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

Concord Baptist Church at Buena Vista

15 YEARS AGO
AUG. 24, 2006

Captain D’s holds ribbon cutting: Captain D’s Seafood in Monroeville held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its grand opening Saturday morning. Dr. Thomas Butts gave a prayer followed by a greeting from Mayor Anne Farish. The number of people present was the largest she has ever seen at a Captain D’s grand opening, according to Kim Linn, regional marketing director for Captain D’s. Live remote broadcasts were held throughout the day with gifts and prizes given away. Les and Lisa Stallworth appreciate the community’s support and patronage for their new business.

Gator hunters kill 400 pounders: Monroe County natives Chris Hare and Shayla Neuschwander Smith bagged these huge gators this weekend during the first state sanctioned alligator hunt on the Mobile delta. Hare’s gator was 11 feet, eight inches and weighed 440 pounds. Smith’s gator was 11 feet, 11 inches and weighed 400 pounds. They were both caught with a hook on 50-pound fishing line, reeled in close to the boat and shot with a bow-fishing arrow and finally killed with a shotgun. Hare and Smith were among 50 persons selected to participate in the first-ever hunt.

Maples holds book signing: Debby Maples signs a copy of her recently published book, “Alabama Poetry: The Words of Music,” during a book signing last Thursday morning at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville. Pictured are Maples’ husband, James Maples; Bunny Nobles, Library Director; Debby Maples; and Mary Ann Harris, Children’s Librarian and Circulation Manager.

40 YEARS AGO
AUG. 27, 1981

Riley Kelly wins literary award: Riley Kelly of Excel won first place in the annual literary competition of the Alabama Writers Conclave for a non-fiction story on an American Indian entitled “Choctaw Chief Turned Other Cheek to White Intruders.”
Kelly, a former Monroe Journal editor and the author of several books of poetry, was presented the award during the organization’s 58^th annual conference recently at Samford University in Birmingham. The Alabama Writers Conclave is the nation’s oldest statewide organization of writers.

Big catch: Fish like this are about to become a summer’s dream, as local children start back to school this week. Lance Turberville and Shannon Rigby, fishing with rod and reel, landed two nice-sized catfish Aug. 17 at the Vanity Fair Lake. Lance, the 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Turberville of Monroeville, landed the four-pounder, and Shannon, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Rigby of Monroeville, landed the smaller two-and-one-half pounder. Lance said, “It was the biggest I’ve ever caught.” The two boys reported that they have been fishing at the lake almost every day this summer.

Concord Baptist sets anniversary service: Concord Baptist Church will observe its 150^th year of continuous service to the people of Buena Vista and the surrounding areas on Sept. 20.
The church was established as Church of Christ at Concord in 1831.
For the anniversary in September, John Henry Finklea of Monroeville, a native of Buena Vista, will give the address. Stephen Knight of Birmingham will be the organist. He is the son of A.H. and Julia Finklea Knight, natives of Buena Vista and residents of Birmingham.

90 YEARS AGO
AUG. 27, 1931

State Air Tour Will Include Monroeville: Forty Alabama towns, listed as possible stops on the state air tour which will leave Birmingham Sept. 28 with a flight of at least 20 planes, will be visited during the coming week by W.L. Wilkinson, tour director.
Mr. Wilkinson will visit every town and city of any size in the state, starting Monday by automobile. After he has covered the state in this manner and eliminated those towns that do not have or are not willing to develop landing fields, a pathfinding trip will be made by airplane to check flying time between stops.
The towns included in Mr. Wilkinson’s itinerary for preliminary consideration and which he will visit during the coming week are Monroeville, Tuscaloosa, Eutaw, Livingston, Demopolis, Selma, Mobile, Bay Minette, Flomaton, Brewton, Andalusia, Enterprise, Dothan, Ozark, Eufaula, Clayton, Troy, Auburn, Montgomery, Opelika, Lafayette, Roanoke, Sylacauga, Talladega, Anniston, Gadsden, Albertville, Guntersville, Huntsville, Athens, Decatur, Florence, Russellville, Haleyville, Winfield, Fayette, Jasper and Cullman.
The fleet of planes that will comprise the tour will include three especially built stunting planes flown by a trio of nationally known thrill pilots as well as a flight of five military ships.
In addition to a number of aeronautically prominent persons, approximately 30 distinguished citizens of Alabama will fly with the tour as passengers.
Aerobatic, parachute jumps, stunt and formation flying, as well as other air show thrills, will be given in each town visited by the tour fliers.

115 YEARS AGO
AUG. 23, 1906

Miss Jennie Faulk left a few days ago for St. Louis to purchase her fall stock of hats, millinery and ladies goods. Readers of The Journal may expect an attractive announcement on her return.

Messrs. Barnett & Jackson have unloaded three solid carloads of furniture and stoves within the last few days, the first carloads that have been actually shipped into the town. These came over the Monroeville branch of the Manistee & Repton railway.

Prof. L.K. Benson, the new principal of our school, has arrived (in Monroeville) and is at work in its behalf.

PINEVILLE: Mr. Julius Farish’s little boy was playing in the yard at home a few days ago and was badly bitten by an angry dog. His cheek was mangled and his eyelid bitten, but he is recovering. They shot the dog.

PERDUE HILL: Misses Ida May and Fannye Knight Morrissette of Mobile visited Mrs. G.W. Gaillard and Miss Mazie Moore this week.
Quite a nice dance was given last Friday night in honor of the visiting girls. All who attended reported a good time.
Messrs. Henry Tuthill, Dan Eddins and Monroe Agee and Miss Lillian Tuthill, all of Claiborne, attended the dance here Friday night.

FINCHBURG: Mr. Ben Massey left Sunday for Portland where he has accepted a position as clerk for Mr. John Bradford.

140 YEARS AGO
AUG. 22, 1881

Capt. W.T. Nettles, our worthy representative in the legislature, was in town last week.

Messrs. J.M. Slaughter, Robt. Maibin, Blanchard Marshall and William Marshall, all of Perdue Hill, except the latter, who is of Mobile, paid our town a brief visit last week.

C.J. Torrey, Esq., has returned to Claiborne for a brief time.

Col. T.C. McCorvey, Commandant at the state University, returned to his old home at Monroeville last Thursday, and will remain a short while with relatives and friends. Col. McC. is always welcomed to his old home by a host of warm and admiring friends.

Col. T.S. Wiggins, one of Monroeville’s most prominent attorneys at law, has been complaining of ill health during the past week.

Mr. Jno. W. Davison, the genial and talented young editor of The Evergreen Star, was in town last week. “Johnnie” has many friends in old Monroe who wish him every success in his new field of labor.

TO OUR PATRONS AND FRIENDS – We are now receiving by steamer Mary 250 bushels of corn, 25 barrels flour, bacon, sugar, coffee, rice, molasses, together with many other articles in the grocery department. Also, at the same time a general stock of dry goods, all of which we are now offering to our customers and friends at very low prices. – C.L. Clausell & Co., Monroeville.

J.M. LOWERY, Watchmaker & Jeweler, Perdue Hill, Alabama, is prepared to repair watches, clocks and jewelry of every description, promptly and satisfaction in every instance guaranteed.