Century-old news highlights from The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Alabama

Gov. William W. Brandon

Today marks the first Friday 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 January 1923.

In the Jan. 4, 1923 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that the “watch night service at St. Mary Church was not well attended on account of inclement weather. The program was carried out and the thought of what we as a Christian people could hope for the coming year with a united effort.”

Also that week, readers learned that “Mr. C.R. Duke is moving his stock of goods over to the store recently vacated by Matthews Hardware Co., a handsome two-story brick building will be erected on the site by its owner, Mr. W.R. Alford Sr.”

In the Jan. 11, 1923 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that “Sheriff J.M. Watson takes office Monday, and he is the only new official to be sworn in. Probate Judge Dannelly and Circuit Clerk Cobb succeed themselves. Mr. F.F. Tait will be chief deputy sheriff under Sheriff Watson.”

Also that week, readers learned that “at the home of Mrs. W.J. Bonner on Wednesday afternoon Jan. 3, a Daughters of the American Revolution chapter was organized. They gave it the name of our county in honor of Lt. Wilcox, for whom our county is named. The officers are Regent, Mrs. Ezra Bonner; Vice-Regent, Mrs. E.M. Carr; Recording Secretary, Mrs. D.H. Turner; Treasurer, Mrs. Charlotte Beck; Registrar, Mrs. Lucy Moore; Historian, Miss Sarah Ervin.”

In the Jan. 18, 1923 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that “Mrs. Addie Dannelly has accepted a position in the Camden post office. This place will be well filled as Mrs. Dannelly has filled it before, when the late G.T. Dannelly was post master here.”

Readers that week also learned that the “Hon. Sol D. Bloch attended the inaugural of Gov. Bill Brandon in Montgomery this week.”

It was also reported that week that “Messrs. Grady Rogers and J.M. McLeod of Camden will open a new store at Coy this week. The style of the new firm will be The Coy Mercantile Co. and will be managed by John Knox McLeod.”

In the Jan. 25, 1923 edition of the paper, it was reported that “Prof. O.C. Weaver attended the Arbor Day exercises at the Pine Hill School last Friday. Prof. J.B. Pope was in charge of the planting of the trees and in a few years will add much to the beauty of the campus of the school.”

Readers that week also saw, under the headline “Sheriffs Forces Busy,” that “Sheriff J.M. Watson and Chief Deputy Fleetwood Tait have been very busy for the past week, having arrested two men with a large quantity of corn whiskey in their possession, captured one complete still for making the fiery water, about 10 gallons of beer and mash. They also arrested and placed in jail Sunday, three men charged with killing a woman near Marshes Landing Saturday night.”

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 February 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.