The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 12, 1958 Page: 1 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Rockdale Reporter and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library.
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.icrof tl i
c.lei
1.0. ox 8066
8rllr.«, toxok
Co.
Summer Sports
Program Varied
See Page lb
THE ROCKDHLE REPORTER
M Vonr Sfpp;
Tomorrow's the Day
Friday. 13th!
Rockdale Messenger Established 1879
AND MESSENGER
Rockdale Reporter Established 1893
VOL 86
10c THE COPY
ROCKDALE. MILAM COUNTY. TEXAS. THURSDAY. JUNE 12. 1958
16 PAGES
NO. 22
City Adopts $186,555 Budget,
Okays Site for Cub Scout House
Air-Conditioning Job
For City Office OK ed
AT 'INTERNATIONAL PICNIC'
New Rotary Officers Installed
Norman Crawford. district
governor, installed officers at the
Rockdale Rotary Club's Inter-
national Picnic Friday night at
the Gaither farm when Mr. and
Mrs. Harry Bentel, of South
Africa, were special guests.
Don Williams was installed as
president, succeeding Sam Peeb
les. Other officers for the new
year are: Dick Fritz, secretary:
Pat Stevenson, treasurer. Peeb-
les will serve as vice president,
a club custom for the retiring
president.
Other members of the board
INTERNATIONAL BARBECUE—Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bentel (left) cast a South African
glance at a Texas style barbecued steak as they were special guests at the Rockdale Rotary
Club International picnic at the Gaither farm. The Bentels, on a round-the-world tour from of directors are Russ Sugg, Glenn
Carletonville, Union of South Africa, have been in Rockdale since last Friday. (Staff photo). cookeS’ ** R’ Yeager antl W' H'
ffrnnblinq^
FROM SOUTH AFRICA
ROW ROCKDALE
W. H. C
Logical
^HIS week’s story, as told by i
Charles Didway in the Post!
Dispatch, concern the girl who
bought a lottery ticket, insisting j
on the number 51, which turned
out to be the winner. When asked |
by a reporter why she picked 51,
she said: “Well, for 7 nights I j
dreamed of the number 7: and 7
times 7 is 51, so 1 bought the
ticket.’’
World Travelers Enjoy Stay
In Rockdale During Week
By BILL COOKE
Ten years ago Mr. and Mrs.
Harry Bentel, with two helpers,
opened a dry goods establishment
in a tiny, gold-mining community
in South Africa. Now the Bentels
are retired and enjoying a fabu-
lous trip around the world—which
j has included a stop in Rockdale.
By-Lines j The town of Carletonville in
THERE are four by-lines appear- South Africa grew from a popu-
1948, when the
ing on stories on this page this
week. The line “By Tom Beard"
is found over the city council
lead story: “By Irma Dunnington”
graces the story about the Home-
coming: "By PHI Cooke" nppe irs
over a feature story about some
visitors from afar; and then last
and probably least “By W H. C.”
is at the top of this column, a
custom of long standing.
lation of 2000 in
Bentels entered business there, to
its present population of 25,000
while serv ing some of the world's
i idlest gold mines.
The town prospered, and its
people prospered. The Bentels,
native residents of South Africa,
sold their 30-employe depart-
ment store this year to a dry goods
chain and boarded a Qantas Air-
lines DC-7 to begin an extended
Most Reporter readers are well- j triP around the world, timed to
acquainted with Irma, who has | lake in the Rotary international
been society editor for lo these convention in Dallas,
many years. Most of you bv now J Meeting several Rockdale club
know Tom Beard prettv well, af- representatives at the convention,
ter a little over a year as news the Bentels accepted an inv itation
editor. But in case you think 1j to lllis comparatively small,
wrote that story by-lined Bill
Cooke, you're wrong.
This Bill Cooke is my favorite
namesake, who recently got his
journalism degree at North Texas
It’s sort of confusing, but that’s
the way the son sets. One Bill is
enough around any self-respect-
ing newspaper so from her on
out I’m WrHC.
to this comparatively small, in-
significant Central Texas town—
to include Rockdale in their list
of key spots of the world to visit.
"Wonderful Hospitality"
After a weeks stay, Bentel
maintains “the highlight of our
trip will be the wonderful hospi-
tality shown us in little Rockdale
—rather than the sights of Hon-
olulu. the Far East, or the Brus-
sels Woild Fair.’’
Since coming to Rockdale from
the convention, the visitors have
been guests at the Rotary Club’s
“international picnic” <sce related
photo), entertained at numerous
socials, visited Austin, and last
weekend Hew to Dallas to bid en-
couragement to Gary Player,
Summer Water
Rates in Effect
Summer water rates are now in
effect, the city council reminded
Roekdalians Tuesday.
The rates for the first 10,000
gallons of water per month re-
main the same, but above that the
summei rate is 15 cents for each
additional thousand gallons used,
instead of the regular 25 cents.
The rates, okayed by the council
at its April 8 meeting, went into
effect May 1 and appeared on the
June 1 billing.
The council at its April meet-
ing did not set a date for the
summer rates to expire, but in-
dicated they would be terminated
when the dry summer months,
when water usage is heaviest, arc
past.
Bill will be around just long I
enough this summer to come in I
mighty handy while Tom com- )
mutes between here and Austin
each day in oraer to complete his
journalism degree. Tom quit at
the University of Texas a year
ago last January to take the posi-
tion of news editor open here at
that. time. He was just six hours
away from a degree and will now
get that prized sheepskin.
About the time this happens,
Bill will Rave us again to go to
work for an uncle, one of the big-
gest and most bankrupt uncles in
the world. Name of Sam. Bill will
enter the military service on one
of the new six-months programs,
reporting July 13 to begin his
basic.
Snake Street?
TJHONE call this morning from
Mrs. Walter Weise, ot 310 East
Hamilton, who thinks the name
should be changed to Snake
street. “I almost stepped on a
copper head right in my front
See RAMBLINGS, page 7
Shake-up Dissolves
Police Chief Position
G. E. Allen, acting police chief,
lost his job Monday in a shakeup
of the Rockdale police depart-
ment, city manager N. E. Alford
said Wednesday.
The action came as a part of
a police reorganization plan which
the citv council has discussed,
Alford explained.
This plan does away with the
chief position. Police work now
is being co-ordinated by C. M.
iJack» Mason, city judge and day
police dispatcher.
Since the end of the Alcoa con-
struction period and the leveling
off of the “boom,” Rockdale does
not need as large a police depart-
ment as was needed then, the city
manager said. Elimination of the
chief position will cut down on
department expenses, he stated.
Allen was appointed acting chief
Sept. 22, 1956, when O. C. Merry-
man resigned that position, and
Allen was never given permanent
appointment as police chief. Al-
len joined the department as a
patrolman Oct. 1, 1955.
The city hired Elbert Brown,
formerly a guard a1 coa’s Rock-
dale Winks, as temporary patrol-
man to fill in during the vacation
nerioH. the citv manager naiH
South African golfer participating
in the Dallas Open.
What kind ot town increases
its population by 23.000 in a dec-
ade, enabling its more specula-
tive citizens to retire in leisure?
A gold town.
Carletonville is a gold town,
but its gold is not located “in
them thar hills.” Much of the
mining is done beneath rivers
and streams, and some 25 million
gallons of water are pumped per
day in the mining process, Bentel
explained.
As one would expert, the 10
> ear-old mining center is a very
modern town, with wide streets
and attractive stores. Carleton-
ville boasts a "wonderful, temper-
ate climate,” being located on a
plateau some 6000 feet above sea
level.
Low Cost of Living
“Our town differs greatly lrom
Rockdale in that it is not a town
of generations, it is not an in-
dustrial or agricultural city, but
strickly a mining town. The cost
of living in Carletonville averages
better than 50 per cent lower
than in America.” he explained.
In South Africa there is no la-
bor problem, and wages do not
force high prices. In that country
there are approrimatcly 30,000,000
Blacks and 3.000.000 Whites, and
in Carletonville some 40 to 50,-
000 Blacks work in the four ma-
jor gold mines—Blyvooruitzight,
West Driefontcin, Doornfontein,
and the Ultra Deep Levels.
“Contrary to much false propa-
ganda, the Blacks work under ex-
tremely good conditions, are well
paid, well clothed, receive good
care including hospital treatment,
and do not resent White manage-
ment,’’ Bentel pointed out.
The educational system for both
races are good. These systems in-
clude kindergartens, elementary
schools, high schools, and trade
schools for students wishing to
learn trades and skills rather
than finishing high school.
Ail schools are English and
Afrikaans speaking schools, and
See VISITORS pat 8
Peebles introduced District
Governor Crawford who spoke
briefly about the advantages of
Rotary before installing Williams
as president. After acknowledg-
ing his new job, Williams intro-
duced the other members of the
board.
Heab Helmer, who had been in
charge 01 the International Pic-
nic and while in Dallas attending
the International Convention, in-
vited the Bentels to come down
as special guests, introduced the
two visitors. Both spoke in-
formally about the customs and
life in South America.
A four-piece band supplied
music early in the evening and
during the meal. The picnic was
in the form of a bring-your-own-
steak barbecue . and drew an
attendance of 83 Rockdale Ro-
tarians. local guests, and Rotary
guests from Halletsville, Belton.
Gidding.-. and Cameron.
Tuesday Meeting
A. T. Barker, who was in charge
of arrangments at the picnic, was
also program chairman at the
Rotary luncheon at noon Tues-
day, when Bentel again spoke.
. Special guests at the Tuesday
luncheon were the two winners
of the club’s annual scholarships
as the outstanding boy and girl
students in the high schools of
Milam county. Both Miss Jo Ann
Martin of Milano and Mike Mc-
Dermott. Jr., of Cameron, spoke
briefly, thanking the club lor
the opportunity given them.
At the luncheon Tuesday Bentel
presented to the Rockdale club a
miniature banner of special de-
sign for the Carleton, Transvaal,
Union of South Africa Rotary
Club, accepted for the Rockdale
club by Sam Peebles.
By TOM BEARD
An estimated budget of $186,555 for the city of Rockdale
Bentel also presented, on behalf for fiscal >'ear 19a8'59 was adopted by the city council Tues-
day.
ol his club, a cash contribution, i
through the Rockdale club, to the the council also approved as a part of this budget an
Rotary International Foundation, estimated $750 to air-condition the city offices.
Adoption of the budget consum-
| ed a major portion of the two-
' hour regular council session. The
: council checked the proposed bud-
j get, as presented by city manager
j N. E. Alford, item by item, and
j made several changes, including
I the air-conditioning appropria-
By IRMA DUNNINGTON The president Mrs. C. M. Ses- ] t'on* Eslimaled Figures
Attendance at the 25th annual s,ons- fl,sl called on J. M. Moor-, The budget adopted shows esti-
reunion of the Rockdale Home- j man< superintendent ol schools, | mated expenditures for fiscal '58-
coming Association Sunday at fair who sP<>ke in favor of our schools'
park fell below former gatherings j and what they offer to all ages,
but there were a number of new , assuring those who wanted to re-
faces in the crowd and the warm *u,n they would be given the lib-
See HOMECOMING, page 7
Homecoming Turnout
Numbers Near 200
handshakes and renewing of old
acquaintances made the day a
pleasant one.
The crowd averaged about 200
persons, ol which there were 99
registered from out of town and
there were 29 who were present
for the first time. A brief busi-
ness meeting and program held in
the pavilion, preceded the lunch
hour.
In keeping with the invitation
cards, mailed out to former resi-
dents. that were in the form of a
summons to appear before the
court of the Rockdale Homecom-
ing Association, a mock court that
dealt v. ith the views as to why
former Roekdalians :>hould return
here to live was held.
SWAP-DAY FUN!
Mrs. W. E. Gaither
Dies Here Monday
Funeral services for Mrs. W.
E. Gaither were held Tuesday
from the Phillips and Luckey
chapel at 4 p. m., with the Rev.
Robert A. Greaves of St. John’s
Methodist church officiating.
Burial was in the I. O. O. F.
cemetery.
Mrs. Gaither died in her home i
Monday afternoon from a heart |
attack. Her passing came as a |
distinct shock to all of Rockdale.
Ethel Bowman Gaither was !
born at Mooreville. Texas, a !
daughter of Mi. and Mrs, George:
W. Bowman who were long es- |
tablished citizens of that section '
ol state. She had spent the great- |
er part of her life in Milam j
county, and as a young lady was j
a teacher in the Rockdale public i
school, i It was here that she
met W. E. Gaither. They were
later married on June 30, 1908.
at Mooreville.
Mrs. Gaither was a member of
St. John's Methodist church, be-
ing active in the WSCS of the
church, one of the circles in this
society bearing her name. She
was a member of the Rockdale
A large crowd of area residents is expected at the
City Scales Monday for Rockdale’s fourth Swap Day,
according to H. L. (Monk) Summers, chairman of the
trading event.
“The program lias had a slow start because of bad
weather and the San Jacinto holiday that slowed the
April Swap Day,” he noted, “but we re expecting a good
turnout Monday.”
Area residents including farmers, businessmen,
housewives, and the kids will have a chance to “swap or
trade” everything from coon dogs and livestock to table Reading clubhand oMhe^Same-
lamps and wrist watches during the day-long program.
"Everyone gets a kick out of swapping or trading
items they no longer need for something useful,” Cham-
ber of Commerce manager Parris Wheatley explained.
Some suggested swap items in addition to livestock and
poultry are tools, lawn mowers, old clocks, relics, guns,
knives, boats and trailers, motors, bicycles, saddles, spurs,
plow equipment, and countless other items.
Summers urged everyone to join the fun. “The day
will be a happy outing, and participants will take home a
lot of useful items,” he added.
ron History Club.
Surviving are the husband, W.
E. Gaither; a daughter. Mrs. Billie
Gaither Hogan: a grandson. John
Gaither Hogan: and son-in-law,
W. P. Hogan of Rockdale; also
five sisters. Mrs. Ida Douglass of
Dallas: Mrs. T. L. Page of Eddy;
Mrs. James Watson of Cameron:
Mrs. R. L. Long of Belton; Mrs.
John Jenkins of Waxahachie; and
d brother, John M. Bowman of
Waco.
.">9 as $186,553 and estimated in-
come oi SI80,726.02. The city at
present has a cash balance on
hand to be used for possible em-
ergencies, it was pointed out.
During the 1957-58 fiscal year,
actual income was 5188.925.53 and
actual expenditures were $185,-
956 29.
The city’s fiscal year begins
May 1 and ends April 30.
The council approved purchase
of three air-conditioning units up
to lVfc-ton size to air condition
the city office. Estimateci cost is
$750.
The council instructed Alford
to take bids on the air condition-
ing units from local dealers and
accept the lowest bid. Mayor Lin-
wood Mehaffey appointed aider-
man George Bredt to work with
Alford on the air-conditioning
project.
Cub Scout House
Three representatives ot me
Rockdale Lions Club met with the
council and got city approval of
plans to move a building to Fair
Park for use, primarily, as a Cub
Scout house.
The Lions, president Charles
Hord, Bob Hornbeek and Ed
i Remaley, mid the council the
; Aluminum Company of America
j has agreed to donate the old
“Alcoa construction building” for
civic use. They asked, and were
given, council permission to place
the building in Fair Park, which
is city property.
Under the agreement reached
with the council, the city will
furnish the site for the building
and pay utilities. Money for mov-
ing and resettling the building in
the new site is to be raised by the
Lions Club.
The Lions Club sponsors Cub
Scout work in Rockdale.
Moving Cost $2,000
Cost of moving the building,
placing it on concrete pad at Fair
Park, ,<nd repairing it was esti-
mated at 52,000 by Hord, spokes-
Sce COUNCIL, page 7
FROM 7 1-YEAR-OLD M ILItlNG
Trash Brings Back Memories
Local Company Sends
Lowest Bid for Armory
Coflield Construction Company . anti-Aireraft Artillery Battalion,
was low bidder for the construe- j The local firm’s bid of 591.904
tion of a new armory to be used I was among six bids opened Fri-
hv the Milam County National j day in Austin by ihe State Board
Guard unit, Battery C, 649tiv of Control, according to Barton
---Sutton, manager of the Rockdale
Bloodmobile Will Visit Here
At Church Friday Afternoon
The Red Cross Bloodmobile
has scheduled a stop in Rockdale
from 12 noon until 6 p. in. Friday
at the First Baptist Church annex.
The church is located at tho
corner ol East Bell and Green
streets.
Approximately 25 volunteer
workers will conduct the oper-
ations during the .itternoon, ac-
cording to Mrs. Frank Skrivanck,
general chairman for the Blood-
mobilc visit.
“All pi rsons 18 years of age or
older arc urged to donate a pint
of blood Friday, the chairman
said. "Every time a blood trans-
fusion is given in Rockdale. ” she
explained, "Red Cross blood n
used.
Program Explained
"The quota for these \i it: is
• t ,|t 7o pint: but a« > .jp hoping
lor at lca-t 1UU donation., .h*
added, saying that far to few taken, with the donor resting in
people understand the value of! » horizontal position.
the Red Cross voluntary Blood-
mobile program.
Any resident of a town located,
in a county which participates in
the Red Cross program is cntiteled
to get the blood when it is need-
ed. Since Milam county partici-
pates in the program, any county
resident is entitled to the Red
C ross blood. However, residents
ot Lee county must get blood
from commercial programs since
that county does not participate
in the Red Cross program, Mrs.
Skrivanck said.
The procedure that blood do-
nors will follow Friday was out-
lined by the chairman as follows:
First, a doctor checks the do-
nor' temperatui’i and blued pres-
sure, and a blood count is taken.
Then the donor i. go on gI,j.; of
fruit juiit'. lhe blued i* then
Painless Operation
\fter giving blood, the donor
is iven cookies and either coffee
or Coke, and instructed to
rest vr a short time.
" I operation is entirely pain-
less," Trs. Skrivanck said, "and
the entire program is under the
supervision of a doctor."
Persons who base previously
given blood to the Red Cross are
being asked to donate again Fri-
day. The last Bloodmobile stop
in Rockdale was January 30 when
a good turnout of donors was
reported. "One of the most suc-
cessful stops was in Ma\ when
113 pints of blood were donated
at Alcoa’s Rockdale Works.” she
ad !' 'I
Mrs. Ed Sexton will be m
ehuVT'f o| vobinteci \\nvkr|-j. lul
Hie Ldoudmobile „ \4Jit l uday.
company.
Bids were requested for the
new armory to be located in
Cameron b^v the Texas National
Guard Armory Board on May 13.
Other bidders were Cooper Con-
struction Company, Waco; B J
Construction company, Austin;
Graham Construction company,
Cameron. McLeod Construction | Rockdale’s western
company. Temple: and Allan and
Wilson company of Denison.
Telegrams received two weeks
ago in Cameron from U. S Sena
tors Lyndon Johnson and Ralph
Yarborough and Rep. W. R Poage
explained that a sum of $87,750
in Federal funds was available
for construction of the Armory.
Bids arc expected to be let in
approximately 30 days, it was
announced here Monday. 1 he
building of the Armory has been
pending for some time, with bids
being advertised and opened last
August 1, bu1 not let.
Armory Board blueprints call
for tho building, 116 feet long by
108 feet wide, to contain a drill
hall, storage room, 'ocket room .
Editor's Note: Many school- |
day yarns were spur, during
Rockdale's 25th annual Home- '
coming held Sunday at Fair
Park (see related story, this
page). Many of the names that
appear in the following story
were included in the memories
brought forth during Homecom-
coming conversations.
From beneath the foundation of
the old elementary school build-
ing. formerly located at the corn-
er of Bell and Bowser streets and
torn down in 1955, Reporter ad
! man Henry Tyler collected a box
i of tattered papers, dusty and
I tarnished with age.
Finally taking time to look
| through the collection this week,
I the Reporter staff got a good les-
son in history—local, national,
and international.
The building, which was 71-
years-old in 15)55. was once a
j two-story red brick landmark on
nitskirts. The
structure was the towns’ only
school building from 1884 to 1922
when the high school mow the
junior high1 building was erected.
That year, the top story was re-
moved from the old building and
it became the town’s primary
school.
Hundreds of area residents re-
ceived then elementary and high
school education in the building.
>ck-
vho
ith-
an arithmetic assignment
ed 1 ()0 i by Luckey.
Another arithmetic assignment,
dated Wednesday, December 21,
1910, belonged to Louis Shapard
grad-1 who now resides in California. | the brother of Mrs. Pearl Rinn
I according to Reporter society ccti-] and now resides in McKinney. A
tor Irma Dunnington. map apparently prepared for
Also found was a cartoon bear- geography class was drawn
ing the name Doc Harris who is
Many hav
e long
-sine
e left R
dale,
but
for
the
many
have
n’t, tl
ic box
of *
•trash" g
cred
from the
ruins
, may b
back
plea:
sant sc
hool
day met
a
by
Aaron Green, now of Longview.
Green, the brother of Mrs. Wil-
lard Marshall of 215 West Belton,
works with the Post Office in
Longview where he has lived
since 1931.
History Notes History
The box also contained a his-
tory notebook folder belonging to
Sarah Montague, now Mrs. M. C.
Boone of Houston. Mrs. Boone is
the sister of Mrs Lee Wallace Jr.
of 1502 Highland.
Another assignment was pre-
pared by the late Forrest Randle
Sr, whose widow lives north of
Rockdale on Highway 77. A note-
book cover belonging to the late
Ira Perry Jr., who later lived in
Dallas, was also found, as well as
spelling book belonging to the
late Alvin Brockenbusch.
An account statement carried
the heading “Ed Moses’
Livery,
Feed and Sale Stablt
. . . Bus
Meets All Trains Day oi
N
Best Single and Doub
1c Rigs.’’
The blank statement w
as dated
“191—.’’ The owner’s si
in, Eddie
iOnion> Moses now jesa
cies in El
Taso.
A 1906 calendar was a
l.so found
bearing the signature of
the A P.
Perry. Jr Drug Store w
hich was
i ted
at 200 Ni
sent Peri
tion> is 1
Mai
Dim
led. ,
Panti
Rockdale
Classroom Assignments
T
i the out
1 |>H
.MU.
ul canuiua.
(AUU.l
ilu.i and
FLASHBACK
Harold I
.uckey sits at hi
s H<
x'kdalc State
tailoring businesses, v
Bank desk and
checks ai
ri arithmetic cxer
cise
ho turned in
found under the school
during his jun
ior 111 y n
school days. The
ass
iignment was
World Turmoil
A torn, yellow page
Imind illoiHJ \V1
th other
building 1
tarnishod paix%rs
lorn down m 1951
j. Tl
icath the old
Kcbruai v 13, 1904 clllio
Houston post ithrn 12 pi
met urc
Hockdii*'
III t school l’
out Harold’s
ixofe .... iUU!
(lit purl
cr wIjlH Uy
W.
11. CooLc).
bee llvAwll.
I
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Cooke, W. H. The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 86, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 12, 1958, newspaper, June 12, 1958; Rockdale, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth694587/m1/1/?q=central+place+railroads: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library.