In the year 1884, two travelers from London, England set out to tour the Southern United States. Upon reaching Georgia, the men stopped to visit Atlanta University, an African American university of the state. Their tour of the university led them to observe that the rooms at the school were light, clean,... and cheerful, and that the work of the students at the school was done exceedingly well....
In 1884, an African American woman living in Marietta, Georgia developed a rare skin disease that gradually lightened her skin. The woman worked for an upstanding white family in Georgia and experienced continuing skin lightening for many months. White spots covered her face and body, slowly enlarging and spreading across her skin. The spots gradually bleached her skin, making her appear white....
Women began to demand suffrage in the late nineteenth century. In January 1884, Mrs. James Bennett argued in Kentucky's legislature that women should receive the vote in presidential elections. She provided several arguments, including the fact that men of poor morals and low status in society were able to vote whilst a "noble Christian women" was not. In addition, she cited the Thirteenth Amendment...
In the late 1800s Henry J. Flagler was one of the wealthiest men in the world. He was a partner in the Standard Oil Company with John D. Rockefeller and Flagler spent much of his wealth on expanding the state of Florida. In the winter of 1884, Flagler came to St. Augustine, Florida to spend his honeymoon with his second wife. The city left a mark on Flagler and he returned in March of 1885 just...
A decoration that celebrates achievement in the literary and historical realms, “Polished after the Similitude of a Palace” is the inscription in the perimeter of the gold triangle encompassing a large capital ‘J’ that is Bessie Stradley’s Judson Literary Society pin. The small, unique metal pin has grown tarnished with age and wear. It is simple, yet elegant and informative, with...
Up until 1889, the only way for people to cross over to Belle Isle from Detroit was by ferry, and a fare was required to board the boat. A bridge was then constructed that allowed visitors to walk or drive over to reach the park. While still in the planning stages, there was much debate over who should build, and then subsequently own, the bridge. Popular opinion was, by and large, in favor of the...
On February 15, 1884, when A. J. Parliament tried to pay fifty Italians hired to work on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Aberdeen with 750 instead of the 1,500 they were owed, he was seized by the workers and locked up. They told him they would not release him and threatened to kill him unless paid the full amount. When Sheriff Walker and his Deputy came to investigate at around midnight, they...
On July 20, 1884, an early morning rain storm brought large drops of water to Montgomery, Alabama. The storm started slowly, with the rainfall increasing as morning approached. Rain fell steadily and consistently for days, so much so that flooding began to occur throughout central Alabama. Waters roared with such wrath that houses along situated along streams were swept away. The flooding caused...
The American Prohibition Convention of 1884 was held in Lincoln Hall and kicked off on the evening of February 20th. Several prominent politicians, bureaucrats, religious leaders and thought leaders of the time were present to help usher the American Party into the upcoming election season. Mr. E.D. Bailey, who had just been appointed to the committee responsible for nominating a President and...
Nineteenth century southerners took tremendous pride in their small towns and communities. Built nearly from scratch, these small towns were the ?heartbeat? of the South. Small news was big news in a town like Wytheville. When the plans to build a new Baptist church were announced, the local paper saw it as yet ?another indication of the prosperity in Wytheville.? At the cost of 1,000, the local...