Recollections: Legends of Yesterday - A.A. Hodges

­­This is a reprint of original articles by Hugh Woolley, a longtime resident and community leader of Graceville. Woolley published these articles in The Graceville News more than 20 years ago.

Originally published in the November 16, 2000 edition of The Graceville News.

During 1935 the Rural Electrification administration was created by President F.D.R. and the U.S. Congress. This was like adding a nervous system to rural America. Besides lighting the darkness this was like bringing the town to country, bringing all the modern appliances to those rural people. Many of us living today recall when the lights were first turned on in our homes.

A farmer giving witness in a rural Tennessee church in Early 1940 said it best, " Brothers and sisters. I want to tell you this. The greatest thing on earth is to have the love of God in your heart, and the next best thing is to have electricity in your house".

These men that I am trying to honor are the ones who beat the bushes to help get the West Florida R.E.A. cooperative. I am trying to write about the ones I knew personally. Sometimes I get a break by having a family member write for me.

The following is written about her father and mother by Mary W Watford.

AA. Hodges was born in Headland, Alabama on October 11, 1890. He was the oldest son of Curtis Andrew Hodges and Cordelia Davis Hodges.

His family were mostly farmers and extensive landowners, his grandparents lived in what is now the city limits of Headland and are buried in the city cemetery across from the residence.

Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Hodges moved to Florida (Graceville)when A.A. Hodges was 16 years of age. They later moved to Holmes County (Graceville Route 2) to the farm now owned by Don West. A frame bungalow was the residence then. This is just within Holmes County.

A.A. Hodges married Ozie Register, an adjoining neighbor, in 1911 and they moved to Graceville in 1919.

Mr. Hodges was always interested in livestock. At this time, he opened a "Meat Market" as it was called near the railroad and the depot at that time. He also had a livestock pen and platform scales where the TJ. Harris feed mill stands. From this location he shipped cattle by rail boxcars to Montgomery. There were no auction barns in Graceville then. He would go out in the country and buy cattle, "jack-in-the-bush", guessing the weight, so much a head and bring them into town, or weigh them and purchase at so much per pound.

As time progressed all six children of this union were taught to work. There seemed to be more jobs than children. By this time the "Meat Market" had moved to a new building on the east side of Brown Street, about where the Dollar General Store was formerly. Several buildings were constructed in this area, which was a vacant lot prior to this period. The store had now become "Hodges Market and Grocery" with bicycle delivery.

This era of Graceville was a period of prosperity for now there are paved sidewalks, sewer system, and city laws prohibiting chickens and other large animals from running loose. And let's not forget the installation of streetlights.

Following this period of growth and expansion and after many years there was one more move for the business, to a building that is now occupied by "Crafty Cats", a rather new business. This business sold when the sons went to World War II and help was difficult to acquire. During Mr. Hodges lifetime he made many contributions to the welfare of Graceville. He served on the Board of Directors of the West Florida Electric Cooperative for 14 years, was a charter member of the board of the Holmes Creek Soil Conservation District for 12 years, served as a City Commissioner beginning in 1933. The pay for council men was a courtesy $3 water bill.

He was a deacon in the First Baptist Church, having first attended the frame church on Alabama Street on the corner, across from the high school. He was also a member of the finance committee for the construction of the present Baptist Church.

To Be Continued...

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