100 YEARS AGO — 1916

The wires connecting the fire bell with the telephone office became crossed during the high wind last night, and the bell rang intermittently from 4 o’clock till 6. Electrician Marks found the trouble and fixed it.

The National Optical Company of Louisville has announced that their specialist and his assistant will be in Danville at the hotel annex on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday beginning Nov. 27, 28 and 29, and every 90 days thereafter. Glasses that normally cost $5 will cost only $1.

M.C. Caddell, a mail clerk on the Queen and Crescent Route, purchased the William Spilman farm of 400 acres (at $150 per acre). He also purchased the Dr. T.O. Meredith farm of 60 acres at $140 per acre. He has also purchased the Reeves farm at $27,150 and the James farm of 143 acres. It is said that Mr. Caddell, whose salary as mail clerk was $100 per month, recently made in the neighborhood of $200,000 in growing wheat. 

In our great-great-grandfathers’ time many New England families had a cask of rum in the cellar. It was freely offered to guests (except children) and freely partaken of, even as coffee is today. This old-time custom gradually passed out of existence, for our forefathers recognized it was harmful. Another old-time custom of coffee drinking is slowly passing in the same fashion and for the same reason. The abandonment of coffee drinking is made easy nowadays by the use of Instant Postum, the pure cereal beverage with the coffee-like taste. Unlike coffee, this purely American table drink contains no caffeine or other harmful substances. Postum is now used daily in tens of thousands of the best American homes where reason rules and health is valued.

75 YEARS AGO — 1941

Dr. John Gosney, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Danville, spoke at the regular Kiwanis Club meeting at the Gilcher Hotel. He said, “Thanksgiving apart from God, is a mockery and a sham.” After tracing the history of Thanksgiving, Dr. Gosney said that Thanksgiving was a day to thank God for His benefits to man, not a day of thanks for economic gains. Dr. Gosney pointed out that America was at one time a place for the tired, the huddled masses, the poor and the wretched refugee. “This is your America and my America, as it lives in our ideals… She was born under the influence of God to serve mankind.” He then pointed out that there was racial discrimination in this country. He said we stand in horror at the brutal dealing of Europe with segments of their society, but he asked, “Isn’t subtle mental abuse and pressure and discrimination between groups even a more brutal treatment?”

Funeral services for Dr. G.M. Doram, a negro veterinarian in Danville, will be held Tuesday afternoon at the A.M.E. Church on Walnut Street. Dr. Doram, who received his training in Chicago, is survived by his wife, 11 children and 12 grandchildren.

Third and Lexington Street intersection is one of the worst places in Danville for motor accidents. Many serious accidents have occurred here, because the street traffic light is turned off at 10 o’clock. Many people travel in cars after 10 o’clock at night and it might be well for the city to keep the Third and Lexington light burning till 12 o’clock. It might save someone’s life and that would be a commendable thing to do.

Christmas street electric lights will be turned on soon in downtown Danville. Main Street and some of the side streets will be lighted with colored lights and decorated in evergreens for the holidays. The Cutter Electric Company will install a public address system with loud speakers at Second, Third and Fourth streets on Main Street for the use of broadcasting Christmas music from about December 1st until Christmas. Radio and phonograph records will be used and the music will add much to the holiday spirit.

50 YEARS AGO — 1966

Danville merchants have made plans for the city’s big Christmas shopping season to start Friday afternoon when Santa Claus descends on the town in a helicopter. The Jolly Old Gent will land at the Third Street parking lot and will immediately start giving away candies and other favors to all the youngsters. Santa will leave the parking lot after all the kiddies have been remembered and he will be seen in the stores until 9 o’clock Friday night.

Final plans for the construction of probably the largest factory building in Kentucky were brought nearer to realization when the construction company from Tennessee inspected routes for moving and installing their equipment on the American Greetings property. The huge building will cover more than 26 acres and is being built adjacent to the new Burlington Factory on Lebanon Road.

Evangelist Patsy Johnson and the Rev. Beatrice Coleman will preach in a twin-sermon at the Church of God on West Green Street on Thanksgiving Day evening. The program is sponsored by the Willing Workers club of the church.

25 YEARS AGO — 1991

Snacks, stickers and moral support are among the things being used to help local smokers kick the habit for at least one day as part of the 15th annual Great American Smokeout. One of the leaders in promoting the event locally is Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center where several events are planned for the day. “Survival kits” containing such items as sugarless mints, candy and fruits will also be available throughout the hospital for employees. McDowell took the first step toward becoming a smoke-free facility in April when it determined smoking would be permitted only in limited, designated areas of the building.

In recent weeks, since farmers have begun to strip their 1991 tobacco crop, several tobacco thefts have been reported in the area. A Kentucky State Police officer said farmers should not leave their tobacco unattended in an isolated area, especially after it has been prepared for market. The shortage in the burley crop this year may be due to the increased number of thefts. Recently, police have reported about 35 bales of tobacco stolen in Lincoln County.

In an effort to raise money to finance construction of its third house, Boyle County’s Habitat for Humanity has erected a cream, red and green colored “Christmas house” in Weisiger Park next to the courthouse. The house will be open from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. now through Dec. 23 to sign up donors and volunteers. Passersby will be able to tell how successful the campaign is going because for each donation a piece of candy will be glued to the outside walls. With the added candy canes, toys and other decorations donated by Ad-Mart, it will really take on a seasonal look and turn the little house into a gingerbread house. The idea belongs to Elizabeth Orndorff, and local architect Donald Hill provided the design. Ben Sochacki, Joe Simpson, Dan Tate and Dick Lough built and assembled it and the walls were painted by Debbie Wheat and Orndorff, and her husband Robert Orndorff.