Saturday, November 04, 2017

Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 11/6/1967 to 11/12/1967

This was a quiet mid-November week in Rome. The Chieftains football team had an off week after their region win a week earlier, so there was no football game. For the most part, it was a “business as usual” week.

Rome set a record low on Tuesday morning, November 7th. Temperatures fell to twenty degrees, five degrees colder than the previous record; lows were expected to remain below freezing for the next three days, at least.

Rome City Schools unveiled a plan to expand vocational training into junior high. The expanded program would  allow all students to participate in vocational education beginning in the 7th grade. The new junior high program would involve teaching children about occupational opportunities and the training needed for various careers.

The Open Door Home launched a drive to raise funds to build a new dormitory that would provide space for 40 more children. The Open Door Home building committee asked the city of Rome and the county to contribute $30,000 each, which would be added to the $26,000 that the facility had raised through private donations. The Open Door Home, which was open to boys between the ages of 6 and 13 and girls between the ages of 6 and 14, was already operating beyond capacity. The dorms were already overcrowded because the program had been expanded to allow preschool children to stay on a temporary basis. (All Open Door Home residents attended school at Elm Street Elementary and West Rome Junior High, so these children were also our fellow Chieftains.)

Elm Street won the Mite League Football Championship with an 18-6 victory over Coosa on Tuesday, November 7th.. Clayton Lundy ran for two touchdowns and passed for a third, propelling the team to victory, 

Roger Weaver was named co-captain of the 1967 Rome Area All-Star football team. Weaver was selected by unanimous vote of the 22-player squad, which consisted of the finest players in the Northwest Georgia area..

Piggly Wiggly had pork loins for 59¢ a pound, Fleetwood coffee for 69¢ a pound, and Blue Plate mayonnaise for 39¢ a quart. Big Apple had whole fryers for 19¢ a pound, Spam for 49¢ a can, and Irvindale ice milk for 39¢ a half-gallon. Kroger had pork chops for 39¢ a pound, Campbell’s tomato soup for 19¢ a can, and lettuce for 12¢ a head. A&P had ground chuck for 69¢ a pound, bananas for 13¢ a pound, and Lipton tea bags for 49¢ a box. Couch’s had pork roast for 49¢ a pound, Van Camp’s chili with beans for 29¢ a can, and Winesap apples for 12¢ a pound.

The cinematic week began with Waterhole No. 3 (starring James Coburn) at the DeSoto Theatre and the West Rome Drive-In, and Sand Pebbles (starring Steve McQueen) at the First Avenue Theatre. The midweek switch out brought Rosie (starring Rosalind Russell & Sandra Dee) to the DeSoto Theatre, Grand Prix (starring James Garner) to the First Avenue, and The Trip (starring Peter Fonda) to the West Rome Drive-In.

Lulu held on to the number position for another week with “To Sir With Love.” Other top ten hits included “Soul Man” by Sam & Dave (#2); “It Must Be Him” by Vikki Carr (#3); “Incense and Peppermints” by the Strawberry Alarm Clock (#4); “Your Precious Love” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (#5); “The Rain, The Park, & Other Things” by the Cowsills (#6); “Please Love Me Forever” by Bobby Vinton (#7); “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin (#8); “Expressway (To Your Heart) by the Soul Survivors (#9); and “Never My Love” by the Association (#10). 

Three great albums premiered this week in 1967. First was Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones Ltd. by the Monkees, their fourth album and the second album on which the group performed most of their own instruments. Then there was the Moody Blues’ masterpiece Days of Future Passed, best known for the iconic track “Nights in White Satin.” Finally, Cream released the brilliant Disraeli Gears, which featured both “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Strange Brew,” 

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