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

Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile.

36 YEARS AGO
APRIL 24, 1986

Six Monroe County citizens plan to attend the first statewide convention of the Alabama New South Coalition in Mobile May 9-10.
“A local chapter of New South has been formed, and we are sending six voting delegates to the convention,” said Kenneth Lamar of Monroeville, the president of the Monroe County chapter and one of the delegates.
The other five delegates from here to the two-day convention at Stouffer’s Riverview Plaza Hotel are Johnny Jones, Herbert Knight, Robert Ollison, Eloise Watts and Antoinette Kinchelow.

Winningest coach: The University of South Alabama’s head women’s basketball coach Charles Branum, a former resident of Monroeville, recently became the Lady Jaguars all-time winningest coach, averaging 20 wins per season for the last four years. He noted in an interview with The Mobile Press Register recently that he was looking forward to the 1986-87 season. Branum is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Branum of Monroeville.

Water Board buys land on Rose Drive: Monroeville’s municipal water system has made a down payment on 22 acres that may be used eventually for a new well and warehouse, and wants to sell land that it now owns next to outlet property.
(Water system manager) Johnny Snyder explained that when the board was looking for a well several years ago, hydrologists studied the Monroeville area and determined that the best sites were on Ivey Street, the Camden Highway and Rose Drive. The Rose Drive acreage has now become available, and the board wanted to buy it so that “when we need a well, we’ll have a potential site,” Snyder said.

60 YEARS AGO
APRIL 26, 1962

Vredenburgh Mill Destroyed By Fire As Area Firemen Fight Holocaust: One of the largest sawmill operations in the South was destroyed Saturday night when fire leveled the E.L. Bruce Co., Inc. sawmill at Vredenburgh.
Seven fire trucks, all pumpers, from Camden, Beatrice, Excel, Monroeville, Frisco City and Vredenburgh fought the fast burning blaze, but were unable to curb the fire’s destruction.
The cause of the blaze was not known immediately.
Founded by the late Peter Vredenburgh, a multi-millionaire lumberman, the mill reportedly produced more than a half-million feet of lumber each week.
Andy McAlpine, a company official, said no estimate has been made of the damage caused by the fire or the number of persons who would be out of work as a result.
One eyewitness said two firemen were on duty in the boiler room at the time the blaze started in the sawmill.

HOMECOMING QUEEN – Miss Melba Booker reigned as queen over the homecoming festivities at Beatrice High School Friday. She was crowned during the parade of floats at 7 p.m. Her attendants were Misses Jimmie Alice Booker and Margaret Scofide.

IT’S NO TALE – Clarence Young of Frisco City has proof to back up his fisherman’s tale as he shows the 10-1/2 pound green trout he caught in a branch near Dr. W.R. Carter’s pond Monday afternoon. His “rig” was a hand pole, minnow hook and worm bait.

85 YEARS AGO
APRIL 22, 1937

Elementary Schools Close This Week: The elementary schools of Monroe County will close on Fri., April 23, after a term of seven and one-half months, which is the longest in the history of education in this county.
A term of seven months is provided for the elementary schools of the state in the minimum program and for the first time in some years the state has been able to meet appropriations for this field of education. The extra two weeks were obtained in this county by the collection of the fee at the beginning of the school year which is authorized by the state. During the past years, it has been necessary to use these fees for incidental expenses of the schools when the state failed to meet its appropriations.

R.W. Baggett Is Made First Lieutenant: Robert W. Baggett, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Baggett of Monroeville, was recently appointed a First Lieutenant Infantry in the service of the Militia, State of Alabama. This was a promotion from the rank of Second Lieutenant, and was made on the basis of the patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities of Mr. Baggett.

Local Orchestra Is Re-Organized: The Coxswains, local dance orchestra, has recently been reorganized.
The personnel of the band includes: Elizabeth Feagin and Sam Yarbrough, violins; Ed Clapp, Moses Katz and Charles Skinner, trumpets; Alvin Coxwell, Roy Hendrix, Mack Feagin and David Katz, saxophones; Mrs. A.V. Culpepper, piano; Dayton Russell, bass; and Charles Robert Dennis, drums. The band is now open for any public engagements.

111 YEARS AGO
APRIL 27, 1911

A total eclipse of the sun will occur Friday next, April 28, and if the evening is clear can be observed about 6:30 o’clock as a partial eclipse. The eclipse will be generally visible throughout the southern states between the hours of six and seven o’clock, weather permitting. The line of totality passes through the south Pacific Ocean only. The duration of the eclipse will be longest at Vauva Island in the South Pacific archipelago and several expeditions will make observations from that point.

The law and equity court will hold its first regular term during the coming week. Business on the equity side will be dispatched.

Criminal Cases Disposed Of: The following cases were disposed of during the second week of the spring term of circuit court: The State v. Cora Hutchison, murder, nol. pros.; W.M. Booker, assault to murder, continued; Geo. Phillips, assault to murder, sentenced to penitentiary for five years; Aaron Watts, murder second degree, continued; Ed Rabb, assault to murder, continued; Jim Owens, assault to murder, plea of guilty a.w.w., fined $50; Arthur Stallworth, murder second degree, nol. pros.; Clyde Watson, assault to murder, plea of guilty a.w.w., fined $100; Alex Murphy, murder second degree, sentenced four years in penitentiary; Bailey Sims, assault to murder, continued; Andrew McMillan, murder, continued; W.C. Neville, murder, continued; Todd Culbreth, murder, continued; Henry Sanders, murder, continued; Will Smith, murder, sentenced to penitentiary five years; Stephen Lawyer, assault to murder, continued; Leslie Coleman, assault to murder, guilty a.w.w., fined $50.

135 YEARS AGO
APRIL 28, 1887

Circuit Court was called Monday at 12 o’clock precisely. Mr. Wm. Cater of Turnbull was made foreman of the Grand Jury. Judge Clarke then delivered his charge to the jury respecting their obligations and powers in his usual able, clear and explicit manner after which that august body immediately retired to their room to enter upon the discharge of their responsible duties as the great moral teachers of the commonwealth.
Solicitor Taylor – the friend to the oppressed and the terror of evil doers – is at his post to look after the interest and dignity of the State. The docket is light in comparison with previous terms, there being only 66 criminal and 20 civil cases.

Mr. H.B. Rikard, the energetic and progressive young merchant of Pineville, was in to see us Monday.

The Monroe County Medical Society met in the office of Dr. J.T. Packer at this place yesterday with a good attendance of members.

Dr. Packer has had his buggy newly painted, and it now looks as neat as a new pin.

The dry spell of the past six or seven weeks was broken last Friday night by a most refreshing rain.

Cotton planting will occupy the time of the average farmer for the next few days.

Miss Flora Parker of Tuscaloosa, one of the most beautiful and accomplished young ladies for which the City of Oaks is famous, is visiting the family of her aunt, Mrs. J.H. Frye, at this place.