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Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

On Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, the Old Hurley Store, owned by Don and Becky Spann, hosted the annual Pumpkin Patch. The event featured plenty of pumpkins to choose from. The price of admission was three cans of food for the Gospel Mission for each pumpkin. Families came to pick out their pumpkins.

Because an annual eclipse of the sun was passing through the U.S. and on south to South America, Jay Goats of the Pinos Altos Volunteer Fire Department was on hand with welding helmets to allow children and adults alike to take a look at the partial eclipse seen in Grant County. He also said the design and plans are completed for a new fire substation in Dos Griegos on North Swan Street. "We are recruiting for about 15 volunteers to man the station once it gets built. It will provide a station closer to the area than the station at Pinos Altos."

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The exciting event for many was looking at the partial eclipse through a welding helmet. Odessey Ramirez uses the helmet

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From left are Aaliyah Cordova, Mary Moreno, Amariyah Ramirez, Josiah, Ramirez, Stephie Ramirez and Odessey Ramirez with their pumpkins.

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Jubilee Cline picks out her pumpkin

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Jubilee with Sophia and Nevaeh Subia with their pumpkins

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Nellie, Joseph and Abby Grijalva in the pumpkin patch

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Jared Peña and Nellie Grijalva in the shady side of the pumpkin patch

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Half of the pumpkin patch was in the sun

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Ella Marquez and Sophia Tustin in their Halloween costumes

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Mairi Cronin, 3, trying her hand at "bowling" with a big plastic ball

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Ella tries her hand at throwing the rings over the cones

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Hurley Police Department Officer Delilah Chavez and Chief Chris McGuiness watch the activities

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Anthony Jimenez scores a bullseye

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Jubilee created a Halloween sticker decoration

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Officer Chavez sends the ball toward the target

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Chief McGuinness competes with Officer Chavez

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Lydia Lent walks very carefully on the gravel

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A horse and buggy took people for rides around town.

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Kid's activities and vendors kept people busy

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Kids lined up

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Inside the Old Hurley Store, Lonnie Nolan shows off his miniature train set up

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The train goes by

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Everett Marshall concentrates on having three trains going on different tracks at the same time

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Old Hurley Store co-owner Don Spann shows off his train set up.

In addition to pumpkins, lots of games were available for not only kids, but also adults. Vendors sold various items and a horse and buggy took people for rides around town. Inside the Old Hurley Store, three miniature train enthusiasts had their trains running through the miniature environments each has created. Also on display inside the store is art work from various local artists.