The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for May 30, 2023

Mike Fields of Evergreen, Ala.

29 YEARS AGO
MAY 26, 1994

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported no rain between May 16 and May 22, 1994. He reported a high of 85 degrees on May 16 and a low of 49 on May 20.

It is announced this week that Jim Peace has begun his tenure as administrator at Evergreen Hospital. Peace replaces Gil McKenzie who was promoted to President of Gilliard Health Services.
Jim comes to Evergreen Hospital from a similar position in Luverne, Ala.
Peace is a 1984 graduate of Auburn University and brings nine years of experience in to help in the management of the 44-bed facility.
Peace is no stranger to the area. He is a graduate of T.R. Miller High School in Brewton and is married to the former Lisa Bowers of Evergreen.

Honor students for the graduating class of 1994 at Hillcrest High School are Beverly Brogden, Valedictorian, Terry Holt, Salutatorian, Barbara Walker, Tineka Moore and Felicia Watson. They will receive their diplomas next Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at Brooks Memorial Stadium.

Brooke Walker has been named as the new Library Director at the Evergreen-Conecuh Public Library. Prior to accepting the position as Director at the Evergreen-Conecuh Library, Ms. Walker worked at Century Correctional Institution as the Prison Law General Librarian. Ms. Walker presently lives in Century, Fla., but is planning on relocating to Evergreen as soon as possible.

54 YEARS AGO
MAY 29, 1969

Sgt. William Michael Fields, 22, of Evergreen died on May 12 in Vietnam. Funeral services were held May 24 at 3 p.m. at Cope Chapel with Minister Billy Lambert and Rev. Douglas Newton officiating. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery with Cope Funeral Home in charge.
The body was escorted home by a good friend and former schoolmate, Walter Van Davis, who is now stationed in Vietnam. Pallbearers were Scott Cook, Scott Cox, Larry Ellis, Ronnie Hayes, Michael Covin, Kenny Harper, Wayne Tolbert and Mitchell Kilpatrick.
Sgt. Fields was graduated from Evergreen High School where he was an outstanding athlete and very popular student. He attended Jefferson Davis Junior College for two years before entering the Army.
He had compiled an outstanding Army record scoring as an expert rifleman during his basic training and drawing complimentary remarks from his superiors throughout his service. He had been serving in combat in Vietnam for the past 10 months.

Second lieutenants James Warren and Connor Warren hold the silver wings of an Air Force pilot. This is the goal of both brothers as they enter undergraduate pilot training with the U.S. Air Force. They were recently commissioned in the 187^th TAC RECON Group, Alabama Air National Guard, and will fly RF-84F Photo Reconnaissance jets upon graduation.

79 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1944

Pvt. Robert G. Bozeman Jr. of the U.S. Marine Corps, Camp Elliott, Calif., arrived Tuesday to spend several days leave here.

Carl L. Nall Dies In Action May 3: Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Nall of Repton received word recently from the Navy Department that their son, Carl L. Nall, S1-c, of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve was killed by action of the enemy on May 3. No details have been received.
Seaman Nall entered the service in February 1942 and had been on sea duty since shortly after completing boot training. He spent a 15-day leave at home in October. He had many relatives and friends in this county who are shocked and saddened by his untimely death.

Sgt. Frank Coburn Killed In Action: A telegram from the War Department was received Tuesday by Mr. and Mrs. D.P. Coburn announcing that their youngest son, Sgt. Frank Coburn, was killed in action recently. Sgt. Coburn was in Italy when last heard from and it is believed that he probably lost his life in the Anzio Beachhead area.

Lyeffion High School closing exercises began Sun., May 21, and will end Thursday evening, May 25. The combined class night and graduation exercises will be given Thursday, 8:30 p.m. The salutatorian’s address will be given by Earline Ellis. The valedictory address will be given by co-valedictorians, Mary White and Billie Roberts.

91 YEARS AGO
MAY 26, 1932

Mount Union Lodge Elects New Officers: At its regular time of meeting Saturday night, May 21, Mt. Union Lodge No. 541 of the Masonic order held its annual election of officers for the ensuing year.
The following were elected: W.R. Shaver, W.M.; D.N. McIntyre, S.W.; L.C. Shaver, J.W.; T.H. Guy, Treas.; P.W. Shaver, Sec.; P.S. McKinley, S.D.; R.T. Murphy, J.D.; J.D. Hyde, Tyler; C.A. Smith, S.S.; J.R. Murphy, J.W.; J.C. Reeves, Captain.

The annual drive for new members, as well as, renewals to membership to the Evergreen Public Library will be put on next week.
The library association for this year is composed of Mrs. Hugh Hagood, Mrs. Rufus Rushton, Mrs. C.P. Deming, Mrs. W.B. Ivey, Mrs. Burnie Jones, Mrs. H.L. Finklea, Miss Mary Henderson and Misses Pauline and Ethel King with Mrs. E.E. Newton as chairman.

The Conecuh County Chapter of the Red Cross has secured a car of flour to be distributed in the county to deserving persons who are in want and who are unable to purchase food in sufficient quantities for their actual needs.

Health Officer Advises Typhoid Inoculation: We want our people to know that it is time to safeguard themselves against Typhoid fever by taking Typhoid inoculation. Where two years or more have elapsed since taking the serum it should be repeated this year. We will be glad to hold clinics at any and all places where desired by citizens.
E.L. Kelly, County Health Officer.

96 YEARS AGO
MAY 26, 1927

S.S.A.S. Commencement Ends Wed. Night: The commencement program of the State Secondary Agricultural School came to a close Wednesday night, when diplomas were awarded to the 25 members of the senior class, after a very eloquent and forceful baccalaureate address was delivered by Hon. Lister Hill, Congressman from the Second District.
During the program Wednesday evening, Mr. (W.B.) Sexton introduced to the audience Prof. Paul Fisher of Abbeville, who is to succeed him as principal of the S.S.A.S. Mr. Fisher is at present teacher of Vocational Agriculture at Abbeville. He will move here about July 1.
Diplomas were awarded to the following students: Flossie Allen, Pauline Black, Ernestine Chapman, McLean Dreaden, Jno. Tom Gaillard, Addie B. Garvin, Stanley Fountain, William Hairston, Jno. Hanks, Lindsey Hart, Myra Hart, Jno. C. Holman, Lucinda Horton, Oris Jones, Mrs. Vernice K. Kelley, Joeffy Lundy, Reuben Millsap, Flowers Northcutt, Myrtle Quarles, Julien Relfe, Gladys Reynolds, Winston Stillwell, Entys Thomas, Hazel Williams and Helen Williams.

CONECUH HOTEL NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS: The hotel building belonging to W.K. Horton, which was formerly occupied by the Evala Hotel, has been completely overhauled inside and out during the last few months and is now open for business under the name Conecuh Hotel, with M.H. Crawford as manager.

103 YEARS AGO
MAY 26, 1920

Castleberry High School Ends Session: Castleberry, May 23 – The commencement exercises of the Conecuh County High School came to a close Wednesday with delivery of the baccalaureate address and the awarding of diplomas. Dr. J.S. Thomas of the University of Alabama delivered the address to the graduates. Four boys and six girls were given diplomas. They are Rosa Pate, Helen Albreast, Albert Smith, Dewitt Hancock, Edward Suddith and Forrest Castleberry.
Prof. Sellers Stough has been elected principal for another year.

B.M. Johnston attended the Confederate reunion in Montgomery last week.

School Commencement: The commencement exercises of the Agricultural school began on last Friday night with the school play, a four-act drama, presented by pupils from several departments.
On Sunday morning the commencement sermon was delivered at the Baptist church by Rev. Norman McLeod of Auburn.
On Tuesday night, the senior class exercises occurred and an interesting program presented.
The auditorium was taxed to capacity at most of these exercises to accommodate the crowds, reminding one of the early days of the school under the late Prof. Liner.

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

USS Newport News

23 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 2000

Blacksher history published: J.U. Blacksher School students in Patricia McCullers’ community history class recently published a complete volume of the school’s history that documents the history of education in a small rural portion of southern Monroe County.
McCullers said it took two academic years of studying local history to put local events in the context of state and national history.
She said that she began the project with her students because she thought that a publication such as this would draw attention to the community history course and serve the community well.

Monroe Academy holds spring sports banquet: Monroe Academy’s Nathan Stokes was the recipient of the Bill Grant Memorial Award at the 2000 Spring Sports Banquet Thursday night.
In baseball, Bruce White and Chris Caldwell won the Gold Glove Awards; Justin Allred, the Highest Batting Average; Chris Majors, the Coach’s Award and seniors White and Triple Sawyer were named captains.
In softball, Jennifer Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player; Sara Lee won the Coach’s Award and Elizabeth Lane was named the captain.

Sandy Smith, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, presented the 18 members of the Leadership Now class with graduation certificates last Thursday at the Monroeville Water Tower Conference Center. Those graduates included Phillip Allen, Brett Cox, Vicky Dunn, Harvey Gaston, Paul England, Mark Hendrix, Cindy Martin, Emilie Martin, Greg Martin, Jack McKnight, Mike Metts, Linda North, Johnnye Peacock, Allan Sizemore, Dennis Stabler, Bob Turk, Tim Waters and Jeff Vermilyea.

48 YEARS AGO
MAY 22, 1975

Cecil White dies Monday from illness: Cecil White, executive director of the Monroeville and Evergreen housing authorities and a former Monroeville city clerk, died Monday at Monroe County Hospital following a brief illness. Mr. White, 52, served as Monroeville city clerk for 10-1/2 years before becoming housing authority director in October 1971.
He was secretary of the Monroeville Planning Commission; active in the Monroeville Lions and Civitan clubs; treasurer of Monroeville’s York Rite Bodies; senior warden of Alabama Lodge No. 3, Masonic Order; and a member of the Abba Shrine Temple.

Johnny Bartlett, third baseman and ace hitter for the Monroe County High School Tigers for the past four years, has been chosen to play in the Lions all-star game set for Saturday in Mobile. He was chosen for the honor after leading the East to an 11-4 win over the West in a preliminary game in Jackson Sunday. Bartlett was the only Monroe County player chosen to attend, although Scott Higginbotham of MCHS was chosen as an alternate.

Storage for the state: The city-owned lot at the corner of Cherry Street and heavily-traveled Pineville Road in Monroeville has been used by the state Highway Department to store construction materials for more than a year. Mayor W.H. “Jack” Hines expects that usage to continue until widening of Pineville Road is completed; the start of that widening is awaiting completion of right-of-way acquisition. This tract was intended as the location of Monroeville’s new city hall, but that project has been dropped indefinitely because of the cost.

73 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1950

Diplomas were awarded Monday night during a special class night program at Frisco City High School. Members of the class receiving diplomas were Ralph L. Baas, Curtis H. Blanton, Isaac D. Byrd, Honnie Ree Chaudron, Thomas J. King, Frank L. Lynam, William H. Sawyer, Foye O. Stacey, Charles Walston, Doris Bodiford, Barbara Lambert, Odie Jo Petty, Betty J. Sims, Odessa Stacey, Verdie Stinson, Etheleen Stucky and William G. Byrd.

Monroeville Captures Sixth Straight, Defeating Evergreen 8-2 Thursday: Monroeville maintained its unblemished record in Dixie League play last week, trimming Evergreen 8-2 Thursday night behind the effective five-hit hurling of left-hander Bill Hite.
For Monroeville, Grady Gaston and LeVaughan Hanks, with two hits each for five times up, led at the plate. Winning pitcher was Hite.
(Other Monroeville players in that game included Al Clenner, Robert Riley, Hop Stevens and Joe Tucker.)

Uriah Sailor Schedules Return To States May 28: Walter G. Ikner, boilermaker, third class, U.S. Navy, of Rt. 1, Uriah, is scheduled to arrive in Norfolk, Va., May 28, after a four-month cruise in the Mediterranean as a crew member of the heavy cruiser, USS Newport News. While in the Mediterranean, he was afforded an opportunity to visit many of the countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

98 YEARS AGO
MAY 28, 1925

County Superintendent G.A. Harris will leave early next week to continue his post-graduate studies at the University of Alabama.

EARLY COTTON BLOOM: The first cotton bloom of the season was brought to The Journal office Tues., May 26, by Mr. F.H. Melton, one of the most successful farmers in the Monroeville area. The stalk on which the bloom appeared had 17 well developed forms, and the bloom is two weeks earlier than last season. Mr. Melton has four acres of cotton planted early and reports the condition and prospect the most promising in his experience.

DEATH OF T.L. GRIFFIN AND WIFE: Mr. T.L. Griffin and his wife died at their home near Franklin last Friday under peculiarly sad circumstances. Both had been stricken with pneumonia some time before and the one was unable to give attention to the other. When the physician was called on Friday, he found that Mrs. Griffin had passed away unknown to her husband. Mr. Griffin succumbed a few hours later. Two small children survive them.

SENIOR CLASS ENTERTAINED: The Monroeville Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, delightfully entertained the Senior Class of the Monroe County High School at the lovely new home of Mrs. R.D. Hendrix, secretary of the Chapter, on Friday evening of last week. Numerous games were enjoyed, after which gift packages consisting of dainty silk handkerchiefs for the girls and pocket combs in leather cases for the boys were distributed, each bearing a suitable sentiment read by Miss Benie Carter.

123 YEARS AGO
MAY 24, 1900

A most deplorable tragedy occurred near Carlisle on Wednesday night. A son of Mr. Sam Simmons was sent by his father on some errand to the house of a man living on the place. The young man, thinking to have some fun at the expense of the man, put on a fantastic masque and presented himself at the cabin. The man in his fright at the startling apparition, seized his gun and fired, the whole charge taking effect in the body of the unfortunate young man, death resulting in a short time. The parents have profound sympathy in their distress and grief.

Col. B.L. Hibbard and Mr. J.S. Harrengton attended a picnic at Pineville Friday in celebration of the close of Prof. Dale’s school. Three gold medals were awarded for general excellence in the respective grades, the successful competitors being Misses Jennie Stallworth and Jennie Andress and Ivey. The medals were delivered with an appropriate speech by Col. Hibbard.

Mr. G.A. Tuthill of Claiborne was here Wednesday in search of a pair of mules that strayed from his place a few days ago.

Mr. George W. Salter Jr. of Evergreen stopped over en route to Selma and spent Sunday with his brother, the editor of this paper.

Kempville, Ala., May 21, 1900 – Editor Journal: Please say through The Journal that the examination of teachers will be held at the courthouse on the first Monday in June, beginning at 10 o’clock a.m. No teacher will be allowed to take the examination who is not present at the opening. – C.W. McClure, County Superintendent of Education.

JONES MILL: The Bear Creek Mill Co. is extending its log road in Wild Fork.

Knight family's Wainwright garden is a sight to behold

Denver Lett and Katherine Knight.

I got the chance to have a nice visit with Robert and Katherine Knight last Thursday afternoon at their beautiful homeplace at Wainwright.

Robert is widely known throughout the county, especially in law enforcement circles. He has served as a county constable for years and was even named the national constable of the year in 2009. Most county citizens have likely encountered his friendly smile at the front door of the county courthouse, where he works two days a week.

A week or so ago Robert asked me to ride up to his house on County Road 17 to see his wife’s garden, an offer I couldn’t turn down. I’d been to their house several times before, but I hadn’t seen Katherine in years. You can search Monroe County from Hybart to Little River, and you will be hard-pressed to find two finer folks.

I pulled up in the yard around two o’clock, and Katherine greeted me in her front yard, which is filled with blooming flowers. Close on her heels was her grandson, eight-year-old Denver Lett. I learned that he is a good student at Monroeville Elementary School and a topnotch outfielder in the Monroeville YMCA baseball league.

Robert joined us as Katherine gave me a tour of the grounds, showing me rows upon rows of collards, butterbeans, peas, peppers, watermelons, tomatoes and a variety of other vegetables. They also have a chicken coop containing half a dozen yardbirds as well as pens of rabbits and raccoons.

What makes all of this remarkable is that Katherine has no legs. Both of her legs were amputated in 2009 due to diabetes, but that doesn’t slow her down. Now, she gets around her yard just fine in a motorized chair.

“When I hear someone make excuses, I just don’t want to hear it,” she said with a smile. “You can do whatever you set your mind to.” One of her favorite verses in the Bible is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Katherine explained that she uses a long-handled hoe as a plow, dressing the rows of her garden, planting and weeding. She said that every time she puts a seed in the ground, she puts it down in the Lord’s name and says a little prayer. “Ask and it shall be given,” she said.

Robert and Katherine have been married since 1965, and Robert admitted that he doesn’t have to help his wife much with the garden. He said she pretty much does it all herself. He jokingly said that his father broke him of farming decades ago during a comically stressful venture into cotton farming.

We eventually made it back around to the front yard and talked under the shade trees for what seemed like a long time. Denver was darting in and out of some bushes not far from the blacktop, and Robert warned him that snakes were on the move.

Before leaving, Katherine loaded me down with a sack full of small pumpkin pies. They were in tiny pie pans, reminding me of the shiny pans that my Granny Stacey used to hang in her garden to keep the deer away. These delicious, homemade pies are one of Katherine’s specialties, and they have made their way into the hands of many prominent county officials over the years.

Eventually, I had to go, but on the ride back to the newspaper office, my thoughts returned to Robert and Katherine. As the aroma of those pumpkin pies filled the cab of my truck, I thought about the fine example the Knights set for the rest of us. No doubt, if the country had more good, God-fearing folks like them, we would be so much better off. 

Prominent Wilcox County citizen Edward Nathaniel Jones Sr. passed away 106 years ago in 1917

Army officer E.N. Jones Jr. of Camden

Tomorrow – May 26 – will mark 106 years since the passing of one of Wilcox County’s most prominent citizens, Edward Nathaniel Jones Sr.

It was on May 26, 1917 that Jones passed away while under treatment at a Birmingham hospital. Jones was 79 years old at the time his death, and he passed away “after a long and useful life worthy of himself,” according to his friend, Solomon Bloch, the editor of The Wilcox Progressive Era. Bloch described Jones as “a good man, father, friend, neighbor, citizen, Democrat and high-toned patriot.”

Jones was born in Brunswick County, Virginia on Sept. 12, 1839 to J.C. and Mary A. Jones. They moved to Alabama in 1845, and Jones grew up in Camden. Jones was married twice, once to Mary Ellen Blanchard and later to Mollie Beck.

Jones, even before the War Between the States, worked as an attorney in Camden. According to Bloch, Jones “had the highest regard for professional ethics and could be counted on at all times to maintain the best ideals of the profession. He was absolutely fearless in the discharge of his duty, always ready to give his best talent to the cause of his client, but never fighting his battles in an underhanded nor questionable way. If he could not win fairly and honorably, he lost without a murmur.”

One interesting incident connected with Jones’s legal career involved a shooting in Camden on Jan. 23, 1897. Jones and a man named P.M. Horn got into a “difficulty” over litigation that was pending in the Wilcox County Probate Court. “In the encounter between these well-known gentlemen, Mr. Horn was shot in the face, which was followed up by another shot said to have been fired by D.B. Jones, son of Col. Jones, which took effect in Horn’s head, so disabling him as to terminate the difficulty. Mr. Horn’s wound it is feared is quite serious.”

Despite my best efforts, I could not determine if Horn lived or died. As best that I could determine, nothing else was reported on the incident in the Camden newspaper. Like Jones, Horn was a prominent attorney in Wilcox County in the 1890s, and my gut feeling is that he must have survived the shooting.  

Another interesting incident connected with Jones occurred in March 1905 when he became the first person in Camden history to ever receive a cablegram. Cablegrams, which first came about in the late 1860s, were messages sent via underwater cables. The cablegram sent to Jones was sent to him by his son, U.S. Army Capt. Edward Nathaniel Jones Jr., from Honolulu, Hawaii – 2,089 miles from San Fransico, California.

From a researcher’s point of view, one mysterious period of Jones’s life came during the War Between the States. He would have been 22 years old when the war began in 1861, which would have meant that he was of prime fighting age. Despite my best efforts, I could find no records showing that he ever served in the war. Perhaps some disability prevented his service or perhaps he held some position that excluded him from service.

In the end, Jones’s funeral was attended by a large crowd and was held at the home of his son, P.E. Jones. The Rev. H.W. Wallace conducted his funeral, and his pallbearers were a “who’s who” of prominent Wilcox County citizens. His pallbearers included Editor Bloch, W.A. Primm, R.L. Spurlin, W.A. McDowell, F.B. Dexter, H. Vandevoort, W.J. Bonner and W.R. Alford. Burial was in the Camden Cemetery.

Singleton tells of DeSoto in the aftermath of the Battle of Maubila

DeSoto 'discovers' the Mississippi River.

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “DeSoto’s army injured in battle,” was originally published in the June 2, 1977 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I have been asked to follow up last week’s column on DeSoto’s plight and pass on to my readers some of the events that confronted him after the Battle of Maubila.

Although DeSoto’s party won a great victory, if one would call it that, over the Indians at Maubila, he also suffered much that he and his army never recovered from. Many of his followers were severely wounded – wounds that needed good medical attention and weeks of rest and recovery. But this was not the way fate had planned the stage.

DeSoto’s party stayed at the village site of Maubila for eight days. There were 1,700 dangerous wounds among his followers that needed immediate attention. It was often that a soldier had a dozen severe wounds, such as barbed arrowheads embedded in his flesh.

All of the surgeons had been killed during the battle except one, and he was unskilled and slow. As I stated last week, all the medical supplies had been destroyed in the battle.

Fat, straw, leaves

The slightly wounded administered to the more seriously wounded. The bodies of the dead Indians were opened up, and the fat obtained from these was bound to the wounds with clothing of the men who had been killed.

Many pushed straw and leaves into their wounds to try and stop the bleeding. Some went mad with pain and fever. DeSoto himself had several serious wounds. One of these, about the head, was thought to be why he was never again completely competent.

Ships awaited him

Prior to the Battle of Maubila, DeSoto had received word that his ships awaited him along the coast of what is now Florida. These ships would carry him back to Spain and recovery for most of his army. But he still envisioned the fabled Seven Cities of Gold in his fevered mind.

As his condition grew worse, the thoughts of fabulous riches dominated him more. So instead of turning south to his ships, he took a northward course. On Sun., Nov. 18, 1540, DeSoto gave the order that any man who disobeyed the order to turn north would be killed.

His route took him through what are now Clarke, Marengo and Greene counties. High on the chalk cliffs overlooking the Black Warrior River, he paused at the village of Cabusto and rested.

The news of Maubila had rushed like wildfire ahead of DeSoto’s party. Most always, he was met by opposition. DeSoto began to have periods of deep depression, followed by a type of severe shaking of the body and fits, as they were called. The dreams of gold became an obsession, and he pushed ever onward seeking these imaginary riches.

In May 1541, DeSoto and his party reached the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. He was the first from the outside world to see the great river.

After a year of wandering over what is now the state of Arkansas, he and his party returned to the “Father of Waters,” the last of May 1542. Here, while trying to construct two ships that would carry the remains of his army to Cuba, he fell gravely ill with fever.

Said farewell

After appointing a leader to take command of his army, he said farewell to his officers and men.

Then he closed his eyes in death. He was the first to behold the river – and the first to close his eyes in death upon it, and the first to find a grave in its deep and turbid waters.

Thus ended the saga that began that fateful day in October 1540 by the rushing waters of the Alabama near Claiborne town.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for May 23, 2023

23 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 2000

Weather observer Harry Ellis reported 0.95 inches of rain on May 21. He also reported a high of 92 degrees on May 17 and a low of 55 on May 15.

Groundbreaking held for new jail: What has been called by many a “giant step in the fight against crime” came one step closer to reality Wednesday.
The Conecuh County Commission joined with local law enforcement agencies and city officials to unearth the first shovelfuls of dirt at the site of the future Conecuh County Jail.
The new Conecuh County Jail will be a state-of-the-art facility consisting of slightly more than 21,000 square feet of floor space capable of housing 75 to 100 inmates with an additional component set aside for the housing of juvenile offenders. This facility is designed in compliance with all applicable regulations and practices for secure housing of inmates and will be built at a total cost of $3,368,194.
The project is scheduled for completion within 348 calendar days from Wednesday and will be located at the intersection of Liberty Street and Belleview Avenue in downtown Evergreen.

EverFUN opened Saturday: Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held Saturday for the EverFun playground at Evergreen Municipal Park.
City officials as well as event organizers were present for the special event which concluded with a release of all children present into the playground.

48 YEARS AGO
MAY 22, 1975

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.8 inches of rain on May 14 and 0.4 inches on May 16. He also reported a high of 86 degrees on May 13 and lows of 60 on May 13 and May 18.

Honor students of the graduating class of Evergreen High School this year are Kim McNeil, valedictorian; Ola Mae Meeks, salutatorian; Suzzetta Rogers and Willie C. Johnson.

Lynn Cook Daw is valedictorian of the graduating class at Sparta Academy. She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John R. Cook.

Terri Rabun is the salutatorian of the graduating class at Sparta Academy. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Rabun.

Homer Duel Holland, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.T. Holland Jr., is the valedictorian of the graduating class at Conecuh County High School, Castleberry.

Victoria Pope, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Pope, is the salutatorian of the graduating class at Conecuh County High School, Castleberry.

Wynell Waren is valedictorian of the graduating class at Repton High School. Mitchell Bell is salutatorian at Repton High School.

Honor students in the graduating class at Lyeffion High School this year are Raymond Bruce, Christine Taylor, Debbie Grace, Jim Wiggins, Debbie Grimes, salutatorian, Elaine Salter, valedictorian, Ricky Gaskey and Albert Ball.

73 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1950

Seven persons lost their lives in a tragic auto-truck collision here early Saturday morning. The accident happened on the outskirts of Evergreen on the Loree road at about 6:15 Saturday morning. The site was within the city limits and the accident investigated by city authorities.

Fifteen members of the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department received certificates at graduation ceremonies last (Wednesday) night ending the 12-week school and training program conducted here.
The following firemen received certificates: Chief Ed Carrier, Assistant Chief Forrest Douglas, C.E. Carrier, H.S. Dunn, J.H. Dunn, John Thompson, W.L. Thames, Henry Powell, James Nall, Winston Pierce, J.W. Weaver, Randolph Moorer Jr., Woodford Bolton, Wilbur Hamilton and A.B. Johnson.

Bill Langham will receive his high school diploma at Evergreen High School Friday night thus ending one of the most super-perfect attendance records ever compiled by a local student. Since he entered the first grade in September 1938, Bill has never been absent or tardy – 12 years of school present every day and on time every time.

Evergreen High School will award diplomas to 55 students at graduation exercises Friday night. The program will be held in Memorial Gymnasium to afford room for the large number of people expected to attend.

98 YEARS AGO
MAY 27, 1925

Knights of the Ku Klux Klan will hold on Open Air Celebration at the Old Ball Park, Greenville, Tuesday Night, June 9, 7:30 – Wonderful Fireworks Display, Public Naturalization of 150 Candidates, Address by a Noted Orator – A Special Train will be run by Konekuh Kounty Klan No. 74, and will leave Evergreen at 6:15 p.m. to return after Celebration, Fair For Round Trip Only $2.15 – THE PUBLIC IS CORDIALLY INVITED – Klan No. 12 – Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Greenville, Alabama.

EVERGREEN CHAPTER ROYAL ARCH MASONS ELECT OFFICERS: At a regular convention of Evergreen Chapter No. 127, Royal Arch Masons, held last Friday night, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: W.F. Betts, High Priest; Robert Long, King; J.T. Amos, Scribe; J.R. Brooks, Capt. Of the Host; J.F. Murphee, R.A.C.; G.M. Jones, Master of Third Veil; L.T. Rutland, Master of Second Veil; W.S. Dreaden, Master of First Veil; J.F. Dean, Secretary; J.T. Williams, Treasurer. Eleven new members were selected.

SSAS COMMENCEMENT: Tuesday night, Dr. A.F. Harmon, Superintendent of Education of Montgomery County, delivered one of his characteristic addresses to the graduating class (of the State Secondary Agricultural School) to a well filled house at the city school auditorium. The following named young men and women composed the graduating class and to whom diplomas were awarded: Lucile Barfield, Edith Cunningham, Mary Dean, Irma Kelly, Leona Moore, Leola Sanders, Voncile Smith, Erin Stallworth, Corinne Shaver, Mildred Williams, Henry Dey, Oliver Sanders and Howard Orr.

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

SIX YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 2017

Veterans Memorial Park receives anti-tank gun: Monroeville’s Veterans Memorial Park has a new addition in the form of an authentic, steel anti-tank 90-millimeter S/N 7 Gun, a weapon that was manufactured in 1944 and used in World War II and the Korean War.
Hornady Transportation provided the delivery of the cannon free of charge while the unloading was provided by Hammer Construction, who also installed the display pad at Veterans Memorial Park at cost of the materials and labor. VFW Post 8485 and American Legion Post 61 contributed to the cost of the project.

Dixie Youth Minor League All-Stars: The Monroeville Dixie Youth recently announced its all-stars for the 9-10-year-old division. (Members of the all-star team included Jack Simpson, Nathan Ramer, Trice Hudson, Cooper Kilgore, Peyton Gaines, Timothy McQuigg, Brady McKinley, Hayden Rowell, Cayden Powell, Carter Ross, Sawyer Wasden and Jackson Casey.)

First Extraordinary Olympics a success: Monroe County Public Schools System held its first Extraordinary Olympics May 12 at Monroe County High School.
Students from Excel, Monroeville Elementary, Monroeville Middle and Monroe County High participated, according to Terri Norris, Pre-Employment Transition Specialist/Transition Coordinator.
Each student participated in track and/or field events. The track events included 100-, 200- and 400-meter runs and the 100-meter relay. The field events included standing long jump, javelin throw and medicine ball throw.

31 YEARS AGO
MAY 28, 1992

Hitting the road again: Two brothers and three of their close friends, known collectively as the River Road Band, will travel from Monroe County to New Orleans Friday as finalists in the June Jam Talent Search. The talent search is sponsored by the band, “Alabama.” The winner of the New Orleans competition will be featured at the annual “June Jam” music festival scheduled for June 13 in Fort Payne.
Wayne Lambert handles lead guitar and vocals for the band; Ronnie Lambert plays bass guitar; Paul Bell, lead guitar and vocals; Randy Manning, drums and vocals; and Kent Stewart, keyboard.

Excel grabs lead in Babe Ruth: Excel recorded a pair of wins Saturday on opening day in Frisco City to take an early lead in the South Monroe County Babe Ruth Baseball League. In the first game of the regular season for both teams at the ball park on Snider Avenue, Excel pounded Frisco City, 26-0, in five innings. Excel came back in the third game to beat Uriah Red, 18-11.
(Excel’s players included Chris Bishop, Matt Cole, Lee Fore, Lynn Janes, Jamison Ledkins, Travis Ledkins, Chris Lint, Jerry Pharr, Steven Pharr and Patrick Ross. Frisco City’s players included Randy Coleman, Tony Dean, Derrick Harris, David Lawson and Chuck Murph. Uriah players included Tyler Burgess, Kevin Colbert, Jonathan Conway, Todd Daniels, Bryan Ellsworth, Jeremy Henley, John Murray Ikner, John Jeter, Petrise Johnson, Joey Matheny, Brad McKinley, Clint Metts, Morgan Middleton, Brian Odom, Ronald Parker, Anthony Peavy and Jimmy Plum.)

56 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1967

Guard Leaves For Camp Saturday: Ninety-two National Guardsmen from the Monroeville area will leave Sat., May 27, for their annual two-week summer encampment.
Members of the 131^st Quartermaster Co., Monroeville, this year will spend their two-weeks training period at Fort Lee, Va.
Under the command of Lt. Richard A. Horton, the main body is scheduled to arrive at Fort Lee by bus Saturday night.
The company is scheduled to arrive back in Monroeville Sat., June 10.

Babe Ruth To Open Season Schedule Next Tuesday Night: The opening of the Monroeville-Frisco City four-team Babe Ruth League will be Tuesday night, May 30, according to Roy Adams, newly elected league president, at the Vanity Fair Park.
Managers this year are Glen Bayles and Gary Downs, Pirates; Dick Otterberg, Tigers; Link Erickson, Giants; and Donnie Griffey, Red Sox.
Officers who will serve with Mr. Adams are Joe Whatley, vice president; Benson McLaurin, treasurer; and Ronald Dees, secretary.

T.L. Brown Again Reports First Bloom: For the second year in a row, T.L. Brown of Mexia has reported finding the first cotton bloom to The Journal.
Mr. Brown said he found the bloom Wednesday morning in one of his fields near Mexia.
He said the bloom is about 15 days ahead of the one he found last year. Mr. Brown said, “This particular field of cotton looks pretty good and should be ready for harvesting sometime in July.”

81 YEARS AGO
MAY 28, 1942

New Monroe Theatre Opens Thurs., June 4: The new Monroe Theatre, located in the building adjoining Veazey Electric & Hardware Co., will be complete and ready for opening on Thurs., June 4. It will be modern and comfortable in every respect. Claudette Colbert’s greatest role, “Remember the Day” with John Payne is the featured picture.

Lt. Raymond Owens, who recently received his “wings” at Kaye Field, Columbus, Miss., spent a few days last week with relatives here and at Repton.

RICHARD DORSEY RABON COMMISSIONED AN ENSIGN: Richard Dorsey Rabon, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Rabon of Uriah, has been commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve after completing a course of training at Abbott Hall, Northwestern University in Chicago, Eighth Naval District Headquarters.
Ensign Rabon has been under instruction as a midshipman for the past few months and will be assigned to a Naval unit either afloat or ashore. He attended the University of Alabama.

Pvt. Leon F. Nettles, who has recently completed his basic training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, is now receiving special instruction as radio mechanic at Coyne Electrical School, Chicago, Illinois. After this special 13 weeks of training, he will be stationed at the Army Air Base, Orlando, Fla. Pvt. Nettles is the son of Mr. and Mrs. S.B. Nettles, Tunnel Springs.

INJURIES FATAL TO GEORGE FRED EVERETTE: Mr. George Fred Everette died in a Mobile hospital on Friday night, May 22, resulting from injuries received while working at the Gulf Shipyards.

156 YEARS AGO
MAY 25, 1867

THE JOURNAL: Old subscribers are reminded that the first volume of The Journal closes on the 16^th of June, and we respectfully request their continuance for the ensuing volume. Those whose subscription ends with this volume will be notified of the fact by a cross mark (X) on the margin of this issue, opposite their names.
As our terms are strictly in advance, we give notice in time for all who wish to continue to send us the “three dollars” with their names. In accordance with our rule, the names of all those who do not pay up by the 15^th of June will be erased from our books. New subscribers are also solicited.

Rev. Mr. Dennis will preach in the Methodist Church at Claiborne on the third sabbath in every month.

CHANCERY COURT: His Hon. Chancellor Loomis is holding this court at Claiborne during the present week. Attorneys present: Judge Gibbons of Mobile, Col. Portis of Clarke; Col.’s Kilpatrick and Cummings of Wilcox; together with our county lawyers. Messrs. McCorvey and Nevil, students at law, are present for examination and license. Monroeville was largely represented both by attorneys and citizens on Thursday.

Claiborne Sabbath School, numbering some 50 or 60 pupils, presents one of the most interesting features in our community. It is due to the indefatigable efforts of the worthy superintendent, Mr. Fred Hickox, merchant of our town, assisted by a corps of amiable and accomplished ladies, together with the cooperation of various gentlemen, both from town and county.

Monroe County ghost town began as military outpost 210 years ago

Last Thursday afternoon, I got the itch to do some riding around and eventually found myself at Claiborne. Like many times before, I pulled over at the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and the Grain Elevator Road to read the historical marker there.

Placed there in 1970 by the Alabama Historical Association, that marker reads as follows: FORT CLAIBORNE. Creek Indian War 1813-1814. Built by General Ferdinand L. Claiborne as a base for his invasion of the Alibamo country with U.S. Regulars, Lower Tombigbee Militia and friendly Choctaws. Claiborne’s campaign culminated in the American victory over the Creeks at the Holy Ground.

Scores of people pass through Claiborne every day and probably give little thought to the sizeable city that once thrived there prior to the War Between the States. While the facts are debatable, I’ve heard people say that there were as many people living at Claiborne in its heyday as there are people living in Monroeville now. Oddly, this modern-day ghost town can trace its roots back to when it was a frontier military outpost.

One of the best sources of information about Fort Claiborne is the 2018 book, “Claiborne: A River Town,” by local historian Steve Stacey. According to Stacey’s research, Fort Claiborne was built in November 1813 near the southern end of the bluff at Claiborne, on the east side of the Alabama River. This fort was described as a “strong stockade, two hundred feet square, defended by three block-houses and a half-moon battery, which commanded the river.”

General Claiborne had been ordered to establish the fort to serve as a stockade and supply depot as the U.S. military continued its war against hostile Indians. The fort, built in just 10 days, cut Indians off from the river and their growing crops. The presence of the fort also made it more dangerous for the Indians to communicate with their allies in Pensacola, Fla.

The fort takes its name from General Claiborne, who died in Mississippi less than two years after the fort was built. Stacey’s research also reflects that Andrew Jackson spent a night at the fort in August 1814 as he journeyed down the river to the coast. Fifteen years later, Jackson would be elected as the seventh President of the United States.

Sources say that on Nov. 28, 1813, Col. Gilbert C. Russell and the 3^rd U.S. Infantry Regiment arrived at the fort with a cannon for the half-moon battery and swivel guns. Russell, who was a friend of famous explorer Meriwether Lewis, would later lend his namesake to Russell County, Alabama. One is left to wonder what became of the fort’s cannon and swivel guns, but they were likely removed when the fort was later abandoned by the army.

Over the years, I’ve had people tell me that the earthworks from the old fort are still visible if you know where to look. I’ve never been to see them for myself, but I’ve been told that they’re extremely hard to find without a guide. No doubt they are on private property, so don’t go hunting for them unless you want to catch a trespassing charge.

In the end, let me hear from you if have any additional details about Fort Claiborne’s history. I’m especially interested in descriptions of the fort as well as any ghost stories or local legends associated with the fort. Any drawings or maps of the old fort would also be of great interest.

More details arise about final resting place of Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox

Map showing location of Wilcox Bar on Alabama River.

An old newspaper article published in 1934 seems to put to rest the question over the final resting place of Wilcox County namesake, Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox.

Many readers will know that Wilcox was a U.S. Army officer who was killed by hostile Indians on Jan. 15, 1814. Most reliable sources say that he was tomahawked to death near where Pursley Creek flows into the Alabama River. Wilcox County was later named in his honor.

Almost all sources say that Wilcox was buried at Fort Claiborne in Monroe County, but a handful of sources say he was exhumed and reburied in the Camden Cemetery, where he has a headstone today. Sources have recently come to light that indicate that Wilcox isn’t buried at Claiborne or Camden, but remains in an unmarked grave to this day.

The Feb. 22, 1934 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era published an article by local historian Alice Foster, whose research was based on the writings of Judge Zoroaster Selman Cook of Camden, who died in 1893. Foster wrote that while Lt. Wilcox was traveling down the river, he was shot from ambush, somewhere between Prairie Bluff and Bridgeport. The soldiers who were with him “rowed with all possible speed” until dark and then stopped on an island below Blacks Bluff, where they buried the dead officer.

Foster said this island or bar became known as Wilcox Bar. She said the burial took place at night, without the aid of lights, because the burial party didn’t want to be seen by hostile Indians. They also didn’t want the Indians to dig up Wilcox and mutilate his body. Later, one of the soldiers – Isaac Sheffield – stopped at the bar to see the grave during a return trip to Fort Claiborne from Fort Dale in present-day Butler County.

In April 1816, L.W. “Berry” Mason and another man came up the river in a dugout canoe, looking for a place to settle. He picked a spot on the west side of the river, opposite of Wilcox Bar. Soon after this, Wilcox’s grave was pointed out to him by older settlers. Foster wrote that Mason frequently visited Wilcox Bar to look for turtle eggs and saw the grave many times, it being visible for many years.

Frank Johnson, an “old captain (who) came down the river on a flat boat in 1816,” also had the grave pointed out to him at Wilcox Bar. Years later, Johnson and Mason both pointed out Wilcox’s grave to Judge Cook during a trip on the river in Johnson’s steamboat. “A few bushes marked the place,” Cook said, noting that “the Bar or island had been so worn away by high waters that the upper end, the location of the grave” was submerged.

Foster wrapped up her article by letting people know that “these facts, it seems, should settle the point beyond any reasonable doubt as to the burial place of Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox.”

With that said, I suppose it is possible, but unlikely, that Wilcox’s remains were recovered at some point after 1934 and were reburied in the Camden Cemetery. If anyone has any proof of this, please let me know. If not, the question over his final resting place seems to be settled, barring any proof otherwise.

George Singleton believed famed Indian village of Maubila was located at Pine Orchard, Alabama

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Visiting places of the historic past,” was originally published in the May 13, 2004 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

A few days back, a friend and I ventured forth into the area of the Midway community. Our aim was to visit some of the old cemeteries and other places of interest in the area and look for some names of the early settlers that are buried there.

The old forgotten cemeteries are all in a rough state of repair due to fallen timbers and grown-up brush that cover the grave sites of those who departed this life after many years of hard work there on the rolling hills of the old settlement.

Three or four of the abandoned headstones recorded dates of death that dated back to the early 1800s. One that I recall went as far back as 1816.

In viewing the old cemeteries, I assumed that the area of Midway was at one time a sizeable community. I was disappointed to see, however, that the old burial grounds had been neglected over the years and the passing of time had taken its toll in the cemeteries that rested atop the high hilltops of the area.

Only a few of the headstones had markers that bore the names of those buried there. Many had nothing more than a sizeable rock as a grave marker. Some, had nothing more than a large piece of fat lightwood driven in the ground; these leaned crazily to one side or the other. Others were broken by fallen limbs and blown over timber. Others had nothing more than a small indenture in the ground where the soil had settled over the many years there on the hillsides.

As if by some miracle, three small cast-iron fences that each surrounded a family plot or a single grave had survived the many years of weather and time. Each needed some repair, but they continued to guard and protect those who slept there in the small fenced area.

The largest of the old cemeteries had adjoining it what seemed to be the slave burials. It, too, was in great need of cleaning and cutting the large brush and removing the fallen and rotten timbers. Many of the rocks that had served as headstones had been moved or crushed by the rotted timbers that crisscrossed the old burial grounds. Such a tragedy that these old historic landmarks had fallen in such decay.

Atop what appeared to be the highest hill in the area was located one of the cemeteries. As we stood there discussing the condition of the burials, I thought of the hard time experienced by many of those who slept there.

Many had come this way, looking for a better way of life, only to find a life of hard work and sacrifice here on the high ridges. But I’m sure that there were some good times also. Inspecting some of the tombstones, there were evidence of several sizeable families that lived in the surrounding area.

As we journeyed through the old burial grounds, I remembered from past investigations that this area had been occupied for many hundreds of years by the early Indian. Not too far from where we were was the ancient cave known as the Midway cave. Evidence inside the ancient cave showed that it had been occupied long before the time of DeSoto’s visit into this area, and perhaps many hundreds of years before.

There are many places and various ancient items within this area and the nearby area of Pine Orchard that need to be investigated. The mystery stones of Pine Orchard need to be studied and researched. I believe that a thorough investigation into these stones and the location where they were found would prove beyond any doubt that the famed Indian village of Maubila was located in what is now the Pine Orchard area.

If one studies and researches the route that DeSoto and his army took through what is now Monroe, Wilcox and Conecuh counties, it will prove beyond a shadow of doubt that the famed Indian village was in what is now the corner of Conecuh and Monroe counties, near where the counties join.

Realizing that the time was speeding toward the evening hours, we departed the Midway area and started back toward Pine Orchard. There was one more stop that I wanted to make since I was up in this area.

Down the road and out in the woods was located the Wolf Pit. I had been to this location several times, but for some unknown reason, I wanted to see again this strange hole in the ground. When I first came to this area, I became friends with two men who knew this part of the county like the backs of their hands.

In viewing the Wolf Pit, I was told the stories about these strange holes in the ground and what they were used for. But this is another story.

Making my way back to the Hub City, I realized again the abundance of early history that waited around almost every turn of the road and the importance of researching and investigating it. We need to know first hand the background and lives of those who came here before us. And, I’m sure that almost none would believe the many important events that took place around the area many years before our time.

As the trend continues, unless we change our ways, many of the old historical places within our area will soon fade into oblivion. And, the history of our past will have disappeared from view, and the places thereof will know it no more.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for May 16, 2023

15 YEARS AGO
MAY 15, 2008

The public is invited to attend Hillcrest High School’s annual commencement exercises on Fri., May 23, at Brooks Memorial Stadium in Evergreen.

SA baccalaureate and graduation plans set: Rev. John King will be the guest speaker at Sparta Academy’s Baccalaureate services this Sun., May 18, at 3 p.m. at the Evergreen Baptist Church. Claude B. Nielsen will be the guest speaker at Commencement exercises on Fri., May 23, at 7 p.m. in the Richard Brown Gymnasium.
Sparta Academy’s honor graduates this year are Amanda Nolin, Pia Cumagun, Hayden Armuelles, Hope Burleson, Myles Wiggins, Keary Watts and Casey Pierce.

Conecuh Sons charter Camp 2143: The Alabama Division of the Army of Tennessee, Sons of Confederate Veterans, has a new camp founded by Conecuh sons.
Confederate Constitution Camp 2143 was chartered May 1 and is domiciled at Montgomery.
Eight of 10 charter members of the new camp are either Conecuh residents or expatriates. Larry E. Darby is the commander, Daniel W. Joyner is the lieutenant commander and John E. Hooks is the adjutant. All three are graduates of Sparta Academy.

The 16^th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, held Saturday, successfully collected 2,229 pounds of food from various communities in the Conecuh County area.

40 YEARS AGO
MAY 19, 1983

Council votes against changing parking back: An effort to get the parking on West Front Street changed back from parallel to angle parking met with a “NO” from the Evergreen City Council, after a discussion with Mr. Carlton of the State Highway Dept. at the regular meeting Tuesday night.
Chief of Police Ed Bundy submitted his resignation effective May 27. Council voted to accept his resignation.
Two building permits were granted: Pete Wolff III to construct a commercial building on his used car lot on Highway 31 South; James C. Brooks for a storage building at his residence on Snowden Road.

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported .16 inches of rain on May 8, .16 on May 9, .01 on May 11 and .07 on May 13. He reported a high of 88 on May 14 and a low of 53 on May 9.

Deputy’s car gunned early Tuesday AM: A deputy sheriff’s car was shotgunned early Tuesday morning by an unknown white male who is still being sought. The deputy was not injured, but the shot, believed to be 00 buckshot, shattered holes in the windshield of the driver’s side of the car.
Deputy Sheriff Mack Goneke was in the car when it was shot about 12:10 a.m. Tuesday on the Old Stage Road near Repton on the Conecuh-Monroe boundary.
After firing the shot the man ran into the wooded area along the road. Goneke tried to follow him without any luck.

65 YEARS AGO
MAY 15, 1958

William Guthrie Jones, age 72, longtime resident of this city and much-beloved citizen, passed away at his home early Thursday morning, May 8, following a lingering illness of many months.
Mr. Jones was born and reared at Patsburg, Crenshaw County, Ala. He moved to this county in 1912 and engaged in farming for three years at Belleville. In 1915 he opened a barber shop in Evergreen and continued its operation for 43 years, having sold it only a few weeks before his death. He was a member of the Greening Masonic Lodge, and served as its secretary for about 12 years.

Evergreen High Sets Graduation Exercises: The schedule of graduation exercises for the Evergreen High School is announced today by Principal C.W. Claybrook.
The Baccalaureate Service will be held Sunday afternoon at 4:30 at the First Baptist Church of Evergreen. The Rev. Stanley Kelley, a recent graduate of the Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a graduate of Evergreen High School, will preach the Baccalaureate sermon.
Graduation exercises will be held Friday evening, May 23, at eight o’clock in Memorial Gymnasium.

Clarence Smith, whose wife, Ramona, and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Smith, live here, has recently completed his classes in Minesweeper Automatic DeGausing at the U.S. Navy Schools Yorktown, Va. Prior to enlisting in the Navy, Clarence graduated from Evergreen High School and was employed by The Evergreen Courant.

90 YEARS AGO
MAY 18, 1933

Fourteen Seniors Get Diplomas At Repton: Fourteen seniors were granted diplomas at Repton High School Friday night, May 12, at the closing exercise of the institution. In addition to the graduating exercises, senior class night program was given. J.C. Merrill, president of the class, presided during the program. The graduating address was delivered by R.G. Bozeman of Evergreen.
Diplomas were awarded to the following: Mason Brantley, Bartine Boulware, Omega Craig, Wesley Ellis, Roberta Ellis, Lilly Charles Gaston, Annie Chloe Howington, Hunter McInnis, Sue Moorer, J.C. Merrill, Everton Odum, Stephen Owens, Edna Peavy, Zema Pipkins.

Former Citizen Victim Of Accident Tuesday: Johnny I. Hildreth, age 37, former citizen of this county at Paul, but for the past nine years a resident of Opelika, was fatally injured Tuesday night when he was run down by an auto in the street near his residence, sustaining injuries from which he died at an early hour Wednesday.
According to reports, Mr. Hildreth had parked his car near his home and was responding to call to the telephone in his home when the unfortunate accident happened. He stepped from his car into the street in the path of the fast moving car which snuffed his life away.
The remains were brought here Wednesday night and carried to the home of his mother at Paul. Funeral services will be held at Paul this morning with Rev. G.B. Nall of Atmore officiating.

115 YEARS AGO
MAY 20, 1908

School Closes: The commencement exercises of the Agricultural school began on Sunday night with the annual sermon preached by Rev. J.M. Dannelly of Montgomery in the Baptist church. The sermon was one of the best that has ever been heard here on a similar occasion. There was a large congregation present to hear him.
The concert did not occur on Monday night on account of rain but will take place tomorrow night.
The alumni address was delivered by Wm. H. Crawford of Montgomery on yesterday morning.
The class exercises last night was specially interesting and entertaining. The Courant would be glad to make special reference to the parts performed by each one of the class of 1908, but time and space will not permit. We take occasion, however, to compliment the faculty of the school upon the excellent order maintained, thereby rendering the entertainment the more enjoyable.
This morning at 10 o’clock, Hon. A.E. Gamble of Greenville will deliver the literary address and tonight the graduating exercises will occur. Then will come to a close the 14^th annual session of the school.
The graduating exercises and awarding of diplomas will take place in the college chapel tonight. The class of this year is as follows: Ben F. Rountree, Oscar C. Moorer, Edwin W. Hagood, Homer B. Tisdale, Miss Ida Murphy, Miss Minnie B. Guerry, Miss Gertrude O. Tisdale, Miss Marcella McCreary, Miss Mary McCreary (and) Miss Olive McCreary.

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

Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts

25 YEARS AGO
MAY 21, 1998

Church says farewell: The Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts and his wife Hilda were honored at a retirement reception at First United Methodist Church Sunday. Butts is retiring after 48 years in the ministry. He said he plans to settle in Monroeville and spend his time writing, speaking and visiting his family.

Moore joins ASCC program: Alabama Southern Community College basketball coach Rob Jenkins signed Mark Moore of Excel to a letter of intent Monday. Moore, a 1997 graduate of Excel High School, is transferring from Belhaven College in Jackson, Miss. Moore spent last season as a red-shirt freshman guard. He is the son of Excel High School basketball coach Brad Moore and Cindy Moore of Excel. Moore is following in the footsteps of his father, who played point guard at ASCC when the college was Patrick Henry State Junior College in the mid-70s.

Teacher-of-the-year: The Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) has named Monroe Academy teacher Paula Stacey the Secondary Teacher of the Year for Division II schools.
Stacey, an MA staff member since 1975, was presented the award at the State SGA Convention in Selma, May 6. Monroe Academy honored Stacey at their recent Honors’ Day celebration.
Stacey, a Judson College graduate, teaches English and Speech to sophomores, juniors and seniors at Monroe Academy. She stays busy sponsoring the Anchor Club, Beta Club, varsity cheerleaders, Orange-Aide Pep Club and the Senior Class.

50 YEARS AGO
MAY 17, 1973

Con artist said active in county: Chief Deputy Lenwood Sager of the sheriff’s department said Tuesday there have been reports of con artists in the county.
In one case reported to the sheriff’s department, Sager said an elderly lady in the south end of the county was conned out of a large sum of money by a man and woman who pretended to be with an oil company.
Sager urged all county residents to be aware of strangers who come to their homes, especially those saying they represent an oil or gas firm.
“Always ask for identification,” he stressed. “And notify the sheriff’s department if he seems suspicious.”

Countians named to all-star team: Three Monroe County High School baseball players and three members of the J.U. Blacksher team will travel to the annual East-West All-Star Baseball game scheduled for Sat., May 19, in Jackson.
Mike Cobb, Steve Coleman and Buddy Black were selected from the Tigers’ team while Jerry Ferrel, John Gregson and Howard Hilburn were chosen from the Bulldog squad.
The game will be played to benefit sight conservation in Alabama and will feature all-stars from Monroe and Clarke counties meeting all-stars from Washington and Choctaw. Three boys from the game will advance into the Sight Conservation All-Star game in Mobile Sat., May 26.

Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Jordan (nee Biddie Banks) of Dallas, Texas announce the birth of a son, whom they have named Christopher Bryant. The baby was born May 5 in Dallas and weighed four pounds, one ounce.

75 YEARS AGO
MAY 20, 1948

Frisco Army Officer Commands Troops At Kentucky Derby: Maj. T.J. Murphy of Frisco City, now stationed at the Armored School, Fort Knox, Ky., was honored with the command of 200 crack troops and band ordered to Churchill Downs to represent the U.S. Army in the colorful and traditional Derby Day ceremonies on May 1.
Annually, soldiers compete to participate in the Derby Day ceremonies and the Honor Guard is selected on a merit basis. Along with the honors, the troops enjoy the free hospitality of Churchill Downs and a choice seat in the presentation stand.

Locals Play Brewton; Frisco Tackles Jay: Monroeville’s new baseball team will be host to Brewton on the local field Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, while Frisco City, this county’s other entry in the Tri-County League, will journey to Jay, Fla., to take on the nine representing that city.
Ben Matthews is scheduled to pitch Sunday’s game for the locals while Robert Shoemaker will do the catching.

Drewry Road Paving Work To Begin: Actual paving of the five and a half miles from Monroeville to Drewry is expected to be inaugurated about May 25 and will necessitate the closing of the road for a brief period, Edwin C. Rodgers, county engineer, announced Wednesday.
He said only short stretches of the road will be closed at one time and that these will be blocked to traffic only for several-hour periods.
The next farm-to-market paving will take place on the road from Frisco City to Perdue Hill, the county engineer declared.

100 YEARS AGO
MAY 17, 1923

The dwelling of Mr. S.W. Westbrook caught fire about noon last Friday. The alarm was given by telephone and many hurried to the rescue in automobiles. The fire was soon extinguished, doing only slight damage.

The commencement exercises of the Monroeville City School are now in progress, the first program being presented Wednesday evening and the concluding program will be rendered this (Thursday) evening.

Mr. L.E. Foxworth had the misfortune to lose his dwelling and contents by fire at Beatrice Friday of last week. There was no insurance.

Mr. Lovett, store manager of the Blacksher Store Co., Uriah, was here Tuesday. Mr. Lovett said 20 cars of strawberries had been shipped from the Blacksher-Moulton farm this season, and possibly as many more could have been shipped but for the scarcity of pickers. Hundreds of crates of berries were lost because they could not be gathered at the proper time.

The stock of the Monroe Drug company has been purchased by Mr. Wilbur Simmons and associates and the business will be conducted hereafter under the name of the Simmons Drug Co.

Mr. Sam Williams, a prominent merchant, died quite suddenly at his home in Excel on Fri., May 11. The funeral took place at New Home cemetery Sunday afternoon.

I have recently opened my new hotel in Monroeville and earnestly solicit the patronage of the public generally. Rooms are large and comfortable and table will be supplied with the best the market affords. – Mrs. F.P. Jones

138 YEARS AGO
MAY 18, 1885

The Editor of this paper is quite sick, which will account for our many shortcomings in this week’s Journal.

The Monroeville jail has 10 inmates at present.

The Exposition party returned home Wednesday night.

Monroeville was represented by 13 persons at the Exposition on Alabama’s Day.

Judge and Mrs. J.W. Leslie are attending the Exposition at New Orleans.

Monroeville looked unusually dull last week.

The farmers are kept busy in their crops, taking advantage of the beautiful weather for putting them in the proper condition.

A good shower of rain would be of great advantage to oats.

Mr. John L. Stallworth of Pineville passed through town Thursday evening en route to Pensacola with a drove of sheep.

Rev. P.C. Morton preached a very eloquent, entertaining and instructive sermon at the Presbyterian church Friday night, inst.

The family of Col. T.C. McCorvey of Tuscaloosa is visiting the family of Dr. J.T. Packer at this place.

Col. D.L. Neville is out on the streets again after a few days’ illness.

Excel’s founder, Manning Harrison, has ties to ‘13 Alabama Ghosts’

Excel Lodge No. 655 in Excel, Alabama.

I rode down to Excel on an errand Monday afternoon and happened to enter the town limits about the time school let out. As I made my way through the slow-moving traffic, I got the notion to swing by the store for something cold to drink. Back in my truck, I noticed that the heavy school traffic had quickly died down, leaving the town’s main street as quiet as Mayberry.

I got to thinking about how Excel’s streets must have looked in its early days, when they were unpaved and long before the establishment of Excel High School in the 1920s. While signs at the town limits tell you that the Town of Excel was formally incorporated in 1948, Excel is actually much older than that. Sources say that people began settling the area in the 1870s and that the community takes its name from the establishment of a post office there in 1884.

According to “Place Names in Alabama” by Virginia O. Foscue, when the post office was established in 1884, Manning D. Harrison, who the next year became the owner of the land on which it was located, suggested the inspirational name of “Excel” because he felt the area had a “potential for excellence.” Harrison was born in 1853 and died in 1911. He is buried in the New Home Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery, about 2-1/2 miles, as the mockingbird flies, from downtown Excel.

An interesting sidenote about Excel founder Manning D. Harrison is that he was a close relative of the mysterious William “Grancer” Harrison of Kinston. Made famous by Kathryn Tucker Windham’s book, “13 Alabama Ghosts & Jeffrey,” Grancer Harrison’s ghost still supposedly dances and plays the fiddle around his grave at Kinston. My son James and I visited Grancer’s grave years ago to see it for ourselves, but that tale is a story for another day.

Getting back to Excel, perhaps the most unique building in the entire town is the Masonic Lodge. Many motorists pass this building every day, but very few probably give it a second glance. Located on the corner of Main Street and Buffington Street, this red-brick building houses Excel Lodge No. 655, which traces its roots back to its chartering in December 1907.

The lodge was organized about one year before it received its official charter from the Alabama Grand Lodge, and The Monroe Journal reported that its first officers were G.W. Salter, Worshipful Master; H.R. White, Senior Warden; R.L. Casey, Junior Warden; J.E. Kelly, Treasurer; Riley Kelly, Secretary; E. Parvin, Senior Deacon; J.C. Griffin, Junior Deacon; L.B. Cohron, Chaplain; and William Williams, Tyler. The lodge began with 10 charter members and the “prospects for growth and development are promising,” the newspaper reported.

My feeling is that this lodge building, while historic, is not the oldest building inside the Excel town limits. I’ve been told that one of the houses near the Excel Baptist Church is actually much older, but perhaps some readers know different. If so, let me hear from you because it would be nice to document the oldest buildings in the town for the generations yet to come.

Wilcox County soldiers among those captured at Battle of Spottsylvania

Jubal Early

Tomorrow – May 12 – marks 159 years since the Jeff Davis Artillery was captured at the Battle of Spottsylvania in Virginia. It was on May 12, 1864 that the unit’s officers and many of its enlisted men were imprisoned for the remainder of the war. With almost 32,000 casualties on both sides, this battle was one of the bloodiest of the War Between the States.

The Jeff Davis Artillery was organized in June 1861 in Selma and was composed of men from Wilcox, Dallas, Lowndes and other Central Alabama counties. About one month later, the battery was sent to Virginia and was attached to General Jubal Early’s brigade. In 1862, at the battles of Seven Pines, Mechanicsville and Cold Harbor, near half the command was killed or wounded.

The unit went on to make “an excellent record” at the battles of South Mountain, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Martinsburg. Later, at the famous Battle of Gettysburg, the unit fought for three days and kept Union forces in check while pontoon bridges were constructed across the Potomac River, allowing Southern forces to escape back across the river.

Sources say that the battery “participated in the celebrated campaign of Lee and Grant from the Wilderness to Petersburg until the 12^th of May, 1864 at Spottsylvania Court House when all of the commissioned officers and a large part of the men were captured and never exchanged.” The remnant of the battery served with two Virginia batteries until Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox in April 1865.

Soldiers from Wilcox County who served in the Jeff Davis Artillery included M.L. Alexander, Joe Blankinship, W.J. Breithaupht, James Bently, Euphronus Carter, John W. Carter, John Colley, Alex Hunter, W.D. Key, John A. Logan, Patton McCondichie, John Mathews, John W. Purifoy, W.J. Polk, Ben J. Skinner, A.W. Skinner, Ira Skinner, Joe D. Stuart, Wm. Stuart, John B. Stuart, R.I, Stuart, Wm. Small, F.M. Wootan, I.P. Wootan and James Watson.

One of the most remarkable soldiers in this list was Judge John Wesley Purifoy, who fought in every engagement that the battery participated in. He was wounded in three battles and was one of only 17 left of the command to lay down their arms with Lee at Appomattox. He died in 1897 and is buried in the Old Snow Hill Cemetery.

Martin L. Alexander was born in October 1823 and died in July 1896 at the age of 72. He is buried in the Palmer Cemetery at Furman. Confederate records at the Wilcox County Courthouse reflect that Alexander was a farmer after the war and was discharged from service at Fairfax Court House in Virginia.

I combed local cemetery and courthouse records, but despite my best efforts, I could not find any additional information on the other men mentioned above. If anyone in the reading audience knows what became of these other service members, please let me know. Some probably moved out of Wilcox County after the war, but others may have died in northern prisons before the end of the war.

George Singleton tells of ancient horns made from 'cypress knees'

Old cypress horn found in Monroe County.

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Horn-making painstaking affair,” was originally published in the July 1, 1976 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Since early man saw it necessary to communicate with others, he has sought ways of doing this.

During his travels across the continents, his methods have changed from time to time. Where he might use one method in the flat lowlands, he might change to another once he reached the hilly country.

Such is the case of the horn pictured with this article, which was made from a cypress knee found near here.

After many of the larger animals had disappeared from the area, and before the explorers such as DeSoto brought domestic animals to these shores, the early Indian used the materials at his disposal to fashion instruments of communication. The horn made from the cypress knee was one of such creations.

Much care was taken when choosing a cypress knee for a horn. The right amount of curve had to be present before the tone would be just right.

The came the long, tedious job of burning out the insides so the right amount of air could pass through and cause the desired sound.

Horn-making was a painstaking affair. Many of these horns were started, but few were ever turned into finished products.

When one was finally completed that produced the desired sound – a sound that  would carry well across the rolling hills – it was prized as a valuable means of signaling or communicating.

Passed along

These horns would be passed from generation to generation, from the head of one family to the head of another, until they were lost or destroyed from use.

It’s hard to visualize with our modern-day methods of communication that once the hills rang with the sounds of these weird horns. They knew each time one was blown, it was a signal of importance. That a message was carried on the winds, or happiness or sadness. Or telling that the enemy was approaching or a battle had been won.

The unusual sound had its place in primitive man’s life for a season. With its passing ended an era that man will related and refer to for time immortal.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)