The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-18


 ham, Beginning in 1868. my parents, Col. and Mrs. Britt Randolph, came through the country, the covered wagon way, from Forkland, Ala, to Blount Springs for many years returning in the fall, al- ways stopping on the way to visit our good friends, the Smiths, Mudds and MT. Albertus Martins home. So never was time more delightfully."- spent than seeing l Birmingham built, on paper, as we had before us copies of local papers dating eack into the 70s
 Mr. Berney moved to Birmingham in ] 1871 Then there were no hotels nor of- flee buildings. but fields with corn and cotton stalks on First avenue. He had | his office in a box car, and there he had his sleeping aartments, too. taking his meals with Mrs. Judge Morrow at i Elyton. This was before the period of | even the mule car
 MT. Charles Linn. Colonel Powell. Col John T. Milner and others .were building husily the city. anb Col. J. w. Sloss was looking into the mineral development of 1 the district.
 MT. Charles Linn built the Birmingham l National Bank later MT Berney being officially connected with it, succeeding 1 MT. Linn, at his death, as president 1 The papers I refer to Mir. Berney kept carefully locked in the vaults of the bank, | and they reveal much of the happenings of a wonderful past. No town was ever built without an "Old Folks Concert or "Dee-strick School. On May 22 l 1874, in Sublett Hall, a concert was held. We have the programme before us: Part First-"Auld Lang Syne,' old l folks; Don't Slam the Gate, Harry, | Miss Sall:e Harrison; "Old Rosin, the Beau" old follSsS comic duet, "Matrimo- nial Smiles Miss Harrison ana r. r. 1 o Brien; solo, Shells of ocean, Miss Carrie Prelan; "Oft in the Silly Night, Mrs Allen and old folks; Guide Me, On' Thou Great Jehovah Miss Harrison MT Brien and old folks; solo, from the 1 opert of Susannah, Bennie Theiss. Admls- | sion 50 cents. Doors open al s. Trouble | commences at s1s.
 The first invitation in the nature of 1 a public entertainment was extended iby Mr Charles Linn. He was man l full of originality and he loved the people.
 1 The invitation was in the form Of "a dodger." thrown into every home ana 1 over the entire town and read as tol- lows:
 The celebration of my 67th birthday will take place at Linn Park tthis park 1 included the block beginning at the Morris Hotel and including the Wood ward building down as far back as Railroad avenue) Saturday, June II, 1881, commencing at o'clock p. m, when all my friends are invited l On entering the park, the Lovers I Bower" will be found on the left where seats will be prepared for the loving. 1 The Bachelors Retreat" will be found to the right where seats have been prepared for the desolate ones.
 In the centers seats for the ladies and children.
 Programme;
 l. Music by the Jefferson Cornet Band, Kiss Me by Moonlight" All will promenade on the grass among the trees
 1 ?. A hearty welcome and lemonade for all.
 3. Speech by c. Linn. subject The National Banking Association is Char tered for the Benefit and Good Busi- ness of the Masses
 4. Ice cream for ladies and chill J dren and lemonade, little dashed with wine, if any left for the men. 5 Premium will be presented to the ! best lady housekeeper in this city. l llMrs. Tom Berney winnerD G. Music-"The Country We Live In"
 Concluding fifth the eclipse of ths moon, which will be seen shortly after I 12 o'clock.
 In case of rain the above will bt | postponed until Monday forthcoming.
 
 good behavior" C. LINN 1 There were no pubic schools in those l days. so Mrs. Scott opened a school al Fourth avenue and Twenty third street north
 l Amcng the pupils were Amy Gordan 1 (nee Mrs. Charles Cochran), Bessie Martin i fMrs. Henry E. Gray), Augusta Sharpe l tMrs. William Jordan) Fannie LeonarI 1 (nee Mrs. George Brown). Mamie Nor row (Ms Ben Hagood of Chaleston, South Caolina0, Kate Morrow (Ms. Robert l Cathcard of $. O. Millie Morrow tMs, John Milner CaldwelD, Irene Smith (the late Mrs. R. P. McDavid), Bessie Neu- man (Mrs Robert Stonel, Hattie Heinie (irs Hampton Smith, Lizzie Shele Mrs 1 Charles Whelan), Grace Lide dhe late Mrs. T. o, M,lton), Laura Brown Mrs. 1 Henry Fowekes). Florrie Roden (Mrs 1 Charles C.. Davis), Maggie Smith (Mrs. Hugh Morrow), Rebie Berney (Mrs. Rich ar " Evans), Henry Dozier, Waiter Henley and others.
 These young folks are carrying on the scheme of city building as inaugurated by their parents-ard are awakening to the fact that it took more energy and tact more enterprise and cooperation to buill modern city than was given Romulus and Romans in the building of Rome Bir- mir ghain stands as monument to the genius and public spirit of the seventies. Tn looking through copies or the morn ing paper Birmingham Iron Age, May 27. 1875 we find the following headlines: "Our New Court House" NOW that this magnificent building of the finest court house in the state ci Alabama approaches completion we car see 1t in it's Beautiful proportions and substantial construction and judge of it's adaptation to the purpose for which II was designed aEd built
 Today we are demanding a court house to meet the demands of the greater city
 Tn the same paper we find this bit oi history:
 "The first court. The first session oi any court held in our new court house was opened at 3 D. m. on Monday. May Y, 1S15 Chancellor Turner presiding. Ine first case presented was that of ". '. Eubank, administrator. vs. Richard Hudson, guardian of the heirs of James Hawkins. deceased The first speecn mads was that of Ellis Phean. Esq, in the case Of Jas. OConnor vs Woodstock Iron Co.,
 We notice in residence for ,rert Of Third avenue and Eighteeth street north and now we have gone north. south. east and west with our city and still are cry ing not a house for rent"