Monroe County has gone through many changes in the past
century and you’ll really notice the big changes if you ever look at old
editions of The Monroe Journal newspaper. Earlier this week, I took advantage
of the archives at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville and looked closely
at the four editions of The Journal printed 100 years ago this month, way back
in June 1914. Here are some of the news highlights from those papers.
JUNE 4, 1914
“Refreshing showers visited this section Wednesday. They
were greatly needed by garden and crop.”
“Dr. S.B. McMillan, Mayor W.A. Giddens and Mr. C.E. Eddins
of Roy were at the county capital Wednesday.”
“Prof. G.A. Harris will attend a meeting of high school
principals of the state in Montgomery the latter part of the week.”
“On Saturday night near the Negro church in the southeastern
part of town Torrey Puryear shot and killed her husband William Puryear, from
whom she had been separated for some time. The dead Negro was generally known
as a quite, inoffensive boy and the killing is said to have been unprovoked.
The murderess is in jail.”
“The young people of Turkestan gathered in the Harrengton
swamp and had a picnic Saturday. There were several visitors from adjoining
neighborhoods. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Some of the older people
went along to look after the lunch.”
JUNE 11, 1914
“Prof. Geo. A. Harris attended a conference of principals of
county high schools in Montgomery last week, after which he spent a few days at
his old home in Pike.”
“The dwelling of Mr. L.W. Hanks at Lufkin was destroyed by
fire on the night of June 3, together with all household effects. The loss
amounted to about $800 with no insurance.”
“Two ‘first’ cotton blooms have been received at The Journal
office. One was sent by Mr. S.A. Barnes of Franklin on June 5 and the other by
Mr. F.L. Taylor of Mexia on the 10th inst. Mr. Taylor reports boll weevil
plentiful in his crop.”
“A carload of cement consigned to the Claiborne Ranch
company was handled by the M&R railroad last week. The cement will be
utilized in the construction of concrete silos for the preservation of forage.
These will be the first silos of the concrete type to be erected in the
county.”
“The faculty of the Monroe County High School for next
session will be composed of the following: Geo. A. Harris, Ph. B., Troy Normal,
Columbia Univ., N.Y., and Univ. of Tenn., mathematics and agriculture; L. Oscar
Kyzar, graduate Troy Normal; student Univ. of Va. 1912-13, B.S. Univ. Ala.
1914, manual training, history and science; Miss Mamie Boroughs, A.B. Judson
College, English and Latin; Miss Lucile Carter, graduate Pine Apple High
School, student Univ. Ala., and Polytechnic Inst., domestic science; Miss Jane
Mae Eppes, A.B. Judson Col., music.”
JUNE 18, 1914
“Farmers are wearing long faces in this vicinity and
everywhere else because of dry weather and boll weevil.”
“Mrs. George Wasdan has been real sick with typhoid fever
but is improving slowly, we are glad to know.”
“Dr. and Mrs. W.T. Bayles attended commencement at the
Southwest Alabama Agricultural School, Evergreen, last week.”
“Come to the Fourth of July Picnic at Perdue Hill and enjoy
a day of fun. Amusements of all kinds. Something new. Bring your sweethearts,
wives and mothers-in-law. Refreshments at reasonable rates served by the United
Daughters of the Confederacy, S.S. Gaillard Chapter.”
“In the list of young men graduating at the University of
Alabama at the last session were the names of Messrs. Burnie E. and R.E. Jones
of Jones Mill. The former completed his law course, having taken his academic
degree in 1911. The latter received his academic degree at the session just
closed. The names of both these young men appeared on the honor roll for the
session. Mr. Burnie Jones won the Bryan prize offered for the best essay on
some problem of government written by a University student. Besides this, both
these young men were enrolled in Phi Beta Kappa honorary society and received
their key from the same. This is counted a very great honor, as only four
schools in the south rank sufficiently high to give these keys for honors won
in scholarship. After a short rest, Mr. B.E. Jones will return to the
University as assistant in the department of French and will also take a
post-graduate course.”
JUNE 25, 1914
“Capt. J.H. McCreary of Turnbull was a visitor to the county
capital Monday on the occasion of the tax sale.”
“A large party from Monroeville attended the picnic and ball
game at Atmore Wednesday. Almost every auto in the community was pressed into
service and those who could not be thus accommodated went by rail over the
M&R and G.F.&A. roads.”
“Monroeville has suffered a water famine for nearly a week.
Injury to the pumping station of the local water system put the plant out of
commission, and most of the surface wells having been permitted to fall into
disuse the situation was somewhat distressing. An expert well man is on the job
and it is expected that everything will be moving satisfactorily very soon.”
“The citizens of Jones Mill gave a generous pounding to Rev.
J.M. Munn whose parsonage home at Repton was destroyed by fire about 10 days
ago. Contributions of money, groceries and other useful articles were turned
over to Rev. C.W. Hinson who voluntarily delivered them in his car to the
grateful family. Bro. Hinson will take pleasure in receiving and delivering
further contributions from any who feel disposed to render aid. The dwelling
and contents were a total loss.”
“Masonic Officers Elected: Monroeville Lodge No. 153 – Alvin
B. Coxwell, worshipful master; Willard T. Bayles, senior warden; J.T. Newberry,
junior warden; D.J. Hatter, treasurer; James A. Lazenby, secretary; Horace
Ryland, senior deacon; Samuel H. Tucker, junior deacon; Ivison Ryland, tyler;
Rev. C.W. Hinson, chaplain.
“Tunnel Springs Lodge No. 578 – F.S. Daily, W.M.; C.J.
Jackson, S.W.; Bob Lewis, J.W.; T.A. Nettles Sr.; Treasurer; W.S. Nash,
Secretary; F.D. Morrison, S.D.; T.A. Nettles, J.D.; J.J. Jernigan, Tyler.
“Beatrice Lodge No. 691 – W.M. Hestle, W.M.; J.N. Andress,
S.W.; J.J. McMillan, J.W.; S.D. Andress Sr., Treasurer; D.R. Andress,
Secretary; W.A. Marshall, S.D.; J.W. Daily Jr., J.D.; W.W. Riley, Tyler.
“Jones Mill Lodge No. 702 – J.A. Barnes, W.M.; J.H. Baas,
S.W.; S.B. McMillan, J.W.; G.L. Galloway, Treasurer; C.W. Adams, Secretary;
J.D. Oswald, S.D.; P.B. Busey, J.D.; J.W. Lizenba, Tyler; J.J. Sessions,
Chaplain; B.H. Bailey and Joe Crawford, Stewards.
“Monroe Lodge No. 485 – A.J. McKinley, W.M.; J.M. Johnson,
S.W.; A.H. Johnson Jr., J.W.; H.T. Rachels, Treasurer; J.D. McKinley,
Secretary; J.B. Dubose, S.D.; W.M., McKinley, J.D.; W.L. Durden, Tyler.”
Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for today.
Next month, I’ll take a look at the events of July 1914 in Monroe County. Until
then, if you get the urge to research the county’s history yourself, take
advantage of the Monroe County 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 your started.
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