100-year-old newspaper headlines from The Evergreen Courant in Conecuh County, Alabama

It’s that time of the month again, time to take a trip down memory lane and review all of the interesting things that took place in Conecuh County 100 years ago, way back in March 1921.

In the March 2, 1921 edition of The Evergreen Courant, editor and owner George W. Salter Jr. reported, under the headline “Dormitory for Castleberry School,” that “local citizens in mass meeting in the auditorium of the Conecuh County High School Friday night, gave enthusiastic endorsement to plans formulated by school and municipal authorities for the building of a dormitory to house out-of-town students of the local schools and for additional rooms to be added to the local city school building.

“Numerous impromptu addresses were made by local officials and students, all endorsing the plan, and a finance committee, composed of Mrs. S.M. Castleberry, J.W. Thurmond and P.M. Skinner, appointed to superintend the raising of the necessary funds for building expenses. The town council has already appropriated the sum of $1,000 and like amounts are expected to be given by public organizations and private individuals of the town within the near future.”

Also that week, readers learned that “Judge C.R. Bricken of Montgomery was here Monday to enjoy quail shooting the last day of the season with Evergreen sportsmen. In the party with Judge Bricken were Solicitor Dickey, Sheriff Kendall and W.D. Letford.”

It was also reported that week that the “first of a series of games of basketball, to be played between the local team and Brewton, was played in Brewton Friday last, and resulted in score of 10 to four in favor of Brewton.”

In the March 9, 1921 edition of The Courant, under the headline “Castleberry Man Is Wounded In Mobile,” it was reported that “David Irwin, 25, ex-soldier from Castleberry, Ala., is at the City Hospital today (March 3) suffering with a fractured left arm above the elbow that he says was caused from a bullet being fired at him by a highwayman as he was passing along the east side of Jackson Street between St. Anthony and State streets at 11:30 o’clock last night. At the City Hospital, he could not say whether the man who fired three shots at him was white or black. Irwin came to Mobile nearly two months ago, and is taking vocational training here. He has a wife and child. Irwin is well known in Castleberry.”

Also that week, it was reported that “Ivin I. Braxton died on Thursday night last at his home near town following several weeks illness, aged 24 years. Deceased was a young man of exemplary character and had the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends who are deeply grieved at his passing. Funeral and interment occurred on Friday at Brownville cemetery.”

Also that week, it was announced that the Conecuh County League of Women Voters would “hold its second meeting Thurs., March 10, in Club room at 3:30 o’clock. Subject for this meeting is ‘The Legal Status of Married Women in Alabama.’ Program is in charge of Mrs. Edwin C. Page. All who would like to join are cordially invited to attend this gathering. Every League member is urged to be present as matters of supreme importance will be considered and discussed.”

In the March 16, 1921 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that “M.P. Powell had the misfortune to have his barn and smokehouse destroyed by fire on Monday night. Loss about 300 bushels of corn besides other feed stuff and several hundred pounds of bacon, hams and lard.”

Readers that week also learned that “Prof. J.S. Lambert of the state department of education was here on official business on Thursday last.”

Also that week, readers learned that the “Hon. John McDuffie, member of congress from the first district, was a distinguished visitor to Evergreen on Monday. He was enroute to his home at Monroeville where he will remain until the reassembling of congress early in April.”

Also that week The Courant was asked to announce that “the League of Women voters will sell homemade candy at the ball game at the Agricultural school on Friday afternoon, the 18^th, and at the picture show at night for the benefit of the mosquito campaign. Go to one of these places and sweeten up.”

Readers that week also learned that “Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Lowrey of Burnt Corn are happy over the arrival of a fine boy into their home last Thursday, March 10.”

Also that week, readers learned that “Clinton Relfe and family have moved into their new house at West Side. It is painted terra-cotta which makes it harmonize beautifully with surroundings. Wilmer Peoples will begin soon the erection of a new bungalow between the Relfe house and Hubbard Massey’s. West Side is on the upward trend is spite of hard times.”

Also that week, in news from the Flat Rock community, it was reported that a “very quiet wedding occurred near here on Tuesday night, the 8^th. That of Ed Williams and Miss Olive Joyner. The ceremony was performed at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.C. Joyner. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Williams a long, happy and prosperous life.”

In the March 23, 1921 edition of the paper, under the headline “New School Building at Bermuda,” it was reported that announcement was “made by Prof. W.R. Bennett, superintendent of education, that the new grammar school building for Bermuda has been completed and will be ready for use during the next school term. A parent-teacher association was organized in the community and will be used to raise funds with which to equip the building with desks and other fixtures.”

Also that week, it was reported that, “Herbert Ellis, writing to the editor, says that fishing is good up in Mill Beat, that he, in company with Ed Salter and little son, Jake, on last Saturday night caught 105 bream and catfish which weighed approximately 100 pounds. These were caught with hook and line, he said. Mr. Ellis gives credit to Mr. Salter and Jake for the big catch as he avers that he only carried the fish and the light until the ‘string’ got too weighty for him. He did not say in what stream these fish were caught, and perhaps it is well he did not, as some Evergreen fishermen would camp on his trail until they locate the best holes.”

Also that week, it was reported that the “first car of strawberries was shipped last night to the Northern markets, which opens the berry season in Castleberry for the year. Express shipments have been going for the last two weeks, and the first crate being shipped March 1. This is the earliest in the history of the berry business for this section for a car load to go out as well as the express shipments. The first car for the earliest shipments was made in 1919 on March 20, and today’s shipment was only two days ahead.”

In the March 30, 1921 edition of the paper, under the headline “Conecuh High Will Have Commencement,” that “commencement exercises of the Conecuh County High School will be held May 15-18, inclusive, according to announcement by Prof. Sellers Stough, principal. The senior play has already been selected with several other parts of what promises to be a very interesting program to be planned for later. There are seven members of the senior class this year.”

Also that week it was reported that “W.G. Jones had the misfortune to lose his automobile by fire on Saturday afternoon. In some unaccountable way his barn caught fire and was burned to the ground together with its contents which included his car.”

Readers that week also learned that “Luther Jackson, prominent citizen and businessman of Evergreen, for more than 30 years, died on Monday last after a long illness. A native of Tennessee, being born at Milan Aug. 25, 1859, he early in life adopted Alabama as his home, living first at Verbena, where in 1887, he was married to Miss Clara Mullins. In the spring of 1889, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson came to Evergreen and have since made this there home. Mr. Jackson soon gained the confidence and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His rugged honesty, integrity and uprightness of living were characteristics that made him friends and held them. Truly a good man has gone to his reward. The funeral and interment occurred Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock when every business house and office closed to pay the last tribute of respect to their departed friend. Dr. Dickinson performed the funeral rites.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. Next month, I plan to take a look at the events of April 1921 in Conecuh County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. The library’s friendly and courteous staff will be more than happy to get you started.