50 Years Ago Today January 16 Reelection announcements: Election announcements: Lawrence Nuckolls for county judge, C.E. Morton for county clerk. January 29 City of Henrietta seeks a new marshal following the resignation of Dick Lawrence. 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". 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. 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. March 8 Midway dedicates new homemaking cottage and vocational agriculture building, which cost 42,000. March 21 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. April 4 Carmon Shaw, Lewis Brown and Earl Nutter are elected to the Henrietta City Council in a large voter turnout of 504. 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. April 22 Henrietta Boy Scouts' exhibit of a photo darkroom in operation wins first place at the Scoutorama in Wichita Falls. 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 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 E.C. Edwards and sons of Charlie purchase the Clay County Creamery in May 27 The Pioneer Building Fund reaches its goal of $20,000 and a nine member 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 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. 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. |