Calhoun County AlArchives News.....Memories by S. E. Scarborough October 4, 1964 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Shirley Mellon Dewberry dewberry@cableone.net November 18, 2010, 6:54 pm The Anniston Star, Anniston, Alabama October 4, 1964 Memories By S. E. Scarborough Standing on the corner of 10th Street and Wilmer Avenue last Sunday afternoon – in a reminiscent mood – my thoughts wandered back some 60 years as I looked over the landscape south of this point. It is almost unbelievable what chances have taken place in this area. The old Wilmer Hotel, which stood on the corner, was host for many dignitaries and celebrities who registered there in days gone by. On the corner of 9th Street and Wilmer Avenue was the Seamon Boarding House, and next to the boarding house was a long wooden warehouse half a block long. This building was used as a storage place by two prominent contractors of that period. IN ONE OF THE ROOMS WAS STORED THE FIRST PLANE THAT EVER GOT OFF THE GROUND UNDER ITS OWN POWERS YEARS BEFORE THE WRIGHT BROTHERS MADE THEIR FIRST FLIGHT. Room Housed Plant Another room housed about the first bottling plant to operate here. They used a foot-powered machine and made their deliveries by a horse and wagon. In the last room on the corner where the alleys came together was a stable. A tragic murder happened in the old stable before it was used as a stable. The telephone company used it as a storage place for the old type battery-operated wallphone. These batteries were a square glass jar with a crowfoot immersed in acid. In handling these jars they would spill some of the acid on the boys’ clothing. Everything in the storage room was yellow from the acid fumes. Exchange Upstairs The telephone exchange was located upstairs across the alley from the old stable. The phone company had only two switchboard girls and a manager. They had about 100 subscribers. At one time I had a complete list of the customers. But it was lost down through the years. The telephone company has come a long way since those days. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/calhoun/newspapers/memories1857gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 2.5 Kb