MARY BRASWELL: Looking back at January 1926

In January 1926, Albany was on the brink of booming. The War to End All Wars was over and the Great Depression was yet to come. Here is a look back at news from The Albany Herald at that time.

— On the first day of the new year, officials were already discussing the proposal to raise $60,000 for an advertising campaign for the city of Albany. Advertising the weather, water resources and more would “put Albany and Dougherty County before the world.” Such a campaign was considered absolutely necessary to bring new farmers and industries to the area. Note: Once the campaign started, the goal was reached in less than three weeks.

— Rogers, an Albany grocer, had Brown Mule Tobacco for 15 cents per plug.

— Following a meeting of the Southwest Georgia Log Rolling Association, it was announced that the largest log rolling event ever held in the area was coming to Albany in April. It was expected that nearly 2,000 Woodmen planned to attend.

— Georgia drivers were reminded of the new law that a notarized affidavit declaring ownership of a vehicle must be signed before a license tag could be issued.

— Two female college students home on break spoke on College Night at the Albany First Baptist Church. The topics were: “Why college friendships are distinctive” and “The church program at the University of Georgia.”

— Central of Georgia Railway was undergoing a $300,000 expansion program in Albany.

— The Dougherty County Commission voted to increase its monthly appropriation to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital from $150 to $200.

— Results from less than a year following stiffer quality requirements for milk and more frequent comprehensive dairy inspections indicated the measures were working. Dr. N.E. Benson, county health physician, gave the news that instances of colitis in infants saw a 50 percent drop after the new regulations were enforced.

— Drugstores in Americus reported flu and pneumonia prescriptions were running about half that of a normal winter. This drop was credited to the Sumter County Health Department’s administration of the anti-flu serum.

— Due to increased enrollment at Mulberry Street School in east Albany, a third teacher was added. This plan allowed for one teacher in the first grade and one in the fourth grade. Second and third grades were still taught together.

— R.L. Jones Company held a huge January “prosperity” sale. Just a few of the items on special were: women’s fine handkerchiefs with embroidery (5 cents each, limit 6); 1,000 house dresses in sizes 36 to 46 (49 cents each, limit 2); Infant-size coats ($1.50); and wool blankets ($8.50).

— James Tift Mann began serving his 21st year as the city attorney for Albany.

— In response to the number of parents wishing to be able to contact their children’s teachers in the evenings and who did not know where they lived, the school superintendent furnished a list of the teachers’ telephone numbers for publication in the newspaper.

— As of Jan. 1, 1926, Albany’s general fund held $842.36 in cash on hand.

— A man visited the First Baptist Church in Americus seeking funds to help pay for an artificial limb. While there, the man stole the watch of the preacher, who typically left it at the pulpit while speaking to church members following his sermon. The thief was caught with the watch in his shoe and found guilty of the act. No funds were collected to aid the man with his original request.

— A new motorized funeral hearse arrived in Albany for use by the Ivey Funeral Home. The hearse was a V-63 Cadillac of the limousine type.

— For sale: 250-acre farm in Mitchell County for $12.50 per acre.

— Yellow Cab service began in Albany. Owned by J.B. Belin, there were also nine motor cars, both open and closed, available for rent from this business.

— Lee County Sheriff P.C. Coxwell resigned from his position after being found guilty of conspiracy to violate state and national prohibition laws.

— One thousand acres of land on Hardup Road was purchased by an Illinois syndicate for $40,000. The plans were to split the acreage into 40-acre tracts.

— With only one car theft reported in Albany for the year 1925, the 1926 insurance rates for auto theft dropped from $4.25 per $100 in value to $2.25.

— The Sumter-Americus Hospital gave its report for 1925. During the year, 379 patients were treated, 187 operations performed, and 30 births recorded. For the entire year, only 10 deaths occurred.

— Plans were announced for (John Philip) Sousa and his band to perform at the City Auditorium. The show would include band music, jazz, solos and a $10,000 set of chimes made in England. Tickets ranged in price from 85 cents to $2.

In other news …

— A.A. Milne published the first “Winnie the Pooh” book.

— Based at least partly on the test used by the U.S. Army to determine ability to serve, the first SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) was administered prior to college acceptance.

— The cost of a 12-day hospital stay (considered the average length) was about $300.

— George Burns married Gracie Allen.

— The slogan “Good to the last drop” was first used by Maxwell House coffee.

— Salary for the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court was $15,000 per year. Associate judges were salaried at $14,500.

— The first Pontiac car rolled off the assembly line.

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

QUIK QUIZ answer: d) Hormel marketed its first canned ham.