Wilcox County, Alabama's Cedarcrest was added to the state's regisiter of landmarks and heritage in April 1981

An example of Native American tree carvings.

Yesterday – April 21 – marked 41 years since Cedarcrest in Oak Hill was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1981.

Cedarcrest, an antebellum plantation house, is located off State Highway 10 in Oak Hill. According to Alabama Historical Commission records, this private residence was built between 1840 and 1846 as a Creek Rival cottage with four rooms. The land that Cedarcrest was built on was purchased in 1840 by Isaac Newberry, a prominent planter, businessman and civic leader.

The house began as a central hallway with two large rooms on each side of the hall. A large central gable was added to the southern slope of the house’s gabled roof in 1885. A rear wing containing a kitchen and dining room was also added in 1885, and three bathrooms were added to the house in 1930. The rear wing gave the house an L-shape, dramatically changing the original appearance of the house.

When I think of Cedarcrest, I cannot help but think about the tales of an old oak tree on the property that was said to bare the “carved figure of an Indian encircled by the coils of a large snake.” For many, many years, visitors to Oak Hill were taken to see this locally famous tree and were told the tragic story behind this unusual carving. The best available source about this old story is a local history book called “Oak Hill, Alabama: Its Houses and People, 1856-1978” by William and Joyce Jones.

According to this remarkable book, which was published in 1978, Isaac and Sophia Taylor Newberry built Cedarcrest in a grove of “beautiful oak trees.” On one of these trees was the carving of an Indian and a snake, which “gave rise to the following story: Two Indian tribes camped nearby. They were hostile to each other. A young brave of one tribe and a girl from the other met somehow and fell in love. Their meeting place was under the big tree.”

The story goes on to say that “one day when going to meet her lover, the girl discovered his dead body in the clutches of the snake. She either killed herself or died of grief there. They were both buried under the tree. This is a story long told.”

The book goes on to say that the tree that bore the carving no longer stands. The tree died decades ago and was cut down during Pressly Dale’s occupancy of the property. Some sources say that the Indians in the story were Choctaw, but that is unconfirmed.

In the end, it would be interesting to know if anyone in the reading audience knows any additional details about the story of the Indian carved oak. I’d also like to hear from anyone in the reading audience who knows any other ghost stories, local legends or Indian lore from the Oak Hill area. Know doubt there are many other tales from this area that deserve not to be forgotten.

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for April 20, 2022

76 YEARS AGO
APRIL 18, 1946

Camden friends are giving a cordial welcome to Oxford Stroud who has recently been discharged from the service.

MOORE ACADEMY SENIORS PRESENT ANNUAL PLAY: The Senior Class of Moore Academy high school will present its annual senior play “Million Dollar Cook” at the school auditorium, Friday night April 19. The play is being directed by Miss Marie Benson.
The cast is as follows: Mary Matherson Williamson, Steve Griffin, Ross Giddens, Sara Davis, Eva Herring, Vera Herring, Ernestine Rogers, Rene Stanford, Marguerite Turner, Ann Winters, Marjorie Wright, Frances Grant.

Mr. “Rowdy” McGee has returned from Fort McClellan, where he reported for his physical examination for the Army.

Pvt. Hays Andrews of Camp Upton, N.Y. is spending his furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L.P. Andrews.

Arlington: Rev. Fred Davis filled his regular appointment here Sunday morning and evening.

McWilliams: Seaman First Class Theo Youngblood from Pensacola visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Youngblood this weekend.

Kimbrough: Mr. Herbert Greene left Sunday for Charlotte, North Carolina to visit his brother, Mr. and Mrs. John Greene and family.

88 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1934

A THRILLING EXPERIENCE: Mr. S.J. Ervin of Rock West proved himself a veritable Nimrod on April 10, the last day of turkey hunting season.
He had gone on business into the swamp land of his plantation, riding horseback, and carried no gun. As he was jogging along at a slow gait, a fine turkey gobbler appeared some distance ahead of him. He immediately started in pursuit, running him through brush and briars until his horse gave out. He quickly dismounted, took to his heels, ran with all his might and finally succeeded in capturing the bird. Some of the feathers he discovered had been plucked from a wing, thus preventing very high flying.
He and the horse were both fagged out on arriving at home but he was proud of his catch and enjoyed the thrilling race and the unusual and novel sport.

The program meeting for Memorial Day will be unique in its entirety. It will be rendered by Wilcox men and boys. The Glee Club, under the skillful management of Miss Dorothy Fail, will put on one number. The reading will be given by a grandson of a Confederate veteran, in grey uniform. The soloist will be grandson of and son of a Rock West resident.

Judge John Miller is holding special court in Choctaw County.

Mrs. Richard E. Dubose and baby were removed from King Memorial hospital yesterday to their apartment at Mrs. Beck’s.

99 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1923

Wilcox County farmers are now about three weeks late in their planting and the rain Tuesday was so heavy that they cannot work for a few days.

Camden was visited last Friday by a young cyclone, several shade trees around town being blown down, at Canton Bend considerable damage was done to the property of Mr. Purnell Strother.

Judge Pat M. Dannelly and Commissioner J.M. McLeod visited Montgomery last week.

The final exercises of the Oak Hill public school will be held on the 27^th of April at 8 o’clock p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend.

Col. S.D. Moore and Maj. R.H. Bussey have returned from the Confederate reunion at New Orleans and report a grand time.

The friends of Carl Pruitt will be glad to know that he is a member of the freshman baseball team at Auburn. Carl was a member of the Camden team last summer and should develop into a crack pitcher before he leaves Auburn.

Miss Mackie Bodiford of Mt. Hope has opened a private school in Camden and has 18 pupils. The school will be taught at the residence of Mrs. C.V. Beck. Miss Bodiford has just closed a very successful school at Mt. Hope and was assisted by Miss Heustis Young.

Mr. S.M. Cobb, our Circuit Clerk, made a business trip to Montgomery this week.

113 YEARS AGO
APRIL 15, 1909

TROOP B ELECTS NEW OFFICERS: At a called meeting held in Camden last Saturday, Troop B, Wilcox Mounted Rifles, reorganized and elected new officers. The following are the newly elected officers: J.D. Bryant, captain; T.J. Jones, first lieutenant; A.C. Bryant, second lieutenant; W.J. Sessions, first sergeant; Albert Tait, second sergeant; P.C. Jenkins, color sergeant.

Lower Peach Tree: A crowd of young ladies and gentlemen enjoyed a trip on the steamer, “American,” April 1.

McWilliams: The public school under the management of Miss Mary Beard and Mrs. T.E. Pettie will close Friday. Miss Beard will be missed by her many friends here.

Prof. Claude Hardy of the Camden Institute attended the State Educational Convention in Birmingham last week.

The baseball season opened here last Saturday by Camden defeating Canton Bend by the score of 20 to 8.

Hon. J.N. Miller is in Monroeville this week.

Last week three mad dogs were killed in Camden.

Mr. Abe Miller has just arrived from Russia and will visit his brothers, Messrs. Henry and Charlie Miller of this place, for a while.

There have been several cases of attempts of petty thefts in Camden for the past few days, but no identity of the miscreants has been made.

126 YEARS AGO
APRIL 15, 1896

Hon. John Purifoy, State Auditor, was in Camden yesterday. He is looking exceedingly well.

ONE BY ONE THINGS PASS AWAY: Mr. Edward Ely Griffith died at his home near Buena Vista, Monroe County, Ala., on March 22, at 6 o’clock p.m., 1896, formerly a citizen of this county. A soldier in the Confederate War for four years, he was a good citizen.
Leaving a large family and a host of friends and relatives to mourn his death, he was 65 years of age. He was a member of the Talatchia Methodist Church and bright star for the same.
His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery of the Concord Baptist Church near Buena Vista, Monroe County, Ala.

The actors and circus men all left town last Monday. They broke up a show here because they could get no wages for their work. The owners of the show claimed they were not making expenses and so would not pay the laborers. Mr. Armstrong and family, consisting of wife and two little children, were without food for a day before it was known to our people they were in want. As soon as this was learned they were supplied with necessaries. They are making their way towards their home through the country and will give entertainments along their route in order to secure the necessaries of life.

Mr. Braxton Bragg left Sunday evening for Claiborne to bring Miss Sallie Belle Cooper to the bedside of her grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Bussey.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for April 19, 2022

21 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 2001

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 0.04 inches of rain on April 13, 0.16 inches on April 14 and 0.28 inches on April 15. He reported a high of 88 degrees on April 10 and a low of 58 on April 15.

C’berry Strawberry Festival slated for April 21: Strawberries, strawberries and more strawberries. The final preparations for the 15^th annual Castleberry Strawberry Festival are now being made. Along with fresh strawberries for sale, residents can enjoy crafts, food, pony rides, a dunking booth and continuous entertainment in Castleberry on April 21.
This year the line-up for entertainment will include New Revelation, a gospel group from Pensacola, Fla. New Revelation has been at the festival for the past four years. Also performing will be Perfect Image from Mobile who perform songs from the 50s, 60s and top 40 country.

Anniversary celebration honors Dr. S.C. Tucker: The 38^th Anniversary celebration in honor of Dr. Sidney C. Tucker as pastor of Belleville Missionary Baptist Church will begin Fri., April 29, at 7 p.m. with Rev. J.O. Malone of Monroeville as guest speaker. The program will climax Sun., April 22, at 2:30 p.m. with Rev. W. Oliver, pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Tunnel Springs and Lilly Baptist Church of Monroeville.

46 YEARS AGO
APRIL 15, 1976

Weather Report: Earl Windham reports that rainfall for the first three months of 1976 was considerably less than for the same period in 1975. Last year, the three-month total was 24.2 inches compared to 14.09 inches this year.
Rainfall by months in 1975 was January, 7.1 inches; February, 8.6 inches; and March, 8.5 inches compared to this year’s January, 4.84 inches; February, 2.85 inches; and March, 6.4 inches.
(Windham also reported highs of 82 on April 5 and April 11 and a low of 40 on April 10.)

Fat Calf Show is set here Monday: The 31^st Annual Conecuh County 4-H and FFA Fat Calf Show will be held Monday at the Conecuh County Cooperative Stockyard Show Arena, starting at nine o’clock.
The show, considered the best county show in the state, is sponsored by the Conecuh County Fat Calf Show Committee, an affiliate of the United Fund, and the State Department of Agriculture & Industries in cooperation with the Extension Service of Auburn University and the State Department of Vocational Agriculture.
Twenty-eight exhibitors will show calves.

Genie Webb will represent Conecuh County in the State Spelling Bee finals in Birmingham on May 1. To achieve this honor, she had to win both her school and county spelling bees. Genie is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Webb of Evergreen and a sixth-grade student at Marshall Middle School.

71 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1951

Dennis Bailey Jr. Shows Champion At Conecuh County Fat Calf Show: A 725-pound Black Angus-Hereford crossbreed owned and shown by Dennis Bailey Jr. was judged the Grand Champion of the Sixth Annual Conecuh County 4H-FFA Fat Calf Show held Monday at the Conecuh Cooperative Stockyard. The Reserve Champion was owned and shown by Dudley Ellis.
Something like 1,000 people took in the show in which 33 fine beef calves were entered. Entertainment before the show was provided by the Evergreen High School Band under the direction of Frank Wilkerson. Charlie Roberts and his String Band played during the show.
Vernon Millsap, President of the Evergreen Junior Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the show each year, was master of ceremonies during the show.

Boy Scout News: The weekly meeting was opened at five o’clock Monday by the troop repeating the pledge to the flag. Mr. Mac said we were going to furnish our own tents. We met behind the City School this Wednesday and practiced our camporee events. Then we held our patrol meetings. We closed the meeting by singing “Taps.” After the meeting, Mr. Engle showed us a film entitled “Wheels Across Africa.” – Troop Scribe, David McKenzie.

Mrs. Warren E. Bolton and daughter, Sherry Lynn, are leaving today for Norfolk, Va. where she will join her husband, S. H-1c Warren E. Bolton of the U.S. Navy.

96 YEARS AGO
APRIL 21, 1926

Quick and efficient work on the part of John Oliver Monday night prevented a conflagration when he discovered the residence of Lamar Matkin on fire, climbed to the roof and extinguished the blaze before serious damage could be done.

MT. UNION: Mesdames R.C. Smith and G.L. McIntyre attended the Andalusia District Campaign of the Women’s College of Montgomery, held in the Methodist Church at Andalusia last Wednesday.

MAY DAY FESTIVAL AT EVERGREEN: Plans for the May Day Festival, to be held in Evergreen Friday, April 30, under the auspices of the Parent-Teachers Association, Orpheus and civic clubs, are rapidly maturing.
Under the direction of Mr. W.B. Sexton as general chairman, with Mrs. L.D. King Jr., as assistant, the public is assured a day of wonderful entertainment. Dr. W.G. Hairston has charge of the grounds and will have the City School campus in readiness.
Music for the day will be furnished by the Evergreen Orchestra. Mrs. S.P. Shoemaker is chairman of the committee on music.
One of the main features of the day will be an automobile parade. Mrs. Gilma Dunn, the chairman, expects at least one hundred and fifty cars to enter.
Three handsome prizes will be offered for the best decorated cars.
The May Queen and her attendants will lead the parade. Much interest is being manifested in the choice of a queen. The voting for the May-day Queen has started.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for April 18, 2022

General Daniel "Chappie" James Jr.

21 YEARS AGO

APRIL 19, 2001

Pictured above is the Championship Women’s Softball Team from Lady Arrow. It is obvious that this photo is several years old, and we are certainly not going to say how old. Our thanks to Lois English for bringing by a copy of this photo for our use. Members of the team are (some of the ladies’ last names have changed since this photo was taken) Jean Booker, Charlotte Brackett, Betty Raines, Ruby Brown, Wyenette Manning, Kathy Powell, Ann Miller, Joy Powell, Pat Brown, Laura Adams, Lois House, Debra Williams, Elaine Grace and Becky Williams.

EverFun Golf Tourney set for May 9: The Second Annual EverFun Golf Tournament will be held Wed., May 9, 2001 at Cambrian Ridge at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Greenville.
The tournament will begin at 2 p.m. with a shotgun start and will be a scramble and four-ball mix. Lunch will be provided at noon in the clubhouse for the participants.
Entry fee is $400 per team and hole sponsorship is $100 per hole. Checks should be made payable to Project EverFun and mailed to David Gorum, Golf Tournament Chairman, Evergreen Chamber of Commerce. Deadline for entry is April 25.

The Evergreen Rotary Club, administrators of the Wendell Hart Scholarship Fund, announces that applications for the $2,500 scholarship are now available. This scholarship is dedicated to the memory of the late Coach Wendell Hart, who deeply cared for his students and desired that all deserving young men and women be able to advance their education.

46 YEARS AGO
APRIL 15, 1976

Jim Ryan Jr. successfully defended his championship in the Evergreen Golf Club’s annual Spring Invitation Tournament Saturday. Ryan of Greenville’s golfing Ryans is congratulated by Tournament Chairman David T. Hyde Jr.

David Gorum and Paul Deason laid joint claim on this fine gobbler which they bagged Wednesday morning of last week in “Murder Creek Swamp.” The Tom weighed 19 pounds, three ounces and had a nine-inch beard.

The Boy Scouts of Troop 225, Castleberry, attended the Gulf Coast Council bicentennial encampment held April 2-4 at Ellyson Field, Pensacola.
The encampment was attended by over 2,500 scouts and adult leaders. Sam Geck, scoutmaster, accompanied the 14 boys from Troop 225 on the encampment.
Addresses were given by General “Chappie” James, U.S. Air Force, Commanding General of the North American Air Defense Command at Colorado Springs, Colo., Congressman Bob Sikes, and Vice Admiral James B. Wilson, Chief of Naval Education and Training.
Rickey Downing, dressed as “Uncle Sam,” was winner of the bicentennial costume contest in the Alabama-Florida District.

71 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1951

Centerville Nips Rockets In Conecuh Loop Opener: The Centerville Rookies bunched their hits for five runs in the fifth inning to come from behind and edge the Flat Rock Rockets, 11-8, in a free-hitting game Sunday. It was the season-opener for both teams. It was played at Flat Rock.
The Rockets got away to a three-run lead in the first inning. The Rookies knotted the count in their half of the fourth and went out front to stay in the fifth.
George Gaston worked on the mound for Centerville with Clint Ward behind the plate. James Barlow hurled for Flat Rock with Huston Bailey catching.

Paul Aces Whip Shreve In Conecuh Loop Tilt: The Paul Aces opened their Conecuh Amateur League schedule Sunday with a 16-3 win over the Shreve Eagles. The game was played at Paul and puts the Aces into a first-place tie with the Centerville Rookies who downed Flat Rock in the league’s other opening game.
Harold Godwin and J.W. Windham were the Paul pitchers who kept the Shreve bats silent through most of the game. Godwin hurled the first seven innings and Windham finished it up. McIntyre started for Shreve but turned it over to Sanford in the third inning. Sanford left the mound in the seventh and Yancy finished it up. Joe McClain was behind the plate for the winners and Smith for the losers.
J.W. Windham sparked Paul’s hitting attack with four hits in as many trips to the plate. He smacked a homer in the second inning. Ray Yancy with two hits in four trips topped the Shreve sluggers.

96 YEARS AGO
APRIL 21, 1926

PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL AT MONTGOMERY – Festivities to Open With the Columbus, Ga. Club on Sat., April 24 – Montgomery, Ala., April 20 – The Montgomery Lions, Alabama’s entry into the new Southeastern League, will open festivities with the Columbus, Ga. club here on April 24.
After many years, Alabama’s Capitol City is again to have professional baseball. Knowing that the people of Montgomery and this section of Alabama wish to see real fast baseball, a promising bunch of swatters and hurlers have been induced to sign on the dotted line. Some idea of the class of sports this aggregation is going to hand out under the management of Joe Brennan, was given the large gathering which attended the exhibition game on April 11 when the Birmingham Southern Leagues went down in defeat at the hands of the local outfit by the decisive score of 5 to 3.
The opening battle will begin promptly at three o’clock on the date mentioned above, and thousands from all over this section are expected to attend and help Montgomery keep at home the handsome loving cup to be awarded by the trustees of Cramton Bowl to the town in the league that has the largest crowd on opening day.
Other towns represented in the new league are Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Fla.; Albany, Columbus and Savannah, Ga.
Citizens of Alabama will be interested in knowing that Roy “Goat” Walker, the noted young pitcher of Troy, who made such a reputation as a twirler during his high and prep school days; “Red” Stewart of Greenville, veteran hurler of the South Atlantic League, and Eddie Pratt, the latest scion of that noted West Alabama baseball family to join the ranks of professionals, will all do mound duty for the Montgomery Lions during the race for the first Southeastern pennant.

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

Truman Capote

34 YEARS AGO
APRIL 21, 1988

Biggs lobbies at Capitol: Monroe County Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs was in a delegation of about 25 persons who went to Washington recently to lobby for federal money to maintain and develop the Coosa-Alabama Waterway.
Biggs made a weekend trip to the capital and was there Mon., April 11, for hearings by the House and Senate appropriations subcommittees on energy and water development.
Biggs, a member of the board of directors of the Coosa-Alabama River Improvement Association, has made such trips for 18 consecutive years.

Excel player is top athlete of the month: Brian Thomas of Excel High School has been named Outstanding Athlete of the Month by The Monroe Journal, McDonald’s of Monroeville and WIZARD-104 FM in Mobile.
Thomas, a 6-foot-4 senior first baseman and pitcher, has helped the Panthers post a 10-2 record this season. He is leading the team in hitting with a .400 average, six home runs and 25 RBI and has posted a 3-1 pitching record.
Thomas is a big reason why the Panthers have won the 1A Area 2 baseball championship the last two years and why the team started this week with a 3-0 area mark.

Miss Sawyer finishes third in statewide spelling bee: Monroe County spelling bee winner Ellen Sawyer won third place in the state Birmingham Post-Herald spelling bee competition Saturday in Birmingham. The word she went out on was “microcircuitry,” which she spelled with ease Tuesday. Miss Sawyer is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Landon Sawyer of Monroeville and a sixth-grader at Monroeville Junior High School.

59 YEARS AGO
APRIL 18, 1963

Truman Capote Is Greeted By Friends In Aunt’s Home: Greeting old and new friends at the home of his aunt, Mrs. W. Jennings Carter, Saturday was Truman Capote of New York. Mr. Capote, recently returned from Switzerland, was welcomed to his former home by many who knew him as a child. This was his first visit to Monroeville since 1955.
Another honored guest was Miss Nelle Harper Lee, a childhood friend.

The new Excel High School coach will be Ed Comer Jr., who also will serve as a social studies teacher. He is a graduate of Albert G. Parrish High School in Selma and Troy State Teachers College, and formerly was an assistant coach in Coffee County. He also taught at Cullman Junior High School.

Church Property Is Sold: The sale of property on the north side of Courthouse Square by the First Baptist Church to National Butane Co. was completed this week. Milton Thames is shown above presenting a check to Rev. L. Reed Polk covering the transaction which included the Lindsey Building and two vacant lots adjacent to the building.

Uriah Seniors Will Present Play Friday: The senior class at J.U. Blacksher High School will present a comedy-drama of the sunny South Friday evening, April 19, at 8 p.m.
Members of the cast are Lester Peavy, Rodger Lambert, Jerry Gross, Randal Morris, Roger Johnson, Gaylyn Hood, Elaine Thornton, Mary Frances Solomon, Mary Laura Weatherford, Frances Turberville, Linda Powell and Linda Marshall.

84 YEARS AGO
APRIL 21, 1938

ALABAMA RIVER ON RAMPAGE: Not since the flood of 1886 have residents of this section seen so much water as has passed down the Alabama River during the last 10 days. The highest point reached the first of the week was less than two feet from the 1886 high mark.
For more than a week, the highway between Monroeville and Camden on the Camden end has been under water. Flat Creek has been backed up well above the bridge on the Monroeville-Camden highway, and Little River has backed up well above the bridge on the highway between Uriah and Stockton.
The river was reported falling in the vicinity of Miller’s Ferry.

GOLF TOURNAMENT BEGAN TUESDAY: Play in the local golf tournament began Tuesday with two flights of players. The final matches will be played on May 12. The following players had turned in scores for the opening of the tournament:
First flight: J.T. Morgan, Lucian Jones, C.A. Gentry, George Thomas Jones, Moses Katz, R.L. Jones, W.H. Simmons and Wills Moore.
Second Flight: E.S. Gardner, David Katz, R.M. Lazenby, H.G. Greer, Charles Locklin, F.G. Hastings, A.C. Lee and E.M. Salter.

Goode Speaks To Monroe Voters: Hon. R.J. Goode, candidate for Governor, addressed a large and enthusiastic crowd at the courthouse here on Wednesday of last week. The auditorium of the courthouse was fairly well filled.
His address was well received and at the close he shook hands with dozens of our citizens who promised him their support.

110 YEARS AGO
APRIL 18, 1912

Dr. A.B. Coxwell met with an unpleasant experience Wednesday morning in the effort to cross Double Branches on his return from a professional call. The stream was much swollen from the previous night’s rain and the current very swift. His horse and vehicle were plunged into a deep hole washed out by the swirling waters and were washed several yards down the stream, laming the horse and damaging the buggy. The doctor was compelled to jump out and wade through water several feet in depth. A valuable case of instruments was lost. A substantial bridge should be erected across this stream without delay and thus prevent similar and possibly more serious accidents in future.

The County High School baseball team crossed bats with the McGill team at the latter place last Saturday, playing two games in which the visitors were ingloriously licked. They are game, however, and have challenged the McGill boys to another contest on the High School diamond when they hope to return the compliment.

NOTICE: The freight and ticket offices of the Manistee & Repton Railroad at Manistee, Alabama has been moved from the post office building to the general office building. Parties desiring freight or information can obtain the same at the new location. – J.A. Kauffman, General Manager.

A rabid dog was killed on the streets one day last week and considerable apprehension is felt, as it is feared that other animals may have been infected. The town council met promptly and enacted an ordinance requiring that all dogs found within the corporate limits without muzzles be impounded and killed.

134 YEARS AGO
APRIL 18, 1888

The Beat meetings in each of the 13 precincts of the county will be held Saturday for the purpose of electing delegates to the county convention.

A MINISTER SUICIDES: A Tuscaloosa special of the 5^th inst. says: Rev. T.F. Hardin, the Methodist minister on the Romulus circuit, shot and killed himself yesterday at the residence of Mr. Holmes of Greene County, with whom he was boarding, and the body was brought here this evening for shipment to his friends at or near Auburn, Ala., where he formerly resided. No cause is assigned for the suicide. Mr. Hardin appeared in good health and spirits and was in a pleasant and talkative mood just before the fatal deed.
Rev. Mr. Hardin spent two years on the Repton Mission, embracing a part of this county, and was well known to many of our readers, who will learn with deep sorrow of his tragic and untimely death.

Mr. W.B. Jones, the obliging proprietor of the Jones House, has the finest garden in town, and his many guests during court may expect a rare treat in the way of vegetables. We have reason to know whereof we speak.

Several events of interest are likely to transpire in our midst during next week. Circuit court will convene on Monday, a very entertaining concert will be given by the young people Tuesday night, and the county convention will meet on Wednesday. Almost anything to break the monotony would be gladly welcomed by a suffering people.

Bank of Peterman building is one of the most historic commercial buildings in all of Monroe County

Old Bank of Peterman building. 

Members of the Peterman Historical Society were kind enough to invite me up to Peterman last Thursday afternoon to give me a guided tour of the old Bank of Peterman building. This old building is located near the corner of Main Street and Railroad Street in “downtown” Peterman, directly across from the railroad tracks that have so much to do with the town’s early history. Gone now are the two buildings that once sat on each side of the old bank, which now stands alone as the sole reminder of the town’s once bustling commercial center.

Some local history buffs will remember that the town’s first post office was established near here in 1900, the same year that the Louisville & Nashville Railroad was laid down through the town. Before the railroad, most of the town’s stores were located “up the hill” from the new tracks, but on an agreed upon moving day, teams of oxen were used to move three or four store buildings closer to the tracks. In the heyday of heavy rail traffic, Peterman thrived as a busy railroad stop between Repton and Beatrice.

According to historical society officers Meagan McDonald and Alice Chandler, the bank was built around 1915 and was established with around $14,000 in start-up money. Like many small banks across the country, the original bank was forced to close during the Great Depression. The bank was later reorganized and reopened under the new name of Peterman State Bank in 1934.

The Peterman State Bank moved into a more modern building in the 1960s, and the late William White began using the building for his personal business, Commercial Printing. Years later, relatives of White donated the old bank building to the Peterman Historical Society. Today, the society operates a “This & That” thrift store out of the building as a means to fund society projects.

Last Thursday, Meagan and Alice (who is a distant cousin of mine) took the time to show me the bank’s old vault and a number of old photos taken by local photographer, Max McAliley. The building also features an antique metal drop ceiling that looks to be made of tin or aluminum. A close look at the building’s interior brick walls also shows that the building has undergone many changes over the years.

Meagan and Alice went on to explain that over the years the building’s roof had fallen into terrible disrepair and that the building suffered from bad leaks. The society recently replaced the roof, removing rotten wood and sealing the sides and tops of the building’s walls. Total cost for the work was around $16,000.

As you would imagine, this large expense has hit the society’s funds pretty hard, especially in light of the pandemic. The society’s biggest fundraiser traditionally is its annual arts and crafts festival, but that event hasn’t been held for a couple of years due to COVID-19. The society does make a little money from its sales at “This & That” but not nearly enough to cover the $16,000 bill.

In the end, the society is seeking help to pay for the roof repairs, and all donations are welcome. Donations can be mailed to the Peterman Historical Society, c/o Meagan McDonald, 424 Walkers Creek Road, Peterman, AL 36471. For more information, e-mail petermanhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com.

Search for the exact location of the old Lebanon Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church continues

Several weeks ago in this space, I wrote about how family history researcher Sandra McCollum of Jackson, Miss. was trying to locate the site of the old Lebanon Church in Wilcox County. Sandra is descended from a number of early Wilcox County pioneers, including many who attended the Lebanon Church. Oddly, no one alive seems to know exactly where this old church was located.

Old newspapers say that the Bethel Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church at Oak Hill can trace its origins to the Lebanon Church. In 1856, Lebanon Church divided into two churches to serve its widely scattered members, which led to the formation of Bethel ARP Church. Lebanon Church was apparently founded around 1822, and old newspapers indicate that it was located somewhere near Camden.

Not long after the column about McCollum’s search ran in the paper, I received a nice e-mail from Barney McIntosh of Camden. He said that it’s possible that an old abandoned church on County Road 51 is all that remains of the former Lebanon Church. This church is about 10 miles south of Camden, beyond where the pavement ends, on the north side of County Road 51, not far from the old Neenah community.

McIntosh said that this church is hard to see from the road because parts of it have fallen in. He noted that there is a cemetery behind the church and that he has relatives buried there, including his fifth and sixth great-grandparents. Around a portion of the cemetery, you can also see remnants of a mote that was dug around some of the graves, he said.

Reading all of this from McIntosh, it reminded me of an old cemetery that I visited a couple of years ago on County Road 51. According to a sign out by the road, that cemetery is now called the Jordan Cemetery, but it may have been called something else years ago. I can say for certain that this cemetery is, at least partially, surrounded by a trench or ditch, which I presume was dug long ago to drain water away from the graveyard.

This old cemetery contains about 25 graves. The first known burial there was Catherine McLeod, who died in her twenties in 1825. The last known burial there was George S. Bolton, who died in 1888. Other names that you’ll find on headstones there include members of the Baldwin, Marshall, Martin and McIntosh families.

After receiving the message from McIntosh, I pulled the Jordan Cemetery up on Google Maps, and it appears that we are both talking about the same place. You can also see what appears to be the remnants of an old church a short distance west of the cemetery. On the day that I visited the cemetery, I didn’t see the church, so it must be hard to see from the road.

In the end, the mystery remains over the exact location of the old Lebanon Church. If anyone in the reading audience has any additional information they’d like to share on the subject, please let me know. It would be nice to finally settle this question once and for all for local history buffs.