03-26-01

I want to talk about community happenings on August 6, 1920. Try to recall what the conditions were on this August day during 1920. Remember we had just completed World War I and the country was trying to put itself back to a normal life, plus trying to rebuild after the tornado of 1918 which destroyed most of the town which has been shown in old photos previously printed in this paper.

On August 6, 1920, the "Aubrey Argus" was still publishing events of the local area of Aubrey which had two drug stores that were supplying the medical needs of the town. The Doctor’s office was in the back of the Aubrey Drug Store. Dr. Copenhaver was one of the doctors during this period.

The photos this week are copies of the advertisements that ere on the front page of the August 6, 1920 newspaper. Most of the advertisements are self explanatory; however, I want to write a little about the Aubrey Light and Power Company.

This notice was submitted by Mr. O.A. Burke who was the operator of the electric power company. Notice that the citizens of our fair and thriving settlement’s problems were similar to the conditions that we confront today. According to this public notice the total light bill was being increased to $2.50 per month, and the reason for this increase was due to the oil price increase that the power companies were suddenly confronted with. This increase was passed on as the power companies do today with the fuel adjustment charges.

I have a newspaper accounting that was printed in the Aubrey Argus a few years after this August 6, edition that said the power company in Bridgeport, Texas sent a crew of people over to Aubrey and decided to purchase the Aubrey Power and Light Company and move the plant to Bridgeport for needs that were developing in that neighborhood..

After the deal was made and the power plant was loaded up and hauled away, it left the entire town without electricity. The citizens of the town had to resort to oil lamps for light and cooking needs. Most folks of the day had large cast iron wood burning cook stoves with large reservoirs that held about twenty gallons of hot water that was automatically heated as the meals were cooked. Some of the copper reservoirs were double lined and thus allowed the hot water to remain hot and ready for use during the day.

Everyone already had oil lamps in place for use in emergencies, so the discontinuance of electric power created only mild hardships on the patrons.

People relied on the newspaper prints for news and entertainment; few radios existed.

This reminds me of just a few years before Jackie and I were married over fifty years ago, when her brother was about the third family on North Locust Street in Denton that had a television. I must tell you that they had to expand their living room because they suddenly acquired many friends that came over to watch wrestling and the other few early day shows.

Last week, I promised some interesting happenings from the Rock Hill News column in this same August 6, 1920 newspaper. It is as follows:

Forest Close and A.J. Pritchett were in Dallas Monday. Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Milton and son of Aubrey, Mr. Erman Gilbreath and Misses Sallie Mae and Ida Miller of New Hope spent Sunday with Roy Potter and wife. Mrs. W.H. Phillips is visiting her son in Clarksville this week. Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Mohon of Aubrey visited relatives here Sunday. Hollie Looper and wife of Dallas spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Phillips. Mr. and Mrs. George Pritchett spent Friday with Mr. and Mrs. W.I. Harmon – Those indebted to John B. Ratchford on open account will please settle same with W.T. Wilson. Those who have given notes will find them at the Security State Bank – See our specials from now on until the first of December. They will be trustworthy values. We have to make room for our Holiday goods. Our loss is your gain The Bargain Store.

Next week the Talk From the Tipi will have the Liberty News as it was dated on August 6, 1920.

[ Home ]