Vredenburgh's John Drew was one of the greatest high school players in Alabama history

Today – Sept. 30 – marks the 66^th birthday of John Drew, who is one of the greatest basketball players our part of the state has ever produced.

John Drew

Drew was born on Sept. 30, 1954 in Vredenburgh, a small town that sits right on the Wilcox-Monroe County line. Drew played high school ball at J.F. Shields High School in Beatrice and led the Panthers to the Class 2A state title in 1972. In fact, Drew was named the 1972 State Tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Drew was one of the most phenomenal high school basketball players that Alabama has ever produced, and a close examination of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s official basketball records backs this up. Drew hasn’t played high school basketball in nearly half a century, but he still holds several state records that will likely never be broken.

To date, Drew still holds the state record for highest career scoring average. From 1968 to 1972, he averaged an amazing 41.0 points per game. The next closest player in the record books to Drew is Parkway Christian’s Jeremy Monceaux, who averaged 36.7 points per game from 1998 to 2002.

Drew also holds the state records for most rebounds in a season and single-season rebounding average. During the 1971-72 season, Drew grabbed an amazing 764 total rebounds. Over the course of the 35-game season, that’s an average of 21.8 rebounds per game.

When it comes to most points scored in a single game, Drew holds the No. 2 and No. 3 spots in the state record book. During the 1971-1972 season, Drew scored 77 points in a 135-49 win over Snow Hill Institute. That same season, in another game against Snow Hill Institute, Drew scored 74 points in a game that Shields won, 132-70.

Drew is currently No. 4 in the state record books for most points scored in a single season. During his junior year, 1970-1971, he scored an amazing 1,320 total points. Over the course of his high school career, Drew scored 4,018 total points, which puts him No. 4 in the record books in that category. Drew is also currently listed at No. 4 in the record book for highest scoring average in a single season with an average of 44.0 points per game during the 1970-1971 season.

After high school, Drew went on to play college ball for Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Drew played two seasons at Gardner-Webb before going to the NBA. As a freshman, he averaged 24.4 points per game, and as a sophomore he averaged a double double, scoring 25.9 points and grabbing 13.0 rebounds per game.

In the 1974 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Drew seventh overall, and he went on to play eight seasons for the Hawks and three seasons for the Utah Jazz. Drew amassed all sorts of honors and awards as a professional player and retired with 15,291 career points, 5,088 rebounds and 1,004 steals.

In the end, I’m sure that Drew still has a number of relatives in Wilcox and Monroe counties. Even more people in both counties probably remember watching Drew play high school ball. No doubt they would all attest to the fact that Drew was one of the greatest high school basketball players this part of the state has ever produced.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Sept. 30, 2020

EIGHT YEARS AGO

SEPT. 27, 2012

Evergreen weather observer Betty Ellis reported 1.22 inches of rain on Sept. 17 and 0.09 inches on Sept. 18. She reported a high of 86 degrees on Sept. 22 and lows of 55 degrees on Sept. 19 and Sept. 20.

Six local high school seniors will compete for top honors during Conecuh County’s Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program later this week in Evergreen.
This year’s program will be held Saturday, starting at 3 p.m. at Hillcrest High School in Evergreen.
Competitors this year will include Alexandria Evans, Grace Matlock, Jassmine Riley, Sequoya Stallworth, Amanda Thompson and Victoria Walden.

District Attorney Tommy Chapman announced on Tuesday afternoon that, effective Oct. 1, Gov. Robert Bentley has appointed him Supernumerary District Attorney.
Bentley also appointed Chapman’s Chief Assistant Steve Wadlington as District Attorney to serve out the remainder of Chapman’s term in office, which ends in January 2017.
Chapman was first appointed as District Attorney for the 35^th Judicial Circuit on May 3, 1990 by Gov. Guy Hunt. Chapman was re-elected in 1992, 1998, 2004 and 2010. As a Supernumerary District Attorney, Chapman can be called on to represent the State of Alabama at any time by the Governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the Attorney General.

33 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 24, 1987

$4,330,000 is low bid on central high: A Mobile firm was the apparent low bidder on the proposed new countywide central high school with a base bid of $4,330,000, according to Conecuh County Superintendent of Education Steve Coker. The seven bids opened recently ranged up to a high of $5,078,000.
The base bid is on a contract that calls for a 92,000-square foot building, designed for 900 students, to be completed in 16 months. Coker said he expects to have all county students, ninth through twelfth grades, to begin attending classes there in the 1989-1990 school year.

Johnston will retire Oct. 1; Castleberry named: Tax Collector J. Marvin Johnston formerly announced this week that he would retire Oct. 1 after 20 years of service in that office.
Gov. Guy Hunt’s office notified The Courant on Tuesday that the governor has appointed Mrs. Carolyn Pate Castleberry to fill Johnston’s unexpired term of office, which ends Sept. 30, 1991. She will take the oath of office at 11 o’clock Friday morning in the old courtroom of the County Courthouse.
Johnston, a lifetime resident of Owassa, was first elected Tax Collector in 1966, succeeding the late Henry Wiggins. A popular official, he was re-elected without opposition in 1972, 1978 and 1984.
He graduated from Evergreen High School and Auburn University with a degree in accounting. After meritorious service in the U.S. Army, including a tour of duty in Europe in World War II, he was associated with Ivey Chevrolet Co. in Evergreen for 20 years as accountant and business manager.

56 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 27, 1962

Castleberry Bank Opening Is Today: It will be open house at the Castleberry branch of the Union Bank of Repton this afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. The new bank opened Monday.
The bank is inviting the public to come inspect its facility and the completely remodeled building. It is located in the former bank and post office building and is air conditioned.
Jerry Kelly of Brewton is manager and is being assisted right now by Carl Ryals, cashier of the main bank.

Wet-dry vote is set in county Nov. 6: Conecuh County voters will determine on Nov. 6, whether or not the legal sale of alcoholic beverages shall be allowed in the county.
Judge of Probate Lloyd G. Hart said today that over 600 county electors have petitioned for a “wet-dry” referendum and he has set the date for the election as Nov. 6.
This means that county voters will vote on three ballots when they go to the polls. Nov. 6 is general election and already there is the regular ballot for offices at stake as well as a vote on five constitutional amendments.

James D. “Jim” Martin, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, will be in Conecuh County and Evergreen today. He is scheduled to make a public address at 1:15 this afternoon.
John Nielsen, County GOP chairman, said that Martin will speak from an improvised bandstand in “No Man’s Land.”

78 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 24, 1942

A steel lookout tower has recently been completed near Belleville in this county, and a telephone line is being constructed to connect this tower with other towers in this forest fire protection unit.
This tower is No. 11 in the system of towers constructed by the Division of Forestry cooperating with local land owners. A towerman will be located in this tower at an early date for the purpose of detecting and reporting forest fires to the suppression crews. From this tower fires can be detected for a distance of from 12 to 20 miles, and before fires have reached any considerable size immediate action by the suppression crews brings such fires under control before they can do a great deal of damage.

IN SOLOMON ISLANDS: Sgt. Alton T. McIntyre, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. McIntyre, Herbert, Ala., enlisted in the Marines Aug. 18, 1940. He spent several months in Cuba, Virginia and North Carolina. Last May he sailed from Norfolk, Va. for overseas and his family didn’t know until the last few days where he was. They received a letter a few days ago saying he was on the Solomon Islands, was safe and fine and could tell plenty if he were allowed to.

Knud Nielsen, chairman of Conecuh County Salvage Committee, announced this week that arrangements had been worked out with the city to collect scrap metals at regular intervals when the garbage truck makes its rounds. Housewives and others are requested to collect and place all scrap metals near the can, box or other receptacle used for garbage and the city force will pick such scrap metals up and turn over to the committee. Proceeds from the sale of such metals will be used for the Crippled Children’s Fund.

83 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 23, 1937

Lloyd G. Hart Opens Law Offices This Week: Lloyd G. Hart, who completed the law course at the University of Alabama this spring, has opened offices in the Jones-Deming building on court square.
Mr. Hart is a native of this county, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Hart of the Centreville community. He received his early education in the rural schools near his home and graduated from the local high school in 1928. Since that time, he has been at the University of Alabama, having spent seven and one half years at that institution.

Truman Hyde Takes Over “Mack’s Café” – The eating establishment known as “Mack’s Café” has been taken over by Truman Hyde and will be opened to the public for business next Saturday. Mr. Hyde states that he will operate the café under the same name and at the same location. His wife will assist him.

Strange Ailment Afflicts Child of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce: Stricken with an unusual and strange ailment last June was one year ago, Little Hermione Pierce, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Pierce, still hangs on to life. When first stricken, her parents took her to a number of specialists and were told that her ailment was sleeping sickness or softening of the brain. She has not spoken since the first of August 1936 and has been confined to bed constantly since becoming ill. She has virtually no use of her limbs or muscles, but during the summer months has gained some weight. She takes her food very well, her mother says.
Before this illness came upon her, Hermione was a bright child and learned well in school. Physicians almost from the first have held little if any hope for her recovery.

125 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 19, 1895

The Evergreen Courant made its appearance last week with the announcement of its regular publication after Oct. 1. It is published by Messrs. Marsh &

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Sept. 28, 2020

23 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 25, 1997

Players of the Week: Coaches at Hillcrest High School have chosen for their Players of the Week Jermaine Watkins and Henry Jones. Watkins defensive tactics last Friday night landed him five tackles, three assists and one caused fumble. Jones as the offensive player rushed for 63 yards on 13 carries, caught a 34-yard touchdown pass, passed for 13 yards for a touchdown and caught three passes for 54 yards and returned four kickoffs.

Warriors lose to Fort Dale 24-16: The Sparta Academy Warriors dropped their first game of the 1997 season last Friday night to the Fort Dale Academy Eagles, 24-16. The game was played at Stuart-McGehee Field in Evergreen.
Lee Goodwin led the Warrior ground game with 81 yards on 18 carries. Cliff Herbest had 28 yards on 12 carries and one touchdown. Chris Mitchell had five yards on three carries. Justin Brown had two yards on four carries, and Seth McIntyre had -4 yards on eight carries.
McIntyre completed five of his six pass attempts for a total of 135 yards and one touchdown. Charlie Ward caught four of the passes for 136 yards and one touchdown, and Cliff Herbest mad the other reception for -1 yards.
The Warriors only two scores came on a 65-yard pass reception to Charlie Ward from Seth McIntyre and a one-yard run by Cliff Herbest.
The Warriors will try to get back on the winning track this Friday night when they host South Montgomery Academy at Stuart-McGehee Field. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

48 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 28, 1972

Go, Warriors, Go! These Sparta Academy cheerleaders will be doing their thing at the home field for the first time this season Saturday night when the Warriors meet Wesleyan of Citronelle at Stuart-McGehee Field at eight o’clock. Sparta has posted a 2-1 record while playing its first three games on the road. Leading the yells are Susan Jeffries, Barbara Findley, Jane Carleton, Deborah Burt, Linda Jones, Val Nielsen, Angie Taylor and Prather Nielsen.

Warriors lost first to Jackson, 28-20: The Sparta Academy Warriors journeyed to Jackson and were handed a 28-20 defeat by an aroused band of Jackson Academy Eagles in a game played without registered officials.
The Eagles scored 22 points in the first quarter and the halftime score was 22-0.
Coach Richard Brown pointed out to the Warriors in the dressing room at halftime that their first half performance left much to be desired. The Warriors apparently were tuned-in on Coach Brown’s wavelength.
The second half was an entirely different contest as the Warriors scored 20 points and limited their hosts to one touchdown.

Aggies drop fourth in Butler, 14-0, Greenville here: Rain fell on Evergreen Friday as the Butler Tigers blanked the visitors, 14-0, in a lackluster defensive game, leaving the Aggies with an 0-4 mark to their seasonal credit Friday night.
Friday night the Aggies go against the Greenville Tigers, with a 0-3 and 1 on their credit. The game will be played at home at 7:30.

60 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 22, 1960

CCTS Opens Grid Season: The 1960-61 edition of the CCTS football team, under the tutelage of new head coach Michael Cheatham, ushers in a new season Saturday, Sept. 24, against the ever formidable Ralph Bunche Bulldogs of Andalusia.
Coach Cheatham was assistant to former head coach John Kennedy, who resigned to assume a more lucrative position. He is well versed in the annals of football, having been a star halfback himself at Alabama State and with Fort Benning, Ga. while in service.
Coach Cheatham is using the same offensive system used by Coach Kennedy, the “T” formation and various innovations of the “T.”
The Eagles are imbued with the high spirit of traditional Eagle teams, and have jelled into a fairly smooth working unit despite short and limited practice sessions.
The team is studded with freshmen and veteran players who should play representative football for CCTS. They expect the public’s wholehearted and conscientious support throughout the entire season beginning with Andalusia’s Ralph Bunche High here at Evergreen’s Brooks Stadium Sat., Sept. 24. Kickoff time is 8 p.m. – Oscar D. Tucker.

It was Andalusia power over Evergreen speed Friday night as the Bulldogs took a 13-6 decision. Using a crushing ground game, the home crew slammed across a single six-pointer in both second half periods. The Aggies journey eastward this coming Friday night to take on the Monroeville Tigers as they search for their first victory of the still young season.

73 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 25, 1947

Evergreen Downs Repton 30-0 In Opener: Presenting a stonewall defense and a pair of fleet-footed halfbacks, the Evergreen Aggies opened the current season with a 30-0 win over their county rivals, Repton. A crowd of 1,046 was on hand to see the curtain-raiser.
The locals won the toss and elected to defend the north goal while Repton chose to receive. The kickoff rolled out on the 25 and after three line plays that netted nothing for the visitors, Salter broke through and blocked a kick that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. A pass for the extra point was incomplete and the locals led, 6-0. The Aggies tallied again on a 40-yard drive spearheaded by McIntyre and Rawls. After Rawls went around end for six points, Logue attempted to convert for the extra point but his try was wide. A few minutes later, the Aggies took over on Repton’s 25, following a blocked kick. Logue sneaked over for the Aggies’ third touchdown from the six-yard line a few plays later and again failed to convert.
The Aggies were unable to get started in the second stanza and the first half ended with the score standing, 18-0, in favor of the locals.
The Aggies kicked off again to start the second half and soon found themselves in possession of the ball after Repton failed to gain and was forced to kick to McIntyre, who returned for 10 yards to the midfield stripe. After a couple of trick plays failed to go, Logue to O’Gwynn, who fumbled on the one-foot line where the Aggies recovered. McIntyre then raced around end standing up for the six-pointer. Again the conversion was no good.
The final score of the game came in the fourth period after Craig blocked a kick inside the 10-yard stripe. Logue went over on fourth down to make the score 30-0. For the fifth and final time, the Aggies failed to convert.

85 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 26, 1935

Evergreen fans who attended the Troy-Springhill football game in Montgomery Friday night included Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Gantt and son, Claude; Mrs. Ralph McCreary and son, Lauris Jones; James Lane; Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Wilson Jr.; and Bayne Petrey.

Joe Louis Defeats Baer In 4^th Round: Yankee Stadium, N.Y., Sept. 24 – A brown tornado, merciless, savage Joe Lewis, swept over the magnificent Max Baer tonight, picked him up in the most devastating whirlwind of punches the prize ring has seen since the heyday of Jack Dempsey, smashed him down three times, and finally crushed him in four rounds before the first $1,000,000 crowd of boxing’s new era.
Baer was knocked out after two minutes and 50 seconds of the fourth round. In little less than 12 minutes, he faced the chocolate cyclone, he took a beating so unmerciful, so complete, that the crowd of 90,000, nearly filling the huge ball park, gasped at the cruelty of it.
Three times the giant, curly headed Californian, trying to grin to the last through the crimson mask of his torn features, was hammered to the floor under two-fisted blasts that hit him with all the suddenness and deadly accuracy of a tommy gun at point blank range. He was floored three times in all, twice in the third, for counts of nine and four, the last time saved by the bell, hauled to his corner by his chief second, Jack Dempsey.

Singleton writes of unusual graves he encountered over the years

(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 “Gravestones often reveal strange final messages” was originally published in the Sept. 22, 1994 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I mean no disrespect whatsoever when I say that I enjoy going into an old cemetery or burial ground and reading the epitaphs on the aged tombstones.

Over the years, I have visited many burial places throughout our country and in some of the foreign places that I have traveled. Upon entering these historic burial grounds, I feel that I have gone back in time and have stepped back through the pages of history.

Much can be learned about an early town or a community, just by observing the tombstones and simple markers that mark the final resting places of the early citizens who have passed from this life.

There are times when the deceased themselves put together the final messages that are found on the tombs or markers. Some of these tend to joke or make fun at death. Others speak of tragedies that resulted in the death of the one who is laid to rest there. Then others seem to have been put together by perhaps an enemy of the deceased, and the words of the epitaph are a way of getting even with the one who has passed from this life.

Some of the best epitaphs that I have collected have come from old cemeteries in the states of New York, Arizona and Colorado. Strange as it may seem, in these states, death seemed to be looked on in a much lesser degree of sadness than the other places where I have searched.

Very rarely are any epitaphs that tend to be on the funny side ever found on the tombs that mark the graves of people who lived in the South. I have found a few, but they are few and far between.

I have filled many pages with these strange epitaphs that I have found over the years. I have spent countless hours searching, looking, reading and writing down these that I have collected. Through these rhymes and verses, I have learned much that has lingered within my memory for countless miles of travel and years of time’s passage.

A few years back, I wrote an article about this subject; this is more or less a continuation that I hope my readers find yet interesting.

In a small, abandoned cemetery deep in the state of Arizona, I found this marker.

Here lies Lester Moore,
Four slugs from a 44.
No Les.
No More.

And then another from the Arizona badlands.

Here lies John Ross
Kicked by his Hoss.

This one had no name, just these words.

Played five aces,
Now playing the harps.

While visiting our oldest son, who was then a cadet at West Point Military Academy, I found these. Perhaps the unseasonably cold weather during the month of May caused Peter’s demise.

In memory of
Mr. Peter Daniels,
1688-1746
Beneath this stone, this lump of clay,
Lies Uncle Peter Daniels,
Who too early in the month of May
Took off his winter flannels.

And this one.

Erected to the memory
Of John Phillips,
Accidentally shot
As a mark of affection
By his brother.

Is this one not strange?

Sacred to the memory
Of Elisha Philbrook
And his wife, Sarah.
Beneath these stones do lie,
Back to back, my wife and I!
When the last trumpet the air shall fill,
If she gets up, I’ll just lie still.

How about this one?

Here lies a man of good repute
Who wore a No. 16 boot.
Tis not recorded how he died,
But sure it is, that open wide,
The gates of heavens must have been
To let such a monstrous feet within.

And this one.

Sacred to the memory of
Major James Bush,
Who was killed by
The accidental discharge of a pistol
Of his orderly
14 April 1831
Well done, thou good
And faithful servant.

As I stated earlier, very rarely are there found in the southern states, epitaphs that joke or make light of the departed that are buried there, but there are some exceptions.

Deep, within the state of Mississippi, I found these two.

Here lies my wife
In earthly mold,
Who when she lived
Did naught but scold.

Then there was this one:

Peace! Wake her not,
For now she’s still,
She had; but now I have my will.

Then, there was this one.

Stranger pause, my tale attend,
And learn the cause of Hannah’s end.
Across the world the wind did blow,
She ketched a cold that laid her low.
We shed a lot of tears, ‘tis true,
But life is short – aged 92.

Even in our own state of Alabama one might run across a few, but these are few and far between. Strangely enough, if one knows where to look, one might find a grave marker within our sister county of Clarke with the words listed below.

Stranger, stop and cast and eye,
Where are you now, so once was I.
Where I am now, so you will be,
Prepare for death and follow me.

This article could go on and one. I could fill many pages, but space won’t permit. In closing, I leave with you one of my favorites. I won’t list any names, but this is an epitaph written by a man for his wife. Judging by the words, he must have loved her dearly.

To follow you, I’m not content.
How do I know which way you went?

(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.)

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

The night sounds had gone quiet atop Kill Devil Hill. The nocturnal birds and insects were silent. I took my eyes off the antique Ouija board and glanced at the strange sky. There were no stars, only somber blackness.

I first thought that our campfire had screwed up my night vision. When I looked down from the blank sky, I looked at Brooks Paget. My mind was unable to make sense of what I saw.

In the time it takes a dose of adrenaline to dump into your bloodstream, I realized that his head was missing. There was nothing but a bloody, ragged stump where his head once sat. His body sat upright, his fingertips still on the planchette. The garnet stone in his Claiborne High class ring reflected the campfire’s eerie flames.

Unspeakable panic swept the rest of the group. Meghan – Brooks’ girlfriend – screamed. She was sitting beside her now headless boyfriend. There was blood on her pale cheek.

Jimmy Creason was the first to stand, and it cost him his life. When he jumped to his feet, something unseen snatched him into the black sky. His kicking legs disappeared upwards and out of range of the fire light. He too screamed, but not for long.

There was no time to think. There was barely time to react. I got to my feet and stepped back from the campfire.

My feet then became entangled in the nylon tent behind me, and I pitched clumsily towards the camp fire. As gravity drew me towards the flames, I twisted to avoid the fire and became further entangled in the fabric of the tent. An instant later, I landed on my back in the shallow trench that runs along the top of the hill. The tent and all of its contents came down on top of me.

The bottom of the ancient trench was filled with all manner of craggy debris – stones of different size, rotted tree limbs and years of old pine straw. I landed on my back, and the air whooshed from my lungs. My right temple struck a rough stone, and I was knocked senseless.

When my head cleared, I froze at the sounds of terrible screams and other sounds that I could not identify. I was locked frozen in unnerving shock, somewhere in the middle of flight or fight. From the sound of things, one of the girls – probably Kara – put up a heck of a fight, but suddenly and without warning the screams of the girls were silenced.

A few seconds later, the uncanny silence was broken by dismal footfalls, crunching in the dry pine straw, growing louder as something loathsome approached my hiding place. I was struck tarn, like a coyote in the headlights of an oncoming car. I shut my eyes tightly, like a cowardly child alone in a dark bedroom, afraid of the hungry monster in the closet.

The creature stepped right up to the edge of the trench and inhaled loudly through its nostrils. My mind called up the image of a minotaur, snuffling around the corners of his fabled labyrinth, probing for prey. "Ph'nglui… Cthulhu… fhtagn" uttered a vulgar voice so low and guttural that it couldn’t have been human.

I dared not move. I knew that this was the thing that had taken the head of Brooks and killed the rest of my friends. I lay there, under the tent, as dead, impenetrable silence descended on the camp. My heart raced and I began to shake uncontrollably as I wonder how long would it be before this unseen thing jumped down into the trench to pull me from my hiding place.

(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.)

 

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Sept. 24, 2020

26 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 15, 1994

Evergreen Junior High School Basketball Coach Calvin Fluker, along with Principal Wayne Hammonds and Superintendent of Education Ronnie Brogden, are shown on the newly replaced basketball court. The floor was originally constructed in late 1949 and has been refinished and repaired several times. Unfortunately it was beyond repair after water damage last year. When the floor was put down this summer, the bleachers had to be removed. When they were removed, the wear and tear from the years made it impossible for them to be reused and the school does not have the funds to replace them. Anyone wanting to make a donation to the bleacher replacement fund, can contact Principal Hammonds at the Junior High School.

Skydivers to perform at Hillcrest Sept. 23: The Hillcrest JROTC Department will be sponsoring the 20^th Special Forces Group on Sept. 23, 1994 as they perform during the pregame activities of the Hillcrest vs. Andalusia football game at Brooks Memorial Stadium. A special exhibition will take place starting at 1900 hours (7 p.m.).
Members of the 20^th S.F.G. unit, supported by aviation assets from the 33^rd Aviation Group, will skydive from more than 5,000 feet into the stadium. This is the first home game for the Jaguars, so tell all your family and friends and arrive early to get a good seat.

47 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 20, 1973

With a strong assist from penalties and injuries, the Evergreen Aggies dropped their second straight of the 1973 season, this one by the score of 33-6 to the Monroe County Tigers.
Halftime found the Aggies who were minus regular quarterback Mike Faulkner, behind 14-0. Darris Champion, a fullback for the last two games, took the reins for the evening but could not find pay dirt until late in the game.
With four seconds on the clock, “Champ” sneaked over from the one for the hosts’ six points. Champion and Kenny Scott picked up good yardage for the Aggies ground attack, but Faulkner’s loss hampered their air attack.

Pike Liberal Arts beat Sparta Academy, 14-8, in Evergreen. Sam Skipper scored Sparta’s touchdown. Buddy Monroe threw to Eddie Hooks for the two-point conversion. Other standout Sparta players in that game included Bruce Hutcheson, Jim Adams and Lyle Wise.

Teresa Barlow “skunked” her father, John, when she landed these two fine bass while her father returned home empty-handed from a recent fishing trip.

51 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 18, 1969

Aggies trounce Tigers 20-6; defense, line pave way again: The Evergreen Aggies blasted a big Monroe County High School team here Friday night 20-6 to notch their second straight win of the season. An overflow crowd was on hand long before kickoff time for Evergreen’s home opener.
Coach Wendell Hart’s team used a ball control offense to grind out two first half touchdowns for a 13-0 lead. The Tigers went into an unbalanced line in the second half that the Aggies failed to pick up for a while and got back into the game, but Evergreen came on strong driving 89 yards for a clinching score in the final minutes.
(Top players for Evergreen in that game included Jeb Barron, Jimmy Bell, John Brantley, Ronald Halford, Jimmy Hamiter, Ronald Parker, Larry Peacock, Eric Pugh, Eddie Ralls, Ernest Shipp, Tim Skipper, Reggie Smith, Larry Thomas and Hollis Tranum.)

Mighty Repton rips Lyeffion for second win: The mighty Repton Bulldogs roared past Lyeffion’s game, but outmanned, Yellow Jackets, 53-12, in Repton Friday night.
Dennie Salter triggered the high-powered Bulldog offense, passing for three touchdowns and running in two himself. Big John Lee kicked four extra points and a 41-yard field goal for Coach Danny Covin’s club.
Jacket fans got their biggest thrill in the third period when Johnny Shaw hooked up with Jerry Dykes on a 60-yard scoring pass play.

62 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 18, 1958

CCTS Football Team Prepares: Head mentor, John Kennedy, of Evergreen’s Conecuh County Training School Eagles football team, began Thursday ironing out the muscular kinks in preparation for the 1958 football season.
About 40 eager and husky football players reported Thursday, including 15 lettermen.
The Eagle’s first home game will be with Covington County Training School of Andalusia Sept. 27. A release of the complete football schedule will appear in this paper in the next issue.

The Evergreen Aggies hit the road tomorrow for their first game away from home. They will meet the powerful Andalusia Bulldogs at eight o’clock at the Andalusia Municipal Stadium.
Eight new men reported for practice sessions this week giving the Aggies new strength. They are: Freshman, Legrand Lynch; Sophomores, Jerry Windham, Bobby Potts, Mike Miller, Jimmy Dunn, James Reaves; and Junior, Johnny Lewis.
(Other players on Evergreen’s team that season included Robert Ellington, Bobby Smith, Wayne Stinson and Paul Hardin. Wendell Hart was head coach, and Jeff Moorer was assistant coach.)

76 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 21, 1944

Aggies Open Season Here Friday P.M. – The Evergreen Aggies will open an eight-game season Friday afternoon at one o’clock against McKenzie High at the Evergreen High School. Coach Arthur Carlton has not decided fully on his starting lineup, but he gave out the following roster of players:
Backfield, Glenn Hart, 145 (pounds), Doc Tranum, 132, Matthew Cross, 142, Chester Ellis, 130, and Jimmy Murphy, 140; Ends, James Carpenter, 155, Clifford Kelly, 165, Bob Mosley, 120, and Wayland Johns, 135; Tackles, Bruce Holman, 160, Bill Brown, 161, Billy Pierce, 132, Lowell Taylor, 130, and Joe Andrews, 125; Guards, R.E. Ivey, 150, W.K. Salter, 151, Glenn McIntyre, 160, Preston Reymundo, 135, and Hillman Davis, 105; Centers, Temple Millsap, 147, George Hendricks, 126.
Coach Carlton said that the team was lighter than usual, but also faster; he expected some good results from the hard work the boys have been putting out during their practice drills.
There are nine lettermen on the team and all of them will probably play on the first string.
Matthew Cross is slated for the fullback position and “Sleepy” Hart will fill the quarterback’s shoes. Doc Tranum will play right half, and Will Wells will probably open at left half. Wells, however, may be switched to a tackle position for the first game with Jimmy Murphy, a transfer student from Sidney Lanier, taking his place at halfback. Ellis should also get some service in the backfield.
The line will have at least four veterans in it. The center position is being contested for by George Hendricks and Temple Millsap. Millsap has the advantage of more weight. R.E. Ivey will open at left guard while either Glenn McIntyre or W.K. Salter will play right guard. Bruce Holman will be at left tackle while Bill Brown will probably be at right tackle. James Carpenter has a safe place at right end. Clifford Kelly will open at left end, but Wayland Johns will see some services in the same position.

Winston Groom had strong family ties to Wilcox County, Alabama

I was saddened to hear that best-selling author Winston Groom – who had strong family ties to Wilcox County – passed away from a suspected heart attack last Thursday at his home in Fairhope. He was 77 years old.

Winston Groom.

Groom is best known for his best-selling novel, “Forrest Gump,” which was adapted into an Academy Award-winning movie starring Tom Hanks in 1994. Groom, a University of Alabama graduate who served a tour of duty in Vietnam with the Army’s Fourth Infantry Division, also won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1988 novel, “Gone the Sun.” Among his many other honors and awards, Groom received the 2011 Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer of the Year.

In addition to his famous fictional works, Groom also wrote a number of noteworthy nonfiction books, including books about Alabama football, World War I, World War II, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. One of his best Civil War books, “Vicksburg, 1863,” was published by Knopf Doubleday in 2010. It’s in this book that Groom wrote about his ancestral ties to Wilcox County.

In his introduction to “Vicksburg, 1863,” Groom remarked that in all of his earlier war histories, he’d had a close relative in the conflict and that he “found these direct links with the past particularly gratifying while writing the books.” He went on to say that he undertook the book about Vicksburg with a “little trepidation” because he knew of no family link between himself and the Civil War events there.

However, that all changed when Groom received an e-mail from a cousin who was an expert on Groom family history. This cousin told Groom that his family moved in the 1830s from Virginia and North Carolina to Wilcox County, “about a hundred miles up the Alabama River from Mobile, in the heart of the black belt, at that time the greatest cotton-growing region in the nation – maybe in the world.”

“There, in 1832, at a place named Snow Hill, was born one James Wright Groom, who would become my great-great-grandfather,” Groom wrote in his introduction. “In 1862, one year into the Civil War, he rode a short distance over to Meridian, Mississippi, and joined the Fourth Mississippi Cavalry Regiment – the so-called East Mississippi Dragoons. Why he chose to enlist in Mississippi instead of Alabama is anybody’s guess, but the records show that’s what he did.”

As fighting around Vicksburg intensified, the Fourth Mississippi was sent there to reinforce the Confederates that were already there defending the “Gibraltar of the Confederacy.” Groom said he’s not sure what role his second-great-grandfather played in all this, but no records show that he was captured or wounded. “From all indications, he never rose higher than a private, but the records show he wasn’t a deserter or a coward, and he fought on till the bitter end.”

After the war, James Wright Groom moved to Mobile, where he became a marine engineer. According to the May 31, 1906 edition of The Mobile Register, “he won a high standing in this profession and was one of the best-known engineers on the river.” The newspaper also noted that he was a “highly respected citizen of Mobile.”

In the end, Alabama has suffered a great loss with the death of Winston Groom, but he leaves behind a rich legacy of great books that will be enjoyed by generations to come. If you’ve never taken the time to read any of Groom’s books, I highly recommend that you do so. “Vicksburg, 1863” would be a good place to start.

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

Burley C. Wallace

26 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 15, 1994

Monroeville’s first oil well is pumping: The first oil well to hit pay dirt within the Monroeville city limits started flowing Sept. 10 and is flowing at about 499 barrels a day, according to the well’s operator.
The well is designated as the “Sessions 13-7 well” and is located on property belonging to Winston Sessions just off Experiment Farm Road in Monroeville.

MCHS depth, passing game beat Panthers: In the case of most high-school football games, bigger is usually better. Monroe County High School backed up that philosophy Thursday in Monroeville when the Tigers outscored Excel High School, 35-0.
Senior quarterback Chaz Jordan had another outstanding performance, completing four of five passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
(Other top MCHS players in that game included Tad Anderson, Terry Dean, Brad Griffin, Josh Kendrick, Chris Lee, Kenny Lett, Tim McCorvey, Derrick Nash, David Pleasant, Rod Poindexter and Deric Scott. Top Excel players included Kelvin Betts, James Bonner, Rob Hill, David Lowery, Shane Moore, Steven Pharr, Patrick Ross, Travis Smith and Jason Watson. Willie Farrish was MCHS’s head coach, and Al Bowen was Excel’s head coach.)

English resigns post: John McAnulty has been named Monroe County engineer, effective tomorrow (Friday).
McAnulty replaces Robert English, who has held the position since April 1, 1987. English submitted his resignation, effective today, to the County Commission Tuesday. English has accepted a new position as Clarke County engineer.

51 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 18, 1969

Journal Installs New Three-Unit Offset Press: The Journal is putting into operation this week a new three-unit Goss Community offset newspaper press. This week’s issue is the first to be printed on the new units. Capable of turning out 14,000 12-page newspapers within an hour’s time, it also will produce up to three colors in addition to printing what the trade refers to as four-color process work, a mixture of different colors of ink that blend to produce various colors in a picture.

Excel Edges Frisco City: The final score was Excel 20, Frisco City 18, but this game is subject to be replayed for a long time.
Excel had the score; Frisco City had the statistics, but the score is what counts.
The big play for Excel came in the third quarter when (Eddie) Wiggins returned a Frisco City punt 66 yards for a touchdown.
(Players for Excel that season included Pat Browning, Jerry Burkett, Jimmy Dawson, Neil Dawson, Junior Fails, Larry Flowers, Leonard Flowers, Al Hall, Boyce Godwin, Eddie Hands, Auther Hixon, Howard Kilpatrick, Thomas Lambert, Mike Ledkins, Rufus McCants, William Manning, Curtis McDaniel, Carl McMillan, Jesse McMillan, Keith McMillan, Mike Nall, Tony Narrimore, Phil Robertson, Mike Scruggs, Donald White, Donnie White, Ricky White, Danny Wiggins and Doug Williamson.)

Fort Claiborne Plans Needed: Anyone having a sketch, picture of drawing of old Fort Claiborne is requested to get in touch with Max McAliley at The Journal. There is much interest in building a replica of the old fort, but so far nobody has found plans of the old fort. The Library of Congress has been contacted, and they do not have plans or a sketch.

76 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 21, 1944

Burley Wallace Killed In France: Friends and relatives were made sad when news came in a telegram Sun., Sept. 17, that Pfc. Burley Wallace, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Wallace of Garland, Route 1, Asbury community, was killed in action in France Aug. 8, 1944.
He was drafted into service Oct. 23, 1941 in Montgomery County and was sent to Camp Croft, S.C. later to Fort Custer, Michigan. April 1, 1942 he was sent to Iceland, where he served 18 months. He was then transferred to England, then to North Ireland. From Ireland, he was then assigned duties in France. It was during this last assignment that he gave his life.
Special memorial services will be held at Asbury Church Sun., Sept. 24, 1944 at 11 o’clock.

Paving Project To Be Completed: Work on paving the street leading from the Monroeville-Montgomery highway to the Monroeville-Camden highway, was resumed on Monday. Curb and gutters were put in on this street some months ago.
Equipment belonging to the State is being used on the job, and the Town is furnishing all materials. It is said that the work should be complete in about 30 days.

Town Officials Elected Tuesday: Charles W. Cole was elected Mayor of Monroeville in the General Election held Monday.
Councilmen elected were H.E. Carter, R.M. Lazenby, L.D. Morris, M.R. Sowell and L.J. Wiggins.
Only 30 votes were cast in the election.

101 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 18, 1919

Mr. J.M. Simpson of Mexia, inspector of cattle dipping in his neighborhood, met with a painful accident Friday, resulting in the loss of an eye. A helper trying to drive an unwilling cow into a vat, aimed a blow at the animal and the stick struck Mr. Simpson in the eye, injuring that organ so seriously that it became necessary to remove it entirely. Mr. Simpson was taken to Mobile, and the operation successfully performed.

Moonshiners in Trouble: Two stills, one with a capacity of 60 gallons, and the other of 20 gallons, were raided and destroyed in Monroe County by J.W. Livings, deputy internal revenue collector, and D.D. Morton, deputy United States Marshal, last Wednesday.
W.H. McPherson and Harry Watson were arrested and carried to Mobile by the officers on the charge of moonshining. Eighty gallons of beer were found at the two stills, officers reported. According to the officers, both men confess to the ownership of the outfits.

The initial blast was blown by the big whistle of the Monroeville Gin & Milling Co. on Wednesday evening of last week, announcing its readiness to begin the work of converting the fleecy staple into marketable shape. Since that date, the plant has been in steady operation. A constant procession of wagons bearing the raw material, and the march of producers from dealer to dealer, flourishing their snowy samples, making note of each successive bid, gives a touch of business activity to the town that adds pleasing variety to street scenes hitherto monopolized by the flivver and its joyseeking occupants.

126 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 20, 1894

Mr. E.J. Ricou was formally installed as postmaster at Monroeville on Monday. He will retain as his assistant Mr. Owen Fontaine, who has discharged the duties of the office in a most efficient manner during the past two months, until he becomes thoroughly familiar with the routine duties.

The junior nine of the Monroeville Club played a match game of baseball with the Ridge Club at the latter place on Saturday. The score was 17 to 15 in favor of the Monroeville club.

There will be an ice cream super and game supper on Friday night, Sept. 28, by the Willing Workers of the Baptist church at Masonic Hall, Perdue Hill, for the purpose of raising funds to build a church. – L.N. Lambert.

The Bethlehem Baptist Association will hold its 78^th annual session with Zion church, Axle, Ala., beginning on next Saturday and embracing Sunday. An interesting and profitable session is anticipated.

Miss Fountain, daughter of Dr. Fountain of Burnt Corn, is visiting the Misses Wiggins and other relatives at Monroeville.

Monroeville is not on a boom, but continues steadily to improve. Several new houses to go up soon.

Col. B.L. Hibbard went to Birmingham Tuesday on professional business.

Ernestine, the little child of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Ricou, is still quite ill.

Pleasant Ridge: The Messrs Deans’ new steam gin is nearing completion. They say that they will have it in operation in a few days.

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

25 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 14, 1995

Rufous Hummingbird

 

This rare Rufous Hummingbird was trapped Aug. 24 at Steve and Jeannie Hughes’ house in Monroeville. According to Donna Berger, a licensed bird bander for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, this type of hummingbird is more common in the Northwest and Western U.S. than the Southeast. Mrs. Hughes said the bird had been coming to her feeder for about two days. She called Mrs. Berger because she knew the bird is rarely seen in this region.

 

Monroe County High School scored once in each half to defeat Excel 14-0 last Thursday in Excel, playing in front of what had to be the largest crowd to see a high school game in Monroe County this season.

“We knew that both teams would play hard,” said MCHS head coach Steve Allen, who saw his Tigers improve to 2-0 with the win.

(Top MCHS players in that game included Tad Anderson, Ben Ard, Bucky Busby, Terry Dean, Brad Griffin, Clinton Kidd, Deloster Kidd, Chris Lee, Rick Ramer, Deric Scott, Eric Scott and Chris Tilley. Top Excel players in that game included Kelvin Betts, Jimbo Bishop, Lee Fore, Chris Lint, Kevin Luker, Maurice McMillian, Shane Moore and Travis Smith. Al Bowen was Excel’s head coach.)

 

The Beatrice Town Council said goodbye to its longtime town clerk and welcomed her replacement during a special Sept. 6 meeting. Mrs. (Dorothy) Martin told the council Sept. 4 of her decision to resign, effective Oct. 1. She said she had talked with Sandra Bishop, (Councilman) Alan Bishop’s wife, and Mrs. Bishop said she would be willing to take over as clerk if the council agreed. The council voted unanimously to accept Mrs. Martin’s resignation and to hire Mrs. Bishop.

75 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 13, 1945

 

Staff Sergeant Wardlow Watson has been awarded the Silver Star Medal “for gallantry in action against an armed enemy on Jan. 6, 1945. During an attack on Fillet, Belgium, Sgt. Watson assumed command of his platoon when the leader was wounded and led his platoon with outstanding courage and skill, demonstrating the highest qualities of leadership.” He has been awarded two silver stars, the Purple Heart with two clusters, the Bronze Medal of Honor, ribbon and bars.

Sgt. Watson is the grandson of Mrs. A.A. Hutto of Beatrice and nephew of Mrs. T.T. Ivey and B.B. Finklea.

 

Excel School To Open Friday: The Excel High School and Elementary School will open Fri., Sept. 14, at nine o’clock and pupils will be dismissed at noon. (H.L. Terrell was Excel’s principal at that time.)

 

Telephone Company Installing Switchboard: We are advised by Mr. Stallworth that Mr. H.P. Hurst of Bessemer, Ala., is here installing an additional switchboard in the Monroeville Telephone Company exchange at Monroeville.

For some two or three years, war conditions have prevented that company from procuring materials necessary to enable them to supply the demand for new telephone service. It now appears, however, that the bans will soon have been lifted from these materials, and they are already taking steps to promptly take care of the situation.

 

Mr. A.B. Blass attended a Scout committee meeting in Marianna, Fla. Monday.

100 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 10, 1920

 

High School Opening: The Monroe County High School will open on Tues., Sept. 14, at 10 a.m. for the session of 1920-21. A large number of boarding pupils have already secured board and many more are expected. Our faculty for the coming session is complete and one of the strongest in the state.

Mr. Jones, who will have charge of athletics for the coming session, comes to us from the University of Alabama, where he made a great record for the past six years. He was considered the best graduate instructor at the University during the past session.

 

Mr. W.J. Pritchett drove a classy Paige car over from Evergreen Wednesday which was the admiration of many beholders. Mr. Pritchett is the sales agent for this territory and has numerous satisfied customers.

 

Hon. A.D. Pitts of Selma, United States District Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, was a business visitor to Monroeville this week.

 

Mr. and Mrs. E.R. Morrissette attended the marriage of their sister, Miss Annie Scott, to Mr. Ulmer E. Bradley at Eliska on Tues., Sept. 7.

 

Prof. W.L. Howard was up from Excel yesterday. He gave the gratifying information that the fund required of the community for the Vocational School had been fully subscribed and it is believed that there will be no hitch in the plan for putting the school into operation.

 

Mr. Jas. K. Kyser attended the celebration of “Forward Movement Day” at the Downing Industrial Institute, Brewton, on Wednesday. The exercises on the occasion were interesting and concluded with a most sumptuous feast.

125 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 12, 1895

 

Attention Militia: Every member of Monroe County Corps will appear in uniform at Monroeville at 10 o’clock am. on the first Saturday in October 1895. Any member failing to appear without rendering a satisfactory excuse will be dishonorably discharged. – T.B. Nettles, Capt. 

 

Killing at Burnt Corn: We learn that on last Tuesday two young men, Marion Mixon and Nat Coven, brothers-in-law, residing in the vicinity of Burnt Corn, became involved in a difficulty in which Coven received injuries resulting in his death.

An employee of Mr. Geo. Watson’s place, near Burnt Corn, last Saturday night, while dressing in his house, was shot and killed by unknown parties.

 

Masonic: Monroe Chapter No. 4 will hold a regular convocation at Perdue Hill, Ala., Oct. 3, 1895 at eight o’clock p.m. All Companions are requested to be present. – W.J. McCants, Secretary. 

 

Our enterprising and energetic friend, B.F. Wiggins, is erecting a steam saw mill six miles south of town on the Repton road and will soon be prepared to supply the trade with first-class lumber.

 

Chas. J. Torry, Esq., of Mobile, who has been spending the summer with his family at their country home at Claiborne, gave us a glimpse of his genial face on Friday.

 

Glendale: Last Sunday, while walking over his farm, Mr. B.F. Dogget killed 14 rattlesnakes, two of which measured 4-1/2 feet, and the others about 15 inches in length.

150 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 17, 1870

 

Religious Meeting: A series of very interesting religious meetings have been in progress at the Baptist church in Monroeville, during the past week. The services were conducted by the Rev. W.G. Curry of the Baptist church, assisted by the Rev. Archie McFadyen of the Presbyterian church. Twelve persons were baptized yesterday by Mr. Curry, after which the meeting closed.

 

MARRIED – In Scotland, on the 14^th inst., by Rev. Archie McFadyen, Mr. Miller Davison of Texas, to Miss Julia, daughter of A.S. McMillan, Esq.

The happy pair have our best wishes for their future prosperity. 

The fair bride will accept the thanks of our printers for a delicious cake, delivered by Mr. L.R. Wiggins, her obliging messenger.

 

LOST: Between Monroeville and Scotland, a cane with silver head, engraved R.L. Dabney to J.C. Stiles. The finder will be rewarded by leaving it with J.F. McCorvey at Monroeville or Dr. W.W. McMillan, Scotland.

 

YOUNG HORSES! T.E. Dennis & Co., who have been in Texas since January last selecting a large drove of fine American horses and mares, will be here in a few days with 100 head. Headquarters at Scotland, Monroe County, Alabama. Persons wishing to buy will do well to see them.

 

Farmer’s Hotel, Monroeville, Ala., by W.R. Henderson – The above hotel is solely under management of myself and wife, and by strict attention to our guests, we hope to merit and receive a liberal patronage.

George Singleton writes of Fonderoy Fishue's waterbed misadventures

(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 “Waterbeds are just not Fonderoy Fishue’s thing” was originally published in the Sept. 12, 1991 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

This is a letter written by my friend, Fonderoy Fishue, to his Cousin Slim about Augusta Jill, his wife, who used his timber money to purchase a waterbed. It appears that something has gone wrong at the Fishue home, or waterbeds are just not Fonderoy’s thing.

My Dear Cousin Slim,

I take pen in hand, really not knowing how to explain my situation with my plump wife, Augusta Jill. As you know, I love that big woman dearly, but there comes a time when one has to draw the line, and now is one of them times.

As I told you earlier, there is nothing that I wouldn’t do for my adorable wife, Augusta Jill. I don’t think that I have talked to you since I sold the timber on the old home place.

Well, I did, and when I was paid for the timber, Augusta Jill started then and there about us getting one of them new-fangled waterbeds. She said that she had read where after sleeping on one of them waterbeds, a person who would feel as much as 20 years younger. After the trouble that we have had, I believe that it put an extra 20 years on my life.

Well, Cousin Slim, we took that timber money and got in our pickup truck and headed to that store where them fancy beds are sold. I tried all the way to the store to talk Augusta Jill out of that thing. But she wouldn’t listen. She was determined that before another night had passed, she would have slept on the water.

I even suggested that we just go back home and get my skiff boat and go to the river. She could sleep in the skiff, and I could wrap up in a quilt and lay down on the bank until morning.

Cousin Slim, that woman got mad. She hit me so hard on the left shoulder until I could hardly drive my pickup into town.

When we got to the waterbed store, this funny-looking man met us at the door. After talking to Augusta Jill, he just smiled a crazy-looking smile and carried us all the way to the back of the store to show us one of them waterbeds that was already set up and ready to be slept on.

I wasn’t about to get to bed right there in that store in the broad open daylight and let everybody look at me laying there in my underwear. And, I wasn’t about to go to bed with my clothes on, Cousin Slim. You know my mamma taught us better than that.

After seeing that I wasn’t going to get on that funny shaking bed, that funny-looking man told Augusta Jill to just kinda stretch out on that bed for a minute. That big woman jumped right up in the middle of that bed, Cousin Slim.

You would have thought she had jumped up on a sleeping bull yearling. All that water started to slosh around in that big rubber-looking balloon, and Augusta Jill was almost slung off that waterbed thing.

I saw right then that we didn’t need that thing, but that big woman of mine told me in no uncertain terms that she wasn’t going back home with me unless I bought the contraption.

I knew that I couldn’t leave her there, remembering them wedding vows and things that I swore to when we got married. But, Cousin Slim, I was almost tempted.

I sure hated to pay my good money for that thing. After counting out almost all my much-needed timber money to that funny-looking man, he said that he would deliver it to our house and set it up, I was glad, because I told him that I wasn’t too good when it came to reading instructions. He said he wanted to get out and see our part of the country.

Well, he was true to his word, Cousin Slim. He and another fellow set that funny bed up in no time flat. The only work that I did was to hand him the water hose through the bedroom window and turn the water on when he hollered.

I’ll bet my water bill is going to b $50 this month. Since we got on this rural community water system, it costs like heck to pay for just the water Augusta Jill uses just to take a bath. I’ll be that big bladder-looking thing held over 500 gallons.

Yesterday was the first day that I ever went to bed at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. But Augusta Jill insisted that we go to bed, just as soon as that man and his helper left. I sure got a tongue-lashing from that big woman when I started to bed with my life jacket on. You remember the one that I carry fishing with me. She also told me that I wasn’t about to sleep in her new waterbed with them rubber boots on.

Last night was the first time in my life that I was ever sea sick. If someone had told me that I would get sea sick in my own bedroom, I would have called them crazy. I’m sure glad that I didn’t ever join the Navy, Cousin Slim. I would sure have been buried at sea. That sloshing water almost killed me last night. I lost everything that I had eaten for the past three days. That didn’t set to well either with Augusta Jill. I tried to walk to the kitchen this morning. I couldn’t keep my feet on the floor. Augusta Jill’s sister, Gussie Maude, said that was known as having sea legs.

Things don’t look too good right now, Cousin Slim. Gussie Maude plans to spend the night with us. Says she can’t wait to sleep with us on that waterbed thing. Might just slip out and sleep with Ole Blue (that’s my dog… Ole Blue).

Yours truly,

Fonderoy Fishue

(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.)

George Singleton published 'Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers' in 1991

(This story was originally published in the Sept. 12, 1991 edition of The Monroe Journal under the headline, “George Singleton publishes first book.”)

Monroe Journal columnist George Singleton’s first book – a collection of about 73 of his folk tales and ghost stories about Monroe County – has just been published.

“Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” a 236-page book, is for sale at The Monroe Journal office on Hines Street in Monroeville and by mail. Also, an autograph party is scheduled at the Monroe County Public Library Sept. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. by the Friends of the Library.

The book was published by Southwest Alabama Publishing Co., Inc., which also publishes The Monroe Journal. The cover and several inside pen-and-ink illustrations are by artist Jeff Frye of Monroeville.

Singleton, a native of Marengo County, has lived in Monroeville since 1964, when he was named administrator of the local National Guard unit. Retired for several years, his pastime is exploring Monroe County on his trail bike and recording its history and tales. He has been writing a column for The Journal since the early 1970s, first using the title “Did You Know?” and, more recently, “Somewhere in Time.”

During his 35 years of service in the Marines and Army, Singleton traveled to Europe, Korea, Panama and Ecuador, developing a keen interest in other civilizations and other times. He says he believes in reincarnation and is “fascinated by the spiritual and the world of the supernatural.” Much of his writing centers on ghosts of the past, wandering spirits and other supernatural happenings.

His book includes the “Wind Walker” legend, The Tomb of the Brokenhearted Stranger, Pine Orchard’s Mystery Stones, The Devil’s Bowl, The Well That Won’t Stay Filled, Ghost Riders of McConnico, The Ghost of Nancy Mountain, The Night Walkers and more tales. He has also included reminiscences of some of his favorite people: Aunt Lellia, Mr. Sid, Aunt Roxie, Uncle Tony, a man called “Puff” and others.

Singleton dedicated his first book to his wife, Jean, and three sons: Bart Singleton of Birmingham, Bill Singleton of Montevallo and Army Major George Singleton Jr., currently stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

“I look at this book as my opportunity to record some tales and legends of the past for the Monroe County area,” the author said. “Hopefully, this book will help preserve these tales and bring them to the attention of the youth, so they won’t be forgotten.”

The book is $10.95, plus tax, at The Journal office. By mail, the book is available by sending $13.50 (includes tax, postage and handling) to The Journal, P.O. Box 826, Monroeville, AL 36461.

Old Wilcox community was once known as Peachbloom and Gregville

Railroad crossing in Wilcox community.

Last Thursday morning I was out riding around in the northeastern part of the county and eventually found myself on County Road 26, east of Owassa. As I eased along, I came upon Wilcox Road and decided to turn left. A short distance later, I pulled over at the railroad tracks and was reminded that I was in “downtown” Wilcox.

Wilcox is one of the county’s old communities, and this particular community has gone by a couple of different names over the years. At one time this community was known as Peachbloom, and at other times it was known as Gregville. This community also had a post office from 1888 to 1957.

As I stood there last Thursday morning trying to imagine what this community would have looked like a century ago, the modern, automated railroad crossing sprang into life. Even before I could see or hear an oncoming train, the crossing’s bells began to clang, and its red lights began to flash. A few seconds later, the crossing’s drop-arms lowered to prevent traffic from moving across the tracks.

Not much later, a powerful locomotive appeared from around the bend, approaching from the direction of Butler County. It blew its horn as it approached the intersection, and I stood there for several minutes, watching it go by as it made its way towards Owassa, Evergreen and points beyond. No doubt this scene has played itself out thousands of times over the years as trains have moved through the otherwise quiet community of Wilcox.

It was not lost on me that many ancestors in my family tree once called this area home. In addition to the Peacocks, I’m also related to many of the Diamonds, Kings and Varners who have lived in this part of the county. In fact, one oft-told piece of family lore took place not far from where I stood at the railroad crossing.

In March 1915, James Edmund Peacock and his wife, Lydia Belle, lived with their seven children at Wilcox. Lydia, who went by the nickname “Liddie,” had been on her back porch and was returning to the kitchen when a bolt of lightning struck the house. The lightning bolt killed her instantly, shattered a porch column and a pillar beneath the porch, and also killed a dog that had been in the yard nearby.

My old fourth-great-grandfather, Lewis Lavon Peacock, also lived in this area for a time. After the Civil War, he sharecropped pretty much all his adult life, and in his older days he sold produce off an old mule-drawn wagon. Liddie was his daughter-in-law, and they’re both buried over at Flat Rock.

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

Old store is a silent reminder of Watsons Crossing's forgotten heyday

Old store at Watsons Crossing in Wilcox County, Alabama.

I was out riding around in the southeastern part of the county on Friday, traveling north on State Highway 21 between McWilliams and Oak Hill, when on a whim I turned west onto County Road 16. Thanks to my trusty National Geographic map, I knew that this road would take me almost all the way to the Fatama community and State Highway 265. As best that I could recall, I’d never been down this road before, so I put away my map and eased ahead to see what there was to see.

Not much farther ahead, I had to slow down almost to a dead stop. Not because the blacktop was giving way to dirt road, but to keep from hitting a large doe that had stepped out of the woodline. She eyed me for a moment, as if to ask what I was doing in her neck of the woods, before she bolted across the opposite ditch on her way to pressing matters elsewhere.

As I continued west, the road narrowed down to little more than a rough, one-lane track through the dense woods. Inevitably, as I rounded a slight curve, I came face to face with a wide-bodied dump truck that was headed in the opposite direction. Being in the more maneuverable of the two vehicles, I put my truck in reverse and backed up to a slightly wider spot that allowed the dump truck to barely squeeze past me.

About four miles from State Highway 21, I came to a wide intersection and pulled over for a few minutes to look at what appeared to be an old store building that was nearly covered in thick, green brush. As I stood there, I was reminded that this was the old Watsons Crossing community. At other times in its history, this community was also known as Watsonville and Burl.

Later, friends would tell me that “Burl, Alabama” had once been painted over the doorway of this old store. Others said that the old store also once contained the community’s post office. When I looked it up, I discovered that the post office at Burl first opened in 1914 and remained in operation until 1958.

I eventually climbed back in my truck and followed County Road 16 the rest of the way to County Road 51, near the Fatama community. As I covered this six-mile stretch of road, I could not help but wonder about the people who once lived in the old Watsons Crossing community. Where did they go to school? Where did they go to church? Where did they bury their dead?

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about the Watsons Crossing community. I’m especially interested in hearing any old ghost stories, tall tales or local legends from this area. Also, let me know if you know of any old Indian mounds or village sites in this area. Let’s make an effort to document the history of this community while we still have the chance.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Sept. 8, 2020

24 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 12, 1996

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 0.05 inches of rain on Sept. 2, 0.80 inches on Sept. 4, a trace of rain on Sept. 5 and 0.23 inches on Sept. 6. He reported a high of 90 degrees on Sept. 8 and lows of 67 on Sept. 4 and Sept. 5.

The 16^th Annual Conecuh Heritage Festival, sponsored by the Conecuh Heritage Committee and the Evergreen-Conecuh Chamber of Commerce will be held Sat., Oct. 19, in downtown Evergreen from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. The winners of the 1996 Miss Heritage Pageant will be presented at this time.

Activities for the day include arts and crafts, food booths, live entertainment and children’s activities.

Runoff election is next Tuesday for District One: Only part of the citizens of Evergreen will return to the polls next Tuesday for the runoff election. All races but one were decided in the election held in August.

Residents of Evergreen who are in District 1 will vote in the race between incumbent Councilman Jerry Caylor and Evergreen businessman Homer Chavers.

Polls will again be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and everyone in District 1 is encouraged to get out and vote.

Residents who live on Lee Street and on out County Road 42 are being detoured as of Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. The county closed the road so this bridge can be replaced. The replacement of the bridge should take between 30 to 45 working days.

50 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 10, 1970

Samuel Sapp holds this monster rattlesnake which his wife killed early Thursday morning in their yard. The rattler had 13 rattles and a button and was well over five-feet long.

The Fall Term of Circuit Court for Conecuh County will open here Monday morning at nine o’clock with Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key presiding. Trial of civil cases will be held with cases set each day through Thursday. There are 13 cases on the docket.

Judge Key will also empanel the Grand Jury Monday morning. District Attorney Ted Pearson of Monroeville and County Solicitor Henry J. Kinzer will assist the jury in its deliberations.

Circuit Clerk Leon A. Salter released the following docket, listing cases as set by days with plaintiff and attorney listed in that order…

Jerry Sasser is improving after accident: Jerry Sasser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Sasser, is reported improving after suffering critical injuries in a freak accident on Sept. 1. He is tentatively scheduled for surgery Friday at this time, according to his father.

Jerry was working for his father at the Lone Star Service Station when the accident occurred. He was changing a tire and as he put air into it, the bead separated and the tire blew out. The rim was thrown into the air, striking Jerry in the foreheard.

His father said that he talked to Mrs. Sasser around 9:30 Tuesday night and at that time Jerry was feeling much better. In fact he had been allowed to sit up.

69 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 13, 1951

The schools of Evergreen will open with appropriate exercises Friday morning. W.P. McMillan, principal, announces that the Evergreen City School will open with a program in the auditorium at 8:30 Friday morning. An enrollment of around 300 is expected.

Evergreen High School will also hold its opening Friday morning. Principal Jack Finklea expects a record enrollment of nearly 500.

With the completion on Sept. 7 of Joe F. Walters Contracting Company’s contract for the surfacing of the Belleville to Castleberry road, there was added 10 more miles of all weather roads to this county’s Farm to Market System.

Road mileage in Conecuh County totals 805 miles, 165 miles of which are paved. There are 124 miles of state and 681 miles of county roads.

LECTURE: H.L. Blount will lecture on the subject, “Evolution and the Bible,” Sun., Sept. 16 at 401 Magnolia Ave. Everyone welcome.

George Hendricks Jr., student at Auburn, spent his vacation at home.

Cpl. Temple Millsap was appointed a supervisor last week, the only noncommissioned officer ever appointed to this place at Keesler Air Force Base.

Pfc. Harold Crawford, the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Crawford of Evergreen, who was stationed in Ft. Jackson, S.C. with the 31st Infantry Division has been shipped to Korea.

75 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 13, 1945

John Thomas Gaillard Passes On Friday: Evergreen suffered a great loss on last Friday in the passing of John Tom Gaillard, which occurred at his home on Bruner Avenue, after a few days illness. Mr. Gaillard was city clerk, an office he filled most efficiently, always ready to help, listen and furnish help. He was a courteous gentleman.

He was born in Camden Sept. 15, 1878 and it was with no small degree of modesty, he always spoke with deep affection of his old home, Camden, Wilcox County. He was proud of his lineage. His parents were the Richebourge Gaillards. He father was a graduate of law, from Yale, and his mother was Annie Caldwell, of distinguished South Carolina families.

He served as Cadet in the Spanish American War, and as First Lieutenant in World War I. It was a source of great regret that he could not serve in World War II.

John Hunter Thornley Is New City Clerk: John Hunter Thornley, well known and popular young man of Evergreen, was elected by a unanimous vote of the City Council Monday as city clerk of Evergreen to fill the vacancy caused by the death last week of J.T. Gaillard. Mr. Thornley assumed the duties of his office Tuesday morning. He has held a position with the post office here for the past several months. Prior to this, he was chief clerk at the War Ration Board. For a number of years, he held a responsible position with the AAA here.

84 YEARS AGO

SEPT. 10, 1936

Willie J. Simpson, age about 30 years, was instantly killed at 10 o’clock Saturday morning when for some reason or other he stuck his head under the automatic press at the gin of the Evergreen Manufacturing Co. The press caught his head and literally crushed it, causing instant death. Witnesses state that he never moved after he was struck.

According to reports, just before the fatal accident occurred a fire had broken out at the gin caused by a match which had been left in the cotton being ginned. However, the blaze had been extinguished before the accident. It is thought that Simpson was looking into the press to see if all the fire was out. He had climbed up the walls of the press and turned back a screen door which is there to protect employees of the gin from the press head. Some fellow workers warned him of the danger and it is said that he jumped clear of it the first time it came down but the next time it caught him.

All arrangements have been completed in preparation for the opening of the schools of the county on Tuesday of next week, according to an announcement given The Courant by Supt.-elect H.D. Weathers, who will become superintendent Sept. 14, succeeding Prof. M.A. Hanks, who will assume duties as principal of the Evergreen High School next Monday.

Richard Brassell, eldest son of Mrs. Carnella Brassell of this city, was awarded the scholarship made possible by the late Maj. W.O. Parmer, native of Butler County, but who was a resident of Nashville at the time of his death