100 years ago: “Durango smelter men are jubilant. A decision was reached by the company to increase their wages 15 cents a day, thereby making them the highest paid smelter employees in the state. The lowest wage paid at the local plant is $2.25 and the highest is $5.65.”

75 years ago: Animas Valley – “W.W. Perkins recently sold two truck loads of pinto beans to the Farmers Supply Company.”

50 years ago: “The hospitals are jammed again. Mercy hospital had a census of 110 and Community had two empty beds in the whole house over the weekend. According to hospital officials, the children’s wards are full of influenza, but the rest of the hospital has a variety of many illnesses. Nothing in particular is more prevalent than any other thing. People are just sick.”

25 years ago: “A group opposing a landfill in Horse Gulch will present petitions with at least 500 signatures to the Durango City Council. ... City Manager Bob Ledger recommended the Horse Gulch site over a second site in Long Hollow 12 miles southwest of Durango, and the Save Horse Gulch Committee began its fight. Ledger favors Horse Gulch because it would be convenient for city residents, would allow central recycling operations and would save the city transportation costs.”

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