MARY BRASWELL: Looking Back at 100 years of Marches | QUIK QUIZ

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].

Here is a look back at news from the month of March across the last 100 years.

1915

— Mayor H.A. Tarver ordered a rigorous crusade against vagrancy in Albany. The demand for farm labor was reason enough for the idle men of the city to get to work.

— A brand new impound lot was established at the corner of Front and Commerce (now Oglethorpe) Streets for housing stray mules, horses, cows and sheep.

1917

— Poles were placed at City Hall and Albany’s two grammar schools so that the American flag could fly over those buildings.

1920

— The International Health Board recommended that Albany spend an estimated $6,000 on malaria control. Included in that budget was 10,000 gallons of oil to be spread across the water in sinkholes and ponds to control mosquitoes.

1926

— The sale of lots in the 0Avalon subdivision was beyond all expectation of Hilsman and Tift Inc. Until April 1, when the prices would be advanced, inside lots were $600 and corner lots were $650. Each lot had a 70-foot frontage and extended back 150 feet to the alley.

1939

— With insufficient funds from the state to operate Mitchell County schools for a full nine months, local officials stepped in to help. The County Commission loaned the school system $13,000 and teachers took a reduction of 15 percent in pay for the eighth and ninth month. Mitchell County entered 1939 debt-free and levied no new or increased taxes.

1942

— Albany Exchange National Bank — “the bank with the chiming clock” — asked citizens to remember the following prayer each time they heard the chimes: “Lord, through this hour, be Thou our guide, so by Thy power, no foot shall slide.”

1944

— Items that were restricted because of the need for steel for war purposes began a slow return to American consumers. Among those items were refrigerators, washing machines, alarm clocks, bed springs, hair pins and office furniture.

1946

— The March term of the grand jury called for the consolidation of Albany and Dougherty County governments. The recommendation was made with the belief that services would improve for all residents.

1949

— The lunchroom at Blakely Union School was a source of much pride. Sponsored by the Ella Jones PTA, the lunchroom was debt-free and self-sustaining. The kitchen featured an electric dishwasher, and a 9-foot-long, 3-foot-high sneeze guard of shatterproof glass was on order for the food line. Lunches featured hot food and cold drinks for 15 cents each.

— Club Paramount, Albany’s finest supper club, was open nightly (except Sundays) on Leesburg Road. Entertainment was provided by Freddie Cook and his orchestra.

1953

— Bids were being accepted for the construction of a new 40,450-square-foot civilian cafeteria on the installation at the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies.

— For sale: three bedroom house at 1109 Sixth Ave. with a tile bath, near schools. Financed, no closing costs, $1,700 will handle.

1962

— A two-day, around-the-clock telethon was held in Albany to benefit the Chapel of All Faiths to be built at the State Hospital at Milledgeville. Lots of local talent, from singers to dancers to baton twirlers, were set to entertain. A couple of “big TV names” on the schedule included Bob Fuller of “Laramie” and Bruce Yarnell of “The Outlaws.”

— Leary’s telephone service was expanded, allowing for residents to call Albany and Arlington without going through a long-distance operator.

1968

— Mike Moran and John Salter became the first two basketball players to sign grant-in-aid scholarships with Albany Junior College. The two were standouts from the Albany High School Indians.

— Playing at the Albany Theater downtown was Walt Disney’s “The Jungle Book.” Admission was $1.25 for adults and 60 cents for children.

1976

— Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter told the National Association of Record Merchandisers that Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead and Led Zeppelin were among those who inspired him when he worked late as governor of Georgia.

1977

— The Albany Water, Gas & Light Commission cut electricity rates by an average of 18 percent. Varying somewhat on usage, summer rates were to see 20-21.5 percent reduction, while winter rates would drop by an average of 14 percent.. The lower rates were made possible by WG&L joining the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia.

— Davis Bros. Cafeteria featured an all-you-can-eat special from 5 p.m. until closing Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant, located at 714 Oglethorpe Blvd., offered unlimited boiled shrimp, corn on the cob and tossed green salad for $4.99.

1982

— An Albany man was found guilty in the largest case of fraud against the state welfare system in Georgia’s history. The majority of the over $40,500 came from ineligible medical assistance while smaller amounts were from public assistance and food stamps.

1985

— For the first time in the company’s 99-year history, Avon representatives began receiving a salary. Previously, the Avon Lady worked strictly on commission.

1990

— The Albany Police Department would soon begin implementation of new rules for domestic violence calls. Instead of issuing a summons, if the violence was apparent to officers responding to such a call, the perpetrator would be arrested on the spot. Pleas from a victim and/or promises that it would never happen again no longer would be accepted. Domestic violence henceforth was considered an altercation with anyone sharing a household as well as ex-spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends.