100 YEARS AGO...
Despite unsettled weather, tremendous rains and almost impassable roads, Rockdale’s third Trade Days proved to be an unqualified success with at least 2,000 persons assembled on the streets. It is believed that this number would have been doubled had the roads permitted travel. Numbers of persons started to come from miles north of Rockdale but turned back when they learned that the San Gabriel and Little rivers were rising steadily.
Word was received that the educational film “From Tree to Trade,” picturing the lumber operations in the South and West had been booked for the city for June 17-18. On those dates, the film would be shown in Maxie’s Theatre. The film shows the romance of the lumber trade from felling the trees in the forest through various operations to the finished product.
FORTY YEARS AGO...
Even though close to 10 inches of rain drenched the Rockdale area in less than five days, Rockdale and Milam County escaped serious flooding that brought death and destruction to a wide swath of Central Texas.
Southwestern Bell Co. proposed significant increases in local monthly rates for Texas customers.
A second deputy was to be stationed in Rockdale in 1982 if Sheriff Leroy Broadus’s wishes were approved by Milam County commissioners when they adopt their 1982 operating budget.
A 19-year-old El Paso man was killed and two Rockdale men were injured in a two-vehicle, head-on collision west of Milano on US 79.
TWENTY YEARS AGO...
An escaped federal prisoner, living “on the lam” in Milam County for the past five years, was captured by U.S. marshals and Milam sheriff deputies after leaving his residence on CR 241.
A Marlin ISD administrator was set to assume duties as Rockdale High School assistant principal in the fall. School trustees hired William Almond for the position at last week’s board meeting.
City Council members voted to ask Shallow-Ford Construction to complete two drainage projects before it was paid in full for recent work.
Rockdale Roping and Cutting President Leroy Stephens said ticket sales were under way for the July 11-14 Jubilee Days rodeo. Tickets were being sold by the Jubilee Days queen contestants.
TEN YEARS AGO...
On a 3-2 vote the Rockdale City Council reversed itself and lowered the city’s hotel-motel tax after being told by business owners the lodging industry was “in worse shape than in the Great Depression.”
Milam County Commissioners banned fireworks with fins and sticks in advance of the July Fourth holiday but the ban wouldn’t affect the free fireworks show planned for July 1 at Fair Park.
Rockdale’s newest business aimed to leave this community in better shape, literally. Snap Fitness, owned by Wayne Vinson of Columbus, was forecasting an August opening in the building being vacated by Comfort AC, 734 West Cameron (US 79).
There was no truth to the rumor that when Zach Brashear stripped off his Cameron baseball uniform, there is a T-shirt with an “S” emblazoned on it connected to a red cape. If the cape fits.... Making amends for a lost chance in football, the Yoemen leapt out early and held on for a 7-3 win over Nacogdoches Central Heights to claim the Class 2A state championship at the Dell Diamond on a beautiful, sunny day in front of 1,652 fans.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.