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

27 YEARS AGO

JUNE 24, 1993

Restoration at milestone: The first phase of the restoration of the Old Monroe County Courthouse is near completion, according to restoration committee chairman Bill Chance. He hopes it will be done by the end of September so that attention can be focused on the interior.

The first phase, according to County Engineer Robert English, entailed doing work on the brick, roof, structural system, windows, storm drainage system and trusses that support the building.

Temple-Inland took first place in the Monroeville Babe Ruth Baseball League this season, posting an 11-1 record. (Members of the team were Connor Martin, Steven Bartlett, Ben Friend, Jason Pipkin, Nathan Smith, Markesia McQuitter, Rick Ramer, Eric Scott, Deric Scott, Chris Gardner, Matt Salter and Oliver Matthews. Coaches were Johnny Bartlett, Sam Martin and Johnny Till.)

Future animal shelter: Workers have put finishing touches on the masonry work around the walls encasing the Monroe County Animal Shelter. Construction continues to run behind schedule but is well below budget, according to Charles Mabry, vice president of the Monroe County Animal Control Authority. He said plans originally called for the shelter to be completed by June 15, but because of cost cutting designed to keep the project under budget – such as waiting longer than expected for a cheaper contractor – the shelter is facing delays. Mabry could not say exactly when the shelter would finally be completed. The building is on Alabama Highway 47 between Monroeville and Mexia.

52 YEARS AGO

JUNE 27, 1968

Mrs. Margaret Ann Murphy recently received her Master of Education Degree from Dr. John E. Deloney, president of Livingston University. This was the second time Mrs. Murphy has been a member of the first graduating class of a university; she received her B.S. degree during Auburn University’s first graduation exercises in March of 1960.

Mrs. Murphy worked as a graduate assistant in the English Department of Livingston University during the past year and will teach English in the college this fall.

She is married to Cecil L. Murphy Sr., former biology teacher at Monroe County High School, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Max Murphy of Peterman.

Football Pros Speak At Excel Banquet: Three football pros and a coach were the speakers at Excel’s Football Banquet Monday night, sponsored by the Quarterback Club.

Leroy Jordan of the Dallas Cowboys was the major speaker. The other speakers were Obert Logan of the New Orleans Saints, Wayne Frazier of the Kansas City Chiefs and Jimmy Sharp, who is an assistant football coach at the University of Alabama.

Approximately 150 persons were present.

Post 24’s New Officers: These new officers of Explorer Post 24 of Monroeville took office recently. Standing from left are Al Bentley, president; James Robinson, vice president; John Barnett, quartermaster; Ray Skinner, treasurer; and Joe Whatley, district cabinet representative. David Bentley, seated, is secretary. A.S. Bentley Jr. is adult adviser to the post.

77 YEARS AGO

JUNE 24, 1943

URIAH BOY GRADUATES AT NAVAL ACADEMY: Glenn Earl Lambert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Lambert of Uriah, was among the seven Alabama boys to graduate in the 1944 class at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., on June 9.

Ensign Lambert graduated from Uriah High School in 1939. Having received his appointment to the Naval Academy from Congressman Frank Boykin, he made his preparation for entrance requirements at Marion Institute, and entered the Academy in the 1944 class on July 17, 1940.

After a brief visit with his parents he will go to Jacksonville, Fla. for temporary duty at the Jacksonville Air Station.

LT. W.E. ROGERS LOSES LIFE IN PLANE CRASH: Lt. William Earl Rogers, Binghamton, N.Y., husband of the former Sue Gaillard Brown, of Montgomery and Prattville, was killed in a plane crash at Desert Center, Calif. Wednesday night. Funeral services will be held Sunday in Binghamton, N.Y. Mrs. Rogers is the granddaughter of Mr. J.F. Gaillard, Perdue Hill.

Monroe Mills Picnic At State Park Saturday: The annual picnic given the employees of Monroe Mills was held at Little River State Park last Saturday afternoon and night.

It was a most enjoyable outing and was attended by a large group of the employees of Monroe and Clarke Mills and many friends.

Iced drinks were served throughout the afternoon and at seven o’clock everyone was served a most tempting chicken supper.

Dancing and numerous contests were enjoyed during the afternoon and night.

(Contests included an egg-throwing contest, an apple-eating contest, an apple-bobbing contest, a swimming race and a three-legged race.)

101 YEARS AGO

JUNE 26, 1919

Bob Jones, the famous evangelist, has been secured to hold a meeting in Monroeville beginning Sunday, the 6^th of July. The meeting is to be held in the new Methodist church. It will be a community meeting, all the ministers and churches cooperating.

Mr. Sam Moseley, who is a student at Tulane medical college in New Orleans, is spending a few days here with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. H.R. Moseley.

Mr. Hunter McDuffie was down from Franklin Tuesday and reports poor cotton. He says boll weevils are in the cotton fields in greater numbers than he has before seen.

Prof. G.M. Veasey and family have returned to Monroeville to make their future home. Prof. Veasey will be connected with the Lazenby Mercantile Co.

Rev. C.A. Williams left Monday for Columbus, Ohio to attend the celebration of the centenary movement. We are glad that he could attend this meeting and feel that he will return refreshed and strengthened for the great Jones revival which we are expecting.

SOLDIERS BARBECUE: The Lake Park Outing Club of Monroeville, Ala. will give a public barbecue July 4, 1919 in honor of its soldier members, and also in honor of all Monroe County boys who were in the service. The members of the Club desire to make this celebration the greatest in the history of the country, and request the cooperation of all Monroe County citizens in making the occasion altogether enjoyable.

127 YEARS AGO

JUNE 22, 1893

At the last communication of Monroeville Lodge No. 153, the following officers were elected for the ensuring Masonic year: S.H. Daily, Worshipful Master; Q. Salter, Senior Warden; F.M. Jones, Junior Warden; J. DeLoach, Treasurer; S.W. Yarbrough, Secretary; A.T. Sowell, Senior Deacon; W.G. McCorvey, Junior Deacon; and S.F. Daniel, Tyler.

Monroe Chapter No. 4 will hold a regular convocation at Masonic Hall, Perdue Hill, Ala., on Thurs., June 29, 1893. Installation of officers, etc. – W.J. McCANTS, Secretary.

The military boys returned from camp at Mobile Monday. They report a jolly time. The company made a creditable appearance and the boys and the friends of the company as well, are highly gratified at the manner in which their gallant young captain distinguished himself by his manly and soldierly bearing and the skillful manner in which he handled his men. Capt. Nettles was the recipient of flattering compliments from Col. Williams and numerous staff officers.

Mr. J.W. McInnis of Burnt Corn was in town and called to see us Tuesday. Mr. Mc. Is one of our substantial citizens and a man who makes a success of farming by making a living at home.

PINE ORCHARD: There was a picnic at Murder Creek Saturday and on returning home, a Mr. Tom Booker shot and killed Frank Wells. Whiskey was the cause.

KEMPVILLE: Mr. Jas. A. Morris shot and killed a large grey fox one day this week. The fox was chasing a hen and ran up within 30 or 40 yards of Mr. Morris’ yard gate, when Mr. Morris did the shooting.

George Singleton tells of the time he spent five minutes in the ring with a 540-pound carnival bear

(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 “Fond memories recalled” was originally published in the June 12, 1997 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

On this past May 17, my high school graduating class decided to get together for a time of fun and to relive some of the times when we were in high school. Each member, in turn, had their chance to relay to the others present some of the fond memories of those past times there at Sweet Water High School.

When my time came to relay some of the memories of yesterday’s school days it seemed that the rest of the class wouldn’t let me sit down. So, it became a question and answer session and those who wanted to hear again about past events.

As I stood there before those present, I thought about how times have changed since we were in high school together. I see many things happen today that during those years would have been unheard of. If one passes our schools today, we see many automobiles sitting out in the parking lot of the school. Many of the students of the senior classes have their own automobiles to drive wherever they please. I reminded the class that if we came to school and there was an automobile sitting out in front of the school, it meant one of two things – either the county superintendent of education had driven down from Linden, the county seat, or someone from away far off had gotten lost and had stopped to ask directions. Today, we don’t have the ample parking space for all the fancy and beautiful automobiles that our students drive to school.

As we sat there and relived the memories of those days, I was asked to tell about our senior year football banquet. All the players were told by Coach Foster that if we did not bring a date to the banquet, we could not come ourselves. Since very few of our families owned an automobile, two of my teammates and myself hired an old man to carry the three of us and our dates to the football banquet. A total of seven were crowded in the old 1937 Chevrolet for the trip to the banquet. The only one in the group that enjoyed the trip to the banquet and the return home was the old man who drove the old car. He seemed to have had a wonderful time. He did all the talking since no one else was able to get a word in edgewise.

When the time came to order our class rings, I wore the largest size in the class, therefore, my ring was the most expensive. I had worked the summer before as a deckhand on a tug boat that pushed barges up and down the Tombigbee River. I had saved my earnings to put me through my senior year in high school. I nearly fainted when I was informed that my class ring was going to cost me a whole $12.

I was during my senior year when a small carnival of a sort came to the small town of Sweet Water. Coach Foster gave strict orders to the football players that no players were to go to the carnival. The rival game of the year was just a few days away and no player had better be caught at the carnival on either of the two nights. Hard times were ahead if this happened.

The small carnival was to be in town on Friday and Saturday nights. Our first game was to be with our great rival Linden High School. This game was just a week away, and the last thing anyone wanted was to get Coach Foster mad and upset. .Three other players and myself just couldn’t see how we would be caught if we waited until Saturday night to attend the carnival. Since no member of the team would be there to rat on us, we felt very safe as we strolled around the carnival grounds, seeing everything that was free. None of the four of us had any money, but things were about to change.

Over in the corner of the carnival was a small arena. Here a crowd gathered as a man challenged anyone from the crowd to come forth and wrestle a very large brown bear that sat silently beside him, which was secured by a leash around his neck. “Anyone who can stay in the ring with this 540-pound bear for a period of five minutes will be paid the total sum of $5 cash money,” the man yelled. No one seemed to want the $5. There were no takers from the crowd.

Unaware of what was taking place, my loyal and good friends had decided that I would get in the ring with the large bear. Then, with the money that I would win, they could enjoy the rides of the carnival and see all the side shows as long as my winnings lasted. So, when the bear handler yelled out that there was a challenger in the crowd, I looked to see who it was. My friends were pointing at me.

I couldn’t run because I was surrounded. I couldn’t understand how that had happened. Everyone was clapping their hands and cheering. I decided quickly that if I survived this ordeal I was going to murder my friends in cold blood for getting me into this mess.

The large crowd had moved back and formed a large circle. I found myself standing inside the circle as the bear handler removed the leash from the large bear’s collar. I knew that my time had come. No more would I play on the fields of competition against our school rivals. If I was lucky I might be able to watch from the sidelines in my wheelchair.

I felt the bone-crushing pressure as the large animal caught me in a bear hug and lifted me from the ground. I managed to get my leg behind the bear’s leg making us both fall to the ground. I landed on top but not for long. The large bear flipped me clear and as I landed on my back the bear was on top of me. The handler made the large bear get up off of me, but as I stood up I was grabbed again having the air crushed from my lungs.

The five minutes, which seemed like five hours, were finally over. I staggered to my feet. The bear handler came over and congratulated me while presenting my friends with my winnings. I was so tired and hurt that at that time I didn’t care what happened to the money. All I needed was a place to lie down and hurt. I felt as if I had been run over by a train. Little did I know the worst was yet to come.

As we were about to leave the carnival, after all my winnings had been spent by my friends, there standing before us was Coach Foster. I found myself wishing that I was facing the large bear again instead of the man standing there with his hands on his hips. Something told me that life would never be the same for the four of us. It wasn’t.

(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.)

The exact borders of Monroe County's uniquely-named Scratch Ankle community are up for debate

The "Overflowing Well" near Scratch Ankle, Alabama.

Monroe County’s Scratch Ankle community is located on County Road 61, about 12 miles northwest of Monroeville, but its exact borders are up for debate.

Some longtime residents say that Scratch Ankle begins at the artesian well at the southern end of County Road 61 and that it ends somewhere around the old Faith Chapel church. Others say that Scratch Ankle begins about two miles north of the artesian well and ends around Dees Circle. Despite these differing opinions, it’s generally accepted that “downtown” Scratch Ankle is about 2-1/2 miles north of the artesian well, in the vicinity of Lindsey Loop and Johnson Drive.

The boundaries of Scratch Ankle are about as unclear as the origins of the community’s name. Sources say the name first appeared on county highway maps in 1969, but others say the name is much older. The late Dicky Williams, who owned a drug store in Monroeville for years, said that the community traces its name to a railroad conductor in the 1800s who saw local residents sitting along the tracks scratching mosquito bites on their ankles every time his train passed through the area.

Others say that the name involves the old Centennial School, which served the community for a number of years. Sources say that people began calling the area Scratch Ankle because so many people saw school children scratching bug bites on their ankles during the school day. Interestingly, there is no entry for Scratch Ankle in Virginia O. Foscue’s authoritative book, “Place Names in Alabama,” which was published in 1989.

I found myself passing through Scratch Ankle on Friday afternoon and stopped for a few minutes at the artesian well, which is called the “Overflowing Well” by locals. I’ve stopped at this old well many times before, and I always take the time to drink a few swallows of the water from my cupped hands. Those of you who have done the same will know that the water is surprisingly warm and has a strong sulfur taste.

Older people in the area swear that if you consistently drink this water, you’ll never get red bugs or ticks. Most local folks also say that the well has always been there, at least as far back as 75 years ago. Some say the well doesn’t flow as strongly as it used to, and that Oscar McKinley laid the cement blocks around the current well site.

Today, the well is considered an asset to the community because farmers use it to fill tanks and drums in order to water their livestock. Others fill gallon jugs with the water and take it home to enjoy. Some people even make wine from the water and report that it turns out just fine. (Others say that water from the well makes the worst pot of coffee you’ve ever tasted.)

From there, I continued north on County Road 61, and my eyes were met with signs of much activity. I passed a number of vehicles (some pulling boats), women checking their mail, men tending to their gardens, and dogs lounging in the late spring shade. I know that this community once boasted its own school and a country store or two, but little visible evidence remains of those bygone days.

I eventually turned around at the Franklin Church of God, which locals call the “rock church” due to its unique cinderblock construction. According to the sign out front, the Rev. Russell D. Lawley serves as the church’s pastor, and they have services every Sunday and Wednesday. Oddly, even though “Franklin,” the name of a neighboring community, is attached to this church, some local residents consider this church to be located within the confines of Scratch Ankle.

I have also been good-naturedly informed that it is a huge social faux pas to confuse Scratch Ankle with the neighboring communities of Franklin, Finchburg and Wainwright. For example, if you mistakenly say that someone from Scratch Ankle is from Franklin, you will more than likely be quickly corrected. Not that I blame them, since they are no doubt proud to be from one of the most unique communities in all of Alabama.

On the way back down County Road 61, I passed several clearcuts on both sides of the road, and I could not help but wonder how many old Indian arrowheads had been washed to light by all of the recent rains. A number of ridges pass through this area as does Bradley Mill Creek and Holly Mill Creek. All of this, along with the nearby Alabama River, would have made this prime real estate for ancient Indians centuries before this area was called Scratch Ankle.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about Scratch Ankle’s history. 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. Who knows, maybe someone out there will even know exactly how Scratch Ankle got its name.

Old Finley Store and post office was once hub of activity at Sunny South

The old Finley Store at Sunny South, Alabama.

I always enjoy hearing from readers, and I received a nice e-mail this week from longtime Sunny South resident Sharon Ault. Last week in this space, I wrote about a recent trip that I made to the historic Sunny South community, and Sharon e-mailed me last Thursday to tell me more about that community’s unique history.

Sharon explained that her family owns the old store and post office buildings located on the southeast corner of the town’s main crossroads. Sharon, who lives just down the street from these two buildings, said that her grandmother, Cammie Finley, was postmaster there for over half a century. Finley, who passed away in 1987 at the age of 93, began serving as postmaster in 1913 and retired from the job in 1964.

Finley was born in Sunny South in 1892 and was raised in a house that was located across the railroad tracks from the old store. Finley’s childhood home is no longer there, but Sharon remembers it well. Sharon, who was born in 1960, grew up in a house that was next door to her grandmother’s old house.

Sharon’s father, Gene Finley Sr., worked for the railroad and also ran the store. Her mother, Elsie Finley, also served as the town’s postmaster. Growing up, Sharon spent many days in the old store and playing around the back door of the old post office.

Sharon noted that Sunny South did have a train depot at one time, but it was torn down years ago. The depot was located in the corner of the crossroads across from the Old General Store, which still stands across the street from her family’s old store. Back during the town’s heyday, Sharon’s family members would go to the depot and use an old-fashioned hook to retrieve mail bags from the train while it was still moving down the tracks through town.

Sharon also provided more details about the small park on the northeast corner of the crossroads. She said that years ago, Ethel Parham and Robbie Purser led a project to beautify the town, and this park was a big part of that project. Each decorative planter inside the park was placed in memory of a family’s loved one, and Sharon had three planters placed in the park, including the planter beside the park’s patriotic flag display. Sharon said that, sadly, many of the people who bought planters for the park have either died or are too old to maintain the planters.

Sharon also noted that every October, the community group Sunny South United, holds a “Fun Day” in downtown Sunny South. This reunion-style event usually includes a short program, a “huge meal” and activities for children, Sharon said. She said the event is well attended and includes storytelling and visiting that goes on for hours.

“People stay into the night to catch up because people have come from all over the country to capture this piece of their history,” Sharon said. “Sunny South is a great little community.”

In the end, big thanks to Sharon for taking the time to send me more information about Sunny South’s history. If anyone else in the reading audience has more information they’d like to share about Sunny South, please do so. I’m especially interested in hearing any old ghost stories, local legends, tall tales or Indian lore from the Sunny South area, so if you have anything along those lines to share, please let me hear from you.

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

TWO YEARS AGO

JUNE 28, 2018

Evergreen weather observer Betty Ellis reported 0.35 inches of rain on June 21 and 0.5 inches of rain on June 24. She reported a high of 99 degrees on June 23 and a low of 72 on June 19.

The Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce presented Samuel Skipper Construction with the Business of the Month Award for the month of June last Thursday at the company’s office on West Front Street in Evergreen. Pictured from left at the award presentation are Chamber representatives Debbie Jacob, Carol Hamrac and Ronnie Johnson and Skipper Construction owner Sam Skipper and office manager Stacey O’Ferrell.

The Conecuh County Commission recognized recently retired county employee Calvin Samuel on Monday with an official resolution honoring him for over 31 years of outstanding service to the county. Pictured from left at Monday’s presentation at the Conecuh County Courthouse in Evergreen are Commissioner Wendell Byrd, Samuel and County Engineer Winston Foshee.

Conecuh County Probate Judge Rogene Booker announced this week that a Republican primary run-off election for federal and state offices will be held in Conecuh County on July 17.

Booker, the county’s chief election authority, said that polls will open throughout the county on that day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

27 YEARS AGO

JUNE 24, 1993

One-fifth of an inch of rain was all that fell on Conecuh County last week, according to weatherman Harry Ellis. (Ellis reported highs of 92 on June 16 and June 20 and a low of 67 on June 19.)

County Engineer resigns after commission request: John McAnulty, who has served as the Conecuh County Engineer since 1990, has tendered his resignation effective July 1. The resignation came after it was requested by the county commission, following an executive session last Friday.

McAnulty confirmed his resignation but refused comment Tuesday afternoon. He began working with the county on July 20, 1987 as an assistant engineer. He was hired in the engineer’s slot on Nov. 1, 1990.

Mack Goneke is administered the oath of office for county coroner by Conecuh County Probate Judge Rogene Booker. Goneke was selected by Gov. Jim Folsom Jr. to fill the unexpired term of former coroner Danny Garnett, who resigned in March after moving out of the county.

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Martin (nee Vickie Raines) of Evergreen proudly announce the birth of twin daughters, Stephanie Leigh, five pounds, 13 ounces, and Tiffany Lynn, five pounds, seven ounces, on June 16, 1993 at Monroe County Hospital.

CALLED MEETING OF MASTER MASONS, GREENING LODGE NO. 53: A special called meeting of all Master Masons of Greening Lodge No. 53 will be held Tues., June 29, 1993 at 7:30 p.m. at the lodge. All men are urged to attend.

52 YEARS AGO

JUNE 27, 1968

Clearing and construction work are underway at the Flxible Southern Co. plant. Soon a modern building will rise from the rubble resulting from the fire last Feb. 21 which caused almost total destruction of the plant.

The qualifying of Edward (Buddy) Evers for Place 4 on the Evergreen City Council leaves two councilmen, Dr. Joseph H. Hagood in Place 1 and Knud Nielsen Jr. in Place 5, without opposition. Evers will oppose incumbent Bob Bozeman.

Sheriff James Brock and ATU agent Roy Blount of Mobile confiscated a four-barrel whiskey still and 200 gallons of mash on Sunday afternoon in Nymph.

The Student Council, assisted by the Key Club, sponsored the construction of this handsome marker at Evergreen High School. The council committee, headed by Emmett Price and Tim Stinson, cleaned the bricks donated by Emmett and aided the brick mason so that the marker could be built at a small cost. Members of the vocational agriculture classes, under the direction of D.C. Fleming, will plant shrubbery around the marker in the fall. The Student Council is to be commended for their project which adds prestige to the “Home of the Aggies.”

Evergreen’s new telephone directory is being delivered this week, according to J.D. Kaylor, manager for Southern Bell.

77 YEARS AGO

JUNE 24, 1943

L&N Electrician Electrocuted Thursday: Charles C. Rutherford, 33-year-old electrician employed by the L&N Railroad Co., was electrocuted Thursday afternoon about three o’clock while installing wires near Sparta in this county. Rutherford was one of a special crew which is engaged in installing the new central control system which is now being put in on the Montgomery-Mobile line.

According to best information available, Rutherford came in contact with one of the wires which had become supercharged probably from the effects of an electrical storm which occurred about that time.

MASONIC CONFERENCE WILL MEET HERE JULY 7: The annual session of the Conecuh County Masonic Conference will meet with the local lodge in Evergreen Wed., July 7. All Masonic lodges in the county are urged to send representatives and all Masons are invited to attend the session. The local lodge will provide entertainment.

Mrs. Sid Lambert (Ruby Lee Pierce) left Monday for Niagara Falls, N.Y., where she will join her husband.

Veteran Chaplain Dies At Atmore Home: Howard Stanley McMillan Sr., aged 60, died of a heart attack at his home in Atmore, Ala. June 14. He was a native of Monroe County but had made his home in Atmore for the past 10 years.

Entering the Army in 1918 as a first lieutenant, he served in the capacity of chaplain in the first World War.

127 YEARS AGO

JUNE 22, 1893

THE EVERGREEN STAR

Amos Hodge will be hung at Brewton July 7 for murder.

All Confederate veterans in Conecuh County are asked to meet at the courthouse next Saturday, the 24^th, at 12 noon, for the purpose of organizing a camp.

Miss Ada Beck, who satisfactorily conducted the music department of the Evergreen Academy, will leave this week for her home in Camden, to the regret of her many friends she has made here.

Several from this place expect to attend the Fourth of July celebration at Greenville.

THE AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL: The people of Conecuh County have an opportunity presented to them for educating their children that was never before offered and perhaps never will again. The location of the agricultural college and experimental station will be determined within the next 30 days, and if Conecuh County does not secure it, it will be our fault. The commissioner of agriculture, whose duty it is to locate it, has been here and examined the surroundings and was well pleased with the situation.

We see that Rev. B.F. Riley, D.D., of Howard College, has been selected professor of belles lettres at Athens, in the University of Georgia. This promotion is a merited one, but it will take from Alabama one of our ablest divines and bests educators. Dr. Riley, we learn, will accept.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for June 22, 2020

Clemson golfer Turk Pettit.

TWO YEARS AGO

JUNE 28, 2018

Bradley named among Top 50: AL.com sports writer Daniel Boyette published a story on Friday that ranked the Top 50 high school athletes from the 2017-2018 school year, a list that included national record breakers, Major League Baseball draft picks and five-star college recruits. Coming in at No. 26 on the list was Hillcrest senior football and basketball star, Kobe Bradley.

“Bradley was a first-team athlete in football and helped Hillcrest win the Class 3A state championship,” Boyette wrote. “He was also first-team in basketball after the Jaguars finished as state runner-up.”

Earlier this year, Bradley signed a football scholarship with Alabama State University.

Pettit named All-American: Clemson golfers Turk Pettit, Doc Redman and Bryson Nimmer have all been named to All-American teams by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Nimmer was named a second team All-American, while Redman and Pettit were both named to the honorable mention team.

Pettit is the son of Evergreen native Kelly Pettit and Kevin Pettit, and he is the grandson of Conecuh County Board of Education member, Willene Whatley of Evergreen.

Earlier this month, Nimmer and Redman were named second-team All-Americans by Golfweek, and Pettit was named to the honorable mention team.

27 YEARS AGO

JUNE 24, 1993

Brandon Coleman, son of Tammy Coleman of Castleberry, caught this seven-pound catfish using a piece of bread. Brandon said he caught the catfish in the mouth, in water, and in a secret place.

52 YEARS AGO

JUNE 27, 1968

Two days of fun and instruction in various phases of outdoor sports and wildlife conservation were enjoyed last week by 52 campers at the annual Evergreen Rotary Club Fish and Wildlife Camp. Tal Stuart’s Pond near Belleville is the permanent site of the camp.

The Rotary Wildlife Camp Committee made up of Johnny Nielsen, Hub Robison, Bill McGehee, Kilmer Bodiford, Tal Stuart, Sam Cope, Mabry Huggins, Bob Bozeman, Henry Kinzer, Luther Gowder, Hill Stallworth, Brown Boykin, Jack Wild and Henry Sessions was responsible for the successful camp. Huggins and Bobby Moorer, assistant county agent, were directors.

Counselors were Tommy Weaver, Emmette Price, Armour Stacey, John Crum Sessions, Hill Harper, Mike Lanier, John Robinson, Jim Williams, Eddie Reeves, James Coburn, Lynn McCreary, Shelby Windham and Jeb Barron.

A new activity, tent pitching, was introduced this year. Two boys were assisted to a pup tent.

Rotarians and youth and adult counselors gave instruction in bait, fly and spin casting and rifle marksmanship. Prizes were awarded to the outstanding camper in each category.

The boys attended sessions on Fish Pond Construction and Management led by Luther Gowder, Trapping and Hide Preservation led by A.K. Williams and Herbert Oakley, Firearm Safety led by Earl Kennamer, Auburn University Extension Wildlife Specialist, and Tree Identification and Forest Management for Wildlife led by Kilmer Bodiford. Tal Stuart and Skip Stacey conducted a tour of the Wildlife Management Area. A water safety demonstration was provided by the Water Safety Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation.

The camp was termed a big success and thanks expressed to the Soil Conservation Unit in Evergreen and all others who made the camp possible.

Steve Dunn is mighty proud of the wristwatch he received as a prize for being selected as the Best Camper at the Rotary Wildlife Camp last week. Steve is the 12-year-old son of Mrs. Ernestine Dunn of Lyeffion. The prize was given by Boykin Jewelers of Evergreen.

These six boys won proficiency awards at the closing of Rotary Wildlife Camp last Thursday. Winners were Troy Bakel of Evergreen, best fly caster; Steve Dunn of Lyeffion, best camper; Benny Landon of Evergreen, best rifle shot; Doug Austin of Brewton, best spin caster; Harry Pipkins of Lyeffion, best bait caster; and Johnny Andrews of Evergreen, best shotgun shot. Prizes were donated by Conecuh Quick Freeze, Bank of Evergreen, Persons Hardware, Wild Brothers Hardware, Western Auto and Boykin Jewelers.

CATFISH SUPPER: The Lyeffion Quarterback Club will sponsor a freshwater catfish supper on Sat., July 6, at Lyeffion High School. Serving will begin at 6:30 p.m. The price is $1 for “all you can eat.”

127 YEARS AGO

JUNE 22, 1893

THE EVERGREEN STAR

BICYCLING: Now, that the boys and young men of Evergreen are taking so much interest in bicycling, why may not the ladies do the same? There are wheels made especially for them, and Mr. Whitcomb can supply the demand.

Should they, however, wish to use the wheels their fathers and brothers own, they can, with a slight change, adapt them to their purposes, or they can use them as they are by wearing a sort of bloomer garment made for those ladies who wish to exercise on the wheels made for gentlemen.

The outfit for a lady consists of a blouse waist, over which is an Easton jacket of cadet blue, full Turkish trousers all of cadet blue and black gaiters to the knees and a cap of cadet blue with white band. This costume is a vast improvement on the clinging, disagreeable skirts, and there is said to be nothing about it even suggestively immodest or unseemly.

While on this subject, we will ask, why is it that female attire, which is always a burden, an annoyance and little protection from the cold, is not discarded for something like the above? We firmly believe, about half the ills to which our wives and daughters are subject, come from the burdensome manner in which they dress. If they will have independence and courage sufficient to make a change on this line, and them take a before-breakfast spin on a modern bicycle every morning, at least, nine-tenths of the sallow, sickly complexions and slow gaits of our ladies will be succeeded by healthy, rosy cheeks and robust frames.

Throw medicine in the slop bucket and try a bicycle.

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

St. James Hotel in Selma, Alabama.

23 YEARS AGO

JUNE 19, 1997

Manning named manager: Farrish Manning of Monroeville has been appointed manager of Johnson Funeral Home by Gary Wolfe, regional director of operations for Prime Succession.

Manning, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, has over 40 years of experience with Johnson Funeral Home. John R. Johnson, former owner and manager, will remain with the company as consultant and funeral director.

Uriah’s Braves captured first place in the South Monroe Little League major’s division for players ages 10-12 this season. The Braves completed league play Monday with a 12-3 record. Team members are Kevin House, Dusty Smith, Kendall Jay, Brian Marshall, Kyle Fralick, Chad Smith, James Akins, J.B. Wilkins, Brandon Peavy, Steven Smith, Kyle Wiggins and Miles McCullers. Coaches are Russell Smith, Ricky Wilkins and Harry Akins.

Enhancing the façade: Workers install columns at Alabama Southern Community College’s administrative building Monday. The columns were manufactured by Gate-Precast of Monroeville and are part of a campus-wide roof-replacement and renovation project. Columns will be placed at the administrative and science buildings in Phase I of the project; work will be done on the library in Phase II. Dr. John Johnson, college president, said he is pleased the work is being done by a Monroeville company. He said the architectural improvements are intended to “reflect the academic quality of the institution.

48 YEARS AGO

JUNE 15, 1972

Dr. Martens will practice medicine here: Dr. Carl Walter Martens will begin the practice of medicine in Monroeville July 1 in association with Dr. R.A. Smith Jr. and Dr. Grayson Simmons. The trio will be associated in the new Monroeville Medical Clinic.

A native of Birmingham and a graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Dr. Martens received his medical degree from the University of Alabama Medical College in Birmingham.

Snowden turns professional: Monroe County High School’s Larry Snowden became Monroe County’s first professional baseball player, of recent history, as he signed to play for the Pittsburg Pirates. Larry will be traveling to Bradenton, Fla., where he will live at Pirate City, a training camp for rookies. Signing Snowden for the Pirates was Max Macon, who is the scout for this area. Snowden had recently signed to play college ball for PHJC before deciding to take the professional offer. Fred Moore, at left, watches his son sign.

Mrs. Raymond Ward of Megargel brought the first cotton bloom of 1972 into The Journal office last Friday morning. The blossoms she holds came from a 100-acre field planted March 27.

Legion elects new officers: John L. Wiggins was elected commander of American Legion Post No. 61 at a meeting of the group Tuesday night at the Legion hall.

Other officers named were Vernon P. Burns, adjutant; John A. Taylor, first vice-commander; Julius S. Wiggins, second vice-commander; David C. McKinley, chaplain; George T. Jones, historian; John A. Biggs, sergeant-at-arms; and George B. Singleton, service officer.

73 YEARS AGO

JUNE 19, 1947

Lighted Field For Football Games Here: At a meeting of the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce Monday night, Prof. R.H. Vickery was given the green light to proceed with the installation of a lighted football field at the High School. Some more money will have to be raised but with the goal so close, it was decided to complete the job.

Prof. Vickery stated that the local High School team would play six of their 10 games at home this fall with the first game scheduled for Friday night, Sept. 26.

Pete Franklin Reports First Cotton Bloom: Pete Franklin, farmer of Perdue Hill, sent to The Journal Friday an open cotton bloom found on his farm on June 12. This is the first bloom reported for this season.

Boroughs Reports Cotton Bloom: Mr. A.R. Boroughs of Perdue Hill sent a cotton bloom to The Journal office on Saturday morning, taken from his farm on June 12. He has been one of the first farmers to report early blooms for several years.

Methodists Install Werlitzer Organ: Those of the Methodist congregation who attended church services Sunday were delighted with the new Werlitzer organ which was installed last week.

The organ is the latest model and is equipped for connecting chimes or electronic bells, or both.

Music was rendered at the Sunday School hour by Mrs. B.C. Glenn and at the preaching services by Mrs. J.D. Dennis, the regular organist. Both of these ladies rendered delightful music on the sweet-toned instrument.

98 YEARS AGO

JUNE 15, 1922

COTTON BLOOMS: The first cotton bloom of the season was sent to The Journal on May 31 by W.J. Mason of Beatrice but mention was overlooked last week. It was grown on the farm of W.T. Robbins at Beatrice and was 10 days earlier than the first reported last year.

A few days later Mr. John Parrish of Route One sent in a bloom and on June 9 a third was sent by Will Parker of Monroeville.

Maj. G.O. Dickey of Evergreen is here for a few days looking after the interests of his solicitorial campaign.

Mr. F.O. Hooten of the Markets Bureau of the State Department of Agriculture spent a few hours here between trains Wednesday. Mr. Hooten is an old newspaper man and favored The Journal with a fraternal call.

Capt. W.A. Andrews of Perdue Hill was among Monroeville friends Tuesday.

Messrs. E.L. Covan and J.R. Mixon were down from Old Texas the first of the week. They report farm work somewhat behind on account of excessive rain.

GOODWAY: Our town has been quite lively for the past week. The farmers are hauling, grading and shipping Irish potatoes from this point, there having been quite a number of cars shipped already and will continue for a week or 10 days more. The largest yield reported to the writer so far is 155-1/2 bushels per acre grown by Mr. J.J. Dunn.

The summer term of school at Jones Mill will open June 19 and continue for six weeks. Students may get credit for two delinquent subjects provided they attend the six weeks. Mrs. Bowden will conduct the school. The fees will be $5 for the term of six weeks.

142 YEARS AGO

JUNE 18, 1878

A little son of Dr. Chapman of the Bursonville neighborhood named Clarence, aged about eight years, took a gun and went out in the woods a few weeks ago and killed an owl which measured four feet, 8-3/8 inches from tip to tip. This is a big owl story, but Capt. W.L. Mims expects us to believe it.

OBITUARY: Died at the residence of R.I. Bradley in Claiborne, Monroe County, Ala., the 30^th of April 1878, his infant daughter, Georgia Estell, aged one month and 13 days, and on the sixth of May, his infant son, George Gordan, aged one month and 18 days. The twin buds were nipped from the parent stem, ere they had known them well.

From the Selma Times of the 11^th inst., we copy the following notice of the death of a son of Hon. C.L. Scott of Mt. Pleasant:

“It is with feelings of sincere sorrow that we announce the death of Mr. Chas. L. Scott Jr. at the St. James Hotel on Sunday last. He was a young man of much promise, in the morning of life, and with apparently a long and useful life before him. He was buried by the Selma Guards on yesterday evening in the West Selma cemetery.”

At the time of his death, Chas. L. Scott Jr. was a student at law in the office of Johnson & Clarke in Selma, and although he had been in that city but a short while, he had won many hearts and gathered around him hosts of warm friends. With fond and affectionate parents, and so many around him that loved him, with a love so deep and pure, it seemed a pity that he should be taken from among them.

George Singleton claimed to have photographed panther near Monroe County's Bear Creek in 1972

File photo of black panther. 

(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 “Panthers are not extinct in Monroe County” was originally published in the Dec. 7, 1972 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I had on several occasions noticed the large cat tracks in the soft earth when I was riding the back trails in the area of Bear Creek. On one occasion, I saw what I thought was a huge cat jump some distance in front of me as I descended a steep hill in the same mentioned area. After seeing this animal, I was determined to explore the possibility of getting its picture to prove to the unbelievers that these cats really exist in this area.

William Day of Peterman, who works for the State Forestry Department, had mentioned that he had seen what he thought was a large cat one day while on duty at the Cobb Fire Tower. According to Day, it seemed to be a large cat with two smaller kittens. Day described the larger of the three as weighing about 75 to 90 pounds. The two smaller ones looked to be about 18 inches high and weighing around 30 to 35 pounds. The description of the larger cat seemed to fit exactly the one that had crossed in front of me earlier. And judging from the tracks that Day showed me, it must be one and the same.

I was surprised one afternoon when my phone rang, and it was Day saying that one of the kittens had come out in the clearing around the tower and licked a freshly discarded sardine container. This began the first of a long process of trying to get this cat recorded on film. Open cans of sardines were placed in the vicinity of the tower, hoping the odor of the canned fish would bring out our panther kitten from its hiding place.

Several trips were made out to the tower area by myself and my friend Charles Raymond Floyd. A contest of a type was beginning to form without either of us realizing it, seeing who would be the first to photograph this rare animal. On one occasion, Charles Raymond was in the tower with Day, when the kitten came into the clearing. Several pictures were made, but the distance was too great from the top of the tower. Nothing about the size of the cat could be decided from the pictures.

Charles Raymond and I decided to set up shop in the house or office at the edge of the clearing. The sardines were placed within camera range of the window where we would be sitting should our visitor decide to come out in the opening. We waited for several hours on different occasions but to no avail.

One afternoon around one o’clock, Day called me and said that the kitten was in the clearing near the tower. He told me that I might get some pictures if I would hurry over. Within a few minutes, I was seated near the open window in the house near the tower. I waited for an hour – nothing happened. Another hour passed, still nothing moved.

Just as I was beginning to get ready to leave, Day called me on the phone from the tower. He said the kitten was entering the clearing from the north side. I got into position, trying not to make any noise that would give away my position by the window. Slowly the panther kitten circled the clearing – always keeping his eyes on the open window where I was waiting. I had taken the screen away from the window earlier so as not to obstruct my view if the chance arose.

A grass sparrow flew near the kitten. Like a flash, the kitten moved – catching the bird about five feet above the ground. After what seemed like an eternity waiting for the kitten to eat the bird, I sat and waited, hoping the panther would come over to our bait. The kitten kept looking toward the open window. Slowly it circled the clearing, keeping a distance of about 80 yards between it and the camera. Never once did it come near the open can of sardines.

I took the best shots possible under the circumstances and after watching the kitten for a few minutes, I decided to try and slip out of the house and in my automobile. Just as I moved from the chair where I was sitting, the cat bounded into the brush. He had detected my movement.

There is a Federal law that protects these animals and regardless of the old tales one hears about these cats, they are quite harmless. They prey upon a few rabbits and birds occasionally. Bugs and field mice are part of their diet and maybe a sick or wounded deer now and then.

I, for one, think they should be protected. They are another way that nature keeps its balance. In closing this article, I find myself looking forward to the time when I can see these graceful creatures roaming unmolested across the hills and valleys of our great county.

(This article also included a photo of a small cat taken by Singleton, which included the following caption: This baby panther, which probably weighs between 30 and 35 pounds, was spotted in a clearing near Cobb Tower by photographer George Singleton. This panther is one of three sighted in the Bear Creek area by Singleton.)

(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.)

Sunny South traces its unique name to a steamboat that was destroyed by fire on the Alabama River in 1867

The Old General Store in Sunny South, Ala.

The mild temperatures and bright sunshine on Friday got my wanderer’s blood to stirring, so I hopped in my truck and hit the road for a little exploring of Wilcox County’s highways and byways. I eventually found myself traveling west out of Pine Hill on State Highway 5 and then cut south on County Road 1. A few minutes later, I was in “downtown” Sunny South.

Sunny South, located about 22 road miles from Camden, is one of the most unique communities in all of Wilcox County, thanks in no small part to its distinctive name. According to Virginia O. Foscue’s 1989 book, “Place Names in Alabama,” this community was “named for the Sunny South, a steamboat destroyed by fire in 1867 at Portland, a dead town once located on the banks of the Alabama River in Dallas County.” (Other sources say the Sunny South sank near Mobile in April 1916.)

One of the most prominent landmarks in Sunny South is the Sunny South Baptist Church and its adjoining cemetery. On Friday, I took a few minutes to visit this old cemetery, which sits just a stone’s throw from the railroad tracks that run through the heart of Sunny South. Just eye-balling it, I’d say this cemetery contains about 200 graves, and the oldest marked grave that I saw belonged to Susie A. Agee, who passed away at the age of 46 in September 1902.

From there, I returned to Sunny South’s main crossroads and pulled over for a closer look at the Old General Store. No doubt this store served an important role in the town’s early history, and I could only guess as to when it was built. A pair of dogs down the street spotted me and began to bark at the stranger in front of the store, so I crossed the intersection to check out the small park catty-corner to the Old General Store.

Those who have been to this park before will know that it features a patriotic flag display and a covered bulletin board that welcomes visitors to Sunny South. A closer look at the bulletin board shows that it features an old photo of the Sunny South steamboat as well as a one-page history of the community written by Robbie Purser. Across the street from this display is another old wood frame building that looks like it may have also once served as a country store.

Sources say that there was a post office in Sunny South from 1888 to 1988, but standing there at this intersection one is left to wonder where the post office was located. Was the post office inside one of the old stores or was it elsewhere in the town? Did Sunny South have a train depot? If so, where was it located and what became of it?

A few minutes later, I got back in my truck and continued down County Road 1 to the bridge over Beaver Creek, which flows all the way to Thomasville if you follow it west. I pulled over for a closer look at this old creek and knew that it would have been an important water source for early pioneers as well as the ancient Indians who lived in this area centuries ago. No doubt many arrowheads and other artifacts rest along its lengthy sand and gravel creek bed.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about Sunny South’s history, especially about the old buildings at the crossroads. 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. Now is the time to document this important information for posterity before it becomes lost in the fog of the passing years.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for June 16, 2020

11 YEARS AGO

JUNE 18, 2009

In what she called “a trip of a lifetime,” Connie Gibson of Repton recently traveled to Washington, D.C., where she not only met President Barack Obama, but continued her efforts to keep alive the memory of her son.

Gibson, the mother of deceased Army Sgt. Troy Jenkins, who was killed in Iraq in 2003, traveled to Washington, D.C. last month and took part in the Gold Star Families convention, an event geared toward supporting military veterans and helping families who’ve lost loved ones overseas.

John A. Wilson, age 99, died Sat., June 13, 2009, in Atmore. He was a native of Evergreen and a resident of Atmore since 1941. He was a member of the Local Masonic Lodge No. 779 of Huxford, a retired correctional officer for Fountain Prison and attended Presley Street Baptist Church.

Law enforcement officials in two states are still looking for answers in an apparent murder-suicide that ultimately resulted in two dead bodies at an interstate rest stop in Conecuh County.

According to Conecuh County Sheriff Edwin Booker, deputies received a call Tuesday around 8 a.m. about a possible suicide at the northbound rest area off Interstate Highway 65, between Castleberry and Evergreen.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of 37-year-old Scottie Dean Murphy in the front seat of a 2003 Kia Rio. Upon further investigation, deputies found Jessica Murphy’s body in the vehicle’s truck, Booker said.

23 YEARS AGO

JUNE 19, 1997

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 0.04 inches of rain on June 10 and 1.50 inches on June 13. He reported highs of 89 degrees on June 13 and June 14 and lows of 64 on June 9, June 11 and June 12.

A ribbon-cutting and open house was held for the new Presley-Fluker Funeral Home located on Highway 31 North in Brewton, Ala. Sunday afternoon. Owners Mary and Larry Fluker, along with Bank of Evergreen President Nell Stuart, are shown at the ribbon-cutting.

Kristy Hudson, valedictorian of Sparta Academy, and Claire Johnston, valedictorian of Hillcrest High School, are being saluted by WSFA TV this summer in the annual Best of the Class program. This series of television announcements identifies those students from south and central Alabama who had the highest grade point average in their graduating class.

Videotaping of the announcements took place recently at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts during a brunch honoring the students and their parents.

Mrs. Louis Crook was honored last Thursday at Vaughan Evergreen Medical Center with a retirement tea. Mrs. Crook retired after 44 dedicated years of service. She began working at the hospital when it opened its doors on June 1, 1953.

48 YEARS AGO

JUNE 15, 1972

Greening Lodge elects officers: Greening Lodge, F&AM, elected John Bewley as Worshipful Master at the meeting Tuesday night. He succeeds Robert Glass.

Other officers elected are: Howard Fore, Senior Warden; Jerry Adams, Junior Warden; Melvin Watts, Senior Deacon; Don Salter, Junior Deacon; French Miller, Tyler; Horace Deer, Secretary; Albert Owens, Treasurer; Delma Bowers, Senior Steward; Bob Bozeman, Junior Steward; Quinton Buras, Chaplain; and Earl Brown, Marshall.

Installation of officers will be held at the next meeting of the lodge on June 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Joseph H. Hagood, well known dentist, filed his papers Monday to seek the office of Mayor of Evergreen. It is his first bid for the top city office.

Dr. Hagood is the senior member of the City Council and is now completing his fourth term in office.

Coy L. Harper, well known businessman, qualified Monday as a candidate for Mayor of Evergreen. It will be his second race for the top city post as he made a good showing in the 1968 campaign.

Harper has operated his own business here for over 30 years. He is owner of Harper’s Furniture Co. and also operates a large piano business and upholstery shop.

John M. Raines, formerly of Evergreen, has been promoted to Northeastern Region Operations Manager for Teleprompter Corp., the nation’s largest cable television company. He has been manager of Teleprompter’s Portsmouth, Ohio operation for the last 16 months.

73 YEARS AGO

JUNE 19, 1947

Dean Lodge Elects Officers For Next Year: The annual election of officers of the Dean Lodge, No. 112, A.F.&A.M., was held Sat., June 14, and the following were elected: Walter Overby, Worshipful Master; Albert E. Pate, Senior Warden; Floyd R. Cobb, Junior Warden; William C. Pate, Treasurer; Homer B. Findley, Secretary; Tom M. Kendall, Senior Deacon; Jesse L. Stuckey, Junior Deacon; Charlie L. Dean, Tyler; Grady Ralls, Senior Steward; Alvin Cobb, Junior Steward; Harmon McClain, Chaplain; and Walter Robinson, Marshal.

The above officers were installed immediately following the election.

Miss Jean Martin left Wednesday for Montgomery, where she has accepted a position with Sears-Roebuck & Co.

Miss Mary Louise Cunningham has arrived home from Germany, where she served 18 months as lieutenant in the Army Nurses Corps.

SQUARE DANCE: There will be a square dance at the High School auditorium in Evergreen Friday night, June 20, beginning at 7:30 o’clock. Everyone invited.

Stephen Pickney Baggett, 58, died in the Foley Hospital Wednesday, June 11, following an illness of a few days though his health had much declined during the past year. Mr. Baggett, affectionately known as “Pink,” was a descendant of Conecuh’s oldest family, his passing broke the ties of the 11 children of the late Gus Baggett and Matilda Branch.

120 YEARS AGO

JUNE 20, 1900

Masonic Officers: At the regular communication of Greening Lodge No. 53 on Saturday night, the following officers were elected: H.A. Shields, W.M.; J.T. Amos, S.W.; Carl Rubach, J.W.; D.W. Powell, S.D.; W.D. Goodson, J.D.; W.H. Hawkins, Secretary; M.W. Etheridge, Treasurer; J.H. Stamps, Tyler; P.S. McKinley and Willie Ellis, Stewards; Rev. E.A. Dannelly, Chaplain.

R.E. Whittle, the clever proprietor of Whittle’s mill, was here Monday.

Evergreen’s artesian well is a complete success and everybody is delighted. The pump was put to work yesterday to make a test of its capacity and flow of water. It was found to flow 110 gallons a minute. The water is cold, clear and as pure as the dews from heaven. Mr. Porter, the waterworks man, unhesitatingly said that it is the finest well he has ever made in all his long and wide experience.

I.F. Goodson has purchased of Mrs. E.J. Hamil the Gantt Hotel building opposite the depot, also her elegant residence on Magnolia Street. Mr. Goodson will at once thoroughly overhaul, renovate and improve the hotel and make it a more attractive, convenient and up-to-date hostlery. It will continue to be occupied by Gantt & Son for a hotel.

President Brown of the Bank of Evergreen, who some months ago purchased one of the Lewis stores next to C.B. Savage and now being occupied by the courthouse officials, is having a brick vault and skylight put in preparatory to removing the bank into it as soon as the courthouse is ready for occupancy.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for June 15, 2020

20 YEARS AGO

JUNE 15, 2000

The Little League Dodgers won the 2000 Championship last Thursday night when they defeated the Cardinals, 9-8. Team members are Myles Wiggins, Carter Smith, Austin Murphy, Damon Godwin, James Mason, Drew Gaskin, Coach Gilbert Harden, Chase Brown, Tyler Davis, Coach Bill Ivey, Chris Riley, Will Ivey, Hayes Peace and Coach Jim Peace.

Evergreen Youth Basketball members got a lesson from a pro this week.

“Wesley Person, a defensive player on the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers ball team, put on a basketball camp for more than 80 youths Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Person, a native of Brantley, played for the Auburn Tigers and was drafted by the Phoenix Suns as the 23^rd pick in the draft. He played for the Suns for three years before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent the past three years.

This is Person’s third year to present the program to Conecuh County youth.

Through his camp, Person focuses on the fundamentals of basketball, including passing, ball handling skills, basic layups, shooting and defense.

23 YEARS AGO

JUNE 19, 1997

The Evergreen Babe Ruth Baseball Team Presley-Fluker is the 1997 League Champions. They finished the season with a 12-0 record. Members of the team are Josh Gray, Larry Fantroy, Marquese Straughn, Josh Merrills, Lee Booker, Mario Oliver, Josh Salter, Kelvin Fluker, Tyler Petrey, Keith Kent, Jonathan Jernigan and Brandon Lisabelle. They are coached by Ernest Boykin and Ronnie Kent.

The Evergreen 14-15 Year Old All-Stars for 1997 are Josh Varner, John McKenzie, Jonathan Jernigan, Josh Merrills, Keith Kent, Coach Ronnie Kent, Mario Taylor, Mario Oliver, Larry Fantroy, Jerry Watkins, Tommy Harper, Lee Booker, Josh Salter, D.J. Barnes, James Brown and Coach Ernest Boykin. They will start tournament play at T.R. Miller in Brewton on July 3 at 5:30 p.m. This is a double elimination tournament.

The Evergreen 13-Year-Old All-Stars for 1997 are Kelvin Fluker, Josh Gray, Brandon Lisabelle, Justin Ellis, Jesse Kendrick, Willie Williams, Rusty Salter, Matt Salter, Brandon Baisch, Ethan Blair, Kevin Hall, Brandon Wilcox and Coach Sawyer Griffin. They will start tournament play on June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Evergreen Municipal Park. This is a double elimination tournament. The Evergreen Babe Ruth League is hosting the 13-year-old tournament.

The Hillcrest High School Power Lifting Team won its fourth straight 4A championship in April. The team is coached by Dennis Anderson.

35 YEARS AGO

JUNE 20, 1985

The Brooks Brothers, Melvin and Del, caught this nice string of fish last week at the Beatrice State Lake.

The Class of 1970 of Thurgood Marshall School is sponsoring a ladies softball tournament June 22 at the Evergreen Municipal Park. Entrance fee is $40. For more information, contact Earl Evans, Alma Thomas and John ‘Hub’ Middleton.

48 YEARS AGO

JUNE 15, 1972

Johnny Woods of Lyeffion High School has been named to the South A-AA Basketball Team and will compete in the annual Alabama High School Athletic Association All-Star Game on Aug. 3 at the University of Alabama. Wood, a forward, graduated from Lyeffion this year and was an outstanding player for the Yellow Jackets. As only 10 players are chosen from the Southern half of the state, it is a great honor to be named to the All-Star Team.

Johnny Brown is Mobile golf champ: Johnny Brown is Mobile’s new city golf champion. Brown established himself as Mobile’s top amateur golfer by winning the Men’s City Golf Championship in a tournament played recently at the Azalea City Golf Club.

Brown defeated Chris Davis for the title in a match that went 22 holes. A field of 96 golfers competed in the meet.

Johnny has a younger brother, Joe, who is also a golfer of note in South Alabama. Joe did not compete in the city championship, but has won a number of golf tournaments.

The Browns both began their golf careers at the Evergreen Golf Club while living here. They are the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Brown, former city residents.

73 YEARS AGO

JUNE 19, 1947

Carpenter Loses Initial Contest; Hart Wins No. 7: Wendell Hart racked up his seventh victory of the season at the expense of Frisco City Thursday afternoon. James Carpenter opened against Monroeville and pitched good ball until the sixth inning when he was touched for three hits. Hart then took over and gave up only two bingles in four innings.

Manager R.C. Snowden will bring his crew to town Thursday in search of their second win over the locals. This should be a red hot game as Hart, ace moundsman of the Greenies, and Watson, a young right-hander who beat the locals Sunday, are scheduled to lock horns for the single contest. Atmore will invade Brooks Stadium on Sunday for a single game. Smith or Vickery will probably take the hill in an attempt to drive the Greenies out of first place. Hart or Carpenter will likely furnish the opposition.

Evergreen took the third straight game from Frisco City by a 4 to 1 count in a rain-shortened affair at Frisco City. Manager Hart gave up only two hits and raised his strike out total to 75 by mowing down six batters in this manner. Harper paced the locals at the plate by getting two bingles, scoring two runs and driving in all four runs.

Carpenter made his debut as a pitcher at Monroeville Sunday and was going great until the fifth inning when two hits and an error enabled the host team to push across two markers. After giving up three hits and hitting a batter in the sixth frame, Carpenter turned over the mound duties to Harter who was hit for a two-run homer in the eighth. Page, E. Johnson and Tolbert collected two hits each to lead the locals’ batting attack.

Play Improves In Softball League: After a ragged start, play in the softball league is improving and interest is increasing. Stuart Motors jumped off to a fast start winning in their first two appearances by comfortable margins to gain first place in the league standings. With play improving and competition growing, few run away games are expected in the future.

Last Friday night Stuart copped their second win in a well-played game taking the Scouts by a 13 to 11 margin. Southern Coach topped the F.F.A. team 11 to 7, but the game was forfeited as the Coaches failed to have enough players. Tuesday night the F.F.A. boys came back fighting to down the French Dry Cleaners in a hotly contested fray 11 to 10.

The Scouts gained their first win with a 13 to 11 triumph over an improved National Guard team.

Two thrillers are on the slate for Friday when Southern Coaches tangles with National Guard and Stuart Motors meet French Cleaners. The first game will get underway at 7:30 p.m. at the High School Athletic Field. Tuesday night the Boy Scouts will play the F.F.A. and French Cleaners meet Southern Coach.