Did you know there was a
severe housing shortage here in 1926? In my newspaper browsing adventures,
I found a little article that said there was "hardly a place for rent" in
Moultrie in 1926. It was reported that many houses, formerly considered
"undesirable" were being snapped up!
The shortage was caused by an influx of new people was greater than the
number who had moved according to records at the Moultrie City Hall.
"Further confirmation of the fact that Moultrie is growing at a rapid rate
is found in the stores, in the banks and at other public places where many
new people are to be seen daily," The Observer of the day noted.
The American Legion Auxiliary was first organized in 1923 as The Thomas S.
Teabeaut Post 41. March 8, 1923, with 27 charter members. Mrs. R. S.
Roddenberry was the auxiliary's first president.
The club ceased to function during The Great Depression, but was
reorganized on February 4, 1937 with 20 charter members and Mrs. Clem C.
Brannen as president.
Membership in the American Legion Auxiliary is limited to the mothers,
wives, sisters and daughters of members of the American Legion, of all men
and women who were honorably discharged from military service of their
country and of those who died in the line of duty.
The American Legion Auxiliary is a civilian organization of women and is
non-political and nonsectarian.
The Auxiliary cooperated with the American Legion is getting beneficial
veteran's bills passed through the Congress of the United States.
During World War II, the women sponsored and participated in all the
activities of the USO at Spence Field and in "Operation Hospitality" for
the benefit of foreign personnel stationed at Spence Field. The Auxiliary
also gave monthly programs for the patients at Finney General Hospital at
Thomasville.
Locally, the outstanding program is rehabilitation, child welfare, Girl's
State and Americanism.
In the rehabilitation program, the women assisted in getting veterans
hospitalized and getting care for their families during their absence or
until they are restored to health.
The Auxiliary program included entertainment for the patients in the
Veterans Domicilliary at Thomasville monthly with the members donating
hundreds of hours of volunteer service to this effort.
Annually, the Auxiliary contributed to civic and beneficient
organizations.
Mrs. Carrie L. Smith was elected to serve as president in 1956. Serving
with her were Mrs. W. E. Rugeley, first vice-president; Mrs. Leroy
Lunsford, second vice-president; Mrs. H. G. Durden, secretary; Mrs. Paul
Leverett, treasurer; Mrs. Home Williams, sergeant-at-arms; Mrs. Earl
Horne, historian and Mrs. Ruth King, chaplain.
M. C. Hutchins of Moultrie owned the largest bird dog in this section of
South Georgia in 1910. The dog weighed 108 pounds by actual check on
tested scales!
Rats and matches stored for a wholesale company nearly wiped out the
Georgia Northern Railroad facilities in Moultrie in mid-June of 1903.
Both the passenger and freight depots, with a large amount of freight,
were destroyed by the fire, which occurred after dark, but before a number
of employees had left the freight depot. Failure of a principal water main
prevented firefighting from being effective.
A half-dozen boxcars caught fire, but an alert switch engineman moved them
to a spot where they could be handled with adequate water. The barrel
factory adjacent to the Georgia Northern also caught several times, but
was extinguished with only minor damage.
The loss was estimated at $10,000. |