Newspapers! Get Your Old Newspapers!

Happy New Year! We hope your holidays were bright and beautiful and the coming year brings you all the joy you require. This is our first post of the year and we will dig into more vintage newspapers and finding out who these characters of the past were. Also, we are happy to announce that we will be not only carrying on our newspaper adventures, but we have many other history and genealogy-related items to share throughout the upcoming year. So, Stay tuned!

Do you have your cup of tea or coffee or cider ready or whatever makes you happy? Let’s get into some history!

Elks’ Flag Day Program, The Elko Independent (Elko, Nevada), June 11, 1921

Flag Day has been a holiday in the United States since 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day. On August 3, 1949, the U.S. Congress voted to make National Flag Day. It is also important to note that, while this holiday may be “official”, it is not recognized as a federal holiday. Also, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (Elks, for short) has celebrated this holiday since they adopted a mandatory Lodge observance in 1911. The Elks (as a whole) still observe Flag Day today.

On, June 12th, 1921, the Elks Lodge in Elko, Nevada held a program to celebrate Flag Day. It was held in the Bradley Opera House, We would have researched the fate of the Bradley Opera House, however the Elko Free Press is behind a paywall and we don’t really have any reason to subscribe to it currently. (We suppose that makes the Elko Free Press not actually free at all. Ba dum tss).

‘Miss Tennessee’ Will Not Compete In Atlantic City, Nashville Banner (Nashville, Tennessee), September 3, 1938

Yeah, being Miss Tennessee isn’t the only thing about Isobel Carter. Sure, that’s all fine and dandy, but what about the things in her life that gave her substance. What’s her story?

Isobel S. Carter was born August 18, 1921 to Walter Gray (1888-1957) and Edith (1896-1983) (Gouchenour) Carter in Greenville, Greene County, Tennessee. Greenville is located about 75 miles Northeast of Knoxville, Tennessee. Walter worked as a real estate agent (before the Great Depression) and as the manager of a movie theater (after the Great Depression. It’s looks to be a movie theater that was owned by his father-in-law, Isobel’s maternal grandfather.) Edith worked intermittently as an insurance agent. Besides Isobel, they were also the parents of at least one other child.

In 1938, Isobel started her higher education at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee. She pledged to Chi Omega with a graduation date of 1942. Keep in mind, that 1938 was a big year for Isobel, as she competed and won the Miss Tennessee pageant as well. She was selected to compete for the Miss America title in New Jersey, however, illness made this impossible and she resigned her Miss Tennessee spot and runner-up Victoria Ann Motlow was selected to take her spot. Also in 1938, Isobel became one of the two women chosen as cheerleaders at the University of Tennessee. You can read more about that here: https://volopedia.lib.utk.edu/entries/first-female-cheerleaders/

It’s unclear whether Isobel graduated from the university, but it appears that she probably didn’t. On June 24, 1941, Isobel married John William Wyker Jr. (1913-2004) in Greene County, Tennessee. John worked for his father’s hardware firm. John and his brother would become third generation owners of Wyker’s Hardware. After they married, Isobel moved to her new home in Decatur, Morgan County, Alabama. This was where John was raised and had lived for most of his life. It appears that John stayed in the hardware industry until his retirement in 1985 and Isobel was a housewife. They had two children together. Isobel passed away on January 13, 1993 in Decatur, Alabama. She is buried at Decatur City Cemetery in Decatur. John died in 2004 and is buried next to Isobel.

So, if you ever watch the cheerleaders at a UT football game, remember that Isobel was a pioneer for that program and a pioneer for the rights of woman to achieve anything they want to.

Eugene Ysaye and Mischa Elman, The Denver Jewish News (Denver, Colorado), May 12, 1920

Holy crap, that would be an amazing concert to have seen! “The King of the Violin” (Ysaye; 1858-1931) and a child prodigy of the violin (Elman; 1891-1967). If you are unfamiliar with the work of Ysaye or Elman, we highly recommend checking them out. You won’t be disappointed.

Whitman Drug Company Advertisement, The Klamath News (Klamath Falls, Oregon), August 5, 1938

One has to wonder how much hair the trimmer pulled out rather than cut. Even today, some razors pull hair. Ouch. At least Hamilton was known for quality shaving products.

Special Bargains at T.P. Hunter’s, The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), March 3, 1900

Originally started by Irish immigrant Thomas Pattison Hunter (1861-1915) on Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania in 1885, The Acme Tea Company soon swelled into many more stores throughout Philadelphia. This particular store mentioned in the above advertisement was located at the N.E. corner of Market and 19th Streets. The 1835 Market building stands in it’s place now. By the time Mr. Hunter died in 1915, Acme Tea Company had about 400 stores. Not too shabby for 30 years worth of work.

Jockey Killed At Pimlico, The Poughkeepsie Eagle News (Poughkeepsie, New York), November 7, 1916

This was apparently a very rough day at the races. Pretty sure, but not certain, but I doubt Harry Tanzey was the only rider death to occur at Pimlico. The Pimlico Race Course was opened in 1870 and since 1873, has been home to The Preakness Stakes, amongst other races. Pimlico has even hosted some music concerts since the mid-2000s.

Dear Santa Claus…, The West Plains Journal (West Plains, Missouri), December 6, 1934

Even the Country Music legend Porter Wagoner (1927-2007) was a child once, a child with a big brother who wished for Santa Claus to bring Porter a little red wagon, candy, and nuts. Porter’s big brother Glenn Lee Wagoner died of septic pericarditis and acute rheumatism (per death certificate) at the age of 18 on August 28, 1942. What a difference eight years can make for someone. And, as many of us know, Porter became a Country Music singer and enjoyed many top of the chart hits, both as a solo artist and also when he teamed up with Dolly Parton. Dolly has been quoted many times saying that her smash hit “I Will Always Love You” was about her professional breakup with Porter and her words reflected her wish for them to move on with respect and admiration. That is one of many things that makes Dolly a legend too. How could somebody not love Dolly?

Florence Riefer, Monrovia Daily News (Monrovia, California), April 6, 1914

From someone who had a pedicure just after Christmas and is free of corns and callouses, I personally endorse taking care of your feet. It feels great to feel like you’re walking on clouds, post-pedicure. Florence Riefer knew it too and so should you.

Here we are at the conclusion of our first post of the year! Thank you for joining us on our brief trip back in history. Be safe and remember to love one another.

During our genealogical research, CMS Research & Genealogy comes across many stories that have nothing to do with our current project. We have tons of them and will be sharing them all with you on this blog. All the more reason to come back and visit us again!

January 5, 2023

CMS Research and Genealogy

CMS Research & Genealogy