Thursday, September 30, 2021

Native Americans enjoyed muscadines long before European settlers reached North America

Marie Johnson of Hickory Hollow Vineyard.
A few days back, I had the pleasure of spending some time at the Hickory Hollow Vineyard at Goodway. While there, owner Marie Johnson gave me the grand tour of the place, and we had a good, long talk on a wide variety of subjects, including the history of her family vineyard and the ins and outs of its operation. I hadn’t been to this vineyard in about 30 years, and it was nice to see that it hadn’t changed much since the early 1990s.

Through the woods, I grew up a short distance from Johnson’s vineyard, and I’ve always felt a special attachment to the Goodway community. My Womack ancestors, including my grandmother, were from the Goodway area, just down from Enon Church, and during my teenage years, me and many of my friends all went to church at Goodway Baptist. To this day, we are probably the only group of kids to get so rowdy during a church volleyball game that the deputies were called because a little old lady who lived next door to the church thought we were having a big fight.

After leaving the vineyard, as I made my way back to Monroeville, I took State Highway 21 north from Goodway Junction. At Megargel, I stopped at Lowe’s Quick Stop to see if my cousin Justin was around, but since he wasn’t, I didn’t linger. Instead, I bought a bottle of Coke and some peanuts and struck off again north towards Frisco City.

As I drove along, I thought about how my grandfather had a scuppernong vine down the hill behind his house. As a child, we’d pick scuppernong grapes sometimes after getting off the school bus, and I’d eat so many of them that I’d almost make myself sick. My favorite way to eat them would be to get them cold in the refrigerator first, but I’d eat them right off the vine too.

Scuppernongs are just one variety of muscadine, but people often use these terms interchangeably. I also hear people call them a “bullis.” Like scuppernongs, a bullis is another variety of muscadine, often much darker in color than other types. Scuppernongs are usually bronze in color.

Muscadines are native to the Southeastern United States and were consumed by Indians long before the first Europeans arrived in the New World. Sources say that Indians would dry out muscadines, essentially turning them into raisins, for a winter food source. They also made different types of drinks and poultices out of muscadines, and they also had a way to make blue dye out of muscadine grapes.

Probably the most famous Indian drink was the “black drink” that was used during ritual purification ceremonies. Most of us probably first heard about this drink during Alabama History class, and some of you may remember that this drink was made from the yaupon holly plant, not from muscadine grapes. You can make wine out of muscadines, but as best that I can remember, I’ve never sampled any.

In the end, big thanks to Mrs. Johnson for taking the time to talk with me about her vineyard and for giving me a tour of the place. If you’ve never been to see this vineyard for yourself, think about taking the time to do so. If you’re like me, you’ll leave wishing you had time to stay longer.

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

'History of Boiling Springs' offers fascinating look into life in early Wilcox County, Alabama

1911 Hupmobile
Newspaper reader David Weir sent me an interesting, 11-page document the other day called “History of Boiling Springs in the Early Days – 1820.” The original author of this old document is apparently unknown, but it was transcribed by William L. Fluker of Winona, Miss. in 1998. It offers readers a fascinating look into the life of early Wilcox County.

Many readers will know that Boiling Springs is a small community located in the extreme northwest corner of the county, not far from the Marengo and Dallas County lines. However, this short history of the area not only describes the early history of Boiling Springs, but it also provides historical information about Gastonburg, Prairie Bluff, Rehobeth and other small communities in that area. Space doesn’t allow a full description of everything discussed in this 11-page history, but here are a few of the highlights:

·         No Indian mounds are to be found in the vicinity of Boiling Springs, but a few arrowheads were found near supposed Indian camps.

·         Chilatchee Creek is the largest creek in the area named by the Indians.

·         Prairie Bluff was a large shipping center before the Civil War and had 27 stores, a hotel, drug stores and doctor’s offices. Large stores all had lounge rooms where decanters of whiskey, wine, water and plenty of sugar, glasses and spoons were free to the customers of the store.

·         On April 20, 1892 a tornado passed south of Gastonburg and hail fell in such quantities that fish froze and great schools of them floated out of the creek and onto the banks. People flocked to the creek to carry these fish home and “a feast was had by all.”

·         Some of the county’s early French immigrants planted mulberry trees for the purpose of raising silk worms, but the venture proved unsuccessful.

·         A Frenchman named Shadrick built the area’s first windmill to grind corn. It served until a tornado blew it to pieces. The first sawmill operated by steam as built by a man named Atwood in 1840.

·         After the Civil War, carpetbaggers flooded into Wilcox County, including DeForest Richards, Marsh Candee, A.L. Morgan, William Henderson, J.D. Frazier, F.N.R. Beck and George Lewis. Wilcox County officials appointed by the Abraham Lincoln Administration included Tax Collector A.L. Morgan, Legislator William Henderson, Sheriff Marsh Candee, Justice of the Peace J.D. Frazier and Justice of the Peace English Robbins.

·         Textbooks used by early Wilcox County teachers included McGuffey’s Reader, The Blue Back Speller, Webster’s School Diction, Davies’ Arithmetic and Smith’s Grammar. Students used goose quills for pens, and these were cut by the teacher or older pupils.

·         The author also outlined the harsh punishments used in early Wilcox County schools. If a pupil misspelled a word, the teacher would take the child by the ear and hold the book so close to the child’s eyes that he could not see the print and squall, “Do you see it!?!” Another type of punishment was to catch a boy by the seat of his pants and lift him so that his toes would barely touch the floor and make him tiptoe across the room several times. When the child was released, he was usually hit in the head with a book before he was permitted to return to his seat.

·         Gastonburg was named after David F. Gaston, but the town was also called Gaston, Sandy Pit, Paris and Birmile.

·         The first automobile in the Boiling Springs area was a Hup owned by R.J. Goode Sr.

In the end, this is just a sample of the interesting information contained in this document on Boiling Springs history. If anyone in the reading audience knows who wrote it, please let me know. Also, let me hear from you if you know any additional historical tidbits about the northwest corner of Wilcox County.

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for Sept. 22, 2021

William Simpson Keller
72 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 22, 1949

Aged Arlington Man Dies Saturday: “Uncle” Giles Green, Arlington, who was said to be at least 102 years old, died at Annie Manie Saturday. Widely known to Wilcox residents west of the river, Uncle Giles had lived on the Rikard place near Arlington for more than 50 years.
Giles was a chairmaker, and his hickory porch chairs can be found in all parts of Wilcox County, he having sold them on both sides of the river, some 20 or 30 years ago.

Camden Defeats Strong Chilton Team: An underrated Camden eleven flashed a deadly running attack to turn back a highly-favored Isabella eleven 19 to 0 here Friday night. Before the game was many minutes old, little Johnny Middlebrooks took a handoff from Bill Parsons, skirted his own right end and went in the corner standing up. The Tigers led 6 to 0. Midway the second period, Parsons took a pass from center, faded back and hit Dave Bonner, Tiger end, who made a nice grab on the two and fought over for the score. This gave the Tigers a 12 to 0 lead at half time.
After several exchange of kicks, the Bengals took over on their 35 and on the first play, Middlebrooks broke into the clear over his left tackle, reversed his field, and with good downfield blocking on the score. Jim Dunnam bucked the point over to give Camden a 19 to 0 lead.

Middlebrooks Begins As Tax Collector Oct. 1: C. Gilbert Middlebrooks, who was elected as Tax Collector for Wilcox County last year, will begin his term of office on Oct. 1, it was announced this week. Middlebrooks has been working for the State of Alabama as an examiner for the Department of Revenue pending the start of his term as County Tax Collector.

84 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 23, 1937

Senator J.M. Bonner was a business visitor to Montgomery and Birmingham Wednesday.

NOTICE – I am now operating the Barber Shop in the Alford building, will appreciate a share of your business. – HOMER LeCROY.

Mr. Clifton Albritton left Tuesday for New York City for the National meeting of the American Legion. He was joined en route at McMinnville, Tenn., by his brother Dr. Sam Albritton.

Mr. D.H. Sharp, while moving hay on his plantation, ran over and mowed off a rattle snake’s head which had 15 rattles and a button, the snake was five feet in length.

Mrs. John Demming Jr. of Evergreen was guest of Mrs. Lottie Beck Monday afternoon. Mrs. Demming will be so pleasantly remembered as the charming and vivacious Kate Haynes of her high school days here.

Mr. and Mrs. William Lawler announce the birth of a baby boy, whom they have named Billie Joe.

Rev. J.G. Dobbins is planning to meet his appointments at Ackerville, Gulletts Bluff and Coy Sunday at the usual hours.

97 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 25, 1924

Col. Geo. W. Chandler of Neenah sent in a very fine pear, being very large and of fine flavor to the Progressive Era office this week. Col. Chandler raises lots of everything good to eat around his place, the writer has been there.

PLACING OF 1812 MARKER: Mrs. Wells Thompson, nee Carrie Tait of Houston, Texas, a member of Capt. James Asbury Tait Chapter, National Society Daughters of 1812, has requested Mrs. Samford C. McMurphy, a former state historian of all Daughters of 1812, to place a marker at the grave of her grandfather, Capt. James Asbury Tait.
This interesting event will take place at the Tait family burying ground near Coy, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m., 1924. The relatives and public are cordially invited to attend.
Mrs. James Tait Beck and Mrs. Sanford C. McMurphy have arranged the following program: Invocation, Rev. Paul E. Engle; Trombone Solo, The Star Spangled Banner, Rev. J.W. Rosborough; Reading, Your Flag and My Flag, Little Miss Amelia Beck; Sketch of life and 1812 military service of Capt. James Asbury Tait by Mr. Peter A. Brannon of Department of Archives and History, Montgomery; Solo, My Own United States, Mrs. Felix Tait; Placing of Marker, Mrs. Sanford McMurphy and Mrs. Mary Tait Beck; Song, America; Benediction, Rev. Rosborough.

Furman: Our public school opened Monday morning with a large enrollment. We are glad to have for our teachers this year. Mrs. Mathis as principal and Miss Herman as primary teachers, the same positions they filled so well last season.

110 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 28, 1911

Mr. Henry Goldsmith of the Steamer American came out from Bridgeport and returned to the boat at a lower landing. The American was aground at Hurricane bluff last week for 24 hours and the river is now very low.

Mr. W.S. Keller, State Highway Engineer, spent Tuesday in town looking after our demonstration road now being surveyed by Mr. Blair Hughes of Birmingham.

The many friends of Mr. Burford Hollinger will regret to learn that he had the misfortune of breaking his arm Saturday.

The dance at the Hall was very much enjoyed by the young people.

Judge B.M. Miller and family have returned from the beautiful summer home in the Grampian Hills.

The young men of Camden gave a delightful dance in honor of the two visiting young ladies Miss Latimer Watson with Mrs. W.B. Jones, and Miss Marjorie Bruce with the Misses Jones.

Mr. Clarence Holman, who is a druggist at Brewton, came home last week to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Holman Sr. and other relatives. His friends were glad to greet him.

We regret to learn that young Walter Alford had an attack of appendicitis at Selma last Friday. He was operated on and is doing nicely. His many friends hope for his speedy recovery.

124 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 22, 1897

Mr. H.E. Voltz, one of the largest merchants in East Wilcox, spent several days in Camden last week, the guest of Mr. R.L. Rentz.

A false alarm of fire given last Friday had the desired effect, that of breaking the monotony.

Billy McConnico says there are 16 boarders at the county’s house of safety.

Sheriff McConnico is spending a few days at his old home at Allenton this week.

Canton Bend gave a dance last Thursday night at the Academy, which was enjoyed by a large crowd from that town and a few from Camden.

Mr. E.P. Boltz has put up a wind mill at his livery stable. It can be seen from quite a distance.

The friends of Francis M. Purifoy will be glad to know that he has been appointed private secretary to President J.K. Powers of the University.

THE HOUSE OF DETENTION: The passengers on board the Steamer Tinsie Moore were removed therefrom and carried out to Mt. Progress, which place was made a house of detention by our county and town officers. The inmates are as follows: Messrs. Hertzfield, Stollenweick and families, Messrs. Benson, Bragg, Black and Snow Bros. Dr. J.C. Benson is attending physician and also has control of all inmates. Messrs. Welch and Hawthorne are the outer guards.

Saturday, September 18, 2021

Singleton tells of time living with Apache Indians after the Korean War

An Apache hogan hut at Monument Valley.
(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 “September brings anniversary of a memory” was originally published in the Sept. 9, 1993 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Strange, how during the times of the year when certain events happened in the past, the memory seems to become stronger.

It was during the month of September many years ago when I ventured forth to visit the family of a fallen friend who lived in the desert country of Arizona.

The Son of Slow Man was a member of the White Mountain Apache Indian tribe. He had joined the Marines to see the world and cast his fortune upon the hopes that he might someday retire and return to his land and help lead his people in a more fruitful and better life. But sometimes fate deals in strange and mysterious ways.

The Son of Slow Man would never see these times that he had hoped for. He was killed in combat in some of the bloody fighting during the Korean War. He was laid to rest on a frozen hillside, far from the land that he loved and talked about so much. Later, along with many others, his body was exhumed and shipped to his desert homeland for re-burial.

I had contacted his family by letter and notified them as to the time of my arrival at a small trading post near the then small community of Apache Junction, Arizona.

I knew that somewhere out there in the vast desert, my friend’s father and mother lived a primitive life, almost as their ancestors had, over a hundred years ago. Requesting that they meet me at this location, I set out on a journey that will live in memory always.

I arrived at our rendezvous point about 10 a.m. on the 12th day of September. I was told by the owner of the small trading post that if I had any ideas about riding the motorcycle I was traveling on out into that desert sand that I was crazy.

He informed me that the family of Slow Man lived about 3-1/2 hours by horseback, “out thataway,” pointing into the vast desert. For a country boy from South Alabama, I knew that I didn’t need to get lost out there, a hundred miles from nowhere.

The owner of the trading post allowed me to park my motorcycle in the corner of a sheep pen nearby, assuring me that it wouldn’t jump over the wooden fence that surrounded the sheep corral.

About the time that I had almost given up hope of being met by the family, a wagon drawn by two small mustang-looking horses drew up at the trading post. On this wagon was an old Apache man and his wife.

With the help of the trading post owner, I convinced the old Indian that I had been the friend of his dead son. Slow Man could speak broken English enough that he and I could communicate to a degree. His wife either spoke no English or didn’t want to speak any. She only spoke in the Apache tongue.

Prior to leaving the trading post, the owner informed me if I wanted anything else to eat beside sheep mutton, I had better get it now. He informed me that I was about to enter another world. Little did I know that he was telling the absolute truth.

Loading my few belongings on the wagon, we headed out across the vast desert. As the wagon wheels ground through the deep sands and jolted over small boulders about the size of a man’s head, I tried to relate my story to Slow Man about my friendship with his son.

The wife of Slow Man did not speak one word during the almost four-hour journey that ended atop a high plateau, where the Hogan of Slow Man was located.

The mud Hogan was about 30 feet in diameter. It had one door and one small window. In the top was a hole about the size of a man’s hat. This hole allowed the smoke to escape from the fires that warmed the Hogan in the winter and from the cookfire built inside when the severe cold kept the old Indian woman from cooking outside.

There was no furniture inside except a wooden barrel that sat upright with a kerosene lantern sitting on top. The old Indian and his wife slept on the hard sandstone floor of a pallet made of thick, heavy sheepskins.

I was told I could sleep across the Hogan from the old couple, or I could sleep outside where the air was cool. I informed Slow Man that I would try both places before I made up my mind. A faint smile came upon the aged and wrinkled face of the old Indian.

For a living, Slow Man and his wife raised a few hundred sheep, along with a few head of cattle there in the desert. Wanting something to do to pass the time, I jumped in and did everything I could to help with the herding and the gathering of firewood for the coming winter.

This pleased the old man greatly. His wife even began to communicate with me. To my total amazement, she could speak fair English. I was even shown the way down to the windmill and the watering tank for the sheep and cattle. Here, I could bathe on occasion, provided no one was around getting their weekly supply of drinking water.

It wasn’t until about 10 days after my arrival that I found out that the old Indian couple also had a daughter. Through hard work, this daughter had gotten a college degree and now taught at an Indian school quite a distance away.

Telling her that I wanted to visit the grave of her brother, she informed me that she didn’t know where her brother’s grave was. Then she told me of the burial rituals of her people for those who had fallen in battle.

She stated that the remains of her brother had been carried out into the desert by some older members of the tribe and buried in a secret spot, known only to them. A herd of horses was run back and forth across her brother’s grave so that it could not be recognized again.

After telling her father what I wanted to do, Slow Man led me to the edge of the high plateau and pointed to the distant sunset. “He’s out there,” said the old Indian. “He talks to the winds. Before too long, I too, will sleep out there with him. Then we both can talk to the winds. If you return someday to these lands, I will be out there.”

The old and tired man then pointed to the glowing sunset.

Before my stay was over with Slow Man and his family, I was to become a part of a ritual that made me a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. I, too, was adopted by the old man and his wife as their son.

After almost two months there on the high plateau, I knew the time was at hand for me to return to my people. One night, around the hour of midnight, I gathered up my few belongings and began the long walk back to the trading post and my transportation.

I knew that the agony of a final farewell to these people whom I had grown to love and respect would be too much. I took the easy way out. Leaving a farewell letter that I had prepared earlier on my bed of sheepskins, I slipped into the desert darkness.

I knew that the daughter of the old Indian couple, upon her return from school in a few days, would read the letter and explain to them why I had slipped away into the desert night without saying goodbye.

Almost four months was to pass before a letter came to me to my mother’s address. The message was from the daughter of Slow Man, telling me that her father, and my friend, had passed away. The letter told me that Slow Man had joined his son, there in the desert.

Now, their spirits walked together, and the spirit of the old Apache now talked to the winds.

(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 also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. 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.)

Friday, September 17, 2021

Eli McMorn and the Strange Case of Kill Devil Hill – Part 17

The Beretta roared in my hands and before the echo of its morose report faded, red pain lanced across the side of my head, just below my right ear. Ignoring the raw pain, I sighted down the length of the gun’s barrel again and squeezed off another round. This time, hot lead struck the copperhead snake just behind its head, nearly severing it from its tumescent body.

Both women atop Kill Devil Hill squawked in mirthless surprise and spun on their heels as a thin cloud of mephitic smoke from the discharged gun wafted away on the acrid breeze towards old Claiborne. The trembling woman in the pumpkin-orange shirt was too stunned to speak but jumped back, startled, an instant later when she saw the dead snake near her booted foot. I holstered my sidearm and said the first thing that came to mind.

“Eli McMorn, ladies. At your service.”

No sooner had I put my gun away, orange shirt drew a gun of her own. It was a small Ruger SR 22. It wasn’t the first time that I’d been on the wrong end of one.

The woman’s pallid hands shook, and the gun’s menacing muzzle jiggled slightly. Watching it made me nauseous. “You mind pointing that in another direction? I’d hate for it to go off.”

I touched the right side of my face with my left hand, and it came away bloody. My first shot not only missed the venomous snake, but the round had ricocheted, nearly taking my head off. I unslung my pack, knelt and dug around for my first-aid kit.

“Who are you?” orange shirt asked, gun raised.

I glanced up. I could read the distrust on their haggard faces. Not that I blamed them. They were in the middle of these ominous, wild woods with an armed stranger. Women in Claiborne were smart to remember that the murder rate here is six times the national average and that people go missing all the time. For all they knew, I was the Claiborne Ripper.

The other woman, the calmer of the two, was closer. She was thin and tall, almost elvish in appearance. She wore a faded Black Sabbath t-shirt over Levis and hiking boots.

I handed her my press badge. “Eli McMorn, The Claiborne Herald,” she read from the laminated card.

In an attempt to put them at ease, I gave them my best smile, a hapless, toothy grin that said I was harmless. “Now that you know who I am, why don’t you put the gun away, so we can all be friends?”

Orange shirt gave her companion a dubious look. Orange shirt was the older of the two girls and the one in charge. Her short black hair was covered mostly by an old Claiborne Colonels baseball cap.

“What are your names and what are you doing here?” I asked as I began to patch up the cut below my ear. The hilltop pebbles beneath my right knee dug into the skin of my bony kneecap. I stood up to relieve the discomfort and that’s when orange shirt worked the slide to chamber a round.

“I’m Kat Corwin, and this is Abby Armitage,” she said, nodding towards her friend. “We’re Claiborne State researchers, and you’re in our camp. This is your invitation to leave.”

She thumbed off the gun’s safety and leveled the barrel at my chest.

(All rights reserved. This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.)

 

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Is there an undiscovered, underground cavern near Pine Barren Creek in Wilcox County, Alabama?

Eastern Pipistrelle
Regular readers of this column know how much I enjoy hearing from readers. They always ask thoughtful questions and often provide interesting information. One such reader reached out to me this week with a fascinating, mysterious snippet of information that raises many more questions than it answers.

This loyal newspaper reader sent me a clipping from the March 5, 1890 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era. That clipping read as follows: There is a place near Pine Barren Creek on the lower Snow Hill Road, about 10 miles from Camden, where many suppose there is a cave beneath the ground. The hoofs of horses, and even human footsteps, give forth a peculiar hollow sound, as though a cavern was underneath. As yet no opening has been found.

Again, this clipping raises many more questions than it answers. First off, how did the newspaper learn about this? Did someone or a number of people come by the newspaper office to report it? Did members of the newspaper staff go to the site and investigate it first hand?

Taking modern roads from Camden to Snow Hill, the most direct route is to travel east on State Highway 28 before getting on State Highway 21, which passes through Snow Hill. Less than half a mile north of the Highway 28-Highway 21 intersection, Highway 21 passes over Pine Barren Creek. This is about 14 miles from Camden, which is a little farther than the “about 10 miles” noted in the newspaper clipping.

My feeling is that the “lower Snow Hill Road” referenced in the newspaper clipping may no longer exist or may be called by another name. It would be interesting to know if anyone in the reading audience remembers where this road was located. Its location would help us identify the site of this suspected cave.

One is left to wonder if an entrance to this cave was ever found. Of course, it’s possible that the top of the cave eventually collapsed, and it’s also possible that the “cave” described was actually a developing sink hole. At some point in the past, this “cave” may have totally undermined a large section of the road.

According to the Alabama Cave Survey, there are more than 4,200 documented caves in Alabama. About two-thirds of the state’s caves are located in Northeast Alabama. Wilcox County is located in the state’s Coastal Plain, which contains the fewest number of caves in the state.

Perhaps the two best known caves in Wilcox County are Stone’s Cave and Mt. Moriah Cave, which have both been heavily studied by wildlife biologists and conservationists over the years because they are known to house different species of bats. Both of these caves shelter a type of bat called the Eastern Pipistrelle. Also known as the “tricolored bat,” these small bats are major carriers of rabies.

In the end, let me hear from you if you have any information you’d like to share about caves in Wilcox County, especially the suspected cave near Pine Barren Creek between Camden and Snow Hill, Mt. Moriah Cave and Stone’s Cave. Caves such as these are a natural wonder, and it’s important to document such things for the generations yet to come. Also, if you know of a good cave you’d like to show me, please let me know because I’m always up for a good field trip.

(Got a comment or question? E-mail Lee Peacock at leepeacock2002@hotmail.com.)

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for Sept. 15, 2021

70 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 20, 1951

Services Held For D.P. Harper: Funeral services for D.P. Harper, 29, of Pine Hill on Saturday, Sept. 15, at three o’clock in the afternoon. Harper, popular salesman for the Bailey Newell Tobacco Co. of Demopolis, was killed here early Friday morning when he accidentally came in contact with an electric power line believed to have been dislodged by a storm. The accident occurred near Journey’s Inn at Camden where Harper and another salesman had occupied a tourist cabin for the night.
Wilcox Coroner Edwin Riggs said that Harper’s head contacted the low-hanging power line as he walked from the cabin, about six o’clock Friday morning.
Prior to his employment by the tobacco company, Harper had traveled in this section for four years for the Alabama Wholesale Co. of Pine Hill, wholesale grocers, and was widely known and well liked by merchants over the area. A navy veteran of World War II, he was active in the softball league of the summer recreation program in his community.

Pine Hill Defeats Plantersville: A strong Pine Hill squad last Friday night defeated Plantersville, the Dallas County High School eleven, by a score of 33 to 7. The Bulldogs were ready and outclassed the Dallas aggregation.
Coach Daniel’s boys will play on their home field again this week, when they come up against Uniontown. Last year, the Bulldogs took Uniontown by a score of 44 to 14, and are expecting to win again in this year’s meeting, though the count may be closer.

83 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 15, 1938

Deputy Sheriff Goode King Tait of Camden was shot and instantly killed while attempting to arrest Jonas Martin, about noon Sept. 8. The fatal shooting occurred in a body of woods near Miller’s Ferry.
The tragic death of Mr. Tait brought sorrow to all the people of Camden and to his many friends over the county and elsewhere. A very large crowd of relatives and friends gathered at the home of his brother, former Sheriff F.F. Tait, for the funeral service Friday afternoon, Sept. 9. People came from all sections of the county and from other counties to attend the funeral rites. The service was conducted by Rev. R.C. Kennedy, and burial was in the family lot in the Camden cemetery.
Mr. Tait was the youngest child of the late Charles E. Tait and Ada Lydia Foster Tait. He was born at the family home in Rockwest July 9, 1904 and was thus 34 years of age. He attended the Camden schools and graduated from the Wilcox County High School. Following his graduation, he went to Dallas, Texas, where he completed a business course. For some time, he was employed by the Ford Motor Co. at Mesquite, Texas. About 1930, he returned to Camden where he has resided since. For some years since his return, he has served as Town Marshal and has also been employed as a deputy sheriff. He made his home with his brother, Mr. F.F. Tait of Camden.
As a law enforcement officer, he was honest and fearless. He had the full confidence and respect of his companions in the local Sheriff’s office and was highly regarded by the law enforcement officers of the surrounding counties. He died bravely at his post of duty, attempting to enforce the law.

96 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 17, 1925

TOM JENKINS BEATS LOBERT’S MARK: Danville, Ill., Sept. 12 – Fleet footed Tom Jenkins, Danville “Three Eye” club left fielder, established a new record by circling the bases in 13-3/5 seconds at a “players field day.” He beat the major league record of Hans Lobert, formerly with Cincinnati, whose mark was 13-4/5 seconds.

Mr. W.P. Preston, who lives near Bellview, has discovered on his land two very striking rocks and has written Dr. Eugene Smith of Tuscaloosa about his find. Some time ago, there was a cave-in of the land exposing two flint rocks, one is about six to eight feet long, with top and sides and bottom perfectly smooth with a hole through the center, four inches in diameter extending within two feet of the end. Underneath the end where the hole stops are some kind of peculiar hieroglyphics. This rock probably weighs two tons. The other rock is nearby, is five or six feet long, tapering at each end, scooped out in the exact shape of a skiff. Nearby is a very large Indian mound, which has never been opened and quantities of flint arrowheads are all around the surface of the ground.

Capt. Walter M. Jackson, Principal of the Wilcox County High School, was stricken with appendicitis Monday night and was taken to the Selma Hospital on the morning train. It is the warmest wish of his many friends that he will have a speedy recovery.

Mr. R.H. Neville of Selma is enjoying a delightful trip to Atlantic City when he merited for the great amount of insurance he has written during the past year.

109 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 19, 1912

The cotton fields are white with cotton, and the fleecy is opening and is being ginned very fast.

Be careful about ginneries. Mr. E.R. Glass of Uniontown, a well known resident, was caught in some belting and crushed to death.

Prof. Emmett Kilpatrick has been elected Professor of Modern languages and history at Blacksheer College, Georgia and has gone to fill the new position. He is amply qualified to occupy the chair and his many Camden friends are pleased at his selection.

Camden Grammar School now has an enrollment of 118 and still increasing.

Dale Lodge No. 25 of Masons will meet next Friday night at 7:30 o’clock.

The Caterpillars are now destroying the cotton crops on the river and creek bottoms and prairie land. Many are now using Paris Green to check their destructive efforts.

The gulf storm reached Camden last Sunday, and the winds while not very high, were pretty galy. Considerable rain fell. The Alabama riverboat National sunk while anchored at Mobile. At Pensacola, the storm was severe and old considerable damage. Last Tuesday afternoon, a thunderstorm passed over Camden. Lightning struck the residence occupied by Mr. J. Somerhalder and damaged a chimney. No other damage reported.

123 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 21, 1898

Ellis’ Landing: We have again opened Ellis’ Landing for the benefit of the public. We are prepared to receive and ship all country produce and our landing is especially adapted for shipping stock. Freight consigned to our care will be delivered promptly. We are fixed up for business and ask for a share of your patronage. – B.W. GRIUR, Manager.

Mr. Jos. Lambert passed through our berg last Thursday with a large drove of fine cattle.

Mr. R.C. Jones opened his school at Canton last Monday with very flattering prospects. He will be ably assisted by Miss Annie Mae Jones. With these talented and accomplished teachers, Canton can expect a first class school. The Progress wishes for teacher and pupils a pleasant and prosperous session.

The Wilcox County Bible Society, auxiliary of The American Bible Society, keeps Bibles on hand for rich or poor. If you are not able to buy, one will be given you. – J.W. McCaskey, Depository.

Trade improved a little in our town last Saturday, but it still is not tremendous.

Only about one-fifth the cotton has been shipped from our town this fall as there was at this time last fall.

Daily Hack line from Camden to Catherine: Mr. Moultrie Ratcliffe, Conductor, will look after the comfort of the ladies. Leaves Camden 5:30 a.m., arrives in Camden 6 p.m., meets both trains. Fare one way $1.50. Best roads and quickest trip will carry light freight and express packages at satisfactory prices. – W.T. Alford Jr., Manager.

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Sept. 14, 2021

45 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 9, 1976

Evergreen weather reporter Earl Windham reported .85 inches of rain on Sept. 1, .05 on Sept. 2, .15 on Sept. 3, .85 on Sept. 4 and .03 on Sept. 5. He reported a high temperature of 92 degrees on Sept. 3 and a low of 67 on Sept. 2.

Conecuh County’s new area vocational school will open in September 1977, according to a tentative schedule released by Superintendent of Education Wayne Pope. A site for the school has been approved by the State Department of Education and will be announced at a later date.

Evergreen voters return to the polls Tuesday to complete the job they began in the first municipal election on Aug. 10. Two places on the city council are involved in the runoff election.
In Place 2, Walter B. Hudson Jr. and O.F. Frazier are in the runoff. Knud Nielsen, the incument, and Aubrey Dean Padgett are involved in the runoff for Place 5.
Voters elected Mayor O.B. (Bert) Tuggle to a full term of office on Aug. 10. At the same time, they elected the following men to the council: Pat Poole, Place 1; Alex Johnson, Place 3; and Lomax Cassady, Place 4.

Jeff Jeffers, general manager of LTP Southern, in Evergreen, has been named Vice President of Leisure Time Products, it was announced today, by W.P. Marshall, President of the Nappanee, Indiana based firm.

52 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 11, 1969

Record judgment is assessed by jurors: Only two cases were tried in the Fall Term of Circuit Court, Civil Division which began here Monday morning with Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key presiding, but in one of them the jury handed down the largest judgement in county history. A full docket is set through Friday, according to Circuit Clerk Leon A. Salter.
The case of Mrs. Eloise Traweek of Flomaton vs. Southern Bell Telephone Co. went to trial Monday and the verdict was returned Tuesday. The jury found for Mrs. Traweek and set damages at $45,000, a record high for Conecuh.
The suit arose out of injuries Mrs. Traweek suffered in a fall when she tripped over a Southern Bell wire. She was represented by Tipler, Fuller & Melton with attorneys Frank Tipler Jr. and Wm. D. Melton appearing in court. The defendants were represented by attorneys Oliver Brantley of Troy and Edwin C. Page Jr.

TV concert artist to give concert here Sept. 17: A noted television and concert organist will be presented in concert at the Evergreen City School auditorium on Wednesday night, Sept. 17, at 7:30 o’clock by the PTA. Tickets are now on sale by PTA members for $1 for adults and 50 cents for students.
Louis V. Bass, president of The Melody Carrousel, Ltd. in Andalusia, has enchanted audiences from New York to Chicago.
He was the featured organist at Florida’s Cypress Gardens for a long time and his music was enjoyed by people from all over the world.

69 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 11, 1952

Conecuh County’s schools will open today (Thursday) for the 1952-53 term. A record or near-record enrollment is predicted as schools over the nation are to show an increase in students.
According to County Superintendent of Education Harvey G. Pate, the schools are opening about a week later than usual. This later date was set in order that school children could help in the harvest of cotton. Once school begins, it will be against the law for school-age children to pick cotton during school hours.
City schools expected to enroll around 800 students, with over half listed at the high school. At the Evergreen City School, W. Paul (Mr. Mac) McMillan begins his 27th, yes, that’s right, 27th, year as principal. At Evergreen High School, C.W. Claybrook, who relieved Jack Finklea at the mid-year mark last year, begins his first full year as principal.

Castleberry Girl Is Conecuh County’s 1952 Maid Of Cotton: A blue-eyed blonde at Troy State Teachers College from Castleberry has been named as Conecuh County’s 1952 Maid of Cotton. The Cotton Maid was chosen on Sept. 3 in a contest conducted by the Conecuh County Farm Bureau.
Miss Alice Faye Sullivan, 19-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis L. Sullivan Sr. of Castleberry, was chosen to represent Conecuh County in the annual Maid of Cotton contest. She will participate in the state contest to select the Alabama Maid of Cotton at the State Fair in Birmingham on Oct. 1 and 2.

82 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 14, 1939

J. Ernest Evers Dies Early Saturday Morning: Shortly after being stricken early Saturday morning J. Ernest Evers, 41, well known citizen of this community, succumbed to heart attack at his home two miles west of here. It is said that Mr. Evers had arisen to wait on a customer at his service station when the attack came. A physician was summoned but death came before he arrived.
Mr. Evers was born and reared near Repton, a member of a large and well known family. He had lived here for several years. He was an ex-soldier, a member of the American Legion and the M.E. Church.

Ginnings in Conecuh County as reported up to Sept. 1, 1939 are far behind last year. According to the report of the bureau of census which was released this week and made available to The Courant by P.F. Lindsey, there were 375 bales of cotton ginned in Conecuh County from the crop of 1939 prior to Sept. 1, as compared with 2,970 bales ginned to Sept. 1, 1938.

Local Bank Installs Night Depository: The Bank of Evergreen installed during the past week a night depository system which will prove a great convenience and protection to its depositors, according to O.C. McGehee, vice-president and cashier. The system is off latest style and design and similar to such as are used in the city banks.
Depositors who subscribe to this service are supplied with strong lock pouches and necessary keys.

108 YEARS AGO
THE CONECUH RECORD
SEPT. 11, 1913

W.L. Stallworth, one of Evergreen’s oldest and most observant citizens, says that the past August was the driest known in this section for 69 years. This is a fact that but few of our people knew for the reason that they haven’t “been hereabouts” long enough.

The City School will open next Monday, the 15th.

The painters are putting the finishing touches on Belleville’s handsome new school building. We are informed that the prospects are fine for the current session of school. Dr. Skinner, who is at the head of the board of trustees, is making every possible effort to build up a first class school.

In an altercation among some men about two and a half miles west of Evergreen Sunday night, John Palmer, a bystander, was accidentally shot and killed. Three men have been arrested, charged with the shooting.

In addition to her skill in deciphering illegible addresses as assistant postmistress, Miss Mary Cunningham demonstrated her ability to draw a “deadly bead” on Uncle John’s shotgun last Monday when she killed a large hawk, which had tackled a favorite old hen but found her too heavy to fly away with. Prior to this record shot, the young lady had never pulled a trigger. Now, according to a time-honored custom, the neighbors should chip in and cook Miss Mary a chicken pot pie.

Monday, September 13, 2021

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Sept. 13, 2021

Evergreen's Drew Davis.
13 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 11, 2008

JACKSON - Sparta Academy’s varsity football team improved to 3-0 with a 27-0 win over 1A Region 2 rival Jackson Academy here on Friday night.
Senior running back Mason Black led Sparta’s offense on the night, carrying the ball 15 times for 151 yards. He also caught two passes for 50 yards.
(Other standout Sparta players in that game included Justin Smith, Nick Andrews, Taylor Brown, Cody Baggett, Joey Bradley, Dalton Baggett, Steven Stuart, Alex Fleming, Dylan Davis, Perry Thompson, John McDonald, D.J. Buckhault, Devlin Crosby, Michael Morris, Neil Salter, Nick Hardin and Tyler Hamrac.)

JACKSON – Four turnovers spelled disaster for Hillcrest High School here Friday night as the Jags came up short in a 26-18 loss to 4A Region 1 rival, Jackson High School.
Quarterback Justin Nared led the offense with 174 total yards.
(Other outstanding Hillcrest players in that game included Terrence Thomas, Malcolm Rudolph, Destin Gross, Quenton Nettles, Malcolm Jackson, Jeremy Thomas, Antonio Jordan, Earnest Williams, Dexter Chatman, Alexander Nevlous and Vincent Randleson.)

Evergreen’s Drew Davis drops back to protect quarterback John Parker Wilson during the University of Alabama’s 20-6 win over Tulane Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

33 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 8, 1988

The Sparta Academy Warriors crushed Springwood Academy 38-0 in Lanett Friday night for their second win of the young season.
Jeff Carrier scored first on a 14-yard run, and Bobby Johnson kicked the extra point. Lee Wild romped 24 yards for a score, and the kick was no good. Robbie Bolton hauled in passes of 35 yards and 50 yards from Kenny Bledsoe for the next two scores, and Jimmy Hart kicked the point after the last touchdown. Wild scored his second touchdown on an 18-yard run, and the extra point failed. Bolton rounded out the scoring by returning an intercepted pass 50 yards.
(Other standout Sparta players in that game included Jamie Atkins, Toby Baggett, Jeff Brundage, Chris Davis, Steven Gall, Ray Hall, Michael Riley and Lynn Salter.)

The Flag Corps will be performing with the Pride of Evergreen Band when the Evergreen High School Aggies host Opp High School Friday night. The kickoff at Brooks Stadium is set for 7:30 o’clock. Flag corps members are Beverly Jacobs, Patience Hanks, Cherry Hanks, Roslana Armstrong, Katrina Bradley and Sylvia Grace.

46 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 11, 1975

The Lyeffion High School Yellow Jackets edged the Conecuh County High Blue Devils 12 to 6 at Lyeffion Stadium, Friday night.
Steve Anthony paced the Jacket offense as he scored both touchdowns.
Lyeffion travels to Repton for a 7:30 game with the Repton High Bulldogs on Friday night.

The Sparta Academy Warriors turned back a scrappy but out-manned South Butler Academy Raider club 24-12 in Georgiana Friday night.
Sparta put two scores on the board in the opening quarter. Walker Scott plunged over from the three for the first marker with Jerry Peacock going in for the two-point conversion.
Gregg Still blocked a Raider punt minutes later and Freddie Sellers grabbed the ball and ran it in from the six to make it 14-0. The conversion attempt was stopped.
The Warriors put it out of reach in the third period and early minutes of the final frame. Peacock scored three times from the three, 12 and one. Scott added one two-point conversion.
Statistician Byron Warren Jr. had Scott with 97 yards, Peacock 53, Bobby Johnson 52, Larry Reid 16 and Joe Andrews 12 to pace the strong Sparta running game.
Warren’s tackle chart had Reid and Johnny Cook with three solos, George McKenzie with two solos and one assist and Andrews, Johnson and Buddy Carrier with two solos each.

From “The Colyum” by Bob Bozeman: Missouri 20, Alabama 7. And that is enough of that.

55 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 8, 1966

Aggies open ’66 season with Atmore tonight at 8: Hopeful of better days, the 1966 edition of the Evergreen High Aggies takes to the field tonight to open the season. Their traditional rivals, the Atmore Blue Devils, come to town for the eight o’clock kickoff in Brooks Stadium.
Coach Cliff Little and Assistant Coach Perry Outlaw have been working for about three weeks with a varsity squad of some 26 or 27 players readying for the season.
Quarterback Homer Faulkner is expected to be one of the better passers in this area with a year’s experience under his belt.
The team elected captains at a meeting this week. Harold Hamiter, guard and linebacker, was named captain. Co-captains are Faulkner and Glenn Bolton.
He (Coach Little) listed the following probably starting lineup: left end, Ed Smith, 150; left tackle, Forrest Simpson, 150; left guard, Bubba Mininger, 141; center, Rusty Price, 187; right guard, Harold Hamiter, 151; tackle, Larry Windham, 161; right end, Jack White, 147; quarterback, Homer Faulkner, 187; left halfback, Glenn Bolton, 164; right halfback, Jimmy Bell, 143; fullback, Elliott (Buck) Qualls, 157.
Defensive specialists are linebacker, George Stinson, 153; halfback, Don Montgomery, 143; and middle guard, Roger Waller, 161.

90 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 10, 1931

Conecuh High Team To Play Brooklyn Friday: Castleberry, Ala., Sept. 8 – The football team of Conecuh County High School will open its 1931 season next Fri., Sept. 18, at Brooklyn.
The schedule for the season has not been completed, only two other games being definitely booked. Beatrice will be played Oct. 9 and Brewton Oct. 16. Both are road games.
Repton and Lyeffion also will be played but definite dates have not been fixed.

Tarheel Winner At Second Terrapin Race: “Tarheel,” big home grown gopher owned and entered by Newton E. Johnson, nosed out as winner of first place in the second International Terrapin Race staged here Saturday by the Evergreen Lions Club. “Texaco,” another large gopher owned by O.C. McGehee, won second place; “Gumbo,” entrant for J.D. Jackson, third place; and “Soup,” owned by Lawton Kamplain and Walter Howell, secured fourth place. Prizes for the winners were as follows: first, $59.50; second, $35.70; third, $11.90; fourth, $11.90.
The prize for the most original name was awarded to “Prosperity,” owned by C.T. Ivey and Walter Howell. This prize was $5.
All told there were 119 entrants, ranging from a large logger head turtle entered by Greenville Lions Club to the smallest terrapins. All prizes were captured by the specie commonly known in this locality as the “Florida Gopher.”
The race is an annual event sponsored by the local Lions Club for the benefit of the Boy Scouts. It was witnessed by a large crowd including many persons from out of town. There were entrants from six different states and one foreign country.
In addition to the race as an attraction, the merchants of the city offered special trade day bargains for Saturday only.

Sunday, September 12, 2021

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

30 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 12, 1991

Evacuees flee chemical fumes: Between 150 and 200 Monroe County residents were evacuated from their residences for about six hours early last Friday after a truck carrying 22 tons of chemical fertilizer caught fire on U.S. Highway 84 near Ollie.
The fire started about 12:20 a.m., according to Sheriff Tom Tate, when a tire blew out on an 18-wheel tractor-trailer driven by Donnie Powell of Grove Hill. The truck belongs to Bradford Trucking, which is based in Grove Hill, and was en route to a farmers’ cooperative in Dothan, he said.

Blacksher rallies to defeat Pirates: J.U. Blacksher High School looked like the Bulldogs of yesterday Friday night late in the fourth quarter when they engineered a 32-yard touchdown drive to defeat Fruitdale High School 13-7 in the season opener at Uriah.
Jack McMillian ignited the drive when he recovered a Fruitdale fumble at the Pirates’ 32-yard line with four minutes left in the final period. Eight plays later Jason Gunn recorded his second touchdown of the evening, scoring from the one-yard line with 55 seconds left in the contest.
(Other top Blacksher players in that game included Danny Blackwell, Michael Cooper, Alan Elliott, David Harrison, Eddie Morrissette, Craig Peavy, Shane Qualls, Patrick Redditt, Jason Weaver, Wesley Weaver and Warren Wood. Skip Bell was head coach.)

George Singleton publishes first book: Monroe Journal columnist George Singleton’s first book – a collection of about 73 of his folk tales and ghost stories about Monroe County – has just been published.
“Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” a 236-page book, is for sale at The Monroe Journal office on Hines Street in Monroeville and by mail. The cover and several inside pen-and-ink illustrations are by artist Jeff Frye of Monroeville.

55 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 8, 1966

Night Classes To Start At PHJC In Fall Quarter: Night classes, on a limited schedule, will be held at the Patrick Henry Junior College beginning with the fall quarter.
After a survey of merchants, businessmen and their employees in the Monroeville area, the two courses most requested were shorthand and accounting.
Teaching accounting will be Conrad S. Wall, and Miss Linda Sims will teach the shorthand course.
This is the first year that night classes have been held at the state junior college.

Ray Owens Reports To Crimson Tide: Ray Owens, a graduate of Monroe County High School, reported to the University of Alabama Aug. 31 where he is a member of the Crimson Tide football team. Ray is listed as an end with the National Champion Crimson Tide, which began practice Thursday. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Owens of Monroeville, Ray has three years of eligibility remaining.

Sgt. Johnny Hayles On Duty In Vietnam: Staff Sgt. Johnny F. Hayles, son of Mrs. L.R. Hayles of Monroeville, is on duty at Qui Nhon Airfield, Vietnam.
Sgt. Hayles, a communications technician, has been in the fight against Communist aggression since March 1966.
The sergeant is a graduate of Monroe County High School.

80 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 11, 1941

Standard Time Coming Back Next Monday, Sept. 15: As we go to press, word reaches us that the Monroe County Commission and the City Council of Monroeville have both agreed to go back on Standard Time, beginning with next Monday, Sept. 15. It is stated that the schools will operate on Standard Time from the start.

The state and local county health departments have given permission for the schools to open Sept. 15. Since no new cases of Polio have developed in the county for several weeks, it is considered safe to open our schools on the above date.

Prof. H.M. Brock, principal of Monroe County High School, and Prof. R.H. Vickery, principal of Monroeville Elementary School, have announced that the two Monroeville schools will open next Monday morning, Sept. 15, at 8:30 a.m. Central Standard Time.

Dr. W.A. Stallworth is now located in new offices in the Martin building in Frisco City, formerly occupied by the Frisco City Drug Store. His office was destroyed by fire about three months ago.

Highway Patrolman J.B. Johnson, who has been on duty at Robertsdale for several months, has been assigned to this county to work with Patrolman York. Patrolman Murphy, who has been stationed here, has been assigned to duty at Robertsdale.

CHARLES SMITH SELLS ATMORE ADVANCE: Hunter Golson, Jimmy Faulkner and Bill Foreman have purchased The Atmore Advance from Charles Smith. Bill Foreman will be editor and manager.

105 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 14, 1916

The sixth annual session of the Monroe County High School had the most prosperous opening on Monday last in its history and begins the year’s work under very gratifying circumstances.
From year to year, the school has grown in popular favor and the efficiency of its work until today its influence permeates increasingly every community in the county, and extends even beyond the confines of our provincial domain.
The opening exercises took place in the auditorium and consisted in patriotic and inspirational songs and addresses by school officers and prominent citizens.

The County Board of Revenue held a stated session at the courthouse Tuesday with all members present.

Mr. and Mrs. O.H. Landrum of Vredenburgh, and Mrs. Cumberland of Mobile, were visitors to Monroeville Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Landrum came to enter their son Judson in the high school.

Dr. G.H. Harper was up from Uriah Monday to accompany his two sons, George and Jesse, who have entered the high school here.

Mrs. Frank Emmons will resume her kindergarten work the first week in October.

Judge W.G. McCorvey and Hon. John McDuffie went to Tallahassee, Fla. Monday on professional business.

C.J. Torrey, Esq., of Mobile is here for a few days circulating among numerous friends. Mr. and Mrs. Torrey have been spending the heated term at their summer home at Claiborne.

130 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 10, 1891

The annual session of the Monroeville Academy will open next Monday (the 14th inst.) under the control of Prof. D.J. McWilliams. A private school will also be opened on the same date by Miss Imie Russell.

Chancery Court was in session last Thursday. C.J. Torrey of Mobile and Hon. N.A. Agee of Perdue Hill were in attendance.

Prof. D.J. McWilliams has returned to Monroeville after a pleasant visit to relatives to Wilcox.

Miss Ida Russell left last Saturday to take charge of a literary and music school at Repton.

Mrs. H.T. and Miss Theresa Lindsey of East Lake are on a visit to Capt. W.S. Wiggins and family and other relatives at this place.

Thos. L. Sowell, Esq., of Jasper, Ala. is visiting his father, Hon. W.C. Sowell. Tom is apparently enjoying the best of health.

Mrs. B.L. Hibbard, who has been visiting her father, Hon. J.W. Leslie, returned to her home in Birmingham last week.

Perdue Hill High School, under the management of Prof. W.A. George, an experienced, capable and thorough educator, assisted by Miss Sallie S. Penick, who comes highly recommended as a music teacher of experience, talent and high culture. The high character of these teachers, the healthful locality of the school, the moral and Christian tone pervading the community should recommend it as the place for parents and guardians to send children.

Saturday, September 11, 2021

George Singleton writes of Indian god Cautantowwit and early arrival of Indian summer in September 1991

George Buster Singleton
(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 “Watching for Indian summer and changing colors” was originally published in the Sept. 19, 1991 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

There is no set date for the beginning of Indian summer. Usually, it comes around the middle of October, but it might arrive a little earlier or a little later than usual.

One old sign the early settlers recognized as the beginning of Indian summer was the changing colors of the leaves across the distant hilltops.

Another sign was when the days began growing much warmer and dryer and the nights becoming much more chilly after the sun had set on the horizon. During this time the sun shines dimly and softly. The sky turns a rich blue and always appears gentle and hazy near the horizon. The air remains smokey and still with almost no wind. And the Indian summer moon often has a yellow or orange hue.

The American Indians always enjoyed Indian summer and looked forward to it. They called this time of year a special gift from a favorite god, Cautantowwit. The old Indian legend states that it is the time of year when plans are to be made for the coming cold weather – for the storing of foods and the gathering of warm skins to protect against the cold winds and snow.

It is also a time to look back on one’s life and see the mistakes that have been made and then to look ahead toward the coming tomorrows and select the path that will eventually lead to the land beyond the sunset. Indian summer was a time for the gathering of thoughts and a time to make peace with the Great Spirit.

There is a great amount of truth in the old legends that tell of the coming of Indian summer. Just this morning, I arose early and rode to one of my favorite spots in the hill country northwest of here.

As the old legend states, a faint turning of the leaves was noticeable across the hilltops. I experienced a quietness around me that hadn’t been noticed earlier. I found myself looking back over the past and remembering many things that had faded from memory. And, looking skyward, it seemed that the heavens seemed closer for some strange reason. Although the air was cool, there was no wind in the treetops. The air across the valleys had taken on a light blue haze. At that very moment, all the whole world seemed at peace.

As I stood there in these beautiful surrounding, I wondered of the coming winter. I thought of the cold winds that would howl across this beautiful valley, and the sharp chilled air that would creep into the clothing and chill the body of the one standing here.

I thought, too, of what was ahead. Would there be good times and good health or would there be sickness across our land? I wondered if the world situation would heal itself. I thought about the many thousands that might go hungry the coming winter. And I thought of my life and what lay ahead.

Strange, how with all our so-called progress, life doesn’t really change a whole lot. Our society can take a man and dress him up in fine clothing and make him look pretty good, but somewhere within him, he is basically the same he has been over the many thousands of years.

Remembering again the old legend, I looked across the deep valley before me and thought of the rich blue color of the morning. I thought of the gentle and hazy feeling around me. I knew that there had to be some truth to the old legend.

It was all around me. Indian summer was arriving early this year, as the old legend says it will sometimes do. Surely the god Cautantowwit had begun putting things together for the beautiful days and nights ahead. The soft blue haze that floated across the valley seemed to reassure the world that the days of this Indian summer would be perfect.

As I was about to leave this place of beauty, I thought of a tall dark-haired woman who had kept me, as a young boy, spellbound for hours on end with the endless legends that she remembered.

My beautiful and wonderful grandmother would have liked this place. I can hear her now: “Here you can almost touch the heavens.” I thought of how lucky I had been to have someone like her to fill that special place in my early childhood – a place that will always be in my fondest memories.

One last look across the soft blue mist that floated ever so softly across the beautiful valley brought to mind some of the words of an ageless Indian prayer.

Let the coming of the new tomorrow be one of plenty. May the corn grow heavy and the living good circle of our campfires with laughter, and let sickness and disease ride away on the wings of the great birds that fly above.

And, as I grow old from the passing of many winters, let me look beyond the glow of that final sunset where the waters are sweet and pure and the skies are forever blue.

Let me rest by the stream that gives eternal life, and as I rest in the morning of that new day, walk with me, where there is no death, only forevers.

(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 also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. 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.) 

Friday, September 10, 2021

Wilcox County, Alabama doctor used frogs to investigate 120-year-old poisoning, murder of Albert Perkins

Alabama Gov. William D. Jelks
This summer marks 120 years since one of the strangest crimes in Wilcox County history, the 1901 poisoning of Albert Perkins, the investigation of which included an elaborate experiment involving four frogs.

In the Sept. 5, 1901 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Sherwood Bonner reported, under the headline “Albert Perkins Poisoned,” that Perkins, a young man living “in the Grampian Hills,” had died from poison on the night of Aug. 30. When news of the poisoning reached Camden, county solicitor J.P. Jones convened a jury of seven men and two doctors - T.W. Jones and W.B. Jones - who went to the scene of the crime to investigate the strange death. J.P. Jones held an inquest while the two doctors conducted an autopsy.

About a dozen witnesses were questioned, and the jury determined that Perkins was among a large crowd who attended a church gathering and was seen standing beside a booth were candy and cakes were being sold. At some point, a man named Ben Lee, who was about 70 years old, approached the booth, bought some candy and gave a stick of it to Perkins. A few minutes later, Perkins collapsed and began having convulsions.

“He was picked up by some of the testifying witnesses and when he recovered consciousness, someone asked him what was the matter, if he had been drinking anything. He replied that he had been drinking nothing, except that Ben Lee had given him something to drink out of a black bottle, and that it was as bitter as quinine, and that he has been feeling curious ever since. He repeated this statement several times between his convulsions and, in fact, until he died, which was about an hour afterwards.”

After Perkins’ autopsy, the jury reached a verdict that Lee had poisoned Perkins. It was reported that Dr. W.B. Jones spent several hours testing Perkins’ stomach contents and found that they contained strychnine, arsenic and copper.

“He then proceeded to test the contents by administering some of it to frogs. The first frog died of convulsions in two minutes, the second in five, the third in 15 and the fourth in 20 minutes. The difference in time is accounted for both by the sizes of the different frogs and the respective quantity of the contents swallowed by each. From what we can learn, this is the first thorough chemical test ever made in our county, heretofore the stomach contents having been sent off for examination.”

Authorities arrested Lee on murder charges and placed him in the Wilcox County Jail. On Sept. 10, a preliminary trial was held at the Wilcox County Courthouse with J.P. Jones presiding. Evidence was presented, and Lee was remanded back to jail without bail.

In late November, Lee’s murder trial was held before Judge John Moore, and Lee was subsequently found guilty as charged and given a life sentence in prison. A large crowd attended the trial, and the “seating capacity of the courthouse was taxed to its utmost.” The newspaper noted that Lee was an old man and “in the course of nature, it is hardly to be expected that he will spend a very long time in the penitentiary.”

In June 1904, Lee was still alive and came up for a pardon. Public notices about his upcoming pardon application were published in the newspaper for several weeks, but whether or not Gov. William D. Jelks approved his application is unknown. Despite my best efforts, I could not determine what became of Ben Lee, but in all likelihood, this notorious poisoner died behind bars.

Thursday, September 9, 2021

100-year-old highlights from September 1921 editions of The Monroe Journal newspaper

WWI casualty Louis Hayles
Today marks the second Thursday of the month, so let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the big headlines from Monroe County 100 years ago, way back in September 1921.

In the Sept. 1, 1921 edition of The Monroe Journal, editor Q. Salter reported, under the headline “Funeral of Louis Hayles,” that on “Tuesday morning, the 23rd of August, the funeral of Private Louis Hayles, who made the supreme sacrifice ‘over there,’ took place at Eliska. Military honors were paid the deceased by his comrades and a salute was fired over the grave. Rev. Theo. Harris of Birmingham, a lifelong friend of the family, conducted the services and paid a glowing tribute to the bravery of Mr. Hayles in giving his life for his country, and also of his life as a Christian, testified to by all who knew him and also by his comrades who were associated with him in camp and in the struggle in France.”

In the Sept. 8, 1921 edition of The Journal, readers learned that the “Mr. W.H. Chase of Turkestan had the misfortune to lose two fine horses which were killed by lightning while grazing in his pasture last week. Turkestan has experienced several electrical disturbances lately.”

The Sept. 15, 1921 edition of the newspaper carried an announcement that let readers know that “all Woodmen of the World are hereby notified that the unveiling of the monument of Mr. Abner Feaster, who is buried at Mount Pisgah church one mile south of Jones Mill, will be conducted by the Woodmen of the World on the third Sunday in the month of September at 3 p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend these ceremonies. By order of Tekoa and Jones Mill camps. – W.T. Thames.”

In the Sept. 22, 1921 edition of the paper, it was reported that “Mr. C.E. Broughton received a telegram Tuesday morning that the remains of his son, William T. Broughton, recently arrived from overseas, had been shipped and would arrive here at noon Thursday. Private William T. Broughton was a member of the Co. M, 165th Infantry and was slain in the battle of the Argonne on Oct. 14, 1918. He was 25 years old when he fell. Funeral arrangements will be in charge of the local post of the American Legion.”

In the Sept. 29, 1921 edition of The Journal, readers learned that “citizens were startled Thursday morning by the sonorous reverberations of an explosion which occurred in the Wiggins garage. Many who were attracted to the scene were glad to find that nothing more serious had happened than the bursting of the over-charged tank which supplied the free air station.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. On the first Thursday of next month, I plan to take a look at the events of October 1921 in Wilcox County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Monroe County Library’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. Their friendly staff will be more than happy to get you started.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for Sept. 8, 2021

69 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 11, 1952

Pine Apple Boy Missing In Korea: Henry Ed Smith, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Smith Jr. of Pine Apple, was recently reported by the United States Armed Forces in Korea as missing in the flash flood that occurred in that area on Aug. 18.
The flood, which occurred as American troops were fording a stream, caused the loss of a number of U.S. Army personnel.
Smith was said to have been in Korea for only two weeks at the time of the accident.
A graduate of Moore Academy in Pine Apple, young Smith was an associate steward of the Pine Apple Methodist Church. His father, R.A. Smith Jr., is a commission of Wilcox County.

Schools Open In County: Schools in Wilcox County opened Fri., Sept. 5. Registration in the three high schools of the county was as follows: Camden – 407; Pine Hill – 350; and Pine Apple – 156.

Tigers Open Slate Next Week: Camden High’s Fighting Tigers open their 1952 season next Friday night, Sept. 18, when they play host to McKenzie at 8 p.m. A new eleven will start for Camden with the exception of two linemen and two backs. Seven starters are gone from the 1951 squad that opened against Florala.
(Players on Camden’s team that season included Dee Albritton, Jack Bailey, Russell Carothers, Pete Curry, Red Davis, Buck Dobson, John Espy, Charles Gaston, John Harvell, Joe Lambert, Will Liddell, Clinton Luker, Richard Luker, Bill Malone, Spooky Powe, Herod Richards, Tap Sadler, Joe Sheffield, Cecil Skinner, Haas Strother and Kenneth Wilkerson.)

82 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 14, 1939

NOTICE – Mr. Smith, formerly with Nu-Modern Cleaners of Monroeville, is with the firm no longer. Mrs. Paul Moore of Vredenburgh will represent said firm in this territory with headquarters at the Wilcox Hotel. Your patronage will be appreciated.

Proud of the “brand spanking new” stockyard are Wilcox Countians. Up-to-date in every detail, the yard is one of the best in the state. It cost $4,000 and in the first two weeks had been the medium for 450 head of cattle passing from farmer to buyer. It has 50 pens and will handle as many as 500 head of cattle at a time, says E.H. Kelly, county agent.

Mr. Edmund Lee was called to Greenville on account of the serious injury of his father and sister who were in an automobile wreck. His many friends hope that his father and sister will have a speedy recovery and that their injuries will not prove serious.

MR. G.C. CAMMACK: Mr. G.C. Cammack passed away at his home in Grove Hill on the night of Sept. 8. Interment Saturday at 11 o’clock in Grove Hill cemetery, his pastor Rev. Jackson conducting the services.
Mr. G.C. Cammack, father of our townsman, Mr. W.A. Cammack, was ill three weeks ere the golden bowl was broken or the silver cord was loosed.
The tributes paid him were many and deserved. He was an old citizen of Clarke County, well known, honored and revered. He was a devout Christian, beloved by all, and his example for good will be a teacher without words for youth and others who came within his radius of influence.

95 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 9, 1926

TOM JENKINS: Twenty points ahead of his closest rival, Rino Williams of Dallas, who is out of the game, Tom “Sut” Jenkins, Wichita Falls outfielder, bids fair to annex the batting crown of the Texas League this spring. Since joining the Spudders from the Boston Red Sox, he had played in 86 games and ran up an average of .387. He has 137 hits to his credit, including 26 two-base, two triples and 16 home runs. The officials of the Wichita Falls club have announced that Jenkins has been sold to the Philadelphia Athletics for fall delivery.

Capt. Emmett Kilpatrick of Uniontown spent several days the past week with Mr. Frank Dexter. He has spent the summer in Mexico City, Mexico, and in a few days is returning to Columbia, S.C., where he will teach again in the University.

Mrs. Pat McCants opened the Café Saturday that was formerly managed by Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Boykin. We wish her success in this business and a large patronage. She will serve all kinds of good eats and short order lunches. Oysters, etc. in season. She will appreciate a share of your patronage.

Mr. Joe Bonner left the past week for Erskine College in Due West, S.C., where he will be a senior this year. He joined the football squad for their early practice before college opens on the 15th.

Mr. Hunter Farish left Tuesday in his car for New Wilmington, Pa., where he will teach history this season in Westminster College.

108 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 11, 1913

Masonic Apron 112 Years Old: The Progressive Era Editor was shown by Hon. Thomas L. Cochran a family heirloom in the form of a Masonic Lamb Skin apron that has been in the family for 112 years. The inscriptions, the Masonic designs and various emblems are entirely pen work.
The maker of the inscriptions was evidently an artist in his work. The apron was descended through Mrs. Cochran’s side of the house but Mr. Cochran’s father, the Hon. S.G. Cochran, was also a Mason of high standing, was a High Priest of Camden Chapter No. 40. The inscription in full on the apron is as follows:
In the East, a place of Light, where reigns Silence and Peace and the darkness comprehendeth not, We the Master Wardens and Secretary of the Union Lodge No. 10 on the registry of Georgia, Ancient York Masons, do hereby certify that our trusty and well beloved Brother, Benjamin Cox, was regularly entered, passed and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, and we having the greatest confidence in his integrity and zeal for the Ancient Craft, do most affectionately recommend him to all our brethren round the globe wherever assembled.
Given under our hands and the seal of our Lodge at Savannah this 28th day of December, in the year of our Lord 1801, and Masonry 5801. – Jno. J. Gray, Worshipful Master; William Davis, Senior Warden; John Miller, Junior Warden; M. Sheares, Secretary.
Benjamin Cox was Mrs. M. A. Allen’s brother-in-law. Mrs. Allen was the mother of Mrs. S.G. Cochran of Camden. The Coxs came from Maryland and were captains in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army. Hand penned, with two columns and blue lodge seal cable tow, Masonic pavement and the star with the letter G.

122 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 13, 1899

Mr. Dannie Pritchett, who has been working in the dental office of a Mobile firm, has returned home to spend a few weeks before returning to the Vanderbilt, where he will complete his course this winter.

Mr. I.C. Stuart of Moss Point, Texas has returned to his home after a visit to relatives in Stuartsville. He left our county 21 years ago a poor boy and now he is one of the leading merchants of that town. The Progress takes pleasure in noting the success of this native Wilcoxan.

Miss Katie Belle Spurling left Monday for a trip up the river. She will return to River Ridge, where she will visit Mrs. John McDuffie.

Mr. W.L. Waller has purchased the mercantile business of Mr. D.P. Miller, deceased. Success to you, Mr. Waller.

The Quill passed Burfords Landing Monday morning with 815 bales of cotton for Mobile.

The Jackson Agricultural College opens Sept. 26, 1899.

Col. W.F. Spurlin has been enjoying himself at Jackson Wells for the past few days.

Prof. J.D. Wade of the Marion Female Seminary was in the burg this week.