100 Years Ago: “See the funniest man in the movies, Charlie Chaplin, in ‘The Fireman’ tonight at the Electric. Also playing at the Rex, Charlie Chaplin in ‘Police.’ Always 10 cents.”

75 YEARS AGO: “There are always a few ‘smart alecks’ who want to rock the boat. The same thing happens with beer. The majority of retailers are clean, law-abiding and wholesome. But occasionally, you find a ‘smart aleck’ retailer who violates the law. We of the brewing industry want these anti-social retailers wiped out! Because they imperil your right to drink good beer ... and our right to make it. Beer has brought 7,874 jobs to Colorado since the end of prohibition. Report any irregularities to the proper authorities.”

50 YEARS AGO: “John and Joe Martinez, who allegedly assaulted Ignacio Town Marshall Owen Callison with a deadly weapon, will be tried by a jury in La Plata County District Court beginning Nov. 29.”

25 YEARS AGO: “Fix or sell: County fairgrounds faces fate: In March 1990, The Durango Herald discovered county commissioners were secretly planning to sell the fairgrounds to Omega Corp., a developer from Tulsa, OK. Speculation was that Wal-Mart Inc. was planning to build a store on the property. Public outcry caused the commissioners to back out. The fairgrounds’ fate will now be decided on the Oct. 8 special election ballot where voters will decide whether to approve or reject a $3.4 million bond to repair structures at the existing fairgrounds.”

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