21 October 1908: Ringling Brothers Great Jubilee Season Comes to Athens

On this day in 1908, the Ringling Brothers circus performed two shows in Athens, Georgia, at 2pm and 8pm. Tickets were 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for children under 12, and could be purchased the day of the show at Palmer & Son's drugstore at 225 East Clayton Street or from ticket wagons on the show grounds.

Ringling Brothers had advertised the two weeks before the show in the Weekly Banner:

Sadly, there are no surviving Athens Banners from the day of or after the show to describe the pagentry of the circus arriving in town with their "3 miles long" parade.

The five Ringling Brothers (Al, Otto, Alf, John, and Charles) formed their circus in 1884, with early shows travelling in a 9 nine-wagon tour for twenty-five cent admissions. The Barnum & Bailey Circus began in 1888, and created the elaborate American circus experience, moving to three rings of spectacle, and travelling from town to town by railroad. A few smaller, independent circuses also toured the United States during this time.

P. T. Barnum died in 1891, and a year after the death of James Bailey in 1906, the Barnum & Bailey circus was acquired by the Ringling Brothers. They continued to run two separate circus shows until 1919, when they began to tour as the Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Circus. The Ringling family opened the Ringling Museum of the Circus in 1948 in Sarasota, Florida, and sold the circus in 1967.

Learn More:

• Athens Weekly Banner, Jan. 1906 - Dec. 1908 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Circus! From Rome to Ringling by Marian Buck-Murray in the general collection.
• The American Circus: An Illustrated History by John Culhane in the general collection.
• Basic Circus Skills by Jack Wiley in the general collection.
• The Circus Comes Home by Lois Duncan in the children's collection.
• Tigers, Trainers, and Dancing Whales: Wild Animals of the Circus, Zoo, and Screen by Adrien Stoutenburg in the general collection.
• Horses in the Circus Ring by Lynn Saville in the children's collection.
• Learning to Fly Trapeze by Sam Keen in the general collection.
• Circus Dreams: The Making of a Circus Artist by Kathleen Cushman in the children's biography collection.
• P. T. Barnum: America's Greatest Showman by Philip B. Kunhardt in the biography collection.
• The Golden Age of the Circus by Howard Loxton in the general collection.
• If I Ran the Circus by Dr. Seuss in the children's fiction collection.
• Virtual Tour of the Tibbals Learning Center at the Ringling Circus Museum.

19 October 1916: Dress Patterns from the Newspaper, Only 10 Cents

On this day in 1916, the Athens Daily Herald ran this ad for one of their many patterns for women's and children's clothing on page 7, column 6, at the top of the page:

Learn More:

• Athens Daily Herald, Jun. 1916 - Dec. 1918 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Sewing the New Classics Clothes with Easy Style by Carol Parks in the general collection.
• I Wanna Make My Own Clothes by Clea Hantman in the children's collection.
• Sewing Basics by Wendy Gardiner in the general collection.
• Sewing Techniques and Patterns by Marie-Noelle Bayard in the general collection.
• Vogue Fitting: The Book of Fitting Techniques, Adjustments, and Alterations in the general collection.
• The Pattern Companion: Sewing by Cassandra Case in the general collection.
• Sew Subversive: Down & Dirty DIY for the Fabulous Fashionista by Melissa Rannels in the general collection.

Deadline for Night Owl Registration Is This Wednesday!

On this day, we'd like to remind you that the Heritage Room's annual Night Owl event is this Friday, October 22nd from noon to midnight, which means the last day to register is Wednesday, October 20th, at 6pm.

When the Library closes at 6 p.m. on October 22, you and fellow genealogy researchers will have the upper floor of the Library all to yourselves. There will be food and beverages and a security guard to walk you to your car if you leave before midnight. The charge is a small fee per person to cover the cost of security and food.You may want to bring a sweater or light jacket, because the Heritage Room is known to be chilly! Not for beginners!

Number of participants limited, so check and registration form must be received by Wednesday, October 20 at 6 p.m.

Download and print the registration form or come by the Heritage Room and fill out one of our forms here. Remember to include a check made out to Clarke-Oconee Genealogical Society (COGS) for $20 to cover the cost of security and food. No refunds!

We hope to see you here for a great day and night of research!

16 October 1918: Spanish Influenza Pandemic Postpones October Term

On this day in 1918, Judge Andrew J. Cobb of the Western Circuit issued an order to delay the October term of court for the second time. The initial postponement moved the term from the second to third Monday of October, but was advised by the Athens Board of Health to move the opening date again because "the danger of the spread of the disease" was not over.

The Judge's order stated:

It being the opinion of the chairman of the Board of Health of the city, in which the presiding judge concurs, that it is wisest that for the present all the assemblages of persons in the unusual numbers within walls should be avoided, it is ordered: 

1. That the grand jurors, traverse jurors and tales jurors drawn for service on October 14, 1918, report for duty on November 4, 1918.

 2. That traverse and tales jurors drawn for October 21, 1918, be served to attend on November 11, 1918.

3. The civil calendar arranged for the week beginning October 14, 1918, is transferred to the week beginning November 4, 1918, and the cases thereon will be in order for the corresponding days of the week. 

4. All criminal cases, including those where parties are in jail as well as under bond, will be in order for trial on Monday, November 11, 1918.

5. Nothing in this order shall prevent the transaction of any business either at chambers or in-term where the services of a jury are not required and the attendance of witnesses is not necessary.

6. Let this order be entered on the minutes and published in the daily papers of the city.

This October 16, 1918, in open court.

ANDREW J. COBB

Judge S. C. W. C.

At the time, the Athens papers did not report many deaths from the flu epidemic, but many advertisements for medical cures disgused as articles about the disease "rapidly spreading" were published. Among the largest and long-winded advertisements were for the new invention of Vick's VapoRub, with long explanations of the symptoms and treatment of the Spanish flu, as well as the ways to avoid the disease and how to use VapoRub to treat symptoms of flu and cold. It was one of the few advertisements that overtly told the public that the flu was "no occasion for panic."

Learn More:

• Athens Weekly Banner, Sep. 1918 - Jul. 1921 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• History of Public Health in Georgia by T. F. Abercrombie in the Heritage collection.
• America's Forgotten Pandemic: The Influenza of 1918 by Alfred W. Crosby in the general collection.
• The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry in the general collection.
• The 1918 Influenza Pandemic by Stephanie True Peters in the children's collection.
• Men and Microbes: Disease and Plagues in History and Modern Times by Arno Karlen in the general collection.
• Outbreak: Science Seeks Safeguards for Global Health by Charles Piddock in the children's collection.
• The Good Doctor's Guide to Colds and Flu by Neil Schachter in the general collection.
• Let's Talk About Having the Flu by Elizabeth Weitzman in the children's collection.
• The Germ Survival Guide by Kenneth Bock in the general collection.
• Complete Guide to Prevention and Wellness by the American Medical Association in the general collection.
• Seasonal Influenza page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
• Flu.gov, an information clearinghouse with information on vaccinations, prevention, treatment, myths, and facts for individuals, families, businesses, health professionals, and governments.

14 October 1874: Undertaker's Notice

On this day in 1874, the following ad ran on page 3, column 6 of the Southern Watchman weekly newspaper:

During this time, a common place of burial for Athens residents was Oconee Hill Cemetery, only a few blocks from J. F. Wilson's location at the corner of Broad and Thomas Streets.

Learn More:

•  Southern Watchman, Jan. 1874 - Aug. 1882 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Oconee Hill Cemetery, Athens, Georgia, Volume I by Charlotte Thomas Marshall in the Heritage and general collections.
• Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Cemeteries by Eve B. Weeks in the Heritage and general collections.
• The Undertaking, a 2007 Frontline documentary by Miri Navasky in the DVD collection.
• The Buried Soul: How Humans Invented Death by Timothy Taylor in the general collection.
• Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts: A History of Burial by Penny Colman in the general collection.
• Bury the Dead: Tombs, Corpses, Mummies, Skeletons, & Rituals by Christopher Sloan in the children's collection.
• Rejoice When You Die: The New Orleans Jazz Funeral by Leo Touchet in the general collection.
• Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies' Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays in the general collection.

12 October 1920: Dinner and Supper Specials at Thornton's Luncheonette

On this day in 1920, the following ad appeared on page 8, column 2 of the Athens Banner:

The diner was owned by Asa and Minnie Thornton, who later were the proprietors of the Daffodil Cafe at 164 East Clayton Street, where the bar General Beauregard's is today.

Learn More:

• Athens Banner, Oct. 1920 - May 1921 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• 1920-1921 Athens City Directory in the Heritage collection.
• 1926-1927 Athens City Directory in the Heritage collection.
• A Gracious Plenty: Recipes and Recollections from the American South by John T. Edge in the general collection.
• Side Orders: Small Helpings of Southern Cookery & Culture by John Egerton in the general collection. 
• Butter Beans to Blackberries: Recipes From a Southern Garden by  Ronni Lundy in the general collection.
• Southern Living Comfort Food: A Delicious Trip Down Memory Lane by Julie Fisher Gunter in the general collection.
• Southern Homecoming: Traditions, Recipes, and Rememberances by Carolyn Quick Tillery in the general collection.
• The Southern Hospitality Cookbook by Winifred Green Cheney in the general collection.
• Simple, Fresh, Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor by Matt Lee in the general collection.
• The New Soul Food Cookbook: Healthier Recipes for Traditional Favorites by Wilbert Jones in the general collection.

CORRECTION: Genealogy on the Internet is on October 21st!

On this day, we'd like to offer a correction to last week's post about our Genealogy on the Internet class. The date for the class is next Thursday, on October 21, 2010.

There are several spaces still available. Please plan to meet in the Heritage Room at 10am; the class will last 3 hours.

Genealogy on the Internet is an introduction to the many and growing resources for researching your family history online, and includes handouts that provide descriptions of the various websites available and their offerings. Time to explore on your own and ask questions is provided in the last part of the session. These resources are not limited to Georgia, or even to the United States. This class is not intended for beginners in computers or genealogy.

The class is free, but space is limited, so registration is required. Call us at (706) 613-3650, ext. 350, or email us at heritageroom@arlsmail.org to reserve your space.

9 October 1942: The Tree That Owns Itself Falls

On this day in 1942, the Tree That Owns Itself "passed away...quietly and with all the dignity befitting its historic life."  The white oak was believed to be nearly 400 years old, and had been badly damaged in a sleet storm at the turn of the century.  The Athens Banner-Herald reported that "life in the center of the tree disappeared years ago and it was only a question of time until the tree fell of old age."

Ownership by the Tree of itself is based on an item that appeared in the August 12, 1890, Athens Weekly Banner that states "... the said W. H. Jackson for and in consideration of the great affection which he bears the said tree, and his great desire to see it protected has conveyed and by these presents do convey unto the said oak tree entire possession of itself and of all land within eight feet of it on all sides."  The full story indicates the Tree was one Jackson had "watched grow since childhood" and was "pained to think what might happen to it" once he died.

However, no original deed can be found at the courthouse, and it is likely the news item was a hoax.  W. H. Jackson did not own the property where the Tree stood, and only lived in Athens while attending the University of Georgia, then again much later in his life.

Little to no mention of the Tree is made in papers or books until the Centennial Edition of the Athens Banner-Herald revived the story in June, 1901.  In 1906, George Foster Peabody paid to have granite posts erected around the tree, good soil added and sodded at its base, and a marble marker placed on the spot.  At that point, the Tree took on a career of its own, with photos printed on postcards, artist renderings as check decoration by Citizens Bank and Trust Company, and the Tree was noted in books about historic trees, including one issued by the U. S. Forestry Service in 1935.  The city recognizes the Tree's ownership of itself and its plot.

Four years after the Tree fell, the Junior Ladies Garden Club of Athens planted a sapling grown from an acorn of the original tree.  Sometimes known as Son of the Tree That Owns Itself, the white oak planted in 1946  is the one that stands today at the corner of Dearing and Finley Streets.  Keeping with the times, it has its own Facebook page.

Learn More:

• The Toombs Oak, The Tree That Owned Itself, and Other Chapters of Georgia by E. Merton Coulter in the Heritage collection.
• Athens Banner-Herald, Sept. 1942 - Feb. 1943 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Ladies' Garden Club, Athens, Georgia: America's First Garden Club in the Heritage collection.
• Tree Registry: Athens and Clarke County, Georgia by the Junior Ladies' Garden Club in the Heritage collection.
• Athens, Georgia: A Pictorial History by James K. Reap in the Heritage and general collections.
• Annals of Athens by Augustus Longstreet Hull in the Heritage collection.
• Athens, Georgia 1801-1851 by James Rea Wells in the Heritage collection.
• The Simple Act of Planting a Tree: A Citizen Forester's Guide to Healing Your Neighborhood, Your City, and Your World by Andy Lipkis in the general collection.
• The Tree Doctor: A Guide to Tree Care and Maintenance by Dan Prendergast in the general collection.
• Trees for Tomorrow by Frank Lockyear in the general collection.
• From Acorn to Oak Tree by Jan Kottke in the children's collection.

Discover Genealogy Resources on the Internet!

On this day, we'd like to let you know there are still spaces available for our Genealogy on the Internet class, Thursday, October 14th, from 10am to 1pm. Please plan to meet in the Heritage Room.

The class is an introduction to the many and growing resources for researching your family history online, and includes handouts that provide descriptions of the various sites available and their offerings. Time to explore on your own and ask questions is provided in the last part of the session. These resources are not limited to Georgia, or even to the United States. This class is not intended for beginners in computers or genealogy.

The class is free, but space is limited, so registration is required. Call us at (706) 613-3650, ext. 350, or email us at heritageroom@arlsmail.org to reserve your space. We hope to see you there!

4 October 1913: For Children and "Nervous Ladies"

On this day in 1913, the following ad appeared on the back page of the Athens Banner:

Learn More:

• Athens Banner, Oct. 1913 - Dec. 1913 on Microfilm in the Heritage collection.
• Dentistry: An Illustrated History by Malvin E. Ring in the general collection.
• Images of Healing: A Portfolio of American Medical and Pharmaceutical Practice in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th Centuries by Ann Novatny in the general collection.
• Let's Talk About Going to the Dentist by Marianne Johnston in the children's collection.
• The Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery's Guide to Family Dental Care by Rebecca W. Smith in the general collection.
• The Complete Guide to Better Dental Care by Jerry F. Taintor in the general collection.
• Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson in the general collection
• How to Overcome Fear of Dentistry by Robert F. Kroeger in the general collection.
• Opportunities in Dental Care Careers by Bonnie L. Kendall in the general collection.