100 years ago: “S.E. Land, assistant superintendent of the state fish hatcheries, went up to Electra lakes with the final consignment of 250,000 fry for the new retaining pond.”

75 years ago: “The chemistry department of Durango High School has been approved and designated as an official chemical analysis laboratory for the purpose of testing samples of fruit to determine their amount of spray residence.”

50 years ago: “Narrow gauge train riders, some hardy ones today, found three to four inches of slushy snow on the ground when the train arrived in Silverton.”

25 years ago: “La Plata County will no longer accept liability for poorly placed rural mailboxes and newspaper delivery boxes under a new rule adopted by the commissioners. The purpose of the regulations is to protect the safety of the traveling public and to allow proper function, maintenance or operation of highway system, such as easy passage for snowplows. Mailboxes throughout the county are mounted on odd objects such as wagon wheels, antlers and plow parts that could cut off the head of a car passenger in a collision.”

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