100 YEARS AGO — 1918

One of the most patriotic ladies of Boyle County went to the hay field last week and did as much work as any man in the field. This lady’s work was patriotic and was done on account of the scarcity of labor. We read of three ladies in Franklin County going to the wheat field, but this is the first one we know of in Boyle County.

Deputy Sheriff Polk Critchfield had quite an exciting experience last night in arresting Clarence Lewis in Parksville. Lewis was released from jail in Danville a few weeks since on bond furnished by his father, and for the past few days the officers have been looking for him because they thought he had made his escape. The officers went to where they thought Lewis was and found him sleeping in the hay loft of a barn in Parksville. Lewis attempted to make his escape, but being fired upon, he surrendered. Lewis was brought to Danville and lodged in the jail. He now has several charges against him, any one of which, if proven, will send him to the penitentiary.

There has been some discussion concerning a park for Danville. It has been suggested that the grounds of Centre College, lying between Main and Walnut streets be used for that purpose. In an interview with Dr. Ganfield, president of Centre College, he stated there is no plan to sell that property and the best thing to do is to stop the agitation, as there is nothing to it. The lots on Maple Avenue have been divided and will be offered for sale soon. The Messenger would endorse buying this lovely park from Centre College for playground purposes, but if the trustees will not consider the proposition, there isn’t much use talking about it.

About 75 Boyle County boys have signed cards agreeing to work on farms this season. Next comes the listing of farmers who want to give the boys employment. Farmers are requested to fill out a form to apply for the services of these patriotic boys. Do not expect a boy, new on a farm, to do a man’s work right from the beginning, but he can soon learn to do intelligent and faithful work for you. Mail the form to the U.S. Boys Working Reserve, John S. Van Winkle, Danville Ky.

For the first time in her history, Kentucky now has a state flag adopted by a law passed by the last legislature. It is navy blue with a coat of arms in gold, encircled by a wreath of goldenrod.

75 YEARS AGO — 1943

Plans have been completed for the organization of a War Information Center in Danville. The new organization will utilize all the facts relative to the local war program on the civilian front to inform citizens about rationing, civilian defense, price control, and other phases of the war effort.

Employees of Ephraim McDowell Memorial Hospital have contributed two cases of cigarettes for boys who are fighting overseas.

Mrs. Lumby Gordon of West Danville was alternately shocked and thrilled yesterday when she received her first cablegram — a message from her son, Private Estell Gordon, who is stationed in North Africa. Private Gordon who formerly attended school in Danville has been in service since last September. Lumby Gordon received the cablegram while working at the Danville Ice and Coal Company where he is a fireman. He stopped work and went home — an unprecedented action — which gave Mrs. Gordon her shock, especially when she saw the wire in his hand.

Only five more persons are required to enroll in the local Red Cross blood donor service program to complete the group of 50 Boyle countians who will be taken to Frankfort on July 2 to give their blood for medical use in the Army and Navy.

50 YEARS AGO — 1968

Intruders who gained entrance through an alley window to The Hub, at Third and Main streets, sometime between midnight Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday, failed to open the safe and left with a small amount of change that had been left for opening the business on Monday morning. The door on a filing cabinet had been peeled off and there was a disarray of papers and some furs were stolen.

The Theodore O’Hara Young Historians of Danville High School have continued their community service during June with a number of activities in connection with the Isaac Shelby Festival. Ann Irvine and Missy Frankel served as hostesses and guides on the bus tours for a group of students from Akron who visited last week.

President Johnson has called for the federal registration of every privately owned gun in the nation and set off a controversy in Congress. Johnson asked for stricter gun control laws in a strongly worded message to both the House and Senate.

Danville now has five water storage tanks on the horizon, and even before the three new ones have been put in operation they are showing signs of surreptitious painting jobs. The name “Colonels” designated the one on Beatty Avenue and the new tanks have already been climbed by someone and painted with names and initials. Therefore Danville City commission has had first reading of an ordinance that imposes a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment in the workhouse for not more than six months for such tower-climbing and painting if they are caught.

25 YEARS AGO — 1993

David Morgan, executive director of the Kentucky Heritage Council; John Caywood, president of The Heart of Danville; and Richard Jett, community preservation coordinator for the Heritage Council all spoke to the Danville City Commission in support of a historic preservation ordinance. “We’re trying to preserve what’s left,” said Mike Perros, also a member of the Heart of Danville.

The Harrodsburg City Commission must cut more than $600,000 from the proposed 1993-94 budget. During a recent meeting the commissioners added up the “wish lists” submitted by department heads and found them to be a little too wishful. They totaled more than $3.1 million.

Bob Glass, assistant director of Centre College’s library was one of about 20 people who attended a public hearing to discuss plans for development of a linear park along Clarks Ru Creek. Glass said, “I got this crazy notion to try and walk Clark’s Run Creek from its beginning to end without trespassing.” Past Goggin Lane en route to Herrington Lake, Glass says the creek runs into a palisades area with high bluffs with grassy flood plains. There are large boulders along the bank, and the creek path turns curvy, a feature that piqued Glass’ curiosity and led him to continue around each bend to the Herrington Lake begins. Glass said, “It has formed an important part of the town’s history, but it’s become sort of anonymous,” Glass said. While most of those at the meeting were delighted with the prospect of using stretches of the creek for walking trails and picnic areas, Charles Clark of Danville, who works for the state Division of Environmental Services raised a concern. He said more needed to be known about the water quality before efforts were made to attract people to the creek.