It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in October 1912.
In the Oct. 2, 1912 edition of The Evergreen Courant, owner and editor George W. Salter Jr. reported that the “City school opened Monday with a fine attendance. The pupils will have very comfortable quarters for the session and until a modern school building can be provided.”
Readers that week also learned that “Confederate veterans held an interesting meeting Tuesday, electing J.W. Tomlinson, J.W. McInnis and J.M. Mitchell delegates to the state reunion in Selma. They also got their pension for this quarter.”
Bad news that week included a report that “since boll weevils were found in E.E. Newton’s farm, the pests have been found in many farms about town.”
It was also reported that week that “W.B. James formally took charge of the Evergreen post office Monday night, succeeding G.C. Dean. Mr. Dean has been postmaster for the past six years and was one of the most efficient and painstaking officers Evergreen ever had.”
Salter also let readers know that week that “Tax Collector Oliver made the biggest record in tax collections on Monday that was ever made in the history of the county, nearly $18,000 being turned in for taxes.”
That week’s paper also included a report that “J. Henry Witherington of China, who has been attending school at the Baptist Collegiate Institute at Newton, is ill at home with fever.”
In the Oct. 9, 1912 edition of The Courant, Salter reported that the “newly elected town officers were formally inducted into office on Monday night. The change was made without incident, the old administration retiring and the new placed in full power. Mayor Moorer administered the oath to Mayor-elect Ivey and then to the councilmen-elect. No business of importance was taken up by the new officers. A meeting will be held within the next few days when all officers and committees will be chosen.”
Readers that week also learned that “Justices R.H. Riggs of Belleville and Jas. Alexander of Jamestown beats are among the veteran justices of the peace who made their reports to the grand jury. Mr. Riggs said he had been a J.P. for about 30 years, reporting to the inquisitorial body twice a year.”
It was also reported that week that “Miss Naomi Rabb has returned to the Central Female College to take a post-graduate class.”
Salter also reported that the “boll weevil has spread 73 miles in South Alabama this season, and its migration has not yet ended.
“Dr. H.S. Skinner said yesterday that the cotton crop in Belleville community is at least 60 percent short of a normal crop.”
In the Oct. 16, 1912 edition, Salter reported that “at the recent meeting of the Conecuh County Medical Society, Dr. E.L. Stallworth was elected health officer of the county. Dr. G.M. Newton was elected county physician, Dr. W.F. Betts city physician.”
Under the headline, “Town Officers and Committees,” it was reported that “at a meeting of the town council Friday last the following officers were elected and committees appointed: Clerk and Treasurer – H.A. Shields; Day Marshal – J.C. Jones; Night Marshal – G.W. Miller; Committees: Water and Lights – Shields and Lundy; Cemetery – Salter and Pritchett; Streets – Mason and Lundy; Health and Sanitation – Pritchett and Mason; Finance – Lundy and Shields; Fire and Building – Pritchett and Salter; Laws, Ordinances and Resolutions – Salter and Shields.”
Salter also reported that week that “Circuit Court reconvened at 11 o’clock Monday morning when the criminal docket was taken up. Business is being dispatched rapidly, many cases having been disposed of on pleas of guilty. There are several capital cases to be disposed of and the entire week will likely be consumed. All the important murder cases were continued to the next term of court.”
In the Oct. 23, 1912 edition of the newspaper, readers learned that “a rattlesnake was killed at the home of I.M. Sanders of Brooklyn, measuring five feet, two inches.”
That week’s paper also included the following announcement, under the heading of “FARMERS” – “You ought to have one of The Courant’s Cotton Manuals – a ready reckoner to use when selling cotton or cotton seed and picking cotton. When you sell cotton or seed, you can see at a glance what the buyer is due you. Get a copy for 25 cents at The Courant office.”
That week’s paper also included the following advertisement – “TOYS! TOYS! On Nov. 1, I will have on display the prettiest assortment of TOYS ever shown in Evergreen. Don’t wait until the holiday rush to select toys for the little folks, but get them before the choicest ones are gone. T.A. GANTT, Headquarters for Santa Claus.”
Salter closed out the week with a notice “TO SUBSCRIBERS: There is a large number of delinquent subscribers on The Courant mailing list and each one is asked to make as prompt a settlement as possible. During the term of circuit court, which will continue for two weeks from Oct. 7, will be a convenient time for persons in town to call in and settle. We need the money due us, besides we must comply with the postal regulations, and those indebted to us can save themselves the annoyance and the editor the expense of paying collecting agents to go after it.”
In the Oct. 30, 1912 edition of The Courant, Salter reported that “the general election will occur next Tuesday. The indications point strongly to a decisive victory for Wilson and Marshall, the democratic nominees. While there is every indication that they will be elected, The Courant earnestly hopes that Conecuh County will do her share towards rolling up a big vote, not only on account of the presidential candidates but for the state and county nominees of the party.”
That week’s paper also included the following ad – “Telephones Enhance the Land: A telephone on the Farm not only means convenience and comfort for the user, but it adds value to the land and will enable you to sell your land to a better advantage. Telephone service on the Farm can be had at very low cost. Write for our free booklet at Farmers Line Department, Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Co., 84 South Pryor St., Atlanta, Ga.”
Readers that week also saw the following news item under the headline, “Aviator Mitchell Falls to Death: Montgomery, Oct. 24 – Louis Mitchell, aviator, attempting a daring descent at the state fair grounds Wednesday afternoon, lost control of his machine and fell 200 feet, to be crushed beneath the wreckage of the aeroplane. He died within three minutes after the fall.”
Salter closed out the month by reminding readers that “syrup making will soon be in progress and every farmer would find it advantageous to can or bottle as much of his product as possible, as it is thus in better shape for marketing than otherwise.”
Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of November 1912 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.
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