The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for April 28, 2025

Kathryn Tucker Windham

TWO YEARS AGO
APRIL 27, 2023

Rosenwald historical maker unveiled: A host of local officials, as well as former students and teachers at Monroeville’s Rosenwald School, were among those attending the unveiling of a new historical marker last Thursday afternoon on the grounds of the Monroe County Board of Education’s Central Office.
The historical marker, which recognizes the central office as the site of Monroeville’s Rosenwald School, came about through the efforts of local organizers and was spearheaded by Gwen Kyles, who presided over last Thursday’s unveiling ceremony.
Kyles attended Monroeville’s Rosenwald School until the sixth grade. She said she was happy to lead the effort to preserve the history of the school.
The Rosenwald School in Monroeville was one of four known Rosenwald Schools located in Monroe County. The other three were located in Beatrice, at Riley’s Crossroads and at Tunnel Springs.

Excel sweeps Beulah: Excel High School’s varsity baseball team, led by head coach Stacey McPhaul, punched its ticket for the second round of the Class 3A playoffs by sweeping Beulah High School, 4-3 and 9-6, in the opening round of the playoffs Friday at Murphy Park in Excel.
In Game 1 on Friday, junior right-hander Will Thomas got the pitching win, striking out 10 opposing batters in eight innings of work. In Game 2, Gauge Lowery got the pitching start, striking out three in three innings.
(Other top Excel players in those games included Cade Barnett, Eli Bayles, Jake Gandy, Zaylon McMillan, Kolby Peavy, Eason Pipkin, Kolby Sirmon, Jaxson Smith, Koleman Wiggins and Trent Williams.)

27 YEARS AGO
APRIL 23, 1998

110^th celebration to be held May 1: Frisco City will celebrate its 110^th anniversary Fri., May 1, at Jones Park in downtown Frisco City. The main attraction will be the 98^th Army Band from Fort Rucker.
“This band is the most highly demanded jazz band in the southeast,” says Michael Bird, Frisco City High School Band Director.

MCHS collects eighth area title: Monroe County High School captured its eighth area championship in the last nine seasons Tuesday of last week in Monroeville when the Tigers defeated Jackson High School 5-2.
Senior left-hander Travis Black recorded 13 strike outs and gave up just one hit in seven innings to lead the Tigers past Jackson’s Aggies.
At the plate, the Tigers were led by sophomore shortstop Justin Hawarah, who recorded a double and two RBIs.
(Other top MCHS players in that game included Brian Bratcher, Will Kelly, Jason Moye, Jason Mattox, Conner Martin and Curtis Hixon. Reid Utsey was MCHS’s head coach.

Blacksher meets Windham: English students at J.U. Blacksher School met writer Kathryn Tucker Windham during a trip to Selma recently.
English teachers Vicki Baggett, Cossondra Howard, elementary school teacher Lisa Holt and English supervisor Barbara Turner took the students to Selma.
The highlight of their trip was hearing ghost stories from Kathryn Tucker Windham at Sturdivant Hall. Windham, author of several Alabama ghost books, shared stories about Jeffery and other ghosts in the Selma area.

52 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1973

Adams is head of state Circle K: Mark Adams, son of Dr. and Mrs. Roy C. Adams of Monroeville, was elected governor of the Alabama District of Circle K at the annual state convention held recently in Dothan.
Adams was a member of the Patrick Henry State Junior College Circle K for two years where he served as president last year.
Now a student at Auburn University, Adams is presently affiliated with the Auburn University Circle K.

MA athletic stadium work well under way: Construction of a $50,000 athletic field at Monroe Academy is well under way and is expected to be completed within two months, Mac Champion, headmaster, told the Journal Wednesday.
The facility is being constructed on property behind the academy and will include a football and baseball field.
The football stadium will be surrounded by a chain link fence and will have a seating capacity of approximately 3,000. Bleachers on the home side of the field will be of pre-stressed concrete while those on the visitor’s side will be portable wooden bleachers.

RFD units graduate 23: Two rural fire defense units in Monroe County recently held graduation exercises for their members upon completion of an eight-hour course.
Thirteen members of the Old Texas unit completed training and received certificates and patches from Ronald True, local forester, and Skip Turner, district RFD coordinator, who taught the course.
The Excel unit graduated some 10 members as they also received certificates and patches from the instructors.

77 YEARS AGO
APRIL 22, 1948

Ninety students are scheduled to graduate from the county’s five high schools in exercises which will begin Sun., May 23, and continue intermittently through May 31.
Largest of the graduating classes is that of the J.U. Blacksher High School of Uriah, which contains 23 members. Close upon its heels in size is the Monroe County High group, consisting of 22 students. Frisco City High School will graduate 16, Beatrice High expects to award diplomas to 15 and Excel has 14 members in its graduating group.

Identify This Animal And You’re Expert: Leo Dees, Franklin farmer, is puzzled and few persons can blame him after listening to his description of the strange animal he discovered in a swamp near the Alabama River, about two and a half miles north of that community recently.
Mr. Dees says he was out turkey hunting on Saturday, April 10, when he came upon a dead animal weighing about 40 pounds that had “a head shaped like a bear, sharp teeth, extremely course and stiff hair, and feet like a dog except that it had regular toe nails.” Its color was a mixture of brown and red, and it had a 15-inch long bushy tail. The eyes were located far back on the side of the head which formed a perfectly straight line with the tip of the nose. Two dead hogs were lying nearby and signs of a tremendous struggle were evident, Mr. Dees said.
Can you identify it? We can’t.

The Monroe County Board of Education announced this week the award of a contract for wiring of the Beatrice school house to Lazenby Electric Co. of Monroeville at a cost of $9,615. The contract calls for installation of plumbing facilities as well as wiring of the building according to state specifications.

139 YEARS AGO
APRIL 23, 1886

The weather is warm. The days are bright. Subscribe to The Journal.

Solicitor Taylor received a telegram Monday summoning him to attend the funeral of his father-in-law, Mr. E.H. Metcalf, whose death occurred very suddenly at his home in Montgomery last Sunday.

Col. H.T. Taylor, ex-editor of The Choctaw Courier, is discharging the duties of solicitor very efficiently in the absence of his brother.

Laying the Corner Stone: The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama, having been invited by the monument committee to assist in laying the cornerstone of the monument to be erected to the Confederate dead on the grounds of the state capitol on the 29^th inst., according to our ancient forms and ceremony, invitation is hereby given to all Masons belonging to this jurisdiction and who are in good standing, to meet in the Grand Lodge Hall on the 29^th inst. at 9 a.m. where a procession will be formed to participate in the ceremony, by order of the Grand Master, Daniel Sayre.

Among the prominent visiting attorneys in attendance upon the circuit court this week are Col. S.J. Cumming of Camden, Col. C.J. Torrey of Mobile and Joseph Cloud, Esq., of Mobile.

The Monroe County Medical Society met at Monroeville on Wednesday, April 21. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, H.C. Bradley, M.D.; Vice President, Wm. A. Smith, M.D.; Secretary-Treasurer G. Walter Gaillard, M.D.; Health Officer, W.W. McMillian, M.D.

Singleton shares lesser-known facts from the War Between the States

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 “Civil War facts that history forgot to mention,” was originally published in the Dec. 20, 2001 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Our history teachings of today give little or no thought to the tragic and bloody sacrifices of that period in our history known as the Civil War.

This period from 1861 to 1865 was unlike any other event that has taken place anywhere else in the world, because of the circumstances and happenings which caused this war to be different and unlike any war known to mankind.

As for myself, I think the history of our dreaded Civil War should be taught in greater detail, due to the fact that with this knowledge our youth would have a greater knowledge of this period of our history. Many unanswered questions that we face today could be answered, and many mysteries of this time would be solved.

This article is dedicated to those of my readers who car about our history and those who search for many answers. Here are some oddities of this bloody war that might open some eyes.

In 1861, Wilmer McLean, distressed that a cannon ball had crashed through his home during the battle of Bull Run, moved to a farm where “the sound of battle would never again reach him and his family.” Almost four years later, McLean’s Appomattox Courthouse home was used for Gen. Lee’s surrender to Gen. Grant. There wasn’t any damage from cannon balls, but souvenir-hunting Union officers stripped his house of almost all its furniture.

When Sam and Keith Blalock joined the 26^th North Carolina regiment, they claimed to be old friends who were distantly related. It was months before anyone discovered “Sam’s” real name was Malinda. When Keith signed up to fight the Yankees, his wife put on a man’s attire and went to war with him.

After the Confederacy was defeated, Jefferson Davis was stripped of his citizenship. He died as a man without a country. His citizenship was restored by Congress during the administration of President Jimmy Carter.

Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, only wounded one time during the bloody conflict, had 11 horses shot from under him. Confederate Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler continued to fight after having 16 horses killed under him. Still, the all-time record seems to have been set by Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. After a thorough study of the matter, Brig. Gen. James R. Chalmers reported that Forrest was under fire more than 100 times during which 36 horses were shot from under him. A later analysis, now widely accepted, led to the conclusion that Gen. Forrest actually had a total of 39 horses killed under him while he was in the saddle.

Unlike the Confederates, the Union cavalrymen were usually provided with a government-owned horse. There were a few exceptions. By October 1861, virtually all units of the Union army were furnished animals owned by the government. By October 1862, the federal government owned approximately 150,000 horses and 100,000 mules.

During the first two years of the fighting, Union cavalry units, which never had more than 60,000 men in the field, were supplied with about 240,000 horses. Before Gen. Lee surrendered, federal funds had paid for an estimated 840,000 horses and at least 430,000 mules.

Even then, politics played an important role in the decisions as to who went to war and those who were exempt from the draft. Shielded from battle because he was the son of the president, college student Robert Todd Lincoln was at a New Jersey railroad station waiting to board a train. Forced by the mass of many passengers to lean from the waiting platform against the side of the train, he suddenly felt it begin to move.

The motion of the train spun young Lincoln off his feet and caused him to slide downward into the open space between the car and the platform. Suspended helplessly, he suddenly felt a hand grab his coat and lift him to safety.

Turning around to thank the bystander who had rescued him, he recognized the famous actor Edwin Boothe, the brother of the man who a few months later would take the life of his father.

After Union General William T. Sherman burned and destroyed the city of Atlanta, Ga., he began his famous March to the Sea. He decided that he and his army would burn a path 100 miles wide across the South and destroy all farm houses and mules and horses in his path. During his march he destroyed many homes, along with many crops in the fields. His army killed over 15,000 farm horses and over 18,000 mules that were used to cultivate the farm land along his march route.

Following his army were between 600 or 700 freed slaves. Sherman’s army and the freed slaves pillaged the farms and destroyed an estimated 60 tons of cured meat that they took from the destroyed farms’ families.

By the time the army reached Ebenezer Creek just outside Savanah, Ga. there was no food for the followers of Sherman’s army. The followers were eating spilled rice swept from the wagon beds that had been taken from the farms along the way.

The stream named Ebenezer Creek was really a wide stream of water as wide as a river. No one to this day knows why the stream was called a creek. Sherman ordered flatboats to be constructed for his army to cross the steam. After all the army and its equipment and animals had been ferried across, the flatboats were sent back to bring across the 600 or so freed slaves. As the flatboats reached mid-stream, Sherman ordered his cannons to open fire on the loaded flatboats. None of those aboard the boats lived to reach the shore.

History describes Sherman as a gentle and kind soldier. Our history fails to mention also that upon an occasion when some of Sherman’s riflemen killed three Confederate soldiers in a small skirmish, Sherman ordered the three bodies to be placed in a large hog pen nearby, to be eaten by the hungry hogs rather than take the time to bury them. Truly indeed, Sherman was a kind and gentle man.

If our teaching of history continues on the path that we follow today, within a very short time the stories of the dreadful years of our Civil War will have faded into oblivion. And the many who lie sleeping in the thousands of unknown graves throughout our nation will forever be forgotten.

This is the place.
Stand still my steed,
And let me review the scene.
And summon from the shadowy past
The forms that once have been.

(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, was bitten at least twice by venomous snakes, 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 April 11, 2025

35 YEARS AGO
APRIL 12, 1990

Evergreen weather reporter Harry Ellis reported .53 inches of rain on April 2 and .19 inches on April 9. He reported a high of 79 degrees on April 5 and lows of 37 degrees on April 6 and April 7.

Mrs. Susie Pittman, a resident of Evergreen Nursing Home, celebrated her 106th birthday on Sun., April 1. Mrs. Pittman received a telegram from President and Mrs. George Bush wishing her a Happy Birthday and Willard Scott of The Today Show on NBC wished her a Happy Birthday during his segment of the show Monday morning.

Annie Pearl Oliver, 57, of Evergreen was killed when her vehicle collided with another car, driven by Edward P. Reeves of Brewton. Ernestine Roach, also of Evergreen, a passenger in Ms. Oliver’s vehicle, was injured and taken to Andalusia Hospital. The accident occurred at 3:45 p.m. Monday on U.S. 84, about four miles west of River Falls, troopers said.

Two men who escaped from the Conecuh County Jail early Wednesday morning of last week were apprehended later that same day on the Old Sparta Road, according to Conecuh County Sheriff Edwin L. Booker. William James Furger of Wisconsin and Terry Johnson, aka Terry Smith, of Virginia City, Ala. were caught late Wednesday afternoon after a citizen called the sheriff’s office and reported seeing two men fitting the description of the escapees walking down the Old Sparta Road.

50 YEARS AGO
APRIL 10, 1975

Weather reporter Earl Windham reported 0.1 inches of rain on April 1 and 0.2 inches of rain on April 2. He reported a high of 76 on April 2 and a low of 35 on March 31.

The newly organized Evergreen Lions Club will meet at noon today at the Evergreen Jaycees’ Hut. The club has 20 members and is still accepting charter members. Evergreen has not had a Lions Club since the 1930s.

Don McInnis is new Trooper: Don L. McInnis was accepted as a recruit by the Alabama State Troopers on March 26. He is now attending recruit school.

Formal dedication of Evergreen’s new ‘Avenue of Flags’ will be held downtown Sunday afternoon at two o’clock. A representative of the State Commander of the American Legion will be the featured speaker. The Evergreen High School Band will play. It is also anticipated that there will be a flyover by U.S. Navy jets.
The ‘Avenue of Flags’ is in the park area on the West Front Street side of the L&N. Funds for the flags were raised by the Pilot Club of Evergreen and many of the flags were donated as memorials.
The City maintains the flags at City Hall and the Evergreen Police Department displays them on holidays and other special occasions.
A special invitation to all veterans of all wars to attend and take part in the dedication is extended by Alma Martin Post 50, the American Legion and by the Pilots.

65 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1960

Annual Fat Calf Show begins at nine Monday: One of the biggest and best of a long line of successful Conecuh County Fat Calf Shows is to be staged here Monday. Events get underway in the annual show at nine o’clock Monday morning at the Conecuh Cooperative Stockyard on North Main Street.
Kenneth Copeland, general chairman of the show, said today that 46 calves will be entered by county 4-H and FFA members. A large crowd is expected to be on hand to witness the show and give encouragement to the youngsters taking part in it.

Armed Escapee Is Nabbed Here Tues.: An escaped prisoner from the Georgia State Prison at Leesburg was captured in front of Olen’s Department Store in downtown Evergreen Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock by Conecuh County Sheriff James (Shorty) Brock, Evergreen Police Chief Johnny Andrews, Deputy Sheriff Mancel Pearce and Highway Patrol Sgt. Tom Melton.
The escapee was identified as Russell Lee Harris, 32, a former resident of Brewton. Harris has been using the alias of Harold L. Robinson. He was driving a 1957 Cadillac hardtop, which he parked and entered Wild Brothers Hardware store, West Front Street, Evergreen. He asked the clerk to sell him a box of shells for a .25-caliber automatic that he had on his person and shells for a .32-caliber pistol, which was found by arresting officers hidden in the stolen automobile. Also found in the Cadillac was a 1959 Georgia license plate with the numerals, 34-A-25.
Harris was serving a sentence in Georgia for murder.

80 YEARS AGO
APRIL 12, 1945

An early morning fire last Thurs., April 5, virtually destroyed the new home and contents of Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Gilmore on Magnolia Street. The fire originated in the kitchen from an oil stove while the cook was preparing breakfast. The flames spread quickly to all parts of the house and the entire building was in flames when the fire department arrived.

A telegram from the War Department received by Mrs. Louise Pierce Crawford April 8 announced the sad news that her husband, Pfc. Neadie Crawford, was killed in action in Germany on March 24. Pfc. Crawford was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Crawford.
General Marshall paid this tribute to Pfc. Crawford: ‘Pfc. Crawford served valiantly in a supreme hour of his country’s need. His memory will live in the grateful heart of our nation.’

Top Sgt. James Freeman, son of Mr. and Mrs. C.T. Freeman of Nashville, Tenn., formerly of this county, was killed in action in Germany on March 30, according to a report which reached relatives here this week. Sgt. Freeman was a paratrooper and had only been overseas about one month when he was killed. He had been in the regular army for about 10 years or since he graduated from Evergreen High School. He was a nephew of Clarence Miller, well known local citizen.

95 YEARS AGO
APRIL 10, 1930

16-Year-Old Girl Hangs Self To Rafter: The body of Emma Lizzie Bolden, age 16, was found suspended from a rafter by a short piece of rope at the home of her brother, Will Bolden, Friday, April 4, at noon by her sister-in-law, Mrs. Will Bolden. When found the girl was not dead, but she lived only about 20 minutes and never regained consciousness. Her neck was not broken. The physician stated that death resulted from strangulation.
The Bolden family with whom she made her home, as well as the young woman, had been at work in the field earlier in the day. The girl went to the house at 11 o’clock to prepare dinner for the family. It seems that she tied herself securely around the neck after having tied the rope to the rafter, and it is supposed that she kicked the chair upon which she was standing away in order to hang herself.
Reports coming to this paper say that the girl was to have been married on April 13 to McRay Cotten of Evergreen and it is said that her brother was opposed to the marriage. Some advance opinion that this caused her to commit the unfortunate act.
Funeral services were held at Mt. Zion Sat., April 5, and interment made in the cemetery at that church.
She is survived by her mother, Mrs. Albert Joiner, one sister and two brothers.

Harvesting and marketing of the 1930 strawberry crop is fast getting underway in this county. Express shipments have been going out for over a week but no carlot shipments were made until the latter part of last week at which time several cars were shipped from Castleberry. Evergreen shippers loaded their first cars Monday of this week.

Weatherford’s Ferry played important role in Lafayette’s 1825 visit to Claiborne, Alabama

Last weekend’s “Farewell to Lafayette” event at Claiborne had a little something for everyone, especially for folks who wanted to learn more about the famous French general’s visit to Monroe County in April 1825. More than a few historians – amateur and professional alike – were on hand for the event, including Lawrence Krumenaker, the author of “Nine Days Traveling: Lafayette’s 1825 Alabama Tour, Today’s Historical Road Trip.”

Krumenaker’s book details the stops that the Marquis de Lafayette made in Alabama during his famous tour of the state and provides readers with information on how to follow his route using modern-day roadways. His book also includes nine pages that detail Lafayette’s visit to Claiborne and describes Lafayette-related sites that still exist today. Those already well-versed in local history might be surprised by the additional details that Krumenaker’s book provides about Lafayette’s visit to Monroe County.

Lafayette arrived in Claiborne via the Alabama River on April 6, 1825, and before reading “Nine Days Traveling,” I’d always pictured him stepping off the boat at a landing somewhere in the vicinity of the modern-day U.S. Highway 84 bridge. According to Krumenaker, Lafayette actually got off the boat about two miles downriver from Claiborne at John Weatherford’s Ferry. This ferry landing was apparently located near the mouth of Gailliard Creek, which is about 1,000 feet downstream of the grain elevator.

While the site isn’t open to the public, Krumenaker describes “unnatural depressions in the soil, likely from long-gone buildings built above flood levels, and the clear signs of a woods road leading away from the landing.” This old road goes from the river almost all the way to the grain elevator in a curve that parallels the river, Krumenaker wrote. More than likely, Lafayette traveled this road in a carriage, a distance of about two miles to where he was formally received at Claiborne.

Krumenaker notes that what we now call the Grain Elevator Road is part of the old road that Lafayette took to Claiborne. He also indicates that part of the Mt. Zion Church’s driveway may generally follow the path of the old road to Claiborne.

As a sidenote, it should be mentioned that John Weatherford was the brother of the famous Indian leader, William Weatherford, known as “Red Eagle.” John Weatherford would have been around 41 or 42 years old when Lafayette arrived in Claiborne, and one is left to wonder if Lafayette got to meet the ferry’s namesake. John Weatherford died in 1831, six years after Lafayette’s visit.

Sources say that John Weatherford is buried with his mother on what was once David Tate’s brickyard plantation in northern Baldwin County. When Andrew Jackson became president in March 1829, the new president awarded John Weatherford 640 acres of land. I presume that the ferry that bore his name was located on this 640-acre site.

In the end, if you are interested in local history and especially Lafayette’s visit to Claiborne, I highly recommend that you read Krumenaker’s book. I’ve only briefly touched on the wealth of information that you’ll find between its covers. No local history library is complete without a copy of this book.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for April 7, 2025

Richmond Pearson Hobson

20 YEARS AGO
APRIL 7, 2005

Group plans bicycle ride to Montgomery for cancer: Local radio personality Fred Kelley and at least 21 other cyclists will be “Peddlin’ for a Cure” next Wednesday to raise money for the American Cancer Society and the Monroe County Relay for Life.
Kelley’s group will depart from the Lee Motor Co. parking lot in downtown Monroeville Wednesday night at 9 p.m. and attempt to bike over 100 miles to the State House in Montgomery.
As of press time, the group has raised over $8,000 in donations and sponsorships to help in the fight against cancer.
Last year, in the first-ever “Peddlin’ for a Cure” event, Kelley and eight other riders biked 92 miles from downtown Monroeville to the deck of the USS Alabama battleship in Mobile.

Excel holds on to No. 1: Excel, ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A poll, completed Thomasville’s tournament last weekend with a 2-2 record, leaving its overall record at 14-3 as of Monday.
Excel opened the tournament Friday evening with a 7-0 win over Sweet Water, a Class 1A team, and followed it with a 14-7 loss to Andalusia Saturday, a Class 4A team. On Saturday, the Panthers pounded Monroe County, a Class 5A team, 17-8, and followed it with a 3-0 loss to the Thomasville team, which was ranked No. 7 in Class 4A with a 12-4 record.
(Top Excel players that season included Brian Barlow, Patrick Bowen, Toby Hilton, Josh House, Neil Hudson, Josh Morgan, Justin Ridgeway, Justin Whatley and Blake White. Robbie Carpenter was Excel’s head coach.)

45 YEARS AGO
APRIL 3, 1980

Rain swells river to 54.4: With the Alabama River level already at 54.4 feet and more rain expected in the county Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, a Claiborne Lock and Dam official is keeping a close eye on the water level, but stops short of issuing a flood warning.
Lock and dam assistant resource manager Larry Reaves said the river’s flood stage is 42 feet, and with the river at 12.4 higher, it has already flooded some cabins in the Maiben Lake area, but he’s not planning on issuing an evacuation notice.
Reaves said last year the river rose to a high of 55.4 feet, flooding many Maiben Lake area cabins.

Two more MA seniors sign football grants: Two more members of the 1979 Monroe Academy state championship football team have signed scholarships to play football in Mississippi.
Larry Gaston and Davison Carter signed last week with Holmes Junior College of Goodman, Miss., becoming the fourth and fifth Volunteers to sign scholarships since the season ended.
Earlier, Jeff Tatum, Randall Norris and Tommy Owens signed scholarships with the Mississippi Delta Junior College Trojans.

Chamber leaders: Officers and new directors of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce were installed by Monroe County Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs March 24 at a banquet at Vanity Fair community house. They are John Rice, director; Tom Tippy, second vice president and director; Kenny Johnson, director; Bill Chance, director; Ed Smith Jr., director; Louie Hayles, president; and Dick Deas, first vice president and director.

70 YEARS AGO
APRIL 7, 1955

New Eating Place Will Open Here: Monroeville will soon have another eating establishment under the ownership and operation of Frank Meigs, Monroeville businessman.
The establishment, to be known as “The Wee Diner,” will be located in downtown Monroeville and will have a “Teen-Age Room,” where the younger people will be able to meet, eat and have their regular get-togethers. The opening date will be announced later.

David Nettles Opens Law Offices Here: David Miller Nettles, a native of Monroeville, began the practice of law here this week. His office is located next to Snowden’s Barber Shop.
Mr. Nettles, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Lee Nettles of Monroeville, was graduated from the Law School of the University of Alabama in August 1952. He has been in military service for the past two years.

RECEIVES PROMOTION: Richard G. Ivey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Ivey of Beatrice, was recently appointed assistant treasurer of the University of Rochester, N.Y., it was learned here this week. A graduate of Columbia University and U.S. Military Academy, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross before his capture by the Japanese at the fall of Corregidor. He was held a prisoner 39 months. He began his duties with the University March 1.

Murlen L. Ledkins, fireman, U.S. Navy, son of Mrs. Z.L. Ledkins of Frisco City, Ala., is serving aboard the radar picket destroyer, USS Vesole, in the Mediterranean.

95 YEARS AGO
APRIL 3, 1930

JUDGE B.M. MILLER OPENS CAMPAIGN HERE: Judge B.M. Miller of Camden opened his active campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor of Alabama at the court house here on Wednesday of last week.
The judge was among his friends, both personally and politically, as was evidenced by the throngs that greeted him and the attention and applause that was his throughout his speech.
In years gone by, Judge Miller was frequently in the courts of this county in the practice of his profession, later serving a number of years as Circuit Judge and a term of six years as associate justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama.

FOR REPRESENTATIVE: I hereby announce myself a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Representative in the state legislature from Monroe County, subject to the action of the primary election of August 1930. – A.C. LEE

DEATH AGAIN VISITS OUR CITY: Our community was saddened Tuesday morning by the news of the death of F.H. Melton, prominent citizen and Treasurer of Monroe County.
He had been sick one week with pneumonia, and while it was known his trouble was serious, yet as late as Monday afternoon the news from his bedside seemed to offer hope of his recovery. But about three o’clock Tuesday morning the final summons that eventually comes to all mankind came to him and he was with us no more.

Brantley’s Cash & Carry Store of Frisco City offers special prices on groceries and almost everything needed in the way of eats. Mr. S.S. Brantley, manager of the store, is well known in this section.

120 YEARS AGO
APRIL 6, 1905

NOTICE: $350 Reward will be paid for the arrest and delivery in any jail for Will and Ed. Ptomey for attempting to murder Prof. Claude Hardy on his plantation March 13, 1905. – L.W. HARDY.

HOBSON TO LECTURE: A number of his local admirers have induced Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson of “Merrimac” fame to deliver one of his noted lectures in Monroeville, and his managers have designated Wednesday evening, April 12, as the date. The lecture will take place in the courthouse and seats are now on sale. Although a native Alabamian, few of our readers have had the opportunity of meeting and listening to Captain Hobson, hence no one who can possibly do so should fail to attend.

LOST CHILD: Great excitement prevailed in the vicinity of Tekoa last Sunday on account of a little boy who became lost in the woods and much uneasiness was felt for several hours until the little wanderer was found.
A little son of Mr. Evan Manning, age about five years, went into the woods with several boys older than himself, when their dog jumped a rabbit. The boys followed in pursuit, but the little fellow being unable to keep up, was lost off from his companions and wandered about in the woods for several hours.
The older boys returning from the chase discovered that their companion was missing and reported the fact. The neighborhood was soon alarmed and searching parties went in all directions. After several hours the little boy was finally overtaken several miles from home and restored to the arms of his half-distracted parents.

What role did Tootsie Rolls play in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'?

Have you ever stopped to think about the role that Tootsie Rolls played in Harper Lee’s novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”?

I hadn’t either until the other day while I was re-reading Chapter 23. This is the chapter that begins with Miss Stephanie Crawford describing to Jem, Scout and Dill the encounter between Atticus Finch and Bob Ewell in front of Maycomb’s post office. This took place in the summer of 1935, shortly after the conviction of Tom Robinson for the rape of Ewell’s daughter, Mayella. Scout would have been eight years old at the time.

Later in that chapter, Atticus’s sister, Alexandra, is sitting in the living room “hooking a rug” and listening to Jem and Scout talk about the Cunninghams of the Old Sarum community. Scout and Alexandra get into a back-and-forth in which Alexandra calls Scout’s schoolmate Walter Cunningham “trash.” Alexandra tells Scout in no uncertain terms that she will not be playing with Walter or inviting him to their house.

At that point, Jem, who is 12 years old, takes Scout by the shoulders, puts his arm around her and leads her “sobbing in fury” to his bedroom. Atticus stuck his head in the door only to have Jem tell him that everything was okay, at which point Atticus leaves. It’s then that Jem did something unexpected to help calm his crying sister.

“Have a chew, Scout,” Jem said as he dug into his pocket an extracted a Tootsie Roll. Scout took the candy, popped it in her mouth and began to chew. She noted in the next line that “it took a few minutes to work the candy into a comfortable wad inside my jaw.”

This short paragraph caused me to wonder if it was historically accurate. Today, you can walk into any gas station or grocery store in town and buy Tootsie Rolls by the bagful, but did they exist in 1935? This question launched me down a rabbit hole that resulted in me learning more about Tootsie Rolls than I ever imagined.

Research reveals that Tootsie Rolls are a lot older than I thought. In fact, they have been made in the United States since 1907 and were the first penny candy in America to be individually wrapped. The candy was developed by an Austrian-Jewish immigrant named Leo Hirschfeld, who named the candy after his daughter, Clara “Tootsie” Hirschfeld.

The candy that Jem likely gave Scout was one of the small, bite-sized Tootsie Rolls, which are called “Midgees.” The other type of Tootsie Rolls that readers have no doubt seen are the larger, longer Tootsie Roll “logs.” Sources say that about 65 million Tootsie Rolls are made every day.

As things go, Tootsie Rolls aren’t the only candy specifically mentioned in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” In Chapter 4, Scout finds two pieces of Wrigley’s Double-Mint gum in the knothole of a live oak on the edge of the Radley lot, and rather than share the gum with Jem, she crams both pieces in her mouth. Perhaps the Double-Mint gum and Tootsie Rolls were both purchased from the same candy rack at Maycomb’s Jitney Jungle?

100-year-old Wilcox Progressive Era news highlights from April 1925

Marquis de LaFayette

Today marks the first Wednesday of the month, so it’s time to take another trip back down memory lane for a look at some of the interesting things that happened in Wilcox County a century ago, way back in April 1925.

In the April 2, 1925 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that “Mr. Thomas Franklin Hale had the misfortune of being hit on the nose while playing baseball last Wednesday. It bled so profusely and continuously that he was carried to the Baptist Hospital in Selma. The latest report from him was that his condition was slightly improved.”

Also that week, readers learned that the “Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, meeting will be postponed until April 16, 1925. Next week, the state is celebrating LaFayette’s visit here and this chapter has been invited to join the Selma Chapter at Cahaba for the celebration. Claiborne also near here is planning a large celebration with airplanes, etc.”

In the April 9, 1925 edition of The Progressive Era, under the headline “OPERETTA,” it was reported that “Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs is to be presented by the pupils of Miss Ione Nunnally and Mrs. Ruby McLeod at the school auditorium on Wednesday night, April 22. Admission 25 cents and 50 cents, proceeds for benefit of school.”

Also that week, it was reported that it “will be interesting news to the many friends of Capt. Emmett Kilpatrick to know that he has accepted a position at the Jacksonville Agricultural School and will have the chair of modern languages.”

In the April 16, 1925 edition of the newspaper is was reported that the “students of the Wilcox County High School are indebted to Matthews Hardware Co. for a splendid sanitary drinking fountain which was installed last week, in the hall near the main entrance.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, readers learned that the “Hon. R.H. Mangum of Selma will make the Memorial address on Decoration Day, Sun., April 26, at 3 o’clock. The public is cordially invited to the exercises which will take place in the Grammar school auditorium.”

In the April 23, 1925 edition of the paper, it was reported that the “Camden Bakery, owned by Mr. Julian Bonner and Mr. W.F. McWilliams, has moved from the store on the Jones block to the store formerly occupied by G.L. Wilkinson. We wish for the continued success at their new location.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, it was announced that the “women of Camden and vicinity are earnestly requested to meet at the Masonic Hall on Friday and Saturday afternoon to make wreaths for the graves of our Confederate dead.”

In the April 30, 1925 edition of the paper, it was reported that a “boy, about 15 years old, was killed at Oak Hill Tuesday by attempting to swing on to a truck loaded with lumber, when he missed his holt and fell under the truck. The truck crushing his head as it passed over. The driver did not see the boy and no blame can be attached to him. This should be a warning to all boys, who are accustomed to swing on moving cars and trucks.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, it was announced that the “picture fans had the pleasure this week of seeing the ‘Sea Hawk’ by Raphael Sabatini. This picture was the prize picture of 1924 and the author won the $10,000 prize offered by Pulitzer for the best story written in 1924. Mr. T.M. Baggett, manager of the picture show, is to be congratulated upon securing this wonderful picture for his screen.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. On the first Wednesday of next month, I plan to take a look at the events of May 1925 in Wilcox County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Alabama Department of Archives and History’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. Their friendly staff will be more than happy to get you started.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for April 1, 2025

24 YEARS AGO
MARCH 29, 2001

Work is underway to repair buildings that were damaged by a recent storm. Local construction crews have more than their fair share of work and are trying to get everyone ‘dry’ before the next big rains. Covin Roofing and Construction is shown in the above photo replacing the roof on the Village Plaza building and in the photo at right Skipper’s General Contractors are shown hanging steel to replace the wall that had to be torn down at The Evergreen Courant.

Stanley Guy Busby, 75, of Repton died Tues., March 27, 2001 in a Monroeville hospital. Mr. Busby ran a dairy for many years. He was a driver for Poole Truck Line and retired CDL instructor from Reid State Technical College. He was a member of the Annunciation Catholic Church of Monroeville. He was a veteran and served in the Marines during World War II and the Korean War.

The Conecuh County Children’s Foundation, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Lyeffion Junior High School and the Evergreen-Conecuh Chamber of Commerce invites everyone out to the airport at Middleton Field for the annual children’s carnival. Carnival rides will provide fun and excitement for the whole family. Also on Saturday, the Collard Green Festival, Extension Petting Zoo, Firemen’s Contest and Chili Cookoff will be featured as well as vendors, country music and many other interesting activities. Citizens are encouraged to attend and support the Conecuh County Children’s Foundation. Pictured at the recent ribbon cutting on Mon., March 28, are Eric Basinger, Nell Stuart, Kim George, Geneva Lyons, Joey Varner, Homer Lyons and Emily Brogden.

39 YEARS AGO
MARCH 27, 1986

Ole Earl Windham reports .10 of an inch of rain on March 16, 2.41 inches on March 19 and .46 on March 20.

Johnny Grace of Lyeffion High School exhibited the Grand Champion of the 41st Annual Conecuh County 4-H and FFA Steer Show held Monday at the Evergreen Livestock Arena. The 1,250-pound steer brought 95 cents per pound with Southern Pine Electric Cooperative, represented by Manager Tom Perry, paying the premium price.

John Shepherd Salter, 89, of 318 Perryman St., Evergreen, died Sat., March 22, in the Veterans Administration Hospital, Montgomery, after a long illness. He was a member of a pioneer county family and a veteran of World War I and a retired employee of the City of Evergreen.

415 marijuana plants were confiscated near Travis Bridge on March 14 by Deputy Sheriff Jimmy Lambert. Plants were found by alert citizens who immediately called the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office.

State Representative J.E. (Jimmy) Warren of Castleberry has qualified to seek re-election to the Alabama House of Representatives. The veteran legislator, first elected in 1970, is asking for a fifth term of office. He represented District 64, composed of Conecuh and Monroe counties.

54 YEARS AGO
MARCH 25, 1971

Ewing Baxter McRady, 80, of Evergreen died Sat., March 20, in Montgomery hospital after a long illness. He was a retired hardwareman who was well known throughout this area.
A native of Tennessee, Mr. McRady was associated with Luttrell Hardware in Brewton for a short time before becoming associated with Wild Bros. Hardware Co. here some 55 years ago. He worked with Wild Bros. for 40 years until retiring 15 years ago and was generally recognized as one of the most knowledgeable men in his field in this area.

A Civitan Club may be organized in Evergreen. A breakfast meeting is set for 6:30 o’clock Tuesday morning at Jimmie’s Restaurant to put organizational procedures in motion.
Civitan International is a service club for men and has been in existence for 51 years. They are ‘Builders of Good Citizenship.
Any man interested is invited to attend the breakfast Tuesday morning as a guest of the Andalusia Civitan Club which is sponsoring the new club here.

Dean Masonic Lodge No. 112 will sponsor a special program on Drug Abuse at the Brooklyn Baptist Church March 27 at 7 p.m.
Rev. H.C. Botts from Milton, Fla. will be guest speaker. Films from Whiting Field on Drug Abuse will be shown.
The public is invited to attend this special program.

59 YEARS AGO
MARCH 29, 1956

Tuesday morning, the U.S. Navy began using Middleton Field, Evergreen’s airport, as a training field again.

James Richard Merritt, 23, Cincinnati, Ohio, who was a prisoner in the Conecuh County Jail made a unique escape here last Thursday night. It was the first escape made from the Conecuh County Jail in about six years and one of the few in its history.
According to Sheriff James Brock, Merritt gained his escape by tearing apart a small radio and obtaining a magnet from inside. He attached the magnet to a long strip of molding torn from the window and reached a file which was laying a short distance from the window. The file had been used to clean some stove parts on the outside of the building. Merritt filed out one bar on the window and made his way out through the small opening, approximately six inches in width. Merritt is of a very small build being about five-foot, six-inches tall and weighing only about 120 pounds.
Three other prisoners who were in the cell with Merritt refused to attempt to escape along with him. The escape was made sometime between 12 midnight and early Friday morning. Merritt was being held in jail on charges of robbing the London Store, Castleberry, Rte. 2 on Jan. 2 of this year. The robbery netted approximately $200 for him and three companions. Two others are still in the Conecuh County Jail for the crime and one other has not yet been apprehended.

84 YEARS AGO
MARCH 27, 1941

An advance trainer, piloted by J.D. Eiland Jr., Flying Cadet of Maxwell Field, was damaged to such an extent about 10:30 Wednesday night in a forced landing at the local airport it was found necessary to send a maintenance crew from Maxwell Field to dismantle the plane and truck it to Montgomery for repairs. The left wheel was broken off, propeller bent and the left wing slightly damaged. As soon as the employee on duty at the station saw what had happened, he summoned an ambulance but the pilot was found to be uninjured.
According to the information given The Courant, Cadet Eiland had made only one cross-country night flight before his flight Wednesday, and had become lost some time before reaching Evergreen. Upon discovering he was over Evergreen, it is said he found that his gas was low and headed for the airport to land.
It is not known how the accident occurred but it is surmised the pilot misjudged his altitude, being lower than he thought and sat the ship down hard enough to break off the left wheel. Due to the fact the ship finally came to rest several yards from where the wheel was found it is believed he then gunned the motor to right the ship and then made a perfect three-point landing – right wheel, left wing and tail skid – which, according to those who know how to fly, is quite an achievement for a cadet.

Robert James McCreary, prominent lumberman of Montgomery, died at his home on Lexington Road early Saturday morning after a brief illness. A native of Evergreen, Mr. McCreary had engaged in the wholesale lumber business for many years. He had made his home in Montgomery since 1927, operating the R.J. McCreary Lumber Co.