What happened to those old time sayings we heard as youngsters?

Sayings like “bus left,” “slow as ‘lasses,” “dumb as a stump,” closing the barn door after the horse escaped,” “as much use as a yard of pump water,” “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and “break new ground” are seldom heard nowadays.

These old slogans are rarely used on TV shows, movies or newspaper columns. That is because young writers, having not lived in these eras, simply have never heard them. I did hear a couple of these old sayings a few nights ago when I pulled up “The Real McCoys” on my new Smart TV. Walter Brennan, who played the role of grandpa, yelled at one of the kids “hurry up ‘ere, you gonna be bus left for school.” And he told his grandson “wake up early tomorrow morning cause we gonna break some new ground.”

Those old writers have all faded away now making it almost impossible to recapture those old sayings from years gone by.

I am using only one Atmore Advance archive paper for some of my fodder this week. That paper comes from July 31, 1952.

By the way, Advance publisher Martins Ritchie received some well-deserved recognition from the Alabama Press Association that year for his unique coverage of the Alabama prison system.

Making news back then was my wife’s pretty sister, Doris (Troutman) Cooper. You know her today as the wife of the late Lawrence Cooper. Doris was selected the 1952 Escambia County Maid of Cotton. She was selected over a field of eight beauties from Flomaton, Atmore and Brewton. That event, which was sponsored by the Escambia County Farm Bureau, was one of the most popular beauty contests in the county back in those days. The alternate MOC was pretty Margaret Dixon of Flomaton.

In other news from that 1952 edition, Minnie Hanks was named to the dean’s list at Florida State University, and six Atmore Boy scouts participated in “Camp Big Heart” near Pensacola. Those scouts were Davis Findley, J.L. Johnson, John Parker, Joe Webb, John Barnette and Bert Jones. Sponsored by Atmore First Baptist Church, they were members of local Scout Troop 21.

A gala shower was held Hubert and Annie Laura Lambert Guy, who lost their home and furnishings in a fire. The family resided in Vocation.

Atmore Mayor H.H. Dees was reelected to his post without opposition. In the city council race, winners included Randolph Maxwell and Grady Rhoad.

Sadly, there were two notable deaths. Henry Maddox and Ollie Thompson passed away that week.

The Atmore Truckers Association welcomed their first bale of cotton for the year. It was grown by Roy Chance of Jay, Fla.

Buddy Vickery prepared to lead his crack Atmore Jaycees baseball team against an All-Star group from Mobile. Ace Doc Vickery was pegged to take the mound in the Byrne Field contest.

Two young hoodlums made off with two large baskets of golden, succulent peaches from a roadside vendor located near Preaches Well’s Highway 31 South potato shed. But it didn’t take long for county deputies to nab them down at Perdido Creek. A tip from a friendly Nokomis resident aided the officers in making the arrest. Actually, the vandals were found under the bridge in the creek chomping on the tasty fruits.

The state health department reported 20 new polio cases in the state. Fortunately, none were discovered in Escambia County.

Three locals made military news. Pvt. Willis M. Ray completed basic training at the Medical Replacement Training Center at Camp Pickett, Va., Pvt. Ernest Wilson completed processing for relief from active duty at the Army Separation Center at Ft. Jackson, S.C. and Lt. George Coker reported to active duty at the Signal Corps Base in Fort Monmouth, N.J. (Hmm, I thought Signal Corps was based at Fort Gordon near Augusta, Ga.).

McMurphy’s Dairy added a colorful neon sign on their front wall at their Hwy. 31 north location.

I did find room for a couple of quips from 1975.
Mrs. Lorenzo Conway, from Canoe, was feted with her 99th birthday that year and Curtis Forrester was named Escambia Florida Farm and Home Administrator of the year. His office assistants, Carol Dixon and Barbara Dickerson, were also recognized for their contributions.

We were saddened by the deaths of two prominent citizens, Dr. Sennie Chapman and businessman Fred George.

Square dancing was very popular during this time period. Locals actively involved in this form of dance were Chuck and Linda Laue, Jimmy and Earline Biggs, Jack and Catherine Edwards, Raymond and Dianne Jerkins, Ray and Myrna Hodgen, Vickie and Jamie Black, Cherry and Marie Blackwater, Joe and Louise Day, Tom and Ernestine Miniard and Daphine Sims.

Next week, I’ll be back with some more news from days gone by. Not sure what, but be sure to “stand by and stay tuned.”

“…yes … it always whispers to me … those days of long ago…”

You can email Lowell McGill at exam@frontiernet.net.