100 years ago: “Arthur Chapman, the talented special writer for The Denver Times who has been in this city and vicinity for several days gathering data for a mining and general article on the section, is so impressed with the Durango Exchange as an institution of almost illimitable opportunities for upbuilding the San Juan Basin that he had a flashlight picture taken of the Exchange rooms, ladies rest room and bowling alley.”

75 years ago: “A colorful pageant was enacted Friday at Smiley Junior High School when pupils of First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth grades of Durango presented their annual Spring Song Festival.”

50 years ago: “Plans for projected improvements in Durango’s sewer system will be started tonight at a meeting of the Planning Commission which will get under way at 7:30 in City Hall. N.P. Parks, secretary of the commission, said that other items on tonight’s agenda include a discussion of revision of the sign ordinance and ways of arriving at a name for the new West Side Park.”

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