MARY BRASWELL: Looking Back at February 121 years ago

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].

Loaded with advertising and news of all sorts, the pages of the February 1894 Daily Albany Herald reveal a good look at life during that time.

—The resignation of the Rev. E.B. Carroll from the First Baptist Church of Albany was presented and accepted. The news was one of regret and sadness for members, but Carroll had been called to the ministry at Vineville Baptist Church near Macon.

— A large general store in Leesburg was destroyed by fire. The owner, L.B. Lipsy, estimated the loss at $8,000 with a fire insurance policy of only $4,000. The cause of the blaze was not known.

— Merchant S.B. Brown in Albany purchased an inventory at a bankruptcy sale and was passing along great savings to customers. Among the bargains: business suits — $8.50 to $10, overcoats — $5 – $14.50, wool blankets — $1.50 to $2.50. An assortment of table linens, hosiery, underwear and more was available at “prices heretofore unknown in Albany.”

— Sheriff Edwards reported that he and Deputy Godwin had five or six of the most intractable prisoners that he had ever seen. The men were frequently chained in the jail’s dungeon, but even that did not seen to dampen their penchant for pure meanness.

— News came that the Smithville depot destroyed by fire would be rebuilt. The railroad stated that Smithville was of too great of an importance to let it go along without a depot.

— Muse Cox & Co. offered a 15 percent discount of all merchandise paid for in cash on the spot.

— A warrant was sworn and a man arrested for not paying his bill at the Albany Inn. A telegraph to the man’s wife requesting the debt be paid was returned with a message that she did not have the funds to cover the $12.40.

— So crowded were the legislative chambers in Atlanta as a debate concerning tariffs was under way that pickpockets had a hay-day. From observers to lawmakers, a great number of wallets and pocket watches came up missing.

— An ordinance was passed by the City Council and mayor that any person in violation of any city ordinance would be charged $1 for confinement in the city barracks or guard house, and 30 cents every day thereafter until released.

— The many friends of Col. Thomas W. Fleming of Baker County were pained to hear of his illness. He was first prostrated by an attack of the grip, which was followed by pneumonia. A few editions later, it was announced that the good Col. Thomas was not to recover.

— Located near the Police Barracks, owner Charley Ong Lung of the City Chinese Laundry guaranteed first-class handwork and satisfaction of all laundry details.

— When asked about a pig hanging outside Rawlins meat market, it was disclosed that the pig, at just one year and 11 days old, weighed 207 net pounds. The price of hogs was a strong 6 cents per pound to the farmer.

— A lively scrapping match down in Sandy Bottom led to one man being jailed for striking the other across the head with a guitar.

— The Smithville Enterprise was considered one of the sprightliest weekly papers in the state under the leadership of Editor Blanton.

— A group of eight or so men went across the river to the Crossland place dove shooting. While an exact number of birds taken was unavailable, it “was not stretching the blanket much” to say the party killed between 200 and 300 birds.

— Street Overseer Coffey was accomplishing much work in Albany, as he had on hand a good group of extra workers. The increased crew was a result of arrests of ablebodied men who did not to pay their street taxes.

— An opera in one act was performed to benefit the Presbyterian Church. “Trial by Jury” was well-attended and a consensus labeled the performance as the best amateur show ever seen in Albany.

— New maps of Albany, the most complete to date, showed Arcadia to be a fast-growing suburb of the city. At least two more houses were soon to begin construction.

— A citizens’ meeting was held at the Court House for anyone interested in procuring a local telephone company. With the monopoly by Bell Telephone having expired, the belief was that the cost could possibly be reduced by two-thirds if a local company were to step in.

— Citizens of Isabella in Worth County purchased a 180-pound bell to be used by the churches there. It was expected that the bell would be placed on a tower and used jointly by the two churches of that community.

— A proposed ordinance to demand bars in the city close at 10 p.m. failed to pass the City Council. Saturday closing would remain the same at midnight but on all other days bars could remain open 24 hours a day if desired.

— A lively football game was played on Broad Street between six Irish men and six Jewish men. Soon, nearly everyone on the street took a turn at kicking the ball and provided entertainment for a full half hour. No winner was declared.

— The Albany Renting Association was organized. The object of the organization was to protect property owners from unscrupulous tenants who often moved after one or two months rather than pay the rent owed.

— A group of boys from Albany Academy called upon the county Board of Education for signatures declaring George Washington’s birthday a school holiday. The boys got their wish and no classes were held on Feb. 22.

— Georgia’s lawmakers passed a bill providing for the admission of women to the State Normal School in Athens. Also passed was a bill making making private the execution of criminals.

QUIK QUIZ ANSWER:

a) 30 cents per hundred