100 YEARS AGO…
February Trades Day in Rockdale would fall on Monday, Feb. 12, that being the second Monday. The second Monday was adopted as regular Trades Day each month by the Chamber of Commerce. February Trades Day would in all likelihood be featured by a series of aviation stunts by an airplane stunt flier. The Trades Day Committee was negotiating with such a flier and due announcement would be made in next week’s paper. Rockdale had not had an airplane flight since 1914 and had never had a “stunt” f lier. If the contract was closed, the people would have an opportunity of seeing this fellow do tricks in the air that would make your hair stand on end.
Despite a heav y rain which fell, following a day of drizzling weather, exactly 1,003 people by actual count, visited the S.A. & A.P Exhibit Train which arrived here.
The 20th anniversary of the Thorndale Mercantile Co., in business since 1903, was celebrated on Jan. 1, when a dividend of 20 percent was declared by the directors in their annual meeting. The Mercantile was one of the oldest institutions in Thorndale.
Automobile thieves got their work in Rockdale, when Walter B. Talley lost a new Ford car, fully equipped. The car was stolen from the garage of the Rockdale Motor Car Co., the thieves gaining entrance by cutting the lock off of the big front door. Once inside, they took time to pick their choice and Mr. Talley’s dolled-up Ford was “it.” Mr. Talley’s car was found stuck in a mudhole near Thrall, where it had been abandoned. It was brought home and found to be in good condition.
40 YEARS AGO…
Dedication ceremonies for Rockdale’s Negro History Library, located on East Fourth Street, were set for Feb. 13 at Springfield Baptist Church, according to O.E. Wilhite, chairman of the library board.
“Music Leader”—the Rockdale horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby just last May 1—died in an Elgin veterinary hospital, ending a brief career that brought winnings totaling approximately $175,000. “Music Leader” was owned by Linwood Mehaffey, Carroll Glaser and Emory Camp of Rockdale and Bob Ellet of Cameron. Buddy Morgan of Rockdale was his trainer.
20 YEARS AGO…
Walter Pond, Rockdale ISD superintendent for the past 15 years, received a new three-year contract from school trustees.
If you got stopped by Rockdale police, smile. After all, you were on camera. Six state-of-the-art videotape cameras were in use in six police patrol cars. They could do just about everything but click the handcuffs on a suspect.
10 YEARS AGO…
Don’t have a “Big Mac Attack.” Rockdale’s McDonald’s wasn’t going away after more than 22 years. In fact, it was coming back as a newer, larger restaurant. But first you have to tear down the old one and that’s what happened as demolition crews took down the familiar fastfood eatery that opened on Dec. 11, 1990. Plans were to build a new, $690,000 facility. Employees of the Rockdale location had been reassigned to work at other McDonald’s around the area.
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