Sunday, July 12, 2015

100-year-old news highlights from The Monroe Journal from July 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 July 1915. Those issues, which were dated July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22 and July 29, 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.

JULY 1, 1915

Murder and Arson in Conecuh: An atrocious murder was committed in Conecuh County some mile east of Burnt Corn one night last week. Two Negroes went to the home of Wiley House and covering him with a pistol demanded his money or his life. When his housekeeper, Mrs. Lassiter raised an outcry, the Negroes shot her, inflicting mortal wounds. They also stabbed Mr. House, leaving him for dead; they then set fire to the house, which was entirely consumed. Mr. House regained consciousness in time to drag the body of the murdered woman from the burning building. As soon as the circumstances were learned by neighbors, the sheriff was notified and posse organized to search for the culprits. Aided by the description furnished by Mr. House, they were soon captured and placed in jail in Evergreen, but later removed to Montgomery to avoid possible mob violence. It is said that the Negroes confessed the crime, stating that they made the assault upon Mr. House in belief that he was in possession of a large amount of money.

Monroe County Masonic Conference: The Monroe County Masonic Conference will be held with Blacksher Lodge, No. 593, on July 19, 1915 at 10 a.m. Let every lodge in the county be represented. The above date was fixed by Grand Master Miller. – W.S. Nash, Secretary.

The new Methodist Church at Burnt Corn will be formally dedicated on the second Sunday in July. Bishop McCoy will deliver the dedicatory sermon and officiate in the ceremonies. A cordial invitation is extended to everyone to attend this service.

JEDDO: The many friends of Mr. J.C. Kyle were indeed sorry to learn that while at a ball game here last Saturday afternoon he had the misfortune to be hit on the side of his face by a pitched ball, resulting in fractured jawbone. He was hurriedly conveyed to Uriah, where Dr. G.H. Harper deftly bound up the fracture. We hope he will soon have complete restoration.

Mr. Leroy Baggett is erecting a new dwelling in Monvil Park addition. Mr. J.M. Daniel is the contractor.

Local physicians report numerous cases of typhoid fever in the vicinity of Monroeville. No cases have developed within the corporate limits but many of our citizens are taking the inoculation treatment as a preventative.

Prof. E.B. Kay of Tuscaloosa was a visitor to Monroeville this week. Prof. Kay is a well known civil engineer who has been connected with some of the largest water power enterprises in the state. While here he took occasion to inspect some of the fine streams in the vicinity of Monroeville. It is possible that he may be employed to make surveys and estimates in the near future with a view to their industrial development.

Dr. Dubose of Mobile preached at the Presbyterian church on Tuesday night of last week.

Mr. Calvin Nettles was down from Natchez Monday and reported fine corn crops in his section.

JULY 8, 1915

The Monroeville and Atmore baseball teams crossed bats on the local diamond last week. The Journal has not been furnished with the score.

Monroeville defeated Brewton 7 to 4 in a game of 11 innings Monday. A number of local fans accompanied  the home team to Brewton.

JEDDO: Several of the young men from here attended the baseball picnic at Megargel on the 1st inst. and also the ice cream supper at Butler Street on the night of the 3rd.

Rev. C.W. Henson is engaged in a protracted meeting at Enon Baptist Church this week.

Dr. B.F. Riley of Birmingham spent a few days among relatives and friends in Monroe this week.

Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Lazenby were called to Greenville Monday to attend the funeral of their nephew, Mr. Claude Lazenby, who met his death in a railway accident at Los Angeles, Calif. on Saturday. The unfortunate young man was the eldest son of Mr. G.S. Lazenby of Forest Home.

Editor Journal: Please announce that the next regular examination for teachers certificates will be held at the courthouse in Monroeville, beginning at 10 o’clock Mon., July 19, 1915.
Let all applicants be present by 9:30 so that they can be enrolled in order to be ready to begin actual work at 10. – J.A. Barnes, County Superintendent.

JULY 15, 1915

The commissioners court is in regular quarterly session this week.

Mr. English of the Roy Bottling Works was transacting business in Monroeville Monday.

The dedication services conducted by Bishop J.H. McCoy at the Burnt Corn Methodist Church last Sunday was pronounced by all who attended a most delightful occasion. An immense congregation was present from all the surrounding country and Bishop McCoy was at his best. A pleasing incident of the occasion was the presentation of a beautiful loving cup to the pastor, Rev. D.F. Ellisor in which gift each member of the local congregation was represented.

The friends of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Lazenby are glad to know that the statement of the Los Angeles paper concerning the tragic death of their nephew, Mr. Claude Lazenby, was not true. Mr. Lazenby had purchased a ticket for Riverside, placed his grip on the train; having 10 minutes to wait, he walked on the other side of the train where the vestibule doors were not open. When the train was called, he ran and in endeavoring to get on was crushed by the car wheels.

LOST – In the grove in front of Judge McCorvey’s residence a gold ring set with two opals surrounded by chipped diamonds. Finder will be suitably rewarded by leaving same at The Journal office.

Three mules belonging to J.T. McCarthy & Co. were drowned, the fourth rescued with difficulty and painful injuries sustained by the negro driver as a result of the falling in of the Graham bridge on Flat Creek on Thursday of last week. A wagon loaded with some seven or eight hundred feet of green lumber was being hauled across the bridge when the accident occurred. The creek was much swollen from the recent rains and the mules being entangled by the harness were swept down by the swift current. The bridge was somewhat old and the timbers said to have been decayed. This bridge has been rebuilt many times within the last 10 or 15 years, but will probably be replaced by a steel or concrete structure.

Mr. Simeon F. Daniel died at his home at Century, Fla. on Mon., July 12, aged 84 years. The remains were brought to Monroeville for interment. The funeral took place from the home of his son, Mr. J.M. Daniel, Tuesday morning with Masonic honors.
Mr. Daniel was a native of Monroe County and resided here practically all of his life until his removal to Atmore and later to Century some eight or 10 years ago. He was a good citizen and esteemed by all who knew him.

Mr. A. Holloman, who is in attendance upon the regular term of Commissioners Court, states that he has never seen a finer prospect for a corn crop in this section of the county and never before so large an acreage.

The editorial household is enjoying pancakes constructed of homegrown wheat flour for which we are indebted to our ever-thoughtful brother of The Evergreen Courant. We are prepared to pronounced the quality of the flour superior to the market variety grown in the west.

JULY 22, 1915

Hon. H.C. Miller of Birmingham, Grand Master of Masons of Alabama, passed through Monroeville Monday on his way to Uriah where he held the Monroe County Masonic Conference.

Representative J.K. Kyser, Drs. W.G. Hairston and H.C. Fountain, Mr. A.O. Brantley of Burnt Corn, passed through the city Monday on their way to attend the Masonic Conference at Uriah.

Another bridge collapsed one day last week while a heavily loaded wagon was being drawn over it. The bridge was located across Lovett’s Creek on the Mount Pleasant Road in the southern part of the county and makes the second collapse under similar circumstances in a fortnight. Engineer Turner of the Highway Commission visited the scene on Monday for the purpose of investigating the occurrence and will submit his report to the commission.

The Monroe County Masonic Conference was held with Blacksher Lodge, No. 593, on July 19 and 20, 1915. The names of 102 Masons in attendance were enrolled by the secretary. Grand Master H.C. Miller of Birmingham was present and conducted the conference and instructed the craft in the ritualistic work. The conference was very fortunate in securing his services.
The conference is also indebted to Dr. J.H. McCormick of Mobile for his lectures on the various phases of Masonry.
There are 12 lodges in the county and all were represented with one exception.
The next session will be held with Excel Lodge, No. 655, on July 20, 1916, this date being fixed by the Grand Master at this session.

JULY 29, 1915

The Fancy Grocery has removed to larger and more suitable quarters in the brick store next door to L.A. Hixon Co. on Westside where the proprietors have a larger and better stock more elegantly displayed than ever before.

The new well at the local pumping plant has been completed and the water was turned in the mains Tuesday afternoon. Although a little off color at first, the water appears to be of good quality and abundant in quantity. After 10 days of near famine the convenience of the water system can be more justly appreciated. The wells of the community were being rapidly exhausted.

The first open bolls of cotton of the new crop were sent to The Journal on the 24th inst. by Mr. J.E. Hendrix of Mexia.

The executive committee of the Monroe County Fair Association met in Monroeville last Thursday to fix the date and arrange the details for the holding of the County Fair this fall.
Oct. 19, 20 and 21 was fixed as the time for holding the Fair and a very liberal list of premiums agreed upon to supplement those offered by the Gulf Coast Fair Association.

Two bridges heretofore mentioned in this paper collapsed under heavy loads while a third fell in of its own weight within the past week. The last named bridge was known as the McCorvey Bridge which spanned Limestone Creek.


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