100 YEARS AGO....
“Sea Shells,” The Reporter’s Sand Grove rural correspondent began his column thusly: “Let me tell you Old Cupid just played havoc in this community. Since our last writing, as there is five couples of a recent date that has been happily united in the holy bonds of wedlock.
County Agent George Banzhaf called for 500 boys to join a new Boys Corn Club, each pledging to grow one acre of corn. (It eventually evolved into the Milam County 4H program).
Rockdale schools, which had closed due to the flu epidemic, were scheduled to reopen on Monday.
Notice: “On account of Judge Watson being confined to his bed with the flu, all cases in District Court have been continued until March.”
FORTY YEARS AGO....
Rockdale City Council members awarded $174,606 in water and sewer bids with City Manager Dan Roark noting the bids came in about $34,000 under budget.
The new Rockdale Housing Authority’s proposal included 50 units of low-income housing plus an additional 10 for senior citizens.
A new 120-foot-tall water tower was going up at the site of the current Westwood tower and was expected to boost water pressure an average of 20 pounds per connection.
Jerry Franklin’s Rockdale Tiger basketball team completed a perfect 10-0 district schedule and were set to take on Manor in bi-district action.
TWENTY YEARS AGO....
Tornado-like winds were blamed for blowing a metal shop building about 150 feet at an FM 487 location across from the Praesel Addition.
Laura Denton’s project on the strength and design of building materials was sweepstakes winner at the annual Rockdale High School Science Fair.
Fund-raising began to construct a new MARC Center. The small building currently used by the center was approximately 50 years old.
A steal and bucket with five seconds remaining ended a stellar Rockdale Lady Tiger basketball season at the area round. The 40-37 loss to Groesbeck ended Rockdale’s season at 21-10.
TEN YEARS AGO....
A surprise 6-inch snowfall fell in Rockdale, estimated to be the second greatest snowfall in local weather history. (There was a 7.5-inch snowfall in 1929.)
The Rockdale Hospital District Board voted to surrender the half-cent sales tax it had collected for 16 years. Two elections would be held to formalize the decision.
Snow and ice caused numerous collisions throughout Milam County with one vehicle left abandoned against a guard rail on the Little River “Long Bridge” near Cameron.
It was a standing room only crowd in the new Rock-dale High School Gym as Milano defeated Thorndale 60-45 to earn a No. 1 playoff seed for bi-district. The Eagles and Bulldogs had tied for the loop title.
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