Saturday, August 31, 2019

Singleton tells of 1995 trip to Locke Hill in northeast Monroe County

"Possum grapes"

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Locke Hill: A place of beauty and a place to remember” was originally published in the Sept. 14, 1995 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I have mentioned several times in my writings about a place in the northeast part of the county known as Locke Hill. I have been there many times, during both daylight and darkness, and a different feeling is most always experienced upon arrival on the top of this high and beautiful hill.

I like nothing better than to travel in that direction during the days of late summer and early fall, stopping atop the hill and marveling at the broad vastness of beauty that is to be seen there. So it was on Sept. 3, I found myself heading in that direction for a few moments of meditation and a time for remembering.

The cool winds across the open spaces reminded me that the autumn season was just over the horizon. As I looked at the hillsides and deep valleys, already a few faint colors of beautiful autumn had begun to appear on the sweetgum and oak trees that dotted the landscape. Reaching the top of Locke Hill, I went to my favorite spot – the place where the view of the vast valley before me is the greatest. Here, I sat down on my favorite rock and gazed across the distant valley that lay before me.

As I sat there enjoying the cool, refreshing eastern winds, the faint distant sound of a dog barking echoed across the valley. The brought to mind the time of my early teenage years and thoughts of all the coon hunters of the community where I grew up. This was the time of year when plans were beginning to formulate for the coming coon hunting season.

I remembered the coon-hunting tales of the past season being told and told again – each time to be exaggerated a little more than the time before. And as the time grew near for the hunts to begin, the autumn winds seemed to bear the excitement of the coming hunts.

Mail-order coon dogs

These thoughts brought to mind the dog trading, swapping and even buying of coon dogs. It was not uncommon for a hunter to order a pure-bred coon dog from a mail-order catalog. Always, these dogs came by freight on the train. Upon receiving notice that a coon dog was to arrive by train on a certain day, all the coon hunters would drop everything they were doing and gather at the train station. One would have thought that a dignitary of great importance was arriving on that train instead of a mail-order coon dog.

Sitting there looking across the vast valley below me, I remembered that night last year, when during the late autumn I came to Locke Hill. I remembered sitting in this very spot and listening to the flock of wild geese as they crossed the face of the full moon on their way south to warmer climates.

I remembered how time seemed to stand still that night as I sat here alone, looking out over the moonlit valley. I thought of the howls of the wild coyotes down the hill that night, and the tingle of the skin on my neck as the sounds echoed through the timbers and rode the winds of the evening. The thought had come to mind that evening that there were still places on this planet where total peace can be found, even in our world of fantasy and make-believe.

Possum grapes

I remembered that during my youth the fall months were a time for hunting wild possum grapes and various other wild goodies, such as muscadines and many other sought-after treats. Young boys and girls, always with their chaperones, would go out on a Saturday or a Sunday afternoon in search of a wild grape or muscadine vine.

This gave the young country boys the chance to show off their skills, to climb the tall trees and vines while tossing the nicest bunches of wild grapes to that favorite young lady who waited below. And there was always the chance to help that special red-headed country beauty across a small stream or gulley. This was the chance to hold her hand without the older couple, who watched with the eyes of a hawk your every move, but never suspected anything. Always, if one played it smart, the area where the rough ground and small streams were located was a planned part of the afternoon journey.

Two or three times a season the youth of the community were allowed to organize a coon hunt. Always, there had to be at least two older couples to go along as chaperones. Then, a roundup of goodies, such as popcorn balls, roasted pecans or peanuts, or a sizable amount of syrup candy was in order.

After everything was prepared then the coon dogs were selected for the evening of hunting. I didn’t matter much whether the dogs would tree a coon or not. The big thing was to get away, and after a short time of hunting, the time for the bonfire festivities was the climax of the hunt.

Good times, tall tales

Good times and tall tales were the order of the evening. Games that could be played there in the deep woods around the campfire were enjoyed for a while. Then it was time for the older couples to tell the stories of their early childhood.

As they became absorbed in their stories, there might be a slim chance to reach over in the shadows from the bonfire and quickly grasp the hand of that favorite sweet thing that sat not too far away. One had to be very careful; I knew some chaperones whom I thought could see better in the dark than they could in the broad open daylight. Anyway, taking a chance of getting caught holding hands could be tricky business.

I had become so absorbed in re-living the memories of my early youth that I hadn’t realized the sun was almost out of sight in the western skies. The eastern winds had become a little cooler during my stay there on Locke Hill. Taking one last look across the vast valley below me, I knew that I would return again during the time of the full moon.

I wanted once again to witness the flocks of wild geese as they flew to the south in the bright, late autumn moonlight. As I turned to leave from this place of peace and beauty, I knew that soon I would return for another time when the memories of yesteryear would live again as though they had just happened.

As I turned from the vastness of the bottom lands before me, I raised my arms toward the heavens and prayed a prayer that seemed very appropriate for the time and place.

O’ Great Spirit, give me strength that I may stroll across the land and marvel at thy creation.

Let me go where the wildflowers sway in the evening winds. Let me smell the fragrance of the wild violets as I rest in the shade of the tall cottonwood tree.

Make me know Thy presence as I feel the bark of the birch tree and view the heavens above me. Let me linger under the tall pines of the mountain, while listening to the lullaby of the winds.

Give me sight so I might see the fowls of the air as they wing their way to lofty heights. Let me view the might eagle as he rides the winds of the evening and soars into the shadows of the setting sun.

And, when the shadows of this life gather on the distant horizon, and I stand in thy presence, let me be judged for my love of thy beauty and thy creation.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Sat., Aug. 31, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 3.20 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  9.40 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.60 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.25 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Fri., Aug. 30, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 3.20 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  9.40 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.60 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.25 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Green Street community takes its name from Burnt Corn tannery owner

Burnt Corn's John Green.

Last week in this space, I wrote about a recent field trip that I made up to the Green Street community. This sparked much discussion over how this small community got its name, and I’m happy to report that someone in the reading audience knew the real answer. For those of you unfamiliar with Green Street, it’s a small community located about 20 miles northwest of Evergreen, between Fairnelson and the Monroe County line.

In the days leading up to my visit to Green Street, I checked a book called “Place Names in Alabama” by Virginia O. Foscue, but it contained no information about Green Street. Historical records say that this community was a former saw mill town, and Evergreen library historian Sherry Johnston told me that she remembered reading about three men with the last name Green who owned and operated a saw mill in that area. She said that at one time the community was “thickly settled” and even included a commissary and a black smith shop.

Don Green, who lives in Mississippi but has ancestral roots in Conecuh County, said that his third great-grandfather John Green started the first school in Burnt Corn, which isn’t too far from Green Street as the crow flies. Don wondered if Green Street possibly took its name from the school’s founder.

Another man told me that a tale often told in the community is that a long time ago, God and the Devil had a knock-down-drag-out fight in that part of the county. When they finished, the surrounding countryside had been consumed by flames, all except for a strip of green that ran down through the middle of what we now call Green Street. The man who told me this said that he didn’t put much stock in the tale, but he’d heard it all his life.

After last week’s column hit the streets, Mrs. Sherry at the library told me that additional research revealed that the community was actually named after a man named “Tanner” Green. Tanner Green, who was not related to John Green, raised a large family and had a host of sons, Sherry said. Eight of Tanner’s sons served in the Confederate Army, and he also owned a large tannery near Burnt Corn that made shoes for the Confederate Army. Margaret Gaston noted that she’d read somewhere once that all of Tanner Green’s sons shared the same middle name, “Bigby.”

Billie Patterson, who is also well-versed in the John Green family history, confirmed that John and Tanner were not related. She’d also been told in the past that Green Street was not named after John Green. She noted that John Green did own property in that area, but his home place was on County Road 15, about one mile outside of Burnt Corn.

During the past week I did some digging and learned that Tanner Green’s full name was Whitson Bigby “Tanner” Green and that he was born in Stafford County, Va. on Sept. 22, 1796. He served in the 1836 Seminole War and migrated to Monroe County two years later. Records reflect that he died on Jan. 30, 1885 at the age of 89 at Burnt Corn and that he is buried in an unmarked grave in the Watson-Green Cemetery in Monroe County.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Thurs., Aug. 29, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 3.20 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  9.40 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.60 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.25 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Wilcox County travelers got married aboard antebellum steamboat in 1856

E.D. Pitts grave in Weimar, Texas.

I really enjoy looking at old newspapers because I often run across old newspaper items that both surprise me and also offer up a little mystery.

The other day, I was reading some old editions of The South-Western, a weekly newspaper that was published in Shreveport, La. between 1852 and 1870. Back in those days, Shreveport, which sits in the northwest corner of Louisiana, near Arkansas and Texas, was an important cotton-shipping center. Travelers from all over the world passed through this important southern city, including travelers from Wilcox County.

According to the Dec. 3, 1856 edition of The South-Western, under the headline “Marriage,” readers learned that “yesterday morning, on board steamer Belle Sulphur, by the Rev. E.D. Pitts, Mr. Jno. R. Sadler to Miss Caroline Pearce. The happy groom and his bride are from Wilcox County, Alabama, en route for Upshur County, Texas.”

I thought this was an interesting bit of news for a number of reasons, primarily because it involved two Wilcox County travelers who got married aboard an antebellum steamboat. According to historical records, the Belle Sulphur was a wooden, side-wheeled steamboat that was named after the Sulphur River. This important river is about 175 miles long and runs through northeast Texas and southwest Arkansas.

The Belle Sulphur was built in Louisville, Ky. in 1856, so she was almost brand new when the Wilcox County couple got married later that year. The Belle Sulphur belonged to Capt. R. C. Hutchinson and operated mostly between Shreveport and New Orleans.

I believe the Rev. E.D. Pitts was the uniquely-named Epaminondas Dunn Pitts, who was born in Jones County, Ga. on June 17, 1826. This would have made him about 30 years old when he performed the wedding ceremony for Jno. R. Sadler and Miss Caroline Pearce. Pitts, who was a prominent Freemason, would live to the ripe old age of 70 before passing away in Oakland, Texas on March 12, 1897. Today you can find his grave in the Weimar Masonic Cemetery in Weimar, Texas.

The abbreviation “Jno.” was 19th century shorthand for the name “John.” With that said, who was John R. Sadler and Caroline Pearce? Did they live out the rest of their lives in Texas, eventually return to Wilcox County or end up somewhere else? The historical record is unclear, but some researchers say that John was killed in the Civil War in 1864. If that’s true, it’s possible that Caroline remarried and died under a different name.

Upshur County, Texas is located in the northeast corner of the Lone Star State, and one is left to wonder why John and Caroline were headed there in the first place. Were they alone or were they traveling with family? Were they headed to join family who had already moved to Texas? What was John’s line of work? Did that have something to do with his move to Texas?

One is also left to wonder why they decided to get married on a steamboat. Even today this would be somewhat unusual, since now, as then, most conventional weddings take place inside a church. Again, were they alone or were there family members or friends on hand to witness the ceremony? Did they know the Rev. Pitts beforehand or was his performance of the wedding ceremony impromptu?

In the end, it would be interesting to know what became of the Sadlers. More than likely, some of their family or direct descendants are still around today. If anyone in the reading audience has any information that would shed more light on this young couple, please let me hear from you. Perhaps the rest of their lives was as unique as the details surrounding their wedding.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Wed., Aug. 28, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.90 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 3.20 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  9.40 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 13.60 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 38.25 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Aug. 27, 2019

1922 Packard Twin-Six.

16 YEARS AGO
AUG. 21, 2003

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 0.06 inches of rain on Aug. 18 and 0.22 inches on Aug. 20. He reported a high of 92 degrees on Aug. 18 and a low of 62 on Aug. 22.

Dr. Mark Roberts would like to invite everyone to the open house and ribbon-cutting ceremonies of his new office building located at 106 Edwina St., just across from the hospital. Open house is scheduled for Thurs., Sept. 4, 1997 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Evergreen and Conecuh County were sent reeling over the past weekend when three people were brutally murdered over a two-day period. One man (Lorenzo Lee Wright) has been arrested and charged with two of the murders. The other murder is still under investigation by the Evergreen Police Department, District Attorney’s Office and the Alabama Bureau of Investigations.
Sometime between late Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, James “Buddy” Stallworth, 67, of the Fairview community was murdered in his home. His body was discovered in the kitchen of his home by his cook at approximately 6:10 p.m.
After the investigation was just getting started, a 911 call received at approximately 3:45 a.m. Monday morning to a fight on Walter Williams Lane. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Richard “Ricky” Stallworth, 32, stabbed to death in his residence. They also discovered the body of his wife, Kertina Stallworth, 24, approximately 100 yards up the driveway stabbed to death.

47 YEARS AGO
AUG. 24, 1972

Jim Oliver of Castleberry leans on his first bale of the 1972 cotton crop which he brought to the Belleville Gin on Saturday. So far as The Courant can determine this was the first bale to be ginned in Conecuh County. Whit Burt is manager of the gin and the bale was ginned by Percy Baggett, ginner. Net weight of the bale was 440 pounds while the seed weighed 690. The bale will be auctioned off at two o’clock Saturday afternoon at the L&N Depot in Evergreen.

County schools open Sept. 1, schedule given: Students in Conecuh County schools will begin the 1972-73 term on Fri., Sept. 1, according to a schedule for the school year released today by Harvey G. Pate, superintendent of education.
Teachers will report to their individual schools for in-service education on Mon., Aug. 28. They will work in the individual schools Monday and Tuesday and will report to the Repton School for countywide in-service Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 30-31. Business institute will be held at 1 p.m. Thurs., Aug. 31.

Sparta Academy classes begin next Wednesday: Headmaster Richard Brown announced today that Sparta Academy will begin the fall term on Wed, Aug. 30. Students are to report at 8 a.m. He said that Mon., Sept. 4, Labor Day, will be a holiday for the private. School.

72 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 1947

In the limestone region of Southern Conecuh County is located Turk’s Cave, which winds through several miles of an ancient stream bed. It has never been completely explored and may well be Alabama’s largest natural cave. More than a century ago, Joseph Hare and his band of highwaymen used the cave as their rendezvous and even today legends in Conecuh County have it that Hare and his men hid a fortune in gold there a few days before they were massacred by Indians.

Friends of Robert Gaston Bozeman Jr. will be pleased to learn that he is doing nicely after undergoing an appendectomy at Carter’s Hospital in Repton last week.

Mrs. F.L. Cardwell, who was bitten on the ankle by a rattlesnake Saturday afternoon, is reported to be fast recovering.

Old School Age Law Still In Effect: Superintendent of Schools, Harvey G. Pate, wishes to remind all patrons of Conecuh County schools that the old law, providing that children may enter schools in the fall if they will reach their sixth birthday before Oct. 1, still remains in effect.
The present legislature passed an act providing for the admission of children who will reach their sixth birthday on or before Jan. 15. This new law was held invalid by the Attorney General in a recent ruling. Since the Attorney General’s decision is legally binding, the Board of Education has made its plans to operate under the old law. All parents asking for entrance for beginners are requested to show proof of birth date of the children.
All schools in Conecuh County will open on Sept. 8, 1947.

97 YEARS AGO
AUG. 23, 1922

Leon F. Dickerson – Licensed Embalmer with Dunn Hardware Co. – Night Phone 62.

Walter Lee Jr. killed a large rattlesnake a few days ago near his father’s plantation. It was about five feet long but had only seven rattles. Quite a number of rattlers have been killed on the Lee farm this season, several of them being much larger than the one referred to above.

State Secondary Agricultural School – Evergreen, Ala. – Offers courses preparatory to college entrance. Special courses to Vocational Agriculture, Vocational Home Economics, Manual Training, Piano, Voice and Expression. Athletics encouraged. Two Literary Societies. Farm and Laboratory are run in connection with the school. Board may be obtained at reasonable rates. Splendid faculty of college graduates. Next Session Begins Sept. 11. For boarding accommodations or other information, address F.H. Chappelle, M.A., Principal.

Oscar Riley came down from Greenville last week in his handsome new Packard and spent several days with his sisters, Mrs. Craig and Miss Gussie Riley.

The fruit orchards planted out last season in this section by a number of farmers have put on wonderful growth and look healthy and thrifty. This has inspired a number of other farmers to determine to plant orchards this coming season. No fruit seems to sell to as good advantage as peaches and pecans, and we cannot see any reason why every farm home should not be supplied with all kinds of fruit.

122 YEARS AGO
AUG. 27, 1897

MASONIC: Greening Lodge No. 53, A.F.&A.M., meets third Friday night in each month. Visiting members welcomed. – H.A. Shields, Worshipful Master; Wm. H. Hawkins, Secretary.
Knights of Honor, Evergreen Lodge No. 3263, K. of H., meets first and third Monday nights in each month. Visiting members welcomed. – Wm. H. Hawkins, Dictator; D.C. Sawyer, Reporter.

Wild Bros. – This is the name of a new firm who are now engaged in opening up a magnificent line of furniture and hardware in the McCreary building. They will carry everything usually kept in a first-class hardware and furniture store and will sell cheap for cash. Mr. Walter Wild, one of the firm, has been with Mr. C.B. Savage for a long time and will now be pleased to see his many friends at his store.

The Musicale: The musicale at the opera house last Friday evening as announced was a decided success and a treat to all lovers of music. The attendance was not large owing to the rains and the muddy streets, but all who went felt amply paid for their trip. A splendid program had been arranged and was carried out to the delight of all present.
We regret that our limited space precludes a longer account of this splendid musical performance.
The money realized was donated to the Baptist Orphanage.

Red Level: We have in our midst one of the oldest men in Conecuh County, Mr. Porterfield, who was 98 years old in August. We hope he will live to see many more.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Tues., Aug. 27, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 1.30 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 2.30 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  8.50 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 12.70 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 37.35 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Monday, August 26, 2019

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Aug. 26, 2019


22 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 1997

James Alvin Stallworth (Buddy), 67, died Sat., Aug. 23, 1997. He served as a teacher for 34 years. For many years, he coached championship basketball teams at Marshall High School and served as a football and basketball official with the Alabama High School Athletic Association for 46 years.

These 1997 Sparta Academy Warriors will play their first game this Friday night at Stuart-McGehee Field. Head coach of the Warriors is Bill McNair, in his first season with the team. Kickoff for the game is set for 7:30 p.m. There will be a hamburger supper and pep rally Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. in the gym.

Last Saturday night at Greenville’s Butler County Motorsports Park, 52 drivers competed for the top prize in four divisions.
In the hobby division, Kenny McNaughton of Honoraville claimed the checkered flag. Skipper Davis of Lapine and Dale Watson of Brantley finished second and third, respectively.
Florala’s Pebo Windham was the winner in the hogg division. Taking second was Brian Stephens, also of Florala. Rodney Best of Highland Home finished in third.
In the pony feature event, Dennison Reeves of Highland Home outran the rest of the field for a first-place finish. Drivers from Highland Home swept the pony division with Danny Register taking second and Tracy Jordan finishing in third.
Greenville’s Kevin Boswell took the win in the novice feature. Travis Heartsill of Greenville was the second-place finisher.

30 YEARS AGO
AUG. 24, 1989

The 1989 Jaguars, Hillcrest High School’s first football team, will open their season here Friday night against the W.S. Neal Blue Eagles of East Brewton. The kickoff at Brooks Memorial Stadium is set for 7:30. Tickets at the gate are $3, advance $2. Hillcrest is Conecuh County’s only public high school and was formed by consolidating Conecuh County High, Evergreen High, Lyeffion High and Repton High.

Head coach Doug Barfield and his staff have been readying the Hillcrest High School Jaguars for their first game Friday night. Assistant coaches are Jimmy Barlow, Danny Covin, H.L. Watson and Robert Cumbie.

The Sparta Academy Warriors will open the 1989 campaign against the Escambia Academy Cougars at Canoe at 7:30 Friday night. This will be the first game for Sparta’s new head coach, Chuck Ledbetter.
The Warriors are coming off their most successful season ever. The 1988 Warriors posted a 12-1 record and were runner-up for the state Class A APSA championship.
The new head coach has had his hands full trying to rebuild. Graduation claimed a number of the stars on last year’s outstanding team.

45 YEARS AGO
AUG. 22, 1974

Repton High School’s 1974 football season was as follows: Sept. 6, v. Coffeeville; Sept. 13, at Lyeffion; Sept. 20, v. Straughn; Oct. 4, at Red Level; Oct. 11, v. J.U. Blacksher; Oct. 18, at McKenzie; Oct. 25, v. Jay, Fla.; Nov. 1, v. Frisco City; and Oct. 11, at Fruitdale.
Jeff Young was Repton’s head coach that season, and H.L. Watson was an assistant football coach.

The Repton High School cheerleaders for the 1974-75 school year walked away from the Alabama High School Athletic Association cheerleaders clinic recently with all state honors in both basketball and football. The Repton squad was one of only four squads that received the honor, competing with 100 other squads. It was the only 1A squad to receive the honor. Members of the squad are Patsy Watson, head cheerleader; Melanie Evers and Wanda Andrews, co-head cheerleaders; and Sheila Blackwell, Jane Brown, Debbie Ivey, Rachel Watson and Debbie Bell.

Lyeffion High School’s 1974 football season was as follows: Sept. 6, at Conecuh County High School; Sept. 13, v. Repton; Sept. 20, v. McKenzie; Sept. 27, v. Frisco City; Oct. 4, at Montgomery Academy; Oct. 11, at Sweet Water; Oct. 18, at Dozier; Oct. 26, v. Conecuh County High School (HC); Nov. 1, at J.U. Blacksher; and Nov. 8, at Thomaston.

47 YEARS AGO
AUG. 24, 1972

Jaycees drop Peewee football: The Evergreen Jaycees regret that they will not be able to sponsor their previously planned Pee Wee football program. The decision to drop the program from their list of projects was made due to a lack of coaching help and due to the cost of the program.

Meeting is set Lyeffion Friday Pee Wee Football: There will be a meeting of all boys who will play Pee Wee football at Lyeffion on Friday night at 7:30 at the school. Boys 8-13 are urged to attend.

Lenox Horse Club enjoys trail ride: Members of the Lenox Horse Club and their visitors recently enjoyed a trail ride and camp out. President Paul Brantley announced plans for the Fall Rodeo and Horse Show on Sept. 30. The parking area for the arena has been expanded to solve parking problems.

GUNS – We have the best selection of guns we have ever had. See them now while you can get the gun of your choice. – BROWNING, REMINGTON, WINCHESTER, SAVAGE ITHACA HI STANDARD MARLIN – Lay-A-Way Now For The Coming Hunting Season While Our Stock Is Still Complete – Wild Bros. Hardware Co. – The Sportsman’s Headquarters.

72 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 1947

Greenies Eliminate Flomaton In Playoff: Evergreen won the honor of playing the winner of the McCullough-Atmore series by defeating Flomaton two straight games in the elimination playoff.
The first game of the championship playoff will be in Brooks Stadium Sunday at three o’clock. This will be the final game to be played in Evergreen this season.
Big Wade Nobles, a fast ball right-hander, came through with an 8-3 win Thursday to solve acting-manager Zell Murphy’s pre-game pitching worries. Making his debut as a pitcher, Nobles gave up only nine scattered safeties and allowed only one earned run to cross the platter. Harry Brooks, Flomaton hurler, held the locals to only six hits, but was given very little support by his teammates who made eight costly errors. Eben Moorer and Joe McDonald collected two blows each to pace the Greenies to their 8-3 victory.
Manager Hart opened on the mound for the locals Sunday but had to call on Edsel Johnson to take over in the ninth when he ran into some trouble. The Greenies drove out a total of 12 base blows off two Flomaton pitchers, one of which was a 365-foot homer with two men aboard by Nobles in the third inning. White had three singles to his credit to gain batting honors for the winners.

Evergreen High School Announces 1947 Football Schedule: Sept. 19, v. Repton; Sept. 26, v. Pine Hill; Oct. 3, at Greenville; Oct. 10, at Frisco City; Oct. 16, v. W.S. Neal; Oct. 31, v. Monroeville; Nov. 7, v. Uriah; Nov. 14, v. Camden; Nov. 21, v. T.R. Miller.
This gives Evergreen an impressive and rugged schedule. Seven games will be played under the lights on the home field.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Mon., Aug. 26, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 1.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 1.00 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  7.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 11.40 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 36.05 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

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


22 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 1997

New Mockingbird Court has been chosen for year: Twelve area girls have been selected from a field of 29 as the 1997-98 Mockingbird Court.
The program of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce is now in its seventh year.
(The members of the Mockingbird Court that year included Tiffany Brewer, J.U. Blacksher; Lisa Marie Corbett, Excel High School; Terri Evers, EHS; Emily Hawarah, Monroe County High School; Tassie McKee, Monroe Academy; Lauriel Daniel McQuieter, MCHS: Kimberly Payne, MCHS; Jessica Sawyer, MA; Belinda Tucker, MCHS; Jennifer Turk, MCHS; Amanda Wiggins, EHS; and Ashley Wilkins, JUB.)

Monroe Academy opens its 1997 football season tomorrow (Friday) at Sparta Academy in Evergreen.
“Sparta should have one of the better teams in Class A ball this season,” said MA head coach Tim Carter. MA is a Class 2A school. Both MA and Sparta are members of the Alabama Independent School Association.
(Top players at MA that season included Wesley Booker, Craig Sigler and Josh Wild.)

Champion heifer: Misty Stabler of Monroe County showed the Champion Santa Gertrudis Heifer at the 1997 Alabama Purebred Beef Breeds Council Junior Heifer Show. Pictured with her is Sarah Sawyer, also of Monroe County. The show was held Aug. 9 at the Homer Lewis Arena in Montgomery. Chan Phillips of Maysville, Ky. judged the show.

47 YEARS AGO
AUG. 24, 1972

Mrs. J.T. Lee Sr. dies of injuries from explosion: Mrs. John T. Lee Sr., prominent resident of Frisco City, died in a Mobile hospital Fri., Aug. 18, of complications resulting from injuries suffered in a boat explosion late in July.
Mrs. Lee suffered extensive burns in the blast which rocked their cabin cruiser July 27 while it was docked at Orange Beach in South Baldwin County. Her husband was also injured in the explosion but is recovering.

Bill Miller of Monroeville and his brother-in-law, Bud Casler of Panama City, Fla., were crowned champions of the eighth annual Lucian Jones Guest Golf Tournament.
The presentation was made at the awards ceremony Saturday night, Aug. 19, at the Vanity Fair Guest House following conclusion of the tournament.
Runners-up were Jack Avery, also of Monroeville, and Houston Brown of Birmingham. Third place was captured by Crawford Welch of Monroeville and Jack Marrow of Atlanta.

Rescue squad honor goes to Wilkerson: The members of the Monroe County Rescue Squad honored former Captain Claude Wilkerson at their regular monthly meeting last week by presenting him with a certificate of appreciation for service during his more than 10 years as their number one man.
Wilkerson, who was one of the organizers of the squad, received the certificate from incumbent Captain Julian Gaston. Wilkerson stepped down as captain recently because of poor health. He remains with the squad in an advisory capacity.

72 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 1947

New Well Now Helps To Supply City Water: Pumping of water from a new city well was begun here Sunday, providing the town of Monroeville with another source of approximately 260 gallons a minute.
Coupled with the output from a single well which has been supplying the town, the new well’s production will give Monroeville water sources supplying approximately 500 gallons per minute. The new pump is located 75 feet east of the old well on the road to Drewry near the silk mill.

Local Grid Practice Will Begin Monday: Monroe County High School will inaugurate its 1947 football practice Monday in preparation for a tough 10-game schedule.
Coach E.H. Penny, foreseeing a big amount of work in order to condition a comparatively inexperienced team, said some 25 to 30 boys are expected to be on hand for the initial workout.
The Monroeville eleven will open its season Friday night, Sept. 26, in a contest on the local field with W.S. Neal High of East Brewton.

Thieves Enter Local Store, Obtain Change: Thieves broke into Lathram’s Grocery and Market in Monroeville Tuesday night, removing a small amount of change from the cash register.
A.L. Rowell, employee of the store, who discovered the theft upon opening Wednesday morning, said entry was gained through a window in the side of the store. He said nothing other than the change had been discovered missing.
J.F. Lathram, owner of the business, is presently out of town on vacation.

97 YEARS AGO
AUG. 24, 1922

Senator Riley Kelly of Excel was among Monroeville friends Monday. He was accompanied by his wife and daughter.

Numerous fishing parties have recently resorted to Little River for enjoyable outings. The catch in most instances has amply compensated the toil and patience expended.

M. Katz left last week for St. Louis for the selection and purchase of new stock for his fall trade.

Prof. W.S. Porter was up from Excel Tuesday. Prof. Porter will teach in the home grammar school the coming session.

The Monroeville Telephone Exchange is preparing to install a new system which will obviate the delays and annoyances incident to “listening in” on party lines.

Prof. and Mrs. I.F. Simmons of Beatrice spent Friday with relatives here. Prof. Simmons is arranging to install a radio receiving set in the High School at Beatrice.

Friends here regret to learn of the death in Pensacola last Saturday of Mr. R.F. Metts, a veteran engineer of the L&N Railroad. “Dink” was reared in this community and had numerous friends.

Dr. W.B. Simmons, wife and son and Mr. C.B. Simmons motored through from Piedmont, S.C., arriving Monday evening and will spend a week or 10 days with their mother, Mrs. K.B. Simmons, and other relatives here.

Mr. F.W. Hare left with his family Tuesday for a few days outing in the vicinity of Mt. Pleasant, where they will enjoy camp life on the banks of a beautiful lake abounding with fish.

123 YEARS AGO
AUG. 25, 1896

Work on the Methodist parsonage is progressing in a satisfactory manner.

The annual session of the Monroeville Academy will open on Tues., Sept. 1.

Mr. Geo. W. Salter Jr. of The Evergreen Courant paid a brief visit to relatives at Monroeville last week.

The change in the L&N schedule which gives Repton only one train per week renders it very inconvenient for shippers.

The heavens were obscured with clouds, hence a good observation of the partial lunar eclipse could not be secured on Saturday night.

The Bear Creek Mill Co. has extended its railroad to within four miles of the city. It is possible that they may extend it via Monroeville to a point several miles east of here, tapping the timber belt beyond the Limestone range. Mr. Louiselle, the capable manager of the company, is a hustler.

The various ginneries in the vicinity of Monroeville have been kept in pretty constant operation for some days. From the rate at which cotton is opening and being gathered, the probability is that they will have abundant time for rest after a few weeks.

The elected county officers will be commissioned by the governor on Sept. 1 and will then be ready to enter upon the discharge of their duties.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Sun, Aug. 25, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 3.60 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  6.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 10.40 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 35.05 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Singleton believed much could be learned from observing geese


(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Geese can offer lessons” was originally published in the Sept. 5, 1996 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As the cool days of autumn slowly begin to appear on the distant horizon, the time will soon be at hand for the flights of wild geese to begin their journeys south. I know of nothing any more beautiful than to be atop a high hill on a night of a full moon and watch a flight of beautiful wild geese pass across the face of the glowing moon. Many of our society of today know nothing about these beautiful fowls of the air and their habits and behavior, as they make their way across the night skies on their way south.

Very few of us ever slip out on a night during the closing days of autumn, when the moon is full and seek out a high hill to witness this beautiful sight that is there in the heavens for all to witness. And, should one observe the behavior of these graceful creatures, one could learn many lessons that could make our lives much better and easier to live on this place we call Earth. In observing the flights of wild geese, we could see the importance of pulling together and helping one another in our struggle through life. Life would be much easier for the elderly and those who need assistance in their everyday living.

There was a time in our history when the country folks gave the late autumn flights of the wild geese a lot of attention. They looked for certain signs as these flocks crossed the moonlit skies of the late evenings and as darkness crept across the heavens. The early settlers learned the importance of working together by watching the formations of geese make their way to the south for their stay during the cold winter months.

By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds about 71 percent longer flying range than if each bird flew alone. As each bird flaps its wing, it creates an uplift for the bird that is following. The lesson that we humans can learn from this is that people who share a common direction can get where they are going quicker and easier when they travel on the thrust of one another.

When the lead goose grows tired, it rotates back into formation, and another goose takes over. Man should learn that it pays to take turns doing the hard tasks, and sharing leadership because we, like geese, are interdependent upon each other.

Should goose fall out of the formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. If we humans, had as much sense as a goose, we would stay in formation with those who are headed in the direction where we, too, want to go.

The geese in the formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. When we humans honk from behind, we need to make sure that our honking is encouraging. Many of us tend to honk at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

In these long flights on their way south, the geese will look after each other. When a goose gets sick or wounded, or perhaps shot by some ignorant hunter, two geese will drop out of formation and follow him down to help protect and stay with him until he is able to fly again. If he should die from his wounds, the two that stay launch out, either with another formation or catch up with the original flock that they were with when they started. A lesson that we could learn from this is that if we humans had as much sense as the wild geese, we would stand by each other as they do. We would protect and guard those that are in need until such time when they could also continue their journey through life or into another time.

Our society, with all its knowledge, yet has much to learn from the animals and birds of the air that are around us. In our world of make believe and fairyland, we tend to let pass by much that would be beneficial to us and those around this planet we call earth. We have grown to believe that we are too smart to heed the age-old lessons that has been put for us to see and learn from.

Man will never survive on this planet unless he joins in with the environment and lives in harmony with that which is here. He must learn to save and protect, regardless how small or primitive each form of life might be. I believe that we, as humans, are at the crossroads. The time is at hand when we must choose the way we are to go if we are to survive.

So, as the full moon of autumn appears high in the heavens, and the chilly winds of the coming fall season appear on the horizon, make a vow to seek out a high hill and watch a flock of wild geese pass across the face of the glowing moon. If you have never witnessed this breathtaking spectacle, it will be something that will dwell within your mind for all time to come.

Much has been placed on this earth for man to witness and learn from. During this time within our country, with the coming election and all the false promises and horn blowing, we need to look to the heavens for peace of mind and contentment. Enjoy all that you can, the beauty is here for us all to see and be a part of.

Before one knows it, the time will come when the beautiful events of nature that were missed will cause a time of sorrow to linger within the mind and soul for all times to come.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Sat., Aug. 24, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 2.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 3.60 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  6.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 10.40 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 35.05 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Fri., Aug. 23, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.10 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 1.60 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  4.20 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 8.40 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 33.05 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Theories abound over how the Green Street community got its name

Grace's Grocery in "downtown" Green Street.

One day last week, I got to talking with a man on the sidewalk between the newspaper office and the post office, and somehow or other the subject of how the Green Street community got its name came up in the conversation. I asked around and no one could seem to agree.

I first checked a book called “Place Names in Alabama” by Virginia O. Foscue, but it contains no information about Green Street. Historical records say that this community, which is located about 20 miles northwest of Evergreen, was a former saw mill town, and Evergreen library historian Sherry Johnston told me that she remembered reading about three men with the last name Green who owned and operated a saw mill in that area. She said that at one time the community was “thickly settled” and even included a commissary and a black smith shop.

Don Green, who lives in Mississippi but has ancestral roots in Conecuh County, said that his third great-grandfather John Green started the first school in Burnt Corn, which isn’t too far from Green Street as the crow flies. Don wonders if Green Street possibly took its name from the school’s founder.

Another man told me that a tale often told in the community is that a long time ago, God and the Devil had a knock-down-drag-out fight in that part of the county. When they finished, the surrounding countryside had been consumed by flames, all except for a strip of green that ran down through the middle of what we now call Green Street. The man who told me this said that he didn’t put much stock in the tale, but he’d heard it all his life.

I got to thinking about all of this last Thursday morning and not having much on my agenda at that time, I loaded up in the truck and headed to Green Street. As many of you know, to get to Green Street from Evergreen, you take State Highway 83 to Lyeffion, then turn left at the school onto County Road 30. From there, you stay on County Road 30, passing through Fairnelson, until you reach County Road 9, where you’ll see a sign for the Green Street AME Zion Church.

County Road 9 will take you to “downtown” Green Street, which on most maps is marked at the intersection of County Road 9 and Green Street Road. Last Thursday, I eased through this crossroads and made my way down to the Green Street African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, which was founded in 1891. A modern, brick church building sits there today and according to its cornerstone, the sanctuary was built in 1966.

According to the building’s cornerstone, Grand Master J.B. Lett of Pilgrim Masonic Lodge No. 160 conducted the dedication ceremony for the building back when L.S. Moore was the church’s pastor. Alfred G. Dunston was bishop, and W.B. Faddis was church elder. Trustees at that time included Amos Salter, Earlie Grace, Anderson Grace, Frank Dailey, James E. Harris, John Watkins, Bishop Salter, John A. Dailey, Charlie Grace Sr., McKenly Grace and J.M. Grace Sr.

From there, I took a few minutes to explore the church’s cemetery, which is in three sections near the church. One section is behind the church, and the other two sections are across the road. The graveyard immediately across from the church sits on a small hill and some of the graves there go back to the early 1900s.

I continued up County Road 9 to County Road 2, the northernmost limits of the Green Street community, before turning around. As I made my way back to “downtown” Green Street, I made note of the homes I saw there, including a few that looked long abandoned. Others ranged from modern mobile homes to large brick dwellings.

If you ever take the time to visit Green Street, you’ll see a number of shooting houses off in the distance, bird houses nailed here and there to fence posts and light poles, as well as old farm equipment that harken back to the early days of mechanized agriculture. A number of homes also had large family gardens, and one can only imagine the fresh vegetables enjoyed by the community’s hungry residents.

Back at the Green Street crossroads, I turned west and a short distance later pulled into the parking lot of Grace’s Grocery, an old, tin-roofed country store with two gas pumps and a pair of American flags flying under the front porch. I hopped out with an eye toward getting a Coca-Cola, only to find that the store hadn’t opened for the day. After a brief look through the front window, I climbed back in my truck and continued east.

Those of you who have been this way will know that you’ll have to drive over more than a few speed bumps before the pavement eventually turns to dirt. As you continue down, you’ll pass a number of modern chicken houses before coming to a stop sign at County Road 5, which is the Old Federal Road and makes up the border between Conecuh and Monroe counties. I sat there for a moment and decided to go south to see the large Salter monument that I knew was just a short distance down the road.

A minute or two later, I parked at the monument and got out, keeping my eyes open for snakes. This tall, white marker has been there for as long as I can remember and says: James Salter, N.C., 1760-1835, Comsy. 2 Regt., Rev. War, Member State Legislature Ala. 1823-1828, Memorial Erected by Conecuh Chapter 1972 DAR and Descendants Hon. Wiley Salter, Judge Frank T. Salter.

From there, I headed back to the Green Street crossroads and then continued east toward Purnell Methodist Church. As I traveled down this shadowy road, I noted loggers working in the distance and also had a large turkey hen run out in the road in front of me. I attempted to take a picture of her with the camera I had in the truck seat, but she proved too fast.

At the old church, which was founded in 1915, I got out for a look around. This stately wooden church sits at the intersection of County Road 30 and Green Street Road and has been the site of countless services, homecomings, singings, weddings and funerals over the years. I made my way to the cemetery, opened the gate and stepped inside.

I’d never been to this cemetery before, but I knew that my great-great-grandparents – George and Mattie Burt – were buried there. After a brief search, I found their graves there in a small plot under the blazing sun. They died four months apart in 1930. No doubt they would be very surprised by how many descendants they have today.

In the end, I enjoyed my field trip up to the Green Street community, but I’m still at a loss as to how the community got its name. If anyone in the reading audience knows, please let me hear from you. It would be interesting to hear the definitive explanation behind how this community got its distinctive name.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Thurs., Aug. 22, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 1.50 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  4.10 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 8.30 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 32.95 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Site of old covered bridge in Wilcox County is hard to reach nowadays


I was out riding around on Friday afternoon and stopped for something cold to drink at the Oak Hill Grocery. When I walked out of the store, I really had no plan, so I decided to head north on State Highway 21. About 5-1/2 miles later, I saw a sign that said “Hamburg Road,” and my thoughts turned to something I’d read about the old Hamburg community a year or so ago.

I recalled that the book “Covered Bridges of Alabama” by Wil Elrick and Kelly Kazek, which was published in October 2018, contained a 1938 black and white photo of a covered bridge across Pine Barren Creek on the Hamburg Road. Longtime residents of that area told me that the covered bridge was located between Hamburg and the McBrydes community, but that it was replaced years ago by a more modern bridge.

With all of this in mind, I turned down the Hamburg Road and began to follow it through the dense woods east of Highway 21. This dirt road was in good shape and about two miles from the blacktop, I encountered a white, wooden sign that read “Hamburg Cemetery, Founded Early 1800s.” A black arrow on the sign pointed me down a shadowy lane that ended in a metal gate across the path.

I drove down to the gate for a closer look and found it locked up tight with multiple padlocks. As prehistoric-sized horseflies buzzed all around me, I stood there at the gate and looked for any sign of the old cemetery. Seeing none, I hopped back in my truck and backed down the lane to the Hamburg Road.


Old covered bridge at Hamburg in 1938.
I continued east towards Pine Barren Creek and was surprised a few minutes later to see three large turkeys sprint across the road as if they had pressing business to attend to elsewhere. I slowed to let them pass, knowing that their days were probably numbered until the start of next turkey season. Less than a mile later, I came upon the old Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and Community Day School.

I parked, got out of the truck and strolled around the grounds for a few minutes, looking at the old church, school and sprawling cemetery. Many of you will remember that Alabama Heritage magazine recently listed this old church and school on its list of “Places in Peril,” an annual list of “places that have suffered from neglect, indifference and insensitive development.” According to Alabama Heritage, the church was built in 1912, and the school was built in 1915.


When I got back in the truck, I checked my phone and was surprised to see that I had decent signal, so I pulled up Google Maps to see if I was still tracking towards the old bridge. I then turned left back onto the Hamburg Road, but less than a half-mile later I was met with an unexpected surprise. The nice, smooth dirt road that I’d been traveling down suddenly petered out into a washed-out trail that became overgrown with tall grass off in the distance.

Even though all of the maps I had and Google Maps showed an established county road all the way to Pine Barren Creek and beyond, my eyes were seeing something else entirely different. That little voice in my head began telling me to turn around and head back the way I came or else I’d end up stuck out in the middle of the woods on a hot August afternoon. I learned years ago to pay attention to that little voice, and it’s so far kept me out of a lot of trouble.


Hamburg Community Day School.
On Saturday, I was telling a friend of mine about my field trip down the Hamburg Road, and he informed me that I’d actually been pretty close to Pine Barren Creek. He said it was probably less than a mile away, but he’d heard that the bridge there had fallen in some time ago. He said it might be possible to reach the old bridge site from the McBrydes side of the creek, but he couldn’t say for sure.

In the end, I enjoyed my drive down the old Hamburg Road and seeing the old church and school house. I can only imagine how this once-thriving community looked in its heyday when houses and farms dotted the length of this old country road. Also, before I close out, if anyone knows if Pine Barren Creek can be reached from the McBrydes side of the old bridge, please let me know. I’d like to see the site of the old covered bridge with my own two eyes, if possible.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Wed., Aug. 21, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.80 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 1.50 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  4.10 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 8.30 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 32.95 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Aug. 20, 2019


16 YEARS AGO
AUG. 21, 2003

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 0.07 inches of rain on Aug. 12, 0.5 inches on Aug. 13 and 0.6 inches on Aug. 16. He also reported a high of 92 degrees on Aug. 15 and a low of 69 degrees on Aug. 12.

Joy Wilson, owner of Joy’s in downtown Evergreen and Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce Secretary Shani Meeks invite everyone to come by Joy’s during Business After Hours next Thurs., Aug. 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Joy says she will have many new items on display along with some delicious refreshments.

Frank Chavers was recognized at last week’s meeting of the Evergreen Kiwanis Club for his 10 years of service.

Evergreen students admitted to School of Math and Science: The Office of Admissions is pleased to announce that 116 new students from all corners of the state will leave the comforts of home to become part of the unique and challenging environment at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science. Thirty-eight counties are represented in the entering classes of 2005 and 2006.
The new students at ASMS this academic year from Conecuh County are Candace Samuels, daughter of James and Jacquelene Royster of Evergreen; Ralph Grace II, son of Ralph and Gheta Grace of Evergreen; and Katie Fountain, daughter of Kenneth and Jeanell Fountain of Repton.

41 YEARS AGO
AUG. 17, 1978

Former Mayor Henry Sessions death saddens: Former Evergreen Mayor William Henry Sessions, 64, died Thursday morning, Aug. 10, at 11:45 o’clock of an apparent heart attack at the Sam Cope summer home near Gulf Shores.
Mayor Sessions was a native of Troy, a member of a prominent, pioneer South Alabama family. He lived in Montgomery for a number of years and had lived in Evergreen over 31 years.
He served on the Evergreen City Council one term, 1960-64, and then as mayor from 1964 to 1972, when he chose not to seek re-election. He served part of an unexpired term as mayor in 1973-76.
He was a member and former president of the Evergreen Rotary Club and a Mason and Shriner.
Mayor Sessions and his late father-in-law, C.H. Moorer, founded Conecuh Quick Freeze, Inc. in 1947. This firm became a most successful meat processing firm and enjoyed an enviable reputation for its quality products, particularly hickory smoked sausage, hams and turkeys. Under Mayor Sessions’ able management, Conecuh Quick Freeze, Inc. grew from a small locker plant into a meat processor employing around 50 people and its products gained wide acceptability under the “Conecuh Maid” label.
He volunteered for service in the U.S. Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor and saw many months of combat service with the Seabees (Navy Construction Battalion) in the South Pacific during World War II.
Graveside services were Saturday morning at 11 o’clock at Magnolia Cemetery with Dr. Sam Granade and the Rev. Braxton McCurley officiating.

66 YEARS AGO
AUG. 20, 1953

Local National Guard Unit At Fort McClellan For Two Weeks Training: Battery “C,” 177th Field Artillery Battalion (N.G.U.S.), local Guard unit, left Sun., Aug. 16, for Fort McClellan, Ala., for summer camp and two weeks training. The unit is part of the famed 31st Dixie Division.
Lt. Wiley Sanders Jr. will be in command of the unit at camp. Lt. Sanders was appointed 2nd Lt. and assigned to the unit in May of this year. This will be his first experience as a Guardsman as he served in the Navy during World War II.

Oil Hunt Continues With Drilling On Well Near Evergreen: Drillers are now seeking oil only one and one-half miles from Evergreen’s southeastern city limits.
Lyle Cashion Company’s rig was moved during the weekend to land owned by Dr. John W. Deming of Alexandria, La. and began drilling what is known as the John W. Deming No. 1.
The rig is located a short distance south of the Evergreen-Brooklyn highway and can be seen from the highway. Access to it is possible by taking the road leading to the home of H.S. Hagood.

Rochester, N.Y., Aug. 11 - George M. Jones of Evergreen was awarded a master of music degree at the University of Rochester’s recent 103rd commencement.
Jones, who lives at 113 Bruner Ave., took his undergraduate work at the University of Rochester also, receiving a bachelor of music degree in 1951.

91 YEARS AGO
AUG. 16, 1928

CASTLEBERRY: Prof. Geo. M. Veazey, Principal of the Conecuh County High School, very ably filled the pulpit at the Baptist Church Sunday morning and night for the regular pastor, Rev. R.D. Wright.

Andalusia Man Called By Death: Judge J.M. Prestwood, Prominent Citizen, Dies At Home In Andalusia: Stricken suddenly Wednesday night about nine o’clock, Judge J. Morgan Prestwood, 47, died at 9:30 o’clock. Judge Prestwood was taken slightly sick Tuesday, but no alarm was felt over his condition until he took a sudden turn for the worse early Wednesday night and passed away within a few minutes.
Judge Prestwood was prominently identified with the civic, religious and political life of Andalusia for many years and had served this senatorial district composed of Conecuh, Covington and Butler counties in the Alabama legislature as state senator during the Kilby administration. He later was elected mayor of Andalusia and in 1927 was named circuit judge by Gov. Bibb Graves.
In the Democratic primary of last May, Judge Prestwood was nominated for a full term and would have been re-elected in the November general election had not death intervened.

J.H. Robison made a trip from Birmingham to Mobile via an air mail plane during the past weekend. He left Birmingham at 7:10 a.m. and arrived Mobile 9:30 a.m.

Dr. W.A. Stacey of Skinnerton presented a 10-pound rutabaga at this office this week. Believe it or not, it’s the truth.

116 YEARS AGO
AUG. 19, 1903

Attention Veterans: All members of Camp Capt. Wm. Lee, United Confederate Veterans, are requested to meet in the Circuit court room in Evergreen at 10 o’clock a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, 1903. A full attendance is expected. By order of the commander. – P.D. Bowles, Commander; N. Stallworth, Adjutant.

Dr. E.A. Smith of Tuscaloosa, State Geologist, spent several days here last week. He is investigating the limestone formation in this section of the state.

Death of Elisha Hart: Elisha Hart, a worthy and esteemed citizen of this county, died on the 12th inst. at his home in Old Town beat, after a lingering illness, aged about 70 years. Mr. Hart was an unpretentious man, plain in his walk and conversation, honest and faithful to every trust, and his example in life is worthy of emulation by all.

Change of Management: I wish to give notice to my friends and the public generally that I am again in charge of the old Delmonico, now the New Magnolia Hotel, near the depot, and will endeavor to please all who favor me with their patronage. The tables will at all times be supplied with the best the market affords, and the rooms kept clean and comfortable. I solicit the same liberal patronage accorded me while in charge of the business before. Yours to please, F.N. Hawkins.

Death of John C. Donald: A.H. Donald received a telegram on Saturday afternoon announcing the death of his brother, John C. Donald, at his home in Columbia, S.C. Mr. Donald was born in this county in 1853, and removed in 1878 to Atlanta, where he remained for a few years, removing from there to Columbia, where he has sine resided.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Tues., Aug. 20, 2019

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.70 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.70 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  3.30 inches.

Summer to Date Rainfall: 7.50 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 32.15 inches.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily in Monroe County, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.405783N Lon -87.479861W. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-6, Station Name: Frisco City 5.0 WSW.

Monday, August 19, 2019

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Aug. 19, 2019

Evergreen boxer Clint Jackson

16 YEARS AGO
AUG. 21, 2003

Case Brundage, five-year-old son of Jeff and Cassie Brundage of Evergreen, shows off his catch of the day. Case reeled in five of the 10 catfish caught, which totaled 16 pounds.

The (Evergreen City) Council was presented a copy of their ad for the Hillcrest High School football program and informed that the band boosters are not charging them for the $200 advertisement. The council voiced their appreciation for their generosity, but passed a motion to go ahead and pay for the ad as they have in years past.

30 YEARS AGO
AUG. 17, 1989

In 1986, students of the late Coach Wendell Hart promoted a fundraising campaign designed to offer a scholarship in his memory to Conecuh County students.
The purpose of this scholarship is to honor a great teacher and an outstanding coach. Coach Hart touched the lives of many students through his caring attitude.
The scholarship committee is proud to announce that the first scholarship will be awarded at the end of the 1989-1990 school year.

Clinton Jackson has been sentenced to serve a life sentence in the state penitentiary in the kidnapping of Evergreen bank executive Tom Salo. Circuit Judge Sam Welch of Monroeville handed down the sentence.
Jackson, a native of Evergreen, was something of a local hero when he qualified for the U.S. Olympic boxing team in the late 1970s.
A Conecuh County Circuit Court jury found Jackson guilty of kidnapping, first degree, on June 29 after one of the longest trials ever held here. The trial began on a Monday and continued through Thursday.

41 YEARS AGO
AUG. 17, 1978

Sparta Academy’s ‘Everything Goes’ is Saturday night: Saturday night, Sparta Academy’s version of “Everything Goes” will be presented at Stuart-McGehee Field. This will be something that the people of Conecuh County have never seen before, and probably will never see again.
The festivities will begin at six o’clock at the school with concession-type food on sale highlighted by all flavors of homemade ice cream.
At seven o’clock, a scrimmage game will be played featuring the 1978 Sparta Warriors and their new head coach Rob Kelly. School patrons will want to welcome Coach Kelly and his family who come here from Monroe County. They are natives of that county and for the last two years Coach Kelly has been an assistant coach at Monroe Academy and established a reputation as an outstanding coach.
After the scrimmage game, there will be a short intermission, and then, hold on for it, will be time for “Everything Goes.” This will feature a catch-all of some of the people of Conecuh County. Come out and see the fun and see who is playing (you probably won’t believe it.)
New stadium bleachers have been purchased and are being installed.

Eddie’s Barber Shop softball team repeated as champions of the Evergreen Men’s Softball League this summer. The team defended its championship by compiling a record of 20 wins and five losses. Players are Wendell Burt, Arlton Hudson (manager), Eddie Salter, and Phil Harold; Bill Bailey, Doug Williams, Terry Chapman, Joe Andrews, Sammy Brown, Stanley Johnson and Mike Windham. Terry Frierson and Terry Peacock are not pictured.

45 YEARS AGO
AUG. 15, 1974

Trip Hendrix holds the trophy awarded him as the Most Valuable Player in the American League of the Evergreen Junior Baseball League at the all-star game Friday night at Ward Alexander Park. Trip will be a fifth-grader at Sparta Academy this fall and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hendrix.

These players from the Chicks and Pelicans were chosen for the all-star team in the American League of the Evergreen Junior Baseball League. They are Ronnie Hildreth, Cricket Jordan, Trip Hendrix, Stan Stuckey, Connery Salter, Lance Riley, Lee Talbert, Herbert Rabren, Gary Weaver, Ed Carrier, Trent Carrier, Max Cassady, Russ Raines and managers Robert Eggers, Wade Crutchfield, Wade Salter and Eddie Reeves.

When Conecuh County High School fields its first football team since before World War II this fall the Blue Devils will have these spirited young cheerleaders urging them on to victory. They are Captain Tammy Weaver, Barbara Scott and Barbara Daw; Co-Captain Denise Reed, Diana Joseph and Janice Avant. The girls attended the cheerleading clinic at Troy State University July 21-26.

66 YEARS AGO
AUG. 20, 1953

Greenie Bats Explode On Baker Team 17 To 3: The Evergreen Greenies unleashed a 19-hit assault on the Baker, Fla. nine here Sunday afternoon and pounded out a 17 to 3 win. The Greenies pushed across four runs in the first inning, two in the second and one in the third, then sent 12 men to bat in the fourth with nine of them scoring.
J.W. Windham hurled five-hit ball as he faced only 33 batters in nine innings. In all but three innings, the Baker team was returned three up, three down. Windham struck out six batters and walked four. Baker got two runs in the first and one in the top of the ninth.
The fourth inning was something of a record on the local diamond. Every man who went to bat either scored or made an out, there were no runners left on base. Every man but one scored once, and Edsel Johnson scored twice. Johnson got two hits in the game and both came in the fourth.
Warren Bolton led the Greenie hitters with four hits in five trips including a triple and a single. Jeff Moorer had three for five; Windham, Cullen Edson, Gillis Jones, Johnson and John Greel Ralls, two hits each. Chamberlin collected two hits, the only Baker batter to get more than one.
The Greenies will play Red Level here Sunday afternoon in Brooks Stadium at three o’clock.

Aggie Gridders To Report Monday; Coach Hart Greets Ten Lettermen: Around 40 boys are expected to report for the initial practices of the 1953 football season at Evergreen High School Monday. Coach Wendell Hart states that workouts will be limited to conditioning drills and non-contact work during the first week. Alabama high school rules do not permit the players to don pads for contact work until Sept. 1.
Coach Hart has asked all candidates for the 1953 Aggie 11 to report to Memorial Gym at two o’clock Monday afternoon. At that time, the boys will be weighed and measured for equipment. They will also meet their new assistant coach, Bill Parsons of Americus, Ga.
The Evergreen coaches will have a corps of 10 lettermen from the 1952 squad around which to build their team this year. Heading the returning veterans are Capt. Sam Cope and Alt. Capt. Ward Alexander Jr.
(Other returning lettermen included Lavon “Bud” Ward, Ronnie Edson, Wayne Douglas, Paul Hanks, Lamar Sheffield, Richard Taylor, Wayne Bell and Jimmy Frazier.)

91 YEARS AGO
AUG. 16, 1928

BURNT CORN: The young people of this place enjoyed a hike and sunrise breakfast last Tuesday a.m. They report a fine time.

Vacation Needs – Anything You Need In Tackle – Minnows, All Kinds – Reels, $2.75 Up – Lines, Casting and Fly – Spinners, Flies – “Gold Medal” Camp Equipment – WILD BROTHERS HARDWARD CO, Evergreen, Ala.