100 years ago: “Painters – men and women – who can sling a paint brush, either on a barn or on a noble brow and eye lashes, are wanted by Goodman & Company, who will pay 4 and 5 bones each for such as they select. They have a lot of work and no painters. That is, no real scenic landscape artists.”

75 years ago: “Mesa Verde and all other national parks are threatened with what practically amounts to a shutdown. The U.S. Bureau of the Budget has recommended drastic reduction in appropriations of money for the maintenance of national parks. The reason for the recommendation is that the national defense program must come first – and reducing the money allotted to national parks would be one item of alleged ‘economy.’”

50 years ago: “More than 2,500 persons waded into hundreds of pounds of barbecued beef as the Arboles Recreation area held its second celebration. With water backed up into Navajo Lake well up the Piedra and San Juan rivers, a boat race opened the day’s festivities.”

25 years ago: “A marked increase in lift ticket prices at Purgatory Ski Area is just a sign of the times and not related to any financial difficulties, area officials said. An adult all-day lift ticket will cost $34 this year, compared to $30 a year ago, while an all-day children’s ticket is $17, up $3 over last year.”

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