Freak Stories and Midsummer Madness
A collection of odd summer anecdotes from across the United States. Tales include a Maryland farmer who hatched eyes on a hatched chick, Indiana hogs protected by copper lightning rods, frogs pulling cherries in Kansas, a Wash DC shopper paying with stamps, and a Nevada collector relieved by payment after years of owed subscriptions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Maryland
Bernville
Indiana
Aker
Kansas
John Setswaite
Washstein
Ol & Billy
Nevada
Devine
Oklahoma
eProp
Ascaloosa County
Not a Bad Idea for Mobile Port Trade Prospects
The Philadelphia Bulletin suggests Mobile should excite shipowners to seek business here. It argues the Panama Canal boosts Mobile as Philadelphia and New Orleans, inland from the coast, face competition. It urges local interests to actively build trade with South and Central America, noting broad opportunities after wartime shipping disruptions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aenerg Ry
Pt Pivemer
Philadelphia Bulletin
Panama Canal
Philadelphia
Quaker City
New Orea
Bulletin
South
Central America
Turning Point in Sight As War Drives Industry
The article argues against discounting Uncle Sam’s optimistic crop estimates while noting the war boosts orders for munitions and steel. It links federal forecasts on wheat and corn value to broader economic gains, cites lumber demand and railroad work, and contemplates a turning point in the nation’s recovery, ending with a zany anecdote about a Quaker City landlady.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Uncle Sam
Jook
Europe
America
Amd
Fernway Citizen Complains About Grass On Public Highway
A 1916 letter to The Item from Mobile Alabama resident 8 I Arnold argues streets in Fernway lack maintenance, noting wadeable sidewalks and weed overgrowth. He cites jurisdictional issues between city county boards and a proposed remedy by the board of revenue and road commissioners requiring property owners to cut grass or pay for weed removal as a public nuisance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fernway
Item
Fearnway
Arnold
Mobile
Ala
Fearaway
Catherine
Virginia
Davie Avenue
Board of Revenue and Road Commissioners
Road Department
Oakdale
French Artillery Duel at Pont-Mousson In 1914 War
A fragmentary year ago today report notes a French artillery duel at Pont-Mousson with heavy losses and Belgian frontier fighting. It mentions battles near Diest and Haelen, Brussels deemed safe, and five days of fighting along the Vosges with reported advances and casualties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pont@-Mousson
Cormans
Diest
Haelen
Brussels
Vosges
A. Tees
Is the blockade hurting cotton and trade dynamics
Washington dispatch notes cotton sales to Holland and Sweden exceed prewar levels, while British blockade debate grows. Senator Hoke Smith is criticized for conflating blockade with contraband lists, with figures showing war-period cotton shipments to Europe.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Holland
Sweden
United States
Great Britain
Hoke Smith
Times-Picayune
Washington Times
Smith
Times
London
Senator Smith
Britain
Nassau
Matamoros
Sau
Rotterdam
Pénator
Department of Commerce
Europe
the Times
Mobile County growers urged to claim local produce pride
A reader invitation highlights Mobile and Baldwin County farmers growing large quantities of peaches cantaloupes watermelons cauliflower lettuce and peanuts. The column asks locals to share bigger yields and to value mobile grown produce when buying, stressing freshness and local pride.
Maxim Gun Story Reveals Kaiser's Interest and 600 Rounds Minute
Sir Hiram Maxim recounts how Wilhelm II first noticed the Maxim gun during a royal visit. He notes the Kaiser ordered vast production as the weapon’s fire rate and battlefield impact shifted modern warfare away from single shot rifles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Wilhelm
Hiram Maxim
Hiram
Albert Edward
Prince of Wales
Edward
Kaiser
Vince
Nordens
Confessions Of A Wife Kitty Seeks Approval From Dick
Kitty questions why Dick dislikes her and Margie explains relationships and motives. The narrator reflects on human nature, reading, and the temptations of love. Kitty longs to become a mother and asks Margie for guidance as the scene ends with plans to continue tomorrow.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kitty
Margie
Humphrey Ward
Ho Man
Gut
Herbert
Little Book
Sonny
Empire presents four reels of lively amusements
The Empire shows four reels today. Street Fakers stars Bud Jamieson and Marguerite Rieger in a tale of clever village fakers and a fiery fight. A Disciple of Plato is a Vitagraph comedy with Ricca Allen and Templar Saxe. Lives of the Jungle by Selig features jungle zoology and strong scenery. The program is praised as unusually good.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
the Empire Today
Bud Jamieson
Marguerite Rieger
Plato
Ricca Allen
Tempier Saxe
Question Box: Italian-born citizen seeks return and service recall
Reader born in Italy, left at age twelve, asks if she can go back as an American citizen and avoid military service. The note also mentions a tip about squeezing juice and a comment on preservative powders in markets.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. Mec
Italy
Birmingham merchants rally as inviting trade trip grows
The wholesale trade committee chaired by Mr. Brown sends 10 600 invitations for a Birmingham state convention with over 2 000 acceptances. An excursion by steamer to Tuscaloosa and Lock 17 is arranged, with extra boats planned for crowd capacity. The event aims to pull merchants and buyers to the city, boosting local business. Notable hotel registrations include Battle House and Windsor listings with guests from Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and beyond. A special Mobile Travelers meeting is urged for Saturday at the Cawthon Hotel under President L J Adler.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brown
Wholesale Trade Committee
Birmingham
Tuscaloosa
Mobile
Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Brown
John T. Cochrane
Alabama, Tennessee and Northern Railroad
Mr. Cochrane
L. R. Hinton
Capea
Columbus
Miss
Pickens County
Alabama
Battle House
Johns Bond
West Point
W. C. Finite
Ale
A. I. Sims
Jackson
Jne M. A. W. Riley
Rebe Riley
Jack Riley
Montgomery
Als
Ane
Jonnstone
Bessie Coppeck
Ala
Louisville
W. H. Tierden
P. M. Anderson
Talladega Springs
W. D. Bipék
Owa Ala
W. Finson
Laurel
Aoe
EB. Hartman
Brady
Lorna Watson
Pana, Son
New Orleans
Bienville
A Burke
Gunter
Carrollton
O’daniel
Leakeeville
Alee
A Borne
Philadelphia
Cawthon—Co. Vv
Sree
Prattvillé
N. Owéhs
Coe Demopolis
Pearl Turner
Neville
Tenn
W. W. Joyner
Peyton Davis
Chattanooga
F. A. Frerich
Sitet
W. W. Mckey
Valdosta
A. M. Wing
Pioneer Cure Clears Itchy Red Pimples, Atlanta Woman Says
Miss Leola Pruetta of 149 S Maryland Ave Atlanta Ga reports severe facial itching and red pimples that became numerous. After one month of Cuticura Soap and Olntepeht she claims her skin cleared and her hair grew back nicely.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Leola Pruetta
S. Maryland Ave
Atlante, Ga
Also Mentioned on This Page
TELEP
Bell Society
Bell
A&b. C. Auditor's Report
Bureau of Circulations
Audit Bureau of Circulations
Bution
Les
Audit Bureau of Circulation
Gobilin
Thomas Fuller
Mt Wanamaker
People’s Forum
Baldwin
Steavy
THE
Gome
Maxim
Ogee
Nightspany
New York
Empire
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!