What ‘strange animal’ did Leo Dees encounter in April 1948?

North American river otter. 

Everyone enjoys a good mystery, and I stumbled upon one such local mystery the other day while looking through some old Monroe Journals.

On the front page of the April 22, 1948 edition of The Journal, editor Bill Stewart asked readers to help identify a “strange animal” found in northwest Monroe County. Under the headline, “Identify This Animal And You’re Expert,” Stewart explained that Franklin farmer Leo Dees was puzzled by an unusual critter he found in a swamp near the Alabama River, about 2-1/2 miles north of the Franklin community. Dees told the newspaper that he’d been out turkey hunting on Sat., April 10, when he came up a dead animal that weighed about 40 pounds.

Dees said this bizarre creature had a head shaped like a bear, sharp teeth, extremely coarse and stiff hair with feet like a dog, except it had regular toenails, not claws. Its color was a mixture of brown and red, and the animal had a 15-inch-long bushy tail. The animal’s eyes were located far back on the side of its head, which formed a perfectly straight line with the tip of its nose. Dees also noted that he found two dead hogs lying nearby and that “signs of a tremendous struggle were evident.”

During the past week, I’ve asked several outdoorsmen about what this animal could have been, and I also put the description on Facebook to see if anyone there had a good answer. Several folks asked if I had a photo of the animal, but unfortunately the newspaper did not include a picture of the creature. More than likely, Dees had no camera with him when he came upon the animal.

Several people said that the animal could have been some type of dog while others said that it may have been a coyote. Dickey Andress noted that the animal was the right size and color, and had the right type of hair and tail, to have been a coyote. Coyotes are common in Monroe County today, but they were more rare in the 1940s.

Wade Barfield, who is widely known for his champion retriever “Ace,” said the animal may have been a domestic dog that somehow had been crossbred with a jackal. Another outdoorsman suggested that the animal was a wolverine that had somehow made its way into our area.

Monroeville attorney Will Coxwell suggested that the animal may have been a North American river otter. These mammals are found throughout North America, including in Alabama waterways. They commonly grow over 30 pounds and have been known to attack dogs, which could explain the deaths of the two hogs that Dees found.

Others jokingly said that the animal was the legendary Chupacabra, which name literally means “goat-sucker” in Spanish. These creatures have been reported throughout the United States and Mexico and are said to attack and drink the blood of livestock, including goats. Reports of these strange creatures date back to 1995, well after the sighting by Dees in 1948.

Thomas Earl McKenzie said the animal found by Dees sounds like the same kind of animal that his father killed in 1984. He described it as a “nasty thing,” and said that they sent it to Auburn University, where experts there were unable to identify it. He said that the animal had been eating his father’s calves on Drewry Road.

In the end, I believe the Leo Dees in the story to have been Arthur Leo Dees, who would have been 45 years old in April 1948. He would eventually pass away at the age of 70 in 1973, and he is buried in the Springhill First Baptist Church Cemetery in Franklin. It’s my understanding that he has many descendants still living in Monroe County today.

Frank M. Barnett was respected, distinguished Wilcox County citizen

Virginia and Frank M. Barnett in 1963.

Last week in this space, I wrote about how the football field at Wilcox County High School was named in honor of “Cap’n” Frank M. Barnett in 1948. Naming the field in honor of Barnett was the idea of WCHS football coach Connie McKelvey, and the proposal appears to have been widely supported in the community. Barnett, who was the school’s vocational agriculture teacher, is believed to have donated the land for the athletic field.

Barnett was a respected member of the community, and not long after last week’s newspaper hit the streets, several readers provided me with more information about this distinguished member of the community. Barnett, whose middle name was Madison, was born in February 1900, and he passed away in Birmingham at the age of 73 in September 1973. He is buried beside his wife, Virginia, at Memorial Cemetery in Montgomery.

According to articles published when he retired in 1963, he had served as a vocational agriculture agent for 15 years and went on to serve 20 years as assistant county agent and county agricultural agent. At that time, Barnett’s wife, Virginia, had served as a music teacher for about 35 years. Upon their retirement, they planned to move to their large farm in Macon County’s Fitzpatrick community.

Barnett’s retirement reception was held during Wilcox County’s annual Cattlemen’s Association meeting. The keynote speaker was Dr. “Shine” Hollinger, a veterinarian in Camden and a close friend of Barnett’s. Hollinger told the large crowd that there were few men between the ages of 30 and 55 who attended Wilcox County High School whose lives did not “reflect the worthwhile influence of Barnett’s association.”

Hollinger also noted that Barnett had a big influence on agriculture during his time as county agent. This was especially felt in the county’s thriving beef cattle industry, noting that “the top-quality herds in the county were an impressive product of the county agent’s efforts through the years,” Hollinger said. It was also noted that Barnett began promoting the use of good bulls and the saving of replacement heifers before those practices became one of the Extension Service’s recommended practices.

At that time, Wilcox County ranked among the top five counties in Alabama in beef cattle production. The county’s annual gross income from beef cattle production then exceeded $3 million. In today’s dollars, that amounts to around $29,800,00.

Barnett was also lauded for his work in promoting better pasture lands for beef cattle. Among his accomplishments in this area is that he was credited with introducing and establishing Coastal Bermuda grass in Wilcox County as a prime grazing and hay crop.

Hollinger also noted that not only was Wilcox County High School’s football field named in Barnett’s honor, but that Barnett also had a hand in the construction of Camden’s public swimming pool.  He also had a hand in the construction of Camden’s recreation center, and he was Wilcox County’s first Scoutmaster.

In the end, I think it’s safe to say that Barnett was a unique and amazing man. He left a lasting impression on Wilcox County, and finished his career as a respected member of the community. No doubt he is still missed by family and friends who remember his outstanding legacy.

George Singleton tells of the marriage between Aunt Roxie and 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 “Memories of a country wedding” was originally published in the April 8, 2004 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

I grew up in a rural farming community where everyone knew the business of everyone else. This was a good thing because there were several people in the area who had no family to turn to should they need help.

The menfolk in the community saw to it that these people got help if it was needed. Chores included cutting their firewood and repairing anything that needed repair around the farms. Those who needed personal care in time of sickness were cared for by the other members of the community.

Down the road from where I grew up 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 owned a nice comfortable house and a small farm.

In the days of the Depression, she would have been a “nice catch” for any of the eligible black men of the surrounding area and the community.

But Aunt Roxie would have nothing to do with any of the local eligible menfolk. Many had tried to court Aunt Roxie, but had failed. She had set her standards much too high, according to the local gossip. The eligible men in the area had to earn their living either by farming or doing hard labor at a nearby sawmill.

Aunt Roxie had let it be known that before she would consider any courtship, the man would have to be a total gentleman. He would also have to be well-educated. He would have to dress neatly and have the best of clothing. And, last but not least, he would have to have some good method 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 community. The goodies that Aunt Roxie kept around her house was why this five-year-old boy had chosen her as one of his best friends. He could not resist stopping by her house every 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. And, the popcorn candy that she always had on hand wasn’t to be sneezed at either.

Then, one day in early June, it happened. Down the narrow dirt road came a clean and shining buggy. It was drawn by one of the finest-looking horses that had been seen by the local folks. The polished leather harness gleamed in the afternoon sun. And, the huge travel trunk strapped on the back of the buggy seemed to boast of the fine clothing that was stored there. The seats of the buggy was made of fine polished leather, not a scratch or soiled place could be seen on them.

In the driver’s seat sat a well-dressed handsome black man complete with top hat and travel coat. He had on a white, ruffled shirt, complete with bow tie. His driving gloves were soft and comfortable, and his dress boots looked as though they had just been polished.

He had stopped at the local country store and inquired about a place where he might stay for a short while. He stated that he was a traveling magician and would like to put on some magic shows in the area before moving on. The news traveled throughout the farm community like wildfire, a place was found where he could stay, and a time and place was set for his first performance. “Will Street,” the magician from New Orleans, was in business.

Will Street and his magic show was a complete success. His ability to put a small rooster in a glass bottle, along with making a large black cat that he had brought with him disappear, was the talk of the country folks.

Gossip began to ride the winds of the farm community. The shining new buggy had been seen hitched to Aunt Roxie’s yard fence on Saturday afternoons and after church for Sunday dinner the following day. Word had it that Will Street had proposed marriage to Aunt Roxie. 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. Pine ribbons were tied along the picket fence around the front yard. Delicious food of all sorts covered two large tables that had been placed under the 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 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. Things were getting quite hectic under the large magnolia tree. The insects were quite plentiful that hot August Saturday afternoon.

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

A period of almost four wonderful years would pass as the couple lived happily together. Aunt Roxie and Will Street were seen quite often traveling to and from his magic performances around the area on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Then, one Saturday during the final days of October, Will Street the magician performed for the last time. As he closed his show and was loading his buggy for the journey home, the magician from New Orleans slumped to the ground. Will Street was dead.

After the death of her husband, Aunt Roxie seemed to lose all will to live. No more did she take pride in her cooking and house cleaning. The buttermilk pies and popcorn candy ceased to exist. The house and yards fell into decay. Aunt Roxie just sat alone in a huge rocking chair in front of the empty fire place.

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 some food, which was often done by the local folks.

The front door of the house was forced open. There sat Aunt Roxie in the large oak rocking chair. She was dead. She had joined Will Street, the magician from New Orleans – the man who had met all of her specifications, both in dress and manners; the man who had completely swept her off her feet, the man who had made her life most wonderful 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, 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 April 23, 2024

U.S. Senator Howell T. Heflin

22 YEARS AGO
APRIL 25, 2002

Members of the Pinckney D. Bowles Camp 1840 of the Sons of the Confederacy placed flags on Bowles Grave Monday morning in honor of Confederate Memorial Day. Members pictured are Lee F. Smith, Mitchell Anthony, Ed Deabler, Bill Hart and Michael Lambert.

James E. (Jimmy) Warren has qualified to seek re-election to the House of Representatives. He presently represents the 64th District, which includes Baldwin, Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties.

Frank L. Johnson Jr., 74, of Pearl, Miss. died Mon., April 22, 2002 at Hospice Ministries, Ridgeland.
A native of Evergreen, Mr. Johnson served in the U.S. Air Force during the Berlin AirLift at the time of the Korean War. He was an Air Traffic Control Specialist in Alabama, Mississippi, Alaska and Florida.

The Conecuh County Commission passed a resolution at the meeting Monday morning to execute an agreement with the State of Alabama for a resurfacing project on County Road 29. The paving will go from Dean’s Store to the county line, according to County Engineer Winston Foshee.

On March 28, 2002, Knud Nielsen Co. held its annual awards ceremony. Each year employees are presented with company pins for their years of service at KNC. The above employees were recognized with having over 25 years of service: Julian Katz, Joann Knowles, Jerry Scott and Jim Rigby. Not pictured: Colonial Pitts.

25 YEARS AGO
APRIL 22, 1999

Local weather observer Harry Ellis reported .07 inches of rain on April 14 and “scattered frost” on April 17. He reported a high of 87 degrees on April 14 and lows of 36 on April 17 and April 18.

Castleberry held its annual Strawberry Festival this past weekend with a nice, large crowd that turned out. Games, music, a street dance and family fun was the rule of the day and a good time was had by all.

U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions will visit Conecuh County this Fri., April 23, at 4 p.m. for a town hall meeting.
Sessions will meet the people of Conecuh County at the renovated historic depot in Evergreen. He will make a few remarks and then take some questions.

Small Loan, Inc. recently held its grand opening and ribbon cutting in conjunction with Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce. The company specializes in small, quick approval loans and is located next door to Dollar General across the street from the A&P.

Members of the Allied Community Development Corp., which was organized by the late Jack M. Wainwright III, formerly of Evergreen, established a scholarship at Birmingham-Southern, his alma mater, as a memorial in his honor. He was a former loan officer at First Alabama Bank.

45 YEARS AGO
APRIL 26, 1979

Jonestown victim is buried here: Mrs. Millie Steans Cunningham, a native of Evergreen who died in the infamous massacre and mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana, South America on Nov. 18, 1978, was buried here Friday.

Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported .02 inches of rain on April 21. He also reported highs of 86 on April 18 and April 21 and a low of 47 on April 16.

Dwayne Godwin, 17-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Manford Godwin Sr. of Castleberry and member of Boy Scout Troop 225, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in an outdoor ceremony at the scout hut Fri., April 14.

U.S. Senator Howell Heflin was here last Thursday morning for a ‘Dutch treat’ breakfast at the Holiday Inn. The senator and former Alabama Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was introduced by Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key, who was in law school with Heflin at the University of Alabama.

The Evergreen High School FFA Chapter surprised Butch Adams, veteran photographer-reporter for The Evergreen Courant, last Thursday when Chapter President Johnny Stowers presented Adams with a handsome plaque honoring the accommodating, ever-present Butch with the “FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree.”

67 YEARS AGO
APRIL 25, 1957

Plans for the Annual Fat Calf Show have been completed and the event will take place on Mon., April 29, with 26 4-H Club and FFA members competing.

BULLETIN: As The Courant went to press Wednesday afternoon, it was learned that one woman was killed, and a man and child were injured in a one-car accident two miles north of Ray Brothers Store on Highway 31 North of Evergreen.
An identification card on the man identified him as James Cannon of 809 North M St., Pensacola, Fla. The woman and child were not identified, nor was the extent of the injuries of the man and child known at press time.

A small boy, visiting his grandparents near Evergreen, was killed Friday night when he ran into the path of a car 5.3 miles north on Highway 83.
Wayne Davis, son of Lou Hattie Young of New Brunswick, N.J., was visiting his grandparents, the Charlie Morgan’s, for the first time, and had gotten there for the visit the same day he was killed. He was standing beside the road with his grandmother when he suddenly broke loose from her hand and ran into the path of an oncoming car.
The fatality was the fourth recorded in Conecuh this year. In February, a banana truck driver was killed in a collision with another banana truck north of Evergreen, and in March two others were killed in the half mile stretch of Highway 55 in Conecuh between McKenzie and Andalusia.

99 YEARS AGO
APRIL 22, 1925

W.A. BOUTWELL – Resolution Adopted by Conecuh Lodge A.F.&A.M. No. 733, Belleville, Ala. – The subject of this memorial was born in Pike County and later moved to Lowndes County, where he resided until about 15 years ago when he moved to Conecuh County and remained until death came.
Mr. Boutwell was born Oct. 20, 1842 and died on March 11, 1925. He was made a Mason 40 years ago and lived it in a creditable manner.
Simple, straightforward, unassuming, unselfish to a degree, of rugged honesty and sincerity of purpose, and yet withal gentile in his nature, the life of this good man breathes the spirit of the old south, of a regime that is lofty and massive and yet graceful. His noble life and exemplary character are cherished by his brethren of the mystic tie.
Resolved that this memorial be inscribed upon the records of this lodge, a copy furnished his relatives and that the same be published in The Evergreen Courant. – J.D. Skinner, J.E. Baggett, J.A. Reid, Committee.

WELCOME: Quite a crowd was disappointed at Welcome church Sunday night, it being announced last week there would be preaching, and the preacher did not come. We feel that is the reason we never have a large congregation. We have been disappointed so many times.

HERBERT: The picture show at Herbert Thursday night was enjoyed by everyone.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for April 22, 2024

John M. Patterson

16 YEARS AGO
APRIL 24, 2008

High winds Friday night took down the Our Place Youth Center and Family Theater sign on South Alabama Avenue and lightning struck the center, damaging the electrical system. Directors Buster and Tracy Waters have ordered a new sign from International Sign and Design and paid a 50-percent down payment, but are looking for sponsors to help finish paying the balance.

MA Vols upend Wilcox: Monroe Academy’s baseball team picked up win No. 30 on the year last week, thumping Wilcox Academy 18-3 in five innings.
Cody Philen started on the mound for MA and didn’t allow a run or a hit through three innings. Philen struck out two and walked four. Philen contributed to his winning cause with seven RBIs and three runs on three singles and a homerun.
(Other standout MA players in that game included Denzil Dees, Alex Dueitt, Mark Hutcherson, Todd Kilpatrick, Drake Martin, Phillip McKinley and Tyler Rigdon. Mitchell Turberville was head coach.)

Volkswalk ribbon cutting to be held May 3 at police station: The Monroeville’s Volkswalk ribbon cutting will be held Sat., May 3, at 7:30 a.m. at the Monroeville Police Station. Monroeville Police Chief Rudolph Munnerlyn and the Mockingbird Court will be on hand and will assist with cutting the ribbon for Monroeville’s walk. Everyone is invited to join in the fun and fellowship and be part of this 10K (6.2 mile) walk through historic Monroeville. The walk begins at the police station, winds through downtown Monroeville, skirts the cemetery at First Methodist Church, goes down Lazenby and Leslie streets and eventually crosses town and skirts the Whitey Lee Park and lake.

41 YEARS AGO
APRIL 28, 1983

Journal receives newspaper awards: The Monroe Journal won first place for its editorial page and honorable mention for general excellence in the Alabama Press Association’s 1983 Better Newspaper Contest. Awards were announced recently by the APA. Awards will be presented during the APA’s summer convention in July in Gulf Shores.

Blacksher girls hold perfect record: J.U. Blacksher High School’s girls softball team held onto its perfect Class 1A, Area 2 record Monday with an 18-14 win over Excel’s girls in Excel.
The Blacksher girls sent 11 runners across home plate to lead off the first inning of play Monday in Excel. But the Panther girls didn’t quit, coming back to knot the game at 12-12 in the fifth inning.
Blacksher pitcher Lisa Harrison put the Bulldogs back on top in the seventh inning with a grand-slam in-the-park home run.
(Led by head coach Joe Allen, other top Blacksher players in that game included Melody Baggett, Teresa Blackwell, Cathy English, Betty Garnder, Olivia Gregson, Roxanne Lassiter, Gloria Mitchell, Amy Nordstrum, June Peters and Lillie Wallace. Top Excel players were Kim Guy and Sandra Hollinger.)

Eastwood to hold Founders’ Day: Eastwood Baptist Church, located on Drewry Road in Monroeville, will celebrate its Founders’ Day Sunday. Sunday school will start at 9:45 a.m. and an attendance goal of 256 has been set. The Rev. Jimmy Wilson, pastor, will present a founders’ day message which will be followed by dinner on the grounds.

66 YEARS AGO
APRIL 24, 1958

Dr. Carter Elected State Medical Officer: Dr. W.R. Carter, prominent Repton physician, was elected and installed as President-Elect of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama at the 97^th annual session of the group in Montgomery April 17-19. He was also named second vice-president of the University of Alabama Medical College Alumni. Dr. Woodrow W. Eddins of Monroeville was installed as a councilor from the First Congressional District.

Boating Club Builds River Landing Ramp: The Monroe County Outboard Boating Club, Inc. has announced the construction of a large landing ramp at the mouth of Gaillard’s Creek on the Alabama River. The purpose of the recently organized group is to develop more adequate boat landings and other facilities on the Alabama River in Monroe County and to promote sportsmanship and conservation. Club officials indicated this project is one of many now being planned.

Patterson Is Coming To Monroe Towns Today: John Patterson, Alabama’s Attorney General and candidate for Governor in the May 6 Democratic primary, will speak in Monroe County today (Thursday) in three towns. He will bring his campaign to Frisco City at 9 a.m.; Monroeville, 9:45 a.m.; and Beatrice, 11:45 a.m. He will appear in Camden at 1:30 p.m.

Tryouts for Monroe County Babe Ruth League baseball are scheduled at Vanity Fair Park May 12-13. Chuck Pelham, secretary-treasurer of the league, said candidates for this season’s teams must be at the park at 4:30 on those dates. Boys ages 13 through 15 are eligible to try out.

91 YEARS AGO
APRIL 27, 1933

Stores To Close For Ball Game Friday: The Monroeville team will meet the strong Brewton baseball nine here on the local field at three o’clock Friday afternoon. Brewton had a lucky break on last Friday and defeated Monroeville 2-0 at Brewton, but Monroeville’s team says that will not happen again this week.
The following business houses will close from three o’clock until five for the game: Burns Optical Co., R.C. Snowden, Megginson’s Place, Monroe Motor Co., Wiggins Brothers, D.M. Ratcliffe, M. Katz Dry Goods Store, The Monroe County Bank, S.W. Hixon, Monroeville Billiard Parlor, Gulf Service Station, The Monroe Journal, L.A. Hixon, Lucian Jones Motor Co., Lazenby Mercantile Co., The First National Bank, Finklea & Finklea, East Side Cash Store, Reed Barber Shop, A.N. Cameron, Barnett & Jackson, Clyde Marshall’s Garage, Bowden Hardware Co., Thompson’s Bakery, Variety Store, Monroeville Pharmacy, M.C. Wright, V.H. & C.E. Faulk and R.J. Hendrix.

Wife of Minister Succumbs At Beatrice After Illness: Mrs. A.A. Hutto, wife of the Rev. A.A. Hutto, widely known Baptist minister of Alabama, died Sunday night at her home in Beatrice following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Hutto had been in ill health several years, but lately had showed signs of improvement. Her death was attributed to an attack of heart trouble.

Mr. and Mrs. General James announce the birth of twins, a boy and a girl. The combined weight of the youngsters was 17 pounds.

116 YEARS AGO
APRIL 23, 1908

TOWN ELECTION: Notice is hereby given that an election will be held in the courthouse in the town of Monroeville on Mon., May 4, 1908, for the election of mayor and five councilmen for said town for the ensuing municipal year. John W. Broughton and Wm. C. Neville have been appointed to manage said election. – Thos. S. Wiggins, Mayor.

NOTICE: All physicians and midwives of the county will please make prompt reports to me at Jones Mill, Ala., of vital statistics every 30 days as required by law. – J.F. Busey, County Health Officer.

DEATH OF D.C. MIMS: The death of no man in the county has occasioned keener regret or more profound sorrow than that of Mr. David C. Mims, which occurred at his home at McGill on Thursday evening, April 16, after an illness of more than six weeks.
Mr. Mims was a native and lifelong resident of Monroe and no man was more sincerely esteemed and universally respected. He was for many years a prosperous planter of Beat 12, but removed to South Monroe a few years ago where he owned one of the most fertile and best equipped farms in that section and was preparing to spend the evening of his life in comfort.
Mr. Mims was a devoted member of the Baptist church and prominent in fraternal circles, having been Worshipful Master successively of Cokerville Masonic Lodge near his former home for a number of years, of R.E. Lee Lodge, Pine Apple, for 15 years, and at the time of his death was Master of Blacksher Lodge, which he organized some six years ago.

Football field at Wilcox County High School was named in honor of Cap'n Frank M. Barnett in May 1948

Camden School of Arts and Technology

Several weeks ago in this space, readers saw an article about the 1951 “Blue & White” spring football game at Wilcox County High School in Camden. That story mentioned that the game was played at Barnett Field, and not long after that column hit the streets, a number of readers raised questions about the name of that athletic field.

The earliest reference to Barnett Field that I could find in back issues of The Wilcox Progressive Era was in the May 13, 1948 edition of the paper. On the front page that week, WCHS football coach Connie McKelvey suggested that the field be named for Captain Frank Barnett.

“Now after passing on my views and news to you, I’d like to make one suggestion, before I have to get out of town,” McKelvey wrote. “Most towns have athletic fields. Most athletic fields have names. We have a field without a name, so I want to suggest that our field be named after the gentleman who has helped so much and worked so hard to hand us one of the best fields in the state – Cap’n Frank Barnett. I’d like for us to name ours Barnett Field. What do you think?”

In the following week’s paper, Eugene Watts wrote in to the paper in support of McKelvey’s proposal.

“I think Coach McKelvey made a fine suggestion for the name of the football field, and I would like to second the motion. I feel sure the powers with the authority will please the entire town by naming it Barnett Field.”

Several helpful readers helped fill in some of the blanks about Barnett and the football field. According to them, the football field was located behind the present-day Camden School of Arts and Technology on Broad Street. Barnett is said to have been the vocational agriculture teacher at WCHS and that his home was on Clifton Street, adjacent to the football field. Another reader said that they believed Barnett donated the land for the football field.

As best that I could tell, the first varsity football game to be played at Barnett Field was the Oct. 21, 1948 game between WCHS and Parrish High School of Selma’s B-team. WCHS won that game, 20-0, and based on published accounts of that game, Matt Barnett scored the first touchdown in Barnett Field history.

“Early in the second quarter, with the ball on the nine-yard line, Matt Barnett faked the Selma boys out of position and made the touchdown on an end run without a single Selma man touching him,” the newspaper reported. “He could have easily got the length of the field if it had been necessary.”

In the end, I was unable to learn much more about Frank Barnett. Apparently after his teaching days, he served for a number of years as the county’s agricultural agent. However, I was unable to find his obituary or determine where he is buried. If anyone in the reading audience has any additional information about this unique figure from the county’s past, please let me know.

Singleton relays strange, unusual facts from the American Civil War

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 “Strange, fascinating facts on Civil War and aftermath” was originally published in the March 3, 1988 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

It has been well over 100 years since the Civil War, or the War Between the States, has ended. But many of the events in today’s news deal directly with the happenings that transpired during the times when the perils of the war touched almost everyone.

Even today, we have known people whose lives have been touched, in one way or another, by circumstances that in most instances history does not record, and about which we know little or nothing.

Take, for example, when one of history’s first observation balloons hung over the battlefields before the battle of Richmond, Va. in 1862. A foreign observer studied the gas-filled floating bag with interest. This man was Count von Zeppelin, a Prussian observer, the father of the dirigible.

The famed “Quantrill’s Raiders,” who struck terror in the hearts of many of the people who supported the Union, had riding with guerrilla band such names as the Young Brothers, who were later to be known throughout the West as outlaws. The youngest of the band, not yet 16, was Jesse James.

Lyrics sold for $4

After the first writing of the lyrics of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” the song was sold to the Atlantic Monthly for $4.

It was in the battle near Lynchburg, Va. in June 1864 that a former vice president of the United States, Confederate General John C. Breckinridge, faced two future presidents in uniform: Gen. Rutherford B. Hayes and Maj. William McKinley. (Four other Union officers served in the White House: Ulysses S. Grant, Chester A. Arthur, James A. Garfield and Benjamin Harrison.)

In the strange spring of 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, then a captive, rode with Vice President Alexander H. Stephens in a carriage through the streets of Augusta, Ga. They were being carried to a Federal prison. An 8-year-old boy peered through the blinds at them from inside the Presbyterian minister’s home, absorbing a scene that he would never forget. That child was to become the president of the United States. The child was Woodrow Wilson.

Lunch with his family

Sgt. Henderson Viden of the 2^nd Arkansas went to war to fight the enemy. In March 1862, he found himself marching through familiar country, and was soon fighting across his own farm, in the battle of Pea Ridge. During a lull in the fighting, he went over to his house and had lunch with his wife and children. After lunch, he returned to his position at the battle lines.

Gen. John F. Reynolds, U.S. Army, was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Some years after the war, when the state of Pennsylvania was building a large monument to her dead who were killed in the war, the worker who carved Gen. Reynolds’ statue out of granite was the Rebel sniper who had killed him by a bullet through the neck. The workman was Fank Wood, a native of the hill country of North Carolina.

And finally, the story of a hero of the U.S. Marines in the Korean conflict, Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, who played a major roll in the retreat from the Chosin Reservoir. Gen. Puller is the grandson of one of Jeb Stuart’s cavalry officers who was killed at the battle of Kelly’s Ford. His grandmother died after a 10-mile walk in a snowstorm when Federal troops burned her house, having found her husband’s spurs hanging on a wall and having classed them as war equipment.

Confederate flag in Korea

Members of Co. H of the 3^rd Battalion of the U.S. Marines flew a Confederate battle flag for months in the Korean war. The flag was shot down five times. It was always replaced upon request by the Daughters of the Confederacy from Tennessee.

So, all in all, when and if we look deep into our history, we will always find events that relate us or our families to a special time or a special place or battle. Then let us be not too hasty when we judge someone or something that fills only a tiny place within our history.

The time of the terrible Civil War, which tore our nation apart, was a period that we must not forget. We must also not dwell on the hatred and the atrocities that mar our lives even today.

We must remember that the Civil War and its aftermath helped to mold a stronger nation within ourselves. From our mistakes, we must vow that we will never again allow our nation to be split apart or separated as it was that awful time in our history.

The time is at hand when we must bury our differences and work forward to survive in this messed-up world of today. If we do not pull together as one and work in harmony for the betterment of our beautiful land, no one else will. Our nation stands at the crossroads; which will it be? The choice can be only ours.

They fell, who lifted up a hand
And bade the sun in heaven to stand;
They smote and fell, who set the bars
Against the progress of the stars,
And stayed the march of the Motherland!

Fold up the banners, smelt the guns!
Love rules. Her gentler purpose runs.
A mighty mother turns in tears
The pages of her battle years
Lamenting all her fallen sons!...

(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 April 16, 2024

Alabama Gov. James E. Folsom

15 YEARS AGO

APRIL 16, 2009

Local weather observer Harry Ellis reported 3.45 inches of rain on April 12, 2009. He also reported 80 degrees on April 12 and lows of 32 degrees on April 7 and April 8.

The citizens of “The Strawberry Capital of Alabama” are gearing up for the 23^rd Annual Castleberry Strawberry Festival to be held Saturday in the town’s downtown area.

U.S. Representative Bobby Bright (D-Montgomery) told a crowd of around 40 people last week that he is against a proposed landfill in Conecuh County.

Bright, who took office about 90 days ago, held a “Congress on Your Corner” meeting at Repton Town Hall last Thursday morning and told the crowd that he’s aware that a “vast majority” of people in Conecuh County are against a landfill.

Bright’s remarks followed questions from the audience about his stance on a proposed venture to bring a multi-state solid waste landfill to southwest Conecuh County.

Conecuh County attorney and former state representative Greg Albritton won Tuesday’s Republican primary and will face Democrat Marc Keahey for the Senate District 22 seat.

Albritton and Keahey are running for a seat that became vacant when Sen. Pat Lindsey (D-Butler) died unexpectedly in January.

Published reports yesterday showed that Albritton beat (Judy) Belk and (Danny B.) Joyner in all but one of the eight counties in the district, and state party officials reported that Albritton received 57 percent of the vote on Tuesday.

30 YEARS AGO

APRIL 21, 1994

Local weather observer Harry Ellis reported 1.85 inches of rain on April 12, 0.41 inches on April 14 and 1.50 inches on April 15. He reported a high of 85 degrees on April 11 and lows of 49 degrees on April 16 and April 17.

Clayton Cobb announces he is a candidate for the office of coroner of Conecuh County in the upcoming Democratic primary.

Cobb is a lifelong resident of the Brooklyn-Paul community. He is self-employed and operates Brooklyn Machine, Inc. He is a Blue Lodger and Scottish Rite Mason.

The spring term of Civil Jury Docket will open Monday morning at 9:00 with Circuit Judge Sam Welch presiding. Judge Welch has four cases set for trial next week.

A large crowd was on hand Saturday for the Eighth Annual Strawberry Festival. The festival is held in downtown Castleberry each April and there are always plenty of arts and crafts and delicious strawberries for everyone.

When Conecuh County voters go to the polls this June they will be electing a new sheriff for the first time in 20 years. Conecuh County Sheriff Edwin L. Booker will not seek an unprecedented fifth term of office. He will retire when the new sheriff takes office next January.

45 YEARS AGO

APRIL 19, 1979

John P. Bewley, retired Soil Conservation Service technician, was recently presented a gold emblem by the Alabama Grand Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons, in recognition of his 50 years membership as a Mason. The presentation ceremony was conducted at Greening Lodge No. 53 of which Bewley has been a member since Aug. 13, 1943. He joined the Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 179 in Maryland on March 31, 1928. The 50^th anniversary emblem was presented by District Lecturer Jesse L. Byrd of Greenville. Bewley served Greening Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1972-73 and has held other offices. He is currently serving as Tyler of the local lodge.

Cook Morrison of Lyeffion exhibited the Grand Champion at the 34^th Annual Conecuh County Fat Calf Show held Monday in the show arena at Conecuh Stockyards. Jerolyn Dean of Burnt Corn exhibited the Reserve Champion.

Local weather observer Earl Windham reported .007 of an inch of rain on April 9 and 1.13 inches on April 13. He reported a high of 87 degrees on April 12 and a low of 46 of April 15.

Lula North won the Conecuh County Spelling Bee and her instructor and sponsor, Mrs. Edwina Sullivan, proudly shares the honor with the Nichburg Junior High School student.

Sally Morris of Repton High School was runner-up in the recent Conecuh County Spelling Bee. Her instructor and sponsor is the Rev. Bert Wiggers.

60 YEARS AGO

APRIL 16, 1964

Fat calf show here Monday: County 4-H’ers and FFA’ers will exhibit some 50 fine, fed fat calves in the annual Conecuh County 4-H & FFA Fat Calf Show here Monday. The show gets underway at 9 a.m. in the show ring at Conecuh Cooperative Stockyard on North Main St. Spectators are welcome.

Gov. George C. Wallace was most pleased when this group of Conecuh Countians presented him $1,751.50 in truth campaign funds last Friday which were contributed by some 287 county families. Shown making the presentation of funds is W.H. Sessions, who served as chairman of the committee working to raise funds for the governor’s campaigns in Wisconsin, Indiana, Maryland and other places over the nation. Looking on are Bob Bozeman, E.L. McInnis, Mrs. Mabel Amos, W.T. Wild, O.C. McGehee and Bob Kendall. Mrs. Amos, corresponding secretary to the governor, and Kendall, assistant state highway director, joined the local group in the governor’s office.

Announcing the completion of MERRIEWOOD subdivision, a planned neighborhood: Restrictive Covenants, Utilities Stubbed to Lots, Hard Surfaced Curbed Streets, White-Way Lights, Lots Minimum 125 Ft. Front, No Poles on Streets, No Thru Traffic, Financing Available – Nielsen Bros. Development Co.

Bill Griffinn, ship’s serviceman third class, USN, son of Mrs. Laura Griffin of Evergreen, Ala., is serving aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La, operating out of Mayport, Fla.

75 YEARS AGO

APRIL 21, 1949

Castleberry Girl’s Calf Is Grand Champ Conecuh County Fat Calf Show: It was ladies first at the Fourth Annual Conecuh County Fat Calf Show in Evergreen Monday. Miss Jeanell Booker, Castleberry 4-H Club, owned and exhibited the Grand Champion 1,000-pound Hereford Steer, and her sister, Angie, copped third place in the show. The girls thought it a fitting climax for their brother, Isaac, to own the Reserve Champion of the show.

Governor Folsom Inspects Brooklyn Road Saturday: Following his speech in the Conecuh County Courthouse last Sat., April 16, Gov. James E. Folsom was conducted on a tour of the State Highway to Brooklyn. Resurfacing operations preparatory to blacktopping the entire 20 miles to Brooklyn are now underway. Accompanied by County Solicitor Edwin Page and State Senators Broughton Lambreth of Tallapoosa County and R.G. Kendall Jr. of Conecuh, the governor examined the new bridge across Bottle Creek, which has just been completed at a cost upward of $40,000.

The Wonder Show of All Time – In Person – DR. NEFF – Mystifier of Magicians! - presents his original MADHOUSE of MYSTERY – Big Company Ghosts and Gorgeous Girls – Screen Show 9:30 – Stage Show 10:30 – PIX THEATRE – Friday Night, April 22, 1949.

Effective Wednesday, April 20, H.L. Riley assumed his duties as policeman for the City, succeeding R.Z. Wells, who resigned last week to enter business for himself. Mr. Riley has been assigned to daytime duties. He was elected at a special meeting of the City Council held Monday morning.

Mr. Riley is no novice at this job, he having served the City in this capacity for a number of years once before.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for April 15, 2024

Amassa Coleman Lee

12 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 2012

Special ceremony slated: A dedication ceremony will be held today (Thursday) at 6 p.m. for the Monroe County Heritage Museum’s new amphitheater.
Georgia-Pacific donated $175,000 to the Museum, which sponsors the local play, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” for the construction on the west lawn of the historic Old Monroe County Courthouse and Museum, which serves as a permanent location for the play.
The amphitheater design and construction were led by a team consisting of The Architects Group, CSA Group Inc. and JubileeScape of Mobile.

Excel records two shutouts: The Excel Lady Panthers haven’t lost a game in nearly two months, and they continued to roll last week with a 7-0 win over Clarke County and a 10-0 romp of T.R. Miller.
Kayla Jordan pitched both shutout games, allowing just four hits and no walks through 14 innings, while striking out 12 against Clarke County and 14 against Miller. She is 15-1 on the season.
(Other top Excel players in those games included Lauren Anderson, Ayana Brown, Amy Hudson, Paige Lassiter, Kelsey Ledkins and Leondria Parker.)

Pictorial unveiled: An unveiling ceremony for a commemorative envelope/stamp cachet, marking the 50^th anniversary of the award-winning film, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was held Friday morning at Monroe County Heritage Museum in Monroeville.
Postmasters David Neilon of Monroeville and Tonya Hadley of Peterman worked with the museum staff and Museum Executive Director Stephanie Rogers to bring this event to Monroeville.

37 YEARS AGO
APRIL 16, 1987

Journal wins 7 awards in contest: The Monroe Journal won at least seven awards in the Alabama Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest for editions published during 1986.
Competing against other weekly newspapers with circulations over 4,000, The Journal won second-place awards for special sections and editorial pages, plus two third-place awards and three honorable mentions. The Journal’s circulation is around 6,500.
Results in all categories but general excellence were announced last week. General excellence winners will be announced during the association’s summer convention July 17-19 in Gulf Shores.

Lett pitches no-hitter to beat Frisco 14-4: Kelvin Lett pitched a no-hitter Monday in Beatrice to lead the Panthers by Frisco City High. Lett struck out 10 batters. Charles Dailey collected a single, a double and a home run to lead the Shields’ attack.
(Other top Shields players in that game were Henry Jones, Byron Kemp, Gerald Lee, Patrick Lett, Sebastian Lett, Steve McCorvey, Jeff Montgomery, Rodney Owens and Bryan Stallworth.)

Dedication festivities set for Saturday: The Franklin Volunteer Fire Department will hold a dedication ceremony for the new firehouse Saturday at 2 p.m. at the new firehouse, located on Alabama Highway 41 at milepost 63. Immediately following the ceremony, an Easter egg hunt will be held. The Singing Trackmen from Monroeville will perform at 2:30 p.m.

62 YEARS AGO
APRIL 19, 1962

Prominent Monroe County Citizen Dies Early Sunday: Amasa Coleman Lee, 81, prominent Monroeville attorney, died at Monroe County Hospital in Monroeville early Sunday morning after a brief illness.
Mr. Lee was born in Georgiana, the son of Cader A. and Theodocia Windham Lee. He first came to Monroe County in 1902 as bookkeeper for Bear Creek Mill Co. at Manistee and later was connected with a lumber company at Finchburg. Mr. Lee was admitted to the Alabama Bar in 1915 and became associated with the law firm of Barnett, Bugg and Lee, with which he remained until his death.

County Has Smallest Post Office In State: A county frequently boasts of its bigness in industry and business, but scarcely do you find one that boasts of having the smallest business in the state.
However, Monroe County does just that. Nadawah, a community located north of Beatrice, is the home of Alabama’s smallest post office, doing a business of $36 last year. The Nadawah post office is operated by Mrs. Ruth Sadler, who has been postmistress for the past 11 years.

Billy Mims Elected Civitan President: Billy Mims has been elected president of the newly organized Civitan Club at Repton, which was sponsored by the Monroeville Civitan Club.
Other officers are as follows: vice president, H.L. Johnson; secretary, E.H. Penny; and treasurer, Carl Ryals.
Members of the board of directors are Cecil Bell, Grady Watson, C.A. Evers, G.H. Dees and L.E. Nichols.

87 YEARS AGO
APRIL 15, 1937

Beatrice Man Dies At Age Of 112: Bacchus McFadden, born about the first of June 1825, at Sumpterville, S.C. died April 4, 1937, having lived almost to the age of 112 years. He was brought to Alabama a slave at the age of 30 and he was married once, his wife dying about 10 years ago. He leaves seven children, 41 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. A faithful member of the New Purchase Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, he first joined the white Methodist Church at Snow Hill. Uncle Bacchus was first owned by Mr. Major Montgomery in Marengo County, and later was bought by his brother in Snow Hill. McFadden came to Beatrice after he was freed.

Selma And Mobile Game Here Tuesday: The first big baseball game on the Legion field was played in Monroeville on Tuesday afternoon by the Mobile Shippers and the Selma Cloverleaf teams, Selma being victorious, 3-1. Approximately 300 fans, many of whom came from other counties, witnessed the game. The Selma outfit has been highly praised prior to the ball season as likely champions.

Mrs. A.C. Lee spent several days last week in Marianna, Fla. with Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Lee.

WORK ON SILK MILL IS STARTED: During the good weather of the past week, work on the silk mill factory has progressed rapidly. All foundation excavation has been done and by the end of the current week, the pouring of concrete will be finished on this part. In the mean time material for the walls is being laid on the ground. The dirt removed during the excavating is being placed in the low spot southwest of the building site. Work on the side walls will begin when the concrete pouring is finished.

113 YEARS AGO
APRIL 20, 1911

The spring term of the Monroe circuit court adjourned last Saturday morning and Judge Lackland and Solicitor McDuffie left for Grove Hill where court is in session this week. A large number of cases were disposed of, but there were also quite a number transferred to the docket of the law and equity court as required by the bill creating the new court.

Death of Robert Franklin Thompson: The subject of this sketch was born near Old Salem church in Monroe County on March 24, 1867 and died at Searles, Ala., March 27, 1911. Early in life, Bro. Thompson joined the Salem Baptist Church and was a devout and consistent Christian until death came and took him away. Just a while before death came, he raised his hands and exclaimed “Saved! Saved! Saved!” and went home. This will be the password of all the redeemed when the gates of the eternal city shall open wide to receive the saved of the Lord to the glory land.

WANTED – 500 beer bottles. Will pay one cent a piece for them. J.L. FORBES, Monroeville, Ala.

Through the untiring efforts of Mrs. W.A. McCreary, who frequently visits her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Lazenby in Monroeville, several splendid boxes of clothing have been contributed by the ladies of Evergreen for the storm sufferers in Monroe. Evergreen is ever ready and willing to respond to any call of mercy, and we believe that her name expresses more forcefully than any other, just what that town really is – ever green, ever faithful and vital in any good work.

Superintendent Barnes and some 15 teachers from this county attended the state convention of teachers in Mobile Thursday and Friday of last week.

Local ‘battle’ took place 159 years ago in Mount Pleasant community

General Thomas John Lucas

Yesterday (Thursday) marked the 159^th anniversary of the “Battle of Mount Pleasant,” which occurred on April 11, 1865 during the War Between the States.

Union forces entering South Monroe County on that day consisted of about 3,500 cavalrymen under the command of General Thomas John Lucas, while Confederate fighters on that day consisted of about 130 mounted militiamen from Monroe and Baldwin counties.

Confederate casualties from the battle were five killed and six wounded. Federal casualties were three killed and nine wounded, including one officer of the 1st Louisiana Cavalry.

According to men who fought in the battle, a young man last named Holland from Conecuh County was killed, and the Federals buried him alongside the road at Mount Pleasant. As of 1915, it was believed that he was still buried there.

Years later, in the early 1990s, Monroe Journal columnist (and ghost hunter) George Singleton related a ghost story connected with the battle. Singleton said that General Lucas gave order to bury the dead rebels in a mass grave and no effort was made to identify the battle dead. Among those killed in the skirmish was Corporal Ezekiel Watkins.

Witnesses told his wife, Mary, that he’d been killed and buried in a trench. In the days that followed, family members of the dead retrieved the bodies of their loved ones for reburial elsewhere. Each time the trench was opened, Mary was there looking for her dead husband’s remains, but he was never found.

Weeks turned into months, and the cold winter evenings would find Mary, wrapped in an old army overcoat, looking around and through the high weeds for the remains of her beloved husband. Even during the nights of the full moon, the light of a lantern could be seen as Mary searched late into the night for her lost husband. And, as the early morning light gradually crept across the open field where the battle took place, one could find freshly dug holes where Mary had sought to recover her husband’s remains.

Then, one cold winter evening, Mary was found dead as she was preparing to dig yet another hole in the continued search for her husband. Beside her still body lay her shovel and the old lantern which provided the pale light for her as she searched in vain.

“Many years have passed since Mary Watkins walked the field where this Civil War battle was fought,” Singleton said. “The field has been plowed over many, many times. But there are those who say, if you look closely when passing down the road nearby during the hours of darkness, you might see the dim, pale light from Mary’s lantern as she searches ever onward for the body of Ezekiel Watkins, her beloved husband.”

Another unusual story connected with the cavalry raid involves a young man named Thomas S. Stacey. Stacey, who lived off what is now the Shiloh Road below Frisco City, had been severely wounded during fighting in Nashville and was recovering at home when Federals under Lucas raided his small farm. Bedridden due to his wounds, the family could only watch as the soldiers raided the house.

One of the soldiers dumped a small chest out in the yard, and a pistol and Masonic apron fell out at the feet of the commanding Federal officer. Seeing the Masonic apron, the officer ordered his men to stop what they were doing and for them to put back everything they’d taken back from the house.

Thomas recovered from his battle wounds and lived to the ripe, old age of 87 before passing away in 1925 at Perdue Hill. He has numerous descendants still living in Monroe County today, including his fourth-great-grandson who wrote the words you are reading right now.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for April 9, 2024

17 YEARS AGO
APRIL 11, 2002

Evergreen weather observer Harry Ellis reported no rainfall between April 1 and April 7, 2002. He reported a high of 82 degrees on April 2 and a low of 41 on April 4.

Final preparations for the 16^th Annual Castleberry Strawberry Festival, set for Sat., April 20, are now underway. The highlight of this year’s festival will be a performance by recording artist, T. Graham Brown, whose hits include “I Tell It Like It Used To Be,” “I Wish I Could Hurt That Way Again,” Darlene” and “Hell And High Water.”
Other scheduled entertainment for the day includes Randy Tenney from Monroeville, David Archer from Milton, Fla., Destiny from Andalusia, Dale Archer from Brewton and Perfect Image from Mobile.

Evergreen Medical Center is pleased to announce the arrival of Dr. William Farmer to their staff. Dr. Farmer, a former resident of Birmingham, received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi and completed his residency at UAB. He is board certified in Internal Medicine.

Erwin Gale Scott, 58, of Evergreen died Thurs., April 4, 2002 in a Monroeville hospital. Mr. Scott was the court reporter for Conecuh and Monroe counties.
Funeral services were held Sat., April 6, at 2 p.m. from the Abundant Life Assembly of God Church with Scott Aman, Gary Vance and Kevin Starr officiating. Burial was in Brownville Cemetery.

42 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1977

Evergreen weather observer Earl Windham reported 0.23 inches of rain on April 4. He reported a high of 86 on April 8 and a low of 34 on April 6.

Johnny Wilson of Lyeffion High School was the county winner in the Birmingham News Spelling Contest and will compete in the state finals in May in Birmingham. Mrs. Martha Mixon is his teacher.

The 32^nd Annual Conecuh County 4-H and FFA Fat Calf Show will be held here Monday at the show arena of the Conecuh Cooperative Stockyard on North Main Street. A total of 29 young people will exhibit some 40 calves, according to General Chairman Herbert Oakley, associated county agent.
The show was funded by the Evergreen Jaycees and is now sponsored by the Conecuh County Fat Calf Show Committee and the State Department of Agriculture & Industries in cooperation with the Auburn University Extension Service and the Dept. of Vocational Agriculture.
David L. Burt Jr., president of the Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association, will be master of ceremonies. M.H. Huggins, Conecuh County Agent-Coordinator, is advisory chairman. Lamar Hardin of the U.S. Department of Agriculture is the official grader, and Carl Wilson, D.V.M., is show veterinarian.
The show will get underway at 9 a.m. with calves to be shown in three classes, lightweight, mediumweight and heavyweight.

67 YEARS AGO
APRIL 10, 1952

Seventh Annual 4-H and FFA Beef Cattle Show Will Be Held Thurs., April 17: The Seventh Annual 4-H and FFA Beef Cattle Show will be held at the Conecuh Cooperative Stockyards in Evergreen on Thus., April 17. Members of the Evergreen Junior Chamber of Commerce have a big day in the making and invite the public to attend this show and see what the boys and girls have done in filling out their steers for the show.

Sunrise Service Will Climax Easter Program By Churches Here: A sunrise service at Brooks Stadium beginning at 5:30 Sunday morning will climax the Easter program of services which have been planned by the several churches of the city. The speaker at this service will be the Rev. Sam Granade, pastor of the Baptist Church.

Robert F. Croom, a native of Evergreen, retired March 31 after many years of service with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
He joined the Department in Washington, D.C. in 1933 and worked first with the Department’s Cotton Division, which became a part of the Agricultural Administration when that agency was formed.
In his most recent service with the Department’s Production and Marketing Administration, Mr. Croom represented the Assistant Administrator for Production in dealings with the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. and with agencies concerned with naval stores.

92 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1927

CCTS ANNOUNCES CLOSING PROGRAM: The Conecuh County Training School announces its commencement exercises which will begin Friday evening, April 22, and continue through the following week, coming to a close Friday night, April 29.
According to Principal T.M. Patton, who is completing his first year here, the school has had a very successful year. Splendid support on the part of most of the pupils and patrons has enabled much good work to be done.
The commencement programs have been arranged to give each and every department of the school an opportunity to have part.

LARGE CROWDS ATTENDING KU KLUX REVIVAL: The Ku Klux Klan Revival, which is being conducted by Dr. J.E. Stout, Imperial Lecturer for the Klan, is attracting large crowds each night. The meetings were begun Friday and have continued nightly since. People are attending from all parts of the county and from adjoining counties. A large delegation of Klansmen in robes from Brewton will attend the meeting Wednesday night.
Friday night, April 15, will be open to men only. It is expected that practically all local Klansmen will be present at this time, as well as many men who are not. The last meeting of the revival will be held Sunday afternoon at 2:30, at which time Dr. Stout proposes to deliver one of his greatest and most timely lectures on the subject of evolution. All of these meetings are open to the public except the one on Friday night, which is for men only, and you are cordially invited to attend.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for April 8, 2024

11 YEARS AGO
APRIL 11, 2013

Play attracts thousands: Last week marked the second season for the Monroe County Heritage Museum’s Mockingbird Players to perform the play, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” at The Otha Lee Biggs Amphitheater on the courthouse grounds on the Monroeville downtown square.
Thanks to a generous $150,000 contribution from Georgia-Pacific the amphitheater was constructed last spring and named The Otha Lee Biggs Amphitheater. Biggs served as probate judge of Monroe County for over 30 years and was a stout supporter of the restoration of the old courthouse.

MA wins area title: Monroe Academy defeated Morgan Academy 6-1 Tuesday of last week in Selma to clinch the area baseball championship.
MA got a four-hit effort from Jonathan Simpson, 4-3, on the mound to key the victory. Simpson, a junior right-hander, struck out eight and issued just one walk.
(Other top MA players in that game included Austin Jordan, Jake McKenzie, Brandon McKinley, Hayden Moye, Peyton Powell, Bryar Settle and Jacob Thomas.)

Ferry being prepared: Monroe County’s new ferry is being prepped for service at Haines Island, according to Monroe County Engineer Robert English.
District 3 Commissioner Billy Ghee asked English for an update on the ferry during the commission meeting Tuesday morning in Monroeville.
English said a few mechanical issues were to be addressed Tuesday morning and engineering profiles of the ferry and the landings at Haines Island and Packer’s Bend were being prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

36 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1988

To sing on TV: Shelby Lynne, who will introduce a new song with country-music star George Jones on television next week, is really Shelby Lynn Moorer Muse, who once lived in Monroeville. She and Jones will sing the song, soon to be released as a single on the Epic label, on Ralph Emory’s “Nashville Now” show at 8 p.m. Wednesday on the Nashville Network, Channel 24 in Monroeville. Miss Lynn has previously appeared on “Nashville Now” and the Grand Ole Opry, and she is managed by the man who discovered Tammy Wynette. She is the niece of Jim and Jane Johnson of Monroeville, and the sister of Allison Moorer, a junior at Monroe Academy.

J.F. Shields upped its 2A Area 2 record to 3-0 when it bombed Georgiana High 12-2 Tuesday of last week at Beatrice and handed Georgiana a 10-0 loss at Georgiana Friday.
James Stallworth pitched the Panthers past Georgiana Tuesday of last week. Charles Dailey collected a shutout Friday to pitch the Panthers past Georgiana.
(Other standout Shields players in those games were Michael Armstrong, Rodney Dailey, Henry Jones, Jerry Lee, Calvin Lett, Patrick Lett, Sean McCorvey, Rodney Owens and Sammy Wiggins.)

Sheriff’s Department hires two deputies: Two new deputies have been hired by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, according to Sheriff Tom Tate.
Larry Johnson, 34, of Goodway and Charles McMillian, 33, of Monroeville began working Feb. 1. They plan to attend Southwest Alabama Police Academy in Bay Minette May 16 for additional training.

61 YEARS AGO
APRIL 11, 1963

‘Mockingbird’ Author Is Extremely Happy Over Movie’s Three Oscars: Nelle Harper Lee, Alabama’s only Pulitzer Prize winner, said Tuesday she was extremely happy and thrilled about the three Oscars “To Kill a Mockingbird” won at the 35^th Motion Picture Academy Awards Monday night.
The movie, from the novel of the same name by Miss Lee of Monroeville, won for Gregory Peck, a four-time loser in the Oscar finals, the best actor award for 1962. Other Oscars won by the movie included art direction and set decoration, and best story and screenplay from another medium.

Baseball Season Begins This Week: The Monroe County High School baseball playing season got underway Wednesday of this week when the Tigers met the high school team from Castleberry on the local diamond at 3:15.
Lettermen on the Tiger team back for another season include Lloyd Sturtevant, Jimmy Wible, Tim Jones, Freddie Biggs, Louie Hayles, Ray Owens, Tommy McMillan and Gary Downs. Others on the team include Richard Otterberg, Billy Taylor, Seth Watkins, Milton Coxwell and John Williams.

Milton Coxwell Wins County Spelling Bee: Milton Coxwell was named winner of the Monroe County spelling bee held Wednesday morning at the Monroeville Elementary School and will attend the state finals in Birmingham May 11.
An eighth-grader at Monroe County High School, he is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Coxwell of Monroeville.
Placing second was Charles Katz, also an eighth-grader at MCHS. Third place winner was Gwen Mooney.

86 YEARS AGO
APRIL 14, 1938

Local Beta Club Attends State Convention: The Monroeville Beta Club was well represented at the first annual Alabama Beta Club Convention which was held at the Tutwiler Hotel, Birmingham, on Sat., April 9.
The members of the Monroeville Beta Club making the trip were: Margaret Bowden, Rex Dauphin, Clem Clapp, Amelie Hixon, Sara Rumbley, Violet Belcher, Boyd Pullen, George Thomas Jones, Nell Finklea, Sadie Mae Faulk, Mary Lee Sowell, Orline Florey, Katherine Sheffield and the co-sponsor, Mrs. J.A. York.
The speaker of the evening, Dr. J.C. Kinard, president of Newberry College, Newberry, S.C., made an address which all agreed was worth the expense of the trip to Birmingham.

Farm Bureau Offices Moved Last Week: The Monroe County Farm Bureau Offices were moved last Saturday from the floor above the Monroe County Bank into the basement of the new post office building. The present location affords more office room as space for all officials connected with the Department of Agriculture has been provided in the new building.

Local Golf Tournament To Begin Here April 19: The first local golf tournament of this year has been announced by Moses Katz, secretary of the Golf Club, to be held April 19 through May 12. Qualifying dates have been set from April 14 through April 18. Qualifying scores should be turned in to Mr. Katz promptly. Only paid members will be eligible for this tournament.

112 YEARS AGO
APRIL 11, 1912

NOTICE: The freight and ticket offices of the Manistee & Repton Railroad at Manistee, Alabama has been moved from the post office building to the general office building. Parties desiring freight or information can obtain the same at the new location. – J.A. KAUFFMAN, General Manager.

Married at the residence of the bride’s mother, Mrs. Charles Busey, Monroeville, Sunday afternoon, April 7, Miss Katie S. Busey and Mr. Marvin F. Williamson of Excel, Rev. A.J. Kempton officiating.
The bride is one of our most estimable young ladies, and the groom is a highly respected and prosperous farmer. They will be at home to their friends after the 15^th, and all who know them join in expression of good will.

Indian Runner Duck eggs, $1.50 per setting, Mrs. R.L. Kennedy, Monroeville, Ala.

Editor, The Journal: Please announce that the regular examination of applicants for teacher’s certificates will be held at Monroeville beginning at 10 a.m. Monday, April 15, 1912, and continue three days. All applicants should be present by 9:30. – J.A. BARNES, County Superintendent.

Messrs. J.K. Kyser of Burnt Corn, W.J. Nettles of Tunnel Springs, J.L. Bowden of Jones Mill and Joe Daniel of Perdue Hill and H.H. Baggett of Maros were in the city Friday attending a special meeting of the County Democratic Executive Committee for the purpose of canvassing the vote in the recent primary election.

Peter A. Brannon: Old Claiborne is Monroe County's 'chief claim to historical fame'

Pete A. Brannon

The Perdue Hill-Claiborne Foundation will host its 2024 Spring Hall Party this coming Saturday to raise funds for next year’s bicentennial celebration of Lafayette’s visit to Claiborne. Saturday’s event will be held at the Masonic Hall at Perdue Hill and will include live music, food and fun. Adult tickets to the event, which will begin at 2 p.m., can be purchased at the door on Saturday for $75 each.

Many in the reading audience will remember from Alabama History class that the famous French general, the Marquis de Lafayette, visited Claiborne in April 1825. The Masonic Hall that is now at Perdue Hill was built at Claiborne in 1824, and it hasn’t changed much since Lafayette stepped through its doors nearly two centuries ago. The lodge was moved to Perdue Hill in the late 1800s and is now the oldest building in Monroe County.

With all of this in mind, I was reminded of a Riley Kelly column that I read in an old 1954 edition of The Journal. In early October of that year, noted historian Peter A. Brannon, who was than an archivist at the Alabama Department of Archives and History, spoke to the Monroeville Kiwanis Club. He told club members that the local Chamber of Commerce and other civic and social groups had an “ideal opportunity” when it comes to promoting “Monroe’s chief claim to historical fame – old Claiborne.”

Brannon noted that historical references to the Claiborne area go back as far as 1540, which was 80 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock and 60 years before the first colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. Brannon, who would go on to serve as the director of the Department of Archives and History from 1955 to 1967, went on to list several “historic milestones” associated with the Claiborne area.

According to Brannon, Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto first met Indian chief Tuscaloosa at a point somewhere above Claiborne. Twenty years later, when Spanish explorer Tristan DeLuna came to what is now Alabama, his expedition passed through the same site. When these Spanish explorers and soldiers returned to Spain, they took some of their “Indian wives” with them, and when these women returned to the Americas, they returned to a location near Claiborne, Brannon said.

Brannon noted that a youngster named Justis Wyman once lived at Claiborne and worked as a clerk in one of Claiborne’s early stores. Wyman grew up to become the mayor of the City of Montgomery. Brannon added that he’d been unsuccessful in his attempts to get a street in Montgomery named after Wyman.

At the time of Brannon’s visit to Monroeville in 1954, the Claiborne post office was located in the old W.E. Deere store. At this time, Claiborne’s post office was one of the oldest continuously used post offices in the South. The post office eventually closed in 1963.

Another unusual bit of trivia that Brannon shared concerned the first black man to have died in what is now Alabama. This man, who died at Claiborne, was not a slave. Instead, he was a Moorish man from northern Africa who was part of the DeLuna expedition in the 1500s.

In the end, the history of Claiborne is a fascinating subject. For individuals interested in learning more about Claiborne, I highly recommend Steve Stacey’s 2018 book, “Claiborne: A River Town.” It’s the best single-volume book on Claiborne that I’ve ever read.

100-year-old news highlights from April 1924 editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden, Ala.

Rev. Robert Calvin Grier Sr.

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 April 1924.

On the front page of the April 3, 1924 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that the “criminal docket of Circuit Court was taken up Monday, and all cases have been disposed of. There were four murder cases disposed of Wednesday.”

Elsewhere in that week’s paper, the results of a rare baseball tripleheader were reported under the headline, “Camden Wins Long End Of Series From Marion High.”

“Camden defeated the Perry County High team of Marion in the first game of a series by the score of 9-0. Marion won the second game 1-0. The third and deciding game was won by Camden, 9-4.”

Players on Camden’s team included Dunnam, McLeod, Sam McNeil, Ward Richardson and Jack Strother.

In the April 10, 1924 edition of The Progressive Era, it was reported that the public school at Furman “has been suspended for a week on account of an epidemic of measles. Work will be resumed the 14^th if conditions are favorable.”

Also that week readers learned that Camden’s team “journeyed to Demopolis and defeated the High School there in a baseball game, the score being 5-1. The game was played on a very muddy field but was played unusually well. Two double plays were made by Camden, McNeil making one unassisted.”

The April 17, 1924 edition of the newspaper published an “Opening Announcement” that said that “it was with a distinct feeling of pride that we announce the formal opening of ‘The Hawthorne Service Station’ April 19, 1924. We will be fully equipped in our new home to give you the very best of service. We have a boy employed to air your tires, put water in your batteries and radiator and serve you in any way he can.”

Readers that week also learned that “Mrs. W.J. Bonner entertained her Sunday School Class and 10 of their little friends at her home Wednesday afternoon with an Easter Egg hunt. The party was given the little girls as a reward for reciting perfectly, without an exception, the required memory work for the first quarter of the year. After finding Easter novelties, and playing games, the little folks were served candy and cream.”

In the April 24, 1924 edition of the paper, it was reported that “arrangements are being made to make this commencement of the Wilcox County High School one of the most attractive that they have ever held. Prof. Luckie has invited Rev. R.C. Grier, who is President of Erskine College, to preach the sermon, and he has accepted. Dr. Grier is one of the strongest and forcible men in the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church, and has many friends here who will be delighted that he is to come to us at that time.”

Readers that week also learned that the “Hawthorne Filling Station sold over 800 gallons of gasoline on the day the station was opened.”

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 May 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.