Contributed photo / This postage stamp featuring Adolph Ochs' image was issued in 1976 during the country's Bicentennial celebration in recognition of his publishing prominence and philanthropic contributions.(Editor's note: Second of two parts)
Excitement grew across the city in July 1928 upon the arrival of Adolph S. Ochs and his New York City entourage for the Golden Jubilee of The Chattanooga Times. Ochs and his guests had arrived late at night and been whisked away to their hotel rooms atop Lookout Mountain after a short parade through the throngs of cheering citizens. As the Chattanooga Times noted the next day, "awakening this morning in their rooms at the Lookout Mountain Hotel, guests will have cause to wonder at the transformation from the level of Broadway and Times Square to a mountain plateau 2,250 above sea level." However, the visitors had little time to reflect on the speed of travel from New York City to Chattanooga as Jubilee Chairman Alex P. Guerry and his committee had planned two full days of events.
Guests spent the leisurely first morning, July 1 (a Sunday), at the hotel with optional excursions to various mountain trails and vantage points, including Fairyland Inn, for viewing Chattanooga, Lookout Valley and the meandering Tennessee River. Guides were provided to explain both the views and the history associated with each. Some guests opted to tour briefly and then attend church or synagogue services.
After lunch at the Fairyland followed by an informal reception, guests departed the hotel for an excursion on the Tennessee River, with the prediction that it would be "one of the most pleasurable features of all that had been arranged." Guests were driven to the wharf near the Chief John Ross Bridge and boarded the steamer Sam Conner for a cruise from Williams Island to several miles west along the river. A "supper" was served aboard a barge attached to the steamer while "Alex Keese and Troubadours" from the Tivoli Theatre entertained. The second entertainment act was provided by WDOD's spiritual quartet, after an explanation that "WDOD stands for 'Wonderful Dynamo of Dixie." After the entertainment, the steamer turned back up the river and docked at Baylor School. Guests disembarked and were transported back to the hotel.
Monday began with a 9 a.m. meeting at Chattanooga City Hall, where Mayor Ed Bass presented Ochs with a golden key to the city and then surprised him with the announcement that the Chattanooga City Commission had bestowed a unique honor on him - the title of "Citizen Emeritus." The previous day's newspaper printed the route that Ochs and guests would take to the ceremony, and Al Porzelius, president of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, had encouraged all employers along the route to "release their employees for participation in the public reception in order to show Chattanooga's friendly spirit to Mr. Ochs." Mayor Bass endorsed the chamber's announcement, issuing his own "proclamation requesting that, insofar as possible, business be suspended during the exercises and that all who can, attend them."
Following the City Hall ceremony, the motorcade wound its way to Signal Mountain via Riverside Drive, Riverview and the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, and then up the mountain with a stop for viewing the "Grand Canyon of the Tennessee" before proceeding to the Signal Mountain Inn for lunch. The afternoon involved more touring, first along Missionary Ridge, then to Chickamauga Battlefield and finally to the parade grounds at Fort Oglethorpe, where a military parade had been organized by Col. R.A. Roberts, commanding officer.
The party returned to its Lookout Mountain hotel around 5 p.m. and began preparing for the final event of the Jubilee, a banquet organized by Mark Wilson and given by Chattanooga citizens in honor of Ochs that was scheduled to end at midnight.
The city where Ochs had launched his publishing empire with the purchase of the Chattanooga Times for $250 borrowed from his family had demonstrated its love for the newspaper man. Every event had been "at capacity" and, while all the guests were scheduled to return to New York City the next morning, several groups chose to remain for a few extra days to further explore the region.
That same year, 1928, Ochs provided for the construction of Mizpah Congregation Temple on McCallie Avenue in memory of his parents, Julius and Bertha Ochs. His affection for Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Times never diminished. While he managed his businesses from his office in "the city," he visited Chattanooga frequently and remained involved in the community. Only seven years later, on April 8, 1935, Ochs died during a visit to Chattanooga.
Linda Moss Mines, the Chattanooga-Hamilton County historian, is chairman of the board of trustees at Erlanger Health System and regent, Chief John Ross Chapter, NSDAR.