Girls, Girls, Girls!! In Pirates of Penzance

From the LLF Library Collection

Another stage production featuring all women at Whitworth College. Note ample use of fake beards and mustaches.  Date unknown.

Toga, Toga, Toga! Whitworth Women in the 1920s

Seven women, Greek style costumes, in dance positions; Sauer on bottom right -- LLF Library caption.

Albert Sauer was a well-known photographer in town during the 1920s, so this photo is most likely from the Roaring '20s.  Mr. Sauer maintained his photography studio in the rear of the old "Montgomery" house, (known to many in later years as the Kees home) at 121 North Second Street, not far from Brookhaven High School. 

Some Familiar Surnames of Early Settlers ...

From the Daily Leader Bicentennial edition, courtesy of Bettie Hatcher Cox and Deenie Tallant, scanner extraordinaire!

Not Exactly 76 Trombones ...

Both photos are from the 1976 Daily Leader Bicentennial edition, courtesy of Bettie Hatcher Cox via her mother's archives, and scanned in by Deenie Tallant. 

Win a Car and See a Free Movie -- During the Roaring Twenties

From the Bicentennial Edition of the Daily Leader, courtesy of Bettie Hatcher Cox from her mother's archives; scanned in by Deenie Tallant

Stafflers is still in operation, as far as I know, and may be able to rightfully claim to be Mississippi's oldest jewelry store.

And McGrath's had it all: from taffeta dresses to corn flakes...

Besides Come Early and Often, Abrams Mercantile had my all-time favorite slogan: "If you don't find it here, Go Home!"

A Familiar Face -- Could This Be Sis?

John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

"Young lady in formal pose wearing sweater and cross necklace. Only last name noted : Brennan. No other info." -- Library Caption

I have been wrong before, but I'm thinking this is Sis Brennan, the long-time editor of the local newspaper.  

Opinions, observations by those who knew her are requested, here or on Facebook. 

Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa Arrives in the Car of Presidents!

John Holly Williams Collection -- LLF Library

John Holly Williams Collection -- LLF Library

"SANTA CLAUS ! What would a Christmas parade be without him? Santa is being escorted by Boy Scouts. No other information is available." -- Library caption.

The second photo featuring the same car -- a 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan two-door convertible -- is from a 1951 "unknown parade" in downtown Brookhaven. (This is most likely a 4-H parade from the summer of 1951.)

While no disrespect is intended: FORGET Santa Claus (who, by the way is probably the skinniest St. Nick I've EVER seen) -- the CAR is the real star here! 

This luxury vehicle was a rarity back then and would be quite valuable to collectors today.  It was known as "the car of Presidents" -- the White House ordered 19 examples, according to this link. 

Only 1,230 Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertibles were manufactured in the 1949 model year. The base price was $3,948, while a more family-oriented car, a Ford Tudor for example, sold for roughly $1,500. 

The car is a stand-out for other reasons. The model year 1949 was the first year post WWII of significant changes in car design, with streamlining and elimination of "pontoon" fenders. This car was heavy, weighing well over two tons, but the engine made up for it. Top-end it was fast, at 102 mph, it was the fastest car out there, though acceleration was understandably sluggish.

As for Brookhaven's own, the horn on the driver's side front fender, the only one I've seen in my research for this post, is most likely an option that was known as "Frenching" back in the day.
  
For car enthusiasts, here is a link to stills of a restored 1949 Cosmopolitan convertible in green.  To view a photo of President Truman's specially built 1949 Cosmopolitan, please see this link and also learn what not to do when a "loser" Presidential candidate asks for a courtesy car. (Read the blogger's disclaimer for some chuckles as well.) 


Probably the most intriguing bit of information in these two parade photos comes from the front license plate.  A close-up look and a search of the internet indicates that it says, "Harold's Club or Bust, Reno Nevada." 

Without knowing anything about the owner, I will not speculate as to how he came to buy this "car of cars."  To learn more about Harold's Club, which was the world's largest casino at the time, please click on this link.

If anyone recognizes this awesome automobile, or happens to know who the owner was, please leave me a message here or on Facebook. As always, if you recognize anyone in the 
photos, names and dates and other information are welcomed! 

And, Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas, Y'all!

UPDATE:

This is the earliest photo I could find of this car, taken on April 1, 1949, during a 4-H Parade downtown Brookhaven.  That it was used by the 4-H Club of Heucks Retreat might help narrow down just who owned this vehicle.

Checkerboard Square Float

Don Jackson Collection, LLF Library

We have featured the second photo here before -- I included to show the connection with the W.E. Nettles & Sons float's Purina Chows' Checkerboard Square theme.  This photo is from the Christmas Parade in 1956.

Does anyone recognize the smiling little girl on the float or the serious young Scout escort?  If so, please leave a note here or on my Facebook page.

Another Whitworth College Christmas Pageant

From LLF Library Collection

Date unknown.

Away in a Manger

From John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

"This manger scene is for Whitworth college. No other information is available." -- Library caption.

On closer inspection, I cannot tell for certain if they actually used men to portray the Wise Men or whether these are female students wearing fake beards, which was the case in other theatrical productions at the college when it was an all-girls' school.

All Merry and Bright ...

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

"This is a copy of five children at Christmas time. The only information available is that (it) was printed for the Daily Leader in 2003." -- Library caption

My guess this is from the 1950s.  Recognize anyone?

Post War Taffeta and Oh Tannenbaum

John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

"Four young ladies are decorating a Christmas tree. They are standing on a stage at Whitworth College. No other information is available." -- Library caption

Given the history of the college and other photos from this era, I suspect this is from 1948 or 1949.  

I like this photo because it captures traditions that I remember well -- fancy dresses and longleaf pine Christmas trees, cut down from a trek into the woods, without regard to shape or ideal form. 

I can fondly remember in the early 1960s trudging through the Kinchloe's acreage next door and hiking with my family down to an area past what is now Brookway Boulevard to find a small tree for our living room.   

It was early and unusually cold. Jackfrost was everywhere, bowing the broom sage to the ground, and we could see our breath with every step.  Momma spied a "perfect" tree, and Daddy took his hatchet and chopped down a young pine not unlike this one. 

My little dog Boots, half Feist, half Chihuahua, could not fathom what we were doing.

We dragged our perfect tree back -- Boots chasing after -- and we set it up in our living room, complete with the old torpedo multi-colored lights, silvery tinsel and our heirloom ornaments.

I must mention that this was the first year of The Cat.  No sooner had the tree settled, my young Tuxedo, Sylvester, crooked his tail, zoomed up the trunk, and crashed the perfect tree to the floor.  

His antic broke just about every ornament we had -- including the old ones with paper tops from World War II.

The following year, we got on board with the rest of the country and bought an aluminum tree with a color wheel, a trend that lasted until the mid to late 1960s, when A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree aired and helped return live trees to America's homes. 
----
As always, if you recognize anyone in the photo, please leave word here or on my Facebook page.

Christmas Cheer in 1938

John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

"Leslie Guiser Family, 1938

"The Guiser family Christmas celebration of 1938 was identified in The Daily Leader. Standing around a food-laden table are (l-r): ___ Haywood, Clara L. Guiser, Genoa Sartin Sr., Nannie Jackson, Elizabeth Guiser, Ulysses Guiser and Wille Mae McDaniel Guiser. Seated is Leslie Guiser Sr." -- LLF Library caption.

This picture makes me smile because I sense genuine happiness, at least on most of their faces.

If anyone knows these folks or of them, please feel free to comment here or on my Facebook page. 

An Early Christmas Sweater

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

Proof positive that Christmas Sweaters date back at least to 1945, and, possibly much earlier.  A Google search of "Christmas sweaters history" takes us to the latest trend -- "Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties," but no real indication of how long ago Christmas-themed sweaters might have begun. 

These photos at least give us a glimpse into the past -- the date is recorded as 12/20/1945 and the young man's name is Dave Davis.  It's just my humble opinion, but I don't think this sweater is ugly, do you?

As always, if any of you recognize this young man (who would be in his 80s today) or have additional information about him or the history of Christmas sweaters, for that matter, please feel free to post here or on my Facebook page.

Party Balloons! 1957 Christmas Float

John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

From the Library: Young ladies on float for a day-time Christmas parade. One lady may be 
Ann Atkinson. Date 12/21/1957.

Recognize anyone?  If so, please leave a message here or on my Facebook page.

The Annual Third Graders' Christmas Pageant

John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

Most likely a copy made for a customer.  The quality is such that it is difficult to recognize faces or determine a date, although the hair styles on the women and girls point to the 1950s.

In Wide-Eyed Wonder ...

Add caption

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library 

The library caption reads: 
"Large group of children watching Christmas gifts being given. Taken for the Leader paper. Date 12/17/1948."

I would know those pews anywhere.  These were taken in the First United Methodist Church on Cherokee Street.  

As to identities of those featured in the photos, not so much.  Feel free to offer up suggestions here or on my Facebook page.  I love the expressions on their faces, don't you?

As with yesterday's post, it seems post-war costume manufacturers were missing the mark when it came to Jolly Ole St. Nick.

A Wesson Family Gets a Visit from Santa

John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

The library caption reads: "Barlow Christmas, January 1949

Group of 23 includes men, women, children and a Santa Claus. A Christmas tree is visible in the background. This group was identified in handwriting on the back of photograph as 'Barlow Family - Wesson,' however, the envelope had 'Robertson Family'."

I suppose it's possible that both families are represented.  Feel free to chime in if you recognize anyone. 

I do wonder, however, have to wonder about that Santa Claus and the youngsters' initial reaction.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and a Nonagenarian -- UPDATED

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

The library caption reads: "Betty Price Dunn Cake and Christmas Tree, December 20, 1936

Betty Price Dunn, identified as the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Price and Rebecca White Price, is sitting by a large birthday cake with candles. A small Christmas tree is seen behind the cake. She was the wife of Samuel Dunn, Jr. This photograph was taken on her 90th birthday."

To do the math, this means she was born in 1846.  If anyone has information on her background, please feel free to leave a comment here or on my Facebook page.

Here is an article on Mrs. Dunn's mother on the occasion of her 100th birthday.  It seems longevity runs in the family.  The bottom of the second column contains information on Mrs. Dunn and the home in which the top photo was most likely taken. 

The above article is from the Bicentennial Special Edition of the Daily Leader (1976), courtesy of Bettie Hatcher Cox via her mother's archives and scanned in by Deenie Tallant.

Up from the Ashes ...

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

And the windows are dressed for Christmas.  This photo has to been from the late 1960s. Followers of this blog will know I have previously featured photos of the fire that burned down Woolworth's and the neighboring five and dime, Morgan and Lindsey's, on Cherokee Street.  The cause of that fire was believed to have been a faulty heater in the rear of M&L.

This is the first photo of the replacement store that I have seen in the library's online collection.   

Morgan and Lindsey did not rebuild.  I am unclear when Woolworth shuttered this store, but this building is still standing and is home to, I believe, a women's fashion business.

More Christmas Floats ...

Both Photos from the Don Jackson Collection, LLF Library

Judging by the cars and trucks in the photos, these pictures are even older than the ones we have been featuring this month. My best guess would be that they are from the late '40s or early '50s.  The first float appears to have been sponsored by the community of Heuck's Retreat; the second, the Brookhaven Exchange Club.

While I do not recognize anyone from the first float, there is a great chance that a follower here or someone on my Facebook friends' list may be able to identify the adults and child on the second float.

I find both pictures intriguing, not so much for the floats themselves, but for the buildings in the background. The white structure in the first photo is oh so familiar, but I am not placing it.

The second photo clearly shows an old hip-roofed home that stood next to the Jewish Synagogue.  It was eventually replaced by a brick building that housed Dr. Russell Burns' dental practice and is still there today.

As always, please feel free to chime in with names and possible identification of the buildings, as to when they were built and who owned them -- here or on Facebook.

The synagogue, for those who may not be familiar with it, is one of the oldest in the state and up until it was decommissioned and turned into a museum and genealogical center a few years back, was believed to be the oldest continually operated synagogue in the state. 

It has been featured in a large coffee table book on famous synagogues from around the world.  In the years since an elderly New York friend showed me the photo and the blurb,  I have been unsuccessful in locating that particular book again, so, unfortunately, I am unable to provide the exact title and author. 

Christmas Fairies and Girl Scouts

Both photos from the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

As with yesterday's post, the date is uncertain, but is most likely mid 1950s.

The young lady leaning forward with the garland in the top photo strongly resembles Lynda Hedgepeth Murray.  I do not recognize any of the other "fairies" but I am hopeful those of my friends on Facebook who went to Brookhaven High School with Lynda will be able to confirm my suspicion and identify the others.

In the bottom photo, I wonder if it's not from 1958, since the two young girls standing near the fireplace look a whole lot like Debbie Giles Rushing and her older sister Pam.  I could be completely wrong about that identification, so if someone out there knows better, please leave a comment here on or my Facebook page.

The young ladies holding the dolls on the rear of the float also look very familiar, but I don't dare venture a guess for fear of being way off.

Angels We Have Heard on High ...

John Holly Williams Collection -- LLF Library

John Holly Williams Collection -- LLF Library

The top photo is from the 1956 Christmas parade -- A choir of angels singing Heavenly strains to the music of an accordion, no less!

The date of the second photo is not listed at the library.  A best guess would be that this picture is also from the 1956 parade.  On magnification, the "Southern Belle" in the approximate center of the background, surely looks a whole like my cousin, Lynda Hedgepeth Murray.

Any help on the identities of the singing angels in the first photo is most welcome!  Hold down Cntrl and the + key on a PC, or the Command key and the + key, to enlarge the image.

Please let me know names, either here or on my FB page!

More Christmas Floats from the 1950s ...

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

In the run-up to Christmas 2012, more of these vintage photos will be posted.  The dates for the above two are unclear, though they are likely from the 1956-58 period, given the other photos in the collection.  

I do not recognize faces in the first photo, but I do believe the tall man on the right in the second photo just may be Henry Ware Hobbs. 

Comments and suggestions are welcome!

The Staff of the Leader Times Plants a Rose Bush

From the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

Two men and three women plant a rose bush on March 19, 1958, at the Brookhaven Leader Times.  

The library caption has them as unidentified, but the woman in the black dress is Sis Brennan, my first real boss in the world of journalism.  The shorter woman is Flo Mitchell, long-time linotype operator and typesetter, and next to her is Nella Wade. (Help is needed with the identities of the other two.)

I chose to post this photograph because yesterday it was announced that the surviving town newspaper, the Daily Leader, which has been owned by the Jacobs family since 1958, has been sold.  See this link to learn more.

As the memories swirled yesterday, I recalled the interview on file of Charles Jacobs at the Lincoln County Library, conducted by John Coke in December 1991, regarding the history of the local newspapers and how Chuck Jacobs, a native of Chicago, and Mrs. Jacobs came into play. Here is an excerpt of that bit of town history:

"Jacobs: After getting out of the service during World War II, I got started in the newspaper business. I went to Meredith, New Hampshire, and worked on what they called the G.I. Bill of Rights, the government paid half of your salary. The salary was, I think, sixty dollars a week. After a year working for the paper it became for sale and I bought the paper with the G.I. Bill of Rights, they guaranteed a four percent loan. I stayed there for five years, sold out and went to Wauseon, Ohio. With the money I made on the sale of the Meredith News, I bought the Wauseon Republican. I stayed there six years and moved to Sarasota, Florida. I worked in the advertising department of the Bradenton Herald. Newspapers are sold through brokers just like real estate brokers. A broker got hold of me and told me about Brookhaven, Mississippi. I came up and looked at it and eventually decided to take over the paper. 

Coke: Who was running the paper then? Who was running it and who owned it? 

Jacobs: It was owned by a man named Joe Lee. Dalton Brady held the note on it; Lee lost the paper, he forfeited on his loan. I picked it up from there. At that time there were two papers in Brookhaven, the Lincoln County Advertiser and the Leader Times. I had the Leader Times. It was the older paper. We had a dog-eat-dog battle and eventually we merged the two papers. Bill Lauderdale owned the Advertiser. He died six months afterwards. Eventually I was able to acquire the Lauderdale interest in what had become the Leader Advertiser. We dropped the Times and became the Leader Advertiser. After a number of years, it was 1968 we started the Daily Leader, we published five days a week. This is almost 1992 and it's been going since 1968. 

Coke: How often was the paper published before you took it over? 

Jacobs: The Advertiser was a weekly and the Leader Times was published twice a week. The Leader-Advertiser continued as a semi-weekly. 

Coke: When you got the paper, what was your general policy as to how you would operate the paper, what were you trying to accomplish ... can you tell us a little along those lines? 

Jacobs: Newspapers have changed considerably in my period of being in the newspaper business. We've gone from letterpress, which was the old hot metal, hand type, linotype to photojournalism and offset printing. The paper, at this point, is completely computerized, all the accounting, the bookkeeping, production of the newspaper. Mr. B. T. Hobbs, who started the newspaper, would never recognize it. It's entirely different from that time. 

Coke: I believe your wife [Patricia Patterson Jacobs] was involved in the paper from the very beginning? 

Jacobs: She introduced photography which was very important. At one time, photography was seldom used in small newspapers. She got into photography and that was one way we forced the Advertiser into a merger. Our paper became much more popular and they decided to go along with us. To this day, photography is very important to the newspaper. 

Coke: In other words, you out photographed your competition. 

Jacobs: They used maybe one picture a week while we filled the paper up with local pictures. "

And, as print publications across the country struggle to survive in an electronic world, considerable changes in journalism continue on all levels ... I wish all the best to the new owners of the Daily Leader and pray they continue to serve the community as well as their predecessors, who made Brookhaven their HOME and left an indelible mark.

1956 Christmas Parade in Downtown Brookhaven

Both Photos from the Don Jackson Collection at LLF Library

1958 Christmas Parade Downtown Brookhaven

Both photos from the John Holly Williams Collection, LLF Library

The marching band in the upper photo appears to be that of Copiah Lincoln Junior College. The second photo is of Co-Lin's high-stepping Colettes, the likes of whom marched in at least one, if not more, of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York back in the day, if my fuzzy memory is correct.  

Can you imagine marching an entire parade doing scissor kicks and smiling all the while?  

If anyone has accurate information on the Colettes' participation in the Macy's parade, please leave me a comment here or on my Facebook page.  I want to make certain my memory isn't playing tricks on me. 

A Promising Future of a Writer/Editor, Sculptor, Humanitarian ...

From the John Holly Williams Collection, 1950s, LLF Library

A lifelong resident of Brookhaven, Bruce Brady (pronounced Braddy) was graduated from Lawrenceville Prepartory School in Lawrenceville, NJ, in 1953.  Judging by the shoes and hats on the ladies in the gallery, I suspect this photo is from that very occasion, although I have been wrong before.  Other cap and gown possibilities include ceremonies at Ole Miss; he went on to receive his BA in 1957 and his L.L.B. in 1961.

An avid outdoorsman, the late Bruce Brady spent three decades as a freelance writer, contributing editor, field editor and editor at large at Outdoor Life Magazine.   Google his name and you will find numerous articles by him and about him on the web.  You will find some of his writings on his outdoor adventures, pictures of his bronze sculptures of animals and public figures, and information on his memorial foundation, Catch a Dream.

His sculptures, which can be found in the collections of Ronald Reagan and Robert Dole, are available for sale at numerous galleries in the United States.  To view his bronze work, please click on this link to a local gallery, which includes a more complete biography for those who wish to learn more about this remarkable Brookhavenite.

Also of note is the humanitarian work of the Catch a Dream Foundation, which was launched after his death in February 2000.  Click on the embedded link to learn more about that.

Copiah Lincoln Junior College Faculty?

Don Jackson Photo, LLF Library Collection

Library caption reads: "Sixteen people are grouped for this photo. No other information is available. Scanned from printed photo."

I recognize my friend and mentor, the late Burlian O'Neal Walker, top row, second from left, and mathematics instructor Roy Daughdrill, top row, far right.  Beyond that, I'm drawing blanks.

Date and location and occasion are unclear, although I suspect this was taken in the mid to late '70s, based on the width of the ties and the hairstyles.  Help with names welcomed!

Flights of Fancy

Left to right, James, Sam, Robert E.??and Freida McDaniel, Johnston's Station, MS, circa 1920.

Mary, their mother, Red Sam, Freida and James, circa 1918-19.

Sam McDaniel, known to his family as "Red Sam," is pictured in the above 1947 Enterprise Journal article, being lifted into the cockpit of an Ercoupe, touted to be one of the "safest" planes to fly in post-War II civil aviation circles.  (See link for more information).  

Despite being crippled by Rheumatoid Arthritis, which at the time was known as the Wasting Disease, Red Sam was determined to get his pilot's license.  With the help of the owner of McComb Airways, Red Sam was able to realize his dream of flying solo after only four hours and 25 minutes of instruction. Later that same year, he received his license after 39 hours and 40 minutes of instruction.