Today in Johnson City History, Sunday, October 6, 2024
Happenings in Washington and Carter Counties, World War Two headlines, the pant suit question and more
Wednesday, October 6, 1909: The Herald and Tribune reported several interesting news accounts pertaining to area individuals. Some of them include the following: “Jno. D. Cox returned Friday from a visit to Newport.”
“W. H. Martin was a business visitor in Johnson City Friday.”
“Tax Assessor Ed Rogan, of Johnson City, was here Monday.”
“Miss Mace Duff, of Oklahoma, was the guest of friends here Thursday.”
“Mrs. Nannie S. Sabine, of Knoxville, was the recent guest of Mrs. Eva Anderson.”
“Mrs. A. D. Frasier, of Watauga Valley, is the guest of relatives and friends on Cherokee.”
“Miss Mamie Donaldson, of Morristown, was the guest of Miss Florence Hacker last week.”
“Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Huffine spent a few days with Mr. and Mrs. A. Huffine near Greenwood last week.”
“Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Miller, of Saline county (sic), Kan., are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Chas. McIntyre and others on Knob Creek.”
“Mrs. E. J. Baxter, who has been ill for sometime (sic) with typhoid fever, is still confined to her house, having suffered a relapse.”
“James Epps, Jr., who is attending school at Tusculum, spent Saturday and Sunday here with his parents, Attorney and Mrs. J. H. Epps, Sr.”
Newport is a town located approximately 58 miles from Johnson City. It is southwest of Johnson City.
Watauga Valley was a community in rural Carter County; it is now known as Siam.
Cherokee is a community in rural Washington County; it is also a road leading from Johnson City to Jonesborough which goes through that community.
Morristown, Tennessee is located about 66 miles from Johnson City. It is almost due west of Johnson City.
Greenwood is a community in rural Washington County.
While we tend to think of Knob Creek now as either the creek or the road, in 1909, Knob Creek was also a community in what was then rural Washington County.
Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection and can be prevented by means of a vaccine.
Tusculum College is now known as Tusculum University. It is also a community in Greene County, and is about 26 miles from Johnson City. It is southwest of Johnson City.
The Herald and Tribune was, and still is, a newspaper published in Jonesboro, which was spelled that way in 1909.
Saturday, October 6, 1934: Ninety years ago today, The Elizabethton Star reported several short news items of interest to local folks. Some of them included the following: “Miss Lucille Nichols is getting along nicely in Dr. Willis Campbell hospital (sic) in Memphis, following an operation.”
“Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Fleshman is spending the week-end (sic) in Knoxville.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Milton Anderson Mayo (Miss Loretta Lucille Lockey) whose wedding took place in Albertville, Alabama, September 25th, have returned to Elizabethton.”
“Mrs. Ben F. Siler is expected to return today from Jellico, where she attended the funeral of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Della Siler.”
“Dr. H. J. Derthick, president of Milligan college (sic), will be the speaker at the eleven o’clock services at the M. E. church (sic), south (sic), Sunday morning.:
“The Rev. and Mrs. W. S. Hendricks and Mrs. Jane Brown are attending the Holston Conference of the Southern Methodist church in Bluefield, West Virginia.”
“Miss Olive Allen will give a talk on her recent trip to Egypt and the Holy Land at the First M. E. church (sic), Sunday morning at eleven o’clock.”
“Miss Marjorie Trimm of Greeneville and Miss Margaret Price of Kingsport will be guest artists at the first in a series of Sunday afternoon musical concerts, at the Franklin club (sic) Sunday afternoon.”
“Mrs. Virginia McLawhon has returned to her home in Roanoke, Va., after being the guest of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Holshauer, at their home on north (sic) Main street (sic).”
Jellico is located near the Kentucky-Tennessee border and is about 161 miles from Johnson City. It is northwest of Johnson City.
Bluefield, West Virginia is about 140 miles from Johnson City.
The Franklin Club was located in Elizabethton.
Roanoke, Virginia, is about 183 miles from Johnson City. It is northeast of Johnson City.
The Elizabethton Star is still being published on Wednesdays and Saturdays, rather than daily.
Friday, October 6, 1939: Eighty-five years ago today, big, black, bold headlines told Johnson City Press readers that “Hitler Offers ‘Broad Peace’, Frightful War If Rejected”.
Friday, October 6, 1944: Eighty years ago today, Johnson City Press-Chronicle readers continued to learn of the horrors of World War Two. These headlines prevailed: “Americans Battle Four Miles Into Germany”.
Sunday, October 6, 1974: Fifty years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported that “City Manager William Ricker, who previously barred city female employes from wearing pant suits to work only to later say they could wear them during winter months, has changed his mind again.
“’They were wearing pajamas to work,’ Ricker said Friday in confirming that he doesn’t want women to wear ‘anything but dresses’ to their city hall jobs.
“Some female workers said they had already been told by their superiors that pant suits had been banned, although Ricker previously had said women could wear the outfits during colder months.
“Others said they had heard ‘rumors’ that Ricker was banning the pant suits for a second time.
“Reaction among female workers was varied, although the majority expressed disappointment that they apparently won’t be allowed to wear pant suits during cold weather.
“’He (Ricker) wants us to dress like beauty queens at the office,’ one female employe said, ‘but I don’t know how he expects us to do that on the salaries we make.’
“It is unclear how Ricker intends to inform female employes of the ban, whether by the directive from his office of through departmental heads.
“Ricker had only a few minutes available Friday to discuss the pant suit question.
“’Oh,’ he sighed, ‘don’t make that an issue again,’ then rushing out for a Friday afternoon golf match with recording star Mac Davis.”
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