Eli McMorn and the Strange Case of Kill Devil Hill – Part Four

The Claiborne Herald is the oldest business in Monroe County, and its offices are housed in one of the oldest buildings in downtown Claiborne, an imposing Victorian edifice on River Street. Three stories of the building loom over that shadowed street, and employees often take their breaks on the roof, which affords them with an impressive view of the muddy Alabama River. Below street level, The Herald building features not only a basement but also a subbasement, which most employees never visit.

The subbasement level serves as the newspaper’s morgue, where back issues of the paper, dating back to antebellum times, can be found between the covers of heavy bound volumes. Despite climate-controlled air-conditioning and heavy-duty dehumidifiers, the subbasement is dirty, damp and dark. While most employees avoid this part of the building, I was drawn to it because those musty bound volumes contained secrets for those willing to search them out.

As the newspaper’s nightshift reporter, I had no set hours, but my editors expected me to be on duty from roughly 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. This particular night was a Tuesday night, and things were slower than normal. It was on nights like these that I often disappeared alone into the subbasement to explore the dusty stacks of old, forgotten newspapers.

Beneath the flickering fluorescent lights, I walked among the shelves until I found the volume containing the November 1988 editions of The Herald. For the past six months, I’d been compiling information about Claiborne’s many unsolved disappearances, many of which date back to before I was even born. The November 1988 editions contained a series of stories about the unsolved disappearance of a teenage girl who had been forgotten in the passing years. While turning the yellowed, brittle pages of these papers, my eyes fell on a front-page headline that made me forget all about the unexplained disappearance I was investigating.

----- 0 -----

Claiborne teens die on ‘Kill Devil Hill’

By Giles Proctor

Herald Reporter

CLAIBORNE, Nov. 2 - Five Claiborne teens were found dead and another was transported to Claiborne Infirmary with severe injuries after a Halloween camping trip went wrong atop the infamous “Kill Devil Hill” in southwestern Monroe County.

According to Monroe County Sheriff Ben Putnam, the teens had established a campsite atop “Kill Devil Hill,” but something went wrong after sunset. The group consisted of three young men and three young women, and only one of the young men was found alive Tuesday morning by an outdoorsman who was tending to a nearby food plot. The names of the teens involved in the incident had not been released at press time, but Putnam confirmed that four of the five were students at Claiborne High School.

Putnam said the incident remained under investigation, and he declined to say how the teens died. He noted that three tents were found in disarray atop the hill and said that the bodies were recovered at various locations on and around the hill. The teen who was found alive was located at the camp site atop the hill by first responders, Putnam said.

“The investigation into these deaths remain ongoing,” Putnam said, noting that the investigation was somewhat difficult given the remote location of the incident. “Every effort is being made to determine exactly what happened out there, but it’s going to take time. We have not ruled out foul play.”

Putnam noted that investigators suspect that the teens were playing a roleplaying game that may have gotten out of hand. Investigators also recovered a Ouija board, candles and other items that may have been used in some type of ritual. Putnam declined to say more, citing the ongoing investigation.

----- 0 -----

I flipped through the remainder of the bound volume, but didn’t find any additional stories about the incident, which I thought was odd. Why were there no follow up stories? Why were the obituaries of the dead teens not published?

My eyes played back to the top of the story and settled on the byline: Giles Proctor. Proctor was one of The Herald’s most storied reporters. A World War II veteran, he’d worked at the paper from the early 1950s until his retirement in the early 1990s. Best of all, he was still alive. Last I heard, he was living at an assisted-living home off Dellet Street.

A glance at my watch told me that it would be several hours before the nursing home opened for visitors. When it opened, I planned to be there with an eye toward joining old Giles Proctor for breakfast. Maybe he would be able to provide more answers about what happened atop Kill Devil Hill on Halloween night 1988.

(All rights reserved. This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.)

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

Nelle Harper Lee

26 YEARS AGO

MAY 26, 1994

Blacksher principal to retire: After 19 years as principal of J.U. Blacksher High School, Bennie Rhodes is retiring.

Rhodes, 60, of Uriah announced his retirement in a letter to the Board of Education yesterday (Wednesday). He became principal on Aug. 1, 1976 after having coached and taught at the Uriah school since 1962. His resignation is effective Aug. 1.

Local standouts advance in games: Frisco City High School senior shortstop Shannon Richardson and Monroe County High School senior outfielder Tony Bayles will compete in the second round of the Alabama Lions Club all-star baseball competition Saturday in Enterprise.

Richardson and Bayles were among the eight players selected from the 30 high-school standouts that competed in first-round all-star competition Saturday in Jackson.

Bayles finished the 1994 season with a .316 batting average. He had 14 RBI and a team-high four home runs. Richardson ended his high-school career with a .316 average, six home runs, 20 RBI and 22 stolen bases.

Monroe Academy’s Scholars Bowl Team won first place for the fourth year in a row in the Alabama Independent School Association state tournament held at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. (Members of the team were Missy Hardy, Jacob Mosley, Robert Presley, Wesley White, Mike Broughton, Chris Coomes, David Chunn, Ashley Eckberg, Jeff Wohlers, Pam Manning and Randi Lambert.)

51 YEARS AGO

MAY 29, 1969

The Monroeville City Council placed an order for a fire truck and agreed to have new lights installed on Drewry Road during a regular meeting Tuesday night.

The council had previously advertised for bids on the fire truck equipment and had accepted a low bid, but had delayed placing the order because a question had arisen concerning the type of equipment to be purchased. Harry Harless of Birmingham, low bidder, appeared before the council and explained that he would not be able to guarantee the bid beyond June 1 because of advances in prices. M.M. Kennedy Jr. made the motion to place the order. It was seconded by Robbins Williams.

Boutwell Wins Monroeville Tournament: Ossie Boutwell, Mobile golfer, won the Annual Monroeville Invitational Golf Tournament last Saturday, with John Williams, Monroeville, and Harold Wesley, Greenville, playing a two-hole sudden death match to decide on second place. Wesley won.

Peoples Exchange Bank Plans Open House In New Building: The officers and staff of Peoples Exchange Bank in Beatrice have invited the public to attend an open house Thurs., June 5, from 2 to 6 p.m. and inspect the new building which was recently completed.

Thomas Black, president, said that favors will be provided those who attend the open house and they will be treated to a tour through the new facilities.

Officers in addition to Mr. Black are J. Lindsey Finklea, vice president; F.D. Stallworth, vice president; and James Black, cashier. Mrs. Annie Laura Brown is bookkeeper and teller.

76 YEARS AGO

MAY 25, 1944

MCHS Graduation Exercises Monday: Graduation exercises were held in the Monroe County High School auditorium Monday evening, bringing to a close the 1943-44 term.

Dr. C.M. Dannelly, Superintendent of Montgomery schools, delivered the baccalaureate address.

Prof. H.M. Brock, principal of the school, delivered diplomas to the class, which was composed of the following girls and boys: Harold Bayles, Pauline Brown, Douglas Downs, Willie Downs, Emma Frye, Leroy Green, Myrtie Greer, Anne Hines, John Hybart Jr., Eula Lambert, Nelle Lee, Francis McInnis, Mary McKinley, Lucile Nettles, Nancy Riley, Sarah Rutherford, Eunice Scott, Alma Summerlin, Alfred Thompson and Robert Thompson.

Nelle Lee is convalescing, following an operation at the Carter Hospital at Repton. Her many friends hope she will be able to return home in a few days.

MISS LEE HONORED WITH OUTDOOR SUPPER: Mrs. P.S. Jackson of Peterman honored Miss Nelle Lee with a lovely outdoor supper party Tuesday. The guests enjoyed a delightful cold plate that was served in the yard.

Those present were Miss Nelle Lee, honoree; Misses Barbara Locklin, Myrtie Greer, Mary Smith, Anne Hines and Sylvia Parnell, of Monroeville; Misses Eunice Scott and Willie Mae Downs, of Peterman, and Miss Sara Leah Rutherford, of Franklin. Also present were Messrs. Sonny Gardner, Lonnie Burt, Lloyd McCall, William Charles Jackson, Francis McInnis, Otto Thompson and A.B. Blass, of Monroeville; and Mr. Douglas Downs, of Peterman.

101 YEARS AGO

MAY 29, 1919

All Woodmen are requested to be present at the unveiling of the Pearlie Manning monument at the Mexia cemetery on Sunday afternoon, June 1, at 2:30. Mrs. Sallie Manning will have charge of the ceremonies. All friends are cordially invited.

NOTICE: In many cases, soldiers who have been discharged from the service had difficulty in securing their $60 bonus, or have failed to take advantage of this compensation. I shall be delighted to assist any discharged soldier who has not received this bonus, in securing it if he will write to me and send with his letter a certified copy of his discharge. – JOHN McDUFFIE, Congressman, 1^st District.

WANTED – Farm Hands, $2.50 per day. Houses Free. Uriah Stock Farm, Uriah, Monroe County, Ala.

Hammond Grimes returned Monday from Mobile with a Buick six for the Morrissette Motor Car Co.

We wish to call special attention to the welcome and memorial meeting to be held at the Monroe County High School auditorium, next Sunday, June 1, at 4:30 p.m. We cordially invite the people of the county to unite with us in extending this welcome to our boys who have returned and who are returning from Europe and the camps. At the same time, we wish to honor our noble dead. There will be three addresses – a welcome address and two memorial addresses, one for our Confederate dead and the other for our sons who died in the world war. We can promise all who come some splendid music and fine addresses. We urge all the Confederate veterans and our boys to be present.

126 YEARS AGO

MAY 31, 1894

Miss Anna Chisholm, the last of a once large family, died suddenly on the 18^th instant, aged over 70 years, an older sister having preceded her about two months. These two old ladies lived entirely alone for 15 or 20 years, when kind neighbors would occasionally assist them. The only male member of the family – a brother – was wounded and captured at the Battle of Peach Tree Creek in July 1864 and died three months later in a northern hospital.

On the 11^th inst. W.S. Kearly, son of W.H. Kearly, of this county, was instantly killed by being crushed beneath a log while working near Wallace, Escambia County.

The contract for the improvements on the courthouse was awarded to Dr. S.W. Yarbrough last Monday for $2,850. The specifications prescribe a 30-foot brick annex to the west end and stairways on the east end. The contract calls for the completion of the job by the 1^st of November next.

Messrs. T.J. Stevens and Arnold, contractors and builders of Brewton, were in town this week looking after the courthouse improvements.

Cadet Challie Stevens of Brewton was among his Monroeville friends this week.

Messrs. A.T. Sowell and W.M. Roberts left this week for Arlington on the Mobile & Birmingham Railroad, where they will embark in the mercantile business. Arthur and Walter are two of our most enterprising and progressive young men and The Journal wishes them every success in their new venture.

Singleton tells Nancy Mt. visitors about the ghost of Nancy Haines

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Naptime in the outdoors interrupted by crow talk” was originally published in the June 1, 2000 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Pick a day if you will, and for all practical purposes, decide not to do anything except the one thing that strikes your fancy.

I would like to share with you one of these days I had the privilege to enjoy a few days back. My dear wife had other plans for this day so I had nothing to do but disappear and return just when I wanted to.

Had this been in the old days, I would have had to saddle my horse or hook up the buggy to carry me where I was going. But in these modern times, all I had to do was to gas up my motorcycle and make a quick stop at a grocery store to pick up my lunch of sardines and crackers, a small can of pork and beans, two moon pies and a couple of canned drinks.

With all my goodies, the morning sun in my face and the fresh wind blowing around my neck, I head toward the place where I know that time will stand still and everything is at peace.

The green trees and the fields of growing corn raced by as I headed up through the Finchburg area. I left the pavement and turned west toward the river and the high hill known as Nancy Mountain.

I made a quick run down the scenic steep hill that leads to the river and the ferry to see if it was still there. Then I turned my iron steed around and climbed back up the hill to my favorite stop atop the high bluff.

I looked around to be sure that I was not going to be disturbed. The sun was getting warmer with each passing minute, so I knew that if I was going to take a quick nap before the heat settled in, I would have to hurry.

Just as I was about to doze off into that nap I was looking forward to, about 25 crows decided to settle in the top of a large oak tree on the hill. I laid back and decided to listen.

The conversation among the group of crows was something to behold. I would have given anything to have had a tape recorder there with me.

I listened for a long time as they scolded each other, and each in its own way “had its say.”

If by some miracle, I had been able to understand their talking, I would have known just who in the crow society was going out with whom and I would have been greatly enlightened on all the happenings around the area.

The conversation came to a sudden halt when I tried to join in with the crow caller that I had put in my pocket before leaving home. I must have said something that they didn’t like because they left the large oak tree in an awful hurry.

Just as things began to settle down again and I thought that I might get on with my nap, I heard a noise in the underbrush across the road.

Out of the weeds and tall grass came a large armadillo slowly making his way across the gravel road. I sat very still as he slowly made his way toward the table where I was sitting.

I didn’t mind him looking around, but I wished he would go on about his business. I wasn’t looking for company for lunch, but it seemed that this was what the armadillo had in mind. I wasn’t sure if an armadillo ate sardines and crackers or not. But he wasn’t about to get a can of mine. Besides, I always eat two cans.

After what seemed to be a very long visit, my friend, the armadillo, moved into the underbrush and down the hill toward the river.

According to my stomach, it had gotten to be about lunch time. The thought of the moon pies and sardines had flung a craving on me. I was ready for lunch. After a feast fit for a king, I thought I might doze off for a few minutes there on the hill as a cool breeze crept over the area of Nancy Mountain.

Just about the time I dozed off, the sound of an approaching automobile reached the hilltop. Before I could get up off the table, up drives an elderly couple from lower Baldwin County.

Before I could get a word in, they were removing from the trunk of their auto a large picnic basket and an ice chest. Assuring them that I didn’t mind if they had a picnic lunch there under the shelter, they began to unpack their goodies.

After seeing all the good food they had, I was sorry that I had eaten. My sardines and moon pies weren’t much compared to the lunch they spread out there on the table.

They had never heard the story of Nancy Haines and the tragedy of her family there on the hill during the early days of the dreadful Civil War. They knew nothing of the ghost of Miss Nancy as she walked the old road and faint trails that led down to the river, hoping to meet her loved ones coming home from the bloody war.

Our conversation went on for quite some time about the happenings around the area and throughout the county.

After relaying to them the adventures I had experienced while traveling over the country by motorcycle, they were about ready to sell their auto and invest in an iron horse.

As they were about to depart Nancy Mountain, they wanted to know if I would come with them again here to the hill and retell the story of the ghost of Miss Nancy.

Next time, they were going to bring along some friends. I assured them that I would meet them there if they would let me know the day they were coming.

As I stopped for a final look across the vast valley and river below me, I decided that it had been a very good day after all. Even though I didn’t get my nap, I had made some new friends and I had gotten the latest gossip from the band of crows, although I had been able to get a word in edgeways. Looking across the valley, I had witnessed once again a porter of the great Creation.

The evening shadows had begun to gather there atop Nancy Mountain as I watched the golden rays of the setting sun through the trees to the west.

I mounted my motorcycle as on would have mounted a fine horse in the olden days. Leaving the mountain is never an easy task, but I knew that I just go. It had been a very fine day. As always, I was glad that I had come.

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Conecuh County's Rabb community was named after early county pioneer

The old Rabb School building in Conecuh County, Ala.

Bright afternoon sunlight shining through the windows of the newspaper office the other day caused me to come down with a bad case of wanderlust. A few minutes later, I was in my truck and headed north up U.S. Highway 31. About five miles later, out past the Evergreen Golf Club, I found myself in Conecuh County’s old Rabb community.

I turned down Antioch Church Road and a few minutes later pulled over at the old Rabb Cemetery. Sources say that the Rabb community is one of the oldest settlements in Conecuh County, and the dates on the graves in this large cemetery bear this out. I’d estimate that this sprawling cemetery contains around 200 graves, and the oldest grave that I saw belonged to three-month-old Isabella S. Rabb, who died in August 1828.

Isabella’s grave is among a number of old Rabb family graves to be found inside a unique brick enclosure near the cemetery’s entrance. The enclosure consists of a brick wall that’s about chest-high, and it has obviously weathered many years out in the open. Within this enclosure, you’ll also find the grave of William Rabb Sr., who died in 1859.

Sources say that the Rabb community was named after William Rabb Sr., who moved to Alabama in 1819, the same year that Alabama became a state. William Rabb Sr. settled the area that people would later call Rabbville or Rabb’s Store before the name was eventually shortened to Rabb. In his heyday, William Rabb Sr. was one of the county’s most prominent merchants and farmers.

From the cemetery, I drove down to the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where my old friend, the Rev. Michael Jackson, serves as pastor. He wasn’t around when I stopped by, but I did have a nice chat with Rose Robbins, who is celebrating the birth of a new great-grandchild. Rose and I talked about the age of this stately old church, and she directed me to a cornerstone on the southeast corner of the building, not far from the church’s front entrance.

Those who have seen this cornerstone before will know that it says, “Antioch Baptist Church – May 12, 1901 – Rev. J.H. Wrenn, B.D., Pastor.” I’m not 100-percent sure, but I believe the Rev. J.H. Wrenn to be the Rev. Jesse H. Wrenn, who passed away at the age of 93 in 1965 and was buried in Birmingham. He was born in 1872 and would have been 29 years old when the cornerstone was laid in 1901.

Before heading back to Evergreen, I swung by the old Rabb School, which is located a short distance away from the church. Sources say that this old building served as a school house from 1923 through 1960, and historical records show that the school was funded by Rosenwald School funds and other public funding sources. Today, it is used for youth activities, senior citizen activities and Disabled American Veterans meetings.

This old school is also listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage and was one of 389 Rosenwald Schools built in Alabama between 1912 and 1932. Rosenwald Schools were built through contributions from wealthy philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, who donated millions to build schools for black children in the South. Sources say that Conecuh County originally had 17 Rosenwald Schools and that the Rabb School is the last of these schools still standing in Conecuh County.

As I stood there in front of the old school, I thought about all of the people who have lived in the Rabb community over the years. At one time, Rabb had a sizeable population. In fact, the community even had its own post office from 1898 to 1918.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about the history of the old Rabb community. I’m especially interested in any old ghost stories, tall tales or local legends from the Rabb community. Also, if anyone knows of any old Indian mounds or village sites in this area, please let me know.

More information comes to light about J. Lee Long Bridge at Millers Ferry in Wilcox County, Alabama

John Lee Long of Greenville.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: The Progressive Era has some of the best readers around. If you want to know something, just ask the question. Chances are, one of the newspaper’s readers will know the answer.

Several weeks ago, in the May 6 edition of the newspaper, I wrote about the J. Lee Long Bridge, which takes travelers on State Highway 28 across the Alabama River at Millers Ferry. Originally built in 1930, this lengthy bridge was named after prominent businessman and politician John Lee Long, who was born in Greenville in 1868. Many of you will remember reading that Long was a highly successful businessman who got his start in the cotton-buying business, but he eventually launched into a long career as a public servant.

In Greenville, he cut his political teeth by serving on the city council, as city treasurer and also on the local school board. A staunch Democrat, Long eventually got involved in state politics and served on the staff of Gov. Joseph F. Johnston before first getting elected to the State House of Representatives in 1906. Long went on to get reelected to the state house in 1910 and 1919 and served for a time as the Speaker of the House. From 1911 to 1913, Long also served as the State Tax Commissioner under Gov. Emmet O’Neal.

Heavily involved in the Democratic politics of his time, Long served as chairman of the Butler County Democratic Executive Committee, as a member of the State Democratic Executive Committee and as chairman of the Congressional Democratic Executive Committee. Long also served as a member of the state’s 1901 constitutional convention and as the chairman of the committee that successfully fought the passage of a state constitutional prohibition amendment.

Despite all of the information that is available about Long’s life, earlier this month I was unable to readily determine when Long died or where he was buried. It was also unclear exactly why the bridge at Millers Ferry was named after him and whether or not this was done before he died. As I often do, I asked readers of the newspaper to contact me if they had any additional information, and, as it turns out, I did not have to wait long.

Not long after the May 6 newspaper hit the streets, Cheryl Sumner, Claudia Lewis and Joey Sanders reached out to me with more information about Long’s death and burial. According to their information, Long died at the age of 61 on Feb. 2, 1929 in Montgomery and was buried in the Pine Crest Cemetery section of Magnolia Cemetery in Greenville. Sources say that the Pine Crest Cemetery is the older, original part of Magnolia Cemetery.

According to an old Birmingham News article provided by Sumner, the J. Lee Long bridge was dedicated on Oct. 10, 1930, which was about 20 months after Long’s death. “It was named in honor of the late J. Lee Long, Speaker of the House of Representatives, author of the Alabama Bridge Corporation bill under which 15 toll bridges were financed by the state,” The News reported. The article went on to say that the bridge officially opened to traffic on Aug. 29, 1930 and replaced the “crude flatboat” that previously ferried travelers across the river.

In the end, big thanks to Cheryl, Claudia and Joey for sharing their historical insights with me. I receive a fair amount of e-mail from readers of The Progressive Era each week, and it’s nice to pass along what they have to say when I get the chance. I especially enjoy hearing old ghost stories, folk tales and local legends from Wilcox County’s past, so if you’d like to share anything along those lines, please let me hear from you.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for May 26, 2020

25 YEARS AGO

MAY 18, 2006

An extremely large crowd came by the Open House at Vaughan Evergreen Medical Center Sunday afternoon. On hand to greet the visitors were Hospital Chief of Staff Dr. Fred West, Vaughan Evergreen Administrator Jim Peace and his wife, Lisa, and Vaughan Health Services President Bob Morrow and his wife, Deborah.

Valedictorian of Hillcrest High School’s graduating class of 1995 is Preston Albritton, son of Greg and Deborah Albritton of Evergreen.

Preston has a 93.2 grade point average and scored a composite of 30 on the ACT.

Doug Bolden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bolden, is the salutatorian of the 1995 graduating class of Hillcrest High School. He has a 93.0 grade point average. He scored a composite of 31 on the ACT, with a perfect score of 36 on science.

R. Conner Warren, son of Mrs. Lucy Warren, and the late Byron Warren of Evergreen, has been elected President of the Alabama Cast Metals Association at their annual meeting in Montgomery. The ACMA serves companies in the metal casting industry in Alabama which has over 23,000 employees.

The Conecuh Women’s League announced today that Carmon Salter and Chad Chesser are the recipients of the League’s annual Scholarship Award.

50 YEARS AGO

MAY 28, 1970

SPC-4 Frank Demon Salter was Conecuh County’s latest Vietnam casualty. He died in the combat area on May 19 “not as a result of hostile action.” The soldier was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Salter of Rt. 2, Evergreen. He entered the Army in March 1969. He will be buried with full military honors Saturday afternoon at two o’clock at the Pleasant Grove A.M.E. Zion Church with the Rev. J.S. Sellers officiating.

L.L. Autrey, veteran Conecuh County educator and principal of Nichburg Junior High School, retired this week. He compiled a remarkable record during his 42 years of service in county schools, never having missed a day from school.

Truckers elect Poole director: Walter Poole, Poole Truck Line, Evergreen, was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Trucking Association at the 1970 convention at the King’s Inn, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.

Poole, who served in a similar capacity the past year, will serve during the administration of Glenn R. McClendon, Glenn McClendon Trucking Co., Lafayette, and takes office on July 1.

PIX Theatre – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – The Nights Are Darker In Dunwich… and nights are when it happens! H.P. Lovecraft’s Classic Tale of Terror and the Supernatural! THE DUNWICH HORROR – Sandra Dee – Dean Stockwell – Ed Begley – PIX THEATRE.

55 YEARS AGO

MAY 27, 1965

Graduation exercises will be held at the Evergreen City School auditorium tonight at 7:30 o’clock, according to principal Marcus O’Gwynn.

The school is giving diplomas to one of its largest classes this year with a total of 75 boys and girls graduating.

Evergreen High graduates 65: One of the largest senior classes in the history of the school is to be graduated at exercises Friday night in the Memorial Gymnasium. The program begins at 8 o’clock and will be highlighted by presentation of diplomas to 65 graduates.

Dorothy Waller is valedictorian and Willene Powell is salutatorian of Repton’s Class of 1965.

Keith Holcombe is valedictorian and Bobbie J. Carter is salutatorian of the (Lyeffion High School) Class of 1965.

Donald Sawyer is valedictorian and Jimmy Oliver is salutatorian of the 1965 Class (at Conecuh County High School).

Kay Holman is valedictorian and Nancy Nix is salutatorian of the Class of 1965 (at Evergreen High School).

BAUMHOLDER, Germany – Army Pfc. George R. Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Williams, Route 1, Owassa, Ala. took part in a river crossing exercise conducted by the 8th Infantry Division in Germany May 9-17.

During the maneuvers, Williams received practical training in the skills and procedures necessary to cross water obstacles. He is a 1961 graduate of Lyeffion High School.

70 YEARS AGO

MAY 25, 1950

Seven persons lost their lives in a tragic auto-truck collision here early Saturday morning. The accident happened on the outskirts of Evergreen on the Loree road at about 6:15 Saturday morning. The site was within the city limits and the accident investigated by city authorities.

Fifteen members of the Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department received certificates at graduation ceremonies last (Wednesday) night ending the 12-week school and training program conducted here.

The following firemen received certificates: Chief Ed Carrier, Assistant Chief Forrest Douglas, C.E. Carrier, H.S. Dunn, J.H. Dunn, John Thompson, W.L. Thames, Henry Powell, James Nall, Winston Pierce, J.W. Weaver, Randolph Moorer Jr., Woodford Bolton, Wilbur Hamilton and A.B. Johnson.

Bill Langham will receive his high school diploma at Evergreen High School Friday night thus ending one of the most super-perfect attendance records ever compiled by a local student. Since he entered the first grade in September 1938, Bill has never been absent or tardy – 12 years of school present every day and on time every time.

Evergreen High School will award diplomas to 55 students at graduation exercises Friday night. The program will be held in Memorial Gymnasium to afford room for the large number of people expected to attend.

75 YEARS AGO

MAY 24, 1945

Pvt. W.H. Kamplain Jr. Is Enroute Home From Prison: Relatives have been informed through the Red Cross that Pvt. W.H. Kamplain Jr. was enroute home, having recently been freed from a German prison camp where he had been for more than a year. No word had been received from Billy in about five months prior to the message that he was on his way home.

Pfc. Alton Shipp Is Out Of Prison Camp: Mr. and Mrs. Ernest M. Shipp of Route One, Evergreen, has received a telegram on May 9 from their son, Pfc. Alton E. Shipp, who was in a German prison camp, saying he was well and safe and hoped to see all soon. They also received two letters since the telegram saying he was free again and was so happy to be out of that prison camp.

Diplomas Are Awarded To 34 High School Seniors: Diplomas were awarded to 34 seniors of the 1945 graduating class at the Evergreen High School Wednesday evening, May 23, by M.A. Hanks, principal, following a program which was rendered by members of the graduating class. George Kelly with the highest average was the valedictorian, and Margaret Brown, second highest, is salutatorian.

(Other graduates included Opal Bolton, Elsie Ruth Brooks, Verma Dell Brooks, Bertie Coburn, Vonceil Coburn, Margaret Craig, Avril Davis, Jean Daw, Ada Frances Dean, Louise Elder, Elizabeth Hanks, Coleen Hildreth Harper, Lillie Mae Reeves Harper, Edith Jones, Vonceil McKenzie, Mae Newton, Marjorie Newton, Mary Virginia Peacock, Bettye Ruth Snowden, Juanita Spence, Virginia Suddith, Johnnie Mae Thames, Ruby Faye Tolbert, Willie Mae Ward, Walsteen Brown Williams, Edith Diamond Young, Matthew Cross, Chester Ellis, Glenn Hart, James Lee, Roy Lee Moorer and Horace Tranum.)

66 YEARS AGO

MAY 11, 1954

Forty-Seven Seniors To Receive Diplomas From Evergreen High: Commencement exercises for Evergreen High School have been completed according.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for May 25, 2020

10 YEARS AGO

MAY 27, 2010

The Conecuh County Junior High School Athletic Club and Castleberry Little League traveled to Auburn University on Sat., May 15, 2010 to watch the Auburn Tigers baseball team play the Tennessee Volunteers. The Athletic Club would like to thank everyone who helped make the trip possible. The Tigers defeated the Volunteers, 18-0.

Brown University senior All-Ivy tackle David Howard was drafted recently by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the National Football League draft as the 241st overall pick. Howard is the son of Robert Howard and the late Jenetta East Howard, formerly of Evergreen and graduates of Conecuh County public schools.

A two-time All-Ivy defensive lineman, Howard drew double-team on virtually every down this season and finished with 29 total tackles, including six tackles for a loss of 23 yards. He was also credited with a team high eight quarterback hurries.

The 6-3, 295-pound Howard had outstanding workouts in front of pro scouts that obviously has paid off.

Ramona Ward of Evergreen recently caught this large mouth bass using a beetle spinner. The bass weighed 13 pounds and was 23 inches long. Ramona would not tell us where she caught this nice bass but rumor has it she was fishing in Charlie Ward’s pond.

25 YEARS AGO

MAY 25, 1995

9th annual Special Olympics successful: Conecuh County’s Ninth Annual Special Olympics was hosted by Lyeffion Junior High School on May 16, 1995. Participating in opening ceremonies were: Mr. Ronnie Brogden, Superintendent of Conecuh County Schools; Mr. Joey Varner, Principal of Lyeffion Junior High School; Mrs. Janet Cooper, Coordinator of the Special Olympics; Mrs. Nancy Wiggins, Speech Pathologist; Terrance Trent, Leslie Hooks, and Melodie Nettles, Special Olympians who presented the Lighting of the Torch.

Mrs. Janet Cooper presented medals to the 1995 winners:

Balloon Pop – 8 and 9 year olds – 1st place: Iris Portis, Marshall.

10 and 11 year olds – 1st place: Asia Grace.

12 and 13 year olds – 1st place: Renee Duncan, Marshall.

14 and 15 year olds – 1st place: Nancy Pryor, Evergreen Junior High.

Wheelchair Race – 1st place: Melodie Nettles, Marshall.

Bean Bag Toss – 1st place: Leslie Hooks, Marshall.

Basketball Run, Dribble and Shoot: 8 and 9 year olds – 1st place: David Jenkins, Conecuh County.

10 and 11 year olds – 1st place: Tiffany Watkins, Repton.

12 and 13 year olds – 1st place: Tina Watkins, Repton.

14 and 15 year olds – 1st place: Tonya Brown Rudolph, Evergreen Junior High.

Standing Long Jump: 8 and 9 year olds – 1st place: Greg Watkins, Repton.

10 and 11 year olds, 1st place: Travis Ingram, Marshall.

40 YEARS AGO

MAY 29, 1980

Terry Peacock was awarded the coveted Jerry Peacock Memorial Trophy by Sparta Academy at the private school’s annual athletic banquet. The trophy is awarded in memory of Terry’s late older brother, Jerry, an outstanding athlete and student at Sparta who drowned in a tragedy shortly after his graduation. Sportsmanship, leadership, character and athletic ability are all taken into consideration in selecting the trophy winner, and Terry exhibited all of these during his playing days on Sparta football, basketball and baseball teams.

Cliff Harper’s death shocks and saddens: Friends and relatives here were shocked and saddened by the death Monday night of Cliff Harper, 67, former Evergreen High School principal. He collapsed during a Southeastern Conference dinner and died about two hours later in a West Palm Beach, Florida hospital.

Doctors said that the associate commissioner emeritus of the Southeastern Conference had suffered a massive heart attack.

Mr. Harper, who was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in February, was a prominent figure in Alabama sports for more than 50 years. He was an all-round star at Moore Academy in his hometown of Pine Apple and lettered in three sports, football, basketball and baseball at Birmingham Southern College.

Mr. Harper came here in 1946 as principal of Evergreen High School. He employed the late Wendell Hart as head coach and helped launch an all-around sports program that soon developed into one of the best in the state. He helped with the coaching and was instrumental in the lighting and enlargement of Brooks Stadium and the construction of Memorial Gymnasium.

55 YEARS AGO

MAY 27, 1965

Play will begin in the Evergreen Pony League on Mon., June 7, according to President Bill Chapman.

The player auction for the boys coming up from the Junior League was held Wednesday night. Players were purchased by the various teams as follows:

Pirates: Terry Coleman and Bill Seales, managers: Jimmy Hamiter, Larry Windham, Jimmy Bell, Norman Ross, Leon Hinson, Stanley Mitchell, Wayne Hammonds, Charles Grant.

Braves: Pete Hicks and Sam Brown, managers: Jeb Barron, Wesley Poole, David Rabren, Arnold Hall.

Indians: J.W. Weaver and Mr. Burt, managers: Ivon Gomes, Hollis Tranum, Gerald Salter, Danny Hall, Michael Tolbert.

Tigers: Luther McDonald, manager: David Davis, Ronald Halford, Tommy Johnson, Johnny Daw.

These new boys are the older boys who played last year are asked to contact their managers to learn the days they are to practice.

Two From EHS Play In Montgomery: Two members of Coach Henry Allmon’s Evergreen High Aggie baseball team played in the Lions Club’s East-West All Star game in Montgomery Monday night, won by the East, 3 to 0.

Mike Fields, catcher-outfielder, and Steve Baggett, third baseman, were chosen for the West team.

70 YEARS AGO

MAY 25, 1950

Evergreen High School’s first intramural golf tournament was won by Bonnie King and Hobson (Junior) White last Saturday. The nine hole matches were played at the Evergreen Golf Course.

The tournament was organized by Coach John Lockwood as a part of the Evergreen High physical education program.

(Other golfers in the tournament included Wayne Bell, Dickey Bozeman, Pace Bozeman, John Henry Brantley, Don Cunningham, Jimmy Frazier, James Indindoli, Leslie Johnson, Norman Johnson, Billy Mudge Lee, Billy Lewis, Gillis Morgan, Pete Moseley, Don Pate, Roger Peacock, Bayne Petrey, John Greel Ralls, James Ryan, George Salter, Clarence Smith, Bobby Frank Snowden and Charles Williams.)

The Shreve Eagles scored early to defeat the Paul Aces, 6-2, Sunday behind the steady pitching of Ferrell Smith. The Eagles bunched their hits to score three runs in the first and a like number in the second.

Harold Godwin settled down after the first two innings and blanked Shreve the rest of the way. Leroy Smith caught for Shreve and Bertie Hassel was behind the plate for Paul.

Flat Rock almost upset the undefeated, league-leading Centerville Rookies in the league’s other game Sunday.

The game featured a tight pitching duel between Flat Rock’s James Barlow and Centerville’s J.W. Windham. Delano Smith and Jim Windham shared the catching chores for Centerville. Huston Barlow was behind the plate for Flat Rock.

Eli McMorn and the Strange Case of Kill Devil Hill – Part Three

The star Celaeno in constellation of Taurus.

From our vantage point atop Kill Devil Hill, I watched a featureless black buzzard off in the distance. It spiraled high in the sky on an invisible column of wind. “Do you really think there’s gold and Indians buried around here?” I asked my grandfather.

He pondered this question for a few seconds, picking the right way to answer a 12-year-old boy. “Nah, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you found some old bones and spear points,” he said. “I’ve heard tell that the Indians would bring their dead up here and burn them on wooden pyres, them that worshiped what we call Celaeno.”

This was the first time that I had heard the word “Celaeno.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“It’s a star in Taurus,” he said. “It’s easy to see if you know where to look. The Indians no doubt called it something else because our name for it is from Greek mythology.”

My thoughts turned to the names of the planets. “You mean like Mars and Mercury?”

My grandfather took a long drag from his cigarette. “Those are Roman,” he said. “Celaeno was Greek. It literally means something like ‘the dark one.’ Who knows why they chose to worship it?”

An eerie breeze blew across the top of the hill. Gooseflesh broke out on my arms.

“Long before you were born, my own Pa told me that in the spring of ’06 – before I was even born – a man and a mule were killed, and three women were hurt bad in a lightning strike up here,” he said.

“What were they doing with a mule way up here?”

“Not using their heads, that’s what,” he said. “The story was that they’d got the idea that this would be a good place to cut out a slab of stone for a grave marker. Back then, not everyone got a headstone. It was for a dead baby and the mother – one of the three women – wanted a headstone. They were going to lash the block of stone to their beast to move it to the graveyard.”

I tried to imagine someone leading a stubborn mule up the side of the mysterious hill.

“Sure enough, they got up here and began to chisel away,” my grandfather continued. “There is nothing neat or simple about that type of job. They worked up a sweat and didn’t pay any attention to a big thundercloud that blew up on them out of the southwest.”

My grandfather pointed to a dust-dry stump near the center of the hilltop, muted sunlight glinted off the fraternal ring on his right hand. “There used to be a big ash tree up here back then,” he said. “That’s all that’s left. When it started to rain, they sought shelter beneath its branches. Lightning struck, killed the man and mule and the tree too, I guess. All the women got knocked out. When they woke up, their clothes were just black shreds.”

“Pa said every bone in that man’s body was broke,” he said. “When folks went to collect his corpse, he was all loose inside, like a bag full of blood jelly. Same with the mule. The smell must have been inhuman.”

I looked to the west, over the Alabama River and into the eldritch, black woods of Clarke County. There was a dark cloud way off in the distance, sliding north across the sky towards Claiborne. “We should camp out up here some night,” I said in a weak attempt to lighten the mood. “Bring our sleeping bags and a tent. Build a camp fire.”

My grandfather turned and looked me dead in the eye. I had never seen him so serious, so grim. “Boy, you need to put that idea out of your head right now,” he said. “This cursed place is bad. As many folks who have died up here, you’d be asking for big time trouble.”

With that said, he threw down his cigarette and mashed it out with the heel of one of his leather brogans. “Come on, boy,” he said. “It’s time to go home.”

(All rights reserved. This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.)

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

Monroe County's Cunningham Cemetery.

25 YEARS AGO

MAY 25, 1995

The 55^th annual Beulah Camp meeting will be held June 8-18 at the camp located 1-1/4 miles south of U.S. Highway 84 on Monroe County Road 37 between Repton and Excel.

Guest evangelists will be Dr. Harold Spann from Jackson, Miss. and J. Carl Coulliette from Wilmore, Ky. Doug Lepter will be the Bible teacher and music will be led by song evangelists Tom and Louis Kildow.

Fourth-quarter drive propels Excel to win: In a fashion typical to any Excel-Flomaton matchup, Excel High School staged a late touchdown drive Thursday to defeat Flomaton High School, 27-20, during a spring football scrimmage in Excel.

(Quarterback Steven) Pharr paced the Excel offense, rushing and passing for a total of 127 yards. (Jimbo) Bishop collected seven tackles to lead Excel’s defense.

(Other top Excel players in that game included Kelvin Betts, Cedric Brown, Lee Fore, Kelvin Martin, Derek Millender, Shane Moore and Travis Smith. Al Bowen was Excel’s head coach.)

Cunningham cemetery dedication: Members of the 2^nd and 7^th Alabama cavalries fire a salute at the April 30 dedication of Cunningham Cemetery off the Ridge Road near Peterman. The cemetery, where many Confederate soldiers are buried, was recently restored by Monroe County preservationist Dawn Crook. A Confederate marker was placed in the cemetery. A brief history of the cemetery was presented by Joe Holley and the dedication was led by Carter English. Dennis Owens provided the invocation and benediction. Robert Champion and Robert English of Monroeville were among the Confederate reenactors who assisted in the presentation.

75 YEARS AGO

MAY 24, 1945

Lt. Charles R. Skinner, who was confined in a German prison since last August, has been liberated and is now in France. A letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Skinner, received last week, brought the good news that he is getting along fine and he hopes to be home soon.

Sgt. Robinson Harper, who was captured by the Germans last December, has been freed and is all right in every way. A letter written on May 7 was received by his mother, Mrs. G.H. Harper, this week.

Peterman Soldiers Knocks Off Japs: With the American Infantry Division in the Philippine Islands – a 50-calibre machine gun crew with which Pfc. Thomas Dean of Peterman is fighting has been credited by its company commander with being instrumental in the capture of an important hill feature during bitter fighting in the Philippines.

Dean and his crew were serving as a base of fire to cover the advance of infantrymen moving up a steep slope against strongly entrenched Japanese troops. Firing constantly as the riflemen pushed forward, Dean’s gun knocked out several pillboxes and killed an undetermined number of Japs. The volume of fire which his crew laid down cleared the way for the seizure of the hill.

The Peterman solider is the son of Mrs. S.W. Dean. Overseas 26 months with this battle-hardened division, he is a veteran of the Guadalcanal and Bougainville campaigns. A brother, Pfc. James Dean, is serving with the field artillery in Europe.

100 YEARS AGO

MAY 27, 1920

Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and children visited relatives at Graceville, Fla. last week.

Mr. J.D. Rawls, who suffered fractured ribs and other painful bruises when his mule became frightened and ran away, has so far recovered from his injuries as to make his appearance on the streets again.

Mr. J. Conrad Scott, the piano tuner of Pensacola, Fla., will return to Monroeville and vicinity, taking care of all contract work during the month of August of this year. All parties wishing to have work done, who have signed no contract, will please notify him by mail as he will not have time to call only as requested.

Commencement at the Repton high school was the event of the past week. The commencement sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Kimbrough of Bay Minette, and there was a series of interesting programs on each evening following, concluding with a recital by the music class under the direction of Miss Margurite Wilson. Exercises by the primary grades conducted by Mrs. Hines and Misses Lucy Thompson and Wynona Simmons were especially interesting. On Tuesday and Wednesday night, plays were presented entitled “Mrs. Biggs” and “Tony, the Convict,” respectively. Thursday night the graduation exercises took place. The graduates were Misses Evelyn Hicks, Mary Straughn, Catherine McInnis, Lucile Nicholson, Messrs. Charles Carter and Eugene Hines.

Contest medals were awarded to Clay Kelly and Mary Blackwell.

Miss Eustis, one of the teachers in the high school, was called home on the eve of commencement on account of serious accident suffered by her aunt.

125 YEARS AGO

MAY 23, 1895

There was a rain and hail storm (in the Ridge community) on the 10^th inst., the heaviest witnessed in 40 years, say our oldest inhabitants.

MASONIC: A regular communication of Monroeville Lodge No. 153 will be held on Saturday before the third Sunday in June. The annual election of officers and other important business will come before the lodge. A full attendance of members is desired. – F.M. JONES, Secy.

George Agee, who was arrested last week for complicity in the burning of Mr. J.H. Moore’s warehouse at Claiborne, had a preliminary hearing before Judge Stallworth on Tuesday and was discharged, there being no evidence to implicate him in the crime.

Mr. J.H. Moore Jr. of Perdue Hill was in Monroeville on Tuesday. He informed us that he has already begun the erection of a new and larger warehouse on the site of the one recently burned, and expects to have it ready for occupancy in a few weeks. In the meantime, temporary arrangements have been made for handling all kinds of goods with the greatest safety to consignees and shippers.

The closing exercises of Monroeville Academy, which took place at the courthouse on last Friday evening, consisting of a number of appropriate recitations by the pupils of the Primary and Intermediate grades, were of a most entertaining nature and greatly enjoyed by all so fortunate as to be present. The epidemic of whooping cough and measles prevailing in the community so deranged the plans for the exercises that it was necessary to dispense with that part of the program arranged for the high grades.

150 YEARS AGO

MAY 28, 1870

A portion of this county was visited by a hail storm on Wednesday last.

COUNTY COURT: The May term of this Court commenced on Wednesday, the 25^th inst., Hon. J.W. Leslie, presiding, and a full bar in attendance.

There was a large amount of business before the court, and it required two days of industrious work to clear the docket. From this, it would appear that crime is on the increase in Monroe County, but it is also an indication that our county officers are watchful, from the prompt manner in which offenders are brought to justice.

The following cases were disposed of…

Ailsey Wootson, alias Ailsey West, petit larceny of a chicken cock. This was a somewhat difficult case, as it involved the identity of two fowls, one of which was a black gamecock and had been “trimmed” by one of the witnesses; the other bird belonged to Ailsey, but the witness would not acknowledge having “trimmed” it. There were a number of witnesses examined on both sides and some of them swore in direct opposition to the facts. The cross-examinations in this case were more amusing than instructive, and can be imagined as well as described. Ailsey was found guilty, and the court fined her five dollars and costs.

PROPOSALS: We, the undersigned committee, are now prepared to received sealed proposals for the building of the Monroeville Academy, and will continue to receive them until Sat., the 18^th day of June next. Plans and specifications of building can be found at the office of J.F. McCorvey. Proposals can be handed to either of the committee or to J.F. McCorvey. (Signed) J. Russell, J.W. Perrin, C.R. Broughton, Committee.

Singleton said lower Monroe County volcanic rock resembled monster

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Rock formation resembles huge monster” was originally published in the Jan. 15, 1976 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As I roam the countryside and observe the wonders of natures, there are times when it seems that the Creator of all beautiful things might grow tired of making everything pretty and pleasing to the eye.

He does, at times, make things that make us notice that everything is not beautiful – some things are different, odd and sometimes even ugly.

Such was the case of the odd-shaped rock formation that I came across in lower Monroe County. This odd phenomenon seemed to me as a huge prehistoric monster, frozen in time but ever waiting to pounce on any unsuspecting prey who entered his domain to despoil it.

A sixth sense

Man has developed a sixth sense. When he is being observed by unseen persons, he is aware of it, in most instances. This is the feeling that came over me as I walked around the huge, odd-shaped formation. It seemed as through the sightless eyes were following me everywhere, I went.

The atmosphere seemed thick, and each movement or sound was magnified to the point that I found myself trying not to make any noise that might awaken the monster and cause it to become angry. And always I would turn, expecting the eyes to be moving in my direction.

The trees and brush around the rock formation were empty of birds, as though they felt as I did. They, too, seemed to keep their distance.

I knew that this was only a large pile of volcanic rock, but the feeling that came over me is hard to explain.

I know that all these things are His creations and can be appreciated if received in the right perspective, open-mindedness and imagination. But I found it hard to cast the feeling from me that this thing was not really alive and watching.

As I returned to my Jeep through the woods, the temptation to turn and look into the sightless eyes was overwhelming.

[This column included a photo taken by Singleton that had the following caption: South Monroe County rock formation resembles monster.]

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

Five UFO reports filed in Alabama during the month of April 2020

Burner directs flames into hot air balloon.

It’s the fourth Saturday of the month, so today I’m giving you an update on UFO reports in Alabama from the previous month, courtesy of the Mutual UFO Network. A search for UFO reports in Alabama between April 1 and April 30 on MUFON’s website, www.mufon.com, resulted in five reports from within our state during that time.

The first incident occurred on Thurs., April 9, around 3:30 a.m. in Hamilton, which is in Marion County. The witness in this case awoke to a noise that sounded like thrusters filling a hot air balloon. He looked out a window in time to see a column of flames pass over the top of his neighbor’s house and then the flames turned into sparks as the noised died away. The sparks cast light on top of the house and illuminated the bottom of the craft, the witness said.

The second incident occurred on Wed., April 15, around 8 p.m. in Bessemer. The witness in this case, along with his fiancé and two other friends, saw six lines of moving star-like orbs that appeared to be coming out of a craft that wasn’t visible. The witnesses said they watched these orbs for 15 to 20 minutes and estimated that there were 50 to 70 of them in all.

The third incident occurred on Mon., April 20, at 4:54 a.m. in Silverhill, which is in Baldwin County. The witness in this case was walking to his truck and saw two bright lights following each other, moving northeast. As they disappeared, the witness saw what looked like shooting stars or maybe a small meteor shower that he described as “weird.” He continued to watch as several more rounds of “bright lights” followed by shooting stars or meteor showers illuminated the sky.

The fourth incident took place on Wed., April 29, at 8:36 p.m. in Cullman. The witness in this case was standing at his back door when he saw 20 to 25 high-speed objects flying in formation. He continued to watch as they spread apart uniformly without emitting any sound, reference lights or blinking lights.

The fifth incident occurred on Thurs., April 30, at 8:13 p.m. in Salem, which is in Lee County. The witness in this case saw a series of at least 50 white, bright orbs that were flying in tandem in a straight line.

“They were all the same space from each other,” the witness said. “The last two orbs were side by side of each other. They were going very fast, no tails, absolutely no sound. They appeared to come from what we believe was Venus, and they just all disappeared into space.”

Before closing out, I just want to put it out there again that I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has witnessed a UFO, especially in Conecuh County. I think a lot of other people would be interested in hearing your story too, and I’m willing to accept your report anonymously.

'Riley's Crossing' in Monroe County named after South Carolina settlers

Turnbull Cemetery in Monroe County, Alabama. 

About four miles east of J.F. Shields High School in Beatrice on State Highway 21, travelers will see a green highway sign that reads “Riley’s Crossing” near the crossroads where Highway 21 veers off towards McWilliams and State Highway 47 continues on towards Midway. Turnbull Road makes up the other point of the compass at this intersection as it leads motorists down into the old Turnbull community.

Despite the road sign on Highway 21, most maps list the name of this crossroads community simply as “Riley,” a name that dates back to the establishment of a post office there in 1882. According to the book “Place Names in Alabama” by Virginia O. Foscue, the Riley community was “named for a family from South Carolina, who settled in this area.” Sources say that the Riley post office closed in 1911.

According to the 2010 book, “Riley’s Crossing” by Kathy McCoy, the name “Riley’s Crossing” traces its roots to an old mercantile store by the same name that was owned by one of the county’s most prominent citizens, Thomas Mercer Riley, who was the longtime president of the Bank of Beatrice. If you go to this place today, there is no sign of Riley’s old store, which more than likely also housed the community’s post office.

A few days ago, after several hours of luckless fishing at the state lake, I found myself passing through Riley’s Crossing with my 11-year-old son, James. We scouted around for a few minutes to see if any old landmarks or buildings remained from the community’s heyday, and we were not disappointed. As many travelers through this area will know, the most prominent building in present-day Riley’s Crossing is the Savannah Missionary Baptist Church, which traces its history back to the 1880s.

According to the church’s cornerstone, the church was organized in the 1880s when R.W. Russell was minister. The church has been rebuilt three times since then - first in 1907, again in 1937 and lastly in 1968. In 1983, the church was bricked and a new addition was added to the sanctuary.

Before heading home, James and I cut down Turnbull Road, and about a mile later, we pulled over at the old Turnbull Cemetery. We walked among the headstones for a few minutes, and, just eyeballing it, I’d say there are about 50 graves there. The oldest grave that we were able to find belonged to Lydia Kile, who died at the age of 17 in September 1846.

Not far from her grave, you will also find the grave of Thomas Mercer Riley, who died at the age of 95 in March 1935. During the Civil War, Riley served as captain of Co. C of the 5^th Alabama Infantry and was in command of that unit when it surrendered with Robert E. Lee at Appomattox in 1865. At the time of his death, Riley was one of the few surviving Confederate veterans in all of Alabama.

Sources say that the Turnbull Cemetery is in the flood zone of Turnbull Branch, which flows just west of the cemetery. Maps indicate that Flat Creek, Robinson Creek and Stringer Creek also flow through the Riley’s Crossing and Turnbull communities, and all of these freshwater sources would have been prime real estate for ancient Indians in this area. No doubt there are more than a few old village sites, and maybe Indian mounds, in this part of Monroe County.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about the history of Riley’s Crossing. I’m especially interested in hearing any old ghost stories or local legends from this community as well as any information about old Indian sites there. Many will agree that it’s important to document this information for future generations, so that it won’t become lost like so much of our local history.

Where was the house of the 'Dancing Skulls' located in Wilcox County?

Rosebud-Saint James A.M.E. Church.

About 10 miles east of downtown Camden on State Highway 10 sits the small crossroads village of Rosebud. No one seems to agree on how this community got its name but there was once a sizeable number of people living in Rosebud many years ago. In fact, sources say that Rosebud had its own post office from 1876 to 1910.

I found myself passing through Rosebud on Friday afternoon and decided to cut down County Road 51 to visit the old cemetery at the Rosebud-Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church. Those of you familiar with this majestic country church will know that it is unique for a number of reasons.

For starters, the west side of the church’s foundation is painted purple, while the east side is painted gray. In all my travels, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen another church with this distinct type of color scheme.

The church also has two cornerstones, both located near the church’s front steps. The older of the two reads “Bethel A.M.E. Church – Erected June 1898 – Rev. A.M. Green, Pastor.” This cornerstone is painted white and is smaller than the newer of the two cornerstones.

The newer of the two stones reads “Early 1900s Renamed Rosebud A.M.E. Church, Rebuilt in 1977, Pastor Rev. J. Walton – Erected 2004, Rev. A. Thrasher-Pastor, Rev. C. Townsend, Presiding Elder, Rev. Rt. L. Kirkland, Bishop – 2008, Rev. L. Jackson-Pastor, Dr. L. Watford-Presiding Elder, Rev. Pt. Davis-Bishop.” This stone appears to be made of polished granite, the same type of material used for modern gravestones.

From there, I took a few minutes to look around the cemetery and noted a number of old graves that date back to the early days of the Rosebud community. Some of the graves are to be found in the surrounding wood line, and others can be found nearly hidden amongst bushes inside the cemetery. I even spotted several graves in underbrush near a large pine tree that’s also home to a sizeable, active hive of bees.

A few minutes later, I found myself back in my truck and headed north of the crossroads up County Road 51 towards Darlington. It was then that my thoughts turned to an old ghost story that I’d heard about this area many years ago, the tale of the “Dancing Skulls.” The best telling of this tale that I know of comes from the 1981 book, “Ghosts and Goosebumps: Ghost Stories, Tall Tales and Superstitions from Alabama” by folklorists Jack and Olivia Solomon.

According to their version of the story, “about three miles north of the crossroads known as Rosebud… there sits on top of a small grass covered hill the remains of what was once a large frame house. This house, which now consists of one large room that has held up in the fight with nature through the years, was once a hospital.”

In the front yard of this former hospital, which was in operation before the Civil War but closed before 1900, is “scattered about an assortment of grave markers in the form of headstones and slabs. There are not many of these, but the small number there suffice to give it a weird appearance.

“The attic of this structure is filled with human skulls and the occupants of the house and the (people) of this section say that within these skulls lie the spirits of their former owners. The belief is that these spirits are very sensitive and are easily excitable, and when they become upset, they dance about in the attic and frequently about the walls and ceiling. In times of great excitement, especially during storms, these ha’nts even venture out into the yard and hover around the tombs that hold their companions.”

During my recent trip up County Road 51, I took my time and drove slowly, but from my vantage point on the highway, I never saw any old house or small graveyard that might indicate where the hospital-turned-house once stood. Perhaps someone in the reading audience will remember. If so, please let me hear from you because it would be interesting to know if this tale has any basis in fact.