Dear Sir:
I wish to extend my congratulations on the eightieth birthday of The Cullman Tribune. The writer is a bit older, having been born in Cincinnati on December 8, 1873. I began to read newspapers at the age of seven years old, namely the New York Daily Sun and the Cullman Tribune and have been reading the latter ever since.
The first printing shop was operated by Julius Damus, which was located on Second Avenue and Second Street East and on the same block was the first post office, I remember in Cullman. The Post Master was J.W. Whatlington, a native of England. Also a lawyer. He always wore a silk hat and broadcloth Prince Albert coat –a goatee and mustache. Up until the time, the old building was removed, there was a slot in the door to deposit outgoing mail.
Captain Beckert was the editor at one time. Captain Beckert, as an elderly man, had a beautiful young bride, a sister of Al Keys. They lived in a long one-story building, then located on First Avenue North of the Von Werdt place and about that time, Crist Fricke had a shoe shop in the same building and Mr. and Mrs. Elsheimer also lived there. After she became a widow, she married Billie Weigand. I believe that Judge Johnson, father of Searcy Johnson, was editor for more years than one. The building he used as an office was then located at the Ponder corner.
May the Tribune note many more years or printing the news and happenings in Cullman County. Yours very truly,
J.A. Dreher
The year 1994 is the 120 anniversary of the Tribune. We are proud to be the oldest weekly newspaper in Alabama and Cullman’s oldest business. Thank you for your patronage.
From The Files Of 1959:
Bishop Bachman G. Hodge made appointments for Methodist Ministers at the final session of the North Alabama Conference on Sunday. Five Injured In Accident – Five persons were injured at 10 o’clock on Saturday night when two automobiles hit head on, on County Road 35, some 5.7 miles north of Cullman. Involved were a 1952 Ford Coach driven by Thomas Lawson Lowery of Route Two, Vinemont, and a 1951 Chevrolet sedan driven by Felter C. Oden, also of Route Two, Vinemont. Total property damage was estimated at $500.
