Football field at Wilcox County High School was named in honor of Cap'n Frank M. Barnett in May 1948

Camden School of Arts and Technology

Several weeks ago in this space, readers saw an article about the 1951 “Blue & White” spring football game at Wilcox County High School in Camden. That story mentioned that the game was played at Barnett Field, and not long after that column hit the streets, a number of readers raised questions about the name of that athletic field.

The earliest reference to Barnett Field that I could find in back issues of The Wilcox Progressive Era was in the May 13, 1948 edition of the paper. On the front page that week, WCHS football coach Connie McKelvey suggested that the field be named for Captain Frank Barnett.

“Now after passing on my views and news to you, I’d like to make one suggestion, before I have to get out of town,” McKelvey wrote. “Most towns have athletic fields. Most athletic fields have names. We have a field without a name, so I want to suggest that our field be named after the gentleman who has helped so much and worked so hard to hand us one of the best fields in the state – Cap’n Frank Barnett. I’d like for us to name ours Barnett Field. What do you think?”

In the following week’s paper, Eugene Watts wrote in to the paper in support of McKelvey’s proposal.

“I think Coach McKelvey made a fine suggestion for the name of the football field, and I would like to second the motion. I feel sure the powers with the authority will please the entire town by naming it Barnett Field.”

Several helpful readers helped fill in some of the blanks about Barnett and the football field. According to them, the football field was located behind the present-day Camden School of Arts and Technology on Broad Street. Barnett is said to have been the vocational agriculture teacher at WCHS and that his home was on Clifton Street, adjacent to the football field. Another reader said that they believed Barnett donated the land for the football field.

As best that I could tell, the first varsity football game to be played at Barnett Field was the Oct. 21, 1948 game between WCHS and Parrish High School of Selma’s B-team. WCHS won that game, 20-0, and based on published accounts of that game, Matt Barnett scored the first touchdown in Barnett Field history.

“Early in the second quarter, with the ball on the nine-yard line, Matt Barnett faked the Selma boys out of position and made the touchdown on an end run without a single Selma man touching him,” the newspaper reported. “He could have easily got the length of the field if it had been necessary.”

In the end, I was unable to learn much more about Frank Barnett. Apparently after his teaching days, he served for a number of years as the county’s agricultural agent. However, I was unable to find his obituary or determine where he is buried. If anyone in the reading audience has any additional information about this unique figure from the county’s past, please let me know.

Singleton relays strange, unusual facts from the American Civil War

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Strange, fascinating facts on Civil War and aftermath” was originally published in the March 3, 1988 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

It has been well over 100 years since the Civil War, or the War Between the States, has ended. But many of the events in today’s news deal directly with the happenings that transpired during the times when the perils of the war touched almost everyone.

Even today, we have known people whose lives have been touched, in one way or another, by circumstances that in most instances history does not record, and about which we know little or nothing.

Take, for example, when one of history’s first observation balloons hung over the battlefields before the battle of Richmond, Va. in 1862. A foreign observer studied the gas-filled floating bag with interest. This man was Count von Zeppelin, a Prussian observer, the father of the dirigible.

The famed “Quantrill’s Raiders,” who struck terror in the hearts of many of the people who supported the Union, had riding with guerrilla band such names as the Young Brothers, who were later to be known throughout the West as outlaws. The youngest of the band, not yet 16, was Jesse James.

Lyrics sold for $4

After the first writing of the lyrics of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” the song was sold to the Atlantic Monthly for $4.

It was in the battle near Lynchburg, Va. in June 1864 that a former vice president of the United States, Confederate General John C. Breckinridge, faced two future presidents in uniform: Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes and Maj. William McKinley. (Four other Union officers served in the White House: Ulysses S. Grant, Chester A. Arthur, James A. Garfield and Benjamin Harrison.)

In the strange spring of 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, then a captive, rode with Vice President Alexander H. Stephens in a carriage through the streets of Augusta, Ga. They were being carried to a Federal prison. An 8-year-old boy peered through the blinds at them from inside the Presbyterian minister’s home, absorbing a scene that he would never forget. That child was to become the president of the United States. The child was Woodrow Wilson.

Lunch with his family

Sgt. Henderson Viden of the 2^nd Arkansas went to war to fight the enemy. In March 1862, he found himself marching through familiar country, and was soon fighting across his own farm, in the battle of Pea Ridge. During a lull in the fighting, he went over to his house and had lunch with his wife and children. After lunch, he returned to his position at the battle lines.

Gen. John F. Reynolds, U.S. Army, was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Some years after the war, when the state of Pennsylvania was building a large monument to her dead who were killed in the war, the worker who carved Gen. Reynolds’ statue out of granite was the Rebel sniper who had killed him by a bullet through the neck. The workman was Fank Wood, a native of the hill country of North Carolina.

And finally, the story of a hero of the U.S. Marines in the Korean conflict, Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, who played a major roll in the retreat from the Chosin Reservoir. Gen. Puller is the grandson of one of Jeb Stuart’s cavalry officers who was killed at the battle of Kelly’s Ford. His grandmother died after a 10-mile walk in a snowstorm when Federal troops burned her house, having found her husband’s spurs hanging on a wall and having classed them as war equipment.

Confederate flag in Korea

Members of Co. H of the 3^rd Battalion of the U.S. Marines flew a Confederate battle flag for months in the Korean war. The flag was shot down five times. It was always replaced upon request by the Daughters of the Confederacy from Tennessee.

So, all in all, when and if we look deep into our history, we will always find events that relate us or our families to a special time or a special place or battle. Then let us be not too hasty when we judge someone or something that fills only a tiny place within our history.

The time of the terrible Civil War, which tore our nation apart, was a period that we must not forget. We must also not dwell on the hatred and the atrocities that mar our lives even today.

We must remember that the Civil War and its aftermath helped to mold a stronger nation within ourselves. From our mistakes, we must vow that we will never again allow our nation to be split apart or separated as it was that awful time in our history.

The time is at hand when we must bury our differences and work forward to survive in this messed-up world of today. If we do not pull together as one and work in harmony for the betterment of our beautiful land, no one else will. Our nation stands at the crossroads; which will it be? The choice can be only ours.

They fell, who lifted up a hand
And bade the sun in heaven to stand;
They smote and fell, who set the bars
Against the progress of the stars,
And stayed the march of the Motherland!

Fold up the banners, smelt the guns!
Love rules. Her gentler purpose runs.
A mighty mother turns in tears
The pages of her battle years
Lamenting all her fallen sons!...

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, was bitten at least twice by venomous snakes, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for April 16, 2024

Alabama Gov. James E. Folsom

15 YEARS AGO

APRIL 16, 2009

Local weather observer Harry Ellis reported 3.45 inches of rain on April 12, 2009. He also reported 80 degrees on April 12 and lows of 32 degrees on April 7 and April 8.

The citizens of “The Strawberry Capital of Alabama” are gearing up for the 23^rd Annual Castleberry Strawberry Festival to be held Saturday in the town’s downtown area.

U.S. Representative Bobby Bright (D-Montgomery) told a crowd of around 40 people last week that he is against a proposed landfill in Conecuh County.

Bright, who took office about 90 days ago, held a “Congress on Your Corner” meeting at Repton Town Hall last Thursday morning and told the crowd that he’s aware that a “vast majority” of people in Conecuh County are against a landfill.

Bright’s remarks followed questions from the audience about his stance on a proposed venture to bring a multi-state solid waste landfill to southwest Conecuh County.

Conecuh County attorney and former state representative Greg Albritton won Tuesday’s Republican primary and will face Democrat Marc Keahey for the Senate District 22 seat.

Albritton and Keahey are running for a seat that became vacant when Sen. Pat Lindsey (D-Butler) died unexpectedly in January.

Published reports yesterday showed that Albritton beat (Judy) Belk and (Danny B.) Joyner in all but one of the eight counties in the district, and state party officials reported that Albritton received 57 percent of the vote on Tuesday.

30 YEARS AGO

APRIL 21, 1994

Local weather observer Harry Ellis reported 1.85 inches of rain on April 12, 0.41 inches on April 14 and 1.50 inches on April 15. He reported a high of 85 degrees on April 11 and lows of 49 degrees on April 16 and April 17.

Clayton Cobb announces he is a candidate for the office of coroner of Conecuh County in the upcoming Democratic primary.

Cobb is a lifelong resident of the Brooklyn-Paul community. He is self-employed and operates Brooklyn Machine, Inc. He is a Blue Lodger and Scottish Rite Mason.

The spring term of Civil Jury Docket will open Monday morning at 9:00 with Circuit Judge Sam Welch presiding. Judge Welch has four cases set for trial next week.

A large crowd was on hand Saturday for the Eighth Annual Strawberry Festival. The festival is held in downtown Castleberry each April and there are always plenty of arts and crafts and delicious strawberries for everyone.

When Conecuh County voters go to the polls this June they will be electing a new sheriff for the first time in 20 years. Conecuh County Sheriff Edwin L. Booker will not seek an unprecedented fifth term of office. He will retire when the new sheriff takes office next January.

45 YEARS AGO

APRIL 19, 1979

John P. Bewley, retired Soil Conservation Service technician, was recently presented a gold emblem by the Alabama Grand Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons, in recognition of his 50 years membership as a Mason. The presentation ceremony was conducted at Greening Lodge No. 53 of which Bewley has been a member since Aug. 13, 1943. He joined the Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 179 in Maryland on March 31, 1928. The 50^th anniversary emblem was presented by District Lecturer Jesse L. Byrd of Greenville. Bewley served Greening Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1972-73 and has held other offices. He is currently serving as Tyler of the local lodge.

Cook Morrison of Lyeffion exhibited the Grand Champion at the 34^th Annual Conecuh County Fat Calf Show held Monday in the show arena at Conecuh Stockyards. Jerolyn Dean of Burnt Corn exhibited the Reserve Champion.

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported .007 of an inch of rain on April 9 and 1.13 inches on April 13. He reported a high of 87 degrees on April 12 and a low of 46 of April 15.

Lula North won the Conecuh County Spelling Bee and her instructor and sponsor, Mrs. Edwina Sullivan, proudly shares the honor with the Nichburg Junior High School student.

Sally Morris of Repton High School was runner-up in the recent Conecuh County Spelling Bee. Her instructor and sponsor is the Rev. Bert Wiggers.

60 YEARS AGO

APRIL 16, 1964

Fat calf show here Monday: County 4-H’ers and FFA’ers will exhibit some 50 fine, fed fat calves in the annual Conecuh County 4-H & FFA Fat Calf Show here Monday. The show gets underway at 9 a.m. in the show ring at Conecuh Cooperative Stockyard on North Main St. Spectators are welcome.

Gov. George C. Wallace was most pleased when this group of Conecuh Countians presented him $1,751.50 in truth campaign funds last Friday which were contributed by some 287 county families. Shown making the presentation of funds is W.H. Sessions, who served as chairman of the committee working to raise funds for the governor’s campaigns in Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland and other places over the nation. Looking on are Bob Bozeman, E.L. McInnis, Mrs. Mabel Amos, W.T. Wild, O.C. McGehee and Bob Kendall. Mrs. Amos, corresponding secretary to the governor, and Kendall, assistant state highway director, joined the local group in the governor’s office.

Announcing the completion of MERRIEWOOD subdivision, a planned neighborhood: Restrictive Covenants, Utilities Stubbed to Lots, Hard Surfaced Curbed Streets, White-Way Lights, Lots Minimum 125 Ft. Front, No Poles on Streets, No Thru Traffic, Financing Available – Nielsen Bros. Development Co.

Bill Griffinn, ship’s serviceman third class, USN, son of Mrs. Laura Griffin of Evergreen, Ala., is serving aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La, operating out of Mayport, Fla.

75 YEARS AGO

APRIL 21, 1949

Castleberry Girl’s Calf Is Grand Champ Conecuh County Fat Calf Show: It was ladies first at the Fourth Annual Conecuh County Fat Calf Show in Evergreen Monday. Miss Jeanell Booker, Castleberry 4-H Club, owned and exhibited the Grand Champion 1,000-pound Hereford Steer, and her sister, Angie, copped third place in the show. The girls thought it a fitting climax for their brother, Isaac, to own the Reserve Champion of the show.

Governor Folsom Inspects Brooklyn Road Saturday: Following his speech in the Conecuh County Courthouse last Sat., April 16, Gov. James E. Folsom was conducted on a tour of the State Highway to Brooklyn. Resurfacing operations preparatory to blacktopping the entire 20 miles to Brooklyn are now underway. Accompanied by County Solicitor Edwin Page and State Senators Broughton Lambreth of Tallapoosa County and R.G. Kendall Jr. of Conecuh, the governor examined the new bridge across Bottle Creek, which has just been completed at a cost upward of $40,000.

The Wonder Show of All Time – In Person – DR. NEFF – Mystifier of Magicians! - presents his original MADHOUSE of MYSTERY – Big Company Ghosts and Gorgeous Girls – Screen Show 9:30 – Stage Show 10:30 – PIX THEATRE – Friday Night, April 22, 1949.

Effective Wednesday, April 20, H.L. Riley assumed his duties as policeman for the City, succeeding R.Z. Wells, who resigned last week to enter business for himself. Mr. Riley has been assigned to daytime duties. He was elected at a special meeting of the City Council held Monday morning.

Mr. Riley is no novice at this job, he having served the City in this capacity for a number of years once before.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for April 15, 2024

Amassa Coleman Lee

12 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 2012

Special ceremony slated: A dedication ceremony will be held today (Thursday) at 6 p.m. for the Monroe County Heritage Museum’s new amphitheater.
Georgia-Pacific donated $175,000 to the Museum, which sponsors the local play, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” for the construction on the west lawn of the historic Old Monroe County Courthouse and Museum, which serves as a permanent location for the play.
The amphitheater design and construction were led by a team consisting of The Architects Group, CSA Group Inc. and JubileeScape of Mobile.

Excel records two shutouts: The Excel Lady Panthers haven’t lost a game in nearly two months, and they continued to roll last week with a 7-0 win over Clarke County and a 10-0 romp of T.R. Miller.
Kayla Jordan pitched both shutout games, allowing just four hits and no walks through 14 innings, while striking out 12 against Clarke County and 14 against Miller. She is 15-1 on the season.
(Other top Excel players in those games included Lauren Anderson, Ayana Brown, Amy Hudson, Paige Lassiter, Kelsey Ledkins and Leondria Parker.)

Pictorial unveiled: An unveiling ceremony for a commemorative envelope/stamp cachet, marking the 50^th anniversary of the award-winning film, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was held Friday morning at Monroe County Heritage Museum in Monroeville.
Postmasters David Neilon of Monroeville and Tonya Hadley of Peterman worked with the museum staff and Museum Executive Director Stephanie Rogers to bring this event to Monroeville.

37 YEARS AGO
APRIL 16, 1987

Journal wins 7 awards in contest: The Monroe Journal won at least seven awards in the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for editions published during 1986.
Competing against other weekly newspapers with circulations over 4,000, The Journal won second-place awards for special sections and editorial pages, plus two third-place awards and three honorable mentions. The Journal’s circulation is around 6,500.
Results in all categories but general excellence were announced last week. General excellence winners will be announced during the association’s summer convention July 17-19 in Gulf Shores.

Lett pitches no-hitter to beat Frisco 14-4: Kelvin Lett pitched a no-hitter Monday in Beatrice to lead the Panthers by Frisco City High. Lett struck out 10 batters. Charles Dailey collected a single, a double and a home run to lead the Shields’ attack.
(Other top Shields players in that game were Henry Jones, Byron Kemp, Gerald Lee, Patrick Lett, Sebastian Lett, Steve McCorvey, Jeff Montgomery, Rodney Owens and Bryan Stallworth.)

Dedication festivities set for Saturday: The Franklin Volunteer Fire Department will hold a dedication ceremony for the new firehouse Saturday at 2 p.m. at the new firehouse, located on Alabama Highway 41 at milepost 63. Immediately following the ceremony, an Easter egg hunt will be held. The Singing Trackmen from Monroeville will perform at 2:30 p.m.

62 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1962

Prominent Monroe County Citizen Dies Early Sunday: Amasa Coleman Lee, 81, prominent Monroeville attorney, died at Monroe County Hospital in Monroeville early Sunday morning after a brief illness.
Mr. Lee was born in Georgiana, the son of Cader A. and Theodocia Windham Lee. He first came to Monroe County in 1902 as bookkeeper for Bear Creek Mill Co. at Manistee and later was connected with a lumber company at Finchburg. Mr. Lee was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 1915 and became associated with the law firm of Barnett, Bugg and Lee, with which he remained until his death.

County Has Smallest Post Office In State: A county frequently boasts of its bigness in industry and business, but scarcely do you find one that boasts of having the smallest business in the state.
However, Monroe County does just that. Nadawah, a community located north of Beatrice, is the home of Alabama’s smallest post office, doing a business of $36 last year. The Nadawah post office is operated by Mrs. Ruth Sadler, who has been postmistress for the past 11 years.

Billy Mims Elected Civitan President: Billy Mims has been elected president of the newly organized Civitan Club at Repton, which was sponsored by the Monroeville Civitan Club.
Other officers are as follows: vice president, H.L. Johnson; secretary, E.H. Penny; and treasurer, Carl Ryals.
Members of the board of directors are Cecil Bell, Grady Watson, C.A. Evers, G.H. Dees and L.E. Nichols.

87 YEARS AGO
APRIL 15, 1937

Beatrice Man Dies At Age Of 112: Bacchus McFadden, born about the first of June 1825, at Sumpterville, S.C. died April 4, 1937, having lived almost to the age of 112 years. He was brought to Alabama a slave at the age of 30 and he was married once, his wife dying about 10 years ago. He leaves seven children, 41 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. A faithful member of the New Purchase Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, he first joined the white Methodist Church at Snow Hill. Uncle Bacchus was first owned by Mr. Major Montgomery in Marengo County, and later was bought by his brother in Snow Hill. McFadden came to Beatrice after he was freed.

Selma And Mobile Game Here Tuesday: The first big baseball game on the Legion field was played in Monroeville on Tuesday afternoon by the Mobile Shippers and the Selma Cloverleaf teams, Selma being victorious, 3-1. Approximately 300 fans, many of whom came from other counties, witnessed the game. The Selma outfit has been highly praised prior to the ball season as likely champions.

Mrs. A.C. Lee spent several days last week in Marianna, Fla. with Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Lee.

WORK ON SILK MILL IS STARTED: During the good weather of the past week, work on the silk mill factory has progressed rapidly. All foundation excavation has been done and by the end of the current week, the pouring of concrete will be finished on this part. In the mean time material for the walls is being laid on the ground. The dirt removed during the excavating is being placed in the low spot southwest of the building site. Work on the side walls will begin when the concrete pouring is finished.

113 YEARS AGO
APRIL 20, 1911

The spring term of the Monroe circuit court adjourned last Saturday morning and Judge Lackland and Solicitor McDuffie left for Grove Hill where court is in session this week. A large number of cases were disposed of, but there were also quite a number transferred to the docket of the law and equity court as required by the bill creating the new court.

Death of Robert Franklin Thompson: The subject of this sketch was born near Old Salem church in Monroe County on March 24, 1867 and died at Searles, Ala., March 27, 1911. Early in life, Bro. Thompson joined the Salem Baptist Church and was a devout and consistent Christian until death came and took him away. Just a while before death came, he raised his hands and exclaimed “Saved! Saved! Saved!” and went home. This will be the password of all the redeemed when the gates of the eternal city shall open wide to receive the saved of the Lord to the glory land.

WANTED – 500 beer bottles. Will pay one cent a piece for them. J.L. FORBES, Monroeville, Ala.

Through the untiring efforts of Mrs. W.A. McCreary, who frequently visits her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Lazenby in Monroeville, several splendid boxes of clothing have been contributed by the ladies of Evergreen for the storm sufferers in Monroe. Evergreen is ever ready and willing to respond to any call of mercy, and we believe that her name expresses more forcefully than any other, just what that town really is – ever green, ever faithful and vital in any good work.

Superintendent Barnes and some 15 teachers from this county attended the state convention of teachers in Mobile Thursday and Friday of last week.

Local ‘battle’ took place 159 years ago in Mount Pleasant community

General Thomas John Lucas

Yesterday (Thursday) marked the 159^th anniversary of the “Battle of Mount Pleasant,” which occurred on April 11, 1865 during the War Between the States.

Union forces entering South Monroe County on that day consisted of about 3,500 cavalrymen under the command of General Thomas John Lucas, while Confederate fighters on that day consisted of about 130 mounted militiamen from Monroe and Baldwin counties.

Confederate casualties from the battle were five killed and six wounded. Federal casualties were three killed and nine wounded, including one officer of the 1st Louisiana Cavalry.

According to men who fought in the battle, a young man last named Holland from Conecuh County was killed, and the Federals buried him alongside the road at Mount Pleasant. As of 1915, it was believed that he was still buried there.

Years later, in the early 1990s, Monroe Journal columnist (and ghost hunter) George Singleton related a ghost story connected with the battle. Singleton said that General Lucas gave order to bury the dead rebels in a mass grave and no effort was made to identify the battle dead. Among those killed in the skirmish was Corporal Ezekiel Watkins.

Witnesses told his wife, Mary, that he’d been killed and buried in a trench. In the days that followed, family members of the dead retrieved the bodies of their loved ones for reburial elsewhere. Each time the trench was opened, Mary was there looking for her dead husband’s remains, but he was never found.

Weeks turned into months, and the cold winter evenings would find Mary, wrapped in an old army overcoat, looking around and through the high weeds for the remains of her beloved husband. Even during the nights of the full moon, the light of a lantern could be seen as Mary searched late into the night for her lost husband. And, as the early morning light gradually crept across the open field where the battle took place, one could find freshly dug holes where Mary had sought to recover her husband’s remains.

Then, one cold winter evening, Mary was found dead as she was preparing to dig yet another hole in the continued search for her husband. Beside her still body lay her shovel and the old lantern which provided the pale light for her as she searched in vain.

“Many years have passed since Mary Watkins walked the field where this Civil War battle was fought,” Singleton said. “The field has been plowed over many, many times. But there are those who say, if you look closely when passing down the road nearby during the hours of darkness, you might see the dim, pale light from Mary’s lantern as she searches ever onward for the body of Ezekiel Watkins, her beloved husband.”

Another unusual story connected with the cavalry raid involves a young man named Thomas S. Stacey. Stacey, who lived off what is now the Shiloh Road below Frisco City, had been severely wounded during fighting in Nashville and was recovering at home when Federals under Lucas raided his small farm. Bedridden due to his wounds, the family could only watch as the soldiers raided the house.

One of the soldiers dumped a small chest out in the yard, and a pistol and Masonic apron fell out at the feet of the commanding Federal officer. Seeing the Masonic apron, the officer ordered his men to stop what they were doing and for them to put back everything they’d taken back from the house.

Thomas recovered from his battle wounds and lived to the ripe, old age of 87 before passing away in 1925 at Perdue Hill. He has numerous descendants still living in Monroe County today, including his fourth-great-grandson who wrote the words you are reading right now.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for April 9, 2024

17 YEARS AGO
APRIL 11, 2002

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported no rainfall between April 1 and April 7, 2002. He reported a high of 82 degrees on April 2 and a low of 41 on April 4.

Final preparations for the 16^th Annual Castleberry Strawberry Festival, set for Sat., April 20, are now underway. The highlight of this year’s festival will be a performance by recording artist, T. Graham Brown, whose hits include “I Tell It Like It Used To Be,” “I Wish I Could Hurt That Way Again,” Darlene” and “Hell And High Water.”
Other scheduled entertainment for the day includes Randy Tenney from Monroeville, David Archer from Milton, Fla., Destiny from Andalusia, Dale Archer from Brewton and Perfect Image from Mobile.

Evergreen Medical Center is pleased to announce the arrival of Dr. William Farmer to their staff. Dr. Farmer, a former resident of Birmingham, received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi and completed his residency at UAB. He is board certified in Internal Medicine.

Erwin Gale Scott, 58, of Evergreen died Thurs., April 4, 2002 in a Monroeville hospital. Mr. Scott was the court reporter for Conecuh and Monroe counties.
Funeral services were held Sat., April 6, at 2 p.m. from the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church with Scott Aman, Gary Vance and Kevin Starr officiating. Burial was in Brownville Cemetery.

42 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1977

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.23 inches of rain on April 4. He reported a high of 86 on April 8 and a low of 34 on April 6.

Johnny Wilson of Lyeffion High School was the county winner in the Birmingham News Spelling Contest and will compete in the state finals in May in Birmingham. Mrs. Martha Mixon is his teacher.

The 32^nd Annual Conecuh County 4-H and FFA Fat Calf Show will be held here Monday at the show arena of the Conecuh Cooperative Stockyard on North Main Street. A total of 29 young people will exhibit some 40 calves, according to General Chairman Herbert Oakley, associated county agent.
The show was funded by the Evergreen Jaycees and is now sponsored by the Conecuh County Fat Calf Show Committee and the State Department of Agriculture & Industries in cooperation with the Auburn University Extension Service and the Dept. of Vocational Agriculture.
David L. Burt Jr., president of the Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association, will be master of ceremonies. M.H. Huggins, Conecuh County Agent-Coordinator, is advisory chairman. Lamar Hardin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the official grader, and Carl Wilson, D.V.M., is show veterinarian.
The show will get underway at 9 a.m. with calves to be shown in three classes, lightweight, mediumweight and heavyweight.

67 YEARS AGO
APRIL 10, 1952

Seventh Annual 4-H and FFA Beef Cattle Show Will Be Held Thurs., April 17: The Seventh Annual 4-H and FFA Beef Cattle Show will be held at the Conecuh Cooperative Stockyards in Evergreen on Thus., April 17. Members of the Evergreen Junior Chamber of Commerce have a big day in the making and invite the public to attend this show and see what the boys and girls have done in filling out their steers for the show.

Sunrise Service Will Climax Easter Program By Churches Here: A sunrise service at Brooks Stadium beginning at 5:30 Sunday morning will climax the Easter program of services which have been planned by the several churches of the city. The speaker at this service will be the Rev. Sam Granade, pastor of the Baptist Church.

Robert F. Croom, a native of Evergreen, retired March 31 after many years of service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
He joined the Department in Washington, D.C. in 1933 and worked first with the Department’s Cotton Division, which became a part of the Agricultural Administration when that agency was formed.
In his most recent service with the Department’s Production and Marketing Administration, Mr. Croom represented the Assistant Administrator for Production in dealings with the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. and with agencies concerned with naval stores.

92 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1927

CCTS ANNOUNCES CLOSING PROGRAM: The Conecuh County Training School announces its commencement exercises which will begin Friday evening, April 22, and continue through the following week, coming to a close Friday night, April 29.
According to Principal T.M. Patton, who is completing his first year here, the school has had a very successful year. Splendid support on the part of most of the pupils and patrons has enabled much good work to be done.
The commencement programs have been arranged to give each and every department of the school an opportunity to have part.

LARGE CROWDS ATTENDING KU KLUX REVIVAL: The Ku Klux Klan Revival, which is being conducted by Dr. J.E. Stout, Imperial Lecturer for the Klan, is attracting large crowds each night. The meetings were begun Friday and have continued nightly since. People are attending from all parts of the county and from adjoining counties. A large delegation of Klansmen in robes from Brewton will attend the meeting Wednesday night.
Friday night, April 15, will be open to men only. It is expected that practically all local Klansmen will be present at this time, as well as many men who are not. The last meeting of the revival will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30, at which time Dr. Stout proposes to deliver one of his greatest and most timely lectures on the subject of evolution. All of these meetings are open to the public except the one on Friday night, which is for men only, and you are cordially invited to attend.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for April 8, 2024

11 YEARS AGO
APRIL 11, 2013

Play attracts thousands: Last week marked the second season for the Monroe County Heritage Museum’s Mockingbird Players to perform the play, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” at The Otha Lee Biggs Amphitheater on the courthouse grounds on the Monroeville downtown square.
Thanks to a generous $150,000 contribution from Georgia-Pacific the amphitheater was constructed last spring and named The Otha Lee Biggs Amphitheater. Biggs served as probate judge of Monroe County for over 30 years and was a stout supporter of the restoration of the old courthouse.

MA wins area title: Monroe Academy defeated Morgan Academy 6-1 Tuesday of last week in Selma to clinch the area baseball championship.
MA got a four-hit effort from Jonathan Simpson, 4-3, on the mound to key the victory. Simpson, a junior right-hander, struck out eight and issued just one walk.
(Other top MA players in that game included Austin Jordan, Jake McKenzie, Brandon McKinley, Hayden Moye, Peyton Powell, Bryar Settle and Jacob Thomas.)

Ferry being prepared: Monroe County’s new ferry is being prepped for service at Haines Island, according to Monroe County Engineer Robert English.
District 3 Commissioner Billy Ghee asked English for an update on the ferry during the commission meeting Tuesday morning in Monroeville.
English said a few mechanical issues were to be addressed Tuesday morning and engineering profiles of the ferry and the landings at Haines Island and Packer’s Bend were being prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

36 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1988

To sing on TV: Shelby Lynne, who will introduce a new song with country-music star George Jones on television next week, is really Shelby Lynn Moorer Muse, who once lived in Monroeville. She and Jones will sing the song, soon to be released as a single on the Epic label, on Ralph Emory’s “Nashville Now” show at 8 p.m. Wednesday on the Nashville Network, Channel 24 in Monroeville. Miss Lynn has previously appeared on “Nashville Now” and the Grand Ole Opry, and she is managed by the man who discovered Tammy Wynette. She is the niece of Jim and Jane Johnson of Monroeville, and the sister of Allison Moorer, a junior at Monroe Academy.

J.F. Shields upped its 2A Area 2 record to 3-0 when it bombed Georgiana High 12-2 Tuesday of last week at Beatrice and handed Georgiana a 10-0 loss at Georgiana Friday.
James Stallworth pitched the Panthers past Georgiana Tuesday of last week. Charles Dailey collected a shutout Friday to pitch the Panthers past Georgiana.
(Other standout Shields players in those games were Michael Armstrong, Rodney Dailey, Henry Jones, Jerry Lee, Calvin Lett, Patrick Lett, Sean McCorvey, Rodney Owens and Sammy Wiggins.)

Sheriff’s Department hires two deputies: Two new deputies have been hired by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, according to Sheriff Tom Tate.
Larry Johnson, 34, of Goodway and Charles McMillian, 33, of Monroeville began working Feb. 1. They plan to attend Southwest Alabama Police Academy in Bay Minette May 16 for additional training.

61 YEARS AGO
APRIL 11, 1963

‘Mockingbird’ Author Is Extremely Happy Over Movie’s Three Oscars: Nelle Harper Lee, Alabama’s only Pulitzer Prize winner, said Tuesday she was extremely happy and thrilled about the three Oscars “To Kill a Mockingbird” won at the 35^th Motion Picture Academy Awards Monday night.
The movie, from the novel of the same name by Miss Lee of Monroeville, won for Gregory Peck, a four-time loser in the Oscar finals, the best actor award for 1962. Other Oscars won by the movie included art direction and set decoration, and best story and screenplay from another medium.

Baseball Season Begins This Week: The Monroe County High School baseball playing season got underway Wednesday of this week when the Tigers met the high school team from Castleberry on the local diamond at 3:15.
Lettermen on the Tiger team back for another season include Lloyd Sturtevant, Jimmy Wible, Tim Jones, Freddie Biggs, Louie Hayles, Ray Owens, Tommy McMillan and Gary Downs. Others on the team include Richard Otterberg, Billy Taylor, Seth Watkins, Milton Coxwell and John Williams.

Milton Coxwell Wins County Spelling Bee: Milton Coxwell was named winner of the Monroe County spelling bee held Wednesday morning at the Monroeville Elementary School and will attend the state finals in Birmingham May 11.
An eighth-grader at Monroe County High School, he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Coxwell of Monroeville.
Placing second was Charles Katz, also an eighth-grader at MCHS. Third place winner was Gwen Mooney.

86 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1938

Local Beta Club Attends State Convention: The Monroeville Beta Club was well represented at the first annual Alabama Beta Club Convention which was held at the Tutwiler Hotel, Birmingham, on Sat., April 9.
The members of the Monroeville Beta Club making the trip were: Margaret Bowden, Rex Dauphin, Clem Clapp, Amelie Hixon, Sara Rumbley, Violet Belcher, Boyd Pullen, George Thomas Jones, Nell Finklea, Sadie Mae Faulk, Mary Lee Sowell, Orline Florey, Katherine Sheffield and the co-sponsor, Mrs. J.A. York.
The speaker of the evening, Dr. J.C. Kinard, president of Newberry College, Newberry, S.C., made an address which all agreed was worth the expense of the trip to Birmingham.

Farm Bureau Offices Moved Last Week: The Monroe County Farm Bureau Offices were moved last Saturday from the floor above the Monroe County Bank into the basement of the new post office building. The present location affords more office room as space for all officials connected with the Department of Agriculture has been provided in the new building.

Local Golf Tournament To Begin Here April 19: The first local golf tournament of this year has been announced by Moses Katz, secretary of the Golf Club, to be held April 19 through May 12. Qualifying dates have been set from April 14 through April 18. Qualifying scores should be turned in to Mr. Katz promptly. Only paid members will be eligible for this tournament.

112 YEARS AGO
APRIL 11, 1912

NOTICE: The freight and ticket offices of the Manistee & Repton Railroad at Manistee, Alabama has been moved from the post office building to the general office building. Parties desiring freight or information can obtain the same at the new location. – J.A. KAUFFMAN, General Manager.

Married at the residence of the bride’s mother, Mrs. Charles Busey, Monroeville, Sunday afternoon, April 7, Miss Katie S. Busey and Mr. Marvin F. Williamson of Excel, Rev. A.J. Kempton officiating.
The bride is one of our most estimable young ladies, and the groom is a highly respected and prosperous farmer. They will be at home to their friends after the 15^th, and all who know them join in expression of good will.

Indian Runner Duck eggs, $1.50 per setting, Mrs. R.L. Kennedy, Monroeville, Ala.

Editor, The Journal: Please announce that the regular examination of applicants for teacher’s certificates will be held at Monroeville beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, April 15, 1912, and continue three days. All applicants should be present by 9:30. – J.A. BARNES, County Superintendent.

Messrs. J.K. Kyser of Burnt Corn, W.J. Nettles of Tunnel Springs, J.L. Bowden of Jones Mill and Joe Daniel of Perdue Hill and H.H. Baggett of Maros were in the city Friday attending a special meeting of the County Democratic Executive Committee for the purpose of canvassing the vote in the recent primary election.