100-year-old news highlights from The Wilcox Progressive Era

Dr. John G. Woolley 

What follows are 100-year-old news excerpts from the Feb. 28, 1918 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era newspaper in Camden, Ala.

Death of Mr. David McIntosh Sr. – Last Saturday night Mr. David McIntosh died at his Camden home, aged 93 years. At his death he was probably the oldest white man in our county. Mr. McIntosh was for many years a farmer in Mims beat, near where is now Neenah. In early life he was happily married to Miss Carrie McDowell, who died several years ago. Surviving him are Mrs. R.L. Rentz, Miss Minnie McIntosh and five sons and several grandsons. Mr. McIntosh was a true Southerner and early in the War Between the States enlisted in the Confederate service as a member of Co. D, Third Alabama Cavalry. Sometime after the war, Mr. McIntosh purchased the Jerry Fail residence in Camden and has continued to reside here, and until a few years since, to farm. He was a member of Dale Lodge No. 25, Free and Accepted Masons, and was buried in the Camden cemetery by his fraternity. In faith, he was a Presbyterian and the burial services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. H.W. Wallace. The pallbearers were his five sons, David McIntosh of Camden, Sam McIntosh and Judge John R. McIntosh of Louisiana, Dr. E.L. McIntosh of Catherine, Douglas McIntosh of Texas, and his son-in-law, Mr. R.L. Rentz of Camden. Many floral tributes attested the esteem in which he was held, and many friends regret his death and console the bereaved in their sorrow.

A splendid and well matched basketball game was played on the campus of the Wilcox County High School last Friday between teams of the Selma High School and the Wilcox County High School. The game was won by Selma by a score of two.

Mrs. W.W. McConnico: A message announcing the death of Mrs. W.W. McConnico, at midnight Tuesday at the family home near Snow Hill in Wilcox County, was received in Montgomery Wednesday. Mrs. McConnico was well known here, having often visited her son, Dr. F.H. McConnico, now lieutenant in the army medical corps.

Mrs. McConnico was 75 years of age. She had made her home in Wilcox County practically her entire life. Her husband died three weeks ago.

Mrs. McConnico is survived by two daughters, Miss Etta McConnico, Mrs. Kate Jones, and two sons, Stonewall McConnico and Lt. F.H. McConnico.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday from the residence.

Dr. John G. Woolley delivered on Tuesday night the finest address ever heard in Camden. A full house listened attentively to his unanswerable plea for the ratification of the national prohibition amendment and gave him enthusiastic applause. Dr. Woolley is a convincing speaker, and his address in Camden has stirred the enthusiasm of the supporters of the amendment and has given the opponents some food for thought.

Mr. Daniel G. Cook of Black’s was in Camden Friday. He has paid his town license as a practicing attorney at law, and, we are informed, expects to engage actively in the practice of law in Camden.

Mr. T.E. Tucker stopped over with parents Sunday at Catherine, on his return to Mobile School of Medicine. He had been to University of Alabama to attend Class day exercises and in the interest of the Medical College and fraternity.

Hon. Sol. D. Block, after several weeks stay in Mobile, has returned to Camden for a few days. His many friends are glad to note his good health.

Search for old grave leads to mosquito hawks and black snake

Several weeks ago, someone mailed me a 23-page document that detailed the final resting places of over 230 Wilcox County Confederate veterans, the vast majority of which are buried in cemeteries throughout the county. I was scanning through this list on Saturday morning, and one name jumped off the page at me: Samuel Benjamin Woodson, who was born around 1830 and died in 1867.

According to this source, Woodson served with the Alabama River Rangers, 13^th Alabama Infantry, and is said to be the only Confederate veteran buried in the McIntosh Cemetery in Camden. I knew that this cemetery was one of the most historic cemeteries in all of Wilcox County, but I couldn’t honestly say that I’d ever been there in person. With that in mind, I set off after lunch on Saturday with an eye toward seeing Woodson’s grave for myself.

Around two o’clock, I turned off Claiborne Street and onto the dead-end dirt road that leads into the cemetery. I parked near the entrance and stepped out. Despite over three more weeks of winter, it was unseasonably warm. I checked the weather app on my phone, which said that it was 77 degrees.

I struck out on foot and walked the entire length of this large cemetery, looking for Woodson’s grave. While I found many World War I, World War II and Vietnam veteran graves, I found no sign of Woodson’s final resting place. Eventually, I reached the wire fence at the southernmost end of the graveyard and stopped for a short rest at the top of this small hill.

For a change, I was all alone, and I stood there for several minutes, not far from where someone had erected a hunting stand that overlooked a large clear cut. In the distance, I could see Camden’s sewage lagoon and heard motors from the treatment machinery. Aside from that, it was eerily quiet.

About half way back to my truck, I noticed a number of graves in the wood line and considered the possibility that Woodson’s grave could be among their number. Most veteran headstones have a distinctive look, and I saw one that looked like a prime candidate. I couldn’t make out the name on the headstone, so I stepped deeper into the bushes for a closer look.

The brush was thick and when I stuck my arm in to move some vines aside, a mosquito hawk flew up into my face and I heard a rustling in the leaves at my feet. I looked down in time to see a black snake as long as my arm slithering away, just inches from my right boot. In all honesty, I do not remember exactly what I said in that moment, as I extracted myself rapidly from the bushes, but I’m glad my mother wasn’t there to hear it.

As it turned out, that grave actually belonged to a Pvt. Charlie Hill, and despite a thorough search, I never found Woodson’s grave. Many graves in this cemetery are unmarked and many are hidden by underbrush or lie outside the apparent bounds of the graveyard. In the end, if anyone knows the exact location of Woodson’s grave, please let me hear from you, and, if you decide to look for it yourself, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for snakes.

Today in History for Feb. 28, 2018

Katie Couric

Feb. 28, 1510 – Spanish cartographer and explorer Juan de la Cosa died in Turbaco, Columbia.

Feb. 28, 1525 – The Aztec king Cuauhtémoc was executed by Hernán Cortés's forces.

Feb. 28, 1533 – Essayist Michel de Montaigne was born in Perigord in Bordeaux, France.

Feb. 28, 1692 - In Salem, Massachusetts 10 children identified the "witches" in their community who afflicted them: Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne and an old Native American woman named Tituba. Warrants were obtained, and they were arrested.

Feb. 28, 1766 - Revolutionary War soldier and Georgia Governor John Clarke was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Clarke County, Ala. was named in his honor on Dec. 10, 1812.

Feb. 28, 1784 - John Wesley chartered the first Methodist Church in the United States.

Feb. 28, 1824 - Charles Blondin, the first person to walk across Niagra Falls on a tightrope, was born in St Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Feb. 28, 1827 - The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad became the first railroad incorporated for the commercial transportation of people and freight.

Feb. 28, 1829 – Edgar Allan Poe’s foster mother, Frances Allan, died.

Feb. 28, 1834 – Charles Pawson Atmore was born on the island of Guernsey. Atmore, Ala. would later be named in his honor.

Feb. 28, 1836 - The Alamo endured prolonged cannonade fire from Santa Anna’s artillery batteries.

Feb. 28, 1840 – French explorer Henri Duveyrier was born in Paris, France.

Feb. 28, 1855 – Hinchey W. Warren passed away at the age of 67 near Sparta, Ala. and was buried in the Warren Family Cemetery. A War of 1812 veteran, he was also the great-grandfather of U.S. President Warren G. Harding.

Feb. 28, 1858 – The ill-fated Eliza Battle left Demopolis, Ala. fully loaded with passengers and with more than 1,200 bales of cotton. During an already cold night, a strong north wind began to blow, with the air temperature decreasing another 40°F in the two hours after nightfall.

Feb. 28, 1861 - With the region’s population booming because of the Pike’s Peak gold rush, Congress created the new Territory of Colorado.

Feb. 28, 1861 – Organized early in February 1861, the men of the Camden Rifles left Wilcox County on this day and traveled by steamboat to Mobile, where they enlisted for 12 months. Seventy-two men, with Robert Tait as captain, were joined by others from Wilcox County before the end of March.

Feb. 28, 1862 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought near Fayetteville, Ark., at Osage Springs. Federal operations at New Madrid, Mo. and Island No. 10 began. Charleston, Va. was occupied by Federal forces.

Feb. 28, 1863 – During the Civil War, the Federal naval attacked Fort McAllister, Ga., and a Naval encounter occurred on the Ogeechee River, south of Savannah, Ga. A skirmish was also fought out from Fort Gibson in the Indian Territory.

Feb. 28, 1864 – After getting captured by the Union at Campbell’s Station, Noah Dallas Peacock (Lewis Lavon Peacock’s older brother) was transferred from Asylum General Hospital in Nashville to Louisville Military Prison.

Feb. 28, 1864 - A major Union cavalry raid began when General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick led 3,500 troopers south from Stevensburg, Virginia. Aimed at Richmond, the raid sought to free Federal prisoners and spread word of President Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction in hopes of convincing Confederates to lay down their arms. Kilpatrick took with him Colonel Ulrich Dahlgren to conduct the prisoner release while Kilpatrick covered him with the main force.

Feb. 28, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought along the Peal River and at Yazoo City, Miss.; at Dukedom Tenn.; and at Ely’s Ford, Va. A Federal operation took place in Gloucester County and Albermarle County, Va.

Feb. 28, 1865 – During the Civil War, Nathan Bedford Forrest was finally appointed Lieutenant General, and a skirmish was fought in the vicinity of Cheraw and Rocky Mount, S.C.

Feb. 28, 1872 - John Gassaway Rush passed away at the age of 54 and was buried in McIntosh Cemetery, which is located behind Andrews Chapel in McIntosh, Ala. In 1860, he and his wife donated the land where the church was constructed.

Feb. 28, 1887 - Alabama passed its first child labor law, fixing age limits and restricting work hours for certain types of labor. The legislation, which also protected women workers, was repealed in the 1890s, but efforts of reformers like Rev. Edgar Gardner Murphy of Montgomery resulted in new child labor laws during the first two decades of the 20th century.

Feb. 28, 1887 - Capt. John DeLoach went to Mobile on this Monday to purchase his plantation supplies.

Feb. 28, 1894 – Novelist, playwright and screenwriter Ben Hecht was born in New York City.

Feb., 28, 1895 – The Monroe Journal reported that “a little colored girl was shot and killed by her brother near Perdue Hill last week. The two children were playing with an old gun which went off with the above result.”

Feb. 28, 1901 – The Town of Beatrice, Ala. was officially incorporated as a municipality. While the Selma to Pensacola branch of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad was being built, the general superintendent of construction, a Col. Seymour of Nashville, Tenn., asked that the town growing up around the station in present-day Beatrice be named for his granddaughter, Beatrice Seymour. The Beatrice post office was established in 1900.

Feb. 28, 1901 – According to the Alabama League of Municipalities, Opp was officially incorporated as a municipality.

Feb. 28, 1906 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the Evergreen Bottling Co. had opened a supply depot next door to McNutt’s barber shop, and was prepared to supply dealers with bottled soda water, ginger ale, etc. on short notice.

Feb. 28, 1906 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Frank Simmons of Evergreen, Ala. had brought the newspaper a 9-1/2 pound “monster turnip” that was bigger than the 7-3/4 pound turnip recently grown by J.J. Pearce of Bowles.

Feb. 28, 1906 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the Daughters of the Confederacy planned to make a donation to the Soldiers’ Home at Mountain Creek and earnestly desired the cooperation of every Confederate veteran. All contributions were to be left at the McCreary Drug Store. Mrs. M. McCreary was President of the U.D.C. and Mrs. Edwin C. Page was Corresponding Secretary.

Feb. 28, 1915 - Asa Goodwin, the oldest man in Alabama, died at Bessemer, Ala. on the eve of his 108th birthday. He was born in Henry County, Ga. in 1807 and had lived since 1829 in Alabama and Mississippi. He was survived by one son, 74 grandchildren, 227 great-grandchildren and 15 great-great-grandchildren.

Feb. 28, 1916 - Riley Kelly and W.R. Manning of Excel, Ala. transacted business in Monroeville on this Monday.

Feb. 28, 1916 – Around noon on this Monday, a fire broke out on the roof of M.M. Fountain’s cook room and threatened to destroy his house. According to The Monroe Journal, “half a hundred citizens and visitors quickly resolved themselves into a bucket brigade and the fire was soon extinguished with slight damage.”

Feb. 28, 1916 – The L&N Railroad depot and freight house at Monroe, together with all office furniture and supplies, were destroyed by fire on this Monday night. There was only a small quantity of freight in the warehouse at the time so the loss, aside from the building, was not heavy. The fire was discovered at a late hour of the night by Mr. W.R. Shirley but was already beyond control. It was believed that the building caught fire from an overcharged telegraph wire, as an electric storm prevailed at an earlier hour of the night.

Feb. 28, 1916 - Allied forces completed their conquest of the Cameroons, a German protectorate on the coast of western Africa.

Feb. 28, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Edward E. English of Evergreen, Ala. “died in an accident.”

Feb. 28, 1921 – H.P. Lovecraft completed “The Quest of Iranon,” which was originally published in the July-August 1935 issue of The Galleon.

Feb. 28, 1925 – In Lovecraftian fiction, the lost island of R’lyeh rose once again.

Feb. 28, 1929 - Evergreen High School’s varsity boys basketball left on this Thursday for Foley to enter the district boys tournament for South Alabama and hoped to win the right to participate in the state tourney. Players picked to make the trip were Clint Hyde, Billy Kamplain, Wilbur Kelley, Elmer Kelley, Herbert Sanders, Andrew Jay McCreary, Mabry Murphy and J.C. Miller. They were accompanied by Coach Robinson and Prof. Fisher and traveled in automobiles, one of which was donated for the trip by R.G. Carter. Results of the tournament games were to be wired to Evergreen and posted in some prominent place downtown. Drawing was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Fri., March 1, and the tournament was to begin shortly thereafter and conclude with the final game on Saturday night, March 2. Approximately $75 was donated by Evergreen citizens to defray the expenses of the team on the trip and before leaving, Coach Robinson expressed, in behalf of the team, appreciation for those who contributed to the fund. The Aggies continued to amass victories during the previous week, adding four to their string and making it 29 wins to one loss before leaving for Foley. The scores were: Aggies 19, Fort Deposit 7; Aggies 36, Georgiana 17; Aggies 32, Pine Apple 8; Aggies 27, Bay Minette 11.

Feb. 28, 1929 – The Evergreen Courant reported, under the headline “Four Guardsmen Prepare For Trip To Washington,” that four men selected from Troop C, 55^th Machine Gun Squadron, Alabama National Guard, were making final preparations that week for their trip to Washington, D.C. to take part in the inaugural ceremonies for President-Elect Herbert Hoover. The four who planned to make the trip were Frank Brantley, D.C. Brooks, Willie I. Cook and W. McLean Dreaden. They planned to leave Evergreen on Sat., March 2, and return about Wed., March 6.

Feb. 28, 1929 – The Evergreen Courant reported, under the headline “Confederate Soldiers Will Get Gravestones,” that the Confederate dead of the Civil War, after sleeping for six decades as rebels, were given official recognition on Feb. 23 as American soldiers when the senate passed a house bill conferring governmental honors upon them. The bill authorized the secretary of war to erect headstones over the “graves of soldiers who served in the Confederate army and who have been buried in national, city, town or village cemeteries or in any other places,” the war department also was instructed to preserve in its record “the name, rank, company, regiment and date of death of the soldiers and his state.” The bill was headed to the White House for the president’s signature.

Feb. 28, 1930 – Major League Baseball third baseman Frank Malzone was born in Bronx, N.Y. He would go on to play for the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels.

Feb. 28, 1932 – H.P. Lovecraft completed “The Dreams in the Witch House,” which was originally published in the July 1933 issue of Weird Tales.

Feb. 28, 1933 – The Reichstag Fire Decree was passed in Germany, a day after the Reichstag fire.

Feb. 28, 1945 – NFL defensive end Bubba Smith was born in Orange, Texas. He would go on to play for Michigan State, the Baltimore Colts, the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Oilers.

Feb. 28, 1946 – Ernie and Dot Lind, aka “The Shooting Linds,” performed a “spectacular exhibition of fancy shooting” in Evergreen, Ala.

Feb. 28, 1947 – Major League Baseball shortstop and second baseman Marty Perez was born in Visalia, Calif. He would go on to play for the California Angels, the Atlanta Braves, the San Francisco Giants, the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics.

Feb. 28, 1952 – The Evergreen Courant reported that PFC William Howard Peacock of Route One, Owasssa, Ala., was preparing to return to Fort Campbell, Ky. from Camp Drum, N.Y. after several weeks of extensive cold weather warfare training in Exercise Snow Fall in northern New York state. Peacock was a member of the 11th Airborne Division and a gunner with the 188th Airborne Regiment’s Support Command. He attended Evergreen High School, entered the Army in 1949 and completed Parachutist School at Fort Benning, Ga.

Feb. 28, 1953 – NFL running back Roland Harper was born in Seguin, Texas. He would go on to play for Louisiana Tech and the Chicago Bears.

Feb. 28, 1953 - In a Cambridge University laboratory, scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick discovered the double-helix structure of DNA.

Feb. 28, 1964 - A television version of Alabama author Ambrose Bierce's story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" was broadcast as part of the series “The Twilight Zone.”

Feb. 28, 1965 – National Book Award-winning novelist Colum McCann was born in Dublin.

Feb. 28, 1968 - General Earle Wheeler, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, returned from his recent round of talks with General William Westmoreland in Saigon and immediately delivered a written report to President Lyndon B. Johnson, stated that despite the heavy casualties incurred during the Tet Offensive, North Vietnam and Viet Cong forces had the initiative and were “operating with relative freedom in the countryside.”

Feb. 28, 1976 – Actress Ali Larter was born in Cherry Hills, New Jersey.

Feb. 28, 1980 – Evergreen High School’s varsity basketball team, led by head coach Charles Branum, beat Wilcox County, 81-51, in the opening round of the area tournament, which was played at W.S. Neal High School in East Brewton, Ala. Horace Smith and Perona Rankins led Evergreen with 26 points and 22 points, respectively. Others scoring were Joe Mitchell, 12; Sanford Moye, six; David Floyd, five; Philander Rogers, two; Johnny Allen, two; Anthony Williams, two; Arturo Scott, two; and Michael Lampley, two.

Feb. 28, 1980 – Evergreen, Ala. radio station WBLO began broadcasting after being off the air since Feb. 16 so that broadcast equipment could be repaired and improved and the station’s signal expanded. John Bolton was the station’s DJ.

Feb. 28, 1986 - Meredith Matthews was named Miss Alpha 1986 at Sparta Academy’s annual Miss Alpha Pageant held on this Friday night in the school gymnatorium. Abigail Maddox was chosen first alternate and Angelia Sellers second alternate. (Other finalists included Lynn Williams, Jill Jeffcoat, Tracy Holmes and Baby Girl Floyd.)

Feb. 28, 1988 - A television version of Alabama author Borden Deal's book “Bluegrass” was broadcast.

Feb. 28, 1991 – The first Gulf War ended as U.S. President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire, and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein pledged to honor future United Nations peace terms.

Feb. 28, 1993 – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raided the Branch Davidian church in Waco, Texas with a warrant to arrest the group's leader David Koresh. Four BATF agents and five Davidians died in the initial raid, starting a 51-day standoff.

Feb. 28, 1995 - The Monroe County Hospital Board on this Tuesday approved a new chief financial officer (CFO). Nellie Chunn, 24, of Rocky Hill was recommended by Administrator Floyd Price to replace Chris Johns as CFO. Chunn had worked as accounting manager at the hospital for the previous three years. Chunn was a 1992 graduate of Troy State University with a degree in computer science and accounting and a graduate of J.U. Blacksher High School. She was selected from six applicants interviewed.

Feb. 28, 2002 - It was announced that John Madden would be replacing Dennis Miller on "Monday Night Football." Madden signed a four-year $20 million deal with ABC Sports.

Feb. 28, 2002 - A crew with NBC’s “Today Show” was scheduled to visit Monroeville on this Thursday to film footage for a segment to air on national television in March 2002. According to Museums Director Kathy McCoy, “Today Show” host Katie Couric, a native of Eufaula, and an assistant producer, Mary Elizabeth Webb, a native of Demopolis, were “big” fans of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The crew of cameramen and a producer planned to spend the day in Monroeville but did not plan to shoot a live show, McCoy said.

Feb. 28, 2002 – The Monroe Journal reported that the new members of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors were Stuart Richeson, Stuart Rich, Bill Lamar, Jane Martin, Jeff Kircharr, Ray Owens, Kenneth Fairly, Lou Cummins and Tim Tirey. Other members of the board were president Kathy Johnson, treasurer Randy Nichols, Mike Colquett, Pattie Crawford, Butch Feaster, Kenny Johnson, John Estes Jr., Tom Lomenick, Jan Feaster, Patrick Harrigan and Robert Sims.

  

Feb. 28, 2005 – A suicide bombing at a police recruiting centre in Al Hillah, Iraq killed 127.

Feb. 28, 2008 – The Barnes Cemetery in Butler County was added to the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register.

Feb. 28, 2010 - Weather observer Harry Ellis reported that total rainfall for the month of February 2010 was 3.50 inches and total snowfall was five inches.

Feb. 28, 2014 – Country music singer-songwriter Hank Locklin of Brewton, Ala. was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Feb. 28, 2018

Italian painter Raphael.

13 YEARS AGO

FEB. 24, 2005

Weather observer Harry Ellis reported no rain between Feb. 14-20. He also reported a high of 74 degrees on Feb. 15 and a low of 33 degrees on Feb. 18.

60^th Calf Show Monday: 60 years and counting! While many other things in Conecuh County have come to an end over the years, one thing has continued to push forward. This year, the Conecuh County Steer-Heifer Show celebrates its 60^th anniversary. On Mon., Feb. 28, youth from throughout the county will once again exhibit livestock at this annual 4-H event.

One thing has changed this year however. Due to damage from Ivan in September, the Evergreen Stockyard will not be the site for the show. Mr. Homer Chavers has graciously provided his facilities at Breaking Ridge Farms for the show.

(Competitors that year included Ashton Garner of Castleberry, Colby Hayes of Mixonville, Kelly Goneke of Lyeffion and Katelyn and Kristen McInnis of Repton.)

Evergreen Mayor Larry Fluker helped plant a tree at Evergreen Elementary School Tuesday in celebration of Arbor Week in the City of Evergreen. The tree was planted at the site for the playground for the school and will provide shade for students in the years to come. Also pictured at the planting are several EES students, James North and Victor Howell of the Alabama Forestry Commission, EES Principal Joey Varner and EES teacher Missy Deason. The ash tree they planted will help replace several trees lost during Hurricane Ivan in September of 2004.

38 YEARS AGO

FEB. 28, 1980

Weather observer Earl Windham reported no rain in Evergreen between Feb. 18-24.  He reported a high of 81 degrees on Feb. 24 and a low of 24 on Feb. 18.

Miss Mary Shaver was hostess of the Pinckney D. Bowles Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy, on Tues., Feb. 19.

Mr. Marie Majors, director, introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Norman R. Davis, Traveling Humanist, funded by the committee for the Public Service Humanities in Alabama.

Dr. Davis gave a very interesting talk on “Conecuh County in the Civil War.”

Cpl. Robert Grace, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hilary Grace Jr., Route 1, Castleberry, is participating with the 1^st Infantry Division in Desert Warrior 80, a training exercise at Fort Irwin, Calif.

Fort Irwin, located in the upper Mojave Desert, is scheduled to develop into one of the Army’s major training areas.

Jack Wainwright, president and chief executive of the First Alabama Bank of Conecuh County, has been appointed as the chairman in Conecuh County for presidential candidate George Bush.

A Reagan supporter in 1976, Wainwright will be coordinating Bush support in the county with the assistance of co-chairman David Hyde.

Hyde, Republican chairman in Conecuh County, is a resident of Evergreen.

A Ford campaign-worker in 1976, Hyde was formerly on the state’s Republican committee and is a past president of the Rotary Club.

63 YEARS AGO

FEB. 24, 1955

Joe Hendricks Completes Airborne Jump School: Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Feb. 9, 1955 – Pfc. Joe Hendricks, son of Mrs. Nell T. Hendricks of 128 Mill St., Evergreen, recently completed successfully the four weeks of Airborne Tactics at the 11^th Airborne Division Jump School here at Fort Campbell, Ky.

REPRODUCTION OF “ALBA MADONNA” – An exquisite oils reproduction of the original “Alba Madonna” by Raphael, which was done by Mrs. Naomi Rabb Winston, has been presented to the First Baptist Church of Evergreen by Mrs. Winston as a memorial to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Calloway Stallworth Rabb, who were for many years active members of the church.

Castleberry Plant Now Shipping About 400 Cords of Pulp Weekly: The Castleberry Woodyard, staging point for pulpwood cut in Conecuh and parts of Covington and Escambia counties, is owned and operated by the International Paper Co., and has been in operation since Nov. 1, 1954. The woodyard is located about a block north of the downtown section of Castleberry, situated on about 11 acres of land.

“We are shipping about 20 to 21 cars of pulpwood a week, with 18 to 19 cords in each car,” Claude O’Gwynn, scaler, said today. “This wood is being shipped to the International Paper Co. mill at Moss Point, which makes mostly cards for business machines.”

Facilities at the yard are very modern, and trucks loaded with pulpwood can be unloaded within minutes after their arrival.

88 YEARS AGO

FEB. 27, 1930

R.G. Bozeman, editor of The Evergreen Courant, announces that he has filed qualification papers with Secretary of State John W. Brandon and with the Chairman of the State Democratic Executive Committee to become a candidate for the office of Representative in the legislature from Conecuh County. If his qualification papers are rejected by the Executive Committee, he states that he expects to be a candidate just the same. Bozeman was opposed to the Democratic Presidential nominee in the election of 1928.

Excavation began today on the site of the proposed telephone building located on Rural Street, just west of the Ellis Filling Station. The construction is being done by the Upchurch Construction Co. of Montgomery. The structure will be approximately 56 feet by 53 feet and will have a basement and one floor. It will be of concrete and brick with a select face brick front.

Mr. and Mrs. E.B. James spent Saturday and Sunday in Montgomery, where Mr. James attended the reunion of the famous Rainbow Division.

According to a telegram received Wednesday afternoon from Mayor J.L. Kelly, who with A.A. Williams is in Washington this week to present Evergreen’s bid for the location of the Veterans Hospital, this city’s chances are good. While nothing definite has occurred, it would seem from the tone of the telegram that the committee has reason for encouragement.

CONECUH-ESCAMBIA STAR

138 YEARS AGO

FEB. 28, 1880

We are sorry to learn that Mr. J.W. Deming, station agent and telegraph operator at this place, is confined to his bed with a severe bilious attack.

Cal Rabb is discharging the duties of station agent and telegraph operator during the illness of Mr. Deming.

NOTICE: There will be a meeting of the Medical Society of Conecuh County at Evergreen on Wednesday, the 31^st day of March next. All members are requested to attend. – R.A. Lee, President.

Parents and guardians should see to it their children should receive proper instruction, and we know no better place to send them to obtain such obstruction than the Evergreen Academy, which has now 110 pupils.

A telegram from the Sheriff of Escambia County, Ala., announces the capture of the horse thief W.T. Franklin, who escaped from Conecuh Jail sometime last fall.

Last Saturday another boarder was registered at Sheriff McCreary’s hotel. His name is Jack Raban, and instead of the spirits taking possession of him, he took possession of the spirits. He stole a bottle of whiskey off the counter of Rumbley’s store, for which he will labor hard for three months for the county.

A boy named Ed Perryman was drowned in the Escambia River, near Pollard, Saturday last. He fell from a raft.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Feb. 28, 2018

Evergreen High School's Wayne Frazier.

13 YEARS AGO

FEB. 24, 2005

Lady Warriors welcome new coach to Sparta: Coach Fawn Sims is excited but a bit apprehensive about her first girls softball team at Sparta Academy.

“We have worked hard but only against each other so I’ll be anxious to see how we do against live competition from an opponent.”

The Lady Warriors will get that opportunity next Tuesday afternoon when they go up against Wilcox Academy in Sparta.

(Players on Sparta’s softball team that year included Nicole Bradley, Kelsey Cope, Deanna Covin, Kayla Daw, Mary Frances Floyd, Ashton Garner, Frankie Gibson, Nicole Gilbert, Camerena Godwin, Rebecca Ostrom, Ava Pate, Whitley Roberts, Anna Smith, Page Smith, Sarah Smith, DeAmber Stamm and Hayden Talbot.)

The Hillcrest Jaguars coasted through the 4A Area 2 tournament with decisive wins over area foes Geneva and Andalusia. That set up a matchup with the Daleville Warhawks in the sub-region round of the state playoff system.

Again, it was virtually no contest as the Jags placed four players in double figures in the 73-52 win on Friday night in Evergreen.

Hillcrest, now 25-5, faced Southside-Selma last night at 8 p.m. in Troy in the Southeast Regional tournament. Southside-Selma is 26-2 and ranked No. 1 in the Alabama Sportswriters poll for Class 4A teams.

(Players on Hillcrest’s team that season included Maurice Bradley, Willie Dixon, Chris Hines and Nick Lovelace. Tommy Dukes was head coach.)

38 YEARS AGO

FEB. 28, 1980

Aggies end season 27-1; enter tourney: Coach Charles Branum’s Evergreen High Aggies concluded one of the most successful basketball seasons in the school’s history with an 85-43 romp over W.S. Neal in East Brewton on Friday night. The win ran the Aggies’ record to 27-1.

Horace Smith and Perona Rankins led all Aggie scorers with 23 points each. Other Aggies getting points were Sanford Moye, 11; Anthony Williams, nine; David Floyd, eight; John Allen, four; Michael Lampley, four; and Philander Rogers, three.

The Aggies now enter the Region 1, Area 2, Class 3A Tournament seeded No. 1. They will play the winner of the Neal-Wilcox County game tonight at 7:30 at Neal. If the Aggies win tonight, they will play the victor of Greenville-Monroeville-T.R. Miller on Friday night at seven o’clock at Neal for the championship.

The Area 2 champions will play the Area 1 champion for the Region Championship on Saturday night at seven o’clock and the right to go to the University of Alabama for the State Tournament.

Sparta Academy’s basketball teams ended the 1979-80 season last week. The Warrior girls made it to the state tournament by finishing second in District III while the varsity and junior varsity boys lost out in the district.

In the District III finals, Sparta’s girls lost to Wilcox, 57-34. The games were played at Fort Dale Academy in Greenville.

63 YEARS AGO

FEB. 24, 1955

The Evergreen Aggies broke a school record Wednesday night of last week as they ran over the Castleberry Blue Devils, 106-59, in Castleberry. It was the first time in school history as far as The Courant knows that an Evergreen team has scored better than 100 points.

Big Randy White was again the high man for Evergreen as he had his best night of the season, making 17 field goals and 10 for 12 free throws for a total of 44 points, which is another school record. Tommy Melton followed White with one of his best efforts of the season as he made 21 points. Wayne Frazier, eight, Alexander, five, and Jimmy Frazier and Wendell Tolbert, four each, to wind up the Aggie scoring.

Clarence and Charles Hart were high men for Castleberry as they scored 24 points each. Oliver had four; Weaver, three; and Warren and Aycock had two each.

District Tournament Begins Next Thursday: Evergreen will again be host to the first district AA basketball tournament beginning next Thursday night, March 3. There will be 16 teams participating in the tournament and it looks like there will be some good basketball if pre-tournament games are a good indication.

The following teams will be in the tournament: Baker, Fairhope, McGill Institute, Bay Minette, Foley, Monroeville, Butler, Grove Hill, Murphy, Evergreen, Jackson, Robertsdale, Semmes, U.M.S., Vigor and W.S. Neal.

88 YEARS AGO

FEB. 27, 1930

Kelley Brothers On All-District Team: The all-district team selected by the coaches of the schools participated in the district tournament at Foley last week shows the Evergreen Aggies with two places on the first team and one place on the second team. Elmer Kelley, Aggie center, won a place on the first team as center and his brother, Wilbur, tied with Beasley of Foley for one of the forward positions. Allen Johnson was selected as forward on the second team. The Aggies won more places on the two teams than any other organization.

First team: Shearer (Murphy), W. Kelley (Evergreen) and Beasley (Foley), forwards; E. Kelley (Evergreen), center; Hall (Bay Minette), Nihart (Bay Minette), guards.

Second team: Johnson (Evergreen), Gallagher (Foley), forwards; Wynne (Murphy), center; Blount (Murphy), Noeten (Robertsdale), guards.

Jay, Fla. To Play Georgiana Here: The fast Jay, Fla. High School will meet the undefeated Georgiana Athletic Club in Evergreen at 8:00 o’clock at the National Guard Armory. These two teams are supposed to be the best in their sections. Georgiana holds victories over Troy Normal, Dothan Athletic Club, Troy Town Team and many others. They are undefeated this season and have played a number of games, running up high scores in all games. Everyone knows what a good team Jay, Fla. has. If you saw the game between Jay and the Evergreen Aggies, you know what a good team they have. The Aggies defeated, 15-14. If you missed this game, ask someone who saw it. Anyway, the same team will be back in Evergreen Saturday night. Many have picked Jay to win over Georgiana. Make your plans to see this big game. Don’t forget, at the Armory, 8:00 o’clock in Evergreen – Georgiana Athletic Club v. Jay, Fla. Be there.

District Tournament Ends In Wrangle: A wrangle among several teams participating in the District Tournament at Foley last week as to the schedule arrangement brought about the necessity for a decision by the district board to settle the matter. This decision was reached at a meeting of the board at Bay Minette Monday night and as a result of this decision, and events occurring since, it seems that this district will be represented in the state tournament by Murphy High and Wright’s Military Academy, both of Mobile.

Bay Minette and Evergreen protested the schedule arrangement at the tournament and were upheld by the board decision. However, the board ordered these teams to determine either by playing or by drawing which should go to the state tournament. Bay Minette waived its right to Evergreen, who in turn waived its right to Murphy High. Thus, the matter was settled inasmuch as Wright’s had won its place by playing in the tournament. Foley was declared ineligible by the board due to having played Beasley, who was 21 years of age.

CONECUH-ESCAMBIA STAR

138 YEARS AGO

FEB. 28, 1880

Beale, of the Evergreen Hotel, had a rock fish last Monday, taken from Murder Creek, which weighed 23 pounds and measured 36 inches in length.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Wed., Feb. 28, 2018

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.00 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 2.05 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  5.10 inches.

Winter to Date Rainfall: 8.30 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 7.70 inches.

Notes: Today is the 59th day of 2018 and the 68th day of Winter. There are 306 days left in the year.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line and south of U.S. Highway 84, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834N Lon 87.30131W. Elevation 400 feet above sea level. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-4, Station Name: Excel 2.5 ESE.

Today in History for Feb. 27, 2018

Grave of Robert Lee Page.

Feb. 27, 1776 – During the American Revolutionary War, 1,000 Patriots troops under the command of Richard Caswell defeated 1,600 British Loyalist militia at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge in North Carolina, the first American victory in the first organized campaign of the Revolutionary War.

Feb. 27, 1782 – During the American Revolutionary War, the House of Commons of Great Britain voted against further war in America.

Feb. 27, 1807 – Poet and author Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was born in Portland, Maine. His most famous works include “Ballads and Other Poems” (1841), “Evangeline” (1847), “The Song of Hiawatha” (1855) and “The Courtship of Miles Standish” (1858).

Feb. 27, 1827 - The first Mardi Gras in New Orleans took place with a group of masked and costumed students dancing through the streets.

Feb. 27, 1829 – William Barrett Travis passed his law exam at Claiborne, Ala., allowing him to practice the profession of attorney at law. Seven years later, he would be the commander of the ill-fated Alamo, with only a few days left to live.

Feb. 27, 1834 – Portland, Maine native William Coombs, also known as “The Brokenhearted Stranger,” died at Claiborne, Ala. He was buried in the Old Cemetery at Claiborne. (Some sources say he died in 1838.)

Feb. 27, 1836 - Work continued on the batteries and entrenchments ringing the Alamo, and Santa Anna sent foraging parties to nearby ranches to look for supplies.  

Feb. 27, 1860 – Abraham Lincoln made an anti-slavery speech at the Cooper Union in the city of New York that was largely responsible for his election to the Presidency. About 1,500 people were in attendance and The New York Times reprinted the speech in its entirety.

Feb. 27, 1860 – Just moments before his speech at the Cooper Union, Abraham Lincoln posed for the first of several portraits by noted Civil War-era photographer Mathew Brady. Days later, the photograph was published on the cover of Harper's Bazaar with the caption, “Hon. Abram [sic] Lincoln, of Illinois, Republican Candidate for President.”

Feb. 27, 1862 – The Confederate Congress gave President Jefferson Davis the authority to suspend the right (or privilege) of habeas corpus. The right (or privilege) of habeas corpus was enshrined in the Constitution of the Confederate States of America as well as the one in Washington from which it came. Based on much older common law, it required that persons only be arrested on the basis of a warrant issued by a judge, specifying what law had been broken. Davis, actually, used this authority much less than Lincoln eventually would.

Feb. 27, 1863 – Confederate Naval Captain Raphael Semmes, the captain of the CSS Alabama, captured the merchant vessel Washington with a cannonball which, Semmes wrote, “wet the people on her poop [deck], by the spray of a shot...” The ship, undamaged, was released on a bond.

Feb. 27, 1863 – During the Civil War, a Federal operation was conducted out from Fort Pillow, Tenn., and a skirmish was fought in the vicinity of Bloomington, Tenn., on the Hatchie River. A two-day Federal reconnaissance from Centreville to Falmouth, Va. began.

Feb. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, the first Northern prisoners arrived at the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia (Camp Sumter). Nearly a quarter of all inmates died in captivity during the war. Henry Wirz, the commandant of the 16-acre prison, was executed in the aftermath of the Civil War for the brutality and the mistreatment committed under his command.

Feb. 27, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Pinos Altos in the Arizona Territory; at Madison and Sharon, Miss.; near Dalton, Ga.; near Poplar Bluff, Mo.; and in the Sequatchie Valley, Tenn. The Confederate salt works on Goose Creek, near St. Mark’s, Fla. were destroyed.

Feb. 27, 1865 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Spring Place, Ga.; in the vicinity of Sturgeon, Mo.; and at Mount Elon and Cloud’s House, S.C.

Feb. 27, 1865 – During the Civil War, what would prove to be the final Federal operation in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia began. Spring was not quite yet come to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, but Phil Sheridan’s men were stirring anyway. Ten thousand cavalrymen, under command of Wesley Merritt, departed on this day from Winchester, heading south. All that the Confederacy had left to oppose them were two weak brigades, headed by Jubal Early. Merritt’s orders were to wreck the Virginia Central Railroad, and do what damage he could to the James River Canal.

Feb. 27, 1886 – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black was born in Ashland, Ala.

Feb. 27, 1890 - A 100-round boxing match was fought in San Francisco, and declared to be a draw after 6-1/2 hours.

Feb. 27, 1894 – The Pine Belt News newspaper in Brewton, Ala. was established.

Feb. 27, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that Marcus Sowell left during the previous week for Jasper, Ala., where he planned to begin reading law in the office of his brother, Col. T.L. Sowell.

Feb. 27, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported, in news from its correspondent from Manistee, that there would be preaching at Pleasant Hill church on the first Sabbath in every month, and also the Saturday before. “We are proud to have our noble brother Lambert to serve us, after having such a devoted minister as brother S.P. Lindsey. Brother L. is one of our oldest and best Ministers. We are glad to know that the Sabbath school at Pleasant Hill continues in the afternoon. The teachers, Misses Wills and Moore, are working earnestly.”

Feb. 27, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that J.J. Simpson had the misfortune to lose his gin and grist mill at Repton by fire one day during the previous week. The fire was accidental, and he had no insurance.

Feb. 27, 1896 – The Monroe Journal reported that the unexpected death of Miss Ada Thames, who was buried at McConnico Cemetery on Feb. 27, had “cast a halo of gloom over all her friends and relatives “at Perdue Hill.

Feb. 27, 1902 – Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, Calif. His most famous works include “Tortilla Flat” (1935), “Of Mice and Men” (1937) and “The Grapes of Wrath” (1939).

Feb. 27, 1908 - Major League Baseball adopted a sacrifice fly rule for the first time. It was repealed, reinstated and then changed several times before being permanently accepted in 1954.

Feb. 27, 1912 - The New York Yankees announced that they would be wearing pinstripes on their uniforms.

Feb. 27, 1915 - “The Valley of Fear” by Arthur Conan Doyle was published in novel form.

Feb. 27, 1916 - After completing their conquest of Serbia and Montenegro, the Austro-Hungarian army turned its attentions toward Albania, occupying the coastal city of Durazzo on the Adriatic Sea.

Feb. 27, 1917 - John Connally, the governor of Texas who was shot during the John F. Kennedy assassination, was born in Floresville, Texas.

Feb. 27, 1919 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Sam Johnson of Flomaton, Ala. “died from disease.”

Feb. 27, 1919 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Henry Crenshaw of Greenville, Ala. “died from disease.”

Feb. 27, 1922 – Former Confederate soldier James Hampton Simpson passed away at the age of 77. Born on Dec. 18, 1844, he enlisted in Monroeville as a private in Co. F of the 36th Alabama Regiment on April 10, 1862. He surrendered at Greensboro, N.C. on April 26, 1865. After the war, he worked as a farmer, storekeeper and grist mill operator. He is buried in the Mexia Cemetery.

Feb. 27, 1928 - A movie version of Alabama author Octavus Roy Cohen's book “All Balled Up” was released.

Feb. 27, 1930 – The Monroe Journal reported, under the headline “COURT HOUSE SQUARE IS GREATLY IMPROVED,” that the “improvement of the court house square by the additional shrubbery set out is so noticeable that we are again referring to it. Perhaps no single improvement has changed the appearance of things in town so much, and the visitor is bound to be favorably impressed.”

Feb. 27, 1930 – The Monroe Journal reported, under the headline “NEW WATER SYSTEM FOR MONROEVILLE,” that “the work of installing the new water system for Monroeville is proceeding at a very gratifying rate. The large mains around the square are being laid rapidly, and work of erecting the new stand pipe is well along toward completion.”

Feb. 27, 1930 - The Alabama Military Institute Band was scheduled to give a concert at the Frisco City High School auditorium at 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

Feb. 27-28, 1931 – The first district basketball tournament was held in Evergreen, Ala. and included 10 teams. “Fob” James of Enterprise was the official referee.

Feb. 27, 1933 – Germany's parliament building in Berlin, the Reichstag, was set on fire; Marinus van der Lubbe, a young Dutch Communist claimed responsibility. The Nazis used the fire to solidify their power and eliminate the communists as political rivals.

Feb. 27, 1933 – Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Raymond Berry was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. He went on to play for Southern Methodist and the Baltimore Colts and served as the head coach of the New England Patriots for five seasons. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973.

Feb. 27, 1936 - Alabama author Helen Keller was interviewed on the radio program “The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour.”

Feb. 27, 1948 - Alabama author Trudier Harris was born in Mantua, Ala.

Feb. 27, 1950 - William Kendall “W.K.” Horton, age 86, died at a Montgomery hospital on this Monday night following an extended illness. Horton was a pioneer citizen and lifelong resident of Conecuh County. He was born and reared on a farm 10 miles from Evergreen on the Brooklyn Highway and lived there until a few years before 1950 when he moved to Evergreen. He owned a large farm and thousands of acres of timber land and engaged in farming, timbering and mercantile business. He also owned considerable business and residence property in Evergreen. He was president of the Bank of Evergreen, director of All States Life Insurance Co., Montgomery, stockholder in Andala Co., Andalusia, and had many and varied interests elsewhere. Funeral services were held from New Bethel Baptist Church on Wed., March 1, at 11 a.m., conducted by Rev. Sam Granade, pastor of the Evergreen Baptist Church. Interment was in the family lot in Horton Cemetery.

Feb. 27, 1951 - The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, limiting U.S. Presidents to two terms.

Feb. 27, 1953 - The South Alabama Conference Boys Tournament was scheduled to be played in the Conecuh County Training School gymnasium in Evergreen. Top players on CCTS’s boys team included Floyd Watts and Leonard Goldsmith.

Feb. 27, 1954 – According to J.H. Tranum, Chairman of the Conecuh County Board of Directors, this was the final day that bounties would be paid on foxes trapped in the county. Reports from various parts of the county together with information given to the Board by the County Health Department indicated that the rabies epidemic had subsided. Tranum said that through Sat., Feb. 20, bounties had been paid on about 30 foxes.

Feb. 27, 1962 - South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem survived another coup attempt when Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilots Lieutenants Pham Phu Quoc and Nguyen Van Cu try to kill him and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu by bombing and strafing the presidential palace.

Feb. 27, 1963 - Mickey Mantle signed a contact worth $100,000 with the New York Yankees.

Feb. 27, 1965 - Robert Lee Page, age 72, died at the home of Mike O’Brien in Baker, La. on this Saturday. Page was born in Evergreen on March 4, 1892. He was employed by the L&N Railroad Co. as train dispatcher and telegrapher for a number of years, working at local stations from Montgomery to Mobile, including about seven years at Georgiana. He later became associated with the Illinois Central Railroad as train dispatcher and after 41 years service, he retired as chief train dispatcher in 1958 with a total of more than 53 years service with two railroads.

Feb. 27, 1965 - The U.S. State Department released a 14,000-word report entitled “Aggression from the North–The Record of North Vietnam’s Campaign to Conquer South Vietnam.”

Feb. 27, 1969 - Communist forces shelled 30 military installations and nine towns in South Vietnam, in what becomes known as the “Post-Tet Offensive.”

Feb. 27, 1973 - Dick Allen of the Chicago White Sox signed a contract worth $250,000 a year for three years.

Feb. 27, 1975 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Monroe Academy varsity basketball team, led by Coach Melvin Middleton, won the District 3 basketball tournament of the Alabama Private School Athletic Association by upsetting the two teams thought most likely to win. The team beat Escambia Academy, then upset Wilcox Academy and Fort Dale Academy. Members of the team were Greg Petty, Chuck Lambert, Ricky Eddins, Sam Bowden, Hudson Lazenby, David Steele, Bryant Hooks, Harold King, John Winters, Ricky Robinson and Keith Pugh.

Feb. 27, 1976 – NFL tight end Tony Gonzalez was born in Torrance, Calif. He would go on to play for Cal, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons.

Feb. 27, 1978 – Liberty Chapel Church near Greenville, Ala. was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Feb. 27, 1978 – The W.O. Carter Log House near Andalusia, Ala. was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Feb. 27, 1987 - The NCAA cancelled Southern Methodist University’s entire 1987 football schedule for gross violations of NCAA rules on athletic corruption.

Feb. 27, 1991 – During the Gulf War, U.S. President George H. W. Bush announced on U.S. television that "Kuwait is liberated. Iraq's army is defeated. I am pleased to announce that at midnight tonight, exactly 100 hours since ground operations began and six weeks since the start of Operation Desert Storm, all United States and coalition forces will suspend offensive combat operations."

Feb. 27, 1995 - Dr. Stanley Barnes was one of the featured speakers at a Black History Month program at Evergreen Junior High School on this Monday. Dr. Douglas Littles, Dean of Students at Reid State Technical College, was the other featured speaker.

Feb. 27-March 3, 2001 – Weather observer Harry Ellis reported 8.76 inches of rain in Evergreen, Ala. over this five day period. Total rainfall for the month of February 2001 was 3.18 inches.

Feb. 27, 2002 - The Houston Astros announced that they had struck a deal with Enron to buy back the naming rights of their ballpark for $2.1 million. The ballpark would be called "Astros Field" until a new sponsor came along.

Feb. 27, 2003 - Emmitt Smith became a free agent for the first time when the Dallas Cowboys released him.

Feb. 27, 2011 – National Baseball Hall of Fame center fielder Duke Snider died at the age of 84 in Escondido, Calif. During his career, he played for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980.

Daily Rainfall Observations from SW Alabama for Tues., Feb. 27, 2018

Rainfall (Past 24 Hours): 0.20 inches.

Week to Date Rainfall: 2.05 inches.

Month to Date Rainfall:  5.10 inches.

Winter to Date Rainfall: 8.30 inches.

Year to Date Rainfall: 7.70 inches.

Notes: Today is the 58th day of 2018 and the 67th day of Winter. There are 307 days left in the year.

Readings taken at 0700 hours Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line and south of U.S. Highway 84, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834N Lon 87.30131W. Elevation 400 feet above sea level. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-4, Station Name: Excel 2.5 ESE.

Today in History for Feb. 26, 2018

Feb. 26, 1564 – English playwright Christopher Marlowe was baptized in Canterbury.

State Geologist Dr. Walter B. Jones

Feb. 26, 1802 – French author Victor Hugo was born in Besançon. His most famous books include “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1831) and “Les Miserables” (1862).

Feb. 26, 1813 - Robert R. Livingston, a prominent Freemason also known as "the Chancellor," passed away at the age of 66 in Clermont, N.Y. and was buried in Tivoli, New York. In 1776, he represented the Provincial Congress of New York at the Continental Congress and helped to draft the Declaration of Independence. He also administered President George Washington's first oath of office, and under President Thomas Jefferson, he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase.

Feb. 26, 1832 – John George Nicolay, who would go on to serve as President Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary and official biographer, was born in Bavaria, Germany.

Feb. 26, 1836 – At the Alamo, a “norther” or cold front blew in, dropping the temperature and bringing rain. James W. Fannin returned to Goliad after learning that a column of Centralist Mexican troops under Col. José Urrea was approaching that area, advancing northward from Matamoros.

Feb. 26, 1846 – Frontiersman and showman William "Buffalo Bill" Cody was born in Le Claire, Iowa.

Feb. 26, 1855 – In an incident attributed to the Bermuda Triangle, the James B. Chester, a three-master, was found by the Marathon, sailing aimlessly without her crew but with her sails set within the Sargasso Sea.

Feb. 26, 1861 – During the Civil War, Camp Colorado, Texas was abandoned by Federal forces.

Feb. 26, 1862 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Keytesville, Mo., and Confederate reconnaissance was conducted as far as Nashville, Tenn.

Feb. 26, 1862 - Union soldier Elisha Hunt Rhodes visited Washington, D.C., during a typical week in winter quarters. Although combat was the main job of a soldier, most men serving in the Civil War spent very few days each year in actual combat. Rhodes kept a diary during his four years in the Union Army, and his notes reveal the monotony of the winter months for the Army of the Potomac. A member of the 2nd Rhode Island, Rhodes fought in every campaign from First Bull Run to Appomattox, and rose from private to colonel in four years. On Feb. 26, 1862, Rhodes went to hear Senator Henry Wilson from Massachusetts speak on expelling disloyal members of Congress. After listening to the speech, Rhodes and his friend Isaac Cooper attended a fair at a Methodist church and met two young women, who the soldiers escorted home.

Feb. 26, 1863 - The National Currency Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln, creating a national banking system, a Currency Bureau and the office of Comptroller of the Currency. The act's goal was to establish a single currency.

Feb. 26, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Woodbury, Tenn. and at Germantown, Va.

Feb. 26, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought in the vicinity of Canton, Miss.; near Poplar Bluff, Mo.; and at Sulphur Springs and Washington, Tenn.

Feb. 26, 1865 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at McMilley’s Farm, near Pine Bluff, Ark. and at Lynch Creek and Stroud’s Mill, S.C.

Feb. 26, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that “the peach trees are in bloom.”

Feb. 26, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that Jeff Powell, against whom an indictment had been pending in the Circuit Court of Monroe County for several years for assault with intent to murder, and who, a few days before shot and seriously wounded James Kearley of Buena Vista, who accompanied Deputy Sheriff Rhoad to his camp for the purpose of arresting Powell, made his escape under cover of night. The citizens of Buena Vista offered a reward of $150 for his capture and delivery to the sheriff. He was accordingly captured on Tues., Feb. 23, about seven miles south of Camden by the Messrs. Brooks and Martin who immediately brought him to Monroeville. He was lodged in jail where he was as of Feb. 26, awaiting his trial.

Feb. 26, 1887 – National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska. He would go on to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1838.

Feb. 26, 1896 - Alabama author William Russell Smith died in Washington, D.C.

Feb. 26, 1896 - On this night in the northeast portion of Monroe County, near Simpkinsville, Jake Petty, son of John Petty, was assassinated by some party or parties unknown. Yancey Stinson was strongly suspected of the crime due to an ongoing feud between Petty and Stinson. The evidence adduced before the coroner’s jury tended to confirm the suspicion, and a warrant has been sworn out charging Stinson with murder.

Feb. 26, 1906 - Mr. Jas. Stacey of Manistee, Ala. visited The Monroe Journal on this Monday.

Feb. 26, 1909 – According to the Alabama League of Municipalities, the Town of Frisco City, Ala. was officially incorporated as a municipality.

Feb. 26, 1911 - Ralph McCreary left Evergreen on this Sunday for Troy to accept a position in a mercantile house in that city.

Feb. 26, 1917 – The Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded the first jazz record, for the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York.

Feb. 26, 1917 - In a crucial step toward U.S. entry into World War I, President Woodrow Wilson learned of the so-called Zimmermann Telegram, a message from German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmermann to the German ambassador to Mexico proposing a Mexican-German alliance in the event of a war between the U.S. and Germany.

Feb. 26, 1919 – President Woodrow Wilson signed an act of the U.S. Congress establishing most of the Grand Canyon as a United States National Park, the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

Feb. 26, 1919 – During World War I, Army Pvt. John C. Sawyer of Roy (present-day Frisco City, Ala.) “died from disease” at the age of 26 in France. Born on March 13, 1892, he was a member of Co. B of the 308^th Artillery in France. He is buried in Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery in Frisco City.

Feb. 26, 1928 – R&B singer Fats Domino was born Antoine Domino Jr. in New Orleans.

Feb. 26, 1929 - Alabama author Idora McClellan Moore died in Talladega, Ala.

Feb. 26, 1929 – President Calvin Coolidge signed an Executive Order establishing the 96,000-acre Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Feb. 26, 1932 – Musician Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland, Ark.

Feb. 26, 1935 - The New York Yankees released Babe Ruth, who went on to sign with the Boston Braves for $20,000 and a share in the team's profits.

Feb. 26, 1935 – Adolf Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe to be re-formed, violating the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.

Feb. 26, 1936 - Actual work began on this Monday on the Standard Oil Co. service station at the intersection of West Front and Cooper streets, following completion of negotiations and survey of the site, in Evergreen, Ala.

Feb. 26, 1946 – Finnish observers reported the first of many thousands of sightings of “ghost rockets.”

Feb. 26, 1952 – Evergreen High School’s boys basketball team, led by Head Coach Wendell Hart, beat Greenville, 51-43, at Memorial Gym in Evergreen. Shirley Frazier led Evergreen with 21 points.

Feb. 26, 1952 – State Geologist Dr. Walter B. Jones was the guest speaker at the Evergreen (Ala.) Kiwanis Club meeting held in the Evergreen City School lunchroom.

Feb. 26, 1954 – Evergreen High School’s varsity boys basketball team was scheduled to play a rematch against Greenville on this Friday night in Greenville. Earlier that season, Greenville beat Evergreen by four points.

Feb. 26, 1954 - Officers for the Monroeville Commandery No. 47 of the Knights Templar were scheduled to be elected and installed at the annual meeting of the organization, M.L. Bergman of Monroeville, Emminent Commander, declared in the Feb. 25, 1954 edition of The Monroe Journal. The meeting was scheduled to be held at 7:30 p.m. on this Friday at the Monroeville Masonic Lodge. The local Commandery covered a widespread area in South Alabama. Members were included from Monroe, Clarke, Conecuh, Butler, Baldwin and Wilcox Counties.

Feb. 26, 1959 – Searchers found the Dyatlov Expedition’s abandoned and badly damaged tent on Kholat Syakhl.

Feb. 26, 1965 - Ann Brooks Salter, age 50, died unexpectedly at her residence on Liberty Hill Drive on this Friday morning. She was one of the few women to ever hold elective office in Conecuh County, having served as Circuit Clerk and Register. Mrs. Salter served as Circuit Clerk by appointment in the 1940s, and as Deputy Clerk when her husband, who held the office, was recalled to active Army duty during the Korean War. In 1952, when her husband was on active duty and due to time limitations could not qualify for re-election, she filed for the office and won it.

Feb. 26, 1965 - The first contingent of South Korean troops arrived in Saigon.

Feb. 26, 1966 – During the Vietnam War, the ROK Capital Division of the South Korean Army massacred 380 unarmed civilians in South Vietnam.

Feb. 26, 1968 - Allied troops who had recaptured the imperial capital of Hue from the North Vietnamese during the Tet Offensive discovered the first mass graves in Hue.

Feb. 26, 1970 – National Public Radio was officially incorporated on this day, when it replaced the National Educational Radio Network.

Feb. 26, 1973 – The Sparta Academy Key Club received its charter from the Evergreen Kiwanis Club.

Feb. 26, 1975 – Major League Baseball utility player Mark DeRosa was born in Passaic, N.J. He would go on to play for the Atlanta Braves, the Texas Rangers, the Chicago Cubs, the Cleveland Indians, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Francisco Giants, the Washington Nationals and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Feb. 26, 1975 - On the Today Show, the first televised kidney transplant took place.

Feb. 26, 1979 – The Class A, Region I, Area II basketball tournament was scheduled to begin at Lyeffion High School with a game between J.U. Blacksher and Frisco City at 6 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., Repton was scheduled to play W.J. Jones, the state runner-up in 1978. Other teams in the tourney included Southern Normal, Conecuh County High School, Excel and Lyeffion. The tournament champion was scheduled to play the Area I champion in the region championship game on March 3 at Chatom Middle School with the winner to advance to the state tourney.

Feb. 26, 1981 - Edgar F. Kaiser Jr. purchased the Denver Broncos from Gerald and Allan Phillips.

Feb. 26, 1985 – The 11th Annual Miss Alpha Pageant at Sparta Academy was held at 7:30 p.m. in the school’s gymnatorium in Evergreen, Ala.

Feb. 26, 1989 - The New York Yankees announced that Tom Seaver would be their new TV sportscaster.

Feb. 26, 1991 – During the Gulf War, United States Army forces captured the town of Al Busayyah.

Feb. 26, 1991 - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein announced on Baghdad Radio that Iraqi troops were being withdrawn from Kuwait.

Feb. 26, 1999 – Two locations in Wilcox County were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Those locations included the Dry Fork Plantation at Coy and the Pine Apple Historic District in Pine Apple. The historic district’s boundaries are roughly Wilcox County Roads 59, 7 and 61, Broad Street, Banana Street, AL 10 and Adams Drive. It contains 3,350 acres, 54 buildings, and one structure.

Feb. 26, 2004 – The Alabama Senate received House Joint Resolution No. 100, which proposed making Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey the Alabama State Spirit. The Senate voted to approve it by two to one (14-6) on March 9.

Feb. 26, 2006 - The U.S. Census Bureau's World Population Clock ticked up to 6.5 billion people.

Feb. 26, 2010 - Sparta Academy’s Erica Palmer and Nick Andrews were selected as members of the AISA All-Star Boys and Girls Basketball Teams and played in the annual all-star games on this Friday at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

Feb. 26, 2010 - Hillcrest High School’s varsity softball team opened the 2010 season with a 10-8 win over Monroe County High School on this Friday in Monroeville. The Lady Jags put the game away in the top of the seventh inning when junior second baseman Leslie Wiggins hit a clutch single that drove in runners from second and third and gave Hillcrest the two-run win. Hillcrest head coach Terry Gandy said Monday that he was more than a little happy to start the season off with a win. Other standout players on Hillcrest’s team that season included Amerisha Mixon, Victoria Walden, Sasha Rankins, Trishana Lee, Shanika Taylor, Lakarress Riley, Kabrina Peters, Khadedra Nettles, Crystal Meeks, Haley Drakeford and T’kiya Pittman.

Feb. 26, 2011 - Evergreen’s Chris Hines scored a career-high 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds and was named the Player of the Game after a conference game between Alabama’s men’s basketball team and Ole Miss on this Saturday in Oxford. In 33 minutes of play, Hines sank six-of seven field goals and also had two assists and two steals. In the second half, he sank two-of-two field goals, including a three-point play that capped a 12-0 Alabama run that gave the Tide its biggest lead of the game.

Feb. 26, 2011 - Three Sparta Academy senior basketball players took part in the Alabama Independent School Association’s annual all-star basketball games on this Saturday. Devlin Crosby, 5-foot-10, was among the 15 players named to the West Boys All-Star Team. He scored four points and grabbed a rebound. Madelyn Black, 5-6, and Savannah Brown, 5-8, were among the 15 players named to the West Girls All-Star Team. Black finished the game with five steals, one point and a rebound. Brown had two rebounds, one point and a steal. The AISA’s All-Star basketball games were played at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

Feb. 26, 2011 - Hillcrest High School’s varsity boys basketball team assured itself of a spot in that year’s Class 4A state basketball tournament by claiming the South Regional title Saturday in Mobile. Hillcrest (26-6) beat No. 2-ranked Andalusia, 68-57, in the regional tournament finals on this Saturday, avenging an early season, two-point loss to the Bulldogs and securing a spot for the Jags in the state tournament.