Gas station eclipse glasses might make for a good April Fool’s gift

The first day of April will come to pass on Monday, and this coming month looks to be one with much to look forward to.

Monday being April 1 means that Monday is also April Fool’s Day, aka, All Fool’s Day. The origins of this annual day of tricks and pranks is unknown, but references to it go back hundreds of years. Some say it originally commemorated the day that Noah erroneously sent the first dove out of the ark before the waters of the famous flood had fully abated.

Stargazers in the reading audience will notice in April that the planet Jupiter will begin to sink lower each night until it almost reaches the horizon. If you get up early on the morning of April 6, you’ll be able to see the waning crescent moon form a triangle with the planets Saturn and Mars low in the east around 6 a.m. The next day around 6:15 a.m., the thin crescent moon will stand to the right of Venus, low on the eastern horizon.

The following Monday is April 8 which will bring a rare total solar eclipse to parts of the United States. Alabama does not fall in the path of totality for this event, so we will only see a partial eclipse in our neck of the woods. With that said, I’ve already seen where some local gas stations are selling “eclipse glasses” so that you can safely watch the eclipse without burning your eyeballs out.

April 8 will also mark the Christian holiday known as the Annunciation. Many will remember from Sunday School that this day commemorates the day that the angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her that she would give birth to a son named Jesus. This event is said to have happened in the city of Nazareth, which was Jesus’s hometown. Today Nazareth has a population of around 78,000, only 31 percent of which are Christian.

April’s full moon, known as the Full Pink Moon, will make its appearance at 6:49 p.m. on April 23. The Pink Moon is the first full moon of spring, and its name is a reference to the colors of flowers that typically arrive in the warmer weather of the new season. Weather folklore tells us that April’s full moon will usually bring us a frost, which should come as no surprise given all the thunder we had in February.

My trusty copy of “The Old Farmers Almanac” says that poplar trees will begin leafing out around April 27. Poplars, sometimes called cottonwoods, have some spooky traditions attached to them. Ancient Europeans thought these trees carried some connection to the afterlife and believed that they sometimes carried the memories of the dead.

April 30 is what the old folks used to call May Eve. Others called it Walpurgis Night. Although it takes its name from Saint Walpurga, this old holiday was part of many ancient May Day festivities that took place on the following day.

Coach Connie McKelvey was longest-serving football coach in Wilcox County High School history

Coach Connie McKelvey

Barnett Field in Camden was the place to be on Friday, March 23, 1951 when the Camden High School Tigers played their annual “Blue & White” intra-squad game to wrap up spring football practice. In its day, this game was a big deal and merited front-page coverage in The Wilcox Progressive Era.

Under the headline, “Blue-White Grid Game Here Tomorrow Night,” the newspaper on the day before the big game reported that this “affair is always bitterly contested, for the boys are battling for starting positions on next fall’s varsity, and are anxious to show what they can do under pressure. The teams are evenly matched and both squads are sure of a victory.”

The blue squad planned to run from the Straight T-Formation offense, while the white team planned to operate out of the Wing-T. WCHS head coach Connie McKelvey promised fans “plenty of fireworks and two hustling squads that will go from the kickoff to the final gun.” Oddly, the game wasn’t scheduled to kick off until 8:30 p.m., which is an hour and a half later than most high school football games start nowadays.

Starting lineups for the two teams were as follows: Blue Team members included left end James Andrews, left tackle McCown Cook, left guard Mickey Tait, center Jimmy Rowell, right guard John Paul Bigger, right tackle Gene Weathers, right end Johnny Newberry, quarterback Wayne Bickham, left halfback Bill Chestnut, right halfback Buck Dobson and fullback John Espy. Players on the White Team included left end Lloyd Parsons, left tackle Ben Sanders, left guard Joe Ross, center John Harvell, right guard Tap Sadler, right tackle Clip Albritton, right end Bill Morgan, quarterback Richard Luker, left halfback Jimmy Brock, right halfback Rex Middleton and fullback Charles Gaston.

Despite the build-up for this big game, no story about how it turned out was published in the following week’s paper. It’s possible that it was cancelled due to bad weather and never played.

Spring practice that March helped Camden get ready for the 1951 regular season, which saw the Tigers go 4-6 overall. They opened the season on Sept. 14 with a loss at Florala, but they bounced back to win their home-opener the following week with a 39-0 blowout win over Dallas County. Camden went on to beat Beatrice (26-0), Uniontown (14-7) and Greenville’s B team (18-14) later that season.

The 1951 season was the fifth season for Coach McKelvey at WCHS. McKelvey coached a total of 13 seasons at WCHS (1947-1959), making him the longest-serving football coach in the school’s history. He went on to coach six seasons at Wilcox Academy, serving from 1970 to 1975.

McKelvey’s full name was Cornelius Clifton “Connie” McKelvey, and he was born in Selma in September 1924. Before getting into teaching and coaching, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He eventually passed away at the age of 75 in May 2000, and he is buried in Selma’s Live Oak Cemetery.

In the end, all of this leaves us with several questions. How did the 1951 Blue & White game turn out? Who was Barnett Field named after and where was it located? Are any of the players mentioned above still around? If anyone in the reading audience knows, let me hear from you.

Buster Singleton, Oscar Wiggins explore the Red Hill community

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 “Red Hills gone but not forgotten” was originally published in the March 1, 1984 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

There was a time when the Red Hills community was a thriving settlement. Many families in Monroe County and the surrounding area can trace their ancestors back to the old, abandoned homesteads and the large cemetery that waits quietly among the red sand hills northeast of Highway 41.

I had the privilege of returning to the old Red Hills community and the cemetery a few days back with an able scholar on the history and folklore, Oscar Wiggins.

Red Hills was the area in which the Wiggins family settled when they came into this part of the country. Elisha Wiggins, the first one to settle there, is buried in the old cemetery along with many of his descendants who departed this life during the past 150 or so years.

As we walked among the headstones and markers that had weathered the years on the quiet, sandy hill, it was easy to see that life during the days of yesteryear had not been as easy as it had in other places. Farming in the area, in the red, sandy soil, must have had many drawbacks.

Story after story was related to me as we made our way around the old cemetery. Each marker held some special significance or story. Most stories were of hardship that had been endured or overcome by someone or some family somewhere in the past. Each story carried with it the richness that could only be handed down by those who knew the value of the generations yet unborn.

“The old church stood here. I believe the first person to be buried in this cemetery was a preacher, the first one to pastor the old church. This is when the cemetery was started,” he said.

“The Rachels, the Whisenhants, the Chunns, the Masseys and the Lees were the first families in the area. These are the people who started Red Hills, but they have all moved away, and now there is nothing. It’s a pity; there was a school, a post office, a general store.”

All are gone now; only the cemetery remains.

As the days of Red Hills gave way to the growth of the surrounding areas, the families gradually moved away, each in its own way seeking a better and more fruitful life. The good life in other area beckoned, and the promise of better times appeared on the horizon.

But Red Hills was not forgotten. The many graves in the old cemetery increased in numbers as the faithful came home for the last time to sleep beside or among the loved ones there on the red, sandy hill.

After a visit to the old Wiggins homestead and a walk around the old house place, preparations were made for the trip home. The old chimney rocks were all that remained as proof that a large family had started here. A family that would play a great part in the development of this great county.

As we mad our way along the winding road and across the sandy hills, the words of a little-known poet kept racing through my mind:

Linger awhile, and walk with me
Into the shadowy mist that was yesterday.
Stroll across the faded pages of history
And from our hardships, learn the ways of a better life.

Pass me not, for I am the spirit of your Ancestors.
In your veins flow my blood,
And the blood of my fathers.
Linger awhile, if only for a moment, and
Through your thoughts, I will know that I
Am remembered.

(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, was bitten at least twice by venomous snakes, 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 March 26, 2024

12 YEARS AGO
MARCH 29, 2012

Local weather reporter Betty Ellis reported .20 of an inch of rain in Evergreen on March 22 and .21 of an inch on March 23.

Unusual tracks found at Loree: When Buddy Raines set off for Evergreen from his home in the Loree community last Thursday morning, the sharp-eyed 62-year-old spotted something unusual in a cornfield near his home.
At first, he thought that someone had driven a motorcycle across the corn that he’d planted the previous Sunday, but upon closer inspection, he could tell that it was no motorcycle.
“Whatever it was wasn’t so heavy that it mashed into the soft dirt or messed up the rows very much,” Raines said. “Whatever it was, the track wasn’t there during the day on Wednesday. This was done sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.”
Raines wondered if the track may have been left behind by a large snake like the exotic anacondas and pythons that have begun to plague Florida in recent years.
The track stretched all the way across the field and was 12 to 13 inches wide. The track was just deep enough to flatten the tops of the furrows in the field. There also appeared to be a line in the tracks that indicated that it may have been caused by an animal with a tail.
Individuals who examined photos of the unusual track offered up a number of theories about what could be responsible. Animals mentioned included various snakes, alligators, snapping turtles, gopher tortoises, beavers, peacocks and otters.

18 YEARS AGO
MARCH 27, 1997

Harry Ellis of Evergreen was honored recently by WSFA-TV for his continuing contribution as a Storm Team Weather Watcher. Harry attended an appreciation dinner for the 31 Weather Watchers who call the WSFA Storm Center regularly, reporting weather data from their respective hometowns. WSFA’s Chief Weathercaster Rich Thomas commended him for ‘the part he plays in helping the Storm Team report accurate weather information from all around WSFA’s coverage area… especially during severe weather.’ Beginning in May, WSFA will recognize the Weather Watchers on the air for the work they do.

Crack in County Rd. remains a mystery: As the Conecuh County crack widens, the plot thickens over what is causing this unusual geological condition.
A thick, slippery layer of clay is getting the blame for the condition that has been drawing attention to the Repton area.
Emergency Management Agency coordinator Billy Mims said the apparent fault line appeared sometime between 5 and 6:30 a.m. March 18 and it has been spreading ever since. The crack in the ground is located on County Road 73, 4.8 miles east of Repton in the Springhill community.
As of last week, it was 300 yards long and as much as 60 feet wide in some places with varying depths of five to 23 feet.

41 YEARS AGO
MARCH 24, 1983

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported 1.21 inches of rain on March 15; .41 on March 16 and .34 on March 17. He reported a high temperature of 76 degrees on March 15 and a low of 29 on March 13.

McArthur Thompson is still missing, in spite of a massive widespread search for him by the Evergreen Police Department, Conecuh Sheriff Edwin Booker’s staff, the State Troopers and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. Thompson, a black male, approximately six feet tall, 175 pounds, who drags one foot, was last seen about four weeks ago, according to his mother, who reported him missing.
Sheriff Booker said that all law enforcement agencies, including Conservation Department Enforcement Officers, were still working around the clock trying to locate the missing man. The sheriff also said that Larry Fluker, local NAACP leader, had offered the help of his organization and had “spread the word” in communities over the county.
Mack was last seen by some of his associates on March 11, 1983. The strangest thing about the case of missing Mack is that he was scheduled to appear in court as a prosecuting witness.

Trial of cases on the State Bar Criminal Docket, Conecuh County, are scheduled for trial next week. Circuit Court will begin Monday morning at 9 o’clock in the courtroom of the Conecuh County Courthouse with Judge Robert E.L. Key presiding.

67 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1957

Unidentified Gigantic Balloon Found On Needmore Farm Monday: No Clues Are Given On Object’s Identity: A huge plastic balloon at least 150 feet long was found near Needmore Monday afternoon by the wife of a farmer. Upon being notified, the balloon was investigated immediately by the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office.
The gigantic balloon had fallen in a densely wooded area on the farm of Wilson and Martha Cross and was draped over several scrub pine trees. It looked like a huge tent, at least 40 feet long, and at the widest part about 25 feet. The remainder of the balloon was called up on the ground.
On following up the call by Martha Cross, Deputy Mancil Pearce called for the assistance of Probate Judge Lloyd Hart, game warden W.A. Thames and Leon Salter, who is a Colonel in the National Guard, and several men to help bring the object back to the Court House.
Officials were very puzzled with the only explanation being offered that perhaps it was a weather balloon of some type. Local officials were not the only ones perplexed however as officials of the U.S. Weather Station in Montgomery and Maxwell Air Force Base could offer no explanation either.
Deputy Sheriff Mancil Pearce expressed the desire to unfold the object and see just exactly how big it would be. Speculation by witnesses on the scene was that if unfolded, the plastic would be big enough to cover the Conecuh County Courthouse.

86 YEARS AGO
MARCH 24, 1938

High School Boy Sustains Fractures Of Both Arms: Bobby Jones, 13-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Jones, sustained fractures of both arms just above the wrists at noon Tuesday when the bicycle which he was riding collided sidewise with a truck driven by Richard Brassell. The accident occurred on Perryman Street where Shipp Street intersects.
Young Jones and a number of other boys were riding toward the business section of Perryman while the truck was going north on Shipp Street. Neither saw the other in time to avoid the collision. Young Jones, when he saw that a collision was inevitable, threw out his hands to catch the weight of the impact which caused fractures of both arms. Both bones of the right arm were broken while only one was broken in the left. The ligaments of the left were badly injured it is said. He also received a number of other minor bruises and sprains.

Riddle Will Speak Here Next Tuesday Night: Elsewhere in this issue will be found an advertisement announcing that Senator D. Hardy Riddle of Talladega, candidate for governor, will address the voters of this county at the courthouse on Tuesday night, March 29, at 7:30 o’clock. He extends a cordial invitation to all to come out and hear him.

Work has been started on the paving project from Greenville to the Butler County line on the Greenville-Luverne section of Alabama Highway No. 10.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for March 26, 2024

U.S.S. Monterey

THREE YEARS AGO
MARCH 25, 2021

Drive-thru clinics to resume: On April 7, the Alabama National Guard will conduct a drive-thru vaccination clinic at Monroe County High School from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The ALNG will be giving the Pfizer vaccine, which is the only COVID-19 vaccine currently approved for teens who are at least age 16.
The clinic will be open for all eligible Alabamians, free of charge.

Excel girls improve to 13-7: Excel’s softball team improved to 13-7 with an 8-4 victory over J.U. Blacksher (JUB) and a 19-10 victory over T.R. Miller (TRM) last week.
Against JUB, Kameron Duke went 2-for-2 with a single, a triple and two RBI. Duke picked up the win on the mound, pitching seven innings and allowing four earned runs on 15 hits. She struck out four batters and did not allow a walk.
(Other top Excel players that season included Brooklyn Barlow, Mabry Black, Tiara Black, Devin Brooks, Kiley Dees, Avery Duke, Haylee Hopkins, Hannah Newsome and Alexis Watson.)

McDonald named POY: Corey McDonald, M. Photo., CPP, of Corey McDonald Photography & Portrait Design, has won the 2021 Senior and Youth National Conference Photographer of the Year Award.
McDonald’s images were in competition with 521 other images from senior portrait photographers across the U.S. This is the most elite trophy and award of the event.
In all, McDonald received 20 Awards of Excellence for images that scored at least 80 points or above, first and third places in Theme, Sport or Hobby, third place in Composite, second place in Portrait Open and two Judge’s Choice Awards.

28 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1996

Helicopter landing: American Legion Post No. 61 has acquired a UH-1H “Huey” Army helicopter for permanent display in Monroeville near the Army tank on Veterans Avenue. The helicopter, a mainstay of the Vietnam War, was transported Friday from Fort Rucker. The 110-mile return trip took over six hours with frequent stops to lift overhead cables. In Evergreen, the helicopter clipped a telephone cable near U.S. Highway 31 North at Old Greenville Road. The helicopter display should be finished by July 4.

Three generations: Mitchell Bayles became a third-generation player for the Monroe County High School Tigers this season when he earned a spot on the varsity roster. Bayles is a junior left-hander. His father, Mitch Bayles, played center field at MCHS from 1967-69 under coach Ronnie Dees, and his grandfather, Glen Bayles, was a Tiger second baseman under coach E.H. Penny from 1946-48.

Navy Petty Officer 3^rd Class Christopher E. Salter, son of Brenda F. Wiggins of Monroeville, has returned to Mayport, Fla. after completing a six-month overseas deployment to the Adriatic Sea near Bosnia aboard the guided missile cruiser U.S.S. Monterey.
Salter is one of 380 sailors aboard the cruiser who completed the 38,000-mile voyage. Salter’s ship was part of the 11-ship U.S.S. America Battle Group, which included more than 80 tactical aircraft, and ships and submarines armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles. He joined the Navy in September 1992.

53 YEARS AGO
MARCH 25, 1971

Mark site of oldest building: County Commissioner Walter Agee was on hand for the installation of this historic marker in front of the Masonic Lodge at Perdue Hill recently. Shown installing the marker are Monroe County Historical Association member Sgt. George Buster Singleton and J.F. Carter, president of the organization. The marker is located in Agee’s commission district.

Tigers set for Jamboree Friday in Jackson: Monroe County High School’s Tigers will play in a spring football jamboree this Friday night, March 26, in Jackson.
Enthusiasm has been high among the 41 members of the squad, said Coach Wayland Elliott.
The quarterback position has turned into a three-way race between Mike Cobb, a sophomore letterman; Buddy Black, a freshman up from the junior team; and Larry Snowden, a junior who has excellent quickness and a strong passing arm.

Deactivated church undergoes facelift: Two Burnt Corn community families are financing a major renovation of the Burnt Corn Methodist Church.
The $4,500 family project is expected to put the church in “excellent condition,” said Sam Lowrey. The families of J.F.B. Lowrey and W.O. Green are having the work done.
Built around the turn of the century, the old church has been inactive since 1960 for “lack of sufficient membership.” Lowrey said it is not known whether the church can be reactivated, but that the families are putting it in good repair so it will be ready in the event it is returned to full-time use. In the meantime, the church will be used as a sanctuary, he said.

78 YEARS AGO
MARCH 28, 1946

SQUARE DANCE: There will be a square dance at the Frisco City gymnasium Friday night, March 19. An admission fee of 50 cents will be charged and proceeds will go to the PTA. Good music.

Folsom To Speak Here March 30: A list of speaking engagements announced by J.E. Folsom, candidate for Governor, includes a speech to the voters of Monroe County in Monroeville on Sat., March 30, at 3:30 p.m.

Dr. McDonald To Speak Here At School: Dr. Herbert McDonald of Mobile will speak at the high school auditorium April 10 at 7 p.m. on understanding Russia and the Russian people. Dr. McDonald represents the American-Soviet Friendship Union. Everybody is cordially invited to hear him.

Local Golfers Plan Spring Tournament: Plans for improving the course and a local tournament were discussed at a meeting of Monroeville golfers held Monday night at the Williams Café with 29 golfers present.
Lucian Jones was elected president of the Club for the ensuing year; R.A. Wibel, secretary, and Moses Katz, treasurer.
The president appointed committees to put the tees and greens in condition for the tournament scheduled to begin the first Thursday in April. Harry Hostetter is chairman of the tournament committee.

Spring Term Circuit Court In Session: The Spring term of the Circuit Court convened Monday for a two-week session with Judge F.W. Hare presiding and A.H. Elliott, circuit solicitor, in charge of the prosecution. Shall Dunning is foreman of the grand jury. The first week will be given to the trial of civil cases and criminal cases have been set for the second week.

128 YEARS AGO
MARCH 26, 1896

Miss Hortense Deer, who has been attending school at Pensacola, returned home Monday. The presence of small pox in Pensacola alarmed her parents, who advised her return.

Deputy Sheriff Harrengton returned Wednesday from Hillsboro, Texas with his prisoner, James Nettles, charged with murder. Mr. Harrengton is out again among “the dear people” making up for the time spent in the discharge of his official duty.

Jones Mill: We have a flourishing literary school at New Hope a few miles from the mill.

Kempville: We heard two excellent sermons during our pastor’s last appointment. Mr. Riffe is a truly consecrated Christian, therefore a good worker, and we are always benefited by his true, helpful sermons. We were glad to see several visitors among our congregation.

Pineville: Mr. B.F. Wiggins, representing Christian Craft Grocery Co. of Mobile, was in the city Wednesday.

Manistee News: A certain gentleman near this place ploughed up two acres of land last week and killed 69 rattlesnakes and hit at the 70^th one.

News reached here Saturday of a terrible tragedy enacted at Bells Landing on the 19^th. Jno. McLeod, who lived just over the line in Wilcox, while intoxicated, committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol. The deceased was a near relative of Hon. E.R. Morrissette.

‘Mystery Crack’ appeared near Repton, Alabama 27 years ago

State Geologist Charles Smith

This week marks the 27^th anniversary of one of the most unusual events in local history, the appearance of the “Mystery Crack” near Repton.

This so-called “Mystery Crack” appeared during the early morning hours of March 18, 1997 on Conecuh County Road 73, about 4.8 miles east of Repton, in the Springhill community. Newspapers at the time called this crack an “unusual geological condition” and noted that a thick, slippery layer of clay was to blame for the crack.

Billy Mims, who was Conecuh County’s Emergency Management Director at the time, said that the fault line appeared sometime between 5 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on March 18, which was a Tuesday, and that it continued to grow bigger and bigger. As of March 27, the crack was 300 yards long and was as much as 60 feet wide in some places. Mims also noted that the crack was very deep in some spots, having varying depths of from five to 23 feet.

The “mystery crack” caused two cracks to appear across County Road 73, which runs from Belleville Street in Repton to County Road 7, near Springhill Church. Those cracks were about 35 feet apart and prompted county officials to close the road by putting up barricades to prevent vehicles from traveling through the area.

This, however, didn’t stop curious sightseers from visiting the scene and bypassing the barricades to get a closer look. State Geologist Charles Smith investigated the incident and cautioned citizens about visiting the site, calling it “foolhardy” because even experts had no idea how stable the area was at the time. Mims agreed and pointed out that the road had dropped and was a hazard to cross.

Mims called the State Geological Survey in an effort to determine what caused the “mystery crack” and to see if anything could be done about it. The Alabama Department of Transportation was also called in to conduct drilling for core samples and to monitor the problem.

Smith told newspapers that clay beneath the road was to blame. “We did the first boring about 15 feet above the upper crack in the road and went through gravel and at about 15 feet, hit a slick, water-saturated clay. Drillers hit the limestone bedrock at about 31 feet.”

The second bore hit the limestone layer at 85 feet, and the slippery clay layer was again found between the gravel and limestone.

“The mystery lies in why you have limestone at 30 feet in one place and 80 feet at another,” Smith said. “It is highly irregular. We have a fault; it is a very old fault and it did not move during this happening, although it may have presented an opportunity for the movement.”

Smith said that he had not seen a geological formation quite like this ever before and said it was “absolutely exciting for a geologist.” Smith also noted that the appearance of such cracks was highly unusual and that it was likely that local residents would not see it again locally in their lifetimes.

Franklin, Alabama sailor disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle in 1918

USS Cyclops

This March marks 106 years since the USS Cyclops disappeared without a trace in the Bermuda Triangle, and to this day its whereabouts remain unknown. The loss of the 309 people aboard the Cyclops remains the single largest non-combat loss of life in U.S. Naval history, and at least 12 of sailors on the ship were from Alabama. Of those 12, one seaman was from Franklin and another was from Andalusia.

The Cyclops vanished without a trace on or around March 4, 1918 while en route from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Baltimore, Maryland with a large cargo of manganese ore. The Navy officially declared the Cyclops lost and all hands deceased on June 1, 1918. For record purposes, everyone on board was officially given a death date of June 14, 1918.

Those aboard included 23-year-old Seaman Second Class Thomas Jackson McKinley of Evergreen and 17-year-old Seaman Second Class Lee Otis Battle of Andalusia. Records reflect that Thomas Jackson McKinley was born in Monroe County’s Franklin community on June 30, 1894 to Pinkney Shelton McKinley and Martha A. Gardner McKinley. At the time of Thomas Jackson McKinley’s death, his father was a resident of Owassa, a small community just outside of Evergreen. (Martha McKinley had passed away years before, in 1896.)

Lee Otis Battle was born in Andalusia in Covington County on Jan. 5, 1901 to Dr. Henry Elton Battle and Jessie Corine Battle. The Navy alerted this missing sailor’s parents by telegram, and that message said that the Cyclops was last reported in the West Indies on March 4. “Her disappearance cannot be logically accounted for in any way as no bad weather conditions or activities of enemy raiders have been reported in the vicinity of her route.”

The disappearance of the Cyclops is one of the most enduring mysteries in U.S. Naval history and there are many theories about what happened to this 542-foot-long vessel. Some sources say that the Cyclops was overloaded with cargo when it left Brazil and that one of its engines had a cracked cylinder. Perhaps this combination caused something to go wrong way out in the middle of the sea, causing the ship to sink.

Others say that the Cyclops sank in an unexpected storm. Being overloaded with a bad engine, the ship may have gone down in foul weather. Some also believe that the ship suffered from some type flawed structural design that basically caused it to come apart in rough seas.

Of course, we should also remember that World War I was raging in 1918, and many believe that the Cyclops was either captured or sunk by a German warship or submarine. However, German officials during the war and after the war have denied having anything to do with the disappearance of the Cyclops. It should be noted that the manganese ore aboard the Cyclops was en route to Baltimore to be used in the manufacture of war munitions.

In the end, 106 years later, the fate of the Cyclops remains a mystery. With that said, if anyone in the reading audience knows anything more about Thomas Jackson McKinley or Lee Otis Battle, please let me hear from you. While the fate of the Cyclops remains an unknown, it’s important that we keep the memories of these two Alabama sailors alive.

100-year-old Wilcox County, Ala. news highlights from March 1924

Ty Cobb

Today marks the first Thursday of the month, so it’s time to take another trip back down memory lane for a look at some of the interesting things that happened in Wilcox County a century ago, way back in March 1924.

On the front page of the March 6, 1924 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reprinted a news item from The Pensacola Journal newspaper that said, “Willie Crumb, wanted in Wilcox County, Ala., was arrested Tuesday afternoon by deputies Coleman and McArthur at Molino at the Bronson-Beaumaster brick yards. Crum was charged with slaying his aged father last June at Furman, Ala., and made his escape. Sheriff J.M. Watson arrived from Camden yesterday to take Crumb into custody. Crumb had been formally indicted last fall by a grand jury for first-degree murder.”

Readers that week also learned that “the store of J.R. Liddell & Son caught on fire near the flu on Saturday morning, but was extinguished without much damage.”

In the March 13, 1924 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that the “Camden Juniors lost a hard fought game of baseball to the Coy youngsters last Friday by a score of 15 to 9. A return game will be played here on Friday, March 21. Come out and give the kids your support. The Ty Cobbs of tomorrow are sandlot stars today.”

Also that week, in news from the Lower Peach Tree community, it was reported that “another barge was loaded with lumber by the Williams Lumber Co. at the river landing this week and shipped to Mobile.”

In the March 20, 1924 edition of the newspaper, readers learned that “Mr. Pinckney Giddens, formerly of Pine Apple, Ala., died in Montgomery Sunday at 8 o’clock p.m., after an extended illness. Mr. Giddens was born on Oct. 20, 1836 in Conecuh County, and he entered the Confederate army on Feb. 8, 1863 at Mobile, Ala., as a member of Co. H, 17^th Alabama Regiment and continued until Aug. 5, 1863 when he was transferred to Confederate Engineers, was captured on April 9, 1865, paroled at Vicksburg on May 10, 1865.

“Mr. Giddens was a veteran member of Robert E. Lee Lodge of Pine Apple, Ala., since 1856. Mr. Giddens was a bridge builder for Wilcox County for a number of years and was well known over the county.”

It was also reported that week that “Messrs. Paul Everette Jones and H. Marcus attended the funeral of Hon. Sol D. Bloch in Mobile Tuesday. Mr. Jones, as mayor, represented the many friends of Mr. Bloch from the town, and Mr. Marcus was sent as a representative of the Masons.”

In the March 27, 1924 edition of the paper, it was reported that “Mr. W.S. Irby and sons of Lower Peach Tree have met with much success with the well which they have had driven, and the supply of water is ample for the three homes, store and gin. They are going to install a light system for the three houses, store, gin and warehouses at an early date.”

Readers that week also learned that “on last Friday the Camden Juniors won the second game of a series from Coy by the score of 8 to 2. Both teams played stellar ball for youngsters, the Coy infield going to pieces in the second when the Camden team pushed over five runs, after this inning the game was close and interesting. For Camden, Earl McNeil, Lucian McLeod and Edwin Riggs played the leading role, the Lambrecht brothers hit two baggers for Coy and Bill Dannelly made a nice catch of a long fly to left field.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. On the first Thursday of next month, I plan to take a look at the events of April 1924 in Wilcox County. Until then, if you get the urge to research the county’s past yourself, take advantage of the Alabama Department of Archives and History’s excellent selection of old newspapers on microfilm and other resources. Their friendly staff will be more than happy to get you started.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for March 5, 2024

25 YEARS AGO
MARCH 4, 1999

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported .03 inches of rain on Feb. 23 and .55 inches on Feb. 27. He reported a high of 78 degrees on Feb. 26 and a low of 28 degrees on Feb. 22. Total rainfall for the month of February was 1.51 inches.

The 54^th Annual Conecuh County 4-H/Future Farmers of America Steer and Heifer Show will be held this Sat., March 6, 1999 at the Evergreen Stockyard Livestock Arena.
Exhibitors this year in the Steer category are: Brandon Coleman, Christopher Garner and Ashton Garner, all of Castleberry; Clint Casey of Bermuda; Noel Goneke and Chip Stacey of Lyeffion, Michael Landon and Chris Landon of Evergreen; and Carolyn Pritchett of Brooklyn.
In the Heifer show, exhibitors will be Noel Goneke and Chip Stacey, Georgeanne Pritchett and Christopher Garner.
The event begins promptly at 9 a.m. with the official weigh-in. The Heifer Show follows at 1 p.m., which is immediately followed by the Steer Show.
At 6:30 p.m., following the steer show, the sale will be held.
The annual event is sponsored by the Conecuh County Steer Show Committee and the State Department of Agriculture and Industries in cooperation with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the State Department of Education Agri-Science and Technology Education.

In honor of Evergreen being named a Tree City USA Forester Victor Howell planted a tree with the aid of some special guests at Evergreen City School. Pictured Anita Watson, principal at ECS; Peggy Howell, City of Evergreen; Chief Lynn Taylor, James North, Forestry Commission; Mayor Lomax Cassady and Smokey Bear.

50 YEARS AGO
MARCH 7, 1974

Young black man reported missing: Allen Sanders Jr., 25-year-old black male, has disappeared according to members of his family. He was last seen Feb. 24. At that time, he was wearing a western jacket and western jeans.
Sanders is five feet, five inches tall and weighs 115 to 120 pounds. He has a light black complexion, black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone having any information as to his whereabouts is asked to contact Sheriff James M. (Shorty) Brock’s office.

Booker graduates police training, receives honors: BAY MINETTE, ALA. - Edwin L. Booker of the Evergreen Police Department recently received his diploma after completing a six-week course in Basic Police Training at James H. Faulkner State Jr. College here.
Booker was elected president of the class of 37 and was presented a certificate of achievement for outstanding service and accomplishments as a student in the Law Enforcement Training Program. Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key of Evergreen, the commencement speaker, made the presentation to Booker.
Booker was also commended by his instructors for maintaining an average of 96 out of a possible 100 in the course.
Evergreen Mayor and Mrs. Henry Sessions, Chief of Police James Ellis and two sons, Policeman Ernest Sexton and Booker’s wife, Ruby, and their two daughters attended the graduation program.

The Spring Term of Circuit Court will begin here Monday morning in the Conecuh County Courthouse with Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key presiding.

75 YEARS AGO
MARCH 3, 1949

CARL L. NALL: Funeral services for S 1/c Carl L. Nall, who was killed in action in the Pacific theatre in the recent World War, will be held from Ramer Church Saturday at 11 a.m. with full military honors. Officiating will be Rev. J.L. Higdon and Elder A.J. Parrish with Cope Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

The Conecuh County grand jury in session last week examined 48 witnesses and returned only six true bills which was probably the smallest number of indictments ever returned by a grand jury in this county.
Among the indictments returned were two for second degree murder against Mrs. Mary Sue Waller and her son, John D. Chunn, who are charged with killing Willie Blake on Christmas Day. Blake was Mrs. Waller’s son-in-law. This case has been set for trial next Wed., March 9.
Other cases of general interest to be tried at the criminal session next week are:
The State of Alabama vs. Ebb Hoomes, who is charged with murder, moved here on a change of venue from Escambia County. The case was reversed by the Supreme Court and is set for retrial next Thurs., March 10.
The State of Alabama vs. Clyde Johnson, charged with murder in the second degree, is set for Mon., March 7.
The State of Alabama vs. Burley Jackson, charged with manslaughter in the first degree, is set for Tues., March 8.

100 YEARS AGO
MARCH 5, 1924

Birmingham Flyers Land Here Saturday: Saturday morning at 10:30 o’clock, the Birmingham escadrille, 106^th Observation Squadron, Alabama National Guard, from Roberts Field, Birmingham, landed on the field of Troop 55, Machine Gun Squadron, here. The flyers were guests of the local guard officers. The four planes were in command of Capt. Sumter Smith and with him were lieutenants Price, Jonds, Babson and Kirkham and sergeants Parsons, Gobbert and Elder. The aviators were shown around the city and were luncheon guests at the Evergreen hotel. Their departure was made at 1:30 p.m. Capt. Smith and his officers were on their way to Mobile for the aerial meet at Mardi Gras.

Leon Layfield pleaded guilty to the murder of Melvin Brantley in the circuit court at Mobile last week and was sentenced to imprisonment for life in the state penitentiary. The youthful murderer refused to reveal the reasons that prompted him to take the life of his companion. Young Brantley’s body was found about a week after the crime in a swamp near Tensaw river with eight bullet wounds from a 22-calibre rifle in his head. The murder was committed in November last. Young Brantley was born and reared in Beat One of this county.

Charles B. Savage, long a prominent citizen of Evergreen, died on Monday at his home in Brundidge. The news of his death came in a telegram to Judge Dunn from Mrs. Savage. The funeral occurred on Tuesday morning at Brundidge.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for March 4, 2024

USS Dennis J. Buckley

22 YEARS AGO
MARCH 7, 2002

The Monroeville Planning Commission paved the way Monday night for Blockbuster Video to locate on South Alabama Avenue.
The commission approved site plans for a 9,000-square-foot structure to be erected between Kentucky Fried Chicken and McKissick Enterprises. Blockbuster and three other businesses would occupy the building.
Project developer Bill Hyatt said Blockbuster has signed a non-binding agreement for the property. “It’s not a done deal,” Hyatt said.

Excel School improved its record to 3-1 Friday when the Panthers’ baseball team defeated Monroe County High School 5-1 at Murphy Park in Excel.
Neal Jordan improved his pitching record to 2-0 with the complete-game performance. The 6-5 lanky right-hander scattered five hits, walked three and struck out four in the seven-inning contest.
(Other top Excel players in that game included Josh Black, Hunter Parden, Chase Reeves and Michael Whatley. Top MCHS players included pitcher Ben Busby. Robby Carpenter was Excel’s head coach.)

U.S. Rep. Sonny Callahan (R-Mobile) announced Monday that he plans to retire at the conclusion of his present term.
Callahan, 69, is currently serving his ninth straight term in the U.S. Congress and is chairman of the Appropriations Committee this term.
Callahan was first elected to office Nov. 6, 1984. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He attended the University of Alabama, Mobile, which is now the University of South Alabama.

47 YEARS AGO
MARCH 3, 1977

County 4-H’ers take top honors: Monroe County 4-H’ers took top honors in the annual Monroe County 4-H and area junior market steer shows at Monroe County Coliseum Monday and Tuesday.
The grand champion steer in both the county and area shows belonged to Don Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oneil Smith of Uriah. He showed a 1,300-pound Hereford Simmental cross steer.

The Frisco City Whippets, who have the best win-loss record of any school in the county, 24-3, won out 68-49 in a game against Monroe County High Friday night in the Monroe County Coliseum.
Randy Houston led the scoring for the Whippets with 19 points. Lynn Knight led the Tigers’ scoring with 14 points, and Tony Ziegler made 12 points.
(Other top Frisco City players included Blanchard Hunt, Larry Walden, Rayford Maye, Cassie King, Theodore Banks and Julius Lambert.)

Church to build recreation center: A construction program including a $390,000 recreation building was approved Sunday by First Baptist Church of Monroeville.
The recreation building, to be known as a “Christian family life center,” will be the first of its type in Monroe County. It heralds an expanded family-oriented ministry by the church, said Dr. Robert H. Jackson, pastor.
Construction of the building will begin as soon as financing can be secured. Jackson hopes this will take only a few months.
The building will contain about 20,000 square feet. It will be located behind the church’s educational building.

72 YEARS AGO
MARCH 6, 1952

Dr. T.E. Dennis Dies Suddenly: Dr. Thomas Edmond Dennis, 78, retired Monroeville physician, died suddenly Sunday at his residence at 12 o’clock.
Dr. Dennis was a Monroe County native. He was a graduate of Sewanee Medical School in 1906. During his lifetime, he taught medicine in the Philippine Islands for four years and practiced in Monroeville for 45 years.

Uriah Sailor Is In Cuban Hospital: Seaman Leslie L. Davis of Uriah is now hospitalized in the U.S. Navy Hospital, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Seaman Davis, the son of Mr. and Mrs. G.L. Davis, is serving aboard the USS D.J. Buckley, DDR.

Kiwanians To Hear Little League Panel: A discussion of Little League baseball in Monroeville and Monroe County will be presented to the Monroeville Kiwanis Club tomorrow (Friday) at its regular weekly luncheon meeting at the LaSalle Hotel. Guest speakers will be O.M. Howe, Curt Wideman and Joe Tucker. Johnson Lathram is in charge of the program.

WANTED URGENTLY: Men 17 to 35 years of age wanted. Two hours per week at Monroeville National Guard Battery. Starting pay for recruits is $1.25 per hour.

Atticus Mullins and Haygood Patterson of Montgomery were visitors to Monroeville on Friday.

The Rev. and Mrs. A.C. Lee and Mrs. J.F. Dusenberry spent last Wednesday in Mobile.

97 YEARS AGO
MARCH 3, 1927

UNVEILING SERVICE: On account of rain, the Woodmen of the World unveiling of the monument of the late Sov. W.W. Ellis of Uriah was postponed until Sun., March 6, 1927, at 3:30 p.m. All WOW camps are cordially invited to assist in this work and the public is invited to be present at this ceremony.

You are invited to attend the play “The Dust of the Earth” to be given at the school house at Tunnel Springs on March 11 at 8 p.m. Proceeds for benefit of the Parent-Teachers Association.

Dr. F.W. Brandon of Atlanta, secretary of the Hospital Board of the Southern Methodist church, occupied the pulpit at the Methodist church Sunday morning, delivering an able discourse.

Messrs. L.A. Brown, Bud Ward, M.T. Ward and R. Brown are in Mobile for the Mardi Gras season and will purchase spring goods while there.

Mr. J.O. Huxford, who recently established a plant for the manufacture of naval stores at Perry, Fla., spent a few days with his family here this week.

CITY LIBRARY OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON MARCH 1: The committee in charge of the City Library are very happy to announced that the Library was opened to the public on Tuesday afternoon, March 1. It is the plan now to keep the Library open two afternoons a week, namely Tuesday and Saturday, from 3 to 5, and all persons who have a membership are entitled to draw books. The fee is only $1 per year per family and for this small sum every family in town and surrounding community should be enrolled and enjoy the privileges of good reading.

122 YEARS AGO
MARCH 6, 1902

Hunter’s Mill Damaged: The timber mill of Hunter, Benn & Co. at Nero sustained great damage from the heavy rains of last week, the main dam and wasteway being washed away by the torrents of water which swept down upon them. A large force of hands are at work repairing the injury and the mill will be in operation again in a few weeks.

Simpson’s Mill Broken: Mr. J.H. Simpson is among the many sufferers from last week’s rain, the dam of his water mill near Mexia having been swept away by the floods. Mr. Simpson’s mill was a great convenience for a large community, and it is presumed he will rebuild at once.

An Old Citizen Dead: Another landmark is removed in the death of Mr. John Davison, which occurred at Kempville on Feb. 18 at the advanced ate of 87 years.
Mr. Davison was a native of South Carolina, but removed with his parents to this county at an early age where he resided continuously for nearly 80 years.
He was an upright, conscientious Christian gentleman, a consistent member of the Baptist church and possessed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.

County Court: The county court docket was unusually light Monday and the matinee soon over. Only two cases were called by his honor, as follows: The State v. Ed. Clark, assault and battery; plea of guilty and fine $5 and costs. State v. same party, presenting gun, nol. pros.

Manistee: Rev. J.B. Kilpatrick failed to preach at Pleasant Hill Sunday evening owing to quarantine from small pox.

'Old Farmers Almanac' says to get ready for egg-standing equinox

Today is March 1, and a glance at my trusty “Old Farmer’s Almanac” tells me that we’ve got an interesting month ahead.

On or around March 9, hummingbirds will begin their annual migration north. This makes for a good time to get your back-yard hummingbird feeders ready, so that you can see some of these birds that have made their way to our neck of the woods from as far away as South America. One hummingbird a few years ago was tagged in Tallahassee, Florida and eventually made his way all the way to Alaska in less than a month.

Like a lot of people, I am looking forward to 2 a.m. on Sun., March 10, because that’s when Daylight Saving Time begins. We’ll set our clocks ahead one hour and enjoy an extra hour of daylight in the evenings. We’ll revert to standard time on Nov. 3.

The winter season will end and spring will begin with the Vernal Equinox on Tues., March 19, at 10:06 p.m. It’s said that you can stand an egg on end on this day, and I actually pulled it off on this day several years ago. Later, someone told me that if you’re sure-handed enough, you can stand an egg on end no matter what day of the year it is.

Good Friday this year will fall on March 29 with Easter to come on March 31. On the Saturday between these two holy days, the almanac says that chipmunks will begin to emerge from hibernation. While they aren’t seen very often, chipmunks do live throughout Alabama, except in swampy areas.

For the stargazers in the reading audience there will be much to see during the month of March. The planet Venus can be seen as a brilliant morning “star” all month, low in the southeast around 6:30 a.m. On March 7, between 5:45 a.m. and 6 a.m., Venus, the planet Mercury and the crescent Moon will alignment in the southeast sky.

At dawn on March 21, Venus will come close to the planet Saturn low in the east, but you’ll need binoculars for optimal viewing. Between midnight and dawn on March 25, a penumbral eclipse of the Moon will occur, but this is the type of eclipse in which the appearance of the full Moon doesn’t noticeably change. On March 29 at 6:30 a.m., you should be able to see Saturn halfway between low and brilliant Venus and much higher and much dimmer Mars.

The March full Moon, which will appear at 2 a.m. on March 25, is known as the Full Worm Moon. This first full Moon of spring takes its name from the fact that earthworms will begin to reappear and bring birds back out to feed. Close observers will also notice beetle larvae emerging from trees and other winter hiding places during this time.

In the end, there is more than a little weather folklore associated with the month of March. Perhaps my favorite is the saying that “So many mists in March you see, so many frosts in May will be.” In other words, if we wake up to foggy, misty mornings next month, we can likely look for colder than normal weather in May.