A glance in the rearview mirror
May 1922: Chicken lobes and egg color. Hair bobs aid switch-makers. State Champ vs. The Flash.
by Mary Jo David
The following news excerpts are from May 1922 editions of the Stockbridge Brief-Sun newspaper. These are mostly reproduced in the original, without edits or corrections. Visit the Stockbridge Library to view electronic copies of old local news publications dating back to 1883.
The new compressed air fire whistle was tried out Monday evening. Some sort of signals should now be arranged whereby citizens will know just where the fire is located, thus saving confusion and loss of time when a fire occurs. –5/4/1922
White or Brown Eggs Preferred: The color of an egg is largely, or almost entirely, dependent upon the breed of the bird that laid it. In general the American breeds—Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Wyandottes lay brown eggs. As all these breeds have red ear lobes, it may be said that red lobes mean brown eggs….The white-egg breeds, in addition to the Leghorns, are the Black Spanish, the Minorca and all the Mediterranean breeds. All of these breeds have white ear lobes. –5/11/1922
Average size of farms: Statistics on this subject vary from year to year. The average size of a farm in 1920 was 148.2 acres as compared with 138.1 acres in 1910. The average acreage of improved land per farm in 1920 was 78.6 acres, while in 1910 it was 75.2 acres. –5/11/1922
Talk meters are being installed on telephones …as fully 50 per cent of all telephone conversation is either unnecessarily long or frivolous, the new invention will work a saving to the operator. Every time the receiver is taken off the hook on a party line, the meter begins to operate. The eavesdropper will be charged as much as if he had made a call. –5/11/1922
Bobs or Switches: We flatter ourselves at being able to devine a sinister purpose behind the bobbed hair movement. When two-thirds of the fair sex have parted with their tresses, it’s dollars to doughnuts that bobbing will be declared no longer in vogue. When the switch-makers have bought all the hair they need, along comes Dame Fashion’s edict and up goes the price of switches. –5/18/1922
Memorial Day Proclamation …For many years it has been the custom of our people to go out on Memorial Day and place flowers on the graves of those veterans of the civil war who have passed on…. In the Spanish American war and in the recent World War, the sons and grandsons of those who fought at Shilo and Gettysburg fully maintained the honor of America. Therefore, in order that we may pay a tribute of respect and effection to the surviving veterans of all these wars, and do honor to the memory of their fallen comrades, I sincerely urge that Tuesday, the 30th day of May, 1922, be fittingly observed as Memorial Day. –Alex J. Groesbeck, Governor, 5/25/1922
Auto Races at Jackson: The Jackson fairgrounds race track will be the scene of the greatest automobile races ever held in Michigan Sunday afternoon, May 28th, when all the crack drivers of the middle west will compete in open races for cash prizes, totaling $3,500. Probably the biggest event of the day, from a spectacular stand point will be the match race between Bob Wilcox of Owosso, the State Champion, and Buddy Huebner, the Saginaw Flash. –5/25/1922
LOCAL/PERSONAL—May 4, 1922 edition:
- Miss Myrtle Mears had her tonsils removed at the home of Mrs. Daniels last Saturday.
- Twenty-two young people will graduate from our school this year—six boys and sixteen girls.
- Bernice McCormic, Lady Policeman of Richmond, California, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Fred Merrell of Gregory. … Mrs. McCormic’s and Mrs. Merrell’s father, Albert Messinger, served in the war of the rebellion in the same company, that of Col. Lute Ives of Mason.
- An electric lighting system has recently been installed at Hankard’s Resort at Pleasant Lake, along with many other needed improvements, which will help to make this one of the finest resorts in southern Mich.
LOCAL/PERSONAL—May 11, 1922 edition:
- Was It You? The person is known who took the light gray felt hat with black band from the town hall last Thursday evening, and is asked to return it at once to Claude Garnier, Williamston.
- The cherry and plum trees in Stockbridge and vicinity seem to be heavily loaded with blossoms and at present time the prospects for a bumper crop seem to be good.
- Plans to use Michigan state prison convicts on construction work at Camp Custer, as recently announced, were carried into effect Monday when 40 men who have served their minimum terms were taken to Battle Creek. –Jackson News
LOCAL/PERSONAL—May 25, 1922 edition:
- K. Smith has traded his farm near Williamston for a farm near Lansing.
- We hear that George Westfall is working on a boat between Detroit and Sandusky, Ohio.
- J. McNamara recently lost the fore finger and part of his thumb on a power saw besides having his second finger broken.
INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL NEWS
May 11, 1922 edition:
- Pike County, Kentucky, recently honored the memory of its oldest citizen, Jesse B. Osborne. Much was said in praise of this departed citizen, who crossed the bar at the age of ninety-two years, and no louder praise was heard than of his reputation for never having permitted a profane word to pass from his lips. …Profane language is not beautiful. It does no good. It may be the stepping-stone to lives of crime which end in prison cells.
May 25, 1922 edition:
- Boy Scout Uses His First Aid: While engaged in playing football…, a small boy named Joseph Dunlap was thrown forcibly against a broken bottle, the contact severing an artery in his ankle. Twelve-year-old Randolph L. Martin, a tenderfoot scout…was happily on the spot….Rapidly he made a tourniquet out of his suspender and applied it accurately, closing the artery which had been bleeding so profusely. … A stretcher was improvised from some of the other boys’ coats, under young Martin’s direction, and the victim carried to the office of the nearest physician…. On examing the treatment Doctor Yorty was amazed to learn that a twelve-year-old boy could perform so grave a task so perfectly.
