Hike through Wetumpka, Alabama historic park features Indian mound

Monument at Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson.

About seven years ago, Daphne outdoors writer Joe Cuhaj published a great guidebook called “Hiking through History: Alabama.” This 230-page book details 40 different hikes at various historic sites throughout the state, including hikes at Moundville, Horseshoe Bend, Old Cahaba and St. Stephens. These hikes are a great way to explore Alabama historic sites, especially if you’ve never been there before.

One such historic site that I’d never been to before was the Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson Park in Wetumpka, not from where the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers flow into the Alabama River. This site was occupied for thousands of years by the Indians before the French built a military outpost there in 1717. Later, U.S. forces led by General Andrew Jackson built a fort there during the Creek Indian Wars.

Today, the state operates a historic park and campground at the site to promote and preserve the location’s unique history. Cuhaj’s book includes a self-guided hike of the park as well as a lot of background information on the park’s history and points of interest.

My wife and I rode up to the park on Saturday morning to take the hike in “Hiking through History.” We got there around 9 a.m., and rain earlier that morning had cooled things off nicely. For a hike in the middle of July in Alabama, it was especially pleasant.

The hike begins at the park’s visitors center, which is located inside an old house that was originally located in Lowndes County. This house, officially known as the Graves House, was built between 1825 and 1830 by David Graves, the son of a Revolutionary War veteran and ancestor of Alabama Gov. Bibb Graves. Inside, you’ll find a wide variety of historic displays and a scale model of Fort Jackson.

Not far from there, the trail takes you past a monument to Jean-Louis Forteneau, a sergeant in the French Colonial Marines. He was born in France in 1686 and died at Fort Toulouse in 1755. He is said to be the progenitor of all the Forteneaus in North America, and his descendants erected the monument to him in 1998.

Another big stop on the trail is an ancient Indian mound that sits on a bluff on the Coosa River. It’s said that the chief’s house was built on a platform on top of the mound. When the chief died, villagers tore down the house and covered it with a layer of earth before building a home for their new chief in the same location. Over the years, the mound grew higher and higher.

Not far from the mound, you’ll find a partial reconstruction of Fort Jackson. The original fort had walls that were seven feet high and surrounded by a moat. Sharpened stakes around the walls made the fort a strongly defended position.

On the way home, Crystal and I talked about going back to the fort in November. Each November, the park hosts a big event called Alabama Frontier Days, which is said to be one of the largest annual living history events in the state. As of Monday, an exact date had not been set for this year’s Frontier Days, but it will be held sometime in November.

Wilcox-Monroe county line passes across Walnut Street in Vredenburgh

Vredenburgh Mayor Calvert Wright

If you ever find yourself traveling north on Walnut Street in Vredenburgh, pay close attention to the pavement. Just north of the Bay Street intersection, a sharp-eyed motorist will notice that there’s a distinct change in the pavement, a visible line across the street where newer pavement meets older pavement. This line marks the border between Wilcox County and Monroe County.

I was in Vredenburgh a few days ago and ran into Vredenburgh Mayor Calvert Wright. Wright, a retired corrections officer, was appointed to the position of mayor several years ago by Gov. Kay Ivey, a native of Wilcox County who also has strong family ties to Monroe County. Wright and I talked for a while, and I eventually asked him if he knew where the Wilcox County line passed through the town.

He hopped in my truck and directed me down Bay Street and onto Walnut Street. We parked and got out, and he showed me the line of pavement across the street. Wilcox is on the north side of the line, and Monroe is on the south side.

Later, former Vredenburgh resident Julia Richardson told me that she’d always heard that the county line ran right through the First Baptist Church of Vredenburgh building, which is a stone’s throw from Walnut Street. During services, the preacher is said to be standing in one county while the congregation is seated in another. This reminded me of the historic Mt. Moriah Fellowship Baptist Church near Pine Apple, which sits astride the Wilcox and Butler County line.

Behind the First Baptist Church of Vredenburgh, you’ll also find a sizeable cemetery. Just eyeballing it, I’d say that it contains about 50 marked graves. The oldest that I saw there belonged to Deacon James Hardy Sr., who passed away in 1951.

Today, about 220 people live in Vredenburgh, which has a very interesting history. Due to its location, it has always had strong ties to both Wilcox and Monroe counties. Even today, many from the Vredenburgh area do their business in Camden, which is a lot closer than to Vredenburgh than Monroeville.

According to “Places Names in Alabama” by Virginia R. Foscue, Vredenburgh was founded and named for Peter Vredenburgh II of Springfield, Illinois. He built a sawmill there in 1912, one year after a post office was established there. The town was officially incorporated in 1913.

Interestingly, when I looked through old issues of The Wilcox Progressive Era, the oldest reference to Vredenburgh that I found was in the Oct. 1, 1908 edition of the newspaper. On the front page of that week’s paper, it was reported that the “dry kilns of the Vredenburgh Saw Mill, which were destroyed several weeks past by fire, are being rapidly replaced by a handsome brick kiln.” The paper also reported that Messrs. R.E. Kelley and Tom Lacy had resigned their positions with the Vredenburgh Saw Mill Co. and had left several days before for places in Mississippi and Louisiana.

In the end, if you ever find yourself in Vredenburgh, take a few minutes to drive down Walnut Street. Keep an eye out for where the pavement changes and know that you are traveling over the boundary between two neighboring counties with a lot of shared history.

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

Monroe County Airport in Monroeville, Ala.

33 YEARS AGO
JULY 26, 1990

Construction of a new firemen’s training facility in Monroeville is now underway near the Monroe County Agricultural Center. When completed, it will serve as a training ground for Monroeville firemen, with other firefighters in the county invited to train there also.
Firemen in Monroe County currently train in an old, unsafe building, according to Monroeville Fire Chief Eddie Everette.

Mobile’s teams dominated the Advanced Babe Ruth south-state, all-star baseball tournament held at Patrick Henry State Junior College in Monroeville last week.
Mobile City defeated Monroe County’s all-stars, 5-0, Thursday and, 6-1, Saturday to win the tournament for 16-year-old players.
Mobile City downed Mobile County, 6-4, Sunday evening to win the double-elimination tournament for 17-and-18-year olds at Patrick Henry.
The 11-inning championship game had to be completed under the lights at Monroe County High School’s baseball field in Monroeville.
(Standout players on Monroe County’s 16-year-old team included Nick Ackerman, Mike Bishop, Richard Chatman, Steve Goodman, Trey Harris and Mitchell Turberville. Standout players on Monroe County’s 17-and-18-year-old team included Scott Biggs, Nathan Black, Carlos Booker, Donnie Faulk, Dallas Gamble, Byron Kemp, Mark Klumpp, James Lee and Willie Peoples.)

58 YEARS AGO
JULY 29, 1965

Workers began putting down base material on the new Monroe County Airport Wednesday. If weather permits, county officials said the airport should be paved and ready for use in about three months. Work started on the airport last year.

Due to a brilliant pitching and hitting performance by one player, the Atmore Little League All Star team downed the Monroeville Little League All Stars, 7-1, last Thursday night at Atmore in the area tournament.
Monroeville managed only one hit during the game, that begin made by Charles Rawls, which came after a walk to Bill Grant in the fourth inning.
(Other outstanding Monroeville players in that game included Riley Dawson and Ronnie Taylor.) 

A search for a Monroeville man missing since Sunday night was called off Wednesday afternoon after about two days of intensive searching.
Sheriff Charlie Sizemore said Wednesday afternoon all possible leads had been exhausted by about 40 volunteers, members of the Monroe County Rescue Squad and the sheriff’s department.
Sheriff Sizemore identified the missing man as Tom Clausell, about 72.
The sheriff said the man apparently walked off from his house in the Clausell area of Monroeville Sunday night but wasn’t reported missing to him until Monday afternoon.

83 YEARS AGO
JULY 25, 1940

Mr. Charles Finklea will leave Sunday for Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, where he will buy fall and winter goods in the markets there for the Finklea & Finklea Store. He will be absent about one week.

The Boy Scouts of Frisco City left Tuesday afternoon for Ward’s Creek, which is about five miles northwest of Frisco City. Early next morning, part of the boys explored a large cave, approximately 100 yards from where we were camping. We were accompanied by our Assistant Scout Master, Mr. Bennet Dean.

Fast Ball Game Scheduled Sunday: Monroeville baseball fans will have an opportunity to see one of the best ball games of the season when Monroeville and Thomasville teams cross bats on the local diamond, Sun., July 28.
Batteries will be composed of Digman and Stevens for Monroeville, and Slick Andress, Auburn star, and Hill, of the University, for Thomasville.
The game will be called promptly at three-thirty on the diamond at the new High School. Out of the six games played so far this season, Monroeville has won all but one.

The Monroe Feed Co. of Peterman announces the installation of the latest type feed mill to better serve its long list of customers.
The Monroe Feed Co. is doing a real service for the farmers. Instead of the farmer having to haul his feed to the mill, the mill goes to the farmer and right on his own premises grinds corn, hay, beans, peas, peanuts or any other crop into feed and prepares it for feeding to stock without waste.

108 YEARS AGO
JULY 29, 1915

The Fancy Grocery has removed to larger and more suitable quarters in the brick store next door to L.A. Hixon Co. on Westside where the proprietors have a larger and better stock more elegantly displayed than ever before.

The new well at the local pumping plant has been completed and the water was turned in the mains Tuesday afternoon. Although a little off color at first, the water appears to be of good quality and abundant in quantity. After 10 days of near famine the convenience of the water system can be more justly appreciated. The wells of the community were being rapidly exhausted.

The first open bolls of cotton of the new crop were sent to The Journal on the 24th inst. by Mr. J.E. Hendrix of Mexia.

The executive committee of the Monroe County Fair Association met in Monroeville last Thursday to fix the date and arrange the details for the holding of the County Fair this fall.
Oct. 19, 20 and 21 was fixed as the time for holding the Fair and a very liberal list of premiums agreed upon to supplement those offered by the Gulf Coast Fair Association.

Two bridges heretofore mentioned in this paper collapsed under heavy loads while a third fell in of its own weight within the past week. The last named bridge was known as the McCorvey Bridge which spanned Limestone Creek. 

Singleton tells of the coming of Sirius the Dog Star, Dog Days of summer

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “The reign of Sirius begins,” was originally published in the July 22, 2004 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As the dawn breaks across the heavens on Wednesday morning, this 28^th day of July, the reign of Sirius, the Dog Star, will begin.

For a total of 40 days, many events may happen that we as a society have come to give little or no thought about. In our society of fairyland and make believe, we have forgotten almost all of the old folk tales that were handed down through the past generations while they sat wide-eyed around the evening fires, listening to the tales and legends passed down to them by the older members of the families.

On this certain day in July, the Dog Star will take its place between our earth and the sun for a period of 40 days. Many events that we take for granted will change or disappear from the skies above us. Many happenings in our everyday lives will change or make a turn around during this period of time.

With our lives and entertainment centered around the boob tube, we might travel through this period and not be aware anything has changed or taken place.

The dog star does not appear on the same day in July each year. It can appear as early as the 20^th of July and as late as the 28^th of the month. The few who think they know something of this event think that Sirius appears always on the 28^th of July. This is not true. The position of the planets above relate the date of Sirius’s appearance in the heavens.

For example, should it rain on the first day of Dog Days, the legends state that it will rain for the remaining 40 days. If it should be dry on that first day, then the countryside will suffer a 40-day drought.

Another legend is that all snakes go blind during this period. Being unable to see and search for food, this causes them to become short-tempered and hungry. They will strike blindly at the slightest sound or movement, causing the risk of getting snake bit much greater to those who wander in the thick underbrush or tall weeds.

Another story is that milk cows give less milk during this time period. Hogs and cattle, dogs and various other animals that are born during Dog Days are less likely to survive than those born at other times during the year.

It is said that dogs are more likely to go mad or grow vicious during the reign of Sirius. Among us humans, our tempers tend to grow shorter and less patience is shown to those who cross us.

Cuts and bruises are slower to heal during this time. Our bodies seem to lose much of its resistance, and we become weaker during the passing of this evil star. Infection and fever blisters are said to be more common during this time as the devil star makes its journey across the heavens.

An early Indian legend has it that the cool, fresh drinking water found in the fresh water springs along the hillsides are less pure during the time when Sirius is on the prowl.

The early Indian paid a lot of attention to the coming of the Dog Star. If all possible, much of the crops that could be harvested were gathered and brought out of the fields before the arrival of Sirius.

If, during this 40 days, the weather was wet and rainy, legend has it that the thunder was more severe and the lightning that flashed across the darkened skies were more likely to strike the earth and cause damage to the villages along the rivers and streams.

The medicine men or the wind walkers of the tribes watched the heavens closely during this time, so they could warn their people of the dangers to come. They also believed that the spirits of the departed were more apt to wander on the winds of the evening during the reign of the devil star.

And, as the members of the tribes gathered around the evening fires, prayers were raised to the Great Spirit to ward off the curse of the devil star. This 40-day period was truly a time of mystery for the early Indian who roamed the hills and flatland of our area. Much of their life was based around this period of the year and signs that they looked for as the Dog Star made its way across the heavens.

Much of their religion was focused around this star that roamed at will between the earth and the sun. They watched the heavens and they watched the rivers, knowing that the mystery star would have great effect on their search for food in the deep waters of the great rivers. Living off the land as they did, all signs of the heavens were very important to their everyday living.

Today, in our modern lifestyles, we hear very little about the mystery signs and goings on within our universe. We pay little or no attention if it rains for 40 days or if it stays dry for this same period of time that starts in July and ends in September.

We pay little or no attention to the heavens on a clear night during the month of August when the full moon hangs high in the heavens. If it does not appear on our television sets, most times we know nothing of the happenings above us.

Once in a great while one might find a calendar that shows the start of the period of Dog Days. There was a time when much of the life of the local country folks was based on the signs of the heavens and what the almanac had to say about the planting and growing of crops.

Much was also done in regards to the signs of the moon. No farmer in their right mind would begin to plant his crops if the signs were not right. From planting corn to killing hogs bordered on the signs of the moon. And, even though the coming of the Dog Star was much surrounded in mystery, many of the older citizens of the farm communities kept an eye toward the heavens, hoping to know in advance what was about to happen next.

I don’t profess to be smart, but as I wander around the countryside and talk to the younger generation of our society about certain happenings and signs in the skies above to look for, I see total disinterest. Very few care whether it rains for 40 days unless it interferes with a trip to the beach or some local event of entertainment.

No one of our youth of today knows how to search for food that they can eat in the deep forests of our area or along the banks of our rivers. I am not a fatalist by no means, but it frightens me to know that our youth of today know totally nothing about how to survive if worst comes to worst.

In writing this article, I do not intend to preach my readers a sermon. But, I do believe that we, as creatures of this universe, should strive to learn all we can about this world that we live in and the heavens above it.

If we disregard the signs that have been place here for us to see and abide by, we are doomed to roam forever in a world that has no meaning. But if we try to understand that which is around us, our lives will be richer and many facts of the unknowns will come to life and even be helpful in our journey through time and distance.

So, as the 28^th of July approaches, take time to look and learn all you can about the devil star and the effect its journey across the heavens has on man and his surroundings.

Don’t be afraid to seek out a high hill on a night of the full moon and watch the heavens. It will surprise you what you will be witness to. Let us not journey through this life without learning something about this universe we call home.

(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 News Flashback for July 25, 2023

USS Coral Sea

25 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.

53 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.”

61 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.

72 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.

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

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley

18 YEARS AGO
JULY 28, 2005

Once again, Monroeville’s Mockingbird Players are stretching their wings and flying to Chicago to present their two-act play adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Leaving on Saturday, they will perform the play in Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art on Aug. 3-6.
Chicago already has a strong connection to the novel through its highly successful, “One Book, One Chicago” program. Presented in 2001, it brought the city together to read and discuss this powerful book.
At the invitation of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, the Mockingbird Players were to have been a part of that experience, but the tragedy of Sept. 11 postponed those plans.

MA hires two coaches: Monroe Academy has expanded its coaching staff, adding Johnnie Benavidez and Rick Raines to its staff.
“We’re very fortunate to get two coaches of their caliber,” said MA head football coach Joe Nettles.
Benavidez has a total of 29 years coaching experience, including 27 in the Alabama, Georgia and Florida public school system. Raines has a total of 28 years coaching experience in the Alabama Independent School Association.

First beer purchase: Monroeville businessman Jim Rowell leaves Darby’s Red & White grocery store last Thursday after making the first purchase of beer for off-premises consumption in Monroeville. Rowell said he is glad to purchase beer in Monroeville, knowing that the city will receive $1.10 from every 18-pack sold.

42 YEARS AGO
JULY 24, 1980

Cunningham makes tour of East Berlin: PFC Willie C. Cunningham, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Cunningham of Route 1, Peterman, recently entered East Berlin to observe conditions on the communist-controlled side of the Berlin Wall. Cunningham is a tank driver with the 11^th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fulda.
The excursion was part of an orientation tour intended “to give American soldiers a first-hand look at the differences between a free and a controlled society, so they can see for themselves why they are stationed in Europe,” according to Army officials.

Patrick Henry athletes receive B.E. Lee Award for high grade averages: Dewayne Gregson and Joe Hall were the winners of the 1980 B.E. Lee Award as the student-athletes with the highest academic averages at Patrick Henry State Junior College.
This is the 10^th straight year the award has been presented to PHJC athletes. The award is named for B.E. Lee of Monroeville, former president of Patrick Henry and a big supporter of Patriot athletic events.

Seismographic work seeks oil in county: A Dallas, Texas firm is doing exploration work in Monroe County, searching for possible fuel oil or coal deposits.
George Toombs of Geophysical Services Inc. says his firm is doing seismographic surveys of land west of Monroeville for a large oil firm, which he declined to identify.
Toombs said his firm explodes dynamite, then charts the vibrations. Their data is sent off to another firm to be compiled. “We never know if we found anything,” he said.
Toombs said it was “unethical” to reveal the name of the firm paying for the seismographic work.

68 YEARS AGO
JULY 28, 1955

Ralph Rumbley Brings First Open Boll Cotton: Ralph Rumbley who lives two miles east of Monroeville brought in the first open boll of cotton to The Journal Saturday morning.
Mr. Rumbley, who lives on the Frisco City-Drewry road, has 14 acres of cotton planted. Mr. Rumbley stated he expected to start picking his cotton about the middle of August.

Lillo Walker Named County Cotton Maid At Farmers’ Meet: A vivacious brown-haired 19-year-old with brown eyes, Miss Lillo Walker of Frisco City, was named Monroe County’s “Maid of Cotton” at ceremonies which climaxed the annual meeting of the County Farm Bureau. The meeting was held in Monroeville Wednesday at the Community Park. Miss Walker is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence C. Walker of Frisco City.

Mr. A.C. Lee and daughter, Miss Alice Lee, attended the meeting of the Alabama State Bar Association in Mobile Saturday.

Mr. and Mrs. Seavon Faulk and three sons left Sunday for their home in Long Island, N.Y. after spending several days in Monroeville as guests of Miss Jenny Faulk and other relatives and friends.

The Conecuh County Masonic Conference held its annual meeting at Repton July 6. A delicious dinner was served at 12 o’clock to the large group by local members and guests from Conecuh and several adjoining counties.

L.C. Hendrix is spending this week at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, where he is attending the Bankers Course.

93 YEARS AGO
JULY 24, 1930

Crops Are Unusually Good: Crops in the Claiborne and Perdue Hill section are unusually good as evidenced by a stalk of cotton gathered at random from the field of Mr. W.E. Deer of Claiborne. The weed is of medium size and contained one hundred and three squares and well developed bolls.

BAKERY NAME IS CHANGED: The new management has changed the name of the bakery from the Monroeville Bakery to the Monroe County Elite Bakery. Every effort is being made to give the trade of the section the highest quality in breads, rolls, cakes, pies, etc.

Mr. and Mrs. Jennings Carter carried their small son, Jennings Faulk, to Troy the first of the week where he will undergo a minor operation.

Monroeville is very proud of any honor that comes to any of her boys and girls. The entire town rejoices in the good fortune of Ralph Kennedy Jr. He has completed a four-year course at the University of Louisville, and out of a thousand applicants for the Medical School, there were only 92 accepted. Ralph was among that number, and we predict for him a marked success.

Mr. and Mrs. Jennings Carter and Miss Callie Faulk spent Saturday in Mobile.

The Monroe County Masonic Conference held its annual session with Excel Lodge No. 665, Excel, Ala., on July 16-17, 1930. There were 130 brethren registered. Mr. J.W. Thurmond of Castleberry was lecturer.

118 YEARS AGO
JULY 27, 1905

Cases Tried: The adjourned term of Circuit Court has made a remarkable record so far, not so much for the rapidity with which business is being dispatched, but for the character of the verdicts returned by the juries.
The following cases have been tried:
The State v. Sonny Coker, rape, sentenced to hang Sept. 8.
The State v. Frank Coker, murder, sentenced to penitentiary for life.
The State v. John Sanders, rape, 10 years in penitentiary.
The State v. Wes. Rains, murder, five years in penitentiary.
The State v. Sam Mixon, arson, 10 years in penitentiary.

Rev. C.M. Hutton of Fort Worth, Texas, former chaplain of the 36th Alabama Regiment in the Confederate service, accompanied by Mr. J.L. Marshall of Perdue Hill, to who he was on a visit, paid our sanctum a pleasant visit Saturday. Mr. Hutton had the pleasure of meeting a number of his old comrades whom he had not seen for upward of 40 years. From here he goes to Scooba, Miss. to participate in a family reunion.

Col. Nick Stallworth of Evergreen was a pleasant visitor to The Journal office while in the city last week. Col. Stallworth spent some time in New Mexico this past winter and spring and his many friends are gratified to see him greatly improved in health.

Rev. C.H. Motley fill his regular appointment at the Methodist church last Sunday.

George Singleton tells of the strange, mysterious death of New Orleans magician, Will Street

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “Aunt Roxie joins the magician,” was originally published in the July 13, 1989 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I grew up in a rural farming community where everyone knew the business of everyone else. If they didn’t know it, many wakeless hours were spent until the facts had presented themselves all in good order and in good time. No one thought anything about it. Tending to someone else’s business was just part of being neighborly.

Down the road aways lived Aunt Roxie. Aunt Roxie was a very attractive middle-aged black lady who had lost her husband in a sawmill accident some years back.

Aunt Roxie was in good financial condition and owned a very nice house and small farm. In the days of the Depression, she would have been a “nice catch” for the eligible black men of the surrounding area and the community.

But Aunt Roxie would have nothing to do with the local eligible bachelors. Many had tried to court Aunt Roxie and had failed. She had set her standards much too high, according to the local gossip. The men in the area had to earn a living either by farming or by doing hard labor at a nearby sawmill. This was all there was for a working man to do in that area of the country.

Aunt Roxie had let it be known that before she would consider any courtship, the man would have to be a gentleman. He would also have to be well-educated. He would have to have the best of clothing. And the last requirement was that he would have to have good means of transportation.

The years came and went. Aunt Roxie lived alone in her home, which was kept spotless. She was, without a doubt, the best cook in the whole area. The goodies that Aunt Roxie kept around her house were why this eight-year-old boy had chosen her as one of his best friends and couldn’t resist having to stop by each day to see if she needed an errand run. These stops were always good for a slice of delicious buttermilk pie that was second to none. The popcorn-candy balls that she made weren’t to be sneezed at either.

Then, one day in early June, it happened. Down the road came a clean and shinning buggy, drawn by one of the most handsome horses that had been seen by the local folks.

The polished leather harness gleamed in the evening sun like a new pair of shoes that had never been worn. The huge travel trunk that was strapped to the back of the buggy seemed to boast of the fine clothing stored there. The leather seats of the buggy were of the best polished leather. There was not a scratch or soiled place to be seen.

In the driver’s seat sat a well-dressed (complete with top hat and travel coat), handsome black man. He had on a white, ruffled shirt, complete with bow tie. His driving gloves were soft and comfortable. His shinning dress boots bore not one speck of dust.

He had stopped at the local store and inquired about a place to stay for a short while. He stated that he was a traveling magician and would like to perform in this area before moving on.

The news traveled over the community like wildfire. A place was found where he could stay. A time and place were set for his first performance. And “Will Street,” the magician from New Orleans, was in business.

“Will Street” and his magic show were a complete success. His ability to put a small rooster in a glass bottle, along with the disappearance of a huge black cat that he had brought with him, was the talk of the country folks. During his first performance, he had casually mentioned that he was also a master in the art and performance of black magic. This, in itself, was to create an air of mystery about this man that continued until his death.

A week passed, then another. “Will Street” continued to perform his acts of magic throughout the surrounding area. Word had gotten out into the mainstream of gossip that his horse and buggy had been seen hitched to the picket fence at Aunt Roxie’s on Saturday afternoons and after church for Sunday dinner the following day.

Gossip rode the winds: word had it that the magician from New Orleans had proposed marriage to Aunt Roxie. The news that was floating around was that Aunt Roxie had promised to give it some consideration and thought. All the local folks surmised that Aunt Roxie had finally found the man who met her specifications.

The afternoon of the wedding was the highlight of the community. The womenfolk of both races gathered and decorated the front porch of Aunt Roxie’s house. Pink ribbons were tied along the picket fence that surrounded the front yard. Delicious food of all sorts covered two large tables that had been placed under a large magnolia tree over in the corner of the yard. It was my duty, and that of my black playmate, Robert George, to keep the insects fanned away from the food with two large palmetto fans.

A snow-white sheet was placed on the ground for the bride-to-be and the groom to stand on during the wedding ceremony. The preacher, dressed in a long, frock-tailed coat, did the marriage vows. Under the huge magnolia tree, things were getting hectic for myself and my friend Robert and the large palmetto fans. The insects were plentiful that hot mid-July Saturday afternoon.

Life resumed its normal place after the wedding. My visits became more and more frequent, along with my friend Robert. The buttermilk pies seemed more plentiful, and small magic tricks, performed by the magician from New Orleans, kept two small, wide-eyed boys completely amazed and spellbound for hours on end.

Almost two years passed, as the couple continued to live happily together. Aunt Roxie and Will Street could be seen quite often as they rode by in the shinning buggy on their way to another magician’s performance somewhere in the area – he dressed in his white ruffled shirt, complete with bow tie, and Aunt Roxie in her pink ruffled dress that had been sewn by her mother for a wedding present. As time went on, he continued to entertain and amaze the local folks with his disappearing black cat and the rooster in the bottle.

Then, one Saturday evening during the final days of September, “Will Street” the magician performed for the last time. As he closed his show and was loading his buggy with his magic equipment for the journey home, he sank to the ground. This amazing and gentle man of mystery had performed his last magic trick. “Will Street” was dead.

During the wake, on the night before the funeral, a number of the menfolk of the community (my father was in attendance) sat with the corpse throughout the night, which was a custom among the country folks in those days. No one had seen the huge black cat that the deceased had used in his magic shows, since his death. The large cat had completely vanished.

As the hour approached midnight, the old grandfather clock began to strike in the corner of the room where the corpse awaited. All eyes turned to see the huge black cat standing on the top of the coffin, with his tail fluffed and his fangs bared. From outside the house, where the man of magic had kept his faithful rooster, the crowing of a rooster filled the midnight air. At the same time, the huge black cat screamed loudly. Then it jumped down from the top of the coffin and ran through the open door, out into the dark night. The cat was never seen again.

Aunt Roxie seemed to lose her will to live. No more did she take pride in her cooking and housecleaning. Her delicious buttermilk pies and wonderful popcorn candy balls ceased to be. The house and yards fell into decay. Aunt Roxie just sat alone in a large rocking chair and stared into the empty fireplace.

Then one evening, in late December, the men of the community were summoned to the home of Aunt Roxie. She had failed to answer the door when a neighbor had dropped by to check on her and leave her some prepared food, which was often done by the womenfolk.

The front door of the house was forced open. There sat Aunt Roxie in the huge rocking chair. She had joined “Will Street,” the magician from New Orleans, the man who had met all of her specifications, both in dress and in manners. The man who had swept her completely off her feet. The man who had made her life most beautiful once more. Now again, they were together…

(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.)

Does a 'hant' haunt the dark hollows of the Buena Vista community?

Old Buena Vista Store.

I was up riding around in the northern part of the county on Friday morning and found myself passing through the old village of Buena Vista. Located on County Road 56, about 23 miles from downtown Monroeville, Buena Vista was once a sizeable community, but little remains today from the village’s heyday.

Best that I could remember, it had been many months since I’d passed through Buena Vista, so I pulled over for a few minutes for a closer look at the old Buena Vista Store, which has been closed for many years. This old store served as the community’s post office until 1976 and it was in 2016 that The Mobile Press-Register named this old store the “most unusual historic structure” in Monroe County.

All the while I was there, not a single vehicle passed on the road. The sun shone down hotly, and unseen cicadas trilled creepily in the wood line. It was then that I remembered Buena Vista’s best known ghost story.

The best version of this spooky tale can be found in The Journal’s 1966 Centennial Edition. The story, written by longtime Journal columnist Sue Turner, appeared under the headline, “Hants, Superstitions Retold In Stories of Buena Vista.”

As many readers will know, the word “hant” is nothing more than another word for ghost. Believed to be a variation of the word “haunt,” the term is now considered part of the regional dialect of the Southern United States. One dictionary that I checked said the word comes from the old Middle English word “haunten” or from the Old French word “hanter.”

The Buena Vista hant story took place over a hundred years ago and centers around a man named Sam, who was tall, heavy-set, reliable and responsible. He lived with his pretty wife, Rosie, and their children in a house just south of Buena Vista. It was a mile by road to their house from Buena Vista, but a shortcut through a supposedly haunted hollow would cut the trip in half.  

As things go, Sam had to work late one Saturday and before going home he had to stop by the village store for groceries. He put his purchases in a croker sack, tied a knot in one end and swung it over his shoulder. When he stepped out of the store, it was dusk dark.

He knew that Rosie and the children were waiting on him, so he decided to brave the shadowed shortcut. He took the path that crossed an open pasture and eventually came to a dense stand of dark pines. Before entering the woods, he picked up a lightwood knot and struck it ablaze for a makeshift torch.

As he entered the mirky woods, the land dropped off suddenly into a swamp filled with ferns, bogs and hooting owls. Inside the pines, the brush grew thick around him, and the mucky ground sucked at his feet. Sam raised his torch and shifted his sack to his left shoulder.

Sam knew the strange stories about these woods. He’d heard folks say that the hant that inhabited these woods would ride on the traveler’s right shoulder. The hant would bear down on them heavily, sapping away their strength as they crossed the haunted hollow.

Sam heard his heart pounding, and his ears strained for the faintest noise. A vine caught his foot, causing him to trip. “Lord, have mercy!” he cried.

It was then that he felt it, a rush of cold air. This blast of air circled him, chilling his sweaty body. His torch went out.

Suddenly and without warning, a terrible weight settled on his right shoulder, heavier than the sack on his left. “Lord, save me!” he cried, wanting to run, but unable to do so. He stooped, trudged forward step by slow step, panting for breath.

Just when he was on the verge of collapse, a hound bayed in the distance, and he saw a glimmer of light through the trees. “Thank you, Lord,” Sam murmured. It was his hound he’d heard, and the light was his home in the distance. A moment later, he heard Rosie call to him, “Shake him off, Sam, we’re waiting.”

Teenager with ties to Oak Hill killed at the Battle of First Manassas

Today – July 21 – marks 162 years since the Battle of First Manassas, which is also known as the First Battle of Bull Run.

The Battle of First Manassas was fought near Manassas, Virginia on July 21, 1861 and is considered the first major battle of the War Between the States. This battle, which was considered a Confederate victory, resulted in 4,690 casualties, including 387 dead Confederates. Among those dead was 17-year-old Private John D. Robbins who apparently had strong ties to Wilcox County.

What’s somewhat unusual about Robbins is that he was a member of Co. E of the 4^th Alabama Infantry Regiment. This company was known as the Conecuh Guards and was organized at Sparta, which at that time was the county seat of Conecuh County. This unit was organized in April 1861 and was mustered into the Confederate army at Lynchburg, Virginia on May 7, 1861, about two months before the battle that claimed Robbins.

Records reflect that Robbins and the Conecuh Guards fought as part of what was then called the Army of the Shenandoah, which was under the command of General Joseph E. Johnston. This army was divided into four large brigades and the 4^th Alabama was part of the Third Brigade, under the command of Brigadier General Barnard E. Bee. The 4^th Alabama was under the command of Col. E.J. Jones and Col. S.R. Gist.

According to noted Alabama historian Steve Stacey of Frisco City, Robbins was killed during the heavy fighting, and he was likely buried in a mass grave at the battlefield. However, at some point in the past, a memorial headstone for Robbins was placed in the Ebenezer Methodist Cemetery at Oak Hill. This simple grave marker reads as follows: In Memory Of John D. Robbins, Pvt. Co. E, 4^th Ala. Inf., Confederate States Army, Dec. 1, 1843-July 21, 1861, Killed at 1^st Manassas.

One of the best sources of information about the Conecuh Guards is a book called “History of Conecuh County, Alabama” by the Rev. Benjamin Franklin Riley. This book was published in 1881 and contains a complete roster of the Conecuh Guards from when they were organized at Sparta. This roster notes that John Robbins was killed at the First Battle of Manassas, and it also notes that a soldier named Thomas Robbins “died from wounds received at Gaines’ Farm, July 1862.”

Interestingly, the Ebenezer Methodist Cemetery also contains a memorial gravestone for Private Thomas Elijah Robbins. The conflict at Gaines’ Farm is more commonly known as the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, which was fought on June 27, 1862 in Hanover County, Virginia. Records indicate that Thomas Robbins was 20 years old at the time of his death.

In the end, these two soldiers, even though they were in a Conecuh County unit, obviously had ties to the Oak Hill area. If anyone knows any additional details regarding why they had memorials placed in the Ebenezer Methodist Cemetery, please let me know. It would be interesting to know what their connection is to Oak Hill, which is many miles from where the Conecuh Guards were formed in April 1861.

(Got a comment or question? E-mail Lee Peacock at leepeacock2002@hotmail.com.)

George Singleton tells of a woman who mail ordered a husband during the Great Depression

1920s Star touring car.

(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 “Mail-ordering a husband,” was originally published in the July 5, 1990 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As I have stated many times, anyone who didn’t grow out of the Great Depression probably missed a big part of life. I am not saying I would like to see another period of hard times, but many interesting events happened then that never happened before and probably will never happen again.

I don’t believe that any one person could identify or explain the reasons such things happened. My guess is that there was so much change and unrest until most folks didn’t really feel secure in their professions or lifestyles.

But there were some exceptions. Some people became more set in their ways. They became more and more embedded in the land and their hold on it.

Miss Sally was an old-maid member of a family that lived in and around the community where I was raised. She had two sisters and her mother, who lived together on a small farm. The farmland was quite rich and fertile and would grow just about anything. This family rented almost all the land to other farmers because there wasn’t a male family member to work and supervise. The head of the family had passed away some years back, leaving the mother and three daughters to manage for themselves. But despite the unhappy circumstances, the four lived quite well and were well thought of.

Being the youngest, Miss Sally was quite attractive. She dressed very neatly and raised many an eyebrow with the eligible middle-aged men. But Miss Sally wouldn’t have anything to do with her local admirers. She remained aloof and ignored any companionship. She stated that they weren’t good enough for her to be associated with.

I can see her now. As a small boy, I would watch her drive down the road in her shining new buggy, drawn by a very handsome horse with its harness glowing in the sunlight. On her hands were driving gloves of soft, polished leather. She always wore a bright, beautiful bonnet that shaded her face. And, in the holder on the front right side of the buggy, Miss Sally carried her buggy whip. Rumor had it that Miss Sally had used her whip on a couple of smart alecks who failed to show her the respect she thought she was due.

As in all small communities, news traveled fast. The winds of gossip stated that Miss Sally had advertised for a husband in some type of magazine that specialized in this type of thing. She had listed her requirements. She had also listed her assets and what could be expected by an interested gentleman who measured up.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months; she received no answer from her advertisement. Many hours of gossip were spent discussing the pros and cons of this very unusual request. Then one day, the winds of gossip brought the news that Miss Sally had received a most-welcomed letter from a refined gentleman who resided somewhere in the Northeast. By the time this gossip had begun to lose momentum, another flash of hot news broke like a lightning bolt: Miss Sally was going to meet this prospective bridegroom at the nearest train station for an eyeball-to-eyeball introduction.

Rumor had it that the gentleman would arrive at a given hour. He and Miss Sally would visit and get acquainted until the next train departed. Gossip had calculated that this would give the two about 6-1/2 hours to come to know each other and to make plans if they decided to further the courtship.

On the afternoon before the train’s arrival, Miss Sally and her older sister secured a room in the only hotel in the town where the depot was located. At 8:10 a.m., the train from Birmingham chugged under the station canopy. Off stepped a tall, neatly dressed man who looked very much a gentleman from head to toe. He wore a tall hat and a light coat and carried a cane, even though he reportedly didn’t use it. He wore a neatly trimmed mustache; his chin sported a small, pointed goatee. The mail-order husband-to-be had arrived.

Miss Sally and the gentleman sat off the side of the covered platform of the train station. Her sister sat some distance away; gossip had it that she watched like a hawk. Six hours and a half passed; the conversation between the two continued. Only the sound of the northbound train caused the couple to break up their very private conversation.

Only then – just before he boarded the train – did the couple shake hands. The tall man bowed gracefully to Miss Sally, then tipped his hat. The train pulled away.

Weeks came and went; no word of the outcome of the meeting made the rounds. Then one morning an unfamiliar automobile was seen speeding down the country dirt road on only three wheels. The Star-make automobile was the only one manufactured that would operate on three wheels. Down the road came the prospective bridegroom with the right front wheel off his auto. He had had a blowout up the road aways. He had pulled the flat tire, wheel and all off the car and drove without it.

Not all stories have happy endings; this one does. Miss Sally and the tall stranger had a very large wedding. Word had it that the tall gentleman was quite wealthy.

Miss Sally and her mail-order groom enjoyed a good number of very happy years together. One was never seen without the other. The large Star automobile made many trips up and down the road with the happy couple snuggled closely in the front seat.

One cold January day, the mail-order husband departed this life. The cause of death was said to be severe chest congestion. Less than two months later, Miss Sally bid farewell to her sisters and joined the man who had filled her years with happiness known only to her.

Somewhere beyond the sunset, Miss Sally and her mail-order lover walk hand in hand into forever.

(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 News Flashback for July 19, 2023

16 YEARS AGO

JULY 18, 2007

Evergreen weather reporter Harry Ellis reported 1.03 inches of rain on July 11, .01 inches on July 13, .05 inches on July 14 and .04 inches on July 15. He reported a high of 94 degrees on July 10 and a low of 68 on July 15.

Memorial service at Belleville UMC Cemetery: The family of Third Sergeant, Dr. Henry Smith Skinner, descended on the Belleville community this past Saturday, July 14, 2007, to remember him and his service to his country.
Dr. Skinner, born in 1839 in Missouri, moved from Virginia to Conecuh County about 1860 with his family. He and his brother, John, answered the summons to war and joined the 3^rd Florida Cavalry at Milton, Fla. This company, along with four others from Florida and five more from Alabama, were consolidated, being designated as the 15^th Confederate Cavalry, better known as the Simpson Mounted Rangers.
Living in Belleville, Dr. Skinner practiced dentistry for 55 years, was a member of the Methodist Church, the Masonic Order, and the United Confederate Veterans. He died in 1922 and is buried in the Belleville United Methodist Church Cemetery located on U.S. Highway 84.

This giant pink squash and mushmelon were grown by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Robinson. The squash weighed 44 pounds and was 40-1/2 inches long. The mushmelon weighed 17 pounds.

31 YEARS AGO
JULY 16, 1992

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported .56 inches of rain on July 9 and .21 inches on July 12. He also reported a high of 95 on July 9 and lows of 67 on July 6 and July 7.

Man charged in stabbing death: One man is dead and another has been charged with murder following an incident near Belleville last Friday night.
According to Deputy Dudley Godwin of the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Department, Ray McAfee, a resident of Chicago, Ill., was pronounced dead at the Monroe County Hospital. He apparently died from stab wounds.
Law enforcement officers and a crew from Smith’s Ambulance Service had been dispatched to the home of W.C. Wallace in Belleville. The ambulance crew arrived first, reporting quickly the seriousness of the situation and that the victim was dead.
Officers placed John Robert Nelson in the Conecuh County Jail and charged him with murder. Judge Sue Bell Cobb set a $10,000 bond Monday on Nelson.
Deputy Godwin said the incident is still under investigation.

Mr. James C. King, a lifelong resident of Conecuh County, has announced his intention to seek election to the Evergreen City Council in District One.
King is a graduate of Marion Military Institute, Auburn University and served in the Merchant Marines for four years during World War II. He is treasurer of the Evergreen Presbyterian Church.

King retired from Knud Neilsen Co., Inc., and was also a self-employed businessman.

46 YEARS AGO
JULY 21, 1977

Work is proceeding rapidly on the bypass road from Highway 83 North to Highway 31 South. Here is some of the heavy machinery being used on the project which is a State Highway Department contract.

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported .36 inches of rain on July 11, .03 inches on July 14, .07 inches on July 16 and .21 inches on July 17. He reported highs of 100 degrees on July 14 and July 16 and a low of 66 on July 12.

Members of the Foshee-Tranum Post No. 3581 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of Conecuh County are requested to attend a meeting on Sunday afternoon, July 24, in the County Courthouse at 2:30 o’clock.
This is the first call meeting of the year, and some important business needs to be taken care of before the new year begins, according to Commander J.B. Harper.

The Evergreen Baptist Church Touring Youth Choir and Ensemble gave a concert at its home church Sunday and left Wednesday morning on a concert tour. Wednesday night the choir was in concert in Greenville, Miss. Other concerts will be given in West Memphis, Ark.; Waddy, Ky.; and Indianapolis, Indiana. They will have stops in Cincinatti and Nashville and are due home Tuesday. The choir is directed by David Coleman.

Registration and Open House – WONDERLAND KINDERGARTEN – 415 Bruner Ave., Evergreen, Ala., 36401 – Wed., July 27, 1977 – 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Mrs. John A. Hendricks, Director.

61 YEARS AGO

JULY 19, 1962

Last Thursday night a 1959 Chevrolet driven by Floyd Wilson of Castleberry struck and killed Henry Faircloth of near Castleberry. Mr. Faircloth, 76, and Wilson both were on their way to attend church services when the accident occurred.

(Evergreen) Postmaster Bill Salter had asked the city to cut a path through from the dead end of Martin Street in the C.P. Strong subdivision to Highway 31 South to facilitate mail delivery to homes in that section. The path would permit the city mail carrier to make his rounds here without having to double back.
The (Evergreen city) council voted for city crews to cut the path through the undergrowth, provided property owners agree.

Pictures of the Evergreen area are being featured on the six o’clock newscasts of Television Station WALA, Channel 10, Mobile, according to the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce. Pictures will be shown on the Friday night and Wednesday night newscasts, according to present scheduling, according to Claude Evans of the station’s news staff.

The pictures are from the C of C’s new information pamphlet recently prepared and published under the direction of Blake Campbell, publicity and promotion chairman Blake Campbell.

Arrangements for the news-picture spots were made by Billy Moody of local Radio WBLO who does spot reports for the TV station and Waynard Price, chamber president.

76 YEARS AGO

JULY 17, 1947

KIRKLAND: Friends of John H. Josey will be happy to learn that he was recently initiated into Phi Eta Sigma, national honorary fraternity, at the University of Alabama. Members are chosen on the basis of scholarship, leadership and character. He takes an active part in his social fraternity which is Phi Kappa Sigma.

ATTENTION WAR I and II VETERANS: Members and former members Legion Post 50 and Foshee-Tranum Post 3581 V.F.W. There will be a joint meeting of the above organizations At Evergreen High School Monday Night, July 21 to continue plans and discuss ways and means for construction of a Joint Home and Club House. If interested in your Community and Buddies, please be there. – Publicity Committee, LEGION AND V.F.W.

Tom Vickery Jr. was recently promoted to Technician-Fifth Grade. He has served with the airborne troops overseas for over nine months and is stationed at Yamoto, Japan.

Evergreen Rotary Club’s Second Annual Horse Show – Evergreen High School Athletic Field – Thurs., July 24, 1947 – 7:30 p.m. – Comprising Sixteen Classes – A Feature of the Plantation Saddle Horse Association of America – Promoted For Charity.

Castleberry: Mr. and Mrs. Hilary Sullivan and son, Hilary Jr., enroute to their home in Riverview for a trip to Mexico City and other points in old Mexico spent two days last week with his father, J.H. Sullivan and family.

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

Sonny Smith of Auburn University

17 YEARS AGO
JULY 20, 2006

Welch defeats Crenshaw in runoff: Monroe County Circuit Judge Sam Welch, R-Monroeville, crossed another hurdle in his pursuit of the Place 3 seat on the state court of criminal appeals Tuesday when he defeated Clay Crenshaw of Montgomery in the Republican runoff election.
Welch will run against Deborah Bell Paseur, D-Florence, in the November general election.
“I hope to become the first person from Monroe County to be elected to a statewide office since Arthur Bagby was elected governor in 1841,” Welch said.

JFS, Excel add new coaches: J.F. Shields and Excel high schools have hired new head coaches and assistant coaches.
Excel hired Andy Lambert as its head football and basketball coach and assistant football and baseball coach Jeff Cannon recently.
Shields Principal Marion McIntosh has announced that coaches William Randolph and Jordan Elbrecht have been hired at the school. Randolph has been named head football coach, and Elbrecht will serve as an assistant football coach and head baseball coach.

Excel to seek grant funding for trail: The Town of Excel set the wheels in motion last Monday night to pursue a multipurpose trail at the town’s park.
The proposed trail would be about 7/10 of a mile long and would be used for walking and bike riding.
“The trail will be a great addition to our community,” councilwoman Nancy Smith said. “I walk often in town and there really is nowhere to walk. It will also help improve the health of our citizens.”

42 YEARS AGO
JULY 16, 1981

McWilliams is Frisco’s new mayor: The Frisco City Town Council on Monday promoted Howard McWilliams from town councilman to mayor, filling the vacancy created when Jeffie Jones resigned last week.
Williams, who was mayor pro tempore (filling in when Jones was not available) and acted as mayor after the July 6 resignation, was appointed to the job by a unanimous vote. He will serve the rest of Jones’ term, which will expire in October 1984.
The council has not yet replaced McWilliams as a councilman. Jones, who was elected mayor in 1980 and served one previous term as mayor and four as a councilman, resigned on his physician’s advice.

Smith to conduct clinic: Sonny Smith will conduct a one-day basketball clinic at Patrick Henry State Junior College today (Thursday) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Smith is the head basketball coach at Auburn University. He came to Auburn from East Tennessee State University, where he was also head basketball coach. For further information, contact Coach Eddie Dutton at Patrick Henry.

Curenton is new pastor at Excel Baptist Church: After retiring from the ministry because of a health condition four years ago, the Rev. Earl Curenton of Andalusia has accepted the pastorate of Excel First Baptist Church. A native of Covington County, Curenton has been in the ministry for 35 years and has served pastorates at churches in Andalusia, Montgomery, Brantley and Hartford.

67 YEARS AGO
JULY 19, 1956

New Announcer Coming To Radio Station WMFC: Jim Aycock, announcer with Radio Station WMFC, Monroeville, has resigned to accept a position with a Selma radio station, Bill Stewart, partner in the Monroe Broadcasting Co., has stated.
Mr. Aycock, except for a short period of time, has been with the station since its initial operation beginning in 1952. He will be replaced on Aug. 4.
Replacing Mr. Aycock will be Bruce Shell of Brewton, formerly employed by WATM in Atmore and WEBJ in Brewton.

Monroeville Clipped By Camden, 9 To 8: The Monroeville baseball nine bowed to a neighboring Wilcox County team, 9-8, in Tuesday night’s game in Camden.
The locals racked up 12 hits out of 43 times at bat while the Camden aggregation made nine hits out of 43 times at bat.
Leading hitters for Monroeville were Austin Taylor, first baseman, and Cooper, catcher, both of whom got three hits for five times at bat.
Heading the Camden hitting list were McKelvey, shortstop and pitcher, and Holladay, centerfielder, both with two for five.

Greer Named Panelist At State Conference: H.G. Greer, Monroe County Superintendent of Education, is panelist this week at a statewide educational conference being held at Auburn. The meeting began Monday to continue through today (Thursday).
Miss Esther Murphy, county instructional supervisor, was recorder during the conference. Also attending were several principals of Monroe County schools.

92 YEARS AGO
JULY 16, 1931

Change in Date of Moose Meeting: Monroeville Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose, No. 1127, which was to have met at Uriah Fri., July 17, will meet at Uriah July 23. Illness of Supervisor E.K. DeWitt causes this change of date. Past officers of Mobile Lodge No. 321 will be present to assist in obligating a large class of candidates.

While surveying in a field near Monroeville Tuesday morning, Mr. T.A. Rumbley found a small cannon ball. The ball was one and one-half inch in diameter and weighed three-fourths of a pound. It was well preserved.

Vredenburgh Has $100,000 Loss By Fire Thursday Night: The Vredenburgh post office building, a filling station, the commissary of the Vredenburgh Saw Mill Co., the company’s offices and a warehouse were completely destroyed by fire late Thursday night. The loss is expected to reach above one hundred thousand dollars. It was partially covered by insurance.
It is thought that the fire originated in an electric refrigerating machine in the commissary. Flames quickly spread to the adjoining frame buildings and to the filling station across the street, before they could be gotten under control.

Winston Burns of Monroeville was awarded a bronze medal in a contest for the best essay in C.M.T. Camp at Fort Barrancas last week. Curtis Tatum of Pine Orchard and L.A. Landrum of Uriah received medals as members of the winning baseball team.

Mrs. A.C. Lee is spending this week in Montgomery.

Alvin Coxwell leaves this week for the University of Alabama, where he will attend summer school.

117 YEARS AGO
JULY 19, 1906

Capt. Luck Wainwright, the oldest river steamboatman in Alabama, died at Jackson last week.

The rainfall has been heavy in most parts of the county during the past week or 10 days, and there is already complaint in some sections of too much moisture.

JONES MILL AND SNIDER: Mr. Clay Hybart’s new house is nearing completion.

Mr. I.A. Weaver, who is pleasantly remembered by many Monroeville friends as principal of the Monroe Institute during the last session, is now editor of the Lineville Headlight, published at his hometown.

Sonnie Coker, the young man whose death sentence was recently commuted by the governor to life imprisonment, was taken in charge by an agent of the state convict department on Monday and removed to his destined place of employment.

PINEVILLE: Miss Gennie Burns has commenced teaching a school at Cuba, near Livingston.

MONDAY ITEMS: Mr. E.T. Blackburn is teaching a flourishing school near here.

WESLEY CHAPEL: Most of the farmers are behind with their work on account of so much rain but not so much rain but not so much as they have been.

Capt. C.M. Marriott was up from Homewood last week attending the commissioners court.

Modern-day town of Tallassee was once ancient Indian town of ‘Talisi’

'Great Council Tree' marker.

My son James and Monroeville’s 15U Babe Ruth All-Stars traveled to Tallassee last Thursday and Friday for the State Babe Ruth Baseball Tournament. Crystal and I went along to support the team, and this was my first trip to the historic town of Tallassee. For anyone interested in Alabama history, Tallassee is hard to beat.

For those of you (like me) who have never been to Tallassee before, it’s a city of about the same size population as Monroeville that’s located on the Tallapoosa River in both Elmore and Tallapoosa counties. Most people will tell you that it’s located about halfway between Montgomery and Auburn, but it’s also close to Wetumpka and Tuskegee.

While making a food run from the ball field to a McDonald’s in Tallassee on Friday, I passed by a historical marker near the Tallassee library. According to that marker, the land around Tallassee belonged to the Muskogee Creek Indians for hundreds of years before their removal in 1836. As early as 1798, federal Indian agents predicted that a sizeable city would eventually be located at this site on the Tallapoosa River due to the abundance of natural resources in the area.

Sources say that the city of Tallassee was named by a man named Thomas Barnett, who built a small cotton mill there in 1838 and who named the settlement for an ancient Indian town named “Talisi.” Talisi, sometimes spelled “Talase,” is probably derived from the Creek words for “town” and “taken.” Other sources say that “Talisi” means “Old Town.”

Not far from here, in front of Tallassee City Hall, you’ll find a large stone monument and plaque that was put in place in 1929 by the Alabama Anthropological Society. This stone was place on the site of what was known as the “Great Council Tree.” It was here in 1811 that well known Indian leader Tecumseh made a famous speech that kicked off a series of events that eventually led to the Creek Indian Wars of 1813-1814.

Also while out riding around on State Highway 229, between Tallassee and I-85, we saw another historical marker that described the ancient Indian town of Tukabatchee. Tukabatchee is said to have been one of the original four “mother towns” of the Creek Confederacy. One interesting thing about this marker is that the north side of it is written in English while the other side is written in Creek.

Tallassee also has some interesting Civil War history in that it was the home of the Tallassee Armory. Workers in this armory manufactured carbine rifles for Confederate forces, and it’s said that this was the only Confederate armory not destroyed by federal forces during the War Between the States. Local reenactors hold a “Battle for the Armory” event each November in Tallassee, and it’s said to be one of the biggest annual events in the state for historical reenactors.

In the end, if you ever get the chance to visit Tallassee, I recommend that you do so. It’s easy to get to off of I-85, and there is much to see there, especially if you enjoy Alabama history. Plus, the people there were very nice and welcoming to us, and we enjoyed our two-day visit to their friendly town.