100 years ago: “Good road is the west side drive from Durango to Hermosa – automobiles pronounce it a boulevard, except as to some few short turns necessitated by near approach of irrigating ditch to the road.”
75 years ago: “Construction of the $3 million Vallecito dam just below the junction of the Vallecito and Pine rivers, north of Bayfield, is preceding rapidly. Contractor Martin Wunderlich’s earth moving and laying crews are several months ahead of schedule, although in concrete work is lagging behind.”
50 years ago: “Pat Rodman of Levine’s knows something at least one other Durangoan doesn’t. A week ago he made a bet with Herald Adman Lloyd Gladson that it would snow on May 5. And it didn’t take a crystal ball this morning to know that it did. Gladson says he’ll pay off on the ‘first warm day.’ Maybe he knows something, too.”
25 years ago: “Engine No. 497 took its test run up Animas Canyon near Tall Timber Resort in preparation for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge railroad’s opening day. Engine No. 476 will join 497 in pulling two 10 car trains to Silverton.
Most items in this column are taken from Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.
