75 years ago: “Waxy Snowmen, candle-top hats, lighted a Christmas table of white and silver and marked the places for guests of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. McDevitt at dinner.”

50 years ago: “The formal dedication of Purgatory, La Plata County’s first major skiing area, was a happy occasion. At two points, the onlookers, many of them on skis, burst into cheers of ‘Yea Ray’ in honor of Ray Duncan, Durango Ski Corp. president who had the idea and followed it through.”

25 years ago: “Owners of a California mountain bike frame manufacturer backpedaled a bit from an earlier announcement that they will relocate their operations to Durango but said there’s still a 50 percent chance that Yeti Cycle will be in business here by May 1. John Parker and Yeti co-owner Lloyd W. Taber are still negotiating with property owners for a site in Durango.”

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