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.