Masonic election makes news headlines a century ago in Conecuh County

It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in July 1911.

In the July 6, 1911 edition of The Conecuh Record newspaper, editor J.D. Whitcomb reported, under the headline “Castleberry Lodge,” that “Downing Lodge, A.F. & A.M., at Castleberry elected the following officers at their last convention: E. Downing Jr., Worshipful Master; R.T. Holland, Senior Warden; L.A. Kirkland, Junior Warden; J.W. Thurmond, Secretary; J.T. Buffington, Treasurer; R.E. Buffington, Senior Deacon; R.A. Baird, Junior Deacon; J.A. Davis, Tyler; G.W. Jones, Chaplain; J.I. Monk and J.M. Branch, stewards.”

Beneath the headline “Postal Receipts,” readers learned that “the receipts at the Evergreen post office from the sale of stamps and postal cards for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911 amounted to $6,748.81. Mr. Dean informs us that the above amount is slightly less than a year ago, owing to the fact that there were no elections.”

Whitcomb also reported that week, under the heading of “The Weather,” that “from this date, the local weather forecast will be received at the telephone office in Evergreen. This daily report will be of much value to truck growers and farmers in general. The Record will publish these reports each week. The report received today, Thursday, is for Alabama, local thunder showers tonight or Friday.”

Readers that week also read that “W.H. Grant, a freight conductor on the L&N committed suicide in Flomaton Sunday night. Temporary insanity is supposed to have been the cause of the act.”

In the July 13, 1911 edition of The Record, readers saw the following announcement from J.R. Myers of Owassa.

“A crowd of bad boys from Evergreen tore up and destroyed the pump at Owassa. They came there about 11 or 12 o’clock Saturday night. We think they were drunk from the way they acted, run their auto in the ditch this side of Owassa on the Evergreen road. We will pay liberal reward for information and evidence to convict.”

Whitcomb also reported that week that “Company K of the First Regiment, composed of boys from this county, left last week to go into camp at Mobile. The company was in fine condition.”

In news from the Effie community, it was reported that “the dam at Tomlinson’s old mill was washed away on July 4. Mr. Etheridge will repair it at once.”

Readers that week also learned that “burglars entered the store of the Castleberry Mercantile Co. at Castleberry last Thursday night and carried off watches and other goods to the amount of about $200. This store seems unfortunate as this is the third time that the store has been burglarized within the past year with no clue to the criminal.”

In the July 20, 1911 edition of The Record, readers saw the following “NOTICE” from the French Stave Company.

“Parents are requested to keep their children off of the wagons attached to the traction engine as it passes through the streets. By so doing, they will avoid accidents.”

Whitcomb also reported that week that “Mobile and Montgomery have both gone wet under the new local option law.”

In news from the Finklea community, it was reported that “W.S. House was through this section last Friday. He had a number of cotton stalks with him that were affected with black root, which is killing the cotton in this vicinity.”

Readers that week also learned that “The following delegates from Evergreen Baptist Church are attending the Baptist State Convention at Greenville: Richard Hall, C.J. Crawford, W.C. Crumpton, C.S. Rabb, T.S. Hagood, Edwin Hagood, M.C. Reynolds, J.T. Finchor, C.A. Sinquefield.”

Whitcomb also reported that “Mr. and Mrs. King of Mobile are touring the state in their auto and stopped in Evergreen for a day.”

In the July 27, 1911 edition of The Record, Whitcomb reported that “a bad freight wreck occurred near Garland last Thursday afternoon. Both engines were badly torn up and a number of cars were ditched and smashed up, scattering merchandise along the track. Both crews escaped with no serious injuries.”

Readers that week also learned that “Frank Riley is laying a cement sidewalk along the side of his store, which, when completed, will add much to the appearance of the store.”

Subscribers also read that week that “Frank Ray of Herbert, a former correspondent to The Record at Gregsville, came up Tuesday to witness the ball game between Evergreen and Montgomery.”

Whitcomb also reported that “C.P. Deming’s horse, which he was driving, ran away last Saturday. One of his lines broke and in jumping from the buggy, Mr. Deming was considerably bruised but no seriously injured.”

The newspaper closed out the month with the following news item.

“Lewis Bates and Eli Lewis were locked up in the county jail Saturday night, charged with violating the prohibition law.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of August 1911 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.