LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

by Janey Deal
Genealogist/North Carolina Local History Room

I have always said, “You might not find what you are looking for”, when you come into the Genealogy/Local History Department of Hickory Public Library, “but you will find something interesting.” And the same holds true when you search the Hickory Daily Record. Here are a few things I have come across while searching for obituaries. The first one is from December 8, 1910 Hickory Daily Record

“Improving the Telephone Service”

“Hickory is soon to have a new telephone service. General manager N.S. Dasher is now installing his new switchboard, which has a capacity of 1600 telephones though Hickory is today using about 350. This shows the faith the Hickory Electric Company has in the city’s future. There are records in the office which show that Hickory has used as high as 10,000 connections in a single day. Which shows what good conversationalists we are.

The new machinery is extensive and elaborate. Mr. Dasher asks the people please to be patient with the service during the change. New service will probably begin Jan. 15.”

This next one is from January 30, 1951 Hickory Daily Record

“WOMEN ON GRAND JURY”

“LEXINGTON, Jan. 30 – (AP) – For the first time in Davidson county history, two women sat today as members of the grand jury. The grand jury was organized yesterday. The women members are Miss Maggie T. Pickett, a bookkeeper for the Southern Railway’s freight office, and Mrs. T. B. Tysinger, a housewife of Silver Hill Township.”

On December 7, 1919 you could eat a grand meal for $1.00 at the Hotel Huffrey here in Hickory.

A copy of the menu shows the variety of food you were offered:

“Cream of Chicken Soup ~ Clam Chowder ~ Celery Hearts ~ Queen Olives ~ Sweet Pickles ~ Panned Oysters on Toast ~ Smothered Quail with Chestnut Dressing ~ Little Lima Beans ~ Creamed Peas ~ Snow Flake Potatoes ~ Roast Little Pig with Barbecue Sauce ~ Candied Sweet Potatoes ~Sugar Corn ~ Mashed Turnips Cold Boiled Ham with Potato Salad ~ Ice Cream ~ Peach Roll ~ Pound Cake ~ Coffee ~ Tea ~ Milk.

Served from 1:00 TO 2:30.” This sounds so yummy.

Come by and see what you can uncover here at Hickory Public Library. Want to call? 828.304.0500 ext 234 is the North Carolina Room.