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

Thomas Franklin Lewis

13 YEARS AGO
FEB. 21, 2008

Former mayor dies: Monroeville and the surrounding area lost a friend Wednesday morning with the death of former mayor Windell Owens.
(Following World War II and graduation from law school), he opened his law practice in Monroeville and practiced law for 60 years until his retirement in August of last year.
Owens served as a councilman and later as mayor from 1968-72. He was the county attorney, served on the State Democratic Executive Committee and the State Bar Association.

Panthers advance to regional: J.F. Shields’ varsity boys posted a 49-36 win over Sweet Water Friday night in Beatrice to earn a sixth straight berth in the Class 1A South Region tournament.
Junior center Demetrius Finklea posted a double double to lead the Panthers in last Friday’s win over Sweet Water. He had 24 points and 12 rebounds.
(Other top players in that game were Demarcus Bonham, Rico Crosby, Steve Finklea, Cordero Fountain and Roderick Johnson. Jerome Sanders was Shields’ head coach.)

Lynch is the city’s new postmaster: Tom Lynch is counting on 13 years of service with the U.S. Postal Service and 25 years in the U.S. Marines to help him run the Monroeville Post Office efficiently.
Lynch, a native of Pardee, Wisc., was recently named postmaster of the Monroeville Post Office.
Lynch was a delivery supervisor in Winston-Salem, N.C. prior to moving to Monroeville two weeks ago.

39 YEARS AGO
FEB. 18, 1982

New water office opens: Monroeville water system manager Johnny Snyder shows water board secretary-treasurer Janice Andress and board member Dr. Jack Hines features of the company’s new building on West Claiborne Street. The new office building opened for business Monday and will be open an hour longer each day now. The new pre-cast concrete building contains a main office and lobby, manager’s office, secretary-treasurer’s office, extra office, board room and employee lounge.

Little League elects officers, directors: The Monroeville Little League elected officers and directors Tuesday night of last week.
Mike Kimbrel was named president, and Ray Owens was elected treasurer.
Board members include Johnny Ikner, Johnny Pleasant, Ray Owens, Bobby Marshall, Raymond Harrison, Willie Williams, Ronnie Daniels and Charles Black.

Commissary closes doors: The Vredenburgh Commissary closed its doors after business Saturday.
Vredenburgh Mayor Frank Stewart III, one of the co-owners of the commissary, said economics forced the closing of one of the area’s landmarks.
A group of Vredenburgh citizens bought the store in September 1980 and leased the building from the heirs of Lee Thomas, who owned the store for years with the late Sly Rutherford. The store was closed for a short time in 1980 before the group of men bought it so residents of the small town would have a place to buy gasoline and other necessities.
Since the Vredenburgh Mill closed about two years ago, the unemployment rate has soared in the area. 

63 YEARS AGO
FEB. 20, 1958

Pneumonia Ruling In Man’s Death: Death caused from pneumonia was the ruling by Nelson Grubbs, State Toxicologist from Mobile, here Monday in the death of Albert Bonner, 37-year-old furniture store employee, whose body was discovered Sunday afternoon. Monroe County Sheriff Charlie Sizemore stated Mr. Grubbs reached the decision following an autopsy here Monday. According to Mr. Grubbs’ report, the Sheriff declared, Bonner had been dead since some time Saturday night. His body was discovered around 2 p.m. Sunday in a lot of the Monroe County Livestock Market by Cleve Thomas, who lived in the vicinity.

A new road asphalting project is being planned in Monroe County, Probate Judge E.T. Millsap said Wednesday.
To cover approximately eight miles, the project will begin at the old Highway 84 east of Excel, continue past the Beulah Camp Ground, around to Hall’s Crossroads, and then westward by the residences of Seaborn and John Wright to intersect the Excel-Wildfork Road. The project will be conducted jointly by the state and county, Judge Millsap pointed out.

Kiwanis To See Film: Operation of the federal reserve banking system will be explained in a film at the Friday meeting of the Monroeville Kiwanis Club Friday at the Hi-Ho Restaurant.

Seven Monroe County men will be summoned to fill Selective Service quotas during the month of March, Miss Jewel Coxwell, clerk of the local draft board, said Wednesday. All of the men are to leave Monroeville March 3. They include one man for pre-induction physical examination, two for voluntary induction and four for regular induction.

88 YEARS AGO
FEB. 16, 1933

FIRE DESTROYS THE CASEY HOME AT EXCEL: The home of Mr. A.L. Casey of Excel, together with all household effects and clothing, was destroyed by fire last Friday night. The fire had gained such headway when it was discovered that the family barely escaped with their lives.

The new Slingshot Club of Frisco City met on Friday night of last week. The following officers were elected: President, Leighton McNeil; vice president, General Castillow; secretary-treasurer, H.B. Lee. This club has for its purpose the promoting of better sports among the men and boys of Frisco City. It is a pure, clean, outdoor sporting club and all men and boys who will are asked to join and share in real wholesome fun.

Miss Jennie Faulk is at the market this week selecting her Spring stock of millinery, coats, dresses and notions.

MCHS Band Will Play for Mardi Gras: The Monroe County High School Band has received an invitation from John D. Logan, chairman of the Mardi Gras arrangements committee, to play again this year for the Mardi Gras celebration. This is the third consecutive year that the local school band has received this honor. The boys are planning to make the trip. Mardi Gras will be celebrated in Mobile Feb. 24-28.

Mrs. B.M. Simmons sustained painful injuries last week when the hot water tank in her kitchen exploded during the cold snap.

113 YEARS AGO
FEB. 20, 1908

Asberry Wiggins, who has been a familiar figure on the streets of Monroeville for many years, is dead. While he was regarded as of unsound mind, he was harmless and useful in many ways to the citizens of the community. For many years he supplied the motive power which operated The Journal’s press.

Miss Jennie Faulk left a few days ago for the markets where she will spend several days selecting her stock of spring millinery.

The Journal is requested to announce that the Knights of Pythias will give an oyster supper at the residence of W.L. Middleton, Jones Mill, on Friday night, Feb. 27. Everybody invited.

We are requested to announce that there will be special exercises commemorating Washington’s birthday, held at the Institute, beginning promptly at 2:30 Friday afternoon, Feb. 21. The public is invited.

Prof. J.M. Sowell is at home for a brief vacation, having closed his school at Wallace.

MANISTEE: Mr. Eugene Parvin is assistant postmaster and railroad agent at this place at the present, but will be the real postmaster and agent in the near future. Mr. Parvin is a gentleman of high character and is always ready to serve the public.

PETERMAN: Quite a crowd met at the home of Mr. R.L. Lewis last Saturday to celebrate the 83^rd birthday of his father, Mr. Thos. F. Lewis. Mr. Lewis is supposed to be the oldest citizen of this community. We hope we may all live to meet Mr. Lewis on such an occasion again, it being a birth dinner and log rolling combined made a goodly number in all.