MARY BRASWELL: Albany and Dougherty County ladies met to organize a League of Women voters in March 1932.

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.

In March 1932, America was experiencing what would be become the worst economic depression in its history. See what else was making the news.

— A Senate bill passed allowing for the release of 40 million bushels of government wheat to be released for distribution by the Red Cross.

— For rent: Five room house at 1509 N. Monroe Street — $18 per month

—Thirteen of the 14 prisoners at the Lee County Jail escaped, all in one night. When discovered, the 14th inmate was still asleep and unaware of his missed opportunity. Bars were sawed in two and bricks removed by carefully picking out cement which held them in place. A rope made from blankets allowed the inmates to lower themselves to the ground. By the next afternoon, four had been recaptured, but there was no sign of the remaining nine.

— Sale City experienced a rash of smokehouse thefts in early March. Sausages, hams, sides and shoulders disappeared from more than one smokehouse. Some of the meat was recovered from hiding places in the woods, but most was not. The acts of theft were believed to be just another sign of how hungry and desperate folks were becoming.

— Pension checks for 16 widows of Confederate veterans and two veterans were received in Dougherty County.

— Plans were finalized for Albany to become the headquarters of the Southern Tung Oil Corporation of America. Immediate planting of 200-300 acres of trees was just the beginning . Each year more were to be planted and additional land purchased to reach the 3,000-acre tung oil production operation. Already, 1,000 acres had been purchased about five miles west of Albany.

— R.L. Jones Co., The Quality Store, held a one-day special corset service. Conducted by Miss Helen Vogt and the Gossard Company, special consultations and scientific fittings were available.

— The city veterinarian was available at the city stables 8 a.m.-9 a.m. each weekday to inoculate dogs against rabies. The shot and tag cost $1.

— The American Legion and members of the Auxiliary sent out an S.O.S. for grocery items to help feed the hungry in Albany and Dougherty County. Receptacles were available at almost all merchants and shoppers were asked to give as they could, even if just one item. Housewives that ordered groceries by phone were reminded to ask that an additional food item be added to their lists and dropped in the store boxes.

— Albany’s annual cleanup campaign was under way. The plans included clearing all alleys and streets of unsightly and unhealthy debris. Citizens were urged to clean around their own residences. Labor could be obtained by contacting the city’s unemployment committee.

— Merchants in Albany were participating in a three-day Easter Economy Parade. To feed the hungry shoppers, the Hotel Gordon had special menus planned. One example was on Saturday with the following menu: Fried red snapper steak with sweet mixed pickles or milk-fed veal with celery dressing; butter beans; candied sweet potatoes; corn sticks; homemade rolls; orange Jell-O with whipped cream or cake with ice cream. The 39-cent special included coffee, tea or milk.

— O.B. Bozeman’s store at 701 N. Washington St. had its door lock broken and cash register stolen. Not simply a counter-top device, the register was also a filing cabinet and weighed between 150-200 pounds. It was highly suspected that the thieves had either a wagon or automobile to take away their booty.

— After a lengthy discussion, the Albany City Commission voted to make an additional $125 per month appropriation to help carry out the welfare work of the community. Added to the previous appropriation, the city’s obligation came to a total of $425 per month.

— Although it was a light turnout, Dougherty County voters made it clear as to their presidential preference. The primary brought 385 votes for Franklin D. Roosevelt and just 49 for Judge Gus Howard.

In other news…

— The 20-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh was kidnapped from their home in East Amwell, N.J., in what became known as the “Lindbergh kidnapping”. The child’s body was found on May 12.

— Ford publicly unveiled its V-8 engine.

— The U.S. Congress ratified the 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, moving the presidential inauguration date up from March 4 to Jan. 20 and eliminating lame-duck sessions of Congress.

— The adventure film “Tarzan the Ape Man,” starring Johnny Weissmuller, was released.