100 Years Ago

 

From September 13, 1931

Newspaper Nostalgia

 In the early 1930s, the Kingsport Times began running a regular feature entitled “10 Years Ago” that looked back at stories in the newspaper a decade earlier.

The name of the feature would change over the years – from “10 Years Ago” to “Kingsport’s Yesterdays” to “Our Yesterdays” – but the columns ran off and on for the next 20 years. The last one was published January 30, 1951.

A nostalgia column returned in 1973 with “Old Times in the News,” written first by long-time editor J.W. McAuliffe, who had joined the paper in 1926, and later by long-time staffer Bill Barnett, who started at the paper in 1939. When Barnett retired in 1976, the newspaper’s librarian Ginsey Gurney took over. The first “Old Times in the News” looked back at the case of Murderous Mary, the circus elephant who killed her handler during a 1916 stop in Kingsport and was hanged for it (in Erwin, fortunately). The last “Old Times in the News” on Aug. 14, 1977, told how Southwest Virginia was saved from becoming part of West Virginia.

Ten years later nostalgia for Kingsport and its origins returned with a vintage photo column featuring reader-submitted pictures called “Out of the Attic.” It is still running.

Kingsport loves nostalgia about itself. And always has.

It just so happens that the first year of the column “10 Years Ago,” which started in 1931, reflected back on 1921, exactly 100 years ago now.

Here is a sampling of those nostalgia columns that ran over the years:

 

10 Years Ago – published Sept 13, 1931

Sept. 13, 1921:

Andrew W. Plaster, landscape gardener in the employ of the Kingsport Improvement company, and well-known citizen of Kingsport, was killed by his riding horse near Roller's ford in Old Kingsport early this morning. A nearby boy who was a witness of the tragedy said that the horse apparently became frightened either at a road roller or at a train which was passing and, rearing, fell back upon its rider.

(Vince note: He was replaced by Lola Anderson, who later married John B. Dennis.)

Kingsport is to have a new clothing store, located in the Roller building, on Broad street, adjacent to the Kingsport Grill and the Tennessee Electrical Supply company. This store which is to be opened in the near future, will feature men's clothing and furnishings, and will be thoroughly modern and high class in every way.

(Vince note: McCready’s opened at 343 Broad on Oct. 25, 1921. It lasted barely a year. J.C. Penney took over the space in 1923.)

The sale of the plant of the Union Dye and Chemical corporation, which was scheduled to have been held at noon yesterday, was deferred until the same hour next Monday. The adjournment was made upon motion of F. M. Kelley, attorney for the Equitable Trust company, one of the trustees in the suit.

Paul Short received several rather severe knife wounds on the left side of his face Sunday afternoon as the result of a personal encounter which occurred in a house next to the railroad just outside the corporation limits here. Short said that he was himself unable to establish the identity of his assailant, but witnesses of the affair told local officers of the law that the man who wielded the knife was Dorsey Light.

(Vince note: The affair started when Light pinched Mrs. Paul Short’s cheek and said, “Hello, sweetie.” She slapped Light and retreated inside the apartment house just east of the railroad trestle and reported the pinch to Paul. A warrant was sworn out. Light and an unidentified woman were spotted boarding a train the next day. Nothing more was ever heard of them.)

Mrs. Luemma C. Brawley, the wife of J. S. Brawley, died at her home in Spring Park Heights last night. Mrs. Brawley was ill for some time and her death was momentarily expected for some days.

Highway officials, inspecting the Lee Highway from Washington through the south, passed through Kingsport yesterday. Dr. S. M. Johnson, president of the Lee Highway Association, and I. D. Price of Rogersville will make recommendations for the repair of the highway so that it will be one of the most beautiful of the national highway systems.

Fire originating from a defective flue came near destroying the home of T. W. Stitt, in West View Park, at noon today. The fire alarm was turned in and the firemen were able to extinguish the flames in a short time by the use of chemicals.

 

10 Years Ago – published on Sept. 27, 1931

September 27, 1921

Uern Quillen, charged with the murder of 11-year-old Elsie Lawson, whose half-nude and mutilated body was found under the bleachers of the baseball park here on the morning of June 7, began the legal battle for his life in circuit court at Blountville today. By 3:00 p. m. a jury had been impaneled and five of the state's witnesses had been examined.

(Vince note: Uern was convicted and sentenced to life.)

The question of a business men's club for Kingsport is now being largely discussed by various business men of the city, and a great deal of interest is being manifested in the proposed movement, although no definite action has been taken in regard to the matter, it is believed probable that a meeting will be held some time in the near future to effect the organization.

Arrangements have been completed for the local talent play, "Love or Psychology-Which?” which is to be presented in the auditorium of the Central high school here Friday night for the benefit of the baseball association. Among those taking part in the production are: Mrs. W. R. Gilmer, Mrs. L. H. Kidd, Charles Davis, Mrs. Mary Yoakley, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. T. H. Pratt, Miss B.I Pyle, Miss Elizabeth Hamlett, Frances Harris, Louise Preston, Dora Ross, Grace Clyce, Gertrude Hunter, Ruth Hare and Susie Dunn.

Bruce Hyatt is arranging a musical program for the meeting of Hammond Post No. 3 of the American Legion in the Community “Y” tomorrow evening. Commander C. P. Edwards, Jr. urges all members to attend this meeting, as the time for the production is rapidly approaching.

With what will probably be a rather heavy schedule ahead of them for their first year in interscholastic football, the candidates for the Kingsport high school eleven are being put through grueling workouts daily. About 30 boys have reported for practice, and although few of them have had any previous football experience, there are a number in the bunch who look good.

(Vince note: One of those practicing this exotic sport of football was a seventh-grader named Bobby Dodd.)

 

10 Years Ago – published Sept. 11, 1932

Sept. 11, 1922

After a day spent largely in legal wranglings, the hearing of W. W. Leedy and B. H. Hampton, Kingsport policemen charged with "assault and attempt to commit murder in the first degree" on Denver Hooven and Frank Chandler, was still in progress when The Times went to press at 4:00 p. m. today. The two officers are charged by the state with firing a number of shots at the two youths, whom they suspected of carrying illicit whisky into the city in a truck, at the city limits at Highland Park on the night of August 29.

(Vince note: both Leedy and Hampton were eventually acquitted and returned to the force. In 1925 Leedy would drive notorious outlaw Kinnie Wagner to his Blountville trial after Wagner fatally shot two officers on the banks of the Holston.)

Plans and possibilities for a proposed railroad between Bristol and Knoxville, passing through Kingsport, Greeneville, Newport and Sevierville, were presented at the regular meeting of the Kingsport Business Men's club at the Community "Y" last night by LeRoy Park, of Greeneville, who is devoting his entire time and attention to the promotion of the road. This railroad, Mr. Park pointed out, would open up all he rich agricultural and mineral wealth of Sullivan, Greene, Cocke, Sevier and Knox counties, connecting with the Norfolk & Western at Bristol and the L. & N. at Knoxville.

For the purpose of urging that work be started on the proposed Kingsport-to-Bristol highway, a delegation of Sullivan county men left this afternoon, and will confer with the state highway commission tomorrow. The delegation will consist of W. D. Lyon, chairman of the Sullivan county highway commission; J. E. Miller, secretary of the commission; J. Fred Johnson, one of the directors of the Lee Highway Association, and probably E. W. King, a good roads advocate of Bristol.

Grading work on the road from Lovedale to Gate City, a six-mile short-cut thoroughfare, which will connect Kingsport and its Virginia neighbor, will be completed within the next week if weather conditions are favorable, it was announced this morning.

The Bristol State Liners took the opening game of the last series of the Appalachian League season here yesterday by the score of 6-1. The game was slow and presented few features. Both teams failed to show the old pep and fight that characterized the pennant chase. The game was merely mechanical.

Although the football schedule of the high school is not yet complete, the squad is working out daily rain or shine. The first regular game will probably be September 23 with Washington College.

 

10 Years Ago – published Sept 30, 1934

Sept. 30, 1924

The Kingsport Times, semiweekly publication, published its last paper as a semi-weekly September 26 with the announcement that it would become a daily on the following Wednesday, October first. On that date the paper carried a streamer headline "Kingsport Times Begins Daily and Sunday Morning Publication with Industrial Edition, Forty Pages."

The Maroon and Gray, Kingsport eleven, will meet Big Stone Gap Saturday. Players will wear the new blankets presented them at a recent rally.

The first unit of an extensive housing program, sixty houses were being planned for construction in “The Oaks" section of Kingsport.

(Vince note: The Oaks were located east of Borden Mill and would later be known as Oakwood.)

The first edition of The Kingsport Times as a daily carried the exhibit list of Kingsport's Community Fair Wednesday, October first.

The power for the Borden Mills, now under construction, will be furnished by the Kingsport Utilities.

 

Kingsport's Yesterdays

(From The Times' Files)

Published Sept. 29, 1941

15 Years Ago – Sept. 29, 1926

Announcement was made that the Hotel Borden, formerly the Federal Club, which had been closed for the past two months, would be re-opened under the name of the Travelers Hotel. H. L. Spence, hotel and restaurant man of Richlands and Cedar Bluff, Va., was to operate and manage the hostelry under the American plan.

(Vince note: The Travelers Hotel didn’t make into 1927.)

Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Westmoreland reached Kingsport from Woodward, S. C., to make this city their home and were located on Compton Terrace in the Fifties.

 10 Years Ago (Sept. 29, 1931)

Carl Kirkpatrick was appointed as city judge to succeed Judge Napoleon Bond, according to an announcement made by the city offices.

Misses Maxie and Bonnie Steadman were among those from this city attending the Knox County fair in Knoxville.

 

Kingsport's Yesterdays

(From The Times' Files)

Published Sept. 14, 1941

15 Years Ago (Sept. 14, 1926)

The formal opening of Sterchi Brothers and Atkins, Kingsport's newest furniture store, was held.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lilley and children, F. L., and Jack of Bluff City were guests of Mr. and Mrs. C. C. White.

Clinton Minnich left for Williamsburg, Va., to enter William and Mary College.

10 Years Ago (Sept. 14, 1931)

Work on the Kingsport Utilities building, corner of Broad and Sullivan streets would get underway within the next few days according to an announcement made by Carl A. Thornburg, manager of the Kingsport division of the American Gas and Electric Company.

Prof. W.F. Rogers of East Tennessee State Teachers College, in an address to the Kiwanis Club stressed the need of a convention to revise the state's constitution. C. P. Edwards, Jr., Lynn Minter and John Sexton were named as delegates to the district convention to be held at Ashland, Ky.

Announcement was made by members of the Wednesday Club of its annual fashion show and benefit bridge to be given at the Kingsport Inn.

 

Kingsport's Yesterdays

(From The Times' Files)

Published Sept. 15, 1941

15 Years Ago (Sept. 15, 1931)

Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Brockman announced the birth of a son, Richard David, born at their home on Watauga street.

The Blue Ridge Glass Corporation of New York City announced that the old building formerly owned and operated by the Corning Glass Works would be repaired and new and modern equipment installed. The new plant planned to begin actual production by the first of the year.

10 Years Ago (Sept. 15, 1931)

The Kingsport Book Club resumed its activities after the summer's recess with a meeting at the home of Mrs. Ben Dobyns.

Miss Evelyn Hunter left for Berea College, to continue her studies after spending the summer here. She was a member of the Senior class.

Malcom Morrison, Jr. left for Sewanee to enter the University of the South.

Mrs. Arthur Allen and Mrs. John E. Black entertained at the latter's home on Center street, honoring Mrs. Charles B. Duke, a recent bride. Prizes were won by Mrs. E. W. Hogg and Mrs. J. F. Kagy.

 

Our Yesterdays – published Dec. 29, 1949

15 Years Ago (Dec. 29, 1934)

City Manager F. L. Cloud handed down a ruling that cows could not be staked on public property inside the city.

Police Chief C. G. Crawford announced plans to affiliate Kingsport with the National Safety Council.

Weymouth Palmer of Cornell University, was spending the holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Palmer, Watauga Street.

Mrs. S. P. Platt, Mrs. V. B. Freels, and Mrs. J. L. Kincheloe visited in Johnson City.

10 Years Ago (Dec. 29, 1939)

Fire destroyed a building in Highland Park which had once held one of Sullivan County's oldest post offices.

William D. Medearis, student at Vanderbilt, was visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Medearis, Piedmont Street.

Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Stone, Watauga Street, had as their guest Mrs. Furtick Conner, of Orange Hill, S. C.

Music pupils of Mrs. Raymond Massengill presented a recital at Blountville High School.

 

Our Yesterdays – published Sept. 11, 1951

15 Years Ago (Sept. 11, 1936)

Nettie Lee Dress Shop opened in the new Freels building with E. M. Reilly as manager.

Owens Beauty Salon opened in the new Freels building under the direction of Mrs. R. S. Owens.

Julia Maxwell announced the opening of the Marguerite Hyatt School of the Dance at the Kingsport Inn club room.

10 Years Ago (Sept. 11, 1941)

Holston Drug Store celebrated its 16th anniversary.

Lawrence (Big Boy) Mitchell, 200-pound plunger, was expected to carry much of Dobyns-Bennett's offense as regular fullback.

R. D. Liggan was new owner-manager of Piggly-Wiggly Store.

Mrs. Kenneth Kiesau of 522 Broad street, with her infant son, Kyle Frank, planned to join Dr. Kiesau who was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.

(Vince note: Dr. Kiesau was my pediatrician.)

 

Lawrence "Big Boy" Mitchell, 200-lb. plunger in 1941.

Our Yesterdays – published Sept. 14, 1951

15 Years Ago (Sept. 14, 1936)

Dobyns-Bennett Indians defeated Jonesboro, 74-0, in the opening grid game. M. T. Smith was high scorer with five touchdowns. James Blessing scored first with a safety in the first minute of the game.

10 Years Ago (Sept. 14, 1941)

Billy Ring, Ed Preston, Jimmy Edwards, Bill Glenn and Brenda Goerdel were among the six-year-olds just starting to school.

Nancy Penn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Penn, left for Baltimore to take nurse's training at Union Memorial Hospital.