Thursday, February 7, 2013

Old-timey Buick purchase makes news a century ago in Evergreen

1913 model Buick
It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in February 1913.

In the Jan. 6, 1913 edition of The Conecuh Record, editor J.C. Whitcomb reported that “Lee & Pridgen have set out a number of mulberry trees along the sidewalk recently built by them on Rural Street.”

He also reported that “Mardi Gras travel has been pretty heavy over the L&N (Railroad).”

Readers that week also learned that “Dr. P.M. Bruner and family left last week for Milton, Fla. where they will reside in the future.”

It was also reported that “R.M. Whitcomb is now with the Evergreen Motor Car Co. in charge of the livery department.”

The editor also let readers know this week that the “hat cleaner struck town this week and did a land office business for a few days.”

That week’s paper also included the following advertisement – “WANTED: Hats to clean and reblock. Felt, Panama, straw and ladies’ Milan braid and French chips. Best work obtainable. Fischer the Hatter, will be at Mrs. M.E. Savages’ residence for a few days.”

In the Jan. 13, 1913 edition of The Record, Whitcomb reported that the “municipal authorities are installing a new 160-horse power boiler in the power house, which will ensure better service than the old boilers are giving us.”

Readers also learned that week that “T.A. Gantt is fitting up one of his stores for a moving picture show. Ted is always up to something new and we wish him success in his latest venture.”

Subscribers also read that “Miss Georgia Stallings will give an entertainment at the Owassa school house Friday night, Feb. 15, for the benefit of the Beasley school.”

Whitcomb also reported that the “Beaven-Jackson Lumber & Veneer Co. have just completed an up to date dry kiln with a capacity of 100,000 feet of lumber every 24 hours. They are doing an immense business in all kinds of veneer work.”

Readers also saw that “J.L. Bowden, a well known citizen of this county, died suddenly at Owassa, on the 8th inst. He was in his 74th year and is survived by two sons and three daughters. He was buried last Sunday with Masonic honors, a delegation from the Masonic lodge at this place being present.”

In the Jan. 20, 1913 edition of the local newspaper, Whitcomb reported that “Doctor Rubach, the clever L&N operator, sustained painful injuries by a fall at Deming’s pond a few days ago. Numerous friends will be pleased to know that he is improving.

That week’s paper also included the following ad – “If you appreciate a good shave or a fashionable haircut, you are doing yourself an injustice by not calling at the Evergreen Barber Shop, two doors west of the Post Office. Hill and Curtis, Proprietors.”

Readers that week also learned that “according to recent decisions of the supreme court, nine men were doomed to the gallows in one week in Alabama.”

Whitcomb also reported that “R.M. Rabun shot and killed an unknown man in Castleberry last Friday. The man is said to have insulted Mrs. Rabun.”

Subscribers also read that “Jas. Ballard met death last week when his home was burned near Repton. A wife and several children survive him.”

Whitcomb also closed out the month with a tongue-in-cheek comment on the warm winter weather Evergreen was experiencing – “You see, the reason why there’s such a scarcity of coal this winter is that the weather has been so warm the miners suffocated from the heat.”

In the Jan. 27, 1913 edition of paper, Whitcomb reported that the “court house roof is being repaired, Phillip Methvin, metal worker of Montgomery, is doing the work. The jail roof is also being repaired.”

Readers also learned that “Beaven-Jackson Lumber and Veneer Co. is also storing large quantities of ice in their cold storage in anticipation of a big demand for ice during the busy season.”

Subscribers also read that week that “I. Long & Sons have purchased a Buick car from the Evergreen Motor Car Co. They are well pleased with it.”

Whitcomb also reported that “D.L. Long, an extensive turpentine operator of Castleberry, was in the city Tuesday.”

That week’s paper also contained the following ad, which indicates Ted Gantt kept his plans to open a movie theatre – “Come to the Moving Picture Show – Arcade Theatre (Next to Gantt’s Store) – Three Reels – 3,000 Feet On Exhibition Daily from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and from 7 to 10 p.m. – Change of Program Each Day – Admission 10 cents, Children Under Eight, Five Cents – Come and Spend a Pleasant Evening.”

Whitcomb closed out the month of February with another remark on the weather – “Straw hats are being displayed in the windows of several stores this week. A little breezy for that kind of headgear at present.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of March 1913 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.

No comments:

Post a Comment