From Our Files, November 10
Published 4:10 pm Friday, November 9, 2018
100 YEARS AGO — 1918
Nov. 11 Headline: WORLD WAR COMES TO END; Germany accepts peace terms of Allies and fighting will stop today
Scenes of rioting, shooting of pistols and shotguns took place in Danville Saturday night between 6 and 9 o’clock over the report that the Kaiser of Germany had abdicated and that the war was over. Small boys, as well as men, carried firearms which were discharged on the crowded streets of the city. We have heard of very little damage done on account of the shooting except that many of the windows of business houses were shot through, and one young man had three of his fingers shot off. The police made no effort to stop the disorder and it became so dangerous on the streets that everyone except those engaged in the “celebration” left for their homes. The greatest war in all history has come to an end and the people of the world have a right to rejoice. Ring the church bells, blow whistles and horns, and above all offer up a prayer to Almighty God thanking Him for “Peace on Earth and Good Will to Men.”
The influenza situation is still grave in Boyle County and Santa Claus is banned from the stores. Everyone is advised not to crowd around counters late in December but to begin now buying for Christmas so as not to cause a recurrence of this bad epidemic in December.
In Parksville, the church going people of the town are really rejoicing that the church doors will be opened next Sunday after having been closed for six weeks because of the influenza epidemic. A number in this community, who came into the church many years ago, were never absent so many Sundays in succession. To the opening of the church, is added the closing of the terrible war and the good Lord is giving us the most beautiful weather.
75 YEARS AGO — 1943
Two friends from Boyle County, now in service with the Army and Navy, spent a whole day together this week to celebrate their entirely unexpected meeting near Gulfport, Mississippi, where their paths accidentally crossed. R.H. Milburn, EM 3-c U.S. Navy, telephoned his parents in Danville to share with them the news that he had encountered Private Woodrow Carter, U.S. Army, former city fireman from West Danville. Milburn has been in service since July 1943 and was sent to the Southern base following completion of recruit training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois. A graduate of Danville High School in 1941, he was a halfback on the Admirals’ football team. For two years before joining the military, he was in the communications department of the Danville branch of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company.
An intensive search for old jalopies to turn into scrap metal is imperative, according to Charles Grow, newly appointed co-chairman of the Boyle County Salvage committee. The junking of old jalopies is a prime part of the current “Victory Scrap Bank” campaign. A jalopy that has no salable parts has a scrap value of $5 to $10. Those with salable parts are worth somewhat more. Only cars no longer usable and not economically repairable are wanted.
Miss Merle Rose Norvell has enlisted in the Navy’s WAVES, following months of investigation of other women’s military organizations. Miss Norvell lives with her father on South Fourth Street and she is a graduate of Danville High School. She was formerly employed at the Goodall plant.
50 YEARS AGO — 1968
Reports from Frankfort indicate that Rep. Howard Hunt, Danville may announce for the state Senate seat presently held by J.D. “Jiggs” Buckman of Shepherdsville. Both are Democrats and considered strong campaigners.
A residential area on Harrodsburg Pike to be known as Argyll is being developed by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wallace of Danville and Louisville, who have formed the Cambus-Kenneth Development Corporation. Forty-six lots of estate size will be included in the first phase of construction. The overall plan is for 181 lots. The development has been planned in such a way as to maintain the rolling contour of the land to preserve all forest trees. Eventually 146 acres, including a park, will be developed in Argyll.
Danville’s first low-income house built by local citizens and capital to prove that a modern, 4-bedroom home can be built to sell for less than $7,500 will observe a formal opening for the public. The home is located on Louise Street in the urban renewal section off Lexington Avenue and Seventh Street.
Mary Eva Burke, a former local businesswoman, has retired and is now living in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Florida. She is enjoying several pursuits she wanted to follow when she was busy in Danville. She didn’t find much spare time when she was operating Mary Eva’s on West Main Street and serving as the pianist for local clubs. Danville will also remember Mary Eva, too, since Tots and Teens, which she operated here under the name of “Mary Eva’s” for 15 years. Mrs. Burke is now busy baking bread and sewing. She always had a yen for designing unusual clothes.
25 YEARS AGO — 1993
Lincoln County Sheriff Earl Dean McWhorter said he had no alternative but to lay off his deputies on Tuesday after being told by the fiscal court that no money is available to operate his office. A magistrate said the county’s financial problems will mount in the county because the property valuation administrator is late getting tax bills out.
Boyle County Judge-Executive Tony Wilder has named a committee to explore how a 24-hour emergency medical service could be started here.
Plans for the Salvation Army’s proposed youth center will be unveiled in the future. In the meantime, the army is gearing up for a drive to raise the $750,000 it has estimated it will take to build the center. The center would provide a variety of education, recreational and social programs for “at risk” youth in the Danville area.