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

Alabama Gov. Arthur P. Bagby

52 YEARS AGO
OCT. 30, 1969

Patrick Henry State Junior College will hold open house in its new multi-purpose building Sunday afternoon, Nov. 2, from three until five o’clock.
Completed early in September, the $405,000 building houses a three-court gymnasium with a seating capacity of 1,300 for Patrick Henry Patriots’ basketball games as well as for other recreational activities.
The multi-purpose building is the fourth major structure to be erected on the Patrick Henry campus.

Union High’s Eagles won their annual game with Camden Academy at home on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23, with a score of 28 to 8.
Larry Snowden, tenth grade quarterback, handled himself well. He is a southpaw, even kicking the ball with his left foot. Larry shows up well in his passing and this bids well for Union High in the future.
(Other standout Union High players in that game included Charles Andrews, George Broughton, Billy Joe Kidd, Harry Kidd, Norman Nord and James Tucker.)

G.L. Kuhlman has resigned as civil defense coordinator for Monroe County.
In a letter to the Monroe County Commission, read Tuesday at the group’s regular meeting, Mr. Kuhlman asked to have his resignation become effective Nov. 1.
Chosen coordinator when the county first set up its civil defense unit about 3-1/2 years ago, Mr. Kuhlman plans to return to his home in Beardstown, Ill.

67 YEARS AGO
OCT. 28, 1954

Two distinguished visitors were presented on the program of Monroeville’s Alabama Masonic Lodge No. 3 at a recent meeting. Shown above with Ben Jones, Worshipful Master of the local lodge, they are R.E. Lambert Jr. of Darlington, Ala. and Bart R. Stafford of Brooklyn, N.Y. Mr. Stafford is a great-great-grandson of a notable historical figure in Monroe County, Arthur Pendleton Bagby, Governor of Alabama from 1837 to 1841, and a former resident of Claiborne. Gov. Bagby was a member of Lodge No. 3, the oldest continuous lodge in Alabama.

A determined Excel Panther eleven battled the Monroe County Tigers almost yard-for-yard, Thursday night at the MCHS field, but a strong second quarter by the forces of Monroeville coaches Hanks and Finlayson proved the difference with the local boys victorious by a 6-0 score.
Left halfback Jim McNorton plunged through from only inches out with four minutes remaining in the first half for the only six-pointer of the game.
(Other standout MCHS players in that game included Harry Ikner, Nicky Manning, Elliott Sawyer, Hick Wiggins and Robert Wiggins. Standout Excel players included quarterback Sonny Baas and Willie Ed Cole.)

Over 500 persons attended the annual Monroe County Purebred Cattle and Hog Show staged at the Regional Livestock Coliseum here last Thursday.

82 YEARS AGO
OCT. 26, 1939

Lee Motor Co. Erecting New Building: Dirt was broken last Friday morning for a new brick garage and sales room to be occupied by Lee Motor Co.

Grove Hill High defeated the Monroeville High football team in Grove Hill last Friday night by the score of 34 to 6.
Stevens, Pullen and Yarbrough were outstanding for Monroeville while Moss, Downey and Shipworth played well for Grove Hill.
One of the largest crowds ever seen in this section witnessed the game. It being estimated that more than 1,500 people were present. A large delegation of Monroeville fans went over for the game.

Mr. J.B. Henderson, 65, of Fountain, died in the Repton Hospital Sunday about noon as a result of injuries said to have been inflicted by J.G. Noble, last Friday morning. The difficulty followed an argument over a debt said to have been owed Mr. Henderson’s son for labor performed for Noble. Mr. Henderson was struck on the head with an automobile clutch hub. He died of a fractured skull on Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Noble is in the county jail. No date has been set for a preliminary hearing.

Valuable prizes are to be given to owners of winning hogs in the hog show to be held in connection with the Hog Festival Nov. 14. These prizes are made possible by commercial concerns that are always willing to cooperate, especially when cooperation means aid to farmers and 4-H and F.F.A. boys.

97 YEARS AGO
OCT. 30, 1924

MONROEVILLE FORMS STRONG LIONS CLUB: Mr. J.D. Hill, field director of the Lions International Club, was here last week and organized a club at a meeting held at the Commercial Hotel on Wednesday evening. Following were charter members: Judge M.M. Fountain, Dr. S.J. Yarbrough, Messrs. L.J. Bugg, A.C. Lee, S.W. Hixon, C.G. Yarbrough, Frank Lathram, R.O. Hendrix, E.R. Morrissette Jr., G.A. Harris and Charles J. Brockway.

HEAVY FIRE LOSS AT HODGE-NETTLES PLANT: As the result of a boiler explosion at the Hodge-Nettles plant near town late Saturday afternoon, Floyd Sanifer, fireman, was instantly killed and heavy property loss sustained in the destruction of the planing mill by fire.
Shortly after closing down for the day and after all employees except the fireman, who was left in charge as watchman, had left the plant, a terrific explosion was heard. When persons who were startled by the noise reached the scene, it was found that the planing mill was in flames and the watchman nowhere to be seen. Subsequent search discovered the horribly mangled body of the unfortunate man several hundred feet away where it had been blown by the force of the explosion.

The junior football team went over to Repton Saturday afternoon and came back all puffed up over the victory they had won. They played Repton a hot game of 12 to 13 in favor of the local team. This was there first game away from the local field and there are a bunch of boys on the team who give promise of being star players.

112 YEARS AGO
OCT. 28, 1909

Monroeville’s ball team and Ollie played last Saturday. The score was 17 to 5 in favor of Monroeville.

Hon. Kyle B. Price delivered an able address in favor of the constitutional amendment at Jones Mill on Saturday evening. The audience was not large on account of short notice but the impression made was apparently favorable.

W.G. McCorvey, Esq., and Dr. W.J. Mason met in joint debate on the constitutional amendment at Excel Tuesday evening, the former opposing and the latter favoring the proposition. A good crowd was present and a patient hearing accorded both speaker.

Dr. W.G. Hairston and wife expect to leave (Burnt Corn) Tuesday for Ft. Deposit in their automobile.

Mr. Tileson Bryce, a talented impersonator, formerly with the Fredrick Warde and Robert B. Mantell companies, presented a highly entertaining program at the court house on Wednesday evening. His repertoire embraced scenes from Shakespeare’s plays, “The Old Homestead,” the climax of Act I of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde as rendered by the late Richard Mansfield, pathetic ballads and the one-act play “The Curse of Drink.” The role was varied and difficult throughout but performed with ease and skill.

George Singleton provides a long list of supernatural encounters for Halloween adventurers

Black Elk in 1937.

(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 “Halloween passes but the spirits of the past remain” was originally published in the Nov. 2, 2000 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As the last day of October passed into oblivion and the pale light of the Hunter’s Moon casts its ghostly shadow across the crisp night skies, the stories of ancient spirits that continue to roam the area around us still comes to mind.

Although Halloween has passed from among us, the spirits of another time continue to roam the old, abandoned roads and forgotten home places and cry out from the past, begging to be remembered.

As the cool late autumn winds push forth the lengthening shadows across the hill country of this area, the hair-raising stories of the supernatural that have been passed down from generation to generation take on a special meaning. The local tales of ghosts and wandering spirits continue to cause the hair along the back of the neck to stand up and tingle.

The cool nights and the effects of the creeping shadows cause a feeling of adventure and a desire to go forward and seek out and discover. It is a desire to see for yourself the specters that roam the deliriums of darkness as the forgotten places where life and happiness and often sadness once prevailed.

To lie hidden by an old, abandoned road in the northern part of the county on a pale, moonlit night and wait for the sounds of clattering hooves as the headless horseman rides down the old, abandoned road through the chilled midnight air is beyond describing. The cold feeling of the damp air as the horse and headless rider pass close enough that you can reach out and touch the sweaty sides of the galloping horse will make the blood run cold.

Or to lie beside another abandoned road in the pale hours of shadowy darkness and listen for the sound of the wheels of the phantom stagecoach as it makes its midnight run along the path of yesterday.

Watch as the phantom driver reels to and fro as he sits atop the driver’s seat, nodding to the rhythm of the rattling harness of the phantom horses as they make their way down the old, abandoned road.

As the phantom stagecoach passes your hiding place, look up into the window of the stagecoach and into the eyes of a ghost lady who is wearing a bonnet. Watch as she slowly raises her gloved hand as though in a faint gesture of a ghostly greeting. Listen as the stagecoach rumbles down the steep, curved hill and hear the iron tires of the coach’s wheels rattle across the old, abandoned wooden bridge above the large creek, there in the shadowy moonlight.

If by now, you have not had your fill of the mysteries of the past, you might want to visit the hanging tree, or sit atop the high hill where the ghostly wailing music of a phantom organ rides the winds.

Listen as the faint ghostly music floats across the high hill as the glowing rays of the setting sun vanish in the western skies. Or perhaps you would prefer to see the strange ghostly mystery lights that roam the areas of Franklin or Finchburg in the quietness of the dark hours of the evening.

As the grand finale, you can choose between the famed ghost riders of McConnico or listen to the wailing of the crying child as the sounds of an infant in distress fade into oblivion in the deep woods behind an old, abandoned homestead.

Perhaps you would want to go to an old, forgotten cemetery in the northeastern part of the county and wait there in the late moonlight hours to see a tall, ghostly gentleman dressed in a long coat and a top hat walk among the grave markers in search of the grave of his long, lost love.

Watch him as he kneels by a grave marker near the middle of the cemetery. Watch him as he removes his top hat and bows his head as though weeping at the loss of his loved one.

Continue to watch as the ghostly figure slowly gets to his feet, taking a few steps away from the grave of his bride of a day. Watch closely as he walks to the edge of the cemetery and disappears into thin air.

Each of the tales of the supernatural brings to mind the thoughts of a little known poet of the area, as the following words play on the imagination.

Walk with me into the past
That was yesterday.
Hold my hand for I fear;
The evening winds sigh with mystery;
And the ghosts of an earlier time
Speak of their tragedies.

Do not take lightly these tales of misfortune
For somewhere in time, you, too
May join the ranks of those who wander
In the night and ride
Forever on the winds of oblivion.

The ghosts and spirts of the past do not appear and disappear with the coming and going of Halloween. Whether it be spring or autumn, winter or summer, these wandering spirits continue to roam the area that they were associated with in their past lives.

To witness these happenings, you must be willing to spend much time along in the deep shadows of the backwoods.

You will be many times wet and cold and almost eaten up by various insects. Often times, you will have the living daylights frightened out of you.

Hours and hours of waiting are only a minor sacrifice. Call it what you will, another dimension, a parallel to the unknown, or whatever, but there is something that is yet to be searched out and explained.

But take it from me. If you spend the time in search of the supernatural, somewhere along the dim trails in the shadows of yesterday, these spirits of the past wait, for whatever the reason.

Black Elk, a medicine man of the Lakota Sioux Indian tribe during the late 1800s, was said to be an authority of the mysterious ghosts of the past. He was asked about the spirit world and the meaning of death.

His answer was: “Death? There is no death, only a change of worlds.”

Perhaps these words have more meaning than we will ever come to realize in this life.

(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 also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. 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.)

Does the spirit of 'Crazy Nancy' walk the supposedly-haunted woods near Davis Ferry in Monroe County?

Jackie Sessions from down in Frisco City stopped by The Journal office last week and provided me with an interesting book called “The Ghostly Register: Haunted Dwellings, Active Spirits, A Journal to America’s Strangest Landmarks.” Written by Arthur Myers in 1986, this book contains 65 chapters of ghost stories from places as far flung as Alaska to Maine. Oddly, the book doesn’t contain any stories from Alabama, but there were some entertaining tales from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

“The Ghostly Register” reminded me of the late George Buster Singleton’s book, “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers.” Singleton, who wrote a popular weekly column for The Journal for decades, published this 224-page book of local ghost stories in 1991, and it contains some of his best work. Singleton’s book mentions over 30 spooky Monroe County locations in his book, including several that will be familiar to many readers.

Those locations include the Alabama River, Bailey’s Well at Franklin, Bradley Ridge, Confederate graves, Davis Ferry, the Devil’s Soup Bowl, Finchburg, Flat Creek, the Franklin community, Gin House Bottom, Indian mounds, Klepac’s Old Store, the Lois Wiggins Homeplace, McConnico Cemetery, the Midway Cave, the Mount Pleasant community, Nancy Mountain, the Old Claiborne Cemetery, the Pine Orchard community, the grave of William Coombs at Claiborne, the Town of Beatrice and Bell’s Landing.

I’ve been to many of these locations over the years, and some of them are very creepy. However, I haven’t had any luck finding Bailey’s Well. In his book, Singleton said this well was located by an ironwood tree in a field at Franklin and was known as the “Well That Won’t Stay Filled.” Curbed by old, handmade bricks, no one knows who originally dug the well, which has supposedly been abandoned since the early 1800s.

Numerous attempts were supposedly made to fill it with rocks, junk and timber logs, but all of those items disappeared without a trace, leading some people to believe that the well connects with an underground river or that its bottom is filled with quicksand. If anyone in the reading audience knows where this well is located, please let me know. Even better, if someone wants to show it to me, I’m always up for a good field trip.

On the other side of the coin, I have been to Nancy Mountain a number of times. Also known as “Crazy Nancy Mountain,” this place is located on the east side of the Alabama River, near the road that leads to the Davis Ferry. It’s supposedly haunted by “Aunt Nancy” or “Crazy Nancy,” a phantom woman that can be seen walking through the woods towards the river. She is said to wear a long dress and a bonnet, carries a small pail in one hand and a long walking stick in the other.

I’ve spent the night at Nancy Mountain a few times with my son, James. For those of you who have never been there in the middle of the night, take my word for it, Nancy Mountain is one of the darkest places I have ever been. James and I spent a moonless, overcast night up there a couple of years ago, and it got so dark that I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. For the record, we’ve never seen “Aunt Nancy.”

In the end, if you’re interested in reading more about the locations in “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” copies of the book are on sale at The Journal office in Monroeville. They are $10.95 (plus tax) each and make great gifts. The Journal only has a limited number of these books, so don’t delay if you’re interested in getting a copy.

Creepy locations make annual list of 'Spookiest Places in Wilcox County'

Railroad crossing at Coy, Alabama.

This coming Sunday is Halloween and in the spirit of that creepy holiday, I present to you my sixth annual list of the “Spookiest Places in Wilcox County.”

As in years gone by, I compiled this list after discussing Wilcox County’s “haunted history” with longtime county residents and with local history buffs. This year, I’ve narrowed down the list to a “Top Ten,” but be sure to check out the honorable mentions at the end. Without further ado, here’s my Top Ten List of the Spookiest Places in Wilcox County.

1. Castro’s Tree: Located behind the old Progressive Era newspaper office in Camden, this large pecan tree is said to be visited by an unusual informant with uncanny knowledge about events in Camden, including the names of wanted criminals. The late Mark Curl, who worked at the newspaper, said that Castro was a young black man who often rode up to the tree on his bicycle in the late 1970s. Curl indicated that there was something otherworldly about Castro especially since no one else in town had ever heard of him or seen him, including the police. This tree was damaged by Hurricane Nate in October 2017.

2. Coy Railroad Crossing: Located on County Road 13, stories about the haunted railroad crossing at Coy vary, but sources say that a group of children died in a tragic bus accident there in the 1950s. Now, the story goes, if you visit the crossing late at night, you can hear the sounds of children playing and laughing on the tracks. Others say that if you visit the crossing late at night or early in the morning, you can actually see the ghosts of children playing there.

3. Gaines Ridge: Located off State Highway 10 east of Camden, this iconic house-turned-restaurant is said to be haunted by several spirits. According to one history of the house, Gaines Ridge “has its share of ghosts: the woman who screams and calls out, and has been seen from outside floating past the windows, the incessant crying of a baby, the aroma of pipe smoke in one room when nobody in the house is smoking, and the reflected image of a tall, gaunt man, dressed in black with a long beard.”

4. Gee’s Bend Ferry Landing: Located at the end of Ellis Island Road, northwest of Camden, this landing is said to be the site of a ghostly light that rises to the surface of the Alabama River. Witnesses say that this light grows up to 60 feet in diameter, and some say that it may have something to do with a military plane that crashed near the landing decades ago. Other say it’s the ghostly remnants of someone who drowned there while others say it has to do with a riverboat disaster.

5. Haunted Hills of Furman: According to “A History of Furman, Alabama” by Dr. William Bradley Palmer, two high hills called “Old Savage Hill” and McCondichie Hill were considered “haunted places” by many older residents of Wilcox County. These two hills are located within one mile of each other, south of Furman. Many people were afraid to travel near these hills, and Palmer believed that the spooky tales about the hills had to do with “several deaths in houses that stand, or once stood, on these hills.” Later, Palmer wrote that, of all the “ghost-infested places,” a location called “Rock Hill,” near Wildcat Creek, is the setting for many “weird tales” told by older residents of the Furman community, who claimed to have seen lights and heard chains being dragged down the hill.

6. House of the Dancing Skulls: Located on County Road 51 north of the Rosebud community, the attic of this house was supposedly filled with human skulls. The belief is that spirits from these skulls are easily excitable, and when they become upset, they dance about in the attic and frequently about the walls and the ceiling. In times of great excitement, especially during storms, these “hants” even venture out into the yard and hover around the tombs that hold their companions. For more information about this story, check out “Ghosts and Goosebumps: Ghost Stories, Tall Tales and Superstitions from Alabama” by Jack and Olivia Solomon.

7. Millie Hole: Located on private property on Pine Barren Creek, west of County Road 59, this old swimming hole is supposedly haunted by the ghost of slave named “Millie.” The story goes that Millie was going to be sold away from her family, so she drowned herself in the creek. On moonlight nights, she supposedly rises up out of the creek, wearing a long white dress, and some claim to have heard her moans.

8. Purifoy-Lipscomb House: Located at Furman, this antebellum residence was built by the Purifoy family in the 1840s and is arguably Wilcox County’s most well-known haunted location. An old well behind the house is reportedly haunted by the spirit of a worker who died after being accidentally buried by tons of dirt while digging the well. This house has been mentioned in numerous books, including Kathryn Tucker Windham’s “13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey” and “Haunted Places: The National Directory” by Dennis William Hauck.

9. Snow Hill Institute: Located off State Highway 21 at Snow Hill, this historic school was founded in 1893 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. A wide variety of ghosts have been seen on this old campus and at the slave cemetery nearby. For more information about this supposedly haunted school, I recommend that you read “Haunted Alabama Black Belt” by David Higdon and Brett Talley.

10. Unfilled Hole: Located on the northwest corner of Camden’s downtown square in front of the Old Courthouse, this unusual hole is now covered by a large, brick flowerbed. Historians say that a large pecan tree once stood on this spot, and it was used for public hangings more than a century ago. Supposedly, the spot beneath the hanging limb would not stay filled, despite the county’s best efforts, and visitors to the site today report feeling “cold spots.” This “haunted hole” is also described in the book, “Haunted Alabama Black Belt.”

Other nominees for this year’s “Spookiest Places in Wilcox County” list included the Camden Cemetery, the Coy Cemetery, the Dale Masonic Lodge in Camden, Harris Hill Cemetery, the Harris-Jones House, Institute Creek at Snow Hill, the Liddell-Burford House in Camden, McIntosh Cemetery in Camden, McWilliams Cemetery, the Moore Academy in Pine Apple, Prairie Bluff Cemetery, the Reaves Chapel Cemetery, Snow Hill Institute and the Wilcox Female Institute in Camden.

Before I wrap up, I want to make it very clear that many of the places mentioned above are on private property, so if you want to visit any of these places (especially at night) you’d better get permission first to avoid getting in trouble for trespassing. Also, if you plan to visit any of these places, especially cemeteries, respect your surroundings.

In the end, contact me if you know a good local ghost story or if you have information about a spooky location in Wilcox County.

 

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Oct. 25, 2021

SIX YEARS AGO
OCT. 22, 2015

Ebony Floyd was named “Miss Football” during halftime festivities Friday night at Brooks Memorial Stadium in Evergreen. Floyd was presented with a silver football, flowers and a special sash by Hillcrest Principal Rodney Drish, and she was escorted by her father, Terry Floyd.

Hillcrest blasts Cottage Hill, 54-0: Hillcrest High School’s varsity football team improved to 5-3 overall and to 3-3 in region play Friday night with a 54-0 homecoming win over region opponent Cottage Hill at Brooks Memorial Stadium in Evergreen.
Senior quarterback Jamichael King led the offense with 12 pass completions for 185 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran the ball once for a one-yard gain.
Latreal McCreary was Hillcrest’s top rusher. He ran the ball four times for 78 yards and one touchdown.
Semaj McKenzie led the defense with eight total tackles, including four solos and four assists.
(Other top Hillcrest players in that game included Corey Andrews, Cortez Betts, Javarious Betts, Kobe Bradley, Rodney Bright, Corinthian Cunningham, Jeremy Dees, Mikyle Dees, Tyrell Jackson, Darius Lane, Tyrese Lopez, Tyler Meeks, Desmond Mitchell, Derrick Nelson, Ron’darius Poindexter, Andray Pope, Dalarrish Richardson, Tyrell Riley, Brandon Rudolph, Rajos Smith, Davis Spears, Mydarius Trujillo and Ladarrius Williams.)

31 YEARS AGO
OCT. 24, 1991

Steven Gall explodes for four touchdowns to lead Sparta to 49-26 victory: Steven Gall placed his name in the Sparta Academy record books again, becoming the only Warrior to score four touchdowns in two different ball games. Gall accounted for 273 all-purpose yards in the Warriors 49-26 victory over Grove Hill Academy last Friday in Grove Hill.
Gall’s four touchdown were split: two on offense and two on special team’s play. His first score came via a 29-yard pass from quarterback Jason Williams. His second score came on an 80-yard kickoff return. He later had a 75-yard kickoff return and caught a 20-yard scoring pass from Williams.
Earlier this season, Gall scored four touchdowns against South Montgomery Academy to become only the second Warrior in the school’s 20-year gridiron history to accomplish such a feat.
(Other top Sparta players in the Grove Hill Academy game included Greg Atkins, Terry Conway, Casey Grant, Jeremy Jones, Bryant Robinson, Kelvin Salter, Mark Watts and Richard Weaver.)

Jaguars shut out by Blue Devils 24-0: The Atmore Blue Devils took advantage of Hillcrest miscues and scored every possession in the first half to defeat the Hillcrest Jaguars by the score of 24-0.
The Hillcrest offense never threatened except the first drive of the night when they got to Atmore’s 13-yard-line, covering 58 yards on the drive. Hillcrest’s record falls to 4-3 on the season as they lose their second game in a row. They will close out the season at home as their last three games are at home with T.R. Miller coming in to start the homestand.

55 YEARS AGO
OCT. 27, 1966

Aggies wallop Whippets 39-6 for homecoming: The Evergreen High Aggies saved up their finest offensive performance of recent years to blast Frisco City’s Whippets, 39-6, here Friday night and sent a homecoming crowd home happy. It was the highest scoring game run up by the locals in several years.
For the third straight game Evergreen scored the first time it got control of the ball, and the issue was never in doubt against Frisco City.
(Top players for Evergreen in that game included Jimmy Bell, Glenn Bolton, Wayne Caylor, Ronald Halford, Harold Hamiter, Homer Faulkner, Bubba Mininger, Elliot Quarles, Forrest Simpson, George Stinson, Lavon Tolbert, Hollis Tranum, Larry Windham and Jack White.)

Homecoming royalty at Evergreen High School were featured in the parade Friday afternoon and at pre-game festivities that night. Chan Fendley was named Miss Homecoming by the student body. Faye Cook was named Miss Football by the Aggie squad. Knud Nielsen III escorted Faye while Chan was escorted by Joey Pate.

Lyeffion High sets h’coming Nov. 5; will play Uriah: Lyeffion High School will observe its annual homecoming on Sat., Nov. 5, under sponsorship of the PTA. Featured event of the day’s activities will be the football game at 7:30 that night with the Yellow Jackets meeting powerful Uriah.

80 YEARS AGO

OCT. 23, 1941

The Courant is in receipt of a note from George Carleton, publisher of the Clarke County Democrat, asking that notice be given of a big football game, which is to be staged in Grove Hill Wednesday night, Nov. 5, between Tuskegee Institute and State Teachers College. As an added attraction for this event, the Tuskegee Institute Band will perform between halves and during the game. The band also will appear in Thomasville and Jackson during the afternoon Wednesday. No doubt a number of citizens from this county will be on hand to see this game.

Cullman’s big-game hunters, Bill Drinkard and Dr. Leo Tucker, killed an 824-pound brown bear in the wilds of Jackson’s Hole, Wyoming. The bear’s hide weighed 104 pounds. The hunters were so busy felling the bear by rifle fires, they had no time for fright until the bear lay dead. They also killed an Elk, some deer and antelope. Cullman papers used a picture of the hunters and the bear hide.

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

Lurleen B. Wallace

30 YEARS AGO
OCT. 24, 1991

Water-tank construction to begin soon: Dismantling of the city’s oldest water tank is a big step in a major expansion of Monroeville’s water system, according to manager Johnny Snyder, who expects construction of a new tank on the same site to begin in a few weeks.
The 100,000-gallon water tank at Cherry and East Claiborne streets was taken apart piece by piece by Utility Service of Perry, Ga. to make way for a new 2-million-gallon tank. Completion of the new tank will bring the available supply to three million gallons a day, Snyder said, an added supply that should meet the city’s water needs for the next 10 years.

Shields ends streak of 18 losses to Tigers: J.F. Shields High School’s Panthers shocked everyone but themselves Friday in Monroeville when they defeated Monroe County High School 15-0 to end a string of 18 straight losses to the Tigers.
Shields last defeated MCHS in 1973, winning 20-12. The Panthers finished that season with a 9-0-1 record and ranked seventh in the final state 2A poll.
(Top players for Shields in 1991 included Jerry Calhoun, Richard Chatman, Edward Easley, Lamont Easley, Ernest Hurst, David Jones, Darius McCorvey, Darryl Nettles, LaDerrick Odom, Robert Sanders and Byron Watson. Top MCHS players were Greg Betts, Daniel Glenn, Devin Harris, Jeff Howard, Michael Lang, Larry McCorvey, Travis Owens and Kelvin Roberts. Melvin Pete Jr. was head coach at Shields, and Keith Cardwell was head coach at MCHS.)

55 YEARS AGO
OCT. 27, 1966

HELPS MUSEUM: Mrs. Anna York of Monroeville helped the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society recently when she donated this volume of Indian Tribes of North America, which was printed in 1842. There are a total of three volumes. Mrs. Rance Carr, president of the society, accepted the gift for the society.

Blacksher High Bulldogs Make Excel High Fifth Straight Victim: The J.U. Blacksher Bulldogs rode over the Excel Panthers to the tune of 27-0 at the Panthers homecoming game Saturday night. The win was the fifth consecutive for the Bulldogs and the fourth straight opponent they have held scoreless.
Uriah didn’t hit the scoring column until the second period when Keith Cardwell, the Bulldogs quarterback, found halfback Tommy Cartwright with a scoring aerial.
(Other top Blacksher players in that game included Ronnie Petty and David Wiggins. Top Excel players included Tommy Jordan, Terry Stacey and Stanley Wilson.)

Wallace Bring Campaign Here: Gov. George Wallace and his wife, Lurleen, will bring their gubernatorial campaign to Monroeville Wed., Nov. 2.
Mrs. Wallace is a Democratic candidate in the governor’s race for the Nov. 8 general election.
Both Gov. and Mrs. Wallace will make a talk in front of the new courthouse at 10 a.m. Wednesday. This is the Wallace’s second trip to Monroeville this year, the first being in the Democratic primaries.

QUEEN IS CROWNED: Claudia Kilpatrick, a senior at Frisco City High School, was crowned Homecoming Queen during ceremonies at half-time of the Frisco City-Evergreen game Friday night. Crowning Miss Kilpatrick is last year’s queen, Cecelia Harrison. Miss Kilpatrick is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Neil Kilpatrick.

80 YEARS AGO
OCT. 23, 1941

SMALL BLAZE TUESDAY DESTROYS OUT-HOUSE: Fire destroyed a small out-house back of the residence of Rev. D.E. Edington Tuesday afternoon. The fire department promptly answered the alarm and soon had the blaze extinguished. The fire apparently started from burning trash nearby.

Mr. A.C. Lee spent the weekend with his daughter, Miss Alice Lee, in Birmingham.

JAMES D. McMILLAN RECENTLY COMMISSIONED NAVAL AVIATOR: James David McMillan, only son of Dr. and Mrs. C.H. McMillan of Beatrice, was among those graduating from the United States Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fla., on Oct. 14.
James was commissioned ensign as Naval Aviator in United States Naval Reserve and will join the U.S. Fleet in San Diego, Calif.

BARBECUE SUPPER AT MASONIC HALL TONIGHT: The members of Alabama Lodge No. 3 will entertain at a barbecue supper at the Lodge tonight (Thursday) at eight o’clock. All Masons and members of the Eastern Star are extended a cordial invitation.

Private Francis L. Hawks Jr., son of Mrs. F.L. Hawks of Frisco City, and Private Lelland S. Driscoll, son of Mrs. J. Driscoll of Frisco City, were graduated Oct. 11 from the Air Mechanics course of the Chanute Field branch of the U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Schools in Illinois. Driscoll and Hawks enlisted in the Air Corps Sept. 20, 1940 and are assigned to Eglin Field, Fla.

105 YEARS AGO
OCT. 26, 1916

Hallowe’en Party: Ghosts, spooks, goblins and witches too, all join in this message to you: Come take a stir at the witches’ brew, taste of the fortune cake with me, see what your fate for the year will be. Come to Eliska schoolhouse on Hallowe’en to spookiest party ever seen. Admittance 15 cents. Refreshments free. Saturday, Oct. 21, at eight o’clock.

MONROEVILLE-ATMORE BATTLE TO A DRAW – High School Teams Pull Off Hot Contest With Even Score: Sports lovers of Monroe County were given a real treat on last Friday in the football game between the local boys and the team of the Escambia County High School. The Atmoreites came with the run-away score of two weeks before fresh in their memory and were confident of another easy victory. The home boys with that same score as a thorn in the flesh had been doing some real work for two weeks and had trained with a determination to give a good account of themselves. They met their opponents, not overconfident but in a real football fighting mood. The teams were quite evenly matched, and from the jump the game was hotly contested.

Rev. A.J. Kempton has received a unanimous call to become pastor of the Baptist church at Roy for the ensuing year. Mr. Kempton has signified his acceptance of the offer.

Commissioners J.W. Davis of Jackson and W.J. Tompkins of Grove Hill, and Messrs. P.B. Bush and J.C. Hybart of Gosport, were here Tuesday inspecting our roads with a view to the construction of a modern highway connecting the county seats of Monroe and Clarke.

130 YEARS AGO
OCT. 22, 1891

Frost was reported in the early part of the week.

The weather is growing distressingly dry, no rain having fallen here for nearly two months, and wells are going dry. Many steam mills in various sections are forced to haul water great distances in order to keep their machinery in operation. Cotton is opening very rapidly and Nov. 1 will find practically all of it gathered.

A little nine-year-old son of Mr. Sirmon Dean was drowned last Friday at Mr. Elijah Gulsby’s mill, about six miles northeast of Monroeville. Mr. Dean, who was working at the mill, sent the little boy to get him a drink of water. Becoming alarmed at his delay, the father went in search, but found only the little boy’s hat floating on the pond. The water was quickly drawn off, and the little fellow’s body found at the bottom. The distracted parents have the heartfelt sympathy of the community.

Circuit Court will convene Mon., Nov. 16. The dockets both civil and criminal are quite heavy and it is probable that the court will extend far into the second week.

In the election of Hon. E.R. Morrisett as Captain last Monday, the Monroe County Corps made a wise selection. Capt. Andrews, the retiring Captain, surrenders the sword and epaulettes to a worth successor. Capt. Morrisett, we learn, accepted the election, upon which we congratulate the company.

The County Alliance meets in quarterly session at Buena Vista today. Messrs. Kolb and Adams were expected to attend.

George Singleton tells of multiple sightings of woman's ghost at stream near Bradley Ridge in Monroe County

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

(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 “Ghost lady of Bradley Ridge: We meet again” was originally published in the Oct. 24, 2002 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

About ten days ago, I received a telephone call from a lady requesting that I try and write again about a story that I posted in The Journal about 18 years ago. The story was about the ghost of a lady that I had seen over in the area of Bradley Ridge near a small stream. Looking back through my past articles, I discovered that I had come in contact with the ghost lady in the long dress about twice over the past years. Since it had been several years since I had seen her and Halloween was almost upon us, I decided to ride over in the area and perhaps I might, if I was lucky, or unlucky, as some would believe, our paths might cross again there by the small creek.

As I have written about on several other occasions, Monroe County has several “ghost stories” or stories of the “supernatural” that I have investigated since my arrival here in 1964. These stories are due largely to the age of the county and the many early settlements that could be found around the area. If one studies the early history of this county, one will find that many of these old settlements date back to the middle 1700s.

I was first told about this strange event by two of my dear friends whom I got to know and respect very much shortly after my arrival here. My dear friends, Raymond Fountain and Tom Snider, both elderly gentlemen, and both now deceased had a great knowledge of the early happenings around throughout the county. When the two found out that I was deeply interested in the local happenings of strange events, both spent many hours guiding me around, showing me the area and relaying these strange events to me. Each, in their travels around the area, had seen firsthand, most of these stories passed on to me, or knew someone who had witnessed the event themselves.

So, with nothing else to do, I decided to return to the area where I had seen with my own eyes the ghost lady in the long white dress. As I headed in the direction, I was glad that hunting season had not yet begun and my chances of coming in contact with a hunter was almost zero. Taking the narrow back trail, I slowly headed my iron horse through the wooded area, around the steep curves and crooked declines. As I slowly made my way down toward the small streams, I wondered if I would witness the same event that I had seen on two other sightings.

As I rounded the sharp curve in the narrow trail, just before reaching the first small creek, I looked ahead toward where I had first experienced coming in contact with the ghost lady in the long white dress. I glanced off to my right alongside this small stream. Low and behold, there stood to my great disbelief, what appeared to be a young woman. She was dressed in what appeared to be an ankle-length white dress. As before, the sighting almost blew my mind.

As before, it took a minute for this to register in my mind. On two other occasions, I had called out to her asking her if she needed help. This time I remained silent. I said nothing. Almost as if a replay from previous times, I lost sight of her for a moment. Looking as before, down the old abandoned pathway that led to the bend in the small creek, I saw her hurriedly walking toward the small stream and the deep woods.

By this time in the afternoon, the shadows from the tall timbers had shaded the area, and it was beginning to grow quite dark there from the lack of sunlight. I got off my motorcycle and began to slowly walk down the path where I had just seen her. As I had on the other occasions, I began to look for tracks. I felt sure that I wasn’t going to find any, but for some unknown reason, I searched the path anyway. Searching for twisted leaves and broken twigs, I found none. Searching for any evidence of her passing, this was to no avail.

Then, I discovered a large spider web stretched across the narrow path. I knew that no one could have come this way without disturbing the spider web. I was reaffirmed that I had experienced seeing the ghost lady in the long white dress once again.

As on the two other occasions, I began to feel that I was being watched. I felt the hair on the back of my neck begin to tingle. Standing there in the deep shade of the heavy timbers, I realized that I wasn’t as excited as I had been during the other sightings. It was almost like seeing an old acquaintance again. I found myself, to my amazement, to be relaxed and normal, when on times before, I was almost frightened out of my wits.

Looking again down the narrow path, I saw nothing. Turning, I walked the fifty or so yards back up the dim path to where I had left my motorcycle. Turning the motorcycle around before starting the engine, I looked one last time down the dim path where I had just returned from. There she stood, motionless there in the deep shadows, looking toward me as if she was about to speak. Not realizing what I was doing, I raised my hand to wave. I received no response. Then, there before my eyes, the ghost lady in white disappeared in the deep shadows of the tall timber. I saw her no more.

As I made my way out toward the much traveled Ridge Road, I promised myself that before too long, I would return and perhaps that time, bring someone with me. Then, if the young lady in white was seen again, I would have a reliable witness. At least one person would know that I wasn’t crazy. The poet Longfellow just might say it best:

“This is the place, stand still my steed.
And let me review the scene.
And summon from the shadowy past
The forms that once have been.”

(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 also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. 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 19

Armitage and Corwin sat in silence on the other side of the campfire as I finished my sardines and crackers. I washed the last bite down with a swallow of warm water from my old Army canteen. The fishy oil in the bottom of the sardine tin looked like so much rancid butter under the stark, white light of my headlamp.

“I’ve got more if you want some,” I offered. They recoiled and shook their heads. They’d both lost their appetites when the queer noises started after sunset.

My wristwatch beeped, and I glanced down. It was 7 p.m., a little more than two hours after sundown. The first of the noises started about an hour ago, and I was thankful that I’d already started a camp fire. My biggest fear now was that we wouldn’t have enough wood to keep it going through this long Halloween night.

I first noticed the strange noises long before the two folklore students from Claiborne State. At first, I thought it was a large buck, picking its way through the decayed deadfalls near Kill Devil Hill. The sounds came and went, as the creature likely stopped to listen and sniff the somber air.

Whatever it was, the thing in the Stygian darkness was large. The sound that finally got the attention of the girls was a tremendous, startling crack that had to have been caused by a large limb as it snapped under the weight of the thing’s shambling passage. No doubt the blasphemous thing had seen and smelled our open campfire.

If it was supernatural, I felt we would be safe inside the thin ring of salt we’d put down before dark. If it was something natural, we had the fire and our handguns. If it bleeds, it can be killed.

My senses were on edge in expectation that something was about to happen at any moment. The quaking, trembling women were on the verge of panic, so I acted nonchalant about the situation. I pulled out my smoking pipe and leather tobacco pouch.

The women watched in silence through the woodsmoke as I packed my pipe with tobacco and fired it with my Zippo. It was then I noticed that the woods had grown quiet, as if the trees had inhaled in expectation of something ominous. Just then, a tree cracked loudly near the mirthless, weathered hilltop. Best guess, it was about a football field’s length away to the east, between our camp and my Jeep.

I spun to look over my shoulder, and my headlamp beam was just strong enough to illuminate the barely discernable outline of a pine top as it shook against the night sky. My mind raced as I tried to think of something that could shake a large pine like that. No natural explanation came to mind.

Corwin began to cry softly, and Armitage placed an arm around her friend’s shoulder in a feeble attempt to comfort her. “I don’t want to be here anymore,” Corwin said, sniffing. “Let’s pack our stuff and head back to Claiborne.”

I took a puff on my pipe and exhaled slowly. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I said. “As long as you stay with me and inside the salt circle, you’ll be okay. It, whatever it is, wants you to come down off the hill.”

Corwin sniffed and collected herself. “It? What is It?” she asked.

I took another long draw off my pipe and shrugged my shoulders. My mind whispered “wendigo,” but my mouth said, “I honestly do not know.” Somewhere, off in the distance, a coyote let loose with a savage, wailing howl that made the hair stand on the back of my neck.

“Listen to them, the children of the night,” I said, remembering my Stoker. “What music they make.”

 (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.)

Monroe County's Lufkin community once boasted two stores, a post office and a school

Students at Lufkin school in 1914.

Last Friday morning, I got the itch to get out and do some riding around. My truck was in the shop, and I was having to borrow my wife’s car. Knowing it wouldn’t go the types of places that my truck would go, I decided to stick to the blacktop on this field trip.

I struck off south out of Monroeville and eventually found myself in downtown Frisco City. I made my way past the old high school and the old public pool on Perdue Hill Road. As I continued north and out of the town limits, I was reminded that I was in the vicinity of the old Lufkin community.

Few people today remember Lufkin, but at one time, it was an important stop on the old railroad between Manistee and Manistee Junction. According to historical records, Lufkin had its own post office from 1904 to 1906, and other sources say that the community once had two stores, a school and a planer mill. Wood planed at this mill came from a big saw mill at Manistee and was shipped by train to markets up and down the line.

Most maps show that the old Lufkin community was located near the end of what we now call Majors Road, which is just off Perdue Hill Road, northwest of Frisco City. As best that I could determine, the community was likely named after a Mr. Lufkin, a former sawyer at the Bear Creek Mill at Manistee. The term “sawyer” is an old term for a person who operates a saw mill or who cuts lumber to length for sale.

The earliest reference to the Lufkin community that I could find in old Monroe Journals was in the March 17, 1904 edition. That paper contained a community news column written by a correspondent named “Sweet Heart.” She reported that “Mr. J.B. Green is erecting a post office at Lufkin, hopes to have it completed soon.” She also wrote that the community extended their “heartfelt sympathy to Mr. and Mrs. A.P. Riggins, who lost their little girl, Eddieneil, last Tuesday. She was laid to rest at the Shiloh cemetery Wednesday morning.”

The Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery is located a short distance from the intersection of Perdue Hill Road and Majors Road. On my way back into town, I pulled over at the cemetery, which is located adjacent to the church. This large cemetery contains about 900 graves, and the oldest I could find belonged to Jabe “Jabez” Bodiford, who died at the age of 36 in 1885. Oddly, despite my best efforts, I found no grave for Eddieneil Riggins.

According to a historical marker near the entrance to the property, this cemetery was established in 1884 and is among the oldest in this part of the state. Constructed in 1884, the Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church is also the oldest building still standing in Frisco City. The marker notes that some of the graves there are not marked and some cannot be read.

In the end, let me hear from you if you have any additional information about the old Lufkin community near Frisco City. I’m especially interested in hearing any old ghost stories, local legends or Indian lore from this part of the county. If you know of anything along these lines, please let me know.

Wilcox County, Alabama's last covered bridge burned in 1948

Covered bridge between Hamburg and Snow Hill.

Some readers in the audience may remember that three years ago Wil Elrick and Kelly Kazek released a fascinating book called “Covered Bridges of Alabama.” Published by The History Press, “Covered Bridges of Alabama” is the most complete book ever published on the subject of covered bridges in the state and is a “must read” for Alabama history buffs. The book describes the state’s existing covered bridges and details covered bridges that have been lost to disaster, fire, war and the ravages of time.

The book also contains dozens of high-quality photos taken by the authors as well as historical photos from such sources as the Alabama Department of Archives and History. On the opening page of the chapter about “Alabama’s Lost Covered Bridges,” there is an old, black and white photo of an unnamed bridge in Wilcox County. The caption beneath the photo reads: A covered bridge in Wilcox County is shown in 1938. It is no longer standing.

Readers later informed me that this covered bridge was located over Pine Barren Creek on the road between Hamburg and Snow Hill. In August 2019, I made a field trip up to Hamburg and found that the old road from Hamburg to Snow Hill was impassable. The nice, smooth dirt road that I’d been traveling on petered out into a washed-out trail that was overgrown with tall grass, so I turned around and didn’t continue on to the old bridge site.

Readers later informed me that I had actually gotten pretty close to the old bridge site. If I’d gotten out of my truck and had walked down the hill a short distance, I would have eventually reached Pine Barren Creek. Not wanting to trespass or get bit by a rattlesnake, I just turned around and headed back to Camden.

Fast-forward to a week or so ago when I ran across an old news item that shed more light on the history and ultimate fate of this old Wilcox County covered bridge. In the Oct. 7, 1948 edition of The Progressive Era, under the headline “Last Covered Bridge In County Burns,” readers learned that “fire of undetermined origin destroyed the Hamburg covered bridge, near Furman, on Saturday night. The bridge, which was said to be the last covered bridge in the county, crossed Pine Barren Creek a few miles from Snow Hill and Furman.

“The fire was discovered Saturday night and although it had practically consumed upper portions of the bridge in a short time, was still burning the next morning.

“Earlier covered bridges in the county which have been gone for a number of years, including the Pursley Creek and Gravel Creek bridges, Boykin Bridge, McConnico’s Mill, Pine Hill and others.”

In the end, it would be interesting to know what happened to the other covered bridges mentioned above. If anyone in the reading audience has any additional information they’d like to share, please let me know. Eventually, we may be able to compile a more thorough history of these old, forgotten covered bridge sites.

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for Oct. 20, 2021

Senator John Hollis Bankhead

75 YEARS AGO
OCT. 17, 1946

John Burford Felts, U.S. Army, is spending several days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Felts.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Morris are the happy parents of a fine baby boy.

Mr. Jack Selsor died at his home in Montgomery on Tuesday. His remains will be laid to rest in the Camden Cemetery on Friday at 11 a.m.

The following will be of interest to the friends of Mrs. McDonald, who has visited often in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lambrecht of Coy:
Mr. William L. Kidder died last Saturday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Felix C. McDonald, 1718 Alabama Avenue in Selma, where he had been living for the past year. Burial was in the family lot in Ransomville, N.Y.

LOST – One boy’s tan shoe. Size 5-1/2. Finder please return to J.M. Bonner, Camden.

The Lt. Joseph M. Wilcox Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met at the home of Mrs. M.E. Curtis, Thurs., Oct. 3. Those present were: Mrs. Louis Hybart, Edwin Hicks, Ezra Bonner, Lena Albritton, W.W. Primm, James Tate, John Moore, Claude Thompson, Abe Cook, M.E. Curtis and Miss Katie Belle Stallworth. After a business session, the President General’s Message was ready by Mrs. Primm. The meeting adjourned to meet at the home of Mrs. Mattie Ervin, Nov. 7. A delicious salad course was served by the hostess.

87 YEARS AGO
OCT.18, 1934

Camden and Beatrice Play 0-0 Tie: The local football team played Beatrice last Friday. After four long hard-fought quarters, the score was the same as at the beginning, 0-0.
Captain Andrews and Ernest Rouse were the outstanding ball “toters” for Camden while Harper and Griffith were the outstanding players on offense for Beatrice.
The longest run came in the last half when Rouse skirted his right end behind perfect interference and blocking for a 25-yard run. On this play, Rouse was hurt and had to be removed from the game.
Among the outstanding defensive players for Camden were: H. Williams, D. Cook, Leo Hollinger, J. Tait, Mac Phillippi and Mac Hines.

GINNERS REPORT FOR WILCOX COUNTY, ALA. – Census report shows that there were 5,321 bales of cotton ginned in Wilcox County from the crop of 1934 prior to Oct. 1, as compared with 3,279 bales ginned to Oct. 1, crop of 1933. – Annie Laurie Purefoy, Special Agent.

The 5^th District of United Daughters of the Confederacy is meeting here today at the Masonic Hall and dining at the Wilcox Hotel.

MR. J.H. MAJORS: On Oct. 8, Deacon J.H. Majors passed at his home near Enon church and was buried the following day. He spent his entire life in that community and was loved and honored by all. He was a member and also an officer in the Baptist church.

100 YEARS AGO
OCT. 20, 1921

Miss Louise Jones Winner in Beauty Contest: Miss Louise Jones, the lovely daughter of Mr. S.L. Jones of Camden, is the successful winner by a large majority in the Beauty Queen Contest of Wilcox County. She is indeed a beautiful girl and justly deserves the great and wonderful honor bestowed upon her.

The Camden boys will play football at Thomasville Friday.

The Camden football team was defeated in its match game with Jackson Saturday at Camden.

Dr. Ernest Bonner recently bought the pecan grove on Bridgeport Avenue from his brother, Mr. J.M. Bonner. This is one of the prettiest groves in the county, the trees being of uniform size and all bearing extra large fine nuts.

Ackerville Suffers Serious Fire Loss: Practically every citizen of Ackerville suffered financial loss in a fire which burned the gin of Mr. W.J. Stewart of that place on Friday evening of the past week. Forty bales of cotton besides about 1,700 bushels of cottonseed. The first started about an hour after ginning for the day had closed and it is supposed to have caught from the gins. A stiff wind kept the cotton, which had been ginned and rolled out on the yard covered with heat and flames, making it impossible to save it. No insurance was carried on the cotton and it represents a total loss to the farmers of that section.

113 YEARS AGO
OCT. 15, 1908

Miss Mattie Watson has taken the school at Watson’s Crossing. Miss Mattie passed a fine examination and her many friends predict for her a great success in educational work.

Mr. M.S. Pearson of Sunny South and Miss Buford Farish were married in the Presbyterian Church at Buena Vista yesterday. Mr. Pearson is well known in Camden as a drummer for the Southern Hardware Co. in Mobile. Miss Farish is the attractive daughter of Mr. E.S. Farish Jr., No. 2, and has many friends in Camden, where she has frequently visited.

On last Monday night, quite a jolly crowd of young folks, chaperoned by Mrs. B.H. Matthews, enjoyed a grand possum hunt. After hunting until about 11 o’clock and not catching any game, they decided to return home and try their luck again in the near future.

Mr. Bankhead Speaks at Camden: Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock Senator J.H. Bankhead addressed a representative audience of Wilcox County citizens on the subject of “Good Roads.” The Senator was introduced by N.D. Godbold, Esq., as perhaps the best posted public man on this question in the State. He more than fulfilled the expectations of the audience and many who were included to oppose the Good Road’s Amendment expressed themselves after the speaking as being fully satisfied that is should carry before the people.

127 YEARS AGO
OCT. 17, 1894

Dale Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons, met last Friday night.

Quite a number of young people enjoyed a chestnut hunt last Wednesday.

Mr. L.H. Hart has opened a nice store near Mr. J.J. Hawthorne’s residence.

Mr. D.J. McWilliams, formerly of Wilcox County, has removed from Cameron to Belton, Texas.

Mr. E.I. Bailey Jr. has resigned as our marshal of our town. Mr. G.T. Dannelly was elected in his stead.

Miss Daisy Jenkins left Saturday for Pine Hill, where she will engage in teaching music at the Pine Hill Academy. We wish her a successful sojourn.

Prof. R.E.L. Key of Rock West was in town Saturday. He reports a flourishing school of 26 scholars, all of whom are studying hard.

Last Friday night a goodly number enjoyed a fox hunt. They enjoyed the ride but didn’t catch the fox. Better luck next time.

The sportsmen are enjoying some good fun and will soon be after the “Bob Whites.” Squirrels seem to be plentiful.

The weather has been very cold for the last few days, the thermometer ranging in the neighborhood of 48 degrees.

Mr. J.G. Sparks, representing Junger & Gass, reliable music dealers of Mobile, was in our town last week.

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

33 YEARS AGO
OCT. 20, 1988

Frisco City makes big plans for 100^th birthday festivities: Saturday will bring the culmination of months of work by Frisco City residents to prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime event – their town’s 100^th birthday.
Centennial festivities began Sunday when the event was recognized in church services, and today (Thursday), everyone is invited to bring a chair or blanket at 7:30 p.m. and watch a family movie in drive-in style at Frisco City High School.
Saturday will bring most of the festivities, aired live by WYNI and WMFC radio stations. Saturday’s activities are expected to draw a sizeable crowd, said Dot Sims, centennial chairwoman appointed by the Frisco City Chamber of Commerce.

Shields rolls over Southern Normal 61-0: J.F. Shields High School, overflowing with homecoming enthusiasm, blasted Southern Normal 61-0 Friday in Beatrice.
Seniors Sebastian Lett, Tyrone Spencer and Jeff Montgomery all exceeded 100 yards rushing, as the Panthers’ offense churned up 531 yards on the ground. Brian Stallworth paced Shields’ defense with 16 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
(Other top Shields players in that game included Calvin Lett, Dwayne McWilliams, Keith Montgomery and Marlon Roberts. John Wiley was head coach.)

Taking oath: Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs swears in members of the Excel Town Council Oct. 3 at the town hall, as Mayor James Murphy looks on. Council members are David Cole, Carol Casey (the only new member), Leon Black and Kenneth Blanton. Councilman Jack Boothe was absent.

58 YEARS AGO
OCT. 17, 1963

Elderly Man Killed As Car Is Hit By Train Friday: George W. Thomas of Belleville was killed instantly Thursday afternoon at 2:05 when his car collided with a railroad train at a crossing at Drewry on Monroe County Highway 20.
The 80-year-old man was an employee of Unity Burial and Life Insurance in Monroeville. He was alone in the car at the time, according to the police, and the radio in the automobile was playing after the car had been thrown from the track into a field nearby. It was thought the driver did not hear the oncoming train due to the radio.

Tigers Defeat Excel 42-19 In Game Friday Night: A good crowd was on hand to see the MCHS Tigers defeat the Excel Panthers 42-19 in a game played in Excel last Friday night.
Ray Owens was outstanding in the MCHS backfield, Don Cox and Greg Szpak in the line – Cox on offense opened holes on two of the Tiger touchdowns. Szpak was in on most of the tackles made by Monroeville.
(Other top MCHS players in that game were Bobby Colquett, Louie Hayles, Tim Jones, Tommy McMillon, Richard Otterberg, Coy Tatum, Seth Watkins and Eugene Wilson. Top players for Excel included Bo Bo Godwin and Wayne Wright.)

Capt. Willie B. Odom Is Pilot Instructor: Capt. Willie B. Odom of Goodway has graduated from the U.S. Air Force pilot instructor course at Randolf Air Force Base, Texas.
Capt. Odom, a rated Air Force pilot, was trained to teach student pilots to fly jet trainer aircraft. The captain is being reassigned to Craig Air Force Base for duty.

83 YEARS AGO
OCT. 20, 1938

Senator Bankhead To Address Farmers Here Friday, Oct. 21: Senator John H. Bankhead will speak to the farmers of this and adjoining counties in the courthouse in Monroeville on Friday morning at 10 o’clock.
Senator Bankhead has made an outstanding fight for the farmers of the South, and all farmers in this section of the state should make a special effort to hear him Friday.

Monroeville Defeats Excel, Score 37 to 0: Displaying football power seldom seen on high school gridirons, the Monroe County High team ran rough-shod on the scrappy Excel High School team last Friday night on the local gridiron by a score of 37 to 0.
The Monroeville team has not lost a game so far this season, and their game with Jackson this week in Jackson should be a game of games, as Jackson always has a great football team. Those who can should go to Jackson and root for the local boys.

13 Bales Cotton Destroyed By Fire: The entire crop of cotton, 13 bales in all, including the seed from the lint and farm implements, belonging to Mr. Joe Morris, who lives near Excel, were completely destroyed by fire last Sunday night.
The fire was discovered about nine o’clock, and all efforts to extinguish the flames failed. The cotton, cottonseed and implements were stored in an old tenant house. Mr. Morris estimates his loss at about $1,000.

Mesdames Doy McCall and Carl E. Brown entertained the bridal party of the McCall-Maxwell wedding at a buffet supper Monday evening before the rehearsal, at the home of Mrs. McCall. Misses Sara Ann McCall and Anne Hines assisted in serving sandwiches and individual white-iced cakes embossed in green with the bride’s monogram.

109 YEARS AGO
OCT. 17, 1912

Material for the erection of the new brick cotton warehouse is being placed on the ground and contractor W.E. Ward will rush the building to completion as rapidly as possible.

W.E. BROUGHTON: On Aug. 21, 1912, Bro. W.E. Broughton, then of Perdue Hill, now of Heaven, was called upon to leave his community, his church and his family and enter upon his eternal rest with the saved.
On Jan. 11, 1888, he was happily married to Miss Emma Agee, a member of one of the most prominent families of Monroe County.
He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason by Claiborne Lodge No. 3 and worked efficiently wherever called upon to serve.

The Lyon Pharmacy has received a fresh shipment of Whitman’s famous candies for which they are exclusive agents in this territory. You could not make your best girl a more acceptable present.

Mr. W.C. Andress and Miss Hope Lazenby were quietly married on Tuesday evening, Oct. 15, at the home of the bride’s parents, Rev. D.F. Ellisor officiating. The bride is one of Monroeville’s truest, sweetest young women, possessing many charms of person and character. Mr. Andress is an estimable young man and has fine business qualifications, and is to be congratulated upon winning so fair a lady for his life companion.

MANISTEE: Our town looks very much demolished, nearly all the houses having been torn down and removed within the last few days. The post office here is now being served from Perdue Hill via the rural delivery man.

133 YEARS AGO
OCT. 19, 1888

Capt. W.S. Wiggins has a very interesting little museum composed of specimens of native minerals, Indian arrowheads and trinkets and a variety of other curiosities, which is the result of years of careful collection, and which he guards with jealous care. He has been frequently solicited to donate his collection to various institutions, and only recently by the President of Howard College, but has always declined to do so, reserving it, as he stated to us, for a gift to our own Monroeville College, which he regards as do many others, as a not improbably future possibility.

Three additions to the local patronage of the Academy were received Monday. The attendance is now something over 40, and a majority of the students are young men and young ladies. This impresses us being a remarkably good showing for a school not yet two months old. New students and rumors of new students are being constantly received.

The latest information from Mt. Pleasant states that Mr. T.D. Hestle, who has been suffering for some time from injuries received in the deplorable affair of recent occurrence in that community, has recovered sufficiently to visit his plantation on horseback.

CLAIBORNE: Mr. W.M. Jones is here collecting for the Davis Clock Co.

Mr. J.M. Rohbock, representing Messrs. Eichold & Quarles of Mobile, was in town this week.

Mr. W.S. Moore left Sunday on the Steamer Nettie for Mobile.

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for Oct. 13, 2021

Martha Lamkin and John Allen Lamkin

74 YEARS AGO
OCT. 9, 1947

Mr. J.A. (Dock) Lamkin, highly esteemed East Wilcox citizen, died at his home near McWilliams on Sept. 29, 1947 at the age of 81 years.
Mr. Lamkin was a consistent member of the Shiloh Methodist Church and served as an officer for a number of years, his pastor, the Rev. Roland Culver, conducted the impressive funeral service with interment in the McWilliams Cemetery.
Mr. Lamkin was a successful businessman and farmer and cattle grower, he served for a number of years on the Democratic Executive Committee of Wilcox County, and was interested in all community activities.
The pall bearers were J.T. Hines, B.F. Hardy, Douglas Pettie, Freeman Smith, H.H. Youngblood, Will Garrett, Willie Ed Hall and Dave Winters.

TIGERS WIN 12-0: The Camden Tigers won their first football game of the season and their first game since 1945 Friday afternoon at Fort Deposit.
The team has shown great improvement since it opened at Sweet Water two weeks ago and should not be push-overs for any team the rest of the season.
Hawthorne was the outstanding player on the field all afternoon as he repeatedly stopped plays. He also was alert in going down under punts.

Little P.C. Jenkins, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lummie Jenkins, underwent a tonsillectomy at Vaughn Memorial Hospital in Selma Tuesday.

86 YEARS AGO
OCT. 10, 1935

Mr. James Bonner attended the meeting of the Equitable Life Insurance Co. at Daphne.

Miss Charlotte Ervin Tait has a position with the state Child Welfare Department and is located at Centre, Cherokee County.

The Alabama Charter Chapter will meet with Miss Mae Kyser at her home at Richmond, near Carlowville, next Thursday, Oct. 17, at 2 o’clock.

John L. Godbold, who is a student at the University of Alabama Law School, is listed among the fraternity pledges as having pledged Pi Kappa Alpha.

Anyone wishing to increase the Camden School Book Loan Library please hand your contribution to Prof. Mellown. He purchases the needed books, stamps them and lends them to children who have no other way to secure books. – D.Y. Albritton, Chairman.

PINE HILL: Several cars made the trip to Grove Hill Friday afternoon to the football game, where our boys were defeated 14 to 0. The boys put up a good fight, but the Grove Hill boys outplayed them.

Hixon Named Monroe County Circuit Clerk: Announcement was made Monday by Judge F.W. Hare of the 21^st Alabama Judicial Circuit, of the appointment of L.A. Hixon of Monroeville as clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County to succeed the late James Monroe Agee, whose death occurred last week. Mr. Hixon married Miss Juliette Hardy, formerly of Camden, daughter of Judge Claude and the late Juliette (Palmer) Hardy and he is brother to Mr. Steve Hixon, who married the popular Miss Amelia Ervin.

99 YEARS AGO
OCT. 12, 1922

ALBERT BLOCH DIES AFTER SHORT ILLNESS: Albert Daniel Bloch, native of Alabama and prominent in fraternal circles, died Tuesday afternoon at the family residence, 725 Government St. in Mobile, following a short illness.
Mr. Bloch was a native of Camden, Wilcox County, and was educated in the public schools of Camden. He moved to Selma in 1884 and engaged in the furniture business and in 1895 he moved his business to Mobile. He was in active management of his business until his illness about one week before his death.

A number of Pine Hill ladies were in Camden Saturday selling tickets for the ball game and dinner at that place to take place Thursday.

Mr. C.A. Skinner, Camden agent for the L&N Railroad, says there has been shipped from this depot in September over 1,000 bales of cotton. There is now ready for shipment from this location, 1,000 cars of lumber. Incoming freights are very good and passenger traffic is improving. This section will be in much better financial shape than for two years when the cotton and lumber is sold. A considerable number of carloads of cattle and several carloads of hogs have been shipped.

Hon. Sol D. Bloch was called to Mobile last week on account of the illness and death of his brother, Albert D. Bloch.

112 YEARS AGO
OCT. 14, 1909

Bellview: Our school opened on Oct. 1 with Miss Allie May Sessions as teacher. We predict a prosperous year for the school.

The cotton crop is short, probably the smallest crop that has been harvested in 25 years. The prospects were never good this year, but brightened after the rainy spell. Then came the last three weeks drought and hot winds. It will push them to make 60 percent of an average production this year.

A tressel over Lottie Creek near Camden and on the L&N Railroad burned last Tuesday, necessitating the train to remain over in Camden all of that day.

Rev. J.M. Dannelly, Grand Keeper of Records and Seals of the Knights of Pythias of Alabama, was in Camden last Tuesday, en route to Furman Convention.

A steer belonging to Mr. J.C. McIntosh near Nellie fell in a well on his place, 18 feet deep and with six to eight feet of water, but was lifted out with 18 or 20 men; and strange to say, was unhurt, except the loss of one horn.

Last Saturday evening, two women living on the plantation of Mr. Farr Bryant came to town, one to see the doctor. On their return about dusk, just outside of town, their mule became sick and while giving attention to the mule, the one who had come to see the doctor fell dead, presumably with heart disease. This is the second death that has occurred on Mr. Bryant’s plantation in the past week.

126 YEARS AGO
OCT. 9, 1895

ATTENTION WILCOX MOUNTED RIFLES: There will be a drill at the Masonic Hall Thurs., Oct. 17, at 8 p.m. Every member is ordered to come. – W.P. Burford, Captain; D.R. Fairly, Sergeant.

SCHOOL NOTICE: The term of the public school at the Wilcox Female Institute will begin on Monday next, Oct. 14, 1895. – W.A. George, Principal.

The Alabama River is very low now. The Steamer Nettie Quill was forced to turn back just above Cochran’s Landing. She could not get over the bars. There has been no rain either at the head waters or along the course of our river since July, consequently the present low stage of the river. The river only likes a few inches of being as low as it was last fall.

Dr. T.W. Jones showed us a peculiar surgical case not long since. A man had been cut on the side of the ankle and all the bones were cut through. One of the blood vessels had been severed. The man was brought some distance in a wagon to the office and when he reached there dirt and dust had settled on the wound, making a successful operation for healing by immediate union impossible. The wound was healed however and the wonderful part of the operation is the ankle has good motion – a thing that very rarely happens in such cases.

WANTED – To buy hides, tallow, wood and bees wax at the Tan Yard. The highest cash price paid for these articles. Mr. Summerhafder will be there ever Wednesday and Saturday to purchase these articles. – THE CAMDEN TANNERY.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Oct. 12, 2021

SEVEN YEARS AGO
OCT. 9, 2014

Evergreen weather observer Betty Ellis reported .48 inches of rain on Sept. 29, .02 on Oct. 2 and .18 on Oct. 3. She reported highs of 85 degrees on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 and lows of 43 on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5. Total rainfall for the month of September 2014 was 2.25 inches.

The Evergreen Pic-N-Sav held their official grand opening Wednesday morning with savings throughout the store. Pic-N-Sav is 100-percent employee owned and has served the community for over 60 years under several names, beginning with Piggly Wiggly. They are happy to bring more savings to their customers with the cost-plus format and look forward to serving Evergreen and the surrounding area for many years to come.

Mary Katherine Padgett was crowned Miss Flat Rock 2014 during Flat Rock Day on Saturday at the Flat Rock Fire Station. Kimberly Yeattes of Evergreen won the quilt raffle, and Benton Taylor of Greenville won top honors during the Prettiest Rooster Contest. Organizers said that this year’s Flat Rock Day was a “huge success” and an estimated 500 people attended the event.

Homecoming services will be held Sun., Oct. 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Evergreen Baptist Church. Guest speaker will be Dr. John Killian, pastor of Maytown Baptist Church and current president of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

32 YEARS AGO
OCT. 12, 1989

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported .11 inches of rain on Oct. 8. He reported a high of 86 degrees on Oct. 6 and a low of 49 on Oct. 8.

‘Gulf Breeze’ run begins Oct. 29; train stops here: Negotiations between Amtrak and CSX Transportation have resulted in an agreement to begin daily intercity passenger service between Birmingham and Mobile on Sun., Oct. 29.
The new service, to be called the “Gulf Breeze,” will consist of four passenger cars – two coaches, a lounge car and sleeping car – that will split off Amtrak’s New York-New Orleans “Crescent” after its arrival in Birmingham from New York and will operate to Mobile while the Crescent continues its trip to New Orleans.
Initially the train will make intermediate stops at Montgomery, Greenville, Evergreen and Atmore.

Veterans Parade on Nov. 11: The 1989 Veterans Day Parade will be held Sat., Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. The parade will start at the City School parking lot, proceed downtown, ending at No Man’s Land. A Veterans Day ceremony will follow at 11 a.m. This year’s guest speaker will be Capt. Kenneth Johnson Commanding Officer Naval Air Station, Milton, Fla. The Veterans Day Parade is sponsored by the American Legion Post No. 50.

The Hillcrest High School Jaguar Marching Band, directed by Phil Mika, received an overall rating of superior, the highest rate given, at the Eastern Shore Jubilee Marching Festival in Fairhope Saturday.

57 YEARS AGO
OCT. 8, 1964

Retiring Mayor Zell Murphy extends best wishes to his successor, Mayor Henry Sessions, after the new city council took the oath of office Monday. The oath was administered by Conecuh County Judge of Probate Lloyd G. Hart.

There are the men who will guide the affairs of the City of Evergreen for the next four years. They took the oath of office Monday and held their first meeting Tuesday night. They are Councilman Dr. Joseph H. Hagood, Mayor W.H. “Henry” Sessions, Mayor Pro Tem Percy Brantley and Councilmen Bob Bozeman, W.T. “Jack” Wild and Knud Nielsen.

Tornado hits near Evergreen: A tornado that hit some six miles east of Evergreen Sunday morning did considerable damage but caused no injuries. The twister struck between 9 and 9:30 a.m. on U.S. Highway 84, beyond J.T. Ward’s.
A couple, the T.F. Meeks, were in their home when the twister struck it, tearing off the roof and causing other damage but not hurting them.

Cadet William Sessions, freshman at Marion Institute, has been promoted to corporal.

Congressman George Grant brought his campaign for reelection to Conecuh County yesterday. The veteran U.S. representative from Troy said that he will be in the district for the next few weeks and will welcome the opportunity to see the people and discuss matters with them.

82 YEARS AGO
OCT. 12, 1939

Confederate Veteran Passes Tuesday: Following a long illness, Joseph S. Worrell, familiarly known as “Uncle Joe,” died at his home in the Cedar Creek community at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Mr. Worrell was 94 years of age and was one of Conecuh’s few remaining Confederate veterans.
Mr. Worrell was born in Georgia in 1856 and lived there until 1888 when he moved to this county where he had lived since. He was a beloved and respected citizen whose death has caused much sadness among a large group of relatives and friends.

Mr. and Mrs. O.C. McGehee announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary, to Mr. Dewitt Talmadge Stuart Jr. of Pineapple, the marriage to take place Nov. 4.

BOY SCOUT NEWS: Since Monday was “National Fire Prevention Day,” each boy answered roll call on how fires could be prevented. The Boys Scouts part in the County Fair will be to direct traffic, run errands and do other odd jobs.

NOTICE: Everybody that have relatives buried at the Witherington Cemetery are invited to be there Wed., Oct. 25, to help clean off cemetery and fix road. Bring dinner and plenty of tools. – Mrs. J.E. Witherington.

According to the gin report as furnished The Courant by P.F. Lindsey, reporter for this county, there were 4,929 bales of cotton ginned in Conecuh County prior to Oct. 1, 1939 as compared with 10,792 bales ginned to Oct. 1, 1938. This shows a difference of 5,863 bales.