100 YEARS AGO
Isolated from the outside world with destruction and devastation lying at the feet of the city in the bottoms of Brushy Creek, San Gabriel and Little Rivers, where the torrential storm broke forth shortly after midnight on Saturday morning, citizens of Rockdale executed an example of relief work that would be a credit to a corps of Red Cross experts.
Immediately after the rain had ceased on Sunday morning these people, headed by and under the direction of their mayor, H.C. Meyer, began a systematic effort that resulted in saving lives, recovered the bodies of those who could not survive the flooded streams during the night of terror and furnishing succor to the stricken people who had come through with naught save their lives and a few rags on their chilled bodies giving them immediate relief and arranging for their rehabilitation.
The women of the community played their parts by opening a relief station. They gathered clothing and food for the sufferers. There was no stint of selfishness in the donations. To see the victims come in, nearly naked, and watch the expressions on their faces as they were handed garments for their very own, the like of which they had never been able to afford, was a scene that touches the heart.
40 YEARS AGO
American cotton growers may just find themselves saving tens of thousands of dollars in the future thanks to the ingenuity of some San Gabriel men.
Kit Worley and Kenneth Andres have figured out a way to bale cotton into round bales, using equipment designed for hay, and talking about the possibility of building a self-propelled round baler for cotton.
The J.D. Peeples store in Milano (called Westbrook Store since 1954) which had been in operation since 1887, and one of Milam County’s oldest businesses, announced they will shut their doors on October 1.
Piggly Wiggly had chuck roast on sale for $1.28 per pound.
20 YEARS AGO
Rockdale V.O.I.C.E.S. Against Abuse held it’s third annual End of Summer Luau. The New Salem club house, decorated in Hawaiian theme, welcomed traditional Hawaiian dancers to entertain the packed house.
VOICES President Pat Doud said the group raised funds for its ongoing of educating society about abuse. She said the event has doubled in size in each of its three years.
Bland’s Jewelers in Taylor was running an ad for a going out of business sale with everything 70% off, yet they are still going strong and are everyone’s favorite jewelry store around here.
10 YEARS AGO
The Rockdale Chamber of Commerce held their Central Texas Hunting and Outdoor Expo at Apache Pass. Things got underway on Friday with school field trip day. Check-in for the barbecue cookoff ran from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Lee Parsley, who owns Lee’s Landing in Rockdale, loaded up his catering trailer with food and supplies and headed to Bastrop to help feed victims of the recent disastrous wildfire in that area.
The Parsley crew, which also included members of the Luminant Sandow/Three Oaks Diversity Council, fed some comfort food of fried catfish and all the trimming to 500 firemen, volunteers and evacuees, some who lost their own homes and belongings. The group also took a trailer of clothes for donations.
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