Today in Johnson City History, Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Moonshiners may meet the minister, a talking dog, World War II lights and much more
Wednesday, December 17, 1924: A century ago today, The Knoxville News-Sentinel published news with a dateline from Johnson City. Readers learned that “Unicoi county’s (sic for County’s) two-gun parson is again making it hot for the moonshiners. Rev. W. J. Head of Unicoi, Tenn., near here has been industriously waging war on the boys in the surrounding mountains who distill ‘the liquid which is wicked’ and last Friday he again buckled on his trusty six-shooters and entered the nearby mountains, returning a few hours later with two men and a 60-gallon copper still.”
The Knoxville News-Sentinel is still being published.
Monday, December 17, 1934: Ninety years ago today, The Elizabethton Star reported news with a dateline from Kingston, New York. The news item was supplied by the Associated Press “Over the breakfast toast and coffee, Laddie Boy, a dog of few words, met this reporter today and tried to talk things over. Laddie Boy, Kingston’s contribution to talking dog animals, busily engaged in chit-chat, or bark-barks, with his mistress, Mrs. Fred P. Luther, but he had nothing to say to the visitor.
“With his rich mahogany-colored coat and gaily-pinned tail, he was the autocrat of the breakfast table, assuming a superb indifference while he ate ‘gedunked’ toast and drank his coffee (a spot of cream, but no sugar, thanks). ‘Would you like toast?’ asked Mrs. Luther, ‘gedunked’ a slice in the coffee and holding it before the dog’s quivering nose.
“’Woof! Woof!’ replied laddie (sic for Laddie) boy (sic for Boy).
“Translation into pure English, by Mrs. Luther: ‘Yes, mom.’
“Because the dog’s voice was a trifle loud, Mrs. Luther commanded, ‘Whisper it.’
“Laddie Boy again ‘woofed,’ but in a scarcely audible whimper. To another question he answered: ‘Woof! Woof! Woof!’
“There were three distinct sounds, and the timbre of the dog’s voice was different. He was saying, Mrs. Luther reported, ‘Yes, I do.’
“This went on through breakfast. Laddie Boy ate six slices of toast doused in coffee. Then he drank the coffee.
“The interview came about in this manner:
“Mrs. Luther was prompted to contend that her dog could talk by the widely-publicized death – about two months ago of a dog in New England, a dog which its closest friends said was quite a follower of forensics and would virtually talk one’s arm off.
“Laddie Boy, she said, listens carefully to repetition of simple words and phrases and tries to imitate them. He has acquired, she said, a vocabulary of about 20 words. To a stranger his ‘Woofs’ sound much (indecipherable). To Mrs. Luther, who has attuned her ears to their grace notes, they do not.
“In response to commands Laddie Boy delivered seven objects, each colored differently, without error. But he had nothing to say to the visitor – except at the termination of the interview.
“’So long, old bold, old boy!’ said the visitor, with a bit of internal camaraderie.
“Laddie Boy regarded him with a bored look then he ‘woofed’ three times. It sounded suspiciously like, ‘Nuts to you!’”
Dr. Josh Hinkle, DVM, Chief of Staff at Robinson Animal Hospital, says that the caffeine in coffee is extremely poisonous to dogs.
The Elizabethton Star is still being published.
Sunday, December 17, 1939: Eighty-five years ago today, the Sunday Press-Chronicle reported to readers that “Mayor Sam H. Sells made public yesterday a telegram he received from Bernard McFadden, nationally known magazine publisher, suggesting that Johnson Citians unite in a nation-wide (sic for nationwide) program to observe Christmas eve as a ‘night of light’ in contrast to ‘blackouts’ prevalent in Europe because of the war.
“McFadden, who said his telegram was being sent to President Roosevelt, governors of states and mayors of all large cities, proposes that Americans keep every room in thei homes lighted from dusk to midnight December 24, the idea being to emphasize the nation’s freedom from fear.
“’His idea seems to be worthy of consideration,’ Sells said, ‘and I pass it on to Jonson Citians for their consideration. Before any official action is considered by the city in regard to the matter I would like to know what the citizens think of it.’
“Text of the telegram follows:
“’As America’s answer to the blackout threatening the world – a blackout of freedom as well as light – will you proclaim Christmas eve a ‘night of light,’ calling on citizens to keep every room of every home and building fully lighted, with blinds wide open, from dusk to midnight? I believe this symbolic action, making this night brighter than any we have ever experienced, would dramatically contrast America’s freedom to the darkness which enshrouds not only Europe’s cities but her democratic institutions, and would recharge our determination to keep America beyond the reach of dictatorship. As an American citizen, I am sending this suggestion to the president, to every governor and to the mayor of every large city. I believe that citizens will spontaneously respond, and that America’s ‘night of light’ will be bigger, more significant news in the nations where news can still be circulated than any blackout has been.’”
The Sunday Press-Chronicle was published as the Johnson City Press-Chronicle from Monday through Saturday.
Sunday, December 17, 1944: Eighty years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle informed readers that “Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Whitlock of 107 West King street (sic for Street) have been notified their son, Ray Whitlock, has been commissioned a second lieutenant somewhere on the Western Front.
“Lieutenant Whitlock is serving with an infantry division. He is holder of the Purple Heart decoration presented him for wounds received in France last July. His wife and daughter live in Elizabethton.”
By 1944, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle was published under that name every day of the week.
Saturday, December 17, 1949: Seventy-five years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported that “Vernon Fagan, three-year-old of 806 Queen street (sic), city (sic for Johnson City), was dismissed after treatment at Appalachian Hospital yesterday for left leg burns sustained when his clothing accidentally caught fire.”
The Appalachian Hospital was a forerunner of Memorial Hospital, which was a forerunner of the Johnson City Medical Center.
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