100-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from July 1916

James Thomas Heflin

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala., under the direction of editor and proprietor Q. Salter, published four editions 100 years ago during the month of July 1916. Those issues, which were dated July 6, July 13, July 20 and July 27, can be found on microfilm at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville, Ala. What follows are a few news highlights from those four editions. Enjoy.

JULY 6, 1916

Monroe County Masonic Conference: The 11^th annual session of the Monroe County Masonic Conference will be held with Excel Lodge, No. 655, Excel, Ala. at 10 o’clock a.m. on Thurs., July 20, 1916. All of the lodges throughout the county will please take notice and send delegates. I have just received a letter from our Past Grand Master, the Hon. H.C. Miller of Birmingham, stating that he will be present again at this meeting to conduct the conference. – W.S. Nash, Secretary.

Alabama Lodge No. 3 – J.F. Gaillard, worshipful master; G.W. Gaillard, senior warden; G.R. Vaught, junior warden; J.H. Moore, treasurer; L.N. Lambert, secretary; W.A. Farr, senior deacon; W.E. Deer, junior deacon; A.J. Locklin, R.P. Wiggins, stewards; H.J. Coxwell, chaplain; J.L. Marshall, marshal.

PINEAPPLE: We are having a lot of rain now. A storm passed through Mr. H.H. Watkins’ place last Wednesday, blowing lights out of his front hall and felling some timber.

The whole county is cordially invited and expected to spend this date at Perdue Hill and hear our eloquent congressman Thomas J. Heflin (sic), who will be the guest of the United Daughters of the Confederacy for the day.

The Conecuh County Masonic Conference will meet with Repton Lodge on Aug. 9, 10 and 11, 1916. J.M. Pearson, chairman of the Committee on Work of the Grand Lodge, will conduct the conference. All visiting brethren will be cordially welcomed. – P.S. McKinley, Secretary.

JULY 13, 1916

SEVERE DAMAGE BY STORM: The heavy rainfall and high winds of last week caused great damage to growing crops both of corn and cotton throughout the county. Injury to corn is estimated at 40 to 50 percent, while the damage to cotton is largely problematical. The ground is so wet that it is impractical to press the fight against the boll weevils and these pests may so infest the fields in the meantime as to make the fight not worthwhile. Crops in the river and creek bottoms are underwater and on the uplands corn was blown to the ground in hopeless confusion. Much timber was felled in some sections seriously interfering with further cultivation.

Roads and bridges withstood the strain with remarkably little injury. Those sections of roads that have been completed and traveled for several months were practically injured, while the more recent fills sustained greater damage.

Mr. W.P. Deer of Claiborne was at the county capital Tuesday. He reported a big river with many adjacent farm under water.

Mr. Jas. K. Kyser was over from Burnt Corn Tuesday attending the meeting of the Board of Revenue. Mr. Kyser reports the storm damage to growing crops severe in his community.

The University of Alabama “Varsity Four Quartet” will entertain at the High School building in Monroeville at 8:30 July 20, 1916. Admission 25 cents and 35 cents. An entertainment with a guarantee. – Bill McCorvey Jr., Steve Hixon, managers.

JULY 20, 1916

The regular examination of applicants for teacher’s certificates began in the courthouse Monday under the supervision of Superintendent J.A. Barnes. There are 56 applicants undergoing the ordeal, the largest number for several years.

PERDUE HILL: Prof. J.M. Stapleton is teaching at the Grimes school house this summer.

The recent high water came up about six inches in Florey Brothers’ store. The bridge drifted between the store and the residence.

Mr. M. Katz had an experience in returning from Mobile recently that he would not care to repeat. Being caught in the Gulf City by the storm which caused the suspension of all transportation, he took advantage of the opportunity offered by the first train out of Mobile over the Southern railroad to come as far north as Whatley and undertook to make his way home across country. High water made it impossible to get a conveyance and he was forced to make the trip most of way on foot, swimming creeks and wading through backwater until the Alabama River was reached. He was fortunate in getting a negro with a skiff to ferry him across, after which he reached home without further incident.

PINEAPPLE: Mr. J.C. Wright and son Radcliff and Dr. Watkins were busy repairing the telephone line Thursday.

Mr. Joe Hennington is putting up a telephone line for himself and Levi Wilkinson to connect with Dr. Watkins.

JULY 27, 1916

Hon. H.C. Miller of Birmingham, Past Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Alabama, honored The Journal sanctum with a pleasant call Saturday on his return from Excel where he conducted the 11^th annual session of the Monroe County Masonic Conference on Thursday and Friday.

UNIVERSITY MALE QUARTETTE: A midsummer event of much interest to our hostesses and their guests was the performance by the University male quartet followed by a dance on July 20.

The young representatives of the University were handicapped in doing full justice to themselves by the fact that they had no printed programs and that their announcement of the numbers, their authors and names were given in such an inarticulate manner as to be lost to the audience who naturally had some curiosity in this direction. Their extreme rapidity of singing together with faulty enunciation caused the audience to fail to grasp much of the beauty of the rendition.

The ladies of the Presbyterian church will serve cream on the lawn in front of Judge McCorvey’s next Saturday between the hours of six and eight o’clock.

PINEAPPLE: We are still having a lot of rain. It has rained 19 days and farmers can do nothing in their crops.

Rev. C.A. Williams left Monday to assist the pastor, Rev. C.W. McConnell, in a series of meetings at Uriah.

Library No. 1 of the National Suffrage Association has been sent to the Monroeville League. Those who wish to inform themselves regarding this important issue can obtain the books by calling on Mrs. P.D. Barker, who is residing at the home of Mr. D.D. Mims.