George Singleton tells of 1988 trip to Nancy Mountain

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 “Man needs beauty to survive,” was originally published in the March 17, 1988 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

A few Sundays back, my wife and I put together a basket of goodies and a cold jug of iced tea and took off for parts unknown to get close to nature and enjoy the wonderful outdoors.

For one reason or another, we ended up atop Nancy Mountain to have our dinner under the open skies. It seemed as though our automobile just headed that way as some unseen hand took over the driving. We didn’t discuss or decide which way we might go. When we realized where we were, we had almost made it to the high hill above the ferry and the river.

It’s amazing just how much a person can eat when there is no one to hinder him or no noisy television or telephone ringing during meal time. After unloading the basket of food and a large plastic container of good iced tea, we got down to the business at hand of fried chicken and potato salad, mixed along with some sweet pickles, sweet onions, sliced apples and several slices of cheese.

Nothing in the way

When one is not in a hurry, one can eat much more than when there is a schedule to meet or a place to go. This was such a time, when all could be put aside and there was nothing to get in the way of you and the fried-chicken plate.

To me, there is nothing quite as good as some real home-cooked Southern-fried chicken. Then, to take a bite of one of those sweet pickles, not to mention a swig from that large container of iced tea. You might add some potato salad, some sweet onion, a bite or two from an apple slice, and then slip in a bite of cheese to give it flavor. I don’t think mankind could ever wish for anything to eat that would surpass this mixing.

The after-dinner entertainment was watching two lizards that appeared on our table. There wasn’t any chicken to share with them because it had been all et, but we placed some crumbs of bread over at the far end of the table and began to watch and see if the lizards would eat the food of us humans. To our amazement, the lizards would not touch the crumbs of bread, but we noticed that the bread had been discovered by some small ants and some other insects.

Lizards snatched insects

To our surprise, the lizards would kind of move back and let the ants and the various insects come forward to the bread crumbs. Then, as quick as a flash, the would dive forward, within the distance where the insects could be reached with their tongues. Then a tongue would shoot forward, almost too fast for the eye to see, and pick an insect that was carried into the lizard’s mouth.

The show went on for quite some time. It seemed that each lizard had eaten more than it was used to eating. They had begun to get choosy as to which ones they would pick each time. This was when we brushed the crumbs off on the ground and let some of the larger ants carry them off to their nearby ant beds or wherever.

Looking to the north, we could see the great river in plain view. At this time of year, the view was wonderful. The river looked like a long, large, gray ribbon winding its way along the edges of the bluff there in the distance. Time seemed to stand still; there were only the sounds of birds and occasionally the call of a quite large Indian hen, down the steep bluff that was close by. It seemed that the Indian hen was calling just for our entertainment.

Numbers diminishing

The call of this rare bird has become few and far between in today’s world. This is becoming one of our endangered species. It’s a pity because it is one of our more beautiful birds, with a quite large wingspan and a jet-black color, as though polished to a beautiful finish.

No evening is complete atop Nancy Mountain without breaking out the jungle hammocks and taking a quick nap. So, with the entertainment coming to a close, we did just that. Quickly tying the hammocks between some trees, we got in about 40 minutes of good sleep and rest before the time came to pack up and start back toward that thing called civilization.

I sometimes wonder if I may be a throwback from an earlier time in man’s stay on our planet, for each time I go out into the quietness and solitude of the deep woods and the hill country, I find myself having crazy thoughts that I might not want to return to the problems of our civilization. This can be quite disturbing.

Live in harmony

I feel that man must live in harmony with nature. I do not believe that we can worship the Creator if we do not believe in His greatness of creation. I believe, too, that man is missing a great part of his life if we do not become involved in our earth’s mother and embrace and hold close to the things that were put here for us to live with.

I feel that if we are to survive, we must protect and take care of the many things that we abuse so much today. Man is only a small part of this creation. With all our knowledge, we are the most helpless of all creatures. We have brought this weakness upon ourselves. Man must have beauty to survive. There is no other way out. Our destruction of our natural beauty is at an all-time high. It might be too late...

(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.)

 

George Singleton writes of 'Dixieland' and Southern culture

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 “Why did song ‘Dixie’ disappear from culture,” was originally published in the March 9, 1989 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

The name “Dixie” is probably a bit of Franco-American slang born in the Mississippi River boat trade, though some same it derived from the Mason-Dixon Line, the imaginary boundary line between North and South.

It had become a universal nickname for the South long before the Civil War. But the believed origin was derived from the most endearing of all commodities, money.

The financial houses of New Orleans had within their bank notes a $10 bill. On the corners of this bank note was the French word “dix.” The rough, rugged boatmen and stevedores of the New Orleans waterfront called these bills “dixies.” Thus, the story goes that because of this, the great river basin in the lower South acquired the name “Dixieland.”

Many rumors give evidence as to who actually wrote the song “Dixie.” It was 1859 before the words made their formal debut in song, though the early stages of the Southern anthem, or something quite like it, had been sung on the plantations and steamboat decks for generations before.

What actually started out as a minstrel-show tune, changed meaning when on Feb. 18, 1861, Jefferson Davis was inducted as president of the Confederacy in Montgomery.

As a small band wound its way up the hill toward the Capitol under the direction of Herman Arnold, a naturalized German music teacher, the small marching band struck up Arnold’s version of “I Wish I Was in Dixieland.” Soldiers from the 1^st Alabama Regiment were the escort. They were the first to march to the peppy music of the grand tune.

The song was an overnight sensation; even Abraham Lincoln liked it. Just a little more than four years after its Montgomery debut, he was in the final week of his life, President Lincoln took “Dixie” back into the Union.

It was April 8, 1865. President Lincoln was returning from a tour of the Union Army camps near Richmond, Va. He had boarded a paddle-wheel steamer, the River Queen, for his return trip to Washington.

A Federal Army band was aboard. Mr. Lincoln asked the director of the band if he knew “Dixie.”

“It has always been a favorite tune of mine,” stated the president, “and since it is now Federal property, we have the perfect right to enjoy it. Also, the Rebels can now be free to hear it and play it whenever they choose.”

The Federal Army band on board the River Queen struck up the sweet, inspiring tune “Dixie.” When the music had died away, there was clapping of hands and other applause.

Within minutes, the River Queen slipped away downstream, bearing President Lincoln on the last trip of his life.

With all the history that is associated with this grand old tune, why must our society of today hide a song that has meant so much in the past?

Nowhere in the lyrics of the old song do I recall anything about hate, race or slavery. As I have stated many times, our modern-day history tends to fabricate and misquote the actual happenings of yesteryear.

As we sink deeper into our worlds of fantasy, we are widening the gaps from truth and reality. Our fantasies will soon push us forever from the pages of our true heritage to the make-believe world of fiction and falsehood.

Our national cemeteries, where those who have fallen in the defense of their beliefs wait for the final roll call of judgement, will be sold to the highest foreign bidder, and a video factory will fill the landscape that once was hallowed ground.

Gone forever will be America as we knew it, and the pitiful few who dare to recite our National Anthem will have to do so in top secrecy for fear of their life.

Sadly, but not with upbraiding,
The generous deed was done.
In the storm of the years that are fading,
No braver battle was won.
Under the sod and dew of the evening,
Waiting for the judgement day,
The forgotten graves of the Blue
And the not-remembered graves of the Gray.

(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.)

 

Singleton tells of ancient Indian village site in Monroe County, Ala.

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 “Turn back the clock and watch for tribes of the past,” was originally published in the March 5, 1992 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

In a north by northeast direction from the city of Monroeville, many strange sights might be seen. Along the edge of the steep hills, just before the land drops off into the bottoms near Flat Creek, time has almost stood still for nearly a thousand years.

What could be going on in an area so near to a much-traveled highway and a not-too-far-away railroad? If one could turn back the clock for a few hundred years and be able to observe the happenings and witness the activity along this large creek, one would find that quite a large civilization rested on the slopes of the high hills in this area.

Let us travel back in time and find a hidden spot where no one will see us. Let us be able to witness and listen as the women-folk and children of the early tribe go about their farming chores along the bottom of the ridges near the large creek.

As the early hours of a spring morning slowly creep from the high hills, see them walking down the hills to where the crops of squash and corn will be planted in the rich soil.

They will not carry modern farming tools as we have today. Their tools for digging are sharp points fashioned from pieces of flint that came from the rich flint deposits not too far to the southeast, near what is now the ridge.

These pieces of had flint are tied securely with a piece of rawhide to a stout stick, about three feet in length. Ties were made with green rawhide, before it had time to dry. As the rawhide dried, it became almost as if the piece of flint and the stick were one and the same.

Then, there was the first ax, which had no handle. The first ax was a large piece of sharp flint about the size of a large cooking spoon. They were mostly used to dig around the growing plants to keep the soil loose and to chop the weeds and grass away.

As the corn or squash seeds were dropped in the freshly dug hole, a small fish, or a piece of a larger fish, was put in the hole as fertilizer. The nearby large creek supplied the necessary fish for the spring planting, not to mention the fish that were consumed by the tribe as part of their daily diet.

A few days back, I journeyed into this area and marveled at the evidence that after several hundred years still could be found. In looking at one rather steep hill, it appeared as if the dirt had been carried from somewhere else to form this high point.

Here was where the chief or the ruler of the tribe lived. At about this time in early history, the chiefs would place their lodgings above the rest of the villagers, nearer to the heavens.

As I tried to picture in my mind just where I would have put a fire pit had I been there during this time, I was able to find two old locations that had survived hundreds of years.

I carefully brushed the pine needles and rotted leaves from the blackened stones that had surrounded the fire pit, and I wondered how many had rested around these fires and listened to the tales that abounded there.

I could imagine a tall, strong man standing there where I sat, telling of a bear hunt that had taken place along the large creek to the south. I could imagine the women and children as they sat spellbound and listened to the hair-raising experiences of hunting the bear or panther. I could almost smell the meat hanging from the cooking prongs over the fires.

I could see the members of the tribe slowly moving away from the large fires and seeking the comfort and warmth of the bear and deer skin wraps that would protect them from the chilly winds of the night.

In my mind I could see the crude thatched huts that were made of sticks and brush and sealed with the sticky mud that had been brought from the nearby creek. I would think that life had been quite pleasant for these early people along the slopes, here near the large creek.

As I made my way around the area, I knew that sooner or later I would probably come across that evidence that would give witness to the sadness and heartbreak of the early inhabitants of the village. As I followed the base of the steep slope, I found what I expected I would. There, under the dense undergrowth and fallen leaves, were about 30 piles of small stones ranging in size from an egg to some almost the size of a large hat.

Some of the mounds of stone were larger than the others. I remembered that perhaps those who were buried under the large mounds were older members of the village, or someone of greater importance in the village society.

As was the custom, after a member had died and been put to rest, a few stones were placed on the grave. Then each time someone who knew the deceased passed the grave, they would place a stone on it as a tribute in remembrance to the one who slept there. This would go on for several years until all the family members and friends of the deceased had either died or moved away.

As I sat there in the quietness of the afternoon, I wondered how long it would before this too would be destroyed as man pillaged for wealth and profit.

I wondered too if sometimes maybe during the nights of the full moon, the ghosts of this earlier time might gather again around the evening fires for a night of story telling and togetherness. They would gather before it was time to return again to that place that only they can know and are free to enter.

(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.)

 

Singleton advises to consider, appreciate God's marvelous creations

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 “Consider and appreciate God’s marvelous creations,” was originally published in the Feb. 22, 1996 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

The Holy Bible tells us that there’s a time for everything. A time to work, a time to play, a time to laugh, and a time to cry. If you read far enough, this passage covers just about everything.

Within a few short weeks, the time will be at hand to put into practice some of the above scripture. As the early days of spring approach, the time will be at our fingertips to look at nature in all its splendor and cast aside all the prejudices and misgivings that dwell within our hearts and minds. The time will be such that we can open our hearts and eyes to the endless beauty and creation that surrounds us on this earth.

The time will be at hand to exercise the love that has been stalemated within us and bud forth, seeking the beauty in the thousands and thousands of simple things that are so often overlooked in our hurry to get ahead in this crazy, mixed-up world.

I know that it is a little late for the customary New Year’s resolutions, but it’s not too late to promise yourself to look, seek and enjoy all that has been placed here by the creator.

Promise yourself that each day a small insignificant flower or blossoms will be looked at and examined in detail. Promise yourself that life will be more enjoyable, that more time will be spent on the minor, less-noticeables that grow in the rocks and hard-to-get places.

Few among us have stopped and taken time to examine a small, blooming violet or a short, unnoticed jonquil that grows deep in the corner of the yard fence.

Beauty is always to be found if you look long enough. Take, for example, a dangerous, ugly rattlesnake. If you look closely, you will see that the patches on the skin of a snake are always exact and the edges are square, as though an instrument was used to draw the exact patterns.

Look ever closer, and you will see the deepness of the colors of the skin. Always remember that Mother Nature never leaves any job unfinished – always completed, never half done.

Look deeply into the blossom of a Camellia. See the exactness in the ever small strands that make up the structure of the bloom. Never will you see one that looks as though it wasn’t finished. The beauty is always there. The perfection of the creator cannot be equaled by the most skilled craftsman. The touch of his hand is ever present.

It’s so pathetic that today we must turn to violence for entertainment. We sit for hours on end and watch the endless killings and brutality that plaque our televisions.

The normal television addict will witness at least five or six murders during an evening of watching the boob tube. Our children are exposed to seeing the most brutal crimes committed under the disguise of good, clean entertainment.

Our fantasy living has taken us away from all the beauty and the simple things that we should appreciate and has replaced them with filth and make believe. We cannot be happy and content with the wonders of the creation. We must look to the myths and oftentimes the various cults that have abounded within our society for satisfaction and pleasure.

I do not want to sound like the voice of doom, but I believe that unless we turn to the good and simple things that have been placed here for us to appreciate and enjoy, we are doomed as a nation to wander on the winds of oblivion for now and forever.

As I climb down from my stump and end this article, the simple prayer of the old Indian wind-walker seems most appropriate.

O Great Spirit, give me strength that I may stroll across the land and marvel at they creation.
Let me go where the wild flowers sway in the gentle breeze.
Let me smell the fragrance of the wild honeysuckle, as I rest in the shade of the mighty sweet-gum tree.
Make me know they presence, as I feel the bark of the birch tree and smell the blooms of the dogwood.
And let me linger to the lullaby of the winds.
Give me sight so I might see the fowls of the air as they wing their way to the lofty heights.
Let me view the mighty eagle as he rides the winds of the evening and soars through the shadows of the setting sun.
And when the shadows of this life gather on the horizon and I stand in they presence, let me be judged for my love of they beauty and they creation.

(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 Sports Flashback for Oct. 28, 2025

57 YEARS AGO
OCT. 24, 1968

Luverne Tigers hand Aggies 2nd loss 7-0: A band of Luverne High Tigers, all fired up for their homecoming celebration, punched across a score early in the second quarter and made it stand up for a 7-0 win over Evergreen Friday night.
Evergreen’s defense was adequate, but Coach Wendell Hart’s men could never get a sustained offensive effort underway.
Buck Quarles led the Aggie runners with 50 yards on nine carries while (Jimmy) Bell netted 13 on nine trips and Hollis Tranum, three on four tries.
(Other outstanding Evergreen players in that game included Jimmy Hart and Charlie Wild.)

Evergreen High School will observe homecoming tomorrow with festivities getting underway with the parade at 12:30 p.m. Leading the parade will be Miss Homecoming, Joy Bowers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Bowers, and Miss Football, Cindy Majors, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Majors.
Pre-game activities will begin at Brooks Stadium at 7:45 with the homecoming court being presented to the spectators and Miss Homecoming and Miss Football will be crowned.
The kickoff between Red Level and Evergreen will be at 8 p.m. and the halftime show will feature the Aggie marching band.

Lyeffion High School will observe its annual homecoming this Saturday night. The featured event will be the homecoming game between the Yellow Jackets and Coffeeville at 7:30.

72 YEARS AGO
OCT. 22, 1953

Lyeffion Jackets Trip Coffeeville 12-7 For Fourth Victory: Striking for touchdowns in the first and third quarters, Coach William Andrews’ Lyeffion Yellow Jackets whipped Coffeeville 12 to 7 Friday night for their fourth straight win.
(Sam Smith scored Lyeffion’s first touchdown on a two-yard run, and Wayne Thames scored the winning touchdown on a five-yard run. Other outstanding Lyeffion players in that game included Frank Chavers, Bobby Coker, Clay Kelly, Jackie Parrish, Bill Raines and Cecil Raines.)

Famed Marksman Will Shoot Here Wednesday: Ken Beegle, one of the United States’ ace marksmen, will give an exhibition of his shooting abilities here next Wed., Oct. 28, at Brooks Stadium behind Evergreen High School at 1:30 p.m.
The exhibition next Wednesday is brought to Evergreen under the sponsorship of local dealers who handle Remington shells and guns. It is free and the public is invited to come and see the amazing trick shots made by Beegle.

Repton High School will observe its annual homecoming on next Thurs., Oct. 29, it is announced by Principal E.H. Penny.
In the feature attraction of the day’s events, the Repton Bulldogs will play the Beatrice Eagles in the homecoming football game. Kickoff will probably be at 7:30 Thursday night at the Repton field.

A homecoming inspired team and a ‘souped up’ halfback were more than the Aggies could handle Friday night as Greenville continued its mastery over Evergreen with a thrilling 33-19 win.
Coach Luke Whetstone’s staff had the Aggie running game well scouted and an inspired Tiger line completely enveloped the Aggie backs holding them to 97 yards on the ground. Coach Wendell Hart sent his boys into the air and they racked up 155 yards on the passing arm of Jimmy Frazier and the catching of Buck Lewis, Ronnie Edson and Ward Alexander.
(Other outstanding Evergreen players in that game included Wayne Bell, Walter Carrier, Sam Cope, Wayne (Dog) Douglas, Ronnie Edson, Eugene (Pee Wee) Hyde, Alvin Reeves, Lamar Sheffield, Richard Taylor, Bud Ward and Randy White.)

Among those here attending the Alabama-Tennessee football game in Birmingham Saturday were Mrs. L.T. Rutland, Miss Louise Rutland, Mr. and Mrs. Lawton Kamplain, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kinzer and Mr. and Mrs. V.P. Smith and Palmer.

Evergreen Will Try To Stage Comeback In McKenzie Friday: The Evergreen High School Aggies will attempt to hit the victory trail again Friday night losing their first game of the season last week. Kickoff has been set for 7:30 at the McKenzie field.
The Aggies may depend heavily on their rapidly improving air attack. Jimmy Frazier is developing into one of the best passers ever to throw for the Aggies. Thus far in the 1953 campaign, he has thrown 41 times and completed 19 good for 374 yards and five touchdowns.

87 YEARS AGO
OCT. 27, 1938

Evergreen High School: Friday afternoon, down on our two new volleyball courts, the Jr. I girls walloped the Jr. III’s, for their first success of the season. Meanwhile the Jr. III’s snowed the Jr. II’s under.

Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Jones, Mrs. L.T. Rutland and Deming Jones and John Deming, students at A.P.I. in Auburn, attended the Auburn-Tech football game in Atlanta Saturday.

Troy State Teachers College will be host to both alumni and the Association of Elementary and Junior High School Principals on annual homecoming, Oct. 29.
Afternoon will be marked by a meeting of the Alumni Association and a freshman football game on Pace Field. At night the Troy-Marion game will be played on Trojan Field.

102YEARS AGO
OCT. 24, 1923

SPORTSMEN FORM ORGANIZATION: An enthusiastic meeting of sportsmen of Conecuh County was held at the courthouse on Friday afternoon when the Conecuh County Game and Fish Protective Association was formed.
The following officers were elected: R.F. Croom, President; A. Cunningham, J.R. Brooks, Ebin Hines, vice presidents; H.C. Fountain, secretary and treasurer; Board of Directors: R.F. Croom, A. Cunningham, J.R. Brooks, Ebin Hines, F.F. Feagin, R.G. Kendall, C.R. Taliaferro.
The organization began with 45 members.
Hon. I.T. Quinn, state commissioner of conservation, was present by invitation and made an excellent talk on the subject of protection and conservation of game and fish. Mr. Quinn stated to a reporter before leaving: ‘I want to see these clubs of sportsmen and conservationists in every county in the state. It is the only way we are going to really get anywhere. We have the best code of conservation laws of any state in the South now; but it takes local public sentiment and aid and enthusiasm to make them effective. The fine work inaugurated at Birmingham with its Alabama Fisherman and Hunters Association has demonstrated to me that the county without a good organization is not going to get far along the road to better things. Not only for aid in enforcing the law, but as the association at Birmingham has done, in so educating  fishermen and hunters until they see it is to their own benefit to observe the laws of good sportsmanship and aid in making conditions better.

Weston Field Gun Shells are the best. All sportsmen admit this. We carry all size loads and most any size shot and for all gauges of guns. L.L. Moorer.

A crowd of boys (from Range) went opossum hunting Friday night and brought in three fine opossums.

117 YEARS AGO
OCT. 28, 1908

Hunting Permits! Hunting permit books for sale at The Courant office at 15 cents each.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Oct. 8, 2025

125 YEARS AGO
OCT. 8, 1891

THE EVERGREEN STAR

Information Wanted: The following letter addressed to me as coroner of Conecuh County has been received.
STILLWATER, MINN., Sept. 28, 1891.
DEAR SIR: We have just been informed of the death of our uncle, Benjamin Morgan of Alabama, who died in 1885. If he died in your county, please let us know the manner of his death, as business of importance is to be settled at once.
Yours truly,
CHARLES M. MORGAN

The name of Benjamin Morgan is not on the register of deaths for Conecuh County, therefore I am sure he did not die in Conecuh County.
Inquiry has also been made through a German consul about the death of Louis Rudolph Goldbeck by a railroad accident near Evergreen. A transcript from the register has been forwarded, showing a man aged about 25 years was killed by a railroad accident near Evergreen on Dec. 4, 1884. He was considered a tramp.
His death was reported by Mr. J.T. Amos, the railroad section master, who said it was impossible to ascertain a name from anything on his person or otherwise. This is the only instance that a death is reported in the register with name and other data unknown.
A.A. McKITTRICK, M.D.
Coroner, Conecuh County

Hon. G.R. Farnham returned from Montgomery Tuesday morning where he had been assisting in the prosecution of Bradford Dunham for the killing of young Cunningham.

110 YEARS AGO
OCT. 10, 1906

Veterans Hold Meeting: A meeting of Camp Capt. Wm. Lee, U.C.V., was held in the grand jury room on Monday morning and was largely attended.
G.R. Boulware of Brooklyn was elected commander to succeed the lamented Dr. Bruner. B.M. Johnson was adjutant pro tem.
The following were elected delegates and alternates to the State reunion: Wm. Morris, J.W. Darby, J.L. Bowden, W.L. Stallworth; alternates – M.B. Salter, J.R. Myers, J.W. McInnis, H.J. Beasley.
A resolution was adopted requesting the county tax assessor and collector to procure a complete list of all veterans in the county and furnish same to the Camp historian.
The following comrades were in attendance: W.L. Stallworth, J.W. McInnis, G.W. Riley, R.H. Riggs, M.A. Gantt, P.D. Bowles, G.R. Boulware, T.A. Jones, C.G. Russell, J.A. Golson, J.H. Northcutt, H.J. Beasley, W.K. Burt, J.C. Travis, A.A. McKittrick, Jas. W. Darby, A.H. Stokes, J.M. Shell, J.L. Bowden, W.R. Watson, B.M. Johnson.

At the Opera House, one night only, Wed., Oct. 10^th, the grand opening of the season, Mr. Brandon Courtney presents the new, bright, breezy, snappy musical comedy, “Violette,” featuring Corinne Frances, America’s youngest and most talented comedienne, surrounded by a bevy of clever comedians and a chorus of pretty girls. Fifteen big song hits. Carrying a carload special scenery; beautiful electrical effects. Most gorgeous organization ever witnessed. Prices 35, 50 and 75 cents.

95 YEARS AGO
OCT. 12, 1921

A Hundred Years Ago! At Brooklyn Church, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 15-16, there will be held services in recognition of the 100^th anniversary of the church. All friends of the cause of religion are invited to be present. Dinner will be served Saturday in the grove where the congregation originally worshiped.

C.E. Mills had the misfortune to lose his private garage at his home, together with two automobiles, shortly after midnight Thursday night. It is not known how the fire originated.

LENOX NEWS: Our school is continuing to grow, the enrollment having reached 107.

PAUL ITEMS: School is progressing nicely, with a total enrollment to date of 90 pupils and more to come in.

Beasley School Items: The death angel visited the home of L.J. Etheridge and took away his beloved wife on Oct. 3. She was 73 years old and is survived by her husband and six children. Mrs. Etheridge was laid to rest in Owassa cemetery, the funeral conducted by Rev. J.T. Peak.

J.P. Langham and his winsome young bride were here Sunday returning from their bridal trip to their home at Repton.

Rev. Stanley Frazer and family from North Carolina are guests of their parents, Dr. and Mrs. J.S. Frazer.

E.T. Millsap and wife motored over from Monroeville Sunday to visit relatives.

80 YEARS AGO
OCT. 8, 1936

New City Officials Now Govern Evergreen: A new administration took charge of municipal affairs in Evergreen on Monday night with inauguration of the newly elected mayor and council.
Dr. J.R. Brooks was formally inducted into office as mayor and J.T. Gaillard, C.B. Wilson, Cecil Hagood, J.H. Robison and J.W. Shannon took their seats as members of the council.
All incumbent city employees were renamed by the council and a new position, that of street foreman, was created and H.Z. Gunter named to take this place. Those re-named were: Clerk and Treasurer, J.R. Simmons; Light and Water Supt., F.M. Wright; Ass’t Supt. Foster Brooks; Chief of Police, Harry L. Riley; Night Marshal, G.W. Moorer; Attorney, J.L. Kelly.

Work on the Evergreen-Skinnerton highway will begin within the next few days.
Orders have been issued for the transfer of convicts to the state’s newly constructed camp two miles north of Evergreen and they are expected to arrive no later than Monday.
Work will begin immediately after their arrival. The camp is constructed to care for approximately 100 convicts but it is not expected to be filled to capacity at this time.
Construction of the 24-mile stretch is expected to get underway first in the vicinity of the camp, which is located on county property formerly used as a site for the county alms house, recently abolished with the advent of the old age pension system in this state.

65 YEARS AGO
OCT. 11, 1951

Death claimed John Dickerson Diamond, one of Conecuh County’s oldest citizens Friday afternoon at his home some two miles from the Wilcox community. He would have been 100 years old next April.
Mr. Diamond was born in this county and lived here all of his life. For the past 76 years, he had lived in the home he moved into after his marriage and it was in this home that his death came. He was until his retirement a few years ago a farmer, a calling he followed all of his life.

Local Soldier Serving With 24^th Inf. In Korea: With the 24^th Inf. Div., U.S. Army, in Korea – Pvt. John H. Johnson, son of Mrs. W.J. Johnson, Avenue “A,” Evergreen, Ala., is serving with the 21^st “Gimlet” Regiment of the 24^th Infantry Division in Korea.
Before entering the service, Johnson was employed as a mill worker at Evergreen Heading Co.

Sallie Covan, three-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Covan, was seriously injured Sunday afternoon, Sept. 23, when the accidental discharge from a shotgun struck her in both legs. The gun went off at close range and resulting injuries caused the amputation of the right leg.
The accident happened at the Covan’s home northeast of Mabank, Texas. The accident occurred as the father of the child was removing the gun from the floor of the car.
The Covans are former residents of Evergreen and their many friends here will be glad to know that Sallie is recovering.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Oct. 6, 2025

EIGHT YEARS AGO
OCT. 5, 2017

Excel crowns queen: Excel senior Haley Beard, escorted by her father Danny Beard, was crowned homecoming queen Friday night during a pregame ceremony on the football field.

MCHS crowns queen: Monroe County High School senior Erin George, escorted by Percy Parker Sr., was crowned homecoming queen Friday night during the halftime show on the football field.

Bulldogs do it again! – For the second straight week J.U. Blacksher snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when the Bulldogs rallied from a 14-7 deficit to post a 17-14 victory in overtime Friday night in Excel.
Cooper Dean paced Blacksher’s offense, completing 9 of 13 passes for 178 yards and a pair of TDs. Defensively, the Bulldogs were led by Dillan Baldwin, a senior linebacker, who had 15 tackles, including four tackles for a loss.
(Other top Blacksher players in that game included Jacob Bowman, Taylor Graham, Justin Heffington, JaDaniel Tucker, J.T. Tucker and Tanner Weaver. Top Excel players were Keonte Brandon, Trent Jenkins, Jalen Johnson, Carter Ledkins, Ray Maye and K.D. Rabb. Wes Sims was Blacksher’s head coach.)

Enrollment up at six schools: Over the course of the last four years, the Monroe County Public Schools System experienced a steady decline in student enrollment, but that trend changed this year with six of the county’s seven public schools reporting an increase in enrollment. Every school in the system has reported an increase in average daily membership with the exception of Monroe County High School in Monroeville, which saw a decline of 25 students from the 2016-17 school year.

33 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 24, 1998

Church gets growing room: Members of Excel Baptist Church will soon be able to spread out.
With the addition of a 10,000-square foot two-story education building, expected to be ready this week, members will have growing room. The church’s expanding congregation has been crowded in their Sunday School classrooms for the past several years, said the Rev. Tom Daniel, pastor of the Excel church for 10 years.

Frisco remains unbeaten: Frisco City High School snapped a string of seven straight losses to Flomaton High School Friday when the Whippets posted a 20-7 win in Frisco City.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Frisco head coach Scott Fountain, who is in his third season at Frisco. “We beat a pretty good football team last week.”
(Top FCHS players in that game included Roy Bonner, Adrian Bullard, Tony Gibbs, Derrick Harris, Shannon Richardson, William Sheets, A.J. White and Eric Williams.)

Council ceremonies next week: The new municipal councils will be sworn in Monday and Tuesday.
Monroeville, Frisco City, Excel, Beatrice and Vredenburgh councils will be sworn in at various times on Monday by Monroe County Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs. Town Clerk Margaret Mims will officiate in the ceremony in Repton at the beginning of the council’s regular meeting Tuesday.

58 YEARS AGO
OCT. 5, 1967

‘Taxes and Termites’ In Third Printing: Shorty Culpepper’s popular book, “Taxes and Termites,” is getting more popular every day. As a result, The Journal this week is beginning its third printing of the publication. A collection of his best newspaper columns in book form, “Taxes and Termites” is gaining recognition throughout Alabama as a favorite means of spreading joy. The book, containing 114 pages of humor, sells for $1.50 plus sales tax. Mr. Culpepper’s regular weekly column appears in The Monroe Journal.

Last Few Seconds Prove Decisive As MCHS Whips Atmore, 14-13: The Monroe County High Tigers upended the Atmore Blue Devils, 14-13, at Vanity Fair Park Friday night in a game whose outcome was not decided until the last few seconds.
With 29 seconds remaining on the scoreboard clock, Ken Kilpatrick rolled to his left only to be turned back by the charging Atmore line. He reversed his field, spotted Edward Philen in the end zone, and tossed him the ball to tie the game at 13-13. With 22 seconds showing, Wayne Turberville drove the ball through the uprights to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead.
Time ran out for the Blue Devils as they had the ball intercepted by Mike Kimberl on the first play after the kickoff.

Centennial Copy Deadline Oct. 15: The Journal again reminds its readers that Oct. 15 is the deadline for receiving copy, pictures, family histories or other items for publication in the Centennial Supplement. The issue, designed to complement the original Centennial Edition published last December, will come out later this year, probably in December.

85 YEARS AGO
OCT. 3, 1940

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hornady, near Hatter’s Mill, was completely destroyed by fire last Thursday morning. When the flames were discovered, the family only had time enough to save a few pieces of wearing apparel and two mattresses.

The opening game of the current football season will be played here this Friday night, Oct. 4, with the Monroeville High team meeting the Thomasville High team. The game is scheduled to start promptly at eight o’clock.
(Players on Monroe County High School’s team who were expected to play in that game included Kittrell Agee, Monroe Agee, Bonner Bivin, Frank Booker, Lester Caine, Jack Dennis, Carl Falkenberry, Charles Falkenberry, Elwell Falkenberry, Robinson Harper, Tiny Helton, Austin Hendrix, Ira Hetherington, Claiborne Hightower, Brutus Lawrence, Bill McMillon, Landis McMillon, Hop Stevens, Carl Taylor, Percy Taylor, Wallace Taylor, Albert Thames and Cortez Tomlinson.)

Rev. William Henry Hasty died at his home in Excel last Friday night at the age of 94 years.
His death marked the passing of the last Confederate veteran in this county.
Burial was in the Excel cemetery Sunday afternoon at 3:30 with Masonic honors.

Two Bands And Football Teams To Parade Friday: At two o’clock Friday afternoon the Monroe County High School band and the football team will parade around the public square, and at 4:30, the Thomasville band and football team will lead another parade.

110 YEARS AGO
OCT. 7, 1915

COUNTY FAIR – Monroeville, Alabama – Oct. 19th to 21st – To encourage better efforts on the part of those engaged in Agriculture, Livestock and poultry raising and kindred employments, the Gulf Coast and Monroe County Fair Associations will cooperate in the award of a large number of Premiums for the best Exhibits in these several lines. – GET YOUR EXHIBITS IN READINESS.

The enrollment of the High School is steadily climbing, 105 being the number last reported.

West Manistee: The school opened at Grimes Schoolhouse on the 4th inst. with Miss Florence Dixon of Andalusia as teacher.

J.W. BROWN – Excel, Alabama – Owensboro Wagons, Buggies, Lumber, Shingles, Brick, Lime and Building Material – GET MY PRICES BEFORE PURCHASING ANY OF THE ABOVE – E.M. Salter is my agent in Monroeville and orders given him for shingles or other building material will receive prompt attention.

Fall Opening – On Sept. 24-26 will have opening of full line of Millinery, Ready-to-wear, Fancy Goods carefully selected during recent trip to market. You are invited to come and look them over. – Mrs. B.F. Spencer, BEATRICE, ALA.

The fourth quarterly conference of the Monroeville circuit was held at the Methodist church on Monday morning, the presiding elder Rev. O.V. Calhoun presiding.

George Singleton jumped out of the first airplane that he ever rode in

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 “Jump was one to remember,” was originally published in the Feb. 20, 1997 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As with most everyone, there are memories of past events that stand out above all others. As I have stated in some of my writings, I was born a country boy that grew up near the small town of Sweet Water, Alabama. Due to many things beyond our control, I didn’t have the opportunity to do much traveling outside of the immediate area. I did, however, get the chance to make a trip to Mobile on a couple of occasions before my graduation from high school. Then, due to the fact that our football team went undefeated my senior year, the citizens of Sweet Water made up money and the team was presented a trip to Montgomery for the annual Blue-Gray game. A fairly wealthy merchant in town hired a man with a cattle truck to carry us to Montgomery and return. We had it good though, we had 50 cents given to us for our lunch, a ticket to the game, and we had a tarpaulin over us to keep out the weather.

Although these trips were very important to this country boy, there were others that superseded those by far. High school graduation was on a Friday night. Since I had enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps prior to my graduation, I was scheduled to depart the next morning to begin boot camp. Catching the Greyhound bus at Thomasville, I was to begin a new adventure of a lifetime. I was entering a whole new world, as the bunch of recruits, of which I was one, made our way from Birmingham to later arrive at Parris Island, S.C.

Due to the fact that I was in good physical condition, I ended the 16 weeks of boot camp with good markings. The war had not been over long, but the military had already began to cut back on its money for training. All Know that this was a mistake, but nevertheless it happened. The Marines, however, decided later that it would be the proper avenue, since they were supposed to be ready at a moment’s notice, to reorganize the famed 2^nd Raider Battalion. This battalion has been absorbed by the 1^st Marine Division shortly after the war.

This would mean that those who volunteered for the Raiders would have to go through parachute training, or what is now known as “jump school,” as did the members of the old Raider Battalion. Not realizing what lay ahead, the country boy who had never set foot in an airplane, decided to cast his lot along with a couple of his friends, and join the Raiders. Besides the $55 a month, we were going to be paid $25 extra for going to parachute school. I couldn’t understand just how I was going to handle all that money. Remembering that I had bought the most expensive class ring, which had cost $12, due to the fact that I wore the largest in the class, I now might be able to own me one of the fine wrist watches that I wanted so much.

The day we reported to the parachute training center was one to remember. Those that thought that Marine boot camp was rough, came to realize that it was like a school picnic compared to the parachute training that we faced. My platoon training instructor, I was later to find out, was a survivor of the famed Bataan Death March. He told us in no uncertain terms that we would graduate this training at the head of the training cycle. At this time, I had begun to wonder if this country boy from Sweet Water had made the right decision. But, my pride and loyalty to my buddies held me to my decision.

We would come to learn that our instructor was one of the toughest that the corps had produced. We would also learn that he was one of the finest men and straightest and fairest the corps had come up with. After interviewing each member of the platoon for period of about two hours, he let it be known that he, too, was a country boy from the hills of Virginia. He had survived on almost nothing on a very small farm way back there in the hill country. At his death, some years later, I had the honor to be a member of his military funeral team. In a small backwoods country churchyard, high in the hill country of Virginia, one of the finest men that I had ever known was laid to rest.

That eight weeks of parachute training school will forever be remembered. Both encouraged and highly supported by our fine instructor, the whole platoon made it to graduation with flying colors. As was expected of us, our platoon graduated at the top of the class. No one dropped out during the entire training period. Our fine instructor was a well pleased Marine, and received a commendation for his leadership. We had become to know him as more than an instructor. He had become more like a father to the members of the platoon.

Then, that day came when we were to make our first jump. The day was Tues., Feb. 11, 1947. Strapped in our parachute equipment, we made our way out to the large C-47s that waited near the loading zone. I thought those planes were some of the largest that I had ever seen. Before entering the large planes, our instructor yelled at us that if anyone paused or hesitated in the doorway of the plane when it came their time to jump he “was going to put that number 12 jump boot that he was wearing right up their behinds.” Each knew that he would do it. We knew we had better jump when the signal came.

As the large twin engine cargo plane climbed to the required altitude for the jump, a nervous and excited bunch of young men waited to hear the command from the instructor standing by the door to “Stand Up and Hook Up.” After what seemed forever, the order was given. All stood and hooked their static lines to the cable. As each in turn stepped to the door, a slap on the left shoulder by the instructor and a shout of “go” was the signal to jump. Riding in the first airplane that he had ever ridden in, a frightened country boy from Sweet Water, Alabama stepped to the door. Upon receiving the signal to jump, this frightened country boy stepped out into the morning sky.

(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.)

Boy scouts visited Monroe County Indian sites nearly a century ago

While looking through old editions of The Monroe Journal, I always keep my eyes open for stories about Indian artifacts and relics. This week, while reading some 95-year-old copies of the newspaper, I found one such item in a story that appeared under the headline, “Boy Scouts Camp Near Monroeville.” That story appeared on the front page of the Sept. 11, 1930 edition of the paper and let readers know that a group of scouts from Montgomery were visiting Monroeville.

Those scouts were members of Troop No. 22, a scout troop from the Alabama Pythian Home in Montgomery. Under the leadership of Scoutmaster Travis L. Biggs, Superintendent of the Pythian Home, they were in camp “near Monroeville.” The article went on to say that a scout hut had been built and furnished for “scout camping and outing” for scouts of the Pythian Home.

“During this camp, many interesting historical Indian Reservations of earlier days will be visited by this troop,” the newspaper reported. “Some of the troop members have become interested in Indian relics by being a member of the Anthropological Society.”

A close reading of these two paragraphs shows that there is a lot of information to unpack in just a handful of sentences. First off, the Alabama Pythian Home was a children’s home operated by the Knights of Pythias in Montgomery. The Knights of Pythias was a fraternal organization similar to the Freemasons, originally founded to foster friendship between former Union and Confederate soldiers who fought against each other during the War Between the States.

For many years, Monroeville was home to a Knights of Pythias lodge known as Prairie Lodge No. 167. That lodge was in existence at least as far back as March 1901. For many years, members of that lodge met on the second and fourth Friday evenings of each month. The latest reference to this lodge that I could find in back issues of The Journal was in May 1931.

Interestingly, Travis L. Biggs was Monroe County native, Travis Lige Biggs. Born in the “Peterman Shoal Creek” community in August 1891, he was appointed Superintendent of the Alabama Pythian Home in 1926. Biggs died in March 1967, and he is buried in the Rumbley Cemetery near Peterman.

The line in the article about the construction of a scout hut leads one to wonder exactly where it was constructed. Given Biggs’s ties to the Peterman area, the hut may have been built somewhere in that part of the county. On the other hand, it may have been somewhere closer to Monroeville.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the article describes the group’s plans to visit “Indian Reservations” in the Monroeville area. I take this to mean sites of old Indian villages and settlements. One is left to wonder exactly where those sites were located and what was to be seen there. Did the scouts find any Indian relics or artifacts? I can’t say for sure because there were no follow-up stories in later editions of The Journal describing their activities.

Singleton laments the bygone days of the Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog

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 “Bidding a sad farewell to the Sears catalog tradition,” was originally published in the Feb. 4, 1993 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

With the country rolling store faded into oblivion, now comes the sad and tragic news that the old and faithful Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog will soon be no more.

An era is passing from us that has lasted for almost a hundred years. Losing the Sears catalog is almost like losing a dear friend of the family to the country people of these United States. But the winds of time bring on change, and time waits for no man, so the story goes.

Very few organizations have had as much of an impact on the country people of this nation, especially the people of the South, as the Sears catalog. Our youth of today cannot comprehend what this mail order catalog did for a nation that was neck-deep in the Great Depression. The coming of the new catalog was like nothing else that came through the mail to the folks that lived in the country.

There were very few items needed by a country family that could not be ordered from the Sears wish book, as it was often referred to. Clothing for the entire family, or the cloth to make them, could be ordered by any country farm family.

New buggy

Shoes, medicine, eye glasses, horse and mule harness – all would come by mail. A new farm wagon, or a new buggy, could all be ordered. Farm tools such as axes, garden hoes, cross-cut saws, and the finer tools for the more experienced were all pictured in Sears. Even small buildings, such as storage sheds and living quarters, could be ordered through the mail.

Not only did the catalog offer all the necessary needs for the farm, it also was a form of entertainment for the country folk, as the large thick catalog was thumbed through from cover to cover and the new items listed there were marveled at.

Toys never seen before by the country children were looked at with mouth-watering desires, hoping against hope that a miracle of sorts might happen and one of these toys would arrive through the mail.

Many, many hours were spent by this small country boy, looking at the beautiful bicycles listed there on the pages of the catalog. Many hours of dreaming occurred in the mind of this same young boy as he pictured himself riding one of these fine wheels up and down the public road so all his friends could see.

New, fine-stitched baseball gloves almost stood out on the pages. BB guns were also something to dream about having. I well remember the day when I sold an acre of sweet corn that I had worked and cultivated to my father for the total amount of $2.

Met the mail carrier

My darling mother sat down and ordered me a BB gun that cost a total of 79 cents. The postage on the BB gun was 18 cents. A small and excited barefoot lad me the mail carrier every day, starting the day after the order was mailed, until that BB gun arrived.

I will never forget that glorious moment when Mr. Bouler, the mailman, handed a very excited country boy the slender box that contained the much-looked-for BB gun out the window of his Model A Ford automobile.

The Sears catalog was used for other things around the country farms. Many a child furthered their reading skills by reading from the wish book.

The wives of the country farmers would use the pictures in the catalog as a pattern to make some of the family’s clothing, such as shirts and short pants. Also these pictures played an important part in the making of clothing for the young ladies that grew up on the farms.

In looking back, I’m almost sure that I hold the record for placing the smallest order that was ever ordered from the Sears catalog. I had acquired a worn-out bicycle that I had swapped for a full grown hog.

The wheel spokes of the bicycle were in much need of repair. I was in great need of a bicycle spoke wrench. This much-needed wrench was listed in the Sears catalog for the total amount of five cents. After filling out the order blank, I was to find out that the postage on the spoke wrench was a total of six cents. Merchandise and postage came to a grand total of 11 cents.

Needless to say, the much-needed wrench was shipped without question. I do believe that order stands to this day as a record.

Many jokes were built around the outdated and expired Sears catalogs. After a new catalog was received by the farm families, many jokes linger even now among the older people who remember the hard times of the Depression.

There is a story of a backwoods country farmer who sat down and wrote Sears, Roebuck & Co., requesting that he be shipped a package of toilet paper. Shortly, this rural farmer received a letter from Sears, requesting that he send them the catalog number of the toilet paper.

Much disturbed, the old farmer, the next day by return mail, notified the company that if he had had a catalog, he would not have needed to order the toilet paper.

Even today, with our modern-day instant communications and with our rapid transit systems, the Sears catalog has continued to serve the working people of our country.

With its passing from the scene, an era will have faded among those who remember the days of a long time past. Even during the very hard times of the Great Depression, many hours of family togetherness hold fond and beautiful memories.

The Sears family catalog was much a part of these times. Our society is in great need for this family togetherness. With it our world would be a much better place for our children to grow up.

Strange as it seems, a country wish book has placed an important part in helping to mold this great nation. Only in America could this have happened.

(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.)

Man looks for buried treasure in some unusual places

Wilcox Mineral Springs

Oftentimes while looking through old newspapers, I find the advertisements just as interesting as the stories the newspaper contains. One example of this is a large ad for the Wilcox Mineral Springs and Hotel that was published on the front page of the July 16, 1903 edition of The Monroe Journal.

This resort was located in the Schuster community, a few miles north of the Monroe-Wilcox County line, near McWilliams. Located along the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, the resort had opened a new hotel with comfortable rooms and supplied with the best food “the market affords.” Best of all, the resort boasted of no malaria and no mosquitoes.

Visitors were encouraged to drink and swim in the waters of the resort’s four natural mineral springs, which had been tested and found to contain sodium chloride, sodium sulphate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron and silica. At the time, it was believed that these curative waters would heal all sorts of maladies, including liver, kidney and stomach troubles. The ad in The Journal let readers know that “a number of remarkable cures have already been effected after surprisingly brief use of waters, as testimonials abundantly show.”

Operated by George W. Stewart, individual guests could stay at the hotel for $25 a month or $7 per week. Special rates were given to families. Those arriving by train were met by a free hack, that is, a sturdy, horse-drawn wagon that was commonly used as a taxi or for mail delivery in the 1800s.

The resort thrived for a time, but the crowds eventually began to thin, and the business took a major hit after one of the hotel buildings burned in 1908 followed by other fires that destroyed the bandstand and dance pavilion. If you go to the site today, you might find a few crumbling foundations if you know where to look.

On a sidenote, several years ago a young man from Georgia called me from out of the blue asking if I knew exactly where the resort was located. He was a bottle and antique collector and specialized in searching old locations like Wilcox Mineral Springs. Once at the location, he knew how to locate old privy sites and would dig down into them looking for old bottles and such.

I asked him if he wasn’t afraid of digging in those old outhouses, and he laughed. He said after so many years, the contents of the privy eventually became normal soil and that it was as safe as digging anywhere else. I told him I didn’t think I’d want to put it to the test.

I asked him if he ever found anything valuable, and his answer was surprising. He said that people threw all sorts of things into outhouses, and he’d found countless bottles and broken glassware. He said that he’d even found a bottle so rare that he’d sold it for big money on eBay to some prince in Saudi Arabia.

In the end, I told the man what I knew about Wilcox Mineral Springs, including that it was no doubt on private property. I don’t know if he ever tracked down the current owner of the site or if he made a trip there to search for old bottles. But if he did, I hope he found something that made it worth the effort.

Vanderbilt's first football coach was born in Camden, Alabama in 1870

I know that there are a lot of college football fans in the reading audience, and many of those fans might be interested to know that tomorrow – July 18 – marks the 155^th anniversary of the birth of Vanderbilt University’s first head football coach in Camden.

According to a wide variety of sources, Vanderbilt’s first head football coach, Elliott H. Jones, was born to John Archibald Jones and Mary Scott Jones in Camden on July 18, 1870, and he lived in Camden until the age of 15 when he went off to Massachusetts to attend high school at the prestigious Cambridge Latin School. In 1887, Jones entered Vanderbilt University, where he cemented himself a place in college football history.

Vanderbilt organized its first football team in the fall of 1890 and played the first game in school history that year on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27), defeating the Nashville Peabody Normal School, 40-0, at Nashville Athletic Park. Jones served as head coach for Vanderbilt in that game, was Vanderbilt’s team captain and also played fullback. Vandy went undefeated that season because that was the only game they played that year.

Jones went on to serve as head football coach and played for the Commodores during the 1891 and 1892 seasons. In 1891, Vandy went 3-1 overall, defeating Sewanee twice and splitting a home-and-away series with Washington University of St. Louis, Mo.

During the 1892 season, the last with Jones as head coach, Vandy went 4-4, recording wins over Tennessee (twice), Peabody Normal School and Georgia Tech. Their losses came against Sewanee (twice), North Carolina and Washington University of Missouri.

Jones attended Vanderbilt from 1887 to 1893, earning his bachelor’s and law degrees, and he was also active in other sports in addition to football. He played on Vanderbilt’s baseball team for two seasons and also ran track and was on the college’s gymnasium team. In his spare time, he served as the editor-in-chief of the college newspaper.

After college, Jones moved to Kansas City, Mo., where he became a well-known, prominent lawyer with a large and important clientele. He married Mattie M. Scarritt on Dec. 27, 1894, and they went on to have a large family of children. Jones lived to the ripe old age of 81, passing away on Oct. 11, 1951, and today you can visit his grave in the Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence, Mo.

It would be interesting to know what Jones would think about modern college football. This season, Vanderbilt will play the University of Alabama on Oct. 4 and the Commodores will play Auburn University on Nov. 8. Interestingly, Jones never coached a game against Alabama or Auburn.

In the end, I’d like to hear from any readers with more information about Jones’ early years in Wilcox County and from anyone with more information about Jones’ prominent family. More than likely, some of his relatives still live in Wilcox County today.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for July 16, 2025

31 YEARS AGO
JULY 21, 1994

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported .20 inches of rain on July 11, .22 inches on July 12, 1.4 inches on July 13, 1.45 inches on July 14 and .35 inches on July 15. He reported highs of 87 degrees on July 15 and July 16 and a low of 67 on July 14.

Construction of the new building for Conecuh-Monroe Counties Gas District is moving right along. The building is scheduled for completion by Oct. 1 of this year. The building will be larger than the present location and include a drive-thru window.

Evergreen and Conecuh County became the scene for another brutal homicide Tuesday afternoon when a Welcome community couple were found murdered in their home. According to reports, Hiram E. Johnson, 83, and his wife, Mamie, 79, were found dead Tuesday afternoon at approximately 2 p.m. by relatives.
(District Attorney Tommy) Chapman… said that the murders were believed to have been committed between 9 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. Tuesday. No cause of death had been determined at press time Wednesday. He also stated that there was no sign of forced entry into the Johnson home.
The killing has put the county in a state of shock with the murder also Tuesday of former Evergreen resident Barry Riggs Harper. According to District Attorney Tommy Chapman, the killings do not appear to be related.

56 YEARS AGO
JULY 17, 1969

County Masonic Conference: The annual Conecuh County Masonic Conference was held Wednesday, July 10, at Repton Lodge with 17 members of the five county lodges attending. Visitors from Mobile, Florida and other placed were present.
S.A. McGraw of Downing Lodge 580 at Castleberry, who has been Conference Secretary for 26 years, was re-elected  for another term. The conference also voted to present him with a 25-year pin.
A splendid meal was served at noon in the school lunchroom by members of the Eastern Star. Conecuh County Masons will continue to pay 10 cents per member per year for support of the conference.

Boykins receives Bronze Star medal: Staff Sgt. Marvin H. Boykins has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in Vietnam. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Curlee Boykins of Route 2, Evergreen.
The citation accompanying the medal reads:
“By direction of the President, the Bronze Star Medal is presented to Staff Sgt. Marvin H. Boykins, U.S. Army, for distinguishing himself by exceptionally meritorious service in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam during the period Oct. 1967 to March 1969.
“By applying his extensive knowledge, he has materially contributed to the efforts of the U.S. mission in the Republic of Vietnam. His initiative, sound judgement and devotion to duty have been in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.”

81 YEARS AGO
JULY 20, 1944

Awarded Purple Heart: Pvt. Raymond N. Bradley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bradley of Castleberry, was awarded a Purple Heart for getting wounded in Italy the 12^th of May. The award was sent home to his mother the 26^th of June. She also received letters from him lately saying that he was getting along fine and was out of the hospital. He was dismissed from the hospital the 2^nd of June and assigned back to duty.

Sgt. Taylor J. Moorer Awarded Air Medal: An Eighth Air Force Reconnaissance Station, England: Staff Sgt. Taylor J. Moorer, 22, of Evergreen, Ala., a Flying Fortress gunner now serving with weather reconnaissance in England, has been awarded the Air Medal for exceptionally meritorious achievement while serving on many heavy bombardment missions over enemy-occupied continental Europe.
Sgt. Moorer has been in the Air Force for two years, eight months of which he has served overseas. During his eight months overseas he has been on many hazardous missions and has experienced many exciting adventures.
Prior to enlistment in the Armed Forces, Sgt. Moorer was working as an aircraft metalsmith at the Mobile Air Depot, Mobile, Ala. he is a graduate of Evergreen High School, Evergreen, Ala.
His sister, Lt. Melba A. Moorer, is serving in the W.A.C. and is stationed at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.S. Moorer, live in Evergreen, Ala.

Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Hyde entertained a number of relatives and friends at a chicken fry at Binion’s Pool on last Thursday evening in honor of their son, Lt. and Mrs. D.T. Hyde.

106 YEARS AGO
JULY 16, 1919

Heavy Loss From Hail Storm: Heavy storm and cloud burst visited Leeman L. Lee’s farm, six miles northwest of Castleberry at about five o’clock Friday and literally stripped his corn and cotton into small strips, damaging his crop to the amount of four or five thousand dollars. The hail was so heavy that it actually bursted melons open.

Tax Collector Kelley went to the Capitol on Thursday last for a final settlement of state taxes with the auditor.

Circuit Solicitor G.O. Dickey and family will shortly become citizens of Evergreen. They will occupy the H.L. Tucker place. They will be cordially welcomed.

Drs. Dickinson and Stewart, E.J. McCreary, T.S. Hagood and J.W. Byrd attended a meeting of the Orphanage Board in Montgomery on Thursday last.

Mrs. W.R. Bennett will teach in the City School this year. Evergreen is fortunate in the selection of teachers.

Rev. C.H. Motley of DeFuniak Springs were visiting in town the latter part of the past week. Mr. Motley has been recently elected Vice President of the Thomas Industrial School, located at DeFuniak Springs, Fla.

Prof. Adams of Tennessee is guest in the home of his sister, Mrs. R.R. Philips, this week.

131 YEARS AGO
JULY 12, 1894
THE EVERGREEN STAR

A GOOD COMPANY: The Conecuh Guards of Evergreen Showed Up Well: One of the crack companies that was in camp during the past week was the Conecuh Guards of Evergreen: Capt. C.R. Taleaferro; Lieutenants H.M. King, J.C. Snead; Sergeants H.L. Riley, F.L. Riley, E.D. Sampey; Corporals M. McCreary, J.T. Ellis, J.G. Lunday, A.F. Sims; Privates J.M. Brooks, C. Cunningham, W. Cummings, H. Crumpton, E. Cargill, W.H. Dunn, E.M. Finch, D. Guice, W.B. James, J.W. Kelley, J. McCreary Jr., W.A. McCreary, J.R. Relfe, Ed Robbins, G.A. Sampey, A. Salter, G. Salter, E. Stamps, E.L. Stallworth, Co. Surgeon, Ed Hirman, L.B. Chapman, A.R. Carter, W.A. Gantt, Ex-Captain.

There will be a big picnic and public speaking at Brooklyn, Conecuh County, on Thursday the 26^th instant, everybody is invited to attend. Congressman Stallings and other able speakers will be present and give us good sound democratic speeches. Don’t fail to attend.

NOTICE: The democratic executive committee of Conecuh County is hereby requested to meet at the courthouse in Evergreen on the 24^th of July inst. – S.L. Witherington, Chairman, Democratic Executive Committee; Wm. M. Newton, Secretary.

NOTICE is hereby given, that applications for the free scholarship in the medical college of Alabama will be received until Mon., Aug. 13, 1894, at which time the commissioners court of Conecuh County will consider them and make the award as provided by law. – Robert A. Lee, Judge of Probate.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for July 14, 2025

41 YEARS AGO
JULY 12, 1984

These are the members of the Evergreen Little League All-Stars: Richard Melton, Keith Richardson, Broderick Gross, Bryan Garrett, Ryan Burt, Mickey Jones and Michael Floyd; Kevin Townson, Jamie Deason, Greg Stanton, Jamie Shipp, Scott Jones, Richard Byrd and Kenny Meeks, and Coaches Willie Byrd and Earnest Boykin.

56 YEARS AGO
JULY 10, 1969

Joe Brown successfully defended his championship in the Evergreen Golf Club’s annual club tournament, limited to members, held July 4. Joe had to get by two extra hole matches with Brown Boykin and Henry Kinzer to enter the finals where he defeated Bill Kitchens.
Results by flights listing winner, runner-up and consolation winner follow:
Championship, Joe Brown, Bill Kitchens and Brown Boykin.
First Flight, Joe Nix, Benny Crum, Charles Lambert.
Second Flight, Randy Moorer, Bonnie King, Bob Smiley.
Third Flight, Eddie Thornley, Johnny Thornley, James Ansley.
Fourth Flight, Quinton Buras, Danny Petrey, Buddy Coleman.

71 YEARS AGO
JULY 8, 1954

A city softball league is in the process of organizing according to Recreation Director Bill Parsons. The league will probably have six teams and games will be played at night. The league is sponsored by the City Recreation Department and games will be played in Brooks Stadium.
Coach Parsons states that so far five organizations have agreed to sponsor teams. Alma Martin Post 50 of the American Legion, Evergreen Junior Chamber of Commerce, Evergreen Equipment Co., The Spotlite and Southern Coach Manufacturing Co., Inc. have all agreed to enter teams.

A handicap tournament has been planned by the Evergreen Golf Club it is announced today by newly elected President C.T. Ivey. Mr. Ivey succeeded L.W. Price Jr. as head of the local golfer’s organization. Mr. Price had served as president for several years.
To qualify for the tournament players should turn in their entry fee and post the score they usually shoot by noon, Monday, July 19, to any member of the tournament committee or at The Courant office. Committee members are Herman Bolden, G.L. Wilkinson, Bill Gibbons, J.H. Robison, P.L. Pace and Bob Bozeman. This committee will set handicaps from the scores turned in.

86 YEARS AGO
JULY 13, 1939

The local baseball team will meet the team from Atmore at Gantt Field next Sunday afternoon at 3:30. All baseball fans are urged to be on hand for what promises to be one of the best games of the season. Evergreen goes to Atmore for two games this (Thursday) afternoon.
The locals staged a comeback in the game with Brewton here last Sunday afternoon by the one-sided score of 11 to 1.