Monday's Internet Edition, October 06, 2008.
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| Annie Mae Taylor displays her 1929 Cove school newspaper. Taylor also has a newspaper from 1920. She replied to the search for Cove's Historical Best contest. See additional photos in own March 20 issue. |
From 7 to 10 p.m., Billy Ray of US 105 will fill the role of DJ and those attending can dance or just sit, listen and chat with friends, said Linda Ledger, Downtown Association President. Activities for children are planned and door prizes will be awarded.
Admission is $1 and will be used to defray the costs of the party. However, free birthday cake and ice cream will be available. The cake is provided by H.E.B. and Blue Bell will furnish the ice cream.
Ledger said the birthday party will celebrate the day of Cove's official recognition by the United States with the establishment of a post office at Ogletree Gap. The post office was moved into what is now downtown Cove in 1818.
In conjunction with Cove's 124th birthday, the Downtown Association sought Cove's Historical Bests. Annie Mae Taylor of Copperas Cove produced the oldest newspaper, dated July 22, 1920.
The paper, edited and owned by C.W. Roberts, includes headlines such as "Many are investing in new $100 certificates at the post office here" and "Saving on payday is made easy by saving stamps."
The one page paper includes an ad for the picture show owned by Ernest Mangrem. The only other ad on the page reads, "Dentist -- In Copperas Cove every Monday of each week at Durrenberger Drug Store -- W.E. Corbin."
The paper, published weekly also listed announcements for the Democratic primary, including candidates Pat M. Neff of Waco for Governor and WW. Hollingsworth, J.F. Nabors and J.L. Donaldson for sheriff.
Taylor's paper is a copy; she donated the original to the Copperas Cove Public Library. She also has a school newspaper from Jan. 22, 1929, called "The Bulger." The paper, four pages long, indicates that high school sports was a highlight of Cove living even then.
One headline reads "Copperas Cove Bulldogs win over Killeen 20 to 17." Another reads "Return game with Killeen postponed."
The paper was issued bi-weekly, cost 25 cents per year and covered grades one through twelfth. Featured items included want ads and personals.
Ads included ones from G.J. Teinert Dry Goods and Groceries, Bell's Cash Grocery, Copperas Cove Motor Co., Clem Meat Market, Frase and Perkins, Mrs. Buesing Lunch Room, Bell Drug Store, Barnes Hardware Company and Norman Brothers.
Maydean Brown of Copperas Cove listed Opal Pratt, 90, as the longest resident of Cove still living and Ledger Furniture, established in 1951, as the oldest business still existing in Cove.
Brown wrote that the First Baptist Church, founded in the late 1800s, is the oldest business still existing in Cove. The Masonic Lodge, begun in 1884, is the oldest existing civic organization, she wrote.
Other entries from Brown include Mary Kasting as the teacher still living who taught the most years, 42, in Cove; the Parnells as the Cove couple who married in Cove the most years ago, 68; George Leonhard as the living Cove resident who has served the longest in public office and a Model T owned by Les Ledger as the oldest car in Copperas Cove.
Harris Caraway listed the First Texas Bank, established in 1977, as the oldest business still existing in Copperas Cove and the Lion's Club, started in 1946, as the oldest existing civic organization in Cove. He also wrote that the Cove couple who married in Cove the most number of years ago is himself and his wife, Donna, who married in 1966 at Fairview Baptist Church.