85 years ago – January 10, 1941: Draft board seeks whereabouts of 2 men

Dublin Courier-Herald, Dispatch, And Press

Laurens County Draft Board No. 2 today sought information on the whereabouts of two registrants so that questionnaires can be delivered to them.

One man was listed as Arthur Lee Robertson, who was registered as of Glenwood, Route 2. The Board reported that it was informed that he now lives in Dublin, but his address is not known.

The other is Josephus Parker, also known as James Temple, whose original address was given as Dublin, Route 1, and whose last known address is Valdosta. He wrote about his grandmother, Vinnie Coney of that city, but inquiries about his selective service mail have failed because he failed to give his address.

Anyone knowing where these two men are should tell them to get in touch with the Board at once, since it is  not the Board’s responsibility to keep up with their registrants.

Persons changing their addresses should notify the Board at once, and those failing to do so are subject to penalty on the discretion of the Board.

ABSENCES CLOSE CITY SCHOOLS 

Dublin city schools closed this afternoon until next Monday due to what Superintendent A.J.Hargrove described as “an unusually large number of absences on account of illness.”

The superintendent added that he did not know “how many of those ill have influenza,” a malady that is reportedly widespread over this and other sections of the nation.

Laurens County School Superintendent Elbert Mullis said that a conference of school heads of the county system will be held tomorrow afternoon to determine what course they shall take in regard to continued operation.

Meanwhile, the number of cases reported over the city and county continued to mount, a survey of physicians showed. Most of these are mild, however, and no deaths in the section have been attributed to the outbreak so far.

Superintendent Hargrove, stressing that the condition is probably not as serious as some reports would indicate, said that the decision to close the schools for the balance of the week was reached when it was shown that average daily attendance upon which is based teacher allotments, had fallen below the required number for the present city system.

Dr. O.H. Cheek, city-county Commissioner of Health, said that although the number of cases unofficially reported over the county appeared to be heavy, only 26 had been recorded at his office during the past week and this is about the same number as reported at this time last year.

However, Dr. Cheek said, “I am aware that the malady is prevalent throughout the county, but many persons are not seeking medical aid and some of the doctors are not reporting the cases that come to their attention.

“The Health Department mails every physician an official card for reporting to the Health Department. When they are received, the county health office makes a report to the State Health Department.

“Official reports in the Health Department here show no complications and most cases are mild,” he concluded.

CADWELL GETS BIG CAMP

The state public works camp located at Soperton for the past four years is now being moved to Cadwell, and it is expected to be in full operation there within the next week.

The camp, one of the largest in the state, is constructed on a semi-permanent basis wherever located and carries a considerable payroll for guards and other employees. The largest of the barracks for housing prisoners has already been moved, and a number of guards have located at Cadwell.

While at Soperton, highway work has been carried on in all directions, including construction on roads leading from that city toward Dublin, Mt. Vernon, Metter, Adrian, Vidalia, and the new Oconee River bridge west of Soperton.

A number of employees and prisoners at the camp has been recently reduced due to completion of most of the projects, but it is expected to be increased again upon removal to Cadwell. At present, there are about 40 guards and other paid employees and approximately 175 prisoners.

Among projects awaiting completion and expected to be undertaken from the new base are the Dublin-Eastman road, on which all of the grading in  Dodge County is yet to be done; the Soperton-Eastman road from the new Oconee River bridge, and the road branching off from the Soperton-Eastman route below Cadwell, running through Cadwell, Chester, and on to Cochran.

While on most of the projects grading and building of culverts is yet to be done, the portion of the Dublin-Eastman road from Garretta on the Dublin-McRae highway to the Dodge County line beyond Cadwell is ready for paving, and it is likely that the camp’s forces will also be employed for that purpose since sufficient equipment is kept on hand for such work.

Considerable of the paving around Soperton was done by the camp’s forces.

DEFENSE CLASS FORMED 

Applications for inclusion of the Dublin High School in the federal government’s defense education program has been approved, Superintendent A.J. Hargrove announced today, and a class in acetylene welding is being formed as the school’s initial project.

The class will receive instructions at Rawls’ Garage, under supervision of Otis Rawls, manager, and will also be given a laboratory course. Sessions will be held three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and will continue for 12 weeks.

Appropriations for the defense education program are disbursed through the State Board of Education, and both the city and rural schools are eligible.

At Dudley, a class in woodworking and mechanics got under way this week, according to an announcement made by Superintendent R.O. Powell.

Other schools of the county are also expected to take part in the program.

RAT PROOFING CONTINUES

Rat proofing buildings in Dublin has been going on steadily for some time, with the city furnishing the labor, the State Health Department the supervision, and the business houses the material used. It is hoped to have complete cooperation in the drive, as that will make it most effective.

FEDERAL SAVINGS OFFICERS NAMED

All  officers and directors of the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Dublin were re-elected for another year at a meeting of the stockholders last night.

They are

Cecil E. Carroll – President

Mrs. H.D. Beacham – First Vice President

E.B. Mackey – Second Vice President

F.N. Watkins – Secretary-Treasurer

C.C. Crockett – Counsel

Mr. Carroll, Mrs. Beacham, Mr. Mackey, John H. Mahoney E.G. Simmons, Mrs. E.B. Middleton, Sam V. Conyers, George T. Morris, and Doyle C. Knight are the Directors.

COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL NOT CLOSE

Schools of the Laurens County system will not be closed as a result of the reported widespread outbreak of influenza, it was decided at a meeting of superintendents at the office of County Superintendent Elbert Mullis here yesterday afternoon.

The decision to take no action in the situation followed reports by the various school heads that absences now are no greater than at the same time last year, average daily attendance being only about 20 per cent off.

Superintendent Mullis stated that opinion at the conference appeared to be that the crisis has passed and that the number of cases reported will now rapidly decrease.

Schools of the Dublin city system will reopen on Monday after having been closed for three days.

However, courts scheduled to convene here this month have been postponed mainly because of the difficulty of assembling witnesses and other interested parties who have been stricken or who have not sufficiently recovered to appear. 

United States District Court was to convene on Monday and Laurens Superior Court the following week.

AUCTION SALES MOUNTING

Sales at this week’s livestock auction here increased again this week for the fourth successive time, a total of $13,286 being paid for hogs and cattle.

Top price for hogs was $7.10, and feeder cattle brought up to $825.

Approximately 950 hogs were sold, 384 head being No. 1’s and 2’s. A total of 347 cows were auctioned.

In connection with next Thursday’s sale, M.E. Cochran, manager of the stockyards, announced that auctions would begin at 2:30 so that they could be completed by night, and he requested that all who plan to sell on that day bring in their stock early enough to enable the sale to get under way at that time.

BARBERS SEEK BETTER PRICES

Passage of an act to permit regulation of barbering prices in Dublin will be sought at the next session of City Council, it was learned today.

The proposed ordinance, patterned after similar acts in Atlanta and Macon, would create a barbers’ board with authority to enforce health regulations and require establishments to stabilize prices at a level sufficient to maintain shops in a sanitary condition.

Under this set-up, spokesmen said, the price of haircuts would be set at 35 cents and shaves at 20 cents. 

Only one shop in Dublin maintains the 35-cent price for haircuts; most of the others charge 25 cents, and one only 20 cents. Shaves, with the exception of two shops, which charge 15 cents, are already 20 cents.

Other barber services would also be regulated.

A delegation of barbers interested, headed by S.F. Beasley, are expected to appear before the Council to present the request for such an ordinance. They will bear a petition containing the names of most of the barbers here favoring such an act.

HARGROVE NAMED AGAIN

Superintendent A.J. Hargrove of the Dublin schools has been re-elected for his twelfth consecutive year, beginning next July 1, the City Board of Education announced today,

It was also announced that Marshall A.Chapman had been re-elected Chairman of the Board, James L.Keen, Vice Chairman, and S.M. Alsup, Treasurer.

Other members of the Board are Paul Hudson, W.S. Jones, Jr., Dr.F.R. Zetterower, and C.U. Smith.

JOBLESS PAID

Unemployment workers in Laurens County were paid $10,403.92 in benefits by the Bureau of Employment Compensation in 1940, Commissioner of Labor Ben T. Huiet announced today.

They received a total of 2,806 checks.

Benefit payments, Commissioner Huiet said, showed an upward trend from January until August, when a record peak was reached. Thereafter, he reported payments declined steadily and in December fell to the lowest point since November 1939. This drop was accounted for in the employment opportunities in connection with the National Defense program. 

Since January of 1939, when the benefit-paying program was inaugurated, benefit checks have averaged about $6.27 and ranged in amounts from a dollar to the maximum of $15  a week, depending on the previous earnings of workers.

METHODIST YOUTH ORGANIZE 

Young people of churches in the Dublin-Methodist zone have completed organization of a Young People’s Union with the election of Miss Blanche Coleman of Dublin First Methodist Church as President and oss Eloise Oliver, representing Centenary Methodist Church as Publicity Chairman.

Officers for the organization are 

Blanche Coleman – Dublin First Methodist – President

Christine Stephens -Danville – Vice President

Myra Carter -Wrightsville Circuit – Secretary

J.W. Brinson – Wrightsville Circuit – Treasurer

The organizational meeting was held in Dublin First Methodist Church with a large group of young people from churches in the zone attending. Rev. Anthony Hearn, pastor of the host church, Rev. L.C. Fullerton, Wrightsville, pastor, and Rev. J.A. Wiggins of Centenary church assisted in the organizational plans.

Preceding the election of officers, a short program was given. This included a  piano selection by Miss Laurel Dean Gay; Call to Worship by J.W. Brinson; Devotional by Miss Florence Garnto; a prayer by Rev., Wiggins; a story told by Miss Grace Thompson; the outlining, “The Place of a Union” by Cliff Moye of Wrightsville.

A period of recreation was enjoyed with Rev. Fullerton and Miss Emily Hearn directing games and contests. 

The next meeting of the Union is planned for Thursday, Februara 6th, at Dublin First Methodist Church At this meeting, Miss Coleman and Miss Oliver will report on the meeting of district officers held in McRae.

The charges which are in this zone and should have representation in the new Union are Dublin First and Dublin Circuit, which includes Centenary, Dexter, Dudley, Brewton, Wrightsville, and Wrightsville Circuit.

BREWTON SCHOOL BAND

A band is being organized at the Brewton High School under the direction of Bandmaster G.H. Taylor.

Eight instruments have been furnished by the County Board of Education, and it is expected that several students will purchase others.

Preparations are being made for an open house to be held for the Laurens County teachers on Saturday, February 1st, at the monthly meeting of the teachers’ association.

Superintendents of the county schools are urged to communicate with Brewton Superintendent W.E. Love concerning the number of teachers that their respective schools will have present.

CADWELL TEAM HERE

A towering quintet from Cadwell High School will furnish the opposition for the Dublin High Irish at 8 p.m., and if the past performance is any criterion, it will be plenty of opposition.

In the previous clash with Cadwell, Dublin lost 48-30.

Coach Jarrard today expressed the fear that Cadwell may again prove too much for his boys, and it was pointed out that the local team has been listless in work outs since the Jeffersonville game last week. Some of the players were reported in poor condition due to colds, and one man, Frarie Smalley, is still out of the line up due to influenza.

Tonight’s battle will be the only home game this week.