Excerpt from new book - Forgotten Tales of Abingdon, Virginia and the Holston River Valley
by Donna Akers on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 12:47pm ·
This is a rough draft of the beginning of Ch. 3 Newspaper Articles--just a taste to hopefully whet your appetite!
Enjoy...but don't need to edit, because it already has been!
Ch. 3 Articles from Historic Newspapers
The areas of Abingdon and Washington County, Virginia, due to being the economic, political and social center for much of the region, had several early newspapers published. Much of the news in the early newspapers consisted of political opinions and national news, but as the town developed and newspaper began to grow in influence, the subject matter trended more toward community events, social and business organizations, visiting with friends, school events, and regional events.
Businesses recognized quickly that advertising in the local newspapers was an effective way to reach buyers, and their advertising dollars helped to support the newspaper’s other news. Advertising usually included department stores, grocery stores, restaurants, building supply companies, dairies, farm supply stores, local theatre showings, and other retail stores.
The author has typed up some articles exactly as written from local historic newspapers, including The Washington Herald, The Washington County Journal, Washington County Forum, The Journal-Virginian, The Washington County News, The State’s Rights Man, The Banner Abingdon Virginian, The Abingdon Trade Journal, The Standard, Southwest Virginian, Virginia Republican, Political Prospect and the Abingdon Virginian.
(INSERT Ads States Rights Man Oct 5, 1841)
The State’s Rights Man, October 5, 1841
(INSERT Ads Ab VA Mar 26, 1842)
The Banner Abingdon Virginian, March 26, 1842
Community Articles
“The Bristol Election”
In the election held in Bristol yesterday on the question of wet or dry, 845 votes were cast, 433 of which were wet and 401 dry. Eleven other votes were cast but were not counted from the fact that they were improperly marked. The wet majority was 32. It will be at least sixty days before saloons can be opened. The corporation license is $2,500. The result was a great surprise to many people. The Herald-Courier in commenting on the result says in part:
The fact that the Abingdon dispensary has been getting trade from Bristol was used with more or less effect by the anti-prohibitionists in the Bristol fight. They issued statement seeking to show that a large amount of the revenue of the dispensary was coming from Bristol, and made the argument that if the people must have liquor, it should be supplied from Bristol so that the city could get the revenue. This was one of the principal arguments of the “wets,” though they said that prohibition had injured Bristol in a business way, and cost the merchants a large volume of their country trade, because it no longer had the “attraction” for the out of town people that formerly caused them to come here in such large numbers. (The Washington County Journal, Friday, July 9, 1909).
(INSERT Gold Bros Ad Ab Trade J July 1882)
The Abingdon Trade Journal, July 1882
“Baseball Team”
The Abingdon baseball team will entertain their friends and the public with strawberries and cream at the Town Hall tonight and tomorrow night. The proceeds will be used in purchasing uniforms for the members of the club. Let everybody come out and help the boys. (The Washington Herald, Friday, April 27, 1900)
“Monthly Meeting City Council”
The regular monthly meeting of the town council was held Monday night but nothing of special interest was transacted. Most of the time was spent in considering the question of damages claimed by several persons living on the south side of West Main by reason of certain changes made in the grade of the street in front of their premises.
The chairman of the street committee reported that considering the unfavorable weather the work on Main street was progressing nicely. Some ten or twelve teams began delivering the rock on the street Monday. Each team delivers seven loads per day and the number of teams will be increased as soon as possible (The Washington County Journal, Friday, July 9, 1909).
“Get Ready for the Fair”
The promoters of the Washington county fair association have already begun to make extensive preparations for the next fair. The intention is to have a fair on a grand scale, something that will attract the attention and patronage of the entire Southwest. New and commodious buildings have recently been completed. The promoters are anxious for all owners of horses who desire to offer premiums for the best colts, to report that fact to Mr. D.A. Preston, the secretary, so that mention of it can be made in the catalogue which will soon be in the hands of the printer. (The Washington County Journal, Friday, July 9, 1909).
“The Profanity, Vulgarity, Indecency and Drunkenness of Jockey Alley is Becoming Unbearable”
With the better class of citizenship of Abingdon and Washington County we want to reason with in regard to the custom of making a prominent street in Abingdon a most outrageous scene of profanity, debauchery, drunkenness, cruelty to animals and a general nuisance on the Fourth Monday in each month. We refer to Valley street which is commonly called Jockey Alley.
On the Fourth Monday of each month there assembles on this street, for the greater part, as motley and disreputable a crowd as could congregate anywhere, composed of negroes, hybrids and hill-billies and the degeneracy of the white race in general. They are mounted on aged, decrepit and forlorn steeds, the very sight of which creates disgust and horror in the better class of citizenship. The air is charged with profanity, the street is belittered with germ breeding filth, the odor is stifling and drunkenness and indecency are rampant. The laws of state and municipality are openly and flagrantly violated and the ladies, children, and gentlemen of the community are at the mercies of this law-defying mob and are compelled to listen and abide the results of this irresponsible and reprehensible gathering. This is an open shame and a reflection on civilized society. To every right thinking man, this view of the situation meets his approval, we are practically assured from the expressions of opinion that we have heard on the subject.
There is a statue law against cruelty to animals, there is both a state law and a town ordinance against profanity on public highways and drunkenness and disorderly conduct and also blocking public thoroughfares. There..and the open and brazen drinking of whiskey. Doors are closed and blinds drawn for protection against this public nuisance.
On last Monday an aged and most respected lady who resides on this street called for us to enter her home. She began to relate the occurrences of the day. Drunks, drinking, swearing and other profanity, indecency and vulgarity, horse racing and lashing and other evil doings were taking place on Monday. The odor from horse filth was so strong in her home as it came from the street that it was nauseating and intolerable. This good lady stated that this odor remained for days to destroy the purity and pleasure of the atmosphere of her home. This home is not the only one thus abused.
We ask that the good people of the county and town co-operate in forming a public sentiment so strong that the authorities who are responsible for this condition of affairs will forever and eternally abolish so-called Jockey Alley. The good country people we are sure would not tolerate such a plague and nuisance in their midst and we glory in their spunk, for we have heard some of them express their opinion. Such things are both legally and morally wrong and no community should allow their existence.
The fact that Stonewall Jackson College will soon open in the White property is another reason why this Jockey affair should be eliminated. We heard a high official of this college the other day condemning it in strong language after the occurrences on Monday.
We call upon the Town Council and the police power of the town to formulate some plan by which this practice will be abolished. If the horse jockeys are compelled to have a place to engage in their traffic why not let some place be provided where the jockeys can be secluded from the rest of the community.
We do not desire to offend any one and if the language used is strong it is required in dealing with the subject in hand. Not all who visit Jockey Alley are violators of law and disturbers of peace and happiness and we trust that the above will not be construed as an offense to them. We are striking at the horde of ruffians, charged with liquor and profanity that invade our community every 4th Monday. Why actually some of them pitch tent and camp on Sunday preparatory for horse-swapping on Monday.
Come with us good people and let this matter be disposed of at once. (The Washington County Journal, Friday, August 27, 1915)
(INSERT #035 )
Jockey Street, shown in this c. 1900 postcard, was a crowded place specially on Court Day (the 4th Monday of every month) because many folks came to town. The lot behind the courthouse became a convenient place to trade horses and mules, selling and buying goods, giving political speeches, and conducting business. The newspapers advised “proper ladies” to avoid the lot on court dates.
Historic Newspaper ad included in the book
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