100-year-old news headlines from June 1925 editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era

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 June 1925.

In the June 4, 1925 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that “Mrs. Annie Mason and daughter, Mrs. Lawler, of Furman spent several days the past week with Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Stuart. Mrs. Mason is pleasantly remembered as Miss Annie Lee, who taught school for one year in Camden in 1889, when Prof. J.A. Liner was principal. This was her first visit since then, and the improvements and progress of our community were very noticeable to her.”

Readers that week also learned that “Master Hugh Dale received the scholarship medal for the highest average in the Wilcox County High School for the past session. This medal was given by the Camden Study Club. Miss Camilla Jones received the medal for the highest grade in history, which was given by the Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, in memory of the late Rev. Frances Tappey, D.D., who was an ardent lover of history.”

In the June 11, 1925 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that “Prof. Walter Jackson, principal of the Wilcox County High School, is spending the month of June in Camden, and is domiciled with Mrs. C.V. Beck.”

Readers also learned that “Messrs. James Miller, Sam Jones and Pinkston Albritton arrived Saturday from Due West, South Carolina, where they were students at Erskine College. They came through the country in a small Ford, making the trip in two days.”

In the June 18, 1925 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that “Master Fleetwood Hollinger had the misfortune last Sunday afternoon of losing his saddle pony. It was killed by lightning while grazing in the pasture near his home.”

Readers that week also learned that “Dr. Dale is a brother of Messrs. Frank and Julius Dale of Oak Hill and has been a missionary in Mexico for about 25 years. He hopes he will visit the churches in Camden and Oak Hill while in this country.”

In the June 25, 1925 edition of the paper it was reported that “Mr. H.A. Holt, better known as ‘Dr. Jack,’ left Wednesday morning for Graceville, Fla., where he has accepted a position as reporter on the Graceville News. Dr. Jack is a fine writer and we feel sure that the readers of the Graceville News will be highly pleased with his write-ups. Dr. Jack has many Wilcox County friends who join the Progressive Era in wishing him much success in his new place of business.”

Readers that week also learned that “on June 16^th, a large and enthusiastic crowd gathered in town to witness the sale of the late Hon. Sol D. Bloch property. The auction of this property was under the management of the Britt Davis Auction Co. of Columbia, Tenn., and was done in such an efficient manner that the property brought the sum of $26,306.35. Much interest and fun was aroused by the throwing of dimes and dollars to the large children following the auctioneer.”

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 July 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.