100 years ago: “The three days’ search for the bodies of Carl Downing and Virgil Kirby, drowned in the Animas River north of this city, have proved unavailing. Plans have been made for renewed efforts and a thorough search of the river on a much larger scale. The little band of men who have been dragging the river day and night since the tragedy, will be augmented by many others from here and the valley.”

75 years ago: “Property owners in the 600 and 700 blocks on 8th Avenue appeared before the Durango City Council to protest the ‘speedway’ which they said is being made of 9th Avenue. ... The property owners told the council that 8th Avenue now has become ‘the fastest speedway this side of the Mississippi.’”

50 years ago: “The Durango Ski Corp. announced that all phases of construction of the new Purgatory Ski Area are under way 25 miles north of Durango.”

25 years ago: “Most local indicators of Durango’s early summer tourism economy show more people visiting Durango in May and June than during the same months in 1989, but merchants are reluctant to make predictions about the remainder of the season. Although exact figures are not yet available, the Durango Area Reservation and Information System’s early calculations for June show an increase in activity since last year.”

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