Today in Johnson City History, Saturday, September 14, 2024
The Comet tells of comings and goings and Nancy Jane Giles' new book helps you to "Get Involved!"
Welcome to today’s “Today in Johnson City History” column. “Get Involved!” also follows.
During the time I wrote a very similar column for the local newspaper, readers would often tell me their favorite part of my column was the part about who had visited who, who had recently moved to town, those who were sick or injured and the like. Short advertisements were also often included and would frequently be repeated in almost identical form throughout the column. If you like that kind of information and seeing the selling items of the day, I think you’ll enjoy today’s column, which is taken from the Thursday, September 14, 1899, issue of The Comet, which was a newspaper published in Johnson City. I hope you will enjoy reading about some of the things that were happening one hundred ant twenty-five years ago in and around Johnson City!
“Buy Gold Dust flour.”
“The best soap is ‘Brag’ at Jackson’s.”
“Gold Dust flour – best made.”
“Kingan’s dried and canned meats at Jackson’s.”
“Buy your ice cream freezers and glass jars, all sizes, at S. B. White’s.” S. B. White is still in business, but the business is now that of mechanical contracting.
“The best flour is Gold Dust.”
“Headquarters for Ralston Breakfast food at Jackson’s.”
“Gold Dust flour will please the best of you.”
“Chase & Sanborn’s teas and coffees are the best. You get them only at Jackson’s.”
“Peaunts (sic), fresh from the roaster, at Jackson’s.”
“A car load of salt glazed sewer pipe just received at S. B. White’s.”
“For rent – The Dr. Bolton residence on Market street (sic). Apply to Robert Burrow.”
“The greatest variety the purest and freshest candies can always be found at Jackson’s."
“Wood Wanted – I want to buy young hickory, white oak, dogwood and persimmon. Call at the factory.” The note was signed “W. P. Harris”, of Harris Manufacturing Company.
“A lady’s black jacket, lined with changeable red silk. The finder will be suitable (sic) rewarded by returning same to Mrs. Robert L. Taylor.”
“Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Ward have returned from the East.”
“Mrs. R. N. Archer is visiting her son, U. S. Archer, and family on Myrtle street (sic).”
“Miss Mamie King has returned from a month’s visit to relatives in Greene county (sic).”
The following was somewhat mysterious. “Willie Crumley is spending today at Milligan or perhaps she has noticed his absence.”
“The Knights of Pythias will confer the degree of Knight Friday evening at their hall.”
“Mrs. Hunt, relict of the late Jno. B. Hunt, is lying at the point of death at her home on Fall Branch.”
“Maj. A. D. Reynolds were (sic) in the city last Saturday returning from Roan Mountain to their home at Bristol.”
“John H. Caldwell came down from Bristol last Saturday and spent several hours in the city on business.”
“S. W. Wilson is in the city for the first time in some months and will spend several weeks with his family.”
“Misses Mattie Smith and Minnie May, two of Jonesboro’s most popular young ladies, spent Saturday and Sunday in the city.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Chas. M. Barr and little sone came down from Bristol Thursday and are visiting friends in this vicinity.”
“Mr. Steven Williams and Mrs. Williams, of Washington, D. C., are visiting the family of H. L. Williams in this city.”
“General Wilder returned from Knoxville last Monday, having spent a day or two with relatives in this city and at Chestos.” “Chestos” was likely a typo for “Chestoa”.
“Mr. and Mrs. J. Raymond Lyle are in Nashville this week. They will be ‘at home’ next week at J. P. Lyle’s, near this city.”
The Reynolds family continued to be in the news. “Mrs. Jas. W. Rogan and Mrs. R. A. Wood went up to Bristol Tuesday afternoon and are the guests there of Mrs. A. D. Reynolds.”
“Miss Mary Marsh, of Greeneville is visiting her aunt, Mrs. G. C. Seaver, one of our most charming and popular young married ladies.”
“C. W. Hodge, deputy Clerk and Master, is resting from his arduous labors. He is spending a week with relatives in Geene county (sic).”
“G. C. Harris came down from Bristol yesterday to make arrangements to put a new boiler in the factory now being used by Sam’l Stone & Son.”
“Robert L. Taylor was the Governor of Tennessee from January 17, 1887, until January 19, 1891, and also from January 21, 1897, until January 16, 1899. He was United States Senator from March 4, 1907, until March 31, 1912, and was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Tennessee’s First Congressional District from March 4, 1879, until March 3, 1881.” (Source: Wikipedia.com.)
In 1899, Milligan referred to a community in rural Carter County, as well as Milligan College. Milligan College is now known as Milligan University.
“Relict” meant widow.
Fall Branch is a community in rural Washington County.
Roan Mountain is about 24 miles from Johnson City. Located in Carter County, it is southeast of Johnson City.
Jonesboro was spelled that way in 1899.
From 1884 to 1892, Gen. John T. “Wilder helped promote and construct the Charleston, Cincinnati & Chicago Railroad while living in Johnson City, Tennessee. While in Johnson City, Wilder developed the booming industrial suburb of Carnegie, named in honor of fellow industrialist Andrew Carnegie, and a host of iron-making and railroad-related manufacturing facilities. Iron ore was brought to Johnson City via the East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad, and Wilder constructed a popular 166-room hotel near Johnson City named the Cloudland Hotel near the summit of Roan Mountain to serve tourists via this scenic narrow gauge railway line.” (Source: Wikipedia.)
Chestoa is located in rural Unicoi County.
Now for “Get Involved!” Consider yourself to be cordially invited to the launch of Johnson City author Nancy Jane Giles’ debut novel, “When I Grow Too Old to Dream”. It is the first book in the “Main Street Janes’ Cozy History-Mystery series. So consider this to be a hint to watch for the second in the series!
Mark your calender for 3:00 Sunday afternoon, September 22nd, and be at The Philosopher’s House, which is located at 117 West Fairview Avenue in Johnson City for all things exciting surrounding this book. A proper British tea will be served, and the author will be reading from her new book. Books will be available for purchase and for signing. I must confess that I was one of Nancy Jane’s early readers, and have been waiting for over a year to see it in print.
In addition, the folk trio “Thistle Dew” will be playing featured songs from the 1935 history-mystery, including “Summertime,” “Blue Moon,” “Anything Goes,” and of course, the title tune.
“When I Grow Too Old to Dream” is set in fictional Elk Station, North Carolina, a once-bustling Tweetsie Railroad depot town. The series is multi-faceted, encompassing local history, small-town stories, retro music, recipes, and a hefty dose of humor. It would make a dandy gift for those hard-to-buy-for folks on your Christmas gift list.
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.