Cotton Rally, 1914
Parades
Agriculture and politics
Cotton farmers
Demonstrations
Transportation
Burchfield Brothers Wholesale Grocers and other local businessmen and farmers participated in a parade to increase the price of cotton to 10 cents a pound.
Cotton Crisis of 1914: In 1914, Tuscaloosa and the rest of the south suffered severe economic shock. With the outbreak of World War I, the foreign market for cotton – usually two-thirds of the crop – disappeared. The war and the largest crop of cotton in history staggered the economy in the South.
The Board of Trade called “A Monster Mass Meeting of Citizens” at the courthouse in a campaign to boost the price of cotton through the buy-a-bale movement at 10 cents a pound. It was said that the program would boost the price of cotton, give an impetus to trade, relieve the money stringency and save hundreds of thousands of dollars to Tuscaloosa County.
At the same time, a call came out for a meeting in New Orleans on the cotton situation. Bankers, farmers, merchants and every other interest represented in the south were called to attend to help make definite and systematic plans for holding, warehousing, financing, marketing, minimum price and cutting the cotton acreage for 1915. Harvie Jordan, president of the Southern Cotton Association, said the south had to depend upon its own resources and cooperation to solve the cotton crisis.
All offices and stores were closed in time for the Tuscaloosa meeting. A parade, the first of its kind in the country, had a large motion picture company making a moving picture of the parade. Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce represented the women of Tuscaloosa who attended in large numbers for relief of the situation. As a result of the local activity, at that point scarcely any cotton had been sold for less than 10 cents a pound and it was thought that the mass meeting would encourage farmers and businessmen not to sacrifice any cotton for less than 10 cents.
The cotton parade idea, originating in Tuscaloosa, was said to have swept the South. A smashing success, the parade featured farmers hauling cotton, prominent citizens driving drays and Judge Brandon spieling from the top of a bale. Many people agreed to buy bales of cotton, hoping to encourage and enable farmers to hold their cotton for better prices. Nationwide, more than a million bales of cotton were purchased and retired from the market to be held until the market price went to ten cents or higher.
From the Tuscaloosa News, September 21, 2014
Tuscaloosa News Archive
1914
Jason Townsend (Description)
Photograph
76
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Cotton Rally, 1914
Demonstrations
Agriculture and politics
Cotton farmers
Transportation
Parades
Farmers and suppliers around Tuscaloosa protested the low price of cotton. They wanted to raise the price to 10 cents per pound. Those identified on this truck are Judge W.W. Brandon, Sam Clabaugh, R.B. Cochrane, Will Raiford and Clayton Strickland.
Cotton Crisis of 1914: In 1914, Tuscaloosa and the rest of the south suffered severe economic shock. With the outbreak of World War I, the foreign market for cotton – usually two-thirds of the crop – disappeared. The war and the largest crop of cotton in history staggered the economy in the South.
The Board of Trade called “A Monster Mass Meeting of Citizens” at the courthouse in a campaign to boost the price of cotton through the buy-a-bale movement at 10 cents a pound. It was said that the program would boost the price of cotton, give an impetus to trade, relieve the money stringency and save hundreds of thousands of dollars to Tuscaloosa County.
At the same time, a call came out for a meeting in New Orleans on the cotton situation. Bankers, farmers, merchants and every other interest represented in the south were called to attend to help make definite and systematic plans for holding, warehousing, financing, marketing, minimum price and cutting the cotton acreage for 1915. Harvie Jordan, president of the Southern Cotton Association, said the south had to depend upon its own resources and cooperation to solve the cotton crisis.
All offices and stores were closed in time for the Tuscaloosa meeting. A parade, the first of its kind in the country, had a large motion picture company making a moving picture of the parade. Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce represented the women of Tuscaloosa who attended in large numbers for relief of the situation. As a result of the local activity, at that point scarcely any cotton had been sold for less than 10 cents a pound and it was thought that the mass meeting would encourage farmers and businessmen not to sacrifice any cotton for less than 10 cents.
The cotton parade idea, originating in Tuscaloosa, was said to have swept the South. A smashing success, the parade featured farmers hauling cotton, prominent citizens driving drays and Judge Brandon spieling from the top of a bale. Many people agreed to buy bales of cotton, hoping to encourage and enable farmers to hold their cotton for better prices. Nationwide, more than a million bales of cotton were purchased and retired from the market to be held until the market price went to ten cents or higher.
From the Tuscaloosa News, September 21, 2014
Tuscaloosa News Archive
1914
Jason Townsend (Description)
Photograph
77
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Cotton Rally, 1914
Cotton farmers
Demonstrations
Agriculture and politics
Transportation
Parades
Cotton farmers rally together to raise the price of cotton to 10 cents a pound.
Cotton Crisis of 1914: In 1914, Tuscaloosa and the rest of the south suffered severe economic shock. With the outbreak of World War I, the foreign market for cotton – usually two-thirds of the crop – disappeared. The war and the largest crop of cotton in history staggered the economy in the South.
The Board of Trade called “A Monster Mass Meeting of Citizens” at the courthouse in a campaign to boost the price of cotton through the buy-a-bale movement at 10 cents a pound. It was said that the program would boost the price of cotton, give an impetus to trade, relieve the money stringency and save hundreds of thousands of dollars to Tuscaloosa County.
At the same time, a call came out for a meeting in New Orleans on the cotton situation. Bankers, farmers, merchants and every other interest represented in the south were called to attend to help make definite and systematic plans for holding, warehousing, financing, marketing, minimum price and cutting the cotton acreage for 1915. Harvie Jordan, president of the Southern Cotton Association, said the south had to depend upon its own resources and cooperation to solve the cotton crisis.
All offices and stores were closed in time for the Tuscaloosa meeting. A parade, the first of its kind in the country, had a large motion picture company making a moving picture of the parade. Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce represented the women of Tuscaloosa who attended in large numbers for relief of the situation. As a result of the local activity, at that point scarcely any cotton had been sold for less than 10 cents a pound and it was thought that the mass meeting would encourage farmers and businessmen not to sacrifice any cotton for less than 10 cents.
The cotton parade idea, originating in Tuscaloosa, was said to have swept the South. A smashing success, the parade featured farmers hauling cotton, prominent citizens driving drays and Judge Brandon spieling from the top of a bale. Many people agreed to buy bales of cotton, hoping to encourage and enable farmers to hold their cotton for better prices. Nationwide, more than a million bales of cotton were purchased and retired from the market to be held until the market price went to ten cents or higher.
From the Tuscaloosa News, September 21, 2014
Tuscaloosa News Archive
1914
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
133
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Man with Mules
Farm Life
Mules
Agriculture
Floyd W. Mullenix of Echola with mules used for farming.
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
160
Tuscaloosa County (AL)
Cotton Rally, 1914
Cotton farmers
Parades
Agriculture and politics
Demonstrations
Transportation
A parade, an attempt to boost the price of cotton to 10 cents a pound, travels west on Broad Street (now University Boulevard), approaching Market Street (now Greensboro Avenue) in Tuscaloosa.
Cotton Crisis of 1914: In 1914, Tuscaloosa and the rest of the south suffered severe economic shock. With the outbreak of World War I, the foreign market for cotton – usually two-thirds of the crop – disappeared. The war and the largest crop of cotton in history staggered the economy in the South.
The Board of Trade called “A Monster Mass Meeting of Citizens” at the courthouse in a campaign to boost the price of cotton through the buy-a-bale movement at 10 cents a pound. It was said that the program would boost the price of cotton, give an impetus to trade, relieve the money stringency and save hundreds of thousands of dollars to Tuscaloosa County.
At the same time, a call came out for a meeting in New Orleans on the cotton situation. Bankers, farmers, merchants and every other interest represented in the south were called to attend to help make definite and systematic plans for holding, warehousing, financing, marketing, minimum price and cutting the cotton acreage for 1915. Harvie Jordan, president of the Southern Cotton Association, said the south had to depend upon its own resources and cooperation to solve the cotton crisis.
All offices and stores were closed in time for the Tuscaloosa meeting. A parade, the first of its kind in the country, had a large motion picture company making a moving picture of the parade. Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce represented the women of Tuscaloosa who attended in large numbers for relief of the situation. As a result of the local activity, at that point scarcely any cotton had been sold for less than 10 cents a pound and it was thought that the mass meeting would encourage farmers and businessmen not to sacrifice any cotton for less than 10 cents.
The cotton parade idea, originating in Tuscaloosa, was said to have swept the South. A smashing success, the parade featured farmers hauling cotton, prominent citizens driving drays and Judge Brandon spieling from the top of a bale. Many people agreed to buy bales of cotton, hoping to encourage and enable farmers to hold their cotton for better prices. Nationwide, more than a million bales of cotton were purchased and retired from the market to be held until the market price went to ten cents or higher.
From the Tuscaloosa News, September 21, 2014
Tuscaloosa News Archive
1914
Jennifer Spraggins (Description)
Photograph
217
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Cotton Rally, 1914
Cotton farmers
Transportation
Demonstrations
Agriculture and politics
Parades
Cotton farmers rally together to raise the price of cotton to 10 cents a pound.
Cotton Crisis of 1914: In 1914, Tuscaloosa and the rest of the south suffered severe economic shock. With the outbreak of World War I, the foreign market for cotton – usually two-thirds of the crop – disappeared. The war and the largest crop of cotton in history staggered the economy in the South.
The Board of Trade called “A Monster Mass Meeting of Citizens” at the courthouse in a campaign to boost the price of cotton through the buy-a-bale movement at 10 cents a pound. It was said that the program would boost the price of cotton, give an impetus to trade, relieve the money stringency and save hundreds of thousands of dollars to Tuscaloosa County.
At the same time, a call came out for a meeting in New Orleans on the cotton situation. Bankers, farmers, merchants and every other interest represented in the south were called to attend to help make definite and systematic plans for holding, warehousing, financing, marketing, minimum price and cutting the cotton acreage for 1915. Harvie Jordan, president of the Southern Cotton Association, said the south had to depend upon its own resources and cooperation to solve the cotton crisis.
All offices and stores were closed in time for the Tuscaloosa meeting. A parade, the first of its kind in the country, had a large motion picture company making a moving picture of the parade. Mrs. Ellen Peter Bryce represented the women of Tuscaloosa who attended in large numbers for relief of the situation. As a result of the local activity, at that point scarcely any cotton had been sold for less than 10 cents a pound and it was thought that the mass meeting would encourage farmers and businessmen not to sacrifice any cotton for less than 10 cents.
The cotton parade idea, originating in Tuscaloosa, was said to have swept the South. A smashing success, the parade featured farmers hauling cotton, prominent citizens driving drays and Judge Brandon spieling from the top of a bale. Many people agreed to buy bales of cotton, hoping to encourage and enable farmers to hold their cotton for better prices. Nationwide, more than a million bales of cotton were purchased and retired from the market to be held until the market price went to ten cents or higher.
From the Tuscaloosa News, September 21, 2014
Tuscaloosa News Archive
1914
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
320
Tuscaloosa County (AL)
Sycamore Log
Logging
Lumber
Five of the men who helped bring this king-size sycamore log out of the woods of Tuscaloosa County are (left to right) J.D. King, logger and lumberman; John Smelley, sawmill operator; Trimm (W. T.) Hamner, veteran logger; John Stillwell, trucker; and B.F. Shirley. The log was felled on the property of Dr. J.E. Shirley and sold to the Stremming Veneer Company at Maplesville. Four hours and 20 minutes were consumed in felling the tree which was 65 feet tall. Then it took a whole day to skid the log 350 feet, all under the direction of Hamner, a veteran logger.
The butt of the log measured 72 inches in diameter, the other end 58 inches. The tree scaled 5,776 feet and sold at $70 a thousand, bringing $404.32. The log was to be used for veneers.
(Information on this photo from "The Alabama Lumberman," March, 1949.)
The Alabama Lumberman, March, 1949
1949
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Photograph
384
Tuscaloosa County (AL)
Sycamore Log Measurements
Logging
Lumber
The sycamore log felled in Tuscaloosa County measures 72 inches in diameter across the butt of the log and 58 inches on the other end. The tree was 65 feet tall, taking four hours and 20 minutes to fell. Then it took the whole day to skid the log 350 feet under the direction of Trimm (W.T.) Hamner.
Pictured are E.V. Cain, forester for the Albert Holman Lumber Company of Northport, and Hamner.
(Information from "The Alabama Lumberman," March, 1949
1949
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Photograph
388
Tuscaloosa County (AL)
Stockyard Auction, 1939
Cattle
Livestock
Stockyards
The Tuscaloosa County Livestock Market held its first auction on August 9, 1939 in Northport with almost 600 heads of livestock to be auctioned.
Tuscaloosa News Archive
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
445
Northport (AL)
John Frederick Mullenix, Watkins Man with audio
Traveling sales personnel
Mullenix, John Frederick, 1887-1972
Mullenixx, Effie Mae Fendley, 1891-1974
Mullenix, Searcy Leon, 1933-
John Frederick Mullenix is pictured in 1938 with his 5-year-old son, Searcy Mullenix, beside his 1927 Model T that he used to deliver Watkins products and other goods to rural families in northern Tuscaloosa County.
A longtime resident of Echola, Mullenix was born in Gordo, in 1888. He contracted polio at the age of 18 months and was severely crippled, losing the use of one leg. Despite his disability, he attended business school in Columbus, Mississippi. He began keeping the books for his uncle, Jim Free, and learned the lumber business and became part owner of some sawmills. He owned and operated J. F. Mullenix Merchantile in Gordo until the Depression.
Mullenix began farming to support his growing family and when the boys were mature enough to manage the farm, he began his Watkins Products route to areas around Brownville and Moores Bridge. He often traded products for eggs or chickens, which were put in coops tied to the running board of his Model T. Another son, Clifton Mullenix, (not pictured) often went along to catch the chickens. A five-gallon can of fly spray was tied to his running board.
John and his wife, Effie Fendley Mullenix, had 10 children, one of whom died in infancy. Mullenix died in 1972.
Wanda Winters
1938
Betty Slowe (Description)
Photograph
Audio
462
Tuscaloosa County (AL)