Editor’s note — We’re continuing our tradition of taking a look back each Saturday at some of the important, interesting or even odd events as they were reported during the same week throughout the years, along with interesting advertising features from years gone by.
This week in 1908, the Hillsboro Dispatch reported “the demon of fire visited Peebles,” destroying the business block of the Adams County village that included 12 buildings, five of which belonged to Dr. Beery of Hillsboro. Damage estimates were $60,000.
F. DeWeerd of Troy was conducting a three-week revival meeting in Hillsboro starting May 1. The meetings were to be held in the Highland County Courthouse every night, and all day Sunday.
At C.A. Pond’s restaurant on North High Street opposite the courthouse, homemade ice cream was available daily with brick cream and fancy ices made on a day’s notice. All regular meals, served well and with clean linens, were 25 cents.
The Cincinnati and Columbus Traction Company had a popular excursion train going to Cincinnati on Sunday, May 3 to see the Cincinnati Reds play the Pittsburgh Pirates. Trains left Hillsboro at 6:25 a.m. and every hour thereafter until game time.
The writer of the Leesburg news reported that quite a number from “our little burg” were over at the Highland Friends Church to hear the Rev. Tibbits of California preach, some corn planting was being done in Fairfield Township the past week, and preparations were being made for the end of the school year so pupils “could take a much needed rest and go fishing.”
A.D. Wiggins announced that blank forms were available at his law office so women could collect a new widow’s pension of $12 per month. Women had to be married to a soldier prior to June 17, 1890.
This week in 1924, the Hillsboro News-Herald reported that two enterprising young men from New Vienna were in the process of building a new toll road between Hillsboro and Wilmington by way of New Vienna. The toll would be 50 cents.
The Rev. Thompson of Collins Avenue reported that a .30 caliber bullet crashed through his home, missing him by only three feet Monday afternoon. It was suspected to have been fired from a distance, and that the shooter didn’t realize how far the bullet would carry.
Graduation was approaching and 48 members of the Hillsboro High School class of ’24 were making plans to go to college.
In one of the first measurements of traffic volume, it was reported that 4,684 vehicles passed through Rainsboro the past week, with 3,109 going through Samantha. The heaviest travel day was Sunday.
No doubt some of those drivers were driving what the Hillsboro Auto Company advertised as the lowest priced two-passenger car. The Ford Runabout could be driven off the lot for $265, but the electric starter and detachable tire rims cost $81 extra.
Duncanson Brothers in Hillsboro had the new Pathe phonographs in a wood cabinet for $65 and up, with improved steel needles to play the Columbia New Process Records for 55 cents each or two for $1.
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad offered all-expenses, personally conducted tours of Washington, D.C. starting May 26 for $72.70 round trip. Passengers were guaranteed lower berths in the Pullman cars and hot meals in the dining cars along with meals and hotel accommodations in the nation’s capital.
“Youth, joy, jazz, cigarettes, cocktails, neckers and petters!” were the highlights of the silent movie “Flaming Youth,” coming May 1-3 to Bell’s Opera House, starring Colleen Moore on screen and Billy Palambo on the piano.
This week in 1964, the Hillsboro Press-Gazette reported an on-again, off-again rainstorm caused damage from lightning and heavy rain, and forced two Highland County schools to close Monday. Official weather observer Tom Knott said that rainfall totaled 3.49 inches between Friday and Sunday.
“It’s sheer bedlam from morning ‘til night” and ad for Colony Theatre in Hillsboro said as Doris Day, James Garner and Polly Bergan starred in “Move Over, Darling.” For the outdoor crowd, it was Lucky Buck Night at Allensburg’s Roselawn Drive-In Theatre. Bob Hope and Anita Ekberg starred in “Call Me Bwana.”
There were food bargains galore at Owens Super-Valu in Hillsboro, with whole fryers for 23 cents a pound, fresh ground hamburger for 29 cents a pound — or four pounds for $1 — and Morton’s TV dinners were three for $1.
Over at Steen’s IGA, “where the money you save every day is like a raise in pay,” 10-pound bags of potatoes were 49 cents, Marlene margarine, two one-pound boxes, were 25 cents, and 10 freshly made ham sandwiches were just $1.
Jack Matson Chevrolet-Pontiac-Oldsmobile wanted car buyers to start the ’64 baseball season by batting 1.000 with a new used car, such as a 1961 Impala four-door hardtop, with a V-8 and automatic transmission — a real beauty for $1,695; or for the family, a low-miles 1960 Ford nine-passenger station wagon for $995.
At the South Point Drive-In, steak dinners started at $1.40, a jumbo shrimp platter was $1.25, a golden fillet of fish platter was 80 cents, or a cheeseburger platter was 65 cents.
This week in 1999, The Times-Gazette reported that Hillsboro Middle School student Nichole Stethem had been named a national award winner in history and government at the United States Achievement Academy.
Southern State Community College held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of its new $6.5-million Clinton County campus.
South Central Power sought to reassure customers that they were ready if anything happened due to “Y2K,” and said they had done extensive testing so there would be no power disruptions when the calendar turned to 2000 in eight months.
A frontal system gave the Hillsboro Indians a hot, then chilly Friday afternoon as they defeated Miami Trace 14-9, with Hillsboro senior Nathan Fries blasting a pair of homers. Meanwhile, Lady Indians pitcher Jennifer Butts threw a one-hitter as the Tribe women tomahawked the Lady Panthers 12-1.
The annual Highland County Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society was announced for June 4-5 at the Highland County Fairgrounds. In 1998, the event brought in over $39,000 for cancer research.
An event reminiscent of the fly-ins of the early 1970s was set for May 1 at the Highland County Airport. In addition to an open house, a complimentary pig roast with all the trimmings was featured in addition to a flight instruction program for budding pilots.
Reach Tim Colliver at 937-402-2571.
