100-year-old news highlights from February 1925 editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden, Ala.

Masonic Hall in Camden.

Today marks the first Wednesday 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 1925.

In the Feb. 5, 1925 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that “John Ratto, impersonator and humorist, will not appear at the Camden Theatre on Feb. 10^th on account of illness. The Gorilla Company, composed of high-class players, will substitute for this attraction sometime during the week of Feb. 23^rd. The exact date will be announced next week. Make your plans to attend this play.”

Readers that week also learned that “on last Friday afternoon McWilliams girls defeated Camden in a closely contested game of basketball by the score of 5 to 3. The guarding on both sides being good, and this held down the score. The lineup: McWilliams, forwards, Willie Higden, Belma Melton; centers, Ruby Jones, Margaret Brantley; guards, Eliza Till, Daisy Melton; substitutes, Edith Pettie, Evelyn Brantley, Cynthia McKenzie; Camden, forwards, Elise Cobb, Camilla Jones; centers, Sara Matthews, Gussie Marcus; guards, Myrtie Odom, Laura Dale McNeil; substitutes, Barbara Solomon, Annie Lou Ray, Fraces Moss.”

In the Feb. 12, 1925 edition of The Progressive Era, readers saw the following notice: The Camden Motor Co. invites you to come down to their place of business and enjoy a radio concert program every night 8 to 11. Special program tonight.

It was also reported that week that “Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Harper of Chicago are spending several months at the Wilcox Hotel while Mr. Harper is engaged in buying hardwood timber.”

In the Feb. 19, 1925 edition of the newspaper, under the headline “Coy Girls Defeat Camden,” readers learned that the “Coy Consolidated School defeated Camden Friday afternoon, score 14 to 7. The score stood 7-7 at the beginning of the last period. The Coy team started a drive that the locals could not stop and resulted in the seven-point advantage. Misses Powe and Fairly played the leading role for Coy while Miss Barbara Solomon and Laura Farish played well for Camden.”

Readers that week also saw the following notice: FOR SALE – Eleven first-class young Plymouth Rock hens and one young rooster for $18, delivered at my house. – J.G. Holt, Camden, Alabama.”

In the Feb. 26, 1925 edition of the paper, it was reported that the “Hi Y of the Wilcox County High School had a father-son banquet on Friday night Feb. 20^th at the Masonic Hall. Prof. Tom Borom made an excellent and witty toastmaster. The meeting was opened with sentence prayers and Rev. L.A. Nall, Rev. Meigs, Mr. E.W. Berry, S.C. Godbold, Mr. J.M. Bonner, Mr. P.E. Jones and many others made short talks full of good advice and loving counsel to these boys, our future citizens.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, readers learned that the “Gorilla Players of the Redpath Bureau played to a large audience at the Camden Theatre on Wednesday night, their acting was of the highest order and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. A group of pretty high school girls added much to the program by rendering several instrumental and vocal selections between acts. This group was composed of Misses Elise Cobb, Mary Edwards, Laura Farish, Ava Jordan, Ellen Vernon Jones, Frances Moss, Sarah Matthews, Barbara Solomon, Eleanor Stuckey and Wenonah Pritchett.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Around the first of next month, I plan to take a look at the events of March 1925 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.