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100 years ago: ripped from the front page of the News Columbia was growing, with the report of two new cottages. The banks were stable. Education was pushing to the fore with the addition of several new teachers. But to neutralize the euphoria, the City budget had already sky skyrocketed to $700 a year, and a belled buzzard was the noise nuisance of its day.- CM. By Jim The front page of the May 29, 1912 News carried a rather eclectic array of items, a few of which might charitably be called news. Banks had very creditable statements The "very creditable statements" of three of Adair County's financial institutions took a fair amount of space. The Bank of Columbia reported resources/liabilities of $240,998.83, while the Farmer's Bank at Casey Creek boasted $40,052.14 and the Bank of Gradyville, $34,461.21. Bizarre news of a 'felon on a thumb' In the "bizarre news" department, the closing line of this entry takes an unexpected turn in the general direction of the twilight zone: Mr. Sandusky's attractive new cottage "Mr. W.H. Sandusky is to be congratulated on the good taste he has displayed in the neatness and conveniences of his residence now nearing completion in this city. It is one of the most attractive cottages in the town. At present Mr. Sandusky is a single man, and at this writing is suffering from a felon on his left thumb." And built another for Mr. Nathan Kelsey The following week, the News announced that Nathan Kelsey had "removed to the new cottage on the street leading to the Fair Grounds, and recently completed by Mr. W.H. Sandusky." Some months previous (early March), it was reported that S.D. Barbee had "sold his stock of groceries to W.H. Sandusky and Nathan Kelsey. The business will be conducted by the new firm, at the same stand, near the roller mill." There appeared no additional commentary about Mr. Sandusky's marital status or his felonious thumb. City budget was $700 a year The City of Columbia also had a quarterly report, for December 29th, 1911 through April 1st, 1912. Expenditures totaled just under seven hundred dollars, with some $225 going to the Columbia Lighting Co. for providing electricity and $66.50 to J. Will Walker. (No doubt any number of nay-sayers grumbled over the latter payment, as "all" Mr. Walker did to earn that tidy sum was to provide 55 loads of crushed rock, two loads of rough rock, and an unspecified amount of dirt. Other expenses included $1.20 for "Railing used at crossing of side-walk near Frank Sandusky," and thirty-six dollars to Rollin Hurt for one year's rent for a meeting place for the Town Board. Mr. Wheat's license to sell patent medicine helped municipal coffer Income for the city during the quarter came to $86.90 and included the ten dollars W.L. Wheat paid for a license to sell patent medicines within the corporate limits and the thirty bucks Columbia Entertainment Co. (the Parlor Circle movie theatre) shelled out for an entertainment license for 1912. Parlor Circle was showing great Titanic Disaster A blurb for the Parlor Circle announced that a moving picture about the great Titanic disaster would be shown on Friday night, May 31st, along with "2000 feet of other interesting pictures." ("2,000 feet" translates as about 20 minutes of showing time.) Admission was 15 cents for adults, one thin dime for kids. While the title of the movie wasn't given, the ad almost certainly refers to Saved From the Titanic, a highly fictionalized (and apparently quite cheesy) one-reel account of the sinking of that ship. Incredibly, this movie was released on May 12 or 14 (sources vary), 1912, only 28 or 30 days after the Titanic went down. Even more incredibly, the movie starred Dorothy Gibson, a survivor of that great tragedy. Hatcher correspondent suggests fleecing at Campbellsville theater The same movie showed in Campbellsville on Thursday night, May 30th, and elicited this tart-tongued review from the Hatcher, Taylor County, correspondent in the next edition of the Adair County News: "Several from this place attended a moving picture show at Campbellsville Thursday night. It represented the wrecking of the Titanic. The show was not at all creditable and many seem to think they were fleeced in a small way." (This was the first movie review ever published in the News.) Belled buzzard the noise nuisance of the day In the "even more bizarre news" department, Mr. S.W. Royse reported that a belled buzzard had been flying over his farm for a week or more and stated that "he would like for the owner to put it up, as the ringing of the bell brings about confusion, the farm hands not knowing when to come in for dinner." Earl Conover's mother-to-be received first class teaching certificate The teachers' examination had recently been administered in Adair County, and of the 57 who took the test, seven hopefuls -- Ila Epperson, Joe Calhoun, Nell Miller, Elbert Webb, Lula Royse, and Mary Pickett -- scored high enough to earn first class teaching certificates. Twenty-two others were awarded second class certificates, eleven received third class, and seventeen (30% of the group!) failed the exam. (A few years later, Miss Epperson would become the mother of World War II hero Earl M. Conover, and Nell Miller would become the mother of beloved Russell County physician Dr. Joe T. Pettey.) From the courtroom came news that the Sanders-Richardson case, "largely discussed at the time it occurred," had gone to trial, and that "The jury rendered a verdict for $5 and cost." The incident in question occurred on Thursday, September 7th, 1911, somewhere in the Green River country. Mrs. Zach Sanders had gone calling on Mrs. Nancy Richardson, "some hot words passed, and Mrs Sanders reached and got a rock, threw it, striking Mrs. Richardson on the head, cutting a severe gash." A doctor called to the scene pronounced her to be seriously injured, and that night, she suffered "several spasms." It was farther reported that both Mrs. Richardson, wife of Solomon Richardson, and Mrs. Sanders were highly regarded in the community. And on the business front, the Mercantile Association reported that Bargain Days in Columbia would be held again during in the month of June, date to be announced later, and that "rare bargains will be offered, besides other inducements..." The first such Bargain Days, held in May, had been pronounced a roaring success by merchants and shoppers alike. Many of the shoppers flocked to town, no doubt, to take advantage of the free screenings at the Parlor Circle. Compiled by Jim This story was posted on 2012-05-27 01:33:42
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Local History:
Old Church Bell guards another piece of Nazarene history Adair County Class of 1962 Members History: Farmers Bank of Cane Valley, Tampico Lodge JIM 100 Years ago: Columbia Graded & High, May 16, 1912 For LWC Graduation: 'Someday I must go back to Lindsey Hill' QUERY: Lebanon High School Class of 1963 Reunion Early Occupants of the Firestone/Arnold Building, 1898-1918 Cyrus / Columbia VFD saved the day- 1948 Brown Drug, Sandusky Fires Music History Bit: From Larry Smith Query: Wants to know where Hoover House is View even more articles in topic Local History |
 
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