Old newspaper excerpts from The Monroe Journal newspaper of Monroe County, Alabama

Charles Augustus Lindbergh

16 YEARS AGO

MAY 23, 2002

Monroeville featured on NBC: Monroeville and the Old Monroe County Courthouse, the home to the Monroe County Heritage Museums, were featured on NBC’s “The Today Show” Tuesday morning. Katie Curic, a host on the show, mentioned Monroeville as the home of the play “To Kill a Mockingbird” during a presentation of favorite movies. Curic, an Alabama native, said the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird,” based on the book by Monroeville author Harper Lee, was her favorite. “The Today Show” segment included video of the Old Courthouse, where the play is held each May, shots of the Monroeville square and footage of Museum Director Kathy McCoy handing out programs prior to the start of this year’s play.

Baseball award winners: Monroe County High School spring sports banquet award winners in baseball are Daniel Harper, Coaches Award; Taylor Ryland, Best Defensive Player; Brett Pate, Best Offensive Player; Matt Wright, Coaches Award; Terrell Richardson, Junior Varsity Most Valuable Player; Kyler Chambers, Scholastic Award, Travis Granberry, Best Offensive Player; and Ben Busby, Best Offensive Player.

The Monroe Journal has been judged the state’s best large weekly newspaper for the fourth consecutive year.

The Journal was the General Excellence winner, which is the most prestigious award for overall excellence in the 2002 Alabama Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Seventy-four newspapers submitted 2,737 entries in the annual contest.

41 YEARS AGO

MAY 26, 1977

Scotch’s soaking vat: Steel rod reinforcements are placed Tuesday on a soaking vat, part of the Scotch Plywood Co. mill under construction south of Beatrice. About 100 cubic yards of concrete will be poured around the reinforcements. The plant’s log yard has been prepared, and a log ramp has been completed. The plant, estimated to cost $8 million to $9 million, is to employ 125 to 130 persons and have an annual payroll of about $1.6 million. Construction is about one-third finished, says engineer Joe DeVille.

Three Monroe Academy Volunteer baseball players have been selected to play in the annual Alabama Private School Association Baseball All-Star Game.

Hudson Lazenby, Mark Dawson and Melvin Wilson, all seniors, were named to the South all-stars team that will meet the North all-stars Saturday at Demopolis Academy.

Coach Mike Kimbrel of MA was selected to coach the South all-stars in the game. Both Lazenby and Dawson pitched for the Vols while Wilson starred in the outfield.

High schools in the Monroe County area are graduating 376 seniors this month in eight different commencement exercises.

Graduates this year represent a decrease of 16 from last year’s total of 392.

As usual, Monroe County High School in Monroeville has the largest number of graduates with 102 seniors scheduled to receive diplomas. This is 18 fewer than in 1976.

The second largest graduating class is J.F. Shields High in Beatrice with 64 graduates, six less than last year.

66 YEARS AGO

MAY 22, 1952

Community House Campaign Quota Still Needs $5,000: With nearly $2,000 having been collected within the last week, a total of $5,000 still remains to be furnished the Vanity Fair Foundation on the $100,000 construction costs of the new local community house.

B.H. Stallworth, president of the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday the remaining amount will complete the $30,000 which Monroe County has to supply the foundation for erection of the building.

Construction of the community house is well under way and dedication ceremonies are still tentatively planned for Monroe Mills Day in July.

The Frisco City Whippet nine brought its season to a close Friday afternoon by edging T.R. Miller, 3-2, in a final event in Brewton.

Star of the contest was Whippet hurler, Bevis Hayes, who pitched a two-hitter to the Miller aggregation.

The winning runs for the Whippets came in the fourth when Wiley Long tripled with Eugene Harmon on base, followed by a triple by Sonny Pritchette.

Local Knights Templar To Meet Friday Night: The Monroeville Commandery No. 47 of Knights Templar have a meeting scheduled tomorrow (Friday) night at 7:30 in the local Masonic Hall.

A total of 41 Monroe County residents will be called for Army pre-induction physicals on June 18, Miss Jewell Coxwell, clerk of the local draft board, stated Wednesday.

The May induction quota was filled when 10 men reported for service last Tuesday. The county induction quote for June is set at two men.

91 YEARS AGO

MAY 26, 1927

Rev. W.H. Black, pastor of the local Baptist Church, delivered the commencement sermon at the High School auditorium last Sunday. The house was packed on the occasion and comment pronounces the discourse able and inspiring.

It may be interesting to readers of The Journal to know that Prof. Oscar Lindbergh, who taught at Perdue Hill during the sessions of 1925-26, and who is now located at Autaugaville, is the first cousin of Charlie Lindberg, who broke the world’s record in his recent nonstop airplane flight from New York to Paris.

Advanced To Second Class: The Monroeville post office will be advanced to the second class on July 1, the financial receipts and increased business of the office having reached a point which justifies this elevation.

As appears from notice published elsewhere in this issue the clerks employed in the office will be placed under civil service. The examination of applicants for appointment to these positions will be held on June 8.

Seniors Entertained: Mrs. F.W. Hare entertained the senior class of the Monroe County High School on Saturday evening, in honor of her niece, Miss Rebecca Hybart. Games were played during the evening, at the conclusion of which delicious refreshments were served.

Those present were Rebecca Hybart, Mary Stone Finklea, Alice Sinclair Nettles, Ida Belle Turberville, Aubrey Cameron, David Katz, Elliot Sawyer, Marvin Jones, Seaborn Curry, Charles Giles, James Rumbley, Andy Johnson and William Hilary Hudson.

116 YEARS AGO

MAY 22, 1902

Town Officers Elected: The annual election for Mayor and Councilmen of the town of Monroeville was held Monday, resulting in the re-election of S.W. Yarbrough, mayor, and T.S. Wiggins, J.I. Watson, C.E. Bizzelle, T.M. McMillan and C.J. Holloway, councilmen.

Dr. G.H. Harper of Manistee was a pleasant caller at (The Journal) office Friday while here to undergo the examination prescribed by the County Board of Censors. Dr. Harper graduated recently from the Atlanta Medical College.

Manistee: Bear Creek Mill Co. has moved their stock of merchandise into their new store.

Mr. Thos. Stacy of this place has recently purchased a nice organ for the comfort and entertainment of his daughters.

Dr. G.H. Harper is building him a nice new office since his return from Atlanta. He is getting a nice practice and is a very successful young physician.

Burnt Corn: Hog cholera is said to be raging in the community.

Enon: We are sorry to note that Dr. Gordon had the misfortune to get his dwelling burned the 4^th inst., caught from the stove.

Jones Mills: Misses Minnie and Anna and Mr. Clarence Jones attended a bee tree cutting near Ollie Saturday.

Old Texas: Our town is building up. Messrs. Adams and Jackson have moved into their brick store and Mr. Davison is building a large dwelling. They have the waterworks all O.K.