January 2, 1830—Oxford’s first newspaper, the Oxford Examiner, appeared. It was published weekly from 1830-1838 by Robert J. Yancey, Jr. and covered news in Oxford, Granville County, and North Carolina. January 5, 1876—There was a meeting held to organize a fire company in Oxford. The Hook & Ladder Company became the first “fire department” with Captain Alexander Farrar (A. F.) Spencer as Foreman; James Francis (J. F.) Edwards, Assistant Foreman; Thomas Dalzell (T. D.) Crawford, Treasurer; W. A. Davis, Secretary; and Dr. George William (G. W.) Landis, Assistant Secretary. Captain Alexander Farrar (A. F.)Spencer was a master brick layer and a mail contractor. James Francis (J. F.) Edwards sold sewing machines and accessories. Thomas Dalzell (T. D.) Crawford ran a drug store in Oxford. W. A. Davis was editor and proprietor of The Torch Light, a weekly newspaper published in Oxford from 1874-1888. It was the official organ of the Democratic-Conservative Party in Granville County. Dr. George William (G. W.) Landis was a general physician. January 6, 1925—The Oxford Tobacco Market resumed after two weeks off for Christmas and New Year’s holidays. It was expected that the market would sell approximately two and a half million pounds of tobacco between that time and the close of the season. Until January of 1872, Oxford did not have a tobacco market (see January 30, 1872 post below). January 7, 1925—A man and lady, enroute from Altouna, Pa and traveling in a house car, appeared on the streets of Oxford, both wearing a pair of Crossword Puzzle stockings. The hosiery was loud enough to attract the attention of everybody who passed along the street. They appeared to be of heavy yarn, which was embellished with black and white dice about a quarter of an inch square. January 9, 1925—Wallace, the Magician, gave a performance at the Oxford High School Auditorium. With sleeves rolled up, he caught pigeons from nowhere. In the finale, Wallace presented one of the most spectacular illusions on earth, “Super Vanish Extraordinaire”. All live ducks, rabbits, pigeons and a lamp vanished like a flash. January 13, 1879—Mrs John Hays’ Select School for Girls opened in her home. There were so many private schools in the Oxford area that at one time, Oxford was called the “Athens of the South”. January 17, 1968—County Commissioners approved the start of the first county operated public ambulance service. Henry Currin was the managing director and equipment was headquartered at Granville Hospital. Local calls were $20.00. Calls beyond the county boarder were $20.00 plus fifty cents per mile traveled. January 18, 1830—Miss Matilda Brice Duty opened a private school. She was the daughter of Dr. Samuel Duty of Granville County. Education took on an early prominence in this area. January 24, 1890—The Glucklich German Club gave a dance at the Armory Hall, complimentary to Mr. and Mrs. William Henry (W. H.) Hunt and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sidney (J. S.) Hunt. Both couples had recently married. Mrs. W. H. Hunt wore white poindesoe, point lace, pearls and orange blossoms. Mrs. J. S. Hunt wore white ottoman, brocade, point lace, diamond and orange blossoms. From the limited information obtained, it seems that the Glucklich German Club was organized for the purpose of promoting the German, a party for the area couples to enjoy. Although there was no indication that a German was danced, the word German in this case can be defined as a party at which the German is danced or the dance itself, complicated steps for many couples in which partners are changed often. January 24, 1942—This day was declared Scrap Iron Day and citizens collected iron to be sold to steel mills to make tanks, guns, and ships to defend America. The slogan for the day was “Scrap the Japs with Scrap”. January 25, 1967—Construction started on the new Post Office (the Federal Building on the west side of Main St. in 2015). Once located across Main St. in the building where the Oxford Baptist Church school is presently housed, the Post Office had many other homes, moving from one building space to another. The first Postmaster in Oxford was Rhodes Nash Herndon in 1816, which was the year of the town’s incorporation.
January 27, 1911—Horner School, a military school for boys, held a competitive contest in which the cadets gave interesting speeches. J. E. Bryant was pronounced the winner, rendering the “Sioux Chief’s Daughter”. A dance followed the contest. January 28, 1851—The Baptist Female College at Oxford was established by act of Legislature ratified on this date. Reverend Dr. Samuel Wait, a Baptist minister and educator, was president until 1857. John H. Mills succeeded him. The school continued to operate during the Civil War, unlike many similar academies throughout the South. When Mills left in 1868, the school passed through a series of management changes until 1880, when Frank P. Hobgood became president. The school became Oxford Female Seminary and offered both “preparatory” and “collegiate” departments. When the school’s building was destroyed by fire in January of 1904, a group of Oxford citizens established a corporation that succeeded in raising money to rebuild. The college closed in 1925. January 30, 1872—There was a meeting of the Goodwyn Agricultural Club at the residence of Captain James Hunter Horner, Sr. for the purpose of establishing a tobacco market in Oxford, NC. This is the same James Hunter Horner who established Horner School.
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Joan RobersonWith a keen interest in the history of her home town, Joan gets into the spirit of the Bicentennial with these snapshots of days gone by. Archives
December 2016
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