Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Mary Braswell

Aside from the opening of Albany Theater, which was the topic of this column a couple of weeks ago, there was much activity in Albany and Southwest Georgia during September 1927. Here is a look back at just some of those newsworthy events.

— Dougherty County’s tax rate was reduced by 1 mill, giving residents a rate of 9 mills. County officials said this was the lowest tax rate in the state.

— For the hot September days, Lee’s Pharmacy at 232 Pine St. recommended their ice-cold buttermilk.

— Baconton reported nine high school graduates soon leaving for college. Arlington listed 24 students headed off to continue their education.

— Five acres was listed for sale in the triangle of Dawson Road and the Florida Short Route. Property included a large store, filling station, chicken houses, deep well and under fencing. Asking price: $2,500.

— In the previous session of the Georgia Legislature, a bill dubbed the “Racial Integrity Bill” passed and was signed by the governor. There was, however, no funding set aside to implement the law. An estimated $300,000 was needed to register every man, woman and child in the state and to create a card index of every resident’s racial descent. The information was intended for use upon request for a marriage license. At the time of this report, all such license applications were on hold.

— The Southland Conservatory of Music and School of Fine Arts announced the addition of a kindergarten department. Instruction was available in piano, voice, violin and other string instruments, wind instruments, art, expression and dance. Under the care of Mrs. C.D. Stiles, instruction was available for students ages 5-12 at 603 N. Jefferson St.

— A farewell dance was held at the Albany Elks Club for all Southwest Georgia college-bound students. Dance music was provided by Vick Myers and his Columbia Recording Orchestra.

—

QUIK QUIZ

Henry Ford ceased production of the Model T, the Tin Lizzie, in 1927. Which of the following statements is also true for the same year?

a) Santa Claus was issued a pilot’s license.

b) Alka Seltzer was introduced.

c) The first Krispy Kreme doughnut was sold.

d) Reader’s Digest began publication.

Answer is at the end of the column.

—

— The Jones Boarding House on Court Street in Cuthbert was undergoing renovations to become a full-service hotel.

— Unlike the year 1926, the City Board of Education listened to the pleas of children and parents and announced there would be no classes on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

— The Vino Sano Grape Brick Company was in trouble with the federal government. Bricks weighing one and one-half pounds each were being sold all over the country. A “warning” on each brick stated that “If water should be added to the contents of the brick, the substance would ferment in three days and become alcoholic.” Federal agents charged the company with conspiracy to violate the prohibition law.

— A giant Silvertone Cord tire, the largest tire in the world, was on display at Lambe Auto Service on the corner of Flint and North Washington. The tire was not simply for show, but designed for a bomber plane under commission by the U.S. government. The tire measured 64 inches by 14 inches.

— On the corner of Flint and Monroe, a new store-apartment building was under construction. The building would have four stores downstairs with an apartment above each one. It was expected that the construction would cost in the neighborhood of $20,000.

— Three men — ages 40, 32 and 24 — were killed about two miles outside Albany. The three were standing beside a hay bale when lightning struck and killed all three instantly.

— Rosenberg Brothers, Albany’s Greatest Retail Store, celebrated its 37th anniversary. All merchandise carried reduced price tags offering great values on top-quality clothes, shoes, accessories and more.

— Eight blocks of Albany’s new white way street lighting were turned on the evening of Sept. 17, 1927. Another 20 blocks of white way lighting would soon follow.

— Construction began on a new black movie theater on S. Jackson Street. Completion was expected before Christmas on the 1,000-seat theater with plans for daily movie shows.

— The New Albany Hotel was the venue for the 21st annual Convention of the Georgia State Veterinary Association. More than 50 veterinarians from all over the state attended.

— Nine-year-old Alice Blackburn began attending Sunday school at Albany First Baptist when she was on the cradle roll. As she was promoted to her new class in the Junior Department, a note was made that the little girl had never missed a Sunday. Once, when Alice had the measles, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Blackburn, took her to church early on Sunday. Her teacher met with her in the car, heard her memory verse and lesson, and took her offering. This prevented other children’s exposure to the measles and kept the perfect attendance record intact.

— The entire first day of the regular fall term of the Dougherty County Superior Court was tied up in divorce cases. One case was tossed for lack of jurisdiction and an additional 17 were heard. Decisions were as follows: Dismissed (2), First Verdict (8), Second Verdict (2) and Total Divorce (5).

— Noland Williamson, a notorious Georgia prison-breaker, was once again in custody, this time in Mitchell County. Found guilty of murder in Blakely at the age of 18, Williamson had gained freedom from the state penitentiary system six times in eight years.

— After just a couple of weeks in session, the Newton school was closed temporarily. A fourth-grade student came to school with an elevated temperature which was, soon after, diagnosed as scarlet fever.

— On Sept. 30, 1927, the Albany High Indians defeated the Ocilla Orphans 26-0.

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: a) Santa Claus was issued a pilot’s license (from the federal government).

FYI: Alka Seltzer (1931); Krispy Kreme (1937); Reader’s Digest (1922)