Sunday, April 2, 2017

100-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from April 1917

Grave of Matilda Obedient Turberville.
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 April 1917. Those issues, which were dated April 5, April 12, April 19 and April 26, can be found on microfilm at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville, Ala. What follows are a few news highlights from those editions. Enjoy.

APRIL 5, 1917

Mr. D.M. Maxwell, mayor of Roy and cashier of the Peoples Bank of the same city, was a business visitor to Monroeville Tuesday.

Residents of the town were startled by the alarm of fire shortly before noon on Tuesday. The fire was located at the barn of Mr. H. Cameron in Monvil Park residence district and within a few moments scores of volunteers were on the scene. By heroic exertions of the bucket brigade, the flames were successfully fought off and within 30 minutes all further danger was past.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee’s many friends are gratified to know that Mrs. Lee’s health has so far improved as to enable her to leave the infirmary where she has been under treatment for several months. It is sincerely hoped that her strength may be speedily and perfectly restored.

At a recent meeting of the County Board of Education, Prof. W.L. Porter was nominated as principal of the Monroe County High School for the coming year. It is assumed that the state authorities will ratify the selection. Prof. Porter has had extended and successful experience as a progressive educator, having served as superintendent of the city schools of Tuskegee for several years and as the head of the Brewton Institute for the last four years.

The epidemic of measles which prevailed here for several weeks has practically subsided and all patients are in normal health.

APRIL 12, 1917

The concrete foundation for the Lazenby Mercantile Company’s new brick store on Northside has been completed and work on the erection of the walls will begin soon.

The “cold snap” usually occurring about the Easter season was manifested in the drop of several degrees in temperature and the appearance of light frosts on two successive mornings.

Dr. G.W. Gaillard of Perdue Hill was among Monroeville friends last week.

Profs. G.A. Harris and H.E. Jones and Misses Mamie Burroughs and Willie Johnson of the high school attended the meeting of the Alabama Educational Association in Montgomery last week.

Dr. D.D. Cole of Eliska was a business visitor here Tuesday, accompanied by Mrs. Cole and children.

The Journal prints today the official list of qualified voters in Monroe County. Any elector duly qualified whose name may have been inadvertently omitted should lose no time in furnishing proper proof to the probate judge in order that his name may be restored or added to the list.

After six weeks of illness, our friend, Mrs. Tilda Turberville passed from earth to glory on the 27th day of March 1917. She rests in the family graveyard near her home. Rev. Kempton of Monroeville performed the burial service.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Richardson of Lenox was the scene of a beautiful wedding on Sun., April 1, at 10 o’clock a.m. when Miss Willa Richardson became the bride of Mr. Grady Ward of Ollie.

APRIL 19, 1917

On Sat., May 12, at 2 o’clock p.m., memorial services for the Confederate dead will be held at the Monroeville Methodist church under the auspices of the U.D.C. of the Monroeville Chapter. All of the Confederate soldiers of Monroe County are invited to take dinner with the men of Monroeville, who will be glad to entertain the veterans at a yearly reunion. Those who can attend will please drop a postal card to Dr. G.C. Watson, who is chairman of the committee of arrangements. If anyone knows of a death among the veterans of Monroe County during the year, we should be glad if he will report to Mrs. Frank Emmons, County Historian.

Mr. J.O. Taylor of Monroe, La. addressed a number of interested citizens in the circuit court room on Wednesday evening of last week on methods of dealing with boll weevil in the production of cotton in his state and incidentally urging the necessity of growing abundant food crops.

The County Board of Equalization is holding several days session at the courthouse, going over the assessments of property in the county and determining the taxable value thereof.

Thirty-six applicants were registered Monday for examination for teachers certificates. Of this number, one was for first grade, 14 for second and 11 for third grade. The examination was held under the supervision of County Superintendent J.A. Barnes.

APRIL 26, 1917

Dr. T.E. Dennis is occupying his elegant new dwelling on North Main Street.

Mr. J.D. Ratcliffe’s handsome new bungalow on North Main is in course of erection.

Mr. Hugh Cameron and family are cozily domiciled in their pretty new home in Monvil Park.

The walls of the Lazenby Mercantile Company’s new brick store on Northside are practically completed. The building will probably be ready for the transfer of stock within a few weeks.

Mr. G.B. Sellers, proprietor of the local waterworks, is having a concrete storage reservoir of considerable capacity put in at the pumping station. It is hoped that the reserve of water thus made available will be sufficient to tide over periods when the deep well pump may be put temporarily out of commission.

J.B. Barnett, Esq., attended the State Sunday School Convention in Montgomery the early part of the week.

Mrs. A.B. Coxwell places the editorial household under obligations for a mess of new potatoes, the first of the season.

Dr. R.I. Kearley and Dr. G.H. Bruns, Veterinary Inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry, were over from Andalusia yesterday.


Mr. G.B. Barnett took in the meeting of the Alabama Good Roads Association in Birmingham last week.

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