One of the pleasures of writing this column is meeting so many nice folks who interface with me about a subject near and dear to their heart. Such was the case of Kristi Bolding Seal, daughter of the late Wallace Clark Bolding, who passed away on Feb. 18, 2016, just one week prior to his 88th birthday. He once resided at 800 Wilson Avenue (at Frances Street) in Johnson City.
During Christmas, 1985, Tom Hodge addressed the subject of Halley's Comet in his column. "Several years ago while writing about the impending approach of Halley's comet in early 1986," he said, "several local residents reported their own sighting of the 1910 comet to me.
In 1888, Limestone, Tennessee was described as "a lovely, healthy village, sporting mineral and sulphur springs, good farms and good people." A newspaper reporter, identified only as "Carswell," stopped at the Limestone Depot, which was one of many railroad stations on the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railway.
I am blessed with readers who send me old newspapers. In my voluminous collection of old papter, I recently came across a Saturday, August 17, 1929 edition of the Johnson City Chronicle, which was yellowed and brittle with age, requiring delicate handling. As I skinned through the edition, I noted several things that were unique to that era.:
In early 1933, Johnny Roventini, who stood 47 inches tall and weighed a mere 59 pounds, was touted by the New Yorker Hotel, where he worked, as the smallest bellboy in the world. One night, he became acquainted with two advertising agents for the Philip Morris Company, who had conjured up a publicity stunt for a cigarette commercial. They offered Johnny a dollar if he would locate a Mr. Philip Morris in the hotel. In actuality, there was no one there by that name.
The Thursday, August 5, 1897, edition of The Comet newspaper contained some depressing news about the death of a young boy whose name was Mayne Williams, the son of Judge and Mrs. Samuel Cole Williams.
Today's column is directed to my lady readers, but here's hoping the gentlemen will get a chuckle out of it as well.
I received a note from Betsy Shaw on behalf of her mother, Bessie Kate "Bess" Young Katcham who will be 100 years old on July 18. "Nothing would please her and her family more," said Betsy, "than to have an interview with you about those 100 years in Johnson City and how everything has changed."
Today's column is part 2 of my Johnson City Press History/Heritage page reader response. I will forward any comments you send me to the appropriate contributor.
Today's column deals with response from four Johnson City Press History/Heritage page readers. I routinely receive requests for help pertaining to local history matters. I try to assist if possible, but sometimes I am unable to do so. Attached are four slightly paraphrased notes that I received from readers. They need your help.
