Numbers of people left comfortable homes and firesides Saturday to go out into the cold of the early morning air and view the eclipse of the sun which for a time gave to old mother earth in this section of the state an eerie aspect. The eclipse was most pronounced at a few moments after 9 o’clock when the moon overcast the greater part of Old Sol, causing him to shed down a light so weak that it resembled dusk.
A few clouds on the horizon shortly after sunrise caused the would-be watchers some little apprehension. It was feared that they might spread and completely shut off the phenomenon. At about 8, however, the sun peeped out from behind the bank of clouds and there was a general rejoicing. From that time on, people could be seen up and down the streets, in front and back yards, in fact, in every available space, looking at the sun through their smoked glasses or films.
Shortly after 9, the sun was more nearly totally eclipsed than at any other hour. The moon covered, at this time, about 88 per cent of the sun’s surface. The lessening light which for some time before 9 had been apparent, now became marked and for a short time, a most unearthly and weird illumination was shed.
Radio fans, of course, spent their time between running out of doors to take a squint at the sun and in running back to hear what was coming over the wireless. The concerts and announcements which came in this fashion were said to be as clear as those given out at night. The music, it was stated, was especially good.
The present eclipse brought to mind eclipses of past years and the older residents had quite a time swapping yarns about eclipses of other times. Two were recalled, the first occurring about 1870 and the last about 1900. Both of these it was said, were total. It was recalled, in regard to the eclipse of 1870, that the chickens went to roost, thinking night had fallen. The negroes were terrified, and all sorts of prophecies were rife about the end of the world being at hand.
One gentleman recalled that in the year 1900, he made quite a holiday out of the day, hiring two spanking boys to convey three of his lady friends and himself about over the country preparatory to watching, the overshadowing of the sun.
From page 6 of the Concord Times, Monday, January 19, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068271/1925-01-26/ed-1/seq-6/#words=January+19%2C%27+1925
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