100-year-old news highlights, headlines from The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden, Alabama

Daniel "Dan" Cook

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 July 1923.

In the July 5, 1923 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that “Lefty Smith, pitching for Oak Hill last Friday, let the fast Vredenburgh team down without a single hit. Smith had a nice curve ball that completely baffled the Vredenburgh team.” Oak Hill won, 5-0.

Also that week it was reported that “Mr. R.L. Spurlin, one of Camden’s merchants, has moved his large store from the east to the west side of Broad Street, just opposite to where it has been for years. It makes a much handsomer appearance where it is than before being moved. The object Mr. Spurlin had in moving this store was to make room for a large brick store on the east side of the street. Work on this new building will commence at once.”

In the July 12, 1923 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that “Messrs. L.B. Sessions, John Miller, Miller Bonner and others were among the Camden delegation that took in the barbecue at Mitchells Dam Saturday. They report a splendid day.”

It was also reported that week that “Senator J.M. Bonner, Representative Daniel Cook and clerk Dan G. Cook left Camden Tuesday morning for Montgomery, where they will look after the interest of Wilcox County during this session of the legislature.”

In the July 19, 1923 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that the “many friends of Mr. W.J. Bonner, President of the Bank of Camden, are glad that he has recovered from a recent spell of sickness and is able to be at his work again.”

Readers that week also learned that “there will be a barbecue at Rehobeth on Thurs., July 26. The proceeds will go for the benefit of the new school building at Catherine. The people of Rehobeth are noted for their hospitality and a large crowd should attend the barbecue on that date.”

In the July 26, 1923 edition of the paper, it was reported that “Camden was full of visitors from all over the county Monday and Tuesday to witness the ball games between Nadawah and the Mobile City League team.”

Readers that week also learned that “Hon. Stonewall McConnico of Snow Hill was a business visitor here last Friday. Mr. McConnico is one of our most successful farmers, and he speaks very highly of Hill’s Boll Weevil Mixture, and states that the cost per acre is very small to keep down the ravages of the weevil.”

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 August 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.