100-year-old news headlines from Dec. 1922 editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden, Ala.

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 December 1922.

In the Dec. 7, 1922 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that “Mr. W.R. Alford is having material put on the ground to erect a handsome two-story brick building on the corner lot which is now occupied by C.R. Duke.”

Readers that week also learned that “Mrs. J.A. Cook has on her banana tree a full grown bunch of bananas. This being quite a curiosity for this section of the country.”

In the Dec. 14, 1922 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that the “Haag Shows gave a circus and athletic performance in Camden last Monday. About fifteen hundred visitors were in town and enjoyed themselves. The show was decent and above the average.”

Readers that week also saw that “Mr. C.A. Skinner, the Camden depot agent, says there was shipped from this station in November as follows: 76 cars of lumber, nine cars of cattle, six cars of cotton seeds and 300 bales of cotton. Incoming freights and passenger travel is about normal.”

In the Dec. 21, 1922 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that “death claimed J.R. Holloman, prominent citizen of Camden, at an early hour this morning in a Selma hospital, where he had been under treatment for some time. Mr. Holloman was active in the business life of Camden with wide interests in farming and merchandising.”

Readers that week also learned that the “game supper at the High School Friday night was quite a success, over one hundred dollars was realized from the plates.”

In the Dec. 28, 1922 edition of the paper – the last edition of the calendar year – it was reported under the headline “Oil Well to be Drilled” that “Mr. J.L. Bugg, a prominent Monroeville attorney, and Mr. Willis, a geologist from California, were in Camden this week buying leases. Mr. Bugg has a contract with a company in Oklahoma to drill several wells in the eastern part of Wilcox County and the north end of Monroe. These wells will be drilled on the strength of the survey made by the state and several private surveys. Work will probably begin in the next 90 days on the first well and no stock will be sold.”

Also that week, readers heard that the “high school team began practice this week for the basketball season. Prospects are bright for a winning team with four of the regulars of last year’s team returning, including the two Connors at forwards, Sam Jones at center, and Leo Hall at guard. About 20 other candidates will try to the other position. The team has an able coach in Professor Salter.”

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 January 1923 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.