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

Mary Badham as 'Scout Finch'

14 YEARS AGO

MAY 19, 2005

‘Scout’ to visit here on Saturday: Child actor Mary Badham, who portrayed “Scout” in the movie version of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” will return to Monroeville Saturday at the Old Monroe County Courthouse.

Badham will reminisce about her work on the film with Oscar-winning actor Gregory Peck during the “Scout Returns to Maycomb” event from 2 to 3 p.m. A question-and-answer period will also be held.

Frisco City High School’s football team rolled up 382 yards of total offense on their way to a 32-0 stomping of John Essex in spring football action Friday night in Frisco City.

Junior Jeffery Williams, who missed the entire 2004 season due to injury and who hadn’t played a down of football since spring drills last year, led the Whippets defensively and was one of the team’s top ground-gainers.

(Other top FCHS players in that game included Donald Dees, Scotty English, DeAngelo Hill, Leonard Hollings, Chris Mason and Carlos Powe. Troy Quinn was FCHS’s head football coach.)

COTTON PATCH FESTIVAL: Music in the form of soloists, quartet groups and guitar-playing energized approximately 700 folks at the 13^th annual “Cotton Patch” Festival in Uriah last Saturday.

Ronnie Lambert was emcee and several quartets, vocalists and instrumental groups brought an air of excitement to this yearly event.

“This year’s festival was a big success,” festival chairperson Patricia McCullers noted, and she believes that proceeds will be highly beneficial to the Uriah Arts Council.

39 YEARS AGO

MAY 15, 1980

The Monroeville Jayceettes chose Jennifer Carmen Byrd and Jessica Carlie Byrd, the twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John Wiley Byrd Jr. of Pleasant Hill, as the Monroe County Healthy Babies for 1980. The babies, selected in conjunction with Healthy Baby Week (May 11-17), were chosen because they were the first babies born in Monroe County Hospital on Mother’s Day. Jennifer weighed six pounds, 15 ounces, and Jessica weight six pounds, 7-1/2 ounces. On the side of Mrs. Byrd’s bed are some of the gifts she received from local merchants, including two towel and washcloth sets, two layette shirts, several gift certificates, a newborn set and a receipt for a free dinner.

Vols make semifinals: A five-run rally in the bottom of the second inning gave the Monroe Academy Volunteers a 5-2 victory over Ashford Academy, sending the Vols into the state private school semifinals.

The third and deciding game at Volunteer Park Tuesday was made necessary when the two teams split a doubleheader Monday in the opening day of the best-two-of-three series.

(Top players on MA’s baseball team that year included Boyd Bradley, David Carpenter, Sammie Carter, Tim Chunn, Trip Hendrix, Joey Langham, Doug Smith, Greg Tatum, Jeff Tatum, Rick Williams and John Wilman. Eddie Tyler was MA’s head baseball coach.)

This 4-foot, one-inch rattlesnake was shot near Clausell about 3 p.m. Sunday by Charlie Boulton, Lonzo Mosley and Roy Tate of Monroeville. The rattler, which Boulton estimated to weigh about 20 pounds, had 17 rattles and one button.

64 YEARS AGO

MAY 19, 1955

Pvt. George E. Snow of Uriah is now serving with the U.S. Army and is a member of the 447^th Signal Battalion (Construction), located in Pirmasens, Germany. Snow will have 17 more months of duty before he returns to the States. He graduated from the J.U. Blacksher school in 1954 and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Snow of Uriah, Rt. 2.

Locals Lose One, Win One In Week: Righthander Joe Stevens, who pitched so creditably for Monroe County High this season, made his debut on the mound for the Monroe County entry in the Dixie Amateur League Thursday night in Atmore, and hurled seven-hit ball only to lose, 8-6. However, seven-hit pitching by Bill Hite conquered the State Farm by a score of 9-2, in Monroeville Sunday afternoon, as the locals ran their season record to four wins against five defeats.

(Other players on Monroe County’s team that season included Al Clenner, Paul Fowler, Frank Hadley, Edsel Johnson, Les Prouty and Curt Wideman.)

Kiwanians To See Color Film Friday: Color films of Nebraska, having to do with farming in that state, and color movies made on a trip through the mountains will be shown to members of the Kiwanis Club when they meeting Friday.

Ward Ostberg will show the films and give the program discussion. The session will be held at the Hi-Ho Restaurant during the noon hour.

89 YEARS AGO

MAY 15, 1930

MRS. LUCIAN JONES ENTERTAINS STUDY CLUB AT LUNCHEON: Mrs. Lucian Jones entertained the Monroeville Study Club at luncheon on Saturday morning. This social meeting took the place of the regular meeting. Mrs. C.G. Yarbrough of Pensacola, who was formerly a member of the Club, was a guest. Mrs. E.T. Millsap was made a member of the Study Club. Mrs. Straughn was the winner in the penny wise contest. She was presented with a chiffon handkerchief.

Mrs. W.R. Blackwell of Frisco City, accompanied by her son Howard, Mrs. T.E. Stacey, and little Grace Blackwell of Repton, left Sunday for Kerrville, Texas to visit Mr. W.L. Blackwell, who has been out west for the past two years on account of his health.

BAND CONCERT MONDAY; MUSIC RECITAL WEDNESDAY: The Monroe County High School Band and Orchestra will be presented in a concert at the school auditorium on Monday evening, May 19, at eight o’clock, Mr. J.C. Williams, directing. The music class under the direction of Miss Sara Dennis will give a recital on Wednesday evening, May 21.

The Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias of Alabama will meet in 58^th annual session in the city of Montgomery on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 20^th and 21^st, and this promises to be one of the most constructive sessions ever held by this body in the Grand Domain of Alabama. The meeting will be presided over by Grand Chancellor Tully A. Goodwin of Florala, and recorded by Grand Keeper of Records and Seals, Joe King Stanley of Montgomery.

139 YEARS AGO

MAY 17, 1880

Buena Vista – Mr. Jacob Rikard, one of the old landmarks of this county, died at his home near Buena Vista, on the 6^th.

Mr. Rikard was born in Edgefield District, S.C., Jan. 14, 1805 and with his father removed to this state at an early age, settling on Limestone Creek, near Monroeville, where his boyhood days were spent. He afterwards moved to Flat Creek, where he died. A good citizen, a devout Christian, an honest man, has gone. Let us greatly draw the mantle of charity over his frailties, and strive to emulate with possible zeal, his honor, his integrity and his uprightness.

Perdue Hill – We had the pleasure of meeting in our office last week Dr. F.D. Thompson, now a prominent physician of Sherman, Texas, and formerly a resident of Perdue Hill in this county. The doctor is an educated and cultivated gentleman, is modest and dignified in bearing, with pleasing address and polished manners, and we are not surprised to know that he captivated the heart and won the hand of one of Sherman’s most wealthy and accomplished belles. We regret to learn that Dr. T will only remain a short time with us.

River Dots – We regret to learn from the Montgomery Advertiser that Capt. Finegan, who has been for many years well and favorably known along the Alabama River as a popular and successful steamboat commander, has concluded to take his boats, the John T. Moore, Maggie Burke, Robt. E. Lee and Lucy Grastrell, out of the Alabama River trade and transfer them to the Memphis and Helena trade, on the Mississippi. The many friends of Capt. Finegan here, and all along the Alabama River, will regret his determination to go elsewhere, but as he has done so they will wish for him both fame and fortune.