100 years ago: The “city dads” held their scheduled meeting, and “had a little gabfest.” They reviewed and rejected the petition of Jake Aranow, who wanted to move a tin shack “up next door to the Wheeze.”
75 years ago: A statement given by Joseph B. Eastman, head of the office of defense transportation, said that the government requested people stay home over Labor Day weekend. He claimed that, “if rail and bus travel rises to a higher peak, present discomforts would become serious transportation jams, particularly in the east and south.”
50 years ago: The funeral of 16-year-old Thomas Halley, who died following a football practice injury, was held at St. Columba Catholic Church. The tragedy resulted in “one of the biggest funerals” that Durango residents could remember.
25 years ago: Residents of Silverton were furious after the owners of the long-abandoned Unity Mine used a helicopter to remove old ore cars from the location. Those living in Silverton felt the artifacts were important to the region’s heritage and should be left alone at the historical site.
Most items in this column are taken from The Durango Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.
