As I remember it
Fiddlin’ in 1941
As I remember it
Jimmy Mitchell
From the ADR Archives
I can attest to the large crowd and the chaos created at the Fiddler’ s Contest in May, 1941 as portrayed in the excellent article by Anne Adams in the Athens Review Oct. 8, 2025.
I was eight years old and was involved in an accident that could well have been fatal. Witnesses said that I was two inches from certain death.
Nolen“ Bob” Richardson and I were next door neighbors on Larue St. –“ Bob” being a couple of years older than me. Late on“ Fiddlin’” Day, we were on a bicycle heading to the big show. He was on the seat and I was sitting on the main frame-- we called this“ pumping” the rider. We were going east on West College and crossing over Pinkerton St. when we were struck by a car going South on Pinkerton St. The driver was looking back hunting a parking space on the then vacant lot on which the Justice Center now stands. Cars were everywhere and parking spots were hard to find. We saw the man coming forward looking the other way, but we didn’ t quite make it across Pinkerton St. before he hit us. I hit the pavement headfirst, knocking me out-- the car stopped just two inches short of running over my head according to witnesses.“ Bob” was not hurt.
When I regained consciousness, I was on the examining table in the new Wolfe-Duphorne Hospital on the corner of W. College St. & Pinkerton St. across diagonally from the accident.
I saw these two new doctors in town and exclaimed“ Dr. Henderson is my doctor” and before anyone could react, I“ lit a shuck” for Dr. Henderson’ s office disregarding the fact that I might have a concussion.
Running through and around the crowd, I made it into the Palace Drug Store which was next door North of what is now Attorney’ s Title. Dr. R. E. Henderson’ s office was upstairs in the back of the store. By this time, it was getting dark, but Dr. Henderson was in his office waiting for $ 2.00 office visits. How things have changed! After three days of bed rest, I was cleared of any problems.
My coffee buddies at the Donut Shop will have some cute comments when they read this-- now they know why I’ m so goofy!
20 | Greater Athens Magazine | March 2026