What ‘strange animal’ did Leo Dees encounter in April 1948?

North American river otter. 

Everyone enjoys a good mystery, and I stumbled upon one such local mystery the other day while looking through some old Monroe Journals.

On the front page of the April 22, 1948 edition of The Journal, editor Bill Stewart asked readers to help identify a “strange animal” found in northwest Monroe County. Under the headline, “Identify This Animal And You’re Expert,” Stewart explained that Franklin farmer Leo Dees was puzzled by an unusual critter he found in a swamp near the Alabama River, about 2-1/2 miles north of the Franklin community. Dees told the newspaper that he’d been out turkey hunting on Sat., April 10, when he came up a dead animal that weighed about 40 pounds.

Dees said this bizarre creature had a head shaped like a bear, sharp teeth, extremely coarse and stiff hair with feet like a dog, except it had regular toenails, not claws. Its color was a mixture of brown and red, and the animal had a 15-inch-long bushy tail. The animal’s eyes were located far back on the side of its head, which formed a perfectly straight line with the tip of its nose. Dees also noted that he found two dead hogs lying nearby and that “signs of a tremendous struggle were evident.”

During the past week, I’ve asked several outdoorsmen about what this animal could have been, and I also put the description on Facebook to see if anyone there had a good answer. Several folks asked if I had a photo of the animal, but unfortunately the newspaper did not include a picture of the creature. More than likely, Dees had no camera with him when he came upon the animal.

Several people said that the animal could have been some type of dog while others said that it may have been a coyote. Dickey Andress noted that the animal was the right size and color, and had the right type of hair and tail, to have been a coyote. Coyotes are common in Monroe County today, but they were more rare in the 1940s.

Wade Barfield, who is widely known for his champion retriever “Ace,” said the animal may have been a domestic dog that somehow had been crossbred with a jackal. Another outdoorsman suggested that the animal was a wolverine that had somehow made its way into our area.

Monroeville attorney Will Coxwell suggested that the animal may have been a North American river otter. These mammals are found throughout North America, including in Alabama waterways. They commonly grow over 30 pounds and have been known to attack dogs, which could explain the deaths of the two hogs that Dees found.

Others jokingly said that the animal was the legendary Chupacabra, which name literally means “goat-sucker” in Spanish. These creatures have been reported throughout the United States and Mexico and are said to attack and drink the blood of livestock, including goats. Reports of these strange creatures date back to 1995, well after the sighting by Dees in 1948.

Thomas Earl McKenzie said the animal found by Dees sounds like the same kind of animal that his father killed in 1984. He described it as a “nasty thing,” and said that they sent it to Auburn University, where experts there were unable to identify it. He said that the animal had been eating his father’s calves on Drewry Road.

In the end, I believe the Leo Dees in the story to have been Arthur Leo Dees, who would have been 45 years old in April 1948. He would eventually pass away at the age of 70 in 1973, and he is buried in the Springhill First Baptist Church Cemetery in Franklin. It’s my understanding that he has many descendants still living in Monroe County today.

Frank M. Barnett was respected, distinguished Wilcox County citizen

Virginia and Frank M. Barnett in 1963.

Last week in this space, I wrote about how the football field at Wilcox County High School was named in honor of “Cap’n” Frank M. Barnett in 1948. Naming the field in honor of Barnett was the idea of WCHS football coach Connie McKelvey, and the proposal appears to have been widely supported in the community. Barnett, who was the school’s vocational agriculture teacher, is believed to have donated the land for the athletic field.

Barnett was a respected member of the community, and not long after last week’s newspaper hit the streets, several readers provided me with more information about this distinguished member of the community. Barnett, whose middle name was Madison, was born in February 1900, and he passed away in Birmingham at the age of 73 in September 1973. He is buried beside his wife, Virginia, at Memorial Cemetery in Montgomery.

According to articles published when he retired in 1963, he had served as a vocational agriculture agent for 15 years and went on to serve 20 years as assistant county agent and county agricultural agent. At that time, Barnett’s wife, Virginia, had served as a music teacher for about 35 years. Upon their retirement, they planned to move to their large farm in Macon County’s Fitzpatrick community.

Barnett’s retirement reception was held during Wilcox County’s annual Cattlemen’s Association meeting. The keynote speaker was Dr. “Shine” Hollinger, a veterinarian in Camden and a close friend of Barnett’s. Hollinger told the large crowd that there were few men between the ages of 30 and 55 who attended Wilcox County High School whose lives did not “reflect the worthwhile influence of Barnett’s association.”

Hollinger also noted that Barnett had a big influence on agriculture during his time as county agent. This was especially felt in the county’s thriving beef cattle industry, noting that “the top-quality herds in the county were an impressive product of the county agent’s efforts through the years,” Hollinger said. It was also noted that Barnett began promoting the use of good bulls and the saving of replacement heifers before those practices became one of the Extension Service’s recommended practices.

At that time, Wilcox County ranked among the top five counties in Alabama in beef cattle production. The county’s annual gross income from beef cattle production then exceeded $3 million. In today’s dollars, that amounts to around $29,800,00.

Barnett was also lauded for his work in promoting better pasture lands for beef cattle. Among his accomplishments in this area is that he was credited with introducing and establishing Coastal Bermuda grass in Wilcox County as a prime grazing and hay crop.

Hollinger also noted that not only was Wilcox County High School’s football field named in Barnett’s honor, but that Barnett also had a hand in the construction of Camden’s public swimming pool.  He also had a hand in the construction of Camden’s recreation center, and he was Wilcox County’s first Scoutmaster.

In the end, I think it’s safe to say that Barnett was a unique and amazing man. He left a lasting impression on Wilcox County, and finished his career as a respected member of the community. No doubt he is still missed by family and friends who remember his outstanding legacy.

George Singleton tells of the marriage between Aunt Roxie and New Orleans magician Will Street

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 “Memories of a country wedding” was originally published in the April 8, 2004 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I grew up in a rural farming community where everyone knew the business of everyone else. This was a good thing because there were several people in the area who had no family to turn to should they need help.

The menfolk in the community saw to it that these people got help if it was needed. Chores included cutting their firewood and repairing anything that needed repair around the farms. Those who needed personal care in time of sickness were cared for by the other members of the community.

Down the road from where I grew up lived Aunt Roxie. Aunt Roxie was a very attractive middle-aged black lady who had lost her husband in a sawmill accident some years back. Aunt Roxie owned a nice comfortable house and a small farm.

In the days of the Depression, she would have been a “nice catch” for any of the eligible black men of the surrounding area and the community.

But Aunt Roxie would have nothing to do with any of the local eligible menfolk. Many had tried to court Aunt Roxie, but had failed. She had set her standards much too high, according to the local gossip. The eligible men in the area had to earn their living either by farming or doing hard labor at a nearby sawmill.

Aunt Roxie had let it be known that before she would consider any courtship, the man would have to be a total gentleman. He would also have to be well-educated. He would have to dress neatly and have the best of clothing. And, last but not least, he would have to have some good method of transportation.

The years came and went. Aunt Roxie lived alone in her home, which was kept spotless. She was, without a doubt, the best cook in the whole community. The goodies that Aunt Roxie kept around her house was why this five-year-old boy had chosen her as one of his best friends. He could not resist stopping by her house every day to see if she needed an errand run. These stops were always good for a slice of delicious buttermilk pie that was second to none. And, the popcorn candy that she always had on hand wasn’t to be sneezed at either.

Then, one day in early June, it happened. Down the narrow dirt road came a clean and shining buggy. It was drawn by one of the finest-looking horses that had been seen by the local folks. The polished leather harness gleamed in the afternoon sun. And, the huge travel trunk strapped on the back of the buggy seemed to boast of the fine clothing that was stored there. The seats of the buggy was made of fine polished leather, not a scratch or soiled place could be seen on them.

In the driver’s seat sat a well-dressed handsome black man complete with top hat and travel coat. He had on a white, ruffled shirt, complete with bow tie. His driving gloves were soft and comfortable, and his dress boots looked as though they had just been polished.

He had stopped at the local country store and inquired about a place where he might stay for a short while. He stated that he was a traveling magician and would like to put on some magic shows in the area before moving on. The news traveled throughout the farm community like wildfire, a place was found where he could stay, and a time and place was set for his first performance. “Will Street,” the magician from New Orleans, was in business.

Will Street and his magic show was a complete success. His ability to put a small rooster in a glass bottle, along with making a large black cat that he had brought with him disappear, was the talk of the country folks.

Gossip began to ride the winds of the farm community. The shining new buggy had been seen hitched to Aunt Roxie’s yard fence on Saturday afternoons and after church for Sunday dinner the following day. Word had it that Will Street had proposed marriage to Aunt Roxie. All the local folks surmised that Aunt Roxie had finally found the man who met her specifications.

The afternoon of the wedding was the highlight of the community. The womenfolk of both races gathered and decorated the front porch of Aunt Roxie’s house. Pine ribbons were tied along the picket fence around the front yard. Delicious food of all sorts covered two large tables that had been placed under the large magnolia tree over in the corner of the yard. It was my duty, and that of my black playmate, Robert George, to keep the insects fanned away with two large palmetto fans.

A snow white sheet was placed on the ground for the bride-to-be and the groom to stand on during the wedding ceremony. Things were getting quite hectic under the large magnolia tree. The insects were quite plentiful that hot August Saturday afternoon.

Life returned to normal after the wedding. My visits became more frequent, along with my friend, Robert. The buttermilk pies seemed more plentiful, and the small magic tricks performed by the magician from New Orleans kept two small boys wide-eyed and spellbound for hours on end.

A period of almost four wonderful years would pass as the couple lived happily together. Aunt Roxie and Will Street were seen quite often traveling to and from his magic performances around the area on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Then, one Saturday during the final days of October, Will Street the magician performed for the last time. As he closed his show and was loading his buggy for the journey home, the magician from New Orleans slumped to the ground. Will Street was dead.

After the death of her husband, Aunt Roxie seemed to lose all will to live. No more did she take pride in her cooking and house cleaning. The buttermilk pies and popcorn candy ceased to exist. The house and yards fell into decay. Aunt Roxie just sat alone in a huge rocking chair in front of the empty fire place.

Then, one evening in late December, the men of the community were summoned to the home of Aunt Roxie. She had failed to answer the door when a neighbor had dropped by to check on her and leave some food, which was often done by the local folks.

The front door of the house was forced open. There sat Aunt Roxie in the large oak rocking chair. She was dead. She had joined Will Street, the magician from New Orleans – the man who had met all of her specifications, both in dress and manners; the man who had completely swept her off her feet, the man who had made her life most wonderful once more. Now, again, they were together.

(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 23, 2024

U.S. Senator Howell T. Heflin

22 YEARS AGO
APRIL 25, 2002

Members of the Pinckney D. Bowles Camp 1840 of the Sons of the Confederacy placed flags on Bowles Grave Monday morning in honor of Confederate Memorial Day. Members pictured are Lee F. Smith, Mitchell Anthony, Ed Deabler, Bill Hart and Michael Lambert.

James E. (Jimmy) Warren has qualified to seek re-election to the House of Representatives. He presently represents the 64th District, which includes Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties.

Frank L. Johnson Jr., 74, of Pearl, Miss. died Mon., April 22, 2002 at Hospice Ministries, Ridgeland.
A native of Evergreen, Mr. Johnson served in the U.S. Air Force during the Berlin AirLift at the time of the Korean War. He was an Air Traffic Control Specialist in Alabama, Mississippi, Alaska and Florida.

The Conecuh County Commission passed a resolution at the meeting Monday morning to execute an agreement with the State of Alabama for a resurfacing project on County Road 29. The paving will go from Dean’s Store to the county line, according to County Engineer Winston Foshee.

On March 28, 2002, Knud Nielsen Co. held its annual awards ceremony. Each year employees are presented with company pins for their years of service at KNC. The above employees were recognized with having over 25 years of service: Julian Katz, Joann Knowles, Jerry Scott and Jim Rigby. Not pictured: Colonial Pitts.

25 YEARS AGO
APRIL 22, 1999

Local weather observer Harry Ellis reported .07 inches of rain on April 14 and “scattered frost” on April 17. He reported a high of 87 degrees on April 14 and lows of 36 on April 17 and April 18.

Castleberry held its annual Strawberry Festival this past weekend with a nice, large crowd that turned out. Games, music, a street dance and family fun was the rule of the day and a good time was had by all.

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions will visit Conecuh County this Fri., April 23, at 4 p.m. for a town hall meeting.
Sessions will meet the people of Conecuh County at the renovated historic depot in Evergreen. He will make a few remarks and then take some questions.

Small Loan, Inc. recently held its grand opening and ribbon cutting in conjunction with Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce. The company specializes in small, quick approval loans and is located next door to Dollar General across the street from the A&P.

Members of the Allied Community Development Corp., which was organized by the late Jack M. Wainwright III, formerly of Evergreen, established a scholarship at Birmingham-Southern, his alma mater, as a memorial in his honor. He was a former loan officer at First Alabama Bank.

45 YEARS AGO
APRIL 26, 1979

Jonestown victim is buried here: Mrs. Millie Steans Cunningham, a native of Evergreen who died in the infamous massacre and mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, South America on Nov. 18, 1978, was buried here Friday.

Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported .02 inches of rain on April 21. He also reported highs of 86 on April 18 and April 21 and a low of 47 on April 16.

Dwayne Godwin, 17-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Manford Godwin Sr. of Castleberry and member of Boy Scout Troop 225, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in an outdoor ceremony at the scout hut Fri., April 14.

U.S. Senator Howell Heflin was here last Thursday morning for a ‘Dutch treat’ breakfast at the Holiday Inn. The senator and former Alabama Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was introduced by Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key, who was in law school with Heflin at the University of Alabama.

The Evergreen High School FFA Chapter surprised Butch Adams, veteran photographer-reporter for The Evergreen Courant, last Thursday when Chapter President Johnny Stowers presented Adams with a handsome plaque honoring the accommodating, ever-present Butch with the “FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree.”

67 YEARS AGO
APRIL 25, 1957

Plans for the Annual Fat Calf Show have been completed and the event will take place on Mon., April 29, with 26 4-H Club and FFA members competing.

BULLETIN: As The Courant went to press Wednesday afternoon, it was learned that one woman was killed, and a man and child were injured in a one-car accident two miles north of Ray Brothers Store on Highway 31 North of Evergreen.
An identification card on the man identified him as James Cannon of 809 North M St., Pensacola, Fla. The woman and child were not identified, nor was the extent of the injuries of the man and child known at press time.

A small boy, visiting his grandparents near Evergreen, was killed Friday night when he ran into the path of a car 5.3 miles north on Highway 83.
Wayne Davis, son of Lou Hattie Young of New Brunswick, N.J., was visiting his grandparents, the Charlie Morgan’s, for the first time, and had gotten there for the visit the same day he was killed. He was standing beside the road with his grandmother when he suddenly broke loose from her hand and ran into the path of an oncoming car.
The fatality was the fourth recorded in Conecuh this year. In February, a banana truck driver was killed in a collision with another banana truck north of Evergreen, and in March two others were killed in the half mile stretch of Highway 55 in Conecuh between McKenzie and Andalusia.

99 YEARS AGO
APRIL 22, 1925

W.A. BOUTWELL – Resolution Adopted by Conecuh Lodge A.F.&A.M. No. 733, Belleville, Ala. – The subject of this memorial was born in Pike County and later moved to Lowndes County, where he resided until about 15 years ago when he moved to Conecuh County and remained until death came.
Mr. Boutwell was born Oct. 20, 1842 and died on March 11, 1925. He was made a Mason 40 years ago and lived it in a creditable manner.
Simple, straightforward, unassuming, unselfish to a degree, of rugged honesty and sincerity of purpose, and yet withal gentile in his nature, the life of this good man breathes the spirit of the old south, of a regime that is lofty and massive and yet graceful. His noble life and exemplary character are cherished by his brethren of the mystic tie.
Resolved that this memorial be inscribed upon the records of this lodge, a copy furnished his relatives and that the same be published in The Evergreen Courant. – J.D. Skinner, J.E. Baggett, J.A. Reid, Committee.

WELCOME: Quite a crowd was disappointed at Welcome church Sunday night, it being announced last week there would be preaching, and the preacher did not come. We feel that is the reason we never have a large congregation. We have been disappointed so many times.

HERBERT: The picture show at Herbert Thursday night was enjoyed by everyone.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for April 22, 2024

John M. Patterson

16 YEARS AGO
APRIL 24, 2008

High winds Friday night took down the Our Place Youth Center and Family Theater sign on South Alabama Avenue and lightning struck the center, damaging the electrical system. Directors Buster and Tracy Waters have ordered a new sign from International Sign and Design and paid a 50-percent down payment, but are looking for sponsors to help finish paying the balance.

MA Vols upend Wilcox: Monroe Academy’s baseball team picked up win No. 30 on the year last week, thumping Wilcox Academy 18-3 in five innings.
Cody Philen started on the mound for MA and didn’t allow a run or a hit through three innings. Philen struck out two and walked four. Philen contributed to his winning cause with seven RBIs and three runs on three singles and a homerun.
(Other standout MA players in that game included Denzil Dees, Alex Dueitt, Mark Hutcherson, Todd Kilpatrick, Drake Martin, Phillip McKinley and Tyler Rigdon. Mitchell Turberville was head coach.)

Volkswalk ribbon cutting to be held May 3 at police station: The Monroeville’s Volkswalk ribbon cutting will be held Sat., May 3, at 7:30 a.m. at the Monroeville Police Station. Monroeville Police Chief Rudolph Munnerlyn and the Mockingbird Court will be on hand and will assist with cutting the ribbon for Monroeville’s walk. Everyone is invited to join in the fun and fellowship and be part of this 10K (6.2 mile) walk through historic Monroeville. The walk begins at the police station, winds through downtown Monroeville, skirts the cemetery at First Methodist Church, goes down Lazenby and Leslie streets and eventually crosses town and skirts the Whitey Lee Park and lake.

41 YEARS AGO
APRIL 28, 1983

Journal receives newspaper awards: The Monroe Journal won first place for its editorial page and honorable mention for general excellence in the Alabama Press Association’s 1983 Better Newspaper Contest. Awards were announced recently by the APA. Awards will be presented during the APA’s summer convention in July in Gulf Shores.

Blacksher girls hold perfect record: J.U. Blacksher High School’s girls softball team held onto its perfect Class 1A, Area 2 record Monday with an 18-14 win over Excel’s girls in Excel.
The Blacksher girls sent 11 runners across home plate to lead off the first inning of play Monday in Excel. But the Panther girls didn’t quit, coming back to knot the game at 12-12 in the fifth inning.
Blacksher pitcher Lisa Harrison put the Bulldogs back on top in the seventh inning with a grand-slam in-the-park home run.
(Led by head coach Joe Allen, other top Blacksher players in that game included Melody Baggett, Teresa Blackwell, Cathy English, Betty Garnder, Olivia Gregson, Roxanne Lassiter, Gloria Mitchell, Amy Nordstrum, June Peters and Lillie Wallace. Top Excel players were Kim Guy and Sandra Hollinger.)

Eastwood to hold Founders’ Day: Eastwood Baptist Church, located on Drewry Road in Monroeville, will celebrate its Founders’ Day Sunday. Sunday school will start at 9:45 a.m. and an attendance goal of 256 has been set. The Rev. Jimmy Wilson, pastor, will present a founders’ day message which will be followed by dinner on the grounds.

66 YEARS AGO
APRIL 24, 1958

Dr. Carter Elected State Medical Officer: Dr. W.R. Carter, prominent Repton physician, was elected and installed as President-Elect of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama at the 97^th annual session of the group in Montgomery April 17-19. He was also named second vice-president of the University of Alabama Medical College Alumni. Dr. Woodrow W. Eddins of Monroeville was installed as a councilor from the First Congressional District.

Boating Club Builds River Landing Ramp: The Monroe County Outboard Boating Club, Inc. has announced the construction of a large landing ramp at the mouth of Gaillard’s Creek on the Alabama River. The purpose of the recently organized group is to develop more adequate boat landings and other facilities on the Alabama River in Monroe County and to promote sportsmanship and conservation. Club officials indicated this project is one of many now being planned.

Patterson Is Coming To Monroe Towns Today: John Patterson, Alabama’s Attorney General and candidate for Governor in the May 6 Democratic primary, will speak in Monroe County today (Thursday) in three towns. He will bring his campaign to Frisco City at 9 a.m.; Monroeville, 9:45 a.m.; and Beatrice, 11:45 a.m. He will appear in Camden at 1:30 p.m.

Tryouts for Monroe County Babe Ruth League baseball are scheduled at Vanity Fair Park May 12-13. Chuck Pelham, secretary-treasurer of the league, said candidates for this season’s teams must be at the park at 4:30 on those dates. Boys ages 13 through 15 are eligible to try out.

91 YEARS AGO
APRIL 27, 1933

Stores To Close For Ball Game Friday: The Monroeville team will meet the strong Brewton baseball nine here on the local field at three o’clock Friday afternoon. Brewton had a lucky break on last Friday and defeated Monroeville 2-0 at Brewton, but Monroeville’s team says that will not happen again this week.
The following business houses will close from three o’clock until five for the game: Burns Optical Co., R.C. Snowden, Megginson’s Place, Monroe Motor Co., Wiggins Brothers, D.M. Ratcliffe, M. Katz Dry Goods Store, The Monroe County Bank, S.W. Hixon, Monroeville Billiard Parlor, Gulf Service Station, The Monroe Journal, L.A. Hixon, Lucian Jones Motor Co., Lazenby Mercantile Co., The First National Bank, Finklea & Finklea, East Side Cash Store, Reed Barber Shop, A.N. Cameron, Barnett & Jackson, Clyde Marshall’s Garage, Bowden Hardware Co., Thompson’s Bakery, Variety Store, Monroeville Pharmacy, M.C. Wright, V.H. & C.E. Faulk and R.J. Hendrix.

Wife of Minister Succumbs At Beatrice After Illness: Mrs. A.A. Hutto, wife of the Rev. A.A. Hutto, widely known Baptist minister of Alabama, died Sunday night at her home in Beatrice following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Hutto had been in ill health several years, but lately had showed signs of improvement. Her death was attributed to an attack of heart trouble.

Mr. and Mrs. General James announce the birth of twins, a boy and a girl. The combined weight of the youngsters was 17 pounds.

116 YEARS AGO
APRIL 23, 1908

TOWN ELECTION: Notice is hereby given that an election will be held in the courthouse in the town of Monroeville on Mon., May 4, 1908, for the election of mayor and five councilmen for said town for the ensuing municipal year. John W. Broughton and Wm. C. Neville have been appointed to manage said election. – Thos. S. Wiggins, Mayor.

NOTICE: All physicians and midwives of the county will please make prompt reports to me at Jones Mill, Ala., of vital statistics every 30 days as required by law. – J.F. Busey, County Health Officer.

DEATH OF D.C. MIMS: The death of no man in the county has occasioned keener regret or more profound sorrow than that of Mr. David C. Mims, which occurred at his home at McGill on Thursday evening, April 16, after an illness of more than six weeks.
Mr. Mims was a native and lifelong resident of Monroe and no man was more sincerely esteemed and universally respected. He was for many years a prosperous planter of Beat 12, but removed to South Monroe a few years ago where he owned one of the most fertile and best equipped farms in that section and was preparing to spend the evening of his life in comfort.
Mr. Mims was a devoted member of the Baptist church and prominent in fraternal circles, having been Worshipful Master successively of Cokerville Masonic Lodge near his former home for a number of years, of R.E. Lee Lodge, Pine Apple, for 15 years, and at the time of his death was Master of Blacksher Lodge, which he organized some six years ago.

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.)