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

U.S. Navy destroyer USS Allen M. Sumner (DD-692)

27 YEARS AGO
MARCH 16, 1995

VF to expand Distribution Center: Vanity Fair Mills, Inc. will expand its Distribution Center on Drewry Road to approximately one million square feet in a multi-phase project announced Tuesday, creating “overall increased employment in the Monroeville area.”
Total investment in the first phase is estimated at $7 million.
Charles Lambert, vice president of customer services, told a gathering of about 100 state and local officials, community leaders and citizens in the Water Tower Conference Center that Monroeville had been chosen as the location for a major consolidated center that will be technologically advanced.
Vanity Fair Mills presently employs more than 2,300 people in its Monroeville facilities and over 10,000 worldwide.

Baseball standouts: Former Monroe County High School baseball standouts Hudson Williams, Tony Bayles and Wes Kelly are competing at the collegiate level this spring. Williams and Bayles are members of the Alabama Southern Community College team in Monroeville. Williams, a sophomore, and Bayles, a freshman, are outfielders. Kelly, a freshman second baseman, is playing at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

Subscription rates to rise: The Monroe Journal will increase subscription prices next month, but readers can subscribe now for up to two years at the old prices.
Effective April 9, yearly subscription rates will be $23 in the Monroe County trade area; $27.50 elsewhere in Alabama; and $30 out of state. The single-copy price will remain at 50 cents.

51 YEARS AGO
MARCH 18, 1971

Bids asked on Mexia water job: The proposed water system for the Mexia area is being advertised for bids to be opened April 9.
Any person located along the proposed line who has not signed the user agreement and made the required $20 payment before the bid opening will be required to pay $125 or cost of connection, whichever is greater.
Persons who have not signed but wish to do so should see one of the following: Cecil Dollihite, M.C. Nettles Jr., E.T. Nettles, D.D. Mims III or Auzie Lee Brown.

Blacksher dominates jamboree: J.U. Blacksher High School’s football team played host to a five-team football jamboree last Friday night and promptly proceeded to defeat three of the visiting squads and tied the fourth.
The Uriah team appeared to be the strongest of the five, which included Frisco City, Excel, Lyeffion and Repton.
Blacksher’s victories consisted of an 8-0 win over Excel, with a six-pointer by Danny McGhee; 6-0 over Repton on a TD scored by Mike Norris; 8-0 over Lyeffion, with a six-pointer by Mike Norris and two points by Jimbo Hartley; and a 0-0 deadlock with Frisco City.
(Top Frisco City players included Tim Wally and Dale Stacey, and Randy Hanks was named as Repton’s top performer. Top Excel players included Refus McCants, George Lint and Butch Hanks.)

Lt. Kearley on destroyer: Navy Lieutenant (junior grade) John J. Kearley, son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Kearley of Monroeville, is now serving aboard the destroyer, USS Allen Sumner at Mayport, Fla.

77 YEARS AGO
MARCH 15, 1945

Pfc. Bruce B. Jordan Dies From Wounds: Mr. John L. Jordan of Frisco City has received official confirmation from the War Department that his son, Pfc. Bruce B. Jordan, died Feb. 2 as a result of wounds received in battle on Luzon Island. Friends of the family wish to extend their deepest sympathy in their bereavement.

Mrs. William Andress of Monroeville received a message from the War Department on Feb. 26, informing her that her husband, Cpl. William Andress, was killed in France on Feb. 2 by an accidental gunshot. He is survived by his wife and two small children of Monroeville.

After spending 30 days with his wife, parents, relatives and friends, Technical Sergeant Fred Biggs has returned to Columbia Air Base, Columbia, South Carolina for reassignment. He was overseas nine months, serving with the 12^th Air Force in Corsica. He flew with B-26 Marauders as an engineer-gunner, completing 51 combat missions.

W.C. Hendrix, who has been in the U.S. Navy several years, arrived last week and will spend his furlough visiting his numerous relatives over the county. He figured in seven invasions from Africa to the South Pacific, where he has just completed 14 months service. He was wounded on Dec. 14, 1944.

HAYLES PURCHASES FOUNTAIN GROCERY: The purchase of the Fountain grocery store by L.R. Hayles was announced Monday when the new owner took charge of the business. Mr. Hayles will continue the business at the same stand and carry a full line of fancy groceries.

127 YEARS AGO
MARCH 21, 1895

The Journal is requested to announce that the regular monthly meeting of the Monroe County Corps will hereafter be held in Monroeville on the first Saturday in each month. A full attendance will be required at the April meeting.

During a thunderstorm at Pineville one day last week, lightning struck a house occupied by a family, killing a little boy about 10 years old and severely injuring several other members of the family.

The Presbyterian church and Masonic Hall building is being neatly painted, adding greatly to the attractiveness of its appearance.

The new Baptist church at Perdue Hill is about completed.

Several cases of Measles are reported in the vicinity of Mexia.

Death of Mrs. Betts: Mrs. Ann B. Betts, wife of Mr. Jacob F. Betts Sr., died at her home at Burnt Corn on March 2, 1895, aged 78 years.
Mrs. Betts was a most estimable lady whose many Christian virtues endeared her to all who knew her.
She was for many years a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and was a constant and liberal contributor to the support of its institutions. The sympathy of all is extended to the husband and family in their sad bereavement.

161 YEARS AGO
MARCH 22, 1861
SOUTHERN CHAMPION

WHAT DOES IT MEAN: A few weeks ago, two dead bodies were seen floating down the river near this place (Claiborne), one a man and the other a woman, and upon close observation, it was discovered that the man was tied hand and foot and large scars upon his back as if beaten with a stick. Another body of a man was seen in the river last week, an attempt was made to rescue it but failed. The bodies seemed to have been in the water for some time and were very much decomposed.

FLAG PRESENTATION: We understand that the young ladies of Claiborne have procured a handsome flag for presentation to the Claiborne Guards before their departure for Fort Morgan. As the company is to leave here on Saturday night, tomorrow evening, four o’clock, has been decided upon as the time, and the Masonic Hall the place where the ceremony is to be performed. The flag will be presented by Miss Henrietta Gaillard on behalf of the ladies, and received by Mr. E.A. Scott, in behalf of the company. N.A. Agee, Esq., will deliver a valedictory address to the company in behalf of the citizens.

On last evening, the Guard partook of a supper given to them by our generous townsman, W.P. Leslie, Esq., and on tomorrow evening, Mr. F.A. Seymour gives them their “last supper” in this place as citizens, and may they return at some future time to partake of a soldier’s supper in our midst.

CORN – From the large arrivals of corn at this place, we are led to believe that the good people of Monroe will not suffer for the lack of this indispensable article this spring and summer. The arrivals for the past three weeks may be set down at from ten to twelve thousand bushels, and there seems to be a steady demand for more.