Today in Johnson City History, Monday, April 14, 2025
Johnson City area happenings, an attack by the Mayor and a tragic rail accident
Monday, April 14, 1935: Ninety years ago today, the Johnson City Staff-News reported several short news items of interest to readers. Some of them included the following: “Col. and Mrs. Robert B. Cook, Miss Adelaide Cook of Chattanooga, Mrs. Brainard Cooper of New York, Mrs. B. David Barton and Master Bobby Barton of Johnson City are guests of Mrs. Cessna Sloan in Sarasota, Fla. Mrs. Cook will remain there one month.”
“Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Chetwood and Mr. Fred Chetwood motored to Chattanooga and spent the week-end (sic for weekend) as guests of Mrs. Chetwood’s brother, Mr. R. E. Sharp, who is convalescing from an illness.”
“Miss Ruth Fain Moser spent the week-end (sic) in Bristol with Miss Peggy Akard ‘Graylegs”, Blountville pike (sic for Pike).”
“Mr. William Wood arrived the past week from Richmond, Va., and is the guest of his son, Mr. and Mrs. Haden Wood, Colonial Apartments”
“Mrs. Bess Miller has returned to her home in Bristol after visiting Miss Annie Richard, who is convalescing from a tonsil operation.”
“Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Brown and Miss Minnie Shell and Mr. Charles Kennon motored to Asheville, N. C., Sunday and spent the day.”
Asheville, North Carolina is about 61 miles from Johnson City. It is almost directly south of Johnson City.
“Master Ned Haynes Brown spent the day Sunday in Erwin, as guest of his aunt, Mrs. S. H. Larimer.”
Erwin is in Unicoi County and is located about 18 miles from Johnson City. It is the county seat of Unicoi County.
Sunday, April 14, 1935: Ninety years ago today, the Sunday Press-Chronicle reported that “Mayor Ben B. Snipes, ‘surprisingly transformed’ from the man who willingly accepted his political support in times of need, was entirely unprovoked in his attack on Sam R. Sells, the Johnson City business leaders and former congressman, declared yesterday.
“Back from Nashville, where he spent almost three weeks in the fight for adequate appropriations for the Teachers college (sic for College), Mr. Sells exhibited surprise at the assault.
“”It is true that I have disagreed with some of Mayor Snipes’ policies,’ he said, ‘but our relationship I thought, was of the friendliest nature.’
“’It would be a charitable conclusion to say that the mayor has made little or no effort to ascertain the truth and has contented himself to accept as facts rumors, innuendos and malicious misrepresentations.’
“Mayor Snipes recently criticized Mr. Sells bitterly in connection with the legislative act removing control of the city school board from the city commission. He accused Mr. Sells of ‘buying’ Senator Howell with a promise of making Mr. Howell mayor. This brought a strong denial from the state senator and another one yesterday from Mr. Sells.
“Mr. Sells, remarking that as a civic-minded Johnson Citian, he had spent much time at his own expense in behalf of the Teachers college (sic), commented on Mayor Snipes coincidental visit to Florida as a ‘glorious joy ride at taxpayers’ expense.’
“Mr. Sells said he was asking no credit for his endeavors in behalf of the college, nor for his work in helping bring the chair factory and other industries to Johnson City, but questioned the mayor’s activity, or lack of activity, in similar pursuits.”
The Teachers College is now known as East Tennessee State University.
The Sunday Press-Chronicle was published as the Johnson City Chronicle on other days of the week in 1935.
Sunday, April 14, 1940: Eighty-five years ago today, the Sunday Press-Chronicle reported sad news. “Mrs. Ed Taylor, about 35, of 904 East Watauga avenue (sic for Avenue), was instantly killed shortly after 11:30 a. m. yesterday when struck by west-bound passenger train No. 41 as she walked either upon or beside the Southern railway tracks at the Elm street (sic for Street) crossing.
“Deputy Sheriff D. W. Wheelock, who, with Deputies Rex O’Dell, Clint Odom and Jack Carter, investigated for the sheriff’s department, said he was not certain anyone witnessed the accident.
“’Joe Thomas, federal alcohol unit investigator, phoned to us that a woman had been found lying beside the tracks, and we went to investigate. She apparently had been taken unaware when the train bore down upon (indecipherable) and was struck by the front of the engine before she had an opportunity to step aside,’ Wheelock said.
“Mrs. Taylor’s head was crushed, but the body was not otherwise badly disfigured, the officer declared. She was lying not more than six feet from the tracks.
“A bundle of laundry was lying a short distance from the body. It was learned that Mrs. Taylor did laundry work.
“’Apparently she had been somewhere and picked up a bundle of clothing and was on her way home when the train hit her,’ Wheelock said
“The report of Patrolman Roosevelt Biddix and George Rice for the city police department was essentially the same as the sheriff’s officers.
“Mrs. Taylor’s husband was said to be a WPA worker. The body was taken to Appalachian funeral (sic for Funeral) home (sic for Home), where attendants said funeral arrangements would not be completed until today.
“Surviving are her husband; one son, Earl and a daughter, Dorothy, of Johnson City, her father, Walter Russell of Elizabethton, two brothers, Ray and Henry Russell of Elizabethton, and one sister, Mrs. Carrie Lovelace of Elizabethton.”
The Sunday Press-Chronicle was published as the Johnson City Press and Staff-News on other days of the week in 1940.
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