From Days Gone By July 28, 1911

July 28, 1911. The steam shovel is now at work cutting down the grade on the W & T Railroad leading north from town. The officials of the railroad are sparing no money in the betterment of the road and substantial improvements are being made all along the line. The operation of the steam shovel is a very interesting sight and a novelty to many in this section. It is a "ponderous" machine, and the rapidity with which it removes dirt is amazing. I. R. Tanner is now in charge of the force who is grading the W. A. & L. Railroad. Supt. McKenzie is pushing the work as rapidly as possible and things are moving along well. The Rowland Merchantile Company, in spite of a dull season, is doing a big share of the trade. They have extended their business by establishing a branch store in the Kennedy block, next door to Peoples Hardware Co. (Bank of Wrightsville bldg). Staple and fancy groceries are sold with H. W. Kitchens general manager. Agreeable to a business deal recently made, the gin plant owned by the Dixie Oil and Cotton Co. has gone into the hands of Messers E. A. and W. H. Lovett, Jr. who are now sole owners. Partial new machinery has been installed, everything else has been overhauled leaving everything in perfect order when the ginning season opens. Farmers can carry their cotton to Lovett Ginnery and get prompt service with W. H. as manager. He is a safe, pains-taking young man who will deal fair and square with all. The city is having the pesky weeds dug up from the sidewalks in the residence portion and will cut some of the lower limbs of the shade trees which the good ladies will be thankful for. J. V. Snell is having his home on South Marcus street remodeled and enlarged. Ole Virge will soon have a very desirable home. Councilman E. T. Andrews is the first to bring an open cotton boll for this season. Will J. Raines brought in 8 peaches of the "cling-stone" variety. They were a product of a special tree he paid a fancy price for several years ago. W. D. Hatcher is ahead on big watermelons. He recently plucked one from his patch which weighed 65 pounds. Miss Maude Lou Sterling has been elected to the faculty of the high school at Doerun. Dr. Ford Ware received an appointment from Gov. Hoke Smith to attend the medical college at Augusta. A. F. Ware, president of Warthen College is sending out the 1911-12 annuals containing 24 annual sessions for the college. It contains photos of our public buildings, street scenes, etc and is tied with the college colors, Violet and Gold. It was published by printers, Foote & Davies of Atlanta. Miss Laura Daley is improving. Mr. W. J. Dent, Sr. is ill and owing to his advanced age and weak constitution, his condition is regarded as extremely critical. J. T. Blankenship, our popular dairyman, is able to be out again after a severe attack of mumps. Wade, the 6 year old son of Mr. & Mrs. J. D. Outlaw, died near Pringle after a short illness of tonsilitis. He was buried at Pleasent Hill. Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, widow of Rowan Williams died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Spell. She had been in poor health for some time and a few days before her death had a stroke of paralysis which hastened her taken away. She leaves her children, Rev. O. R., J. M., Willie and Mrs. Spell. In her younger days she lived a very active life. She raised 5 sets of children; two of her own and three for her sons and daughters. She was a faithful member of Arline's Chapel and was buried in the old family cemetery. The home of W. C. Tucker, in the southern part of Adrian, near the methodist church burned. The congregation was just being dismissed. The Tuckers left early that morning by train to their old home at Garfield to spend a few days. It was among the best buildings on that end of town and was the property of Capt. T. J. James. Most of Tuckers belongings were saved. The residences in that section are quite close together and with a stiff western breeze it took hard work by the citizens to save that portion of town. While bathing in the swimming pool at Idylwild Miss Thelma Harp came near drowning. Several were there but no one noticed she had ventured where the water was too deep. When noticed she was going under the third time. Messers. V. Chavous and G. H. Ware jumped in to save her as she went under a fourth time. They carried her out of the pool and with restoritive measures she regained conciousness. An interesting game of baseball was pulled off here between Pringle and Wrightsville. The score was 8 to 9 in our favor which shows that there was some expert playing on both sides.