AMERICUS — Jan. 5, 1952: “Leslie News – Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary Saturday Jan. 5 with their children. The children will also spend Sunday with them.”

Jan. 7, 1952: “No Baseball Here In 1952; Thomasville Takes Franchise - The Americus Baseball Club Inc., voted to surrender its Georgia-Florida League franchise at a meeting of fans and directors held here Saturday afternoon. This morning it was announced by W.T. Anderson, president of the league, that Thomasville, who released its franchise last year when fire destroyed the ball park, would take the position vacated last weekend by Americus. Every effort possible was made by Herbert Moon, president of the local baseball group, and the directors, before relinquishing the franchise, but efforts were of no avail. Every one of the 16 big league clubs and many of the “A” clubs were contacted in an attempt to make a tie-up. A last-ditch agreement with the St. Louis Browns failed when the State Board of Education would not make terms suitable to the local group concerning the use of facilities of the State Vocational and Trade School here [now South Georgia Technical College] to be the site of a training camp for St. Louis players. The only other way Americus could have baseball in 1952 would have been to operate the club independently, and it was felt by the directors of the club and fans present at the public meeting Saturday [Jan. 7] that such an undertaking was not advisable at the present time. In making the motion to the baseball group that the Americus franchise be given up, and a $1,300 league deposit be returned, it was also asked that the league directors keep in mind the city of Americus next year as a possible re-entry in the league. Americus was a charter member of the Georgia-Florida League in 1935 and won one pennant during the course of the years.”; “Mrs. Allene Hardy has returned from Charlotte, N.C., where she visited her son, W.E. Hardy and Mrs. Hardy during the holidays.”

Jan. 9, 1952: “Leslie News – Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Cheves, of Gainesville, Ga., and Mr. John S. Speer, of Dahlonega, were the weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer.”

Jan. 11, 1952: “PRATHER CLINIC – Mrs. A.B. Howard, surgical patient, is better.”

Jan. 18, 1952: “Mrs. C.M. Hale has returned from a visit with her daughter, Miss Barbara Hale, in Atlanta.”

Jan. 21, 1952: “At the annual student election held at assembly January 18, five Americus students won honors in the Superlative list. Omer Stevenson (Spud) Bass, son of Mr. and Mrs. O.S. Bass, 136 Brannon Avenue is regarded by his college mates as the “Adonis of Georgia Southwestern”.  “Spud” is a member of the Student Activities Board, the Hurricanes, the Cotillion Club and is business manager of the Gale … ”

Jan. 24, 1952: “Mrs. Hugh Rushin, who has been a patient at Prather Clinic, has been removed to her home.”

Jan. 26, 1952: “Hirohito’s Horse On Display In Americus - The white horse which was the favorite mount of Emperor Hirohito, of Japan, during World War II, is on display here this weekend, under the auspices of the American Legion post. The white stallion is displayed in a large van on Jackson street. The display will be open until 8:00 o’clock. No admission is charged, but visitors may contribute whatever they desire.”

Jan. 28, 1952: “Local Firm Displays 1916 Model T Ford - A Model T Ford, of about 1916 vintage, is being displayed prominently by the Americus Auto Company in connection with the showing of the 1952 Fords, which will take place next Friday. The old car is a two-seat job -- only three doors, however, as they were made that way then. It has brass radiator covering and carbide headlights. The old “Lizzie” has been given a new paint job for the occasion. And she will run, too.”

Jan. 29, 1952: “Eustace S. Ansley, of Chattanooga, Tenn., formerly of Americus, passed away last night in a Chattanooga hospital as a result of injuries received in a fall when he was descending the steps of a hotel in Chattanooga yesterday morning. Mr. Ansley was the son of Mrs. Charles L. Ansley and the late Mr. Ansley, of this city. He is survived by his wife; his mother; a sister, Mrs. C.M. Hale; two nieces, Misses Barbara and Laura May Hale; a nephew, Charles Hale, and an aunt, Miss Carrie Speer, all of Americus.”

Feb. 2, 1952: “Olin Rushin has resigned his position as manager of the Americus Country Club, effective at the end of this week, to become a salesman for the Sheffield Hardware Company … Mr. Rushin has been manager … for the last four years … ”

Feb. 6, 1952: photograph of Claude N. Morris, candidate for Solicitor of the City Court

Feb. 7, 1952: photograph of Charles Burgamy

Feb. 8, 1952: English movie actor Michael Rennie (“The Day the Earth Stood Still”) was stationed at Souther Field during World War II; “Miss Lubel Speer and Mrs. Ellinor T. Pruitt have returned from Atlanta.”

Feb. 13, 1952: “Leslie News – Mrs. M.S. Speer has been ill at ther home here for the past week.”

Feb. 20, 1952: “Leslie News – Mrs. H.L. Speer continues ill at her home here.; Mrs. C.J. Cheves, of Gainesville, Ga., and Mrs. George Gullett, of Fayette, Ala., are here on account of the illness of Mrs. H.L. Speer.”; “BIRTHS – Mr. and Mrs. Quention F. James, of Atlanta, formerly of Americus, announce the birth of a son, Wednesday, February 20, at Crawford W. Long hospital, Atlanta, who weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces.”

Feb. 22, 1952: “Leslie News – Mrs. H.L. Speer who has been confined to her home for the past two weeks is improving.”

March 5, 1952: “Coleman Speer is attending the National Rehabilitations Conference of The American Legion in Washington, D.C. … ”; “Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr. has returned from Atlanta, where she spent several weeks wit her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Quention James.”; “Leslie News – Mrs. H.L. Speer who has been ill for several days is reported about the same.; “Mr. and Mrs. Alice Speer of Ochlochnee spent Sunday here with Mr. Speer’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Speer.”

March 6, 1952: “ “Old” Town Well” Is Found Under Building - One of four water wells, which were located at the four corners of the old court house square in Americus has been uncovered by workmen engaged in remodeling the two-story brick building at the corner of Forsyth and Jackson streets. The well, about four feet square, is now only about 15 feet deep, having been partially filled up before the building was erected in 1883. The old court house square once embraced all the property bounded by Lee, Lamar, Jackson and Forsyth Streets, and there was a water well at each corner, from which water was draw [sic] for animals. The wells were not walled with brick, but the hard clay made a solid well. Several old relics are being uncovered as the old floor is removed. One telephone receipt, made out to D.B. Hill in 1889, was found.”

March 7, 1952: front page photograph of Americus Lions Club, “LOCAL LIONS WILL PRESENT MINSTREL - The Americus Lions today announces that they would present their annual Minstrel Show, the fourth, at the Georgia Southwestern gymnasium March 27. This year the civic organization has selected the famous Broadway production “Show Boat.” Chairman of the minstrel this year are Elden Matthews, city school music director, and Leonard Waitsman, local merchant. Rufus Jennings will serve as “Mr. Interlocuter” while Tommy Adair, Doug Threadgill, Top Everett, Coleman Speer, R.M. Cansler and James Grady will be the “end-men.” Proceeds from the minstrel will be used to help finance youth and civic activities sponsored by the Lions.”; “New Era Film Shown Jaycees - The Jaycees held their regular meeting yesterday noon at the Cawood House. Dr. Harold Clayton, president, presided. The film showing the improvements made in the New Era community during 1951 was shown by Pete Rhyne and D.C. Burk.”, with photograph of them on steps of Cawood House on S. Jackson

March 14, 1952: obituary of Aurelia Sims, Mrs. J.M. Green, sister of Mrs. H.L. Speer

March 13, 1952: “CITY HOSPITAL – Miss Carrie Speer continues to undergo treatment.”

March 20, 1952: “Saranne Rushin is confined to her home on South Lee Street with an attack of glandular fever.”

March 21, 1952: “Joy Lister is ill at her home on Hill Street with flu.”

March 24, 1952: “Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr. is ill at her home 1213 Oglethorpe avenue.”

April 1, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Giddings have moved from 602 East Church street to 412 Jones Drive.”

April 2, 1952: Susan Cobb, et. al., guests at Tommy Gunn’s tenth birthday party Mar. 28th

April 7, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Walter Daniel, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, arrived yesterday to spend Easter holidays’ with Mrs. Daniel’s mother, Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr., and other relatives here.”

April 10, 1952: “Leslie News – Mrs. H.L. Speer continues very ill at the city hospital in Americus.”

April 14, 1952: “The children of Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr. were with her at a reunion … at the home of Mrs. George Worthy on Oglethorpe Ave., yesterday … All eight of her children and 18 of the grandchildren were with her … Billy and Sally Daniel of Kenosha, Wis. were unable to attend. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Daniel and daughter, Dorothy, of Kenosha, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. H.T. Bass and son, Theo Jr., of Savannah, Ga., Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Snider, children Bobby, Cynthia, Angela and Jimmy, Atlanta, Mr. and Mrs. Quention James, children Libby and Frankie, Atlanta, Ga., Mr. and Mrs. O.S. Bass Jr. and son, Spud, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Bass, Bob, Beth and Tommy, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Durham, Arnold, Judy, Steve and Ricky, Mr. and Mrs. George Worthy, Emily and Andy, all of Americus.”; “Mr. and Mrs. R.S. Johnson, of Duluth, Minn., are visiting Mrs. J.W. Cobb and Mrs. A.C. Guy on Jefferson Street and also relatives in Ellaville and Albany.”

April 15, 1952: “Dr. J.I. Giddings, of Glenwood, Ga., spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Giddings on Jones Drive.”; “Mr. and Mrs. John Daniel, of Atlanta, spent Easter with Mr. and Mrs. John Rushin.”

April 16, 1952: “Mrs. R.A. Robinson and daughter, Dickie, landed April 1 in Momate Village, Japan, where they will join Capt. Robinson, who is stationed there. Mrs. Robinson is the former Miss Agnes Mitchell, daughter of Mrs. Mae Mitchell Pantone, of this city, and Capt. Robinson is the son of Mrs. Ethel Robinson, of Americus.”

April 21, 1952: obituary of Mamie Sims, Mrs. H.L. Speer, died Apr. 20th, aged 80 years

April 24, 1952: “CITY HOSPITAL – Miss Carrie Speer continues to undergo treatment.”

April 26, 1952: “M.E. Purvis Dies In Montgomery - Mose Edward Purvis, 65, veteran Seaboard Railway conductor, died in a hospital in Montgomery, Ala., … Mr. Purvis was taken ill Sunday while on his regular run … Born in Taylor County, Mr. Purvis came to Americus to reside when a young man … a member of the Central Baptist Church … president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen … a member of M.B. Council lodge, No. 95, Masons … Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Leila Askew Purvis; … daughters, Mrs. H.H. Lister, Mrs. J.O. Garrett and Miss Marie Purvis, all of Americus, Mrs. H.G. Brooks Jr., of Columbus, Ga., and Mrs. C.D. Beaman, of Columbia, S.C.; one brother E.M. Purvis, of Fort Benning, and one sister, Mrs. Cecil Ballard of Florida … Active pallbearers … J.C. Barfield, M.H. Fletcher and Earl Williams, all of Americus, J.C. Perdue and A.G. Hudson, both of Montgomery, Ala. and John Thayer of Statesboro, Ga. Members of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen will be honorary pallbearers.”

May 3, 1952: “Leslie News – Mr. and Mrs. John S. Speer have returned to their home in Dahlonega after spending several days here with H.L. Speer.”

May 7, 1952: “Mrs. W.F. Livingston, of the Albany road, is a patient at Prather Clinic.’

May 9, 1952: “Mrs. Sam Gunn is undergoing treatment at city hospital.”; “Pvt. Georgia Nan Gunn is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gunn. Pvt. Gunn was recently stationed at Ft. Myers, Va., with the 17th signal unit while working as a teletype operator at the Pentagon in Washington. She is being transferred to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.”; “BIRTHS – Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Hardy, of Charlotte, N.C., announce the birth of a son, Thursday, May 8, who has been named William Everette Hardy Jr. The baby is the grandson of Mrs. Allene Hardy, of this city.”

May 12, 1952: “Miss Barbara Hale, of Atlanta, spent Mother’s Day weekend with her mother, Mrs. C.M. Hale.”

May 13, 1952: “Mrs. Quention James and children, Libby and Frankie, of Atlanta, are spending the week with her mother, Mrs. O.S. Bass Sr., at her home with Mrs. Georgia Worthy.”

May 21, 1952: Coleman Speer, et. al., pallbearers at funeral of Mrs. John T. Clark, died May 20th

May 31, 1952: “Mrs. Ethel Lindley, of Decatur, formerly of Americus, is seriously ill at Emory University hospital.”

June 2, 1952: “Friends here of Mrs. Ethel Lindley will regret to learn that she remains critically ill at Emory University hospital.”; “Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Beamon, of Columbia, S.C., spent the weekend with Mrs. Beamon’s mother, Mrs. M.E. Purvis.”

June 3, 1952: “Mrs. Ellinor T. Pruitt and Miss Lubel Speer spent the weekend in Atlanta.”

June 4, 1952: “Saul Waitsman Will Close His Store Here - Saul Waitsman, who has owned and operated Waitsman’s store on Cotton avenue for the last 29 years, announced today that he will open a closing out sale at his store Thursday and that he plans to discontinue the business as soon as the stock of merchandise is sold … Mr. Waitsman said he is undecided about his plans for the future.” “Leslie News – Mr. and Mrs. C.J. Cheves, of Gainesville, Ga., spent Saturday and Sunday here with H.L. Speer.”

June 6, 1952: “Mrs. Ethel Lindley, of Decatur, formerly of Americus, who has been critically ill … for several days, will undergo surgery this afternoon.”

June 7, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Snider and family, of Atlanta, have been called to Americus because of the serious illness of Mr. Snider’s mother, Mrs. B.L. Snider, patient at Prather Clinic.”

June 9, 1952: obituary of Ethel Schneider Lindley, died June 8th, born 1889; “Mrs. Allene Hardy, of Macon, spent the weekend with Mrs. B.F. Capien and Miss Frances Capien.”

June 10, 1952: “Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Mayes and children returned to their home in Decatur today after coming here for the funeral of Mrs. Mayes’ mother, Mrs. Ethel Lindley. While here they stayed with Mr. Mayes’ mother, Mrs. D.B. Mayes.”; “Among the out of town friends and relatives who attended the funeral of Mrs. Ethel Lindley here yesterday were: Mrs. Morgan Smith, of Jacksonville; Mrs. Charles Williams, Mrs. L.A. Stalvey, Mrs. M.E. Johnson and Mrs. J.J. Strong, of Albany; Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schneider, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Schneider, of Birmingham, Ala.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schneider, of Chattanooga; Mrs. C.E. Johnson, of Mobile, Ala.; Mrs. James Davenport Jr., and Mr. and Mrs. M.L. St. John, of Atlanta.”

June 16, 1952: ”; photograph of Rev. C.R. Farris, pastor of Pilgrim Holiness Church of Americus; “Mrs. Speer, 69, Dies Early Today - Mrs. Florrie Bearden Speer, 69, died suddenly at her residence, 211 Cherry street early this morning. Mrs. Speer had lived in Americus for about 45 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Woodmen Circle. Survivors include two sons, Coleman and Claude, of Americus; a daughter, Miss Florence Speer, of Americus; two brothers, Ernest Bearden, of Deland, Fla., and George Bearden, Monticello, Ga.; also two sisters, Mrs. A.J. Cunningham and Mrs. Gladys Wheeler, both of Raleigh, N.C. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday 5:00 p.m. from Reese [sic] Park Chapel with the Rev. M.C. Gardner and the Rev. W.A. Joyner officiating. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery … ”

June 17, 1952: “Mary Crawford Qualifies With 83 In [golf] Tourney - … ”

June 18, 1952: “Leslie News – Mr. Alva Speer, of Ochlocknee, spent Sunday with his father, Mr. H.L. Speer.”

June 30, 1952: obituary of Mrs. B.L. Snider, died June 30th, aged 64, daughter Mrs. O.S. Bass Jr.



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