservoir will be drained out this week. What a blessing it would be if it were ten times larger.
The Sunshine workers met at Lew Willden's home last Thursday - Leonard Willden cub reporter. (Lewis Willden married Elsie Baker in 1925. He farmed in the Woody Albion area and drove the school bus to Mancos for 22 years. He passed away in 1970. Leonard passed away in 1985.)
Sam Roessler was over from Tacoma, north of Durango, for a short stay with home folks. (Except for the years Sam spent in the Army during WWII, he spent his life in Mancos and passed away in 1974.)
A broken main in the town waterworks system caused a flood in the basement of the post office on Monday morning.
Dorothy Mauler arrived home from Washington for a month's vacation from her duties at the nation's capitol. (She was a daughter of George and Betty Mauler. George died in a tractor rollover accident in October 1967.)
Showing at the Mancos theater Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will be "Men with Wings", a feature film in Technicolor and starring Fred McMurray and Andy Devine.
District attorney James M. Noland has reported that he has filed charges of murder against Joe Trujillo who shot and killed Filomena Roriquez.
The unexpected death of Albert (Bert) Brown occurred last Sunday morning. He was a life long member of the Episcopal church and was a member of Mancos Lodge #100 AF&AM.
Little Jerry Lynn Nelson, 7 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Nelson, died at a Durango hospital last Sunday. (She was a daughter of Harold Nelson and Lily Dean.)
Little Misses Nadine Gibbs and Elaine Pickens celebrated birthdays jointly at the Gibb's ranch home. Nadine was a daughter of Roger and Ada Gibbs. Charles Pickens was Elaine's uncle.)
Harry Reid smashed his finger badly while loading rocks. (Harry was a son of Manson and Minnie Weston Reid.)
Darrel Ellis is a longtime historian of the Mancos Valley. Email him at dnrls@q.com.