Items for review at the Town Council meeting of

Items for review at the Town Council meeting of June 13 were overshadowed by Council’s eagerness to honor one of its own, Dorothy Hawkins.

Mrs. Hawkins, who has served on the Town Council since 1950, will relinquish her long-held position when a new Council takes over July 1.

In honoring Mrs. Hawkins, Council in a very real sense was honoring history, Mrs. Hawkins was a member of the “all-women” Town Council that made national news in the 50’s as a first in the United States.

Two members of that Council, Mrs, Dorothy Davis and Miss Ruby Jenkins, joined nearly 20 citizens who turned out to honor Mrs. Hawkins. Miss Jenkins initiated the ceremony, which was a total surprise to Mrs. Hawkins.

“I have a request,” Miss Jenkins beckoned from the floor. “In looking over some old information, I found that, 34 years ago tomorrow, the ‘old lady’ of Town Council was elected. Dorothy Hawkins — once the youngest — is the oldest now,” Miss Jenkins prodded with a sparkle in her eye.

Former Mayor Chimes In

Mrs. Davis, former Mayor of that celebrated council, then spoke, taking control of the meeting in a manner befitting those bygone days.

First, she noted some major differences between the councils of old and new, most of which amounted to money matters. Mrs. Davis then pulled out some pictures and articles of the former Council, much like a magician pulls a rabbit from a hat.

Before long, she was telling short stories about Mrs. Hawkins and earlier Councils. One tale bordered on being part of a roast.

Mrs. Davis said that it once was Mrs. Hawkins’ responsibility to take charge of the street lights in Washington, a responsibility that Mrs. Hawkins took quite seriously. If a street light went out, Mrs. Hawkins saw that it was repaired quickly.

During this period of time, Mrs. Davis explained,