75 years ago: “A colorful pageant was enacted Friday at Smiley Junior High School when pupils of First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth grades of Durango presented their annual Spring Song Festival.”

50 years ago: “Plans for projected improvements in Durango’s sewer system will be started tonight at a meeting of the Planning Commission which will get under way at 7:30 in City Hall. N.P. Parks, secretary of the commission, said that other items on tonight’s agenda include a discussion of revision of the sign ordinance and ways of arriving at a name for the new West Side Park.”

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