100-year-old news highlights from April 1924 editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden, Ala.

Rev. Robert Calvin Grier Sr.

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 April 1924.

On the front page of the April 3, 1924 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that the “criminal docket of Circuit Court was taken up Monday, and all cases have been disposed of. There were four murder cases disposed of Wednesday.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, the results of a rare baseball tripleheader were reported under the headline, “Camden Wins Long End Of Series From Marion High.”

“Camden defeated the Perry County High team of Marion in the first game of a series by the score of 9-0. Marion won the second game 1-0. The third and deciding game was won by Camden, 9-4.”

Players on Camden’s team included Dunnam, McLeod, Sam McNeil, Ward Richardson and Jack Strother.

In the April 10, 1924 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that the public school at Furman “has been suspended for a week on account of an epidemic of measles. Work will be resumed the 14^th if conditions are favorable.”

Also that week readers learned that Camden’s team “journeyed to Demopolis and defeated the High School there in a baseball game, the score being 5-1. The game was played on a very muddy field but was played unusually well. Two double plays were made by Camden, McNeil making one unassisted.”

The April 17, 1924 edition of the newspaper published an “Opening Announcement” that said that “it was with a distinct feeling of pride that we announce the formal opening of ‘The Hawthorne Service Station’ April 19, 1924. We will be fully equipped in our new home to give you the very best of service. We have a boy employed to air your tires, put water in your batteries and radiator and serve you in any way he can.”

Readers that week also learned that “Mrs. W.J. Bonner entertained her Sunday School Class and 10 of their little friends at her home Wednesday afternoon with an Easter Egg hunt. The party was given the little girls as a reward for reciting perfectly, without an exception, the required memory work for the first quarter of the year. After finding Easter novelties, and playing games, the little folks were served candy and cream.”

In the April 24, 1924 edition of the paper, it was reported that “arrangements are being made to make this commencement of the Wilcox County High School one of the most attractive that they have ever held. Prof. Luckie has invited Rev. R.C. Grier, who is President of Erskine College, to preach the sermon, and he has accepted. Dr. Grier is one of the strongest and forcible men in the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church, and has many friends here who will be delighted that he is to come to us at that time.”

Readers that week also learned that the “Hawthorne Filling Station sold over 800 gallons of gasoline on the day the station was opened.”

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 May 1924 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.