1911
W.S. Fitzgerald, of Danville and President of the Jailers Association of Kentucky, has completed all the arrangements for the fifth annual meeting of that organization. It will be held in New Castle, Henry County, in September. The program contains topics for discussion that will be of interest to the state generally as well as to the jailers. Questions such as lynching, the handling of mobs and better sanitary conditions in the prisons will be discussed.
In news around town: Coroner J.R. Dodds held an inquest over the body of George Wilson, who was killed recently. The verdict of the jury was Wilson was shot accidentally by a gun in the hands of Charles Beddow. Wilson carried $255 insurance with Prudential.
Centre College of Central University will open Sept. 13 for the school year and prospects are very bright for a large enrollment. The freshman class numbered about 65 and most of the first-year men are expected to return. The erection of the new library will start next month, and ground will be broken this fall for the building of the alumni gymnasium. Football coach Beal Banks will return about Sept. 1 to make preparations for an early football practice. Banks has spent the summer at his home in New York state.
Since the resignation of the Rev. H.C. Garrison was handed a few days ago, the congregation of the Christian Church has been in a state of deep perplexity, but it now begins to look as though from this chaotic condition the church will rise better and stronger than ever. The congregation as a whole is beginning to see the great blunder it had made in not putting forth greater efforts toward the erection of a new church, which is so badly needed.
1936
Work on the first of Mercer County’s WPA drought reservoirs was started this week on a farm four miles from Harrodsburg on the Dixville Road. Nine WPA laborers are clearing an acre of ground, which lies in a valley surrounded by steep ills. Rain drainage is expected to fill the reservoir. After the tract is cleared, the ground will be plowed and the loose dirt thrown up into a dam across one end of the valley. It will be 100 feet long, 16 feet wide at the base, and 10 feet wide at the top.
Due to the drought and the resulting increase in the price of necessary feeds, the retail price of milk in Danville will go up two cents a quart, according to an announcement by the 11 major milk and dairy companies, and retailers, here. The future retail price of a quart of sweet milk will be 12 cents while pints will be sold at 6 cents. The price for some time has been 10 cents a quart and 5 cents a pint.
Construction of two bridges in the county road system will start within a few days in Boyle County. Employees of the county road department will be used for the work. One of the bridges will be on the Cemetery Road near the southern part of Junction City. The second bridge is replacing the one at the Perryville-Danville Road at Atoka. The old bridge will be moved and installed on Salt River Church Road.
1961
At least 40 residents of Danville and Boyle County are among the 4,000 men in Kentucky called to active Army service as members of Kentucky’s largest Army Reserve unit, the 100th Division. This division has been ordered to report Sept. 25 to Fort Polk, La., to form the training unit for that base. In the local group called up, seven are employees of Corning Glass Works, two are employed by KU, at least one works for a local financial business, one is the assistant Boyle County Extention Agent, one is a lawyer and one is a teacher.
The annual hiking trail to be called the “Perryville Pilgrimage Trek” is being developed by the Louisville Civil War Round Table in cooperation with the Boyle County Civil War Centennial Commission and other historic and patriotic organizations.
The pilgrimage is about 15 miles long. Starting in Mackville, the pilgrimage will retrace the march route of Maj. Gen. Alex McDowell McCook and his First U.S. Army Corps. To simulate the hardships of both the Confederate and Union armies, hikers will be required to walk about nine miles from Mackville to the Perryville Battlefield without water.
Canteens will be filled at Perryville Battlefield State Park for the remainder of the hike. This requirement is based on a severe drought that made water a premium item throughout the Perryville area in October 1862. Some armies had marched an entire day with empty canteens. Thus, each water hole became the scene of savage fighting as opposing armies vied for water.
1986
The Danville Fire Department has made some changes in its staff — two new assistant chiefs, a new employee and one Dalmation fire dog. The fire dog is to help the department meet community standards. “Every model fire department needs a mascot,” said Mayor John Bowling. “I want her (the dog) sitting in front of the fire engine where people can see her,” he said. However, the decision to get a fire dog was not unanimous. City Commissioner Andy Bryant said the purchase of the dog was bad timing because of the cost and because of the recent controversy over a dog control ordinance considered by Boyle County Fiscal Court.
The City of Harrodsburg is looking for a few good men with weapons. Persons interested in helping eradicate blackbirds and pigeons in the downtown area should report to the police station with guns and bullets by 4 p.m. Saturday for deputization. Police Chief Tim Bryant said, “This isn’t going to turn into a free-for-all, everybody-who-wants-to-shoot shoot. Everyone that wants to shoot will have to be registered at the police department.”
A Boyle Fiscal Court member accused Public Works Director Duane Campbell of attempting to wast county money after Campbell proposed several capital improvements for the road department and courthouse. Campbell’s list of proposals include the installation of a radio system for the road crew, purchase of devices to allow wheelchair-bound people to operate courthouse doors automatically and renovation of the fiscal court meeting room. Magistrate Morris Martin said “You’re (Campbell) making $30,000 worth of proposals here in one day. At that rate, the county will be out of money in a month.” He added “In my opinion, you’re proposing to waste county money.”
