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

37 YEARS AGO
OCT. 4, 1984

Monroe County native Joe McKissick has purchased Frisco City’s IGA supermarket from Judy and Alvin Smith and returned to the county to live. The food store had been in Mrs. Smith’s family since 1959, when it was started by her father, the late Henry Rowell, and Pete Kelly. McKissick has spent 10 years working in the grocery business, first as vice president of Hudson-Thompson in Montgomery and most recently as vice president of Certified Grocers of Illinois, a large cooperative based in Chicago that serves 450 independent retailers in five states.

Hooper Academy came to Monroe Academy Friday in hopes of evening up its East Region football record, but wound up drowning 37-23 in the Volunteers’ homecoming enthusiasm.
A big plus for Vol coach Rob Kelly was tailback Donald Foster’s effort Friday. The senior, who exceeded 1,000 yards rushing last season, broke the single-game 100-yard rushing mark for the first time this season on Friday. Foster wound up with 126 yards on 21 rushes and was playing with a sore ankle, according to his coaches.
(Other top Monroe players in that game included Jody Brannon, Hudson Hines, Steve Lambert, Mark Manning, Michael McCrory, Mark Owens, Rusty Robinson, Steven Simmons, Richard Tippy and Troy Wilson.)

Library fund-raising chairman Bill Chance speaks Sunday during the dedication ceremony for Monroe County’s new public library in the former LaSalle Hotel building on Pineville Road in Monroeville. Behind Chance are Mrs. M.L. Bergman and Mrs. T.M. McMillan, former librarians for whom the Alabama Room was dedicated; members and former members of the library board Joyce Minish, Rachel Hardee, Nancy Rice, Katharine Nichols and chairman Mrs. W.J. Andress; and library clerk Mary Ann Lett.

62 YEARS AGO
OCT. 1, 1959

Bedsole’s Celebrates 57^th Birthday; Store Here Was Opened in 1943: The entire group of Bedsole stores are celebrating their 57^th anniversary with a big group sale which began last week and is continuing this week.
The firm was organized in September 1902 by J.L. Bedsole and his father in Thomasville. The local Bedsole store was opened in 1943 with Shall Dunning as manager.

Excel High Downs Repton 11, 12-7: The Excel High School Panthers hit the victory trail for the first time in 1959 when they downed a host Repton team, 12-7, in Repton last Friday night.
Right halfback Edward Felts made the big showing for the Excelians as the Panthers had a big first half but slowed down in the second half. Both Excel TDs were made in the second period, with Felts crossing the goal line each time.
(Other top Excel players in that game include Paul King and Harry Sawyer.)

Senator Sparkman Will Speak Here: U.S. Senator John Sparkman will be guest speaker at a meeting in Monroeville Wednesday night, Oct. 14, open to the public. The program will begin at seven o’clock in the courtroom of the County Courthouse and is sponsored by the Young Democrats of Monroe County. Dr. John L. Abbott of Monroeville, Young Democrat President, said all interested persons are urged to attend.

87 YEARS AGO
OCT. 4, 1934

Miss Ida Shomo, Miss Agnes Weatherford, Miss Alice Lee and Nelle Harper Lee spent Sunday in Troy and Montgomery.

First Game Brings Tigers 7-0 Victory: In the opening game of the season the Monroeville Tigers finally clawed their way to a 7-0 victory over Moore Academy. Old man weather played havoc with both teams offensively.
At the beginning of the second half, Monroeville came back strong, Pittman intercepting a pass on the 40-yard line with Biggs and Jones alternating line bucks, carried the ball to the four-yard line where Tidwell circled end for a touchdown. Thereafter, both teams played defensive ball, Monroeville making several first downs to Moore Academy’s one. Johnson’s defensive work stood out for the locals, whereas Winters, for the visitors, was the best bet.
Do not forget the game Oct. 12 here when the Tigers meet Uriah. The team plays Bay Minette in Bay Minette this week.

One Killed In Auto Accident: One man was killed instantly and another seriously wounded in an automobile accident between Frisco City and Excel early last Sunday night. “Doc” Sawyer suffered a broken neck and died immediately, and Nall, the injured man, was brought to the local hospital. Nall received severe injuries on both legs. The third occupant of the car escaped without injury.
The accident occurred near Little Escambia bridge when the car left the road and struck an oak tree. The car was traveling from Frisco City in the direction of Excel.
Funeral services for Sawyer were held at Frisco City on Monday.

112 YEARS AGO
OCT. 7, 1909

The fall term of Circuit Court will convene next Monday for a two weeks session. With candidates, litigants and horse swappers, it promises to be a strenuous occasion.

Death of Gertrude Massey: On Sept. 24, 1909, the angel of death came and took Gertrude away. She died at her aunt’s in Evergreen, where she had gone to attend school. The sad news came just three days after she had left her home and loved ones at Finchburg.
Gertrude had a sweet, lovable disposition and is missed by all; but especially in her home where she so often cared for little brother and baby sister. She was so womanly in her little ways about the house. She was just at a sweet interesting age, about nine years.

Harmon-Davison: Miss Mary Andrews Davison and Mr. William Harmon were married at the home of Dr. and Mrs. W.A. Lovett in Brewton Sunday morning, Oct. 4, the ceremony being performed by Rev. E.A. Smith. The bride comes from one of the most prominent families of Monroe County. Mr. Harmon is a contractor and has been engaged with building contracts at Monroeville for some months past. He is a native of Maine but has resided in the south for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Harmon arrived in Monroeville Sunday afternoon where they will remain until their new home at Camden is ready for occupancy.

Hon. J.F. Jones of Evergreen was here Monday attending county court. While in the city an informal joint debate on the constitutional amendment was arranged between Mr. Jones and W.G. McCorvey, Esq., the former favoring and the latter opposing the proposition. Judge Slaughter accommodatingly suspended court and the two champions went at it in approved fashion.

137 YEARS AGO
OCT. 6, 1884

Claiborne – Mr. James McKinzie, one of the old land marks of Claiborne, an honest man and a good citizen, died at his home in Claiborne recently.

Dr. J.W. Cotter will board and educate pupils for the low sum of $10 per month at Perdue Hill.

A Cowardly and Brutal Murder – The body of Mr. W.B. Morris, a laborer at the mill of Messrs. Straughn & Co., was found on the bluff at Lovetts landing recently, riddled with buckshot. He had been shot while sitting down under a tree waiting for a boat. One load of buckshot and the first one had entered his side, and the other load had entered his head and the other was fired so close that his face was burned with powder and the wadding was found lodged in the hole in his head. It was a horrible and brutal murder, and it is evident that he was waylaid and that the first shot killed him instantly.
Mr. Morris is said to have been a quiet, sober, industrious and peaceable man, with a wife and six little children dependent on him for support.
At the time of his death, he was employed at Straughn & Co.’s log mill in the lower part of this county. He was handling freight from the landing and had often expressed a fear to his employer that he would be assassinated and always until this, his last visit to the landing, had carried a boy along with him. When he started off on the day of the killing, he again expressed his fear of being murdered.