100 years ago: “Charles Griffith, of the Florida Mesa, motored into town over roads that he declared were dangerous for a man on horseback. He says had the highways been dragged they would have been in good shape now, but as it is they are rotten.”

75 years ago: “County Treasurer Tom Mason received a check for $65,558.08 for the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad as payment in full of 1939 taxes in La Plata County. This was the first time in recent years that the Rio Grande has paid its taxes for the year in one payment.”

50 years ago: “Work on the Main Avenue bridge is moving full speed ahead despite some handicaps presented by recent weather, and it is now possible to get a good idea of what the grade will be from 15th Street to 17th Street when the project is completed. After considerable work last fall and some more the past few days on the side of the bridge, Peter Kiewit and Sons Construction Co., now has the traffic routed down each side while the center portion of the bridge is filled. The bridge is being widened 20 feet on each side and will be able to accommodate six lanes of traffic when completed instead of the four as in the past.”

25 years ago: “Durango river runners, buoyed by spring showers, are expecting an improved season on the Animas River. ... The Animas River was fluctuating between about 575 cubic feet per second and 650 cfs this week – enough water to raft and kayak successfully.”

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