It’s again time to revisit Victorian North Baldwin County by looking back at news from The Baldwin Times of yesteryear.

For a change, this week in 1896’s The Times actually contains news. An example of this is the report that Hollinger Manufacturing Co. on Hollinger Creek in Gateswood “is thriving.”

“It sounds like business to hear the shrill whistle, the driving of the piling and the sound of carpenters’ hammers on the two-story building, which is being erected by Mr. Freeman, to be used as a store,” the weathered article states. “It is only half completed, and when the finishing touch is put on Mr. Freeman’s business will no doubt have a grand display.”

An additional report makes the same claim for sawmills in Morrison and on Majors Creek, as well as the turpentine business in Perdido.

“In fact, business is growing,” a report boasts about the turpentine busiess.

In Bynes Fork, thoughts seem to have remained on the holidays.

“Mr. J Sicox have a candy pulling on Christmas night at his home,” an article states. “There was a large crowd in attendance, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves very well.”

An additional article of the day gives insight into a New Year’s celebration.

“The courthouse was ablaze with light and beauty New Year’s night, and the first annual ball given by the Voodoo Glee Club has passed into history as one of the most enjoyable social events ever known in Daphne.”

But in Rosinton, things didn’t seem to be so jovial. According to an article, the town’s post office, which had been established Oct. 7, 1884, was closed on Dec. 14, 1895, much to the confusion of its residents.

“There has never been a post office inspection since the office was established,” the article states, “and there has never been one word of complaint from the post office department at Washington.”

More bad news comes in the form of a report that five unknown men drowned on Dec. 18, 1895, when the small boat they were sailing into the mouth of Perdido Bay capsized.

“From telephone inquiry, it has been learned that five sailors had deserted a ship in Pensacola, and they are supposed to be the men drowned,” the article states.

Violence is nothing new, as evidenced in an article reporting that James Price was arrested the previous Monday by Deputy Sheriff Thompson for assault with intent to murder Norman L. Durant near Hurricane Bayou during Christmas.

On a more positive note, it seems that education for women was encouraged, as County Superintendent D.C. Byrne announced that he would award a four-year scholarship to “one young lady” to attend Baily Springs University in Lauderdale County, which “entitles her not only the high-grade collegiate education for which this institution is noted, but also to art, music, use of piano, elocution, physical education, stenography, typewriting, etc., without charge.”

According to Byrne’s announcement, all the recipient, which he would select, would need to pay for is her own books and board.

An additional announcement in the four-page publication reports on the county’s political front.

“Messrs. Wilkins and Roach are the only two candidates so far announced for office in the coming election,” the article states. “There will be others out, however, as soon as they get over their bashfulness.”

Science is also represented in edition, which forecasts that four eclipses are scheduled for 1896 — two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses.

Although it no longer graces the front page, the serial, “Won at Last,” by Bernard Bigsby, continues. This week’s installment opens with the devious Mr. Dodd crashing in the snow after his horses ran wild during an attempt to leave Oreton.

It seems that the tears that streamed during the wild trip had frozen to his eyes once the sled stopped and the bitter cold seeped into Dodd’s skin. His blindness would be permanent. In addition, one foot was amputated after frostbite had set in on it.

That leads to chapter 17, “Elsie Finds Something,” which opens to Elsie Whitford enjoying her job as a governess in New York , after winning over both her obstinate children and their fickle mother.

However, the job ends when Elsie’s employer falsely accuses her of flirting with someone above her standing at a ball the previous evening. So she finds a boarding house and seeks other employment.

It’s during this search that Elsie runs into a man leading a 5-year-old boy who instantly recognizes Elsie and explains that he is Willie Wilders. After their embrace, Elsie looks up to find the unknown man running away to evade questions or accusation.

Although Elsie is anxious to let the Wilders know about their son’s whereabouts, she finds that weather has taken down the telegraph wiring, which also affected the train route between New York and Oreton.

One day at the boarding house, while taking care of Willie, Elsie receives callers, whom she assumes are there to talk to her about a job. Instead, it’s the friendly uncle of her former employer, Marcus Woodgrove and his wife. The pair immediately offer her a job and plan to move her and Willie to their home in Buffalo.

While discussing these plans, they all discover that they all know Frank Grey, who lives in their home with them. Outside her earshot, the Woodgroves discuss the idea that Elsie is the unknown lady Frank must be in love with.

The installment concludes with Elsie riding the train to Buffalo, considering all that has happened to her and her dream of being with Frank.

“It seemed to Elsie like a dream, as the train bore the happy party far away froma  city where she had seen so much disappointment to — aye — so what?” the excerpt states. “The future was full of fate, so big was doubt. Nevertheless, the dream was a golden one.”

Check back next week for another glimpse at The Baldwin Times of yesteryear.