Ozona History

July 13, 1944

Our town was never lacking in amusement. For instance, a handcuff artist put on an exhibition on the courthouse lawn. He called for volunteers in the crowd to step forward and fasten him tightly with chains, locking them with padlocks. After twisting and writhing, he succeeded — in three or four minutes in freeing himself. Then he passed the hat for collection.

There would be a visiting lecturer who spoke at the church, telling of his trip to the Holy Land, Illustrating the lecture with lantern slides. The carnival was of course a scene of dazzlement. Even after a boy’s supply of nickels had run out and there was no more riding on the merry-go-round or the Ferris wheel, there was the free show in front of the Museum of World Curiosities- the Oriental dancer who was a princess, and the mind reader, who was also a princess, and the snake-charmer, who oddly enough was a princess too.

These only appeared on the platform however – the only one who performed free was the fire eater, though the wild man captured in the jungles of Africa would shake his chain and growl. One of the most thrilling events was the balloon ascension, the aerialist in bright costume sitting on a trapeze under the balloon, which rapidly rose hundreds of feet in the air. Then he pulled the rip cord and the balloon began to deflate. The daredevil plunged dizzily toward earth until his parachute unfolded, then he floated down.

July 8, 1954

Immediately following the flood disaster here in Ozona, emergency housing was established for all victims out of their homes and in need of housing. Every effort has made by the Red Cross to keep family groups together, even in the emergency shelter. It was necessary to establish two shelters, one in the basement of the Junior High School and one in the Davidson Gym. There were 40 families housed in the two shelters plus 92 volunteer clean-up crews from Odessa and Midland.

July 9, 1964

A .22 caliber bullet thru her heart, the body of Mrs. John Doll, 54, was found lying on the bed in the family home here at about 11 30 Monday morning when Mr. Doll returned home for lunch. A .22 caliber pistol, which she had purchased only a few hours before at Collett's Sporting Goods Store here, lay beside her body. It was fully loaded with .22 short cartridges, one of winch had been fired. The bullet from the .22 short had gone completely through the body but had failed to penetrate the clothing. She was fully dressed and the bullet was found inside her clothes.

At an inquest conducted by Justice of the Peace A. O. Fields, investigating officers revealed a note in Mrs. Doll’s handwriting which gave instructions for her funeral, how she was to be dressed, etc. A suitcase was found packed and her clothing arranged. Mrs. Doll had been in ill health in recent years.

Mr. Collett said that Mrs. Doll came into his store about mid-morning and purchased the .22 pistol. She told him she had seen prowlers around but that she did not want to shoot anybody "just to make a noise.” For the purpose, Mr. Collett selected a box of .22 short cartridges which he gave her with the gun purchase. She asked him to show her how to load the gun, which he did.

July 11, 1974

A fire of undetermined origin caused several thousand dollars worth of damage to one of the units at the Flying W Motel last Thursday night. The unit was occupied by Dr. and Mrs. M. C. Carlisle of Waco, who checked into the motel Wednesday and were here to visit their son, Dr. Don Carlisle and his family.

Dr. and Mrs. Carlisle left the motel room around 6 p.m. Thursday and visited in their son’s home until around 10:30 when they returned to find the room filled with smoke. The fire department was called immediately and a smoldering mattress was found to be the cause. At week’s end, there was still a great deal of mystery about the fire in the mattress, as neither of the Carlisles smoke and members of their family who might have visited them in the room earlier are also non-smokers.

July 11, 1984

Ozona High School Twirlers will add beauty and talent to the front of the marching band in the fall. They are, clockwise, Deena Phillips, Jennifer Probst, Alma Kay Ramos and Susan Scott, head twirler.