70 YEARS AGO
JULY 14, 1972
A privileged few
A call has been made by the local Selective Service Committee for 34 Pulaski County youths to take pre-induction physicals on July 29. Those heading to Louisville include Marion Sylvester Turner, Theodore Cox, Mark Burton, Otha Columbus Brumley, Clifford Bush, Eddie Morrow, Junior Abb Hill, Charlie Lawrence Daniel, Clarence Arthur Troxell, Forest William Abbott, Arlie William Branscum, Charles Van Hawk , Herbert Hoover Gibson, Kelley Junior Wilson, Gilbert Hibbard, Boyd Ray Bray, Delmer Ewing, Bennie Sears, Harold Leon Whitaker, Harold Lester Haste, Virl Dykes, Walter West, Clyde Hall, Charles Kenneth Bolin, Herschel C. Bray, Dennis Wilson Whitaker, Edgar Willie Mayfield, Vonia Bryn Ridener, Lymon Colyer, Claude Junior Decker, Rural Ralph Ping, Morris Phelps, Watson Fouts.
Basketball star drowns
Darrell Kidd, 18, of Sloans Valley, drowned while swimming at Lake Cumberland on Wednesday afternoon. Kidd was considered a poor swimmer. He would have been a senior this year at Burnside High. An excellent athlete, he played this year on the Generals basketball team.
recovered doctor
Dr Ernest Parsons has fully recovered from minor surgery on his right eye.
Bird joins the family
A tame jay is pictured sitting on the head of Mary Todd Kennedy, daughter of Mr and Mrs Sam Kennedy of Somerset. Mr and Mrs C. Fred Hunt found the baby bird a few months ago after a windstorm and fed it with a dropper. Now he is as tame as a kitten, he loves to sit on Mary’s head and visit neighbors.
Kathy’s take
Kathy Prather, 14, daughter of Mr and Mrs Homer Prather of West Somerset, caught 14 pounds of fish at Lee’s Ford Dock. Fish, bass, cat and carp were caught using artificial bait while fishing deep.
Not very hot
High Street Baptist Church enjoyed outdoor services during the hot summer months.
There is no shortage of news
A big cigar followed by a friendly smile hung on the lips of one of the smallest men the Journal staff had ever seen enter the office on Tuesday. This friendly little guy was followed by two smaller little ladies and a normal sized baby. After a moment of apologetic staring, the Journal’s editor struck up a conversation with the three people and found them not only friendly and polite but also interesting. He read newspaper clippings about them and lifted the youngster to understand how the little mother could handle such an active baby. The editor became so interested in the family that he didn’t realize he had neglected to ask what they wanted.
Mr and Mrs Ronald Street and their son, Danny Lee, and a friend, Miss Ann Hubick, waited patiently for the service. The confusion disappeared when Mr. Street explained that they were members of a family of dwarves. Mr. Street is 3ft 4in, Ms. Street is 3ft 2in and Hubick is 2ft 10in. The baby is a normal-sized young asset that the trio appeared rightly proud of.
They are here to visit Mrs Street’s parents, Mr and Mrs Luther Keith of Tateville. Ms Street is the former Miss Lelia Mae Keith of Tateville. She has a dwarf brother but the other members of her family are of normal height, Mrs. Street left this county about three years ago and appeared at the Midget City of the New York World’s Fair. There she met and married Mr. Street.
Born in England, Mr. Street came to America in 1939 and spent two years as master of ceremonies in Midget City at the New York World’s Fair.
The streets have formed their own show and are traveling the country making appearances.
Major company
Somerset Undertaking Company has moved from 124 North Main Street to the former residence of Judge JS Sandusky at 113 North Main Street.
The founder of the Beecher Hotel has died
An illness lasting around a year proved fatal to Beecher Smith, 83, at his College Street home.
He demonstrated an ability to sell very early in life and exhibited unusual energy. He became an agent for the Cincinnati newspapers here and built a great business.
At 14, he decided he wanted to get into ice making and borrowed $5,000 to buy the Somerset Ice Factory. It turned out to be a profitable business. He was associated with his brother, Robert J. Smith, in the wholesale grocery business, and a few years later bought the RJ Smith Company. Large warehouses were maintained here at Burnside, Burkesville and Monticello, and at Celina, Tennessee. He operated a large fleet of trucks and employed many people.
He also owned a soft drink bottling business for many years.
He was frequently at his office before 5 a.m. and retired early each evening.
He acquired a huge amount of real estate in Pulaski County. He was largely responsible for building the Beecher Hotel, investing heavily in construction and furnishings. Opened in 1930, it will long remain a tribute to his vision and community pride.
Sheriff names
deputies
Sheriff Onie P. Hamilton has appointed the following deputies. Bill Hail and Raymond Meece, Colo; EV Stevens, Pulaski; Neal Bolton, Dikes; Ellis Reid, Science Hill, Milford Williams, Route 1, Eubank; and Henry E. Hail, Somerset.
Taxi company sold
Mitchell Butte bought the Red Cab Taxi Company from Chester Copeland.
Learn to swim
Approximately 250 Pulaski counties attend “learn to swim” classes held throughout the county.
women win
At the request of the Somerset Woman’s Club, Pulaski Revenue Court has budgeted $2,000 to improve the courthouse toilets.
Garbage collection
suspended
The city suspended garbage collection following protests from residents of West Somerset calling for a site off the highway. West 80 on Quarry Road a threat to public health.
A Louisville consulting engineer advised the city to purchase a large incinerator at a cost of $6,000. In the meantime, a search is underway to find a suitable site.
No women killed
Nancy Ann Taylor Lawson, 42, of Ano, was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Saturday morning around five miles east of Somerset.
Swing your partner
The weekly square dances on Cherry Lane, sponsored by the Somerset Woman’s Club, have captivated Somerset young and old.
Let’s eat
Five-piece chrome dinette $44.95 at A. Goldenberg.
Wheeldon meeting
The ME Wheeldon annual meeting took place at Eubank High on Sunday. The meeting has been held annually since 1937 by former pupils of Mr. Wheeldon, an outstanding teacher in county schools for many years.
All is well with Todd
Proceeds from a Todd School Pie Supper will be used to pay for the drilling of a well at the school.
itinerant preacher
The Reverend Frank Brown, who has preached at the Christian Churches of Mt. Victory and Burnside, will occupy the pulpit of the First Christian Church on Sunday morning.
Fair for free
Schoolchildren and teachers will be admitted free on the first day of the great Russell County Fair.