Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for April 28, 2015

Robert Russa Moton in 1916
52 YEARS AGO
APRIL 25, 1963

Evergreen weather reporter W.D. Simonton reported a trace of rain on April 19 and .08 inches of rain on April 24. He also reported a high of 91 degrees on April 23 and a low of 55 on April 24.

“Dock Eli Higdon, age 76, died Sun., April 21, after a long illness.
“Mr. Higdon was a widely known and highly respected farmer and businessman. He was a director of the Conecuh County Exchange, Inc. for many years and took a leading part in county agricultural and business affairs.
“During World War I, Mr. Higdon served with distinction with the U.S. Army in France, serving as a scout for the famed Wildcat Division. He was a Mason, W.O.W., V.F.W. and American Legion.”

“Magazine Features Article By Wilkins: An article by Conecuh County Engineer Marion Wilkins is featured in the April issue of ‘Rural Roads,’ a nationally circulated magazine concerned with the building of federal, state, county and township roads. The magazine is published in Chicago.
“Wilkins’ article is entitled ‘County Organized for Farm-to-market Roadwork’ and is the lead article in the magazine. He discusses the county’s organization for building and maintaining roads and details the progress that had been made under the farm-to-market program.
“Wilkins states that the county has a total of 810 miles of district and county roads and of these 351 miles have been improved to secondary standards and paved.”

67 YEARS AGO
APRIL 29, 1948

“The 750-pound calf owned by James Norris, 4-H club member of Evergreen, Route F, was judged Grand Champion of the Evergreen Jaycees’ Second Annual Fat Calf Show. Judging was under the direction of Dr. D.J. Meadows, Agricultural Agent L&N Railroad. The show was held in Evergreen Monday.”

“T-SGT. JOHN W. MORGAN: Funeral services for Sgt. John W. Morgan, who was killed in Europe during World War II, were held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Asbury Church, Rev. W.A. Jones officiating. Members of the National Guard and American Legion acted as pallbearers.”

“Order of Demolays Elect Officers: At a recent meeting, the Evergreen Chapter of the Order of Demolays, which was recently organized here, elected the following officers:
“George Hendrix, M.C.; John Ellis, Sr. C.; Joe Andrews, Jr. C.; Curtis Walker, Scribe; Wayne Cook, Treas.; T.Y. Henderson, S.D.; Dudley Bartlett, J.D.; Bert Gaston, Sentinel; Jeff Moorer, S. Steward; P.J. Godwin, Jr. Steward; R.J. Sanford, Jr. Marchal; ;Willie Cobb, Jr. Alamaner; Junior Ward, Chaplain; Shelton Craig, Standard Bearer; Gwynn Daniels, Orator; Wayne Congleton, 1st Preceptor; Sidney Williamson, 2nd Preceptort; Billie Langham, 3rd Preceptor; Georgie Brown, 4th Preceptor.”

“On Stage in 5 Big Screens – Dr. Silini’s Asylum of Horrors – See FRANKENSTEIN Monster in Person – PIX, Fri., May 21, 10:30 p.m. One Show Only, On Screen.”

82 YEARS AGO
APRIL 27, 1933

“Castleberry, April 26 – Loading of 10 cars of strawberries here on Monday finally put the season’s shipments over the 100 mark. The total after Tuesday stood at 111 cars, 78 less than last year.”

“As announced in this paper some few weeks ago, the spring term of the Conecuh County Circuit Court will convene here next Monday, May 1.”

“Crops Destroyed By Hail Storms: Extensive damage to berry crops was reported from practically every section of the county from Saturday’s hailstorms which visited almost every neighborhood in the county.
“In some instances the stones were large, some communities reporting stones the size of guinea eggs, while in others they were smaller. Duration of the storms varied in the different localities, some reports saying the hail lasted from five to 15 minutes.
“A short distance south of Mt. Union the hail lasted from 10 to 15 minutes and practically ruined the berry crops in that section, as well as doing some damage to corn and other young crops.
“South of Herbert, the storms were of a freakish nature, having apparently split into two sections at one point, only to reunite after traveling a short distance in two sections.
“J.L. Padgett, who resides in that section, brought hailstones the size of large marbles to The Courant office Wednesday morning, which fell on his place Saturday. Mr. Padgett reported having made ice cream on two occasions from the hailstones.”

97 YEARS AGO
APRIL 24, 1918

“America’s Honor Roll: Every day new names are added to the casualty lists of American soldiers. The roll becomes longer with each battle. Names of boys we have known appear among the list of dead or wounded. In the past few days the news came to relatives from across the water that two of our noble Conecuh boys were victims of German guns. One is an Evergreen boy, Eugene Binion, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.M. Binion, the other from China, John Peagler, son of Mrs. Maggie Peagler, who has three splendid sons in the service. Fortunately, however, the news told that these young men suffered only slight wounds. But the list will grow longer as the war progresses, and it will not be uncommon to read many names of boys whom we have known in civil life.”

“Negroes to Lay Corner Stone First Sunday in May: The corner stone to the new industrial school for Negroes at Evergreen is to be laid the first Sunday in May, at which time Major R.R. Moton, the head of Tuskegee Institute, will deliver the principal address.
 “The school is located on 10 acres of land just outside the city limits of Evergreen and is to serve the needs of negro children not only of Evergreen, but also the county in the industrial branches.
“Major Moton is the successor to Booker T. Washington as head of the famous negro institution at Tuskegee and is considered a good speaker.”

112 YEARS AGO
APRIL 29, 1903

“NOTICE: On Monday the 4th day of May next, an election will be held for the purpose of electing a mayor and five councilmen for the Town of Evergreen, to serve for the ensuing 12 months. – H.A. Shields, Mayor.”

“H.E. Shaver was here one day last week for a quantity of wire and insulators to be used in constructing the telephone line from Mt. Union and Herbert to Evergreen. He says this line will be completed and ready for service this week. It will be one of the most substantial lines running out from this place. Mr. Shaver thinks it probable that the line will be extended to Brooklyn, a distance of about 11 miles, provided the citizens of that place desire it.”

“Evergreen has recently had two accessions to its list of practitioners at the bar in the persons of Charles J. and William H. Crawford, who successfully passed the supreme court examination last week.”

“A number of citizens met at the court house on Thursday afternoon to take steps towards the organization of the cemetery improvement society. No organization was effected however at this meeting, this matter being deferred to a later date. It was decided to set apart May 15 as a day to be devoted to work in the cemetery in the way of beautifying same. A committee was named to supervise this work as follows: P.M. Bruner, P.C. Walker, Jno Hill, J.C. Whitcomb, C.N. Stallworth and Mesdames H.T. Strout, C.P. Deming, H.A. Shields, E.M. Binion and Miss Pauline King.”

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