The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-04
LOOKING BACKWARD
Review of The Old Town of Whining
ton and its People in the Fifties.

to Princess streets. Eas. Of Sixth and
Orange streets was q barren section of
white sand which was designated as
the"sand hole and tire negroes were
cent there 10 procure san for scour-
ing purposes and TO sprinkle On the
floors: or Market street q plank road
was constructed running u to
SCOTS Hill and this was the Gully
driTe out of town. the other roads BE-
ing very sandy and heavy. From
about Ninth street TO about Frcee1t.
street you passed through Il swamp,
On either side Of the road. with 81.
pines and gum trees and other swamp
growth, quite q contrast Il the present
situation
The swimming places for the boys
were Cassady's shipyard. foo OF Nun
street o. on the sand shoals opposite
the ". & ". railroad freight ards
or Burnt Mill Creek. just back Of The
present Oakdale cemetery. The cider
boys viii recall the run out 70 Burnt
mill, tile gathering Of gall berries
which were given t the unsuspectinc
and the laugh that went around al
the discomfort Of the eater. Another
boEish freak was knoIrng the cloth
Ing % the swimmers and the fog
like croaA Of "knaw bacon" which
was the notice that something was
dC.ng But few OF tho c~itiZers OK"
carriages and there was only lew
teams for hire. II was customary n
funerals for those owning carriages Or
tw~O-seated vehicles to send them 10
be used by the family and friends. IN
those days We knew everybody n
town while in these days we know the
few older citizens or their defendants,
while the great body Of passers-by are
strangers. so have We changed. The
style Of buildings both dwellings and
business houses has materially altered
and are mach larger and in better
taste than tie me We had IL :hese
old days. Our public schools which
are now the pride Of the city were in
those days poor buildings poorly at
tended n poorly supplied with
teachers. | can recall one who at his
date would not be considered for q
moment as an instructor. Our present
school conditions mark an awakening
OF our citizens to the importance Of
the education Of the youth. In former
DAYS private schools existed which
cost parents the tuition, books and
other expenses and ever then weTe
not the equal of IL present pubic
schools, where the youth Of all classes
poor or rich can obtain an education
almost without money and without
price"
Such are same Of the reminiscent
ces that come to me Of the good
old days we hear about, bit ny OBJ
~servation is that people live better.
have more in their homes. enjoy more
material prosperity and have o
chance in life than ever. mOr emu
open for employment and that it will
continue to increase r0m year 70
year. The present generation had to
create capital to advance and exploit
this growth and who al say what the
next fifty years shall bring to Our
town and section. Then We shall no
doubt see a connection with the coal
fields of the west. bringing coal to the
coast and our harbor filed with ship
ping, bringing in the imports from
other parts of the world for distribu-
ton to the west and northwest, while
the expansion Of the town shall still
continue and it's: trade and manufac-
lures shall increase beyond present
c~OnceDtiOn.