There
is nothing like an old picture to bring back happy memories of old
friends and old times to those who were a part of the old scene. and to
show younger generations the scenes and people they so often have heard
mentioned.
The
accompanying photograph is a copy of an original owned by W. L. Peace
and made by the late J. D. Brinkley of Oxford which he titled
"Oxford Bicyclist 1897." As may be seen, it was the day of the
old well (left background just behind man in in short shelves and also
behind buggy and in front of surry) and stepping stones (left
foreground) used to cross muddy Main Street.
Half
a century ago, as the photo re3veals, two or three trees stood on Main
Street. There apparently was a small coating of snow on the ground. Just
in front of the court house may be seen a seating of which in that day
was known as "buzzard's roost."
Some
of the business landmarks on main may also be seen. To the left, in one
of the buildings now occupied by Rose's 5 and 10 is a sign indicating
the location of the Public Ledger at that time. Down the street may be
seen a sign which reads "Long Bro's." which is not to be
confused with the later firm known as as The Long Company. There was no
monument in the street and just over the top of the present location of
Taylor's Restaurant may be seen what appears to be the roof of a
dwelling, which may be the roof of one of the structures later moved to
Goshen Street. The bank building, now occupied by Tom W. Harris, the
chamber of Commerce and others, the Odd Fellows building with its drug
store, and the Capehart building then were pretty much as they are
today. There has been change in the corner where the Williams-Breedlove
Company is now locate. A sign hanging just above the heads of the two
persons leaning against the store front in the right background shows
the location of the shoe repair shop.
See
any familiar faces in the picture? with the help Mr. Peace and others,
quite a number of them have been identified. Quite a number of the
ladies are wearing garments with the "leg-o-mutton sleeves"
and a uniform or so indicates that Horner School was presented amongst
the bicyclists.
Referring
to the numbers inked in on the person maybe you can see some resemblance
with the following:
(1)
Miss Bennett Gregory
(2)
Miss Jeanette Biggs
(3)
Albert L. Cox-(Later General Albert L. Cox)
(4)
Miss Annie Cannady
(5)
Miss Helen White
(6)
Mrs. J. s. Hall
(7)
Mrs. J. H. Cannady
(8)
Mrs. E. T. White
(9)
Mrs. John Webb
(10)
Mrs. J. M. Baird
(11)
Miss Laura Williams
(12)
Miss Lessie Hunter
(13)
Miss Wylanlta Longmire
(14)
Hill M. Hunter
(15)
Miss Blanche Wood
(16)
Miss Evelyn Howard
(17)
John Parrish
(18)
Miss Minnie Kronheimer
(19)
Ira Howard
(20)
Frank Blalock
(21)
James A. Renn
(22)
M. D. Oakley
(23)
Otho C. Jones
(24)
Dr. Robert H. Marsh
(25)
Dr. Lee C. Taylor
(26)
Miss Fannie Skinner
(27)
Mrs. C. D. Ray
(28)
Miss Lula Biggs
(29)
Miss Dorothea Coggeshall
(30)
Tom W. Winston
(31)
Scott Hunt
(32)
L. B. Turner
(33)
S. T. Peace
(34)
Wade Britt
(35)
Hugh L. Skinner
(36)
H. M. Shaw
(37)
John W. Hunt
*
Note-The numbers are hard to read not all are visible-sorry.
A
Post card of this photo is available for purchase at The Granville
County Museum.
