Today in Johnson City History, Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Happenings in Jonesboro and Johnson City, the board of education meets
Sunday, October 8, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, the Chattanooga Sunday Times reported brief news accounts of several local individuals, the majority of whom were quite well known. With a dateline from Jonesboro, which was spelled that way in 1899, and a date of October 7, readers learned that “Prof. John Lampson is visiting friends and relatives in this place this week.”
“Arch Kirkpatrick has gone to Nashville to work in the Southern Methodist Publishing house (sic).”
“Dr. T. W. Whitlock, a prominent physician of this place, has been appointed railroad physician for the O. and C. R. R., and will spend the winter at Unaka Springs, while the railroad is having its line extended from Johnson City to the timber and mineral lands of the Unaka mountains (sic).”
“Rev. M. D. Mitchell, pastor of the Methodist church, of this place, after an illness of several months, was able to be on the streets one day this week.”
“Mrs. V. A. Munsey and daughter, Miss Bettie, have returned to their house in Washington City.”
“S. H. Anderson still lingers between life and death; one day he is better and the next day worse, and so he has been going for some weeks. This morning he is considerably better.”
“W. S. Febuary is very low at his home in Jonesboro, with very little hopes of his recovery.”
“The Women’s Tuesday club (sic) held its first meeting for this year at the home of Mrs. W. S. Hickey Tuesday afternoon.”
“At a meeting of the Shubert club (sic), held last Saturday afternoon at the Inn, the following officers were elected for the winter: Mrs. R. F. Wells, president; Miss Kathleen Reeves, vice president; Miss Lillian Dosser, secretary; Miss Laura Bruner, treasurer; Miss Nana Pritchett, reporter. A meeting was held this afternoon at the house of the Misses Deaderick.”
“S. H. L. Cooper came home Thursday after an absence of several weeks, examining banks through Middle and West Tennessee.”
This was followed by news with a dateline from Johnson City; the date was October 7. “The people of this city very much regret the loss of the estimable family of ex-Gov. Taylor, who will leave here on the 15th inst. for San Antonio, Tex, where they will spend the winter, the Governor having made arrangements to put his girls in school there.”
“This city will be represented in the Knoxville carnival (sic) by the selection of a (several indecipherable words) in the person of Miss Frances Bolton.”
“Miss Lillie Painter, who secured the Peabody scholarship, left last Monday for Nashville, where she will attend the Peabody Normal school (sic) this winter.”
“Miss Mary Waggoner, of Mountain City, has been the guest of her cousin, Miss Mollie Faw, on Market street (sic) this week.”
“Mrs. Jack Lever has gone to Talladega, Alabama, where she will join her husband, who has secured employment there.”
“Wade H. Patton, the expert postal mail clerk, who has been superintendent of the dispatching department, in Havana, Cuba, has returned to his home here last Monday on a thirty days’ leave of absence. Mr. Patton was the special messenger bearing $390,000 of postal funds from Havana to the sub-treasury at New York on his return.”
“Mrs. Morrison and children, of Virginia, are the guests of Mrs. J. M. Buck on Watauga avenue (sic).”
“Miss Ella Tonzellin, an attractive young lady of Bristol, is the guest of the Misses Wood and Mrs. Herndon.”
“Prof. W. R. Huffine, who spent his vacation at home, near here, has returned to Hill City, where he will take charge of the school there for the third year in succession.”
“A most entertaining musical given by the ladies of the First Presbyterian church (sic), was rendered at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Wood, last evening.”
“Capt. C. W. Battle has decided to move his family to Goldesboro, N. C., and they will leave November 1.”
“The September report of the Johnson City postoffice (sic) shows quite an increase in postal business. If a corresponding increase is kept up during the other months of the year, the office will be rated at $1,800 next year. A part of this increase, perhaps, is due to the rural free mail delivery which has been operative here since July 1. During the last month the carriers have delivered 6,000 pieces of mail matter, which is an excellent record for the rural districts surrounding the city.”
The O. and C. was likely a transposition for C. and O., which stood for Chesapeake and Ohio. R. R. stood for “Railroad”.
Unaka Springs is located near Erwin.
Washington City is now known as Washington, D. C.
The Schubert Club still continues to meet.
“Robert L. Taylor was the Governor of Tennessee from January 17, 1887, until January 19, 1891, and also from January 21, 1897, until January 16, 1899. He was United States Senator from March 4, 1907, until March 31, 1912, and was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Tennessee’s First Congressional District from March 4, 1879, until March 3, 1881.” (Source: Wikipedia.com.)
“Inst.” is an abbreviation meaning “In the same month.”
Peabody Normal School eventually became a part of Vanderbilt University.
Mountain City, Tennessee is about 44 miles northeast of Johnson City. It is located in Johnson County, and is the county seat of Johnson County.
Hill City, Tennessee is near Chattanooga.
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 in Johnson City in 1899.
Tuesday, October 9, 1974: Fifty years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported news from the Board of Education; Dan Seaman’s byline was on the article. “The Johnson City Board of Education voted last night to go to the City Commission with a request for more than $1 million for renovations in city schools.
“The board will ask the commission for about $1.5 million which was request for renovations some two years ago. The original request was turned down.
“The decision appeared unplanned. Discussion which led to the renovation request began when two board members asked that a letter be written to City Commission asking for money to improve toilet facilities at North Side Elementary School.
“Next came a motion at the recommendation of the superintendent, Terrell Ponder, to ask the city manager and his staff to accompany the board on a survey of city schools to help establish a timetable on needed improvements and renovations.
“Then board members began to discuss the two-year-old renovation request, and voted to take the whole matter to the commission again.
“Ponder was given the authority to contact the commission and ‘convey the sentiments of the board.’
“Overcrowded classrooms were briefly discussed, and Ponder said that if current expansion plans are met that there should be no overcrowded classes by next fall. State law allows only 30 students per class. There are about five classes currently over the limit.
“The superintendent must ask the state for a waiver for each class over 30, and submit a plan to remedy the overcrowding.
“Mary Hyder, representing the Science Hill Student Council, presented a newly ratified student body constitution to board members.”
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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