AMERICUS — July 1, 1937: “DeSoto News - Mrs. Ethel Robinson, Misses Patricia and Margaret Robinson of Americus, Mrs. B.L. Dell, Miss Helen Dell and Mrs. A.B. Howard of Leslie were guests of Mrs. F.H. Scarborough Thursday.” TCN - Frank Marsh's account of Americus saloons and their locations circa 1890; S.C. Purvis donated $3 to Bethesda Baptist rebuilding fund

July 3, 1937: “Mrs. O.S. Bass and daughter, Betty, have moved from 138 Brannon avenue to 523 Jackson avenue.”

July 6, 1937: “Mr. and Mrs. Eustace Ansley, of Louisville, Ky., and Mr. and Mrs. Corvin Lindsey, of Roanoke, Ala., were weekend guests of Mr. Ansley's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Ansley, at their home on Church street.”

July 7, 1937: “Ellaville News - Friends of Miss Lillian Purvis will be glad to know that she is improving from an attack of mumps which she suffered this week.; Friends of Mrs. John Hugh Robinson will be very glad to know that she is very much improved following injuries she received in an automobile accident in Albany last Thursday.  Mr. and Mrs. Robinson had been for a visit to their sister, Mrs. Vera Murray, who resides in Albany, and their car was struck by another car, the jolt causing a door of the car to fly open. Mrs. Robinson fell through the door to the ground, causing her to be bruised up considerably but no bones were broken.”

July 8, 1937: TCN – “Charlie Speer and Paul Strong are spending one month in Citizens Military Training camp, in Savannah.”

July 12, 1937: “Miss Carrie Speer has returned from a visit of several days in Macon.”

July 20, 1937: “Calvin Speer has accepted a position with the Atlantic Ice and Coal company and assumed his new duties today.”

July 22, 1937: TCN - C.J. Sherlock's reminiscence of Ireland and his participation in its independence movement

July 26, 1937: “HOSPITAL NOTES - Mrs. J.T. Cotney who has been a patient at the City hospital was removed to her home on East Church street today.”

July 28, 1937: “Leslie News - Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Cheves and two children, of Gainesville, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer this week.”

July 29, 1937: “Who's Who In Americus” - brief descriptions of local businesses included “Giddings' Signs - Wilbur Giddings - located at 110 N. Jackson St. ... ”; TCN – “Celebrating her 13th birthday anniversary, Betty Bass was entertained by her mother, Mrs. O.S. Bass, with a prom party ... at their home on Jackson avenue ... The hostess was assisted by ... Miss Edna Purvis and Mrs. J.L. Snider ... Those present were:  ... Spud Bass Jr. and Bobby Snider.”

Aug. 2, 1937: C.F. Giddings, et. al., pallbearers at funeral of Lott Warren, died July 31st, aged 82

Aug. 5, 1937: TCN - history of D.S. Club, founded Mar. 1,1934 with following charter members: Bivins Ross, Squire Fort, Earl Jackson, Theo Baldwin, Tom Heys, Gerald Jackson, David Jennings, John Grahl, Eldridge Ferguson, Elmore Draughon, Heys McMath, Julian Gammage, C.C. Robertson Jr., Raymond Collins, Mint Harrison, Griff Eldridge, James and Addison Deavours, Fred Dorsey, Clyde Moore, Thomas Woodard, Charlie Hogg, Horace Freeman, Merritt Shiver, Wingate Dykes

Aug. 6, 1937: Everett Schneider Davenport, of Augusta, Jimmy Giddings, et. al., guests at Bobby Lavender's fifth birthday party Aug. 5th

Aug. 7, 1937: “Mrs. B.L. Guerry, of Richmond, Va., formerly of Americus, is the guest of Mrs. Etta Mae Nix at her home on South Lee street.”; Miss Vivian Sullivan, et. al., guests at “splash” party honoring bride-elect Miss Emily Wootten

Aug. 11, 1937: obituary of Mrs. R.F. Poole Sr., daughter of pioneer settlers, Dr. James G. McCrary and his wife, Anne Rivers Cowles, “born and died in the same residential block” [southside Lamar between Lee and Prince]

Aug. 12, 1937: “Ellaville News - Elder and Mrs. Hansel McCorkle and family are spending this week as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Purvis at their home near Shiloh Primitive church, in Talbot County.” TCN – Americus named one of ten state highway patrol headquarters; “Ellaville Personals - Mrs. Vera Murray, of Albany, is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Robinson.; Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Robinson are visiting relatives in Warm Springs.”; “Clair Faver and Woodrow Maroon have returned to their home in Miami, Fla., after spending about two weeks with Charlie Speer.”

Aug. 13, 1937: “Mrs. Elinor T. Pruitt and Miss Lubel Speer will leave here Sunday morning by train for Washington, D.C., where they will visit a few days before leaving for New York City ... buying trip.”; “Mrs. Johnnie Schneider spent Wednesday and Thursday with her sister, Mrs. Stella Shepard at Edison.”

Aug. 19, 1937: “A party composed of Mrs. Herbert Moon, Misses Nancy Ruth and Katron Moon ... have returned from Panacea, Fla., where they spent a week.” TCN – “FUTURE OF NEGRO HOSPITAL AT STAKE”; “Mrs. Russell Speer and children, Martha, Charlie and King, spent Thursday afternoon in Columbus.”

Aug. 26, 1937: photograph and story of Col. A.S. Cutts and his role in buying the last African slaves ever smuggled into Georgia, on the “Wanderer”; “LOCAL MEN WIN FISHING TRIP - Jimmie Bass and Cecil Parks, of Americus, won a vacation fishing trip to Panama City, Fla., for making the best sales record in the Columbus district in the Liberty National Insurance company. They were unable to take the trip, however, because of illness.”

Aug. 28, 1937: Julian Suggs Sr's. “Letter to the Editor” suggested naming newly-announced high school after Prof. C.M. Hale

Aug. 31, 1937: article on Cotton Avenue's 100th anniversary; “Judson Rushin, who was bitten by a snake Saturday, was resting well at his home, on Lee street. Mr. Rushin stepped on a moccasin while fishing on the Lee street road, and was bitten on the left foot. He was given snake serum at the Prather Clinic, and has been confined at his home since Saturday.”

Sept. 2, 1937: TCN - photographs of Heys E. McMath and Robt. L. McMath of Americus Oil Company; “NEGRO HOSPITAL SAVED FOR CITY”; “Mrs. Jimmie Bass, ill at her home on Lee street, is better.”; “Miss Vi Speer has returned from Carolina Beach and Rocky Mount, S.C., where she spent two weeks.”

Sept. 8, 1937: “WAR DRESS HERE OFFERED TO 'GONE WITH THE WIND' - A dress made and worn during the War Between the States has been offered to Selznick International for use in filming “Gone With the Wind” by an Americus woman. The calico dress belongs to Mrs. Molly Blalock. James T. Cotney, local jeweler and life-long friend of the Hills and Blalocks, has written to the Hollywood studio to sell the dress for Mrs. Blalock ... The dress was made and worn during the war by Mrs. Hill, who lived in Americus. She was the sister of General Clement Evans, Georgia governor, Confederate general, and preacher. When Mrs. Hill died, the dress was inherited by her daughter, Mrs. Sam Cobb of this city. When Mr. and Mrs. Cobb died, Mrs. Blalock, sister of Mr. Cobb, received the dress ... ”

Sept. 9, 1937: “INSURANCE MEN GIVEN HONORS - Cecil Parks and Jimmie Bass local representatives of the Liberty National Life Insurance company were notified today that they had lead the Columbus district in the amount of business produced during the past quarter ... ”;  “BIRTHS - Mr. and Mrs. John Rushin Jr. announce the birth of an 8 1/4 pound son born this morning, September 9, at the home of her mother, Mrs. Raines on the Leslie road. The baby has been named James Henry. Before marriage Mrs. Rushin was Miss Martha Raines.” TCN - Frank Marsh article re tuberculosis; photograph of new boys dormitory at GSW

Sept. 14, 1937: “Ellaville News - The many friends of James Purvis will be glad to know that he has sufficiently recovered from his recent operation to enter school. He is the second member of his family to go under the knife for the removal of an appendix within the past few months, his sister, Miss Lillian Purvis having had her appendix removed.”; “Herbert Moon Jr., left today for Dahlonega, where he will be a student at North Georgia Military college this year.”

Sept. 16, 1937: Betty Bass, Anne Giddings, et. al., guests at Gertrude Hurst's twelfth birthday party Sept. 14th; “Mrs. John Daniel, of Dallas, Texas, is spending a few days at her home here.”

Sept. 18, 1937: “Sam Gunn is confined to his home on Oglethorpe avenue because of illness.”; King Speer, et. al., guests at Martha Cook's fourteenth birthday party Sept. 17th

Sept. 20, 1937: photograph of E.W. “Woody” James' service station, southeast corner Forsyth and Windsor

Sept. 23, 1937: “Spud Bass Jr. underwent a tonsillectomy this morning at Prather Clinic.” TCN – “KU KLUX KLAN IS NOT DEAD IN SUMTER”

Sept. 27, 1937: “Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Eady were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gunn en route to their home in Savannah from a two weeks visit in the West.”

Sept. 28, 1937: article on 50th anniversary of Sumter County Courthouse, southeast corner Forsyth and Lee

Sept. 30, 1937: TCN – “Speer's Flower and Beauty Shoppe, located at 128 Lamar ... has moved to the home of Mrs. Russell Speer, McGarrah ... in Brooklyn Heights ... Mrs. Speer began business 11 years ago ... ”; “Miss Mary Ann Croghan, 77, member of a prominent South Georgia family, died at Iron City, Ga., Tuesday. She was a native of Americus and funeral services were held at Americus Wednesday.” (C.F. Giddings, Charles Lingo, Callie Speer, et. al., pallbearers on Sept. 28)

Oct. 1, 1937: “Sam Gunn, who has been ill with mumps for the past two weeks, is improving.”

Oct. 7, 1937: TCN - Wallace B. Sheffield named first Colonel of Aviation in state history by Gov. E.D. Rivers

Oct. 12, 1937: Marvin Giddings, et. al., guests at Mary Newell Rainey's fourth birthday party Oct. 11th

Oct. 14, 1937: “Leslie News - Mr. Alva Speer of Ochlochnee, spent Monday and Monday night here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer.”

Oct. 25, 1937: “Miss Vivian Sullivan, Junior Dorsey and Charlie Wall, of Ellaville, attended the Tech-Auburn game Saturday in Atlanta.”

Oct. 28, 1937: “SCHLEY COUNTY TEARS DOWN ITS OLD COURTHOUSE” (see also, T-R, 11-1-37, “OLD COURTHOUSE IS TORN DOWN”)  TCN – “AMERICUS HOSPITAL PURCHASED FOR NEGROES”

Oct. 29, 1937: “FISH STORY Sam Gunn's sister is a fine fisherwoman. The Savannah Evening Press said so. Mrs. Jesse L. Eady, sister of the local man, recently went fishing with her fireman-husband, near Savannah, and returned with a string of 70 fish - all winter trout, except two flounders. They ranged in weight from 1 pound to 2 1/2 pounds.”; “ELLAVILLE ... Mr. and Mrs. A. Robinson, aged couple of Ellaville, are seriously ill at their home here. Mrs. Robinson had enjoyed good health until the past week when she became ill with a threatened attack of bronchial pneumonia.  Reports from her bedside are that she has pneumonia, and is not expected to live. Mr. Robinson who has passed his eightieth milestone in life, has been confined to his home for more than a year from illness. He is said to have become worse within the past few days. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are receiving the careful attention of doctors and nurses, but due to their extreme old age, fears are entertained for their recovery.”

Nov. 4, 1937: obituary of Mrs. Malinda Speer Robinson, died Nov. 4th, in Ellaville, aged 74

Nov. 5,1937: “Ellaville News - Mr. A.F. Robinson arrived Saturday morning from his home in Alpine, Texas, for a visit to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Robinson, having been called to Ellaville on account of the serious illness of his mother, Mrs. A. Robinson.”

Nov. 6, 1937: “HOTEL NAMED FOR AMERICUS ... a large hotel in Allentown, Pa., according to J.H. Free in a letter to the Times-Recorder. The owner of the hotel was in Americus and thought it was a fine city, so when he went home, he named his new hotel after this town.  The hotel stands on top of a hill like Americus does, Mr. Free writes.”

Nov. 10, 1937: “HOSPITAL NOTES - Mrs. Malynn Cannon, medical patient at city hospital, is better.”; Miss Vivian Sullivan, et. al., members of Miss Margaret Battle's Tuesday Club

Nov. 17, 1937: Sumter Rural Electrification board of directors:  Chairman Emmett Daniel, J.C. Wise Jr., Rufus Chappell, Lorin Hodges, G.L. Mathews, with list of 222 subscribers

Nov. 18, 1937: “BIRTHS - Mr. and Mrs. Theo Bass announce the birth of a son born this morning, November 18, at city hospital, who has been named Horace Theo Jr. Mrs. Bass was before her marriage Miss Ruth Wilson.”

Nov. 20, 1937: obituary of Mrs. H.O. Jones; photograph of Americus boys' choir at WSB studio in Atlanta

Nov. 22, 1937: “Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Giddings are confined to their home on Church street with attacks of influenza.”

Nov. 25, 1937: TCN – “BIRTHS - Mr. and Mrs. Theo Bass ... announce the birth of a six pound fourteen ounce son ... ”

Dec. 3, 1937: “Leslie News - Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer had as their dinner guests Thursday, Mr. A. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Troy Morrow and three sons of Ellaville; Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Speer, Miss Helen Speer and Miss Clarice Bullock of Ochlochnee.”

Dec. 4, 1937: “Mrs. Charles Roy Robinson announces the engagement of her daughter, Mildred Patricia, to James Stanley Greene, of Ellaville, the marriage to take place during the Christmas holidays ... ”

Dec. 14, 1937: “ ... At 10:25 a.m. today, a small fire broke out at the home of Mrs. Russell Speer at 916 McGarrah ... caused by a piece of cloth being tied around an unprotected electric wire in an iron ... ”

Dec. 15, 1937: “Dear Santa Claus: I would like you to bring me a Shirley Temple doll, a big glass tea set, a toy typewriter, a book and some candy. Don't forget Jane Horne. I am sending 10 cents for the Empty Stocking Fund.  Your little friend, BARBARA HALE.”

Dec. 16, 1937: TCN – “FRANK MARSH'S NEW MAGAZINE [“The Public Official”]”

Dec. 18, 1937: “Dear Santa Claus:  Please bring me a Cowboy suit, a scooter, some skates and lots of fireworks, fruits and candy.  Don't forget my sister Anne. Am enclosing 25c for the Empty Stocking Fund. Your little boy, Jimmie Giddings.”

Dec. 21,1937: Omer Bass, et. al., pallbearers at funeral of Thee Willard Edwards, 54 years; “Judge W.M. Harper of the Sumter County Superior court has signed total divorce decrees for J.E. Cannon and Mrs. J.E. Cannon ... ”

Dec. 23, 1937: “Mr. and Mrs. Abner Pitts and children, of Wilmington, N.C., arrived today to be the holiday guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Schneider, Hancock avenue.”

Dec. 27, 1937: “ ... The bride is the older daughter of Mrs. Ethel Windsor Robinson and the late Charles Roy Robinson, Miss Margaret Robinson, student at G.S.W.C. is her sister and her brother is R.A. Robinson, of Duncan, Arizona ... ”

Dec. 30, 1937: TCN – “Miss Patricia Robinson became the bride of Mr. Stanley Greene Sunday afternoon [Dec. 26th] ... ”



Alan Anderson, archivist of the Sumter Historic Trust, lives and works in Americus.