Today in Johnson City History, Monday, December 2, 2024
The Southern Exposition, Happy Birthday to a newspaper, and “Preparing Room” in “Get Involved!”
Saturday, December 2, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Knoxville Sentinel reported news with a dateline from Johnson City. Readers learned that “A. H. Bullock, Esq., is able to be on the streets, after having a long siege of malarial fever.”
Malaria is a serious disease that sometimes proves to be fatal. It is caused by a parasite that often infects some mosquitoes. Malaria is usually cured if it is diagnosed and treated properly and rapidly. Currently, there is no vaccine for malaria, but if someone is traveling to an area where malaria is prevalent, they can take prescription medicine and take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
“Mrs. J. B. Cox is convalescing at her home, on Wellborne (sic for Welborne) street (sic for Street).”
“All the small pox (sic for smallpox) suspects have been released. W. T. Leach, who has been in charge of the detention home, has returned to take her (sic for his) place among the people.”
Smallpox is caused by a virus; while most people recovered from it, many deaths resulted. Smallpox can now be prevented by means of a vaccination.
“The Southern Railway company (sic for Company) has almost completed the culbert (sic for culvert) across Bruch (sic for Brush) Creek, in this city.
“The old one was never long enough to allow the water of the creek to pass, even at an ordinary tide. Consequently, much damage was often done to private property, on the west side.”
Thursday, December 2, 1924: A century ago today, the Johnson City Staff-News informed readers that the “Closing of the local campaign on Saturday, December 6th, to secure funds for the testablishment (sic for establishment) of a Johnson City exhibit at the Southern Exposition in New York next year, will make the success of a project which is destined to have a marked effect on the development of this territory. With the national publicity gained by the city and cicinity (sic for vicinity), Johnson City has already been brought into closer touch with the country as a whole, merely through the act of raising the funds for the exhibit. Centralizing a display of the possibilities and resources of this section will have an even broader effect, and the result is ure (sic for sure) to be beneficial.
“Commendation from many sources has been freely made as to the efforts put forth by the people of Johnson City in the way of national advertising; and the project has been held up as an example for other cities in the South. Already, the widespread publicity given to Johnson City, through nationally known publications, has turned the attention of many to this section, and inquiries which should lead to extensive development are being made.
“Those contributing to the fund to make possible the presentation of this section to the entire world have reason to feel a pride in the results already begun, and will certainly feel the benefits that are sure to follow the carrying out of the plan.
“The required fund of $2,000 with which to assemble and prepare the Johnson City exhibit is not yet in hand, but with dependance on a response of the people to the appeal mow being made. Saturday has been set as the date on white the campaign for funds will close.
“Readers are invited to join in the progressive move, using the coupon printed in this issue to make the pledges; promoters of the project feeling confident that the necessary amount will be pledged by Saturday next.”
The Southern Exposition was initially mentioned in this column several weeks ago.
Sunday, December 2, 1934: Ninety years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle, combined with the Johnson City Staff-News, reported big news! “The Johnson City Staff-News today celebrates its twenty-fifth birthday anniversary. Today’s edition is dedicated to the vast territory the newspaper has served successfully for a quarter of a century as a daily, and for almost fifteen years as a weekly prior to that.
“The history of the Staff-News – which formerly was the Johnson City Staff – is largely the history of Johnson City and East Tennessee, itself. During the twenty-five years since it was instituted as a daily, it has grown with the city, and has been found in the vanguard of every progressive movement, leading in fights for civic betterment, and actively engaged in those ventures making for a greater city.
“Its files are a permanent record of the happenings, local, state, national and international during the twenty-five years of its existence, and furnish interesting reading matter for those who would search the past for justification of the present – the future, when those long ago lines were written.
“As an insight into the traditional qualities making for any newspaper’s greatness as the custodian of public welfare, J. T. Browning, who founded the Staff as a weekly almost forty years ago, pointed out Saturday that his policy of ‘never accepting whiskey advertising,’ has been followed to the letter by those succeeding him as publisher.
“The Staff was founded as a weekly in 1892, succeeding the old ‘Advance,’ abandoned when its publisher, Hon. Alf A. Taylor, appointed its editor to a government post. Browning leased the equipment and began publishing the Staff, with its first edition appearing on May 5, 1892. The plant was located on Market street (sic) in a building fronting on Main street (sic for Street). It occupied second floor quarters just east of the Southern Railroad tracks.
“Browning, who later entered the postal service, which he served for more than 29 years before retiring, leased the equipment to J. E. Brading and S. F. Brading in 1896 when he was elected to the state legislature.
“In 1897 he sold the newspaper to John W. Bell, who operated it, first as a weekly, and then bi-weekly, until about 1900. Bell sold it to Munsey Slack, veteran newspaper man, who converted it into a daily in 1909.
“The original Browning sheet was a 7-column folio. He served as editor, advertising solicitor, circulation manager, mailer, and general handy man (sic). Two compositors worked in the newspaper job-printing plant.
“He said he had about 800 circulation, a substation representation of Johnson City’s 3,000 citizens.
“In 1924, just ten years ago, the Staff absorbed the Johnson City News, becoming the Johnson City Staff-News, as it now is known, and consolidating circulation and advertising accounts, boosting each to a high total, the highest, in fact of the two newspapers which by then included the Johnson City Chronicle, morning daily.
“More than forty employees, exclusive of carrier boys, are now employed in the plant, working in two shifts, so far as the editorial departments, and composing room are concerned. Every modern newspaper feature, from a mechanical standpoint, is included in its physical equipment. Sparing no expense, the management has kept abreast of the times, giving Johnson City a modern newspaper, comparing favorable with dailies of bigger cities, and setting the editorial and news pace for many of these.
“Browning stated Saturday that the ‘record for temperance which the Staff-News has always enjoyed has not been accidental. I refused to accept whiskey advertising, years ago, and my successors have followed, that example, considering that this unusual reputation was too valuable to lose, and holding the confidence of their thousands of readers.’
“The Staff-News today occupies an enviable position both locally, and in the southern newspaper field. It is credited with many of the progressive undertakings marking East Tennessee history, and is unique in holding the unshakable confidence and good will of more than thirty thousand daily readers.
“This position, the publishers feel, has been attained through a long period of deliberate study and planning. Every course has been carefully charted with the view to permanent values rather than for any immediate and temporary gains. The public pulse beats in unusual harmony and sympathy with those measures sponsored by the newspaper, obviously feeling that an instrument or public service, so unalterably associated with the history of the section, merits the public trust.
“No formal celebration marks the anniversary. Rather the organization literally ‘tightens its belt and blows upon its muscles’ for new combat in the interest of a greater Johnson City, pledged to uphold these worthwhile traditions which have been the stepping stones to its success and determined that no destructive element shall tear down any part of the city’s industrial, educational, or moral structure.”
Note: I do not have access to any copies of The Staff, as a weekly newspaper, nor to the Advance.
And now for a wonderful and seasonal way to “Get Involved!” Rebecca Horvath, a Johnson Citian by choice, wrote “Preparing Room: An Advent Journal Through ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ a couple of years ago. Her book is a wonderful devotional and begins on December 1. There is a devotional each day until Christmas; they are short, and can be read in just a few minutes, so there’s time to order now and catch-up will be complete in just a bit. “Preparing Room” makes a wonderful Christmas gift for Sunday School classmates, prayer partners, neighbors, teachers, small group members, club members and the like. I’ve ordered several for gifts, and given several for gifts in the past. The paper copy, from Amazon, is $9.99, while it’s free with Kindle Unlimited. My only regret about this book? I was sorry when it ended!
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.
Grateful appreciation is expressed to Collin Brooks for his social media expertise. If you need assistance with your social medial needs, call him at 423-735-8755.
Will Riddle, owner of Riddle Technology Services, can help you with all your computer and computer-related needs. He’s the best! Call him at 423-480-4024.