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

USS Bon Homme Richard.

31 YEARS AGO

JAN. 5, 1989

Tucker sworn in: District 1 Monroe County Commissioner Silas G. Tucker takes the oath of office from Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs Friday as he begins his second four-year term. Tucker defeated three opponents without a runoff to keep the seat he has had the past four years.

New chief clerk begins: Eulene Croley of Excel took over the reins Tuesday as chief clerk in the Monroe County probate judge’s office, following the retirement of 52-year veteran Katherine N. Lee.

Ms. Croley has worked with the probate office full-time for more than 10 years, mainly as recording clerk. Ms. Croley, 51, was appointed by Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs.

Volunteer of the Year: Mrs. I.W. Williamson of Frisco City received United Way Volunteer of the Year honors from United Way president Terry Woodall at a recent meeting. Mrs. Williamson spearheaded door-to-door collections for the Monroe County Rescue Squad, a United Way agency. “We couldn’t have made it (last year’s goal) without her,” Woodall said.

Sam Welch will be sworn in next Thursday as circuit judge for the 35^th Judicial Circuit. Gorman Houston, associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, will administer the oath of office at 2 p.m. in the main courtroom of the Monroe County Courthouse.

Monroeville attorney Alice Lee, a friend of Houston’s, will introduce the associate justice. Retiring Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key and Welch will make remarks.

56 YEARS AGO

JAN. 2, 1964

First ’64 Baby Is Born Wednesday: The first baby born at the Monroe County Hospital in the new year, 1964, was a girl. The infant arrived at 7:27 a.m., Jan. 1. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Jordan of Repton.

SNOW IN MONROEVILLE: It was beginning to look a lot like a white New Year’s Day in Monroeville Tuesday when snow began to fall and cover the ground. Rain threatened to melt it away in the afternoon, but new flurries began to fall late in the afternoon and early part of the evening. Residents awoke Wednesday morning to find everything blanketed with a coat of white. Some residents say it was the heaviest snow here since 1899. The young-in-heart took advantage of the opportunity to build snow men and the more adventurous engaged in snowball fights.

Miss Alice Lee, Miss Nell Harper Lee and Mrs. Alice McKinley spent Christmas Day in Eufaula where they were guests of the H.H. Connor family.

Larry G. Boothe Serving Aboard USS Bon Homme Richard: Larry G. Boothe, fireman apprentice, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Boothe of 510 Dennis St., Monroeville, is serving aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard, currently operating in Hawaiian waters. The carrier is conducting air operations, intensive crew training and underway replenishment exercises. It is in the last stages of pre-deployment training exercises in preparation for a Far East cruise early next year.

A fire of undetermined origin completely destroyed a curb market and trailer living quarters belonging to Holland Shell at Ollie early Monday morning.

81 YEARS AGO

JAN. 5, 1939

Miss Alice Lee has returned to Birmingham after spending last week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee.

Mr. Bob Covan of Old Texas killed a hog last week which weighed 820 pounds dressed. The fat from this hog rendered 400 pounds of lard.

Dr. T.E. Dennis, J.M. Johnson, Judge M.M. Fountain and Judge F.W. Hare of Monroeville; Mr. D.L. Long and Dr. J.C. Harrison of Frisco City, were members of a hunting party at the Baldwin County Hunting Club near Ft. Mims last week.

Mr. and Mrs. Lucian Jones and George Thomas Jones attended the T.C.U.-Pittsburgh football game at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Five New Members In Excel Beta Club: Five new members have been voted in the Excel chapter of the National Beta Club, scholarship-service society for high school students. They are Eloise Booker, Jean Manning, Evelyn Mosely, Cecil White and Cornelia Wiggins.

BULL SALE TO BE HELD HERE: Elsewhere in this issue of The Journal will be found an advertisement of the sale of registered Hereford bulls by Mr. Tom McCord on Sat., Jan. 14. Mr. McCord sold a number of registered bulls here last year and is now offering the farmers of this county another chance to improve their herds. The sale will begin promptly at the noon hour.

106 YEARS AGO

JAN. 8, 1914

Mr. L.J. Bugg and family are occupying their handsome new home recently completed.

Congressman George W. Taylor was a distinguished visitor to Monroeville the first of the week.

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee were guests of the family of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Finch, Finchburg, during the holidays.

The county convicts are now being temporarily employed on the public roads adjacent to town. The former contractor surrendered the convicts to the county a few weeks ago and pending final disposition of them for the ensuing year the commissioners determined to work them on the roads rather than maintain them in idleness.

Goldsmith Celebrate Birthday: The friends of Mr. Henry Goldsmith of Mobile and of the Steamer American were royally entertained at a birthday supper given by Mr. Goldsmith at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Agee on Jan. 1, 1914 at Perdue Hill. It was like the good old days. At the table, covers were laid for 50 guests, and when they entered the dining room it was indeed a feast to both eye and appetite. The supper was served in the abundant old time way.

Among the out-of-town guests were Miss Elizabeth Sellers of Judson, Marion, Ala., Miss Agnes Batiste of Mobile, Miss Julia Jones of Camden, Miss Vernon Hybart of Gosport, Miss Ina Harper of Manistee, Mr. W.S. Moore of Mobile, Dr. George Harper of Atmore, Mr. Willie Lambard of Mobile, Messrs. Wilson and Charley Florey of Manistee and Mr. Lewis Hybart of Gosport.

131 YEARS AGO

JAN. 4, 1889

Santa Claus, in making his rounds Christmas Eve, left us a pair of beautiful rainbow-colored adjustable suspenders. They adjust themselves to all circumstances, otherwise they would be useless to an editor, and accompanying them was a note informing us that “all the boys wear and why not you?” We shall ever gratefully remember, Santa – as long as our suspenders last.

The preliminary trial of Geo. C. Sellars, charged with the murder of Mr. Wright S. Aall (sic), and of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Gibson and daughter, charged with being accessory to the crime, took place Monday and Tuesday. No facts being elicited in the trial tending to establish the guilt of either of the parties, they were acquitted.

On Saturday evening (10^th ult.) between sunset and dark, some would-be incendiary attempted to burn the gin house of Mr. W.H. Patrick by throwing a lighted match on a pile of seed cotton under the gin house door. The smoke was discovered by Messrs. W.L. Mims, John Mims and G.M. Holman, who rushed to the place and gave the alarm, and with the aid of other neighbors succeeded in extinguishing the fire before much damage was done. There is no clue to the perpetrator. Some arrests will be made on suspicion.

FROM ACTIVITY: You will see from the following that Cupid has dispensed with his old-style bow and arrow and is now on the war path with a first-class Gatling gun:

Married, at the residence of Mr. J.M. Patrick, one of our best citizens, on Sun., Dec. 9, 1888, at 11 o’clock a.m., Mr. Sam McPherson and Miss Mattie Patrick; Mr. J.E. Mixon and Miss Sallie Patrick; and Mr. Kirk Patrick and Miss Georgie Wagner, Rev. Manning Harp officiating.