100 YEARS AGO — 1917

The Advocate-Messenger has joined with the Louisville Courier Journal and The Times in a campaign to raise money for purchasing chewing and smoking tobacco to be sent to America’s fighting men now beyond the Atlantic Ocean. Kentucky and Southern Indiana are to be given the distinction of being allowed to forward tobacco in its natural state. Every cent contributed to the Tobacco Fund will be spent to purchase manufactured tobacco, the manufacturers have agreed to sell to the Fund all tobacco at absolute cost and Uncle Sam has agreed that tobacco for “Our Boys in France” shall not have to pay taxes or duties. For each 25 cents contributed to this Fund, 45 to 50 cents worth of tobacco will reach a soldier in France. Also, a card will be put in each package of tobacco giving the name of the donor and the soldier will write a message to the donor direct from the trenches in France.

The next increment of the National Army from Kentucky will call 4,990 boys to training camp, making up the total of 14,236  as 9,246 have already been called. The next call will take the following numbers of boys: Boyle, 41; Garrard, 32; Lincoln, 57; and Mercer, 29. It is not known when these men will be called but the prevailing belief is that the time is near at hand.

One of the boldest attempts at robbery committed here in some time took place Sunday night when two men entered the home of Boyle County Clerk, John B. Nichols on Maple Avenue. Mr. Nichols, upon hearing the noise grabbed a gun and began searching the house. The man who got Mr. Nichols’ trousers and shirt evidently escaped when Mrs. Nichols arose, but he got sight of the other and fired. The last man also made a quick get away through the window. The pants were found in a neighbor’s yard across the street. Fortunately for Mr. Nichols, he had only a little change in the pockets.

On Saturday the entire faculty and student body of Kentucky College for Women went to the Knobs and spent the day gathering chestnuts, persimmons and rambling over the hills. At noon a bountiful dinner was served.

75 YEARS AGO — 1942

Eben Henson, former Danville High School student who is now a sophomore at the University of Indiana, received favorable notice as a member of the cast of the University Theatre’s first presentation of the year, “The Year of St. Mark.” Mr. Henson plays the part of Private Shelvin in the play which is set during World War I.

Boyle County School superintendent H.A. Cocanougher announced that beginning Oct. 19, all county schools would open one hour later. This new rule has been adopted because of War Time, which means that under the present school opening time, many students who ride buses would be leaving home before dawn. Consolidated schools will begin at 9:30 and rural schools at 9 o’clock.

Prof. J.W. Bate, after a brief illness, is improving at his home on Russell Street.

Two large boilers have been given by Centre College to the local scrap metal collection drive. The boilers were at the Woman’s College and are now being cut into parts suitable for moving. Centre also donated the iron fence which bounds the land surrounding the college’s president’s house at the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue. The heavy iron fence, which is estimated to weigh 1,200 pounds, is said to have been placed over 50 years ago when the late George Welch lived in the house. Boyle County’s goal is to collect 1,707,500 pounds which is 100 pounds for each person in the county. Members of the “iron fence club” who have also donated their iron fences include: Mrs. F.M. Medaris, W.B. Martin, Mrs. Clarence Powell, S.L. Freeman, Mrs. Mary H. Thurmond, Mrs. S.M. Rupley and Mrs. Amelia Arnold.

50 YEARS AGO — 1967

A crowd of about 100 concerned citizens appeared at City Hall for the City Council meeting which was reported to have a “wild scheme” of city annexation up for consideration. The proposals, which were rumored to be in the planning stage of secret committees for a week or so, came out in the open when a map was published by this newspaper. The map plans to extend the Danville City limits south to Toombs Curve on U.S. 127; east to Stoney Point on Lexington Road; north to about the site of WHIR radio station, and almost to the Mercer County line. At the opening of the meeting the mayor said the annexation question would not be considered until some time in the future and that there was a misunderstanding because the council was not ready to begin discussion about annexation.

The first competitive examination for policemen in Danville given under the ordinance which also authorized an increase in pay for patrolmen, resulted in two of 10 applicants being appointed for almost immediate employment on the force. They are Eugene McGill and Billy J. Seay.

The boy preacher, Timothy Napier, of Danville, will preach at the Church of God on West Green Street at 3 o’clock on Sunday.

25 YEARS AGO — 1992

Free lunches and a permanent Christmas tree were approved by the Danville City Commission. Monthly community free lunches were proposed by Mayor John Bowling when meeting informally with various groups. Under the state Open Meeting Law, the lunches have to be open to the public, but each month a different group will be invited. The commission also approved spending about $1,000 to move a 20-foot Norway spruce tree to Weisiger Park as a permanent Christmas tree. The tree, a gift from Clemens and Peggy Caldwell, will be moved from their yard.

Steve and Mimi Becker will be using their experience as parents of three young children and in their work for caring for the 275 children who come to the John Hill Bailey Children’s Learning Center when they begin writing a column called “Parent to Parent.” The Beckers view the column as a way to provide practical advise to parents.

Chet Atkins’ schedule reads like this: performance for Princess Margret, performance at Carnegie Hall, dedication of Penn’s Store outhouse. And Saturday;s Great Outhouse Blowout was its highlight, Atkins said. “I’d rather be here,” he said. “This place reminds me of home. We had a bunch of stores like this in east Tennessee, where I grew up.” The outhouse dedication was a first for Atkins. He accepted an invitation from Jeanne Penn Lane, niece of the store’s owner, Haskell “Hack” Penn. “Jeanne is an old friend,” he said. “I met her about 20 years ago through the business. At that time, I was looking for songs and she was selling songs.”