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 23^rd 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, 165^th 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.