Today in Johnson City History, Thursday, December 19, 2024
Comings and goings in Carter County, lookout bootleggers! and the death of a prominent lady
Friday, December 19, 1924: A century ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported several short news accounts that were of special interest to Elizabethton and Carter County residents. In a column entitled “Elizabethton New of Today”, carrying the byline of Mrs. Alex Shell, readers learned that “On Sunday Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Hathaway had as their guests for dinner, at their home, Sergent (sic for Sergeant) Armendinger of Hampton, and Mrs. Lou Easterly of Hampton, Mrs. Merry Treadway, Mrs. Elizabeth Green of Cincinnati, and Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Hathaway and little daughter Jo Ann.”
Hampton is a community in rural Carter County.
“Mr. and Mrs. Alex Shell and Mrs. Jennie LeSueur West of Johnson City were visitors in Bristol Tuesday.”
“Mrs. J. J. O’Donnell was shopping in Bristol Monday.”
Mrs. E. E. Hathaway continued to be in the news, as did Mrs. Elizabeth Green. “Mrs. E. E. Hathaway has as her guest her sister Mrs. Elizabeth Green of Cincinnati.”
“Mrs. Wilkie Edens, Mrs. Roy Barkley and Miss Eula Weave (sic) r (sic) were shopping in Johnson City Wednesday.”
“Mr. Howk Richards was a business visitor in Johnson City Tuesday.”
Mrs. F. W. Hathaway also continued to have a presence in the news. “Mrs. J. R. Boring and Mrs. F. W. Hathaway were visiting in Bristol Tuesday.”
“Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Johnson had as their guests for dinner Sunday at their home on Main street (sic for Street), Mrs. George W. Hardin, and Mr. George R. Hardin of Johnson City.”
“Mr. and Mrs. B. B. Bowie moved Monday into their their (sic) new home on the Johnson City Pike.”
The Johnson City Pike is now known as the Old Elizabethton Highway.
“Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Shepherd and little son ‘Buddy’ will arrive Thursday from Chicago to spend the Holidays with Mrs. Shepherd’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. T. Perry and Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Shepherd in Johnson City.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hyder and Mrs. Lucy Lucas of Johnson City were the guests Tuesday night of Mrs. Margaret Thompson Carrier leaving early for Knoxville where they will make their home.”
“Mrs. Harry Hathaway is at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wilcox, quite ill.”
“Mrs. Lon Hendrickson, Mrs. Clint Smith and Mrs. Clarence Miller were shopping in Johnson City Monday.”
“Mr. Dan Carden of Hampton was a business visitor in Elizabethton Monday.”
“Judge Tyler Campbell of Bristol was a business visitor in Elizabethton Monday.”
“Governor A. A. Taylor was a visitor in town Monday.”
Alfred A. Taylor was governor of Tennessee from 1921 until 1923.
“Millard Coon of Keensburg was a business visitor in Elizabethton on Monday.”
Keensburg is a community in rural Carter County.
“Mrs. Margaret Thompson Carrier and Mrs. Fred Carrier were shopping in Johnson City Wednesday.”
“Mrs. W. D. Rhudy was shopping in Johnson City Tuesday.”
“Hon. Robt. Burrow of Bristol was a professional visitor here Monday.”
“Judge Thad A. Cox of Johnson City was a business visitor here Monday.”
“Hampton Hyder was visiting friends here Monday.”
“Mr. G. H. Hunter of Johnson City was a visitor in Elizabethton Tuesday.
“Mr. Fred Brown of Bristol was a business visitor here Tuesday.”
“Mr. Carl R. Allen of Erwin was a business visitor here Tuesday.”
“Friends of Dr. J. B. Shoun will regret to know that he is in the General Hospital in Johnson City suffering from a serious attack of lumbago.”
The “General hospital” referred to was likely Memorial Hospital, which was a forerunner of the Appalachian Hospital, which was a forerunner of a different Memorial Hospital, which was a forerunner of the current Johnson City Medical Center.
Lumbago is a term for pain in the lower back; the term is rarely used at present.
“Mrs. J. E. Lineback was a visitor in Johnson City Wednesday.”
“Mrs. J. J. O’Donnell, Mrs. W. B. Hampton and Mrs. J. N. Edens were shopping in Joohnsoon (sic for Johnson) City Wednesday.”
Wednesday, December 19, 1934: Ninety years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported that “Members of the sheriff’s department launched a concentrated drive against Christmas bootleggers which will continue throughout the holidays, according to information given here Monday evening by Chief Deputy Alfred Smith. Smith stated that efforts to halt the flow of whiskey into Johnson City and Washington County from other states and sections would be re-doubled during this time.
“’We cannot possibly expect to capture every drop of whiskey that enters the county,’ he stated, ‘but we will arrest every person we know is transporting whiskey. As might be expected the amount of whiskey entering the county during the holidays will be greatly increased.’”
Tuesday, December 19, 1944: Eighty years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported on several recent births with relevance to the area. “Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Puckett, Beckely (sic for Beckley) W. Va., announce the birth of a daughter, Shirley Mae, December 14 in the Beckley hospital. Mrs. Puckett is the former Dorothy Wohr of Johnson City.”
“Gunner’s Mate First Class Theodore Lewis and Mrs. Lewis Butler, Route 1, announce the birth of a seven-pound son, Robert Theodore, December 17.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Dayton Greene have named their son born November 25 at Grace Hospital, Banner Elk, N. C., Jerry Dayton. Mrs. Greene is the former Grace Troutman.”
Banner Elk, North Carolina is approximately 38 miles from Johnson City. . Banner Elk is southeast of Johnson City.
Monday, December 19, 1960: The Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported that “Mrs. Caroline Nelson Johnson, 99, of 414 W. Pine St., died in the Smith Convalescent Home at 5:10 a. m. yesterday. She was the widow of Albert W. Johnson and had been a resident of Johnson City for 49 years.
“Mrs. Johnson was a native of Oskarstrom, Sweden. She was a member of the First Christian Church, and one of the oldest residents of Johnson City.
“Survivors include one son, Carl Johnson, former mayor and present city tax assessor, 414 W. Pine St; one brother, J. P. Nelson, Franklin, Pa.; one grandson, Roland Johnson of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and two granddaughters, Mrs. Clarence Overman and Mrs. Bob Sluder, both of Johnson City; three great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.
“Appalachian Funeral Home is in charge.”
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