George Singleton tells of Andrew Jackson visiting Burnt Corn in 1814

Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson

(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 “John Watkins home is a county landmark,” was originally published in the June 11, 1987 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lowrey of the Burnt Corn community are very gracious people. The members of the Monroe County Museum & Historical Society were given an invitation to visit and tour the old John Watkins home on Sunday afternoon, May 24. Due to other activities within the area, only a few were fortunate enough to be able to attend the tour. But those who were able to make the afternoon in Burnt Corn were well-rewarded.

As we toured the Watkins home under the able guidance of Mr. and Mrs. Lowery, various characteristics were pointed out to the interest of all present.

Large hewn planks made up the walls of the house, and many measured over 20 inches in width.

Passing the old well that was located in the passageway between the main part of the house and the kitchen caused many thoughts to pass through the mind. One could imagine water being drawn from the well to quench the thirst of the weary traveler, many miles from home. Or the many wonderful meals that had been prepared in the tiny kitchen.

Doctor’s office upstairs

A drink of cool water from the well tingled the mouth with the faint taste of iron. A narrow stairway led up to the second floor, to the sleeping rooms, the balcony and the doctor’s office. No one knows why Dr. Watkins chose to locate his office in the upstairs portion of this house.

According to Mr. Lowrey, Dr. Watkins was the only doctor for several hundred miles in each direction – roughly from where Macon, Ga. is now located to the present site of Pensacola, Fla. Dr. John Watkins was the lone and only doctor in all that territory.

The house that stands today, with the exception of a few changes, was built in 1812. This was during the time of the great movement of the settlers to this area, which was known to many as the wilderness or the cane brakes.

Shortly afterwards, the great unrest between the settlers and Indians, who were supported by the British, began to spread across the land. It was from a skirmish nearby that the community of Burnt Corn derived its name.

In 1814, Andrew Jackson, Old Hickory, marched his ragtag army down a well-known Indian trail that was later to become known as the Federal Road. This trail, as it was then, passes right in front of the old Watkins homestead.

On that day in history, Old Hickory stopped at the Watkins home and rested his troops. I feel sure that he, too, drank from the well as I did, and quenched his thirst. And probably, too, the doctor administered his skills to any of Old Hickory’s soldiers who needed his services.

This important landmark has been restored to a great degree by its owner, Mr. Lowrey, who is ever watchful over its well-being. The shrubs and grounds are trimmed to perfection. The huge oaks seem to stand guard as large sentries to any that might approach the old house. And the automobiles that were parked out front seemed out of place, from another time or another world. Standing under the old oaks, time seemed to pause uncertainly, as though wanting to turn back, to an era long forgotten among the pages of history.

History often overlooked

The old Federal Road is paved now. The dust of the wagons and horses is gone. The automobiles speed by, giving little thought to the history that lies beneath their wheels – the dust, the mud, the hardships that lurked beyond every curve. A warm fire, or a cool shade, or a drink of cool water from the Watkins well, was a reward of sorts for the weary traveler as he passed this way.

And there, under the protection of the great oaks, one might hear the rattle of harnesses as the mules and oxen struggled against the obstacles of the primitive road as Old Hickory’s army made its way southward to meet the British in deadly conflict. Or  maybe a call for supper, coming from the small kitchen, adjoining the old house. Then as the evening shadows fell, one might hear the beautiful notes, floating from the strings of the huge piano in the main room of the house, as the guests were entertained amidst the thoughts of departing with the coming of morning.

(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.)