50 YEARS AGO: “Meet the candidates: Avis Harris, Democrat, is running against William Poer, Republican, for La Plata County Assessor. Poer was born and raised in Texas and moved to Durango in 1943, where he operated the Piggly Wiggly grocery store, a clothing store, and the Durango Western Auto Store. He has had no business failures. Mrs. Harris attended Fort Lewis College, has been La Plata County Assessor since 1965, and served for 12 years prior in that office. While she has been Assessor, the assessed valuation of La Plata County has increased from $26 million to $44 million.”
25 YEARS AGO: “Major land trade to aid development at Purgatory resort: Durango Ski Corporation and the U.S. Forest Service have completed a $2.5 million land exchange hailed by public officials and environmentalists. The exchange allows the ski area to focus development plans along the highway corridor, while helping the Forest Service preserve and protect new wildlife habitat, such as elk wintering grounds on Big Springs and a unique trout stream in Hermosa Park.”
Most items in this column are taken from The Durango Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and the Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.
