100 YEARS AGO — 1917

The Masonic Temple was taxed to accommodate the large crowd of people who responded to the invitation to attend the annual New Year’s reception last evening. More were present than on any previous occasion and all were delighted with the elegant manner in which the Sir Knights entertained. The guests were received by Past Grand Commander C.N. Smith, Mrs. C.N. Smith Jr., Sir Knight John R. Yeager, and Mrs. John B. Nichols, Sir Knight and Mrs. William Thurmond, and Sir Knight and Mrs. Henry L. Nichols. Music was furnished by a band of violin, harp and cello and was greatly enjoyed. The refreshments were served in the banquet hall on the fourth floor.

At seven o’clock a New Year prayer service was held at Second Presbyterian Church. This old-time custom has been observed for a great many years, and Danville is possibly the only city in this section of the state where it is continued.

Miss Sara Lee Young, of Danville, is the author of a little book which follows her story called “A Seed Thought.” Miss Young is a member of a well-known family nearly all of whom have been very scholarly men. She knows her scene well and her little book is full of what we call “atmosphere.”

The January term of the Boyle circuit court has begun with Judge Charles Hardin presiding. Judge Hardin delivered a forceful and timely charge to the grand jury. He has the very correct idea that great attention should be given to smaller class of crime because if you punish a man when he begins a criminal career it may be the means of causing his reformation.

75 YEARS AGO — 1942

The first wedding of 1942 in Boyle County was performed in a hospital room at Ephraim McDowell Memorial Hospital today. The groom, James M. Florence of Louisville, said that he and his bride, Miss Margaret L. Seigh, had selected the Rev. Robert L. Anderson, pastor of the Millersburg Methodist Church, to perform the ceremony. Since he is a patient at the hospital, they chose to have the ceremony performed there.

Purchase of new motor cars and trucks has been prohibited by the U.S. Government, pending establishment of an automobile rationing system, announced by O.P.M. (Office of Personnel Management). A quota has already been placed on tires. This will hit many of us pretty hard, but if it takes that to win the war, no true American will try to violate the ruling. Boyle County will be allowed to sell only 15 tires for passenger cars, motorcycles and light trucks; only 13 tubes for these tires; and 29 truck and bus tires.

The election of five members of the executive committee and adoption of a plan to bring about a more patriotic spirit were features of the Boyle County Civilian Defense Council meeting. 

A report received by Danville Police that a Mercer County bridge had been blown up proved false, but not until Boyle County officers had begun a search for the car said to be wanted by Kentucky highway patrolmen in connection with the reported sabotage. Danville Police Chief said that a truck driver stopped at the fire department and told a fireman that highway patrolmen had told him in Mercer County to notify Danville officers about the bridge being destroyed. He said they told him to tell police to stop a green car bearing California licenses, in which were two men suspected of blowing up the bridge. Heavily armed officers immediately began to watch all roads leading into Mercer County, but in a telephone conversation with Mercer officials, local officers were told the report was false.

50 YEARS AGO — 1967

An 8-year-old boy who lives with his grandmother on Dillehay Street was shot through the face while playing along Clark’s Run with his 9-year-old friend. He was reported in fairly good condition at the Danville hospital. The 9-year-old boy who allegedly fired the pistol was not found until about 11 o’clock at his home where he was hiding. The victim told police that he and the other boy had been playing along the creek, throwing sticks into the water and shooting BB guns. He said the other boy pulled out a pistol and shells from his pocket and dared him to shoot the weapon and said that if he didn’t do it, he’d be shot himself. When the boy who did the shooting was found, he said he had thrown his dad’s .38 revolver into the creek after the shooting. The boy said that the other boy had bent down to pick up something shiny, and when he stood up, his friend happened to fire the gun.

The annual report of Danville City Fire Department for 1966 indicates that there were 143 fires and 143 runs made by the department. There were 38 runs to burning cars; 36 to homes; 31 to trash and grass fires; and 13 were false alarms. The 25 other runs included four to miscellaneous fires; three each to manufacturing plants, institutions and garages; two each to office buildings, stores, restaurants, and warehouses; and one each to an apartment house and a church.

25 YEARS AGO — 1992

Two women’s rings were found in a doll house given to the Danville Fire Department’s Toys for Tots program during Christmas, Chief Donald Harp said. The person who owns the rings can reclaim them by calling the department.

Danville’s first baby of 1992 arrived just before noon on Wednesday. Katherine Elizabeth “KayTee” Richey was born on Jan. 1 at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center and is the daughter of Brian and Ingrid Richey of McKinney. Maternal grandparents are Marion and Hattie Floyd of Danville. Paternal grandparents are Leslie and Barbara Richey of McKinney. Great-grandparents are Edith Carrier, Mary Crowe, and Lester and Eula Richey.

Chris Pflum has a knack for giving old objects new life. As a lamp maker Pflum enjoys putting treasured family possession such as his mother’s old coffee grinder and his father’s blow torch to use in a different function. Pflum said, “I started as a hobby when I retired about 12 years ago from the National Casket Co. My oldest boy said, ‘Pap, when you die, I’m going to put a light cord in with you because you’re always making lamps.”

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Carpenter, 101 of Danville has died. When she turned 100 on June 12, 1990, Carpenter talked about her earlier life when she drove a horse an buggy and used kerosene lamps for light. She was one of 15 children born to Green and Lizzie Owens. The family lived in Wilsonville, between Parksville and Junction City. She quit school in the fifth grade and helped her mother who took in washing and ironing. When she was a child, going to town meant a trip to Parksville, which had a post office, train station, dance hall and lodge.