Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County---July 26-August 1
This week we go back to Calhoun County during World War II. Check out this week’s edition of the Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County Blog to find out what life was like in the 1940s. Remember to click on the links in the blog to view many of the photos seen in Images of America series books: Anniston Revisited, Anniston, or Calhoun County.
Upcoming Events: During the July Makers Market in conjunction with the Anniston Main Street Program, we have two events.
Local historian and author Kimberly O’Dell will be conducting a Tour of Historic Downtown Anniston. The tour will start at 6:00 PM (CT) in front of Lyric Square on July 28th. Tour maps can be picked up at The Catalyst (1224 Noble Street) or the Makers Market Hospitality Table on 13th and Noble Streets.
The Anniston Revisited Book Signing will be at the Anniston Council on Arts and Humanities building, The Catalyst (1224 Noble Street). Books will be available for purchase (cash or check only) on July 28th from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (CT).
July 26, 1942: Anniston, AL. WHMA advertised a new daily show, Playland, that aired at 5:45 PM daily. Playland was billed as a show for the whole family that include a comedy act, aerobatic act, and dancers with music by the Dixieland Quintet. The WHMA studio was located on the corner of 14th and Noble Streets in the Radio Building.
July 27, 1945: Anniston, AL. The Farm Equipment Company located at 119 West 10th Street, advertised they stocked winter grazing and cover crops as well as seeds and fertilizers. West 10th Street was the heart of Anniston and the gateway to the foundries located on the West side of town.
July 28, 1942: Anniston, AL. The Alamo Café invited customers to dine where their “money was well spent” and “patronage appreciated”. The café was conveniently located next to the Calhoun Theater at 1222 Noble Street. Opened in the early 1940s, the restaurant was known as Seale’s Café by 1948.
July 29, 1943: Friendship, Calhoun County AL. The Calhoun County Health Department was sponsoring a community health event at Friendship School (District 80) to perform typhoid inoculations. There was no charge for the inoculations. The Friendship community was located east of Oxford.
July 30, 1942: Calhoun County, AL: As part of the war effort, advertisements appeared in the local newspapers to solicit members of the public to buy war bonds and stamps to support the troops. The participating entities for the bond drive included Globe Clothing, Lucius Funeral Home, Young China Café, Collins Drug, J. Yalovitz Jeweler, among other Anniston merchants.
July 31, 1944: Anniston, AL. Lee Amusement Company opened their traveling thrill rides to Calhoun County residents. The amusements were set up at 12th Street and Gurnee Avenue behind the USO Building, today Anniston’s City Hall.
Aug 1, 1945: Anniston, AL. Anniston Memorial Hospital announced reduced visiting hours for patients because of a shortage of doctors and nurses. The staff was needed to tend to patients uninterrupted so the new hours to visit were afternoons from 1-3:30 PM and evenings from 7-8:30. The maternity ward hours were only an hour in the afternoon but the evening hours were the same as the rest of the hospital.
