Singleton describes thunderstorm at Nancy Mountain in August 1989

View from atop Nancy Mountain. 

(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 “Thundershower on mountain like army going into battle” was originally published in the Aug. 17, 1989 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I suppose that by now my readers should know how much I enjoy going to the top of Nancy Mountain and spending the afternoon, or all day if the time is available. There is something about this place that seems to draw me to it like a powerful magnet.

Many times, when I get depressed or tired of the happenings of the world, I retreat to the top of my favorite hill, Nancy Mountain, and my troubles seem to disappear.

A few days back, it seemed that I could do nothing right. Everything that I undertook turned out as if something was trying to see just how messed up I could become. I grabbed my favorite snack, mounted my trail bike, and headed northward for a moment of peace and gathering of thoughts.

As I headed up Highway 41, I noticed that the clouds seemed to hang heavy over the west. As I wheeled my bike toward my destination, the thunderheads seemed to grow larger and become darker. I knew that if I could make it to the top of the mountain, I could protect myself from the weather by getting under the pavilion.

Luck was with me. I parked my trail bike under the pavilion just as a few extra-large drops of rain began to fall and make a very soothing sound on the leaves of the trees and the top of the pavilion. As the rain grew harder, I knew that I was in for an afternoon of relaxation and contentment.

I selected myself a cozy and comfortable place, then I turned my eyes to the heavy thunderclouds that seemed to be gathering out over the mighty river and the great valley that lay before me.

As the clouds assembled, the thought came to mind just how much they resembled a great army preparing itself for battle. I watched as the front-most line formed and drew closer together as if preparing for the great charge that was to follow. The many smaller clouds seemed to gather slowly and attached themselves to the rear flanks of the great mass that stood ready to do battle.

Then, as if all the movements were pre-planned, great blades of lightning streaked across the front of the ready army of thunderclouds as giant swords were being flashed as a show-of-force spectacle. The foremost thunderhead seemed to boil straight up like a giant pot that had boiled to overflowing.

As if some pre-arranged signal had been given, the mighty army of thunderheads began to move slowly to the east. Great streaks of rain looked as if a giant curtain had been dropped below the line of mighty thunder warriors – as if their intent was to cover the enemy completely while the great army moved onward to do battle with the unseen enemy.

As I sat in awe and marveled at the great spectacle that was before me, I wondered how anyone who had ever witnessed a movement of this magnitude could ever doubt for a moment that there is a God. I felt like the writer of the great hymn “Rock of Ages” as he sought shelter in the rocky side of a cliff from a storm such as this. And, as I sat there and watched with amazement, I felt that I had been led there that day for the purpose of witnessing this great event, as though it had been pre-planned for my benefit and no one else’s.

As the great army of the clouds moved onward to the east, the noise of the chariots and the thousands of horses’ hooves faded into the distance. The low rumble of the thunder sounded as if the battle had been fought and only a few skirmishes on the flanks of the stragglers were rounded up.

The winds had now softened to a whisper. The tall pines gently swayed as if saying that it was all over. Peace was being restored to all the top of Nancy Mountain. The raindrops clung to the leaves as though awaiting a signal to fall to the earth. Small animals came out of their shelters as if they had been waiting for the advancing army to bring peace once more to their land.

I stood for a moment facing the great river and the deep valley below me. I knew once again why I had come. I raised my arms to the heavens. This was my place, the place where I could draw strength from my surroundings. This was my place where I could talk to my Creator and he would listen, and I would know that through him all things were possible.

Regretfully, I rolled my trail bike from under the canopy. I felt that I was leaving a friend. I took one last look across the vast valley. I started the stubborn engine of my transportation. As I made my way down the muddy road, these words kept ringing in my head: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.”

(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.)