The Way It Was: Arkansas board studies expanded phone service
These were some of the stories reported by the Texarkana Gazette this week in history:
100 years ago
October 28, 1919:
PERMISSION GRANTED
Permission has been given the district fair committee by officials of the Texas side to hold the coming district fair on the streets and vacant lots of the city, according to an announcement this afternoon by M. E. Melton, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. Vacant lots to be utilized are the Offenhauser Park, Whitner lots, Cotton Belt lot and Dove lot.
Oct. 29:
AUTO BADLY DAMAGED
Yesterday afternoon about 5:30 o’clock, Mrs. J. A. Lightfoot’s auto was badly damaged when a streetcar crashed into the auto from the rear on East Broad Street. According to Mrs. Lightfoot, she was driving west on East Broad Street between State Line and Vine when the streetcar, also traveling west, collided with the auto without any warning. Neither of the two occupants of the auto was injured.
Oct. 30:
CALLED ON THE POLICE
When an unruly high school pupil refused to leave the Arkansas high school under orders from the principal, Chief of Police John Strange was called upon to take a hand, but had not done so up until the noon hour today, when the school was closed for the reminder of the week. Because of an infraction of the rules, the student had been ordered to quit his work and leave the building, but he refused to leave the building. It was not so in “ye olden days.”
Oct. 31:
TEXARKANA SOCIETY
Mrs. Thos. Hinton and Mrs. Will Owen will entertain this afternoon about five hundred in honor of Mrs. A. A. Allen. ALSO — Mrs. J. H. Moore and daughter, Miss Gloria, have returned from Shreveport where they attended the fair. ALSO — Mrs. Joe Hughs and little daughter have returned from a several-months’ stay in California.
November 1, 1919:
EDITORIALS
The wise man blows the other fellow’s horn. The fool toots his own. Happiness honestly sought is readily found, but it seldom comes of its own accord. Destroyed happiness may be converted into a lasting, if one understands how to assemble the shattered pieces.
Nov. 2:
WAS BADLY SHAKEN
J. R. Eaves, millwright at the Farmers Oil and Fertilizer Co., was badly shaken in an accident yesterday when his foot slipped from the iron rung of a ladder and he fell to the concrete floor 14 feet below. An ambulance was called, and Mr. Eaves was carried to a hospital where he received treatment. His injuries were not serious.
Nov. 3:
HOW LONG CAN IT LAST?
The Texas police were called upon to make an arrest. H. Jones was arrested in the early part of the evening yesterday on a charge of drunkenness and had not “sobered” enough this morning to appear in police court. Jones will spend another night in jail awaiting him to sober up.
50 years ago
October 28, 1969: ARKANSAS BOARD STUDIES EXPANDED PHONE SERVICE
The Board of Directors considered an expanded telephone service that would consolidate all city office lines into one line — including the Police and Fire Department — at the Arkansas Municipal Building. Under a new proposal the city can operate an 80-line phone system, which will cost $258 per month. Presently, the city is operating under a 40-line system at the cost of $135.65 a month.
Oct. 29:
FIRE DESTROYS HOUSE
Fire of undetermined origin destroyed a frame house at 1206 West 12th St. Mrs. Barbara Keele said she and her three small children were home. “My 9-year-old daughter was in the back bedroom sleeping when I heard her scream. I ran in the room and saw the wall and ceiling on fire,” she said. She took her children and ran out the door. Capt. J. A. Smith said the firemen were hampered by heavy smoke but they had the fire under control in 20 minutes.
Oct. 30: DRUG ADDICTION EXPLAINED IN FILM SHOWN BY DR. WRIGHT
A film, “Drug Education,” was shown by Dr. Nathan Wright, local pediatrician, at Altrusa Club’s dinner meeting at Howard Johnson’s Convention Center. The film detailed the nationwide drug problem. Dr. Wright conducted a question-and-answer session afterwards.
Oct. 31: NEW BANK SOUGHT IN QUEEN CITY
A Northeast Texas group has applied to open a new state bank in Queen City, Cass County. The proposed First State Bank of Queen City would have capital and surplus of $80,000 each and reserves of $40,000. Proposed directors are R. J. Cochran, Mt. Pleasant; Jimmie O. Clements, Atlanta; and Autrey F. James, Lupton Willis and J. W. Beaver Jr., all of Queen City.
November 1, 1969: LANGUAGE MEET DRAWS COLLEGE INSTRUCTORS
Texarkana College English instructors and one member of the foreign-language faculty are attending the 26th meeting of the South Central Modern Language Assn. in Houston, Tex. The instructors attended on invitation of Rice University and the University of Houston. TC English instructors attending are Mrs. Lois Duck, Mrs. B. Peck, Mrs. Lucille Elgin, Miss Mary Lewis, Mrs. Patsy Rankin, Mrs. Margaret Montgomery, Mrs. Gladys Cupp, and Nellie Kate Thomas. Mrs. Ruth Formby represented the foreign-language division.
Nov. 2: TEXAS ROAD CONTRACT AWARDED
The Southwest Arkansas Company, Inc., of Texarkana has been awarded a contract for the construction of grading, structures, base and surfacing of Texas Farm Road 3098, according to G. A. Youngs, district engineer at Atlanta, Tex. The program is estimated to cost approximately $279,400 and will extend from the road intersection southeast to U.S. Highway 67 at Redwater.
Nov. 3-4: ARKANSAS STUDENTS ATTEND MEET
Four Arkansas High students attended an Upward Bound program Friday at Southern State College in Magnolia, Ark. The four are Shirley Alexander, Robert Borah, Norman Duren and Thomas Lacy. The members were guests at the Southern State-Arkansas Tech football game at Wilkins Stadium.