75 years ago: “Snow continues to pile up in the mountains. Reports indicated a total of 5 feet of snow on Wolf Creek, 4 feet on Molas and Red Mountain passes.”

50 years ago: “The first bull of the winter came to town, although some insist due to the nearness of Christmas it must have been a reindeer in disguise. Driving to work Ray Duncan said he saw a four-point bull elk trying to get through a hedge on West Park Avenue. Dr. J.G. McKinley, 209 West Park Ave., saw the elk as he was leaving his home, said it was huge and fell down three times before making its way up the hill.”

25 years ago: “An overnight snowfall elicited cheers from skiers and provided seven prisoners en route to Tennessee an unscheduled stopover in Durango. … Nearly 2 inches of wet snow fell in Durango overnight and froze on the streets to a slick glaze.”

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