100 YEARS AGO — 1916

A freak bet between grocery-man Charles P. Cecil Jr. and the representative of the Armour Packing Co., Mr. Judy, made over the result of the recent election, caused more genuine merriment than has been witnessed in Danville for the past several months. In the presidential election, Mr. Cecil took the Hughes end of the betting, while Mr. Judy espoused the cause of Woodrow Wilson. The loser was to push the other from the post office down Main Street to Second Street in a wheelbarrow. Mr. Judy had the ride, aided by the greatest excitement and the applause of a multitude of excited onlookers. Sir Richard Stout, the wonderful son of Dr. Stout, led the procession with a mop, which he used with splendid effect. One of the banners used in this makeshift parade read: “Typical Democrat thinks he is riding easy, when he is being jolted to death.” The college boys were in evidence with large and small drums and yells.  

The Mercer County Democrats had a big celebration in Harrodsburg last night. The noise started at 7 o’clock and lasted until about 10. The night riders were there and a long procession went up and down the streets. Two big bells were mounted on wagons but the ringing was drowned out by the other noise. The ordinarily beautiful white way on Main Street was put to shame by the display of Roman Candles and rockets which lit up the whole thoroughfare. Fireworks were in the hands of men, women and children. No one was injured which was nothing short of a miracle. The crowd swelled with Democrats from surrounding counties and by 8:30 there were fully ten thousand people in town.

Sister Sarah Pennebaker, 79, died at Shakertown in Mercer County on Thursday after two weeks of illness from paralysis. Sister Sarah was the sister of Dr. William Pennebaker and was well known and honored by many throughout the county. Her passing leaves but three in the surviving group of what was once a prosperous and famous community.

75 YEARS AGO — 1941

Placing of street markers at all of the principal intersections in Danville is nearing completion said city engineer Arthur L. Tuttle. The city furnished all of the material for the markers except rock for the concrete which the WPA obtained from the city quarry on Lancaster Road. The concrete posts on which the black and white markers were placed were made with WPA labor.

One of those unusual things that nature does every once in a while was brought to the Advocate-Messenger office by Lucille Brumfield. It’s a Danville-grown sweet potato that looks very much like a miniature swan. This little oddity can be seen in the front window of the newspaper office along with the giant hornet nest brought in by Everett Price.

The 112-acre farm of Earle Combs, on the Lancaster Pike out of Richmond where the former New York Yankee baseball star makes his home, has been sold to Ernest Woods of Richmond. Mr. Combs is now one of the coaches of the New York Yankees and has been doing fine work for the champions in that capacity.

Mrs. Dena Shelby Diehl has just completed a modern apartment at her home on East Lexington Avenue and will be pleased to show it to her friends Sunday afternoon. As the entrance will be facing her beautiful flower garden, Mrs. Diehl will call it the Garden Apartment.

Two Danville men were shot, one probably seriously, in an argument at the Hollywood Café on South Second Street about 11:15 Sunday night. Witnesses said that Ivy Hardin was wounded in the left eye, leg and shoulder by charges from a 12-gauge shotgun, supposedly fired by Carl Jackson during an argument over a half-pint of whiskey. Both men were arrested and released on a $250 bond.

50 YEARS AGO — 1966

The first meeting of “Teens Who Care”, a new Boyle County High School club, was held after school on Wednesday. The following people were elected as officers: Lana Johnson, president; Kathy Tucker, vice-president; Nancy Lamb, secretary-treasurer; and Linda Russell, reporter. Having a Thanksgiving party for patients at Kentucky State Hospital was discussed.

Warren O. Nash, DVM, and John L. Porter, DVM, both veterinarians, announce the opening of their office and clinic at the Greenleaf Shopping Center in Danville.

Captain Jack Freeman, M.D., son of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Freeman of Shelby City, is now stationed in San Antonio, Texas, where he will be in military training for six weeks before being transferred to Tokyo, Japan in December. Captain Freeman says he likes Texas. His wife and three young sons will join him in Japan in January.

A science show with demonstrations entitled, “Previews of Progress” will be presented at Danville High School on Friday, as an educational stage event depicting science in action. Its purpose is to encourage American young people to pursue studies in science and engineering and to point out some of the many opportunities available in these fields. As an example of solar energy — liquid sunshine —powering a portable radio will be demonstrated. Also the amazing “Sunmobile” with a 15-inch model car depending on eight photo-electric cells for its operation will be shown.

25 YEARS AGO — 1991

All Boyle County sixth-graders will attend Boyle County Middle School after renovations and additions to that building are complete, according to a facility plan approved by the Boyle County Board of Education. But the move would not change the status of Perryville Elementary School, and redistricting to help that school maintain a state-required level of 300 students could still be as far away as the next century. Sixth-graders were moved from Woodlawn Elementary to BCMS in 1987, but they remain at elementary schools in Perryville and Junction City.

Many abused women in the area began seeking help after a man fatally shot his estranged wife and three others in Harrodsburg last weekend. And if nothing else, the tragic murders and the shooter’s suicide in Garrard County reminded abused people what can happen if someone goes too far, said a local counselor.

Work on the first leg of the U.S. 150 project in Lincoln County will begin on Monday. The 2.6-mile stretch of road from Stanford to Preachersville will cost $2.6 million. The road will initially follow the path of the road to the State Highway garage at the intersection of U.S. 27 and U.S. 150 Bypass near Walmart.