Thursday, December 6, 2012

Century-old Conecuh County news from December 1912

It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in December 1912.

In the Dec. 4, 1912 edition of The Evergreen Courant, owner and editor George W. Salter Jr. reported that “Thanksgiving was very generally observed in Evergreen. Places of business were closed and the town looked as deserted as it does on a freezing Sunday in February. The most enjoyable function of the day that we have heard of was the barbecue at the Deming-McCreary pond. The editor and family were among the invited guests to our disappointment and great regret the pleasure of being with the jolly bunch was not ours. It was the nicest affair yet given by the Country Club, is the general verdict.”

Salter also reported that the “citizens of Evergreen were greatly shocked when the announcement was made that Max Long was dead. He died about two o’clock a.m. on Monday morning following less than one week’s illness.

“The local Masonic lodge, of which he was a bright and useful member, conducted services at the family home and escorted his remains to the station, from whence they were taken to Birmingham for interment. A committee from the lodge accompanied the remains and family to Birmingham.”

Readers that week also learned that “James T. Andrews of Oklahoma reached here Monday and will spend the remainder of the winter in this county. He was met by his brother, W.H. Andrews of Belleville. Mr. Andrews is among the few surviving members of the Conecuh Guard, organized in 1861.”

In the Dec. 11, 1912 edition of The Courant, Salter reported that the “soil survey of Conecuh County, which has been in progress for the past 10 months, is now nearing completion. The soil map of the county, when completed, will be lithographed in colors, by the government, showing each type of soil separately and a legend referring to the same. These will be distributed free upon request.”

Readers that week also saw a short news item that said that a “cure of appendicitis without the use of the knife is predicted as one of the near triumphs of science. In an address before the first annual convention of the American Association for the Study of Spondylotherapy, Dr. Albert Abrams of San Francisco said the discovery was made by pressing on a certain vertebrae which had the effect of straightening the sigmoid flexure, a loop in the large intestine.”

That week’s paper also featured the following large Christmas advertisement – “HOLIDAY GREETINGS: Everything for the Christmas Stockings. THE DISPLAY OF DOLLS, TOYS, VASES, GLASSWARE, Xmas Postcards and everything in the Christmas line is too large and varied to describe or enumerate everything, so I invite you to come and see the pretty things at this store. You are sure to see many things to please the fancy of the little ones as well as your own. Shop Early. T.A. GANTT.”

In the Dec. 18, 1912 edition of the newspaper, Salter reported that the “auction sale of town lots yesterday was the most successful ever attempted in Evergreen. It attracted a large crowd of every section of the county and every lot put on the block was sold. This shows the faith of people in Evergreen real estate. The land sold is a very beautiful plat of level ground not far from the depot.”

Readers that week also learned that “Dr. D.J. Campbell of Dozier, Ala. has located at Brooklyn for the practice of medicine.”

It was also reported that “J.D. McCrory is suffering from painful injuries sustained on last Friday by being tripped and thrown violently on the concrete pavement from a moving train at the depot.”

That week’s paper also included a front-page “IN MEMORIAM” that said that “The Supreme Grand Master of the Universe has called our beloved brother, Yale Max Long, from his labors on earth to eternal rest and refreshment above.

“He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on the 19th day of May 1900. His sterling qualities as a man and Mason soon singled him out from among his fellows, and he was called on to fill various responsible offices, in all of which he distinguished himself by his knowledge, zeal and fidelity, making himself a power for good in the order he loved so well. He was a gentleman in the best sense of the term.”

In the Dec. 25, 1912 edition of the paper, it was reported that on “Jan. 1, 1913, the parcel post system will be put in operation at every post office in the United States. Under this system, parcels weighing up to 11 pounds will be transported by mail.”

That week’s paper also included an announcement that let people know that a “meeting of Camp Capt. Wm. Lee, No. 338, will be held at the courthouse at Evergreen, Ala., Sat., Jan. 4, 1913. All members are expected to attend. Election of officers for the ensuring year, payment of camp dues, report of committees and appointing of new committees. G.R. Boulware, Commandant; T.A. Jones, Adjutant.”

Readers that week also learned that the “annual meeting of the stockholders of The Peoples Bank of Evergreen will be held in its banking room Tues., Jan. 7, 1913 at 10 o’clock a.m. for the election of a board of directors and the transaction of such business which may properly come before the meeting. A. Cunningham, V.P.”

It was also reported that week that “W.T. Chapman and Miss Myrtle Irwin were married on Christmas morning at the home of Mrs. N.C. Thomas, Rev. W.T. Ellisor officiating.”

Salter closed out the month of December with the following reminder for readers – “Don’t forget to see the Monkey at Thornton’s store Friday.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of January 1913 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.

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