100 years ago: An advertisement read: “Follow the crowd – visit the Oriental Bar. Durango’s finest resort for ‘men only.’ Something doing all the time. Try our dutch lunches – Draught beer, large glass, 10 cents. First class service – mail orders given prompt attention.”
75 years ago: “After handling the establishment and operation of the Rio Grande Motorway for the past 23 years, Victor DeMerschman has announced his retirement from the company as president and general manager, having sold his interest to the D&RGW which has owned 80 percent of the stock since 1926.”
50 years ago: “The old apartment house on the west side of Main Avenue just south of the bridge across the Animas River is being demolished. The house, with six apartments, and the adjoining land are owned by John W. Turner II and Sam Di Ferdinando. The apartment house, probably built before the turn of the century, was known for many years as the Katy Porter property.”
25 years ago: “Durango has been recommended to be the site of the unified 1990 World Mountain Bike Championships by the staff of the National Off Road Bicycle Association and the U.S. Cycling Federation. The recommendation will be presented to the USCF board of directors at a meeting Sept. 23 in Los Angeles, and final approval of Durango is expected to come Sept. 28 in Brussels, Belgium, at a meeting of the Union Cycliste International, the world governing body of cycling.”
Most items in this column are taken from Herald archives, Center of Southwest Studies and Animas Museum. Their accuracy may not be verified.
