100 YEARS AGO — 1918

Prof. Green, principal of Danville’s high school, has organized a complete Boy Scout troop of 32 members, in connection with the school. We know of nothing better for the boy than the the scout work, and it is to be hoped that the parents and people of the community will give every possible aid to the work.

The Wesley Bible Class of the Danville Methodist Church, composed of men, has agreed to build a church at Yamazaki, Japan. Members of the class will be asked to pledge the amounts they desire to give, and as soon as $1,000 is pledged, the proper church authorities will begin the erection of the church, which is said to be badly needed in Japan.

Nov. 24 was a day set aside by the military authorities in Europe for the boys over there to write letters to their fathers back home, and many of them here have already begun to receive their Christmas letters. One that will be of interest was written by Corp. Howard Guthrie, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Guthrie of Danville. Part of the letter is as follows: “I gave thanks that I have the privilege to write a letter, for some of the boys have not, and none of them a better earthly father than I … I did one thing you told me not to do and I am sure you will forgive me if you will let me explain. Your last words to me were ‘Son, don’t take a German prisoner.’ I did. It is impossible for a man with a human heart to run a bayonet, sixteen inches of cold steel, through a man when he has both arms straight up in the air praying for mercy and has God to save him. So I broke your word and let the little string in my heart that tells me right from wrong guide me…”

75 YEARS AGO — 1943

Twelve young boys from Danville and Boyle schools will be guests of the Kiwanis Club which will have its annual Christmas party for underprivileged children in the Begley banquet room. The boys have already received new suits and shoes and will receive haircuts as the gift of the Third Street Barber Shop. Following the lunch, they will be given treats. The youngsters were selected partly as a reward for their efforts to succeed and those of their parents to keep them in school, and partly on the basis of need.

Letters to Santa Claus: Dear Sandy Claws, I am a very good little girl I am. My mommy and I both want my daddy to come home for Christmas ‘cause he hasn’t been home for ten months. My mommy says that we all should give everybody War Bonds and stamps for Christmas gifts so that a whole lot of daddies can come home. If you have a teddy bear that you don’t need, I would like to have one ‘cause my baby brother chewed the ears off my old one. Its insides are all gone anyway. I’ll be expecting you Christmas eve. Love, Mary Tracy Smith:

Dear Santa Claus, I don’t want much this year because I know you are busy. I want a subscription to Child Life, some books and a watch. I will leave you an apple on the mantel for you. Love, Tevis Faulconer:

Dear Santa Claus, It has been a long time since I wrote you last, but many things have happened. I have been a very, very good boy, always obeying my boss. Of course, sometimes my thoughts are not always in agreement with my actions, but I hope you will excuse me on this one point. I am not asking you much this year, except that this is only one thing

I want most in the world, and that is a regular-sized bowling ball so I can show Paul that he is not the only person who knows something about this game of bowling. Love, Fayette Baker, P.S. My age is a civilian secret.

Dear Santa, I am 5 years old and go to Sunday school every Sunday and have been a good boy. Santa, I am not asking for much this year fore I know you didn’t get to make much this year, so please bring me a drum and a doctor set and a football cap and a black board. And Santa please don’t forget my brother June in the Army. Take him a plenty fore he deserves a lot so we’ll be looking for you. Yours fore ever, Donald Martin Daugherty.

Danville housewives know a bargain when they see one. Harold Wilson, manager of the meat department of the local A&P store, was sure of this when he came up for air today after being submerged by the crowd of buyers who wanted chuck roasts at 16 cents per pound. Through the error the price of the beef had been quoted at 16 cents instead of 26 cents per pound, creating the run on the market.

50 YEARS AGO — 1968

Interest in entertainment provided by Danville merchants for city Christmas shoppers has increased and the next six evening and nights promise to be alive with carols and music on Main Street. Three of the bands in competition for the grand prizes offered by the merchants have already performed and six others will offer their programs next week. The bands perform from 6 to 7 every evening in the circuit courtroom at the courthouse. The troubadours from Danville High School, a quartet of Christmas carolers, weave their way through the downtown stores and sing every night.

Hugh Coomer, project chair of the annual Christmas Home Decoration Contest of the Danville Jaycees, reported that 15 residents have entered their homes in the contest. Local residents are urged to leave their Christmas lights burning between 1 and 11 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22, for the benefit of the out of town judges. The two grand prizes will be a portable television set and a Corning electric percolator.

25 YEARS AGO — 1993

Walking the dog will take a little more effort on the part of the owner if Danville’s “pooper-scooper” law goes into effect. The City Commission has given the first reading to an ordinance that requires owners to pick up any excrement left by their pets on public or private property. The law applies to any animal, including horses, on city streets. It does not apply to any animals on the owners’ property.

Two Danville boys who allegedly videotaped their two-night vandalism spree were caught by police after a routine traffic stop. Officer James Neikirk pulled over a car about 1 a.m. Sunday at Danville Manor Shopping Center because the license plate number was partially covered by electrical tape. The officer found two 15-year-old boys in the car with a crowbar and other suspected burglary tools, as well as a loaded .38-caliber revolver and a video recorder.The boys allegedly had videotaped their exploits and conversations Friday and Saturday nights. Activities allegedly captured on tape include the boys destroying mailboxes, shooting the city limit sign on Perryville Road, and collecting free shopper newspapers from several locations and strewing them on a lawn in Ridgefield subdivision. The video also included the boys’ conversation about shooting an officer. “This is more than our standard boys will be boys situation,” an officer said. Information from the tape led to charges against another 15-year-old boy, the recovery of stolen property and information about past crimes.