75 Years Ago: “City commissioners accepted a $6,000 fire truck last night. The 105 horsepower engine showed tremendous power. The machine will raise Durango’s fire department to first class standing among Colorado cities.”

50 YEARS AGO: “It isn’t unusual to have 90-degree temperatures during July and into August. But we feel the heat more this year because there has been so little cloud cover and so few showers. So far this year there has been only 4.76 inches of moisture, compared to 12.33 inches for the same date last year.”

25 YEARS AGO: A softball team “the Edge” allegedly threatened an official after a disputed call during a game at the Fort Lewis College fields. Police contacted ballplayers, and officials “escaped unscathed.”

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