One second after the advent of January 2, 1913, the first parcel post package was mailed by Postmaster General Hitchcock, inaugurating a new era in American postal service. The package contained a silver cup and was addressed to the New York postmaster. It was to be engraved and returned to be preserved in the National Museum, for the inauguration of parcel post. Post offices across the nation were taxed to capacity with all types of parcels, ranging from pitch forks to dogs. Considerable business was conducted at the Rome post office, Henry J. Hine having the distinction of mailing the first package at 7 a.m., which went to his daughter, Miss Jessie Hine, who was visiting in Paris. It contained a gold watch.
The National City Bank threw open its doors for business the second day of January 1913, with a capitol of $100,000. … The home occupied by W.B. Phillips on East Third Avenue was partially destroyed by fire in the early morning. Wilson Hardy’s home next door caught fire from the blaze and was also considerably damaged. … Donald Moore was riding his bicycle when he collided with a wagon in front of the courthouse, receiving a deep gash on his forehead. … All Confederate veterans and their widows who drew state pensions were asked to report to Ordinary Harry Johnson to have their names put on the list. …
With the condemnation of the Broad Street and East Second Avenue bridges over the Etowah River. It was up to Romans whether they rode across them in street cars. When the car reached the bridge approaches, they were stopped and passengers were notified that the bridge was condemned. If timid ones got off, the car would wait for them on the other end of the bridge, and pick them up again. … A bridge across the Etowah at Eighth Avenue was being advocated by many. … The new sewer from Seventh Avenue to the Oostanaula was completed this week a half-century ago . … Another body was dug up on the North Side where the city was making improvements. In an old-time metallic casket, it was not identified and was re-buried in Myrtle Hill. …
J.G. Garner, former Roman, visited the city for the first time in 25 years, and said that it had grown so big he hardly recognized it. He remembered the old mule cars operated on Broad Street, and said that the chief change he noticed was the raising of Broad Street to the point where merchants no longer lived in dread of floods. … Berry School classes started Friday a half-century ago after the holidays. Three new courses offered in the agricultural department were in gardening and horticulture, stock breeding and farm management. New courses in the mechanical departments included blacksmithing, joining, carpentry and construction. … After rains and high wind, Rome had snow fifty years ago Friday. …
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