This morning (Saturday, June 26, 2010 started around 7 a.m.) I had a great bicycle ride around the Sloughs of Henderson County KY. The Sloughs are in the Geneva-Smith Mills area. The ride was about 35 miles round trip from downtown Henderson. Many of the roads (all paved) were totally without traffic. There was a lot of wildlife including a turtle and deer. 

After my bicycle ride, I was determined not to spend it on any connected device (e.g. computer/internet). So I went to our public library Henderson County Public Library and looked at old newspapers on another technology device- a microfiche (how 1970’s). I specifically looked at May and June 1975.

During that time period, I was just completing the 5th grade at East Heights School – which was the very first year that school was opened. I was 11 years old, a Highlander Acres kid and highly entrenched into the workings and activities of the First Baptist Church in Henderson.

Several of the news stories in that time period from the Henderson Gleaner popped out to me as interesting. Below is a short recap:

Ginny Newman started the cable TV show “Round Town” one of her first guests was the town dog catcher. Ginny had that show for many years. I wish the archival videos of the show could be reclaimed. I am told that the budget was tight and many times the tapes were reused. What an archive that would be today.

The Henderson Housing Authority sees a demand for public housing.

My great Aunt Henrietta Priest Culver was running for Circuit Court Clerk.  She did not win.

Beauty Salons who usually were accustomed to serve more of a women clientele were seeing more men. JR Cardwell a male hairdresser came to Henderson from Lexington and opened up a shop at 326 N Main. He had specific times (Wednesday evenings) that he took care of styling men’s hair. He believed men wanted more of a “natural look”, “they don’t want a plastered oily look anymore they are asking for a softer fuller look”. He says this is achieved with the right cut and drying technique. Bee Bracket owner of Bee’s Beauty Salon (located in Henderson’s East End), reports that her male and female customers are happy about the new trends of male hairstyles. She says “men are taking more pride in their appearance and they should since we have to look at them all the time”.

Sureway had their weekly treasure chest drawings. People put their name in a pot and had to get their card punched each week at a local Sureway grocery store. If you name was drawn, and you had your card punched that week you could win money. Many weeks the Sureway Treasure chest had over $600 in prize money people could win. My grandmother Hancock was very consistent about getting her card punched weekly.

Michelle Gilliam (now Deep) coordinated a bicycle tour for the American Cancer Society. Probably, the first organized bicycle tour in Henderson KY. Now we have almost 3 a year.

Dr. Paul Wilder came to town and opened a practice.

Gail King wrote a book about flatboats “A Flatboat Hornbook”.  The 28 page book gave you all the information you needed to know about Flatboats.   This was in preparation for the Flatboat Days Celebration that became so popular during the 1970’s in Henderson.  She said her family was proud the book was done; they were tired of TV dinners.

Downtown Henderson property owners worked to reach a goal of $80,000 for replacement of curbed gutters and sidewalks between 4th St to Washington St and from Water Street to Green Street.  The project also included new street lights and underground utility wires.  Reconstruction of central park fountain is to be done as well.  One of the news articles have a picture of Mrs. James (Frances) S. Priest (a distant kin to our family and  Virginia P. Berland’s mother) speaking against the redoing of the fountain.  Mrs. James S. Priest wanted the fountain  redone to its original state.  She would be proud to know that was done in 2002.

Computerized checkouts in grocery stores are worrying some consumer groups. They fear the removal of price tags on merchandise. Now we hardly ever see a price just a barcode these days.

Vaughn Insurance advertised in the Gleaner a lot with a somewhat blog style insurance tips material.  My father Norris Priest had just purchased the business in August of 1974.

Atkinson Park on the north end of Henderson Kentucky along the Ohio River opened and expanded recreational area providing playgrounds and ball parks over a former landfill.

That’s a lot of interesting news stories and history for spending 2 hours at Henderson County Public Library looking at just two months of newspapers (May & June 1975).  I enjoyed it and will have to do it again sometime soon.

Do you remember some of these stories?  Do you have anything to add to them?  Please leave your comments.  All welcomed!