COLUMN: A Look Back

50 years ago

(Dec. 25, 1958)

Winn Dixie relocating
Hartsville’s business scene will - in the not too distant future - take on a decidedly new look. Plans are now in the making, and almost complete, for consolidation of the two Winn-Dixie stores, which will relocate in a new building on the corner of College and Sixth streets.
Construction of the all-new, and ultra-modernistic housing for the Hartsville Winn Dixie operations will begin about Jan. 15.
Cost of the new building will be slightly in excess of $100,000, according to Edward E. Saleeby and Vincent Cannarella (who will build and lease the structure).
A building has just been dismantled and moved from the site of the soon-to-be larger headquarters of Winn-Dixie, and, according to Mr. Saleeby, two additional houses will come down to make way for the new building.
Building size will take in a great majority of the block, as it is slated to be 96 feet wide and 145 feet deep. It will be a one-story structure, of brick and block, and will consume 13,920 square feet in building area. The roof will be gypsum.
All new and modern conveniences will be found in the new Winn-Dixie headquarters, Saleeby said, including air conditioning, and gas heating system. He also pointed out that the chain operation will have the very latest in customer conveniences, including automatic meat-wrapping machines, an electric eye to open and close the doors for customers, etc.

Clean Up Report sent
According to John C. McIntosh and C.M. Pennington, co-chairmen, Hartsville Chamber’s Clean Up Report for 1958 was forwarded to Washington Friday, Dec. 19. Each year over 6,000 copies compete for 24 annual awards from the National Clean Up Bureau.
The local Clean Up Committee of the Chamber numbered in excess of 200 workers, among which were zone chairmen, block leaders, and judges. The 55-page scrapbook report showed substantial increases in every single clean up activity.
The following are some of the interesting highlights of the Hartsville Cleanest City entry:
549 paint jobs, 3,500 participating, 141 new homes and business houses erected in 1958, 1,700 new garbage cans placed over city, 151 vacant lots cleared for new homes, etc.
Announcement of winners is due in the latter part of January.

Privette leads Foxes
By Blanding Clarkson Jr.

Hartsville’s temporarily coach-less Foxes finally got going after a slow start and the local powerhouse rolled to their fourth win, 51-29, of their undefeated campaign at Lamar, Thursday, Dec. 18.
Rendered without coach Billy Seigler when he had to leave a day before vacation started, the Foxes, looking uncertain at first, weathered a determined effort by the home team in the first quarter to win. Extremely cold shooting by the locals aided the Lamar cause immeasurably.
The home team, fast breaking when they were able, had held the Foxes to a 6-6 deadlock with about a minute to play when the locals went on a streak that put the game out of reach of the opposing Silver Foxes. Paul O’Neal hit two jump shots from the left side and the locals hit for thirteen straight points, running the half time score to 25-13.
Six feet, seven inch Manning Privette led the quintet for the second consecutive game with 12 points. Ronnie Holley, 11 points, and Paul O’Neal, ten points, were close behind.
Hartsville will play its next game against Bennettsville at Hartsville on Jan. 6. It will be the first conference game for the Foxes in defense of its title won last year at the conference tournament at Lake City.

Wed: Sarah Elizabeth Carpenter to William Mobley Hill, 12/6 and Betty Faye Dempsey to John B. Crowley, 12/20.

25 years ago

(Dec. 21, 1983)

Armed bandit
strikes again
By Laura Reynolds

A local doctor and one of his employees were taken hostage by an armed robber wearing a ski mask early Monday evening, Dec. 19.
According to Hartsville Police Chief Richard Ritch, a lone black male entered Dr. Darrel Gant’s office, located at the corner of Fifth Street and Church Street, after all the patients had left for the day.
The masked man, wearing dark clothing, told the receptionist to give him all the money, which she did. He then went to the back of the office where Gant was and took Gant and the receptionist hostage, Ritch said.
He forced them out of the office into the receptionist’s car and made them put their heads down.
After driving around for five to six minutes, the robber put the hostages out around the Prestwood Club area.
The Hartsville Police Department received the call around 6:04 p.m.
The receptionist’s car was found at 7:05 p.m. in the Harris Teeter parking lot.
Both hostages were released unharmed.
Street talk (break-ins)
Hartsville residents have expressed concern over the rash of recent break-ins and have taken measures to improve the security in their homes.
“I’ve put a gun in my house for the first time,“ said Jerry Gardner, a local builder.
Gardner said he thinks stopping the robberies should be the top priority of the local law enforcement.
“I pray each night they catch him soon before he really hurts somebody,“ said Trudy Watson at Cato’s.
Watson has seen a prowler in her neighborhood three times. She leaves the radio or television turned on when she goes out and makes sure all the doors and windows are locked. “He comes in whether they’re locked or not,“ she said.
The recent break-ins have caused her to fear for her children’s safety and that of the elderly people in her neighborhood. A neighborhood crime watch member, Watson said residents in her area are ready to call the police if they see anything suspicious. “We take care of each other,“ she added.
News of the break-ins has caused Madeline Self to start locking all her doors at night. “I’m not used to doing that,“ she said.
Self keeps several guns in her house ready to load at a moment’s notice. Recent break-ins have helped encourage her to become a Crime Watch member.
“I think they should have caught him by now. After last night (Monday) they should really get down to business. He’s going to keep on until he hurts or kills somebody, said William Steen.
Steen said he has tightened up the security in his home by leaving his front porch light on, and adding a back porch light and some new locks.
“If the guy comes and gives me any problems, I’m going to shoot him,“ Steen said.

Cop of the year

Hartsville police Lt. Terry Swett was named the city’s Policeman of the Year at the annual police banquet held last Friday night, Dec. 16. Hard work, dedication to the job and professionalism paid off for this year’s recipient.

Engaged: Susan Clarke Smith to William Middleton Musser; Jane Ashley Thompson to Thomas Suddreth McLeon; and Pamela Kay Layton to Joe Wade Mason.