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1957: City To Change Ordinance on 3.2 Beer Law

In celebrating the 125th anniversary of The Aspen Times, we are printing a story or two from each year the newspaper has existed – 125 historical selections in 125 days. This series is in conjunction with the Aspen Historical Society.City To Change Ordinance on 3.2 Beer LawEstablishments serving 3.2 beer will no longer be required to close at 8 p.m. Sunday night, it was decided last Monday by the City Council at its regular meeting.The decision was made following a discussion of the 1936 ordinance which had established the early closing time at the request of a tavern owner who felt that late Sunday hours would result in rowdy behavior by his customers.Named Ordinance B-29, Series 1936, the measure had tightened the existing state law which allowed 3.2 establishments to remain open until midnight on Sunday.Action by the City Council came at the request of the newly licensed Heidelberg. Owners of the new pizza establishment pointed out that the original reason for the ordinance was no longer valid.To activate its decision, the City Council decided to repeal Ordinance B-29. This will be done at the next council meeting when the proper legal documents are drawn by the City Attorney.Still in effect superseding the state liquor requirements is a city ordinance setting the age limit at 21 for persons being served either 3.2 beer or beverages of greater alcoholic content. (Jan. 10)

After an eight-day shut-down, Aspen’s renowned big lift began its infinite trundling again yesterday about noon.The costly breakdown occurred Tuesday, March 12, when a vital pinion gear at the top of the first section of the world’s longest chairlift snapped a tooth.Three weeks before, the same thing had happened necessitating use of a once-repaired reserve gear. It was the reserve gear which broke last week.Big lift operations were brought to a complete halt while the Aspen Ski Corporation awaited arrival of a new gear from a Philadelphia plant.According to Corporation directors, the new gear was ordered immediately after the first breakdown.After an unexpected stopover in Chicago, the vital part arrived in Aspen Tuesday night and was installed early Wednesday.During the shutdown, skiers were forced to hike up Spar Gulch from the top of the Little Nell lift to the bottom of the double chairlift.A “snow cat” was pressed into service last Thursday to assist the climbers.Informed sources estimate the total loss in business income throughout Aspen during the shutdown at roughly $1 million. (March 21)