Today in Johnson City History, Saturday, November 2, 2024
Greene County murder, Girl Scouts party, Olive Allen's travels, and more
Thursday, November 2, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Comet reported shocking news. The dateline was Greeneville, and the date was October 27. Readers learned that “This morning at about daybreak three men, two tall and one low, wearing overcoats, forcibly entered the house of Lemuel Jackson, at Cedar creek (sic), about fourteen miles south of town, and shot him to death with pistols and robbed him of about $800 in cash. His aged wife was made to sit still and witness the deed. No better clue to the identity of the murdered can be gotten at this time.
“A posse was immediately formed, and search is being made for the murderers. Some four or five fearless spirits from Greeneville joining the same.
“Mr. Jackson was almost 75 years old and noted for his peculiarities. His boast was that he was an ironside Baptist and a union democrat. He was a pensioner of the Mexican war and owned a fairly good farm and always kept his money in his house. For this reason, he was supposed to have more money than the robbers secured. He had his grave-stones already bought and set up at the spot where he wished to be buried and his caskets and burial clothes for himself and wife already in the house. Only this summer he became dissatisfied with the shoes he had purchased and had a Greeneville merchant deliver him another pair.
“His house, though a frame structure, was fortified like a fort, and the assassins must have had difficulty in entering it, and must have been thoroughly acquainted with its construction.
“The murderers gained entrance to the house after Jackson had gone out for fuel to get breakfast. A posse is on the trail towards Shelton Laurel, N. C. The murderers are walking and have eight hours’ (sic) start of the hounds.”
Shelton Laurel is located in Haywood County, North Carolina.
The same issue of the newspaper alerted readers that “The effort to vote to issue bonds to build a city hall at the coming municipal elections will have to be abandoned as the statute empowering the issue has not been complied with in the premises. Section 4 of the act requires that ‘at least thirty days’ notice shall be given by printed posters of the time, place or places, of said election, in which posters it shall be stated what is the purpose of said election, the amount of the then proposed issue of bonds, and the rate of interest payable thereon.’ The provisions have not been complied with and if the bonds were voted they could not be sold because of this flaw in the proceedings. The election can and will be held at some future time.”
Sunday, November 2, 1924: One hundred years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported that “On Wednesday evening, patrols three and four of troop one of the Girl Scouts, entertained patrols one and two with a tacky party at the Scout lodge.
“The lodge was effectively decorated with festooned of yellow and black crepe paper and black cats. One of the most attractive features of the decorations was the spooky booth of the fortune teller.
“In order to make the party as tacky as possible, the refreshments were the first number on the program. The refreshments consisted of punch, cakes, fruits and candies.
“Games and contests were enjoyed until a late hour. The winner of the contest was Miss Louise Hyder and Miss Love St. John captured the prize for being the tackiest, which was a (undecipherable).
“The Scouts who attended this happy occasion were: Misses Louise Hyder, Love St. John, Ruth Bolton, Margaret Worley, Lucy Toncray, Elizabeth White, Mary Belle Carroll, Christine Campbell, Freddie Lee White, Sara Miller, Jeraldine Vines, Frances Carr, Marjorie London, Natalie Kirkpatrick, Marjorie Metzgar, Evelyn Gilbreath, Grace Miller, Virginia Parker, Gladys Presley, Mary Smith, Maurice Smith, Hasseltyne Oaks and Mrs. Lacy.
“The hostesses were assisted by Miss Ruth Cass, Mrs. Haynes Miller, Mrs. Hugh L. White, Mrs. Amzi Smith, Mrs. Walter Miller and Mrs. Lacy.”
Friday, November 2, 1934: Ninety years ago today, The Elizabethton Star reported that “Miss Olive Allen, a teacher at the Elizabethton High school (sic), briefly told of her two-way voyage across the Mediterranean sea (sic) last summer at the regular weekly luncheon of the Rotary club (sic) yesterday at noon.
“Miss Allen gave a vivid description of the various cities and of the historic islands visited. Her description of the manners and dress of the residents of the ancient city of Alexandria was interestting (sic).
“She will address the Kiwanians at their regular luncheon today.
“Ken Prior will be the self-appointed editor of ‘The Buzzer,’ the club’s weekly publication, next week, and Don Calfee will have charge of th (sic) Armistic (sic) Day program.”
Armistice Day is now known as Veteran’s Day.
Thursday, November 2, 1939: Eighty-five years ago today, the Johnson City Press reported sad news. “Hundreds of Johnson City sparrows and other birds that nest in the neighborhood of Fountain Square lost their ‘best friend’ today with the passing of William J. McWilliams, 83-year-old local hotel resident, who was found dead in bed at 8:30 a. m. today.
“McWilliams, familiarly known as ‘the Bird Man,’ had been in failing health for several weeks, following an attack of influenza. He was alive at 7 o’clock this morning when a porter placed a newspaper on his bed but was dead when the room was next entered. A physician who has been attending him was called and decided death was due from natural causes.
“The aged man, who had lived here almost 10 years, was well known in the Fountain Square neighborhood because of his long-standing habit of leaving his room with a supply of bread three or four times a day and whistling. The whistle would be heard by swarms of birds who had learned to recognize the signal and fly down for food. Some were so tame they ate from his hands.”
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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