Plans were being made to raze the Old Colonial Hotel on Broad Street and erect a new brick one in its place this week fifty years ago. With the completion of the new hotel and the operations of the new National City Bank, upper Broad Street was to be one of the busiest and most active business centers in the city.
Meanwhile, interested parties had subscribed a total of $12,000 for the erection of a new hotel near the East Rome depot.
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Rome spent her last day Wednesday fifty years ago without an automobile police patrol. The auto was turned over to Chief Harris the following day. One of the most up-to-date “Black Marias” in the country, W.J. Gresham, driver of the No. 2 fire truck, had the honor of driving the machine on its initial trip to city hall, where it was placed on exhibition for the day. Many came by to admire it.
The new machine was expected to increase the efficiency of the department by 25 percent. It was a Hudson 33 with a special body.
Acting call officer Charles Alexander was the guy who put the “pat” in patrol, when it performed its first official duties Friday night. Pat Bears had the distinction of taking the first joy ride to the station house in the new hurry-up wagon. He was in such a “state of happiness” at a corner of Broad and Third Avenue, that the auto was called into service. He was not fined for his fling as Judge Kelly had promised to let off the first person arrested and brought to the police station in the new auto patrol.
Romans read of the serious situation in Cuba a half century ago as demonstrated by riots at Havana, which was causing solicitude by the United States government. Reports indicated that there were good grounds for apprehension over the approaching election in Cuba, which was to be the most critical test of the stability of the republic.
Preparations were being made to dispatch a United States military force to Cuba in case the defeated party refused to abide by the decision of the election and attempted to gain control by arms. It was probable that the naval force to Nicaragua, where the situation had quieted down, would be sent to Cuba if necessary.
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A 60-pound catfish was captured in a net in the Oostanaula just above Rome by John Camp. He took it to Camp’s market, where it was attracting a lot of attention. … Frost nipped the “fall” peach crop which was in bud. A peach tree in the backyard of J.F. Hendricks in Boozeville was bidding fair to bear some fruit. The warm fall had also brought forth blooms on the cherry and pear trees. … George Shaw, of the Etowah District, raised three sweet potatoes which made a peck. Two of them weighed 10 pounds. They were on display in Todd’s show window. … Snead Brothers of Key, Ala., marketed 60 bales of cotton here this week a half century ago, the most received here raised on one farm. They brought 11 cents per pound, or about $3,300. …
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