Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

Alabama Gov. Thomas Kilby

18 YEARS AGO

MARCH 22, 2001

After 44 years, Dr. Nicholas hangs up his stethoscope: After almost 44 years of serving the people of Monroe County as a family practitioner in Monroeville, Dr. Francis Nicholas has decided to hang up his stethoscope.

Nicholas, 76, saw his last patients Friday as he began a well-deserved retirement. His fellow doctors, whom he spent many years working beside at the Doctors Clinic on South Alabama Avenue, helped celebrate his final day at the office with a special party. Office staff and close friends were also there to wish him good luck.

Tigers down Lions in doubleheader: (Monroe County High School’s varsity baseball team) shut out Foley High School 4-0 Saturday during the first game of a twin bill in Monroeville. MCHS beat Foley 6-5 in the second game of the doubleheader.

(Top MCHS players in those games included Mark Beasley, Jonathan Black, Ben Busby, Travis Granberry, Derek Holley, Bragg Jordan, Dustin Kilgore, T.J. Mann, Stephen Mattox, Brett Pate, Michael Ramer and Taylor Ryland. Reid Utsey was MCHS’s head baseball coach.)

History program: Local historian and Monroe Journal columnist George Singleton of Monroeville spoke to Brownie Troop 225 about Monroe County’s early history Feb. 2 at Old Scotland Church and Cemetery at Tunnel Springs. With Singleton are Allie Martin, Lindsey Gearhart, Mary Rebecca Barfield, Abbie Tucker, Mary Carter English, Mary Caylor Menefee, Jenna Menefee, Nikki Whatley and Lauren Lambert. Dr. Lori Gearhart and Lori Menefee are the troop’s leaders.

43 YEARS AGO

MARCH 25, 1976

Three from area seek beauty title: Three Monroe County area young women are among the 13 contestants in a preliminary Miss America pageant scheduled for Friday and Saturday of next week at Patrick Henry Junior College.

Contestants from this area are Rita Croley, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Haywood Croley of Excel; Toni Luker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Willie J. Luker of Monroeville; and Patsy Watson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Watson of Repton.

The second annual Miss South Alabama pageant will begin at 8 p.m. both nights in the gymnasium at PHJC.

Football coach at Frisco City to leave: Cecil L. (Corky) Newman, head football coach for the past two years at Frisco City High School, resigned last week. His resignation was accepted by the Monroe County Board of Education in their regular meeting Wednesday morning, March 17.

Newman, who has accepted a coaching job at a Florida school, will remain at Frisco City until the end of March.

Masons to have Friday meeting of York Rites: The York Rite bodies of Monroeville will hold their regular meeting Friday at the Masonic Temple on Sheffield Road at 7:30 p.m. All York Rite Masons are urged to attend.

The Spring York Rite class will be held Friday, April 9. Petitions should be in not later than Friday’s meeting. Petitions may be obtained from A.T. Lewis, secretary of the Monroeville York Rite bodies.

68 YEARS AGO

MARCH 22, 1951

U.S. Geologist To Make Survey Of Monroeville: Officials of the Monroeville Water Board this week announced that a geologist from the United States Geological Survey will soon make a survey of the town to determine locations for new test wells as the first step in increasing the town’s potential water supply.

The official will begin his work here next month. The survey is expected to require approximately 30 days, it was stated.

The employment of the geologist to make a survey here follows a declaration by State Geologist Dr. Walter Jones last week that Monroeville is one of two “critical areas” in the state insofar as water supply is concerned.

Tigers Will Be Feted At Banquet: Members of this season’s Monroe County High School football and basketball teams will be honored at a banquet at the Williams Café here tomorrow (Friday) night at 7:30 o’clock, sponsored by the Recreation Committee of the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce.

Joel Eaves, head basketball coach at Auburn, will be featured speaker at the dinner. Coach Eaves, who recently completed his second season as head basketball coach at A.P.I. after compiling an outstanding record while coaching in service and at an Atlanta, Ga. high school, is one of the most popular cage mentors ever to tutor the Plainsmen.

County farm agent A.V. Culpepper will serve as master of ceremonies.

Uriah Twins Honored On 73^rd Birthdays: Mr. A.F. Luker and twin sister, Mrs. Mollie Ray, whose birthdays were March 13, celebrated the occasion at the home of the former, Mr. Luker, Sun., March 11. This was their 73^rd birthday.

93 YEARS AGO

MARCH 25, 1926

Former Governor Thomas E. Kilby of Anniston was a visitor to Monroeville on Monday and delivered an address at the courthouse, presenting his claims upon the people for nomination to the United States Senate as the successor to Senator Underwood. Governor Kilby was given an attentive hearing.

COUNTY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: The first annual Basketball Tournament for Monroe County held at Jones Mill last Friday and Saturday was a decided success. Much of the success of the tournament was attributed to the splendid officiating by Mr. Williams of Mobile, who holds a certificate as a national basketball official.

Both the boys and girls teams of Jones Mill were crowned as the county champions, while both of the Excel teams were awarded second place.

Rev. Brooks, a former Catholic priest and a native of Ireland, delivered three interesting and instructive lectures at the courthouse last Friday and Saturday. On Sunday morning, he delivered a lecture on the Sunday school lesson which proved most interesting and instructive.

‘FEMALE MASONRY’ ATTRACTS LARGE CROWD: One of the largest audiences ever assembled in Monroeville to witness a play put on by local talent, gathered at the courthouse on last Wednesday evening to witness the play “Female Masonry” put on by and for the benefit of the local Eastern Star Chapter. It proved to be one of the funniest plays in many moons and everybody enjoyed it to the fullest. From a financial standpoint it was a great success and the local chapter is under obligations to all who labored for the success of the play.

118 YEARS AGO

MARCH 14, 1901

A bill establishing Jones Mill Beat No. 14 was passed the legislature.

Mr. Pringle, the hustling log man of Pollard, is putting in a lot of logs for the Bear Creek Mill Co. now.

Mr. W.H. Louiselle of Manistee was in the city Saturday.

Hon. Jas. H. Jones, Monroe’s representative, returned home last week. Mr. Jones has made for himself a name and record of which he may be proud, and we are glad to welcome him home with the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

Dr. Wiggins was called to Repton the first of the week to attend Dr. Wm. Watson who is quite sick there.

Mr. Ben Jones of the B.E. Jones Mercantile Co., Jones Mill, has gone east to purchase a fresh stock of goods. When he returns, his firm will have some extraordinary inducements to offer customers through the columns of The Journal. Watch for them.

FINCHBURG: Misses Lizzie and Kittie Williams returned on the steamer Mary from Mobile, where they attended Mardi Gras.

JONES MILL: Mr. Jasper Huggins was buried at the Coleman School House Friday. His death was caused from pneumonia. Also Mr. Billie Hall of Excel was buried at New Home church Saturday. They were two of Monroe’s good citizens and will be sadly missed. The bereaved have our sympathies. There is a lot of sickness in the settlement, guess it is caused from bad weather.