Wednesday, August 28, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Knoxville Sentinel reported two news stories with a dateline from Johnson City. The first story carried a date of August 21. Readers learned that “At a recent meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen, J. M. Martin tendered his resignation as recorder and it was accepted by the board. S. H. Pouder was elected to fill out the unexpired term of Recorder Martin, which will be one year and three months from September 1, the time Mr. Pouder will take charge of the office.
“In electing Mr. Pouder, the board made a good selection. He is in every way capable and will no doubt make a good officer for the place he has been elected to fill. He is an ex-sheriff and ex-trustee, having been elected to both of these offices by the popular vote of the county, and in both places he has the reputation of having been a good officer and an obliging gentleman.”
The second story in the same newspaper that carried a dateline from Johnson City also had a date of August 21. Readers were informed that “The Cranberry Iron and Coal company (sic for Company) has purchased the Carnegie blast furnace at this place from the Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke company (sic for Company), and will arrange at once to put it into blast. The deal was practically arranged about two months ago, through the receivers of the Virginial Iron, Coal and Coke company (sic) in Virginia, but no announcement was made and the matter has been kept quiet until yesterday, when the first news of it was broken to Johnson City people by George W. Hardin, superintendent of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina railroad (sic for Railroad).
“The directors of the Cranberry Iron and Coal company (sic) and the directors of the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad company (sic), which two companies practically the same, arrived yesterday and went to Cranberry, N. C., where in an official meeting they will ratify what has been done. They will then inaugurate plans for operating the furnace at this place. The work of repairing the furnace will begin at once and probably within thirty days it will be in operation.
“It is going on two years now since the furnace was last operated by the Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke company (sic for Company). It was then in good repair, and it will not require much work to get it in readiness for blast.
“The putting of the furnace into blast will be a good thing for Johnson City and the news of it is received with a hearty welcome. The capacity is a 150-ton output, and it works a large force of hands. It also required additional crews to run trains for transportation and altogether things about the city take on a livelier move when the furnace is in operation.”
Cranberry, North Carolina is about 32 miles from Johnson City. It is southeast of Johnson City.
The Knoxville Sentinel is now published as the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Saturday, August 28, 1926: One hundred years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported that “Juvenile Judge, Mrs. F. M. McNees, sentenced Dennis Brewer, sixteen, to the state reform school at Nashville, for theft of a bicycle belonging to Clarence Ellis. Brewer is in custody of an officer who left Friday afternoon for Nashville to begin serving his indeterminate term of not less than three years, nor more than five. The juvenile judge had suspended a previous sentence for a similar offense.”
Friday, August 28, 1931: Ninety-five years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported that “A permanent exhibit of unusual lavishes is being built by the American Bemberg and the American Glanzstoff Corporation in the main exhibit hall at the Tri-State Fair Grounds. After three years’ experience in building a special exhibit each year, and testing the public reaction to the most desirable type of exhibit, these two huge Elizabethton textile operations have decided to make a large, lavish and permanent display at the Tri-State Fair. No expense is being spared in making this one of the finest exhibits of its kind in the country and the construction work now going on is under the direction of architects, artists and supervisors both from the plants and from the New York Sales Department.
“Both Bemberg and Glanzstoff have been actively interested in the Tri-State Fair since its inception and realizing that the Fair is a regional activity belonging to the citizens of the sections of the three states which adjoin in this territory, they have decided to make this an annual and permanent exposition as an evidence of their interest in the development of the Tri-State Fair Territory. Firm believers in the purpose of the Tri-State Fair, which is to foster and develop agricultural and industrial activity in Upper East Tennessee and the adjoining sections of Virginia and North Carolina, they are materially helping both in an educational and financial manner.
“Construction crews have been at work for several days at the Fair grounds, installing the magnificent wood work (sic for woodwork) which will be the basic structure for the stage and display platform. Special lighting effects will be built in and highly valuable draperies and accessories will be sent down each year from New York for the equipping of the exhibit. Every year, this coming fall included, gorgeous selections of Bemberg Silk Yarn, and Glanzstoff Rayon Yarn will be shipped down from the Eastern Sales Rooms and displayed here. The exhibit this year will open on Monday, Sept. 7 and will be in charge of a group of beautiful young ladies from the Plant Offices and the New York Sales Rooms. This exhibit will be a mecca not only for feminine Fair visitors but also for their masculine escorts. Dainty garments in profusion and charming hostesses will provide an irresistible attraction.”
And now for some additional information about Sheri Bruce Wiggins’ latest book, as we continue to “Get Involved!” You’ve read information about and from Sheri in the column previously, but as a reminder, Sheri is an Appalachian Historical Fiction author.
Sheri writes to tell us: “I wanted to let everyone know Maggie’s Mountain Song is going through an update. A new cover is coming soon, with some slight corrections made to the manuscript, and...ILLUSTRATIONS! I’m so excited about that.
“Right now, with Kindle Unlimited on Amazon, Maggie’s Mountain Song, and Rosie of Ripshin Mountain eBooks are FREE! Audible is offering a trial membership, including a standard 30-day free trial, introductory pricing of $0.99 per month for the first three months for non-Prime members, and special targeted offers like 3 months free plus a $20 credit for select Amazon Prime subscribers.
”Give it a try! Maggie’s Mountain Song is available on Audible, and you won’t be disappointed in the narration by the very talented Kat Bohn. And I’m so thrilled that I was able to hire her for Rosie of Ripshin Mountain as well. Rosie is under production and I am expecting it to be finished within 2-3 weeks.
”While Maggie’s Mountain Song is a laid-back stroll back memory lane with Maggie, Rosie Of Ripshin Mountain is faster paced with more going on. There’s Rosie’s life on Ripshin Mountain, (in Northeast Carter County in Tennessee). To quote Rosie, ‘Ripshin lies beneath the shadow of the Roan.’ She works among the people of her community along with her mamma and granny as a healer/herbalist. Then there’s Oliver Hughes’ life in New York City, and his subsequent move to Roan Mountain to practice medicine. There’s distrust and friction initially between Rosie and Oliver. There’s danger! Unwilling attraction, deep faith in God, trauma, and healing... and love.
“Remember to leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. They mean more than you know and help authors get started.
”Both books are part of an ongoing series “Women of Appalachia”. Each book is a stand-alone story and the series does not need to be read consecutively.
”Amazon link for Maggie’s Mountain Song: https://a.co/d/0eZx8TU4
“Amazon link for Rosie Of Ripshin Mountain: https://a.co/d/0e60zMbt
“Follow me on: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/195wyu9vKv/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wiggins.sheri?igsh=a3Q0cG16bmR0djdl”
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Truly, it takes several people to put together something like you’ve just read. I express profound appreciation to Heidi Dulebohn and Stephanie McClellan Houk for their thoughts and encouragement.
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