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| Grave of 'Miss Emma Guice' at Burford Cemetery in Evergreen |
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 1914.
In the Feb. 5, 1914 edition of The Conecuh Record, editor
J.C. Whitcomb reported that the “Rev. Richard Hall preached his farewell sermon
at the Baptist church last Sunday” and that “L.L. Moorer is erecting a building
near the old ice plant for a stable for his stock.”
Readers also learned that “C.F. Archer has opened a photo
gallery in the Salter building. He makes stamp photos, family groups and Kodak
finishing.”
Elsewhere in the paper, it was reported that “C.F. Archer
will make a photo free of the ugliest man in Conecuh County at his gallery at
10:30 Sat., Feb. 10. Call and join the contest.”
That year was also an election year, and readers leaned
that the “Hon. James F. Jones, the present county solicitor, announces his
candidacy for reelection to that position.”
Also, “E.E. Newton, whose announcement as a candidate for
county solicitor appears in The Record this week, is a native of this county
and a resident of this city for many years.”
Readers also learned that “Mr. Spangler of The Montgomery
Advertiser and Jno. D. Burnett of Atlanta, Ga. came here Tuesday to join the
Evergreen boys in a big dove hunt at Chas. Ivey’s farm.”
Whitcomb closed the week with a report that “Col. King,
who has been ill for some time past, is improving, and we hope to see him on
the streets again soon.”
In the Feb. 12, 1914 edition of The Record, it was
reported that “T.A. Gantt is making extensive improvements in the Arcade
Theatre by raising the floor, giving it a gradual slope, so his patrons will be
able to get a better view of the pictures.”
Whitcomb also reported that “Dr. H.M. Hawthorne of
Brooklyn was in the city on business Tuesday” and “Dr. P.B. Skinner of
Belleville was in the city Wednesday.”
Readers also learned that “Tax Collector Oliver makes the
statement that 1,024 voters paid their poll tax before Feb. 1”
Also that week, Editor Whitcomb reported that he was
expecting a visit from his mother-in-law – “Mrs. E.A. Hewes of Crete, Ill. is
expected here this week on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. J.C. Whitcomb. Mrs.
Hewes is in her 81st year but thinks nothing of boarding the train in her
faraway northern home and making the trip alone. Numerous friends here await
her coming with pleasure.”
In the Feb. 19, 1914 edition of the local paper, the big
news that week was about a fire that destroyed a local landmark.
“The fire which occurred early Sunday morning destroyed
one of the oldest landmarks in Evergreen – the large frame building owned by
Robert Croom and occupied as a barber shop and which years ago stood on Main
Street in old Evergreen. The flames soon lapped up the structure to its
foundation. The old McCreary building owned by I. Long and the City Grocery and
Peoples Drug Store all had a narrow escape. Some insurance was carried on the
building destroyed, but we are unable to say how much. The fire department,
under the leadership of City Marshal Jones, did some rapid and effective work
in confining the limit of the flames and thus saving nearby buildings.”
Readers that week also learned that “Chas. B. McFerrin of
Brewton has completed arrangements to teach voice culture in Evergreen every
Tuesday. Mr. McFerrin’s wide experience as pianist and vocalist will be worth
considerable to our young folks who aspire to improve their voices.”
Whitcomb closed out the week with a report that “Miss Emma
Guice, daughter of Wm. Guice, residing in Greenville, was fatally burned last
Sunday at her home. The remains were brought here for interment last Monday.
Miss Guice resided in Evergreen for a number of years, and many friends deeply
regret her untimely death.”
In the Feb. 26, 1914 edition of The Record, Whitcomb
reported that “there was a light fall of snow at this place Wednesday. It was
the first snow that many young people in Evergreen ever saw. Blooming peach
trees and the beautiful snow presented quite a contrast early Wednesday
morning.”
Readers that week also learned that a “rather serious
runaway occurred the other day and in the animal’s frantic efforts to break
loose from the vehicle, a broken shaft penetrated the breast, making a ragged
wound in the quivering flesh.”
Also that week, under the headline “By the County Health
Officer,” it was reported that “from the reports furnished by the doctors and
midwives of this county, for the month of January, 22 deaths and 38 births are
reported.”
Readers that week also learned that “Curtis Hawkins, the
clever L&N agent, has gone into the raising of radishes as a ‘sideline.’ He
has some land especially adapted to the growth of this valuable vegetable and
will no doubt make a success of the experiment.”
Whitcomb closed out the month by reporting that “Chas.
Henderson, candidate for governor, will speak at Herbert, Brooklyn and
Castleberry Friday.”
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 1914 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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