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

26 YEARS AGO
DEC. 14, 1995

Armistead Harper named Kiwanis Citizen of the Year: Col. Armistead Harper of Monroeville was named Citizen of the Year by the Monroeville Kiwanis Club during annual Awards Night Thursday of last week.
After the ceremony, Harper, who was accompanied by his wife, Anna Laura, said he was “surprised” by the award and “honored” to accept it.
In presenting the award to Harper, Kiwanis board member Marilyn Handley, a member of the Citizen of the Year committee, said it would be difficult to keep the audience in suspense, as is customary, about the honoree’s identity because “the 1995 Citizen of the Year is a truly unique individual.”

Winning basket: Derrick Crayton, a former standout at Frisco City High School in Frisco City and Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette, tipped in the winning basket Saturday when the University of Arkansas at Little Rock defeated eighth-ranked Mississippi State University, 70-68, in Starkville, Miss. Crayton is a 6-foot-6 junior forward at UALR, playing under former University of Alabama basketball coach Wimp Sanderson. Crayton is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Crayton of Frisco City.

50 years of service: Floyd Harper, originally from Monroeville, was recognized for 50 years as a Mason in a ceremony Nov. 25 at the Alabama Masonic Lodge No. 3 in Monroeville. Congratulating Harper on receiving his 50-year pin is Louis H. Green, worshipful master of the lodge. Harper was initiated Aug. 7, 1945, passed Oct. 9, 1945 and was a past master in 1948, 1949, 1962 and 1963. Harper is now a resident of Crowne Health Care Center on Navco Road in Mobile.

76 YEARS AGO
DEC. 13, 1945

Veterans Of Foreign Wars To Organize: Luther L. Donaldson, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Alabama, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be in Monroeville Dec. 20, 21 and 22 to take applications for a charter and to institute a VFW Post here in Monroeville.
Mr. Donaldson will be at the LaSalle Hotel while in Monroeville. Mr. Donaldson is a veteran of World War One and Two, having served overseas and was wounded in both wars.

Mabrey Easley arrived home Monday from Camp Shelby, where he received his discharge from the Army. He was in the service 42 months, 18 of which was spent in the Pacific, taking part in the Layte landing and other invasions. He also spent some time in Japan with the occupational forces.

Mary A. Broughton of Perdue Hill, who served in the U.S. Navy as Phm. 2/c, has been separated from the service. She is the daughter of Mrs. A.S. Broughton of Perdue Hill. Her brother, Edward Broughton, is in the U.S. Army in France.

Tom R. Grantham of Uriah, Route 1, has been discharged from the Army after serving 28 months. Decorations and awards include the Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, European and American theatre ribbons.

Rueben Wiggins of Frisco City has received his discharge from the Army after 33 months, with 24 months overseas service. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon, Presidential Citation and Asiatic-Pacific ribbon.

101 YEARS AGO
DEC. 9, 1920

MONROE HI’S GOOD RECORD: The Monroe County High School football team rounded out a most successful season Friday by defeating Escambia County High School at Atmore by a score of 34 to 13. To those who have been following that post-season pastime of claiming prep championships and picking all-state prep elevens, we would commend a glance at the following record. The following is a record of games played: Monroe 19, Thomasville High 6; Monroe 20, Clarke County High 14; Monroe 7, Repton Independents 0; Monroe 19, Thomasville High 0; Monroe 0, Clarke County High 45; Monroe 18, Andalusia High 0; Monroe 52, Evergreen Aggies 0 (Called in 3^rd quarter); Monroe 46, Escambia High 7; Monroe 42, Red Level High 6; Monroe 74, Andalusia High 0; Monroe 34, Escambia High 13.

The little four-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. F.E. Marshall was fatally burned early Sunday morning. The child’s clothing caught fire from an open hearth, and although the flames were quickly extinguished, injuries were sustained that resulted in the death of the child Monday morning. The mother’s hands were also painfully burned in the effort to save her babe.

Mr. J.C. Hybart was over from Gosport a few days ago and stated that the work of grading the Ferry Hill road at Claiborne was nearing completion. When the grading is finished the road will be surfaced with a heavy application of gravel.

126 YEARS AGO
DEC. 12, 1895

Died – At his home near Monroeville on Monday night, the 9^th inst., after a brief illness, Mr. Dionysius Sawyer, in the 74^th year of his age. Mr. Sawyer was one of the landmarks of Monroe and a most excellent citizen. The announcement of his death will occasion profound regret to his many friends.

The horse swappers convention which has been in progress at the Gypsy camp near Monroeville during the past few days was a novel occasion and attracted a large attendance of self-appointed delegates.

Great excitement was created in Monroeville on last Thursday morning by the alarm of fire. Huge volumes of smoke were seen issuing from the new Academy building, and scores of men and boys hastened to the scene to proffer their services in the effort to save the building. Arriving on the ground, the excited throng was greatly relieved to find that the alarm was a false one and the building in no danger whatsoever. The day being quite cold, the stoves were liberally supplied with combustible material, and the high wind prevailing fanned the smoke in such manner as to easily deceive those at a distance.

Married, at the residence of the bride’s father, near Perdue Hill, on Nov. 27, 1895, Dr. John Busey and Miss Ella Lowery, Rev. J.H. Riffe officiating. The Journal extends congratulations and hearty good wishes.

Several emigrant wagon trains have passed through Monroeville during the past few weeks en route to south Monroe.

Mr. J.F. Marsh of The Evergreen Courant was in Monroeville this week and gave The Journal a fraternal call.

151 YEARS AGO
DEC. 10, 1870

WANTED: At least 200 subscribers to come forward and renew their subscriptions to this paper, as fast as their time expires. It will save us the regret of having to strike names from our list, and you from missing any numbers of your Journal. We will be glad to see as many new subscribers as desire to invest $2 in a profitable manner, and they have no objection.
We have quit dealing with delinquents and give our entire attention to the people who pay in advance. Reader, which class do you belong to? If you are a delinquent, go at once and pay for your paper, whether great or small, it is worth all you gave for it, especially if its name is Monroe Journal.

Those who desire to send copies of The Journal to their friends at a distance, can find them at this office, neatly done up in prepaid wrappers, at five cents each.

LOOKS PROSPEROUS – The piles of lumber and preparations for new buildings, that are now to be seen in Monroeville and its suburbs.

GOOD COTTON – Mr. M.M. Pullin, living near this place, has just picked 450 pounds of lint cotton, from a small lot measuring about a quarter of an acre. This is the best yield of cotton in this county that we have heard of this season.

J.F. Betts, Burnt Corn, Ala., will sell you a Saddle for $8. Bridles, Martingales, Whips and Harness, at very small profits. He buys these goods of the manufacturers.

NEW GOODS – Large quantities of new goods are arriving at the store of C.L. Clausell & Co. Our lady readers should go there soon, if they want the first choice.