Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for June 1, 2022

Tom "Sutt" Jenkins

59 YEARS AGO
JUNE 6, 1963

FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER: Getting more kicks from the rig with every man a skipper, is introduced to landlubbers by White Smith, Michael Autry, James Miles, Max Baggett Jr. and Andy Johnson. James Miles and Andy Johnson live at Hybart while the other three are from Camden. The five young men, using scrap materials in the construction of a raft, presenting ideas of flotation, thickness and strength, can tell you how to vacation with fun, Mark Twain style.
The group took about 3-1/2 days to build the raft from scrap wood and other materials. Covered with a tarp made from army surplus and sewed together by the boys, the river home is built on drums with food boxes on each side. A rudder down the middle and flooring tied with metal strips, the sturdy vessel jumps jetties and stumps and takes a lot of work keeping it from hitting the bank and trees when the wind blows hard. However, they are pulling an aluminum boat for emergencies and carry a seven horsepower motor to keep the raft away from the bank. The raft carries a two-week supply of necessary camping equipment and their destination is Mobile.
Leaving Ellis Landing Tuesday morning at nine o’clock, the old salts hit Claiborne Landing Friday afternoon about four o’clock. Their plan was to dock at Dixie Landing Sunday afternoon with a six-day deadline for their destination.
Ropes are used to anchor the raft at night when the boys turn labor into leisure and head for the great outdoors.
When they reach Mobile, the raft will be sold and members of the crew plan to return to work following two weeks of fun without frustration.

69 YEARS AGO
JUNE 4, 1953

Little Leaguers Play Monday 8 A.M. – Members of the Camden Little League are getting ready for their big opening games Monday morning. The first game is called for eight o’clock A.M. with the Bull Frogs battling the Turtles, and at 9 a.m. the Grasshoppers tangle with the Minnows. Both games promise to be a battle royale for the four teams managers say their teams are going out to win.

O.A. Politer, Korean War veteran, member of the Medical Corps, of Philadelphia, was a recent visitor of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart. He is convalescing from recent surgery.

Miss Julia Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Martin Jr. and Bill Dannelly attended commencement exercises at Uriah last week, where Effie Louise Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N.K. Davis, was valedictorian.

Dr. Emmett Kilpatrick of Troy is spending a few days at his home here before resuming his work at Troy State Teachers College.

P.D. Sadler, who announced this week the opening of the Camden Loan Co., will manage the new business. Located in the former laundry building adjacent to the Wilcox Hotel, the company will handle short-term loans of small size.

Swimming Pool To Open June 8: The Memorial Swimming Pool will open Mon., June 8. The pool committee met Thursday afternoon to set up the rules for the 1953 summer season.

79 YEARS AGO
JUNE 3, 1943

Major Ellwood P. Oakley Jr., Pine Hill, has been assigned to the G-4 Section at Headquarters, Army Ground Forces, Army War College, Washington, D.C. His military education, in addition to ROTC at Auburn, includes attendance at the Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla. He was promoted to his present rank of major on Jan. 19, 1943. Before being called to active duty by the Army in July 1940, Major Oakley taught at the Perry County High School in Marion.

Sgt. John L. Covey has landed safely in England.

Robert Bussy Beck of the U.S. Army, stationed at Tullahoma, Tenn., visited relatives in Camden the past week.

Naval Lieutenant (JG) and Mrs. Charles Dobbins and little son, Peter Young, spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. G. Dobbins.

Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Andrews have received notice that their son, Staff Sgt. Billy Andrews, had landed safely overseas.

Aviation cadets J.A. Scott, Glenn Schwann, Alfred Shepard and J.E. Stuppleworth of Gunter Field, and Misses Margaret Belchor and Estelle Roy of Montgomery were the guests of Misses Emily Hasson and Martha Ann Waite last Thursday.

KIMBROUGH: Quite a large number from here attended the graduation exercises Thursday night in Pine Hill. A very interesting program was enjoyed by a large crowd.

89 YEARS AGO
JUNE 1, 1933

Mrs. Evelyn McNeill and children Earl and Laura Dale and Miss Hattie Matthews attended the graduation exercises at Troy Normal School where her daughter Evelyn was a member of the graduating class.

Senator and Mrs. J.M. Bonner, Joe Bonner and Mrs. J.B. Fields attended the graduation exercises at Alabama College, Montevallo, where Sara Bonner was a graduate.

ANNOUNCEMENT: We are glad to announce that Mr. L.C. Biggs is again connected with this shop. All his friends are invited to call around. All old accounts due this shop are marked paid. Come around and spend your cash with us. – Seller’s Barber Shop, CAMDEN, ALA.

Dr. J. Felix Jenkins has accepted the position at Acmar, Ala. as mining physician. It was formerly held by Dr. Horace Leon Cunningham, who died about a month ago. Mrs. Jenkins will later move to Acmar.

McWilliams: The ole town is all pepped up over the dance Friday night, June 9, and most of all over the big Fourth of July celebration when everyone will have a chance to take part in the picnic, barbecue, dancing, both round and square, two ball games – Oh boy, we’re gonna put the big pot in the little one that day.
The local ball club motored to Butler Springs Saturday afternoon where they defeated the club, 17 to 8.

Arlington: The fox hunt of the fox hunters association Saturday night was a failure, reports were: that the dogs wouldn’t even chase a rabbit intelligently.

99 YEARS AGO
JUNE 7, 1923

CAMDEN 4, VREDENBURGH 3: In the last game of the season, the High School defeated the Old Timers from Vredenburgh by the score of 4 to 3.
The game was played on a water soaked field and at times was very funny. Even the old men had no trouble executing Fancy Hook Slides and doing other tricks that would have made the Higher-Ups envious.
Steen pitched his usual good game and allowed the heavy hitters from Vredenburgh only one hit. He also showed that he was some hitter as he got a couple of pretty two-baggers.
Batteries: Landrum and Tait, Steen and Connor.
Sam Jones led the High School team in hitting with the average of .324 in 21 games. He also holds the usual record of having stolen 35 bases during the season. Same has made a good record and a good captain and should be even better next year.

Mr. A.E. Yow, president of the Planters State Bank of Pine Hill, was looking after business matters here on Wednesday.

Prof. Fred Simmons and wife of Beatrice passed through Camden Tuesday on their way to Peabody College at Nashville, Tenn. Mrs. Simmons will be remembered here as Miss Ruth Hestle, she being a popular graduate of the Wilcox County High School.

We notice from the Paris, Tenn. Journal that Sutt Jenkins is playing a fine game in the Kitty League. Culver Calhoun is with the Dyersburg team, and several former South Alabama Leaguers are in the line-ups of the various teams.