100 YEARS AGO — 1919

The Kahn Patent Company recently formed in Danville will engage in the manufacturing of the R.G. S. Tunnel Masks, which were patented last year. The stockholders are J.C. Rhodes, G.E. Guffey, E.H. Kahn, J.S. Sheehan and L.B. Guffey. The company has made arrangements with Pushin Bros. to erect a brick and concrete two-story building on Walnut Street in the rear of their department store for the purpose of manufacturing gas masks to be used by engineers and firemen on trains while going through tunnels. The company has many orders they are now filling. The Southern Railway has started using them and other railroad companies are planning to give the masks a trial. Also, the Kahn Patent Company has invented a safety device which they have patented, and which will be used along railroad tracks, automatically giving warning in the event the track from any cause gets out of place. The company is also working on a safety steering wheel break for automobiles. The company is temporarily located in the rear of Kahn’s Jewelry store.

Two airplanes were seen by the people of Danville and Boyle County yesterday flying in the clouds and attracted quite a great deal of attention, as many of our citizens had never seen one before. One of the pilots ran out of gasoline and spent Wednesday night on a farm near Danville. The planes were being used to boost the Victory Loan drive.

One of the problems which confronts Danville again this spring is the return of the vagrant, who for the duration of the war realized that it was wiser for him to be at work instead of begging his living door to door. Danville will continue to be troubled with these undesirable citizens just so long as people continue to feed and clothe them at their doors. If you will tell them that we have a city ordinance against begging and direct them to the Community Worker, the few deserving cases will be sifted from the many underserving ones and given the right kind of help, while those who prefer to live by imposing on the public will soon learn to give Danville a wide berth.

75 YEARS AGO — 1944

“Green Acres” will probably be the name of Danville’s newest residential area, which is to be developed upon the land of the Cecil Estate, between Danville and the County Club on Lexington Road. A large number of splendid names were submitted to the gentlemen who are developing this much needed subdivision. Mrs. R.D. Osteen’s suggestion was Green Acres and received a $25 War Bond as first prize. Others who received prominent and honorable mention and who also were awarded $1 each for their efforts are: “Rolling Hills” by Mrs. S.R. Cheek; “Maderlane Park” by Mrs. Cabel Arnold; “Morningside” by Mrs. J.. Noe; “Sunny Acres” by Mrs. Madison Hart; “Skyline Plaza” by Mrs. John Lynn; “Quintessence” by Miss Mildred Porter; “Broadmeer” by Jay Harlan; and “Castlewood” by Mrs. J.D. Silliman.

Adolph Rupp, noted basketball coach of University of Kentucky, was in Danville and received a cordial welcome from basketball fans. Mr. Rupp expressed keen interest in the future of 4-Fs. Four regular members of his team next season will be 4-Fs. Rupp said he feels that everything will be alright at UK unless these men and others in their classification are drafted for war work.

Danville Mayor Henry L. Nichols asked the state highway commissioner about the proposed viaduct for Danville, which has been under consideration for many months. The commissioner said the viaduct that is to jump over the Southern Railway had been placed on the docket as the No. 1 post-war project.

50 YEARS AGO — 1969

Donald Davis, 28, who is living in Huntington, West Virginia, is the manpower coordinator for the Southwestern Community Center, has been hired at Danville’s Model Cities Agency where he will be responsible for assisting residents in human resources development planning, including education, health, leisure time and welfare and social services. He is a Danville native and attended Bate High School. He was an outstanding athlete, a member of the student council and was interested in religious activities. He is married to the former Jo Helen Mayfield of Danville and is a licensed practical nurse. Davis’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Davis of Danville.

Royal Industries, of Pasadena, California, will be announcing a new Danville location at a banquet. This $100 million a year company has acquired a plant that was built by Amphenol in the Industrial Park and will make friction material for conventional and disc-type brakes.

More than 500 Danville residents will participate in a parade down Danville’s Main Street beginning at 2 p.m. The event will be one of the highlights of the final day of the Danville All-America City celebration, which was kicked off with the dedication of a new runway at Danville airport. All of the Danville schools will not be in session that day so that students can participate in the parade.

Dedication ceremonies were held at Pioneer Opportunity Workshop as apart of the four-day All-America City celebration. It is hoped that operations can get underway by May 15. The workshop is located in a former warehouse at the intersection of College and Russell streets and will offer vocational rehabilitation to the handicapped in the form of evaluation, training and employment.

25 YEARS AGO — 1994

The Danville City Commission approved a voluntary curbside recycling program where residents sign up for recycling pickup every other week and will cost about $3.50 a month. “I think it’s time to go to the citywide voluntary program,” said Commissioner George Cunningham. “If the people don’t want it, it won’t fly.”

The Danville City Commission voted to purchase the East Main Street pond property for $40,000. The price is just the first expenditure the city will have to make to comply with stricter federal water standards. The city also plans to turn the eight acres around the pond into a park with walking paths, benches, shade trees and a picnic shelter.

National news: Richard Nixon has died at age 81. He left behind the manuscript of his book, “Beyond Peace,” which looks ahead to the world in the next century