A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, accompanied by a rumble of thunder somewhere in the distance. Gently falling rain pitter-pattered against the front window of the truck as it toodled along the road. A family of five was crowded, sardine-like in the cab of the truck. The truck…
Posts published in “Veltri’s Vault”
The late Byron Nelson, popularly considered one of the greatest professional golfers of all time, and his wife Peggy, were positively delighted with their painting by artist Milbie Benge. The huge 30” x 40” oil painting, displayed on a bedroom wall of their Texas ranch, was a landscape of a…
By Pat Veltri A flatbed trailer hitched to a pickup truck is parked in front of the Presbyterian Church. The trailer is loaded with dozens of boxes of non-perishable food items. A couple of volunteers unload the trailer with the easy efficiency that comes with experience at the job. The…
Surrounded by the vestiges of a recent snow storm, Burrlll and Windy, decked out in holiday finery, stand sentinel-like near the entryway of Flowerland Floral. Becoming popularly known in Raton as the Snow Couple, Burrlll and Windy are in their third year on the job as sort of unofficial ambassadors…
Featured Image: Artist’s rendition of the prehistoric kill site, part of the Folsom Man exhibit at the Folsom Museum. (Photo by Jim Veltri) The Carl Schwachheim Story By Pat Veltri In memory of Thomas (Tom) Burch, who diligently worked towards establishing acknowledgement of his uncle Carl’s contribution to one of American…
Picture this scene. The Hotel Yucca, Raton, New Mexico, sometime in the 1930s. As the story goes…several immigrants had earned citizenship status and a celebratory banquet was being held in their honor. The Master of Ceremonies was posing questions to the audience, giving Raton’s newest citizens the opportunity to show…
In memory of Lina Giampietri Cash who had the foresight to collect and compile photos, news articles, and memorabilia of events, places, and people, ensuring the preservation of a good deal of Raton’s history for future generations. Coming from a notoriously athletic family, John F. Kennedy was concerned about the…
At the hillside home of Raton resident Mary Lou Pavlich an outdoor lighted Christmas nativity reminds passersby of the real reason for Christmas, while an invitation inside her home garners visitors a look at one of the most unique collections in the community – hundreds upon hundreds of nativity…
By Pat Veltri For several decades, from 1971 to 2010, Ratonians were the recipients of a delightful homemade Christmas card, in the form of an animated display featuring Santa and his reindeer traveling across the sky over a small town with snow-covered homes and businesses, – a virtual winter wonderland.…
By Pat Veltri Sad and lonely, deserted and abandoned, and mostly empty it has stood alongside the railroad tracks in Las Vegas, New Mexico for decades – a reversion to when train travel opened up tourism in the Southwest. The La Castaneda Hotel, situated along the former Atchison, Topeka,…