100 years ago: “The boys at the firehouse are trying to devise some way of expressing their sincere thanks to Percy Cram, who on Christmas morning sent them a fine, large candy box, which when opened was found to be full of coal. They are hoping that he catches fire some day, so they can turn a stream of fire hose in his right eye by way of pleasurable reciprocation. Firemen can’t eat coal – they live on ice cream, mango pie and Lobster a la Newburg.”

75 years ago: “Another small remittance of Finnish relief funds goes forward from Durango to the New York headquarters. The total collected so far by The Herald-Democrat is but $40, but every dime of the $40 will reach Finland and be used for its purpose without expense deductions.”

50 years ago: “Seventeen slides ran on the south side of Red Mountain and Molas passes, and highway crews worked all night to move 13 cars and a Trailways bus to safety in Durango. Wolf Creek Pass, too, was closed as slides ran. Motorists drove to and from Durango by way of Española, New Mexico.”

25 years ago: “Police reminded some youngsters that the only snow in town is off-limits for sledding. Chapman Hill, where snowmaking machines have piled up some snow at the base, has been closed since Christmas Day. As the machine-made snow gets higher on the ski hill, it becomes increasingly dangerous for sledding an tubing.”

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