©
by Brian Clarey
I loved writing this week’s cover story, about an obscure police/booze/prostitution scandal that shook the Ardmore neighborhood of Winston-Salem for 12 days in 1925.
For research, I holed up in the North Carolina Room, looked at old newspapers and listened to a few tall tales from Fam Brownlee, who presides over the collection. I knocked the monster out — more than 4,500 words — over three days, and I probably could have written 10,000 if I had the time and space.
But I have a few loose odds and ends of insight that I need to put down.
For one: How crazy is it that women didn’t get their names in the paper in 1925? The woman running the party house was never referred to as anything but “Mrs. Charles Johnson” — a middle initial, making it “Mrs. Charles W. Johnson,” was added by the second day of coverage, but we never learn her given name.
Likewise, the interview with the wife of the first cop who got dismissed was only referred to as “Mrs. Cofer.” Weird.
Also shocking were some of the headlines: “Negro is Burned at Stake for Attacking Miss. Girl” leapt out of the front page of the morning Journal on Sept. 21, 1925. Gave me chills.
It seems, too, that “speedy trial” meant something different back then. Ogilvie, the groundskeeper of the golf course, was on trial within a day or so of his arrest.
I felt a real connection with Santford Martin, the prudish editor, could practically taste his adrenaline as he uncovered more pieces of the story. And I felt his angst as the story wound to a close.
Most amazing was the realization that this guy put out a 20-page paper every day — bigger on Sundays — using typewriters, pencils and an actual press. Newspapering was very much a blue-collar gig in 1925, a vocation for scoundrels and malcontents.
In some ways it still is.
Join the First Amendment Society, a membership that goes directly to funding TCB‘s newsroom.
We believe that reporting can save the world.
The TCB First Amendment Society recognizes the vital role of a free, unfettered press with a bundling of local experiences designed to build community, and unique engagements with our newsroom that will help you understand, and shape, local journalism’s critical role in uplifting the people in our cities.
All revenue goes directly into the newsroom as reporters’ salaries and freelance commissions.
I loved this story! My Grandmother grew up in Winston-Salem during this time. Her father was business man/business investor and supposedly had some shady dealings in the prohibition era. His eldest son was actually shot and killed again supposedly because of dealings in bootlegging. My grandmother was the youngest and never really spoke of this much so I don’t even know her brother’s name. But just reading your article transported me back to the goings on of that time. I really love your paper. As the niece of a news paper editor I can appreciate all you guys go through to produce a quality paper. Thank you!!