Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County---January 24-31

You will notice this week’s edition of Way Back Wednesday in Calhoun County is different because there are few links to pictures. Sadly, there a few photographs for many of the smaller and outlying locations in Calhoun County. This week we go to Saks, Piedmont, Jacksonville, and West Anniston. 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 24, 1918: Anniston, AL. Woodruff Feed Company celebrated their 10-year anniversary of operation in Anniston. The firm was located on West 15th Street at the Alabama Southern Railway. Both mixed feed (for horses and mules) and dairy feed (for livestock) were manufactured at the plant. In the future, the feed company planned to add grain flour and field seed to the product line.

January 25, 1949: Piedmont, AL. Senator Tom Blake Howie announced that Governor Jim Folsom had approved $400,000 for a widening and resurfacing project for the Jacksonville-Piedmont Highway. The money would go towards eliminating hazardous curves on the highway while still maintaining the route. In addition, the road would be resurfaced with the same type surface that was originally used.

January 26, 1958: Saks, AL. Hamilton Cleaners, at 2501 Bankhead Highway, announced a special on men’s and women’s suits as well as plain dresses. The business would clean and press the items for 50 cents each. The cleaned items were “Cash and Carry” rather than delivery.

January 27, 1946: Jacksonville, AL. Five miles north of Fort McClellan was the Pelham Inn. The motel had 50-modern rooms that were fireproof and steam heated. Both daily and weekly rates were available at the facility. Other amenities at the motel included a dining room and laundry facilities which made it an ideal location for families.

January 28, 1953: West Anniston, AL. The Mid-Winter Music Festival under the direction of Lillian W. Foreman took place at 7:30 PM at the Cobb Avenue High School Auditorium. The festival marked the end of the annual “March of Dimes” drive. The event was sponsored by the teachers in the Anniston School System and the participants were pupils in the school system. The program consisted of the first graders performing in the Minuet accompanied by the Cobb Avenue High School band, the second and third graders performing a selection of American Folk Rhythms, the fourth graders chose the Blue Danube, and the fifth and sixth graders performing in a choral group. The program also included the physical education department of the high school and a guest soloist from Miles Memorial College.

January 29, 1950: Anniston, AL. The Military Housing Office, in Room 122 of the Radio Building, was overseen by Mrs. C. F. Blackwell, Sr. She was responsible for helping the 604 officers and enlisted men (and their families) of the 44th Engineer Construction Battalion housing in Anniston and the surrounding areas. The construction battalion was set to arrive immediately.

January 30, 1957: Anniston, AL. Furniture Fair, at 3400 Noble Street near Edgemont Cemetery, announced the business had been selected as a dealer for the complete line of Philco appliances and TVs. Brand-new Philco refrigerators were sold in the store for $219.99. The 1957 model TVs had the long low look and sold for as low as $149.95 at Furniture Fair.

January 31, 1903: Anniston, AL. An explosion at the Wheel Foundry in Anniston killed six workers and injured nine. The new boiler that had just been installed exploded while one man was working on the top. The blast hurled a large, heavy piece of the boiler on to west Tenth Street and railroad cars on the tracks east of the plant were damaged from the car walls compressing. The event occurred on January 28th but news of the explosion did not appear in the Anniston Evening Star until three days later.