100-year-old news items from The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden

Confederate monument in Camden.

It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review some of the interesting things that took place in Wilcox County 100 years ago, way back in March 1921.

In the March 3, 1921 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that the “many friends of Julius J.E. Watson will regret his death, which occurred at his home at McWilliams last week. He was born near Caledonia, at the place now called Watson’s Crossing on Jan. 6, 1849, and at his death, he was 72 years old. In early life, he married an estimable young lady, Miss May Williams of Monroe County and who died in 1907. Mr. Watson was buried at Enon Church at Fatama, and this good old church was filled with distressed relatives and friends, who had come to attend his funeral.”

In the March 10, 1921 edition of the newspaper, under the big, bold front-page headline of “BASEBALL CLUB ORGANIZED,” it was reported that a “baseball club organization was an aftermath of the commercial club organization last Friday night. Every member present stood up and agreed to help boost the baseball club. Mr. Carl M. Watts was elected chairman, and a lot of the fellows, are with him, in the resolve to have good ball playing in Camden, in the spring and summer months.”

In the March 17, 1921 edition of the paper, readers learned that the “Friday Afternoon Club raised funds, among its members only, to have the plot around the Confederate Monument plowed, harrowed and the original design laid off anew, which adds greatly to the appearance of the cemetery. No money was solicited on the outside for this particular work though funds have been requested for the fence repairs and the general clean up of the entire enclosure. Dr. Hamp Ratcliffe, after paying his part of amount to be raised, kindly offered to devote a week, if necessary, to superintending and directing the cleaning up job.

“Many citizens of Camden have responded to this plea for help, and it is hoped that very soon a sufficient sum will be obtained to put our pretty little graveyard in decent and attractive attention. It is not amiss to mention here that Messrs. Stuart & Ross redesigned the plot around the Monument, free of charge, as a special favor to the Friday Afternoon Club, and we thank them sincerely for their valuable service. Thanks also are extended to those who have given of their means to put in order the resting place of our dear loved ones and those who have died and are forgotten and who have none left to look after their graves.”

In the March 24, 1921 edition, it was reported that “last Wednesday afternoon, 16^th inst., without any atmospheric indications, but cloudy appearance, a heavy shower came in Camden, in which a heavy hail fell, which lasted about eight minutes. But little wind was with the rain and hail and but little damage was done. The fruit trees are supposed to be uninjured.

“About eight o’clock that night, a heavy cloud appeared, and from its color, when the wind came, from the northwest, it was feared that damage would follow its work. In the Grampian Hills, it was severe, but excepting broken window panes from the hail, and an unroofed barn, no further damage was done there. At Watson’s Crossing, the L&N train was delayed until fallen telephone poles and trees were removed.”

In the March 31, 1921 edition of the paper, under the headline “Baseball Season Opens Up With Thomaston,” it was reported that the “opening game of the season will be played on the high school campus when the Thomaston aggregation crosses bats with the swift Camden nine. This game will be the beginning of what is confidently expected to be the most enthusiastic season of baseball Camden has seen. The Thomaston team is made up of classy players and the mettle of the Camden boys is too well known to need comment. The game will be played Wed., April 6.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. On the first Wednesday of next month, I plan to take a look at the events of April 1921 in Wilcox County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Alabama Department of Archives and History’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. Their friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.

(Got a comment or question? E-mail Lee Peacock at leepeacock2002@hotmail.com.)