50 Years Ago: More than 100 housewives and a scattering of husbands met Wednesday evening in St. Mark’s hall in an orderly and dignified manner to discuss the cost of groceries in Durango. The abolishment of trading stamps, and games, and suggesting that the big markets close on Sundays were some of the ways presented to cut down the cost in Durango. A “Picket The White House With Letters” campaign on a national level was suggested to help curb inflation.

25 years ago: Picture an attic workshop right out of Charles Dickens, but with fluorescent lights instead of candles, and crates of leather and shelves of wooden and fiberglass shoe forms instead of account books and ledgers. It is the shop of Gary Anglin, 44, a Wilford Brimley sort of man. Anglin, who lives in Durango, is one of a group of craftsmen that has all but vanished two decades ago but is on the way back – the American bootmaker.

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