Today in Johnson City History, Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Football, juvenile delinquents, railroad update, and more
Thursday, November 20, 1924: One hundred years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported that “A full squad of high school huskies of Johnson City will leave with their football uniforms in their satchels this afternoon on Southern train 15, bound for Maryville, where they will tackle the gridiron stars of Maryville Poly on Friday. All the boys are in good condition, and expect to give a good account of themselves.
“In the crew leaving today will be Coach Davidson, Captain Ray Moss, Carl Hanks, Bill Bush, Joe Crouch, Red Lamons, Sam Thomas, Sam Sells, Carl Zimmerman, Joe Gasteiger, Jack Wolfe, Tom Treadway, ‘Hull’ Hensley, James Worley, Junior O’Dell, T. Kimbrough.”
Tuesday, November 20, 1934: Ninety years ago today, The Elizabethton Star reported news from its pages five years previous, on November 20, 1929. Readers read that “Carter county’s (sic) game supply is fastly disappearing, that is if the 270 persons whom to date have supplied fo (sic) rhunting (sic) licenses are good shots for hunting licenses are good shots.”
“The twentieth annual bazaar of circle (sic) no. (sic) 1 of the Presbyterian church (sic) will be held tomorrow at the Queen City restaurant (sic). Turkey with all the ‘trimmings’ will be served at the noon-day luncheon at eleven o’clock and at dinner at five-thirty tomorrow evening.”
“’Looking for the Good In Us’, was the subject used by Rev. Gilbert E. Chandler of Maryville, Tennessee, at the Optimist luncheon Tuesday noon at the high school. Chandler is holding a revival at the Christian church (sic) for the pastor, Rev. J. J. Musick.”
“Dr. and Mrs. J. B. Shoun returned last night from Washington, D. C., and New York City, where they have been for three weeks on a combined business and pleasure trip.”
The Elizabethton Star is still being published.
Monday, November 20, 1939: Eighty-five years ago today, the Johnson City Press alerted readers that “A 17-year-old youth and his 14-year-old brother, who recently returned to Johnson City after both had stayed several months in the state reformatory, will be given a hearing before Juvenile Judge Ann Parsons today on a charge of entering Mack Tipton’s grocery at 1016 East Fairview avenue (sic) Saturday night and taking small quantities of candy and cigarets (sic).. Captain of Detectives Cad Shoun of the local police department said today. The boys, arrested by Shown and Chief Tom Carriger, allegedly pried open the store’s back door.”
Sunday, November 20, 1949: Seventy-five years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle reported that “Ernest E. Norris, president of the Southern Railway System, said here Friday that the line’s streamline train, ‘The Tennessean,’ will be re-equipped with new cars by the end of the year. Some of them already have been put into service.
“Norris, whose office and home are in Washington, D. C., came to Johnson City on what he called ‘a doorbell ringing visit’, with shippers and ‘other friends of the Southern.’ Accompanied by B. E. Young, his assistant, he conferred with W. D. Harkins, district freight and passenger agent at the Johnson City station.
“Norris said that the new cars are part of a $11,500,000 order placed in 1946.
“The railroad executive, commenting on the state of the nation, declared that ‘Americans stand today at the crossroads where they much choose between government paternalism and controlism, which inevitably lead to Socialism and the destruction of individual freedom, and the private enterprise system which has made our country known throughout the world as the land of ‘milk and honey’ for all.
“’It is much later than we think,’ he emphasized. ‘Look around you at the people who have fallen for the ‘something for nothing’ gimmick, listen to the peanut politicians’ glittering promises of more handouts of tax money.’
“’The continuing criticism of the profit motive that is the mainspring of the private enterprise system, and the growing acceptance of the idea that the welfare state is inevitable, sometimes makes it difficult not to believe that we have traveled so far down the road to statism that we have already passed the ‘point of no return.’ We have been losing our freedom by leaps and bounds.’
“He vigorously denounced the ‘short-sighted, lopsided public transportation policies that force railroads to compete with taxpayer-supported carriers by highway, airway and waterway. The railroads are the only form of commercial transportation that doesn’t have a ‘pipe-line into the public treasury,’ he added. ‘All the others are being wet-nursed at the expense of John Q. Taxpayer.’
“On the bright side, he said, was the continuing industrial growth and progress of the Southland. He predicted that there would be little, if any, let up in this growth, because ‘industries know that here in the South we have what they need and want.’”
Wednesday, November 20, 1974: Fifty years ago today, the Johnson City Press-Chronicle published an interesting letter in the “Dear Abby” column; clearly, the letter below was in reply to a previous letter that appeared in Dear Abby’s column. Let’s read it!
A reader wrote, “Dear Abby:”
“Your correspondent was not crazy. There was an article in the newspaper stating that a dog and cat had been mated, and the result was a ‘dat.’
“In 1970, a London pet shop owner, Roy Tutt, claimed that he had accomplished that, which zoologists declared was impossible. He bred ‘dats’ from a black cat and a Scottish terrier. Tutt said they had heads like dogs, but they had fur, whiskers and claws like cats. And he even sent along some ‘pictures’ of the newborn ‘dats.’
“Later he was forced to admit that it was all a hoax.
“I am a proofreader at the Daily News in Port Angeles, Washington, and am herewith enclosing the article and picture.”
The letter was signed “Donna Greier”.
This was Dear Abby’s reply:
“Dear Donna:
“Thanks. Your letter was the first I received to document the item. Subsequently, however, it rained cats, dogs and ‘dats.’”
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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