Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County---August 2-8
This week for the Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County Blog we go back to the 1950s. Unfortunately, there are very few pictures of 1950s Calhoun County locations except for the Banks Photo Collection. Anniston Mayor E. D. Banks employed a photographer to document events in the city.
Upcoming Events: Check back often to our website and Facebook page because we will be announcing events for August very soon. There will be opportunities to meet author and local historian Kimberly O'Dell as well as purchase Anniston Revisited.
August 2, 1959: Anniston, AL. The Anniston Electric Company, located at 1425 Noble Street, advertised a Westinghouse Home Freezer for $279.95. The appliance store opened in the late 1930s at 25 East 10th Street before moving to Noble Street in the mid-1950s.
August 3, 1950: Anniston, AL. The new Kroger Grocery Store advertised sirloin steak for 59 cents a pound, 2 lbs. of potatoes for 23 cents, and 2 cans of Vienna sausages for 23 cents. The Kroger store was air conditioned and located at 1219 Wilmer Avenue. Mayor Banks had attending the opening of the grocery store a few weeks before the advertisement ran in the Anniston Star.
August 4, 1952: West Anniston, AL. The Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, at 1600 Dooley Avenue, started a week-long revival with the pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in East Lake (Birmingham) as the guest speaker. The church invited the public to attend the revival as well as all other church services.
August 5, 1953: Calhoun County, AL. Darby’s Lake advertised it was open to the public daily from 8:00 AM to 11: 00 PM. The recreation area offered music and dancing in addition to swimming. The lake was located just off the Jacksonville Highway (Highway 21) on Anniston Beach Road. It was also considered a good fishing spot.
August 6, 1959: Anniston, AL. Coleman’s, a department store catering to women, advertised a fur stole sale. The store, at 1115 Noble Street, had noted fur stylist John A. Henig in store to fit ladies in the $399.99 stole wrap of their choice.
August 7, 1955: Calhoun County, AL. It was announced that the county had been invaded by the white-fringed beetle. The South American beetle species was imported into the country. This infestation was limited to two farms near Piedmont. The infestation was not rapidly spreading since the adult beetle did not fly.
August 8, 1951: Calhoun County, AL. The Midway Drive-In was showing the Babe Ruth Story. The drive-in, on the Jacksonville Highway just to the north of Galloway Gate, was conveniently located between Anniston and Jacksonville. The target audience was less than a mile away at Fort McClellan.
