10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO
100 YEARS AGO…
Sept. 20 was Trades Day in Rockdale. It was also “Ford Day” and on that occasion Rockdale would produce the biggest “Ford Blowout” every seen in Central Texas. About one year ago Rockdale held a “Ford Day,” the first ever held in Milam County. That day would be remembered as one of the biggest days the people of Milam ever saw. But Ford Trades Day this year was going to be even bigger and better. There were more premiums offered and more events in which to enter. The merchants were giving bigger bargains, and the day was being prepared on a larger scale in every way.
The hospitable home of Mrs. I.P. Sessions was thrown open for the entertainment of one of her favorite clubs, The Scrap Book Club. In spite of the dry weather, roses were in evidence in all rooms and each rose and basket seemed to vie with the others. Five tables for 42, Rockdale’s popular game, were soon filled with bright faced guests and club members.
Under the tutelage of Coaches Hughes and Bethea, the Rockdale Tigers were rounding out a week of light training. Most of the time was spent in limbering stiff muscles, punting, passing, charging, handling the ball and getting into condition. The Tigers were to play their first game on the local gridiron Sept. 28 with Rogers High.
A two-week revival was under way at the Methodist Church in Rockdale. Rev. J. Ed Morgan of Texarkana, general evangelist of Southern Methodist Conference, was in charge, being assisted by the capable minister of the local church, Bro. N.H. Melbert.
40 YEARS AGO…
Alcoa was to open its last remaining idle aluminum production line—or “potline”—at its Rockdale Works smelter in response to the continuing improvement in aluminum demand and to replace lower inventories of primary metals.
A tornado roared through Rockdale, leaving 10 dead, 30 seriously injured and leaving a path of destruction in its wake, including a train derailment of deadly chemicals. It was a drill to test emergency procedures and it was as true-to-life as possible with 100 students playing “victims” complete with injuries featuring realistic makeup.
20 YEARS AGO…
Liz Carpenter, former press secretary to Lady Bird Johnson, was to speak at the Patterson Civic Center in an event sponsored by Friends of the Library. Carpenter was a resident of Austin and one of the city’s most recognizable citizens.
Home economist Margaret McCutcheon, in her second trip to Rockdale with the Taste of Home Cooking Show, demonstrated some simple, down-home recipes for an enthusiastic crowd at the Rockdale High School auditorium. The crowd was estimated to be between 675 to 700 people.
10 YEARS AGO…
Thirty-one years after its owner passed away at the age of 92, and a century after he first began rolling around Rockdale in one, Lee Caywood’s last wagon was back where the public could see it. The debut of the old “two-mule” wagon was on permanent display outside at the I&GN Depot Historical Museum.
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