75-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from August 1939

A.C. Lee of Monroeville

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville published five editions 75 years ago during the month of August 1939. Those papers came out on Aug. 3, Aug. 10, Aug. 17, Aug. 24 and Aug. 31. What follows are a few new highlights from each of those papers. Enjoy.

AUG. 3, 1939

Mr. Will Riley died at his home in Beatrice Sunday morning at seven o’clock, having been confined to his bed about a week.

Born at Chestnut Corner, the son of the late James and Mrs. Sally Riley, he lived there with his family until young manhood, when the family moved to Beatrice.

For 13 years, he was station agent for the L&N Railroad Co. at McWilliams. In 1922, he went to Camden and was distributor for the Sherrill Oil Co. in Wilcox and adjacent counties, until his health failed in 1932.

Mr. Harry Stillings, a prominent merchant and planter, died at his home at Hybart last Friday morning, following a heart attack. Mr. Stillings had been in the mercantile business and a breeder of fine cattle for a number of years.

The population of Monroe County on July 1 was 31,143 as compared with that of 31,027 on July 1, 1938, according to an estimate by the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the State Department of Health.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and daughter, Nelle, spent the first of the week in Eufaula with Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Conner Jr. From there, they left for Panama City, Fla., where they will stay until Monday.

Mr. Frank Sheffield, Manager of the Alabama Water Service Co. here, was severely cut at Lambert’s place north of Monroeville on Saturday night. The names of the person who did the cutting are not available.

Mr. Sheffield was taken to Frisco City for medical treatment and at a point south of Monroeville crashed with another car, driven by Mr. McInnis of Jackson. His wounds were dressed and he was able to be back on the job Monday.

AUG. 10, 1939

Mr. and Mrs. Dave Katz and Miss Belle Wiggins of M. Katz  Department Store returned home yesterday after spending the first of the week in Atlanta, where they bought Fall and Winter merchandise for the store.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and daughter, Nelle, returned home the first of the week, after spending a week in Panama City, Fla.

According to Prof. H.G. Greer, Monroe County Superintendent of Education, the date for the opening of the white schools of Monroe County has been tentatively set for Mon., Sept. 18.

The regular meeting of Monroeville Chapter No. 155, Order Eastern Star, will be held next Tuesday night, Aug. 15, at eight o’clock.

Editor R.G. Bozeman of The Evergreen Courant was a pleasant caller at The Journal office while in Monroeville Monday morning.

Miss Jennie Faulk spent the weekend in Tuscaloosa with Mr. and Mrs. J.G. Ingram.

Cotton is opening fast in the fields over the county, but it is a little later than the opening last year. The first bale of cotton from the 1938 crop was ginned on Aug. 8. The first bale to be ginned this season will be a few weeks later, although several farmers over the county will begin picking next week.

AUG. 17, 1939

J.P. Busey Kills Large Rattlesnake: That there are still some large rattlesnakes around Monroeville is evidenced by the fact that Mr. J.P. Busey, who resides between Monroeville and Monroe Station, killed an extra large one and brought it to Monroeville Thursday morning. Mr. Busey says he has reason to believe this snake had a mate close by. The snake measured about five and one-half feet in length and had eight rattles.

A hit-and-run driver hit a mule and wagon on the highway about two miles south of Monroeville Saturday night. The mule was killed and the wagon is almost a total wreck.

Sheriff Bowden gave chase to a car supposed to have figured in the mishap and followed it to a point below Uriah where the car killed a cow. Investigation showed that it was not the right car. The identity of the driver has not yet been established.

The mule and wagon belonged to Mr. J.R. Eddins of Peterman.

RAINS DAMAGE ROADS AND CROPS: Heavy rains which accompanied the gale that struck this county early Sunday did heavy damage to cotton, corn and other crops over a wide area.

Many farmers are of the opinion that all cotton that had opened before the rain started will be ruined before it is dry enough to pick.

Roads over the county are badly damaged in this, as well as adjoining counties. Traffic is being held off the road north of Beatrice. At Brewton, water is reported well over the highway.

Mr. Virgil Berry is the new owner of the Mexia Mercantile Co., formerly operated by Deer and Primm.

Williamson Reunion At Hollinger Bridge Sunday: On Sun., Aug. 6, there were 156 members of the Williamson family together at Hollinger Bridge. Forty-eight were not able to be present.

Monroeville-made beds are now in use at the City Hotel and Mrs. Simmons has two of them in a room near the main entrance so they may be seen by all who stop at that popular hostelry. On the day of the Calf Sale last week, many out of town visitors saw and admired these beds.

The invitational golf tournament was held at the golf course in Monroeville last Thursday, beginning at 10 o’clock, with Mr. Otey Crisman, Pro at the Riverside Course in Selma, in charge.

Monroe County is about to inaugurate a new kind of festival. We often read about a peanut festival, kudzu festival, mule festival and others, but so far we have never heard of a festival for an animal that means much to the farmer – the hog. As a means of honoring the hog, Nov. 14 has been set aside for Monroe County’s Hog Festival.

Another evidence of the productiveness of Monroe County soil may be seen in the garden of Mr. A.C. Belcher of Monroeville. Tomato bushes have grown to a height of 9-1/2 feet and are still growing and producing tomatoes.

AUG. 24, 1939

At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce held on Monday night, it was suggested that steps be taken to have the highway from Atmore to Greenville designated as Highway No. 31, West, as soon as the gap is completed in the pavement between Beatrice and Old Texas.

Three business houses in Monroeville are at working making repairs this week. The Variety Store is having a new plate glass front with black trimmings built. Instead of entering in the center of the building, there will be two doors with a show window in the center and show windows on each side of the entrances.

The building occupied by the Monroeville Pharmacy will have a new front of plate glass. It is understood that the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. will handle both of these jobs.

The Monroe County Bank is treating the entire building with a new roof. This roof will not only cover the part of the building occupied by the bank, but also that portion occupied by the Johnson Dry Goods Store.

The crops in Monroe County suffered more in the last 10 days from wind and rain than at any time since the storm of 1916. The Alabama River and its tributaries have flooded low lands, entirely covering fine crops of cotton and corn. In the Davis Ferry section, corn and cotton have either been washed away or ruined by the high water.

All cotton over the county that had opened prior to the rain is reported almost a total loss.

Arrangements have been completed for a series of post-graduate medical lectures in Internal Medicine to be given in Monroeville for the physicians of Monroe County. The course will be open on Wednesday night, Aug. 23, at 7:30 o’clock in the Court House.

AUG. 31, 1939

Rev. J.W. Norton of Birmingham brought the morning message at the Methodist Church (in Frisco City) last Sunday. Prof. Norton, who is principal of the Frisco City High School, is Rev. Norton’s youngest son.

Miss Luna Nichols New School Supervisor In Monroe County: Miss Luna Nichols, former teacher in the Opp City Schools and outstanding in state educational circles, is attending the World Congress on Education now in session in New York.

For the past several years, she has been Supervisor of Education in Marshall County, making her home at Guntersville. She has now accepted a similar position in Monroe County and will assume her duties in Monroeville soon.

The many friends of little Miss Margaret Faye Womack are glad to hear know that she is doing nicely after a tonsil operation last Saturday. She is now at the home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Booker, where she is recuperating.

Beginning on March 30, the business places of Monroeville have been closing at 12 o’clock noon, on each Thursday, and at six o’clock in the afternoons, except on Saturdays. Today, Aug. 31, is the last half holiday for this season. Next Thursday, and on through the Fall and Winter, the places of business will stay open all day.