Clay County, TXGenWeb Project

50 Years Ago Today
Each week the Clay County Leader is publishing an exert from the newspaper of 50 years ago.
Bage Neimeyer started posting this.  Judy Davidson has graciously offered to take over submitting this column to the Clay TX site.

January 16

Reelection announcements:
Mrs. Dave Utley as county treasurer, Ewell Taylor as Prec. 4 county commissioner, H.H. Overstreet as Prec. 2 County Commissioners, Frank Hanson as Prec. 1 County Commissioner, G.W. Akin as Prec. 3 Commissioner, and for election, J.S. Williams for county clerk.

Population increase in the 1950 census causes Henrietta to lose its wage and hour law exemption. Workers must be paid 75 cents per hour and time and half over 40 hours, for those in communities over 2,500 population.

F.W. Richardson is named president of the Henrietta Kiwanis Club.

Nine cent sale on kitchen ware at the Ben Franklin Store.

January 23

Election announcements: Lawrence Nuckolls for county judge, C.E. Morton for county clerk.

Opal Sizemore Kelley receives a letter from her son, Jesse Sizemore, prisoner of war in Korea, the first she has heard from him since his capture July 5, 1950.

Substations are set up for paying poll taxes in Byers, Bellevue and Petrolia. Deadline is Jan. 31, with 1,772 voters paying thus far.

The county conservation service office announces it will be closed on Sat. until further notice.

Eggs, three dozen for $1.00 at City Food Store--- That's all for this week.

January 29

City of Henrietta seeks a new marshal following the resignation of Dick Lawrence.

 Lt. ConradArmel is listed as missing in action in Korea.

Election announcement: Edd Williams for county judge, L.O. Brown for Prec. 2 county commissioner.

Ken Kearns named Henrietta football coach.

Schick Insurance plans open house at 216 W. Gilbert.

6X16 tires, $12.95 at Bob Meeks Service Station.

February 15

Bylaws of the Clay County Pioneer Association are amended to create a 9-manelected committee for  three-years on an alternating basis. 

Gowen Davis of Bellevue announces he will not seek reelection as state representative.

A firm of highlights of the 1951 World Series wil be shown in the district courtroom sponsored by the Wichita Falls Spudders. It will include the Dodgers-Giants play-off with Bobby Thompson's famous homerun "shot heard around the world".

    A woman from the state hospital in Wichita Falls escapes in Henrietta and eludes searchers for two days.

    At Dorothy Theater, Flying Leathernecks.  

February 21

Am ambitious building plan is proposed by the Clay County PioneerAssociation including two exhibit buildings, an assembly hall, two livestockzbuildings and an arena.

New Henrietta water loading docks cuts time to fill a truck from 46 minutes to six.

Crop goals for the county include 20, 000 acres of cotton, 17,000 acres ofcorn and 60,000 acres of grain sorghum

30 units of the Henrietta Housing Authority are scheduled for completion.

3-bedroom furnished houses, bills paid, $14.50-$15.50 per week.

February 28

A petition asks the Henrietta City Council to call a bond election for the purchase and building of a park and swimming pool.

A special meeting to discuss the benefits of raising castor beans in Clay Co. is set in Petrolia. They are used to be more profitable than cotton.

A new Home Demonstration Club for New London, Fairview and Cambridge is organized. Mrs. Harry Symons is names president.

Frank Douthitt is presented two merit badges for Boy Scout Troop 92.
Scoutmaster Leroy Gant says Douthitt may be the first Henrietta scout to earn merit badges. They are in horsemanship and carpentry.

Oleo, 19 cents, Garrison Food Store.  

March 8

Henrietta girls win the District 8-A Girls basketball championship, coached by Bob Young.

Junior Delphian Club meets with Mrs. Dwight Thompson as program leader. Mattie McBride is installed as acting postmaster at Jolly.

Petrolia merchants decorate theri stores with posters and banners and a large banner is placed across the highway in celebration of Public School Week.

Spring dresses, $9.98-17.98 at J.F. Alcorn.

March 16

Midway dedicates new homemaking cottage and vocational agriculture building, which cost 42,000.

Doyle J. Hood is names new Henrietta head football coach.

Byers girls win the District 29-B volleyball championship. Ted Hamilton is coach. Pauline Teakell and Martha Clayton are named all district.

An adding machine, radio and typewriter stolen from Byers school are recovered in Oklahoma City.

Free license plates and inspection on used cars bought from Joe Mayo Motor
Co.

March 21

The appointment of Mattie Ann McBride as postmistress of Jolly awaits confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Oldest doll exhibited at the Midway fourth grade doll show is exhibited by James Crump and is 62 years old.

Tony Fenoglio of Montague announces he will seek a second term representing Clay County in the state legislature.

A 16-page folder pictorial report is planned on activities of the Henrietta Schools.

Squibb cod liver oil, 69 cents at City Drug.

March 27

The McKee school district on the west edge of Clay County is voted into the Henrietta school district, adding six square miles and $150,000 in evaluation. Its students have already been attending classes in Henrietta.

The Parks Grocery opens in Henrietta, just south of John's Dry Goods.

Hwy. 287 from Henrietta to the Montague County line is scheduled for opening.

Homer Robertson is transferred to Japan as part of the Navy's under water demolition team.

The poodle cut, $2.50 at the Beauty Box.

April 4

Carmon Shaw, Lewis Brown and Earl Nutter are elected to the Henrietta City Council in a large voter turnout of 504.

R.T. Saling is elected commander and Henry Scheer senior vice commander of the Henrietta VFW Post.

W.A. Mayo is leected mayor of Petrolia.

Notice: Anyone caught hunting with .22 targets in my pastures will be prosecuted. Brad Staggs.

Dobbs Hats, $10. to $100 at Olsen Stelzer Boots and Saddlery.

April 15

In FFA judging contests, the Henrietta team of  Frank Douthitt, Guinn White and Waymon Bell wins the meat judging contest in Wichita Falls, and Dan Webb of Bellevue wins high point in livestock judging at Tarleton State.

Henry Orton of Bellevue wins the Texas checker championship in Brownwood. Plans are made for a Clay County Project Show in Henrietta.

Lydia Hohenstein wins the Progressive Farmer magazine's quilt block contest and a $25.00 check.

Hershey's Candy Bars, six for 25 cents at Parks Grocery.

April 22

Henrietta Boy Scouts' exhibit of a photo darkroom in operation wins first place at the Scoutorama in Wichita Falls.

The Henrietta school board votes to initiate a petition asking the county judge to call an election to make the district an independent school district.

Durl England is selected beau of the Midway FHA and is crowned by president Nell Fuller.

The Thursday Thimble Club meets in the home of Hattie Percifield

Loans in only three and a half minutes at the Rex Gates Loan Co. 


First Baptist Church of Henrietta announces dedication day for its new education building, to be held May 11. After defeating a motion ot declare the delegation boudn by majority, Clay County Democrats vote to send the delegation to the state convention uninstructed on the presidential nomination.

The route for Highway 287 to bypass Henrietta to the south recommended by highway departmentengineer is announced , showing the highway going to the south and rejoining Highway 82 where it intersects the Petrolia Hwy. (148)

Publisher Jack Wettengel calls for the 35 Clay County voting precincts to be reduced to 20, since about 15 only draw from 2-10 voters.

Fryers 43 cents a pound, pork chops 55 cents a pound at City Food Store.

April 29

At a meeting to discuss improving schools in north Clay County, the Byers delegation expresses a desire to consolidate with Petrolia and build a high school on a neutral site. The Petrolia delegation suggests enlarging the Petrolia school to accommodate Byers.  Thornberry's delegation says it is
perfectly happy with its own school--high school students are sent to Wichita Falls.

L.B. Hapgood resigns as president of the Clay County Pioneers Assoc. due to health reasons. The finance drive goal is set at $35,000.

Some 400,000 feet of terraces were constructted on Clay county farms in 1951 wtih assistance from the Clay County PMA.

Mrs. J.T. Petro is presented the tri-color award for outstanding arrangement at the Clay County Garden Club flower show.

New Farmall tractor will cultivate up to 60 acres per day at Moore-Crisp.

May 20

Henrietta High School honor graduates are Leroy Schaffner and Evelyn Watkins,  for Petrolia Charles Pool and Mary Allison, Midway Marilyn Ogle and Sheryl Cox

Jim Maddox is elected to a second term as president of the Clay County Hereford Breeders.

Captain McSwain announces he intends to start a medical practice in Henrietta after retiring from the Air Force.

Paula Hawkins is selected twirler for the Henrietta High School Band.

Parker pen and pencil sets, $4.95 to 12.50 at Henrietta Pharmacy.

E.C. Edwards and sons of Charlie purchase the Clay County Creamery in
Henrietta from Bob Hilgenfeld. Former Midway ag teacher Elbert Edwards will
be the operator.

The 1952 school census includes: Thornberry, 65; Midway 297; Petrolia, 411;
Byers, 205; Bellevue, 211 and Henrietta, 809.

Henrietta grade school girls win the district softball championship.

Election set to convert Henrietta and Petrolia schools to independent status.

Philco refrigeratory with dairy bar, $209.95 and up at Bob Meeks Service
Station.

May 27

The Pioneer Building Fund reaches its goal of $20,000 and a nine member
governing board is elected.     A.C. Maddox, Jess Dunn and Joe Parker are
named to three-year terms, Carl Zachry, Claude Wynn and Ed Bevering to two
year terms and Harry Scalling, Eddie Boddy and James W. Heath to one year.

Henrietta and Petrolia school district voters approve independent status by
large margins. They had been rural high school districts.

Henrietta junior and senior classes combine resources to make a gift to the
school of a water fountain.

Ben Ingram of Henrietta is assigned to the 136th Fighter Bomber Wing in
Korea as an F-84 Thunderjet pilot.

Hot barbecue, 79 cents a pound at Rodgers Grocery.

June 6

Bill Davis  of Henrietta is elected vice president of the Baptist Student Union at Texas Christian University.

 A large crowd attends the Memorial Day service at Hope Cemetery sponsored by the VFW and the American Legion. Frank Douthitt plays, "Taps.".

 Floy Humpert of Windthorst is the district 4-H tractor maintenance champion.

 The Red Cross fund drive raises $3, 404.

 The Leader on sale at 10 cents each at stores in Bluegrove, Buffalo Springs, Charlie, Joy, Ringgold, Shannon and Vashti. 

June 13 

Dedication is held for the 20 acre Pioneer Grounds, with $150,000 of improvements planned. L.B. "Buster" Hapgood turns the first shovel of dirt.

 First Baptist Church registers 217 children for summer Bible school.

 Quality Super Service Station announces its grand opening at 403 East Omega. Regular gas is 21.9 cents a gallon. A.S. "Shack" Owens is operator.

 Southwestern Bell says it needs new phone rates in Henrietta because it lost $7,762 in 1950.

 Old Spice Shave lotion, $1 at City Drug.

June 19

Clay County Memorial Hosp. introduces pillow radios to patient rooms.

 Henrietta first drive-in, the Tower Drive Inn is ready to open 1/2 mile east on the Ringgold Hwy. to accommodate 200 cars.

 Sheriff Nix warns that anyone caught breaking street lights and windows in Bellevue will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

 Democrat Exec. Comm. votes to pay $7.50 per day for primary election judges and clerks, with no over time.

 Marathon tires, $11.95 plus tax and trade -in from Claude B. Gates.......

 June 27

 Twenty bulldozers converge on the Pioneer Grounds to begin clearing and leveling the site.

 Adults 40 cents and children free at the grand opening of the Tower Drive-In featuring "Weekend with Father", starring Van Heflin and Patricia Neal.

 In the Buffalo Springs News, Stanley Fuller shoots a hole in his big toe while frog hunting.

 The Charlie Baseball team defeats Byers 6-3. Pitchers are Red Walden for Charlie and Tommy Haney for Byers.

 City court fines. For drunkeness in public, $15.40, for reckless driving, $16.20. In county court speeding, $10.00

July 1

"Schools May Not Open This Fall" screams the headlines after Henrietta voters reject a $1.50 tax rate 491-304. The vote leaves the district without the ability to generate local funds, and reserves will last only through the summer.

 Dirt work is completed and construction is set to begin at the Pioneer Grounds on the Pioneer Building and Assembly Hall and livestock arena. The land is deeded to the county for a 50 year lease at $1  per year.

 Storm damage from wind is reported in Bellevue after a tornado passes over  but does not touch down.

A group of 40-50 persons meets with the commissioners court to see about getting air-conditioning for the hospital.

 County farm census shows  1,208 operations in 1950 compared to 1, 357 in 1945. Some 
1, 046 report having electricity and 317 telephones.

July 8

The Chamber of Commerce tackles a plan to reorganize and try to hire a full-time manager.

 A stolen car is recovered near Henrietta from Constable Sime Lovell asks a citizen to chase.  "Realizing they could not catch the '49 Chevy in Lovell's care, they asked, "Pig" Bowman to give chase in his Mercury".

 The state prison system reports Clay County has sent 29 prisoners in the past 10 years.

 The Henrietta school board looks into the possibility of consolidation and annexation  in order to be able to hold another tax election.

 Home grown cantaloupes, seven cents a pound at Nolen's Grocery and Market.

July 15

Clay County voters will be asked whether they favor the services of a trapper paid with county funds.

 Commissioners authorize the expense of $11,933 to air condition the hospital.

 The Dairy Maiden owned by Sam Bachman opens near the Y in Henrietta.

 Johnnie King is named executive director  of the Parkview Apartments, and Hubert King is placed in charge of maintenance. The office will be located in the nearby King's Antiques Shop, which they own.

  Kraft's French Dressing, 19 cents at Park's Grocery and Market.

July 29

A tax election is set Aug. 5 for a $1.25 tax rate for Henrietta following the annexation of 4,000 acres of the old Scotland district.

 Paying a county trapper is favored by voters 1,336 to 765.

 The chamber of commerce rents an office in the J.F. Alcorn building.

 County Judge A.S. Hodges withdraws his name from the primary runoff, leaving Edd Williams unopposed for the Democratic nomination after Williams recieved 1,241 votes to Hodges' 1,193.  Lawrence Nuckolls received 916.

 Great Northern tissue, three for 25 cents at City Food Store.

August 7

Henrietta schools announce classes will begin Sept.2 after the tax election passes 695-196.

 The combination of a hot, dry summer and need for more time to complete buildings causes the Pioneer Reunion to be delayed until Oct. 16-18. High Aug 6 was 110.

 Midway calls an election Aug. 9 for $1 tax rate and a bond assumption to consolidate the debts of the various districts that make up the Midway district.

 Commissioners vote to abolish election precincts in Valentine, Ikard, Willow Springs and Rural Community to be combined with Northeast Henrietta.

 "Quo Vadis" at the Dorothy Theater.

August 14

Jimmie Lovell of Henrietta is among the servicemen missing in a plane crash near Japan.

 Pioneer Reunion is postponed to Oct. 17-18 to accommodate new construction at the Pioneer Grounds. Chairs with cushion type seats are ordered for the arena and administration building. 

County commissioners vote to hire a wolf trapper at not more than $175.00 per month.

 Some 98% of the county's $447.028 in property taxes is collected by July 1.

Chuck roast, 55 cents a pound at Rodgers Market

August 21

New Henrietta phone rates go into effect, with a single line residential phone jumping from $2.75 to $4 per month.

VFW Post 5401 makes plan to construct a post home on the Pioneer Grounds. Post commander R.T. Saling said the location is preferable to one south of town that had been considered.

Paul Alcorn of Henrietta and Johnny Choate of Byers take military training together at San Luis Obispo, Calif.

 O.L. Graves of Henrietta is named president of the North Texas Cotton Ginners Association.

Acme Four, $1.79 for 25 pounds at Park's Grocery and Market

April 28

Wanda Stephens purchases the St. Elmo Hotel and Coffee Shop from the Pete Mcnees.

 In county court, a driving while intoxicated conviction results in a $100 fine.

 School openings are set across Clay County from Sept. 2-8

 A glider pilot from Fort Worth makes an emergency landing in Clyde Prigmore's pasture south of the Kerr Feed and Grain.

 Firestone tires, $7.95 each at Yates Motor Co.

September 9

Bob Featherston begins plans to develop the Rodgers Addition with 29 homes.

 A telephone line is installed at the Towe Drive-in and emergency calls to patrons will be announced over the loud speaker.

 Commissoners vote to issue $50,000 in road and bridge warrants for up to 20 years at not more than four percent.

 Farm families from Caly and surrounding coutnies enjoy a picnic at Perkins Scout Reservation near Burkburnett, sponsored by the Farmers Home Administration office.

 White wool jersey blouse, $6.95 at Oheim's

September 16

Plans for Pioneer Reunion include an Old Fiddlers Contest wth a top prize of $25.00

 Lone Star Pipeline begins construction of a major 70-mile pipeline from Garvin Cunty, Okla to Petrolia, at a cost of $4.5 million

 Mrs. J. W. Douthitt of Henrietta is Clay County's nominee for pioneer queen at the Texas-Oklhoma Fair in Iowa Park.

 Mrs. T.E. Slage announces she is accepting photos for her pioneer picture book and hopes to complete it soon.

Helen Curtis Spray Net, $1.25 at City Drug Store.

October 2

Little Wichita Soil Conservation purchases a three-row legume seeder for use by Clay County farmers.

 Mrs. A.C. Maddox and Marie Oster tie for the winning entry in the name the drive-in contest, the Rietta, west of Henrietta.

 A quartet contest is scheduled during the Pioneer Reunion.

 The first shipment of disaster hay is scheduled to arrive in Clay County.

 11-cubic foot freezer, $5.95 per week at Dunn's Appliance in Byers. 

October 7

Fames boxer Jack Dempsey is announced to open the 1952 Clay County Pioneer Reunion with the crowning of the rodeo queen. Dempsey's boxing career was launched by promoter Tex Rickard, for who the new arena is being named.

 Pioneer Week is announced as western attire week.

 Kenneth Sizemore and Verna Mae Johnson are announced as all school favorites for Henrietta High School.

 Donly and Clyde Suddath announce open house for their newly remodeled insurance building, south of the courthouse in the former Western Auto Building.

 Home grown West Texas tomatoes, 10 cents a pound at Nolen's.
 

 © Clay County Leader 2002

Clay County Main Page

Return to Newspaper List