From Days Gone By July 28, 1932

 July 28, 1932.

    W. C. and Quincy Carter of the Spann Community, charged with assault to murder at the free for all fight at Idylwild, which Allie Fountain and Cleo Dismuke were hospitalized, have been released on bond of $500 each. Dismuke is healing at home and Fountain just released. He received several stabs in the abdomen requiring a blood transfusion.

    Harvey Foskey of Scott, is in jail on a charge of assualt to murder and officers are seeking his father and another son on similar charges in an altercation in which J. J. Harrison, Jr. was injured.

    From a law-abiding standpoint, Georgia was worse off in 1931 than the year before. Nineteen out of every one thousand persons of the State were committed to jail, an increase of seven percent. Whites were ten percent higher while blacks were only five percent.

    Records compiled at Tuskegee Institute show only five lynchings in the first six months of 1932, the same as 1931. In 1922, ten years earlier, thirty were lynched in the first six months. During the first six months of 1932, officers prevented thirteen lynchings, eleven in the southern states. Of the persons lynched, two were white and three black. The charges ranged from rape, murder, threatening murder and dynamiting a store.

    Friday afternoon a severe gale hit portions of the county and some very heavy damage reported. At Rehobeth Church, where a revival meeting was in progress, Mr. J. B. Wombles and family went down in a two-mule wagon. He unhitched the mules and tied them to seperate trees. When the cloud came with a lot of thunder and sharp lightening hit one of the trees and killed both mules on the spot. Other parts of the county heavy winds did damage to growing crops.

    Mr. Herbert Sanders lost a very valuable mule last Sunday, being struck by a hit and run driver the night before near Idylwild. The mule was being driven home by Jessie Jones, negro farmer on Mr. Sanders place, when the car struck the animal, injuring it and wrecking the wagon. Jones escaped injury and drove the mule home where it died the next morning. The driver stepped on the gas after the accident and has not been found yet.

    Mr. & Mrs. J. O. Dalton announces the marriage of their daughter, Dorothy Naomi to Mr. Lethard S. Freeman of Milledgeville. She was a graduate of Wrightsville High School.

    The city was saddened Tuesday by the death of the young man, Mr. Earl Layton after a short illness due to malarial fever. He was stricken last week on an Ogeechee River fishing trip. He was 20 years old, a promising football and baseball athlete. He lived here all his life, his father being the late J. M. Layton who was Coroner at the time of his death. Surviving are his mother, brother Minton, sister Ora Lee. He was buried at Union Hill.

From Days Gone By July 21, 1932

 July 21, 1932.

    A fire of an undetermined origin, but believed to have resulted from a live wire or short circuit, totally destroyed the home of Mr. L. E. Parker early Thursday morning. Mrs. Parker and some of the children were in Athens while Mr. Parker and the other children were staying at relatives in the county. The blaze was discovered around 2 am by Mr. B. B. Tanner, but it had gained such headway that the house was engulfed in flames. Tanner went into the house but was forced out by the flames before he could save anything other than the porch furniture. The damage was estimated by Parker at upwards of $5,000, partially covered by insurance. He has not decided yet to rebuild. At present he occupys the home of H. L. Fulford.

    Another disasterous blaze occured Friday about noon when the home of Mr. L. E. Vanlandingham, near Brantley's Chapel, burned to the ground, originating from a flying spark. He had just returned from town and saw the fire when it started, but before he could get help the building was almost entirely in flames. He had just recently removed his meat and lard from the smokehouse to a side room in the house and it also burned. He was partially covered by insurance. At present he and his family are living in another home on his farm.

    Throughout the summer months, the city's three churches will unite in union services on Sunday nights. The usual morning services will continue to be at each church. Miss Miriam Cook, daughter of Mrs. J. M. Cook, has been elected music teacher of the Kite Consolidated School. The Headlight is now in its 48th year.

    On June 10th, relatives and friends assembled at Rehobeth to celebrate the anniversary of Elizabeth Garnto. She has reached her 91st birthday. Her sister, Mrs. M. M. Stephens will be 96 next February 21st. Another celebration was that of Mrs. Julia Loyd, a sister of the late Isham and Henry Stephens. She turned 90 at the home of Mr. Andrew Loyd near Meeks. Also Mr. J. W. Bailey turned 76 with a gathering at his home near Moore's Chapel with 9 children, 35 great grandchildren and 1 great, great present. A family reunion was held at the home of Mr. & Mrs. D. J. Turner in the eastern part of the county. Mrs. Turner turned 56.

    Sweet potatoes have been moving from Kite for the past two weeks at prices that have satisfactory and profitable to the growers. For the third consecutive year the Kite community has shipped the first new potatoes to the Atlanta market. A truck is now leaving for High Point, N. C. loaded with 200 bushels of the tubers.

    The state highway system at present comprises 8,018 miles, of which 1,000 miles added in the last six months. During 1930 and 1931, the state paved 600 miles per year.

    Savannah Beach, more familarly known to native Georgians as Tybee, is rapidly regaining that popularity which the old Tybee enjoyed in its heyday, the depression to the contrary notwithstanding: The business section which was destroyed by fire has been rebuilt and visitors will find a clean, attractive resort awaiting them on their vacation. However, there is an objectionable feature and that is a 25 cent assesment charged all cars entering the beach as a parking priviledge. Many want this eliminated. It may serve a good purpose but it leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of those who have to wait in a line of autos more than a block long just to pay two bits to enter the park. A warning may be approprately issued to motorists from this section to the beach that there is no stock law in Emanuel and Bulloch Counties, or if there is, the law is not enforced and cows and hogs travel the highway at will, day and night, thus forming a dangerous hazard to speeding travelers

From Days Gone By July 14, 1932

 July 14, 1932.

    Allie Fountain and Cleo Dismuke are rapidly recovering from a midnight cutting at Idylwild on July 4th, and two men, Quincy Carter and W. C. Carter are in jail under warrants for assualt with attempt to murder. This growing out of the break of peace between a number of young men of the Spann section at the end of a "square dance" at the resort on Independence night.

    The young man, Dismuke, was able to be brought home Monday afternoon by his father from the Claxton Hospital in Dublin. He is doing ok, and unless complications arise he will get all right soon. The more serious and dangerously wounded, Allie Fountain, is yet in same hospital and has quite a struggle to get this far alive. He is recovering as rapidly as could be expected given his injuries. The other wounded boys are getting along all right and their injuries are rapidly healing up.

    No further steps have been taken in the matter at this time. However, Rev. C. S. Martin of Kite doesen't see it this lightly. He writes: "The late affair at Idylwild, with four or five casualties, one or two desperate at this writing, calls for public scrutiny. I have heard no good reports of that resort. One has said it is a place where the "idle go wild". I know this, get bad licker inside a sorry whiteman and he'll debauch your girl. Get any kind of licker in a whiteman, and he'll kill or be killed. Fellow citizens, think of the sorrow, suffering, personal and court costs attendant upon such forays as that at the above named place lately.

    If you love your daughter and son keep them away from such places, especially at night. I don't care how decent they propose to be, one will never hear a hymn, a prayer or a Bible read there.

    Now, the Christian, moral folk of this county pay most of its taxes, and are generally responsible for the county's credit. And they deserve some consideration. Court trials are costly; and black draped coffins bring no joy in the homes. Therefore, I propose this question: Shouldn't the county revoke the permit for that concession and close that so called amusement resort, Idylwild?

    He that hath "guts" enough to stand for peace, sobriety, home and morality, may now speak, or hereafter forever hold his peace; especially if he is running for office."

    The Boy Scouts of Adrian camped at Mason's Bridge near Wrightsville. Scoutmaster was Rev. E. E. Gardner. In camp were Billy Gillis, Walker Bailey, Jr., Eban Taylor, David Frazier, Woodruff Kea, Robert Moye, Harold Anderson, F. A. Fountain, A. G. Odum, W. E. Spell, Julian Roundtree, Rowland Gillis, Carl Gillis, Jonah Frazier, Lanier Frazier, Lupo Webb, Russell Harrison and Curtis Chapman.

    Work on the Price-New Home Consolidated School has started. Materials are on the grounds and construction will be rapid. The county turned out 14,361 bales of cotton last year. A man sold a bale here Monday for 5 cents per pound. The Bank of Wrightsville's statement of condition was $166,603.41.

    A Wrightsville party went to Savannah Beach composed of Rev. & Mrs. J. E. Hall and their three children, Dr. & Mrs. J. G. Brantley and their three children, Col. & Mrs. C. S. Claxton, Miss Jo Fuqua and J. W. Claxton.

    Mr. Richmond Sammons and wife celebrated their birthdays, he being 81 and she will be 76 in September. Attending were Bennie, G. A., R. L., Wyly Sammons, Mrs. Julia Gay, Mrs. Dicey Smith, Mrs. Ella Hall, Mrs. Rhoda Odom and Miss Macey Sammons. Miss Emma Collins of Claxton and Rev. E. L. Harrison of Ludowici wed July 5th. She is daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Joshua Collins.

    Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Welch and their four children, Ray, Nell, Mary and Mary Jane, were enroute to the home of Mrs. Welch's parents, Mr. & Mrs. E. L. Smith, from their home in Tampa, when about 9 miles of Dublin the back tire blew out and the car summersaulted 3 times, badly injuring Mrs. Welch and bruising up the rest.

    Everybody was deeply greived over the death of Mrs. George Flanders. Little Carlton Smith died July 1st, son of Mr. & Mrs. Ples Smith and granson of Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Smith. Mrs. G. B. Dunlap, Sr. died at he home in Anderson, N. C. at 82. She is survived by 5 sons and 3 daughters including G. B. Dunlap, Jr.

From Days Gone By July 7, 1932

 July 7, 1932.

    Movements of plans for a complete and full celebration of the success of the well known Bee Line Highway have started. This through line, in opposition to nobody's road, started back yonder 14 years or more right here in Wrightsville. The Wrightsville Headlight began agitation for the erection of a road from Swainsboro to Kite to Wrightsville to Irwinton to Macon and it was called the Bee Line Highway, because, as the crow flies, it is the straightest route between these cities and between Macon and Savannah as you lay a rule on the map.

    Continually since, without any let-up any time and anywhere, this newspaper has unequivicably and unflinchingly and faithfully asked for the building of this road and at every turn of the machinery at the helm of state it has been a constant endeavor of ours to further every project that would finally consumate this end.

    Across Johnson County, from the East to the West extremities, this road now runs, and it is a fine road already. It is on the map of every county it touches. It is going to be on the highway map of July, 1932. It will pay handsome dividends to the counties in gas tax. Emanuel, Johnson, Wilkinson, Twiggs and Bibb counties will prosper by reason of this successful project. Citizens will reap handsome benefits from its completion. Travelers from everywhere will come this highway and centuries of the future will find it the choicest route available. The Bee Line is the highway. This was foretold 14 years ago.

    Wrightsville is the "Daddy" of the Bee Line. Her citizens have given of their time, money, influence, enthusiasm, progressive and aggresive spirit ever and along at every turn of the road to put this highway where the State Highway Department would own it, would operate it, would maintain it and pay the counties for it, as well. Wrightsville has never stopped working for it. Wrightsville started after it and now sees her labors rewarded. Wrightsville people, good and true, faithful and boosting, knowing its worth, have never seen the day to hesitate. Pushing on always, the goal is now in sight.

    Wrightsville has been backed by a strong following along the line of the highway, from Kite to the river, who have done a great work in backing up this city in its desire to put this highway through as quickly as possible. Now the gods of fate, politics and push have decreed that this road shall be, it is time to celebrate.

    Wrightsville can have a day set apart, appointed, fixed for a full and complete celebration right here in our own midst with the citizenship of the city and county. Ordinary W. J. Flanders says its the thing to do. Warden R. M. Stanley joins the same sentiments. Others who are in support of this are Councilmen Frank Outlaw, Dr. J. W. Brinson, R. L. Kent, E. E. Daley, R. L. Stephens, Monroe Cook, Mayor H. G. Hatcher, Tom L. Martin, R. B. Bryan, A. L. Hatcher, James A. Hall, E. E. Sanders, Jack Robinson, M. S. Duggan, E. R. Spell and Sheriff  Willis D. Rowland. 

    Once this celebration is complete, Wrightsville and Johnson County will spearhead getting a bridge across the Oconee River to replace the ferry.

From Days Gone By June 30, 1932

June 30, 1932.

    Mr. E. J. Claxton and Mr. H. P. Howard, owners and managers of the popular Bee Line Springs recreation grounds at Kite are having quite a large patronage at that place this season. They are now planning a big sing there for next Sunday, July 4th, with the promise of a large attendance. It will be an all day affair.

    More than 1,000 turned out at the courthouse for the Southeast Georgia Singing Convention. it was hot but the music rolled on as well as the perspiration. Outside, Officers Rowland, Brantley, Tapley, Crawford and Mayo reported no arrests and no cause for any. Mr. Tom L. Martin furnished ice water throughout the day.

    Mr. C. T. Moseley who farms the Hicks place reports a fine crop of cotton, corn and other grains. Mr. R. P. Hicks remarked it was the best crop he had ever seen on the place. Mr. M. A. Jackson is sending a lot of farm and garden produce to the curb market in Atlanta.

    Work on the Price-New Home Consolidated School will soon begin. it will be a large, commodious structure. There was 235 girls from the Savannah and Macon Districts to attend Camp Wilkins in Athens. Those attending from Johnson were Gladys Wells, Ruby Ivey, Susie Mae Rogers and Nettie Sweat.

    The City of Wrightsville will close up for the 4th of July. The courthouse will be closed. The filling stations will remain open as well as the cafes. Its back again, the supreme outstanding picture of all time will be at the Palace Theater, THE BIRTH Of A NATION, this time with sound.

    A telegram came in announcing the death of Mr. Z. A. Douglas at Hot Springs. He is a brother of Messrs. John A., R. R., E. A., Reuben and Brown Douglas. In the New Home community was the marriage, Saturday, June 18th, of Miss Nannie Belle Harrison and Mr. Ellie Belcher by Rev. Bennett Davis. She is daughter of Mr. & Mrs. J. C. Harrison. He is a son of Mr. & Mrs. Sunny Belcher and by occupation a farmer.

    Twelve years earlier, 1920, Miss Eva Drake and Mr. Horace Wheeler were married. Ex-Mayor Shurling erected a home on North Marcus. School was suspended on account of the flu epidemic. Snow fell in Wrightsville. Miss Louise Reynolds and Mr. Beverly B. Hayes were married. Sheriff-Elect Jonah Davis died of pneumonia before taking the oath of office.

    But few politicians ever went around this country boasting of being able to "give any county to anybody", to say nothing about the peanut fellow. Georgia had a man one time who could and did have that honor, but all generations since the time Noah and his old boat, there have been but few Tom Watson's. 

From Days Gone By June 23, 1932

 June 23, 1932.

    The record is clear and the lines show that the Bee Line highway across Johnson County, and from Swainsboro to Wrightsville to Irwinton, will go on the highway department of Georgia on July 1st., states Hon. William J. Flanders, Ordinary, who has been to Atlanta and seen it in black and white. The road goes on for maintance and gas tax July 1st., and gives the county 27 and one third miles more than it has ever had to draw the tax from on the new apportionment. When Dr. Flanders became Ordinary there was 16 miles of highway milage in the county. The 14 miles on the Jeff Davis two years ago gives the county 57 and one third miles total. They are finishing up the last mile of grading on the Jeff Davis into Wrightsville. County road forces are making progress with their work on all sides. The Jeff Davis is being completed now and the Bee Line from Kite to the river is in good enough condition that the State can take it over.

    In 35 years the cost of state government in Georgia has mounted from five million to thirty-four million, and we have no better government, and not as good as we did 35 years ago. In Washington the Speaker of the House, John N. Garner, went on record supporting repeal of the 18th Amendment, the prohibition law.

    The local ladies are doing a big business with their efforts at establishing a local curb market in the city. It is growing weekly. Mr. Jesse Anderson, planter near Kite, brought in the first pickings from his Big Stem Jersey sweet potato crop. Crop reports in the county show the ravages of the boll weevil have already started and the insects are playing havoc with the weed in many places. The crop is poor and sorry in the county as a whole. The corn crop is fair to middling. Peas and potatoes are doing well. Gardens have come in for a big harvest and helped lots all over the county. Melons will be on shortly and in plenty. Cadwell, Ga. has opened a canning plant. It has a capacity of 400 to 500 cans daily. People can have their stuff canned for free on Wednesday and Friday's.

    The faculty of the Adrian Consolidated school has been announced. They are O. L. Haydon, superintendent and vocational department; R. M. Roundtree, principal and athletic coach; Misses Helen Forrester, Louise Stiles and Frances Fordham, high school; Mrs. Jessie Watkins, 7th; Miss Bonnie Tatum, 6th; Miss Marion Price, 5th; Miss Jeanette Holmes, 4th; Mrs. W. M. Webb, 3rd; Miss Pauline Burke, 2nd; Miss Dorothy Dunlap, 1st, and Mrs. F. L. Kea, piano.

    Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Garnto had a son born on June 17th, to be called Ernest, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Otis Knight lost their little child on June 9th, he had been sick his whole little life. His mother past away seven months previous.

    Mr. Clarence Powell and Mr. Mark A. Jackson are attending citizen military training camp at Fort Moultrie, Charleston, South Carolina. SGT. Thomas O. Powell first enlisted with the Marines at Macon in early 1923, and served till February 1926, receiving an honorable discharge and he planned to quit the service for good, but was not satisfied. He enlisted in the Army November 1928 and sent to Fort Benning. After 3 years of service it ended February 1932. He immediately enlisted for 3 more years. Thomas served 5 months as a Private, not satisfied took the exam and was promoted to Corporal. No longer than it took to take the next exam, in March 1930, he was promoted to SGT., with the second highest in his class with a percentage of 92, missing first by one point. He is now with the Medical Department at Fort Benning. He is a son of Dr. & Mrs. T. A. Powell of near Bartow.

    Rev. Midyett, a Baptist minister who once lived and preached in Wrightsville, recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of his entrance into the ministry by preaching at three churches and speaking to two Baraca classes. He is 81 years old and has delivered 12,000 sermons and preached in more than twenty states. On the 6th of May he and his good wife celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

From Days Gone By June 16, 1932

 June 16, 1932.

    Mr. James L. Keen, Jr., Laurens County Commissioner Secretary, has received deeds for right of ways of state route 15, connecting Dublin and Wrightsville, from Brewton Creek to the Johnson County line. The new right of way will follow the present highway closely and will not touch any towns. That brings to an end a question which has been debated for sometime, there being some contention for the road to follow what is known as the "old Wrightsville road" from Brewton Creek into Wrightsville. It was not known which route would be used until recepit of the deeds. Grading is about complete between Dublin and the Brewton Creek. The road is one of the most important in this section.

    The Union Singing Convention at Idylwild was enjoyed by possibly 2,000 people coming and going. For next year Rev. G. F. Sumner was re-elected president and Mr. C. D. Roundtree, Secretary. The Masons of Johnson County have been invited to join observance of the Festival of St. John, the Baptist to be held at Hephzibah June 24th.

    The Honorable John N. Holder of Jefferson County is making a run for the governorship of Georgia. The first candidate for Governor of Georgia, Honorable Peter S. Twitty, made his appearance in Wrightsville today, coming over from Dublin, his former home. He is the third candidate for a state office to visit Wrightsville.

    The local American Legion elected its 1933 officers. They are H. B. Bray, Commander; T. E. Jenkins, First Vice-Commander; H. G. Keel, Second Vice-Commander; R. E. Fulford, Adjutant and Finance officer; B. B. Hayes, Service Officer; Lotus McAfee, Chaplain; E. G. Blackwell, Sargent at Arms; A. P. Taylor, Historian; Jacob Kaplan, Color Bearer.

    The theft of meat continues. There has been more stolen in the last 6 months than has been utilized by a house full of people the same length of time. The latest victim was Mr. L. E. Vanlandingham who was robbed of 6 large hams and an unknown amount of middling and other pieces from his smoke house.

    Prof. Luther Lillard lost two good prized milk cows on his plantation. The cattle ate some green food from the field which is said to have caused their death. Mr. Frank Price reports plenty of cotton blooms on his farm near town.

    Alton L. Caneega has just been awarded a certificate in nursing in the Alexian Brothers hospital unit at the 114th annual commencement of St. Louis University. Miss Mildred Pauline Riner, college daughter of Hon. & Mrs. Morris Riner of Meeks, has a high record in her collegiate course at Middle Georgia College at Cochran. She is President of the Home Economic Club, President of the Dramatic Club and Secretary of the Freshman class. Miss Nora Lee Daniel, daughter of Mr. Frank Daniel of Macon, who once lived in Scott, has made high marks in her studies in textile industry in Macon and was a graduate in the Number One Girl Reserve Troop. She is the first girl in Georgia to complete the textile course in night school.

    Mr. George W. Gordy, popular tobacco salesman was home here making his rounds to the stores. Mr. & Mrs. Grady H. Brantley, Jr., announced an 8 pound daughter on June 6th named Zonnie Rosalyn.

    There is nothing magic about 4-H club work. It has been developed from the premise that farm and home tasks have educative values, which, if properly directed, are certain to develop not only more capable young people, but also a more satisfying rural life and happier community relationships. There are 84 of Johnson County boys who have joined one or more of these projects. This is an increase of 12 over last year.

    Mr. Lorenzie Powell of Kite was laid to rest at Powell's Chapel on June 8th. He had been sick at home about 4 months. He was a native of Johnson and was 77. His wife is living, his brothers and sisters are deceased. Two children survive him, Mrs. W. T. Mixon and Mr. Tom J. Powell. He was a Mason of the Kite Lodge.