100 years ago: “And one less – this from Pagosa Springs Era: A male gray wolf 27 inches tall and measuring 5 feet 5 inches from tip to tip was killed on the West and Hott ranch by Bill South, who on horseback, outran and killed the varmint with his six-shooter. Another wolf escaped by running in an opposite direction. Heretofore there was supposedly only one wolf in the section.”
75 years ago:“Ladies of the United Methodist Aid were guest of Mrs. M. B. Stone at Electra Lake. A boat ride in the cool morning hours was keenly enjoyed by all, as was a delicious potluck dinner.”
50 years ago: “The Basin may have quite a few frost-free nights yet if 1963 follows the trend of a year in the 1930’s. W.W. (Billy) Davies, Durango’s veteran weather observer, can’t remember exactly which year in the 1930’s it was, but one year during that decade Durango’s first frost of the autumn fell on Oct. 15, ‘Everything ripened up real well,’ Davies says, ‘just as it is this year. I got a batch of string beans out of the garden the other day. That’s quite unusual for this time of year.’ Usually Durango experiences its first real frost between Sept. 15 and 20.”
25 years ago: “A Los Angeles filmmaker is trying to break the stereotype of motorcycle riders while promoting Southwest Colorado in a new video. Peter Starr and a film crew from Colorado spent five days in the region last week to film a motorcycle ride from Durango to Silverton, Ouray and Telluride. The 60-minute video could be a blockbuster for local tourism. If the video, expected to be marketed by Christmas at $9.95, sells well, it could introduce millions of potential tourists to Southwest Colorado. ... Riders participating in the ride included famous race car drivers Bobby Unser and Wally Dallenback and CHiPS television star Bruce Pehnhall.”
Most items in this column are taken from Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not have been verified.
