Looking back...

10-20-40-100 YEARS AGO

100 YEARS AGO

An Austin builder was awarded the contract to build the new high school during a joint meeting of the Rockdale City Council and the RISD school board. The contract was for $57,000 which included heating, lighting and plumbing.

Mr. A.E. “Tink” Perry died unexpectedly and the town was shocked. Turner Lumber Company was to have had a grand opening ad in The Reporter, but instead chose to hold off the grand opening and used the ad space to mourn Mr. Perry.

Scarborough & Hicks Company was advertising a new style of dropped waist dresses, “Suit coats are neither long nor short, neither straight lines nor flared. Only in color is there marked favoritism. Malay brown, volnay red and black seem to be in the lead. Waistlines are low, sleeves are wide and shoulders droop most fetchingly.”

40 YEARS AGO

The Texas Department of Human Resources was still trying to trace the identity of a two-day-old baby girl who was found in a weed patch behind the 1200 block of Highland Avenue on May 31.

The Noon Lions Club was selling brooms and mops door to door to raise money for the blind. The household items were made by blind people.

Three candidates for Miss Rockdale Fair Queen had sold the requisite 50 tickets to be entered into the pageant. They were Donna Schraeder, Kelly Camp and Lynn Henson.

McVoy’s Grocery Store was advertising Imperial Sugar for $1.49 per five pound bag. “Exciting new fall fashions, styles and colors in menswear” was advertised by Hodges Man’s Shop.

20 YEARS AGO

Blood and fund donations were still being raised for the 911 victims. Donations of more than $6,000 were collected by Rockdale’s three banks, United Steelworkers Local 4895 had collected 47 units of blood. American flags sprouted up all over town like the bluebonnets in spring.

Mrs. Ann Wallis and the late James C. Wallis Jr. announced the engagement of their daughter, Sharon Lynn, to Charles Lee “Chuck” McDaniel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Tom McDaniel of the Tanglewood community.

Milano Elementary students placed red, white and blue ribbons on the south fence to honor the 911 victims. Principal Lindy Robinson said the students also collected “nickels for New York” to raise money.

10 YEARS AGO

The MARC Center at 1705 Pecos Avenue was holding a Community Open House on Oct. 2 from 2 until 4 p.m. “The board of directors, staff and consumers cordially invite everyone to come out and tour our newly expanded facility.” said Ann Dyer, board secretary.

Organizers say that 1,500 bands were handed out to vendors, cookers, spectators and more during the first ever Hunting and Outdoor Expo held Friday and Saturday at Apache Pass, north of Rockdale on FM 908. The event was sponsored by the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce.

Calvin Whiteley’s garden south of Milano on CR 330 produced two enormous sweet potatoes which he brought to The Reporter to show off. One weighed six pounds and another weighed five and a half pounds.