Abilene Reporter-News from Abilene, Texas • 13

r-f ii mt- i frrf-'n 1 i I 1" i 'r- I i y1 fii1 1vy-j( I ffltjt Abilene Reporter PAGE ONE ABILENE TEXAS SUNDAY MORNING MAY 27 1962 SECTION By NORMAN FISHER Reporter-News Staff Writer BRECKENRIDGE The county seat of Stephens County long noted as a center of the oil industry has high hopes of gaining equal renown for its water With the completion of Hubbard Creek Lake which may come as soon as late summer Breckenridge will be only a handful of miles from a new lake which will contain up 'to 317750 acre-feet of water with a shoreline of some 90 miles Fishing boating and related leisure time activities are expected to boom in this area as the lake fills and Breckenridge civic leaders are aiming to make their town a vacation attraction Four Towns When it is completed the dam and lake will be the culmination of work by leaders in four area towns Breckenridge Abilene Anson and Albany It will be a major source of water as well as INDUSTRIAL TRAINING Eight credits in vocational courses are offered in Breckenridge High School making the department one of the system's strongest Here Sammy Petty left and Joe Maldonado operate a milling machine in the metal work shop (Staff Photo) Vocational Study High On Brock School Lists BRECKENRIDGE A strong district runs 13 buses some 1126 in the system Supt Culwell hopes for work on a recreational center Stephens County courthouse Photo looks west from-atop the Burch Hotel (Staff Photo) miles daily transportin' 272 students to and from classes There are a total of 76 members of the professional staff which includes 27 holding graduate degrees Eight members of the faculty have been with the district more (han 20 years ranging up to more than 40 Organized on a 6-2-4 grade distribution Breckenridge schools have 929 students enrolled in their three elementary campuses 282 in junior high and 400 in high school There are 81 students in the 12-grade Booker Washington school for Negroes In the past six years the system has constructed five new buildings Including three elementary schools and has remodeled or added to two others vocational training program capable of turning students into potential wage-earners is a popular segment of the curriculum at Breckenridge High School The school offers eight credits In vocational training for its students and a strong percentage of the student body winds up in one or more of the classes Four credits are offered in vocational agriculture general metals commercial subjects and home economic and two credits are offered in industrial arts The complete metal program is considered relatively rare among high schools of this size When students enroll in the field they spend half of each day in the metal shop receiving two credits for the year's work census of 8273 Officials believe there has been a gradual increase-in the number of residents since that count the renovation to begin this summer The district currently has $14-150000 assessed property valuations with that figure based on 20 per cent of market value Trustees recently voted to raise the assessment to 25 per cent of value which would hike valuations to the neighborhood of $17 million Tax rate is $167 per $100 valuation Breckenridge High School has a daily half-hour activity period set aside for various guidance programs Students attend a general assembly at that period three times a week club meetings one day and homeroom meetings one day The school has had a student council program for many years and has gained state-wide notice for its marching band A bulging line of trophy cases emphasizes the colorful athletic achievements Prominent in the case are trophies representing five state football Despite the new talk about water Breckenridge has long been an oil town In 1958 the last year for which figures have been compiled to date Stephens County produced a total of 2793645 barrels of oil Since the area opened with a booming rush after oil was discovered in 1916 the county has produced 168371738 barrels By 1920 2000 wells had been drilled in the county and the rush was on On Jan 1 1920 Breckenridge had an estimated population of 1500 A year later the figure was 20000 Debts incurred in building facilities to handle population of that size remained after the boom dropped off Only in recent years have the bonds been reduced to a more comfortable size Long History The town is named for John Breckenridge former vice president It can trace its history back to early 1876 shortly after the formation of Stephens County It is on Highways 180 and DOWNTOWN BRECKENRIDGE Here is Walker Ave one of the main thoroughfares through the Breckenridge business district At upper center is 183 and State Highways 6 and 67 Breckenridge Is served by the Rock Island Railroad and has 14 daily bus schedules and Six motor freight lines Stephens County Airport a city-county project has hard surface lighted runways Among the best known organizations which call this city home is the Breckenridge Boys Choir which recently gave a concert at the White House The choir is generally self-supporting and makes numerous appearances each year Hospital Library Other local points of pride include the 50-bed Stephens County Memorial Hospital Breckenridge Public Library and Breckenridge YMCA with 15 employes The latter ships cable tool equipment to many parts of world Other key Breckenridge firms include Graridge Corp petroleum producers and processors Warren Petroleum Co Lone Star Producing Co and Breckenridge Gasoline Co producers of natural and related gases Bank deposits in Breckenridge's First National Bank totaled at the March 26 call statement of condition Deposits have been relatively stable recent years according to President William Pardue Jr Although several banks flourished during the town's "boo days First National is the only one at present While oil ias been the economic key for many years the cattle industry is growing in importance recent years Stephens County lends itself more to ranching than farming although some small grains are raised in the area 'f The work cost approximately Breckenridge High has separate mi (m wilh one buiWi ron workshops for the agriculture1 classes metal-working and in structed without the need of bonds! and the others financed by Since Breckenridge is the only town in Stephens County it has become the retail and recreational center for this entire area Residents of this county plus adjacent sections of Palo Pinto Shackelford Eastland Throckmorton and Young counties shop here often Breckenridge is also home for Marvin Naylor president of the 180 Association The organization is pushing development and promotion of that highway which stretches from the Fort Worth-Dallas area to the Grand Canyon In addition to the Grand Canyon the highway gives access to Carlsbad Caverns Gila Cliff tilings National Monument near Silver City NM several state parks and various other recreational areas A major problem now faced by Breckenridge leaders is the lack of housing Homes in the low and middle price ranges are difficult to obtain at present Breckenridge showed a 1960 the $8-259505 for in a $250-000 bond issue in 1956 and a $480-000 issue in 1958 Officials at present are working on plans for remodeling the junior and senior high buildings oldest dustrial arts The school which now requires the standard 16 academic credits' for graduation will go to a 20-unit requirement next year according to Supt John Culwell Under the program the same basic 16 units will be required to be supplemented by an additional four credits in any band choir physical education or any academic courses "We are designing this to encourage students to take every' high school course they can" Culwell said ace making the change to encourage them to work Street Improvements Boom In Breckenridge More Due BRECKENRIDGE Street im- North Ward Elementary School tunusual for a town of this popu- pmvements are running in high! Also planned for this year isolation bracket The department fho largest blocks of employment in Breckenridge are closely re- The library was actually started as a project by the Wednesday Study Club some 35 years ago The YMCA contains a wide variety of recreational facilities including a heated swimming pool A nine hole golf course is maintained by Breckenridge Golf Club just west of town Most of the firms which provide here paving of 1000 feet or equipped with two and at their maximum while in fip1rinK cemetery pumpers Satedtotheoiiiiry Lionel nmuvlft already nnst the drives hrrth street and nnrkintf four smaller trunks wicu uir ihuwwj lional projects already past the: drives both streets and parking four smaller trucks GC Twirling Drum Major Camp Opens CISCO (RNS) More than 100 students have enrolled for the third annual summer twirling and drum majoring camp to be held at Cisco Junior College May 27-June 1 according to an announcement by Director Erie Ritchie-- An enrollment increase of about 50 per cent over last year is ex- pec ted on the basis of pro enrollments RitCbie said Students win be coming from as far away as Del Rio and Post and as near at Eastland Ranger and Cisco he added The camp will open Sunday with registration from 1 to 5 pm A highlight of the camp will be a twirling exhibition Thursday night May 31 at the college football Held There will be no ad-v mission charges The Thursday night show will feature the camp instructors who include some of the state and nation's finest Ritchie said The program will include a fire baton exhibition by Roland Brinklev of Houston one of the best fire twirlers in the world according to Ritchie The staff Includes Brinkley as the head instructor Jane Hamit-" ton Houston Bob Wasson Sam Houston State College Huntsville Mrs Shirley Hagan McAllen Miss Jackie Marshall TCU Fort Worth: and Ritchie director of the Cisco High School band Assistants will Include Carolyn Brown a CJC drum major from Fort Worth and Sandi Hallbrooks Ranger The program for the five day school will include twirling marching and drum majoring along with recreation at Lake Cisco pool Youngsters nine years old and older are eligible planning stage larea at Miller Park and other One of the key improvements spot sections of residential areas will be on North Breckenridge Av- At present 14 of the 50 miles The police department a chief five patrolmen member who doubles school" Another planned addition to the curriculum next year is an eighth grade laboratory science which will bring to five the number of-- (Highway 183) where city of street in Breckenridge are Some of them include B-J Service Co well servicing firm with jsome 50 employes Dye Mfg Co which does precision tooling and has 40 to 50 employes and Breckenridge Tool and Supply Co one of the few firms in the world still producing cable tod drilling equipment fered in Breckenridge's system i The eighth grade course will deal with the life and earth sci crews are to permit idening moving water service! paved 30 per cent of the total Tax Evaluations and rebuilding of the road strip Breckenridge tax evaluations are $5701904 or 25 per cent includes and one at school! crossings and as dogcatcher Current city water supply is Lake Daniel constructed in 1950 with a $900000 bond issue It has a capacity of 11500 acre-feet of water considered adequate for city use for several more years City officials expect to continue using Lake Daniel water despite rtf enccs allowing the ninth grade science course to emphasize gen- The area 2900 feet long will I actual market value The lax rate eral physical sciences Both will rebuilt by state highway crews is $250 per $100 valuation based be designated ns general R'fiht-of-way purchase was com- on the 25 per cent figure courses however jpleted earlier this year A total of $132442 in taxes When this 10-block project is' has been collected to date this completion of Hubbard Creek EVENTS TO COME IN WEST TEXAS Lake During the past two years some 30000 feet of water mains have completed all highways through year about $10000 below the total Breckenridge will lie on a mini- billed jmum of tot) feet of righl-ol-way! Current operating budget of the with a feet Work minimum roadway of G8 city is $425455 for the year in-! been cleaned by scraper tools including $203901 budgeted for sal-jcause corrosion was restricting aries for the fiO city employes the flow Over the same period in Water sales brought $186709 in some 40000 feet of sower mains "This will make a hroadcr base) for our advanced laboratory sciences" Culwell said Breckenridge High School cur rently offers 44 credits for its students Elementary schools here teach youngsters to read hy phonetics in the lower grades Oilier than that just concentrate on the fundamentals in the lower grades" Culwell said i rebuilding 1350 feel of North: revenue to the city last year with! have been cleaned of silt and llarding Avenue including new pa ement Two blocks of new paving along with 100 feet of con-The school system only one in cede storm sewer on Hartford Stephens County covers a front of Stephens Memorial ing 7fl9 square miles Although it Hospital is being wound up average daily usage by city customers of 796028 gallons Peak usage was 2003000 gallons on May 24 1961 Present lax bond indebtedness of Breckenridge is $279000 with an additional revenue bond debt of rocks which were also restricting service The city also owns and operates Breckenridge Cemetery Ted Brown is mayor City commissioners include Frank Homme Russell Payne Charles Sommer and Kelley James SWaim is city manager and Cecil Mayes is city is the county's only school some through oooperation of city coun-youngsters in the extreme edges ly and hospital crews along with $656000 supported by water and of Stephens County attend other district schools Because of its large area the pmnerty owners The 100 block of 7th is being paved to complete a hxip around sewer system revenue Breckenridge has an eight-man paid fire department considered ABILENE June 1-3 Meeting of Witnesses Exhibit Bldg of-Taylor County Agriculture Center ANSON May 30 Jones County Old Settlers Reunion 8:30 am high school cafeteria Rev Hamilton of Abilene memorial service speaker ASPERMONT June 1 Achievement award banquet of Aspermont Luncheon Club 8 pm high school cafeteria Dr O'Brien of Big Spring speaker BIG SPRING May 28 June 2 Northwest Texas Methodist Conference meeting First Methodist Church CISCO May 27 June 1 annual Summer Twirling and Drum Majoring Camp Cisco Junior College COTTONWOOD May 31 Invitation rifle matches sponsored by Cottonwood 4-1 1 Club Calvin Champion farm 1 pm Ml'NDAY May 28 "Splash Day" at Munday Municiiul Swimming INhiI Contests begin at 2:30 pm SWEETWATER May 27 Final day of annual Sweetwater Rifle and Pistol Club gun and coin day NaUonal Guard CHAMBER LEADERS Heading the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce which is having one of its busiest years in history are president I McArron seated and James Hestand recently named executive sec retary (Staff Photo) Volunteers Gain Impetus i For Breckenridge Chamber BRECKENRIDGE "Wc have Creek Lake Construction on thearea three times as many active work- big project Just to the north and! The survey explores a number jers now as we did a year ago" west of Breckenridge is in its of areas and asks several blunt I McArron president of the final stages questions such as "Why do you Breckenridge Chamber of Com-) The Breckenridge chamber! believe most people go to other merce explains the growing vig-j working with Anson Abilene and' cities to and "What if or with which his organization C-C groups is planning Breckenridge's one greatest operating in that manner dedication ceremonies for the newjneed?" The Breckenridge C-C recently dam and lake Because the lake Other present chamber projects adopted a detailed program of is nearest to Breckenridge offi-include working to attract st leas jwork for the coming year "I hecinls here are handling much of' one of several Industrial jlieve this is the first concrete pro- the detail work prospects" and work toward se gram of work our Chamber of I Although all four cities Involved curing a livestock market for Commerce has ever had" McAr-'will receive water benefits from Breckenridge ron said the new lake this Stephens The organization sponsors an Organization of the program in-County town is expected to reap annual July 4 program at Miller eludes a vice president heading most of the tourist attraction hen Park which may -attract up to eticli major division iefits 4000 persons Features each year They Include Machmj Take Advantage include a bathing review and oth- membership and organizational: Chamber committees are alrcu-(cr traditional summer activities affairs Russell Payne agrieullur- dy at work on plans tn help this Also sponsored annually affairs: Kelley civic af- community take advantage of this 4-11 and FFA slock show in Janu fairs: Frank Homme commercial new vacation resource ary and stock "bow ana affairs Rogers and A i Another key C-C project which rodeo held each August by tho Miller Industrial affairs could have deep effect on the Stephens County Rodeo Assort A Gillmore is treasurer and town's future is community sur atinn James Hestand former AN lone Home Builders Association voy which has already been com pleled Results are being com budget and finance chairman Look to lake Chamber officials here are lixik piled although answers may be official has been executive see VK DID THIS MUCH llrcckrnrklgc Mayor Toil ager James Swaim right and City Secretary Cecil Brown points out some of the SO blocks of the I Mayes Several street projci iff The streets which were paved last summer to City Man the city this summer (Stal iroiccts are also on tap for loto) ing with anticipation toward dwli- slow in coming because of heavy retary of the Breckenridge Oiara cation and opening of llubbard: participation by residents of thisber of Commerce since Feb.