Today in Johnson City History, Sunday, December 22, 2024
A jail escape, and comings and goings from all around
Friday, December 22, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Knoxville Sentinel reported news with a dateline from Johnson City. Readers learned that “Never, perhaps, in the history of this section has there been so much traffic handled as now, by the Southern and other roads, in and about this city. No doubt that the records of the respective railroads will show more freight and express handled at Johnson City than at any other Tennessee town of its size.”
In other news, readers learned that “E. J. Baxter, of Jonesboro is in the city on legal business.”
Jonesboro was spelled that way in 1899.
“All kinds of organized societies, schools and churches are preparing to enjoy the Christmas holidays.”
“Wat Belton, who has for several years had charge of a grocery store in this city, has disposed of his interest, and will travel for another house over West Tennessee and Southern Kentucky.”
“Mrs. M. D. Arnold, of Knoxville, Mrs. C. L. Palmer, of Charleston, Tenn., and W. C. Black, of Erwin, Tenn., are at the Piedmont hotel (sic for Hotel).”
Charleston, Tennessee is about 178 miles from Johnson City, and lies in a southwestern direction from Johnson City.
“J. A. Hubbard, of Hot Springs, N. C., is in the city.”
Hot Springs, North Carolina is about 68 miles from Johnson City.
“Judge H. T. Campbell having finished up the matters brought into his court, went up to Bristol last night. The judge has a host of friends about this town who are pleased to see him any time and expect to see more of him soon.”
“One of Dewey’s men, who served on the Olympia was here yesterday, on his way to Florida, where he will go to California. He has been in the United States navy (sic for Navy) for eleven years. Not being very flush with money, Capt. W. A. Dickinson gave the tar his dinner.”
“Capt. Molesworth, chief engineer, and W. O. Lipscomb, contractor on the Ohio River & Charleston railway (sic for Railway), are in the city. They report work on their road as progressing all right.”
“Stuart Wilder, of Chestoa, is in town on his way east.”
Chestoa is in Unicoi County.
“The case of Mrs. Hyde vs. the City has been dismissed from court for want of evidence.”
The Knoxville Sentinel is now published as the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Monday, December 22, 1924: One hundred years ago today, the Johnson City Staff-News alerted readers that “Two prisoners escaped from the city jail Sunday night, sawing away three bars of the iron grating in their cell and letting themselves to the ground by means of a rope made of strips of sheets tied together. The men were Frank Holt, alias Roy Wells, and G. H. Robertson.
“Holt has been in jail for some weeks, following his arrest on a charge of disorderly conduct and fighting and requests from other cities to hold him for alleged robberies. At the time of his arrest, he told a rather spectacular tale of bank robberies, which are discredited by officers. Robertson was arrested early Sunday morning, charged with having robbed a store on East Maple Street.”
Saturday, December 22, 1934: Ninety years ago today, readers of the Johnson City Chronicle read several short news accounts about people living in Johnson City or having ties here. Some of the news accounts read as follows: “Mr. Allen Harris, Jr., of New York City, arrived Thursday to spend two weeks as the guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Harris, Orchard Place.”
“Miss Louise Gildersleeve, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Gildersleeve, Southwest avenue (sic), has returned to her home from Guaston Hall, in Washington, D. C., where she is a student in the collegiate department this winter.”
“Miss Marion Miller returned Thursday from (indecipherable) at Hendersonville, N. C., where she is a student and will be the holiday guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Miller, Mountain View Circle.”
Hendersonville, North Carolina is about 84 miles from Johnson City. It is almost directly south of Johnson City.
“Little Miss Mildred Meader and brothers, Howard and Dan, will leave Sunday morning for Oklahoma City, where they will spend the holidays as guest of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Butts and son, Bobby Jack Baker. They will also be entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Brunk, nee Lyn Marshall, formerly of this city. The children will be accompanied to Memphis.”
“Miss Isa Lee Sherrod will return to her home Saturday from Nashville where she has completed work for her Master’s degree in History. Accompanying Miss Sherrod for the holidays at the home of Prof. and Mrs. C. C. Sherrod will be Miss Sara Mathews of St. Augustine, Fla.”
“Miss Eva Grant of Richmond, Va. Is expected to visit her daughter, Mrs. W. A. McDonald, and Mr. McDonald, Tacoma avenue (sic for Avenue).”
Tacoma Avenue is now known as Fairview Avenue.
“Miss Edna McDonald of Raleigh, N. C., will arrive Saturday to spend the holidays as guest of her parents, J. H. McDonald, 211 East Chilhowie avenue (sic).”
“Miss Sanna Barlow, student at Westervelt Academy, Columbia, S. C., is the holiday guest of her mother, Mrs. Stanley Barlow, 204 West Watauga avenue (sic).”
“Mr. and Mrs. Rex D. Pierce left Thursday afternoon for Buffalo, New York, where they will spend the holidays as guests of their daughter. They were accompanied by their son, Mr. Bill Pierce.”
“Miss Catherine Nell, of Canonsburg, Pa., and student at Duke University, will be the Christmas guest of Professor and Mrs. Frank Fields. Miss Mary Ellen Barry, of Susburg, Pa., will also be a house guest.”
“Miss Ann Bryant, Mr. Leonard Bevla, and Mr. Tom Field, accompanied Miss Elizabeth Rosson to Newport Friday, where she entrained for Gaffney, S. C., to spend the vacation with her family.”
Newport is a town located approximately 58 miles from Johnson City.
“Miss Freddie Lee White, of Chicago, will arrive Monday to spend a week as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Fred White and Miss Mary Elisie White.”
“Miss Louise Parks and Miss Elizabeth Parks, of Johnson City, are spending the holidays with their parents. Both Miss Louise and Miss Elizabeth Parks are students at Mary Baldwin College, Staunton, Virginia.”
Staunton, Virginia is about 259 miles from Johnson City; it is in a northeasterly direction from Johnson City.
“Mr. Eddy Rogers, who is a student at L. S. U. arrived Thursday to spend the Christmas holidays with his parents, Professor and Mrs. C. E. Rogers.”
“Mrs. O. B. Lovette, of Greeneville, will have Mr. and Mrs. John Nelson, of Rogersville, as her guests for the Christmas holidays.”
Greeneville is located about 31 miles from Johnson City; it lies west, and slightly south, of Johnson City.
Rogersville is located in Hawkins County and is about 37 miles from Johnson City. It is about 30 miles from Greeneville.
“Mrs. Lucy B. Todd, who has been in Johnson City on account of the serious illness of Mrs. A. F. Barker, has returned to her home in Lebanon, Va.”
Lebanon, Virginia is approximately 70 miles from Johnson City. It is north of Johnson City.
“Mrs. William Lewis underwent a major operation at the Appalachian Hospital Friday. Her condition is reported as entirely satisfactory.”
The Appalachian Hospital was a forerunner to Memorial Hospital, which was as forerunner to the Johnson City Medical Center.
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