As it appeared in the Fifty Years Ago column in the Thursday, June 15, 1967, edition of the Rome NewsTribune

The first draft registration that Rome— and indeed the whole United States — had ever known was held this week fifty years ago.

All male citizens between the ages of 21 and 31 were required to go to the polling places in their districts to register for the military census.

The courthouse was the center of interest. At Rome, the county board, composed of Sheriff Smith, Ordinary Johnson and Clerk Graham, had general charge with the registration under control of Justices Broach and Hawkins and with a large corps of fifty or more assistants. Many ladies of Rome were also at the polls to give encouragement to the young men.

More than 3,000 registered in Floyd County. At the end of the day, the fifty registrars closed their books and all joined in singing “America.”

Early in the day it became apparent that the registration would exceed the anticipation of most people and the registration board had on hand more than 200 cards from Romans who were absent from Rome.

Reporters at the scene observed that the men who registered were cheerful. They realized, noted one reporter, that the occasion was a serious one, but the found time to joke about “going to France: and “giving it to the Kaiser.”

*** The Redpath Chautauqua had been in Rome for a week, delighting citizens with its beautiful scenery, appropriate costumes and company of talented singers.

The Indian Princess Watawaso charmed and delighted her audience with her quaint Indian songs, legends and dances. The Salario gave incomparable concerts and Fraulein Mayer held sway over the hearts of many by her charming personality, not to say anything of the merits of her lecture.

One of the biggest features of the Chautauqua was the staging of the comic opera, “The Mikado.”