100-year-old news highlights from The Wilcox Progressive Era

Dale Lodge No. 25 in Camden, Ala.

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the July 18, 1918 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Ala.

Newly elected officers of Dale Lodge No. 25, Free & Accepted Masons: Claude Hardy, Worshipful Master; E.W. Berry, Senior Warden; J.M. Bonner, Junior Warden; B.H. Matthews, Secretary; H. Marcus, Treasurer; F.F. Tait, Senior Deacon; H. Miller, Junior Deacon; and G.G. Newell, Tyler.

The first open boll from this season’s crop was shown at the exchange on last Saturday. It was sent in by H. Farish of Camden, Ala. to the cotton department of the Bush Grocery Co. – Mobile Register.

Mr. J.F. Sills presented Dr. Jack, of this office, with a fine watermelon. It was the Georgia Rattlesnake variety – long and large and juicy and sweet – and reminded the “eator” of his boyhood days when “red meat and black seed” was invariably one of the guesses at the cutting. Mr. Sills is a noted melon raiser, but says his effort this year is almost a failure.

Mr. W.C. Vaughn of Route 3, Camden, has four sons in the army. W.C. Vaughn Jr. is a sergeant at Camp Wheeler; Joseph T. Vaughn is at Camp Jackson; Edgar R. Vaughn is awaiting assignment in Montgomery; and Walter M. Vaughn is stationed in Santo Domingo. Wilcox County is justly proud of these splendid young men, and all of those who are so nobly serving their county.

(Since the above was written, we have received information that Mr. Edgar R. Vaughn has been sent to Camp Shelby, Miss.)

Judge C.B. Teasley, accompanied by Mr. Goodson, staff correspondent of the Montgomery Advertiser, spent Wednesday in Camden looking after the Judge’s gubernatorial campaign. The judge is genial and affable, but landed on the wrong side of the fence for us to be of service. He will no doubt break into the Brandon and Wallace strength.

Mr. F.H. Melton of Pine Apple, license inspector, was in Camden this week. If you are without the regulation license to do business, Frank will endeavor to give you an enforced vacation for the remainder of the year.

Capt. C.A. Hope of Wilcox County, now a member of Provost Marshal General Crowder’s department, is in Mobile visiting his brother, Dr. J.C. Hope, while on his way to Tallahassee. He is on a tour of inspection in regard to the slacker evil and has visited Montgomery, Ala. and Tallahassee in the interest of his work. While here, he will confer with Mr. Lloyd Rickarby with regard to draft board work. – Mobile Register.

Mr. J.B. Sessions of Bellview was in Camden Wednesday.

Dr. B.W. Watson of Pine Apple was a Camden visitor Tuesday.

CHICKEN BARBECUE: Come to the Courthouse Friday, the 19^th, and buy a good dinner from the ladies of the A.R.P. Church. Dinner, 50 cents; salad course, 25 cents. You will be helping two worthy causes.

Arlington: Sorry to record the death of Leslie Dumas of Hampden, Ala., whose burial took place in our cemetery on 10^th of this month.

Mr. J.H. Kimbrough lost his saw mill by fire one night last week. He is preparing to build another near the place of the old one.

Mr. S.H. Nettles, state organizer of the Woodmen of the World, was home three days last week, then left for Birmingham in the interest of his order.