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.