From Days Gone By April 30,1914

April 30,1914.     At 12:40 am, Monday, the fire alarm was sounded when it was discovered that the Wrightsville ginnery was on fire. The fire department responded promtly but the fire had gained to much headway, the gins and presses were almost totally destroyed. The engine, boiler and seed houses were not harmed at all. The firemen deserved much credit for saving so much property.     The ginnery is owned by E. A. and W. H. Lovett, and valued at about $6,000, with insurance to the amount of $2,500. An order for new equipment has already been placed. The origin of the fire was unknown.     Mr. W. A. Mixon made a business trip to Swainsboro in Mr. J. T. Miller's auto. Mr. Mixon reports some nice improvements in and around the 'boro with several brick buildings are going up. He also stated as they passed through Kite he saw a nice two-story brick building nearing completion, the property of Mr. J. M. Neal.     Mrs. J. D. Martin residing on corner of Myrtle and Tribly street just received a fresh coat of paint on her home by Mr. Ed Blankenship. Messers. Oscar Kennedy and Jack Robinson have both invested in pretty Ford cars and the number of "motors" now in Wrightsville is up in the hundreds.     Mrs. Pompey Flanders who had been visiting Mrs. Nat Wheeler on Belvue Avenue for several weeks had the misfortune to break her ankle while here and is yet unable to walk. Rev. Flanders returned her to their home in Kite.     Mrs. J. G. Brantley has received information that her brother, Mr. Joe H. Holmes who has visited Wrightsville is a member of the Governors Guards of Beaumont, Texas and is now with his command on the border of Texas and Mexico.     In the Spann area the weather is dry and the farmers are busy chopping cotton.. Mr. Eli Bland lost a mule Saturday night and has another one sick. The flower gardens of Wrightsville are all a-bloom with roses, some with sweet peas of many beautiful colors, and other fragrant spring flowers to delight those who enjoy natures gift.    The death of Col. Lee Warthen which occured at his home in Sandersville last week,and for whose neice Warthen College was named, removes one of the oldest, most prominent and wealthest citizens of that town and county. He leaves an entire estate of over a quarter of a millon which goes to his bachelor brother, George D. Warthen. He was also a stockholder and director of the Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad.

From Days Gone By April 23, 1914

April 23,1914.     The picnic season was opened at Idylwild on last Friday under a new regime for the coming season. Messers. Herbert Sanders and R. Z. Sterling are the lessees of this famous pleasure resort, the location of which is quite advantageous for all "outings" and picnic parties. It is owned by the Wrightsville and Tennille Railroad on which road it is beautifully situated and kept in excellent condition.     Messers. Sterling and Sanders will endeavor to make Idylwild more inviting this season than ever before with many new attractions. The bathing and swimming pool, the skating rink, the diamond on which to cross bats, the tennis court are all in good order and with beautiful shade, fine artesian water, plenty of "soft drinks" to quence your thirst and last but not least, the ever flowing Ohoopee in which to angle, all wait your coming.     The egg hunt given Easter Eve by little Misses Lila Maud and Sara Lovett had quite a number in attendance. Over four dozen eggs which had been hand painted by Miss Louise Lovett, a pupil in art at Warthen College were hid at the park near their home. The prize egg was found by little Miss Elizabeth Cook, and she was awarded the large candy egg on which sat a miniature "tot", with a "nursing bottle".     The debate between McRae and Warthen was a most creditable event. The event was won for Warthen College by Grady Shearouse and Morris Webb.     Mr. Emmett Butterly who is in the drug business in Louisville visited his homefolks here. He says he is pleased with the success of his business there. Miss Rowena Daley accompanied by her brothers Fred and Comer Daley left for Atlanta and will spend a week attending the Grand Opera.     Mr. R. Z. Sterling who has been dealing in stock in Eastman has returned to Wrightsville and is occupying apartments with his daughters, Mrs. Leon Lovett and Miss Edith Sterling at Mrs. J. F. Norris. Mrs. J. W. Brinson, Sr., Mr. & Mrs. J. W. Brinson, Jr., and Mrs. Elizabeth Lovett motored to Milledgeville to visit the State Sanitorium, their car was driven by Laudus Lovett. En route home they visited Fern Crest Dairy at Sandersville, and also friends at Tennille.     Mr. J. R. Brinson died unexpectedly at his home near Kemp last Saturday. He was in Swainsboro the day before and seemed alright. He was at the supper table and was taken seriously ill and died early Saturday morning of paralysis. He was a resident in Emanuel for many years, and once lived near Louisville in Jeffereson County. Mr. Brinson left a large family connection. Capt. D. D. Brinson, Dr. J. W. Brinson of Wrightsville, and Dr. G. R. Brinson of Waycross are brothers. He had one sister, Mrs. G. D. Outlaw. Internment took place near Louisville at the family burying ground in Pine Hill Cemetery.

From Days Gone By April 16, 1914

April 16, 1914.     The Farmers Bank is the name of a near business enterprise for Wrightsville. It is in an embryo state but is fast approaching complete and permanant organization. Several thousand dollars stock has already been subscribed; there are strong, good men behind this prospective new financial project. The new bank will occupy the handsome quarters of the old First National Bank, which building, furniature, fixtures, etc. were recently bought by Mr. J. T. Fulford.     Ordinary J. C. Wiggins has recently had some splendid work done on the road near town, leading from Wrightsville to Tennille, the stretch between B. E. Jordan and H. J. Young. City Marshal Lovett Claxton has also been making some substantial improvements on some of the city roads.     Mr. J. T. Fulford is having a 12 x 15 dining room added to his home on corner of Elm and Valley streets. Jno. M. Meeks is the contractor. Mr. James Hawkins a former well-known citizen here recently joined the ranks of the benedicts and is now a citizen of Dublin and has a nice little business there.     The faculty, pupils, patrons and friends of Warthen College will have their annual picnic tomorrow at Idylwild, the beautiful pic nic grounds of the W. & T. Railroad. This will mark the opening season at this famous resort. There will be fishing, baseball and other sports with plenty of dinner. The "Mary Ann Williams Chapter", U.D.C. of Sandersville has invited Dr. Bascom Anthony to make the memorial address on April 26th.     Manager Frank Jackson of the Vivola Theatre held a Fiddler's Contest and it was a blooming success. There were four entries namely, Messers. Layton, Lord, Mills and Brantley. There was offered three prizes $5, $2.50, and $1. Mr. J. M. Layton won first prize, Mr. Foster Mills, second; Mr. F. C. Lord, third. The judges were Lovett Claxton, John Ausburn, Jim Hall, and Tom Stephens.     The Wrightsville team will cross bats with Tennille at Idylwild at the annual pic nic. The Tennille team says they are in fine trim and are coming down to mop up us on this occasion.. The local team is confident of victory and claim if Tennille wins it will be the battle of their lives. Wrightsville's team has invested $140 in uniforms and ordered $25 worth of equipment.     The children of the Lovett Consolodated High School had Easter excercises Friday afternoon, after which they enjoyed an easter egg hunt at which there were 385 eggs hid in the wiregrass around the school house, of which 200 or more were found by the egg hunters in attendance.

From Days Gone By April 9,1914

April 9,1914.     Fred Daley and Shellman Martin, two of Wrightsville's expert ball players, went to Cordele on Tuesday to play in a match game between Eastman and Cordele. Daley and Martin will play for Eastman and according to the paper, "Eastman will win".     Mr. R.E. Lanier who resides near Harrison brought to town the largest hen egg they ever saw. It measured six and one quarter inches in circumference and seven and one half inches around lengthwise. This mammoth egg was laid by an ordinary chicken hen.     The Johnson County Singing Convention will convene with Pleasent Hill Church in Washington County on Saturday and Sunday, 11th and 12th. Mr. Henry Tharpe went to Atlanta Monday to take the public examination for a Civil Service position of a departmental clerk.     H.C. Tompkins has sold his residence on West Elm Street to J. E. Tompkins and has also sold his stock of groceries on the south west corner, F. A. Sinquefield being the purchaser.     Mr. J.W. Linder and family of Higgston came over to Wrightsville in their automobile and spent the day with Mrs. Roxann Outlaw who is critically ill. She is the aged mother of Mrs. Linder. Mrs. Susie Hightower was critically ill at her home in West Elm Street with acute indigestion. Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Folsome of Dublin announced the birth of a daughter on April 6th, weighing 10 lbs named Joyce.     On March 30th at the home of Mrs. Walden at Spann, Mr. W. O. Spurgeon and Miss Lizzie Lee Walden were happily married. He is the agent of the Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad at Cadwell.     Mr. and Mrs. R. F. DeLamar of Hawkinsville announced the engagement of their daughter, Zoe Lathrop, and Dr. Allen Robert Rozar of Macon. The wedding planned for June 3rd. The groom resided in Wrightsville several years ago and was a Warthen College student.

From Days Gone By April 2,1914

April 2, 1914.     The Grand Jury submitted its presentments for the March Term of Superior Court. It was recomended that Bryant Daley be changed from $2 per month instead of $4, and that Mrs. B.H. Pope be took off the county list. Others on the Paupers List were Susan Killebrew, Georgia Ann Fennel, Sidney Axton, Hettie Tapley, Till Price, Mrs. Clara Cox, Mrs. E.L. Pryor's children, Julia Patterson, colored; Emiline Cooper, colored.     In the convict camp was 35 convicts, 5 white and 30 colored. The public road from Donovan to Cedar Grove Church is in very bad condition, especially the Cedar Creek bridge. It is recommended that a short bridge be built across Swains Creek between Gumlog and Tom. Mr. J.B. Williams was recomended to the Board of Education.     Adrian citizens want attention to their community. It was recomended to finish claying the Wrightsville and Adrian road from where left off, at Mrs. J.T. Rowland's place direct into Adrian.     All of the practicing physicians of Johnson County with the exception of 2 or 3 met the 25th at the office of Dr. J. W. Brinson for the purpose of organizing a Medical Association to be known as The Johnson County Medical Association. Elected President, Dr. P. B. Bedingfield; V. P. Dr. Harrison of Kite; Secretary & Treasurer, Dr. J. G. Brantley.     W. C. "Chan" Brinson announced he is running for the General Assembly as representative. Mr. & Mrs. John F. Mayo of Stevens, GA announced the birth of a son on March 20th, named John F. Mayo, Jr. Mr. Neut Watkins and wife of Pringle have moved to the cottage of Judge Faircloth on East Elm Street.     Mrs. J. G. Brantley took her kindergarten class of 11 for a drive in her Grand Prize car to Idylwild. Mr. W. C. Tompkins just received one of the handsomest cars in town. It is a Cartercar, which are noted for their superb mechanism and smooth driving. The Florida Special is scheduled to carry the Confederate Veterans to the Reunion in Jacksonville on May 5th. The Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad is working in conjunction with the Southern Railway for this occasion.     On the sick list this week is Miss Clyde Lanier with tonsilitis and Jimmie Allen with tubercolosis. On last Sunday afternoon Miss Zada Snell and Mr. E.J. Sumner were united in marriage. The groom accompained by his fiancee were enjoying a pleasant drive in his car on the public highway, and when near the home of Mr. C. J. Smith, the party accidentally, or "intentionally" met Rev. Wainwright who married them while they sat in the car. She was a daughter of Mr. C. H. C. Snell.