100 years ago: “Relax ... go by train, the easy, economical way, via Rio Grande. One fare for the round trip, first class or coach, with the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad.”

75 YEARS AGO: “Tough luck, Jimmy, that you have to give up those summer pleasures. But of course you’re glad you can go to school in a free country like the United States, and in a fine city like Durango. And your education isn’t complete without a familiarity of America’s free press – with your newspaper, the Durango Herald-Democrat.”

50 YEARS AGO: “Chalk up big savings with these back-to-school buys: Salisbury steaks 69 cents/pound, Cornish game hens 75 cents each, peaches 79 cents for six pounds, margarine 25 cents/pound.”

25 YEARS AGO: “What do Pop Korn the Clown, the Durango Area Diplomats, and the employees of Western Gas Supply have in common? They have all taken positive steps to help the environment by participating in the Adopt-a-Highway program, along with about 100 other local groups.”

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.