Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County---December 6-12
With just a few weeks until Christmas, shoppers are looking for deals. Take a look at this week’s edition of Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County, to see what shoppers in early Anniston were buying…..everything from petticoats to cars to houses. 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.
December 6, 1945: Calhoun County, AL. The Calhoun War Finance Committee announced that all purchasers of “E” Series War Bonds would get a box of 12-gauge shotgun shells. The participating locations to pick up the shotgun shells were scattered throughout the county including First National Bank and Farmers and Merchants Bank in Piedmont, Marbut Furniture in Jacksonville, W. C. Wynn Store in Ohatchee, Service Drug in Oxford, as well as several hardware stores in downtown Anniston.
December 7, 1916: West Anniston, AL. A land auction in the Griffishurst subdivision, near the heart of the Anniston Manufacturing district and Alabama Power Company’s Transmission Plant, was set for this date. Some homes were already built on the site, as well as churches and schools nearby, but this auction offered for purchase business lots in the area. The National Developing Company advertised free barbeque to tempt buyers to come to the 10:00 AM auction.
December 8, 1918: Anniston, AL. Bosworth Garage at the corner of 11th Street and Wilmer Avenue announced the impending arrive of a car load of 1919 Buicks. The cars were on display at the showroom at the garage.
December 9, 1927: North Anniston, AL. A house and lots auction was conducted by J. P. King Auctions of Chattanooga. The absolute auction offered 25 homes and lots for sale in the 2300 Block of Noble, McKleroy Avenue, Moore Avenue, Gurnee Avenue, West 18th and West 19th Streets. The homes and lots were in areas that had paved streets, with street car lines, churches, and schools nearby. Incentives such as free lunches and a Ford car giveaway was used to entice buyers.
December 10, 1919: Anniston, AL. Malone-Woodruff Company, at 1112-1114 Noble Street, announced their December Clearance Sale. The company offered ready to wear coast, suits, and dresses in the latest styles. In addition to outerwear, the company sold silk petticoats.
December 11, 1955: Anniston, AL. Coleman’s, at 1219 Noble Street, offered Christmas Hints for perspective shoppers. One of those hints included purchasing a petticoat for $6.95. The dress shop had other options for buyers as well.
December 12, 1926: Anniston, AL. Ullman Brothers advertised their ladies’ and children’s coat sale with 25% off, a discount of $20 to $25 in some cases. Solomon Ullman, originally from Germany, came to Anniston from New York with his family to open a dry goods store in the former Woodstock Company Store in the 1880s. The Ullman’s stayed and established a department store that relocated to 1101 Noble Street in the 1930s.
