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

Santo Domingo in 1923.

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 August 1923.

In the Aug. 2, 1923 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported, under the headline “Wilcox County Marine In Santo Domingo,” that “among the U.S. Marines who were recently assigned to duty in the West Indies, is Sanford Lamar Mize, son of Mrs. Lula Mize of McWilliams, Wilcox County, who is now on duty in the U.S. Marines in Santo Domingo. He will remain in that republic for an indefinite period as the Marines will be withdrawn from that country as soon as a permanent government is established.”

Also that week, it was reported that the “remains of Mrs. Mattie Lee Harwood of Atlanta, who died there July 24, were brought to Camden July 28 and interred at Canton Bend Cemetery, by the side of her departed husband, Prof. Harwood, who died about 28 years ago. She had reached the good old age of 78 years.”

In the Aug. 9, 1923 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that the “rains and cloudy weather still continue and the farmers are very blue. The consensus of opinion is that the boll weevil is doing great damage.”

Readers that week also learned that “Mrs. N.F. Boyd’s home on Bridgeport Avenue has been very much improved by the addition of a sleeping porch and a fresh coat of paint.”

In the Aug. 16, 1923 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that “Sheriff Watson made an unexpected call on Jack Wolfe of Camden at 1 a.m. last Sunday morning and found a complete outfit for the manufacture of Corn Liquor. He also found about 35 gallons of mash, the still was warm at the time of the sheriff’s visit and Jack had evidently been at work while he thought the sheriff was at home asleep.”

Also that week, readers learned that the “Masonic Hall has been very much improved by new stone steps, and water works have been installed in the building. It will at once receive a new coat of paint.”

In the Aug. 23, 1923 edition of the paper, it was reported that on “Tues., September the fourth, 1923, the Pine Hill High School, vocational school and grammar school will open for the first term of the session, 1923-1924. A general invitation is extended to the public, and especially are all parents and those directly interested in the school invited and urged to be present on this occasion.”

Readers that week also learned that the “Rev. Bristow, D.D., of Selma, who is the successful manager of the Baptist hospital, preached two splendid sermons at the Camden Baptist Church Sunday. Dr. Bristow is no stranger in Camden, having preached here before, and having shown many kindnesses to Camden friends who have been ill at his hospital. He is always greeted with a large and appreciative audience.”

In the Aug. 30, 1923 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that “Shorty Irby, who lives on the Midway Place, has been arrested in Dallas County, and will be brought to Camden by Sheriff Watson. He is accused of beating a woman to death on that place a few weeks ago.”

Also that week readers learned that the “many friends of Miss Annie Harris, who was a very efficient telephone operator in the Camden office, will regret to know that she will not return to Camden. She will make her home in Ashville, N.C. with her brother, Mr. Claude Harris.”

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 September 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.