100 YEARS AGO — 1918

We, the undersigned garage owners and managers, have decided, for patriotic reasons, to close our garages on Sundays, beginning July 28. We do this to conserve gas, oil and labor, and thus help win the war. Our president has said that our first duty is to win the war. We believe he is right, and we intend to do our part. Again, there is a law that prohibits work — except work of necessity or mercy, on the Sabbath Day, and we want to comply with the law. Motorists therefore must remember to fill their gas tanks on Saturday. Danville Motor Co., Danville Buick Co., and Preston Beck.

The new Danville and Boyle County Hospital on South Third Street is nearing completion and will be ready for occupancy some time next month.

Van B. Carter of Mercer County, while riding in this auto near Mitchellsburg, ran over a large rattlesnake which showed fight when the machine stopped so Mr Carter killed it with a shotgun. The reptile was four feet and six inches long and was eight inches in circumference. The snake was 11 years old, having that number of rattlers. Mr. Carter brought the dead snake to the undertaking business of Spilman, Chandler & Cralle, where it was embalmed and prepared for exhibition.

Stanley Wear, 12, and Charlie W. Wear, 15, sons of the late C.O. Wear, left Danville on Tuesday morning. Stanley went to Dallas, South Dakota, to live with his uncle, A.T. Wear. Charlie went to Des Moines, New Mexico, to live with another uncle, L.W. Wear.

It is common for hundreds of soldiers to pass through Danville, as nearly every day between trains they come in to our city where they are given a hearty welcome by our citizens. Last night about 200 were invited in to the Shop Perfect confectionery by Scott Glore and C.P. Cecil Jr. and given a treat to soft drinks, cigars, etc. Dr John Wells, of the Rexall Drug Store, seldom lets an opportunity pass to do something for the soldier boys, and also treated them to “smokes.” This is very commendable upon the part of these patriotic citizens, as we can not do too much for the boys who are going over, “over there.”

75 YEARS AGO — 1943

One of the largest and most actively-bidding crowds in the history of Boyle County auction sales saw the 6-room frame house and 70 acres of the late George Hocker go to Richard Webb, Southern Railway System yardman of 326 Grant St. in Danville for the total of $8,610. It was estimated that close to 1,000 people attended the auction, which was located about 6.5 miles from Danville on the Lebanon Pike. Among pieces bringing unusually good money were an old-fashioned high-back loveseat which went for $100; an antique tall cherry bookcase for $70; and an antique sideboard for $75. An ordinary dish safe, which under normal conditions rates a quarter, brought $3. A prominent Casey County dentist said, “This auction beats all I’ve ever seen!”

Felix Brant, B.M2-c, United States Navy, is safe after the sinking of his ship, the U.S.S. Helena. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brant of Danville. Seaman Brant enlisted with the Navy in August, 1940 and was stationed on the U.S.S. Helena at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The Helena was sunk in recent naval action in the new south-west Pacific offensive.

Corporal Edward V. Trisler, son of William H. Trisler of Harrodsburg, is one of four Kentuckians listed by the War Department as having died of disease in a Japanese prison camp since the fall of Bataan and Corregidor.

Private Clifford Abbott, of Junction City and father of three children, would be pounding on the invasion doors of Italy with other Americans today if a stray rifle bullet hadn’t caught him in the knee at Faid Pass in the Tunisian campaign. The unassuming, slow-talking soldier made his hair-raising adventures, including three and a half hours under the feet of forward pressing Nazis, while he “played possum” on the battlefield. He and his brother Floyd, operated the Coffee Pot at Junction City before Clifford was drafted in 1942.

50 YEARS AGO — 1968

Unconfirmed but reliable reports have circulated in Danville this week indicating that the State Department of Education is readying plans to demolish the three old landmark buildings of the Kentucky School for the Deaf campus. They are Dudley Hall, a classroom and administration building, Kerr Hall, including classrooms and an auditorium, and Jacobs Hall, classrooms and the residential apartment of the superintendent. About 10 years ago a strong local effort was made to save the Warrick House, a fine old colonial home on the east corner of Second and Green streets. This building had been erected by the Russells of Danville for Dr. Joseph Whitaker sometime before 1845. Protests against this destruction fell on deaf ears (the second administration of Gov. A.B. Chandler) and the State.

Triplets of two girls and a boy, have been born to a Lancaster couple, Mr. and Mrs. Preston (Bill) Brummitt, and are the first triplets ever born at Garrard County Memorial Hospital. The mother is the former Susan Grimes, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Grimes. The Brummitts have another daughter, Evelyn, who is 3.

25 YEARS AGO — 1993

Making sure the water in Clark’s Run Creek is safe is a top priority of the action plan that will soon be presented to Danville City Commission. During a June hearing on the Clark’s Run corridor, Charles Clark of Danville urged the city to make sure there was no pollution in the creek before it built a park that would attract people. Two landfills were on the creek, and it also serves as a drainage for farms, industries and the railroad.

Families like the McDowells, Fryes and Russells have been reincarnated at the weeklong Living History Day Camp taking place this week at Constitution Square. Campers ages 6 to 12 have been divided into six groups or “families” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m daily and the kids pretend to be pioneers. The children make crafts, cook, ride in a carriage and play games the old-fashioned way to learn what life was like for their “family” in the 1780s. The camp also differentiates between past and present Danville life. One activity that compared periods was an experience in correspondence. After a local post office employee spoke to the kids about the modern day mailing system, the campers wrote letters using quill pens, sealed them with wax and mailed them at the old post office on the square. Cooper Pass, one of five high school students helping with the camp said, “I think the main thing they realize is how privileged we are,” Zeke Goggin, 7, said he didn’t want to live in a time without doctors. “If I got a disease or something I wouldn’t make it.”