Selma Purchased the Masonic Building

From "Selma; Her Institutions, and Her Men" by John Hardy, pub. 1879:

George O. Baker reported that he had seen Dr. Showalter, and had closed a contract with him for the purchase of the central Masonic Institute building, to be used as a court house, in case the people of the county of Dallas decided to move the court house to Selma. At the election to be held on the first Monday in May 1966. Part of the engine house was ordered to be rented to M. Monteabaro, for sixty dollars per month. The Mayor was directed to purchase fifteen revolving pistols from George O. Baker, for the use of the police force. M. J. A. Keith & Co. advanced, for the city, the money to pay for the steam fire engine and the necessary apparatus. Col. N. H. R. Dawson asked permission to bore an artesian well on his lot in West Selma. The Council made it fine of $500 to sell liquor of any kind to a United States soldier. At a meeting of the Council, held on the 14th of April 1866 and election for Mayor and Council was ordered to be held at certain places in each ward by certain managers, as follows: In ward 1, at the shop on Donation street, near Mrs. King's residence--Wm. S. Phillips and E. W. Marks, managers; W. P. Lewis, returning officers. In ward 2, at the store of P. L. Sink, on Broad street--W. R. Bill and Edwards, managers; J. A. Howard returning officer. Ward 3, at the Council chamber--D. R. Perviance and A. F. Wise, managers; J. T. Orr, returning officer. In ward 4, at Alva Goldsmith's shop, Mechanics street--S. C. Pierce and Alva Goldsmith, managers; M. A. Boley, returning officer; thus fixing definitely under the charter and mode and manner of holding an election for city officers. The Mayor was authorized to give notice of the alleged loss of city bonds and the raid of the city during Wilson's raid. The city paid $1,500 for the Central Masonic Institute building, at the foot of Alabama street, and gave it to the county of Dallas for a court house; paid Harrman & Von Fischer $2,500 for surveying and making maps of the city. John Weedon was paid $500 for building the hospital and its furniture.

This administration accomplished a good deal, or at least, made every effort to accomplish a great deal, but it was a most costly one to the city. We believe we can be safe in saying that more debts were contracted against the city and more money expended than had been up to that time, or since, by any administration of the city government; but one thing should be placed to the credit of the Council, and that is, they commenced without a dollar in the treasury, and at a time nothing in the city, not even the city itself, had any credit.

At an election in May 1866, the following was the result:

For Mayor.--Dr. J. T. Reese, 225 votes; m. J. Williams, 188; J. G. Snediker, 20.

For Councilmen.--For first Ward.--Thos. J. Goldsby, 43 votes; Dr. I. Morgan, 38; Geo O. Baker, 27; J. J. Duncan, 13.

For Second Ward.--Dr. James Kent, 58 votes; O. F. Harrell, 57; F. A. Woodson, 35; A. G. Mabry, 35.

For Third Ward.--Jacob Krout, 160; Charles B. Adams, 60; A. C. Smith, 55; John M. Stone, 50; J. A. Bill, 15; John H. Henry, 13.

For Fourth Ward.--Henry Gatchell, 67;l B. T. Maxey, 59; T. B. pierce, 44; J. H. B. Daughtry, 6; R. D. Berry, 6; resulting in the election of Dr. James T. Reese, Mayor; Dr. I. Morgan, Thomas J. Goldsby, O. Flare, J. Kent, Jacob Krout, C. B. Andrews, H. Gatchell and B. T. Maxey, Councilmen. The offices of Clerk and Tax Collector were separated. John M. Strong was elected Clerk; John A. Moore, Marshal; Heflin & McCraw, Attorneys; Dr. B. H. Riggs, Physician; John McGrath, Sexton; John Weedon, street Overseer.

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