Century-old news highlights from August 1924 editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden

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 August 1924.

In the Aug. 7, 1924 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that the “friends and relatives of Mr. Henry Stewart were shocked when they heard that death had called him Sunday night. He was on the streets in Camden Saturday night and was not taken sick until after he returned home. He was being rushed to a Selma hospital and died soon after leaving home. He was in the prime of life, only being 37 years old.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, it was reported that the “slide for the playground has been erected and it is a common sight to see fifty or more children on the playground waiting their turn. Much credit is due Mrs. Billie Dale, president of the Parent-Teachers, for her untiring efforts in securing this much-needed amusement for the little folks.”

In the Aug. 14, 1924 edition of The Progressive Era, readers learned that “Superintendent of Education W.J. Jones and wife were in Montgomery Wednesday and Thursday to attend the annual meeting of County Superintendent of Education.”

Readers that week also saw the following advertisement – “FREE: One ticket to the Camden Theatre with every cash purchase amounting to one dollar. This is 25 percent savings to you. Buy a barrel of flour and get enough tickets for a season.”

In the Aug. 21, 1924 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that a “large delegation of Louisville & Nashville Railroad officials visited our town on Wednesday, among the number being Mr. E.O. Saltmarsh, Superintendent of Selma & Pensacola division, and Mr. McCaskill, train dispatcher.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, readers learned that “Mr. and Mrs. Grady Rogers are receiving congratulations of their friends over the arrival of a beautiful little girl. She has been named for her maternal grandfather, the late Hon. J.N. Miller, and will be called Josephine Miller.”

In the Aug. 28, 1924 edition of the paper, it was reported that “Mrs. T.M. Owen of Montgomery will be in Wilcox County, during September, to assist in placing a marker at the grave of Capt. James Asbury Tait at Coy for military service during the War of 1812. The marker will be placed by the James A. Tait Chapter of Houston, Texas.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper it was reported that “Mrs. Maurice Hoffman Lambrecht, age 73, died Saturday at her home near Coy, after a long and painful illness, having been confined to her bed since last January. She was a consistent member of the Catholic Church since early childhood. She was born in Germany and came to this country when a child. Her remains were interred at Reeves Chapel Sunday morning.”

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 September 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.