The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala., under the
direction of Editor and Proprietor Q. Salter, published four editions 100 years
ago during the month of May 1915. Those issues, which were dated May 6, May 13,
May 20 and May 27, can be found on microfilm at the Monroe County Library in
Monroeville, Ala. What follows are a few news highlights from those four
editions. Enjoy.
MAY 6, 1915
Beginning the first week in May, merchants of the city began
observance of the rule of six o’clock closing, except on Saturdays, thus
affording proprietors and employees an opportunity for needed recreation.
The public square having been graded and the surrounding
walks nicely graveled, the city fathers are having the square enclosed so as to
prevent injury to the surface from travel by vehicles. When the square is laid
out with walks and properly sodded it will become “a thing of beauty and a joy
forever.”
A very interesting game of baseball was played at Uriah last
Saturday afternoon between the Local and Jeddo players. Local was defeated, the
score being 13 to 2. The pitchers were Lindsey Boon for Jeddo and Lander Lomax
for Local, Gus Hightower, umpire.
MEMORIAL DAY: On last Monday, the 26th day of April, the
United Daughters of the Confederacy celebrated Memorial Day in behalf of the
surviving soldiers who 54 years ago marched to battle ready to lay down their
lives for the cause they thought so worthy.
In the afternoon at the High School auditorium the old
Veterans, as well as a large congregation of visiting U.D.C. members and other
interested people from the adjoining towns were entertained for a few hours
with a very interesting program. Mr. Biggs’ address of welcome, address by Rev.
D.F. Ellisor and splendid readings by Mrs. Barnett and Miss Shell and last but
not least Congressman Oscar L. Gray. Music was furnished by our High School
Chorus Club and a splendid quartette by Messrs. Coxwell, Sowell, Henson and
McDuffie. The songs were “Dixie,” “The Bonnie Blue Flag” and “Tenting on the
Old Camp Ground.”
The audience was entertained from two o’clock until 4:30.
The old soldiers went away feeling good over the day they had spent.
Graydon Simmons
MAY 13, 1915
Prof. G.A. Harris has been re-elected principal of the
Monroe County High School for another term.
The Jeddo baseball players played McGill on last Saturday
afternoon, McGill being defeated by a score of 11 to 0. And now you Jeddo
players, listen to a word of advice, although good advice is rarely accepted by
young men from anyone: Never let your continued success at the ball games ever
influence you to go out to the ball ground to practice playing ball on the
Sabbath day. We don’t know if any of you did this on last Sunday, and hope you
did not although it came to us that the plan was proposed by some. We hope you
went to church instead.
WEATHERFORD: At a late hour Sunday afternoon our
neighborhood was startled by the news that the Weatherford Bridge so lately
built across Little River at this point, had been almost entirely destroyed by
fire. Mr. Ben Boone returning from a trip to Atmore, on reaching the bridge
discovered that about 40 feet had been burned. Apparently the burnt portion had
been torn away from the main structure, by that means saving the rest from
complete destruction. Up to this morning no clue has been found as to the
origin of the fire, but the prevailing opinion is that it was the work of an
incendiary.
MAY 20, 1915
Rev. D.F. Ellisor left Tuesday for Montgomery to attend the
annual session of the Pythian Grand Lodge as the representative of the local
lodge of that order.
Mr. J.T. McCarthy, head of the contracting company that
constructed that portion of the roadbed of the G.F. and A. railroad now in
operation, was in the city Saturday. Mr. McCarthy informed us that he has ever
assurance that the work which has been suspended for some time will be resumed
very soon. The contract for the construction of the bridge across the Alabama
River has been let and the material for its construction is now in transit. The
big steam shovel used on the heavy grading in the vicinity of Monroeville will
be transported to Pine Hill and worked in this direction, while the road bed
already graded from Broughton northward will be made ready for laying steel.
Mr. McCarthy will continue to maintain headquarters at Monroeville until the
work is completed.
DRAMATICS: There will be an entertainment given by the
Perdue Hill Dramatic Club Friday night, May 21st, Town Auditorium , eight
o’clock. Admission 25 and 15 cents.
At a recent meeting of the County Board of Education of
Monroe County a resolution was passed requiring Trustees to secure teachers for
their respective districts not later than July 1. The resolution further
provides that after July 1 the County Board will appoint teachers to all
schools that have not secured them.
MAY 27, 1915
Active work on the construction of the Gulf, Florida and
Alabama railroad was resumed last Monday. Construction camps are being
established at various points along the line and the work will be pressed
steadily to completion. That portion of the railroad between the present
terminus at Broughton and a point near Monroeville which had been graded before
the suspension of work several months ago is being made ready for to laying of
steel to facilitate the transportation of material and supplies while station
contracts are being let for filling in the gaps between graded portions north
of this place.
High School Commencement: Following is the program of
commencement exercises of the fourth annual session of the Monroe County High
School:
Sunday, May 30, 11 a.m., Commencement Sermon, Dr. B.F.
Riley, Birmingham.
Monday evening, eight o’clock, Concert by Music Department.
Tuesday, 3:30 p.m., Baseball, Monroe County High School v.
Finchburg.
Tuesday evening, eight o’clock, Declamation contest.
Wednesday morning, nine o’clock and 3 p.m., Baseball, Monroe
County High School v. Finchburg.
Wednesday evening, eight o’clock, Graduating exercises,
Address by Dr. W.M. Murray, Brewton.
Mr. Thomas Forbes, the well known marble man of Selma, was
transacting business here this week.
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