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Clay County 50 Years Ago 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. January 4 The Henrietta FFA junior quiz team was first at Electra. Members were Thomas Lyde, Buddy Johnson, and Glen Richardson. The Henrietta girls basketball team placed second at the AAU tournament in Dallas, losing to Duncanville in the finals 26-20. Shirley Nesbit scored 11 points. Ted Gray sold the St. Elmo cafe to Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Hairston. Sugar 10-lbs bag, 89 cents. January 11 Mr and Mrs Seth Lawrence and Mrs Audra Christain sold the St Elmo Hotel to Charles E Evans of Fort Worth. Wray Williams and Gwendolyn England were named Midway school king and queen. Walter L Jones of Henrietta was listed as missing in action in Korea. Baby food, three cans, 23 cents January 18 Construction to begin soon on new Henrietta First Baptist Church. County paid government trappers $708 for 252 wolves and cubs captured during 10 months in the county. Chamber of commerce list of achievements included working to secure rural phones for the county. Potatoes, 10-lb bag, 43 cents. January 25 Ministerial Alliance makes plans for a citywide church census. A delegation including the Henrietta band makes plans to attend Henrietta Day at the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show and Exposition. A porchlight polio drive for the March of Dimes is planned by Henrietta organizations. Flour, 25 lbs-bag, $1.69. February 1 Collections falling short of $4,000 March of Dimes goal. Sheriff's office reports 31 cases in January and 28 prisoners. Monte Barnett of Bellevue's calf wins its class at the Fort Worth Stock Show. Herman Allen of Waurika names manager of Joe Mayo Motor Co. used car lot. James Stewart stars in "Harvey" at the Dorthy Theater. February 8 Unity Club makes traffic safety recommendations to the city council. The floor of the county jail caves in in the living quarters, occupied by Deputy Tommy Covington. Grounds for the new First Baptist Church is to be broken Sunday. Musical selections by Mina Franke, Eva Bragg, and Kerman Sage. Nine residents are called for induction and 18 for draft physicals. Pangburn's Valentine candy, 60�-$6 at City Drug Store. February 15 Lions and Kiwanis Clubs discuss forming basketball teams to face each other. Robert Bunting, 22, enlists for four years in the U S Air Force. Henrietta girls win the north zone championship of District 11-A and face Decatur in a three games series. Midway junior class plans a talent show. Elgin watches $33.75 from Jesse Cunningham. February 22 Petrolia FFA chapter holds its first father and son banquet. Byers volleyball girls win District 30-B title, defeating Petrolia two out of three matches, to finish 37-0. Caution and stop signs placed around Henrietta schools, and an editorial notes several motorists driving right past them. Joe Meeks and Jack Nesbitt announce the Gulf service station has moved next to the St. Elmo Hotel and Coffee Shop. RCA Victor maroon plastic radio, $22.95 at Moore's Hardware and Appliance. March 1 Public hearing set before commissioners court to determine if Clay County should come under the Texas herbicide law. Henrietta girls lose third game of basketball district playoff to Decatur 39-38. School census enumerators named for Henrietta schools by board president Troy Douthitt. Orchard study set at Charlie with county agent J H Miller. Colonial footmen David Greer and David Daniel greet Unity Club members arriving at their George Washington's birthday meeting. Kleenex 300 size, 21 cents at Nolen's Grocery. March 8 1951 Henrietta senior class plans to put on the play "Leave it to Grandma", a three-act comedy, in the high school auditorium. Bellevue juniors announce they will put on "Meet the Husband" and Midway seniors plan to perform "People are Funny". L E Dickerson announces Red Cross drive goal is $2,763 and reminds citizens Red Cross provides blood to servicemen in Korea. A belt made by Carl Fuqua at Olsen-Stelzer Boots is given to Gov. Allen Shivers in Austin. Clay County one of 53 in West Texas served by the new district office of Price Stabilizaton to enforce price ceilings. Some 670 of 3,249 car tags in the office of W O Nix dispensed, with April 1 deadline. Bromo Seltzer 57 cents at City Drug. March 15 Buford Scaling named county chairman for the Texas Mid-continental Oil and Gas Association's North Texas District. County health officer Dr R E Hurn sends letter to county school superintendents reminding them of quarantine laws for certain communicable diseases which are increasing, such as measles, mumps and chicken pox. International-Harvester dealer Moore Crisp announces it will bring the vaudeville and move show "International Hit Parade" to Henrietta. Signal lights and warning bells are being installed on the Jacksboro highway on either side of Fort Worth and Denver Railroad. Folgers coffee, 89 cents a pound at City Food Store. March 22 Government trapper H E Bridgewater shoots a golden eagle on the Maddox ranch at Stanfield. The 1951 Bearcat squad plans a scrimmage at Hapgood Field against exes under coachs Bob Young and Nelson Turnbow. The hall above the Central Food Store is rented by the Henrietta Lions Club for a youth center. A man hitchinking robs another man of 82 dollars and throws his keys in a creek near Henrietta, then takes off on foot, but is caught by local lawmen, including Deputy Tommy Covington. 2X4s and 2X6s for $7.50 at Shamburger Lumber Co. March 29 Unity Club announces an art show to be held at the Henrietta Livestock Barn at 302 N. Bridge. Rex Gates is unopposed for reelection as Henrietta mayor. Tommy Stewart and Herbert Johnson complete naval recruit training in San Diego. County school nurse Sarah Haney announces a 20-hour first aid course will be taught at Midway school. Rat poison, 35-cents a pound at Kerr Feed Store. April 5 Opening night for the Henrietta youth center draws 110. Enterainment includes ping pong, dominoes, checkers and card games. Christian, Catholic, Baptist and Methodist church choirs plan a massed choirs concert. A Paul Hawkins ambulance is damaged in a wreck while on its way to an accident on 287. G. H. Howell, Bellevue school superintendent, is elected president of the Clay County unit of the Texas State Teachers Association. Bedtime for Bonzo with Ronald Regan shows the the Royal Theater. April 12 Unity Club announces an art show to be held at the Henrietta Livestock Barn at 302 N. Bridge. Rex Gates is unopposed for reelection as Henrietta mayor. Tommy Stewart and Herbert Johnson complete naval recruit training in San Diego. County school nurse Sarah Haney announces a 20-hour first aid course will be taught at Midway school. Rat poison, 35-cents a pound at Kerr Feed Store. April 19 A $633,000 contract is let to improve a 8-mile stretch of Hwy. 287 southeast of Henrietta. Henrietta tennis team wins doubles and places second in singles at district, including Eddie Healer, Peggy Massie, Carma Bray, Evelyn Watkins, Eddie Scheer and James Talley. Frank Douthitt and Wayman Bell win all the prizes in the kite flying contest. They had the only entry. PTA square dance admission, $2 for couples and $1 for high school students. Machine oil permanent waves, $3 and up at Gladys' Beauty Shop April 26 JAC Electric Co-op receives an $80,000 loan to build 35 miles of new lines to serve 100 customers. Nell Fuller wins 4-H dress revue and qualifies for the state roundup. Henrietta Housing Authority notified that 30 new units are approved at the cost of $284,000 on a four acre tract east of the Moore-Crisp property. Charlie community enters the Rural Neighborhood Contest of the Farmer Stockman magazine. Katy Railroad leaves Henrietta at 4:21 p.m, arrives in Kansas City at 8:35 a.m. daily. May 3 Henrietta School Board rehires Coach Bob Young following a petition with 400 signatures of support. Texas Electric Service Co. files for a rate increase, but rates will still be lower than in 1946 when a 16 percent cut was enacted. The Henrietta High School Choral plans its spring concert, and the 25 and 50-cent admission will be used toward purchasing new robes. William McKee and Majorie Fine are named top graduates of the Petrolia Class of '51. Nylon hose, 51 gauge, $1.49 at John's Dry Goods. May 10 The Midway livestock judging team takes first place at Texas Tech, members are Bud Akin, James Hager and George Sparkman and advisor is Elbert Edwards. Henrietta refuses the 10 percent electric rate increase requested from TESCO. Herman Lowry of Henrietta wins a four-year scholarship to Midwestern State University for winning the White's Auto presidential essay contest. D.D. Shilling catches a 27-pound catfish at the Henrietta city lake. The Maytag Chieftain washer just $134.95 at Moore's Hardware & Appliance May 17 Buck Stuart announcers the Stanfield store will reopen under new management. Jimmy Yarbrough and Neal McNabb are named the top graduates at Byers. Mozelle Lohman and Bettye Leeper lead the Henrietta Class of '51. Midway seniors announce their class trip to cities in South Texas. Randy Hapgood of Henrietta represents the winning team from Stephens College in Missouri at the Nation Intercollegiate Air Meet in Norman, Okla. Red potatoes and cabbage, 3.5 cents a pound at Central Food market. May 24 Signs reading, "The prices of merchandise in this store are no higher than the OPS ceiling prices of the articles" must be posted in stores by June 1. Patti Carr and Dixie Brock are top graduates at Midway. Planning for the 1951 Pioneer Reunion begins with the celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of oil in Clay County. The $2,794 collected in the Red Cross drive exceeds the county's goal by $31. Complete single vision glasses, $9.50 at Mast Optical. May 31 An editorial praises the good condition of the streets in Henrietta and notes it may have more paved streets than any small town in America. Earl Hall, former Henrietta attorney, named chief justice of the Second Court of Civil Appeals in Fort Worth. Large crowds attend a cooking school put on by TESCO at the Royal Theater. The Buddy Poppy drive to help disabled veterans sells out its 500 flowers in two hours. Neckties for Father's Day beginning at 98 cents at John's Dry Goods. June 7 TESCO says it will install mercury vapor street lights in the downtown Henrietta area, along the highway, around churches and schools in a compromise for the city to grant a 9.2% rate hike. Price cutting polices hit Henrietta, Bob Meeks says tires will be cut 25%, and home appliances are cut, some by more than half. Commissioner Frank Hanson announces right-of-way has been secured for the Hurnville Road, to be FM 1197, for 7.25 miles north of Henrietta. Future contracts will extend the road to Riverland and Stanfield. Homer Burns reports the car he stopped driving 70 miles an hour through Henrietta late one night was being driven by a woman with no license and no clothes. 9.8 cubic foot Westinghouse frost free refrigerator, $429.95 from Claude B. Gates. �2001 The Clay County Leader
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