From Days Gone By August 25,1911

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August 25, 1911.
On monday afternoon, about 5:30, a terrific downpour of rain and hail,
accompanied by severe wind and vivid lightning came very suddenly. In the midst
of it all came a fire alarm and the volunteer company responded promptly to the
home of M. M. Davis on Belmont Ave. Chief Starling discovered no fire but
considerable damage to the roof where lightning had entered and passed out near
the rear of the house. The family was absent at the time or possibly one or all
would have been killed. Mrs. J. R. Wilson who was standing on the front porch
next door was shocked so badly that a doctor was summoned. The rain was falling
in torrents but the firemen did their duty bravely.
This electric storm also did considerable damage to Warthen College. Ten or
more of the heavy plate glass windows were shattered by the wind, and also the
glass panels in the outside doors. Besides the loss of these, the interior was
exposed to the heavy rain. The storm came from the southeast and passed rapidly
over the city.
Warthen College will open September 5th. The college stands for all that is
pure, holy and good. Character, culture and purity of home life, for God and
Christian religion. The school and the home should stand together.
W. C. Tompkins is having a second story added to the First National Bank
building(Johnson Journal), which will be a fine addition. It will contain
several offices, well lighted and ventalated and equipped with all conviences.
Contractor Chester will do the work. The W. A. & L. Railroad Construction
Company contracted with the Glenn County Construction Company of Virginia to
negotiate the sale of thier first morgage bonds, and to construct the road from
Lyons to Wrightsville. Active work with a large force of hands in the next 30
days it is hoped that trains will be running from here to Lyons by early spring.
The state Chamber of Commerce, traveling in the state car will be in
Wrightsville at an early date. The businessmen of the city are encouraged to
give them a rousing welcome.
After an illness of 2 days of malarial fever, Herschel Wood, the 11 year old
son of Mr. & Mrs. M. B. Wood died at the home of Mr. J. M. Outlaw near Moores'
Chapel. He was buried at Westview with Rev. Pompey Flanders officiating. Rev. B.
H. Ivey died at his home in Warrenton and was buried at Tennille his death due
to appopllexy and was very sudden. He was at one time the preacher of the
Baptist church here.
Mr. B. J. James, a naval stores manufacturer of Ennis was in the city
attending city court. White Wheeler, a "live wire" farmer of Kite was here too.
Prof. Paul Bryan left for Conneticut to Yale College. Miss Wylantie Hicks moved
her millinery stock to Vickers & Williams store. Hon. & Mrs. E. L. Stephens
announced the birth of a daughter on August 15th. Mr. W. J. Dent, Sr. is up
again after several weeks of severe illness. Frank Jackson has been named
associate editor of the Wrightsville Chronicle. L. J. Pournell files for divorce
from his wife Esther Pournell.
J. T. Ferguson asks how long the citizens of Wrightsville will continue to
spend $800 to $1000 each year on the streets. The work each year only gets
washed away. This is our home,and the home of our children after we are dead and
gone. When we work our streets it should not be temporary. The money spent this
year should benefit us next year. Why not have our streets paved with brick or
stone each year as far as the money for that year will pave it?
Mr. A. H. McRae, staff correspondant to the Industrial Index is here
preparing a write up of Wrightsville & the agricultural and horticultural
resources of the county. He says that no town of its class in the state has
shown greater progress in commercial and industrial growth than Wrightsville and
he predicts continued expansion that will attract capital and people.
An epidemic of cholera among hogs is raging seven miles east of Wrightsville.
Already fifty or more fine ones are dead and the list is growing each day.