1951
8/24/51 In what was described as “one of the biggest real estate transactions made in Ruidoso in several years,” the Navajo Lodge was sold to Carl DeBord. The lodge was started in 1924 by Edith and Bob Boyce as a small cabin operation. Other buildings were added, including a dining hall and a three-story adobe hotel. For decades, nearly every important event in Ruidoso was held there. DeBord’s first event after the sale was Herb Greggerson’s square dancing school, attended by 72 people.
The Ruidoso Business and Professional Women’s Club began a drive to install markers on Ruidoso streets and houses, asking businesses and residents to pay one or two dollars. Their goal was to install 500 markers.
1976
8/19/76 Filming was scheduled to begin on the Columbia Pictures film “Casey’s Shadow.” Crews would be filming at the Ruidoso Downs Race Track over Labor Day weekend. The film starred Walter Matthau who plays a Cajun horse trainer. He and the long shot horse Casey’s Shadow overcome obstacles and go on to win the All-American Futurity. Filming would continue during September at other locations like the Coe ranch and the ski area. About 90 actors and technicians and several 100 local extras were expected to be involved.
8/12/76 Construction began on six miles of gravel road leading to 900 acres in the Camelot development. The development included 77 tracts of land and plans for 96 condominiums and the Good Samaritan Nursing Home.
2001
8/3/01 The 1916 American LaFrance fire truck returned to Fort Stanton after spending nearly two years in northern New Mexico. State Fire Marshall George Chavez had removed the vehicle from a dilapidated building at the fort during a time when the future of Fort Stanton was in question. It had been stored in the small town of Ponderosa, in the Jemez Mountains.
Dick Weber, president of Fort Stanton, Inc., said that over the years a lot of memorabilia had disappeared from the fort, and that they had started their efforts to bring things back with “the biggest item.” The Pine Top Car Club planned to restore the vehicle, and Weber hoped it would be ready for the Aspenfest parade in early October.