1997 storytelling event in Demopolis featuring Singleton was cancelled

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The news story below, which was titled “Storytelling canceled: George Singleton told his stories not welcomed,” was written by Monroe Journal Staff Writer Greg Walker and was originally published in the Nov. 6, 1997 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

A local storyteller and frequent columnist for The Monroe Journal was taken off a Halloween fundraiser event scheduled last week in Demopolis after a ministerial association complained his stories were not consistent with the teachings of Christianity.

George Singleton was scheduled to speak at Gaineswood Mansion Oct. 29 during the mansion’s Halloween festival. Singleton and two other men were slated to speak different nights on topics ranging from reincarnation to actual ghosts.

But a group of pastors in Demopolis approached mansion curator Matt Hartzell and indicated they were not happy with the proposed speaker’s topics. Only one man was scheduled for Halloween night.

“They didn’t single me out or anything,” Singleton said. “I think there were two or three preachers who started talking like it was devil worshiping or something.”

“I was just trying to help them out,” he said.

Hartzell said the whole situation has been blown out of proportion and, as far as he is concerned, it has been resolved.

In a prepared statement, Hartzell tried to explain the reason for Singleton’s cancellation.

“The presentations of Paul Housel on Oct. 27 and George ‘Buster’ Singleton Oct. 29 were canceled in response to legitimate concerns voiced by the local religious community regarding the content of the presentations,” the release said.

“Clergymen and members of their congregations indicated to Gaineswood curator Matt Hartzell that they considered the proposed events inappropriate and contrary to the beliefs of Christianity.”

Hartzell said he thought the weekend’s activities would be fun, educational and entertaining, but the religious community saw things a different way.

Hartzell said, however, he was not pressured or threatened in any way by the association.

“When the religious community approached me with their concerns, I realized it was necessary to address them,” Hartzell said.

Hartzell said he and Singleton had not discussed exactly what he would be talking about at the fundraiser and were planning to discuss the agenda further.

“It was my impression he was going to tell ghost stories,” Hartzell said.

Hartzell said the event was planned to raise some funds for the historic mansion, but mostly to promote activities and perhaps attract volunteers to the Southern home.

(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: Human beings could learn a lot for watching geese

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 “When geese cross the moon,” was originally published in the Nov. 6, 1997 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As the cool days of November slowly begin to appear on the distant horizon, the time will soon be at hand for the flights of wild geese to begin their journeys south. I know of nothing any more beautiful than to be atop a high hill on a night of a full moon and watch a flight of beautiful wild geese pass across the face of the glowing moon. Many of our society of today know nothing about these beautiful fowls of the air and their habits and behavior, as they make their way across the night skies on their way south.

Very few of us ever slip out on a night during the closing days of autumn, when the moon is at is fullest, and seek out a high hill to witness this beautiful sight that is there in the heavens for all to witness. And, should on observe the behavior of these graceful creatures, one could learn many lessons that could make our lives much better and easier to live on this place we call Earth. In observing the flights of wild geese, we could see the importance of pulling together and helping one another in our struggle through life. Life would be much easier for the elderly and those who need assistance in their every day living.

There was a time in our history when the country folks gave the late autumn flights of the wild geese a lot of attention. They looked for certain signs as these flocks crossed the moonlit skies of the late evenings and as darkness crept across the heavens. The early settlers learned the importance of working together by watching the formations of geese make their way to the south for their stay during the cold winter months.

By flying in a V formation the whole flock adds about a 71 percent longer flight range than if each bird flew alone. As each bird flaps its wing, it creates an uplift for the bird that is following. The lesson that we humans can learn from this is that people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier when they travel on the thrust of one another.

When the lead goose grows tired, it rotates back into formation, and another goose takes over. Man should learn that it pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership because we, like geese, are dependent to a great degree upon each other.

Should a goose fall out of the formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone. It quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. If we humans had as much sense as a goose, we would stay in formation with those who are headed in the direction where we, too, want to go.

The geese in the formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. When we humans honk from behind, we need to make sure that our honking is encouraging. Many of us tend to honk at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

In these long flights on their way south, the geese will look after each other. When a goose gets sick or wounded, or perhaps shot by some ignorant hunter, two geese will drop out of formation and follow him down to help protect and stay with him until he is able to fly again. If he should die from his wounds, the two that stay launch out either with another formation or catch up with the original flock that they were with when they started. A lesson that we could learn from this is that if we humans had as much sense as the wild geese we could stand by each other as they do. We would protect and guard those that are in need until such time when they could also continue their journey through life or into another time.

Our society with all its knowledge has much to learn from the animals and birds of the air that are around us. In our world of make believe and fairyland we tend to let pass by much that would be beneficial to us and those around this plant we call Earth. We have grown to believe that we are too smart to heed the age-old lessons that has been put here for us to see and learn from.

Man will never survive on this planet unless he joins in with the environment and lives in harmony with that which is here. He must learn to save and protect, regardless how small or primitive each form of life might be. I believe that we, as humans, are at the crossroads. The time is at hand when we must choose the way that we are to go if we are to survive.

So, as the full moon of late autumn appears high in the heavens and the chilly winds of the late fall season appear on the horizon, make a vow to seek out a high hill and watch a flock of wild geese pass across the face of the glowing moon. If you have never witnessed this breathtaking spectacle, it will be something that will dwell within your mind for all time to come.

Much has been placed on this earth for man to witness and learn from. During this time within our country with all the fanfare and all the false promises and horn blowing, we need to look to the heavens for peace of mind and contentment of the soul. Enjoy all that you can; the beauty is here for us all to see and be a part of.

Before one knows it, the time will come when the beautiful events of nature that we missed will cause a time of sorrow to linger within the mind and soul for all times to come.

(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 tells of October 1995 trip to spooky old Indian village

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 “Spirits of the past call from deserted Indian village,” was originally published in the Oct. 26, 1995 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

The month of October has always been to me the month of mystery. For some strange reason during this month, I find myself wanting to return to old places that I have visited in the past, places where strange things have been seen or heard during the dark hours of the night.

Just a few days back, I returned to one such place, hoping to witness what I had on an earlier visit. I know that Halloween is just around the corner, and the ghosts and goblins will come out of hiding for a time of trick-or-treating. But I speak of a time when the spirits walked the ancient trails and the sounds of ghost drums could be heard on the winds of the late evenings; places where no one is there but you and the spirits from another time return to the spot.

Hiding my transportation, I carefully descended the steep slope into the deep ravine where in ancient times a large Indian village was located. I didn’t expect to see or hear anything since it was late afternoon, although the deep shadows had already begun to settle across the ancient village site.

Stillness in the ravine

Even though the cool winds sighed through the tall trees there in the huge raving, the stillness in the deep bottom made the hairs on my neck stand at attention. There at ground level, not a leaf or twig seemed to move in the late afternoon air.

There was no doubt in my mind that I was the only one in the deep ravine. In descending the only path into the area, I became aware of the odor of burning wood, as through a small campfire had been kindled a short time prior to my arrival. I had seen no evidence of smoke coming up from the deep ravine as I was climbing down the steep embankment to the ancient village floor.

Puzzled by the odor of the burning wood, I sat down with my back against a high embankment. This village had been used during the cold winter months when the icy winds swept down from the north, bringing with it freezing rain and snow. Under the protection of the high embankment, the brush huts and the glowing campfires were protected as the freezing winds howled high above the deep ravine.

The deep silence of the moment was broken by the rush of a searching armadillo as it hustled through the layers of dead leaves and grass there on the ancient village floor. Passing within inches of my feet, the ugly creature continued to make its way around the edge of the hill.

Strange thumping sounds

As I watched the armadillo disappear, I became aware of strange thumping sounds that seemed to be coming from nowhere. Looking in every direction, I saw nothing to give evidence of what was causing the low thumps that could barely be heard in the area around me.

Realizing that the odor of the burning wood had grown stronger, I slowly rose to my feet, almost expecting to see a small fire burning in the underbrush nearby. But there was nothing; no sign of smoke could be seen.

During earlier visits to this ancient village site, I had located several places where small rocks had been placed in small circles. Inside these were where the cook fires and the fires that warmed the villagers had been built. Looking across to one of the larger circles, the sounds of voices seemed to come from around the circle of rocks.

Some years back, I had visited this site and spent most of a night in the very same spot where I was no sitting. That night, flickers of light could be seen dancing up and around the larger of the rock circles. What appeared to be the muffled sounds of distant drums settled in and around the ancient village.

As I have stated many times in these writings, I have seen many strange happenings as I wander here and there, searching out various stories and tall tales relayed to me. I will be the first to admit that I am not the bravest soul around. I have had the living daylights frightened out of me, and here at this ancient village on an earlier visit was one of those times. Right about now, I was feeling quite uneasy.

Place of mystery

Deciding that it was time to leave this place of mystery, I eased myself up from the large rock where I had been sitting. The air around me seemed to grow heavy as though there were others present. Standing there with my back to the steep rock cliff, the muffled voices seemed to grow in number. No words could be deciphered or understood; the mumblings seemed to grow in magnitude.

Keeping my eyes on the large fire pit, I gradually edged my way backward up the steep dim trail that would eventually lead to the narrow dirt road at the top of the hill. Suddenly, as if some kind of signal had been given, total silence settled over the old village site. Not a leaf or a blade of pine straw moved in the late shadows across the ancient site. No sounds of birds or of any wildlife could be heard there in the bottom. It seemed as though nothing existed there under the tall rock cliff. A blanket of silence had settled across the old village site, almost as if it didn’t exist.

Climbing the steep hill and making my way across the dim trail to where I had hidden my motorcycle, many thoughts raced through my mind. What had I heard there at the bottom of the steep bluff? Were the spirits of another time still occupying the ancient Indian village? Perhaps, they had returned this day for a gathering of a meeting of sorts. Would the ceremonial fires flicker in the coming darkness there in the village? Or would the spirits of the past return at another time for a gathering of dancing and chanting and the beating of drums?

Getting too old

As I slowly made my way out up the dim trail toward the narrow dirt road some distance away, the thought came to mind that I might just be getting too old for this kind of wandering.

The mysteries that linger there at the bottom of the deep ravine might just have two wait until I get up enough nerve to return and stay put when the drums sound and the mystery voices speak from the shadows.

(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 believed that Maubila was located at present-day Pine Orchard

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 “An event that changed history,” was originally published in the Oct. 15, 1998 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998, was a quiet day along the banks of the mighty Alabama River at Claiborne. But, this was not the case on Oct. 12, 1540. That day, 458 years ago, the Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto and his army gathered on the west bank of the mighty river, preparing to make a crossing that would change our history. The day was Tuesday, DeSoto’s scouts had chosen this location because of the low banks. Due to the dry season, the river was at its lowest level.

Two days prior, DeSoto and his army had made camp on the east bank, where the large creek that has come to be known as Silver Creek joins the Alabama. The weary army, after slowly making its way down from the area now known as Cahaba, stopped here. Bad food and probably contaminated water had taken its toll on DeSoto’s followers. The army’s scouts reported that a very large native village was just across the mighty stream. The village was known as Piache. The village sat on the very spot where Alabama River Pulp is now located.

Since the army had landed in this strange and unfamiliar land, things had not gone as well as DeSoto had wished. DeSoto had great expectations of finding riches in the huge villages along the rivers. During his expeditions in South America, he had been told of the legendary “Seven Cities of Gold” that lay to the north. Returning to his native land, he organized another expedition and sailed with his army to the new world, leaving word that when he returned he would be wealthy beyond his wildest dreams.

The river crossing was not an easy one for DeSoto. Timbers had to be cut with which large rafts were made that would bring the heavy armor of his army across the swift river. Along with the army were large herds of swine and cattle that had to be brought across by raft. Due to the fact that the swine couldn’t swim the wide stream, they had to be caught, tied and placed one-by-one on the rafts. Most of the soldiers were suffering from severe dysentery that plagued the army.

Oct. 12, 1540 was a long day for DeSoto as he waited on the east slope, watching his tired, weary army slowly make the dangerous crossing. Several of his war horses, along with many pieces of body armor was lost during the crossing. Many of the swine and cattle that were to feed his army were lost. The river god had demanded his toll.

The river crossing was finally completed Oct. 31. Slowly the weary, rag tag army made its way up the east bank and camped on the outskirts of Piache. The villagers knew the army was coming as their scouts had been keeping track of the approaching army and its herds. The villagers were totally amazed at seeing Spanish soldiers riding war horses toward the village. These were the first horses the Indians had ever seen. A man in full body armor riding the strange animal was very strange indeed.

Through the slave labor of captured Indians, DeSoto had with his army, village medicine men learned of the dysentery. In the deep woods along the river bank, the medicine men gathered a certain type weed and returned to the village. Here, they burned the special weed and mixed the ashes in the food of the suffering army. Soon, the severe dysentery vanished.

Record has it that DeSoto’s army left Piache Oct. 15 and headed northeast into what the Spanish referred to as “the mountainous area.” Their route took them along the high ridges of the Red Hills and Old Scotland areas. At one time at Old Scotland, inscribed on the stone blocks of the old church were the words, “built on the route of DeSoto.” The slow moving army made its way along the high ridges into the area of what is now the community of Pine Orchard. There, in the area where Flat Creek begins was the large village of Maubila. Here, the famed “Battle of Maubila” took place. Here, DeSoto would lose a large number of his trained warriors and many of his war horses. DeSoto himself, received a head wound so severe it affected his ability to reason for the rest of his life. But, that is another story.

Many who read this article probably will disagree with me about the location of Maubila. Our history of Alabama tends to locate Maubila over near the town of Grove Hill in Clarke County. I do not with to be different, nor am I trying to be smart, but over the years, I have done much research on the route of DeSoto, where he and his army crossed the river at Claiborne. I have walked this ancient path inch by inch many times. I have proven to myself, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if the proper research was done, one would find that the large Indian village of what was once Maubila was nestled in the area of what is now Pine Orchard in Monroe County.

So today, Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998, I stand here on the high embankment overlooking the location where 458 years ago the Spanish explorer DeSoto stood. I am reminded that much of our early history is fast fading. Before too long, such events that I have tried to bring to attention of our local citizens will have passed into oblivion. And, the places thereof will know them no more.

“This is the place, stand still my steed. And let me review the scene, and summon from the shadowy past, the forms that once had been.”

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

George Singleton tells of the days of old-time watermelon patch raids

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 “Raiding watermelon patches has become lost art,” was originally published in the July 29, 1993 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

When I speak of the youth of today not having fun and not being able to entertain themselves, I mean no disrespect whatsoever.

I will be the first to admit that times have changed during the past years since the Great Depression. Today our youth have money to spend and nice automobiles to travel around in. Many have part-time jobs in nice, clean air-conditioned places and the living is good. But, it hasn’t always been like this.

In writing these articles about my youth, and some of the things that we were involved in, I have no intentions in suggesting to our youth of today that they should also do such things as we did on occasions when boredom crept across the farm country.

In the area where I grew up, it was expected of the local youth to raid watermelon patches and swipe ripe peaches and apples from the orchards of the local farmers. On these fun raids, no property was destroyed or abused.

You swiped only that which the raiding party could eat. Most times, younger members of the very family who owned the orchard or melon patches were right in the middle of the fun group. The older members of these families took great pride in setting traps for the youthful fun seekers.

These traps were not intended to hurt or injure anyone but to scare the living daylights out of those involved. These fun stories of scares would be told and retold many times around the fireplaces during the cold winter nights when the families gathered for fun and entertainment and community fellowship.

Always, when a visitor would come into the community for a stay with relatives or just to visit, this was the opportune time for the local youth, with the help of the older members of the community, to pull some kind of prank or joke on the city slicker.

A family in the local community had relatives that lived in New Orleans. From these relatives in New Orleans, a young man about the age of 16 came up for a few days visit. He was well-dressed and seemed to think that he was above the local youth of the community, because he was from the city and he didn’t have to labor on the farm as his cousins did.

In short notice, these cousins notified their neighbors of a plan to get this smart aleck in line with reality.

The young visitor, not knowing anything about the area, was invited on a watermelon-patch raid; readily he accepted. Little did he know that the family he was visiting owned the melon patch that was to be raided. This was one tale that would be remembered for many years around the firesides of the local folks.

Top-secret plan

The top-secret plan was molded to perfection. An older man from the community was instructed by the melon patch owner to enter the patch on a given night and sit down and cover himself with a dark poncho. He was also instructed to carry his shotgun with him. The plans were, as the youth group entered the patch, he would jump and scream and shoot his shotgun twice up in the air.

Across the watermelon patch, several of the older menfolk of the community lay in hiding to witness the fun and excitement. All the members of the raiding party knew what was going to take place except the young visitor from New Orleans.

The night was cloudy and overcast. The moonlight was breaking through the clouds from time to time, giving off just enough light that one could find their way along the rows of ripe watermelons there in the field. As the group slowly entered the melon patch from the nearby wooded area, the leaders began to bend over the melons and thump them, seeking out a few good ripe melons to eat.

When all the group was well within the melon patch, without warning, the farmer under the poncho jumped up and screamed, “What the h*** are you guys doing in my watermelon patch?”

Shotgun fired

Twice he fired his shotgun in the air. Young boys scrambled in every direction. I won’t call any names, but a youth in the raiding party grabbed his side and fell to the ground and yelled: “Oh my goodness, I’m shot.”

The visiting cousin, thinking that this prankster was wounded, raced over and picked him up, throwing the supposedly wounded boy over his shoulder and raced across the large field nearby.

Totally exhausted from carrying the large youth across the large field, the visiting cousin fell to the ground. As the groups gathered, the sightseers came from their hiding places along with the members of the raiding party, and loud laughter and sounds of merriment echoed across the large field while the visiting cousin lay gasping for breath on the ground.

Slowly, the exhausted cousin got to his feet. Having realized that he had been the victim of the prank, he became fighting mad. He began to swing his fists in all directions at those who had been part of the staged raid. The older members of the group stepped  in and made the distressed young man sit down until he cooled off and regained his self-control.

In short notice, a couple of lanterns appeared out of the brush as if by magi and several cool, sweet watermelons were sliced for the party of fun seekers to enjoy.

The gathering lasted until after the hour of midnight. All knew who were present that night in the watermelon patch that this night would be remembered for years to come.

And, as the years passed, the visiting cousin from New Orleans seemed to enjoy it the most, when hearing it told over and over again.

(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 Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Aug. 24, 2026

18 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 2008

Mayor’s runoff pairing up in air: Who will face off against Rodie Ruffin in the Sept. 9 runoff election in the Monroeville mayor’s race was still up in the air yesterday (Wednesday) morning, according to City Clerk Toni McKelvey.
As of yesterday morning, Ruffin had 717 votes in the Monroeville mayor’s race, while Mike Kennedy had 614 and James Holley had 598. Both Ruffin and Kennedy are members of the city council with Ruffin representing District 4 and Kennedy representing District 1. Holley is a newcomer to the political scene.

Excel defeats Frisco City 24-14 in preseason game: Because a ninth team was added to Frisco City’s 1A Region 1 this season, it left the Whippets and rival Excel without an open regular-season date to play. The coaches worked it out, and played a preseason matchup Thursday night in Frisco.
The Panthers came into Frisco City Thursday night with nearly three times as many players as the Whippets’ 16-strong squad and came away with a 10-point win, 24-14.
(Top Excel players in that game included Brit Bowen, Ryan Holder, Greg Hollinger, Josh Mack, Morgan Murphy, Cedric Stevens and Ak’Keem Williams. Top FCHS players included Roderick Chapman and Jeterrius Ellis.)

New doctor welcomed: Monroe County Hospital and Monroeville Primary Care medical doctors Angela Powell and Alex Nettles hosted an open house Wednesday of last week at their clinic for their newest associate, Dr. Emily Williams.

43 YEARS AGO
AUG. 25, 1983

2 Monroe County bridges to be replaced next year: Two Monroe County bridges located on State Highway 41 are scheduled to be replaced next year, according to Gene Phillips, district engineer at the state Highway Department office in Camden.
Phillips said bridges at Tallahatchee Creek near Hybart and Beaver Creek three miles north of Franklin are among four bridges in Wilcox and Monroe counties to be replaced, possibly next spring.
“Things look real good for bridge replacements in Monroe County,” Phillips said, adding that contracts also will be awarded next spring for bridges at Limestone Creek leading into Peterman and Flat Creek in Fountain.

Kelly team wins golf tourney: Vanity Fair Golf and Tennis Club’s annual Lucian Jones Golf Tournament during the weekend was won by Monroeville’s Jim Kelly and his partner, Pete Kelly of Mobile.
Ted Pearson of Monroeville and his partner, Joe Mack Thaxton of Tampa, Fla., were given a trophy Saturday night at the awards banquet for having the tournament’s low gross score.
The golfers also recognized James L. McAlarney Sr., formerly of Monroeville who now lives in Spanish Fort. McAlarney has been associated with the Lucian Jones tournament since the first tournament and was invited back this year as a special guest.

Lemons is honored by Masons: Tom Lemons of Monroeville, a member of Monroeville Masonic Lodge No. 3 and the Tri-Counties Shrine Club, was honored at a special ceremony Saturday in Brewton. He has been an active Mason for 30 years and is past president of his lodge, served as high priest of the Monroeville Royal Arch Chapter No. 170, was past illustrious master of Monroeville Council No. 95 and was past eminent commander of Monroeville Commandery No. 47.

68 YEARS AGO
AUG. 28, 1958

KKK Makes Recent Visits To Churches In Area: Twelve hood Ku Klux Klansmen visited the Philadelphia Baptist Church at Tunnel Springs last Friday night, sitting through the final services of a weeklong revival.
The Rev. Ralph Lee, church pastor, said the visit was completely unannounced and that it came as a surprise to both ministers and congregation.
It marked the second time in recent weeks that Klansmen visits to church in the area have been verified though other reports of such visits have circulated in the county. An even dozen Klansmen marched into the Repton Methodist Church Tuesday night, July 8, at the beginning of the Devotion and seated themselves. Revival services were in progress at the Repton Church at the time just as they were in Tunnel Springs last week.

Official Opening, Registration Set Sept. 11 For Monroe County Schools: Official opening date for Monroe County schools is Thurs., Sept. 11, H.G. Greer, Superintendent of Education, reminded parents Wednesday.
He said Sept. 11 has been declared registration day beginning at 8 a.m. and dismissing at 11 a.m. School will operate on a half-day schedule for Friday, Sept. 12.
The first full day of operation will be Monday, Sept. 15.

93 YEARS AGO
AUG. 24, 1933

Man Held In County Jail On Murder Charge: Lem Perkins, who was shot last week by his son-in-law, Robert Morgan, near Old Manistee, died Monday, thus bringing the case against Morgan to that of murder. Morgan is being held in the county jail pending meeting of the grand jury.

Man Is Murdered At Franklin Saturday Night: As the result of a dispute arising among several men at a church near Franklin Saturday night, John Powell cut Elliott Rankin to death. Powell was said to be drunk and was knocked down by one of the men standing near. When he rose, he grabbed Rankin and inflicted such deep cuts on him that he died before medical assistance could be obtained from him. Powell was brought to the county jail Saturday night where he will wait the action of the grand jury. This is the second murder in the county during the past week.

“Miss Monroe County” Named At Fashion Show: Mrs. George Williams of Frisco City, modeling for the Frisco City Style Shoppe, was presented the loving cup at the close of the Fashion Show staged at the Monroe Theatre last Monday night by the merchants of Frisco City and Monroeville. The award carried with it the title “Miss Monroe County.” A number of girls from both towns served as models for the business houses and exhibited new Fall styles.

MISCELLANEOUS SHOWER GIVEN AUGUST BRIDE: Miss Velma Dees delightfully entertained for Miss Rosalie Kelly of Excel at a miscellaneous shower Saturday afternoon.
Little Truman Persons of New York gave a charming exhibition of tap dancing with his miniature dress suit and walking cane added to his attractiveness.
An interesting contest was carried out using the abbreviations of states as answers. As this contest was completed, a miniature Curtis plane landed in front of the bride with little Mr. Persons as its pilot, bearing a large mail sack of lovely gifts that were opened and passed around for all to see.

118 YEARS AGO
AUG. 27, 1908

Misses Jennie and Callie Faulk have returned from St. Louis where they purchased a handsome stock of fall millinery.

The Louisville & Nashville railroad depot at Repton was destroyed by fire last Friday night, together with its contents. Several long cars loaded with lumber and naval stores consigned to foreign points were also consumed by the flames which raged for several hours. Several empties and a dead engine standing on a side track were saved by the quick action on the part of the citizens who used crow bars and other instruments in moving the cars and engine out of reach of the fire. The loss is estimated at $15,000 to $20,000. The origin of the fire is not known, but it is thought probably that it started from sparks from an engine which passed the station just previous to the fire.

Mrs. Q. Salter returned home Friday after a fortnight’s sojourn at the Wilcox Mineral Springs, Schuster.

Dr. Wm. A. Parker Dead: Dr. William Asa Parker, for 43 years a professor at the University of Alabama, died at Asheville, N.C. on Wed., Aug. 19. Dr. Parker was a native of Monroe County, having been born near Monroeville, and was the eldest son of the late Asa Parker, for many years a leading citizen and business man of this place. Dr. Parker had a wide acquaintance and reared a large family. Several of his sons are prominent men.

Singleton writes of the legends surrounding Sirius, the Dog Star

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 “Look to the heavens for Sirius, the Dog Star,” was originally published in the July 28, 1994edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Today, July 28, Sirius, the Dog Star, makes its debut once again into the heavens. With its appearance between the earth and the sun, many strange and unusual happenings begin to take form.

There are those who do not believe that this little-known star has any effect within out solar system and our earth or on the lives of those who live here. But history records many unusual events during the months of July, August and early September.

The 40 days of Sirius’s reign had much to do in the lives of the early Indian. This was a time of change in their living habits, as the hot summer months began to give way for the coming season of fall and winter. The time was now at hand when their carefree lives had to be abandoned and plans formulated for movement into winter quarters.

Their nomadic wanderings would cease along the rivers and streams and work would begin on the brush and mud huts that would protect them from the cold, icy winds that howled down from the north. And once again the ancient tales of the mystery devil star would once again be heard around the evening camp fires.

According to legends that have been told and retold for many hundreds of years, the fish in the rivers and streams are slow about biting during this time of year. The ears of the yellow corn, or maize, are becoming too hard to boil in the pots for eating. And, the deadly rattlesnakes are said to become blind during this period of the reign of the Dog Star. A think skin is said to form over their eyes for about 40 or so days. This blindness makes them to grow thin from hunger and causes them to strike out at any movement or sound.

These legends go on to tell that dogs, wolves and foxes tend to go mad during this period when the star Sirius appears in the heavens. Truly, it is a time of uncertainty and a time of change. Great care has to be taken to keep from getting hurt. Wounds are slow about healing during this time, and infection is most likely to appear in a wound during the months of the reign of Sirius.

The lightning that dance across the heavens seems more severe and does more damage during this time. While the thunder, as it rolls across the heavens, seems louder and more heavier in the hours of the afternoon. The belief of the early Indian was that the gods had not obeyed. This was a time, too, when sickness among the tribes was at its worst. Fever and disease took its toll among the elderly and the very young.

Much care had to be taken in the selection of water that was used by the tribes. All drinking water had to be taken from only the purest of the springs. Water from the mineral springs at this time of the year was highly sought after. Water carriers were known to travel many miles to gather drinking water for the sick and feverish members of the tribes.

Many time, those who were able would travel great distances and camp around the few mineral springs that were to be found in the area. These people would continue to camp and drink the healing waters until the mysterious devil star disappeared from the heavens. Then they would return to their villages to be part of the celebration, when the gathering of crops and hunting and fishing would begin once again. The foods would be stored and dried for the coming chills of winter, approaching on the distant horizons.

Sirius, the Dog Star, has done much to influence the lives or early man. From the time of the Egyptians and the Romans, and even before that, much heed was paid to those days when this star of mystery made its way across the heavens and took its position between our earth and the sun.

Many thought that this was the ideal time for war, if a war was inevitable. Many of the war lords of long ago believed that man became more like a savage animal and would fight harder and endure more pain during the passage of Sirius, the devil star. And, there were those who believed that the spirits of those who had been slain during the time of battle would follow the trail of the dog star into the land of no return. And, their spirits would never return from this land beyond the stars to stalk their camp fires and haunt their nights of sleep and rest.

Today, in our world of make-believe and fantasy, we give little or no thought to the legends of yesterday and those from beyond the past. Many of us will go through these dog days, when Sirius roams at will across the heavens, and never realize the importance this 40 days has had on history.

We may never know how much man has been influenced by the passing of this star across our universe. And, there are many among us who will never give the passing of Sirius a second thought, even though their lives are affected by it.

I will be the first to realize that we live in a space-age society. We profess to be smart. But there are certain things that we should tell our children and pass on to their children’s children. We must become more enlightened about our surroundings and the happenings of our universe. If we are not careful, we, too, will go the ways of the Egyptians and the Romans. And, sometimes in the future years, when Sirius, the Dog Star, returns, our beloved land as we know it will have faded into oblivion.

40-day journey

So, today with the break of dawn, the mockingbirds will sing until that time around Sept. 5 when the devil star gives up its place between our earth and the sun.

And the tempers we humans tend to be a mite short during the 40-day journey of Sirius across the heavens. Our patience grows thin with our neighbors and our friends as this strange and unknown force affects our lives. Our hospitals will become more crowded with the sick and injured.

Let’s not forget, man occupies only a very small part in this place we call the universe. However smart we think we are, our knowledge ceases to exist just a short distance above this planet we call Earth. This is not a scratch in the sand when compared to the nine light years that it takes for the light of Sirius just to reach our earth.

We should always remember that a good knowledge of the past will much better enable us to solve the problems that will ride the winds of the future yet to come.

(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.)