100 YEARS AGO...
Rockdale’s big co-operative sale by all merchants of the city, was a success in spite of the many handicaps under which it labored. The crowds were from all portions of the county and they made liberal purchases.
The Chamber of Commerce directors held an interesting meeting. J. Hales, manager of the Okla-Texas Petroleum Products Co., appeared before the body and outlined a proposition by which the local oil field should be advertised, offering to take charge of the advertising if the Chamber of Commerce would finance it, offering to assist in financing same.
Rockdale entertained the East & West Highway Association with delegates being expected from all points, Longview to Austin, on the I.&G.N.
Rockdale High School football team was developing into a real team. Having won two out of three games played, they were beginning to feel that they were entitled to a little better attendance at the games. The attendance the previous Friday when they took the Somerville team into camp was quite small. The final score of the game was 31-0 in Rockdale’s favor.
FORTY YEARS AGO...
Rockdale and Milano County voters were set to go to the polls Tuesday to help America choose a president for the next four years and choose between an incumbent county commissioner and two write-in candidates.
School trustees voted their intent to adopt a 42-cents-per-$100-valuation tax rate for 1980-81, down 18 cents from one year ago. It was homecoming time at Rockdale High School, as well as Halloween, and the big question for the important District 23AAA football game between Milam County rivals RHS and Cameron Yoe was: Will the Yoemen spook the Tigers for the third time in a row?
Rockdale shoppers were invited to begin registering at local businesses No. 1 for $2,000 in gifts and $500 in “Rockdale Cash” to be given away during the Christmas season.
TWENTY YEARS AGO...
An afternoon of rain had Rockdale Fair Association officials concerned about prospects for Saturday evening’s live stock auction, the premier event of the 2000 fair. But the buyers did show and the sale totaled more than $125,000.
There was a good chance no more asbestos liability cases would be filed in Milam County’s 20th District Court. And if there was, District Judge Charles Lance wouldn’t be on the bench for them. He recused himself from hearing anymore asbestos cases.
There wasn’t be an election to expand the Rockdale Hospital District on Nov. 7. The hospital directors cited potential illegality of their proposed voting place. County commissioners joined the growing number of Milam County governing bodies to pass resolutions in support of Alcoa’s mining plans in Lee and Bastrop counties.
TEN YEARS AGO...
It would be hard to overstate the positive economic impact for the Rockdale area if the vision of Velocita Holdings founder and CEO Doug Hutchison comes to pass on land now owned by Alcoa. After all, new Rockdale-sized towns with 5,000 jobs, world-class research facilities, $2-billion in tax base value and $315 million in base annual payroll don’t come along every year. Alcoa has announced plans to enter into negotiations with Florida-based Velocita to sell just over 11,000 acres of its former Rockdale Operations.
Milam County voters were to go to the polls Tuesday to decide one of the most intense county-judge races in decades. Three-term incumbent Frank Summers, a Democrat, is challenged by former Cameron Mayor Dave Barkemeyer, a Republican.
One of Rockdale’s most historic buildings ceased to be a place of business for the first time in a century. McVoy’s Feed & Fertilizer closed its doors, ending a string of continuous operation in the same building which probably stretches back more than 100 years. For 53 of those years, 1946-1999, it was operated as McVoy Grocery & Feed, one of the true legendary businesses in Rockdale.
Members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2078 approved a pair of two-year labor contracts with Luminant in voting Thursday and Friday at the Local 2078 union hall.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.