100 YEARS AGO…
A variety show was coming to Rockdale on December 5, 1921. Ralphie Nicol’s Comedians Big Tent Theatre with a 30-man orchestra and plays, vaudeville and musical numbers. Acts included Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Nichol, Exponents of high class comedy; Bud Hicks, the perfect fool; Charlotte Potts, comedienne; The Two Browns, a mile a minute comedy duo; Potts & Potts, novelty musical artists. The opening play was Yankee Doodle Boy on ladies night. Tickets cost 35 cents with a 4 cent war tax. A Ford Coupe was being advertised for $595 by Mr. Gaither. The car was “so simple in construction, so easy to operated and handle and almost anybody and everybody can safely drive it. The Ford Coupe, permanently enclosed with sliding glass windows, is cozy and roomy, modest and refined. A car that you, your wife or daughter will be so proud to own and drive.” Scarborough and Hicks Store was advertising 9x12’ woven rugs worth $25 but were on sale for $18.50.
40 YEARS AGO…
George Malone Jr., Donal and David Key helped law officers arrest two Rockdale men for the burglary of a store in Minerva by spotting the thieves and getting their license plate number.
The Hardeman Echos entertained the crowd gathered for the annual Thanksgiving Service. Members of the Echos were Freddy Gray, Larry Williams, Doris Hardeman, Doris Phillips, Carolyn Williams, Charles C. Wesley, Imogene Gray, Coleman Burgess, Mae Joyce Cashaw, Evelyn Moultrie, Doris Nell Turner, Osie Bowens, Joann Bradford (pianist) and Barbara McKee (organist).
20 YEARS AGO…
Alan Korenek received the Firefighter-of-the-Year award at the Rockdale Fire Department’s annual award ceremony. Making the presentation was his brother, Mike Korenek, former fire chief.
Funeral services were pending for Jerry Throckmorton, one of Rockdale’s best known and much beloved special citizens who died at his home. Throckmorton, 46, was a graduate of Rockdale High School and was an employee of the Rockdale ISD.
10 YEARS AGO…
The situation wasn’t “grave,” just expensive Saturday night downtown. A westbound 2007 Chevrolet pickup didn’t make the southbound jog where one lane is taken away at Cameron Avenue (US 79) and Scarbrough and ploughed through the headstone markers displayed at Rockdale Memorial Company. Police said neither the driver— 55-year-old Keith Woods of Harlingen—nor the passenger, 33-year-old Charles Reed, were injured. But the toll was still heavy. Police said about 30 markers were damaged at a cost of about $60,000. Damages were also termed extensive to the pickup. The Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department was called to the scene and directed heavy Thanksgiving weekend traffic around the accident.
Sixteen members of the Rockdale Junior High Band earned all-region honors at the Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB; Class 3A and under) Region 18/26 auditions in Hutto, according to RJH band director Lance Walker. Two hundred junior high students made two bands, the top band being the symphonic band and the bottom band being the concert band. “We were fortunate enough to have 16 students make the band,” he said. “These students managed to put on a great concert in just two days of rehearsal as a full band.”
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