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

Old Carter Hospital in Repton, Alabama.

33 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 25, 1986

Claude D. Kelley of Atmore, who grew up in Monroe County and served a total of 17 years as Alabama’s conservation commissioner under three governors, was honored Saturday as Little River State Park was dedicated under a new name: Claude D. Kelley State Park.

About 200 people attended the ceremony, in which a redwood sign with the new name was unveiled, and enjoyed a free barbecue.

MCHS offense explodes: Monroe County High School’s Tigers ground out 383 yards rushing to demolish the Evergreen Aggies 40-7 Friday in Monroeville.

The Tigers’ ground game was led by sophomore running back Sidney Carmichael, who piled up a season-best 260 yards on 34 carries and scored four touchdowns.

(Other top MCHS players in that game included Tab Andrews, Darron Dees, Cedric Hollinger, Shannon McKenzie, Tony McPherson, Art Owens, Steve Ramer, Alan Richardson and Bob Williams. Howard Busby was MCHS’s head coach.)

The new Monroeville postmaster, Gerald J. Duhon, took the oath of office Monday morning in a ceremony inside the post office.

Gene L. Hodges Jr., sectional center manager-postmaster from Mobile, swore in Duhon, whom he called “a very capable individual.”

Duhon, 40, has been with the U.S. Postal Service since 1969, most recently as superintendent of postal operations for the Opelousas, La. post office. His appointment here to succeed the retiring Dick Farish took effect Aug. 30.

57 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 27, 1962

Dr. Francis E. Nicholas, president of the Monroe County Medical Society, carried his organization’s case for Sabin oral polio vaccine before the Monroeville Parent-Teacher Association Monday night when he was featured speaker during the first meeting of the new school year.

Dr. Nicholas explained how the polio vaccines, both Sabin and Salk, came to be developed and gave the background leading up to postponement recently of mass immunization with Sabin oral vaccine. He emphasized that the action was not due to the incidence of polio from the vaccine but was for the study of a few cases which developed after patients had previously taken the vaccine.

The Frisco City Whippets racked up their second win of the season Thursday night when they defeated Excel High School 47-0 in Frisco City.

The host team scored three times in the first quarter to take a safe lead that was never threatened by the visitors. Mike Lawrence and Bill Wiggins turned in top performances on defense with 10 tackles and eight tackles respectively.

(Other top Frisco City players in that game included Ed Brown, Kenneth Jones, Larry Jones, Joe Kelly and Bill Sawyer.)

Mrs. Alice McKinley of Atmore is spending several weeks in Monroeville with Miss Alice Lee. Mrs. McKinley is recuperating from an eye operation.

82 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 23, 1937

Schools Open With Good Enrollment: The Monroeville high and grammar schools opened Monday morning for the 1937-38 session with 302 registering in high school and 310 registering in grammar school, making the total enrollment 612. These figures promise a larger attendance than ever before and other pupils are expected to enter before this week is over.

Monroeville’s Airport ‘Small Towns’ Model’ – It became known last week that the airport recently opened at Monroeville had been chosen as a model for small towns and that its specifications would be presented by Col. Arthur McMullen of the bureau of air commerce, Department of Commerce, at an international session of airport engineers to be held at Lima, Peru. The airport, formally dedicated Aug. 12, was constructed by WPA labor. It includes a hangar, the exterior walls on one side of which are used as the back of a stadium. A club room is constructed beneath the concrete stadium seats.

Mr. B.H. Stallworth Jr. was taken to the hospital at Repton for an appendicitis operation last Friday morning. His many friends will be delighted to know that he is rapidly recovering.

Mr. and Mrs. Doy McCall and Mrs. Curtis McCall left last Friday for New York City to attend the American Legion Convention.

Cotton Harvesting In Full Swing: The good weather which has prevailed for the past 10 days has made it possible for the farmers to gather the major portion of the cotton crop. If good weather continues, the crop will be gathered in about two weeks. More than 800 bales have been ginned at the local gin up to date.

107 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 26, 1912

The enrollment of pupils in the city graded school has increased to 68. The principal will soon be forced to employ another assistant.

Mr. H.B. Shaw, local agent of the Manistee & Repton railroad, has removed to Monroeville with his family. He is occupying the Hendrix place, Monvil Park.

Mr. F.H. Dendy, who has been with Messrs. Barnett and Bugg in the capacity of stenographer for several years past, left Sunday to accept a similar position with a leading real estate firm in Union Springs.

Dr. J.J. Hestle of Beatrice was among Monroeville friends the first of the week.

GENEROUS CONTRIBUTORS: The Monroe County High School building having been completed and paid for, the members of the financial committee and the citizens of Monroeville generally, desire to acknowledge through The Journal their grateful appreciation of the following generous donations by out-of-town citizens: McCreary & Co., $25; Wm. Ivey & Son, $10; T.M. Riley, $50; Vredenburg Saw Mill Co., $150; W.J. Nettles, $10; D.R. Nettles, $5; Y.A. Nettles, $25; J.K. Kyser, $50; S.H. Tucker, $5; Howard Brantley, $5; J.J. Finklea & Son, $50; The Blacksher Co., $200; J.U. Blacksher, $200.

L.M. Sawyer, Tekoa’s leading merchant, was a visitor to the county capital the first of the week.

Mr. G.W. Broughton has removed from Tekoa to Monroeville to afford his children better school advantages.

132 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 22, 1887

Mr. J.A. Grace, the popular proprietor of the Claiborne Upper warehouse, gave us a call Tuesday.

Guns – Boys, when you want a good gun for a small sum of money, come to see us. We have them from $2 up. Roberts, Locklin & Co.

Rev. G.M. Sellars, who has been assisting Rev. Mr. Cowan for several weeks, has returned to the Southern University at Greensboro, to complete his theological course of studies.

Mr. Morton McMillan returned Monday to the A.&M. College at Auburn.

Capt. T.M. Stevens has returned to the University at Tuscaloosa.

The rain that visited this place last week was, from what we can learn, a pretty general one all over the county.

At a special conference held at the Baptist church on the 11^th inst. license to preach was granted Mr. S.P. Lindsay. This is gratifying news to his many friends, who wish him Godspeed in his high calling. He intends entering the theological department of Howard about the 1^st of January.

Master John Frye left Monday for Tuscaloosa to attend the University.

Mr. Charlie Savage stopped in town Monday evening on his return to Evergreen from a visit to his parents at Perdue Hill.

MARRIED – At the residence of the bride’s father, Mr. P. Straughn, near Bermuda, on the night of the 20^th inst., Mr. Miles Jackson and Miss Mary Straughn, Rev. D.W. Barnes of Repton, officiating.