75 years ago: “Shoveling snow is only a sort of pleasant cooling memory to most Durango people, but to Bert Thompson of the Bessie G Mine it is a pain in the back right now. Bert, rushing about town before taking off for the Bessie G located high in the La Platas says that he has three men shoveling snow and cutting through slides that block the trail.”

50 years ago: “The San Juan Basin Peace officers met in Silverton in the Grand Imperial Hotel. Judge James Noland told many stories pertaining to law and justice in the early days of Silverton.”

25 years ago: “Purgatory Ski Area has postponed the June 16 opening of the Alpine Slide as negotiations for financing summer operations continue. … Purgatory temporarily laid off 90 of its 120 employees May 16 because it couldn’t secure financing for the summer.”

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