100-year-old news highlights from The Wilcox Progressive Era

Grave of Julia A. Middlebrooks.

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the June 7, 1917 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Ala.

JUNE 7, 1917

Pine Hill: School closed here on Friday, May 18, after three big nights of first class entertainments.

Rehobeth: Prof. J.M. Laird, who is a teacher of mathematics at Brundidge High School, is at home for the summer.

The registration throughout the United States, Alabama and Wilcox County was held last Tuesday. All white men between the ages of 21 and 30, inclusive, as well as the negroes of that age, were registered by officers in the various beats of the county. It is estimated that about 2,000 were registered.

Opera in Camden: On Wednesday afternoon the music Study Club of Camden was given a nice treat by Mrs. E.H. Pritchett in her lovely suburban home, which has been made more attractive than ever recently by the addition of a very fine and beautifully sweet toned Victrola on which we heard Verdi’s beautiful opera, Il Grovatore.

Our President, Mrs. B.M. Miller, in her gracious manner, gave the story of the opera very entertainingly, having seen it played in Atlanta several times.

Shawnee: Mr. Mastin Young was circulating among relatives and friends in the Burge last week in company with his nephew, Master Lummie Jenkins.

Mrs. Julia A. Middlebrooks died last Sunday at the home of her son, Mr. J.W. Middlebrooks, about seven miles east of Camden, aged 79 years. The deceased lady was the widow of Mr. Rufus Middlebrooks, who died in 1870. The interment was in the Society Hill cemetery.

Mr. M. Neville of Selma, the traveling salesman, who was injured in an automobile collision with the L&N train is improving.

The Progressive Era Editor was pleased to receive a call from Rev. Bauscomb, Editor of Christian Associate of Birmingham.

John Holman of Camden, now at Mobile, has joined the Hospital Corps and has gone to Fort Oglethorpe for enlistment.

Senator John R. Bell of Gordo, Pickens County, and Mrs. Bell were in Camden recently, the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle Dube.

Dr. T.W. Jones has received an invitation from Mr. Tom George of Blooming Grove, Texas to attend the graduation in medicine of his son, Carl Wabentire George.

Mrs. Annie May Johnson now of Augusta, Ga. and Mr. Willie Hayse Sessions of Alabama City are visiting their parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Sessions.

FUNERAL OF COL. E.N. JONES: The funeral of our esteemed and venerable friend Col. E.N. Jones Sr. was largely attended. The services were conducted at the home of his son and wife, Mr. and Mrs. P.E. Jones, a large number of surviving relatives and friends paid their last tribute of respect to a good man. Rev. H.W. Wallace officiated, and the pallbearers were Messrs. W.A. Primm, R.L. Spurlin, W.A. McDowell, F.B. Dexter, S.D. Bloch, H. Vandevoort, W.J. Bonner and W.R. Alford Sr. The interment was in the Camden cemetery, a good man is gone.

A four-room negro residence on Mr. Leon Spurlin’s plantation in Gees Bend and across the river from Bridgeport was burned last Sunday night about nine o’clock. This fire was supposed to have been accidental.

Last Saturday night about two o’clock, the pretty cottage home belonging to Mip Amelin Newsom and in the suburbs of Camden was burned. It was unoccupied and the loss is about $13,500, no insurance. The origin of the fire is unknown.

The Women’s Missionary Society of the Selma District held their annual conference in Camden June 1-3. The first service was a sermon by Dr. L.C. Branscomb, editor of the Alabama Christian Advocate.