The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Nov. 24, 2020

Charles Graddick

10 YEARS AGO
NOV. 25, 2010

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 2.31 inches of rain on Nov. 15. He also reported a high of 77 degrees on Nov. 21 and lows of 38 on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17.

Gideons International presented the Evergreen Police Department with complimentary copies of the New Testament Wednesday of last week at the Evergreen Fire Station. Individuals at the presentation included local Gideons, Mike Lanier and Tom Hall, and Evergreen Police Chief James Simpson, Detective Sean Klaetsch, Sgt. Shawn Sullivan, Lt. Wayne Stewart, Sgt. Tristan Robinson and Patrolman Adam Hawsey. Gideons International provides the department with Bibles, which also includes the Psalms and Proverbs, every other year, Lanier said. The organization plans to provide copies of the Bible to all local fire departments later this year, he said.

The smell of smoking pork filled the streets of downtown Evergreen Tuesday morning as members of the Evergreen Kiwanis Club prepared Boston butts for one of the club’s two semi-annual fundraisers. Kiwanis Club members who were manning the smokers on Tuesday morning included Charles King, Mike Lanier and David Cook. In all, the club planned to smoke around 180 Boston butts and all of the net proceeds from the fundraiser would remain in Conecuh County, Lanier said. The club’s next fundraiser is scheduled for the week of July the Fourth next year.

35 YEARS AGO
NOV. 28, 1985

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.07 of rain on Nov. 20 and Nov. 21. He reported a high of 81 degrees on Nov. 19 and a low of 48 on Nov. 23.

Christmas Parade is huge success: The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce’s 1985 Christmas Parade Saturday afternoon was a tremendous success. When the parade began at 3 p.m., a huge crowd had gathered and the weather, in spite of Hurricane Kate in the Gulf, was fine.
Santa Claus arrived in grand fashion in a helicopter flown by Mayor Pat Poole, and the largest crowd ever was on hand to witness his arrival. The parade was “also the largest we’ve ever had in Evergreen. We hope this is the beginning of a trend. There were horses, floats, cars and marchers and bands… 38 entries in all, and we are proud of each one of them,” a Chamber of Commerce spokesperson said.

Attorney General Charles Graddick visited Evergreen on Tuesday of last week addressing the noon meeting of the Evergreen Kiwanis Club. Here Graddick is shown with some of the “regulars” at Sleepy’s (Johnston’s Big T): Moye Windham and weatherman Ole Earl Windham and Tal Stuart III and Billy Hamilton. Graddick is expected to be a candidate for governor next year and made many contact during his visit here, and was also interviewed on Radio WEGN.

Florine Bolton is presented an award as “Pilot of the Year 1985” for the Pilot Club of Evergreen by President Judy Johnson. Pilot of the Year is chosen by fellow Pilots for outstanding leadership and contributions to the club.

60 YEARS AGO
NOV. 24, 1960

Christmas Carnival grabs local spotlight Nov. 30: The traditional holiday season will be ushered into Conecuh County Wednesday with the annual Conecuh County Christmas Carnival in Evergreen.
At three o’clock, all parade entries will meet at the Evergreen City School to form the parade. Entries must be cleared with Bill Murner, Elmore’s manager, by 5 p.m. Monday.

Mrs. C.H. Moorer Dies At Home Here Friday: Mrs. Bessie Straughn Moorer, 83, died at her home on Bruner Avenue early Friday morning after a long illness. Funeral services were held Saturday at 3 p.m. at the First Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Moore officiating. Burial was in Magnolia Cemetery with Cope Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Moorer was a member of a prominent, pioneer family of this county and was widely known throughout this area. Although closely confined in recent years due to declining health, she had been a devoted member of the Methodist Church and active in many church and civic endeavors. Throughout her long illness, she continued to keep in close touch with the community, the county and her many friends.
Her husband, C.H. Moorer, is a partner in Conecuh Quick Freeze, Inc., and is a widely known South Alabama businessman.

85 YEARS AGO
NOV. 28, 1935

Charles Ivey, 88, Dies Tuesday Night: Funeral services were held at 3:00 Wednesday afternoon for Charles Ivey, 88, prominent planter and businessman of the Loree community, whose death occurred Tuesday night. Death resulted from a combination of infirmities, complicated by a broken hip, suffered in a fall several weeks ago.
A lifelong resident of Conecuh County, having been born in 1847 less than a quarter of a mile from the scene of his demise, Mr. Ivey was widely known as a plantation owner and gin operator, having operated one of the first cotton gins established in Conecuh County.
Although having been a sufferer from a heart complication for a number of years, Mr. Ivey had been active in his affairs until recently, when he suffered a broken hip. He directed the operation of his gin during the pasts ginning season, and actively superintended farming operations on his plantation during the past crop year.

Judson Shoemaker, who is stationed at Maxwell Field, spent the weekend with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.P. Shoemaker. He made the trip home by plane with Lt. Hale piloting.

Mrs. E.E. Newton, Mrs. W.K. Horton and Miss Augusta Farnham attended the appearance of “La Argentiana,” dancers in the Montgomery concert course series Monday night.

WOW Meeting To Elect Officers: Members of Magnolia Camp No. 153 of the W.O.W. are notified to be present at a meeting to be held at Newton Hall Tuesday night, Dec. 3, beginning at 7:30 o’clock. This is an important meeting as officers for the ensuing year are to be elected. – J.T. Peak, C.C.

110 YEARS AGO
NOV. 23, 1910

C.P. and J.D. Deming and Dr. G.G. Newton spent several days in Mobile last week taking the higher degrees in Masonry.

Although the skies were cloudy, a few persons viewed for a few moments the total eclipse of the moon on last Wednesday evening about six o’clock.

Man Cut to Death at Castleberry: Henry Smith was cut to death by Charles Marcus at Castleberry Sunday morning.
It seems that Marcus approached Smith on Sunday morning, after a night of drinking and revelry, and asked for a dollar that he claimed Smith owed him and before he could reply he was slashed about the head and abdomen.
Smith lived until Monday afternoon, when he succumbed. Marcus fled to the swamps and has not yet been captured, although Sheriff Irwin was on the scene shortly after the tragedy and pursed the man for some time without success.

Capt. J.C. Travis received a message a few days ago, announcing the death of his nephew, Major P.M. Travis while en route to visit his sister in Kansas. Major Travis was born at Sparta about 58 years ago. He had been connected with the regular army until a few months ago when he resigned.

Several Evergreen citizens will be down to Mobile this week to see the flying machines which are making flights daily during the week.

135 YEARS AGO
NOV. 26, 1885

THE CONECUH-ESCAMBIA STAR

One day this week, as Mr. M.R. Reed, who lives about three miles east of Castleberry, was felling a tree, it lodged on a limb, breaking it off, and when it fell, it struck the unfortunate man on the head, fracturing his skull. Dr. Jay was called, but his patient died before he could reach him.

Hon. John D. Burnett now spends most of his time in Mobile in the discharge of his duties as district attorney. Mr. Burnett is more than meeting the expectations of his friends and admirers in this capacity.

“Yorick,” the well-known setter of Mr. Burnett’s, is a very intelligent dog. He knows the schedule of the up-train on the L&N road, and when his master is absent in Mobile, “Yorick” is always at the train when it arrives in the afternoon, and passes from one car to the other searching, and if Mr. Burnett fails to come, one can almost see a look of disappointment on the face of his faithful dog.

Messrs. H.C. King and J.M. Merrill, first and second clerks of the steamer Mary of the Alabama River, spent several days in town last Friday and called in to see us, such genial gentlemen are always welcomed at our office. Messrs. King and Merrill with Capt. John Quill are officers of one of the most elegant steamers on southern waters. The Mary and her crew are popular. The comfort of passengers is all their study. Capt. Quill is an ideal steamboat captain.