Today in History for Feb. 14, 2019

Jim Bowie

Feb. 14, 1836 – About a month after their divorce, William Barrett Travis’ ex-wife, Rosanna Cato Travis, married Samuel G. Cloud in Monroeville, Ala. They would both die of Yellow Fever during an epidemic that afflicted the state in 1848. That same day in Texas, William B. Travis and Jim Bowie agreed to share command at San Antonio de Bexar after Col. James Neill received a temporary leave of absence.

Feb. 14, 1864 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Larkinsville, Ala.

Feb. 14, 1886 – Thomas Brame Clausell, 80, died in Monroeville, Ala. on this Sunday morning after an illness of several weeks. According to The Monroe Journal, Clausell “was the last member of an old Virginia family who came to this county near 50 years ago. He had been for many years a resident of this town, engaged in the mercantile business, which he ever endeavored to conduct on the strictest principals of honor and fair dealing.”

Feb. 14, 1888 – The first train ran through Thomasville, Ala. It was carrying a group to Mardi Gras in Mobile, on a line from Mobile to Birmingham, via Selma.

Feb. 14, 1917 - Citizens of Monroeville, Ala. were startled at an early hour on this Wednesday morning by the alarm of fire at the home of Dr. G.C. Watson. A dark volume of smoke was found to be rising from the roof of the kitchen and a large number of volunteers were soon at the scene and the fire was extinguished with small damage. But for the timely discovery and prompt measures the dwelling must soon have been reduced to ashes, according to The Monroe Journal.

Feb. 14, 1917 - Capt. J.H. McCreary of Turnbull transacted business in Monroeville, Ala. on this day.

Feb. 14, 1918 - The Wilcox County Board of Education was scheduled to meet on this Thursday to “consider such matters as may come before it.” J.C. Adams was president of the school board.

Feb. 14, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Dougal Salter of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. had spent a few days the previous week with his many Camden friends. “Dougal is the type of manhood that reflects credit on the on the army, and we are glad to note his apparent good health,” the newspaper reported.

Feb. 14, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Dr. J.H. Jones Jr. of Oak Hill and F.L. Cade of Catherine visited Camden during the previous week. The newspaper also reported that Mr. D.J. McCarty of Bellview was a recent visitor to Camden, and that Mrs. Fannie Holman was visiting Mr. J.B. Holman and family and other relatives that week.

Feb. 14, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Mrs. W.E. Cook, accompanied by her daughter, Miss Gladys, had gone to Atlanta to purchase spring millinery.

Feb. 14, 1918 – This day’s edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era carried the following “Estray Notice” – “A dark brown pony, weight about 750 or 800 pounds; one jaw enlarge from where a blind tooth had been knocked out, and a scar on back from setfast had been cut out. Age about five years and has been gone since Dec. 15, 1916. $10 reward offered to the one that finds him and notifies me. – G.W. Wright, Caledonia, Ala.”

Feb. 14, 1930 – Conecuh County High School’s varsity boys basketball team beat T.R. Miller, 36-14, in Castleberry, Ala. Skinner led CCHS with 21 points, and Matthews scored 10. Other top CCHS players included Weaver, Day and Howington. Earlier in the season, Miller beat CCHS, 33-18, in Brewton.

Feb. 14, 1930 - Evergreen High School’s boys basketball team was scheduled to play Mobile High School, “one of the best cage teams in Alabama,” at the Armory in Evergreen at 8 p.m. on this Friday night, according to The Evergreen Courant. “This team took the high laurels from Sidney Lanier in Mobile last Saturday night by a score of 25-23. The Aggies lost to this team in Mobile a few weeks ago by the score of 41-25 and needless to say they are out to get revenge for this licking.” Mobile had lost three games that season, one to Foley and two to Biloxi High School in Mississippi. A big crowd was expected to see the Evergreen-Mobile game. It was expected to be the best game of the season, the newspaper reported.

Feb. 14, 1933 - The first episode of the radio play “The Townsend Murder Mystery” by Alabama author Octavus Roy Cohen was broadcast.

Feb. 14, 1954 - A capacity crowd of persons, including outstanding citizens from throughout Alabama, attended the dedication of Monroeville, Alabama’s new National Guard armory on this Sunday afternoon. With little standing room remaining, in the recently completed $95,000 structure, they heard ceremonies dedicating it as Fort Short Millsap, in honor of Monroe County’s Probate Judge E.T. Millsap. Making the official dedication was Major General Walter J. Hanna, Adjutant General of the State of Alabama.

Feb. 14, 1975 – Weather observer Earl Windham reported a low of 30 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Feb. 14, 1976 – Weather reporter Earl Windham reported a low temperature of 30 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Feb. 14, 1979 – Sparta Academy’s varsity boys basketball team, led by head coach Rob Kelly, finished the season with an 8-13 overall record when they lost on this Wednesday evening, 51-44, to South Butler Academy in the opening round of the Alabama Private Schools Association District III Basketball Tournament in Monroeville. John Glen Hall, who was named to the all-tournament team, scored 14 points to lead Sparta against South Butler. Tony Raines had 13 points; Terry Peacock, 12; Tony Baggett, three; and Bobby Padgett, two. Byron Warren Jr. was Sparta’s Sports Information Director.

Feb. 14, 1980 – The Evergreen Courant reported that John Law Robinson of Evergreen had been named to lead the Reagan for President Committee in Conecuh County. Robinson’s appointment was announced on Feb. 11 by Martin Darity in Montgomery, state co-chairman of the Ronald Reagan campaign. Robinson was responsible for organizing Reagan supporters for the March 11 primary and the November general election.

Feb. 14, 1980 - The Monroe Journal announced the promotions of Patrice Stewart to managing editor, Sandra Dunn to assistant advertising manager and Mickey Bayles to sports editor. Stewart, who had been an associate editor since 1974, was to have an expanded role in directing news coverage and a large part of the newspaper’s production process. Stewart, 29, was a journalism graduate of the University of Georgia and has edited a north Georgia weekly newspaper. Dunn had helped sell Journal advertising since shortly after joining the newspaper staff in 1978. Bayles assumed the part-time job of sports editor after serving for a year as The Journal’s sports reporter. Bayles was employed full-time by WMFC radio of Monroeville as an announcer and sportscaster.

Feb. 14-15, 1985 – Lyeffion High School hosted the regional basketball tournament, which featured teams from McKenzie, Castleberry, Lyeffion, Southern Normal and W.J. Jones.

Feb. 14, 1985 – The Evergreen Courant announced the release of the local history book, “Sparta, Alabama: 1821-1866” by Pat Poole. The book was printed by Harold Adams at the Conecuh Printing Co.

Feb. 14, 1991 – Stacey White was named Miss Alpha 1991 at the annual Miss Alpha Pageant at Sparta Academy in Evergreen, Ala. Valerie Griffin was named Jr. Miss Alpha.

Feb. 14, 1991 - A dramatic version of Alabama author Zora Neale Hurston's book “Mule Bone” opened on Broadway.

Feb. 14, 1998 - U.S. authorities officially announced that Eric Rudolph was a suspect in a bombing of an abortion clinic in Alabama.

Feb. 14, 2003 – Sparta Academy’s boys and girls basketball teams advanced to the Final Four of the Alabama Independent School Association’s Class A State Basketball Tournament with victories on this Friday at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Sparta’s boys beat Central Christian, 54-48. Chris Garner and Jeremy Anderson led the scoring for the Warriors with 12 points each. Also scoring in double digits were Wiley Cobb and Perry Castleberry with 11 points each. Also putting points on the board were Drew Davis with five points and Paul Castleberry with three points. Sparta’s girls beat Marion, 64-21. Katie Etheridge led the scoring for the Lady Warriors with 16 points. Also scoring in double digits was Callie Ezell with 11 points. Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Warriors were Samantha Seaman with seven points; Lacy Vargas with six points; Ashton Garner, Ava Pate, Meagan Johnson and Cody Godwin with four points each; Jessica Armuelles, Erin Brock, Whitley Roberts and Deanna Covin with two points each.

Feb. 14, 2003 - The Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association held their annual banquet on this Friday. New officers for 2003 installed at the meeting were Lee Dolihite, Vice President; Glenn Nall, President; and George Pritchett, Secretary-Treasurer.