100 YEARS AGO…
J.L. Clark, radio expert of San Gabriel, was in Thorndale and we learn that San Gabriel School would soon have a receiving set which would rival any set in the country. The equipment was purchased by private subscriptions and the proceeds from entertainments. When installed it would be the property of the public school. It was planned to have the people in the community gather at the school building for entertainments by radio and, in fact, the school building would be the center of community interest.
The Rockdale Business Women’s League, with Mrs. E.A. Camp and Myra McDaniel as secretary, gave entertainments and raised money in various diverse and sundry ways. The money raised was put into War Savings Stamps which the organization recently cashed in and the money given to the American Legion Carlyle Post and the Public School Library Fund. The library wasn’t sure at the beginning of the year if they would be able to buy all of the books on their wish list for the students but were now be able to get all of the books they wanted and then some. The Carlyle Post had a room for veterans in downtown Rockdale and they would use the money to buy comfortable furniture to supply the room.
(Editor’s note: Each organization got $96. In today’s money that is nearly $1,700 each.) Clay Allen, chairman of the tree planting committee of the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, asked The Reporter to again call attention to the fact that the time to plant trees was here and that his committee was ready to supply, free of all cost, fine young healthy river bottom sycamores to all Rockdale citizens who would agree to plant and care for same.
40 YEARS AGO…
Students surprised RHS Principal Walter Pond for his birthday with a reception in the school cafeteria. There was yet another surprise, presented by Paula Mireles, National Honor Society president, and Shelley Hall, vice-president, a letter from Gov. Bill Clements commending Pond’s service to the school and community. Pond declined to answer student questions inquiring just how many birthdays he previously celebrated.
Newly-elected officers of Rockdale Emergency Medical Services for 1983 were Ronnie Wiley, president; Wallace Jones, vice-president and treasurer; and Georgia Rolan, secretary. Jones served as president during the past year.
20 YEARS AGO…
Expansion of Rockdale’s city library into the adjacent Vogel building was ahead of schedule but the project was seeking an additional $26,000. Ann King, library board president, said there were no plans for painting and carpeting the current library in the original renovation contract.
Area contractor Mike Richardson had his work cut out for him after being awarded title to the historic but long vacant Garcia Building at 118 N. Main St. Richardson submitted a high bid of $1,100 to the city council for the building. Only one other bidder sought the structure.
10 YEARS AGO…
Twenty-five Rockdale structures were “on the list” for demolition and action was being taken on five, as the city’s substandard building program geared up on several fronts for 2013. The two most prominent candidates for demolition—two downtown buildings damaged by the Aug. 29-30 collapse of a 19th-Century wall—weren’t on the list just yet.
Gently worn or new prom dresses were needed to help those that were in need of a free prom dress, according to Elissa Benford, spokesperson. She said all sizes were needed and must be no more than five years old. “We are also accepting gently worn or new shoes, jewelry and hand bags,” she said.
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