BAMA MAMMOTHS: September 2024

Friday, September 27, 2024

Buck Baker deals with women fighting.

from the June 28, 1915 DOTHAN EAGLE

NEGRO WOMEN FIGHT SUNDAY

Ginger Cake Brown and High Yaller Engage in Hair Pulling Contest on Principal Street While Large Crowd Take in the Show

The odd spectacle of a "ginger cake brown” and a "high yaller” engaged in a hair pulling contest on Foster Street,the Broadway of Dothan, occurred Sunday while probably forty young men of the city looked on until the fight ended.

No admission was charged, however, the crowd would have been larger if the event had been advertised. Like the gladiators of old, the two women met on Foster and hostilities picked up immediately. It is said that only few words were passed.

In view of the fact that no pistols, stillettos nor battle axes were in use- and the proverbial razor was conspicuously absent, no attempt was made to separate the belligerents - until finally a negro boy pulled the maddened negroes apart.

While the melee lasted the women hung their fingers in each others hair talking and fighting at the same time. The spectators laughed.

The Marquis of Queensberry rules were not used, neither were any ground rules agreed upon, both parties having unrestricted use of the street and sidewalk.

When the women were separated, somebody said, “Run get out of the way before the police arrive” but alas the principals had no such good luck both falling into the hands of Officers Daughtry and Hart.

Sunday Fight $10

It costs $10 for two negro women to fight on Foster Street, in Dothan, on Sunday afternoon, this being the fine Mayor Joe Baker placed on both defendants today. Both women plead guilty, but Mattie Lee Kincey, who told the court she had a husband, was boiling over with rage and just had to talk some.

“What do you do?’’ said the Mayor.

“Judge, I don't work- I have a husband supposed to be looking out for me. That woman has almost taken my husband — ”

"The more you talk the more it costs'' came from His Honor.

At any rate Mattie Lee Kincey is satisfied that her husband who works at a local hotel has been taking up entirely too much time with Mary Emma Grace who works at H. Blumberg’s and if the ginger cake brown and the high yellow had been given an opportunity and a little encouragement they would have fought in Mayor’s court today.

Moral:

Leave the other woman’s husband alone if you don't want to fight on Sunday and get fined.

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Sidewalks 1901

. . mere is an idea mat some more paved sidewalks will be ordered at the next meeting of the board, and it Is to be hoped that this is true. There could be no better monument for the present board to leave behind it than a complete system of concrete side- waits. Particularly needed are walks to the two cemeteries, and the paving of walks on 10th street ould bring that.

;iboat. Then, too, we need walks to the two depots, and one from Crescent City avenue to the A. G. S. station is an especially crying need.

Hut while about it why not lay walks on all the avenues from Broad street to 10th street? It makes things look scrappy to have the paving stop short as it does at the avenues in so many places now..

On the first of February the paring of sidewalks will be finished. That is the contract time and it looks now like the contractor will get through. What a pity to let the work stop. Why not go ahead and include a few more streets. Certainly University Avenue should have paved sidewalks.

If it is unreasonable to call for both sides at once, cannot the City Council order one side paved to the city limits and perhaps the University might be prevailed upon to continue the work to the campus front entrance, at least. There is no part of Tusca• loosa that needs a walk more. There is now, as it were, a great gulf fixed between the city and the University and a concrete walk all the way out would mako the distance seem a trifle..

The fact that Tuskaloosa is getting in good financial shape and the prospects for a larger revenue from the operation of the dispensary gives the citizens hope for paved sidewalks within the next year or two. Tuskaloosa is too large a town to be without respectable pavements and as soon as the city is in the least able, it should make this improvement. It will mean more for its physical condition than any other improvement that can possibly be made.

Sewer December 16, 1880

rWithou' raiding the city tax, we understand It is impossible to do any permanent, valuable work on the main sewer, in the south-east portion ot the city. This is certainly an important'pnb-licwork, and should not be undertaken without duce consideration. In all that we have bad to say, it has been io no captious spirit ; but there is one thing that could be done without great expense, viz : diain the pond in the street between Pof. Wyman'e and' Mrs. Eades' residences'.

This pond is made simply by the accumulation of rain-fall in a natural depression in the street. During heavy, continued rains a great quantity of water elands, pretty much all winter and spring, and the thoroughfare is use ful only to wash the mud from hacks wheels and' torses' legs. ' Some years ago an attempt was made to drain this pond, by cuttings ditch on one side and over to tbe head of the main sewer. This ditch has become partially filled ei that the water does ootiun through, ex cept when tho pond contains a certain amount of' water. Open (his ditch for about half its length, and run about three she Haw drains across the street, hnnN Ing off the dir.V.

or Jjuild. a foot-wiy next to Dr. Wymaus' fence.and the pond would draiu itself, if wagons were prohibited crossing the ditch at Ine head of-ihe sewer. This would throw tbe water of the pond into Ihe the sewer; which would) pass .fcff until "too low W myvti. f hh-wo'k cou'd be f'ote by the s.ret hands, except opening ibe ditch,' which cuuld beyidpne lor .

Vi ao.. we Know this matter has troubled ourcily fathers; but not-more than the frogs, tad-poles andmt squilos have troubled and annoys ed our neigbb (hood every spring. The Sewer cannot he effectually engineered without, laying down about a 20-ioch clay pipe, with .probably an over-drain, to carry Off lb plus of water which the pipe might not contain. This would eost no littl sum, and ought perhaps to lie over until tbe gas debt Is paid. The health of the town Is sjfe until then.

Traffic Rights and Ordinances Are Made Clear The main ordinance dealing with traffic regulaitons in Tuscaloosa has been in effect since January of 1920. The same ordinance is in effect with only a few minor changes end additions by later ordinances. The most recent ordiance having any great effect on the regulations was passed in October 1924. Some of the provisions in these ordinances effecting the general public in parking, speed limits, passing on the streets, driving in from side streets and such procitizens might, officials of the city, it is thought by be called to the attention of the public so as to reacquaint Tuscaloosa people with those regulations. The speed limit regulations for.

bid any driving in any part of the city which might endanger the lives and property of others. The limit for street crossings and intersections is ten miles per hour. The limit for the congested traffic part of the city, defining that part as the primary fire limits, is 12 miles per hour. The same speed applies to school zones. There is no city ordinance stating just what vehicles shall have right-of-way over other vehicles at street cross.

ings other than the requirements that cars entering University avenue from the narrow streets in that section and at the intersection of Audubon place and Seventh street shall come to : stop but there is a general understanding among the citizens of Tuscaloosa, according tO City Attorney S. H. Sprott that cars entering the boulevards, including Broad street, University avenne, Greensboro avenue and Queen City avenue shall give way to cars on those main thoroughfares. The same principle applies to all paved streets with reference to dirt streets inter. secting with the paved streets.

The ordinance, dealing with cars parking in the streets behind cars parked in the regular way, forbids parking for a longer time than is necessary for passengers to get out or into the car The ordinance does not apply when the driver re. mains in the car so as to move it when it is necessary to allow other ears to back out from the curb. Rules for passing on the streets expressly state that each party shall turn to the right when going opposite directions. When going in the same direction the passing shall be to the left and the person being overtaken is required to turn out to the right as far as is practical. No driver can legally pass a street dar while passengers are getting on or off on the side unless there is room to pass 15 feet from the street car.

No driver can legally turn across a street except at a crossing or intersection. In stopping or slowing down to any great extent. the driver is required to hold out his hand as a signal. In backing up from the curb the signal is the blowing of a horn or other warning signal. No vehicle is to park with the left side of that vehicle toward the curb.

Other parking requirements state that cars shall not be parked within 15 feet of the street corner or in the same distance a fire hydrant in the town districts. Some special provisions for parking forbid the parking of cars on the east side of second avenue between the rear Elks theatre and Sixth street during or immeditaely before or after. performances there. Vehicles are not to be parked in the streets to be repaired or the street to be cluttered with cars and parts before garages and repair shops. Some miscellaneous requirements found necessary to include in the ordinance state that persons are not to hold on to cars while on skates or bicycles.

Two lights in front and ne red light behind is required for all cars at.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

August 14, 1879 SEWER LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Tvccdlcdaai fa. Twetdledee. Mb. Edho : A few weeks ago, onr City Fathers appointed a trusty agent to inspect the private premises of every resident of the City, to see that no lurking germs of fever were thereon concealed. The inspector did his work faithfully, so far as I know, and no doubt reported to tbe Marshal, as in duty bound to do.

From tbe prompt and stringent action of the Fathers I supposed our City waa one of the cleanest and purest in the South. Imagine my surprise, then, on finding the main sewer of the City in such filthy and choked up condition as to be a stench in the nostrils of citizens. My attention was first attracted by observing stagnant water in the lefm ditch m the old iail lot. Pasnlos no Southward, I found tbe sewer near Little Zion Chnrch chokexl np bad. Going on to the Southern rent-gin of the City, I fonnd the marsh between the property of Prof. Wyman and Mrs. Rodes "full up" with weeds and wa ter, bnt no motion was vtsiiue m tne aroin Ieadina down by Stephen Miller's property. At several street crossings I saw stagnation at crime mints, and slight motien at others. Now, after such strenuous efforts to make private premises cleanly and healthy, is it not singu lar to see sucn gross negieoi 01 puouc umj .u the same direction ? In the elegant language of Mark Twain, "Why this thusnessr And now arises a serious question. Viz : Whether to have that Sewer promptly and thorongly cleaned out at once, thereby creating an awful bad smell tor a few days, with Derhaps a few cases of "Fernioioua" or "Malarial" fever, and possibly a 'Sporadic' or two, or, let the water stand and stagnate and smell bad till frost comes, thus insuring full crop of chills and fever, and a rich bar- vest tor tne doctors ana druggists i nni is the question which requires earnest attention of tbe Hoard of HetUth at the earnest possible moment.

CmzES.

WHY COW LAW SHOULD NOT BE PASSED. 1. For on luckless bovin that teals a oabbage or an apple from a careleaa grocer, or opens th latehless gate of so improvident oilizen, there ar butidrada of respectable eows that anietly brows on onr back streats without molesting anyone. 2. A aow that bahavaa badly eaa be abated like any other nuisance.

When there is such a plain rtaort, would it b wis to punish th inno cent in ordar to suppress the guilty? Thi is ai ti-republioan. 8. Th complaint against marauding; stock comes from those who bavt no Interest in them. The weilare of a whole city is not to be sacrificed for a oabbage. If the driven of country wagons go off and leave their teams and wagons exposrd contrary 10 an xpreas law ol the city can they justly invoke the creation of another law to protect tham in their lawlessness ; Or if a grocer persist in blocking th idewalk with oratea of cabbages where loud scent attracts a foraging animal, is it not just one of the risks which he take in putting it there T 4 The back streets covered with Ber muda grass is th only valnahl free bold of th city.

This is open to any family that keeps a cow. To cut off thi 'reshold which bas exiattd front time immemorial would be equiva lent to levying a heavy tax upon a portion of our citizens least able to bear it. Many a poor widow, strug gling to support a family of fatherleaa children, fnda iu thi her greatest source of support. 5. Hundreds of dollars annually were lost to the city by the passage of th hog law.

There are heaps ol garbage in our back streets which those scavengers removtd, and which the town cart dot not reach. The children yet pine for these delightful spare-rib and tenderloin which their mother prepared, and now it is proposed to take the milk away from the babte and sucklings. The law means less of milk to tht poor, and to the rich it means that diseased milk which comes from confining stock in pens and feeding them on artificial food. 6. Apart from any sanitary or local consideration, however, it ia impolitic and unslatearuaiilike to destroy values, Ia town without pay-rolls, without industries and struggling for bare x istence, it is not best to sacrifice too much to style.

We have had too mue.h nf that. ,.

Lumsden's Battery https://archive.org/details/lumsdenbattery00littrich/page/6/mode/2up

Memoirs of GEORGE LITTLE

We have had too mue.h nf that. ,.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

William (1791-?) & Elizabeth Register (1797-?) ~ parents of John Young Register 1818-1872

A good many of the Washington County Georgia Registers' are from the South Carolina--Darlington area. They are descendants of Joshua Register b. bef. 1755. Known sons of Joshua are: Jesse, Thomas, James, Joshua Jr...all est.born 1755-1774. These are on the Darlington 1790,1800,1810 censuses.Then pickup in Washington Co. Georgia in 1820.At least one group, later returned to Darlington Co, SC...believed to be Joshua Jrs' Family. (see 1830-1840 Darlington, SC census)

Land awarded in Washington Co. GA to Thomas, Reddin, David about 1822+1824.There is a large group of Registers' living in the household of a John Register of Washington Co. Ga on the 1830 Census. [For Land, see the Laurens Co GA website.] Washington Co, and Laurens' Co had some overlap in those early years.That means, that research of the Laurens' Co "group" and the SC "group" are often intermingled, making sorting them out difficult.If you're from the SC group...you're a distant cuzin! Several of the SC/Washinton Co, GA group went on to gain land patents in Alabama.Two migrations are known...early on (1820s) to Henry Co/later Houston Co. AL and to the (1830s) Pike Co, AL area. The "Laurens County" group, are descendants of NC Registers...and Cuzins to the SC "bunch". Some lines are mapped in the Laurens group.

Other William Registers' are found in 1830 in Dooley Co,and Ware Co, GA.

Would you post the Childrens' names that you have on your William & Elizabeth Register?Working together helps...

I have no information on any of William and Elizabeth's other children. According to the 1850 Pike County census,William C. Register is listed as 59 years old and born in SC.
Elizabeth is listed as age 53.Hope this helps.

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

ROBERTOREG'S LABOR DAY 2024 VIDEOS

ROBERTOREG'S LABOR DAY CATFISH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGBUgldhtnI

ROBERTOREG'S LABOR DAY WILDFLOWERS: PART 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvVVQXVjAzw

ROBERTOREG'S LABOR DAY WILDFLOWERS: PART 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca1Ue05BG_s

ROBERTOREG'S LABOR DAY WILDFLOWERS: PART 3 ROBERTOREG'S LABOR DAY WILDFLOWERS: PART 3 (youtube.com)

ROBERTOREG'S LABOR DAY WILDFLOWERS: PART 4 ROBERTOREG'S LABOR DAY WILDFLOWERS: PART 4 (youtube.com)

Sunday, September 1, 2024

BUCK BAKER (1869-1920) in the August 19, 1933 DOTHAN EAGLE

Just how long Buck Baker could have remained mayor of Dothan is a mere matter of speculation He was never defeated for office and but few times in his life failed at anything he undertook to accomplish He was a great character and his life will furnish more stories of human interest and appreciation than most any character in Dothan’s public life.

At one time he was approached by some ladies of the Foster Street Methodist church for a donation on chimes which they hoped to install. After ascertaining what they were to cost, he asked how much they yet lacked of having the money. He was told the insignificant sum. He then asked if they couldn’t return it to the donors and allow him to give the chimes as a memorial to his mother. It was arranged and now is a matter of Dothan history that those chimes ring out Mrs Baker’s old familiar hymns every Sunday morning.

He was Dothan’s biggest taxpayer and yet he was never known to have opposed a tax for better schools, the lack of which advantages had been such a source of embarrassment to him throughout his public life.

Before the schools were free and when the cost of text books were an item to the poor, the city clerk had strict instructions from the mayor not to let anyone who wanted to matriculate fail to do so for lack of necessary money if worthy "Give them a ticket and charge to me”. That was his style.

After having served eight years faithfully and successfully, he gracefully retired from the office and assisted in the election of his friend J R Young who had announced his candidacy ten years prior to this time.

From the November 11, 1962 DOTHAN EAGLE

HONORING THE PIONEERS

Only a day or two ago I attended the funeral of one of this city's elder citizens and was made to realize that men like him, men of compassion understanding and a sympathetic heart were becoming all too few in these days of constant tensions and frustrations of senseless ambitions and a mad rush to the ultimate end for which we are all destined.

Mr Will Hardwick was always a sweet friend to me and when I was a young physician just loginning my work in this community he was one of the men who scented interested in me and my future and I learned to love and appreciate him and his many fine qualities as the years have passed and brought the mellowness that only time and age can bring I regret that this city as so many other cities seems to forget the men who pioneered this community and made our present fine city a possibility— rn e n like Russ Porter George Malone “Buck" Baker Jim Young John lowers and my own revered father as well as a host of others too numerous to burden your columns with but I wish to take this means of expressing my thanks to all of these fine men who have gone on to their last accounting for the means which they left us of a younger generation to take up the candle which they lighted so that those who come after us may find the way a bit brighter and easier Please forgive my verbosity but remember that the heart sings the glad songs of remembrance when we are confronted with the sweet memories of those departed men and women who made our lives a bit better and who contributed their bit to the essence of Dothan so that the youngsters of today may progress to a finer Dothan and find therein the realization of their dreams of youth and the fruition of t h e i r efforts A compassionate heart and an understanding mmd are two o f the most abiding virtues which we may acquire and as we contemplate the lives of these fine men who have gone before us we are made to feel very humble and at the same time very proud that we have had the privilege of their association and advice and that our lives have been blessed thereby If I be not considered too forward may I suggest that this city with its fine men and women realize the impact on their lives which the lives of so many fine men and women have made in order that their own living may be better and fuller and this city achieve its rightful place in the sun of history Arthur Keyton Dothan Ala.

Dothan's first surveyor

from the August 24, 1915 DOTHAN EAGLE

Mr. George T. Roberts was county surveyor for 30 years in Henry County. He knew more land lines than any man in Southeast Alabama, having been on nearly every tract of land in the county. While Houston was Henry, he surveyed land in Dothan before there was any town here, just pines and long horn cows and fox squirrels. He was never a robust man, but enjoyed very good health; always, had a word of humor and wit, all the older people can recall many jokes that he has gotten on them at times. He lived to be four score and two as he would have been 82 years old at his next birthday. He was buried at Union church cemetery.

May we all remember his good examples as well as the cheerful spirit in which he always met his fellow man.

We know that he was ready to meet his Lord and Maker, as he lived it every day.

GEORGE T. ROBERTS (March 20, 1834 - August 22, 1915 ~ age 81) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17257708/george-t-roberts

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2336088/union-freewill-baptist-church-cemetery/map