75 years ago: “Durango’s long-heralded ‘Christmas Tree Lane’ will be lighted for display Friday night for the first time, as part of a celebration marking the preview of Christmas in Durango.”

50 years ago: “Only five students at Smiley Junior High School received a straight-A average for the six weeks period, which ended Nov. 25. Four of them were ninth graders and one a seventh grader.”

25 years ago: “Bolla Beautiful, a company specializing in crystal bolo ties, has moved to Durango from Los Angeles. The jewelry is one-of-kind with no two pieces alike.”

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