Published: October 06, 2009 12:28 am      

Back When: Greenville Country Club was organized 60 years ago this week

“Violence Flares To Shatter Calm In Twin Strikes” announced a headline on the front page of the Greenville Evening Banner 60 years ago this week.

“PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gunfire and death broke the brief calm in the strife-scarred mine fields as the twin strikes of 900,000 steel and coal workers ground on today at a staggering cost of more than $30,000,000 a day ... Pensions are involved in both disputes.”

On the local scene were stories of a drive for a Youth Center, required blood tests, and a proposed new country club.

— “A block-by-block, door-to-door canvas of the city is being made this week by workers in a drive to finance a Youth Center for the teenage children of Greenville, according to Dr. Paul Beall, chairman of the fund-raising committee of the board of directors of the Youth Center, Inc. An appeal has been made for prompt cooperation with the workers in order that the drive may be terminated with the least possible delay ... The building formerly operated by the Lion Drug has been purchased for the purpose.”

— “Released today by the State Health Department was a list of 105 Texas laboratories approved for the performance of premarital and prenatal serological examinations that will be required. New law requires that both the intended bride and bridegroom must have taken a blood test before a marriage license can be issued. Another new law requires a prenatal blood test for women. It was pointed out by the State Health Officer George W. Cox that persons residing in towns where there are no approved laboratories may send blood for analysis to a nearby laboratory or to the State Health Department at Austin.”

— “With response being slow to the call made recently for interested citizens to file application for membership in a new Greenville Country Club, members of the organizing committee today urged that the applications be filed immediately so that the committee will know what procedure to take. The group interested in the proposal has pointed out that numerous recreational facilities will be available for members and their families, including a swimming pool, tennis, croquet and badminton courts, and also available will be horse riding, fishing and golfing besides a complete picnic ground ... If you happen to be interested in joining the club and missed the application blank printed in last Sunday’s Banner, just send your name and address and a check for $350 to the Greenville Country Club Organizing, Box 1033, Greenville.” (Note: Sunday’s ad described 168 acres of land located four miles east of Greenville “on the new highway.”)

— At the Hunt Drive-In Theatre: “Howard Hawks’ Great Production ‘Red River’ with John Wayne, Montgomery Clift.”