100 YEARS AGO — 1916

Old servant dies: Uncle Henry Gentry, as he was called by those he served so faithfully, dropped dead the other day. He had been with the Gentry family on the Harrodsburg Pike all of his life, which was nearing 90 years, and they are mourning his passing.

The reports on the world’s series baseball games are being posted by innings at Silliman’s each afternoon. More than usual interest seems to be manifested this year from the crowd that assembles each afternoon. If Boston wins this afternoon and tomorrow, the fans will be compelled to turn from the diamond to the gridiron.

Seldom has this community been more shocked than by hearing of the sudden death of Mrs. J. M. Wallace. She was a charter member of the Civic League. This writer was privileged to be one of her assistants, and day after day, through heat and cold, we drove through the streets of the city, as well as to outlying districts, searching for what should not be there, her every effort being to make this town that she loved more beautiful. On one occasion, she was at a strenuous post during a tornado, when the danger was great and she was urged to leave and seek a place of safety, she said, “No, my place is here until my work is done.” And true to her character, she remained until everything was made secure.

F.M. Floyd, of Junction City, was arrested and brought to Danville on charges of passing counterfeit money. A secret service man had heard about it and easily found evidence of counterfeit money he was circulating around the area. Officers went to the farm of James Swope, where Floyd was cutting corn. He pled guilty of passing counterfeit coins, but claimed he didn’t make them and they had come into his possession indirectly. However, molds with the impressions of coins were found under the hearth at his home, along with counterfeit quarters and dimes. It was also proved that Floyd had purchased plaster paris from the druggist in Junction City. Floyd has a wife and several children and had recently moved into one of the houses at Linnietta Springs from Pulaski County.

75 YEARS AGO — 1941

There will be a bulldog fight in Burgin Friday afternoon when the Burgin and Perryville six-man football teams play. Both teams are named Bulldogs, and being about equally matched, it will be a real scrap.

The Hustonville Future Farmers Chapter is sponsoring a contest to select the prettiest girl to represent their school in the beauty contest at Lincoln County School Fair which will be in Waynesburg on Oct. 24. Each class in the upper six grades of the school has elected a candidate which they are backing. The candidates in this contest are: Jean Dietz, Margaret Lay, Eiline Dunaway, Josephine Wheeler, Frances Smith and Lillie Mae Hafley.

In a letter to the editor a writer says: Doubtless, a few of Danville’s citizens remember a store directly across Main Street from the Gilcher Hotel, in which there were bicycles for sale. In those days there were bicycles with wooden rims, wooden spokes and iron tires. 

George P. Brown, 69, of West Walnut Street suffered a broken ankle when he was struck by a driver in a pickup truck as he was attempting to walk across Main Street. Mr. Brown, a retired railroad employee, said he did not identify the driver of the truck. Mr. Brown’s brother, who he was living with, said his small children explained that the driver brought his brother home, put him out in the yard and then left without revealing his name.

John Collis, who has the reputation of being a great cook, is opening anther eating place in Danville. It will be located in the store room formerly occupied by the Fannie-Louis Shop on Third Street, opposite of the Danville Laundry and Dry Cleaning  Company.  Some of the locals call that section, “The Wall Street of Danville.” Collis has just returned from North Carolina where he spent two weeks learning that wonderful mode of barbecuing. He will build a barbecue pit in the rear of his business and will cook 50 pounds shoats.

50 YEARS AGO — 1966

John “Jack” Hancock, will assume his duties as vice president and assistant trust officer of the Citizens National Bank of Danville on Nov. 1. Mr. Hancock comes to the Danville Bank from the National Bank of Dayton, Ohio, where he served as branch manager of its branch office in Kettering, Ohio.

The antennas are up at Parks-Belk furniture Store in Greenleaf Shopping Center to better demonstrate their big news of the season — Magnavox stereos, radios, transistors, consoles and television in all sizes and periods (Danish, Early American, French Provincial, Spanish and Italian!) Like rides? Here’s one that looks like a handsome blue briefcase that rolls around on wheels. It’s a new Sunbeam Vacuum Cleaner being sold at Durham Hardware. Mary Eva’s store is selling girls’ slips that can be altered to make a bit longer for growing girls simply by snipping a couple of stitches in the hem.

A 60-unit municipal housing project for the elderly that had been approved, has now been disapproved for its proposed location at the end of Chestnut Street.  During the last city council meeting, city hall was filled with residents from Park Place who objected to the housing unit being so near their properties.

25 YEARS AGO — 1991

Dr. Quin Bailey, who has a family practice in Danville, is scheduled to appear on “CBS This Morning” on Friday in a segment on sports injuries involving young players. Bailey was chosen for the interview because he heads the Sports Medicine Committee of the Kentucky Medical Society which last week voted to seek a change in a 1990 state law that allows seventh- and eighth-graders to play on varsity teams.

Old Centre, the Greek Revival building that faces east on a crest overlooking Centre College campus, is a common thread that connects all students who have attended that college. That theme was mentioned several times when college officials, alumni, students and faculty gathered to rededicate the building, which recently underwent a $2.4 million renovation. The center section of the building was authorized in 1819 by the board of trustees. In August, 1820, two professors and five students held the first classes of the college in Old Centre. The building took its present form 150 years ago when two wings and the Greek Revival front portico were added. The columns on the portico have become the symbol of the college and serves as its logo.