100-year-old news highlights from February 1922 editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden, Alabama

Dale Masonic Lodge in Camden

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 February 1922.

In the Feb. 2, 1922 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that the “Alabama River is getting out in the lowlands. This will drive the cattle out to the hills. So far, cattle has done exceedingly well, the winter has been so mild.”

Also that week, readers learned that “quite a number of Wilcox County citizens are paying their poll tax, so as to be ready in August, to express themselves.”

In the Feb. 9, 1922 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that the “Masons let the High School use the lower floor of their building in which the game of basketball was played Friday evening when Camden played McWilliams.”

Readers that week also learned that “friends of Mr. John F. Melton of Pine Apple will regret to learn that he has been confined to a Selma hospital for some time. It was found necessary to amputate one leg. Reports from his bedside state that he is getting along nicely.”

In the Feb. 16, 1922 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that the “camp of Gypsies is located on the Canton road during this trip to Camden.”

Readers that week also learned that the “banquet at the Masonic Hall, this past Friday evening, was enjoyed by a large number of the boys and their fathers.”

In the Feb. 23, 1922 edition of the paper, it was reported that the “new Pine Hill High School building is now completed. The dimensions are 82x74 feet with front arched and side entrances. It has six classrooms and a principal’s office, cloak rooms and is heated by individual hot air heaters.

“The enrollment this session is 128, and the location is near the J.D. Crawford and Clay Sheffield homes. The auditorium and stage in the second story is 43x52 feet. The cost of the building is $23,000.”

Readers that week also learned that “Pine Hill and Camden High Schools played a game of basketball at the Camden Masonic Hall Friday evening in which Camden was victorious.”

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 March 1922 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.