Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County---January 17-23

In this week’s edition of edition of Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County Blog, we go back to a time when manufacturing was king and shopping in Downtown Anniston was a daily event. To learn more about many of the people, places, and events in this week’s blog pick up a copy of the Images of America series books: Anniston Revisited, Anniston, or Calhoun County.

January 17, 1901: Anniston, AL. It was announced that E. L. Tyler, A. L. Tyler, Jr. and W. W. Stringfellow had purchased the building formerly used as the Anniston Knitting Mill. The three men ordered new machinery to triple the capacity of the former mill. The plan was for the new mill to manufacture hosiery.

January 18, 1920: Anniston, AL. Even though Anniston was a manufacturing town, there was still a need for livestock, particularly mules. Several establishments offered mules for sale at reasonable prices including Herren Sales Company, Ingram and Company, and Calhoun Livestock Co.

January 19, 1949: Anniston, AL. A pre-school study group was sponsored by the Noble Street Parent Teacher Association. The Noble Street School had been built in 1925 as an elementary school for the children who lived in North Anniston. The pre-school study group held a meeting at 43 East 22nd Street, the home Rudy and Greta Kemp. The Kemps had immigrated from Germany in 1937 to join Greta’s relatives who lived in Anniston.

January 20, 1954: Anniston, AL. McGriff Appliance Company advertised an automatic washing machine for $189 for sale to patrons. The store was located at 1401 Noble Street near the residential areas of North Noble.

January 21, 1923: Anniston, AL. The Auto Body Company announced the business was the sole user of “Lykglas” to refinish cars. The company stayed open from 6:00 AM until midnight at their 109 East 10th Street location to offer washing, polishing and storing autos. Proprietor E. C. Daugherty ensured car bodies were custom-made and tailor-made tops.

January 22, 1930: Anniston, AL. It was announced a special meeting for independent merchants and land owners for business firms was held at 7:30 PM in Lloyd’s Bakery. The Independents Merchant Committee was the meeting sponsor and perhaps to get a high turnout offered refreshments to attendees.

January 23, 1947: Cooper’s Crossing, AL. Holland Brothers Curb Market billed itself as “Anniston’s Largest Curb Market”. The market, located at 1625 Front Street near the pipe shops in West Anniston, offered shoppers deals such as Spam for 41 cents a can, a 10-lb bag of meal for 52 cents, and canned salmon for 35 cents a can.