100 YEARS AGO
Uncle Tom Phillips of Rockdale had a most appreciated present. His oil well came in on June 27, which also happened to be Uncle Tom’s 82nd birthday. For several days it gushed by heads throwing the oil higher than the mast head. It’s daily production at first was 176 barrels. It is known as the Lee-Phillips Company’s No. 1, Tom Phillips. No. 2 on the same tract is underway. This farm is two miles north of Rockdale.
Dorrell Luckey, son of our fellow townsman, P.E. Luckey, received injuries at Taylor last Saturday afternoon said to be very serious as a result of coming in contact with a 2,300-volt circuit wire of the Texas Power & Light Company. Young Luckey, with a companion employee of the electric company, was engaged in making repairs on the line. Both men were near the top of the thirty-fivefoot pole. Luckey had just released himself from his lift belt in order to move higher up on the pole when his left arm and shoulder come in contact with the “hot” wire. The shock momentarily caused him to lose consciousness and the weight of his body pulled him loose from the wire as he plunged twenty-five feet to the ground below. He was immediately carried to Taylor Hospital where it was found that his injuries were quite serious. LATER—News from the hospital this Thursday morning is to the effect that Mr. Luckey is resting easy and gives every indication of ultimate recovery, all broken bones having been successfully set.
There will be a basket picnic at Gay Hill Wednesday, August 6, to which everyone is invited. Come and bring well filled baskets. Will have with us on that date W.W. Fitzwater, National President and founder of the Farm Labor Union of America, who will speak in the interest of that great organization.
A mad dog was killed in Rockdale last Thursday evening, after having run loose the previous night and day and biting several other dogs. Among the dogs so bitten was Kenton Hairston’s fine Bull and Henley Murphree’s Airedale. Mr. Hairston sent the mad dog’s head to Austin for examination, and upon receipt of a telegram stating that the dog was unmistakenly mad, both Mr. Hairston and Mr. Murphree had their dogs killed. Mayor pro tem Marrs got out circulars ordering all dogs in the city tied up, and the following day all stray dogs in the town were killed by the officers, probably a dozen dogs thus giving up the ghost.
40 YEARS AGO
Excavation work has already begun on Summit Street, the latest Rockdale thoroughfare to be paved in the city of Rockdale’s assessment paving program. Summit was targeted for paving after landowners petitioned the city council. St. John’s United Methodist Church sits at the top of Summit Street and is the highest point within Rockdale city limits.
20 YEARS AGO
Milam County commissioners called for construction bids on a new 107-bed county jail Monday, four days after County Judge Frank Summers told a Rockdale audience the jail project is expected to add about four cents to the county tax rate.
10 YEARS AGO
A bit of Rockdale history from the 1950s bit the dust early this week when a crew from T&T Contractors demolished the unused Texas Street water tower. The 110-foot tower was constructed during the Alcoa boom years and remained in use until 1999 when it went off-line after the new Mill Street (robin’s egg blue) tower was erected. Scooter Lindholm, public works director, said this project is related to the new Allday Street tower coming online, possibly as soon as Saturday. “After that happens, the demolition crew will then also take down the old Allday tower,” he said.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.