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| Alabama Gov. John Patterson |
41 YEARS AGO
JAN. 24, 1974
Weather reporter Earl Windham
reported 4.6 inches of rain on Jan. 20. He also reported a high of 78 on Jan.
18 and a low of 38 on Jan. 13.
“Tragic death of Officer
Smith shocks county: This city and county were shocked by the tragic death
Sunday afternoon of Talmadge Hampton (Tal) Smith, assistant chief of the
Evergreen Police Department.
“Officer Smith was struck by
a car as he crossed Belleville Street (Highway 31 South) from East to West at
4:25 p.m. Sunday. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Conecuh County
Hospital.
“According to the report
filed by Sgt. J.T. Smelley Jr. and Trooper W.E. Stubbs of the state troopers
who investigated, Officer Smith had just checked the doors of Taylor Auto Parts
and was crossing the street to his police car which was parked in front of
Barlow’s Paint & Body Shop.
“He apparently didn’t see the
oncoming car driven by R.C. Trawick of Flomaton until it was too late. Trawick
said when he saw Officer Smith he applied his brakes, but the car skidded on
the wet pavement and he was unable to stop or avoid hitting Mr. Smith. Trawick
was driving North at the time.
“There were a number of
eyewitnesses to the accident and all agreed that Trawick was not traveling at
an excessive speed and that he could not have avoided the accident. Most judged
his speed at ‘about 30 miles per hour.’ No charges were filed.”
56 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1959
“Thousands Present As John
Patterson Takes Oath Of Office: Huge crowds lined the streets of Montgomery for
the inaugural parade honoring John Patterson who became Alabama’s youngest
governor at midnight Monday. Other thousands stood in front of the capitol and
watched Patterson take the oath of office. Thousands more watched the event
over television.
“Every county in the state
was represented in the parade which was described as the largest in history.
The parade began at 8:30 Monday morning and lasted until 12:30.
“Over a hundred high-stepping
high school bands and dozens of floats brightened up the parade.
“Standing on the spot where
Jefferson Davis took the oath office as president of the Confederate States of
America, Patterson was administered the oath by Judge Walter B. Jones of
Montgomery, Alabama’s senior circuit judge.
“Tuesday members of Governor
Patterson’s cabinet were given the oath of office by Recording Secretary Mabel
Amos.”
“County Entry Shows Well At
Inaugural: Conecuh County’s entry in the inaugural parade in Montgomery
Monday was well received, according to
County Chairman Lamar Bradley.
“Bradley said that the county
float received a number of favorable comments. The float featured a map of
Alabama with the county, Evergreen, Castleberry and Repton designated. It
carried the familiar slogan, ‘Evergreen Decorates America.’”
71 YEARS AGO
JAN. 27, 1944
“Holland Is Awarded Purple
Heart: Staff Sgt. Meldon R. Holland, 26, of Castleberry, Ala. was decorated
recently with the Purple Heart by Lt. General George C. Kenny, Commanding
General of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific.
“Holland, a mechanic, was
caught on an aerodrome in New Guinea one evening at dusk last spring when the
enemy came over and started bombing. Recognizing the weird sound of the Jap
bombers he ran madly for shelter in his trench. Bombs started bursting all
around him. First one blew up his tent. The next one landed 20 feet from him.
Shrapnel sprayed he and his buddies. They were left lying and bleeding
profusely. His ear drums were punctured from the thunderous explosion. After
hospital treatment he regained his health.
“Holland, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Grover B. Holland of Castleberry, is a native of Castleberry. He was captain of
both the basketball and football teams in Castleberry High School for two years
before graduating. After working for a few years, he joined the U.S. Army Air
Forces and went overseas 22 months ago.”
“Announcement was made this
week that Fairview Service Station and Tourist Court had been sold by Haywood
Hanna to George E. Fuller, Fairhope businessman. The deal was consummated the
latter part of the past week and Mr. Fuller expects soon to take over the
operation of the station and court.”
86 YEARS AGO
JAN. 24, 1929
“Six Confederate Veterans
Pass Away During Year: Conecuh County’s rapidly diminishing list of Confederate
veterans has been reduced to 21, six having died in 1928 and one to date in
1929, according to the list of pensioners for this county compiled in the
office of Probate Judge S.P. Dunn and published elsewhere in this issue of The
Courant.
“Death removed the following
six during the past year:
“L.W. Carter, Evergreen, Rt.
B, died Feb. 5, 1928.
“Howell Crenshaw, Evergreen,
Rt. B, died Feb. 10, 1928.
“T.S. Hagood, Evergreen, died
March 27, 1928.
“R.T.C. Robinson, Range, died
July 22, 1928.
“J.S. Crawford, Evergreen,
Rt. B, died Dec. 19, 1928.
“J.P. Deason, Owassa, Rt. 1,
died Dec. 6, 1928.
“Since the first of the new
year and compilation of the list, S.M. Long of Range has passed away. He died
Saturday, according to information reaching the probate office.
“The total number of
pensioners as of Jan. 1, 1929, is 76, compared with 84 on Jan. 1, 1928. The
list, which also contains the names of those who died during the last quarter
of 1928 because the checks went forward as usual to bear the burial expenses,
contains the names of 24 veterans and 52 widows of veterans.
“Veterans now receive $150 a
quarter. Widows are paid according to age, those under 70 getting $30 a
quarter, between 70 and 80, $45 a quarter, and over 80, $75 a quarter.”
101 YEARS AGO
JAN. 28, 1914
“U.D.C. Organized: Eight
ladies met at the home of Mrs. E.C. Page last Saturday afternoon, for the
purpose of formally organizing a U.D.C. Chapter. Mrs. Page was elected
President; Mrs. Mathews, Vice-President; Miss Mary McCreary, Recording Secretary
and Treasurer; Mrs. G.G. Newton, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Crumpton,
Director; and Mrs. A. Cunningham, Historian. After the business Mrs. Page
served light refreshments which were enjoyed by all. The ladies are very
enthusiastic and hope to have a large chapter in the near future. The next
meeting will be Feb. 7 at three o’clock at the residence of Mrs. Crumpton.”
“The total number of bales of
cotton ginned in this county to Jan. 16 was 16,228, compared with 14,646 to the
same date last year, according to the census report.”
“Next Saturday, Jan. 31, is
the last day you can pay that poll tax, as the first of February falls on
Sunday.”
“The stock law election held
in Owassa beat on Monday resulted in the defeat of the proposition by a
substantial majority.”
“Woodford Mabry on last
Saturday afternoon delivered a speech at the courthouse in interest of his
candidacy for congress from this district. His audience was not large, owing to
the fact that on Saturday afternoons businessmen are engaged with customers and
shoppers are anxious to get off home.”
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