THE ET CETERA CHRONICLES - VOL. 22

LIQUID LIGHTNING - It was a hot muggy late summer afternoon on September 15, 1881 in Dublin when a terrific thunderstorm struck around two o’clock.  James Hester saw the oncoming tumult and pulled his team of oxen under a large china berry tree about half way between Maas’s store and J.E.  Perry’s house.  Hester took the beasts of burden loose from the cart and was preparing to lead them around to tie them to a wheel when a stream of mysterious luminous fluid seemed to cascade down through the tree.  To those who were present, it appeared that the eery liquid coated a light sheet over the oxen and their driver.    The animals instantly fell dead to the ground, the one closest to the tree never moved.   Hester, stunned and dazed as if dead, was carried to Maas’s store and revived.   He soon became able to relate his experiences to the concerned and curious crowd which had gathered around him. 

The thunderbolt was felt all over town.  A Dublin Post writer was standing in the office between T.A. Howard and William Linder, the paper’s printer.  While the writer felt nothing, Howard instantly complained that his right leg was broken, while Linder felt his composing stick being wrenched from his hand.  He complained of a pain in his wrist for half an hour.   In another part of the newspaper office, G.W. Stephenson complained of a pain in his right wrist.  

Joel Perry, who was sitting on his porch when he saw Hester’s animals killed by the mysterious glow, did not hear the clap of thunder but did suffer a severe headache and ringing in his ears for a while.  Other citizens reported similar ailments.   Though the striking of china berry trees, Dublin’s primary shade trees, was not unusual the calamity did cause quite a stir among local residents.  Dublin Post, September 21, 1881. 

SISTERS FOREVER - Jeannie Couey and Rachel Alligood were as close as sisters can be.  Despite the fact that they were nearly twenty years apart in age, the pair was inseparable.   They had the same father, Nathaniel Franklin Gay, but Jeannie’s mother was Sarah Burch and Rachel’s mother was Martha Burch, both daughters of Alfred Littleberry Burch, making them cousins as well as sisters.  Confused?   Both women were members of Baker Baptist Church and did nearly everything together.  Jeannie died at 8:30 on the evening of January 4, 1928 at the ripe old age of sixty four.  Less than twelve hours later, Rachel made her way to her beloved sister’s home.    When she walked in the room to view Jeannie’s lifeless body, she fell dead on the floor in grief.  Both Laurens County sisters were buried in Gay Cemetery the following day, side by side, united in life as in death.  Augusta Chronicle, January 5, 1928. 

I’LL BELIEVE IT WHEN IT SNOWS IN JULY - Dr. G.F. Green is authority for the statement that a number of snow flakes fell in this city yesterday.  At his home, Dr. Green states, it hailed for a minute or two and then snowed.  The falling of snow flakes was witnessed by several reputable people and there is no doubt but that the statement is true, strange as it may seem.  Dublin Courier Dispatch, July 24, 1902.

THE QUEEN OF THE SUGAR BOWL - Amy Woodyard of Rentz, Georgia was chosen as Miss Dublin in March of 1977.  In the summer of 1977, Amy finished as second runner up in the Miss Georgia Pageant.  In 1976, her beauty, grace, and talent didn't go unnoticed at the University of Georgia.  She was chosen as Queen of Georgia Football.  As a part of her duties, Amy served as Queen of the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 1977.  The Bulldogs lost the game to the #1 Pittsburgh Panthers and their running back, the future N.F.L. Hall of Famer, Tony Dorsett. Dublin Courier Herald, December 16, 1976, June 27, 1977.

WATERMELONS AT CHRISTMAS -  It was not unusual for Hayden A. Lowery, of Lowery's District, to grow fine watermelons.  What was unusual was that in December of 1909 Hayden Lowery was still harvesting watermelons from his field.  Most watermelons no longer grow in the fields after the severe summer heat.  One vine in Mr. Lowery's garden produced 32 melons averaging 30 pounds each.  Mr. Lowery brought in two of the melons to the "Courier Dispatch", much to the delight of the amazed staff.  Dublin Courier Dispatch, December 24, 1909, p. 3.

TENNILLE'S FIRST WOMAN MAYOR -  In December of 1964, Augusta Lawson, formerly of Dublin, became the first woman to be elected Mayor of Tennille, Georgia. DCH 12/10/1964.

FIRST HOUSING AUTHORITY - The first Laurens County Housing Authority completed its organization on December 28, 1940.  W.D. Parkerson, Jr. was elected chairman of the organization.  Rubert Hogan and O.D. Cullen were named as secretary-treasurer and vice-chairman, respectively.  W. H. White was the attorney for the committee.  The first funds expended were expected to come from a grant from the Federal Housing Authority to repair homes in Dublin and Laurens County which had become unfit for human habitation.  Dublin Courier Herald, Dec. 28, 1940.

ALL STAR BACK  - Steve Edwards, former Dublin football and basketball star, was named as a cornerback on the All-SIAC team in December, 1979. During his career at Morehouse College, Steve played with his brother, Don Edwards, and former Dublin star footballers, Dallas Allen and Greg Rooks.  Edwards didn't start out to be a football player.  One morning during a P.E. touch football game,  Edwards dropped back to his own 48 yard line and threw a pass out of the back of the end zone.  An amazed coach, Travis Davis, noticed the bomb and invited the freshman to try out for the football team.  The rest, as they say, was history.  In his senior year at Dublin High School, Steve was selected to play for the South team in the state all-star game.   Dublin Courier Herald, Dec. 7, 1979, July 19, 1977.