Front page "flag" of The South Alabamian in 1927. See old ads below. Work has at long last started on The South Alabamian's new office and we are also trying to clean out decades of clutter here at the old location.

I found a treasure the other day- a bag of old issues of The South Alabamian that included issues from the 1920s, '30s, '40s and '50s. The bag had Marjorie Fendley Priest's name on it. Mrs. Priest's father, W. E. Fendley, was a longtime Jackson businessman, operating Fendley Department Store for nearly 40 years. When he retired the store merged with Bedsole's to become Bedsole- Fendley Department Store, a downtown fixture that I remember fondly from my childhood.

The older papers are truly treasures because so few issues of The South Alabamian exist from these early years. Fires plagued the newspaper office here over the years, contributing to the scarcity of old issues.

In future weeks I will detail some of the items from these old papers that I think you may find interesting. I will start with the earliest issues, from the 1920s.

The earliest issue in the collection is dated Oct. 13, 1926.

Free coal with furnance buy

Bevill Mercantile Company, "Clarke County's Leading Department Store," ran an ad offering 2,000 pounds- one ton- of free coal for everyone buying a new coal-fired Washington Home Furnace.

The Jackson Aggie football team was having a great year. The Aggies beat Mobile High School (Barton Academy) by the onesided score of 33-0.

Along article detailed the workings of the Red Cross. The descriptive piece was prompted by a recent hurricane that hit Florida.

Longtime Jackson citizens remember J. F. McVay and his big honey operation. He had an ad in this 1926 issue extolling the virtues of honey as endorsed by W. K. Kellogg of the famous cereal company. "McVay's Honey is offered for sale by the local grocers practically the year-round."

A separate ad touted McVay's "Woodworking and Novelty Shop." The location was described as "At the Bee Yard."

Special Agent Manuel S. Garrick noted, "There were 4,119 bales of cotton ginned to October 1, 1926 in Clarke County, as compared with 6,253 same date in 1925."

The J. E. Robinson homeplace and six acres in Coffeeville were advertised for sale at public auction Oct. 18. Also offered was the S. J. Reynolds Telephone System at Coffeeville consisting of 100 phones, switchboards and more.

Two hundred lots in "Willfair Heights" in Grove Hill were set for auction on Oct. 19. The lots were described as the "Wilson and Faircloth property" and called the only land in Grove Hill that could be had for subdivision. A picnic and brass band music were touted as well as the giveaway of gold pieces as incentives for getting people to turn out.

The Tennessee-Alabama Auction Company was running both sales.

"Gayest truck in Jackson"

The Nov. 24, 1926 issue detailed "The Gayest Truck in Jackson." The article described the "new Checker-Board- Chariot" of the Bevill Mercantile Company of Jackson.

This was the "good old days," remember, when gay didn't carry the same meaning that it does today!

The Ford was painted in red and white checks "and creates as much sensation as a circus every time it drives through the streets." W. W. Clarke, Bevill's manager, said the checkerboard pattern was the trademark of the Purina Mills of St. Louis, manufacturer of Checkerboard Choms, a poultry and livestock feed carried by Bevill.

"W. N. Perkins of Jackson today was one hundred dollars richer because he was able yesterday to squeeze mileage at the rate of 46.2 to the gallon of gasoline out of his Ford automobile in a contest conducted…by Adams and Turner Motor Companies of Mobile …Perkins drove 23.1 miles on a half gallon of gasoline" to win the prize.

Other contestants from this area included M. G. Deas of Grove Hill, L. R. Brady of Jackson, Pratt Wilkinson of Thomasville and Zack Dees of Chatom.

Big football game touted

A big evening was being readied in Jackson with the Aggies preparing to host the Sylacauga Aggies in the final football game of the season.

Making the match even more special was the fact that Joe M. Gillmore, a Jackson native who would later become principal at Jackson High School, was the Sylacauga coach. Another tie was a Professor Nichols, "who was at Jackson for a number of years," was principal at Sylacauga.

"Jackson has probably the best team in the history of the school," the article stated, boasting a 7-1 season record. The Aggies, coached by Eddie Pace, had scored a total of 222 points to just 65 for opponents.

Johnson's front page ad proclaimed, "Come around and let us meat you." The ad offered a rhyme, "Meats that you can stew, meats that you can chew, meats you'll want to buy, meats of every kind, at one place you'll find."

Taxes back then

Mayor W. W. McCorquodale informed owners of automobiles and trucks within the town that municipal taxes at the rate of 50 cents per each $100 of assessed value were due at the time of purchasing 1927 tags starting Dec. 1, 1926. "Bear this in mind and pay taxes on your car on or before Jan. 1, 1927 so that no interest or fees will accrue against you."

A separate notice noted that all real and personal property taxes for the 1926 years would be due Dec. 1 and delinquent after Jan. 1.

Johnson's Cold Storage advertised "Fresh Sweet Florida Oranges" for $3 per box of 300 large size. "We pay express charges. A box of these makes an appreciated Christmas gift."

This was an interesting ad, given that the house was located where HealthActions is today. "Attractive tile residence, known as the Weston place, located at fork of Forest and College Avenue, Jackson, Alabama. For price and particulars apply Jackson Bank and Trust Co., Jackson, Ala."

Warren Auto. Co. on Commerce Street was a dealer for Dodge Brothers Motor Cars. A new, regular touring car was $795. The highest priced car, a deluxe sedan, was $1,125.

Winning Aggie team feted

The Dec. 15, 1926 issue included a long article lauding the Aggie football team.

"The triumphant football season of the First District State Secondary Agricultural School" was recognized with a big football banquet to fete the team and Coach Eddie Pace, "a former Birmingham-Southern star."

For those curious about the outcome of the Sylacauga game detailed earlier, the Jackson Aggies won it.

A number of speakers heralded the Aggies' successes and offered toasts. Sandy Fleming, who would go on to be one of Jackson's long practicing dentists, was the team's captain "and proved to his admirers that he could respond to a toast as well as make a ninety-yard run for a touch-down."

A separate article noted that Bill Lawlis of the Post Office Café provided the delicious coffee for the meal. His "Morning Joy" was the "best coffee there is," the newspaper declared, made in a special electric percolator.

"All of the show windows in town have been dolled up for Christmas and there is a feeling of Christmas excitement in the air. All of the wee folks are trying to decide what they want Old Santa to bring them…."

Missing salesman

The next issue jumps to 1927, Oct. 27 to be exact. An interesting article details a missing traveling salesman.

Jas. P. Stallworth, a "well known traveling man of Mobile," disappeared while en route to Jackson and was feared drowned in the Tombigbee River. Stallworth had stopped at Johnston's store in Leroy on a Friday night and agreed to take a bank deposit of checks to Jackson Bank and Trust for Mr. Johnston. The store was about five miles from the Jackson ferry.

Saturday, Stallworth's car, a Studebaker, was found upside down near the Tombigbee River with its lights still burning. The car was in neutral with the switch key turned off. The checks and other personal items of Stallworth's were still in the car but he could not be found anywhere.

Some speculated that Stallworth lost control of the car and wrecked and his body was hurled into the river. Others suggested that he was murdered and the car pushed off the embankment in an attempt to sink it in the river or to make it appear to be an accident.

The river was being searched as The South Alabamian went to press but Stallworth had not been found. I wonder what happend to him.

"It has been so long since Jackson had won a football game from Grove Hill until most of the young citizens thought this game was played every year in order that Grove Hill might win another game." Jackson won this one, 14- 6.

"It has been a custom in Jackson since the World War to observe Armistice Day, November 11, and we expect to see it observed here this year as in the past by closing of all places of business in town. In addition to closing some suitable religious and patriotic exercises should be arranged…"

Halloween masquerade parties were planned at the high school auditorium and by the John Oliver Post of the American Legion.

Jackson Bank and Trust Co. reported total assets of $545,476.64. G. G. Warren was the cashier and directors attesting to the report were S. A. Stewart, H. M. McLeod and J. D. Guy.

"Earl Chapman Hoven, young son of Mr. and Mrs. Kirven Hoven, brought to our attention last week some of the products of his potato patch. He dug over thirteen pounds from one hill and the largest of these weighed over five pounds."

"Mr. Joseph Loranz left Saturday to attend a family reunion in Clarinda, Iowa. Mr. Loranz has been away forty years and only back to the old home four times during that time."

Loranz, or Loranze, built the house that is now home to the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce. The house features some beautiful interior woodwork. After the Loranzes lived there, it was home for years to the Dr. G. C. McCrary family.

1928 issue featured reunion

The Aug. 8, 1928 issue detailed an unusual family gathering.

John G. Calhoun of Mt. Olive, Miss. and three of his children visited his brother-in-law, J. A. Bolen Sr. in Jackson. One of his sons, Jesse Calhoun, was State Supervisor of Education in Mississippi.

John G. Calhoun was a former Clarke County resident who served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. "After the war he removed to Mississippi where he engaged in farming, and has lived to see a thriving town, Mt. Olive, Miss., grow up on what was formerly his farm."

About 50 relatives turned out for the big reunion dinner at the home of Annie McVay.

The Clarke County Farm Bureau wrote a weekly report and in this issue detailed a poultry incubator a Mr. Hamilton was building in Grove Hill. The report did not say so, but this was an electric incubator and one of the first ventures using electricity from the new Alabama Power lines that had just been extended to Grove Hill.

Cotton was the dominant crop and the farmer producing the first cotton boll received lots of attention and accolades. Chester Allen of Jackson brought a "fully developed" boll by The South Alabamian office earlier in the week and told the newspaper he expected to "get out" a bale of cotton by Aug. 15.

Four men offered themselves as candidates for the Jackson Town Council in the election slated Sept. 17. They were W. A. Calhoun (publisher of The South Alabamian), A. H. Rodgers, C. H. Stanley and J. C. Stewart.

An unusual platform

The candidates pledged to "work for the moral and material upbuilding of our community" but, interestingly, said they were "solidly against the installation of proposed sewerage and paving projects at this time, or any other time without the consent of a majority of the owners of the property to be improved by such projects."

Elsewhere in the paper, Dr. W. W. McCorquodale announced for re-election as mayor and W. B. Easley also announced as a mayoral candidate.

The stock law debate- whether or not livestock should be confined to specific property or allowed "free range" wherever it might roam- was underway and the Clarke County Commission had scheduled a vote Aug. 10 in Coffeeville and Jackson precincts.

"We hope these elections will both carry and result ultimately in the passage of a County wide stock law," The South Alabamian observed.

The sentiment of Louis H. Sewall may have better reflected public feelings on the matter.

Strongly opposed stock law

He wrote: "Stock law is all right in towns and thickly settled neighborhood[s], but what about it in thinly settled sections as we have in the woods around Jackson where the farmers live?" Sewall described farmsteads as 40, 60 or 100 acre owned or rented tracts with the land "so broken and poor that they cultivate only a fraction of it." The rest is woods composed of stumps and briars that "would take about twenty acres to furnish grazing for one cow."

"The majority of this cut over land and free range is owned by people not living in this county. By having a free range the small landowners can raise a few cows and hogs, whereas, if we have a stock law they cannot. The stock law will force them to sell their cows for two or three cents per lb. to beef men or pasture owners. But when the beef is butchered then you will pay for it."

He questioned the fencing that the law might require if it was approved. "Will we have to pay for the line fence that will be built around Jackson Precinct? Saltworks, Walker Springs, Gainestown and McLeod Precincts we must fence against for they are not voting for a stock law. I think it will take about twenty-five miles of fence to fence us away from these precincts. What this fence will cost I can't say. But I think it will cost at least $5000 or $6000 for wire, post and labor…Now who will pay for all this? It looks like we will have to raise a Precinct tax somehow to do this."

He suggested that everyone who wanted a stock law should "build you a pasture or field fence and keep as fine [a] stock as you please, but let us poor folks keep our SCRUBS and a free range…You know we have too many laws already, it sometimes teems [seems]."

There were a lot of interesting tidbits in the old papers.

Comments included "Behind on your bathing? This is a good time to catch up." Another: "Only a few girls are becoming enough to look well in men's pants."

This was interesting in light of the present arguments on immigration: "Since 1890 approximately 17,724,000 aliens have entered the United States."

A half page ad across the front page announced the "formal opening" of the new home of Van Drug Co., "The Rexall Store" from 3 until 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 17.

Music and souvenirs were touted along with free "Toms Toasted Peanuts for EVERYBODY."

The store's "Rose Room" was offered for special parties and club meetings "when salads, lunches, ices or other refreshments are desired."

The store had initially opened July 1, 1927.

Presidential politics

The coming November presidential election was noted in the Aug. 22, 1928 issue with a long front page letter of support for the Republican nominee Herbert Hoover.

Many old line Democrats were not happy with Al Smith, the Democratic nominee, but said they could not vote for a Republican because of issues that dated to the Civil War and Republican President Abraham Lincoln.

The writer of the long essay, "a Hoovercrat," noted that his grandfather was a Confederate solider who was fatally wounded at the battle of Franklin, Tenn. "If he were living to-day we believe he would lift a vigorous right hand and call upon his son and grandsons to put their country above party and principle above prejudice. So we intend to vote for Mr. Hoover and his moral and spiritual platform and [a]gainst Mr. Smith and his program of nullification."

"ATown's Best Advertisement" was the title of an article urging citizens to keep Jackson looking good.

"At this time of the year tourists from other sections of the country are passing through Jackson bound for distance points." What they see would influence how they talked about the town later.

"Let's see to it that Jackson always looks her best, with well kept lawns, beautiful trees, well painted houses. These all give an appearance of community pride and thrift that contribute much toward the impression the visitor receives…Let's unite to make Jackson a good looking town- not alone for the stranger who may tarry for a night within our gates but also for those of us who call it home."

An editorial comment urged people to vote in the upcoming election. The article noted that in 1896, 80 percent of eligible voters in the United States went to the polls and voted. That dropped to 72 percent in 1900 and 66 percent in 1908. In 1920, only 49 percent of eligible voters participated in the presidential election, meaning that a majority of the minority elected the president.

Today, a turnout of 50 percent of the electorate is considered a good vote.

Churches were active

The Jackson Baptist and Methodist churches regularly offered detailed "notes" on their activities. Both articles in this issue referenced new building projects. That's because both churches had earlier that year lost their sanctuaries to fires.

Baptist pastor A. A. Hutto wrote about the recently concluded revival. "It was not especially evangelistic but it was evangelical. We wanted a strengthening of the membership and that I am sure was secured."

Rev. Hutto detailed efforts for a new church building, saying a meeting of the building committee was scheduled. "We hope something very definite will be going on in thirty days."

"Let every member of the church feel a personal responsibility for the progress of the whole church life, and work accordingly. Nothing will help more in a general way than regular attendance upon the services. Not very much can be expected of those who habitually absent themselves from the services."

The Methodist report noted that new furnishings, including pews, pulpit furniture and more to the tune of $2,950 had been ordered for the new church and that the Woman's Mission Society had agreed to raise the money to pay for it.

The cost of one new pew is $45.80 and for one seating space on the pew $7.50 (I had to wonder as I read that if all seating spaces were equal…some folks' seats might have required a $15 spot!).

All members were asked to contribute at least $1 to the first payment on the pews. "It is expected that some families will wish to pay for one whole pew, and that a larger number will be glad to pay for one seating space."

The Methodist women planned a "Dollar Shower" at the new Van's drug store to start the fundraising.

A separate article detailed the work on the new Methodist church. The outside work "is practically finished" and work had started on plastering the interior. "…and a few more weeks will see the building ready for occupancy."

More to come

I've often heard it said that newspapers record history as it is made. When you look back at papers printed years ago you find that this is true. These old issues give us a detailed glimpse of Jackson, Clarke County and the country that the history books often don't relate.

Over the next few weeks I will offer more "time capsules" from these old copies of The South Alabamian.