The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Aug. 6, 2024

Congressman Bill Dickinson of Alabama

26 YEARS AGO
AUG. 6, 1998

A Monroeville minister died early Tuesday morning from injuries sustained from a collision with a train late Sunday night.
According to Cpl. Artie Wright of the Evergreen Police Department, Thomas James Williams Jr., 33, of Rt. 2, Monroeville died in the University of South Alabama Medical Center. He was transported to Mobile early Monday.
The accident, according to Wright, occurred at approximately 9:28 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at King’s Crossing. Bells and whistles are used to warn motorists of approaching trains as this intersection.
Williams was driving a 1989 Ford Escort. The train momentum, even with emergency brakes applied, continued moving for 2,000 feet before coming to the Oil Street crossing.
Wright said several witnesses were present at the accident and reported that Williams was driving south on Hwy 31 when he turned onto Belleville Street.

Local weather reporter Harry Ellis reported that Evergreen received .07 inches of rain on July 27, 1998, .56 inches of rain on July 28, 1.35 inches on July 29, and .04 inches on July 30. He reported a high temperature of 100 degrees on July 31 and a low of 65 on Aug. 2. He reported a total of 9.18 inches of rain during the month of July 1998.

Evergreen Mayor Lomax Cassady signed a proclamation Monday proclaiming Aug. 9-15 as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week in Evergreen.

41 YEARS AGO
AUG. 4, 1983

Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported .63 of an inch of rain in Evergreen on July 30, 1983. He reported high temperatures of 96 degrees on July 25 and July 26. He reported a low temperature of 69 on July 29.

Bill Hart of Evergreen was elected Captain of the Conecuh County Rescue Squad at their meeting Aug. 1. Other officers elected were Steve Dunn, First Lt.; Jeb Barron, Second Lt.; and Mike Kline, Secretary-Treasurer.

Congressman Bill Dickinson of Alabama’s Second Congressional District will conduct an open forum ‘Town Meeting’ in Evergreen Aug. 9 at 10 p.m. in the Conecuh County Court House Courtroom.

Stinson’s flag flies in August: The U.S. flag of the late William Edward Stinson is flying over the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library during August.
The flag of a deceased veteran is flown each month to pay tribute to all veterans of all wars.
Stinson served as a lieutenant in the Air Force and was a pilot in the 415th B. Squadron. He received an Air Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge with one bronze cluster, two War Department War Citations and a Purple Heart.
He entered service in October 1942 and was killed in service March 1, 1942 in Vienna.

56 YEARS AGO
AUG. 1, 1968

Conecuh County has another ‘first’ going for it now as you can see. That’s John Nielsen examining the first Sea Oats ever grown in Conecuh County… and probably the first ever grown inland. Sea Oats grow on the dunes alongside the seashore and no other place. However, the Knud Nielsen Co. planted the ones you see on their farm on the Loree Road and as you can see the plants are thriving. It’s strictly an experiment the Nielsens are conducting in relation to their business.

Spc. Francis Beasley was recently awarded the Army Commendation Medal by the Secretary of the Army for outstanding achievement in connection with military operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam during the period Jan. 6-June 20 while serving with the 9th Administration Co., 9th Infantry Division.
Spc. Beasley, who has been in Vietnam since early January, is stationed at Bear Cat base near Saigon. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Beasley of Castleberry.

Politics are expected to heat up considerably as the Aug. 13 municipal election for the City of Evergreen draws near. Thirteen candidates will have their names before the more than 1,400 eligible voters when they go to the voting machines on that date.
Five voting machines will be used at these locations: Beat 11, Box 1 and Box 2 in the Conecuh County Courthouse in the new auditorium and the grand jury room; Box 3-A and 3-B at the City Hall in the first station; Box 4 at the County Health Center.

71 YEARS AGO
AUG. 6, 1953

THE WEATHER: Last week: Evergreen Airport, high 95, low 67, rainfall .25 inches in two days.

Evergreen’s newest furniture store, City Furniture Co., will hold its grand opening tomorrow morning. The store is located in the Binion Building, recently vacated by Olen Dept. Stores, on West Front Street.

Two bales of 1953 cotton were ginned in Conecuh County on Tuesday of this week.
Over in Repton, the Repton Gin ginned a bale for Leon Jordan of Excel, which weighed 611 pounds and was sold for the premium price of 45 cents per pound.
The Evergreen Gin ginned a bale for Brown Hawkins, farmer of the Fairview community. This bale weighed 385 pounds and graded middling one inch staple. This cotton will be auctioned off to the highest bidder in Evergreen next Saturday.

L.T Rutland observed the 50th anniversary of the date he entered the hardware business Tuesday night. Mr. Rutland entertained the owners and employees of Canterbury Hardware, Inc. at a party at his home in honor of the occasion.

The official word from the city hall, friend, is to save those pennies and nickels. Right now those parking meters that adorn the streets in the business district are just for looks. You’ll be notified when they go into effect.
The parking meters were being installed as The Courant went to press. A total of 216 meters will probably be installed shortly after you read this on East and West Front Streets, Rural Street and Court Street.

86 YEARS AGO
AUG. 5, 1937

D.L. POPE NARROWLY ESCAPES SERIOUS INJURIES IN FALL: D.L. Pope, well known L&N employee in the signal maintenance department, narrowly escaped serious injuries Tuesday when he fell from a signal post at Castleberry. It was at first though that he was badly hurt but upon examination by physician it was found that no bones were broken or other serious injuries unless complications develop.
According to those who were with him when the accident occurred, Mr. Pope fell from a distance of 23 feet. Fortunately, he landed on the ground between the concrete base of the post and the rails. Had he struck either of these things it is believed his injuries would have been much greater than they were.

FIRST BALE GINNED TODAY: The first bale to be ginned in Evergreen and most probably the first in the county was ginned at the Evergreen Manufacturing Co., this morning by R.V. Congleton.

Old Buck’s Grave Is Marked With Stone: The grave of Philip Samuel, better known to his many white friends as ‘Old Buck,’ is now marked with a suitable tombstone. This was recently accomplished largely through the efforts of C.N. Stallworth and J.T. Gaillard who composed a committee to secure the funds necessary and to purchase the memorial stone. Former citizens as well as those now living here, joined in contributing to this fund, donations having been received from a large number now living in other states as well as other parts of Alabama.
The monument which was erected a few days ago, has a splendid photo of the respected old Negro on the face together with this inscription: ‘Philip Samuel (Old Buck) died Jan. 5, 1937. Erected by his white friends.’
It will be recalled that ‘Old Buck’ was buried on the spot where his little cabin stood in the Evergreen cemetery and where he had lived for so many years. The cabin has been removed since the old Negro died.
He was loved and respected by the white citizens of this community and his tragic death, when he was struck by a freight train here on Jan. 5, 1937, was greatly deplored. For many years, he had been a well known character upon the streets of Evergreen. He was more or less a privileged character about town, going in and out the various stores taking such little items as tobacco and other things which his simple tastes demanded whenever and wherever he wanted to. He made a practice of sweeping off the sidewalks in front of stores and sweeping out some of the stores as well as doing other little errands.