MARY BRASWELL: Looking back at Jan. 1948

With World War II in the rear-view mirror, Albany and Southwest Georgia were growing in population, schools were full, housing was short and businesses were reaping the benefits in January 1948.

—The Clark Thread Company was searching for women to work in the new East Albany main mill. Applications were taken in person Monday-Friday.

— A county-wide syphilis-tuberculosis drive was underway in Dougherty County. Every resident over the age of 12 was expected to have the free chest X-ray and blood test done. Roving labs were moving from factory to factory and throughout neighborhoods. Stationary sites were located at Aultman Motors and Eureka Baptist Church. Dougherty was the 14th county in Georgia to hold a VD-TB drive.

— Playing at the State Theatre was “They Won’t Believe Me” with Susan Hayward and Robert Young. Admission also included a newsreel and cartoon.

— Sears advertised 52-gallon electric hot water heaters for just $118.88, reduced from $195.95. The heaters were highly recommended for homes with automatic washing machines.

— Albany’s new mayor, J.W. (Taxi) Smith, took office before a record-breaking crowd at the city’s first commission meeting of the new year.

— The Godwin Drug Store in Plains was burglarized. Taken were an undetermined amount of narcotics and $300 to $400 in cash.

— A reminder was printed in the newspaper that it was now the law that all businesses in Albany have an application and an inspection on file before operating.

— Dr. H.H. Williamson, an Albany dentist, shared his opinion of socialized dentistry to the convention of the Southwestern Dental Association held at Radium Springs. He stated, “It has been established beyond question that the various moves toward establishing socialized medicine and dentistry in this country are sponsored by Communist agencies.”

— Albany Police Department Chief Morton Burnett ordered a crackdown on Sunday liquor sales and the distribution of the numbers racket (lottery) within the city. The City Commission pledged to back the chief on any arrests, “no matter who is involved.”

— Turner Field’s 31st Fighter Wing was declared “a full-fledged fighting unit,” with the field’s 2,445-man complement ready to throw its 75 Mustang fighter jets into the air at a moment’s notice.

— Taxi cab drivers in Albany were briefed on the rules of safe driving, as well as vehicle maintenance. Also stressed as one sure way to lose one’s taxi cab permit was to be caught operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

— City officials agreed to knock off $50 of the regular fee (not stated) for use of the Municipal Auditorium in the winter for lack of heat due to the coal shortage. The show next up on the venue’s schedule was Roy Acuff and his “Grand Ole Opry” troupe.

— Although the Southern Association of Secondary Schools and colleges listed the ideal classroom as one with 30 students, every classroom in Albany exceeded that number. At the black high school on Monroe Street, the January 1948 enrollment was 560, all located in just 10 classrooms.

— Forest restoration was underway in Seminole County. Before the month of January came to an end, it was expected that 200,000 young pine trees would be planted on land deemed non-productive for agriculture. The varieties planted were loblolly, slash and longleaf.

— Davidson Beauty Salon at 217 N. Monroe St. offered use of an electric cabinet bath, as well as Swedish massages.

— As was the duty of the Dougherty County Police Department, Chief Royace Hinson reported the collection of $196,817 in delinquent taxes with another $49, 428,98 still owed.

— Building Inspector D.W. Brosnan asked that the Albany City Commission continue its support of slum clearance in the new year. In 1947, 12 mercantile buildings were removed and rebuilt, two churches were removed and rebuilt, seven dwellings were torn down and 23 dwellings were remodeled and made sanitary

— Health reports for the year just ending (1947) reported only three cases of typhus in the county and no deaths. The improvement was credited to the city’s strong rat eradication program. A combination of rat-proofing buildings, the use of DDT and general cleanliness proved powerful tools for Albany’s war on rats.

— Worth County Grand Jury presentments called for all schools and service organizations in the county to “exert every effort to combat Communism.”

— South Georgia farmers were given the green light from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Clinton Anderson to plant as many acres in peanuts as desired in 1948. The worldwide shortage of food, oils and fat was given as the reason.

— Albany City Commissioners adopted an ordinance calling for a $290,000 school bond election. Tentative plans were for a 12-room school for black students and a six-room school for white students, both located in East Albany.

— New aluminum quick-release ice trays were available at all Philco dealers. Billed as “the modern convenience for every electric refrigerator, no matter how old,” the 14-cube trays were priced at $1.98 each.

— The nationwide “eggless” Thursdays came to an end as the supply became more plentiful. “Meatless Tuesdays” were to remain a part of the voluntary food conservation program until further notice.

— On Jan. 11, President Harry S Truman proposed free, two-year community colleges for all who wanted a higher education.

— On Jan. 26, Executive Order 9981 ended racial segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces.

QUIK QUIZ ANSWER: d) 2,300

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.