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Each week the Clay County Leader is publishing an exert from the newspaper of 50 years ago. Surprisingly the dates for 1951 and 2001 are the same. Thanks to the Leader for allowing us to use these tidbits of Clay County's past. The Apache Belles of Tyler Junior College announce a performance during the 21st. annual Pioneer Reunion Gene Smith and Bobby Holloway of Henrietta are among 35 Texans to be awarded the American Farmer Degree by the national FFA. The Chamber of commerce promotes contacting them about salesmen after several scams are uncovered, including three women claiming to be selling ads for the Midway yearbook. Texas Democrats for Ike promote local control of the farm program. Barbed wire, $8.50 per roll at Moore's Hardware. October 24 Southwestern Bell relocates its telephone office from the second floor of the Nolen's Grocery building to 119 West Gilbert (Suddath Blvd.) Don Earl Brooks, 12, of Charlie, is awarded a blue ribbon at the State Fair of Texas for his commercial steer calf. Clay County Federation of Women's Clubs plans a Halloween carnival. Antelope Methodist Church announces dedication of its new sanctuary. Toy John Deere tractor, $1.75 at Burnside Implement Co. November 1 A New Missionary Baptist Church is announced in Henrietta, with the initial meeting at the Hut. R.B. Dugger's brand, dated 1872, is the oldest to be registered during the Pioneer Reunion contest. A meeting for persons interested in Midway Telephone Co-Op is planned. About 30 gather for the annual Boy Scout fund drive with John Bragg as chairman Men's and boys jackets $4.95-$14.95 at John' Dry Goods November 7 Clay Co. stays Democrat. Adlai Stevenson outpolls Dwight Eisenhower 2,084-1,273. Hurnville, Jolly and Prospect go to Ike. Southwestern Bell purchases a lot in Henrietta to build a repeater station, one of two from Dallas to Wichita Falls. Nell Fuller, Midway 4-H member, is named state winner in the 4-H garden contest and earns an all -expense trip to Chicago. Homemaking classes at Henrietta High School are given a field trip while their classroom is used for the election. Among the stops, is Olsen-Stelzer Boots. New home in the Rodgers Addition, $575 down, $50.00 per month. November 24 A pass from Wayne Walker to Doodle Zachry with 1:10 to go gives Henrietta a 12-7 homecoming victory over Holliday. "To say the Henrietta stands went wild is to understate to case." Allan Graves' "dazzling" 68 yard run was the other Bearcat score. The Henrietta High School band receives a division one rating at marching contest in Wichita Falls. Henrietta city delivery mail service is extended to the 6-00 and 700 blocks of East Crafton, 400 block of North Hancock, 600 and 700 blocks of East Spring, 600 block of South Archer and Parkview Apts. Eddie Sheer's converted school bus used to haul stock water and Henrietta firemen at a house fire. Vienna Sausage 21 cents a can at A & P. November 26 A six-month dry spell is broken by a 3 inch rain. Last measurable rain was in inch on May 20. VFW announces more than $3,700 has been raised for their building fund for a new home on the Pioneer Grounds. A group of men representing themselves as Korean War vets selling magazines subscriptions is jailed in Clay Co. on charges ranging form burglary to forgery. Congressman Frank Ikard speaks to about 90 members of the Rural Letter Carrier Association at the St. Elmo Coffee Shop. Westinghouse Electric Sheet, $31.95 single control and $39.45 dual control at Community Public Service Co., Byers and Petrolia. November 27 Jimmy Hill is elected president of the Henrietta Kiwanis Club and Bill Womack vice president. Three Grand Prairie residents receive two year sentences for cattle theft in district court. Pete McNe of Henrietta is named to head the county USO fund appeal. Among the oldest pioneers registered at the 1952 reunion, W.E. Ikard of Petrolia born in 1872. Gallon of flat wallhide paint, $3.75 at Henrietta Cabinet Shop. December 1 A Henrietta delegation attends a water planning meeting in Wichita Falls and learns the most likely location for a large new dam in the Wichita Falls area is in Clay Co. between Scotland and Halsell, and a 12-mile pipeline to Henrietta would cost $600,000. B.L. Womack is elected president of the Henrietta and Clay Co. Chamber of Commerce, with James Hill as second vice-president. Local firemen complete a 15-hour fire marshal's course including Rex Gates, Pete Moore, Wayne Hill, Bruce Jackson, James Mayo, Wayne Brockman, Jake Williams, Don Slagle, Ewell Madera, Oscar Johnson, Kenneth Slagle, Hal Healer, Bennie Brice, Jim Ford, Bud Dawson, Dick Moyer, Ray Ely and D.O. Daniel. New winter prices for the Dorothy Theater, 25 cents for adults and 9 cents for children. December 16 Ray Stine of Petrolia is the champion sold conservationist of Wichita, Clay and Archer Counties. Average per head at the annual Clay County Hereford Breeders sale is $332, less than half what they brought the year before. Charlan Naylor and Sue Winton play in the all-region band representing Henrietta. Janice Garnett, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Garnett, is named Henrietta football queen. Pontiac announces a $100 price reduction on some of its new '53 models and no price increases on the rest of its models. December 29 Henrietta defeats Nocona 34-27 in the finals to win the Bowie Basketball Tournament. Florence Bragg and Melba Walker earn tournament honors. Sheriff Bill Nix announces peace and goodwill for Christmas with the county jail empty after five prisoners are shipped out to Huntsville. The Clay County Grand Jury inspects the courthouse and jail and recommends the jury room and quarters be made more comfortable and a number of renovations be made to the jail. The Henrietta city council names Joe Peden as new city marshal. Buy four boxes of ammunition and get one free at Moore's Hardware and Appliance. January 3 Fur buyer Bud Dawson says fur prices are making furs "worth fooling with", and estimates the fur trade will be worth $5000.00 in the county. He reports some 900 pelts, most being skunks paying $1 per hide, and reports a few minks at $6 to $20 each. Parents in Charlie protest the closing of Charlie grade school by the Petrolia School Board during the Christmas holidays. The parents said they were promised 10 years ago when Charlie consolidated with Petrolia that the elementary would be left open. It served some 40 students. New County Judge Edd Williams conducts his first meeting of the commissioners. A Chamber of commerce membership drive nets 29 new members. Boys shirts $1 at The Fashion Shop. January 16 About 20 ladies meet with commissioners to seek a home demonstration agent for he county, reporting from the district office that it is almost impossible to get an agent for the $1,500 annual salary set by the county. Commissioners had already ordered no salary increases. Henrietta High School is accepted for membership in the Southern Association of Accredited Secondary Schools. The low bid of $715,000 is awarded for a 10 mile stretch of road from Bellevue which will add two lanes and make the highway a four-lane road, and reroute the highway near the railroad rather than the route thought town. Jimmy Lee Smith, 20, formerly of Byers, is reported killed in Korea. County Commissioners buy a new motor grader for $10,800. January 25 Henrietta Mayor Rex Gates announces he will not be a candidate for reelection in the April balloting after four years. About 150 attend a Baptist Workers Convention in Henrietta from throughout the county. City tax collector Ed Hilgenfeld reports about 71 percent of taxes are in, with Jan. 31 the deadline. Jess Sullivan reports about 80 percent of county taxes are paid. The complaint resurfaces that business owners are taking up valuable parking spaces around the courthouse square, especially on Saturday. Choice loin steak, 69 cents a pound at City Food. January 29 Four sub offices are set up to accept poll taxes on Saturday in Byers, Petrolia, Bellevue and Henrietta. The Pioneer Association announces it will sponsor a square and round dance in its new building, with the Postoak Fiddle Band to play. The American Legion Auxilliary announces it will host a chili supper. Tickets are 50 cents. Troy Douthitt Jr. announces he will run for mayor of Henrietta. "Your Federal Income Tax", 25 cents at the Leader. February 7 Carmon Shaw and Charles Naylor file for Henrietta City Council. Ermin E. Berend of Windthorst is found shot to death in his home. The Methodist choir postpones its chili supper citing numerous other chili supper being scheduled. Poll tax receipts total 1,750 though reports from stations set up in outlying towns haven't been totaled. 1952 model GE electric range $259.95, $30 off to make room for 1953 models, at Shaw's Electric. February 15 A valentine dance is planned at the Pioneer Building. Cutworm damage is reported to crops in several areas of the county. Continental bus service moves from Frank and Bill's Garage to Owens and Novack Gulf. Claude B. Gates dies of a heart attack at 52. Air conditioners, $47.45 to $189.52 at Leon Bell Plumbing. February 25 The Rietta Drive-In announces it will open with room for 412 cars a mile west of Henrietta. Harold Lowry sells his Panhandle Oil service station to A. J. Chambers. The parsonage committee of the First Baptist Church invites sealed bids for the parsonage and lots. At the chamber of commerce banquet, Charles Schick, work committee chairman, announces it will work on highway traffic control including elimination of parking along Hwy. 82/287 through downtown, the location of a site for a proposed civic center and the location of a site for a dam along the Little Wichita River. Homemade pure lard, 10 cents a pound at Garrisons Food Store. February 26 Henrietta girls win the District 9-A Basketball championship and will face Bryson in a rematch. Doyle Hood is coach. County Commissioners warn residents that it is a violation of state law to dump refuse, garbage,rubbish or junk on a public highway or allow it to remain within 300 feet. Violators will be prosecuted. Parents and patrons are asked to serve as substitute teachers during Public School Week. Emil Bachman acquires the Sinclair service station from Jim Walls. A light bulb being used to keep baby chicks warm is blamed for a fire that destroys the Deatherage home on Clay Street. National Farm Loan Assoc. offers four percent interest rate. Fresh onions, five cents a bunch at City Food Store. March 7 Clay Co. ranks 35th in the nation in pecan harvesting, with 34,864 trees and 316,312 pounds of pecans, according to the 1950 agriculture census for 1949, a substantial increase since the 1945 census. County school board election set. Terms expiring include Lee Weatherall of Petrolia, Lawton Flinn of Bellevue, and D.O. Daniel of Henrietta. Pvt. Hal Healer, Henrietta graduate, completes eight weeks of military police training at Ft. Hood. Nine Clay County men are called for induction, including Vernon J. Greer of Henrietta. Control of moles and gophers will be discussed at a field demonstration in Clay County. Cedar Crest Double Deluxe boots, $11.95 at John's Dry Goods.   |