100 years ago: Platform men on the Rio Grande received good word from the railroad office that their pay would be increased from 16 cents an hour to 18 cents an hour.

75 years ago: War relocation board officials conducted an inspection tour of “Ute Indian lands” south of Ignacio to find an area for a reception center to accommodate American-born Japanese citizens who were being evacuated from the West Coast.

50 years ago: The winner of the 1967 Navajo Trail Fiesta Queen contest would be announced at La Plata County Fairgrounds. Girls had to be 18-22 years old, single and residents of La Plata County to enter the contest, and judges evaluated the contestants according to personality, appearance and horsemanship.

25 years ago: A 10-year-old boy was seen smoking marijuana in Golden West Trailer Park. He claimed to have received the contraband from a girl in the neighborhood.

Most items in this column are taken from The Durango Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.