And the West is History: First annual Huck Finn Day participants – 1955

In 1955, with the completion of “Huck Finn” pond by the Durango VFW and local sportsmen, the annual “Huck Finn Day” in Durango began. The pond was stocked with fish from the adjacent fish hatchery, and children 14 years old and younger were invited to participate and requested to dress as author Mark Twain characters, Huck Finn or Becky Thatcher. Only homemade fishing poles with no reels or artificial lures could be used. Prizes were given for best costume as well as first, largest, smallest and most fish caught. Business sponsors were The Durango Herald, Gardenswartz Sports and Coca-Cola. The event was held yearly at this pond for 12 consecutive years until 1967. – Ed Horvat for Animas Museum, edhorvat@animasmuseum.org (Catalog Number: 92.06.1.30.20 from the La Plata County Historical Society Photo Collections)