On the front page of the Aug. 3, 1921 edition of The Evergreen
Courant, editor and owner George W. Salter Jr. reported, under the headline
“Evergreen Defeats Georgiana,” that “Evergreen took a hotly contested game of
ball from the Georgiana aggregation on the home diamond here on last Thursday.
Page’s timely hitting and Moorer’s fielding on shortstop were the features of
the game. Miller’s two base hits in the last half of the tenth with Jones on
second won the game for Evergreen. Georgiana used three men from the Montgomery
city league, but to no avail.”
Also that week, readers learned that the “Conecuh County
Masonic Conference will be held with Dean Lodge No. 112 at Brooklyn on Aug.
10-11. J.M. Pearson of Alexander City, of the committee on work, will preside.”
It was also reported that week that “work was again
started last week on the City School building and it is understood that it will
be pushed to completion as rapidly as possible. The brick walls are going up
rapidly and this part of it will be completed in a few weeks.”
In the Aug. 10, 1921 edition of The Courant, it was
reported that “Dan Whittle, one of the men recently taken to the state
penitentiary, convicted of the murder of C.M. Saren at Castleberry last year,
died last week at the walls. He was in a much emaciated condition when taken
from Montgomery jail.”
Also that week, readers learned that “Frank R. McCreary
died very unexpectedly on Friday last in a hospital in Tuscaloosa, where he was
taken for medical treatment a few days before. The news of his death came as a
great shock to his family and friends. He was taken ill in Auburn, while there
attending the farmers summer school and immediately rushed home. His physician
advised that he be taken to Tuscaloosa which was done as quickly as possible,
but the malady with which he was affected had gained such hold that he did not
respond to the treatment and grew steadily weaker until the end came.”
Also that week, The Courant issued the following appeal to
its subscribers – “As subscriptions to The Courant expire, we mail statements
to those in arrears and urge upon all the importance of making prompt
settlement. The heavy cost of producing The Courant has not materially lessened
and we must insist on prompt payment of subscription as well as advertising and
printing accounts in order that we may meet without embarrassment the weekly
payroll and expense bills. While a dollar looks and is small, yet one hundred
subscribers owing $1 each means exactly $100 to us. So we urge our friends to
be as prompt as possible in making settlement of their dues. We are doing the best
we can under trying circumstances to give our patrons a newsy, entertaining
paper and we appreciate the patronage and good will of each. But if you owe us,
bear in mind we need the Dollar.”
In the Aug. 17, 1921 edition of the newspaper, it was
reported, under the headline “Clark McGehee Has Narrow Escape From Death,” that
“O.C. McGehee escaped death in a miraculous way yesterday shortly after noon.
How he came out alive cannot be explained by those who saw the accident which
came so near taking him away. He was in his truck at the Perryman Street
crossing, waiting for a freight train to pass going north, when suddenly a
southbound train came along unobserved by him until too late. The engine struck
the truck, dragging it more than 50 yards before stopping. Mr. McGehee escaped
with a few bruises and a general shaking up, but the truck was completely
wrecked.”
Also that week, readers learned that “George W. Martin
will serve as president of the Castleberry Strawberry Association during the
coming year, he having been elected to this position at the recent meeting of
stockholders of the association. Other officers elected were: F.C. Shepard,
first vice-president; J.A. Smith, second vice-president; and J.D. Lynch,
secretary. The following, with the four officers named above, will constitute
the board of directors for the year: L.A. Kirkland, E.N. Partin, J.W. Oliver,
J.E. Martin and J.L. Pickens.”
In other news out of Castleberry that week, readers
learned that “E.A. White has completed the two-story dwelling house that he has
had under construction for the past six weeks. The house will be occupied by
Mrs. Sallie Weekly. Several other new homes are expected to be under
construction within the next few weeks.”
It was also reported that week that “the population of
Belleville is slowly, but surely increasing – weddings and births being
responsible for this boom.”
Readers that week also learned that “Judge N.R. Leigh of
Brewton died on last Thursday night at the advanced age of 85 years. He was for
a long term of years probate judge of Escambia County, holding the office until
he voluntarily retired. He was the father of Judge Jno. D. Leigh.”
In the Aug. 24, 1921 edition of the paper, it was reported
that “John D. Wright is now having a modern home constructed in Old Evergreen.
Work was begun on it last week. Hobson Farris will early begin the construction
of a home on a lot hard by the Wright home. We are glad to see these evidences
of thrift. It is a good time to build in the opinion of those in a position to
know, as they claim building material is about as low a figure as it will get.
And surely Evergreen is in sore need of more housing room.
Also that week from the Annex community, it was reported
that “J.T. Salter and M.A. Lane attended the Conecuh County Masonic Conference
at Brooklyn. They report a pleasant trip, the conference well attended and say
when you want to be treated homelike and be welcome, just go to Brooklyn.”
Readers that week also learned that “county court brought
the unusual large crowd to the courthouse on Monday and a very busy day it was.
But county court is about all the court we’ve had in quite a spell.”
In the Aug. 31, 1921 edition of The Courant, it was
reported that “James D. Burnett, prominent Castleberry citizen, died in a
hospital in Mobile on Monday. He was 70 years old and is survived by his wife,
one daughter and seven sons.”
Also that week, under the headline “Cream Station Opens,”
County Agent P.R. Pettis let readers know that “we have arranged with the Selma
Creamery & Ice Co. to open a cream station here on next Sat., Sept. 3. They
will buy all the sweet and sour cream brought in on this date. A representative
of the company will be here to weigh and test all the cream brought in. All
cream sold will be paid for on the first and fifth of each month on the basis
of butter fat content at Chicago prices. The cream should be delivered here
Saturday morning.”
Readers that week also learned that “S.L. Tisdale died
suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday morning last at the home of his daughter,
Mrs. A.H. Salter, in Birmingham. The remains were brought here on Saturday
afternoon and interred with Masonic honors. Deceased was born in this county 66
years ago.
He graduated from the Southern University at Greensboro
and devoted a number of years to teaching. In 1896, he was elected Clerk of the
Circuit Court and held this office for 18 years, being successfully elected
until defeated in 1916. He was a splendid officer and popular among all
classes.”
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 September 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.
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