Ty Cobb umpired a baseball game between the Birmingham All-Stars and Camden in May 1922

Baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb in 1913.

Today marks the first Thursday of the month, so it’s time to take another trip back down memory lane for a look at some of the interesting things that happened in Wilcox County a century ago, way back in May 1922.

In the May 4, 1922 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that the “foundation being completed, the work is progressing rapidly on the store Matthews Hardware Co. is building on the Bloch corner. When finished, this will be the handsomest brick store in Camden.”

Also that week, readers learned that the “ball game at Greenville between the Camden and Greenville high schools was won by Greenville, 5 to 1. Messrs. J.M. Bonner and Geo. Clark accompanied the Camden boys on the trip.”

On the front page of the May 11, 1922 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that “Mr. Frank McClurkin of Caledonia died at the home of Mr. H.L. McClurkin on April 26, aged 72 years. The deceased was a native of Ireland and was an honest and upright citizen, brother and friend. He was a brother of Mr. John McClurkin, deceased, who was a pioneer and successful pioneer settler and farmer.”

Readers that week also learned that “in one of the fastest and most exciting games ever witnessed by the local fans, Camden High School defeated the hard-hitting Selma team by score of 3-2. Pruitt of Camden hurled a good game and was given jam-up support. The hitting of Sam Jones was responsible for Camden’s three runs.”

The big news in the May 18, 1922 edition of the newspaper came under the front-page headline, “WOMAN’S BODY IS FOUND ON RIVER NEAR CAMDEN.” That story went on to report that “discovery of the body of an unidentified white woman floating down the Alabama River, 16 miles below Camden, shortly before noon today (May 9) created considerable excitement and speculation. The body was not recovered and mystery shrouds the death and identity of the woman.

“Pat Lyon McCants, a fisherman saw the object floating on the surface of the river and attempted to haul it into a boat, but the high waters forced his attention to the control of the craft, and in the meantime the body disappeared and was not seen again, according to reports brought to Camden.

“According to the reports of the description of the woman, she appeared to be between 18 and 25 years old. She was dressed in brown silk and wore high heel shoes, it was said. Immediately upon seeing the body in the water, Mr. McCants prepared to row to the scene, the reports reaching here said. He had practically succeeded in recovering the body when he was obliged to divert his attention to controlling the boat. The body sank and did not appear on the surface again.”

In the May 25, 1922 edition of the paper, it was reported that “Camden is proud of its baseball team. The game Tuesday against the Birmingham All-Stars resulted in a home run by Tom Boy Jenkins and a two-base hit. The score was in Camden’s favor, 8 to 2. Mr. Ty Cobb acted as umpire.”

Also that week, the “Board of Education met in Camden Wednesday and elected as high school principal Prof. Trexler, who has recently had charge of the Grove Hill school.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. On the first Thursday of next month, I plan to take a look at the events of June 1922 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 staff will be more than happy to get you started.