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

31 YEARS AGO
OCT. 11, 1990

Rocky Hill VFD holds open house and raises $2,201: Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department held open house Saturday at its new fire station with several activities that helped raise $2,201.01 for the department.
Beginning the day’s events, the community’s oldest resident, Emma Shiver, 98, cut the ribbon held by members of the department. Officers and directors participating were: Stinson Jay, chief; Donald Jay, assistant chief; Sandra Dunn, secretary-treasurer; and Vince Jay, Lewis Green, Pete Rabon, Elaine Jay and Verdie Jay, directors.

Monroe Academy defeats Mobile team: Monroe Academy collected a victory for its homecoming crowd and won its first 4A West Region battle of the season Friday night when the Volunteers blanked Mobile Christian School 14-0 at MA.
Senior fullback John Abernathy scored on runs of five and four yards, and senior Chris Hare kicked two extra points in the first half to record MA’s points.
(Other top MA players in that game included Nick Ackerman, Dallas Gamble, Josh Mixon, Shane Stafford and Mitchell Turberville. K.J. Lazenby was MA’s head coach.)

Church to mark 150^th: Philadelphia Baptist Church at Tunnel Springs will celebrate its 150^th anniversary Sunday with special activities to recognize descendants of the church’s charter members.
The day will begin with Sunday school at 10 a.m. and worship at 11. The Rev. Billy Lucas, interim pastor, will preach. J.W. Sales of Monroeville will lead the music.

57 YEARS AGO
OCT. 8, 1964

PROPOSED CHURCH ADDITION: Construction has already started on the proposed addition of the Monroeville Presbyterian Church. The new $85,000 building will serve as the education building for the Presbyterian Church and will be connected to the adjacent building by a covered walkway. Construction is expected to be completed in about five months.

Whippets Edge Past Uriah 6-0 Saturday: In a rain-delayed game from Friday until Saturday, the Frisco City Whippets eked out a 6-0 win over the J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs.
After an exchange of punts in the third quarter, Frisco City began its winning touchdown march on its own 15-yard line. The drive was climaxed with an eight-yard run over left tackle by halfback Johnny King. Mike Johns’ attempted PAT was no good, but the touchdown was all the Whippets needed.
(Other top Frisco players in that game included Larry Eddins, Larry Jones and Sam Weeks. Top Blacksher players included Larry Harris, Ray Rayburn, Luther Upton and Ray Womack.)

DISPLAYS TROPHY: Otis Everett of Finchburg displays this diamond-back rattlesnake which he killed last week in Finchburg. The deadly reptile was about 5-1/2 feet in length and had 18 rattles. Mr. Everett said he saw the snake coiled ready to strike in a path in the woods. He said he cut a stick and hit the snake one time on the head killing it with the one blow. This “trophy” is a warning to all that now a lot of these deadly menaces are seeking a place for the winter and are seen frequently.

82 YEARS AGO
OCT. 12, 1939

Dr. W.W. Eddins To Open Office Here: Dr. W.W. Eddins was in Monroeville Tuesday and announced that he would open an office here for the practice of medicine. His office will be located in the Hudson Building across the street, in front of the Monroeville Bus Station. Dr. Eddins will open his office the latter part of this week.

Monroeville-Grove Hill Football Game Friday Night, Oct. 20: Keen interest is being manifested in the Grove Hill-Monroeville football game to be played at Grove Hill on Friday night, Oct. 20. This promises to be the outstanding game of the season in South Alabama. A large attendance is expected at this game, and it is hoped that at least one thousand people from the east side of the Alabama River will go with the Monroeville team.

Hunters Warned To Be Careful of CCC Enrollees: Hunters who go in the woods in pursuit of game in this county and especially in the area covered by Forestry Camp P-77, located at Vredenburgh, are requested to be careful and know what they are shooting at before they shoot.
Men at these camps are working all over the woods in a radius of a number of miles, and your cooperation has been requested by the superintendents of these camps to help them in the prevention of accidents as results from hunting.

Chambers-Lazenby Has Big Ford Show: About 450 people attended the big Ford show at the Chambers-Lazenby Motor Company, Ford dealers, last Friday, Oct. 6. The occasion for the show was the showing and demonstration of the new 1940 Ford. Each visitor had the privilege of driving and trying out the new car. During the day, music was furnished by the Coxswain’s Orchestra, making the show a gay event.

108 YEARS AGO
OCT. 9, 1913

Mr. W.A. Giddens, mayor of the coming town of Jones Mill, was at the county capital Monday. Mr. Giddens reports unusual activity in real estate transfers in his town.

A deal of amusement was afforded by the old-fashioned spelling bee at the high school auditorium last Friday evening, contestants from both the student body and citizens participating.

Among the nominations for Alabama postmasters sent in by the president on Saturday for confirmation by the senate was that of Mr. S.M. Roberts to be postmaster at Monroeville, vice Miss Mary Seymour resigned. Mr. Roberts is regarded by all who know him as a thoroughly competent businessman and there is no doubt that the nomination will be promptly confirmed.

Mr. J.A. Lazenby succeeds Mr. R.P. Hudson as the local agent of the Louisville & Nashville and Manistee & Repton railroads at this point.

Contractor L.N. Lambert has the foundation laid for Mr. Bugg’s new dwelling and the work of construction will progress rapidly.

Mr. B.H. Stallworth, proprietor of the local garage, received a car shipment of Buick automobiles last week, one of the machines being a handsome touring car.

Mr. S.J. Yarbrough returns to Atlanta today to resume his studies in dental surgery. He is accompanied by Mr. R.P. Hudson, who will enter the same institution.

132 YEARS AGO
OCT. 11, 1889

County court was concluded last Monday by candle light. Two persons were tried for disturbing religious worship and convicted. The fine and costs in each case will amount to about $80.

The Monroeville Academy is in a decidedly healthy, growing condition. The enrollment now foots up 55, and the average attendance is about 45.

Charles J. Torrey, Esq., has been elected city attorney of Mobile by a flattering majority. Mr. Torrey is a native of Monroe, and was register in chancery at Monroeville for several years before his removal to Mobile in 1875. In 1886, he was defeated for judge of this circuit by one-third of a vote. While we regret that his new duties will make his visits to our county less frequent, we are glad to know of his preferment.

DEATH OF MRS. ARNOLD – Just as we go to press, we learn that Mr. F. Metts has received a telegram informing him of the death of Mrs. Carrie Arnold, daughter of Mrs. G.W. Metts and wife of Rev. W.F. Arnold, which sad event occurred at her home at Greenwood, Fla. on the 10^th inst. Her remains are expected to arrive at Monroeville via Repton tonight, where they will be interred.
A later dispatch has been received advising that preparations are being made for the funeral to take place immediately upon the arrival of the corpse.

UNDERTAKERS – and dealer in – Burial Cases & Caskets – a full line of these articles constantly kept on hand, and trimmed to order on short notice, at any time, day or night, at ROBERTS, LOCKLIN & CO.