100 years ago: An advertisement read: “We have at Durango a high grade piano, which we will sell cheap on payments to a responsible party. If you contemplate buying a piano, write the Denver Music Co. at Denver at once for particulars.”
75 years ago: “A bottled gas range was sold to Lyle DeGruch of Silverton by the Nelson Furniture Company. While bottled gas is something most house holders are doubtless familiar with, this reporter had never encountered the substance before. As explained by Jim Russell and Glenn Nelson, the gas is forced into drums at a low temperature and under considerable pressure. The drums are then attached to the stove, and breakfast is on the way.”
50 years ago: “Crews are expected to finish work on putting up the Main Avenue Christmas decorations in preparation for the official Christmas opening. ... Mike Valentine, chamber manger, says some new Main Avenue decorations have been added this year. The old heavy silver stars have been replaced with smaller red plastic five-pointed stars which he says are ‘lighter, more decorative and more uniform.’”
25 years ago: “Durango High School dropouts may have another opportunity to finish school if School District 9-R develops a Second Chance Center scheduled to open next September. Under the tentative plan, dropouts aged 16 to 21 may enroll in the center to earn enough credits for their GEDs or high school diplomas depending on the guidelines the district establishes for the program.”
Most items in this column are taken from Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.
