In the Jan. 1, 1925 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era,
editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that “on Dec. 24 at four o’clock an
immense crowd gathered in the beautifully decorated store of the Planters
Hardware Co., each person holding the ticket that had been given during the
past year for each dollar’s worth purchased, on the Ford car that was to be
given away at this time. Miss Doris Baggett drew the numbers from the large tub
of numbers, and Mrs. Stella B. Jones was the possessor of the lucky number,
thus winning the Ford car.”
Also that week, readers learned that the “Camden Potato
House has been remodeled and turned into a pleasure for all the young people.
They enjoyed a dance on Christmas night and will enjoy another New Year’s
evening.”
In the Jan. 8, 1925 edition of The Progressive Era,
readers learned that “Wilcox County will rejoice over the fact that the State
Highway Commission on Jan. 5 put in the road budget for 1925 ten miles of road
from the Masonic Hall in Camden to the Brandon Highway at Rosebud, and also
4-1/4 miles on the Brandon Highway from Pine Apple to the Butler County line.
When this is completed this will provide a government pike from Camden to
Montgomery.”
It was also reported that the “Rev. B.E. Feagin, a native
of Wilcox County, born and reared at Pine Apple, was run over and killed Sunday
morning, Jan. 4, by an automobile at Hendersonville, N.C. He was married to
Miss Mattie Lloyd of Pine Apple 41 years ago at the Pine Apple Methodist
church, when there was a double wedding, the brides being sisters, and strange
the other sister, Mrs. Harry Lazenby of Forest Home, was left a widow only a
few weeks ago.”
In the Jan. 15, 1925 edition of the newspaper, it was
reported that “Joseph F. Benson, former sheriff of Wilcox County, was named
today as the deputy sheriff to serve on the staff of Sheriff Schwartz. Mr.
Benson, who was sheriff of Wilcox four years in the early nineties, moved to
Mobile with his family about 15 years ago. He will be a special deputy and will
be on duty in the jail building and elsewhere as needed.”
Readers that week also learned that “Mesdames Will Riley
and W.W. Boykin have bought out the Dixie Café, which was formerly owned by Mr.
Williamson of Monroe County.”
In the Jan. 22, 1925 edition of the paper, it was reported
that “John B. Ratto, impersonator and humorist, will appear at the Camden
Theatre in February. Watch out for the date as you cannot afford to miss this
treat. Mr. Ratto’s programs are full of life and action.”
It was also reported that week, in news from Lower
Peachtree, that the “Alabama River has reached the high water stage and is
still rising rapidly. All of the low lands are now covered with water, little
knolls can be seen here and there. The hunters are taking advantage of the high
water and are hunting rabbits.”
In the Jan. 29, 1925 edition of the paper, readers learned
that “Mr. Otto McLean has opened his shop in the building formerly occupied by
Mr. Edgar Stuart. He is prepared to do repairing of all kinds of jewelry and to
fit glasses.”
It was also reported that week that the “Rev. and Mrs.
Paul Engle of Carlowville are receiving congratulations from their friends in
Camden over the birth of a fine little son. The mother and baby will be able to
leave the hospital in Selma within a short time.”
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 February 1925 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.
Thanks, Lee! Interesting!
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