85 years ago – December 20, 1940: Crowds throng here for display

Dublin Courier Herald, Dispatch, And Press

Several thousand persons jammed streets adjacent to the Court House Square here late yesterday as the Christmas season was ushered in with exercises marking lighting of the city in holiday fashion and the unveiling of a replica of the Bethlehem Scene.

Many of them remained until into the night, some of them visiting stores and shops to make Christmas purchases to get the holiday buying under way.

As the throngs milled about the Square to view the display – by far the most elaborate ever undertaken here and probably the most outstanding in any city of its size in the state of Georgia – carols were carried through out the entire business area over a loud speaker system installed in the Court House tower.

Earlier, in a program broadcast over middle Georgia, the Laurens County Schools’ Drum and Bugle Corps and the Dublin High School Band had presented a concert from the grandstand constructed at the main entrance to the grounds, and the Rev. W.A. Kelley, Presiding Elder of the Dublin Methodist District, had addressed the assemblage on the story of the Birth of Christ.

Miss Mae Hightower, daughter of R.H. Hightower, Dublin theatre manager and general chairman of the event, threw the switch that lighted the scene just as darkness settled over the city.

Streets adjacent to the Square were closed for traffic so that the thousands standing in the streets could hear the program and view the scene.

Dr. C.H. Kittrell, President of the Dublin Lions Club, was the Master of Ceremonies and said in his opening remarks, “We have assembled here this season to dedicate the most impressive Christmas display our community has ever had.

“This magnificent showing has been made possible by the united effort of the people of Dublin and Laurens County.

“It demonstrates to us the value of co-operation, and we hope this will be the beginning of a new era of harmony and understanding among us all.

“In these times of hatred, war, and violence to religious freedom, we think it is very important that our people should place greater emphasis upon the observance of the spiritual significance of the Christmas season.”

CAROL PROGRAM 

The Carol Program will begin on Monday afternoon at 4:30 and continue through 5:30 in the afternoon of December 23.

General Chairman Bob Hightower stated that out of town buses will bring the school children to the high school campus at 3:30 in order that those taking part in the carol singing may be organized and arranged in marching order by the time the program begins.

First grade children who will sing the opening number may report at the Court House lawn and not at the high school.

The Christmas lights over the city, around the Court House, at McCall’s Point, and at the library will be turned on at the close of the program.

Hundreds of out-of-town guests are coming to town daily, and more are expected on Monday for this program.

Traffic regulations which will be in effect from 3 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. during the Christmas program on Dublin streets as announced by Chief of Police J.W. Robertson are the following:

“On Bellevue and Jackson streets, traffic will be blocked from Maiden Lane to the Court House.

“On Academy and Jackson streets, traffic will be blocked from Rowe Street to the Court House.

“On Jefferson Street, traffic will be blocked from Hicks Drug Store across to Westbrook Store; also on Jefferson from Morris Motor Co. across to Tindol Brothers.

“All east and west bound traffic between Rowe and Franklin streets will travel on Madison      Street.

“All east and west bound traffic between Maiden Lane and Franklin streets will travel on Gaines Street.”

Chief Robertson added that no cars left parked inside the blocked off areas could be moved between 3:00 and 7:30 p.m., so that anyone who wished to move their autos during this time should get them out before the 3:00 p.m. deadline when the block off begins.

COTILLION BALL CLIMAXES XMAS FESTIVITIES

Brilliance and charm characterized the setting for the Dublin Cotillion Club Ball in the Woman’s Club House where several hundred members of the Club and their guests enjoyed the annual Christmas ball given by the Club.

Varicolored lights entwined with smilax and a huge red bow on the door of the club house greeted guests as they arrived.

A Directorie motif was artistically presented in the decorations of the spacious clubrooms, with red drapes at the sides of windows and white swags over the tops of them, forming the background for the colorful Christmas decorations.

Overhead, chandeliers were hung with clusters of silver bells and smilax entwining the chains to the ceilings.

Ropes of red colors hung with silver icicles extended from the chandeliers to corners of the room, forming a canopy over the dancers. 

An arch of smilax covered with silver icicles was arranged behind the orchestra, and soft lights twinkled merrily as the musicians rendered dance music for the lovely young ladies and their escorts.

In the reception room, the mantel was covered with silvered snow, and a tall red candle on each end of the mantel shelf gleamed brightly. A lighted wreath centered the chimney and was tied with a bow of red ribbons.

In the refreshment room, a table was overlaid with a snowy white cloth, which had a wide red satin band down the center and lighted red tapers in silver candlesticks arranged at two ends.

Hor’oevres and iced drinks were served during the evening.

Miss Frances Lanier, President of the Cotillion Club, and Miss Margaret Watkins, Secretary and Treasurer, assisted by members of the club, received the guests and the specially invited parents of the members.

Miss Lanier wore an evening gown of white net, the snug bodice having silver threads, and the voluminous skirt was formed of layers of net. Her corsage was red rose buds.

Miss Watkins was gowned in red crepe fashioned with graceful full skirt and fitted waist. Rhinestone clips at the neckline formed the only trim.

Dean E. Dreyer of Atlanta planned the decorations.

FIRST BAPTIST CANTATA

Members of the choir of the First Baptist Church will tell the beautiful Christmas story in song at the morning hour of worship in the church on Sunday at 11:30.

The complete program for the morning service is this: 

Prelude – “The Holy City”  Mrs. F.R. Zetterower, Organist

“Doxology” – Assembly

Invocation – Dr. C.D. Graves, Pastor

Hymn, No. 284 – Assembly

Offertory -“There Were Shepherds” Miss Leah Kittrell, Violin and Mrs. F.R. Zetterower, Organ

Come and Worship: “The Voice of Prophecy: “How Beautiful on the Mountains”

Scripture Reading – Dr. Graves

“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.” 

“O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Scripture Reading- Dr. Graves 

“And There Were in That Same Country”

“Suddenly There were Angels”

“Glory to God in the Highest”

“Arise. Shine. Come and Adore Him.”

Benediction – Pastor

The members of the choir are these:

Sopranos:

Mrs. Sam Swinson

Mrs. M.Z. Claxton

Mrs. W.S. Reese

Mrs. T.T. Williams

Mrs. T.E. McDaniel

Miss Louise Rountree

Miss Ann Cochran

Miss Eunice Powers

Miss Dorothy Black

Miss Maud New Shepard

Miss Bonita Chivers

Miss Rose Waldron

 Altos:

Mrs. Guy Cochran

Mrs. Fred L. Brown

Mrs. D.G. Adams

Miss Flora Turlington

Tenors:

Baum Wilkes

W.S. Reese

Vivian Register

Basses: 

C.W. Walters, Sr.

C.W. Walters, Jr.

James Townsend

Forest Townsend

Jim English

Director: S.V. Conyers

JEFFERSON STREET NIGHT CANTATA

On Sunday evening, at the regular hour of worship, beginning at 7:30, the Choir of Jefferson Street Baptist Church will present the Christmas message in song. “The Music of Christmas” by Wilson has been chosen as the Cantata for this annual musical program, which will be broadcast.

Prelude – Mrs. James English, organ; Miss Leah Kittrell, violin

Prologue – Choir

Solo – “Ave Maria” – Charles Alexander

“Holy Night” – Choir

“He Shall Feed His Flock” – Alto obligato solo , Mrs. Fred Brown, and Choir

“Come, Tho Long-Expected Jesus” – Bass obligato solo, Edgar Evans, and Choir

“Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem” – “Good Tidings” – Soprano solo, Miss Maybelle Stith and two-part chorus and choir

Violin solo – Miss Leah Kittrell

“Glory Be to God” – Women’s three part chorus and choir

“The Magi” – Men’s Unison Chorus and choir

“Little Lord Jesus” – Alto solo, Mrs. Estelle Neal

Offertory

“In Our Hearts” – Soprano solo, Mrs. Paul Alexander

“The Living Stone” – Choir

Benediction – Rev. R.W. Eubanks, Pastor

Benediction Response – Choir

Postlude – Mrs. James English, Organist

The program will be directed by Mrs. J.R. Laney.

Members of the choir are the following:

Sopranos:

Miss Ruth Attaway

Miss Clyo Bryans

Mrs. Farrell Chapman

Mrs. Paul Alexander

Altos:

Mrs. Estelle Neal

Mrs. D.G. Adams

Mrs. R.W. Russell

Mrs. Eugene Morrison

Tenors:

Baum Wilkes

Noble Marshall

Rufus Alexander

Basses:

Edgar Evans

Edd Tyler

John Dowling

Calvin Crabbe

XMAS LIGHTS CONTEST

Final registration for the Christmas home lighting contest has been completed, and a large number of homes have been added to the list of contestants, according to Mrs. H.L. Cordell, Chairman of the committee.

Out-of-town judges will visit the homes of those who are on the list and determine the winners.

Added to the list today are homes of Mesdames George Morris, J.H. Winn, R.W. Eubanks, Elbert Mullis, Willie Holmes, Cecil Walters, Clay Hawkins, R.C. Sheffield, W.B. Alsup, and B.B. Barmore.

The contest is sponsored by the Dublin Garden Club and has enlisted wide support this season as contributing to the efforts to make Dublin a “city of lights and beauty” during the Christmas season.

GLEE CLUB HEARD AT SENIOR HIGH

A Christmas program was presented at the Dublin Senior High School on Friday by the Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs, directed by Miss Maybelle Stith and Mrs. James R. Laney. The piano accompanist was Miss Carolyn Brown.

The program, which was one of the outstanding presentations of the  Fall Semester was the following:

“Silent Night” – Five part a capella 

Chorus – Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs

Processional – “O, Come, All Ye Faithful” – Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs

“Christmas Eve”  Sung in unison by Lillian Hatcher and Kathleen Underwood

“Deck the Halls” Solo by William Merritt and unison chorus by Glee Clubs

“We Three Kings” – James Thomas, Joe Scarborough, and George Powell

“Cantique de Noel” – Sara Veal, soprano soloist and tenor soloist Noble Marshall with four-part chorus of Glee Clubs

“Ave Maria” – aVocal Solo – Charles Alexander

“Birthday of a King” – Unison stanzas and two part chorus by Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs

“Calm on the Listening Ear” -soloists: John Dowling, Sara Veal, Jerry Calhoun, Sarah Holland and violinist, Earl Woodard, with unison chorus of Glee Clubs

“Silent Night: – Five part acapella chorus of both Glee Clubs

Altar boys were Wilford Butler and Dave Hudson.

NEW HIGHWAY PATROL HOME READY

A deed to the new Highway Patrol building here has been turned over to the Georgia Department of Public Safety.

 and the Department has turned over to Dublin Mayor Dee Sessions a check for $2,000 which is the part paid by the Department on the building.

The remainder of the money was given by private donations, the city, and the county.

The lot on which the building has been erected was donated by Lovett-Tharpe Hardware Co.

Stanley Reese had turned over the deed to the State.

The contract made by the city, county, and state provides that the building can not be used for any other state purpose other than the Safety Department for some similar service to this section.

Present at yesterday’s informal ceremony were Mayor Dee Sessions, Aldermen M.Z. Claxton and W.P. Tindol; present County Commissioners J.F. Graham, L.O. Beacham, Jr. and Joseph R. Lord; the two new Commissioners, J.L. Allen and Lamar Thigpen, who will take office on January 1; Captain R. Mayo, Treasurer of the Department of Public Safety; Trooper Morris of

Atlanta; Corporal H.L. Beatty of Dublin; Stanley A. Reese and John Mahoney, representing the Dublin Exchange Club, which sponsored the building; Carl K. Nelson, County Attorney who handled the legal work; and Clerk Walter Daniell.

Appreciation was expressed by the committee to Moran Roberts, former city engineer; and Alderman Martin Willis, who is in the contracting business for supervision of the construction; and to Sheriff I.F Coleman and to Dublin Chief of Police for their splendid cooperation; as well as to the private citizens who donated generously of their time and money to the project. 

Patrolmen move into the new building, which is located just off Bellevue Road, near the home of Dr. Charles A. Hodges, next Monday.

KIRKPATRICK CHRISTMAS PARTY

One of the lovely parties given during the Christmas season was enjoyed in the home of Mrs. A.A. Kirkpatrick on Friday evening by the members of The Celestia Bible Class of the First Methodist Church.

The guests were greeted by James Arthur and Frank Johnson, Jr. and ushered into rooms which were beautiful in yuletide decorations. Red and green were accented in the artistic arrangements of holly, trailing smilax, and other Christmas greenery.

The dining room, where guests enjoyed dainty refreshments, featured the table overlaid with an exquisite handmade cloth of cut work and centered with a low bowl of fruit.

Preceding the Christmas Carol section of the meeting, which was conducted by Mrs. R.M. Arnau,  a short business meeting was held.

From the Christmas tree,which was adorned in silver and blue, presents were presented to each guest, by Mrs. H.E. Burnham and Mrs. Clyde  Hutchinson.

Hostesses for the evening for the forty-five members of the class who thoroughly enjoyed the affair were Mrs. A.M. Kirkpatrick, Frank Johnson, R.M. Arnau, W.B. Jessup, O.C. Attaway, W.H. Proctor, and Mae Sumner.

PINETUCKY NEWS

     By M.L. Carey

Mrs. Joe Brantley has returned from Macon after being at the bedside of her husband, who underwent an operation in a Macon hospital. Friends wish him an early recovery.

Miss Florence Register was a recent guest of Miss Dessie Bracewell.

Betty Jean Southerland was the week end guest of Mr. and Mrs. Welborn Williams.

Happy Birthday to Jim Bob Kennedy on his birthday anniversary, December 12, and to Mary Jo Kennedy, December 14.

Bernard Register  was the guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.C. Register last weekend.

CHEER LEADERS HAVE PARTY

Misses Grace Edwards, Margaret Smith, and Sara Rowland, cheer leaders at Dexter High School, entertained the football team at a party on Monday night at the school building.

Games and proms were enjoyed until a late hour when refreshments were served in the Home Economics Department.

Guests were the following:

Miss Mary Lou Reese 

Derrell Smith

Miss Myrtle Jean Gilbert

Marion Coleman

Miss Zelma Fountain

Miss Ruth Thomas

Eddie Malcolm

Charles Evans

Shep Witherington

Carroll Faircloth

Harold English

J.B. Thomas

Roy Cook

Buford Edwards

Charles Hill Thomas

Hesio English

George Martin

Russell Tomlinson

Prentis Ward

Morland Thomas

and Coach Raymond Smith

Assisting in entertaining were Miss Mary Lee Burford and Margaret Windham and James Sublett.

Guests, and the parents of the members, who were also invited to the affair.