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 May 1913.
In the May 1, 1913 edition of The Conecuh Record, editor J.C. Whitcomb reported that “Dr. J.R. Brooks will open a dental office on the second floor of the First National Bank building within a few days.”
It was also reported that week that “a couple of Montgomery officials were in the city a few days ago for the purpose of distributing medals to the old Confederate soldiers.”
Readers that week also learned that the “large safe to be installed in the bank soon to be opened up at Brooklyn was carried to that place Tuesday.”
Subscribers also read that a “valuable bird dog belonging to W.M. Newton was bit early Tuesday morning by a snake of some kind.”
It was also reported that week that “C.P. Deming owns the old family carriage of antebellum days in which the aristocracy of Evergreen used to ride.”
Whitcomb closed out the week by reporting that “fishing is reported unusually good in the vicinity of Brooklyn. A friend informs us that H.A. Chambliss and John Williamson – two old widowers and several ladies – tried their luck at angling for the finney tribe last Friday and ‘landed’ 41 trout. Now, if that doesn’t get a move on Messrs. Deming, Stallworth, McCreary and Dunn, we’ve missed our guess.”
In the May 8, 1913 edition of The Record, it was reported that a “heavy hail and wind storm visited the northern part of the county Wednesday night. Unusually large hail stones reported to have fallen.”
Readers also learned that “C.P. Deming, W.B. Ivey, J.D. Deming and W.W. Pridgen left Tuesday morning for Montgomery in an auto.”
It was also reported that week that “Dr. Sullivan was called out to Camp 9, Alger-Sullivan works, a few days ago, to set a broken arm for an employee of the company who had the misfortune to be thrown from a train while passing from one coach to another.”
Readers also saw that “C.J. Davis, an employee of the L&N, sustained a painful injury at the L.D. King Lumber company’s mill last Saturday.”
Also that week, readers learned that “A. Cunningham, vice president Peoples Bank, is attending a meeting of the Alabama Bankers Association, which is being held at Dothan.”
Whitcomb closed out that week by telling readers to “remember next Sunday is ‘Mothers Day.’ The setting apart a day to honor mothers is a beautiful custom and should be universally observed. So let all, young and old, wear the white flower and otherwise commemorate the day.”
In the May 15, 1913 edition of the newspaper, Whitcomb reported that “up to Friday of last week, 150 carloads of strawberries had been shipped from Castleberry.”
Readers also learned that week that “a musical treat is in store for those who attend the Orpheus club entertainment this evening.”
It was also reported that “W.K. Horton gets from 16 to 18 gallons of milk per day from five cows. It pays to keep only the best grade of stock.”
Subscribers also read that the “following are the new officers elected at a recent meeting of the Country Club: W.M. Newton, president; C.P. Deming, vice president; E.J. McCreary, secretary and treasurer; Board of Control: C.P. Deming, W.M. Newton, H.W. Dunn, W.B. Ivey, M.C. Reynolds; New members, J.H. Dey, W.D. Brown, R.R. Long.”
Whitcomb also reported that “Doctor Rubach satisfies his epicurean taste occasionally by going out and bagging ‘a mess’ of frogs. No, the writer didn’t accept the genial doctor’s invitation to join him at supper, as we draw the line at frogs. Ugh!”
Whitcomb closed out the week with the following word of advice for readers – “Now is the time to invest in Conecuh County lands. It is rapidly increasing in value.”
In the May 22, 1913 edition of paper, Whitcomb reported that “considerable excitement was created in Castleberry last Sunday when the bridge spanning a stream near that place collapsed under the weight of 400 or 500 people who had gathered to witness a baptizing. It was almost a miracle that several were not killed, but from last accounts, nothing worse than a broken leg resulted, while numbers sustained minor injuries.”
Readers that week learned that “B.H. Whittington, a prominent Mason of Greenville, was in the city Monday to attend a meeting of the local Masonic lodge.”
It was also reported that week that “Doctor Rubach, whose exacting duties as operator at the L&N depot, render an occasional vacation necessary, visited Andalusia and other points last week.”
Subscribers also read that a “freight wreck occurred last Saturday afternoon near town, in which three cars were damaged. Only short delay of traffic.”
Whitcomb also reported that “Dr. Williamson has just installed one of the handsomest and most expensive dental chairs in the city” and that “Tax Assessor S.P. Dunn returned from Arkansas last week.”
In the May 29, 1913 edition of The Record, it was reported that “attorney E.C. Page has purchased the old Etheridge home in old Evergreen where he will build a handsome residence.”
Readers also learned that the “new bank building at Brooklyn is finished, and the large safe will shortly be installed.”
Subscribers also read that “in cutting down a large oak tree in front of Col. King’s residence Monday, the tree fell on the telephone cable, breaking it and also knocking down several poles, which put out of commission every telephone in that section of the city.”
Whitcomb also reported that “Walter Lee no longer does his pleasure driving behind his well-known pair of family horses, having recently purchased one of the handsomest auto cars ever brought to Evergreen.”
Readers also learned that “John C. Laster, residing near town, was painfully hurt Monday by being violently dashed against a wall by a mule which he was trying to doctor.”
Whitcomb closed out the month by reporting that “Dr. W.B. Shaver, one of Conecuh County’s pioneer citizens, died at Herbert last Sunday afternoon in his 79th year. Dr. Shaver was an old Confederate soldier and known and respected all over the county for his genial manner and strict integrity.”
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 June 1913 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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