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'Bone-dry Alabama' had most whiskey stills in '36
some issues of The South
Alabamian from the 1920s that had belonged to Marjorie Fendley Priest of Jackson. This week, we'll look at some issues from the 1930s. These old papers are interesting because so few copies exist from these time periods. The Nov. 2, 1932 issue detailed a big "Business Revival Week" statewide to start Nov. 12. Jackson merchants and others in at least 62 towns around the state were expected to take part in this effort to end "depression blight and [speed] the return of better times." The Great Depression had settled in and times were tough. The State Secondary Agricultural School Aggies defeated Linden 32-13 the previous week and were set to take on Thomasville on Nov. 3. The state was to vote on a $20 million bond issue but South
Alabamian Publisher W.A. Calhoun challenged, "Why vote for the $20,000,000 bond issue and income tax when your state government diverts tax money from the purpose for which it was imposed. What guarantee have you that this money would be used as intended?" A big ad from the Economy League of Alabama advocated a "No" vote. "Less OUTGO- Not more INCOME is now needed," the ad stated. Sixteen young men from Clarke County were enrolled at Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn. They were Freeman W. Barnes, Karl W. Boyles, Calvin C. Chunn, Clifford J. Chunn, James D. McIntyre, James P. Outlaw, Hannis L. Prim, Norman U. Walkley, all of Jackson; Fred A. Chapman, Louis W. Mathews, Arvin L. Payne Jr., all of Grove Hill; Edward Dozier, James S. Kimbrell, Thomas S. Kimbrell, all of Thomasville; Thomas LeNoir Turner, Coffeeville; and Grady E. Waddell, Auburn. The Nov. 16 issue detailed the Armistice Day celebration that was held in Grove Hill on Nov. 11. It consisted of a parade "through the principle streets," followed by a program at the courthouse monument. DeLuxe Café opened Some older Jacksonians may remember the old DeLuxe Café that was downtown years ago. This issue reported the cafe's opening by Horace Young Bolen and "Skinny" DeWitt. It was located in the Warren Auto building on what we know as Commerce Street today but back then it was Highway 5, the main north-south highway that ran right through the middle of town. The Jackson School Board detailed tuition. The cost was $3 per month for one pupil with discounts for multiple pupils from the same family, the price dropping to $2 each for four from the same family. These old papers were pretty sparse, probably a result of the Great Depression that was crippling the country at the time. The Dec. 16, 1936 issue detailed that grading of a new roadbed on the "River Hill" between town and the river bridge. Gravel was to be applied and it was hoped that "black topping" could be put down soon. The Admiral Semmes Drawbridge across the Tombigbee River had not been open too long. Members of the Jackson Baptist Church contributed $2,214.79 the previous Sunday to help retire the debt on the church building. The big offering was in response to a challenge of a $5,000 gift from "some interested friends" if the membership could raise the $2,400 balance due on the building. A separate editorial comment noted that the full amount to meet the match was in hand the next day. Sales taxes and wet-dry The Alabama Legislature was working on a 2 percent gross sales tax for the state as well as measures that would repeal prohibition and allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages. The resulting law would set up the wet-dry counties situation we have now that would allow each county to determine its own status as to alcohol sales. Interestingly, another article on the same page noted that "Bonedry Alabama" led all states in the nation with the number of stills seized for the year ending June 30, 1936. Out of 15,456 stills reported nationwide, 1,379 were in Alabama. That averaged out to about 20 stills per each of Alabama's 67 counties. I wonder how many were in Clarke and Washington counties in 1936? An ad for the Ford Motor Co. announced that its 1937 models would be the "lowest price in years," starting at $480 with a payment plan as low as $25 a month. The March 31, 1937 edition offered a follow-up on the wetdry situation. A wet-dry law had been passed and the counties had voted. "In Cullman and Calhoun counties, where drys won victories by narrow margins, wet advocates started circulation of petitions urging another vote….In Marengo County, which voted dry by a majority of 13, repeal forces have contested outcome of the election, charging 'gross irregularities'." Clarke County voted dry in that initial balloting, by the way, but the vote was extremely close. The Methodists, like the Baptists a few years earlier, were working hard to retire their building debts. Both had built new churches in the late 1920s after fires destroyed both sanctuaries. "Mr. J. Carlie Stewart of Jackson, Commander of John Oliver Post American Legion has a plan on foot to send a band from Clarke County to the next National Convention of the American Legion at New York next fall." The band would include 40 members who would carry pamphlets "descriptive of Clarke County and its resources for distribution…." Chauncey Sparks, R. J. Goode and Frank Dixon were announced candidates for governor in the Feb. 23, 1938 newspaper. Fendley's Dept. Store ran a front page ad that announced a new partnership of W. E. Fendley, Dixon Howard, Lee Whatley and H. L. Clarke. Howard and Whatley would be operating managers of the store. Fendley was Mrs. Priest's father so that is one reason she had kept this newspaper. Local politics State Rep. J. R. Wallace of Chance announced that he would not be a candidate for reelection to the Place One legislative post. He said he ordinarily opposed any new taxes "but the dire need of additional funds for the schools" prompted him to support a new school tax. "I assumed the entire responsibility for keeping the schools open in the spring of 1935 and the continuation of same," he wrote. Clarke County schools almost closed in 1935 due to financial difficulties locally and statewide. W. D. Harrigan Jr. of Fulton announced for the Place One seat. Clarke County had two seats in the Alabama House of Representatives for years. Earl Tucker, editor of the Thomasville Times, announced as a candidate for the Place Two seat in opposition to the incumbent, A. P. Williams of Thomasville. James N. Granade of Chatom announced for First Judicial Circuit Solicitor. Today we called the position the District Attorney. A. S. Johnson of Thomasville was also a candidate for the office. Congressman Frank Boykin announced that $12,000 in federal funds had been appropriated for the construction of a new gymnasium at Jackson High School. That gym survived the fire that destroyed the old high school and is still in use on the middle school campus today. Riding 'The Goldenrod' A group of Jackson officials, including Mayor Calhoun who was also publisher of The South Alabamian, and other businessmen met Southern Railway's new passenger train, "The Goldenrod," at Whatley and rode to Jackson on its initial Selma to Mobile run. The newspaper offered a new twist on an old saying: "Too many folks are figuring on a Tbone existence when all they might have is a soupbone income." "R. C. Guy has thrown away the key, and the Standard Station is open all the time from now on." The Priest collection doesn't include any papers from the 1940s so I will move to the 1950s the next time I look back at the old issues.
Jim Cox is publisher of The South Alabamian. Contact him at jimcox@mygalaxyexpress. com.
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