The Danville fire horses have been turned out to take a rest for several weeks. Benjamin Smith, who has charge of the horses and the fire station, is training a pair of fine horses belonging to the Danville Ice & Coal Co. Under his careful drilling for 10 days, the new team is almost as thoroughly fitted for the work as the old team.
After killing three hogs for his sister, Mrs. William Green of Harrodsburg, Thomas Horn, discovered one of them was full of nails and other iron things. Horn stated that the feed pen for the hogs had been built around a spot where a blacksmith shop had stood for several years. After slaughtering the hog, Horn counted 257 nails, 27 taps and small bolts in the animal's flesh.
75 years ago — 1934
Arrangements are well under way for the "Watch Night" party on New Year's Eve at the Gilcher Hotel. The party is being sponsored by the state highway commissioner and his aides in this district. Already 1,500 invitations have been sent. Gov. Laffoon and his wife will attend and each of the present candidates for governor are to be here with special rooms assigned to them so that they may get in touch with their friends and feel them out as to the state of the Commonwealth. Practically all of the second floor of the hotel has been reserved for the entertainment. And it has been suggested that the City of Danville get a room and serve punch and hor-d'oeuvres throughout the evening. Ruppert Harris and his Patent Leather Kids Orchestra of Chicago will present the floor show and five numbers featuring Anita Dorr, blues singer and dancer, Smith and Hill dance team, and Bobby Bell, one of the singing sensations of the year will also perform. If any merchants or individuals want to participate, they may donate any of the following food items; turkeys, old hams, beaten biscuits, pickles, potato chips, snappy cheese, nuts, rye bread and celery.
All dolled up in their brand new silken pants and jerseys, the Danville High School Admirals basketball team made it known that they are not to be toyed with this season, when they trounced the Bears of Wilmore High School by a score of 32-13. Two-thirds or more of Danville's baskets were made on shots close in after the famous Mountjoy "circle system" had put the ball in close to the basket.
50 years ago — 1959
Doll maker Lillian Newell, 56, of Shakertown Road, is finishing up a year's work on 72 dolls she'll give way to needy children this Christmas. "She's spent about 1,600 hours on those dolls," said her husband James, a Southern Railroad conductor. Mrs. Newell made the dolls from piles of old parts she's collected during the year. Being an old hand at doll repair, she has refinished and redressed them to look just like new. Ruth Dexter furnished some dolls this year and Mrs. Mac Gideon gave some of the material used for their dresses. Doll-making is a family interest. Her son, James Newell Jr. of Ohio, sends doll parts left over from the Marines' Toys for Tots campaign.
The Boyle County Fire Department's volunteers are gathering toys for huge Christmas baskets of food and gifts to be given to three needy local families. They'll get an 18-pound turkey, lots of other food and toys for each of the 15 children. "If we bought these toys new," said assistant chief Paul Smock, pointing to a pile of slightly worn toys, "they would cost us well over $100." The largest contributor of the toys was the Junior Royal Ambassador Chapter of the First Baptist Church. Fire Chief Robert Shelton said, the firemen, who earn $1 an hour when they are on call, put 20 percent or more of their earnings back into a fire department "kitty." Food bought for the families will be paid for out of the kitty.
25 years ago — 1984
