100 YEARS AGO — 1917

The City Schools will open on Monday, Jan. 7. The heating plant at the Broadway building has been overhauled and on account of the severe weather, the work has been delayed so that it is not possible to heat the building. Everything will be ready, however, to open next Monday morning.

Fresh, Dix River fish in the dead of winter seems an impossibility, but this luxury is being served on the tables of some of our citizens and at small expense. The Dix River flows through Charley Poindexter’s farm on Lexington Road between Lancaster and Danville and is the source for water for several large herds of cattle that Mr. Poindexter owns. The recent severe cold weather has froze up all the springs and ponds and even the river was covered with solid ice from eight to 15 inches thick. This condition brought trouble for the stockmen, as ice must be not only cut but hauled out of the stream so the animals can drink. Mr. Poindexter and several of his workmen started removing the ice and were greatly surprised when cakes of of ice were removed, hundreds of fish appeared and poked their heads out of the water with their mouths open. Sending several hands home, they quickly procured sacks of corn meal and made a batter to feed the hungry fish. As times are hard and money scarce, Mr. Poindexter decided to make some profit from his “fishery”. Each morning some hands go to the river and find hundreds of fish waiting to be caught. A washing tub is placed in the hole where the ice has been removed, and Charley uses a hammer to beat on the ice causing hundreds of fish to jump into the tub. There’s nothing more to do than lift the tub out of the water and clean many of the fish and take them into town were several people are on the waiting list to pay Charley any old price he wants.

The article appearing in last Tuesday’s issue about the large amount of fish being caught by Col. Charles Poindexter, of Garrard County was taken seriously by our good friend, Edward Williams of Junction City, assistant game warden, and caused him to make a drive to this city last Wednesday morning when the mercury was hovering around zero. Warden Williams was soon convinced that the article mentioned was a sure enough “fish story” and returned to his home.

75 YEARS AGO — 1942

The Advocate-Messenger’s quest for the first father of 1943 is taking on an added interest with the approach of the New Year. As previously announced, the first father of 1943 will take precedence over the first baby in Boyle County this year. Over 20 prospective dads have been “lined up” and city and county physicians have agreed to cooperate by closely watching their clocks after the midnight hour on Dec. 31. Local merchants are asked to contribute gifts to the father, whose pride will possibly be tinged with an anxiety over a new mouth to feed and a new body to clothe. It is a foregone conclusion that the father who ordinarily is presented only with the bills covering the occasion, will welcome more appropriate reminders o he honor which has befallen him.

Little evidence of attempts to hoard food has been noticed among local residents here since the announcement of the new canned-food rationing plan early this week. Housewives appear to be slightly worried about the new system, more because they were afraid of not being to clearly understand the point system, rather than because they feared they would not have enough to supply their tables.

The Victory Book Campaign for 1943 will officially open in Boyle County on Jan. 5, in its second annual drive. Miss Elizabeth Tunis, head of the Young-Rodes Library, will act as chairman, supported by air raid wardens, and the fire and police departments, in addition to business, religious, civic and service groups. The aim of the campaign is to accumulate millions of books for the army, navy, coast guard, marines and the merchant seaman service. Boyle County residents are asked to take or send their donated books to the library at Third Street and Broadway.

50 YEARS AGO — 1967

About 100 members of the Danville Chamber of Commerce attended a New Year’s breakfast meeting for a discussion of the community’s needs in 1968. The most urgent civic improvements are for off street parking and the completion of the proposed highway bypass. Other items included the upgrading of the city police and fire departments, traffic control studies, improvement of recreational facilities and improvement to Henry Jackson Park.

Centre College officials have announced a 102.56-acre tract on Mt. Tabor Road in Lexington to residents there. The purchase price was $256,400. The tract was donated to Centre College in 1858 by the estate of John Overton and is presently a farm with no one living on it.

Boyle County had the greatest number of persons sentenced to prison during the January to November period. Casey County had the second largest number sent to prison, 14.

25 YEARS AGO — 1992

Tony Wilder, who is Boyle County’s circuit clerk and chairman of the local Democratic Party says attending the inauguration of President-elect Bill Clinton on Jan. 20 will “fulfill a boyhood dream.” Ernie Holman Jr., says if Wilder isn’t careful, he will experience a grown-up’s nightmare. Holman, who is a businessman and chairman of the local Republican Party attended his first inauguration when George Bush took the oath in 1989. Since this will be Wilder’s first inauguration, Holman wants to offer his fellow Boyle Countian some tips on how to enjoy the event without going bankrupt or getting mugged. Tips include: Don’t go on a spending spree when going to the activities; Don’t let your eyes stray from your billfold; use the subway; and dress warmly. A tuxedo is one worry Wilder won’t have. He said he won’t be going to any of the balls or other formal events. “A ticket to the presidential inaugural ball is $125. I won’t go unless I can crash it.”

An ice rink, concession stands, a teen hotline and counselors all housed in a Danville building of modern design is a mission or Edyth Hockaday. She said she always wanted to help children but didn’t know exactly how to do it, then after praying for direction, it came to her — open a teen center.

It was peaches and cream for Lincoln County native, Josh Powell, at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta when he sang the national anthem before the game started. Roberta Buchanan, who was a neighbor of Powell’s growing up, said he is well-known in the area. He has given three concerts at First Christian Church in Danville, sang at her daughter, Karen’s marriage and has spoken at the Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce. Powell studied opera in New York and performed with the Chattanooga Symphony and has been interviewed on NBC’s “Today” show.