Scariest roads in Alabama include State Highway 5 in Pine Hill

Downtown Pine Hill.

I read the results of an interesting survey the other day about the scariest roads in Alabama. In the spirit of Halloween, which came to pass a couple of weeks ago, the survey-takers asked 3,000 drivers which “roads they mostly would avoid after dark - those infamous for supernatural encounters, spine-tingling tales and eerie sightings that make the bravest souls’ hair stand on end.” The survey resulted in a list of the 140 scariest roads in American and three in Alabama, including one road in Wilcox County.

The scariest road in Alabama is said to be the stretch of State Highway 169 that runs from the Seale community in Russell County to Opelika in Lee County. This highway lies atop a much older road that’s steeped in spooky history. Travelers on this road report seeing the ghost of a man on horseback, thought to be the spirit of a 19th-century highwayman, who charges toward terrified drivers before vanishing into thin air.

The second scariest road in Alabama is Jack Cole Road in the town of Hayden in Blount County. Travelers on this road report seeing eerie figures, unexplained lights, and hearing mysterious sounds in the surrounding woods. Many who drive through after dark describe a spine-chilling atmosphere that intensifies as the night deepens, leaving them with an overwhelming sense of being watched.

The third scariest road in Alabama is said to be State Highway 5 in the town of Pine Hill in western Wilcox County. This rural highway is known for sightings of a spectral man walking along the road at night, believed to be the ghost of a traveler who died in a car crash. There are also other stories of strange occurrences experienced by drivers, which only add to the road's eerie atmosphere, especially after dark.

All of the above got me to thinking about other spooky roads in Wilcox County. The first that came to mind is the stretch of County Road 59 where it intersects with County Road 24, north of Pine Apple. A number of years ago, Alabama Front Porches put out a tri-fold pamphlet called “The Ghosts of Alabama’s Black Belt,” and this pamphlet listed this supposedly haunted intersection as one of the spookiest places in Wilcox County.

According to the pamphlet, “at the intersection of County roads 59 and 24, the sounds of the rattling of chains can clearly be heard at night. Many local residents have heard them. Visitors should pull to the side of the road and not stop in the road if they wish to listen.” The pamphlet also provides the GPS coordinates of this location: N315522.0 W0870019.7.

In the end, I’d like to hear from any readers who know more about the “spectral man” seen walking along Highway 5 in Pine Hill or from anyone who has experienced anything out of the unusual there. Also, let me hear from you if you’ve had a spooky experience at the intersection of County Road 59 and 24. Don’t be surprised if you aren’t the only one who has seen something out of the ordinary in those locations.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Nov. 12, 2024

22 YEARS AGO
NOV. 14, 2002

Local weather reporter Harry Ellis reported .18 inches of rain on Nov. 4, .72 inches on Nov. 5, .01 inches on Nov. 9 and .82 inches on Nov. 10. He reported a high temperature of 81 degrees on Nov. 10 and lows of 39 degrees on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8.

There were several Veterans Day programs held throughout the area last Friday. Pictured at top is Richard Brown, who was the guest speaker at the Sparta Academy program. Brown served in the United States Navy in World War II and in the Army in the Korean War. Pictured at bottom is the program at Evergreen Junior High. Hillcrest Band Director LaFrancis Davis, who is also a Major in the Army National Guard, was the guest speaker for their program.

Terry Jackson was the guest of honor at the Marine Corps birthday party held last Thursday at the David L. Burt Agricultural Center. Pictured with Jackson are Lee F. Smith, oldest Marine present; Maurice Bozeman, who cut the cake; Jackson; and Myles Anthony, youngest Marine present.

The Castleberry Town Council is going to consider purchasing a garbage truck to begin their own garbage pickup in the near future. Mayor Douglas Graham brought up the possibility at their regular meeting Tues., Nov. 5.

The Conecuh County Commission and Sheriff Tracy Hawsey discussed the hiring of a full-time nurse for the Conecuh County Detention Facility at the commission meeting Tues., Nov. 12.

30 YEARS AGO
NOV. 10, 1994

The Evergreen Post Office is currently being renovated to make the building handicap accessible. West Tumbleson of Kentucky is the contractor for the job. He is shown working on the ramp last Tuesday afternoon. He has done 60 post offices, and Evergreen makes his 61. The job will take several weeks to complete.

Conecuh County voters elected their first new sheriff in over 20 years Tuesday night. Former State Trooper Thomas W. Hall received 2,943 votes while Republican Donnis Barnes received 412 votes. Sheriff Edwin L. Booker received 1,334 write-in votes according to the complete, but unofficial, results in Tuesday night’s general election.
Conecuh County native Judge Sue Bell Cobb won election to the State Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2, by defeating Greg Griffin in the statewide election. It has been many years since a Conecuh County native has been elected to a statewide office.

A new Conecuh County Junior Miss will be chosen this Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Ed Reid State Technical College’s Wiley Salter Auditorium.
Eight senior girls from Conecuh County will be competing for the title, scholarships and the right to represent Conecuh County in the state competition in January.
(Contestants that year included Rachel Bohannon, Kelly Booker, Amanda Chavers, Kristie Ivey, Ruby Lett, Carmon Salter, Heather Watson and Monica Williams.)

38 YEARS AGO
NOV. 13, 1986

Evergreen weather reporter Earl Windham reported .64 inches of rain on Nov. 5. He reported a high of 85 on Nov. 9 and a low of 54 on Nov. 4.

David Lamar Burt, 61, of Route 1, Peterman, died Friday night, Nov. 7, in a local hospital after a long illness. He was chairman of the Conecuh County Commission and a member of a prominent pioneer family.
Mr. Burt was elected chairman in 1976 and re-elected in 1980 and 1984. A popular and well known man, he lived all of his life in the Fairnelson community. He was a successful cattle farmer prior to being elected chairman. He had devoted his full time to the duties of that office.
He was an active member of the Purnell Methodist Church, a graduate of Lyeffion High School and a veteran of service in the U.S. Navy in World War II.

Mrs. Katie Sue Burt, widow of the late Chairman David L. Burt, took the oath of office as Chairman of the Conecuh County Commission shortly after nine o’clock Wednesday morning in the commission meeting room. The oath of office was administered by Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key in the presence of the members of the commission, members of the Burt family and friends.
Mrs. Burt was appointed to fill her late husband’s unexpired term at a meeting of the Commission on Monday. The resolution appointing her was introduced by Commissioner Freddie Stallworth and seconded by Commission Woodrow Windham and unanimously adopted.

74 YEARS AGO
NOV. 9, 1950

All offices at the Court House will be closed Sat., Nov. 11, in observance of Armistice Day. All persons having business to transact at the courthouse should bear this in mind. The post office and all other business houses will be open, according to the best information available.

The First Baptist Church of Evergreen will have a homecoming and dedication program Sun., Nov. 19, according to an announcement made this week by Rev. Sam Granade, pastor.
The church has just about completed a modern educational building and on this date a dedication service will be held. Dr. A. Hamilton Reid, executive secretary of the Alabama Baptist Convention, will preach at the morning service and also deliver the dedicatory address.

A grand cooking school will be held at the Pix Theatre tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10 o’clock. Admission to the school is absolutely free, courtesy Canterbury Hardware, Inc., local Philco dealer.
Miss Eliza Clark, Philco’s nationally known home economist, will conduct the school.

County Finals Of Jaycee Speech Contest Friday: Conecuh County finals of the “Voice of Democracy” contest sponsored by the Evergreen Junior Chamber of Commerce will be held at Evergreen High School tomorrow (Friday) morning at 10 o’clock. Winners of the contest will have his speech transcribed for entry in the state finals.

93 YEARS AGO
NOV. 12, 1931

Clarence Crenshaw On Trial Today: Clarence Crenshaw, young man charged with first-degree murder for fatally stabbing John D. Barnes, farmer living near Castleberry last spring, goes on trial for his life today (Thursday) for the second time. Crenshaw was convicted and sentenced to the electric chair at a special session of court immediately after the murder was committed but due to the late introduction of certain evidence by the State, Judge Hare set aside the verdict and granted a new trial. Since that time, Crenshaw has been held in the county jail.
He is represented by attorneys B.E. Jones and Edwin C. Page Jr., who were appointed by the court to handle the case. Besides the regular jurors serving this week, a special venire has been summoned here for the case. The case has attracted a large crowd of people from over the county to the courthouse today to hear the trial.

The case of Cap Edson, who was indicted by the grand jury last week for second-degree murder, charged with the murder of Jim Merritt, was set for Tuesday morning. Due to absence of certain defendant witnesses the case was carried over to Friday morning at which time it will be tried. Edson is represented by attorneys G.O. Dickey of Evergreen and Marcus Fletcher of Andalusia.

Officers Capture Big Moonshine Outfit: Sheriff J.G. Moore and a corps of deputies captured a 125-gallon still and 60 gallons of beer Tuesday morning about five miles south of Repton. The still was a homemade outfit of copper and wood. When found, it was not in operation, but gave evidence of having been run recently.

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Nov. 12, 2024

Grave of Herbert A. Brooks

16 YEARS AGO
NOV. 13, 2008

Top veteran honored: A Monroeville man who was taken prisoner by the Germans during World War II was honored Tuesday in Monroeville as the rest of the country remembered its veterans and celebrated the freedom they fought for.
Charles Ray Skinner was named Monroe County’s Veteran of the Year at a service Tuesday following the annual Veterans Day Parade in downtown Monroeville.
Dr. Thomas L. Butts introduced Skinner and presented him with the golden eagle award for his distinct service to America.
Skinner was a bombardier in WWII and his plane was shot down Aug. 24, 1944. He was taken prisoner by the Nazis and held in a prison camp until April of 1945 when Allied forces freed him and other prisoners.
He then returned home and became a “dedicated citizen and Christian of Monroe County.”

Dogs win 22-21: For the second straight week, J.U. Blacksher’s “Cardiac” Bulldogs pulled out a victory in overtime. The latest came Friday night at Uriah in the first round of the AHSAA 1A state playoffs when they edged Ariton 22-21.
With the score knotted at 15-15 at the end of regulation play, the Bulldogs blocked Ariton’s extra point kick in overtime and then got a 10-yard touchdown run from Isaac Nichols and an extra-point kick from Cameron Cobb to advance to the second round.
(Other top Blacksher players in that game included Seth Baggett, Josh Chavis, Wykein Dean, Chase Godwin, Tevin McClain and Austin Silcox. Mark Heaton was Blacksher’s head coach.)

41 YEARS AGO
NOV. 10, 1983

John Barnett III joins law firm: John B. Barnett III has joined the Monroeville law firm of Barnett, Bugg & Lee.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Barnett Jr. of Monroeville, he graduated from Monroe County High School and Birmingham-Southern College.
A recent graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, Barnett was admitted to the Alabama State Bar last month.

Tigers beat Frisco in aerial show: Monroe County High School’s passing game proved too much for the Frisco City Whippets to handle Friday as 207 yards passing netted a 21-0 decision in Tiger Stadium.
MCHS senior quarterback Edgar Lee McCarthy finished his high school career in style Friday, completing 11 of 24 passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns. The Tiger defense was led by senior noseguard Derek Hale, who had 14 solo tackles and three assists, caused two fumbles and sacked the Whippet quarterback once.
(Other top MCHS players were Jerry Betts, Jay Dyess, Woodrow McCarthy, Cliff McPherson and Troy Wearren. Howard Busby was MCHS’s head coach, and Vance McCrory was Frisco’s head coach.)

Moving in: Businesses are moving in and shoppers have started coming to Monroeville’s newest shopping center, Monroe Square, located on Highway 21 South at Whetstone Street. Two downtown businesses, Danice’s (formerly Ernestine’s) and The Music Center, are moving to the shopping center, and Winn Dixie is moving from its smaller supermarket at Southtown Plaza. Other occupants will include three new stores: Harco Super Drug; Cato, which sells women’s apparel; and a laundromat.

66 YEARS AGO
NOV. 13, 1958

Final Rites Held For Newly Elected Education Member: Final rites for Herbert A. Brooks, 28-year-old Megargel farmer and cattleman, victim in a drowning accident Friday, were held Sunday at 2:30 p.m. from the Megargel Assembly of God Church.
Mr. Brooks, recently elected member of the Monroe County Board of Education, was reported drowned when he fell from a boat during a hunting trip at the mouth of Bailey’s Creek on the Alabama River. The location is approximately 12 miles south of the Claiborne landing, near where the body of a Frisco City fisherman, L.B. Brewton, was discovered following his drowning Aug. 14.

Satsuma Is Rapped By Excel, 21 To 14: With scoring tied up 14-14 at halftime, the Excel High School Panthers racked up a winning TD in the fourth period in a defensive second half, defeating Satsuma, 21-14, in Satsuma Friday night.
Action was primarily defensive in the second half, until Excel took the ball at the beginning of the final period on their own 40 and drove to the Satsuma 10. Fullback Leroy Jordan went up the middle to score and followed up with the PAT on an off-tackle play.
(Other top Excel players in that game included Sonny Burkett, Shelton Casey, Braddock Dawson, Kenneth Johnson, Julian Lambert, Levon Ledkins, Bud Linam, Doug Murphy and Harry Sawyer. W.C. Majors was Excel’s head coach.)

Dr. John L. Abbott, 32, Monroeville chiropractor, will attend his first meeting of the Monroe County Board of Education as a new member Friday. He was recently elected to the office with another member, the late Herbert Brooks of Megargel, who died in a drowning accident Friday.

91 YEARS AGO
NOV. 9, 1933

Man Held For Attacking Woman: Walter Lett, alias Walter Brown, is being held for assault on Mrs. Naomi Lowery. The attack is alleged to have occurred on Thursday afternoon near the brick factory south of Monroeville. The attack was not reported until Friday and an investigation followed immediately by the sheriff’s office. Lett was captured on Saturday afternoon and taken into custody. Fearing that an attempt would be made to lynch the man by a mob following the news of the attack, Sheriff Sawyer took the man to jail in Greenville for safekeeping.

Excel: In the best football game played here in many years the Bay Minette Tigers outlasted the Bulldogs and pulled the game out of the fire in the last quarter. The local team played over its head and for three quarters had the bay boys completely routed.
Do not forget the big game Sat., Nov. 11. Uriah, claiming a county championship, is coming to take on the Bulldogs. The game will be called at 2:30.

Man Injured In Fall From A Pecan Tree: A.B. Cannon of Evergreen, brother-in-law of Fred Sheffield, received serious injuries about the head when he fell from the top of a tall pecan tree near the Sheffield home Sunday afternoon. Had not the lower limbs of the tree caught him and slacked his fall somewhat, Mr. Cannon’s injuries might have been even more serious.

Vredenburgh and Hybart Leagues had a moonlight picnic on the creek Friday night. The weather was fine for such an outing and everyone had a good time.

116 YEARS AGO
NOV. 12, 1908

The members of the George W. Foster Camp, United Confederate Veterans, are requested to meet at the court house at three o’clock p.m. on Sat., Nov. 14, for the election of delegates to the annual reunion of the Alabama Division, which will be held in Mobile on Nov. 25-26.

Dr. S.B. McMillan and Mr. T.J. Nicholas were up from Jones Mill the first of the week. They report considerable drinking and disorder in their town on Saturday which the good citizens of the place have taken the necessary steps to punish and correct.

Mr. C.C. Yarbrough was painfully injured Tuesday afternoon. He was assisting to break a wild horse to the saddle and while holding the animal by the bridle the horse made a break for liberty, striking Mr. Yarbrough with his feet on the shoulder.

The Journal has received a fine specimen of Lemon Ponderosa grown by the Misses Russell. The lemon weighs one and one-half pounds and measures 14-1/2 inches in circumference. The shrub from which this specimen was plucked grew seven others of approximately the same size.

MANISTEE: The mills at this place are now running on full time and everything moving with new energy. The farmers are about through gathering crops having turned out fairly well.
Mr. J.F. Grimes is erecting a nice new dwelling that will add materially to the value of his place.
The Pleasant Hill Baptist Church has secured the services of Rev. L.C. DeWitt for the ensuring pastoral year. May God bless his labors here in the future as in the past.

Singleton shares fond memories of his Monroe County friends

George Buster Singleton

(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere in Time.” The column below, which was titled “The years have come and gone, but the fond memories remain,” was originally published in the July 18, 2002 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

Friday, the 28^th day of this past June marked my 38^th anniversary in the county of Monroe. As I entered into this past date, I recalled many events and happenings that I have experienced during my stay here. I also remember several dear friends who have made my stay in the area much more enjoyable and interesting. Shortly after my arrival in the county, I was most fortunate to become friends with people like Mr. Milford Champion, Mr. Raymond Fountain, Mr. Tom Snyder, Mr. Oscar Wiggins and Mrs. Louise (Lou) Cooper. These dear friends are all now deceased. Lou Cooper lived to be over 107 years old. Although she had lost her eyesight, she was very alert and had an excellent memory.

Mrs. Cooper was hidden in a trunk when she and her parents returned to the town of Claiborne in 1863. Her parents had orders to leave her in Mobile because of the smallpox epidemic. So, not wanting to leave their only child, they hid her in a trunk and managed to come ashore at Claiborne Landing without the child being discovered. Fearing that their child might not be alive when they opened the trunk, the story goes that she was lying quietly, sucking her thumb after the trip upriver without any food. Many hours was spent talking to this dear lady and re-living her memories of the bygone days. These stories will live within my mind and hopefully I will be able to pass them on to others in times to come.

Much of the Indian history was passed on to me by my dear friend Uncle Tom Snyder. He knew all the locations of the discarded and forgotten burial grounds around the area. I asked my friend if he would go with me and spend one night in the Indian holy ground so we might witness the strange goings on that had been reported seen and heard there. His answer was: “Heck no, Mr. Singleton. I’m getting too darn old to get scared out of my wits and run against a tree and hurt myself.” But, he showed me many historic places in the area that are unknown to most, and I will always remember the locations.

My authority for the area around Burnt Corn and the Pine Orchard area was Mr. Milford Champion. He knew every inch of that area and all that had taken place there since the area was settled. He also knew the locations of all the old burial grounds and the forgotten home places. He knew the stories that took place there in the grown up timbers and thickets where the old homes of the past once were located. He also had an excellent memory of early Indian history of that area. He proved to me beyond a shadow of doubt that the famed Indian town of Maubila was located in the area of Pine Orchard. All the evidence needed to prove this fact was later destroyed by a logging firm a few years back. Milford Champion was a great local historian; too bad his knowledge of local history wasn’t recorded.

Mr. Oscar Wiggins knew every rock and stump around the old Red Hills community. We spent many hours wandering here and there in the area, hearing each story, time and again of the old families and their ways of earning a living. Never did we go into the Red Hills area without a visit to the old cemetery where Mr. Oscar’s ancestors now sleep. Always, the story came to mind of his ancestor who first settled there in the area. He took great pride of his ancestor who wore the uniform of the Confederacy. I never grew tired of his stories and of him showing me locations of the old home sites of the past settlers. We would always try to go by the old Wiggins home place and sit and talk for a while. I remember one day we found an old handmade brick that had been a part of the ancient chimney of the family house. He wanted to break it in half and give me one half of it. I told him that I had rather he keep it all because of his ancestors. He wouldn’t have been any happier if he had found a nugget of gold. Each time I return to the Red Hills area, I think of my friend, Oscar Wiggins, and if time permits, I visit the old homesite and the graves of his ancestors.

My friend, Mr. Raymond Fountain, more than likely had a greater knowledge of the whole county and surrounding area than anyone I have known since my stay in the area. Countless hours we would spend, roaming the area both day and night and visiting the locations where ghostly sightings and other happenings are said to have been witnessed there. We walked the road and crossed the bridge where the ghost of the Rebel soldier is said to have camped under. The story of Nancy Mountain was first told to me by my dear friend. He also helped me investigate the mystery light in the Franklin area. The areas of Bradley Ridge and the old cemeteries (now destroyed) was shown to me by my dear friend. He never seemed to grow tired of visiting again these old locations and re-telling the stories of the ghostly happenings that took place there. Next to fox-hunting, I believe this was his second greatest pastime. He knew the country; he, like myself, couldn’t wait to return again to the old forgotten place; forgotten except for a very few who are fast departing this life. And, somewhere beyond the sunset, I’m sure Mr. Raymon is sitting on a hill, listening to his favorite fox hounds with names like Old Blue or Yellow Boy or the many others that he has known.

Yes, my stay in the area of Monroe County has been a very interesting and exciting one. I have come to know many good people of the area. I have gained many good friends here. So, I end this article saying that I hope that the next 38 years will be as good as the last.

(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.)

 

Rikard name can be found way back in Monroe County history

Crystal and I rode up to Rikard’s Mill on Saturday morning to see all the doings at Cane Syrup Making Day. We made the loop around the park, bought some syrup and visited with all the nice folks we encountered there. We even watched a man and his young son milk a cow, which as far as I know is a new addition to the annual festivities at the mill.

On the way home, my thoughts wandered to the history of Rikard’s Mill, which sits on Flat Creek between Beatrice and Chestnut. The mill is said to have been originally built in 1845 by a blacksmith named Jacob Rikard. At some point, the mill ceased operations, long before it became an historical site.

Later, I took some time to search through old newspapers for more information on Jacob Rikard, and the earliest reference that I could find to a man by that name was in the June 4, 1870 edition of The Monroe Journal. In that paper, it was reported that the County Commissioners Court (now the County Commission) had paid Rikard $25 for some type of work. That same week, commissioners paid L.S. Rikard $5 for “repairs on the jail.”

Another interesting reference to Jacob Rikard appeared in the June 5, 1882 edition of The Journal. In that paper, in news from the Buena Vista community, the editor relayed a story from The Evergreen News about a man and wife being found dead near Rikard’s home. The News reported that Rikard had “heard a child crying and going out, found the mother and father dead.”

The problem with all this, as the editor pointed out, was that there was “no Mr. Jacob Rikard living near Buena Vista or anywhere else in the county” because “as Mr. Rikard has been dead himself over a year, he could hardly have done any such thing.” The editor summarily labeled the story about the dead couple as a hoax.

It is a fact that Jacob Rikard died on May 6, 1880 and was buried at Chestnut. If you go there today, you’ll see a distinctive headstone over his grave that resembles a mill stone from a grist mill.

News of Jacob “Jake” Rikard’s death was published in the May 17, 1880 edition of The Journal, which called him “one of the old landmarks of the county.” He was born in South Carolina in 1805 and with his father moved to Alabama at an early age. They first settled on Limestone Creek near Monroeville, where his boyhood days were spent. He later moved to Flat Creek, where he established his mill.

“A good citizen, a devout Christian, an honest man has gone,” The Journal said. “Let us greatly draw the mantle of charity over his frailties and strive to emulate with all possible zeal, his honor, his integrity and his uprightness.”

I believe the L.S. Rikard mentioned above to be Lawrence S. “Limestone Lawrence” Rikard, who died at the age of 71 in August 1879. He is buried in the Old Methodist Cemetery, off Sumter Avenue in Monroeville, not far from Monroe Manor nursing home. His grave marker indicates that he served as a private in Captain Broughton’s Monroe County Reserves during the War Between the States.

100-year-old news headlines from The Wilcox Progressive Era in Wilcox County, Alabama

Kodak Folding Brownie No. 3

Today marks the first Wednesday 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 November 1924.

In the Nov. 6, 1924 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, editor Stanley Clifford Godbold reported that, “a fire occurred in Camden about daylight on Friday of last week, burning the town calaboose, 500 feet of the town’s new water hose and a large dwelling, known as the Burrell house, and owned by Mrs. D.H. Turner. It was the birthplace of Dr. W.B. Crumpton of Montgomery and was one of the landmarks of Camden. It was with difficulty that the nearby buildings were saved, owing to the exceeding dry weather. The fire was caused from a burning trash pile.”

Also that week, readers learned that “John H. Watts of Caledonia has been appointed marshal for the Town of Camden. He is well known here, having served as marshal and deputy sheriff during the term of P.C. Jenkins.”

In the Nov. 13, 1924 edition of the newspaper, it was reported that “Mr. Clarence Smith, Miss Addie Lee Farish, Mr. Ernest Lambert and Miss Mamie Finklea motored to Montgomery Friday to attend the State Fair and remained over to see the football game between Auburn and Tulane Saturday.”

Readers that week also learned that “the ‘Birth of Nation,’ a picture that is ever new and ever thrilling, will be shown at the Camden Theatre next Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 19-20.”

In the Nov. 20, 1924 edition of the paper, it was reported that “Mr. Jack Tepper is slowly improving after his serious accident during the past week. A cow which had a young calf gored him upon the leg, which would have been more serious except for the aid of a servant.”

Readers that week also learned that “Senator Tom Carlton of Thomaston accompanied the football team to our town last Friday when Wilcox County High played Thomaston High and was the guest of Mr. J.M. Bonner.”

In the Nov. 27, 1924 edition of the newspaper, it was announced that “Mrs. Nettie Grier, a returned missionary from China, will speak at the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Sunday morning at 11 o’clock and all denominations are cordially invited to come out and hear her.”

Also that week, readers saw the following advertisement – “LOST: Between Hollys Landing and Mosses mill, Kodak, folding Brownie No. 3. Finder please return to L.P. Andrews and receive reward.”

Well, I guess that’s all that space will allow for this month. On the first Wednesday of next month, I plan to take a look at the events of December 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 Nov. 5, 2024

Senator Lister Hill

24 YEARS AGO
NOV. 9, 2000

Work on the new Conecuh County Jail is continuing at a steady pace, according to Billy Mims, EMA Director. As of Oct. 31, the project is 19 percent into construction and should make the completion date in June 2001. The $3.395 million project will not only house adult inmates, but it will also have a juvenile section that will house six males and six females. It will be designed to hold 113 adults and will have male and female sections. 2WR/Architects, Inc. of Montgomery designed the 22,000-square foot structure and Sadd Construction of Mobile has been contracted to do the construction.

The Savage home, as it has been known for years, was completely removed last week, heading for its final resting place in Sugargum Bottom. According to the records found at the Evergreen-Conecuh County Public Library the first deed was sold by Isaac and Julia Griffith to John H. and George R. Farnham and Co. on July 1, 1873 before the house was built. On March 18, 1882, the same lot was sold by the Farnhams to T.J. Ansley. He kept the property until 1890, at that time the deed shows that he sold the lot and house to C.B. Savage on Dec. 17, 1890, indicating that the house was built between the years of 1882 and 1890. In 1928-1929, Mrs. Patrick Burt operated the home as a high-class, well-to-do boarding house for drummers (traveling salesmen) and state workers.

Total rainfall for the month of October was .35 of an inch.

39 YEARS AGO
NOV. 14, 1985

Ten young ladies will compete for the coveted title of Conecuh County Junior Miss of 1986 on Saturday night at the annual Conecuh County Junior Miss Program at Evergreen City School auditorium at seven o’clock. The lovely young teenage ladies who are competing for Conecuh County Junior Miss are Leah Carrier, Sparta Academy; Joy Caylor, Evergreen High School; Jennifer Evers, Evergreen High School; Tammie Gill, Lyeffion High School; Robin Hoffman, Evergreen High School; Tracy Holmes, Sparta Academy; Carol Kendrick, Sparta Academy; Angelia Sellers, Sparta Academy; Karen Varner, Evergreen High School; and Lynn Williams, Sparta Academy.

State Senator Frances (Sister) Strong of Demopolis and Representative Jimmy Warren of Castleberry present a legislative resolution to President Wiley Salter of Ed E. Reid State Technical College, officially naming the new building at the college the Wiley Salter Auditorium and Administration Building. The building is fast nearing completion.

Sgt. Randy R. Hildreth, son of Mr. and Mrs. William H. Hildreth, of Rt. C, Evergreen, has recently been re-assigned to the Tactical Air Command at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Earl Windham reports no rain.

Emmett Murphy, 84, of 309 Bruner Ave., Evergreen, died on Thurs., Nov. 7, in a Brewton hospital. He was a retired Evergreen businessman, having owned and operated The City Café for a number of years.

54 YEARS AGO
NOV. 12, 1970

J.E. (Jimmy) Warren of Castleberry takes the oath of office as Member of the Alabama House of Representatives, District 34, Place 2 before Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key. Mrs. Warren held the Bible during the ceremony in Judge Key’s chambers Saturday morning.

These are the two gasoline trucks which were involved in the accident in which Guy Mason, chairman of the Conecuh County Commission, was severely burned last Wednesday night. Mason had transferred gasoline from the larger, transport truck on the right to the smaller, delivery truck on the left, according to reports, and he failed to disconnect a switch which operated the pump. When he started to back up the truck, the connection sparked igniting the gasoline.

Sat., Nov. 14, is the last day to buy car tags. The offices of the Tax Assessor, Tax Collector and Judge of Probate will be open all day Saturday so that county residents may buy their tags without paying a late penalty. As of noon Wednesday, approximately 1,000 people had not bought their tags.

Specialist Four Carlvin Hessell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Hessell, Rt. 2, Evergreen, recently received his second award of the Army Commendation Medal while serving with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam.

69 YEARS AGO
NOV. 10, 1955

The Southern Bell Telephone Co. estimates that its telephones in Evergreen by the end of 1955 will be 1,331 or about three times as many as those in service 10 years ago, Mr. P.J. Kreis Jr., Group Manager of the company said here today.

Container Corporation of America will build a $30 million bleached sulphate pulp and board mill at Brewton, Ala., Leo H. Schoenhofen, Senior Vice President, announced Wednesday.

The appointment of Bill Gaines as Conecuh County chairman for this year’s S-D Day campaign has been announced by Circuit Judge George Wallace, Clayton, State S-D Day campaign chairman.

It was announced today by C.H. O’Gwynn Foreman, International Paper Company Woodyard Castleberry, Ala., that free seedling will be available again this year in Conecuh County.
Gaines was named for this appointment by McEdward M. Nolan, Birmingham, State chairman of the Junior Chamber of Commerce Traffic Safety Committee. Directors of the State Jaycees recently voted to undertake the S-D Day project as part of their continuing traffic safety project.
S-D Day is Dec. 1 throughout the nation, when ‘the challenge will be – not a single traffic accident during the 24-hour period, in daylight or darkness,’ Judge Wallace said. This will be the second annual S-D Day promoted by President Eisenhower’s Committee for Traffic Safety.

84 YEARS AGO
NOV. 14, 1940

The Courant is in receipt of a telegram from Lister Hill, United States Senator, in which he advises that the president has approved the amount of $154,543 for countywide improvement to roads in Conecuh County.

President Roosevelt last week proclaimed Thurs., Nov. 21, as Thanksgiving Day. It was the second time the chief executive had set Thanksgiving a week earlier than the customary last Thursday in November, which this year falls on Nov. 28. The reason the president has set the day a week earlier than usual is to benefit the merchants by providing a longer interval between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

The official draft quota for Conecuh County was set at 46 men last week by draft officials. Sixteen of this number will be drawn from Board No. 1 and 30 from Board No. 2. These men are subject to call on June 30, 1940.

Hal Ryland, 48, a veteran of the World War and one of Bermuda’s most highly respected and best loved citizens, died at his home at 12 o’clock Saturday night, Nov. 9.
Although he had been in ill health for several years, death was due to pneumonia which developed after he had sustained severe injuries when knocked down by a mule the preceding Wednesday.

SKRACH-NO-MOR: The 30-minute ITCH treatment. Only ONE application necessary. No grease, no mess, no soiled clothing or bed linens, no time lost from school. As an aid TO PREVENT ITCH use Stutts, M.S. Germicidal Sulphur Soap Daily. At good drug stores everywhere. Sold by City Drug Store.

The Monroe Journal News Flashback for Nov. 4, 2024

Pioneer P-51 Mustang

FIVE YEARS AGO
NOV. 7, 2019

W.D. Pickens Award presented to Knight: Monroeville’s Fire-Rescue Department held their annual Fire Prevention Week awards banquet on Thurs., Oct. 10, at the Vanity Fair Golf & Tennis Club.
This year’s Firefighter of the Year was Peter Brewton, and Jerry Knight received the W.D. Pickens Award. Michael Leggitte was given the Brotherhood Award and the Leadership Award went to Assistant Chief Ronnie Darby.
The department has three outstanding rookies this year, so no Rookie of the Year award was given out. Instead, Chief Billy Black gave William Bell, Daniel Williams and A.J. Thomas challenge coins. Rod Sims was named Trainer of the Year.

MC edges EHS 32-24: On what was the coldest and possibly the wettest night of the football season, Monroe County High School edged county rival Excel School 32-24 in Excel.
After Excel battled back from a 24-0 deficit to tie the score 24-24 with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter, MCHS answered with a three-play, 65-yard, game-winning touchdown drive. Ty’Darius McClain scored the TD on a nine-yard run with 26 seconds left and added the conversion on a three-yard run.
(Top MCHS players in that game included Montrey Dailey and Justin Davis. Top Excel players were Kaleb Browning, Cole Chandler, Addarious Clausell, Jacodey Lett, Jacob Manuel, Justin Manuel, Tristian McBride, Ashton McPhaul, Blake Simmons and Koleman Wiggins. MCHS’s head coach was Marshall Locke, and Cody Sellers was Excel’s head coach.)

30 YEARS AGO
NOV. 3, 1994

Firefighters honor own Citizens of Year: Monroeville Volunteer Fire Department held its annual firefighters banquet Oct. 10 at the Monroeville Community House.
Lt. Billy W. Black was chosen by his fellow firemen as Monroeville’s Fireman of the Year. Fire Chief Eddie Everette said the firemen believe Black has shown dedication to the department and to being a professional firefighter.
Tim McLaurin, the grandson of W.D. Pickens, was the winner of the W.D. Pickens Award.
Dr. and Mrs. Woodrow Eddins received a plaque naming them the fire department’s Citizens of the Year. Also during the program, firefighter Ronnie Darby was promoted to lieutenant; firefighter Eddie James was named Rookie of the Year; and 10 firefighters received lifesaving awards for actions during fires and accidents over the past year.
Receiving the awards were Everette, assistant chief Walter Crim, assistant chief Bill Dailey, Lt. Al Brewton, Lt. Billy Black, Sheila Dailey, Mike Colquett, McLaurin, Lee McDonald and Darby.

Volunteers rip Cougars to get ready for Hooper: Monroe Academy earned the home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs Friday when the Volunteers ripped Escambia Academy 39-14 at Canoe.
Brad McKinley finished the contest with 146 yards on 24 rushes. Johnny Pickens led MA’s tacklers with seven stops.
(Other top MA players in that game included Tim Andrews, Robbin Chandler, Tom Davis, Luke McKinley, Brian Walker and Westley Welch. Tim Carter was MA’s head coach.)

55 YEARS AGO
NOV. 6, 1969

Postmaster Retires in Vredenburgh: Mrs. Alma Cardwell, postmaster at Vredenburgh since March 1935, retired Oct. 31. She will continue to make her home in Vredenburgh.
Mrs. Cardwell was first employed as clerk in the Vredenburgh Post Office in 1923. She held this position until she was promoted to postmaster in 1935.
She celebrated her 69^th birthday March 17 of this year.

Uriah Outscores Lyeffion 30-6: In a lackluster game with Lyeffion, the Uriah Bulldogs ground out 300 yards on the ground and 25 yards through the air to win at home in Uriah by a score of 30 to 6.
The game served as a warm up for the Uriah squad as they prepare for a Century, Fla. squad termed young but fast as greased lightning.
Three seniors will be playing their last game for the Bulldogs Friday night. They are Danny Booker, James Porterfield and Dale Gulsby.

Halloween Pranks Generally Minor In Monroeville Area: Generally speaking, Halloween night this year was a relatively quiet one in Monroeville though one Monroeville automobile owner might not agree with such an assessment.
Police Chief Jim Cave said a limited number of young persons appeared to be out celebrating last Friday night and that the greatest property damage seemed to be from such escapades as egg throwing.
In one such case, however, the damage appeared to be significant. The 1969 Oldsmobile belonging to F.A. Watkins suffered severe upholstery damage when someone apparently opened the back door and threw eggs onto the fabric seats. The car was parked in front of the residence of A.L. Nichols on Beechwood Drive.

80 YEARS AGO
NOV. 2, 1944

LT. LEE IS MEMBER OF FAMOUS FIGHTER GROUP: Destroying 50 enemy fighters in a single day, pilots of the Pioneer P-51 Mustang fighter group of the Ninth Air Force zoomed past the 500 victory mark to set a new European Theater of Operations record for time in service.
A member of the famous Pioneer Mustang fighter group is First Lieutenant Edwin C. Lee. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Lee, Monroeville. Prior to entering the service in April 1943, Lieutenant Lee was a student at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. Lee is now a squadron adjutant under the command of Major Robert E. Brooks.

Mrs. W.S. Bowden, William Bowden, Miss Alice Lee, Mrs. Mildred Gardner, Miss Jewell Elder, Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Curry, Mrs. B.H. Stallworth Jr., Leslie Rutherford, Max Bradley, Clay Pittman, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Lazenby, Patsy Lazenby, Karl Mims Lazenby and Mr. and Mrs. John Coxwell were among those who attended the Alabama-Kentucky football game in Montgomery Friday night.

Miss Alice Lee spent last weekend with her sister, Mrs. H.H. Conner, at Eufaula.

Court of Honor For Boy Scouts: A Court of Honor for Boy Scouts will be held in connection with the Sunday evening services at the First Baptist Church, Monroeville, 7:30 o’clock. Mr. M.L. Bergman, Commissioner of this area, and Scoutmaster J.T. Moore, are doing a fine piece of work with the boys. – A.B. Blass, Chairman, Advancement Committee.

105 YEARS AGO
NOV. 6, 1919

Henry Goldsmith, aged 60 years, died at an infirmary in Mobile on Oct. 30. Mr. Goldsmith was born in Claiborne where his parents were among the prominent Jewish residents in the days when Claiborne was a populous and thrifty trade center. Mr. Goldsmith was at one time a clerk on Alabama River steamboats and was well known among merchants and shippers.

Mr. R.O. Duff, traveling representative of the Mergenthaler Linotype Co., was a business visitor to Monroeville Wednesday.

The old water tank which stood for many years on the northwest corner of the public square has been taken down, thus removing an unsightly object. A new tank of larger capacity will be erected near the pumping station, giving the city not only a more adequate water supply for domestic purposes, but greater pressure in case of fire. Meters will be installed and a water rate established based on quantity consumed in lieu of the flat rate heretofore in effect.

Clifton Shiver, the 12-year-old grandson of Mr. C.C. Davidson of Excel, died Friday evening from injuries sustained in falling from a pecan tree the day before. The little boy climbed to the top of a tree to shake the nuts, lost his footing and fell to the ground, sustaining internal injuries from which he never regained consciousness.

William Kearley sustained very painful, though not serious, injuries in the football game at Grove Hill on last Friday afternoon. His many friends will be glad to learn that he is on the road to recovery.

Singleton recounts the bygone days of cotton-picking, lye hominy cooking

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 the old cotton field,” was originally published in the Sept. 5, 2002 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

As the autumn season slowly begins to make its way across the land, memories of many wonderful times began to fill my mind.

Thinking back to the times that I experienced as a young boy, growing up in the country, I almost feel sorry for our youth of today because of the many happenings and good times they have missed.

A few days back, Aug. 29, I made my way down through the southern part of our county, traveling by motorcycle. As I passed the vast cotton fields, becoming snow white in color, with the opened cotton glowing in cool afternoon air, it was almost like going back in time. The long rows of opened cotton brought back many memories of gathering the fluffy cotton by hand while dragging a long cotton sack along the row.

Our youth of today know absolutely nothing about a long, hot day in the cotton fields. They could not in any way describe a day of bending over and picking cotton from dawn to dust.

In looking back, I remember how I used to hate that long cotton sack and that 12-hour work day in the cotton field. But, as I traveled through the open cotton fields near Uriah, I almost wished that I had the chance to pick some more cotton the old-fashioned way. Remember, I said that I almost wished.

As I rode along down Highway 59, I asked myself if I had anything that I could cover up my head with; I related to myself that I had a severe pain in my back. Believing that I was having back pains, I told myself that seeing all that opened cotton and the memories of having to pick the white stuff caused the pains in my back. Needless to say, the pains were there for a while.

If I had to select one of the fondest memories of cotton-picking time, one would be when the cotton pickers would stop their work for the lunch meal. Lunch would be sent from the house, packed in several large dish pans. Near the large field that we called the “Lewis field,” there was a large creek nearby. Under the shade of several large oak trees that grew on the high bank of the creek, this was where dinner would be served.

After the blessing was said by Uncle Tony, an old black man my family cared for, the fun time got under way. Words can hardly describe the excitement experienced by a small country boy there under the large oaks. The tall tales, told by the older workers of the group, were almost breathtaking. And, when the work day was done, this tired, small boy would lay awake for some time and relive the stories that he had heard earlier.

Almost every farmer in the area had a cotton house. This was where the freshly picked cotton was stored until enough had been picked to carry to the cotton gin.

My fondest memory was being allowed by my darling mother to spend Friday and Saturday nights sleeping on the fluffy cotton in the cotton house. I don’t believe that a bed exists today that would be as comfortable as that large fluffy pile of cotton was to this small country boy.

My bed partner was always a very large cur dog that we owned named Jack. Jack would curl up against my back and sleep there the entire night, unless something moved or made a noise of some kind and disturbed his sleep.

Jack was a good-natured dog, but everyone knew that when he growled, Jack meant business. And, always after I had gone to sleep, my guardian angel, Uncle Tony, would come over to the cotton house and lay down nearby. If the air was chilly, he would cover me with an old quilt or put cotton over me to keep me warm.

But cotton picking was not the only thing going on around the farm at this time of year. This was also the time for cooking lye hominy by the home folks. Fresh shelled corn would be placed in a large wash pot, and this would be cooked over an open fire for several hours. The good times were getting to be around the cooking fire as the hominy was cooking. There was always a chance of being given a tea cake or a large piece of peanut candy by my dear friend, Aunt Lellia.

This wonderful old black lady looked to my family for her well being and all her needs. She had no family to care for her, so she depended on my family for her, so she depended on my family for her survival. Since Aunt Lellia had delivered me when I was born, I was very special to this dear and wonderful old lady. She always saw to it that I got the special pieces of candy or any of the samples of pie or cake that might need to be tasted.

Aunt Lellia was the absolute authority in the community on cooking lye hominy. She was always sought out by various families when there was hominy to be cooked. No one dared to question this dear old lady about her cooking knowledge. But everyone knew for sure that when she said that it was ready, the hominy was ready to eat.

A hominy supper would most times be held on a Friday or Saturday night. Several families would get together for a wonderful time of fellowship and hominy eating. Other food, such as cakes, pies and many other goodies, would be brought along by those attending the supper.

Those of my readers who have never attended a lye hominy supper in a country community have missed a great event in life. The fun and games and the fellowship among those present were something to be remembered.

If you have never tried to eat two or three half-ripe persimmons and then try to whistle, then you wouldn’t have been a good contestant in the around-the-fire games. Always someone would show up with a small paper sack full of half-ripe persimmons. After the meal, it was time for the persimmon and whistle contest. Take it from me, it’s not an easy thing to do, to try and whistle after eating three or four half-ripe persimmons. Nevertheless, the fun and good times were worth the drawn-up mouth.

These good times that some of us experienced as children growing up on the farm played a very important part in the molding of our lives. I will be the first to admit that times have changed since those days of the middle ‘30s. But as I see the carelessness and “don’t care” attitudes of some of our youth of today, we might need to go back to the long cotton rows and the heavy cotton sacks. As for now, we can only hope; only time will tell what awaits on the horizon.

(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.)