Today in Johnson City History, Sunday, December 1, 2024
Happy 155th Birthday, Johnson City!
Wednesday, December 1, 1865: Henry Johnson founded Johnson City, which was known as Johnson’s Depot at the time.
Friday, December 1, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Knoxville Sentinel reported several short news accounts, all with datelines from Johnson City. Some of the news accounts are as follows: “Mr. George B. Hamilton has come to spend a while from a business tour through Virginia and is enjoying a rest at his home on Watauga avenue (sic for Avenue).”
“The Cranberry Railroad company (sic for Company) is making great improvements on the roadbed in order to handle the heavy freight, such as iron ore, lumber and logs, coming in over that line.”
“No road in all the country, does the amount of business that it does, in proportion to its length and gauge.”
“The city has, in the last few years, lost ten of its citizens by railroad accidents, and the last accident, that to Walter Lindamood, came near proving fatal. Six or eight mechanics have been injured in the factories and farmers.”
“Phillip Fry, an aged citizen of the city, has been very ill for several days. Mr. Fry came here from Pennsylvania a few years ago.”
The Knoxville Sentinel is now published as the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Saturday, December 1, 1934: Ninety years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported several short accounts of social news. Some of the items follow: “Mrs. Sophie Easterly has returned home after spending Thanksgiving with Knoxville relatives.”
“Mrs. John Wood, Jr., has returned from a delightful Eastern trip to Madison, N. J. She was the guest of her sister, Mrs. Kenneth Knapp, nee Elizabeth Whitlock, and while in New York City, she was entertained by Mrs. Richard Hauman, nee Julia Brewer. Enroute home she was the house guest of Miss Emma London, sister of Mrs. John Wood, Sr.”
“The many friends of Mrs. C. O. Biddle, will be delighted to learn of the improvement in her condition, following a prolonged serious illness at the Appalachian hospital (sic for Hospital).”
The Appalachian Hospital was the forerunner of Memorial Hospital, which was the forerunner of the Johnson City Medical Center.
“Miss Elizabeth Morris, with a party of friends from Norton, Va., left Thursday morning for Roanoke, Va., where they attended the V. M. I. – V. P. I. game, remaining for the dances which were opened by the Governor of Virginia. Friday, they motored to Lexington to attend the Friday and Saturday evening hops at V. M. I. and will return Sunday.”
Norton, Virginia, is about 69 miles from Johnson City. It is almost directly north of Johnson City.
“Mr. and Mrs. Gunnar Teilman entertained as their guests Thursday, Mrs. Teilman’s siter, Mrs. David Kingsolver, Mr. Kingsolver and daughter, Miss Joan of Bristol.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Roy Larimer and son, Sammy Ray, of Tazewell, Va., are the holiday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jennair Saylor, Grand avenue (sic for Avenue).”
Tazewell, Virginia is located about 107 miles from Johnson City. It is north, and slightly to the east, of Johnson City.
“Miss Frances Lybrook of Asheville, N. C., is the holiday house guest of Miss Josephine Hirsig, Montrose Court.”
“Mrs. Hattie Allen Cox and daughter, Miss Harriet, of Gadsden, Ala., are expected next month to be the Christmas guests of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Worley, Unaka Apartments.”
“Misses Margaret Campbell and Frances Miller are the weekend guests of Mrs. Osborne and Mrs. Walter DeVault at Knoxville. Saturday afternoon they will attend the wedding of Mr. Bill Miller to Miss Carolyn Gies.”
The Miller-Gies wedding continued to be in the news. “Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Wallin will motor to Knoxville Saturday to attend the wedding of Mr. Bill Miller to Miss Carolyn Gies, at five o’clock.”
“Miss Cleo Fisher and Miss Evelyn Parsons left Wednesday night for Washington, D. C. They will return to Johnson City on Monday.”
“Miss Addie Church was called to Bristol Monday on account of the death of her aunt, Mrs. John Cain.”
Readers continued to read about the upcoming Miller-Gies wedding: “Mr. and Mrs. V. C. Kyle are spending the week in Knoxville, to attend the Ky.-U. T. game, and also the Miller-Gies wedding.”
“Mrs. Robert Love Taylor of Bristol and Washington, D. C., was the Thanksgiving guest of Mr. and Mrs. David H. Taylor, North Roan street (sic for Street).”
“Miss Leora Perkins and family are moving Saturday from Unaka Apartments to the Boxwood Apartments.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Worley, Miss Mary Frances Worley, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Bolton of Johnson City, and Miss Babe Hathaway of Elizabethton motored to Knoxville Thursday attending the U. T. – Kentucky game.”
“Mrs. William R. Rigell, Miss Martha and Mr. Billy will return the latter part of the week from a motor trip to Birmingham, Ala. On Monday night they attended Grace Moore’s concert in Chattanooga and on Tuesday were visitors in Gadsden, Ala.”
“Mr. Alonzo Howell of 217 Lamont street (sic), is very ill at the Appalachian hospital (sic).”
“Mrs. Brown L. Street of Lake, Fla., has been called to the bedside of her brother.”
“Mrs. C. B. Hardin of this city, with her son, Mr. Roy Hardin and Mrs. Hardin of Kingsport, attended the U. T. – Kentucky football game at Knoxville, Thursday.”
“Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Kitts are the week-end (sic for weekend) guests of relatives in Knoxville.”
“Miss Betty May Holt of Indian Springs is the guest of Mrs. J. C. Tomlinson and family, Fairview avenue (sic).”
Indian Springs is a community in Sullivan County.
“Miss Maymie Bitner of Greeneville spent Thanksgiving with Mrs. Geo. Allen on Pine street (sic).”
“Mrs. W. B. Kinkead, of Erwin, is confined to her home on South Main street (sic), following a paralytic stroke on Friday.”
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