Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County---March 29-April 4
This week’s edition of the Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County blog for March 29-April 4 will again feature people and places around Anniston. Many of the photos found in this week’s blog can be seen in Images of America series books: Anniston Revisited, Anniston, or Calhoun County.
Upcoming Event: On Saturday April 8th starting at 10:00 AM meet author Kimberly O’Dell during the Noble Street Festival. This year Nunnally’s Noble Frame and Gallery at 1014 Noble Street will be hosting the book signing event. There will be copies of Anniston Revisited available for purchase at the event.
March 29, 1907: Anniston, AL. The Anniston City Council announced that a new and safe entrance to Edgemont Cemetery would be constructed in the near future. The council also passed ordinances to remove wooden awnings on West Fifteenth Street between the railroad and Mulberry Avenue as well as remove billboards from Noble Street.
March 30, 1923: Anniston, AL. Ullman Bros. announced the arrival of new ladies and juniors dresses. In 1885, the Ullman Brothers purchased the old Woodstock Company Store on Noble Street. The brothers opened one of the first dry goods store in the town. The business moved several times along Noble Street until the company settled in the 1100 block of Noble Street in the 1920s.
March 31, 1933: Anniston, AL. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) announced that starting April 1st, 1933, train fares would be reduced. For a parlor and sleeping car fare would now be reduced to $8.34. The company also touted the safety of train travel over automobile travel. The L&N Railroad operated through Union Depot, a two-story Romanesque structure on Walnut Avenue in the heart of early Anniston.
April 1, 1923: Anniston, AL. A week of clean up and paint campaign was advertised. The campaign encouraged residents to clean up streets, weed and fix lawns, and repair and paint buildings. All residents including men, women and children were all expected to help in the campaign. Clean up campaigns were yearly events during the 1920s and 1930s in Anniston.
April 2, 1937: Anniston, AL. The Sanitary Café advertised their “Merchants Lunch” for those who ate downtown on Saturdays. The Café offered a selection of “real meals” for quick service. Located at 1025 Noble Street, the business was operated by the Nichopoulos family who had changed the name of the building from the Plaza Café.
April 3, 1947: Anniston, AL. Wikle’s Drug advertised they were the leading prescription department in Anniston and had pharmacists available 24 hours a day. The Drug Company was established in 1880 by Dr. J. L. Wikle at 1010 Noble Street. Dr. Wikle’s store was one of the earliest businesses built on Noble Street. Even when Dr. Wikle retired from the drug store, he continued to serve Anniston as Mayor.
April 4, 1901: Anniston, AL. Death of General George Thomas (“Tige”) Anderson passed away at his home on Wilmer Avenue around 1:30 pm. Tige Anderson was born in Georgia and served in the military during the Mexican-American War as well as in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He was with Robert E. Lee during the surrender of Appomattox. After the war, Anderson came to Anniston to serve as Police Chief around 1888, but resigned a couple of years later to become city clerk and tax assessor, a position he held at the time of his death. He was a mason and member of the local Methodist church.
