Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County---December 13-19
Christmas is almost here!!! In the Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County Blog, we are shopping for toys, clothes, and food and take in a movie or parade just to relax during the stressful holiday season. 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 13, 1928: Anniston, AL: The Montgomery Ward Company, at 1201-03 Noble Street, announced their “Christmas Thrift Store”. The highlight of the store sale was the Toyland for Christmas including tricycles, bikes, and trains. Three years later, the store burned and the company did not reopen.
December 14, 1955: Anniston, AL. Serve-Ur-Self Department Store, at 905 Noble Street, announced their Christmas Sale. The store known as “The South’s Biggest Money Saver” offered coats for $21, handbags for $1, blankets for $3.77, and gowns for $1.99.
December 15, 1916: Anniston, AL. Sterne Grocery offered 10 pds of sugar for 77 cents, malaga grapes for 21 cents per pounds, and New York Full Cream Cheese for 28 cents per pound. Owners Anselm Sterne and his wife Hernrietta were born in Germany and immigrated to the US about 1863. They first settled in Georgia then moved to Anniston and opened Sterne Grocery at 1009 Noble Street around 1890.
December 16, 1949: Oxford, AL. The Santa’s Christmas Parade was held in Oxford. The event had a “Meet and Greet” with Santa, bands, and floats. In addition, there was a free turkey giveaway as part of the festivities. The events started at 10:00 AM with the Parade at 3:00 PM. The events included sack races, hog calling contests, oldest married couple, and largest family.
December 17, 1945: Anniston, AL. Colonial Funeral Chapel and manger Thomas Vinson thanked their patrons for business during the year. The business, at 1831 Noble Street, exclusively honored policies of Family Reserve Insurance Company. Not only did the company offer funeral services, but they also maintained a 24-hour emergency and private home ambulance service with an ambulance attendant trained in first aid.
December 18, 1909: Anniston, AL. M.F. Doering Jewelers celebrated 23 years in operation. Max Doering immigrated from Germany to Anniston in 1896 and established the town’s first jewelry store at 1110 Noble Street. The store offered watches as well as alarm clocks, sterling silver plate ware, and fine clocks.
December 19, 1918: Anniston, AL. The Strand theatre, at 1130 Noble Street, advertised a Constance Tallmadge film, “Up the Road with Sallie” was playing. The theatre had been in operation since 1916 and during World War I catered to the servicemen training at Camp McClellan. By 1921, the theatre was no longer in operation.
