Is the Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge in Livingston haunted?

Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge

I enjoy reading each month’s issue of Alabama Living magazine, especially its monthly events calendar. This calendar lists upcoming events occurring statewide, including concerts, theatrical performances, special tours, arts and crafts fairs and festivals. One such festival – Livingston’s Sucarnochee Folklife Festival – caught my eye last month, prompting my wife and I to go check it out a couple of Saturdays ago.

According to the festival’s organizers, the festival is “dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the unique life ways of Black Belt residents with demonstrations of traditional crafts including pottery, metal works, quilting and more from artists throughout the State.” The festival also includes live music, storytelling, local history tours, a quilt show and lots of food. (“Sucarnochee” is the name of a river that flows out of Mississippi and through Livingston before emptying into the Tombigbee River southwest of Demopolis.)

Prior to going to the Sucarnochee Festival, I’d never even been to Livingston before. The festival was held on the Sumter County courthouse square, a short walk from the University of West Alabama campus. To say that I was impressed by the town and the festival would be an understatement. Livingston really puts its best foot forward with this unique festival.

Before heading home, I took Crystal to see the Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge, which is located on the West Alabama campus. I had never seen this bridge in person before, but I’d read a lot about it over the years. It’s located across Duck Pond behind Reed Hall, one of the school’s dormitories.

Built in 1861, this 88-foot-long bridge is one of the oldest covered bridges in Alabama. It was originally built over the Sucarnochee River on the main road between Livingston and York. In 1971, the bridge was moved to its present location by the Sumter County Historical Society, which maintains the bridge today.

Like many old covered bridges, there are a number of ghost stories attached to the Alamuchee-Bellamy bridge. One of the best known has to do with Stephen S. Renfroe, who was known as the “Outlaw Sheriff of Sumter County.” Renfroe was hanged from the bridge by vigilantes in July 1886 for his involvement in a handful of local murders and a long list of other unsavory crimes.

In the years since, even though the bridge has been moved from its original site, many claim to have seen Renfroe’s ghost at the Alamuchee-Bellamy bridge. Some have described him as a dark shadow pacing the bridge, while others say that they’ve seen him on horseback. Others claim to have seen a ghostly face in the windows of the bridge, causing them to wonder if it’s the ghost of the old “Outlaw Sheriff.”

David Higdon and Brett Talley also recount this story in their book, “Haunted Alabama Black Belt,” saying that the “night does not rest easy around the old covered bridge. A figure is seen walking its length, one that is as insubstantial as it is paranormal – a shadow wreathed in darkness. They even say that there’s a black-and-white cat that stalks the bridge, vanishing into nothing. And always there is a feeling of cold and emptiness, as if there is no life on the bridge, no hope. Only death.”

In the end, Crystal and I enjoyed our trip to the Sucarnochee Folklife Festival, and if you get the chance to go to next year’s festival, I highly recommend it. While there, if you’ve got the time, take a few minutes to visit the Alamuchee-Bellamy Covered Bridge. More than likely, you won’t see anything out of the ordinary, but who knows, you might get the chance to meet what’s left of the old “Outlaw Sheriff” face to face.

Wilcox Mineral Springs once attracted large crowds to Shuster in Wilcox County, Alabama

Wilcox Mineral Springs

I was recently reading some old editions of The Monroe Journal and encountered a 1907 news item that many Wilcox County history buffs will find interesting.

In the July 11, 1907 edition of The Journal, editor Q. Salter published a large display advertisement that read as follows – “WILCOX MINERAL SPRINGS is now open for the season. The health-giving properties of these waters can be vouched for by many who have been benefitted by them. A hack line to and from the depot to meet the trains morning and evening. Every arrangement for the comfort and entertainment of guests will be carefully looked after. Special terms by the week, month or season, can be had on application to G.W. Stuart, Proprietor, Schuster, Alabama.”

I went on to consult a book called “Historic Alabama Hotels & Resorts” by James F. Sulzby Jr. to see what it had to say about Wilcox Mineral Springs. This 294-page book, which was originally published by the University of Alabama in 1960, describes over 50 old Alabama hotels and resorts, including Wilcox Mineral Springs.

According to Sulzby, the “once famous” Wilcox Mineral Springs was located about a mile from the east Wilcox County town of Schuster, which was about halfway between the Louisville & Nashville Railroad stations at Pine Apple and McWilliams. In 1903, entrepreneur George Washington Stuart constructed two hotel buildings at the site after finding four natural mineral springs that bubbled up out of the ground within a space of about 50 square yards.

Stuart, who ran the establishment with his wife Sallie, officially opened the resort on July 4, 1904, and this grand opening was such a big event that the L&N Railroad ran a special train all the way from Mobile to Schuster to accommodate the large crowds. When they arrived, guests found the natural springs covered by pavilions, an amphitheater that could seat 1,500 spectators, a bandstand, a dance pavilion, a baseball park with a grandstand, a five-acre pine grove with picnic tables and other fine accommodations.

For a time, crowds flocked to the resort because Stuart claimed that, like the pure waters at famous resorts like Hot Springs, Arkansas, the natural springs near Schuster were healthy and helped relieve a variety of ailments including bowel troubles, Bright’s Disease, diabetes, dyspepsia, gastritis, gout, indigestion, irritable bladder, kidney troubles, nerve problems, rheumatism and stomach problems. The resort thrived for a time, but the crowds eventually thinned, and the business took a major hit after one of the hotel buildings burned in 1908 followed by later fires that destroyed the bandstand and dance pavilion.

Sallie Stuart eventually passed away at the age of 60 on May 8, 1916, and her husband, George W. Stuart, passed away at the age of 79 on Sept. 7, 1931. They are both buried in the Ackerville Cemetery, about 15 miles east of Camden. By the time Sulzby’s book came out in 1960 only a few crumbling foundations were said to mark where the old Wilcox Mineral Springs hotel buildings once stood, and three of the four mineral springs had also ceased to flow.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone with more information about the Wilcox Mineral Springs and the Stuarts. Do any visible remnants of the old resort remain? Does the last “health-giving” spring still bubble from the ground there or have any of the other three springs returned? 

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for July 27, 2022

67 YEARS AGO
JULY 28, 1955

New Business Opens Aug. 13: A new Western Auto Associate Store will open here in the near future. The store will be located in the Alford Building, where Newberry’s Furniture Store was situated until recently. The new store is to be operated by Arlie Watkins, as owner and manager, and Mrs. Watkins.

Services Held For Miss Lucy Stabler: Miss Lucy Adelle Stabler, 74-year-old retired school teacher of Lower Peach Tree, died last Friday, July 15, following a short illness.
Miss Stabler, as a teacher, had spent most of her adult life in the teaching profession. She taught in Wilcox, Clarke and Mobile Counties, retiring several years ago because of the age limit in Alabama.

Mrs. Lyon Honored By Magazine: Mrs. R.E. Lyon of Camden recently won a Sterling Silver Honor Emblem by the Reader’s Digest, in recognition of outstanding service as a subscription representative of the magazine. Sterling Silver Honor Emblems are awarded to only one in every 50 Digest Representatives, so Mrs. Lyon’s achievement is noteworthy. Commemorating its 33^rd Anniversary this year, the Digest is awarding Honor Emblems to men and women who have actively represented the magazine in their communities for 20 to 25 years or more, and who have secured 20 or more subscriptions in the past year.

Bill Lawler of the U.S. Army Engineers spent the weekend with home folks.

78 YEARS AGO
JULY 27, 1944

Joel Everette, who has been stationed in the Aleutians, is spending his furlough at Coy with his mother, Mrs. Edna Tait and Mr. Tait.

PINE APPLE: Lt. and Mrs. Warren J. Williamson, U.S. Air Corps, are spending a short leave with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.L. Williamson, and Mr. and Mrs. James McGowin of Greenville, Ala. For the past few months, Lt. Williamson has been stationed at Casper, Wyoming but will report to Topeka, Kansas next week for his overseas assignment.

Prof. H.B. Woodward and son Bascom have returned home after a six weeks absence. Prof. Woodward attended summer school at the University of Alabama and Mrs. Woodward and Bascom visited her mother in Gadsden.

Arlington: The revival which has been held here the past week was enjoyed by all. Rev. Williams is a wonderful speaker and has delivered wonderful sermons morning and night. All who attended the services received great blessings and fell in their hearts that they want their lives to count for Christ above.

FOR MAYOR: I hereby announce as a candidate for the office of Mayor of the Town of Camden, Alabama, in September 18, 1944 election. Your vote and influence will be appreciated. – ROLAND COOPER.

Lt. and Mrs. “Boots” Chambless and son of Fort Bragg, North Carolina visited her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Oakley last week.

87 YEARS AGO
JULY 25, 1935

The many fond friends of Mrs. R.N. Dickson deeply sympathize with her in the loss of her grandfather, Mr. S.H. Sealy of Magnolia, whose death occurred Wednesday evening at 5 o’clock at the home of his son, Mr. Frank Sealy of Consul.

OPEN COTTON: Chest Gregory and Henry Hawthorne, both of Camden, sent open bolls of cotton to the Era office this week.

Capt. Emmett Kilpatrick left Monday for Salusberry, North Carolina, where he will deliver the dedicatory address at the centennial exercises to his grandfather.

The local baseball team won three games during the past week and lost one game. In the first game of the week, played last Thursday, the locals defeated the Aces out of Montgomery by the score of 6 to 5 in 11 innings. In the second game of the week played at Pine Apple Saturday, the locals defeated Pine Apple by the score of 7 to 2. In two games played Sunday at Vredenburgh, the locals broke even with the Bibb County Stars, winning the second game 7 to 1 and losing the first, 6 to 0.
The locals go to Thomasville Thursday for one game. Play West Blocton two games here Saturday. Sunday they play in Uniontown and again next Saturday Uniontown will be here.

On Thurs., July 30, 1935, an election is to be held to determine whether or not the County 3 Mill School Tax be re-levied for a period of 10 years from the date of expiration of the present levy on Sept. 30, 1937.

97 YEARS AGO
JULY 23, 1925

Some of the young people of the town have put the grounds of the Masonic Hall in good condition, and laid off a tennis court, where they often gather to enjoy this sport.

Mr. Carlyle Duke is having a store built near his house, which he will open soon with a stock of fancy and staple groceries. This will prove a great convenience to that section of our town and we wish him success at his new location.

Mr. and Mrs. Judson Hawthorne have returned from a trip to Florida. They brought back with them a cluster of three green cocoa nuts, which Judson cut from the tree himself.

The farmers report the boll weevil increasing to alarming numbers in large cotton, but say upon the whole that the prospect for a good yield is better than for several years.

Dr. J.H. Jones and Mr. Rufus Campbell had on exhibit at the courthouse this week a stalk of cotton containing 112 grown bolls, and a number of small bolls and squares, this stalk had 10 white blooms the day it was placed on exhibit.

Mrs. Emma Newberry is making extensive improvements to the Wilcox Hotel. She is having installed a complete system of waterworks on both lower and upper floors; also beautiful new flooring for the dining room, large lobby and parlor. The inside walls are all being done over. When this work is completed, this hotel will be a credit to our town.

107 YEARS AGO
JULY 22, 1915

The Judiciary Bill, as it now stands, places Wilcox, Lowndes and Monroe counties into one district known as the 21^st Circuit.

Hon. W.R. Alford is laying a cement walk in front of his residence. This is an improvement which we are glad to note and trust that more citizens will follow his example. Nothing more attractive or needful can be added to the residential section of our town than paved or cement walks.

Mr. J.M. Garrett of Montgomery was in our midst this week. Mr. Garrett is a civil engineer and comes highly recommended as a good road builder. He is looking over the good road prospects of Wilcox.

Mrs. Clarence Jones and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Clarence Jones Jr. of Mobile, are spending the week at Schuster Mineral Springs.

ESTRAY NOTICE: I have taken up at my place near Camden, about last March, one light red heifer about three to four years old, end of both ears cut off, and a burnt place on each hip and no other mark. Owner can call and pay charges. – Frank G. Boyd.

ESTRAY NOTICE: One red bob tail devon bull, no mark or brand, owner can get same by paying damages, pasture rent and for this notice. – J.W. PRIMM, Canton Bend.

Mr. Lee Bonner of Rosebud was in town Monday. Mr. Bonner reports the prospects for a cotton crop in his section is very discouraging, very likely not more than a 25 percent drop. However, he took time by the fore lock and is extensively engaged in the pecan industry and stock business.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for July 26, 2022

USS Coral Sea (CV-43)

24 YEARS AGO
JULY 23, 1998

Local weather observer Harry Ellis reported .95 inches of rain on July 13, 1.15 inches on July 14 and .50 inches on July 16. He also reported a high of 94 degrees on July 19 and lows of 71 on July 13, July 18 and July 19.

LaFrancis Davis was recently hired as the new band director at Hillcrest High School. A reception welcoming him to Evergreen will be held Thurs., July 23, at 7 p.m. in the cafetorium at the school.

Landstar Systems, Inc. agrees to sell Poole to Schneider National: If all goes well, Landstar Poole will be under new ownership by late August, after agreeing to sell out to Schneider National, Inc.
Landstar Poole is a wholly owned subsidiary by its parent company Landstar Systems, Inc. The announcement was made Thurs., July 16.
Poole has its headquarters in Evergreen and is the third acquisition made by Schneider National in the last several months. Prior acquisitions were Highway Carrier Corporation of Des Moines, Iowa and Builders Transport of Camden, South Carolina.
(Purchase price for the Poole-Schneider National deal was $42 million.)

Clint Casey exhibited the 1998 Grand Champion market hog at his year’s County Market Hog Show held June 13, 1998. This year’s judge was Mr. Derek Bryan, County Agent, Crenshaw County.

52 YEARS AGO
JULY 23, 1970

From “Front Page, Upper Left Corner” by Bob Bozeman – Mrs. Moreno (Mamilu) White invited me up one day last week for a sneak preview of the Pinckney D. Bowles Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy memory book. After giving the book a thorough going over I’m convinced the UDC has a bestseller.
“Anyone interested in Conecuh County history will want one of these little books. You’ll enjoy the stories of early life in the county which have been contributed. Many of these stories are things that different people remember their grandfathers and great-grandfathers, some of them veterans of the War Between the States, telling them.
“There are only a limited number of these books available and orders for them are being taken now. If you don’t want one yourself, you’ll want to get one for your children. And remember, because of the small number printed, these are very apt to become collector’s items.
“Mamilu says that a number of orders have been received, but many people have failed to include payment. To facilitate delivery which will begin on Aug. 1, include payment with your order and if you have turned in an order, please mail the payment.
“The books sell for $1.50 each and checks should be made out to Bowles Chapter U.D.C. and mailed to Mrs. White.”

60 YEARS AGO
JULY 26, 1962

Elsie Couey, chief operator of the Evergreen office, receives her 35-year pin from D.E. Hardy, district traffic manager, Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co., Mobile. The pin denotes 35 years of service with the company for ‘Miss Elsie’ which was the occasion for a party given by the staff of the local exchange at the Southern Bell Building Friday. Miss Couey’s 35 years actually ended Saturday.

Lofton Shell attended the Butler County Masonic Conference in McKenzie last Wednesday.

Aubrey H. Ryals, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse J. Ryals, Rt. 1, Repton, Ala., recently was promoted to specialist four while serving with the 51st Artillery, a Nike-Hercules missile unit at Fort Cronkhite, Calif.

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Murrice G. Miniard, airman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. Noble O. Miniard of Repton, Ala., is serving aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, which was scheduled to return to its homeport of Alameda, Calif. on July 17.

Dewitt T. Stuart, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.T. Stuart of 310 McMillan St., Evergreen, Ala., is undergoing nine weeks of basic recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.

The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce is continuing its current push to attract more industry at the rapid pace developed in June. Contact was made with two more prospects last week and they were entertained in Evergreen and shown sites.

71 YEARS AGO
JULY 26, 1951

E.E. Adams of Evergreen, Route 1, was the first Conecuh County farmer to get an open boll of cotton to The Courant office this year. Mr. Adams, a well-known farmer of the Lyeffion community, brought his four-lock boll in Wednesday. A second boll was brought in Saturday by Abner Randall, a farmer who lives between Belleville and Castleberry.

Lt. William Wells of the U.S. Army has recently completed an advanced course of training for artillery officers at Ft. Sill, Okla. Lt. Wells is visiting relatives here this week en route to Fort Jackson, S.C. where he will rejoin Battery C, 117^th Field Artillery Battalion.
Lt. Wells is the son of Mr. and Mrs. R.Z. Wells of Evergreen. He is married to the former Melba Bowden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Bowden of Owassa, Route One.

Four-H boys and girls in Conecuh County will have a Fat Hog Show and Sale on Sept. 10. The show will be held at the stockyards in Evergreen. A grand champion will be selected from the animals shown.
The following 4-H boys and girls have already entered hogs in the show: Charles Dunn, Cecil Raines, Olon Weaver, Fenlick Weaver, Bill Raines, Philip Coleman, James Hall, Wilson McCreary, Iva Shipp, Mary J. Ellis, Shelby Smith, Bobby Clark, Alvin Anderson, Jackie Ryals, Tommy Booker, John Lee, Leland Wiggins, Levaughn Wiggins, Tommy Nall, Edward Grant, Wilbur Driver, Eddie Merritt, Wayne Thames, Bobby Lynch and Maxwell McLelland.

74 YEARS AGO
JULY 22, 1948

H.W. Ward Brings In First Open Cotton: The distinction of being the first farmer to bring in open cotton to the Courant office goes this year to H.W. Ward, who lives on Evergreen Route E about four miles west of Evergreen. Mr. Ward brought in this cotton last Saturday. Others have reported they had open cotton since that time.

Forrest Castleberry Is Mayor of Castleberry: In an election held last Monday, Forrest Castleberry was elected Mayor of Castleberry over his opponent, A.B. Kennedy, the vote being 96 for Castleberry and 24 for Kennedy. In the race for members of the council there were nine running for the five places. Four of this number received clear majorities. They are H.G. Green, 102 votes; Joe H. Carr, 79; Haskew Page Jr., 75; L.H. Wilson, 69. Other candidates ran as follows: John Lee Carter, 65; L.H. Riggs, 65; W.E. Pate, 53; John Vivian Seale, 51; W.H. Britton, 49.
By agreement of all parties concerned, the successful nominees for Mayor and the four places on the Council will select the fifth member from the two runner-ups, L.H. Riggs and John Lee Carter. This is being done to avoid a runoff election.
Castleberry, Wilson, Riggs and Pate are members of the present Council.

Those attending the funeral of Lt. Winton D. McIntyre in Mobile Wednesday were Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Hyde, Levon and Truman Hyde, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Salter, Hunter Hines, Quinton Gaston, J. Garvin, Grady Garvin, E.M. McIntyre, Mrs. W.K. Smith, J.R. Harper, John Murphy, D.N. McIntyre and G.L. McIntyre.

Old cotton slide at Claiborne, Alabama blamed for the death of reckless Yankee soldier in 1865

The old cotton slide and steps at Claiborne, Alabama.

My wife Crystal and I spent a couple of hours Sunday afternoon paddling our kayaks from the Claiborne Lock & Dam to the boat landing at the Claiborne-Murphy Bridge. The trip by river is only about six miles, and it was a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We encountered a few boaters and fishermen, but thankfully no giant alligators or snakes.

At the end of our trip, as we hauled our kayaks up the steep boat ramp, I was reminded that the once sizeable city of Claiborne once sat at the top of this high bluff. Countless Claiborne residents and visitors in days of old would have made this same trip up from the muddy banks of the river to the top of the bluff, which is said to be the highest bluff on the river between Montgomery to Mobile. However, in years past, many of them would have used the old cotton slide steps that were once located not far from where the boat landing is today.

This cotton slide, which has been long gone for years, included a steep set of stairs that ran from a warehouse at the top of the bluff to a steamboat landing at the bottom. Most accounts say that this set of stairs had 365 steps and also included a track by which a car was lowered and hauled up by means of a rope that was wound around a vertical windlass by a horse moving in a circle at the top of the bluff. This car was used for the transportation of freight.

Between the car tracks there was a slide upon which bales of cotton were sent down to be taken aboard by the river boats. Sources say that if one stood at the top of the slide and looked down to the river, the steamboat at the landing looked like a toy. At one time, the steps, slides and tracks were covered with a shed that ran all the way down to the water and if you looked down the hill through this shed it was like looking through the big end of a spy glass.

When boats approached the landing, the crew would sound a whistle and a warehouse clerk would come down to meet with the boat’s clerk to confirm how much cotton they were to load for Mobile, where it was then sent to markets around the world. Gang planks would also be thrown out and six to eight bales of cotton would be rolled off the boat and piled up to make a barrier to stop the bales sent down the slide.

The first bales sent down would move slowly over the slide’s smooth wooden surface, but after several had been sent down, they would “move with a rapidity that was frightful,” sources say. One story that I found, in an 1888 edition of The Monroe Journal, told of how a Yankee soldier was killed at Claiborne in the winter of 1865 when he attempted to ride a cotton bale to the bottom of the cotton slide.

“When the bale struck the bales at the landing, a speck of blue was seen to shoot across the bow of the boat. There was a splash in the middle of the river and one soldier less in Sherman’s Army.”

Wilcox County soldier's cavalry saber currently housed in Alabama State Archives in Montgomery

Chip Cook with cavalry sword.

I always enjoy hearing from readers and this week I received a nice note from Samuel Calvin Cook IV of Greensboro, North Carolina. Sam, who goes by the nickname “Chip,” is the great-great-grandson of the original Samuel Calvin Cook of Wilcox County, and he is also the last in the family line to carry his name.

The original Samuel C. Cook was a very interesting figure from Wilcox County’s early history. A lawyer before the War Between the States, he joined the Wilcox Dragoons at the beginning of hostilities, served at Pensacola and was eventually promoted to captain before going on to serve on General “Fighting Joe” Wheeler’s staff. After the Confederate surrender, he returned home to Wilcox County and practiced law and served as a state legislator up until the time of his death.

The Wilcox Dragoons was the first cavalry company organized in Wilcox County in 1861 at the beginning of the War Between the States. They became known as Co. C of the 3^rd Alabama Cavalry Regiment when that regiment was formed at Tupelo, Miss. in June 1862. Other companies in the regiment came from Autauga, Calhoun, Choctaw, Dallas, Mobile, Monroe and Perry counties.

The Wilcox Dragoons flag was a 43x55-inch blue silk flag made by the “ladies of Camden” in 1861 and was presented to Samuel Calvin Cook, who had been chosen by the other members of the company to accept the flag on their behalf. Later, J.O. Belknap of Mobile was commissioned to paint scenes in the center of the flag on both sides.

According to documents at the Department of Archives and History in Montgomery, the regiment traveled with the Confederate army into Kentucky and went on to fight at Bramlet’s Station and Perryville. The regiment also fought at Murfreesboro, Shelbyville, Chickamauga, Kingston, Knoxville, Mossy Creek and Strawberry Plains. In the Dalton-Atlanta campaign, the regiment fought at Decatur, near Macon, at Winchester, Aiken, Fayetteville, Bentonville, Raleigh and Chapel Hill. When the Army of Tennessee surrendered in April 1865 at Durham Station, North Carolina, the regiment had been “reduced by its losses to a skeleton.”

Chip Cook, who has been to the Alabama State Archives and held his great-great-grandfather’s cavalry saber, noted that Samuel Cook’s maternal grandfather was John Norwood. Norwood served in the South Carolina militia during the American Revolution. During those historic times, he served with Francis Marion (the famous “Swamp Fox”) and later under Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Eutaw Springs.

The original Samuel C. Cook graduated from Howard College in Marion before the Civil War, and he went on to have a son named Samuel in 1882. (Howard College later moved to Birmingham and changed its named to Samford University.) This Samuel had no junior or suffix in his name initially, but later took “senior” when his father passed away, which was an old custom.

The original Samuel’s grandson carried the name Samuel Calvin Cook Jr., after his father and grandfather. He sometimes went by the name “Cooper,” which was his mother’s maiden name. Cooper also attended Howard and graduated in 1936. He went on to serve in World War II and later had a son, Samuel C. Cook III, who is the father of Chip Cook in North Carolina.

In the end, let me hear from you if you know any additional details about the original Samuel C. Cook. Chip Cook has never been to Camden or Wilcox County, but he hopes to visit one day to see the place that the original Samuel called home. I’ll be happy to pass along to Chip any Cook family history sent to me by readers.

Singleton writes about the true meaning behind Thanksgiving

(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 “An old man’s lesson: Thanksgiving - think of others” was originally published in the Nov. 27, 1975 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Thanksgiving means many things to many people. If one tried to analyze its true meaning, he might become confused with our present-day concept and what it has meant in the past.

Today, we look upon Thanksgiving as the day when we have turkey for dinner and after the meal we gather around the television to watch our favorite ball games. Very few pause for just one brief moment to give thanks to the Almighty for our well-being and success.

We have come to believe that our land of plenty is something that will stand forever, that we will never want for the necessities that are essential for us to survive in our environment.

We are so wrapped up with our great success that we feel that Thanksgiving is every day of the year. We are disillusioned when we are not able to reach out and bring to us the many whims and luxuries that our appetites cry for.

We know not the words “to want,” “to need,” or “to do without.” Very few are aware of our fellow men, especially the aged and the suffering. We pass among these people without once realizing that many are in need for a kind word or a moment’s conversation.

A few years back on Thanksgiving Eve, I rode to town to mail a letter. The cold rain was falling, and the wind was causing chills to tickle the spine. I was thinking of my success and what Thanksgiving meant to me and my family. I thought that all was well with everyone everywhere.

As I rounded the corner on my way home, I saw an old man standing on the street. He seemed uncertain about standing there, as though he didn’t want anyone to see him. I stopped and backed my car to where I could open the door and asked him where he was going.

After a minute’s hesitation, he climbed into the car beside me. He then told me that he lived near Claiborne and that he had come to Monroeville to see the doctor. He was suffering from a severe cold.

He insisted that he was able to walk home and that it would be a lot of trouble for me to carry him to where he lived near the river. He kept telling me of the trouble he was causing me as we drove through the misting rain on our way out of town. Never once did he complain about his state of being, always his concern was of me.

In the course of conversation as we rode along, I asked this man about what he was planning for the next day, Thanksgiving. His words were that he was proud to be alive and to have a roof over his head, a roof to keep him dry from the rain, and, most of all, to have a warm fire to sit by.

As I returned home, I thought of the old man’s words many times. I thought of how easy it would have been for him to hate. Yet his concern was not of himself. There was no place for self-pity in his thoughts – only his deep love for life and the patience to appreciate it.

I thought of the simple things that he was thankful for, when I was demanding so many things that didn’t matter.

Thanksgiving has never been the same for me since that night. Where once my thoughts were of myself, they now are of others on Thanksgiving. And I have grown wiser because of this old man, whose name I forgot to ask.

(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.)

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for July 25, 2022

Ralph "Shug" Jordan

16 YEARS AGO
JULY 27, 2006

Sparta Academy and all Alabama Independent School Association schools will begin summer football practice today.
Russ Brown, an assistant coach on head coach Clint Floyd’s staff at Sparta, said they’re expecting to have between 25 to 30 players to show up for opening day drills.
Floyd was hired in May to replace Daniel Wilson, who resigned to accept an assistant coaching position at T.R. Miller High School in Brewton.

Evergreen improved to 1-1 without snapping the football last Saturday when the Jaguars’ Minor League professional football team accepted a forfeit.
Victor Coleman, the team’s owner and coach, said the Baton Rouge, La. Eagles were not able to field a team.
Evergreen opened its regular season July 15 with a 24-6 loss to the Bayou Vipers of Hammond, La. in Evergreen.

Hillcrest High School will serve as host for a 7-on-7 scrimmage tonight at Jaguar Stadium in Evergreen.
Head coach Maurice Belser said the 7-on-7 scrimmage will start at 6 p.m. In addition to Andalusia, Highland Home, Enterprise, Straughn and Luverne will compete in the scrimmage.

32 YEARS AGO
JULY 26, 1990

Bill McGehee Memorial Tourney winners are told: On Tues., July 17, the Sixth Annual Bill McGehee Memorial Junior Tournament was held at the Evergreen Golf Club. Twenty-seven boys participated in the event.
The tournament champion for the second year was 16-year-old Scott Stephens of Rose Hill, Ala. Other winners in the age divisions were: 10 and under-1st, Josh Gardner, Greenville; 2nd, Terry Hammonds, Evergreen; and 3rd, Caleb Gardner, Greenville.
11 and 12-1st, Wade Warren, Birmingham (son of Connor Warren and grandson of Mrs. Byron Warren); 2nd, Walton Hickman, Greenville; and 3rd, Chris Waller, Greenville.
13 and 14-1st, John Hart, Brewton; 2nd, Jeff Sellers, Andalusia; and 3rd, Scott Sikes, Greenville.
15 and 16-1st, Scotty Stephens, Rose Hill; 2nd, Patrick Padgett, Andalusia; and 3rd, Clark Cameron, Andalusia.
17 and 18-1st, Brian Dassinger, Brewton; 2nd, Boyd Robinson, Monroeville; and 3rd, Matt Moorer, Monroeville.

The Evergreen Aggies Tiny Mite and Pee Wee football registration will be held Sat., July 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the old Alfa Insurance Office on South Main Street. This is the team with the green jerseys.
If you live north of Reynolds Avenue, thru north Pierce Street, including all of Route C, Route D and east of the railroad in the Route 3 area, this is the team you sign with.

35 YEARS AGO
JULY 23, 1987

LYEFFION QB’S MEET: There will be a meeting of the Lyeffion Quarterback Club Thursday night, July 30, at 7:30 p.m. at the school. The Tiny Mite and Pee Wee football program will be discussed. Any boys age 8 to 13 in the county interested in playing should contact Dan Byrd. Practice will begin Aug. 3.

Sergeant Major Frank Jones caught this 26-pound King Salmon out of Sheep Creek, 82 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska.

PEE WEE & TINY MITE SIGNUP: Sign-up dates for Pee Wee and Termite Football players at Conecuh County High School has been set for Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the school. If you are playing for the first time, you need to bring your birth certificate.

Army Sergeant Major Frank Jones caught this King Salmon, which weighed 48 pounds, out of Sheep Creek, 82 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska. He said: “Pop Jones and Kenneth Jones, eat your hearts out.”

Frank Jones Jr., son of Sergeant Major Frank Jones, caught this 26-pound King Salmon out of Sheep Creek, 82 miles north of Anchorage, Alaska.

Beano Baker’s SPORTSBEAT: THE ALABAMA CONNECTION… It’s been somewhat of a down year for major league ballplayers with ties to Alabama, the state that produced Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Billy Williams and Dixie Walker.

45 YEARS AGO
JULY 28, 1977

Peacock drowning shocks all county: The drowning Monday afternoon of Jerry Willard Peacock, 18, shocked this entire county. The popular Evergreen youth drowned after he and another local youth, Bobby Johnson, were involved in a boating accident on the Alabama River north of Haynes Ferry in Monroe County.
Jerry was a popular member of this year’s graduating class at Sparta Academy. He was an outstanding athlete and student and took an active part in all school activities. He performed outstandingly in a number of leading roles in productions by The Sparta Players.
According to information given to The Courant by telephone by Frank Blanchard of The Monroe Journal, Monroeville, the accident occurred about 2:30 Monday afternoon.
Monroe County Deputy Sheriff Larry Ikner said that Johnson and Peacock were fishing when they had motor trouble. Johnson was attempting to start the motor and was thrown from the boat when the motor started and suddenly jerked the boat forward. Peacock fell overboard in mid-river when he stood and tried to assist Johnson.
Johnson reportedly lost sight of Peacock immediately and after trying to locate his friend, who could not swim, he swam to shore and fell unconscious from exhaustion.

From “The Colyum” by Bob Bozeman: Mostly a country editor enjoys his work, but there are also unpleasant duties that must be performed. The most unpleasant is writing of deaths and this is especially unpleasant when the deceased is a young person taken from this earth when a whole life was yet to be lived.
The tragic drowning of Jerry Peacock shocked all of us who knew him. Jerry was a fine young man and as he and my daughter were classmates his death really struck hard at our house. Jerry was a fine athlete, a true competitor, but more than that he was a well-rounded young man, one who lived life to the fullest and enjoyed his family and friends. An example of his versatility would be the fine acting he did in a number of leading roles in productions by The Sparta Players.
There are really no words to cover a tragedy like this, but I do want to extend deepest sympathy to Jerry’s family and to his many friends. We all enjoyed knowing him and we all shall miss him.

66 YEARS AGO
JULY 26, 1956

Auburn Alumni Attend Meeting: Hear Jordan: The Evergreen Auburn club attended a joint meeting with the Brewton and Andalusia clubs in Brewton, Thursday night, July 19, at the Townhouse Cafeteria.
Ralph Jordan, head coach at Auburn, was the guest speaker. Coach Jordan gave a very interesting talk on conditions of the current football teams at Auburn and gave brief appraisals of various players asked about by members of the group attending. He stated that the outlook for the incoming football season was very good for Auburn. Others attending from Auburn included Jeff Beard, Assistant Coach, and Joe Shaver, Executive Secretary, Auburn Alumni Association.
Each of the clubs attending elected new officers and the following officers were elected for the Evergreen Auburn Club: Willie Tucker, President; Tal Stuart, Vice President; and Judson Gary, Secretary-Treasurer. Other alumni attending from Evergreen were M.M. Cardwell, J.F. Clements, Cecil Hagood, C.A. Jones, Guy Kelly, Henry Sessions, O.B. Tuggle, A.G. Walker and J.H. Witherington.

Last Week With The Evergreen Jr. League: Yankees Clip Sox 7-5: In the regular season double header Wednesday night the Yankees got off to a flying start off Claude Aaron with four runs in the first inning. Ward scored on Miller’s fielder’s choice then with two on Kelley lined thru short pushing in two and followed them home on Johnson’s single.
The Red Sox came back in their half of the first with three runs off three walks and three hits. Moses relieved Aaron and set the Yanks down in order.
In the third, the Yankees erupted again with back to back triples by Miller and Bullington and a scratch hit by Kelley who scored the third run on a passed ball.
Time ran out at the end of the fourth. Winning pitcher Jackie Frazier. Losing pitcher Claude Aaron.

Top Ten Thumpers: Joe Bullington, slugging catcher, pitcher for the Yanks, is still leading the league at the plate for the second half. Two newcomers have banged their way into the top ten, Jimmy Kelley of the Yanks and Jimmy Aaron of the Giants.
Joe Bullington, Yankees, .533; Bobby Smith, Red Sox, .500; Ray Granade, Red Sox, .500; Johnny Moseley, Red Sox, .500; Jimmy Weaver, Giants, .444; Eddie Lambert, Red Sox, .444; Bonner Ridgeway, Giants, .437; Jimmy Kelley, Yankees, .400; Jimmy Aaron, Giants, .312; and Leon Stinson, Dodgers, .308.

Monday Night Game Postponed: Rain postponed the Yankee, Red Sox game Monday night. This game will probably be played Saturday night. Thursday night most of the Evergreen Little Leaguers will be in Monroeville to see the start of the Little League Regional playoffs. All Star teams from Greenville, Brewton, Bay Minette, Jackson, Robertsdale and Monroeville will play to see who goes to the sectional playoff at Leeds, Ala.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for July 19, 2022

Congressman Lister Hill

18 YEARS AGO
JULY 15, 2004

It took everything from U-Haul trucks to a Conway Diesel Service wrecker to help move out of the Conecuh County Courthouse this past week. The wrecker was used to move the safe from Probate Judge Rogene Booker’s office to it’s new home at the old Evergreen Junior High School. Looking on are several of the inmates who helped move all of the county offices. They are to be highly commended for their hard work and cooperation to make the move as easy as possible.

Colonial Bank donates building to Town of Repton: Colonial Bank recently announced that it will donate the building previously used as one of its branch offices to the City of Repton. The bank’s office, located on Highway 84 and Jones Street in Repton, recently closed.
A formal presentation will be made Sat., July 10, in Repton by Colonial Bank representatives announcing the donation.

The Conecuh County Commission held the last meeting in the Conecuh County Courthouse Monday morning as moving vans were busy hauling furniture and office equipment to the new location in the old Evergreen Junior High School building.
Interim County Administrator Butch Smith reported to the commission that the move was going well and hopefully would be ready to serve the public Wednesday morning. Smith said that Probate Judge Rogene Booker and Revenue Commissioner Terry Sullivan have been working very hard to get the respective offices set up and ready to go.

43 YEARS AGO
JULY 19, 1979

Castleberry Mayor Forrest Moore Castleberry, 76, died Fri., July 13, in a Monroeville hospital. He had served continuously as mayor since 1963.
A native of Castleberry and member of a prominent family, Mayor Castleberry attended the University of Alabama before beginning a journalism career that lasted 40 years, from 1923 until his retirement in 1963. During his long, outstanding career, he worked at newspapers in Alabama and Florida as a reporter and news editor including The Courant, The Birmingham News, The Montgomery Advertiser-Journal and The Mobile Register. He also was bureau chief in the capital for United Press International at one time.
Mayor Castleberry’s last journalistic assignment was as political reporter of The Alabama Journal. In addition to serving his hometown as mayor, he also represented Conecuh County in the State House of Representatives at one time.

Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key administers the oath of office to Tax Collector J. Marvin Johnston for his third term of office. Johnston was first elected to the office in 1966, re-elected in 1972 and again last year.

Tax Assessor Delma E. Bowers was sworn in by Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key for his fourth term of office as assessor. Bowers was first elected to the office in 1960 and won re-election in 1966, 1972 and again last year. Judge Key administered the oath of office to Bowers and Tax Collector Marvin Johnston on Friday.

68 YEARS AGO
JULY 15, 1954

Ottis David Smith Returns From Germany: Cpl. Ottis David Smith, who has been in Germany the past 18 months with the 26^th Infantry Regiment, stationed at Bamburg, returned home last week and received his discharge at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Cpl. Smith was born and reared in Conecuh County near Herbert. He will make his home in Leesburg, Fla., where he will be employed by Leesburg Fertilizer Co.

Union Bank To Hold Open House Saturday: The Union Bank of Repton will hold an open house Saturday to give customers and friends an opportunity to look over their building, which has been remodeled, according to Vice-President R.E. Binion.
Mr. Binion said that the interior space of the bank has been doubled and the building is completely air-conditioned for the comfort of customers. An automatic heating system has also been installed and restrooms and a water cooler.
A modern lighting system now brightens up the interior. The floors are of asphalt tile and the interior walls are attractive with pine paneling that comes up some four feet from the floor level. A new aluminum front and glass door has dressed up the exterior of the bank and the entire building has been covered with “Permastone.”
Mr. Binion invites everyone in Conecuh County to come and inspect the “new” bank Saturday from 8 to 3 at the open house. The directors are justly proud of the bank which is a credit to Repton.

93 YEARS AGO
JULY 18, 1929

LISTER HILL TO ADDRESS FARMERS HERE – Congressman And Other Visitors To Speak At Rally Friday Morning: A country-wide rally of Conecuh farmers will occur at the county courthouse Fri., July 19, at 10 o’clock. Several speakers of note are on the program, chief of whom is Hon. Lister Hill, congressman from this district. Congressman Hill will give an explanation of how the new Farm Relief Bill will operate to benefit the farmers.

CASTLEBERRY’S STRIKE GUESTS NOW GONE – Strike-Breakers That Have Been Quartered In Castleberry Leave Tuesday – Castleberry, Ala., July 17: Castleberry was free of visiting strike-breakers today for the first time since Sun., July 7. During that 10-day period, a total of 440 men were stationed here at one time or another, awaiting orders to go into New Orleans to man street cars which were idle there because of the strike of street railwaymen.
The last of the men, who were recruited from such eastern and middle western cities as New York, Buffalo, Philadelphia and Chicago, left for New Orleans on special coaches booked to No. 3 Tuesday night.
The first special train arrived Sunday afternoon, July 7, and brought 246 men, who remained here for more than a week. They began leaving for New Orleans Monday night of this week and by Tuesday morning, the last of them were gone but in the meantime another special train of 194 men had arrived during the night from Columbia, Tenn., where they had been stationed for several days.

118 YEARS AGO
JULY 20, 1904

Dr. E.L. Stallworth reached here last night from Las Vegas, New Mexico, having been called home by the illness of his two children. We are glad to learn that they are much better.

The Conecuh Guards, under command of Capt. P.M. Bruner, left on Monday for Owenton, near Birmingham, to spend a week in camp.

New Secret Order: The Weatherford Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men was organized here Thursday night, July 14, and the following officers were elected: Great Prophet and Representative to the Great Council, Wm. H. Crawford, Esq.; Sachem, Charles B. Savage; Senior Sagamore, Dr. P.M. Bruner Jr.; Junior Sagamore, Harry Hopkins; Chief of Records, Calloway N. Stallworth; Keeper of Wampum, Leon Wiggins; Trustees, Frank L. Riley, Dr. G.G. Newton and Charles J. Crawford.

Work on Prof. Liner’s residence on Main Street is progressing satisfactorily and will be ready for occupancy within a few more weeks. It will be one of the neatest and most attractive homes on that popular thoroughfare.

James K. Kyser passed through here Saturday on his way home from St. Louis, where he attended the Democratic National Convention as a delegate from the first district. He was thoughtful enough to bring ye editor a Parker badge for which we are duly grateful.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for July 18, 2022

18 YEARS AGO
JULY 15, 2004

Evergreen Aggies Football Sign-Up: The Evergreen Aggies Football sign-up will be held Sat., July 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Piggly Wiggly. A $25 registration fee and copy of birth certificate are due at sign-in. For more information, contact Alfred Willis.

43 YEARS AGO
JULY 19, 1979

Pritchard is head coach Lyeffion High: Roger Pritchard, a graduate assistant football coach at Alabama State University, Montgomery, has been named head football and basketball coach at Lyeffion High School.
Pritchard, a native of Fort Myers, Fla., was a three-year regular at linebacker for the Hornets after transferring to ASU from The Citadel. He is a 1972 graduate of North Fort Myers High School where he was a star football player.
The 24-year-old Pritchard inherits a football team at Lyeffion High School that went 2-8 last year, but he hopes to improve the small Class A team by stressing fundamentals when practice begins Aug. 6.
“You have to build a foundation before you can put a roof on it,” he said. “This first year, I’m going to teach basics and try to get the people in the area interested in our football program.”
Pritchard’s top assistant will be former Alabama State defensive tackle Edward Johnson of Chicago, Ill.

68 YEARS AGO
JULY 15, 1954

City Softball Loop Of 6 Teams Formed; Play Begins Tonight: The City Recreation Department has formed a six team softball league, Director Bill Parsons announced today. Play will open in the league tonight at Brooks Stadium at 7:30 o’clock. Games are scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday nights for the remainder of the summer.
A practice game between The Spotlight and Evergreen Equipment Co. was held Tuesday night. The game was held to try out the lights and to promote interest in the league. A small crowd of spectators enjoyed a game spotted with spills, brilliant plays and some not so brilliant plays.
In addition to the two teams just mentioned, the other entries are American Legion, Junior Chamber of Commerce, Evergreen Kiwanis Club and Southern Coach Mfg. Co., Inc. Teams are sponsored by these organizations, but players do not have to be associated with them.
Doubleheaders will be played every Tuesday and Thursday nights. The first game will start promptly at 7:30 and the second will get underway at 8:30.

Greenies And Paul Split Doubleheader: The Evergreen Greenies and the Paul Aces divided a Sunday afternoon doubleheader played on the Paul diamond. The Aces racked up a 6-4 win in the opener, but the Greenies came back in the night cap and registered a 5-3 victory. Both were well played games and seven-inning affairs.
Paul’s winning battery in the first game was Harold Godwin on the mound and McClain behind the plate. George Gaston was credited with the loss and Clint Ward was behind the plate for Evergreen. Linzie Pate banged out three hits in as many trips to the plate to lead the winners. Warren Bolton with two for four was best for the losers.
The Greenies got off to an early lead and were in front 2-0 at the end of three innings and 4-3 going into the last frame, but the Aces rallied for three runs and the decision.
The Greenies broke a 2-2 tie in their half of the last inning with a three-run outburst as they took the game 5 to 3 behind the hurling of J.W. Windham. Ward was behind the plate again. Hassell was the losing pitcher with McClain behind the plate again.
Clayton and McClain had two hits in four trips for Paul and Jeff Moorer and Windham identical records for the Greenies.

93 YEARS AGO
JULY 18, 1929

The Castleberry baseball team played and won three games from the strike-breakers by scores of 12-3, 5-2 and 5-1. The first game was played Mon., July 8, and the last two on Mon., July 14.

118 YEARS AGO
JULY 20, 1904

Bermuda vs. Sugar Hill: Belleville, July 18 – On the 16^th inst., the Bermuda and Sugar Hill baseball clubs crossed bats on the batter’s diamond, resulting in a score of 8 to 12 in Bermuda’s favor.
The Sugar Hill team played a hard game, but Wilson’s masterly pitching, his brother’s excellent catching and the fielders’ brilliant work proved too much for them.
|To say that the Bermuda team was treated royally by the citizens of Sugar Hill poorly expresses it. At 12 o’clock, dinner was spread in the beautiful oak grove adjoining the ground and everyone was invited to come up and partake in the delicious eatables, which everyone seemed to enjoy.

The presence of a bear in the vicinity of D.G. Rutland’s on Monday aroused considerable interest among some of our sportsmen and a number of them went out with guns and dogs to hunt old bruin down, but failed to locate him. It is said the bear has been seen by several persons in that community.

Betts: Several of our young people together with a crowd from Burnt Corn went on a fishing expedition to Roberson’s mill several days ago. The heavy rains prevented much fishing, but the mill house furnished a nice shelter under which dinner was served. The afternoon was spent in eating watermelons, playing Flinch, etc.

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

USS Monterey (CVL-26)

18 YEARS AGO
JULY 15, 2004

Colonial Bank announced Saturday that it will donate the building previously used as one of its branch offices to the Town of Repton.
Town officials are now planning to move Repton’s Town Hall, located on Front Street in Repton, to the newly donated building. The bank’s former office, located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 and Jones Street in Repton, recently closed.
The announcement about the donation came Saturday during the town’s Heritage Homecoming Festival and School Reunion.
Repton Mayor Terri Carter said she was pleased and excited about the donation to the town.

MA hires coach: Joe Nettles, a native of Pine Hill, has been hired as Monroe Academy’s head football coach, replacing Don Smith, who resigned last week.
Nettles, 56, coached Alma Bryant High School, a Class 6A public school in Irvington, the past two seasons, leading the team to a 7-3 record last year.
Monroe Academy Athletic Director Ronnie Williams said the school is “fortunate” to have hired Nettles. Williams said Monroe Academy’s board of directors approved Nettles’ nomination for the job at Tuesday’s board meeting at the school.

Library donation: Katie Farish, a volunteer with the Monroe County Heritage Museums, presents Bunny Nobles, director of the Monroe County Library, with copies of the “Index to the Creek, Chickasaw, Seminole, Cherokee and Choctaw Rolls” last Thursday at the Monroeville library. These reference books will be placed in the library’s Dr. Woodrow Eddins Genealogy Room.

43 YEARS AGO
JULY 19, 1979

Pine beetles strike county trees: The Southern Pine Beetle has infected the forests of 34 Alabama counties, including Monroe, and, if left unchecked, will destroy millions of dollars of timber, according to C.W. Moody, state forester with the Alabama Forestry Commission.
Monroe County forester Gary Cole, Conecuh County forester Victor Howell and George Simpson, district pilot, did an aerial survey of Monroe County recently.
The northern part of Monroe County has been hit the hardest, Cole said. Below Monroeville, where the pine types change to primarily long leaf, the trees have been affected very little, he said.

Monroeville All-stars triumph in Babe Ruth regional tourney: The Monroeville Babe Ruth 14- and 15-year-old All-stars pounded Bay Minette 16-1 Tuesday night in Monroeville to win the Babe Ruth area tournament. Pearlie Broughton was the winning pitcher in the championship game with relief help from Von Ham.
(Other players on Monroeville’s team included Ken Ackerman, Willie Armstrong, Mac Baker, Todd Hamilton, Bill Hudson, Ray Laffitte and Kelvin Lett. Ronnie Dees was the team’s coach.)

Monroeville Jayceettes to hold disco dance-a-thon Friday: The Monroeville Jayceettes will sponsor a disco dance-a-thon tomorrow (Friday) night at the Vanity Fair Community House to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The dance will begin at 7 p.m. and last until 1 a.m. with WMFC radio providing the music. Admission is $1.50 for individuals and $2 for couples. Participants will be eligible for prizes and gifts donated by area merchants.

68 YEARS AGO
JULY 15, 1954

Principal At Beatrice Resigns To Accept Position In Georgia: Resignation of Robert Couch, principal at Beatrice High School, effective at the end of this month, was announced Wednesday by H.G. Greer of Monroeville, county superintendent of education.
Mr. Couch has resigned to accept a position as assistant football coach, head basketball coach and instructor of high school subjects at the high school at Brunswick, Ga.
He has been principal at Beatrice for the past three years, coming there from the school at Sweet Water, where he was coach.

Babe Ruth All-Stars Bow To Legion Team From Pensacola, 5-0: The Monroeville Babe Ruth League All-Stars were losers in a tilt at Vanity Fair Park last Saturday night to an American Legion nine from Pensacola, Fla., 5-0.
Winning pitchers for the Florida representation were Williams and Cobb, who gave up only one hit to Monroeville sluggers in a total of 20 times at bat. Loser for the locals was John Fowler, who allowed the Pensacolans five hits for 30 times at bat.
Cobb, first baseman, got Monroeville’s sole hit, while Williams, pitcher, led hitting for the Pensacola team with one for one.

Monroeville Scouts Cruising On Carrier: Members of Monroeville’s Boy Scout Troop No. 24 left Wednesday night for Pensacola to visit the Naval Air Station and a cruise today (Thursday) on the aircraft carrier, USS Monterey. According to Scoutmaster Frank Meigs, the troop planned to spend Wednesday night on the base and eat breakfast and lunch on the Monterey on which they will spend all of today cruising in the Gulf of Mexico.

93 YEARS AGO
JULY 18, 1929

CHURCH ANNIVERSARY: A most beautiful sacred hour was spent at the Methodist church at Frisco City on last Wednesday evening when the 15^th anniversary of the present church was celebrated.
The church never looked more beautiful and inviting than on this occasion, with a profusion of ferns and blooming plants about the chapel railing. Back of the altar was a little log church lighted with candles typifying the old church our forefathers worshipped in.
Mrs. Florence Nickles, in a most impressive manner, gave the history of the old Hickory Grove Church, she and her mother having organized a Sunday School in 1874.

Mr. Ralph Rumbley, farmer living near Monroeville, is the first to bring in an open boil of cotton. The open cotton was found Wednesday morning and is of the Cook Welt Resistant variety.

Congressman John McDuffie was in Monroeville Tuesday, receiving the cordial greetings of numerous friends. Mr. and Mrs. McDuffie spent some time at Tate Springs after the adjournment of congress and will remain for a few weeks among relatives and friends in Monroe.

Messrs. Lucian Jones and Charles Cole attended the formal opening of the Goodyear Tire plant at Gadsden last week.

FOR SALE: Two 50-pound cans of good homemade lard at a bargain, Mrs. M. Hatter, Drewry, Ala.

Mr. and Mrs. C.V. Hines are comfortably installed in their handsome new home.

118 YEARS AGO
JULY 21, 1904

Mrs. Q. Salter returned home Thursday after a fortnight’s pleasant sojourn at the Wilcox Mineral Springs, Schuster, Ala.

Dr. Rankin of Montgomery spent Monday and Tuesday here prospecting with a view to locating for the practice of his profession.

Mr. W.R. Blackwell was up from Manistee Wednesday and dropped in to see us briefly. He says the soil is becoming dry and rain would be welcomed in his neighborhood.

Mr. S.F. Cunningham, the popular traveling salesman for a leading Mobile house, was around taking orders of local merchants last week.

Mr. John I. Watson has about completed his handsome new dwelling and the painters are at work beautifying its exterior.

Mr. J.E. Smith has had his dwelling neatly painted, adding greatly to the attractiveness of its appearance.

Capt. Thos. S. Wiggins has been confined to his home several days with a painful abscess of the foot.

Mr. Hotchkiss, representing the printing house of Marshall & Bruce, Nashville, was in the city Tuesday.

OBITUARY: On the 14^th inst., God took for himself the immortal soul of our comrade and friend, Charles Busey. In 1861, responding to the call of duty, he enlisted in Captain Foster’s company in which he served one year, and then was transferred to the artillery in which he rendered gallant service until he was paroled at the close of the war.

Singleton tells of old log house near Midway with rock-and-mud chimney

Old log house near Midway: you could feel the warmth

(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 “Log house evokes memories” was originally published in the Nov. 20, 1975 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Today as we sit in our air-conditioned and centrally heated homes, we are inclined to forget about how it was not too long ago.

When we get cool, we turn up the thermostat, or if we are in bed, we turn up the electric blanket to our desired comfort.

If we become too hot, we reach over from our armchair and make the necessary adjustments, and soon, the whole house is cool again.

A few weeks ago, while traveling near the Midway community, I came upon a house which has none of these conveniences.

Hours of hard work

The old log house with the rock-and-mud chimney gave evidence that many hours of hard work had gone into its construction.

The care and patience with which the chimney was constructed were to be marveled at. The way the rocks were fitted together so as to get the most possible strength out of the structure was to be admired.

The painstaking care with which the logs were notched together made it easy to see that an early craftsman was involved in the raising of the house.

The seasoned, weathered look of the logs and floors was testimony that the house had been around since the early 1800s.

Many winters’ warmth

The old fireplace inside the house looked as though it had warmed the owners for many winters. The old mantle piece stood as a reminder of the past years, of the good ones and the bad.

One could see that there had been many hours of happiness around the fireside. One could feel the warmth press forth, causing one to turn and warm the side that wasn’t near the fire.

Looking into the old fireplace caused me to remember when I sat as a small boy before a fireplace and listened with wide-eyed wonder at the stories relayed by my parents and grandparents. Some of these stories are still vivid in my memory and forever will remain to remind me of my youth and its richness.

I remember, too, when I would stand in front of the fire, just before going off to bed. I would turn around several times, getting warm on all sides, and then make a mad dash to the distant bedroom and submerge myself beneath the covers with only my nose sticking out.

Lost togetherness

I think that much of the togetherness that was present in families years back, when everyone sat around the fireplace, has been lost.

In our great quest for comfort and convenience, we might have sacrificed one of the things that our society needs most. The ability to just sit and listen – to be seen and not heard – is a goal that many seek, but few attain.

(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.)

Little remains of the old Vocation community in Monroe County, Ala.

Coley Chapel United Methodist Church.

The drive along the Neuschwander Road is one of the most pleasant drives that you can take in the southern part of Monroe County. This six-mile stretch of dirt road runs from State Highway 21 at Uriah to Butler Street at Coley Chapel and takes travelers across Little River and the Alabama & Gulf Coast Railway tracks.

I was in this part of the county on Friday afternoon and pulled off the road just west of the railroad tracks. I walked to the top of the tracks and found myself surrounded by miles of open farmland. There didn’t seem to be anyone around for miles.

While there isn’t much to see at this railroad crossing today, I knew this wasn’t always the case. Way back in Alabama’s early history this area was known as the Hadley community. It was once the site of MacDavid’s Hotel, a stop along the Old Federal Road that was loved by travelers as far back the 1830s for serving “plenty of very nice pork.” Hadley was once so large that it even had its own post office from 1894 to 1909.

In the 1920s, this community changed its name to Vocation, and “downtown” Vocation was located right where the railroad tracks cross the Neuschwander Road, about half a mile west of Butler Street. The name change came about due to the establishment of a sizeable school known as the Coley-Blacksher Vocational School for Boys, which was in operation for at least four years, from 1921 to 1925.

The school was built in 1921 about a quarter of a mile east of the railroad tracks and was large enough to house 50 boys, who were taught vocational skills and modern farming practices. Several hundred acres of land had been donated to the school by the wealthy Blacksher family and A.M. Coley. This school even featured a 22x50-foot swimming pool, where students were given some of the earliest formal swimming lessons in county history.

A sizeable community grew up around this early school, and Vocation even had its own post office from 1922 to 1932. Vocation was also a railroad stop, but if it had a depot, it must have been a small one. For folks living in this part of the county, the Vocation rail stop was an important link to places like Monroeville, Atmore and beyond.

My grandmother grew up in this area before World War II, and she told of how she and her family would walk from their house on the Old Stage Road to catch the train at Vocation. To catch the train, you’d walk up to the train stop and drop a flag that let approaching train conductors know you wanted the train to stop. They would often get on the train, go to Atmore and return once they’d finished their business there.

Today, the most significant landmark at Vocation is the Coley Chapel United Methodist Church, which is visible from the railroad crossing on the Neuschwander Road. This church is located on Butler Street, just north of the Monroe-Escambia County line. Despite this church’s apparent age, there is no graveyard anywhere nearby, so one is left to wonder where the congregation buried its dead in years past.

In the end, let me hear from you if you have any additional information about the early history of the Vocation community, the Coley-Blacksher Vocational School for Boys or Coley Chapel UMC. I’m especially interested in any old ghost stories, local legends or Indian lore from this part of the county, so if you know of anything along these lines, please let me know.

Snow Hill Institute was added to Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on July 14, 1981

Snow Hill Institute

Today – July 14 – marks 41 years since Snow Hill Institute was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 1981.

I was out riding around on Saturday and eventually found myself on County Road 26, driving towards the old Snow Hill Institute. I turned down Edwards Drive and eased down to the old school campus, where I parked at the historical marker in front of the school. I have been to these old school grounds many times before, and not much had changed since my last visit a couple of years ago.

Those of you familiar with the historical marker at the school will know that it tells about how educator William James Edwards and planter R.O. Simpson founded Snow Hill Institute in 1893. The school was eventually listed on the National Register of Historic Places after it closed in 1972. There’s no telling how many students walked the halls of this old school during its 80 years of operation.

When I think about Snow Hill Institute, I can’t help but think of the ghost stories I’ve heard from the Snow Hill area. One of the best-known stories is about a young coon hunter who was hot on the trail of a large coon that led the hunter and his pack of hounds through the dense woods near the school. When the hunter and his dogs arrived at the tree that they thought the coon had climbed, the hounds broke and ran away as fast as their legs could carry them.

The story goes that the hunter approached the tree but froze in his tracks when he looked up and saw an apparition sitting in the branches. The hunter locked eyes with this apparition and fled the woods. Many questions remain as to what the hunter saw, and I’ve never met anyone who could tell me what the apparition looked like.

Before heading home, I drove the short distance down County Road 26 and got out for a quick look at Institute Creek. As I stood there for a few moments beside the road looking at the creek, I listened for the sounds of the crying young woman who is said to haunt this neck of the woods. While I didn’t hear anything out of the ordinary, I did witness a blue bird flit down into the grass and depart with a luckless grasshopper in its beak.

The best version of the crying girl story that I know of can be found in a book called “Haunted Alabama Black Belt” by David Higdon and Brett Talley. According to Higdon and Talley, the girl came to Snow Hill all the way from Boston to attend Snow Hill Institute. She became severely home sick and depressed, and one day she walked to the creek and drowned herself in its muddy waters. “To this day, if you go down to the little creek beside the school, you can hear the sound of sobbing,” Higdon and Talley wrote.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone who has more details about the stories above. Also, if you know any other spooky tales from the Snow Hill area, let me hear from you. Many longtime residents of this area probably have their own ghost stories to tell about the Snow Hill area, and I’d like to hear them with my own two ears.

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for July 13, 2022

65 YEARS AGO
JULY 11, 1957

Little Leaguers In Close Matches: Camden’s Little League teams saw an active Monday this week. The Grays took a close win over the Blues in the first game and the Reds continued a winning streak by defeating the Whites in a close-fought battle that ended 4-3.
In the first game, the victorious Grays were led by Jimmy Bonner and Mike Martin with the Blues sparked by White Smith’s strong hitting. John Earl Sheffield pitched a six-hit game for the Grays.
The Red-White game was a thriller. The Reds pulled the first triple play of the season, started by the efficient fielding of Johnny Reeves. The Reds were led by the big bats of Johnny Webb and Johnny Ross. Four the Whites, David Sessions and Aubrey Morgan each got three hits.

INSTALLATION OES: Installation of Beck Chapter No. 371, Order of Eastern Star, will be held at the Masonic Hall Wednesday evening July 17 at 8 p.m. The public is cordially invited.

Sgt. Harry Prince returned Saturday after a three-month tour of duty in Africa and joined his wife and daughter who had been spending that time with her mother, Mrs. Audrey Moss. They left for Tennessee Tuesday morning to visit his relatives before returning to his base in Florida.

Scouts Pick Gates and Jimmy Lambert of Camden’s Troop 94 are attending the National Scout Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

76 YEARS AGO
JULY 11, 1946

J.I. Davis: Mr. J.I. Davis, 73, a well-known Wilcox citizen, died in King’s Memorial Hospital Wed., June 26, at 9 p.m. He was confined to his bed at his home at Fatama since suffering a cerebral hemmorage in late March. He was born near Monroeville but in early boyhood his parents moved to Wilcox.

Cattle For Sale: Entire herd of 230 head, High-Grade Angus, and Angus Shorthorn cattle for sale. Black Belt pastures may be leased along with sale. 13 miles east of Camden, near Darlington, Ala. – Judge Stonewall McConnico, Snow Hill, Ala.

Prof. J.E. Williams is at home after undergoing a recent operation at a New Orleans hospital.

Mr. Stearns Tait, who has recently been discharged from the service, is visiting his grandmother, Mrs. Frank Tait.

Mrs. Edward Morris and little daughter left Monday for Montgomery, where they will meet Lt. Morris, who has just returned from overseas.

Misses Frances Jones, Red Cross recreational worker stationed at Camp McClellan, spent the past weekend with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Clark Jones.

Mrs. L.P. Andrews and children, Hays, Betty Lou and Henri, have returned home after a trip to Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. They spent a few days at Camp Campbell, Ky. with Lt. Parker Andrews and Mrs. Andrews, then at Fort Knox with Pvt. Jim Andrews. While in Kentucky, they visited the Mammoth Cave, also the famous race track, Churchill Downs.

85 YEARS AGO
JULY 8, 1937

Mr. and Mrs. Drayton Pruitt of Livingston announce the arrival of a fine son they have named Drayton Jr.

Mr. E.B. Walling, a former Camden resident of Salinas, Calif., was a Camden visitor this week for the first time in 37 years. He was given a warm welcome by former friends.

LOST: One large fox hound (male), color black and white, large scar on left hind leg. Name of dog, Dock. Will pay reward for recovery. – K.E. AGEE, Lamison, Ala.

Barbecue and fish fry Thurs., July 15, at Bridgeport – Boat riding and swimming – Everybody invited, ladies especially. Dinner served at 1:30 p.m. – Dinner, 40 cents.

Mrs. Eunice Houseman of Mobile, District Supervisor of W.P.A, was the house guest of Miss Julia Jones Monday and Tuesday. She returned to Mobile Wednesday accompanied by Miss Jones who is a business visitor in the Gulf City.

Arlington: The many friends and relatives of Mrs. J.M. Tarlton deeply sympathize with her in the loss of her father, Sheriff Tom Shields of Linden, whose death occurred Saturday morning at a hospital in Selma.

Oak Hill: Rev. and Mrs. W.C. Halliday, Jane and Patsy left Wednesday for Flat Rock, N.C. to attend Bon Clarken Conference and will visit relatives in South Carolina.

95 YEARS AGO
JULY 14, 1927

Camden and Vredenburgh played a 13-inning game here last Saturday, the score being 5 and 5. Hines for Camden pitched a nice game, striking out 18 men. Farish pitched well for Vredenburgh.

Supt. and Mrs. W.J. Jones were in Brewton Tuesday on school business.

R.E. Lambert and sons of Darlington received from Indiana Tuesday by the L&N Railroad, a very handsome Hereford bull, which weighs over 2,000 pounds. It was led through town and was admired by many of the citizens who are interested in thoroughbred stock. They also own another bull which is even handsomer than this one.

JENKINS MOST DANGEROUS – Big Wichita Falls Hitter Is Climbing Back Toward Top: Tom Jenkins led the Texas league in hitting last year. He is not leading the circuit this year due to a poor start, but he is still the most dangerous man in the league at the bat. He has also developed into a splendid outfielder. Jenkins is deserving of a thorough trial in the majors. If given the same chance that Metzer was given, Jenkins would no doubt prove a star. He can hit all sorts of pitching hard.

The friends of Mr. A.M. Pearson, a former Wilcox County High School student, will be glad to know that he has received an appointment at West Point, and has already gone to that institution to continue his studies. He was a student at Auburn during the past session, where he did excellent work, and his many friends here will watch his career with interest. A.M. has made his home in Camden with his aunt Mrs. W.W. Primm since the death of his parents a number of years ago.

105 YEARS AGO
JULY 12, 1917

FURMAN: Furman community has recently had a sad experience in the death of young Merritt Knight, son of Mr. J.E. Knight and wife, one of our most extended families. Our young friend and brother had completed his course in pharmacy at Auburn a year ago, and secured a position in Birmingham, when the country’s call came for men and he enlisted in the hospital corps and was stationed first at Newport, R.I. about the first of March of this year. He was later transferred to the Navy Yard hospital service at Chelsea, Mass., where he contracted pneumonia and died in a few days. His remains were shipped to his home by the government and on June 26 his body was laid to rest, clad in the Navy uniform of our great country, in which service he gave his young life.
In the presence of all our people, this is the first of the sons of Wilcox County to give up his life in this great war, was buried in the old Palmer cemetery at Furman.

Dale Lodge No. 25, A.F.&A.M., will meet in Special Communication on Thurs., July 12, inst., at 8 p.m. for the purpose of installing officers, balloting on petitions, transacting routine business of importance. Our proposition that will be made is to exempt from payment of dues during the period of the war all members of the Lodge who enters the Army. If the candidate is present, there will be work in the Entered Apprentice degree, by order of the Worshipful Master. – J.C. Benson, Secretary.

Mr. Edwin Hart has enlisted in the band of the Second Alabama Infantry and is now in training camp at Montgomery.