It’s time to return to the days of old and peruse the news from The Baldwin Times of yesteryear.

Like in modern times, this week in 1896 reflects a continued focus on political matters. For example, Tensaw correspondent T.C. used his column space to ask legislative candidate J.J. McGill about his stand on canine issues, expressing his own thought that North Baldwin residents should be limited to owning six dogs.

Fellow correspondent, known as Democrat from Away Back in Baldwin, wrote of political issues that would go down in the nation’s history, as he touts the need for government reform of labor laws “to prevent compulsory trade by hours of labor, etc.,” he wrote. “The ignorant and innocent are sadly in need of legislation for their protection.”

Stockton correspondent Eclipse strayed from political issues and instead focused on business matters, reporting on a developing venture that involved either the manufacture of tubs or ladders.

“The Ocmulgee Stave Co., have purchased the white oak timber of several of the syndicates here,” Eclipse wrote, “and we understand will erect a stave dressing mill in Mobile to prepare staves for the European market.”

Also gracing the four-page publication was such dramatic news as an article bearing the headline, “Railroad at rest.” According to the article, an outlaw known as “Railroad Bill” was buried in Pensacola, Fla., after being a wanted man in West Florida and South Alabama for more than a year and coming to an untimely end.

A search of a different nature was reported in the Victorian-era newspaper, as an article detailed an ongoing search for missing Columbus, Ga., physician Dr. S.T. Jordan, who had been seen in Baldwin County and was erroneously assumed to have drowned near Bay Minette.

The weathered newspaper also provides a glimpse of upcoming happenings, with an announcement that the then upcoming May 8-14 Southern Baptist Convention in Chattanooga, Tenn., was spurring discount tickets with Mobile and Ohio Railroad.

Baldwin County health concerns seemed to be much different a century ago, as indicated in an advertisement for Brown’s Iron Bitters, which boasted the ability to guard against malaria.

Ailments may differ these days, but fascination with the entertainment industry seems to be nothing new, as shown in an ad for “Foot Lights Illustrated Weekly.” According to the ad, the $2 annual subscription would provide Gilded-Age Baldwin County readers with “clever short stories, gossip about actors and actresses, and musical matters.”

Yet once again, it seems that the more things change, the more they remain the same.

That’s it for this edition. Check back for another look at The Baldwin Times of yesteryear.