Sunday, April 12, 2015

100-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from April 1915

The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala., under the direction of Editor and Proprietor Q. Salter, published five editions 100 years ago during the month of April 1915. Those issues, which can be found on microfilm at the Monroe County Library in Monroeville, were dated April 1, April 8, April 15, April 22 and April 29. What follows are a few news highlights from each of those editions. Enjoy.

APRIL 1, 1915

Mrs. Marcia Wiggins has removed to Evergreen where she will have charge of a boarding house.

Mr. Chas. R. Broughton of The Evergreen Courant spent a few days with home folks last week.

Mr. Charles M. Carter died at his home near Mexia on Sat., March 28, after an illness of several weeks, aged about 75 years. Deceased was a good citizen and a veteran of the Confederacy. Interment was made at the Mexia cemetery on Sunday.

As chairman of the Entertainment Committee for the observance of Memorial Day on April 26, I desire to obtain the name of every Confederate Veteran in Monroe County. If someone in each community will kindly furnish me with a list they will oblige the committee by writing at once. D.F. Ellisor, Chairman.

The County Highway Commission held a brief session Tuesday. The Commission now has full charge of all road and bridge matters.

Rev. D.F. Ellisor will preach the commencement sermon of the Jones Mill High School next Sunday, April 4. The pulpit here will be occupied at the morning hour by Rev. C.W. McConnell of Maros.

The examination of applicants for teacher’s certificates will be held in the courthouse in Monroeville beginning at 10 o’clock on Mon., April 9, 1915. All applicants are requested to be present by 9:30 in order to be enrolled and ready for work at 10 o’clock.

APRIL 8, 1915

Dr. Rayford A. Smith of Wainwright was among Monroeville friends Saturday.

Mr. Jas. N. Parker was down from Beatrice Monday. Mr. Parker served a number of years as County Commissioner and his Monroeville friends are always glad to greet him.

The final report of cotton ginned in Alabama from the crop of 1914 issued by the census bureau on March 20, 1915 shows a total of 1,730,670 bales as against 1,483,669 for 1913. Of this number, Monroe County furnished 24,362 as compared with 22,530 as in 1913.

Mr. Thomas Forbes of the Selma Marble Works was transacting business in Monroeville last week. Mr. Forbes paid a visit to his native home in Scotland some months ago and related a thrilling incident which occurred on the return voyage of the rescue by the vessel on which he was a passenger of 900 members of the crew of a British fighting ship disabled by a German submarine or mine.

Road improvement in and around Monroeville constitutes one of the best advertisements to the world at large of the spirit of progressiveness that animates our people. Each road leading out of town has been or is being scientifically graded and graveled to the corporation line, affording splendid drives for those who have the leisure to enjoy them.

APRIL 15, 1915

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and little daughter spent Sunday with relatives at Finchburg.

Prof. W.S. Nash of Tunnel Springs was transacting business at the county capital Tuesday. Prof. Nash, who is secretary of the County Masonic Conference, stated that he is in correspondence with Grand Master Henry C. Miller and it is probably that the Grand Master may attend the next session of the conference in person.

Several people from Jones Mill attended the series of ball games between Monroeville and Atmore last week.

Thirty young people chaperoned by Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Irwin and Mrs. J.W. Jones had quite a pleasant day’s outing at old Ft. Claiborne on the Alabama River Friday. A gasoline launch at their service added much to the interest of the day.

Miss Belle Rankin is at home, having closed her school at Ollie.

Among the improvements in progress in Monroeville is the creation of a neat bungalow by Mr. Edward Salter. His father, Mr. J.T. Salter of Milton, Fla. is the contractor.

W.J. Galloway & Co. are occupying the building (at Jones Mill) formerly used by the Atmore Furniture Co.

The Lufkin school closed Friday night with an interesting program.

APRIL 22, 1915

County High School Notes: Both school and town thoroughly enjoyed three most interesting ball games between Atmore and Monroeville. Our boys were determined not to break their record and as usual, come out victorious.

To those living in this little corner of Monroe (the Weatherford community), April 16 was an eventful day, when Mr. H.M. Godwin and his efficient crew who have been rushing the work, laid the last timbers and drove the finishing bolt into the much talked of and long hoped for bridge which will form the connecting link between the counties of Monroe and Baldwin. The work of building it has been accomplished in a short time. The material used for the entire construction was gotten within a mile of the site cut by a six horse power Witte engine and just one month from the day the work began, the bridge was turned over to the Commissioners.

The regular examination of applicants for teachers’ certificates has been in progress at the court house during the last three days under the supervision of Superintendent J.A. Barnes. Sixty applicants were registered, 47 white and 13 colored.

Mr. E.A. Thompson, secretary of the Peterman Truck Growers Association, was a business visitor to here Wednesday. Mr. Thompson stated that the truckers are busy transplanting sweet potatoes, about 150 acres of which crop will be grown in the vicinity of Peterman this season. About 25 acres have been planted to Irish potatoes and something like 300 acres will be devoted to peanuts. Mr. Thompson thinks the cotton acreage will be decreased by about 30 percent.

APRIL 28, 1915

The alarm of fire called out the bucket brigade shortly after noon on Tuesday. A little colored boy passing the residence of Postmaster S.M. Roberts discovered smoke issuing from the kitchen roof. He gave the alarm and many of the citizens responded. Before they reached the scene, however, a colored man employed about the place had succeeded in extinguishing the fire which did little damage.

Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Kelly and Mr. C.S. Kelly of Repton attended the Confederate Memorial exercises here Monday.

Mr. G.C. Russell came over from Evergreen Monday to meet with his old comrades in attendance at the memorial exercises.

Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Agee and Mrs. Crook of Perdue Hill attended the Memorial exercises here Monday.

Mrs. G.A. Tuthill, president of the Perdue Hill chapter U.D.C. was a guest of the local chapter on Memorial Day.

Mr. George Thompson of Repton was here Monday greeting his old comrades in arms.

Solicitor John McDuffie is enjoying a well earned vacation after several months engagement with the courts of his circuit.


The Mineola school closed Friday night, April 2, with a good crowd and a nice program carried out by Miss Nellie Parker and Tommie Grime.

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