USA > Georgia > Tift County > History of Tift County > Part 12
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The American Legion honored Jefferson Mclendon Parker in a me- morial service and unveiled his picture. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Moore donated two acres in the northern part of Omega to be used as a memorial park to their son, Joe Warren, who lost his life in a gin. The Peterson baby me- morial fund-citizens whom Dr. N. Peterson ushered into the world con- tributed to the fund-grew large enough to furnish a nursery at the Tift County Hospital. Irwin County, the grandmother of Tift County, un- veiled in 1936 a monument to Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy "at the spot where1 his arrest lent a touch of drama and a fifty-year argu- ment to the end of the War Between the States."
Mrs. Ralph Johnson, now of Tifton, was master of ceremonies at the unveiling. "Mrs. Johnson, president of the Mary V. Henderson Chapter U. D. C., of Ocilla, and division chairman of the Jefferson Davis Memo- rial Committee, has worked energetically and persistently for sixteen years to see the dream of the Davis Capture ground converted into a memorial because of standing reality." (Tifton Gazette.) Mrs. Johnson is a charter member of the Tift County Historical Society.
In 1938 the Tifton High School annual, the Talisman, revived for the first time since 1918 and dedicated that volume to Tifton High School graduates who served in World War I; Gerald Herring. Sr., Bob Herring, Jeff Parker, Neil Ryder, Silas O'Quinn, Roy Thrasher, Donald Ryder.
In 1934 the Tifton High School dedicated a program for the U. D. C. to Beverly Patten Leach, the only surviving Confederate soldier in the county.
In 1931, according to the vote of the people, Tifton's most valuable men were: E. P. Bowen, Sr., J. L. Bowen, F. G. Branch, R. E. Freeman, H. F. Freeman, George Gibson, J. G. Herring, C. B. Holmes. Joe Kent, D. C. Rainey and H. D. Webb. The Tifton Gazette sponsored the voting.
During the thirties Tifton was host for several meetings of organiza- tions. Board of Governors met with vocational teachers of South Georgia and visitors from Washington, D. C. The Regional Red Cross, a regional medical association, and a county agent's meeting were held in Tifton. The District Educational Association, which met here, had one thousand 1. Tifton Gazette.
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teachers and the Georgia Agricultural Society had a good attendance. The Kansas F. F. A. was entertained in Tifton. The Tobacco Institute with assistance of our warehouses and the Experiment Station was successful. Attractive quarters where visitors could read or rest were established. The meetings of Georgia Federation of Music Clubs in 1930 and of Georgia Press Association in 1932 were distinctive honors for a small town.
The eleventh convention of the Georgia Federation of Music Clubs opened in Tifton on April the second, 1930. After Mrs. J. D. Downs gave a prelude on the piano, a procession of officers, directors, chairmen, and dis- tinguished guests followed to the rhythm of "God of Our Fathers." Miss Elizabeth Spence read the collect of the National Federation of Music Clubs, and Dr. W. L. Pickard pronounced the invocation.
Mrs. M. E. Hendry, president of the Tifton Music Club, introduced Dr. W. L. Pickard for the main address. She then introduced the state president, Mrs. W. P. Harbin, of Rome, who after giving her response introduced the state officers, district directors, department chairmen, and Mrs. De Los Lemuel Hill, of Atlanta, Georgia, member of the national board. Mrs. Hill introduced the two national officers here for the conven- tion, Mrs. Grace W. McBee and Mrs. Helen Harrison Mills.
The opening session of the forty-sixth annual meeting of the Georgia Press Association at Tifton was mainly a tribute to William G. Sutlive, associate editor of the Savannah Press and best known as "Bill Biffem."
On the last evening of the convention, in recognition of the services of Miss Leola Greene, society editor of the Tifton Gazette, as a veteran news- paper woman, Mr. Bruce Donaldson, in behalf of the Tifton Presidents' Club, presented her with a bouquet of roses.
The Georgia Ice Manufacturers and the Canning Institute, with three hundred delegates, too, had an interesting meeting. Three October days were Tifton Trade Days, which advertised the town and allured crowds here.
Nature made the most spectacular contribution to the events of the period. On the morning of February 15, 1934, children with gleeful yells welcomed a beautiful scene-a phenomenon to South Georgia-snow had fallen 2.2 inches on Tifton soil. On January 24, 1935, the town was cov- ered again with snow.
Another unusual thing about the thirties was the longevity of Tifton people. According to Roland Harper, research specialist, who studied the length of lives recorded on tombs in the Tifton Cemetery, the span of life of Tifton citizens showed an increase from an average of twenty-eight years in 1900 to fifty-five years in 1930. He examined two-hundred-ninety- nine records. Three per cent of the people reached eighty. The average life from 1895 to 1900 was twenty-eight years; from 1900 to 1905, twenty-
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five years ; 1905 to 1910, seventeen years; 1915 to 1920, thirtye-ight years ; 1930, average fifty-five years.
Women lived longer than men except from 1920-1925: males lived forty-three years ; females, forty.
In connection with longevity of Tifton people in the thirties, the Gazette commented about the number of Tift couples who had been married more than fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Youmans celebrated their sixtieth anniversary; the Honorable and Mrs. T. B. Young, their fifty-ninth. Mr. and Mrs. S. N. Adams and Judge and Mrs. J. J. Baker were married more than fifty years. "If you want to be happily married, move to Tifton," was the slogan the Tifton Gazette suggested.
Others who celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries were: Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Bishop, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Hargrett, Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Horne, Judge and Mrs. S. F. Overstreet, Mr. and Mrs. James M. Varner, Dr. and Mrs. Milton Price, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Scott Hand, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Fletcher, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Davis Whiddon, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Dean, Mr. and Mrs. J. Z. Paulk. Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Bryant were married fifty-seven years.
Some of the people who reached three score-and-ten or more during this period were: Mrs. Rhoda Goodman, Brookfield, celebrated her seventy- ninth birthday; M. L. Whitfield, seventy-ninth; J. T. Tyron, seventy- first; Mrs. N. A. Bowen, ninetieth; Mrs. Susan T. Partian, seventy- ninth; Mrs. W. A. Doss, seventieth; Aunt Jane Branch, ninetieth ; Mrs. Babe Gibbs, eighty-second ; Mrs. J. H. Crisp, Fender, celebrated her eight- eenth birthday, although she was seventy-two years old-she was born on February 29; Mrs. Matilda Moore, eighty-ninth; Mrs. W. W. Griner. her eighty-eighth; J. W. Taylor, eightieth; Mrs. N. J. Goggans, eightieth ; Mrs. A. Conger, seventy-ninth; Mrs. Elizabeth Paul, eighty-first; Wil- liam Willis, seventy-second; Mrs. M. T. Ford, seventy-seventh birthday ; Mrs. Mary D. Jones, eighty-ninth; G. W. Conger, eighty-third; "Grand- pa Greer," ninetieth birthday; Jacob Hall, eighty-second; Mrs. J. Rig- don, Sr., seventy-fifth; Mr. Freeman Hall, seventy-ninth; Mrs. Ellen Lankford, ninety-second; Mrs. W. W. Griner, eighty-ninth; William Willis, seventy-third; Mrs. J. T. Pitts, seventy-fifth ; Mrs. J. R. Willis, seventieth ; Mrs. W. A. Doss, seventieth; Babe Gibbs, eighty-second ; Mrs. W. M. Pound, eighty-second ; George Seay, ninetieth; Mrs. J. D. Boze- man, seventy-fifth. Mrs. N. A. Bowen, mother of E. P. Bowen, Sr., made the highest score on blows when she blew out ninety candles on an angel food birthday cake. Mrs. N. G. Goggans scored next when she blew out eighty candles on her cake.
The two salient birthday celebrations were the observance, beginning on September 16, 1937, of the one-hundred-fiftieth anniversary of the sign-
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ing of the Constitution of the United States of America and the celebra- tion of Georgia bicentennial in 1933 by the Tifton High School graduat- ing class.
Proclamation
"Whereas the Constitution of the U. S. was signed on Sept. 17, 1787 and had by June 21, 1788 been ratified by the necessary number of states and
"Whereas George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on April 30, 1789
"Now, therefore I, Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States of America, hereby designate the period from Sept. 17, 1937, to April 30, 1939, as one of commemoration of the 150 anniversary of the signing and the ratification of the Constitution and of the inauguration of the first President under that Constitution.
"In commemorating this period we shall affirm our debt to those who ordained and established the Constitution in order to form a more per- fect union. establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty, to ourselves and our posterity.
"We shall recognize that the Constitution is an enduring instrument fit for the governing of a far-flung population of more than one hundred thirty million, engaged in diverse and varied pursuits even as it was fit for the government of a small agrarian nation of less than four million.
"It is therefore appropriate that in the period herein set apart we shall think afresh of the founding of our Government under the Constitution, how it has served us in the past and how in the days to come its principles will guide the Nation forward."
Excerpt from a pamphlet prepared by the Georgia Education Depart- ment :
"The period fixed by the President of the United States for the country at large and by the Governor of Georgia for this state for celebrating the sesquicentennial of the Constitution of the United States extends from Sep- tember 17, 1937, to April, 1939. This period begins with the one-hundred- fiftieth anniversary of the day the Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, September 17, 1787, and ends with the one hundred-fiftieth anniversary of the day George Washington the first President of the United States (which office was first created by the Constitution) was inaugurated in New York, April 30, 1789."
The Constitution was signed by William Few and Abraham Baldwin from Georgia. The latter signer is especially interesting to South Geor- gians because Abraham Baldwin College near Tifton bears his name.
During the celebration week organizations and schools in Tift County gave appropriate celebrations, commemorating the signing of the Constitu- tion.
ROBE
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Top --- Business street scene in Tifton
Second row-Entrance to Fulwood Park. Home of Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Fulwood, Sr.
Third-Woman's Club and Public Library Bottom-Tifton. street scene during Shriners ceremonial parade
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Another pointer to the past, though less significant, was interesting. Dur- ing the thirties there was a revival of quilting and making quilts. Groups of women and girls in the country and town made quilt squares and quilt- ed. The editor of the Tifton Gazette in 1935 had this article: "It has been a long time since we saw a school girl patching and quilting but little 7-year-old Myrl Marchant is patching a quilt at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Marchant. Myrl has a quilt she made when only five years old. Now that is what we call industrious, also unusual for modern times." Skipping from 1935 to 1938 we find another article: "The quilting out at Mrs. E. L. Lott's was of great interest for the ladies for 3 and 4 miles from Enigma. There were only 2 quilts, but they were tedious." During other years in the thirties there was a revival of quilting.
Young and old enjoyed these quiltings, which were a novelty to the for- mer and a reminder of the "good old days" to the latter. Sometimes remi- niscences were interrupted by discussions of the New Deal, which was introduced by President Roosevelt.
The first effective change in his administration was the closing of all the banks in the country for several days in 1933 and making depositors safe for the first time in years. There had been so many bank failures that people were afraid to deposit their money in banks. In fact, some people in different sections of the country returned to the old method of banking, socks and bags. There were various kinds of organizations to help the unemployed and relieve the starving. The length of the bread lines was appalling.
The alphabet had its part in the New Deal. Some of the organizations to help relieve the strain were: A.A.A. Agricultural Adjustment Adminis- tration; C.C.C., Civilian Conservation Corps; F.E.R.A., Federal Emer- gency Relief Administration; H.O.L.C., Home Owners' Loan Corpora- tion ; N.I.R.A., National Industrial Recovery Act; N.R.A., National Re- covery Administration; P.W.A., Public Works Administration.
Before this federal relief came, people were desperate. Newspapers were full of suicides on account of financial strains. There were, however, dif- ferent reactions to the New Deal : some Tift County people hailed it as the savior of the country and declared that there would have been a revo- lution had it not been for the election of Roosevelt, for hungry people know no limit to fierceness ; others criticized the New Deal as government inter- ference. In a democracy there will always be conflicting opinions about every movement. Nothing can be perfect in a world of imperfections. There will always be people who exemplify the truth of Burke's statement : "And having looked to the government for bread, on the very last scarcity they will turn and bite the hand that fed them." Some people will always take advantage of relief.
The New Deal although magnanimous in its purpose, like all other
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movements, had its flaws. There were conscientious job seekers who re- ceived aid efficaciously and went to work at the first possible moment; there were also indolent people who received undeserved aid. In Tift Coun- ty there were both classes. An example of the former was a man's return- ing groceries given by the government after securing a job.
Some people will abuse always privileges of a democracy. Should we abolish our form of government, which is the best. on account of flaws?
CHAPTER XIV WORLD WAR II-SECOND "WORLD EARTHQUAKE"
Mingled emotions of sadness, fear, and gayety characterized 1940. Germany had blitzed into Poland on September 1, 1939, and started World War II. Our country, though declaring neutrality was tense; for no one knew where the Axis would crash next, and almost everyone feared that Germany's ultimate aim was the United States. Despite premonitions of danger, however, there was prevalent at times gayety-sometimes a des- perate form-that expressed itself in different kinds of entertainments. Wedding bells pealed with the speed of war years. There was a large number of birthday celebrations, golden weddings, and more dances than usual. The revival of quilting parties, which began in the thirties, extended through 1940. Some of the weddings were among the most elaborate in the history of Tifton.
Several octogenarians celebrated their birthdays. Mrs. L. D. Taylor, born on February 29, although eighty-four years old, had had only twenty birthdays. Other octogenarians who celebrated their birthdays were Mrs. Sumantha Branch, Mrs. Emily Owens, and Mr. Tommie Walls.
There were improvements, too, in Tifton. The Tift County Depart- ment of Public Health was the first county health department in the state to be selected to give field training for public health nurses. Holmes Or- grain, County health engineer, reported that the rat control in the city was progressing. The vent stoppage program was successful.
The bookmobile with a capacity for handling one thousand books in Tift County arrived from Atlanta during this time and began operation immediately. The W.P.A. rented the chassis and the county commission- ers, library committee, and county board of education helped buy the body.
The bookmobile covered the entire county every two weeks, and books were available to every person in the county. Two thousand dollars was spent on new reading material.
Tifton's first streamlined train, which made its first trip through Tif- ton on December 19, was an innovation.
The Young Democratic Club and Sportsman Club were organized. The following officers were elected for the former: John T. Ferguson, president; R. M. Kennon, vice-president; John Henry Davis, secretary- treasurer; for the latter club: J. P. Short, president; L. O. Shaw, vice- president; Willard Gaulding, secretary-treasurer; board of directors. George H. King, J. L. Stephens, Blanton Smith, Oren Ross, E. A. Gibbs; membership committee: W. F. Zimmerman, Chairman Ed Kent, and J. O. Ross; Jake Herring, publicity chairman.
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TIFTON FROZEN FOODS
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Housewives were particularly interested in the opening of the Tift County Farm Women's Club Market. The Tip-Top Pants Manufacturing Company opened a plant at Omega.
In 1940 preparations for defense began. Judge R. Eve was appointed Tifton District Commander of the Georgia State Defense Corporation. Home Guards experienced strenuous practices, and blackouts gave an idea of civilians' action during a raid.
Tifton citizens, young and old, grabbed newspapers and sat by radios for news about the war in Europe. In perusing papers for war news, read- ers occasionally took time to read about achievement of Tifton people. The Star, a six-page weekly at Brunswick, began in 1940 with Lutrelle Tift
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editor, Amos Tift, Jr., business manager, and David Tift, circulation manager. The paper was chockfull of news of the Golden Isles of Georgia. Howard P. Smith, Jr., received a scholarship to the National Institute of Journalism, and recognition in a national magazine for his achievement in astronomy and for the construction of a telescope.
The greatest celebrations of the year were: "I am an American Day," proclaimed by President Roosevelt for those who had attained their majority or become naturalized citizens during the year; the ninety-eighth anniversary of Crawford W. Long's successful use of ether for the first time; National Newspaper Week with the theme that the press con- stitutes the first line of defense in the battle for democracy. Dr. Crawford W. Long was a great uncle of Mrs. J. D. Cook, of Tifton. Her mother's father was Dr. Long's brother.
The gravest event of 1940 was the teachers' registering men for the army. On a bleak rainy day, October 15, teachers in Tift County-the registration was nation wide-registered 2,584 young men. Among the numerous points of information was the color of eyes. Teachers were sur- prised to learn that some men did not know the color of their eyes. Later Mckinley Bradford, colored, thirty-five years old, of Brookfield, was the first person to have his name drawn for the army. He received serial num- ber one as the Tift County Board began drawing and numbering registra- tion cards of those registered for selective service. Cards were thoroughly shuffled and placed in a zinc. tub. Mrs. Peggy Coleman, blind-folded, drew the first card.
People were more war-conscious in 1941 than in 1940. Defense meas- ures advanced. School children bought defense stamps and bonds on every Tuesday and knitted sweaters for soldiers during study halls. First-aid courses and home nursing were taught in schools and in the town. Almost everyone in Tifton bought stamps and bonds.
The first important project of 1941 in Tifton was the completion of thirty mattresses a day. Miss Lucy Ruth Hall, demonstration agent, was in charge of the project.
On passing the former Alms House, about three miles from Tifton, one might have thought that people were enjoying an old-fashioned picnic. These farm families were having a mattress picnic. About thirty families went to the community center for the purpose of "building" mattresses. These families worked congenially together in three shifts of ten each. Only people of low incomes or salaries were eligible.
One woman in each family cut and made a tick while the men cut and fluffed a mattress. After the woman had finished the tick, she joined her family and helped finish the mattress, which consisted of ten yards of heavy grade ticking and fifty pounds of lint cotton. Each mattress when com- pleted was inspected by a government representative.
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"Happy were the days spent at the mattress center."1 Rural families enjoyed the contacts with new and old friends and appreciated the oppor- tunity of getting new mattresses and altering the old ones.
Farm women advanced in other ways. Mrs. E. J. Mccrary was presi- dent of the executive board of Tift County Farm Women's Market. She was president of Innis Home Demonstration Council in 1940-1941. "The curb market has been our living,." Mrs. McCrary declared, "for the past six months. Practically all our bills are met with the money which I receive from sales at the curb market."
An important achievement for the whole county in 1941 was the com- pletion of the Tift County Hospital. The dedication on February 13, was very impressive. Dr. F. O. Mixon gave the invocation and A. B. Phillips, Tift County Commissioner, was master of ceremonies. The Tifton Gazette described the dedication :
"Mrs. E. L. Evans, president of the Tift County Medal Auxiliary, Colin Malcolm, Tift County Commissioner, and Dr. W. H. Hendricks, dean of medical profession in Tift County were introduced and spoke a few words. Acknowledgment and appreciation for donations and equip- ment were made to several Tifton citizens.
"Mrs. Beulah Harrell, superintendent of the hospital, introduced Mrs. Jewell White Thrasher, representing the Georgia Association and National Hospital Association.
"Dr. Tom Little, president of Tift County Medical Association, intro- duced Dr. J. C. Fisher, who spoke on the operation of small hospitals."
An interesting part of the dedication was the assembling at the hospital of all people whom Dr. N. Peterson had ushered into the world. The "Peterson babies" inspected the nursery department, which the hospital committee dedicated to Dr. Peterson.
Rooms were also dedicated to Dr. V. F. Dinsmore, Dr. G. W. Julian, and Dr. J. A. McRae. One member from each family Dr. Dinsmore had attended was extended an invitation to register in his memory book.
The handsome $50,000 one-story brick building, standing on Tift Ave- nue and facing Fulwood Park, accommodates thirty-nine beds. There are various kinds of rooms: four waiting rooms, rooms for superintendent of nurses, dressing rooms for doctors and nurses, delivery room, diet kitchen, operating room, nurses' stations, emergency rooms, X-ray room, colored ward, laboratory, utility room, kitchen and pantry, lecture and dining rooms, isolation ward, and white patients' rooms. The building has a mod- ern system of lighting, plumbing, and steam heating.
Another dedication ceremony was held at Memorial Chapel in Wood- lawn for J. G. Herring.
People walked, rode bicycles, and went in cars to the dedications. The
1. Tifton Gazette.
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evolution of transportation was presented on the streets every day. On ac- count of the tire and gas rationing, bicycles and buggies revived. Women, men, boys, and girls rode on wheels. Transportation of the nineties re- turned in 1941. There were, however, no bicycles built for two, but old Dobbin again had a conspicuous place.
"Gay nineties" returned again in celebrations: Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Blalock observed their golden wedding anniversary; Mrs. Nellie Swift celebrated their golden wedding anniversary; Mrs. J. A. Whaley, her ninetieth birthday; W. M. Baker, eighty-second; Mrs. C. E. Walters, eightieth.
Several civilians were honored in other ways besides celebrations. Jessie Morgan, Route 6, Tifton, was honored on the Home Folks Program, broadcast over WSB. The comment from the announcer was: "Jessie is one of the safe drivers of Georgia. She won her title in a recent state-wide contest and will go to Detroit soon to represent this state in the national safe driving finale." She won honors also in the national contest.
Mrs. N. Peterson was appointed N.Y.A. supervisor for boys and girls in Tift County. Mrs. Rose Hooks, co-author of a novel, attended the authors' colony in Asheville and autographed her book, published at Brown's bookstore in that city.
The following story by Mrs. Elizabeth Pickard Karsten appeared in Macon Telegraph, August 6, 1941 :
"Mrs. Rose Corley Hooks, and her daughter, Miss Flora Hooks, both of Tift County, are co-authors of a novel, "Leila Inherits Adventure," published by Dorrance and Company of Philadelphia, and just off the press.
"The book is written as though the authors enjoyed writing it; and certainly people will enjoy reading it, for it is highly entertaining. Without attempting to confine itself to usual events, the authors sustain the illusion of verity and have produced an adventure story with a happy ending.
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