From Days Gone By March 31, 1916, 1917

March 31, 1916, 1917.

    1916- John Martin Huff, for 30 years, was owner and editor of The Wrightsville Headlight. He was born in Griffin, G.A. and died at his home here March 15th at age 72. He received a literary and musical education at Marshall College and entered the journalism field at a young age. Before the Headlight he worked at the Griffin Star and Daily News, was founder of Pike County News, also The Gazette and Messenger at Sandersville. He was then editor of the Southern-Appeal at Irwinton then came to Wrightsville in 1886 and bought the Headlight from J. M. Mason, then known as the Wrightsville Recorder. He changed the name to Wrightsville Headlight. For over 50 years he was in the newspaper business. He was always on the right side of all moral questions. He was, in the highest and best sense of the word, a gentleman, quiet, modest, retiring, unobtrusive.

    The new editor and proprietor of the Headlight is Charles D. Roundtree from Emanuel County where he had been in the paper business for 7 years. He was editor of the Graymont Hustler and then the Forest-Blade. He attended Nannie Lou Warthen College, he is 33 years old, married and has a son and a daughter.

1917- Dirt was broken this week for the 4 new stores across from Lovett's Garage with T. L. Chester contractor. Mr. Johnson will soon tearout the Linder Stables that have been there for 20 years. A driveway will extend clear around circling these stores.

    The Linder Mule & Horse Company purchased from J. Ed Tompkins the vacant lot between Lovett Hotel and the two-story brick building now occupied by Tompkins (Classy Cuts). Mr. J. E. Linder will begin erection of a one-story brick store house (Matthew Waters building) which he will sell buggies, wagons and hardware. The building will be 40 x 120. Wrightsville is definitely on a building boom.

    The banks released their statement of condition. Exchange Bank, $194,053.04; Bank of Wrightsville, $270,806.77; Citizens Bank of Kite, $81,125.87; Bank of Adrian, $79,304.21; Scott Banking Company, $60,249.58.

    The Grand Jury recommendations include a bridge across Smith Branch from Wrightsville to Bartow on the west side of Polly Price's. The road at Cheney's bridge be straightened, hills cut so loaded teams can travel without danger. A. G. Powell be re-appointed Notary Public for 1396 district. That sign boards put at each crossroad directing where they lead to and distance of miles. They also are to petition the legislature to change the county line between Johnson and Laurens from corner on Dublin road near the Lake place straight to mouth of Ford Creek, thence down the run of Buckeye Creek to the Oconee River.

    On March 16th the death angel took Mr. Verdie Tapley's little baby, then on the 17th called away his wife. Mrs. Tapley was the daughter of C. W. Claxton of Mississippi, but was raised by her uncle, Bennett Claxton, her mother dying when she was only 2 weeks old. She was a Baptist at the Kite church. She was buried at Sardis.

    Mr. W. R. Amason died Sunday night without warning in the Busy Bee Resturant here. He was born in Washington County but been living here the last 15 years. He was a member of the Christian church and buried in Westview.

    This morning Mrs. J. E. Page of Orianna died at  Hodges Sanitarium following an operation for appendicitis. She was the wife of Judge J. E. Page and survived by him, one child, her parents, and several brothers and sisters. She was 26 years old and the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. R. Jordan of Jefferson County. She was a Methodist and her remains were entombed in the mausoleum at Northview Cemetery in Dublin.