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

U.S. Rep. Sonny Callahan of Mobile

28 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 5, 1991

Special edition: The 125^th anniversary edition of The Monroe Journal will premier next Thursday with the first of at least two sections. Special tabloid sections will be inserted into The Journal on Sept. 12 and 26. Family histories and vintage photographs add to the nostalgic value of the first section, which will include highlights from the earliest editions of The Journal. The newspaper was founded in 1866 in the booming river community of Claiborne.

Cheering the Bulldogs: J.U. Blacksher High School’s varsity cheerleaders attending a cheerleading camp at Auburn University last month. Blacksher’s group collected 14 superior ribbons, three spirit sticks, two team awards and a squad achievement award. Cheering on the Bulldogs this season are Krista Bohannon, Yulander Gardner, captain Michelle Trammell, LeShon Shoemo, Sheree Booker, co-captain Heather Metts, Terrica Shoemo and Deidra Brooks. The group is sponsored by Joan Rhodes.

Callahan praises project: Predicting that the Old Monroe County Courthouse will become “the No. 1 tourist attraction in Alabama,” Congressman Sonny Callahan said here last week that he was continuing to seek federal funding to help restore the building.

Callahan told the Monroeville Kiwanis Club Friday at Vanity Fair Golf & Tennis Club that he hopes to direct as much as $250,000 to the restoration project.

Bill Chance, chairman of the Old Courthouse restoration committee, told the group at Friday’s meeting that a grant of $15,000 has been awarded to the project by Alabama Power Foundation.

53 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 1, 1966

Begins Making Plans: R.B. (Dickey) Williams III of Monroeville was named president of the Alabama Wildlife Federation and installed at the convention of the federation in Montgomery this past weekend. Mr. Williams is shown drawing up plans for the federation to carry out during the coming year.

Illegal Fish Device Charged To Four: Two Clarke County men and two from Wilcox County were arrested last Wednesday by game warden officers on a charge of attempting to take fish with an electrical device.

Jim Bayles, officer, said the four men were arrested at Lower Peach Tree Landing on the Alabama River. They will be tried in Monroe County Court Sept. 12.

Orders Being Taken For Special Edition: Advance orders are now being received at The Monroe Journal for copies of the Centennial edition which will go to press in late October or first of November. The edition will cover the first 100 years of publication of The Monroe Journal.

One copy of the edition will be mailed to regular subscribers and additional copies of the anniversary edition will be 50 cents each, provided orders are received in advance of publication date.

New Parsonage At Excel: A new parsonage at the Excel Baptist Church was completed last week. Rev. Herman Parrott, minister of the Excel Baptist Church, and his family moved into the new brick structure the first of the week last week. The new home is located directly across the street from the church.

78 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 4, 1941

Five Stills Captured, Six Arrests Made: During the past week, Sheriff Bowden, assisted by Federal agents, raided five liquor stills and arrested six men. One of the stills was located at Mineola; two were located seven miles west of Uriah; one at Midway; and one at Bugg Hill, about two miles east of Monroe Station.

Coach Sneed Calls For First Practice: Coach Raphael Sneed of Brundidge will arrive in Monroeville on Mon., Sept. 8, and expects to hold the first football practice on the afternoon of the 8^th. All prospective football players please be at the high school building not later than three o’clock.

Miss Alice Lee of Birmingham spent the weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee, and family.

County Buys Harris Residence For Offices: Monroe County has recently purchased the G.A. Harris residence south of the Square and will convert it into an office building. The purchase price is reported to have been $4,000.

The building will house the Health Department, WPA and Welfare Department. The county has been paying $55 per month for office space for these departments and it is claimed that the purchase of the building will be a savings to the county.

Plans are underway to have office furniture and equipment of these three departments moved to the new quarters by the end of the week.

Work was started Monday on the addition to Monroe Mills and pouring the concrete foundation will be well advanced by the end of this week.

103 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 7, 1916

The six o’clock agreement observed by the merchants throughout the summer months expired on Sept. 1. During the fall and winter, stores will remain open until a reasonable hour in the evening for the convenience of customers.

The annual session of the Monroe County High School will open on Mon., Sept. 11, with the usual exercises. Reservations already engaged indicate that the enrollment will be highly satisfactory even though it should not quite measure up to the record of last year.

Cavalry Troop to be Mustered: Col. Bibb Graves of the Alabama National Guard and Capt. Rogers, United States Army, specially detailed for the purpose, will visit Monroeville on Friday to muster in the cavalry troop being organized in this county. There are still a few vacancies to be filled in order to bring the troop up to the full complement of men and those desiring to enlist should advise Capt. John McDuffie without delay.

Both Roy and Monroeville are making efforts to secure the location of the troop headquarters and armory and it is probable that one or the other place will be designated.

FOR SALE: Three pigs; one will weigh 200 pounds, the other two will weigh about as much together. All in good condition. – C.W. Henson.

Engineer C.E. Barker was a business visitor to the state capital the first of the week.

128 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 3, 1891

The next 10 days will witness the opening of a large number of educational institutions in the county. Every town and village and nearly every community has prospects for a good school.

DIED – Ex-Sheriff Jno. N. Watts died from apoplexy at his home near Monroeville last Monday afternoon. Mr. Watts was in town on Friday in apparent good health and was in the evening stricken down with apoplexy while conversing with his wife. Drs. McMillan, Russell and Wiggins were called in consultation but could afford no relief, and Monday evening he breathed his last. His bereaved family has the sympathy of the community.

Rev. Mr. Fontaine has been assisting Rev. Mr. Holt in conducting a protracted meeting at Bell’s Landing this week.

Monroeville is coming to the front as a cotton market. Four live merchants are offering the top of the market for the fleecy staple in cool cash or goods at rock bottom prices.

Mr. B.F. Wiggins, one of our enterprising merchants, went up to the Capital City Wednesday.

When you want a good, honest piece of work in the shape of a buggy, cart or farm wagon, see or write Toulmin Manufacturing Co., Mobile – the are ugly fellers, but have nice work and don’t you forget it. Prices low, too.

PERDUE HILL HIGH SCHOOL – under the management of Prof. W.A. George, an experienced, capable and thorough educator, assisted by Miss Sallie S. Penick, who comes highly recommended as a music teacher of experience, talent and high culture. This school will begin its sixth annual session on Tuesday, the first day of September.