100-year-old news highlights from The Wilcox Progressive Era

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the Aug. 1, 1918 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Ala.

THE WILCOX HOTEL – The Only Camden Brick Hotel – We will be pleased to have Commercial Travelers and County People Stop with us. New Beds and Furniture and a FIRST-CLASS TABLE. Rates $2 Per Day, Single Meal 50 Cents, MRS. W.A. McLEAN, Lessee, Camden, Ala.

Death of Mr. Louis T. Lawler: Our community was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Mr. Louis Lawler on last Monday morning. Mr. Lawler had been in bad health for several months, but it was not until about two weeks ago that his condition became serious. He was taken to Selma suffering from internal cancer, and was operated on, the operation relieved him for the time and he seemed to be doing well, but on last Sabbath there was a change for the worse and he passed away somewhat suddenly at 4 a.m. Monday.

His body was brought to Camden on the afternoon train and he was buried Tuesday at 10 o’clock. Mr. Lawler was in the prime of life, just 52 years old. He leaves a wife and four children, an aged mother, two brothers and two sisters. These are all stricken with sorrow at their sore loss. But they sorrow not as those who have no hope. It is permitted to them to recall the life of a devoted husband, a kind father, a loving and dutiful son and brother – and to know that earthly separations are not final if faith unites the living and dead in Christ. Mr. Lawler was a member of the A.R.P. Church and was punctual in his attendance when his health was good. There was a large company of friends at his funeral. The service was conducted by his pastor, Rev. B.H. Grier.

Wilcox County High School – Session Begins Tuesday, Sept. 10 – Music, Art and Domestic Science Departments, Board Reasonable, Claude Hardy, Principal.

Miss Alice VanDeVoort is attending the summer session of Columbia University, New York. Miss VanDeVoort taught science in Bessemer High School last year.

Mr. E.F. Oakley, a candidate for representative in the next legislature, was in Camden Monday and received many pledges of support here.

Pine Hill Dramatic Club Scores a Hit: On Friday evening last the Dramatic Club of Pine Hill presented the farce comedy, “Our Wives,” to a large audience at the Grammar School auditorium. The reputation of this club is well known here and they lived up to the highest expectations of the audience. From beginning to end the attention and interest of all was held. The play, though given by amateurs, was staged with the most perfect precision and ease of the best-trained professionals. In fact, we doubt if another town in the state can compete with the club from Pine Hill. Miss Mason delighted the audience with vocal selections after the first act. Mr. H.B. Shaw made a tremendous hit with songs after the second act. Everyone enjoyed the play and the only advertising needed for future production is to state “presented by the Pine Hill Dramatic Club.”

At the close of the play, Mr. H.B. Shaw auctioned off a 52-pound watermelon donated by Mr. F.H. Savage to the local Red Cross. The melon was bought by Mr. E.W. Berry for $5. The total net receipts from the play was about $53, which went to the Red Cross chapters at Pine Hill and Camden.

Pine Hill: A large number of our people attended camp meeting at Dixon’s Mill Sunday. The Rev. Bob Jones preached to a congregation of about 2,000 and preached in his usual eloquent, earnest, effective style.