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Show There was once a cafe but Around The Hat mm by Doris Valle When I crawled out of the corner where I have been confined with my word processor and a lengthy writing project, I went out to look at Mexican Hat before I tried to once again begin writing Around the Hat. Someone asked me recently if this village has changed in the 20 years Ive been here. I asked myself that question as I drove down and then up the street again. The answer is no. For the most part, only the names of the people living here are different. Starting at the north end of town, the owner of Valles Trading Post is still listed as Doris Valle. There are times when I think that the buildings, like their owner, are showing signs of age. Valles nearest neighbor is the Black Oil Company Texaco Station. The station now has a side room with tables and convenience store items for sale, under the management of Lenora Lameman. Across the street, Clint and Joy Howell have turned the Mexican Hat Service Station into accommodations for people. Nothing is available for cars. At one time Ron Bigg ran a bar next to the Howells house. However, it burned down and was rebuilt as the Canyonlands Lounge, which turned into the Top of the Hat Bar under the direction of Vonnie and Bob Mueller, and is now the Mexican Hat Lodge. Spring Clean-U- p Sale Through 43095 'requires contract at present people are fed steaks outside if it is barbecue weather. The small low building manned by Steve Keller is different now only because it once contained washing machines and now houses post office boxes. It is still 1950s uranium boom deco, Keller said. What else has changed I asked. around town? Well, Layne Middelton Burand sells magazine advertising in the office here. And someone broke the wall at Mendenhall. Next to the post office, Juanita Denny is running the Canyonlands Motel, which she leases from Oscar Eneboe who bought it from Opal Kleppe. Are you running it I asked. alone? Ill show you my business card, Juanita said. Her partner is Nona Denny, the prettiest girl in town according to her mother. I saw a picture of brown-eye- d d the girl and agreed. Im sure she is an excellent partner, even though she is only six years old. Across the road from the Canyonlands, Myron Feree once built a trading post which was then bought by Tom and Kay Knight. The current listed owner is Susie Burch. The business presently operated by Phil Burch takes up considerably more space than it once dark-haire- did. adjoining restauwhich was known as rant, the Desert Queen 20 years ago, is all part of the same complex. Valley of the Gods Inn is on the sign by the motel but it is listed in the phone book as Burchs Trading Company and motel. The only Valley of the Gods listing is the Bed and Breakfast, which is in actual fact in the Valley of the Gods, not in Mexican Hat. For a time the management of Burchs included The E longer in residence. The San Juan Inn has been at the south end of Mexican Hat since Grace and Ray Hunt put up a tent beside the river and began to sell things. Ray and Grace left and Jim Hunt took over until his death when Bill Davis became ownermanager of the complex. It kept growing from a small store to a larger trading post and motel with dining room. Mark and Julie Sword took over from Davis and the San Juan Inn has just undergone another modernization process. Starting from the inside out, the San Juan Inn has a new kitchen, bar, and restrooms. With Marks brother Mike Tonge as manager, the Inn is the only business in town to move into 1995. Only two things havent changed at that end of town. The river goes up and down but it is still the same old muddy San Juan. The cliff, which is about 100 feet above the Inns parking lot, still stands firm despite many efforts by motor vehicles to shatter its calm. Drivers often disregard the warning at the top of the long hill leading toward the river bridge and fail to navigate the sharp turn success- pitcher. The cliff stands tall and e firm. Those contraptions of metal and glass which challenged it have all been towed away. From 1975 to 1995, little has changed Around the man-mad- Hat. If you had lived in the years z pz r Q. iz pz $69.95 and higher plans: Double minutes first full month oc Q. jz pz QC 0. I! 0z p z Q. 1 Z be- tween 7,000 and 3,000 B.C., your life span would have been fifteen at the annual Soapys Easter Egg Hunt. Despite the Easter Bunnys best efforts, the prizes were claimed in no time at all. Approximately 200 kids participated in the event at Pioneer Park. Cindy Barnett photo It is years. a free-for-a- i z MENUS BUSINESS CARDS FLYERS BUSINESS FORMS LETTERHEAD STATIONERY ENVELOPES POSTERS BROCHURES T FORMS NCR BUSINESS FORMS SNAP-APAR- ix FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE 90 Now Open in DOVE CREEK Z z ? Dr. Bill Mollenkopf X 90 z z e X X z z 'Em Your Design or Ours are oryou2 z z e X X P a iz - LOOK LIKE BEFORE THE INK HITS THE PAPER SEE WHAT FINISHED PRODUCT WILL tilliliiyitiyilfiHiail1 THE SAN JUAN RECORD 937 E Hwy 666 Box 879 801-587-22- 77 Monticello, UT 84535 f X X Family Optometry Disease of the Eye Contact Lenses f X X Personalized Service ll 1 get your printing done s0. s Cindy Barnett photo the pitcher hits the stone, its going to be bad for the The San Juan Record is the place to on the possible location of hidden eggs, candy, and prizes. fully. As the man says in Man whether of La Mancha the stone hits the pitcher or r z THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday April 19, 1995 - Page 5 Chuck Burand, but he is no Optical Shop Call today for a convenient appointment 303-677-41- 41 in Utah Located at 450 West Hwy 666 DOVE CREEK COLORADO |