“George Baker examines the stump where an 88-foot blue spruce stood before lightning exploded the tree in July of 1990. In the background, members of the First Southern Baptist Church leave Sunday service where Pastor Alan Speed preached thankfulness.”
“George Baker examines the stump where an 88-foot blue spruce stood before lightning exploded the tree in July of 1990. In the background, members of the First Southern Baptist Church leave Sunday service where Pastor Alan Speed preached thankfulness.”Durango Herald file photo

75 years ago: “A home bakery; specializing in Italian breads, has been opened by Albert Fratassini at Sixth Street and Seventh Avenue.”

50 years go: “A ski patch insignia has been designed for Purgatory by Ken Adams local commercial artist. It looks like three upside down mountains, two red with a white one in the middle, and a white snowflake on the left hand one. The word Purgatory is at the top in red.”

25 years ago: “Saying he was sympathetic to the neighborhood’s desire to control its destiny, Durango City Councilman Bob Dolphin nonetheless cast a tie-breaking vote approving an apartment project opposed by neighbors. Dolphin’s vote granting conditional-use approval to the Bar H/Eighth Avenue Apartments, a 12-unit project at 343 Eighth Ave.”

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