This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 47 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
May 20, 1929
Page
4
When a baseball batter steps up the public shouts to study the swing, yet public officials rarely heed such feedback. The remark underscores how governance often resists external scrutiny despite clear calls to improve.
Cullman County plans a larger strawberry crop next year citing higher market returns. growers say strawberries offer more profit per acre than cotton, driving the shift to berries despite shared production challenges.
In July, a tired worker grows irritated with the office boy who strolls around whistling In the Good Old Summer Time, signaling seasonal nuisance and workplace tension.
A freight train’s mournful whistle and a lone cat’s howl set a quiet, eerie mood. The night scene emphasizes solitude and stillness, inviting readers to share in a sense of isolation permeating the late hours.
The quotation suggests Capone, nicknamed Scarface Al, seems to waver at the prospect of jail, described as unusually docile, casting doubt on public perceptions and newspaper reports about his behavior and temperament.
The saying notes that agrarian life would be easier were it not for boll weevils bad weather insects rainfall drought labor shortages poor roads and similar plagues. It reflects on the many hardships faced by farmers in the era.
In Decatur the fifth game crowd backs brothers Sammy and Jackie Baker and their gray-haired father who runs the family business on Second Avenue. The close-knit supporters chant for the brothers as the contest unfolds.
The piece reflects on how praise often follows events rather than prior planning, noting that much of life hinges on perseverance. It argues that effort and steady work yield chances, with occasional fortunate breaks shaping outcomes more than raw brainpower.
Industrial League games this year show teams improving with age as players round into shape. Recent Saturday verdicts read 5 3 and 3 0, reflecting stronger pitching and timely hitting.
Decatur contemplates building an airport as essential for a future town with air travel replacing railway dependence. While costs are high, they are deemed a minor factor in the plan, with officials acknowledging the need to weigh multiple proposals on equal grounds.
War veterans laid to rest in City and Roselawn cemeteries will be honored on Memorial Day May 30. John B. McDonald Post No. 10 and Morgan County Post No. 15 urge relatives to provide names and grave locations to ensure every resting place is remembered.
Decatur residents complain that Southern railway freight trains stop across the highway leading to City cemetery longer than allowed by the public service commission. The letter asks railway officials to correct the practice, noting it creates displeasure for travelers reaching the cemetery.
A business-focused editorial urges merchants to push for increased May trade in 1929. It highlights past agriculture and industrial payroll figures, stresses the value of visible selling, and encourages Decatur merchants and local farming communities across four counties to unite in boosting trade and profits.
City officials in Decatur announce strict enforcement of traffic rules as stop signs are prioritized to curb rising violations. The editorial urges even-handed fines to ensure compliance and warns drivers that everyone must face the consequences, expecting public support if law enforcement is evenhanded.
Civic workers in Decatur push toward an $8,000 goal for the Industrial Board Junior Chamber of Commerce with $3,000 already raised. Officials expect a solid week of fieldwork to finish the drive, stressing broad participation and civic duty to attract industry and fund city development.
Residents favor and oppose electric traffic signals as the Decatur city council faces a decision on whether to adopt an electric or police controlled traffic system. The writer notes relief at not serving as a council member.
The Decatur Daily notes editorials from Mr Brisbane while praising a fragile Zeppelin over the Alps and urging modern air power. Alfred P Sloan Jr of General Motors announces GM entering aviation with Fokker ties and field assets, joining Henry Ford and Charles E Mitchell as a trio of industrial leaders in a competitive era. Flying has barely started and the little man still has a chance.
Aircraft remain a true novelty, with power, shape and fuel evolving faster than locomotives. The air machine will transform flight far more than any train or weapon system, reshaping design and capability from earlier eras.
The article envisions greater engine power and wing spread enabling wireless power. It predicts future aircraft will be powered by ground generated energy in flight. Fliers would not need to carry their power plant onboard.
A historical reflection notes that radical breakthroughs often arise from simple insights rather than formal training. The sewing machine inventor reportedly could not sew, and the key idea was placing the eye of the needle at the point, avoiding pushing it through fully. The piece argues that the biggest ideas are the simplest.
Renowned soprano and influential teacher Lilli Lehmann dies in Berlin at age 81. She mentored many and sparked a passion for great music, leaving a lasting mark on performing arts while lamenting civilization’s struggle with violence.
Al Capone, nicknamed Scarface, is sentenced to a year in a Philadelphia prison for his alleged violent crime role, with his gunman bodyguard also jailed. Both were found with automatics as they left a movie theater, marking a rare setback for the infamous figure.
Philadelphia, once a haven for bootleggers, now pursues a strict crackdown and marked change in enforcement. Lawmen report intensified raids and public safety campaigns aimed at curbing illegal alcohol activity amid renewed vigilance.
The passage mocks gun control by comparing punishment for mere possession to using larger weapons. It travels from Mrs. Potter Palmer's north shore residence to the Pullman home on Prairie Avenue, implying broad reach and inconsistency, with a Napoleon reference to lost guidance.
The tale notes call money in Wall Street yesterday at six percent and plentiful at that level. Banks face stress as they had anticipated twenty percent, after enjoying fifteen percent two days earlier. Some institutions may trim annual dividends from one hundred to around sixty percent, or lower, a harsh return for managing others’ funds.
The piece condemns outsiders who pour in money for bootleg loans and mocks the lack of an effective plan to curb usury. It notes the Federal Reserve appears to favor higher profits and offers no clear solution to shut out these illicit loans.
A brief note by a stockowner addressing concerned readers about bank stock movements. It states the writer’s holdings have grown as bank equities rise, offering a cautious viewpoint for fellow investors. The piece emphasizes prudence and ongoing interest in banking shares.
Washington May 20 Spike a famous polo pony and favorite mount of General Pershing led a smart ball scene. From a loose box he watched guests befriend him and share sugar while Hunter another polo pony also served in World War I. Spike retired at 26, Hunter 25 remains active. A mock polo game thrilled the crowd as the horses stirred with each whistle.
Argentine military attache Col. Angel Maria Zuloaga and a companion risked a balloon ascent from Santiago to test high altitude winds over the Andes. A 65 mile gale blew them west to east, forcing a perilous mountain landing and a rescue hours later, proving the theory. Also notes on usury limits, Carnegie Rockefeller fund, and a six year old declaring invulnerability with horseshoe and penny.
The text notes that Carnegie left a fortune smaller than what he might have accumulated if he had trusted in the American steel industry's future. It credits him as the greatest figure in the industry while acknowledging his limited ability to foresee its long term prospects.
The quote notes that the steel common stock would be worth more than Morgan’s fortune as part of a bar gain. It claims that after selling to Morgan the stock was “not stock” or water but “just air, worth a cent a pound.” It also mentions the stock bonus bringing value to about 244 dollars per share.
Richard Maslock notes ongoing urban problems in New York, from indecent films and illegal kitchens to failed fire safety compliance, with a focus on Broadway crime and a strict no-parking crackdown around Times Square. Police report nightly tows of 15 to 25 cars in restricted blocks, mostly from Park Avenue.
Etiquette note recalls how telephone switchboard operators once answered before noon with Good morning and after with the company name. Now afternoon and evening salutations are common, but midnight calls still receive no Good night greeting.
Dr. Royal S. Copeland explains Bright's disease as a secondary kidney issue caused by infections or poisons. He warns about acute tonsillitis and influenza leading to nephritis, detailing symptoms like back pain, fever, vomiting, and potential uremia, urging prompt treatment and prevention.
A newspaper feature offers Mrs M H answers on nasal catarrh. It recommends a nose and throat spray in many cases and asks readers to send a self addressed stamped envelope with questions for full particulars.
A public official’s crooked acts would be broadcast nationwide, yet the majority of officials serving the public honestly attract little attention. The dialogue questions whether a young man can support a family and touches on scrutiny of public service.
A collection of quips about voice use at sea, braggarts who claim the woman pays, a daughter’s suitor questioned by her father, and a man who jokes he only exercises by running from bores. The tones are light and cheeky, reflecting early 20th century humor.
A rustic moral vignette contrasts pests like the chinch bug and bee moth with a complaining farmer and a critical modern woman. The speaker humorously rails at social changes and calls for aid to the fair sex, noting the era’s painted image of women.
A playful quarrel contrasts optimism and pessimism over prices and thrift. The joke hints that true normalcy returns when prices drop to sane levels, noting the wry point about a two dollar and a half shirt.
A tenacious applicant ponders why Mr Hoover is described as a civil engineer, hinting at frustrations with career paths and professional titles. The brief reflects curiosity about the meaning and scope of civil engineering in the job market.
In a fragmentary exchange a missionary questions understanding of religion while a cannibal recalls an earlier encounter with a missionary, noting prior exposure to beliefs. The terse exchange hints at cultural clash and curiosity in the encounter.
Agatha asks what drives Betty to divorce. Agnes notes the husband isn’t Betty’s. She recalls a plumber’s death and that Betty buried his tools with him, signaling mistrust and a decisive act.
A travel note observes a sign that a tip is desired when encountering an African with a whisk broom or a finger bowl, noting how service cues appear in hospitality settings.
The nervous writer asks if his three act play has been read. The manager says three readers each want one act cut, with different cuts. The exchange reflects the tension of aging creators being blocked by safety minded authorities.
A compact social remark notes that certain people judge moral failings by alcohol use, highlighting a narrow view of virtue. The line suggests cultural tensions around drinking and morality in a community setting.
A lexicon entry defines 3 A DAY terms Asperse as to sprinkle water or dust on someone or something or to besprinkle a person with a liquid or dust Compeer as an equal in rank age prowess a companion comrade or mate Expedite as free from impediment unimpeded Expeditious quick speedy prompt.
A reader cites Romans 3 10 17 noting humanity’s unrighteousness and pervasive sin. The passage highlights understanding absence and rejection of God, deceitful tongues, poison under lips, and paths of destruction.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.