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Around the Square: February 9, 1910 by Jim Deaths, church services, and sales (real estate, personal property, and livestock) seemed to fill the front page of the News in the edition dated five-score years ago today (February 9, 1910). However, bits of other news and a number of "announcements" managed to creep in, several of which dealt with goings-on around and near the Square. One item involved a soon-to-opened business: "The interior of the Jones building, the one Mr. Frank Sinclair will occupy, has been repainted and some other necessary work has been done. Mr. Sinclair will commence opening goods in a few days." This possibly refers to one of the buildings Judge W.W. Jones had erected in1898. If so, it most likely could lay claim as the first gas-lit house of commerce on the Square. The October 26, 1898 News reported that "Mr. Moore, plumber, finished his work at Judge Jones' buildings last week. Lights from all the jets were turned on, affording a brilliancy never before witnessed in the business houses in Columbia." The building to which Mr. Sinclair was moving was the one recently vacated by Russell & Co. The latter-named mecca of merchandising had been moved days earlier to a brand new "handsome business house," erected by Mr. J.O. Russell, located on the Isenburg Corner of the Square. (More on this in a later column.) Mr. Sinclair's advert in the News the following week announced the opening of a variety store and his pledge to "endeavor to funish goods to my Customers at the lowest price." Among his stock of goods were men's clothing and "Matting, Ingrain and Granite Carpets... 12 1/2 to 50c per yard." A "card" from Wyatt Smith, Jr., announced the opening of "a harness and saddle repairing shop in a room adjoining W.H. Wilson's store." Another brief entry mentioned that Mr. Smith had ten years experience in harness making and repair. A painful accident was also reported: "Erastus Sutton, who drives a cart for Sandusky & Co., got badly hurt one day last week. The cart was loaded with lumber, and young Sutton alighted from the cart to open a gate, the horse bolting. The boy grabbed the lines and was jerked to the ground and considerably hurt about the hands body." An announcement headlined "Undertaker's Business" informed readers that Mr. J.F. Triplett had disposed of his interest in the grocery business to his (former) partner, Mr. Geo. H. Wilson, but that he (Mr. Triplett) would "continue to run a[n undertaker's] shop at the same place and...keep on hand a full supply of caskets, coffins, and robes;" that he could "fill a call on short notice;" and that he could "furnish a hearse with safe driver." Mr. Triplett's undertaking business was on the second floor of the building. An ad for Triplett & Wilson's Grocery the previous December had promised "A complete stock of fresh Groceries always at hand. Prompt delivery to your door. Give us a call and let us convince you." Almost a decade earlier, the November 14, 1900 News carried and ad for "(W.C.) Murrell & (J.F.) Triplett, Funeral Directors and Embalming," located over Jackman's Harness and Saddlery Shop. Mr. T.G. Rasner also had a front page "card," touting that "The Columbia Steam Laundry can now do your collars, cuffs and shirts as neatly as any other place in the entire country..." The Laundry had opened mid-decade. The October 18, 1905 edition reported that "The Columbia Steam Laundry is now running full blast--another feather in Columbia's business cap." The following week, an ad noted the telephone number was 43 and that the business was run by "Hurt Bros. & Shreve, Props." The original location of the Laundry wasn't noted, but in March 1906 it was moved to the Campbellsville Pike. W.H. Gill and Edwin Hurt were the proprietors but shortly thereafter, Mr. John Wallace took Mr. Hurt's place. By late 1907, the aforementioned Mr. Rasner was running the business, and the April 29,1908 News somewhat drily remarked that the laundry "had two beginings, and two endings before Mr. Rasner took charge." In February or March, 1909, Mr. Rasner removed the business to a newly constructed building on his property on what was then called Bomar (or Boomer) Heights and is now known as Jamestown Hill. This strange little item appeared at the very bottom of the seventh (of eight) columns on the front page: "The town may again be lighted some time next week." The explanation had appeared in the previous edition of the News. A few weeks earlier, Prof. A.H. Ballard had purchased from Mr. W.R. Myers his (Myers') interest in the Electric Light Plant, Mr. Myers having founded the business some five years earlier. The February 2 News had reported that "Messrs. Ballard & Murrell, the owners of the Electric Light Plant, will buy new machinery and the location will be moved. They have bought the lot near the Square, formerly used by Payne & Co... They will buy a new dynamo and engine and everything else that will be necessary to make first class light... While this change is being made the town will be dark, but it will only be for a period of twenty-five or thirty days... The old dynamo is out of commission, having ceased to work Friday night about 9 o'clock." "Next week" proved to be rather optimistic, but the March 9th edition dutifully reported that "The people of Columbia were very much gratified when the electric lights again come on after the town had been in darkness for six weeks." The article ended, as was the wont and custom of the times, with a dash of editorial comment: "We hope those who are not taking lights will apply for them at once. It is an enterprise that must be supported, an enterprise that the business men and citizenship generally cannot do without." And finally, this tidbit pertaining to the then-upcoming 1910 census, buried on page 5: "There were thirty-two applicants for examination as to their qualifications for enumerator before [Postmaster] J.N. Coffey, last Saturday." A notice had appeared in the previous week's edition, advising that the exam would be held at the Columbia Post Office on Saturday, February 5th, from one to four o'clock. The notice also sternly warned that "Applicants will govern themselves accordingly." This story was posted on 2010-02-09 09:43:21
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. (AD) - Many Reunion organizing efforts are also advertised in our REUNIONS category in our CM Classifeds. These are posted at a very low cost. See RATES & TERMS More articles from topic Local History:
Farm owner wants more information on Pioneer Cemetery designation Query: Where is Stephen White Cemetery? A fire, a sensational court trial was big news 100 years ago 100 years ago: New keeper of the clock instructed to use standard time Jim finds 1901 Christmas Colic poem by Dr. Jones Christmas Reflections, Adair County News, 1909 100 Years Ago: News from Around Adair Co., KY First Barber Shop in the Conover Hotel 1898 Enjoyed photos submitted by D. Roy Dykes of Young Mill Genealogy workshop at KY History Center, Sat., Nov. 7, 2009 View even more articles in topic Local History |
 
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