Today in Johnson City History, Tuesday, October 15, 2024
More about football player Vincent Darden and bits and pieces from here and there
You’ll probably recall in my column from yesterday that I mentioned a “Darden” who played football for Science Hill in 1939. Below is some additional information that I think you’ll enjoy learning.
Steve Darden, former mayor of Johnson City, reports that the football played named ”Darden” was his Uncle, Vincent Darden. Steve’s brother, Bill, whom I’ve known since high school, told me Vincent had two nicknames, “Ting” or “Red.” He played with Kermit Tipton and others; they had great teams in 1938, 1939, and 1940. Vincent also ran track and is in the SHHS Sports Hall of Fame. There are several players from that era who are in the Hall of Fame. Tipton, Darden, Jack Osborne, Arthur ‘Bud’ Kelsey, and Gayle Cox leaped to Bill’s mind.
In addition, Steve told me that “The stadium at SHHS is named after (Uncle Vincent’s) teammate Kermit Tipton who was not only the quarterback on Uncle Vincent’s team but also later became the head coach at Science Hill. In fact, he was Steve Spurrier’s head coach.” How interesting is that?
Steve also reports that “Mr. Tipton was Bill’s, and later my, Principal at South Jr. High and then Independence Hall Jr. High when the Liberty Bell complex was completed.”
As always, it is wonderful to hear from my readers and I so appreciate their input on the topics of the day. Thank you, Bill and Steve Darden!
Sunday, October 15, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Chattanooga Sunday Times reported short, interesting news about local residents. The dateline was from Johnson City and the date of October 14. Readers learned that “Rev. E. B. Caldwell, of New York, is visiting his parents, Dr. and Mrs. L. R. Caldwell, at this place. In about two weeks he will leave as a missionary to China.”
“David A. Patton has returned from an extended visit to his daughter at Oliver Springs.”
“John L. Lusk has returned from Hot Springs, Ark., much improved in health.”
“Postal Clerk A. P. Acuff of the Johnson City and and (sic) Cranberry line, is off on his annual vacation. D. H. Jones is running as substitute.”
Miss Tillie Wood was in this column last week, and continues so today. “Mrs. James Lynn, who came up to attend the funeral of Miss Tillie Wood, returned to her home at Knoxville Thursday morning.”
“Dr. H. A. Denton is here from Abingdon, Va., to spend the winter with his brother, Dr. J. A. Denton.”
Will Erwin also remained in the news. “Will T. Erwin arrived in the city Wednesday from Greenville Junction, Me., on a visit to his mother.”
“R. M. Parrott and daughter, Miss Bailie, of Wallace, Va., are guests of his son, Murray H. Parrott.”
“H. F. Price, who spent his summer vacation here, left Thursday morning of Middlesboro, Ky.
”Dr. J. C. Davidson attended the State Baptist convention at Union City this week.”
“Miss Lucy Darden has accepted a position with J. M. Brown.”
“Miss Fannie Kilby is n (sic) Knoxville on a two weeks’ visit to relatives.”
“Miss Bessie Scott, of Knoxville, is here visiting the Misses Wood.”
“Will D. Martin, of Asheville, N. C., was visiting relatives in Johnson City this week.”
“Dr. H. L. Patton, of Telford, was here this week.”
“Hon. Hugh H. Gouchemour, of Greeneville, was here this week attending our carnival and tri-county fair.”
News about the upcoming Lyle grocery store initially appeared in this column last week. Now we learn more: “John F. Lyle has opened a new grocery store in the old postoffice (sic) building on Spring street (sic).”
“James a. (sic) Parsons and family have arrived here from Athens, Tenn., and will permanently reside in Johnson City.”
“A large crowd of society people witnessed the cake-walk at the opera house Thursday night, given by the following prominent society young couples, who, is claimed, by those who witnessed it, could not be surpassed by real (indecipherable) as cake-walk artists: Miss Mattie Henderson and Will Johnson, Miss Iva Johnson and Bob Martin, Miss Gordon Henderson and John Stope, Miss Iva Johnson and John Stone, Miss Lillian DeArmond and Charles Riddle, Miss Belle Miller and Charles Cargille, Miss Mae Stone and Sam Millard, Miss Lizzie Carr and Frank Miller, Miss Maggie Martin and Cy H. Lyle.”
News with a dateline from Jonesboro, which was spelled that way in 1899, and a date of October 14, included the following: “Mr. Joseph Printup, of Washington, D. C., is spending a few days with his family in this place.”
“E. J. Baxter and family left Thursday for Asheville, N. C. , where they will spend a couple of weeks recuperating.”
“Mrs. W. P. Brownlow and Mrs. A. N. Hacker will leave Monday for Washington City, where they will spend the coming winter.”
“Sam Miller, Culver Febuary and Charles Correll, three of Jonesboro’s young men who have been in Uncle Sam’s service in the Philippines, returned to their homes in this place Wednesday.”
“Miss Minnie May, Jonesboro’s maid of honor to the queen of the Knoxville carnival, left Tuesday so as to be present at the parade on Wednesday morning.”
“The funeral services of S. H. Anderson were conducted in the Second Presbyterian church (sic) Wednesday by the Rev. John S. Eakin.”
“D. C. Aiken, who has been living in Bristol for several years, but previous to that had lived in this place for a number of years, removed his family to Jonesboro Wednesday.”
“The corporation authorities of this place passed an ordinance Thursday quarantining Jonesboro against Bristol, on account of there being such a large number of cases of small-pox (sic) in the Border (sic) city.”
Oliver Springs is about 132 miles from Johnson City. It is located in Roane County. It is west and slightly south of Johnson City.
In regard to the Cranberry line, mentioned above, Cranberry, North Carolina is about 32 miles from Johnson City. It is southeast of Johnson City.
Abingdon, Virginia is about 52 miles from Johnson City and is northeast of Johnson City.
Wallace, Virginia is about 43 miles from Johnson City. It is north, and slightly to the east, of Johnson City.
Middlesboro, Kentucky is about 112 miles from Johnson City, in a northwesterly direction. It is on the state line.
Telford is a community in rural Washington County.
Athens, Tennessee is about 164 miles from Johnson City. It lies in a southwesterly direction from Johnson City.
Washington City is now known as Washington, D. C.
“Walter Preston Brownlow (March 27, 1851 – July 8, 1910) was an American politician who represented Tennessee's 1st district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1897 until his death in 1910. He is remembered for obtaining large federal appropriations for his district, as well as for his intraparty political battles with Chattanoogans Henry Clay Evans and Newell Sanders over control of the state Republican Party. Along with his congressional tenure, Brownlow served as Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives from 1881 to 1883, and published the Jonesboro Herald and Tribune from 1876 to 1910.” (Source: Wikipedia.)
The Chattanooga Sunday Times was published as The Chattanooga Daily Times the other days of the week. It is now published online as the Chattanooga Times Free Press. I do not have access to any newspapers that may have been published on a daily basis in Johnson City in 1899; The Comet was published weekly.
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.
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