100 YEARS AGO — 1918

The only big circus coming to Danville this year is Coop and Lent’s 3-Ring Circus. It will show on Thursday, June 20. Coop and Lent’s is the first and only big circus to abandon its railroad trains and be transported cross country on 96 high-powered monster auto trucks and trailers. This is equal to a railroad train of 50 cars. Handsome, roomy living cars, great immense trucks built for the elephants, camels and cages of wild animals and big motors for the acres of tents and other paraphernalia. This circus has many new novel features this year including Dallie Julian, the world’s greatest bareback rider who heads 40 equestrians; Irene Montgomery’s military elephants; Hermany’s cats, dogs ponies, lions and tigers; the Australian Waites, whip cracker; Tun-Chin Chinese troupe of curious performers; Fondell Trio of sensational acrobats; and 32 funny clowns. There will be two show, 2 and 8 p.m. Doors open one hour earlier in order to see the wonderful zoo.

Much complaint is being made by the citizens of Danville on account of the swimming of both white and black boys in Dix River above the dam, from which the people of this city get their drinking water. The matter will be taken before the State Board of Health in an effort to have the swimming stopped. While the water that comes from Dix River is filtered, there is no one who cares to drink it when it has just been used in washing some filthy bodies.

The Messenger has been frequently asked why there has been no water turned on in the fountain in front of the courthouse to supply horses with water during these hot days. We suppose the matter has been overlooked and feel sure it will be attended to after the proper authorities have their attention called to it. Next County Court Day many horses will be driven to town by farmers and they ought to be supplied with water after making a long journey on the hot and dusty roads.

The Danville City Council heard an address about the sanitary conditions of the city and were urged to provide some way for caring for persons of limited means when they have contagious diseases. Several cases of tuberculosis among people who had no funds have been reported and the council was asked if something could be done about better conditions. A member of the council said the best solution would be for the county to buy a country farm and establish an infirmary there.

75 YEARS AGO — 1943

A 720-pound, 23-year-old man ate a lite supper at the Ideal Grill Monday night as he passed through Danville on a business trip. It was necessary to furnish two chairs to seat the customer, who was five feet 11 inches tall and measured 87 inches around the waist. A resident of Hopkinsville, where he is employed, the man sadly said he had been issued only one ration book.

A handsome flag of the United States, about two by three feet, has been crocheted in honor of Corporal Lincoln Creech, former farmer of Lancaster, and student of Buckeye school, now stationed at Camp Livingston, by his wife Ruby Creech, an employee of the Goodall plant in Danville. The flag is made of red, white and blue silk Star crochet thread. Mrs. Creech has been living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Noe of Bryantsville since Corporal Creech entered the military 26 months ago.

Volunteer workers in the Red Cross surgical dressings project have been granted permission to wear clean wash dresses from home to the workroom according to a new ruling from national headquarters. As usual, workers will supply their own head coverings.

George “Peckerneck” McRoberts Wilder, member of the 1943 class of Danville High School is stationed at Camp Joseph T.  Robinson in Arkansas. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Wilder of Lancaster Road. Private Wilder volunteered for service in March, 1943.

50 YEARS AGO — 1968

The infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Clay Jr. will be christened at Trinity Episcopal Church. She has been named Julie Anne Clay. Mr. and Mrs. Clay will entertain with a small reception in their home on Pleasantwood Drive.

The congregation of he First Christian Church has voted that the property of the church on West Main Street from which the church burned three years ago, will be sold at auction at a date yet to be determined.

Former owners of property in the Seventh Street area, now held by Urban Renewal, are interested in buying their property back is indicated by the fact that 10 of the 14 who were notified have indicated they want to exercise their priority in buying lots there. William Zachman, director of the Urban Renewal and Community Development Agency said that the processing of required papers and deeds for those who wish to buy back is being expedited and the first sale in the renovated area should be completed within the next few days.

Members of the Danville-Boyle County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously passed a motion to resign as a body on July 1. A letter advising of their action stated a meeting was held to discuss recent developments and said that the action was being taken to preserve harmony and order. It has been generally known that some disagreements have been discussed by members of the planning board and city administrators and councilmen, largely concerning the urban renewal project on Seventh Street.

25 YEARS AGO — 1993

The Garrard County Courthouse could close July 1 and vital services such as ambulance and law enforcement shut down due to lack of a budget for the new fiscal year. For the third time in about a month, magistrates failed to adopt a $2.3 million balanced budget presented by Judge-Executive Ray Hammonds. People would not be able to license a car, file a deed or obtain a marriage license either. “I think they (the magistrates) haven’t thought of the seriousness that shutdowns can cause,” Hammonds said.

Following a Danville City Commission meeting, Baughman Avenue residents left dissatisfied because plans for street improvements will not include a sidewalk. The commission voted unanimously to put in curbs and gutters, but no sidewalk when it widens Baughman Avenue this year. The only commissioner favoring a sidewalk was Bunny Davis, who urged fellow commissioners to put a sidewalk on at least one side for safety reasons. The street is used by children walking to Hogsett Elementary School.

Director Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” will probably be the summer’s biggest movie. Rarely has a film arrived with the level of anticipation surrounding this lavish dinosaur story, opening Friday in 2,200 theaters.

One of the most famous collections of historic records of the American Revolution and settlement of the western frontier has been donated to the Mercer County Public Library. Ruth Anderson, of Anderson Circle Farm gave the Draper Manuscript collection to the library. It was compiled by Lyman C. Draper in the mid 1800s, and contains first-hand accounts from men and women who settled Kentucky and the western territories and biographical information on military figures, pioneers and Indian leaders.