MARY BRASWELL: News from 1937, some local, some not

Each week Albany Herald researcher Mary Braswell looks for interesting events, places and people from the past. You can contact her at (229) 888-9371 or [email protected]. Follow @ABH_MBraswell on Twitter.

This week’s column is a look back at the news, here and in other locations, in February 1937.

ALBANY & SWGA

— The new Mitchell County courthouse and jail opened for business. A day-long dedication service was held, including numerous speeches and talks, as well as a meal.

— The arrival of two new weapons for Dougherty County law enforcement was of great interest to citizens. Purchased by the County Commission were two Thompson machine guns. The “Tommy” guns could fire 600 shots per minute using .45-caliber ammo.

— Children from the Tarver Kindergarten presented a Mother Goose play at the high school auditorium. The costumed children entertained the public for a small (not specified) admission fee. The money raised was used to buy lunches for the school’s underprivileged children.

— Crowds swarmed to the three-day showing at Albany Theater of “Garden of Alluh.” While an interesting story, it was the new Technicolor that delighted the audiences.

— Georgia’s governor, E.D. Rivers, strongly recommended to the General Assembly the formation of a state planning commission. Rivers stated that should the commission form, he would insist that H.T. McIntosh, editor of The Albany Herald, be named chairman.

— The Sylvester Woman’s Club worked long and hard to bring the community a free library. Originally staffed by the club and open only on Friday afternoons, the WPA picked up the project with a full-time librarian. Hours were increased and 203 new volumes had been recently added. Fines for overdue books was 2 cents per day.

— The animal husbandry department at the University of Georgia reported that mules were 13 times more popular on Georgia farms than were horses. It was estimated that 331,000 mules were working the dirt for Georgia farmers.

— First payments were received by Lee County farmers for compliance with the 1936 Soil Conservation Program. About 250 farmers received a total nearing $3,300.

— An announcement made well in advance excited the students set to graduate as the Albany High School Class of 1937. The graduation speaker would be none other than Gov. Ed Rivers.

— Calhoun County Commissioners voted to establish a health unit. The $8,000 needed to operate the unit annually would come from a combination of county, state and federal funds. The county expected to hire a health commissioner, county nurse, a sanitary engineer and a clerk.

— The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill to permit sterilization of people in state hospitals and institutions charged with the care of mental defectives, including prisons. The vote was 123-16.

— The Dawson High School building was condemned and ruled unsafe for use. Beginning mid February, high school classes were held on the second floor of the courthouse in Terrell County. Plans were in the works for construction of a new school.

— Dougherty County’s Child Welfare Unit was working to stop children from selling peanuts and begging on the streets. Welfare workers stated that such activity was “just a step from juvenile delinquency.”

— For sale: 550 acres, three miles from Albany on a good road — $15 per acre.

— The Albany Police Department issued a warning to city motorists that officers had been instructed to begin handing out citations to drivers with only one headlight.

— Georgia officially adopted the live oak as the state tree. The oak joined the state bird (brown thrasher) and the state flower (Cherokee rose).

— Albany officials agreed to submit an application to the Public Works Administration for grant money to help build a junior high school. A resolution was passed by the City Commission with the stipulation that the cost not exceed $250,000.

— Sears, Roebuck & Co. opened its brand new store at 117 N. Washington St. The store offered a wide variety of merchandise including Sears-only products, such as Kenmore electric washing machines, Coldspot refrigerators and Allstate automobile tires. At the rear of the store was a space dedicated solely to the free servicing of tires and batteries.

— A new finishing plant for the Albany Lumber Company was set to start operation on Roosevelt Street Extension. Opening of the plant provided 25 new jobs.

OTHER 1937 NEWS …

— The first Social Security claims were paid.

— Unemployment insurance legislation became nationwide with approved laws in all 48 states.

— There were more labor strikes in 1937 than in any previous year. More than 4,000 strikes occurred costing 28.4 million man-days of work. Unemployment rose to 20 percent by year’s end.

— A prototype “antihistamine” was produced to treat allergies.

— Chester F. Carlson invented the first photocopier.

QUIK QUIZ answer: (a) window curtains. Note: All the wood in this bedroom group was walnut, including a magazine rack.

QUIK QUIZ

Albany Housefurnishings on Broad Avenue had a 23-piece bedroom group on sale for $144. Which of the following was NOT included?

a) window curtains

b) feather pillows

c) clock

d) floor rug

Answer is at the end of the column.