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| Cotton boll weevil |
In the July 3, 1913 edition of The Conecuh Record, editor J.C. Whitcomb reported that “T.J. Swanzey, representing the anti-saloon league, spent last Tuesday in the city, being entertained by Rev. G.E. Mize. Mr. Swanzey lectured at Letohatchie Tuesday night and at Hayneville Wednesday night.”
Readers that week also learned that “Frank Riley has had a considerable excavation made in the basement of his store, where he will install his electric light plant and a grist mill.”
Subscribers also heard that “E.C. Barnes assumed the duties of postmaster on the 1st.”
Whitcomb also reported that “Fred Bailey, on his return trip from Monroeville, had a collision with a monster rattlesnake, the reptile’s head being almost severed from the body.”
Readers also learned that week that the “Rev. J.D. Wright has reached his 81st mile stone in the journey of life and is still able to read without the help of glass.”
Whitcomb closed out that week by telling readers that “the wife of Will Chapman starched and ironed 60 shirts in less than a day recently, despite the hot weather. This may be considered a record-breaker.”
In the July 10, 1913 edition of The Record, it was reported that “Samuel L. Whitherington died in New Mexico, where he had gone in search of health. The remains were brought here last Friday and were taken to China for internment.”
Whitcomb also reported that week that “We were handed by Mrs. H.L. Tucker a few days ago several interesting war time relics in the shape of newspapers – copies of the Mobile Register & Advertiser printed in 1864, and the Mobile Daily Tribune in 1865. Their columns are filled with stirring news ‘just from the front,’ where the armies of the Blue and the Gray were doing their best to kill each other.”
Readers that week also learned that “L. Cantrell of Washington, a U.S. soil surveyor, is in the city,” and that “R.A. Winston of the United States Army is here for a few days.” Subscribers also heard that “M.M. Cook of Los Angeles, Calif. spent Saturday in Evergreen,” and that “Chas. B. Savage of New Orleans was here this week shaking hands with old friends.”
Whitcomb closed that week by letting readers know that “Miss Frances Deming, accompanied by her brothers, C.P. Jr. and John Deming, went to Montgomery Friday evening and returned to Evergreen in an automobile.”
In the July 17, 1913 edition of the newspaper, Whitcomb reported that the “Hon. Walter D. Seed, candidate for governor, addressed a small crowd of Conecuh County voters at the courthouse on Thursday of last week.”
Readers that week also learned that “W.M. Newton, one of Conecuh’s largest farmers, is having his numerous tenants to pick up the punctured cotton squares and burn them, in order to kill out the boll weevil. After the crop has been gathered, the stalk will also be burned. In fact, our farmers generally have adopted this method of stamping out the boll weevil evil.”
Subscribers also heard that “Miss Alberta Amos was painfully but not seriously scalded by the overturning of a bucket of hot water last Saturday. The injured limb is healing nicely.”
Whitcomb also reported that week that “We were shown by Prof. J.T. McKee two of the largest sweet potatoes we ever saw. They were grown in the experimental farm of the Agricultural school and shows what fertile soil with proper cultivation will do.”
Whitcomb closed out the week by saying that “the temperature has been rather intemperate lately” and that “it has been a rather dry season, so far, in the neighborhood of Belleville, but fair crops reported.”
In the July 24, 1913 edition of the paper, readers learned that “E.J. Thames was the victim of a runaway accident last Friday and in the mix up sustained a painful bruise on the leg, which necessitated the use of a stick in walking about for several days thereafter.”
Subscribers also heard that “several bails of cotton came into town Tuesday” and that "a trainload of state troops passed down the road Monday.” Also that week it was reported that “R.L. Watkins is painting the interior of the Presbyterian church” and that “the teachers of the county were standing examinations at the court house Monday and Tuesday.”
Whitcomb also reported that “Miss Nellie Dunn, the capable and efficient principal of the Orphanage school, is also the talented editress of ‘Our Children’ published at the Orphanage. The last issue was brimful of interesting matter relating to the institution. Five children – three boys and two girls – were received during the month of June, making a total, July 1st, of 127 inmates – 70 boys and 58 girls. Local pride, if nothing else, should prompt each head of family in Evergreen to subscribe for this little paper.”
In the July 31, 1913 edition of The Record, it was reported that the “Rev. Geo. Evans will lecture at the court house Monday night, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m. Anti-Tuberculosis will be his subject illustrated with stereopticon views.”
Readers that week also learned that “there were two auto collisions on the streets this week but no serious damage.”
Subscribers also heard that the “Alger-Sullivan company is busy taking up the storm timber, covering about 1,500 acres, which was blown down by the late wind storm.”
That week’s paper also included an item that said the “city is pushing its street work in a manner that will result in giving Evergreen a system second to no other town in southeast Alabama. Every public spirited citizen watches the progress of the work with pleasure and satisfaction.”
It was also reported that week that the “Rev. R.A. Jackson, who has been a missionary in Africa for 14 years, is delivering a series of sermons and lectures at the First Baptist Church.”
Whitcomb closed out the month by telling readers that “With three announced candidates in the field and the hats of several others in the ring, the race for sheriff promises to be interesting in Conecuh County.”
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 August 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.
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