10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO
100 YEARS AGO
Cameron suffered a fire loss Tuesday estimated as high as $300,000 following a fire which started in the Cameron Oil Mill. The fire started a 12 o’clock noon, and due to the high wind, which blew fiercely from the south, the entire city was endangered, and at one time looked to be doomed.
Neighboring towns were called on for aid and fire trucks were sent to the scent by Rockdale, Rogers, Temple and Belton, and the fire was put under control by 8 p.m. Property destroyed included the oil mill, the Christian Church edifice, and one residence. The Santa Fe Railroad lost several cars, and the oil mill loss included all stock on hand of seed, oil, hulls and linters, amounting in all to many thousands of dollars.
During the progress of these fires dozens of residences all over the city caught fire from sparks and burning fragments swept by the gale. These incipient fires were extinguished by the owners and neighbors with garden hose and buckets. All over the city men and boys were on roofs engaged in smothering out burning shingles. In this manner great losses were obviated through the residence district.
San Jacinto Day, Tuesday of this week, was celebrated in Rockdale as a legal holiday. All stores closed and the public school as well. Under the auspices of the American Legion local post some races and a goat roping contest were staged at Fair Park in the afternoon. The events were not widely advertised and the crowd attending was small, due in great part also the big fie in Cameron.
At its regular weekly luncheon last Thursday, the Lions Club of Rockdale voted unanimously to foster a spring cleanup campaign as its first actual service work for the city. The club president brought the matter the matter up for discussion, with certain suggestions, and the matter met with instant favor. The result was the appointment of a committee to have charge of the campaign.
Miss Lottye Maie Phillips was charming hostess of the Bridge Club Saturday afternoon. The beauty of the already attractive rooms was further enhanced y placing of bright tinted snapdragons and greenery. Miss Phillips served a delicious salad course on bamboo trays.
40 YEARS AGO
Twila Harris was sworn in Monday as new Justice of the Peace in Precinct 3 by County Clerk Willie Mae Wieser. She was appointed Milam County’s newest JP by county commissioners last week, filling the vacancy created by the recent death of long-time JP Leonard Allen.
20 YEARS AGO
Rockdale High School’s 49-year-old gymnasium will get its first-ever complete renovation with new floor, bleachers and physical education blackboards. Jones Hardwood Floors of San Marcos presented the lowest on two bids for replacing the gym floor and several alternative projects in the RHS gym, which was constructed in 1956.
10 YEARS AGO Rockdale Reporter Editor Mike Brown was named Journalist of the Year at the 89th South Texas Press Association Convention Friday at Port Royal.
The South Texas Press Association is the largest regional press association in the country.
Brown captured his second Journalist of the Year Award, the first coming in 2012. The award was created in 2011.
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