Wilcox Central's Fred Turner holds AHSAA boys state record for most three-pointers in a single game

Wilcox Central's Fred Turner in 2011.

The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) announced on Friday that Deshler High School junior guard Chloe Siegel made 18 three-point shots in Monday of last week’s 83-20 win over Oak Mountain to set a new AHSAA state record. She finished the game with 54 points, and her 18 three-pointers eclipsed the AHSAA state record for three-pointers in a single game for girls set by Trinity Presbyterian’s Emma Kate Smith in January 2021.

While many sports fans in the reading audience may have read about Siegel’s recent record-breaking performance, some may not know that the AHSAA boys state record is still held by former Wilcox Central High School basketball star, Fred Turner.

Turner, a 5-foot-5 senior shooting guard, set the boys state record on Jan. 8, 2011 when he sank 17 three-pointers in a 96-54 win over Francis Marion High School in Camden. That night, Turner made 17-of-22 threes and finished the game with 56 total points, two more points that Francis Marion’s entire team combined. Prior to that night, the previous state record was 15 three-pointers, set by Douglas High School’s Clint Wigley during the 1993-94 season.

Turner’s 56 points against Francis Marion also tied a school record set in 1985 by Mark Dukes, who was Wilcox Central’s head basketball coach in 2011. Turner and Dukes helped lead Wilcox Central to the Final Four round of the state playoffs in 2011. Other top players on that year’s team included Kyser Irby and Kevin Chapman.

Turner currently lives in Thomaston and is a successful commercial truck driver. Turner, who many will remember by his nickname “Tune,” said he remembers his record-setting game against Francis Marion like it happened yesterday. He said that at the time, he didn’t realize that he’d shot so many threes and didn’t know that he’d broken the state record until he was informed of it the next day.

“I just remembered hitting like six or seven threes in a row in the first quarter, and it was kind of just a blank after then,” Turner said, jokingly.

In honor of his record-setting performance, Wilcox Central raised a banner in its gym, noting that Turner had set the state record and was also at that time ranked fourth in the National Federation of High School’s record book. Turner, who wore the No. 2 jersey at Wilcox Central, went on to Wallace State Community College, where he starred on the men’s basketball team for two seasons.

Turner is currently tied with six other players for fifth place in the NFHS record books for most three-pointers in a single boys game. Taurean Moy of Memphis, Tennessee’s Booker T. Washington High School currently holds the national record after he made 24-of-44 three-pointers against Manassas High School in December 2000.

In the end, Turner tipped his hat to Deshler’s Chloe Siegel for her recent record-setting performance. He said he’d like to meet her someday to congratulate her in person. No doubt that would be great for all involved because it’s not every day that the state’s all-time best three-point shooters get to meet face to face.

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for Jan. 26, 2022

USS Iowa

67 YEARS AGO
JAN. 27, 1955

Marvin Mims of McWilliams is currently serving on the U.S. Navy’s battleship Iowa, on duty in the Mediterranean. The Iowa, flagship of the Sixth Fleet, will serve in the Mediterranean area for about four months and then return to Norfolk late in April.

New Plant To Open Here Soon: A branch plant of the Ames Bag Co. in Selma should be ready to open for “limited operations” in Camden within 60 days, it has been announced.
John Ames, head of the company, said that the plant will be the Ames Camden Co. and that it will manufacture “specialty items.” He said the plans were “too indefinite at the moment” to be able to determine how many people the plant will employ or what the payroll will be.

Ceremony For New Postal Service: Ceremonies dedicating the new postal route between Columbus, Mississippi and Flomaton will be held here in Camden on next Monday afternoon, Jan. 31, at four o’clock. Postmaster Will Albritton invited all patrons of the Camden post office to attend the program and inspect the “Highway post offices” which will be here at that time.
The inaugural run Monday is for the purpose of permitting patrons and postal employees to see the equipment used and to participate in the ceremonies.
The highway post offices are equipped similarly to the railway post offices except of course for being mounted on large trucks instead of railroad cars. Two vehicles are to cover the route on Monday, one starting from Flomaton and on from Columbus, with Camden as their meeting point.

80 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1942

Jr. Class of Wilcox County High School Presents “The Haunted High School” Thursday Night, Feb. 19.

Dr. Baskin Wright To Speak: Dr. Baskin Wright of the faculty of political science of the University of Alabama will deliver a lecture in Camden on the night of Feb. 11 at eight o’clock. No admission will be charged as the public is invited to attend. Dr. Wright will speak upon the present international situation. The program is being presented to the community by the PTA. Everyone is invited.

Clark Everet Stewart: Mr. Clark Everet Stewart died in a Montgomery hospital at 12:30 a.m. Jan. 20, 1942. The funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Jan. 21 from the home of his sister, Mrs. J.A. Wilkerson. Burial followed in Society Hill Cemetery.
Mr. Stewart was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Stewart, who resided near Camden. He was born at the family home on Feb. 10, 1898 and was thus 43 years of age at the time of his death. He attended the public schools of Wilcox County and most of his life was spent in the county. For some years, he was employed by the Alabama Power Co. In recent years, he has lived in Montgomery. At the time of his death, he was in the employ of the U.S. Government at Maxwell Field.
On Jan. 13, he underwent an operation in a Montgomery hospital. Apparently, he was recovering satisfactorily when pneumonia developed.

91 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1931

Last Monday was a holiday in the Camden schools. The holiday was given so that pupils and teachers could attend the inauguration of Gov. Miller in Montgomery. A number of pupils and teachers were present at the impressive ceremonies. In order that the number of teaching days may be made right, this holiday will be made up by teaching next Saturday, Jan. 24.

Mr. Daniel S. Pritchett passed away Jan. 18, 1931 at his home at 9:30 a.m. His funeral took place from his home and was conducted by Dr. C.A. Campbell, pastor of O.S. Presbyterian Church, assisted by Mr. J.G. Dobbins of the Baptist Church. The Masons of Dale Lodge, of which Mr. Pritchett was its oldest member, having joined when he was 21 years old in 1871, had charge at the grave.
When the 1^st Cavalry squadron, Alabama National Guard, was organized, Mr. Pritchett became one of the organizing members of Troop B, Wilcox Mounted Rifles. Mr. Pritchett was a director and part owner of Camden’s first industry, the Oil mill and Ice plant. He was a planter of note and at one time a hardware merchant until ill health caused him to retire.

Mr. G.L. Albritton Sr. assumed the duties of the Sheriff’s office on last Monday. He succeeded Mr. F.F. Tait whose successful term of office has expired. Mr. J.M. Watson will serve as chief deputy.

Gov. and Mrs. B.M. Miller will be greatly missed in Camden but is with sincere pride that we send them to Montgomery to fill the places of Chief Executive and “First Lady of the State.”

105 YEARS AGO
JAN. 25, 1917

On May 1^st next The Progressive Era will celebrate its 28^th birthday. We are still young, Progressive and continuing to do all that we can to make our town, county and state and its people prosperous, happy and contented.

The Camden waterworks, if present plans are carried out, will be in operation within 30 or 40 days. Arrangements have been made for the connecting up of the mains, which was delayed owing to lack of funds. The town authorities have labored unceasingly to complete the same, and it will be a great relief to them as well as comforting to the citizens to have this plant put in operation.

The Alabama River is rising very rapidly and has flooded the low lands. Better for high river now than later in the year. In the past seven days, there were heavy rains for six days.

Robt. T. Ervin, recently appointed U.S. District Judge, and Mr. E.H. Benton of Mobile recently visited Mr. and Mrs. S.J. Ervin and enjoyed a river hunt while here.

Music Recital: The pupils of Miss Julia Jones music class will give their music recital on Friday evening, Jan. 26, 2:30 p.m. at the Grammar school auditorium. The public is invited to attend.

The county roads are now in very bad condition on account of the rains and bad weather. The use of split log drags now while they are wet would level them and prevent ruts. We are informed by County Engineer Smith that he is now having made drags for this purpose.

118 YEARS AGO
JAN. 27, 1904

Nelson Moten, at a frolic on Mr. Percy Smith’s place, shot Lucinda Pharr, who has since died. He was drinking and took offense at something that occurred, and shot his pistol in the house, and walked out. He then turned and fired into the crowd, killing Lucinda Pharr. He immediately crossed the river and was arrested by Mr. Pat Cook of Annie Manie for carrying a concealed pistol and when questioned, told about the shooting of the woman. He is in jail and is likely to remain until May term of Circuit Court.
This man comes from a bad family. His father killed his brother some years since and went to the penitentiary for 10 years and his son, Robert, half-brother to Nelson, shot his wife three times during the Christmas holidays, and his cousin, Will Moten, is now serving a term in the mines for shooting at Mr. Thos. Duggan, formerly of this town.

Dr. R.O. Semmes has purchased Mr. R.L. Spurlin’s residence, better known as the L.W. Jenkins place, and will move in immediately. Dr. Semmes has rented and fitted up his office next to Dr. Benson’s Drug Store, where he can be found during the day by anyone desiring his services. Dr. Semmes, a son of Judge Semmes of Mobile, is the grandson of Admiral Semmes of Confederate fame, also grandson of Dr. Edmund Gains of Mobile, whose professional ability was not confined to Alabama, and who had the confidence and affection of every man, woman and child in Mobile, who knew him during his life of service there.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Jan. 25, 2022

USS Kitty Hawk

19 YEARS AGO
JAN. 23, 2003

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported no rain between Jan. 13 and Jan. 19, 2003. He reported a high of 60 degrees on Jan. 16 and a low of 20 on Jan. 18.

The bridge on County Road 30 is very near completion according to the Conecuh County Engineer’s office. The bridge, which is being replaced by the Grady Norrell Co. of Greenville, should be open to traffic in just a few weeks. The Norrell Co. is waiting on a subcontractor to finish the dirt work before they can do the paving and finishing work on the bridge. Local residents have been slightly inconvenienced for the past few months while the bridge is being replaced.

Navy Airman Thomas Bradley, son of Minnie Bradley and Perry Henderson, both of Evergreen, recently contributed to relief efforts on Guam during a Western Pacific deployment while assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan.
Sailors aboard Bradley’s ship joined members of the Fleet Activities Yokosuka community setting up field galleys to aid those whose homes were battered by Super Typhoon Pongsona, which hit Guam with winds of 180 miles per hour. Bradley is a 2001 graduate of Hillcrest High School and joined the Navy in May 2001.

The Evergreen City Council got some welcome news from Naval Air Station Whiting Field Commanding Officer Capt. Brian Watkins at their regular meeting Tuesday night, the Evergreen Airport runways are going to be paved. The project will cost the Navy $1.4 million and should begin in the near future.

44 YEARS AGO
JAN. 2, 1978

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.19 inches of rain on Jan. 19. He reported a high of 55 on Jan. 17 and a low of 22 on Jan. 16.

Dr. Matthew H. Hall has been named President of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, replacing Dr. Woodrow W. Elliott, who is retiring after 10 years in the presidency. This action was taken by the Institute’s Board of Trustees at its quarterly meeting today and announced by Board Chairman, Elmer Lazenby of Opelika.
Hall, a native of Conecuh County, has served as special consultant in the State Department of Education for the past year and a half. For 12 years, he served as assistant superintendent and superintendent in the Decatur City and Madison County school systems.
Dr. Hall is 46 years old and has had an outstanding career in education that began as a classroom teacher in the Mobile Public Schools in 1956. Dr. Hall graduated from Evergreen High School in 1951 and earned his BS degree from Troy State University in 1955 and his MA degree from Peabody College, Nashville, Tenn., in 1956. He earned his AA certificate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1959 and did graduate study at Columbia University, New York, and received his Doctorate in Education from Auburn University in 1962
Dr. Hall served for 6-1/2 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, including three years in the 82^nd Airborne Division and two years overseas. He has remained active as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve and currently holds the rank of colonel.

69 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1953

New County Officials Elected Last Year Take Office Monday: Mon., Jan. 19, was installation day at the Conecuh County Courthouse as officials who were elected last year assumed the duties of their offices. Of the officials taking office Monday only one is a stranger to the courthouse, he is P.J. “Pal” Godwin, Commissioner from District Three.
John H. Tranum succeeded Albert Ball as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Tranum is by no means a stranger in the courthouse having previously served for a number of years as County Tax Collector.
Mr. Godwin succeeds C.E. “Curt” Robinson as member of the Board of Directors from District Three. Mr. Godwin won out over Mr. Robinson and Robert V. McLendon of Brooklyn in the primary. Mr. Robinson steps down after holding the Commissioner post for four terms, 16 years.
N.G. O’Ferrell began his second four-year term of office after winning re-election last spring. Mr. O’Ferrell defeated Fletcher Presley in the campaign. He represents District Four.
Probate Judge Lloyd G. Hart begins his second six-year term this week. First elected in 1946, Judge Hart was unopposed in his bid for re-election.
Ann B. Salter assumed the duties of Circuit Clerk. Mrs. Salter has been Deputy Clerk since January 1951 when her husband, Leon A. Salter, who was then Circuit Clerk was called to active Army duty with the National Guard. Last spring, Mrs. Salter ran for the office because Mr. Salter was in Korea and was not able to file for re-election and she was not opposed.
Edwin C. Page Jr. began another term as County Solicitor. Mr. Page has held this office for a number of years and was not opposed.

94 YEARS AGO
JAN. 26, 1928

WESTERN UNION MOVES INTO NEW QUARTERS: Monday morning found the Western Union Telegraph office in its new quarters located between O.C. McGehee’s and the Arcade Theater on West Front Street. The pretty little building occupied was constructed by Mr. W.M. Newton and is well finished inside and out. The new office provides much more room and in many ways is an improvement over the small office formerly occupied in the front of the post office building.

RABID PUP BITES NINE PERSONS HERE: Six months old pup belonging to the family of Knud Nielsen bit nine persons here last week before dying sometime Friday. The head was carried to Montgomery Saturday and upon test showed rabies.
Due to the fact the pup was only six months old and so far as known had not been attacked by any rabid animal no one thought seriously of it being infected with rabies before the test.
Those who were bitten and are now taking treatment are: Mr. and Mrs. Knud Nielsen and children, Valgurta and Knud Jr., Mr. Julius Nielsen, Mrs. J.O. Stapp, Ruth Moorer, Lamar Moorer Jr. and Juanita Yeoman.

Walter Harold Bailey left Sunday for Selma, where he enters Central City Business College to take a course in bookkeeping, higher accountancy, typewriting and shorthand.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Jan. 24, 2022

19 YEARS AGO
JAN. 23, 2003

Warriors sweep Greenville ‘Nadoes: The Sparta Academy Warriors traveled to Greenville on Tues., Jan. 14, to take on the Greenville Academy Tornadoes.
Warriors 86, Greenville 66: Chris Garner led the scoring for the Warriors with 26 points. Also scoring in double digits were Wiley Cobb with 22 points and Drew Davis with 15 points. Also putting points on the board were Perry Castleberry with eight points; Eric Talbot and Paul Castleberry with four points each; Cody Lowery with three points; and Jeremy Anderson and Patrick Cumagun with two points each.
Lady Warriors 61, Greenville 58: Katie Etheridge led the scoring for the Lady Warriors with 21 points. Also scoring in double digits were Ava Pate and Lacy Vargas with 12 points each. Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Warriors were Ashton Garner with six points; Jessica Armuelles and Meagan Johnson with four points each; and Cody Godwin with two points.
JV Warriors 61, Greenville 28: Adam Vargas led the scoring for the JV Warriors with 24 points. Also scoring in double figures was Tony Raines with 15 points. Also putting points on the board were Eric Talbot and Josh Pugh with six points each; Michael Campbell with four points; Carter Smith and Myles Wiggins with two points each; and Chase Brown and Chris Cinereski with one point each.
JV Lady Warriors 35, Greenville 15: Ashton Garner led the scoring for the JV Lady Warriors with 12 points. Also scoring were Erin Brock with seven points; Ava Pate with six points; Deanna Covin and Susan Ann Cook with four points each; and Whitley Roberts with two points.

44 YEARS AGO
JAN. 26, 1978

Evergreen cops Conecuh title: The Evergreen High Aggies edged the Lyeffion High Yellow Jackets, 44-41, in the finals Friday night to win the Conecuh County Basketball Tournament’s Varsity Championship.
The Aggies went into a “freeze” with a one-point lead and over two minutes showing on the clock and held up under the pressure to edge the Jackets. The fans were kept on their feet by the excellent ball handling of the Aggies until the final whistle.
Earnest Williams drilled in 18 points to lead the scoring for EHS. Michael Floyd had 11 points; Terry Floyd, nine; and Tony Rogers, six. The Floyds controlled the boards for the Aggies with Michael raking in 14 rebounds and Terry eight.
The Aggies advanced to the finals by defeating the Repton High Bulldogs 53-43 on Wednesday night of last week in the tournament hosted by Lyeffion. Terry Floyd hit 17 points, and Michael Floyd 16 to lead Aggie scoring. Earnest Williams had seven; Willis Williams, four; Tony Rogers, three; and Joe Mitchell, Perona Rankins and Sanford Moye, two each.
Dominating the boards for Coach Charles Branum’s club were Michael Floyd with 13 rebounds; Terry Floyd, nine; and Tony Rogers, eight.

Warriors whip Ft. Deposit: The Sparta Academy Warriors downed Fort Deposit Academy, 55-45, to rack up their ninth win of the season against five losses.
Gray Stevens with 14 points and Steve Dubose with 10 led the Warriors. Terry Peacock, Tony Raines and John Hall had eight points each; Johnny Ralls, six; and Ronny McKenzie, one. Dubose pulled in 13 rebounds and Raines 10.

69 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1953

The game scheduled last Friday night between the (Evergreen High School) Aggies and Pineapple was not played because of a mix-up in schedules.
To keep the fans happy, the Junior Aggies played an inter-squad game, the Varsity gave the B team 25 points and played them.
There were no other games during the week due to semester exams.

Greenville Tigers Top Evergreen Aggies 60-51: The Greenville Tigers outscored Coach Wendell Hart’s Evergreen Aggies 60 to 51 Tuesday night in Greenville in spite of Evergreen’s Shirley Frazier bagging 28 points, an individual high for the season for Evergreen. Bobby Terrell dropped 20 points to pace the Tigers.

County Cage Tournament Opens Here Tonight At Eight O’clock: The first Conecuh County Basketball Tournament to be held in recent years gets underway tonight (Thursday) at seven o’clock in Evergreen High School’s spacious Memorial Gymnasium. All four of the county’s high schools, Castleberry, Lyeffion, Repton and Evergreen, have teams entered. Opening round games at seven and eight, and the finals are scheduled for next Thursday, also in Memorial Gym.
The tournament is sponsored by the Evergreen Kiwanis Club for the benefit of the March of Dimes and the Crippled Children’s Clinic.
Coach Ray Owens’ County High Blue Devils of Castleberry and Coach Charlie Pouncey’s Repton Bulldogs share the favorite’s role. The two teams have met once this season with the Bulldogs taking a close decision on the Repton court. Castleberry has wins over both Lyeffion and Evergreen.

94 YEARS AGO
JAN. 26, 1928

NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL ON THE HILL: The boys team from the school on the hill journeyed to Jones Mill and captured a close basketball game from the Millers. Those who saw our boys in action were fully impressed by the fact that Coach Robinson has rounded out a very smooth-running quintet. There attack was varied and furious while their defense was air tight. Watch our boys as they run over McKenzie next Friday.

The Boys Athletic Club is an organization formed by Coach Robinson and the boys who participate in athletics. The meetings are held weekly. The programs consist of discussions of everything relating to athletics. The boys are taught how to train for athletics and the proper kind of food for an athlete to eat. They discuss the different teams of the country and their prospects.
Coach Robinson is the Honorary President of the Club. The officers elected were Raymond Holman, President; Claude Murphy, Vice President; Joe Hagood, Secretary-Treasurer.
The boys are deriving much benefit from this club. It is in every way a top-notch organization. They are learning many details that they would be ignorant of if they didn’t belong to this organization. Every question concerning athletics that a member of this organization and is answered intelligently. The club is increasing its members interests in sports and it is becoming very popular throughout the entire school.

FOR SALE: Three dogs, one bird dog and two hounds, well trained for any hunting, day or night, as good as State can afford. – T.L. Salter, Rte. B, Evergreen, Ala.

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

American aircraft carrier USS Monterey.

20 YEARS AGO
JAN. 24, 2002

James Tucker is Cattleman of the Year: James Tucker was named the Monroe County Cattleman of the Year Thursday night of last week at the association’s annual banquet.
Tucker was selected for his outstanding contributions in the cattle business, according to Robert Thames, who presented the award.
Tucker still maintains a herd of Angus and Simmenta cattle. Last year, Tucker was named the pecan grower of the year for the state.

MCHS standouts sign with ASCC: Monroe County High School baseball standouts Travis Granberry and Ben Busby sign scholarships with Alabama Southern Community College Tuesday of last week in Monroeville. Granberry plays centerfield, and Busy pitches and plays shortstop. Attending the event are Reid Utsey, head baseball coach at MCHS, Mike Kandler, head baseball coach at ASCC, who is also Granberry’s father, Granberry’s mother Lynn Kandler, and Busby’s parents Cathy and George, Larry Turner, principal at MCHS, and Darrell Blevins, assistant baseball coach at ASCC.

Smith joins Excel council: The Excel Town Council voted unanimously during a meeting Monday of last week to have Nancy Smith replaced longtime Councilwoman Carol Casey, who resigned from the council Dec. 10.
Smith will serve out the remainder of Casey’s four-year term, about three years, Mayor Jenny Countryman said. Smith will be required to run in a town-wide election at the end of her term to keep her council seat.

44 YEARS AGO
JAN. 26, 1978

Allen is reappointed school superintendent: Monroe County superintendent of schools James R. Allen has been reappointed to that position for a four-year term going through June 30, 1982.
The current term of Allen, who has served as schools superintendent since November 1972, does not expire until June 30, and the school board reserved the right to set salary prior to that time.
The reappointment was made after a reporter left a Nov. 10 meeting so the board could discuss the suspension of two students.

Post-Herald picks five as all-stars: The Birmingham Post-Herald recently named five Monroe County area players to is 1977 Class A all-star football team for public high schools in Alabama.
Two of the five, Danny Harrison of J.U. Blacksher and Danny Brooks of Excel High, were named to the first team.
Keith Bender of Excel was named to the second team, and Ted Watson of Repton and Tim Bailey of Frisco City were picked for the third team.

Top cattleman is announced: Stockyard manager Aubrey Anderson of Frisco City won the 1977 Cattleman of the Year award presented during the annual Monroe County Cattleman’s Association banquet last Thursday.
Associate farm agent Mike Gamble of Monroe County Extension Service presented the Cattleman of the Year award to Anderson in merit of “his dedication to the cattle industry and assistance to the (cattleman’s) association.”
Traditionally, the award has been given to a beef cattle producer, but Anderson is an exception because of his close work with county cattlemen, Gamble said.

69 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1953

Earl Nettles Dies Here On Monday: Earl Nettles, prominent 61-year-old Tunnel Springs farmer and former merchant, died at the local hospital Mon., Jan. 19, following a few days illness. Mr. Nettles, a lifelong resident of Monroe County, was a member of the Philadelphia Baptist Church.

Beatrice Quintet Downs Uriah 50-46: The Beatrice High five were victors over the J.U. Blacksher High quint 50-46 on Tuesday night.
Action kept at a close-paced trek throughout the game with Beatrice scoring 14, 13, 8 and 15 by quarters as opposed to 7, 12, 13 and 14 for Uriah. Center Vernon Anderson led Beatrice scoring with 20 points while Uriah center Mason Woods paced the Blacksher team with 25.

Local Scouts Cruise On Aircraft Carrier: Twelve Monroeville Boy Scouts, members of the local Explorer Post and Troop No. 24, went aboard the aircraft carrier USS Monterey, stationed at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla. on Tues., Jan. 13, for a day’s cruise in the Gulf of Mexico.
During the cruise, they were given a complete tour of the carrier, including officers and crews’ quarters, work shops and departments by D.W. Wootten, Airman Photographer, U.S. Navy, a member of the carrier’s crew.
Local Scouts visiting the carrier were Billy Nettles, Billy Morgan, Robbins Williams, Wilbur F. Ellis, Jimmy Moore, Donald Russell, William Nettles, Blanchard Stallworth, Bert Nettles, Albert Nettles, Grayson Simmons, David Stallworth and A.B. Blass Jr. and Jack Dennis, Monroeville adult Scouters.

94 YEARS AGO
JAN. 26, 1928

OLD COURTHOUSE MAY BE REBUILT: Mr. F.W. Clarke, architect of Mobile, was here Thursday to inspect the walls of the old courthouse to ascertain whether or not the damage caused by the fire rendered them unfit for use in restoring the building. After a careful examination, Mr. Clarke expressed the opinion that the greater portion of the walls, possibly all, might be used safely.
Mr. J.B. Barnett, lessee of the building, is considering the matter of rehabilitating the building in order to provide office room for his own firm as well as for the convenience of former tenants.

JONES MILL HAS NEWSPAPER: The Advocate is the newest candidate for public favor in the newspaper field, the first issue, which appeared on Jan. 18, C.E. Boutwell is named as editor and Richard V. Peavey assistant. The nominal office of publication is at Jones Mill though we understand that the mechanical work is executed for the present in one of the shops in Atmore.

SIMMONS BUILDING COMPLETED: The finishing touches are being given the new Simmons brick building on Southside. The building has been fitted up into suites of offices which will be occupied largely by professional men. Drs. A.B. Coxwell, R.A. Smith, G.H. Harper and S.J. Yarbrough will occupy office apartments in the new building.

HOG TOO BIG TO WEIGH: Rev. J.M. Lynum, a citizen of Monroeville, reports having killed a 13-month-old Poland-China shoat recently that was too hefty to weigh. The fact that 150 pounds of lard was rendered from those portions of the carcass usually devoted to that purpose would indicate that it was rather a sizeable pig.

119 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1903

Gov. William D. Jelks was inaugurated with fitting ceremonies at the state capitol, and the new state officers sworn in on Monday. Addresses were delivered by Gov. Jelks and Lt. Gov. Cunningham.

W.G. McCorvey, Esq., went to Montgomery Sunday to be present at the inauguration.

Capt. Thomas S. Wiggins left Thursday for Montgomery to enter upon his duties as a member of the legislature.

Hon. Thos. S. Wiggins, Monroe’s representative in the legislature, received three important committee assignments at the hands of Speaker Tunstall, viz: Revisions of Laws, Local Legislation and Penitentiary and Criminal Administration.

Rev. W.N. Huckabee of Pine Apple dropped in to see us Saturday on his way to Salem, where he preached Sunday.

Oyster Supper: There will be an oyster and game supper at Tunnel Springs on Friday night, Feb. 13, for the benefit of the Tunnel Springs Institute. Those in charge declare that the function will excel anything of the kind heretofore attempted.

FOUND: A bunch of keys. Owner can get same by giving description and paying for this ad.

MIXON: The citizens say there was less drinking and shooting on Christmas than usual at that time of the year.

George Singleton tells of Isaac Heaton's legendary bravery at Ft. Sinquefield in September 1813

Granite marker at Ft. Sinquefield in 1976.

(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 “Heaton’s bravery became legend at Ft. Sinquefield” was originally published in the Jan. 22, 1976 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

During the war with the Creek nation, Ft. Sinquefield was one of the series of forts along the edges of what are now Monroe and Clarke counties.

The forts were erected for the purpose of giving the local citizens a place to group together and protect themselves from the marauding Indians who looted and burned the countryside. In most instances, these forts were manned by a small number of local militia or garrison soldiers.

The soldiers of this area were under the command of Gen. F.L. Claiborne at this time. Gen. Claiborne had too few soldiers to patrol the surrounding area and offer the protection the settlers desired. So, in time of trouble, the settlers would gather at one of the many small forts and unite themselves for the protection of themselves and their families.

Heaton a legend

It was during one of these flare-ups of trouble that Isaac Heaton’s name became a legend along the lowlands of the Alabama River and the adjoining territories. The settlers through this area would long remember that day of Sept. 3, 1813.

It seems that the prophet Francis, a leader of the Creek nation, and a band of 100 Warriors were running roughshod over this area along the river.

This was just three days after the bloody massacre at Ft. Mims, where so many had died at the hands of the Creek warriors. All available soldiers had been sent south toward Ft. Mims to search for the famed “Red Eagle” and his followers.

On Sept. 1, 1813, Francis and his warriors struck at the farm of Abner James, east of Ft. Sinquefield.

Indians struck

James and his neighbor Ransom Kemball had become dissatisfied with things at Ft. Sinquefield and had made their way to the Kemball’s house. Here, Francis and his warriors struck and killed almost all of the two large families. The survivors of the massacre made it back to the fort after great effort.

A detail of men left the fort and went to the Kemball homestead to retrieve the bodies of the slain settlers. After they returned to the fort with the bodies in an ox cart, a pit was dug about 100 yards from the fort’s east gate and the 12 slain settlers were buried in it.

Just as the mass grave was closed and as the saddened people were returning to the safety of the fort, Francis and his band attacked.

Coming up the hill from the south side of the fort, they had hoped to cut off the settlers, coming between them and the gate.

Swinging a whip

As the warriors attacked, Isaac Heaton was returning to the fort from hunting cattle. He saw the attacking Indians dashing for the east gate and realized what they had in mind.

He spurred his horse straight for the war party, swinging a long leather whip over his head and shouting to a large pack of vicious cur dogs that stayed at the fort. The dogs charged the war party as Heaton rode in circles around the Indians, lashing out at them with his long whip.

Heaton and his dogs continued the attack until the settlers reached the safety of the fort’s walls.

As Heaton charged for the gate of the fort and safety, his horse was shot and wounded. He ran the last few yards on foot, and his wounded horse, regaining his feet, staggered in beside his master.

One casualty

Heaton’s coat was riddled with bullet holes, but he escaped without a scratch.

The only casualty was a Mrs. Phillips, who in an advanced state of pregnancy, was caught and scalped by the raiding Indians.

Nothing remains of old Ft. Sinquefield now. Only a small granite marker tells where this gallant man went beyond the realm of courage to face what seemed certain death in exchange for a few precious moments that decided the fate of the fort and the settlers who reached it.

(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.)

What became of Judge Thomas Lamar Sowell’s gold watch?

Judge Thomas Lamar Sowell

What became of Judge Thomas Lamar Sowell’s gold watch?

I could not help but ask myself this question earlier this week when I ran across an unusual story that was published in the Jan. 21, 1915 edition of The Monroe Journal. Originally published in The Jasper Eagle newspaper, the story appeared in The Journal under the headline “Judge Sowell Owns Interesting Watch.” Sowell was born in Monroeville in 1858 and moved to Jasper in 1887.

According to the story about his watch, Judge Thomas Sowell owned a “handsome gold watch,” which he prized “very highly.” This timepiece was not only a “splendid time keeper,” but it was also a family heirloom with an “interesting history.” Sowell’s father, William Calvin Sowell, bought the watch during a trip to New York City in 1847.

Eighteen years later, in April 1865, during Union General James H. Wilson’s raid through Alabama, William put the watch and some other valuables in a glass jar and buried the jar in the woods near his home in Monroeville, where “they were safely kept for three months, notwithstanding the fact that the federal soldiers took possession of his home and made a thorough search of the premises.”

Thomas was just seven years old when this took place but remembered seeing the Yankee soldiers “going about the place, sticking their bayonets in the ground in search of valuables.” Federal troops burned William’s drug store and took 1,000 bushels of corn that belonged to him. After the Yankee raiders moved out of the county, William dug up the watch and the other valuables that he’d hidden in the woods.

Fast-forward to Feb. 24, 1879 – Thomas’ 21^st birthday – the day when William presented Thomas with the watch, which Thomas was still using at the time of the 1915 article in The Jasper Eagle. The watch was originally wound with a key, but sometime between 1895 and 1900, it was converted to a stem-winder.

Although the watch had been in use since 1847, the engravings on it were still “perfectly plain” in 1915. The engravings said the watch was made in Liverpool, England. There was also an eagle engraved on one side of the case and “an anchor and cornucopia on the other side, representing English commerce.”

During his life, Thomas Sowell became a widely-known Alabama lawyer and at the time of his death, he was the senior member of the law firm, Sowell & Gunn. He studied law under Monroe County native C.J. Torrey in Mobile and was admitted to the bar at the age of 24. After moving to Jasper, he went on to serve in the state legislature, as Walker County’s solicitor, state auditor and as Circuit Judge.

Over 100 years have passed since the publication of the 1915 article about Judge Sowell’s storied watch. One cannot help but wonder if the watch still exists today and who might own it. It would be interesting to know because the present-day owner may know very little about the history of the watch in their possession.

Elkanah Burson was one of Wilcox County's most notable citizens

 Elkanah Burson

This coming Sunday – January 23 – will mark 190 years since the birth of one of Wilcox County’s most prominent men, Elkanah Burson. Burson died in 1915, and he is largely forgotten today. But in his lifetime, he was one of the most respected and influential citizens in all of Wilcox County.

Burson was a descendant of the English settlers who established the British colony of Georgia in the 1730s. Eventually, one of Burson’s ancestors moved to Alabama in the 1820s and settled about four miles southwest of Snow Hill. This became known as the Burson Plantation, and it was here, on Jan. 23, 1832, that Elkanah Burson was born to Joseph and Elizabeth Burson.

As things go, Jan. 23 came to be a very important date in the life of Elkanah Burson. On that day in 1876, he married Elefare Christiana Barge, and on that day three years later, in 1879, they moved into their home one mile west of Furman. Burson built the house himself, and it was there that he passed away 36 years later, at the age of 83 from a “paralytic stroke.”

Burson was buried in the Palmer Cemetery at Furman, and if you go to his grave today, you will see that it prominently features an engraved Masonic square a compass. This should come as no surprise because during his life, Burson was one of the county’s most prominent Freemasons. As a member of Widow’s Son Lodge No. 72 at Furman, Burson served as the lodge’s secretary for about 30 years.

At the time of his death, he was the oldest member of the lodge at Furman, where he had been a member for 60 years. During that time, he not only served as the longtime secretary, but also as the lodge’s treasurer and as its Worshipful Master. His death impacted the lodge to such a degree that the stations of the lodge were draped in mourning and members of the lodge wore badges of mourning for 30 days after his death.

It should also be noted that Burson was in his twenties when the War Between the States kicked off and like many young men of that time, he joined the fight. He enlisted as a private in Co. C of the 44^th Alabama Infantry and “served faithfully and valiantly throughout the war, was twice wounded and once made prisoner and received the merited promotion to sergeant, lieutenant and captain,” according to his obituary. Sources say that the 44^th Alabama fought at Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Cold Harbor, Chickamauga, Knoxville, Petersburg and Gettysburg.

After the war, Burson returned to Wilcox County, where he became a merchant and farmer. He also served as a Justice of the Peace for many years and also represented Wilcox County in the state legislature in the 1880s. Even when he was well into his eighties, Burnson’s mind was as “fresh as of yore” and he enjoyed entertaining visitors.

In the end, if anyone in the reading audience has any additional information about Burson’s remarkable life, please let me hear from you. I’m especially interested in details about his military service and life as a Freemason. My feeling is that the information above is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the interesting life of Elkanah Burson.

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for Jan. 19, 2022

Richmond Pearson Hobson

66 YEARS AGO
JAN. 19, 1956

Advertiser Names Mrs. Brooks: Mrs. Miriam H. Brooks of Camden has been designated as the Montgomery Advertiser-Alabama Journal correspondent for Camden and this vicinity, it was announced last week. Mrs. Brooks was the guest of Stuart X. Stephenson, Alabama Editor for the Advertiser-Journal last week to visit the Advertiser and meet the staff. Until recently, she was a member of the Wilcox Progressive Era staff. The Advertiser-Journal, like most large daily newspapers, has a staff of correspondents throughout the state to report the local news in their area.

Dr. and Mrs. E.L. McIntosh and Dr. and Mrs. Paul Jones attended the meeting of the southwestern division of the Alabama Medical Association in Greenville on Thursday. The ladies were entertained at a tea and card party at the Country Club in the afternoon and joined the doctors for dinner at the Steak House.

Legion Here Sponsors Blue Crutch Day: The American Legion Post No. 84 will sponsor the Blue Crutch Day for the benefit of the March of Dimes. Post Commander Reginald Albritton has designated Sat., Jan. 21, as Blue Crutch Day.
The committee for this event is composed of Charles Tait, Ulmer Riggs and R.R. Carothers.
Members of the Boy Scout Troop in Camden will participate in the selling of Blue Crutches on that day. Peyton Burford Jr., chairman of the March of Dimes, urges the citizens to welcome the Scouts when they come by on Saturday.

79 YEARS AGO
JAN. 21, 1943

Augustin L. Slaughter died at his home at Lower Peach Tree, Ala. on Saturday morning, Jan. 9, 1943. The funeral was conducted Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock from the Methodist Church with the Rev. H.C. Allen officiating at the church service. The Masons from Thomasville Lodge, of which Mr. Slaughter was a member, were Pall Bearers and had a Masonic Service at the cemetery. He was also a 32^nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, belonging to the Mobile Chapter.
Mr. Slaughter was born at Finchburg, Monroe County, Alabama on April 21, 1857 and was at the time of his death nearly 86 years of age. When a young man, he moved to Packers Bend, Monroe County, Alabama, where he became engaged in extensive farming, becoming a large landowner in that section. He was educated in the public schools of Monroe County.
On March 19, 1905, he was married to Miss Julia A. Mayer, daughter of Jacob and Adelia Mayor of Lower Peach Tree, Ala. They lived in Lower Peach Tree for the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Slaughter’s death occurred on April 7, 1931.

A.M. Pearson of Florala and formerly of Camden has received a commission as first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps and will report for duty at an early date.

W.W. Boykin has been appointed District Game Warden. Friends wish for him much success in this position.

90 YEARS AGO
JAN. 21, 1932

Mr. Earl Bryant of the Wilcox Chevrolet Co. is in Birmingham attending a school of instruction on the new Chevrolet car.

Mrs. Lena Miller Rogers and daughters, Joe Miller and James Miller and Miss Elizabeth Miller were Mobile visitors Sunday to see Old Ironside.

Mrs. M.E. Curtis, accompanied by her sons Messrs. R.C. and Monette, Jo., and her daughter, Mrs. Edwin Hicks were Mobile visitors Friday and Saturday to see Old Ironsides.

Catherine girls defeated Camden girls in a basketball game here Friday. Camden played better the fourth quarter and ran up her score from 5 to 12. The final score being Catherine 13, Camden 12. The Camden boys were victorious over the Catherine boys, 20-15. Miss Elizabeth Wilkerson and Mr. Mellown refereed the girls game. Mr. Pitts and Mr. Sanford refereed the boys game.

Sheriff Albritton was a Mobile visitor Wednesday.

SWINK-PERDUE: Miss Pearl Perdue and Mr. Joe Swink of Carlowville were married last Sunday. This will be of interest to friends in Wilcox County. Miss Perdue was a popular member of the faculty of the Wilcox County High School last year and made many friends here. Mr. Swink is a progressive young businessman and has many friends in this section.

Stanley D. Godbold, Lawrence Woodley and L.Y. Sadler Jr., students of the University of Alabama, are at home for a few days after completing mid-term examinations.

104 YEARS AGO
JAN. 17, 1918

Prof. J.B. Sellers of the McWilliams public school was a visitor Saturday.

The Street Fair has come and gone and many Camden citizens are wiser and poorer.

The coldest weather since 1899 was experienced throughout the South the past week.

Mr. J.K. Cammack of Primrose, Ala., a substantial citizen of Wilcox County, has moved to Columbia, Texas. Mr. Cammack for several years, has been a successful farmer of Gees Bend, and we note his departure with regret.

Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Wilkinson of Gastonburg, after almost two score years residence in Wilcox have moved to Selma. Mr. Wilkinson is one of our best-known citizens and Wilcox has been enriched by his stay here. His efforts and influence were always devoted to the betterment of his town and county. Our loss is Selma’s gain.

Lightning Strikes Barn: A barn belonging to Mr. R.J. Goode Jr. of Gastonburg, was struck by lightning and set on first last week. About 50 tons of beans and 40 tons of hay were lost with the barn, which was practically new. This is rather an unusual occurrence for this time of year.

Words from the bedside of Miss Myrtle Fail, who was seriously burned last week, is very encouraging. She was attending school at the State Normal (School).

117 YEARS AGO
JAN. 19, 1905

Monday, Jan. 16^th, was Hon. Sol. D. Bloch’s birthday. On that day, he was --- years old, but looks younger. No data handy, he says that before another milepost is past, he will be gently working in double harness with a brunette. So mote it be.

Mr. W.C. Jackson has moved his restaurant to the Old Simon building, next door to the brick store, for many years occupied by Mr. A.S. Katzenberg. He has several good rooms and is preparing to give Camden an up-to-date eating house with some good, clean beds. Verily, there will be rest for the weary.

NOTICE TO CHAPTER MASONS: A regular convocation of Camden Chapter No. 40, Royal Arch Masons, will be held at the Hall on Fri., 20^th, inst., at 2 p.m. Every member is urged to attend as business of importance, including election of officers, will come up. – Neill McArthur, High Priest; Sol. D. Bloch, Secretary.

Richmond Pearson Hobson lectured in Camden on Jan. 13 to a good audience. Notwithstanding the extremely bad weather it was a financial success, and those who attended was well pleased with him as an orator, and the strong points of his lecture. Although a native of a county nearly adjoining many in our county had never seen him before his lecture trip.

Mr. W.J. Primm sent a drummer out to Nadawah with a surrey and two horses last week. The team was sent back by a driver whom he had picked up, who did not know the fords. In trying to take a short route back to Camden, attempted to cross a swollen creek, and both horses and vehicle were carried about one mile down the stream. The driver swam out and returned to town and reported both horses drowned, but when Mr. Mat Turner, the new stable man visited the place of disaster, he found that one horse had broken out and seemed not much worse off from his experience. We regret the loss to Mr. Primm in his new venture but glad that one horse was saved.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Jan. 18, 2022

Gov. James Elisha Folsom

17 YEARS AGO
JAN. 20, 2005

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported 1.70 inches of rain on Jan. 13. He also reported highs of 72 degrees on Jan. 11 and Jan. 12 and a low of 24 on Jan. 16.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Seth Hammett of Andalusia was the luncheon speaker at the annual meeting of the El Camino East-West Corridor last Thursday at the Monroeville Community Center. A large crowd heard the speaker pledge his support for the widening of U.S. Highway 84 to four lanes across the state.

District Attorney Tommy Chapman was sworn into office last Friday morning by Conecuh County District Judge Jeff T. Brock. Chapman’s wife, Patsy, held the Bible during a small private ceremony held in the courtroom in the Conecuh County Courthouse. He officially began his third term of office on Tuesday of this week.

E911 board approves temporary job merging: The Conecuh County E911 Board voted at their regular meeting Tuesday night to move forward with the combining of the E911 Director and Emergency Management Agency Director positions on a six-month trial basis.
It was pointed out that the EMA Director’s position has not been a full-time position in the past in this county.
After discussing the enjoining of the two positions at length, board member John Hendricks made a motion to proceed with combining the positions on a six-month trial basis with the reservation of the right to dissolve the move if the board finds that it is a problem. Board member Sean Klaetsch seconded Hendricks’ motion (which passed 3-2).

42 YEARS AGO
JAN. 17, 1980

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.18 inches of rain on Jan. 7, 0.46 inches on Jan. 9 and 1.00 inches on Jan. 11. He reported a high of 68 degrees on Jan. 11 and a low of 36 on Jan. 7.

Taylor Davis, Police Communications Officer 2, was honored at a banquet Friday night in recognition of his 35 years service with the Alabama State Troopers at the Evergreen Post prior to his recent retirement. Major James L. Fuqua presented framed certificates of appreciation from Trooper Commander and Director of the State Dept. of Public Safety Col. Jerry Shoemaker and from Gov. Fob James.

Cattlemen, Cowbelles hold banquet Friday: The Conecuh County Cattlemen and CowBelles will hold their annual banquet this Friday night at seven o’clock at the Holiday Inn, according to Gerald and Kathy Salter, presidents of the organizations.
The State Association will be represented by President Milton “Buzz” Wendland of Autaugaville.
The featured speaker will be Robert Vaughn of Ozark. Vaughn is a highly sought humorous speaker who is guaranteed to give audiences lots of laughs along with some important matters upon which to think.

The Murder Creek Historical Society announces today that it will have a “flea market” sale at the historic L&N Depot in Evergreen on Sat., Feb. 2. The Murder Creek Historical Society is making final plans to “really fix up the old depot.”

67 YEARS AGO
JAN. 20, 1955

Pioneer Resident Passes Away At His Home: Mack Thomas Johnston Jr., age 88, lifetime resident of Conecuh County, died at his home on Jan. 5 in Johnstonville after an illness of several months.
He was the grandson of Asa Johnston, one of the first settlers in Conecuh County. Asa Johnston came to this county in 1818 from Georgia and built the house in which Mack Johnston Jr. was born. Three years after Johnston’s birth, the house was torn down and moved about a mile and a half to its present location, where he lived until his death on Jan. 5.
In 1907, he married Maggie L. Johnson of Belleville. She passed away in 1941. He was a member of the Baptist Church and a Mason.

Evergreen and Conecuh County Sparkle In Inaugural Parade Monday: Amid much pomp and ceremony, Alabama’s new governor James Elisha Folsom was sworn in for his second term before the largest crowd ever assembled for such a ceremony in Alabama.
Perhaps the largest parade in the history of the Southland preceded the ceremony, with floats and bands from every county in the state participating.
The float entered by Conecuh County received very favorable comment from the telecasters and radio men covering the parade. The float featured the motto of Alabama, “We dare defend our rights” in both Latin and English. Around the motto were grouped the lovely young ladies who vied for the Queen title in the Conecuh County Christmas Carnival in Evergreen in December: Queen Joy, Patsy Jones of Lyeffion High School; Princess Gaiety, Estelle Bodiford of Conecuh County High School; and the attendants, Willie Anna Hanks, Evergreen High School and Janice Butts, Repton High School.

92 YEARS AGO
JAN. 16, 1930

Castleberry To Have New Filling Station: C.E. Robinson, proprietor of the Service Garage, has virtually completed the erection of a modern gasoline filling station at the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and the Evergreen-Castleberry highway and will make announcement of his opening date within a few days.
The station will be known as “Curt’s Place” and will be conducted by Mr. Robinson himself. In addition to regular filling station accessories, including well known brands of gasoline, oil, tires and parts, quick lunches will also be served.

Concrete Being Poured On Castleberry Road: Paving of the Evergreen-Castleberry highway was begun Saturday morning, Jan. 11, by contractors, the Davis Construction Co. of Atlanta, Ga. About 150 yards were laid the first day but with good weather about one mile per week is expected to be laid from now on.
Laying of the pavement was begun at the south end of Jordan Creek bridge, three and one-half miles north of Castleberry and the first project will be the laying of this three and one-half miles into this town. The machinery will then be moved to the Escambia County line three miles south of Castleberry where paving of this three-mile stretch will begin.
With these two projects completed, the pavers will start at that point where the Evergreen-Castleberry highway intersects the Evergreen-Belleville highway and pave south the remaining distance of approximately five miles. The exact length of the entire project is officially listed at 11.63 miles, contract for the paving of which was let on Nov. 6 for approximately $184,900.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Jan. 17, 2022

17 YEARS AGO
JAN. 20, 2005

Jaguars capture key area game: The Hillcrest Jaguars improved to 12-3 by winning two of three games played last week. More importantly, they whipped another area opponent to go to 2-0 in the area race.
Jaguars 78, Andalusia 59: Placing four players in double figures, the Jaguars roared to a convincing win over area rival Andalusia.
“We had good balance inside and outside and our two big men controlled the backboards,” said Hillcrest coach Tommy Dukes.
Maurice Bradley canned 18 points to lead the scorers for Hillcrest. His total was followed closely by the 17 points of Jerry Jackson. Chris Hines added 14 points and Pierre Evans came through with 10 points from the perimeter.
Jackson and Hines took control of the rebounding duties with 14 and 13 boards, respectively.

Sparta Academy 60, Clarke Prep 52: Will Ivey and Eric Talbot both lit up the scoreboard with 21 points apiece to pace the Warriors to a much-needed area win. The area standings this year will not matter in the boys bracket because the girls standings determine the area tournament site.
Tony Raines and Michael Campbell followed with five points apiece for SA. Campbell again topped the rebounders with nine boards. Other scoring came from Chase Brown with four points and Carter Smith and Chris Cinereski with two points each.

42 YEARS AGO
JAN. 17, 1980

Edgard Tatum is shown with his championship pointer, “Bob.” The white and liver pointer won first place in the Northwest Florida Pointer and Setter Club’s Field Trials held Jan. 12-13 in Munson, Fla. “Bob” was braced against 45 other dogs and had four perfect finds in winning first place.

3 Warriors are named All-District: The Sparta Academy Warriors placed three players on the Alabama Private Schools Association All-District III Football Team. Ronny McKenzie, Terry Peacock and Greg Crabtree were all honored, according to Sports Information Director Byron Warren Jr.

Aggie cagers win a pair; are now 13-1: The Evergreen Aggies ran their record to 13-1 with two victories this week. On Monday night they defeated 4A Atmore 61-50. Aggie scoring went as follows: Joe Mitchell, 17; Horace Smith, 12; Sanford Moye, 11; Perona Rankins, 10; Johnny Allen 10; and Philander Rodgers, one. Rankins led the team in rebounds with 17 while Mitchell pulled down 14.
On Tuesday, the Aggies traveled up to Greenville and captured a 73-51 victory. Horace Smith led the team with 21 points while Johnny Allen threw in 13. Other scorers were Perona Rankins 12; Sanford Moye, eight; Philander Rodgers, eight; Joe Mitchell, eight; Arturo Scott, two; Russell Bozeman, one. Allen grabbed 14 rebounds while Rankins followed with 10.

Warriors rout Fort Deposit: Sparta Academy’s Warriors raced to an easy 83-52 win over Fort Deposit Academy in the varsity tilt played here Friday night. Terry Shipp with 27 points and Terry Peacock with 20 led the Sparta varsity.
(Other players on Sparta’s team included Ronny McKenzie, Jeff Johnson, Richard Tate and Bobby Mason.)

67 YEARS AGO
JAN. 20, 1955

Red Hot Aggies Drop Greenville 83-52 And W.S. Neal 83-47; Play Murphy Friday Nite: Coach Wendell Hart’s Aggies set a torrid pace in their last two outings as they rolled over the Greenville Tigers last Tuesday night by an 83-52 score and then came back Tuesday night of this week to crush W.S. Neal by an 83-47 count.
In defeating the Greenville team, the Aggies gained prestige as the Tigers are one of the top cage quints in South Alabama. They hold wins over Selma, Monroeville, Enterprise and are the only team who has defeated the powerful Elba team.
Center Randy White was the big gun for Evergreen as his mates fed him the ball and he rebounded well to total 32 points for the evening. The rest of the scoring was well divided among the Aggies as they all hit a good percentage of their shots. Alexander had 13; Jimmy Frazier, 12; Melton, 11; Douglas, nine; Wayne Frazier, four; and Robert King, four.
Evergreen continued to roll Tuesday night as they completely out-classed W.S. Neal 83-47 and had to hold back to keep the score from running higher. Again it was White with 29 points leading the pack followed by Tommy Melton and Wayne Frazier with 13 each. Ward Alexander and Jimmy Frazier had nine each; Wayne Douglas, eight, and Ronnie Edson, two, to round out the Aggie scoring.
The much-improved Aggies now have a four won and three lost record for the season and appear to be really hitting their stride, but their biggest test comes tomorrow (Friday) night when they go to Mobile to seek revenge over an earlier loss to the Murphy High Panthers. Murphy is rated by man as the best in the state and an Evergreen win would place the Aggies in a prominent position in state basketball.

92 YEARS AGO
JAN. 16, 1930

Local Cage Teams Hold Clean Record: Both the boys and girls basketball teams of the S.S.A.S. have yet to taste defeat this season. Each team has gone up against some pretty strong teams and come off victor. However, both teams are going up against teams from Opp High School next Friday night which also have clean records. For this reason, there is great interest among local fans as to what can be said after that game has been played. These games should be closely contested ones and every person who enjoys a good basketball game should by all means arrange to be on hand. Saturday night the Aggies meet their old rival in the sports world in Brewton. This should and no doubt will be another good game.
In the game Saturday nigh with Excel High School, the girls won by the score of 19-13 while the boys won 22-15. The score in the game with McKenzie on Friday night was 28-7 for the boys and 47-9 for the girls. The boys defeated the Monroeville team Tuesday night 41-4. Monroeville was not able to get a field goal. Another game was played with Monroeville Tuesday of this week, the score being 52-13 in favor of Evergreen.
The results of the games played thus far are as follows: BOYS, Dec. 13, Castleberry 12, Aggies 25; Dec. 18, Castleberry 17, Aggies 18; Dec. 20, Laurel Hill 4, Aggies 19; Jan. 7, Monroeville 4, Aggies 41; Jan. 10, McKenzie 7, Aggies 28; Jan. 11, Excel 15, Aggies 22; and Jan. 13, Monroeville 8, Aggies 52; GIRLS, Castleberry 21, Aggies 40; Castleberry 23, Aggies 38; Fort Deposit 7, Aggies 35; Fort Deposit 3, Aggies 36; Laurel Hill 7, Aggies 35; McKenzie 9, Aggies 47; Excel 13, Aggies 19.

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

17 YEARS AGO
JAN. 20, 2005

Lamar new Chamber president: The board of directors of the Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce elected three new officers during a meeting of the board Monday of last week in Monroeville, selecting Bill Lamar as its incoming president.
Lamar, who lives in Bermuda and serves as the branch manager for Warrior Tractor and Equipment in Monroeville, will replace outgoing board president, Tom Lomenick.
The board also elected Kenneth Fairly of Monroeville as its president-elect and chose Jim Rowell as first vice-president.

Monroe Academy senior Lauren Lazenby reached a milestone in her career last Friday when she led the Lady Volunteers to their seventh straight win since the Christmas break.
Lazenby scored 20 points last Friday in the Vols’ 46-37 win over Hooper Academy at Hope Hull, giving her over 1,000 points during her four-year career. She also had four rebounds in the contest.
(Other top MA players in that game included Amanda Kirchharr, Melanie Lazenby, Sara Lee, Beth Majors, Ashton Salter and Kristy Welch. Courtney Hughes was MA’s head coach.)

Rhodes home named to historic register: The Alabama Historical Commission has listed the Calvin J. Rhodes Home at 3323 Excel-Frisco Highway in Excel on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.
The home is owned by Max and Sherrie Shumack of Excel and Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
(Records indicated that the house was built round 1894 after Calvin J. Rhodes moved his family from Greenville to Excel.)

42 YEARS AGO
JAN. 17, 1980

James W. Sales, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Sales of Monroeville, began working on Dec. 27 as a designer in process engineering for Eastman Kodak Co. in Kingsport, Tenn.
Sales is a 1976 graduate of Monroe Academy. Obtaining his associate of science degree from Patrick Henry Junior College in 1977, Sales went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in December.

Things are looking up for the Excel basketball program after a slump that has lasted several years. Coach Jerry Thomas’ Panthers won two straight last week. But more importantly, the two wins enabled Excel to go over .500 (4-3) for the first time in over three seasons.
The Panthers defeated winless J.U. Blacksher at home last Thursday, 60-38. Senior wingman Willie Bonner paced the balanced Panther scoring with 14 points, while Bubba Lee came off the bench to score 12. Randy Blackwell led the Bulldogs with 10 points and Scotty English tallied nine.
(Other top Excel players in that game included Jimmy Bonner, Robert Costic and Johnny McMillian.)

Keith O’Shields, a former reporter for two weekly newspapers in north Alabama, last week joined The Monroe Journal’s staff as a news reporter. He replaces Kathy Beasley, who resigned in November to accept a reporting job with The Montgomery Advertiser. O’Shields, 25, has worked for The Pickens County Advertiser in Reform and The Jackson County Advertiser in Scottsboro.

67 YEARS AGO
JAN. 20, 1955

Leonard Morris Elected Mayor Here At Recent Council Meeting: Leonard Morris, insurance salesman and town council member, was elected Monroeville’s new mayor at a council meeting held Friday.
Mr. Morris will fill out the unexpired term of the late Dr. J.J. Hestle, who died at the local hospital on Tues., Jan. 11. Dr. Hestle became mayor on Oct. 1, 1952, and his term will expire on Sept. 30, 1956. An election will be held in 1956 for the mayor’s post and for the five town council positions.

Tigers Take Eighth Win Of Season; Top Excel, 82-56: The Monroe County High Tigers won their eighth contest of the current cage season Tuesday night, as they steadily pulled away from a tough Excel quintet to take an 82-56 victory in the local gym.
Forward Joe Stevens of the Tigers was the leading scorer in the tilt as he tossed in 13 field goals and a free throw for a 27-point total. Jack Matchett, the Panthers high-scoring forward, dropped in 21 points to pace the Excel attack.
(Other top MCHS players included Harry Ikner and Pat Cobb. Other top Excel players were Allen Baas and Silas McCrory. LeVaughn Hanks was MCHS’s head coach.)

Three Monroe Countians Elected As Officers In District Shrine Club: Three Monroe Countians were elected to offices in the South Alabama Shrine Club in a recent annual meeting held at Brewton.
J.P. Turpin of Peterman was named president, while W.S. Nash of Monroeville was chosen vice-president, and J.T. Hines of Monroeville was elected to serve a two-year term as director.

92 YEARS AGO
JAN. 16, 1930

BIG AIR TOUR FRIDAY: The people of Monroeville and the surrounding communities are invited to attend the big air tour at the landing field in Monroeville on Fri., Jan. 17. There will be stunt flying of all kinds. All the latest type licensed passenger planes will be there. The aviators will give brief talks on aviation.

The friends of Mrs. W.T. Bayles of Luverne, formerly of Monroeville, will be glad to know that she has returned to her home after spending a while under the care of the Mayo Brothers at Rochester, Minnesota. Her health is much improved.

Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Persons and Miss Tiny Faulk spent Thursday in Andalusia.

LOST – Cameo pin between Monroeville and Perdue Hill on Jan. 5. Suitable reward will be paid for return to The Journal office.

CHICKEN FRY AT CLAIBORNE: Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Rutledge entertained at a chicken fry at Claiborne Saturday night. Those who enjoyed the evening at the river were Misses Ida Belle Roberts, Mary Urquhart, Dorothy Sowell, Gladys Watson, Elon Kendall, Kathryn Giles, Odie Joe Jernigan, Hazel Thompson and Lawrence Holloway, Isadore Katz, Robert Turnipseed, Tim McGlowdy, John Finklea, Lamar Roberts and Mr. and Mrs. A.V. Culpepper.

SHIRT FACTORY STILL OPERATING: I have moved my equipment to my home and am making more and better shirts every day. Orders placed with me will have prompt and careful attention. – MRS. SIDNEY WIGGINS.

117 YEARS AGO
JAN. 19, 1905

MANISTEE: Mr. J.M. Grimes had the misfortune to get one of his dwellings burned on his plantation Monday morning, Jan. 2, supposed to have been burned willfully. He carried no insurance on it.

S.P. Lindsey of Belleville, Ala. sells high grade tombstones, monuments and steel fencing. A postal card will bring him to your home with cuts, prices, etc.

Capt. T.B. Nettles has removed his family to Monroeville. They are occupying the parsonage.

Capt. Thomas A. Nettles of Tunnel Springs was an active participant in the farmers mass meeting Monday.

Col. and Mrs. B.L. Hibbard attended the presentation of “Ben Hur” at Mobile Theater Friday and Saturday.

Dr. G.G. Scott, president of the Scott-Blacksher Commission Co., Mobile, is on a business trip to Monroeville.

Mr. James K. Kyser of Burnt Corn lent his valuable advice and ripe business experience in the farmers’ deliberations Monday.

Rev. S.P. Lindsey of Belleville stopped over Monday with relatives and friends here on his return from Perdue Hill where he preached Sunday.

Judge Slaughter and family are domiciled in the cozy home recently purchased in the eastern part of town.

Eli McMorn and the Strange Case of Kill Devil Hill – Part 22

I hid from Abbie Armitage my surprise over the ectoplasm found on Kat Corwin’s baseball cap. Kat had vanished into the night without a sound, and we later found her discarded Claiborne Cannons cap covered with a sebaceous substance that set off all of my paranormal alarms. I now had grave concerns about her safety outside the protective ring of rock salt that we’d poured around the ghostly top of Kill Devil Hill.

Another unintelligible sound, almost female, floated across the thick fog, again from the east and closer than the last time we heard the mysterious noise. “That’s not Kat,” Abbie said, her voice weak and tired. Abbie was tough, but I could see in the tight lines of her elfin face that this stressful Halloween night atop Kill Devil Hill was more than she’d signed up for.

I dumped an armload of wood onto the campfire, and it blazed up a little. “No, I think not,” I said. “I’m afraid that something in the fog intercepted your friend when she unwisely left the relative safety of our camp. You and I should be okay though. A good fire and a ring of salt will keep the devil himself at bay, even on All Hallows’ Eve.”

Abbie walked to the edge of the salt barrier and looked out across the thick sea of dense fog that stretched from the top of the cyclopean hill to the dark wood line of the overgrown forest far in the distance. “What’s out there?” Abbie asked.

I stirred the crackling fire with a thin pine stick and thought about how best to answer her question. “I’m not sure,” I said. “Some of these things don’t even have names. My guess it’s very old – ancient, aboriginal – older than Claiborne for sure, maybe older than the Alabama River itself. Who knows?”

She continued to stand on the edge of the salt ring and looked towards the source of the cryptic sound. I heard tiny grains of white salt crunching beneath the thin soles of her hiking shoes. “Then what do we do?” she asked.

“We wait it out,” I said. “The sun will eventually rise, and we should be okay then. We’ll hike out when the sun gets up and burns this fog off. We might get lucky and find Kat safe and sound on the way back to the Jeep.”

I turned my back to the young woman, knelt and warmed my shivering hands in front of the small, juddering fire. An ominous ruffle of clothes behind me, like the warbled snap of a dry-rotted window blind, caused me to look back at Abbie. I turned in time to see her whuff hard against the ground as her feet were pulled out from under her by something hidden behind her in the swirling fog.

A second later, she was gone, pulled feet-first into the indifferent fog. A few pathetic pebbles skittered in her wake. It happened so fast that she hadn’t even had time to scream.

“Up jumped the Devil!” I exclaimed, stunned and all alone on the isolated hilltop. Like a pistol shot, a pine knot popped in the fire behind me, breaking the shocked silence of the still night.

On instinct, I drew my Beretta and dashed to the lonely edge of the circle. I peered into the eerie fog and only saw chaotic swirls of thick mist beneath the eldritch moonlight. A faint, enigmatic sound, like a guttural gibber, came from about fifty yards away, but was cut short.

I ran to my canvas rucksack and pulled out what remained of the rock salt. I returned quickly to where Abbie had been pulled into the murky fog and then carefully squared-away the broken salt barrier. A faint, noxious whiff of mephitic brimstone, almost like rotten eggs, hung in the odiferous air.

With the enchanted barrier repaired, I returned to my weathered pack and dug out an old roll of butcher’s twine. With a crude clove-hitch knot, I tied the free end of thick cotton twine around the base of a derelict pine stump and gave it a few rough tugs to make sure it would hold. I let the twine play out behind me as I made my way back to the edge of the desolate hilltop.

I stared once more into the endless fog, took a deep breath, raised my handgun and stepped down the side of the rugged hill in a shooter’s crouch. Come hell or high water, I aimed to put an end to the lurking thing that had stalked us since sundown.

(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.)

Singleton tells of the possibilities that a new year brings for all of us

George Buster Singleton

(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 “The dawn of the new year” was originally published in the Jan. 1, 2004 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As the clock strikes midnight on the 31^st day of this December, all mankind will break from the old year that has been full of mistakes, many errors and near misses.

Strange, how only one second will separate the old year that has passed and the new year that is about to being. Man will pass through that short element of time that has the magic to change all things.

During the span of time that it takes to blink an eye, the whole world – each and every one living – has the opportunity to start anew, if they choose. All that happened in the tired old year of 2003 will only be a memory.

Suddenly, the gates will open wide for all to seek progress and forgiveness. We can look back on our misgivings and mistakes and, as quickly as a thought can flash through our minds, we can decide and discipline ourselves for better times ahead.

Try to picture what would happen if everyone alive today chose that last second of this tired old year to chance and live a better and more fruitful life. Imagine what would happen throughout this planet within the first few hours of the newly born year, to all mankind.

We would not be concerned about the many tons of cocaine and other drugs that are being smuggled across our borders on a daily basis. And, we would not be saddened about the many abused small children who are mistreated every hour that we live.

The drug and alcohol abusers would cast aside their avenues of death and begin to seek out ways that would benefit those in need. Those who have abused or who are now abusing the beautiful, helpless babies who can’t lift a finger in self-defense, would gather up some child, any child, and hold it close and feel all the love that is there for the asking. And, each would look deep in that same helpless child’s eyes and see the beauty that is to be found there – a beauty that is so great, that it can be found no place else.

The oceans and airways would be filled with people going to the ends of the earth seeking out those people who are in need. Laughter would ring from the valleys and the high places. Happiness would abound as though the whole world was covered with a blanket of joy and togetherness.

The fields, as far as the eye could see, would be green with corn and food that would feed the hungry. Everyone would be so wrapped up in their work until one would be insulted if told to take the day off. All the ugly trash and dangerous chemicals that spoil our world and the beauty of the Creation would have disappeared.

Where once, there was only filth and ugliness, there would be beauty. Flowers and plants of beauty would cover the landscape. One would be able to travel miles in any direction and never see anything that would mar the landscape. Our forests would be allowed once again to grace our countryside. Where waste and neglect once abounded, care and beauty would rise from the rich, fertile earth.

I know that this dream of the new year coming is a bit far-fetched. But, should you smile as you read, remember that if could, and can happen. It is within our grasps. The small, short span of time, the second that separates the old year from the new one, holds the clue. Only our thoughts and actions and determination will change that which we deem possible.

I do not profess to know that which is ahead. But, I believe with all my heart that our world is fast approaching the crossroads. The point of no return waits just over the horizon. Are we prepared for what is ahead? So, until we meet again!

Farewell old year,
The time has come for you and me to part.
There are many things that I haven’t done that dwell within my heart.

But very soon the hour is near,
Just a breath or two away.
I bid farewell amid smiles and tears,
And seek a better day.

I’ll cast my eyes toward the distant skies,
And pray to the Lord above,
That the coming year will lend an ear
And seek His wondrous love.

(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.)

Is there more than meets the eye to the stone monument at Claiborne?

Old stone monument at Claiborne.

One of my favorite pastimes is looking through old newspapers because I never fail to find something interesting. By way of example, on Monday I ran across an interesting historical item that was published on the front page of The Journal way back on June 16, 1938.

According to that brief paragraph, “Mrs. John Lewis Cobb, President of the Alabama Society of Colonial Dames of America, Mrs. B.J. Baldwin, the Chairman of Historic Activities Committee of Colonial Dames, and Mr. P.A. Brannon of the Department of Archives and History, spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Deer. This party is interested in placing a boulder at Claiborne to mark the site of an ancient Indian village.”

This “boulder at Claiborne” may sound familiar to modern readers, especially to local history buffs familiar with the Claiborne area today. In fact, if you go to the intersection of Old Fort Claiborne Road and U.S. Highway 84 at Claiborne today, you’ll see a large stone monument that’s believed to be the oldest historic marker in the county.

Those of you who have been there before will know that the following words are inscribed into the marble face of the monument – “Piache, an Indian town visited by DeSoto in 1540, was near here. DeLuna made a settlement here, Nanipagna, in 1560. Fort Claiborne was erected on the south bluff in 1813. LaFayette was entertained here, 1825. Erected by the Alabama Society of Colonial Dames, March 1939.”

I had presumed that a significant dedication event or ceremony had been held in March 1939 to mark the official unveiling of the monument. Oddly though, when I looked through March newspapers published in 1939, I didn’t find any stories about this “boulder” being put in place. I even looked through February and April newspapers published that year and still didn’t find anything about the monument’s placement.

Before I move on, I feel that should mention that the location of the Indian village of Piache is still a hotly debated historical controversy. The 1977 book “Dead Towns of Alabama” by W. Stuart Harris notes that many historians believe the village was located on a high bluff on the east side of the Black Warrior River in Hale County. The 2018 book “Claiborne: A River Town” by preeminent local historian Steve Stacey also points out that the DeSoto Commission of 1976 and the Alabama Desoto Commission of 1985 say that Piache was in Dallas County.

The name “P.A. Brannon” mentioned in the original newspaper clipping may sound familiar to some of The Journal’s older readers. P.A. Brannon is Peter Alexander Brannon, who wrote a long-running historical column for The Montgomery Advertiser called “Through the Years.” His columns were often reprinted in The Journal because he would often write about Monroe County in relation to early Alabama history.

Brannon died in Montgomery in 1967. During his long career, he served as curator for the Alabama Department of Archives and History from 1910 to 1941, then as archivist from 1941 to 1955 and then as the department’s director from 1955 to 1967. He was also a member of numerous historical groups, including the Commission on State Archaeological Surveys and the Alabama Anthropological Society.

In the end, I’d be interested in hearing from any readers who have any additional information about the stone monument at Claiborne. I’m especially interested in any accounts that tell of the day that it was put in place and of any ceremonies held to mark the occasion. My feeling is that there may be more than meets the eye when it comes to this large monument.