100 years ago: Turkey Creek Lumber company manager A.E. Knapp was accepting bids for cutting and logging 8,000,000 feet of timber. Someone was selling home-cooked meals by the day, week and month. Lambs, “grained and ready for service” were available for purchase at the Jarvis ranch on Fort Lewis.

75 years ago: The high temperature in Durango was 26.8 degrees, with a bitter low temperature of 3.5 degrees below zero. Durango locals were looking forward to spring days and the ice melting.

50 Years Ago: Local physician Dr. F.M. Murray was unanimously selected by the board of county commissioners as the new county coroner after the death of former coroner Dr. R.L. Downing. Dr. Murray graduated from Vanderbilt University medical school in 1950, and boasted experience working for hospitals in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Nashville, Tenn.

25 years ago: According to the social services caseload for 1991, La Plata County social workers experienced a record-breaking number of reported child abuse cases, with more than 300 cases having occurred from November to January. Officials attributed the sudden increase in case numbers to the economic recession, which was causing stress and frustration throughout the country.

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