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

USS Mount McKinley

20 YEARS AGO
JUNE 13, 2002

Restoration work continues: Workers are continuing the restoration process on the Old Monroe County Courthouse and Monroe County Heritage Museums.
Workers are building handicap accessible ramps, installing central air conditioning and putting in an elevator.
In September 2000, a $374,362 grant was submitted by Creek Construction Co. to complete the restoration process.
Kathy McCoy, executive director of the Monroe County Heritage Museums, says that she expects the restoration process to be completed by the end of September.

Peoples Exchange Bank captured first place in the Monroe County Dixie Youth League Majors Division this season with a 13-5 record. Team members are Drake Martin, Fairbie Moye, Chris Lee, Stevens Kennedy, Adam Saucer, Russ McCall, Denzil Dees, Jay Michael Franklin, Daniel Cardwell, Matthew Westbrooks and Dillon Covin. Coaches are Chris Majors, Mike Franklin, Randy Cardwell, Keith Westbrooks and Albert Martin.

Beulah Camp to begin today: Evangelists Roy Lauten and Dr. Denis Applebee will lead services at Beulah Camp beginning today (Thursday) and ending June 23.
Tom and Lois Kildow will be the song evangelists, and Tyke and Kellie Smith will speak, along with Gareth Lee Cockerill, Bible teacher, and Laurel Lee Adams, youth coordinator, and Tristan Borland, youth worker.
For over 60 years, Christians from all over the area have gathered at Beulah Camp on Highway 37 between Repton and Excel for 10 days of preaching, singing, Bible study and fellowship.

45 YEARS AGO
JUNE 9, 1977

Former Blacksher principal dies: Benjamine Lee Tew, 87, of Atmore died May 18 in an Atmore hospital.
Mr. Tew was the first principal of J.U. Blacksher High School and drove a mule-drawn wagon from York to Livingston every day to bring children to school. He was a retired school teacher and a veteran of World War II.

Catch biggest catfish: James Graham of Atmore and Gareth Raines of Monroeville teamed up to catch the biggest catfish ever caught out of the Monroe County Lake near Beatrice. Graham and Raines were fishing with H.M. Godwin of Mobile with reels from the bank last Thursday night when they caught the 17-pounder.

Mrs. Louise Cooper dies at 114: Mrs. Louise Cooper, 114, of Mexia died Friday of last week. Mrs. Cooper, known as Big Mama, was a native and lifelong resident of Monroe County.

Blow joins national organization: Greg Blow, son of Dr. and Mrs. William O. Blow of Monroeville, has been accepted for membership in the Society of American Magicians of New York.
A student at Monroe County High School, Greg, 14, has been practicing magic since he was nine. He has mastered close-up magic tricks and plans to learn the art of stage illusions.
Under the name “Gregory the Great,” he performs at birthday parties and public shows. He has conducted two shows on Courthouse Square in Monroeville as part of the “Sunday on the Square” arts and crafts show.

70 YEARS AGO
JUNE 12, 1952

Mrs. Herschel Connor and sons, Hank and Ed, of Eufaula are guests of her father, A.C. Lee, and sister, Miss Alice Lee.

Frisco Seaman Takes Part In Landing Exercises Off Okinawa: While operating with Tactical Air Control Squadron One aboard the amphibious force flagship USS Mount McKinley, James C. Coleman, seaman apprentice, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Coleman of Frisco City, recently participated in operation “Coral Head,” a combined Army-Navy Amphibious landing exercise off the coast of Okinawa.

Monroeville Nine Tops Evergreen, 13-5, Tuesday: Racking up another exhibition win Tuesday night, the Monroeville baseball club downed an Evergreen group, 13-5, here in Vanity Fair Park.

Cotton Blooms, Boll Seen Here: Cotton picking time in Monroe County is just around the corner… or at least that’s the way things appear from the way crops are maturing in the county.
Thus far, a total of five cotton blooms and one cotton boll, pulled within the last week’s period, have been presented as evidence of this fact at The Monroe Journal office.
The most advanced stage of local production, the cotton boll, was brought to The Journal office Tuesday by W.T. Bates of Frisco City. Mr. Bates stated the boll was pulled early that morning.
The earliest bloom to be furnished was brought by late last week by A.R. Boroughs of Perdue Hill. He said it was pulled last Thursday.

95 YEARS AGO
JUNE 9, 1927

Mr. A.C. Lee left Monday for the capital city to resume his legislative duties. Mr. Lee has been engaged during the recess period in an exhaustive study of various problems referred to his committee and will doubtless be prepared to submit constructive measures for the consideration of the legislature.

MASONIC ELECTION: At the annual convocation of Monroe Chapter No. 122, held on Monday evening, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: John M. Sowell, High Priest; H.A. Baggett, King; W.H. Hines, Scribe; E.M. Salter, Captain of Hosts; L.L. Hendrix, Secretary-Treasurer; G.I. Galloway, Principal Sojourner; Q. Salter, Royal Arch Captain; J.T. Hines, Master of the Third Vail; J.J. Hestle, Master of the Second Vail; J.A. Lazenby, Master of the First Vail; and S.W. Hixon, Sentinel.

A dog belonging to Mr. G.W. Cameron, which manifested symptoms of rabies, was killed a few days ago after attacking one of the children, and the head sent to the state laboratory for examination. Dr. W.H. Hines informs The Journal that a report from the laboratory indicated positive evidence of rabies. The child was given the Pasteur treatment although no symptoms of infection had developed.

MONROEVILLE AUTO BUS SERVICE: Automobile Bus service between Monroeville and Mobile was inaugurated by the Monroeville Transfer Co. last Saturday, the first day the new Bay Bridge was opened for traffic. Eleven passengers were transported on the initial trip. The buses employed are commodious and comfortable and a schedule of four hours between terminals has been established.

120 YEARS AGO
JUNE 12, 1902

The first cotton bloom for the season was brought to The Journal office on the 11^th inst. by Arthur Clausell, a young man who farms near town.

Mr. John I. Watson has retired from the management of the Watson House after nearly 30 years continuous management of that popular hotel. He is succeeded by Mr. John W. Fore, who will keep it up to the high standard maintained in the past.

Repton: B.W. Pearson of Mississippi City, who has been here for his health for some time, suddenly became insane last Friday morning and with two revolvers and a Winchester rifle terrorized the town for two hours. Mr. A.E. Peterman, who knew him in boyhood days, persuaded him to lay down his weapons and our Marshall, J.E. Robinson, took him to his home. He has since been sent to the insane asylum at Jackson, Miss.

Nadawah: Mr. Jas. A. Spencer, who has been working in the planing mill here for the past year, left Monday for Century, where he will do the filing and grinding for the planer there.

McNiel: There was a marriage in town Sunday afternoon, the contracting parties being Mr. John Robertson and Miss Vickry, of Butler Street.

Hollinger: S.K. Pridgeon and his wife and little niece, Laura Chavers, attended the Children’s Day exercises at Liberty Chapel Sunday. They report the occasion a success.