100 YEARS AGO — 1916

M.D. Crow, who lives in the Fales property at Fifth and Broadway, was much surprised when he found a large covey of partridges on his premises the other day. He watched the parent birds call in all of the family in late evening and they clustered for the night. Mr. Crow has spent many years studying birds. He was much pleased over this visit of the partridge family and hopes they will make their home with him.

The faculty and students of Centre College entertained the faculty and students of Kentucky College for Women with a Halloween party in the gym. Decorations made the area a fairyland for the night with beautiful brown foliage from the knobs, black cats, pumpkins, cornstalks and crepe paper draperies all blended together into an attractive color scheme. From the balcony around the basket ball floor, apples and sticks of candy hung to be bobbed for. Everyone was dressed in appropriate costumes. As usual the college orchestra furnished music for the occasion. Games were played and apples in tubs of water were bobbed for and Frappe was on tap all evening and ice cream cones were served.

From reports obtained so far, little or no damage was done last night on Halloween. The spooks were not out in great numbers. As a rule whatever is done in the dead of night is explained in terms of college boys who are thought to be 50 percent devil. A bunch of young shavers bothered some building material on East Main Street and had the pavement walled up but they were easily chased. Some leaves were burned on Fifth Street and a gate or two was taken off hinges. By 11 o’clock the extra police were all out patrolling the town.

75 YEARS AGO — 1941

It is ordained by the Danville Board of Council that all users of motor and other vehicles on the streets of Danville, Kentucky are required to observe and stop at the stop signs already installed and that may be installed … on the streets of Danville…Any person violating this ordinance shall be fined in any sum not less than one dollar nor more than $25 for each offense.

 Celebrate Halloween at the Kentucky Theatre at midnight on Friday. There will be a double horror Halloween show featuring “Dead Men Tell” and “Haunted Honeymoon.” There will also be thrills and laughs for all; a raspberry pie eating contest and costume contest. If you have a weak heart, bring smelling salts; if you’re sick in bed, come in a wheelchair!

Boyle County farmers are asked to marshal their strength along with other Kentucky farmers and the U.S. to produce more food in 1942. The Boyle County Agriculture Defense Board stated that production increases for the county called for by the Secretary of Agriculture were: 134,000-gallon increase in mild production; 47,000 dozen increase in egg production; 13 percent increase in pigs; and 10 percent increase in cattle. County extension agent said, “We have the stock the feed and buildings, the only thing we will be short will be labor.”

50 YEARS AGO — 1966

In order to insure an orderly Halloween night without property damage and illegal actions, the Danville Police chief and Boyle County Sheriff are asking parents to permit only the younger boys and girls to go out in costumes for trick-or-treating, and extra deputies will be sworn in to patrol the county roads. Youngsters in town are to complete their neighborhood calls by 8:30 p.m. The Danville Chief states that no furniture is to be carried off porches or other items removed from private property. The sheriff said no destruction of property such as cutting down trees to block roads, removing farm gates nor setting fires will be tolerated.

The presentation and acceptance of the charter of the new Danville Civitan Club and the installation of its officers was held Saturday night at Danville Bowlarama. The purpose of the Civitan Club is to build good citizenship.

Col. W.L. “Bill” Selby, general operator of the parking lot adjacent to the Advocate-Messenger office, observed his 83rd birthday at work on the lot in the snow and freezing weather. He said he had, “never felt better,” and that his day was brightened when he received a beautifully and appropriately lettered cake from “his bosses, Doctors Caldwell and Hardaway.” Mr. Selby is a retired railroad man and since he has been operating the parking lot, he has made it more attractive each year by planting a flower garden in a small corner of the lot.

Danville and Boyle County residents suffered some damages and considerable inconvenience from the heaviest snow fall to strike Kentucky this early in the season since 1906. This morning they were attempting to dig out from the 7.5 inches of snow that fell overnight and during the day. A temperature drop to a low of 24 degrees added to the discomfort.

25 YEARS AGO — 1991

It’s not surprising to learn of someone driving 10.5 hours to see a newborn niece. But it is amazing when the driver and her companion are both 11 years old. “I’ve heard of this, but never with anyone 11,” said Michel Ray, Mercer County’s juvenile case worker. “Neither one of them had ever driven a car before.” Ray said, “They were determined to see that baby.” The unbelievable journey began in West Virginia and ended in Harrodsburg. The youngsters had packed up some pop, snacks and a road atlas. Clothes piled high on the front seat of a grandparent’s Dodge K car helped them see over the steering wheel. Soon after the girls headed out, their parents filed a missing person’s report and noted the pair were believed to be on their way to Mercer County. The sister in Harrodsburg informed the authorities of the girls’ whereabouts once they safely arrived here. The girl with the Mercer County relatives was taken home to West Virginia the next day. Her friend was held four nights until someone could pick her up. “They did get to see the baby,” Ray said.

Two current Danville city commissioners have announced they would vote against the closing of Walnut Street. Bunny Davis and Thomas Spragens each said they are prepared to vote against the request by Centre College that the block of Walnut Street between College and Maple streets be closed to accommodate plans for renovating the campus.

Using a rubberized conveyor belt that would span half the length of a football field, divers have started to seal an expanding underwater joint on Dix Dam. The prevent leakage, the blanket that measures 150 feet tall by 40 feet wide by seven-sixteenths of an inch thick will be installed over the next 1.5 weeks. Dix Dam is rock-filled and coated in concrete, but after settling over the years,the sides of an expansion joint that runs up and down the 260-foot tall dam have spread about six inches apart in places.