AMERICUS — Jan. 1, 1941: 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Lawson Speer, of Leslie

Jan. 6, 1941: “Charles L. Ansley, accompanied by Mrs. Ansley, left today for their annual 6,000 mile cottonseed trip throughout Georgia, Alabama, and the cotton counties of west Florida and east Tennessee.”

Jan. 8, 1941: “Leslie News - Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Park Green and Mrs. Aurelia Green returned to their home at Ft. Myers, Fla., Saturday after a visit to Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer.”

Jan. 9, 1941: TCN - City Court cases:  “Lewis Edwin Giddings, driving under influence intoxicants.”; “Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Ansley left the city recently for their annual trip ... where Mr. Ansley sells cotton seed in large quantities ... They are not expected home for several weeks.”

Jan. 17, 1941: “CHIEF MONAHAN DIES; FUNERAL IS HELD TODAY – Saw Longest Service With Fire Dept. In Americus – CHIEF 3 TIMES – Department Had Made Big Growth Under His Leadership – Americus paid tribute today to a man who had served as a fire fighter longer than any other person here … Death last night followed a valiant fight … health has been declining for the past few months, but the chief remained on duty until nearly two weeks ago. Mr. Monahan was one of the three men who composed the first paid fire department in 1891, which replaced the volunteer unit … had served as chief … at three separate intervals for a total of about 17 years … returned … as chief in 1932 … first truck was purchased in 1912, the second in 1917, and the third in 1927 … Chief Monahan was born and reared in Americus … a former member of the Elks club… survived by his wife, the former Miss Eva Horne; two sons, John F. Monahan Jr., San Antonio, Tex., and Robert E. Monahan, Americus; daughter, Miss Edna Monahan, Americus; five grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Larsen of Shaw, Oregon … funeral was conducted from the Monahan residence on Church … following served as pallbearers:  James McGarrah, S.L. Kitchens, Guyton Williamson, and H.K. Henderson … fire department; E.L. Moore and Frank Morris … police department; James G. McArthur and Tommy Davis … of the police department … honorary escort … C.J. Sherlock, Cooper Bradley, Willis McArthur, L.G. Council, James A. Fort, Elias Attyah, J.E. Mathis, John Taylor, Sherley Hudson, and Frank Stapleton … ”

Feb. 4, 1941: Shiver building $4,000 semi-frame duplex on Glessner, also frame on Spring

Feb. 5, 1941: “Charles Lingo is confined to his home on South Lee street because of illness.”

Feb. 6, 1941: TCN - Shiver Lumber Co., contractor, 2-apartment, brick veneer on Glessner, frame on Spring

Feb. 10, 1941: Rose Mary Giddings, et. al., guests at Carolyn Cole's third birthday party Feb. 8th

Feb. 14, 1941: “Eustace S. Ansley, former Americus man ... is in critical condition at Murphysville, Tenn., today, following an automobile accident Thursday night [Feb. 13th] ... Mr. Ansley has a fair chance to recover ... ”

Feb. 15, 1941: “Mother of the Late C.M. Hale Expires – A message announcing the death of Mrs. C.R. Hale, age 80, of Spring Valley, Va., was received this morning by the family of the late C.M. Hale who was her son … Mrs. Hale’s husband died several years ago … survived by one son, H.C. Hale, of Huntington, West Virginia; one daughter, Mrs. R.W. Cannady, of Spring Valley; a daughter-in-law, Mrs. C.M. Hale, of this city, and several grandchildren, including Charles, Laura May and Barbara Hale, of Americus.”

Feb. 17, 1941: “Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Robinson, of Atlanta, were the weekend guests of his mother, Mrs. Ethel Robinson.”

Feb. 18, 1941:  “ ... Mr. Eustace Ansley ... has been removed to the Veterans' hospital at Murphreesboro, where he is improving ... ”; “Barbara Hale is confined to her home on West Church street because of illness.”

Feb. 19, 1941: “Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Robinson have returned to their home in Atlanta after a visit during the weekend with her mother, Mrs. Mae Mitchell and his mother, Mrs. Ethel Robinson.”

Feb. 20, 1941: Rose Mary Giddings, Robert Bass, Beth Bass, et. al., guests at Maybelle Buchanan's fourth birthday party Feb. 19th

Feb. 22, 1941: “Mrs. Ethel Lindley left today for New Orleans, to be the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schneider, going to attend the festivities of Mardi Gras.”

Feb. 27, 1941: Ed Purvis, et. al., pallbearers at funeral of Col. William Thomas Lane, died Feb. 26th; TCN - Milton Mize began, corner Dodson and Hancock, $4,000 brick, 1 1/2-story; Bill Hurst's frame, north side Felder, between Furlow and Harris, $3,000  

March 1, 1941: “Mrs. Ethel Lindley has returned from New Orleans ... visiting Mr. and Mrs. Schneider.”

March 8, 1941: “Miss Dorothy Purvis, of Columbus, is the weekend guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Purvis.”

March 10, 1941: Melvin Tye completing $3,500 frame, corner Lafayette and Park Row; John Evans got permit for $800 frame, N. Lee; $1,000 remodeling of Herbert Hawkins' steam laundry damaged by fire

March 11, 1941: B.H. Bell to begin frame, west side Elm, between Bivins and Glessner, Geo. McGarrah, contractor

March 14, 1941: “Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr., and daughter, Betty, have moved from 513 Barlow street to 129 Taylor street.”

March 20, 1941: “Miss Anne Giddings, of Macon, is spending the Spring holidays with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Giddings.”

Mar. 21,1941:  Rose Mary Giddings, et. al., guests at Jane Methvin's fifth birthday party Mar. 20th

Mar. 24,1941:  “Charles Schneider, who has been doing co-op work at Chattanooga, Tenn., spent the weekend with his mother, Mrs. C.A. Schneider, returned today to Atlanta to resume his studies at Georgia Tech.”

March 27, 1941: “HOSPITAL NOTES - Mrs. David Speer, of Sanford, Fla., is a medical patient at Prather clinic.”

March 28, 1941: “Funeral services for the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Lister, of 606 East Church street, were held at the graveside of the Oak Grove cemetery Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock. In addition to his parents, the baby is survived by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Purvis, of Americus, and Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Lister, of Empire, Ga. ... ”

April 2, 1941: J.W.C. Horne to build $3,000 brick, W. Furlow, between Jackson Ave. and Oak

April 3, 1941: TCN – “HOSPITAL NOTES - ... Mrs. David Speer ... dismissed from Prather clinic.”

April 7, 1941: Americus Construction Co. building 2 $1,500 frames, east side Rees; Geo. McGarrah building $2,000 frame, north side Dodson, between Elm and Lee

April 9, 1941: Washington St. begun in Brooklyn Heights

April 10, 1941: TCN – “Miss Alice Lee Eason became the bride of John Daniel Rushin Sunday, March 30 ... Mr. Rushin is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Rushin, of Americus.  His brothers are Olin, Judson and Hugh Rushin, of Americus.  Mr. Rushin is engaged in electrical contracting at Americus.  Mr. and Mrs. Rushin are at home to their friends near Ellaville.”

April 12, 1941:  “Charles Schneider, student at Georgia Tech, is spending the weekend  with his mother, Mrs. C.A. Schneider.”

April 17, 1941: Martin Theatre construction began, McAchren, of Valdosta, architect; “Leslie News - Mrs. H.L. Speer visited Mrs. Hugh Mills in Albany Thursday.”

April 22, 1941: “Mrs. David Speer, of Sanford, Fla., is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. O.E. Liggin, Barlow street.”

April 23, 1941: Christine and Kathleen Argo building $4,000 brick veneer duplex, south side E. Church, between Brown and Horne

May 12, 1941: “BIRTHS - Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Mayes announce the birth of a daughter, Sunday, May 11, at the Prather clinic, who has been named Sarah Elizabeth for her mother the former Miss Elizabeth Lindley.”

May 13, 1941: Citizens Bank Bldg., southwest corner of Forsyth and Lee, getting elevator, D.M. Still and Son, contractor

May 15, 1941: TCN – “HOSPITAL NOTES - Mrs. Douglas Mayes and daughter are doing nicely at Prather clinic.”

May 16, 1941: “Leslie News - Mr. Alva Speer of Ochlochnee, Ga. spent Sunday here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer.; Mrs. C.J. Cheves returned to her home in Gainesville, Ga. after a visit of several days to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer.”

May 20, 1941: Judson Rushin, et. al., pallbearers at funeral of Mary H. Hill, Mrs. Wm. Jay Clark, died May 19th, aged 83

May 22, 1941: TCN – “HOSPITAL NOTES - Garrett Purvis has undergone a tonsillectomy at Prather clinic.”

May 24, 1941: “Mrs. Theo Bass and son, Theo Jr., of Savannah, are visiting relatives here.”

May 27, 1941: “Early Postoffice Torn Down Here For New Theatre”, 1-room, wooden building on N. Jackson

June 5, 1941: Rose Mary Giddings, et. al, guests at Eugenia Clay's fourth birthday party June 4th

June 6, 1941: Charles B. King bought Granberry Bldg., southwest corner of Jackson and Lamar, from Miss Alice K. Wheatley (built by T.M. Furlow and J.J. Granberry in 1851); “E.M. Purvis is quite ill with a throat infection at his home on Barlow street.”;  “The Americus Junior High school closed its 1940-41 session ... with the awarding of certificates ... Edna Purvis received the United Daughters of the Confederacy Historical Essay Medal ... ”

June 7, 1941: “Mrs. George S. Cobb, Joy Cobb and Bob Moorhead, of Miami, are guests of Mrs. Callie M. Cobb.”

June 9, 1941: “Work has been started on ... erection of ... brick building in ... three hundred block of West Forsyth ... by W.E. Mitchell ... on ... south side ... will be occupied by ... Jones Auto ... Buick dealer ... frontage of 75 feet ... extend back 125 feet ... being done by Tom King ... to be completed about August 1. This is ... third ... brick building to be erected in this block by Mr. Mitchell during ... past year or two ... other two having been built on ... opposite side.”; “Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Snider and children, Cynthia and Bobby, of Atlanta, are visiting her mother, Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr., and other relatives here.”

June 12, 1941: TCN - W.E. Mitchell's, south side Forsyth extension, Tom King, negro contractor

June 16, 1941: “Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Snider have returned to their home in Atlanta after a visit with relatives here. Miss Betty Bass accompanied them home for a visit.”

June 17, 1941: “Mrs. Morgan Smith, of Columbia, S.C., has returned from a visit in Jacksonville and is the guest of her mother, Mrs. Ethel Robinson, at her home on Brown street.”

June 18, 1941: obituary of Mrs. J.C. Horne, sister of Mrs. Callie M. Cobb, died June 18th, aged 62

June 19, 1941: TCN – “New Colored Cemetery Open – Five Hundred Lots in “East View” Colored Burying Ground Made Available; No Vacant Lots in Old Negro Cemetery – A new cemetery for colored people … to be known as “East View” has been opened by R.S. Broadhurst, adjacent to the old city-owned Negro graveyard. On property owned for 35 years by Mr. Broadhurst, are 500 lots, 18 by 18 feet, and each lot enough to accommodate eight graves … “We have laid off the entire plots scientifically and all lots now are marked,” Mr. Broadhurst said, “ready for use or purchase. I will sell the lots on easy terms, a year to pay … Charley Moreland, sexton for the old colored cemetery, will show anyone …  Entrance is from Ashby street, through the old cemetery, where there is a wide thorough fare that will accommodate automobiles … “The old city-owned cemetery hasn’t a vacant lot on it. For sometime our colored people have had to go into the county for burial places. In opening East View we are relieving that unfortunate situation,” Mr. Broadhurst said.”

June 21, 1941: L.T. White got permit to build $4,000 brick on Harrold

June 23, 1941: marriage of Mrs. Mary King Speer and Burrell Leonard Joiner, June 18th, in Key West, Fla.

June 26, 1941: TCN - daily “Americus News,” Buddy Pilcher, editor, debuted

June 30, 1941: obituary of Mrs. H.A. Priest, sister of Charlie Lingo, died June 29th, aged 65, in Orange, Mass.; “Mrs. Dennis Durham and Mrs. George Worthy, who have been the guests of Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr., on Taylor street, left yesterday for Columbus, where they will join their husbands, who have been located there for several weeks, in making their future homes.”; Jimmy Giddings, et. al., guests at Judith Harvey's fifth birthday party June 28th



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