The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Sept. 7, 2021

16 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 3, 2005

Evergreen weather reporter Harry Ellis reported a high of 95 on Aug. 22 and lows of 70 degrees on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27. He also reported 0.35 inches of rain on Aug. 22, 0.03 inches on Aug. 24, a trace of rain on Aug. 25 and 0.10 inches on Aug. 28.

Workers were busy last Thursday morning moving this home formerly owned by the late Rance English to its new location on Highway 84. The house was moved by the state in preparation for the new bridge that will be built in Repton sometime in the future. The house has been deeded to the Town of Repton and will be used for a visitors center and community resource center.

Conecuh is spared: Conecuh County was spared when Hurricane Katrina devasted the Gulf Coast Monday morning. While some areas in the western part of the county saw high winds and a possible tornado, the county as a whole was spared.
County Engineer Winston Foshee said that there was no flood damage to roads in the county and a very small road blockage because of fallen trees reported. All roads in the county were open to travel by Monday afternoon when the winds from the edge of Katrina subsided.
Conecuh County Emergency Management Director Heather Walton said that the shelter at the Evergreen Elementary School had a greatly reduced number of people during this storm.
Conecuh Schools were closed Monday for the storm but returned to regular classes Tuesday. None of the schools in the county received damage which was good new for the students.

41 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 4, 1980

Evergreen weather reporter Earl Windham reported a high of 92 degrees on Aug. 31 and lows of 64 on Aug. 26 and Aug. 29. He reported 0.41 inches of rain on Aug. 27, 0.03 inches on Aug. 28 and 0.40 inches on Aug. 30.

Former official Aubrey Johnson died Aug. 27: Aubrey Jones Johnson, 74, of Route Two, Evergreen, died Wed., Aug. 27, of an apparent heart attack seizure.
Mr. Johnson was a member of a prominent, pioneer family who was widely known and respected. He served as member of the Conecuh County Board of Directors (now County Commission), representing old District Four for a number of years.
He was a deacon of the Holly Grove Baptist Church where he had been a faithful member for many years, and a member of the County Farmers Home Administration Board. He was a former member of the County ASCS Committee and through the years was active in religious, civic, agricultural and political activities in the county.

Grand Jury files 50 indictments: The Grand Jury, Fall Term of Circuit Court, Conecuh County, returned 50 true bills of indictment in its report to Circuit Judge Robert E.L. Key late Wednesday afternoon of last week. Of the total, 44 were felonies and six were misdemeanors.
The Grand Jury, empaneled on Monday morning, Aug. 25, investigated all cases on its docket and examined 77 witnesses. District Attorney Ted Pearson of Monroeville and Assistant DA David T. Hyde Jr. assisted the Grand Jury in their deliberations.

66 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 1, 1955

Byron Warren Becomes New Ford Dealer In Deal Which Was Consummated Sept. 1: In a business deal which was consummated to be effective today (Sept. 1, 1955), Byron Warren becomes the new Ford dealer for Evergreen and Conecuh County. Mr. Warren will operate as sole owner of the concern which henceforth will be known as “Warren Ford Co.”
The consummation of this deal marks the end for a firm name “Evergreen Motor Car Co.,” which is perhaps one of the oldest in this section of the state. This company was established Aug. 29, 1911 by C.P. Deming Sr., H.W. Dunn, W.B. Ivey and R.B. Lee. For a period of 44 years, it has operated under the same name in the same block on Rural Street and throughout its entire life has featured entirely and completely Ford automobiles and Ford products.

County Board Abolishes High School Tuition Fees: Following a meeting of the Conecuh County Board of Education held at the office of the County Superintendent Thurs., Aug. 25, announcement was made that the board had gone on record as favoring the abolishment of high school tuition fees in all high schools of the county effective with this school year.

Evergreen High School To Open Sept. 8: School will begin Thurs., Sept. 8. A short assembly will be held in the auditorium beginning at 8:30 o’clock. Rev. Sam Granade will have the devotional.
Thursday, students will be assigned to homerooms, given schedule cards, booklists, etc. Friday, students will go through a short schedule and will receive assignments for Monday. Sessions on Thursday and Friday will end before noon. The public is invited to be present on Thursday for the Assembly program.

91 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 4, 1930

Evergreen Schools Open Session Monday: The two schools of Evergreen are now in full swing having opened the 1930-31 session with appropriate exercises at the City School auditorium Monday morning. From present indications it appears that the enrollment of the schools will be about the same as last, with the probability of a slight increase.
At the City School there is only one change in the faculty personnel. Miss Ruby Grant, who has taught music and public school music, resigned just before the time for school to open and Miss Rebecca Ellington of Opelika has been secured to fill this place. Miss Ellington was not able to be here for the opening of school but will be here to begin her work next week.

Owassa Farmer Dies Of Stroke Sunday: William Earl Perkins, well known farmer living at Owassa, died at 10 o’clock Sunday morning following a stroke of paralysis which came on him at 4:30 of the same morning.
Mr. Perkins was born and reared near Burnt Corn but removed to Owassa about 30 years ago, where he had since lived. He had been a member of the Owassa Baptist Church for a number of years prior to his death.

“Fickle Fortune” To Be Presented Friday Night: The guaranteed fun producing three-act comedy “Fickle Fortune” will be presented Friday night, Sept. 5 at the City School auditorium, eight o’clock. This play is being coached by Miss Isabel Wilson, who reports the rehearsals to be very satisfactory. The case is composed of Harpie Gantt, Elizabeth Stevens, Wilbur Kelley, Charles Congleton, Doris Castleberry, Nell Glenn Moorer, Homer Hart, Mildred Reeder, Katy Sue Reeder and Leon Guy.

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

Old Billy, the World's Oldest Horse

16 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 1, 2005

Repton gets historic house: Movers ease the historic Ransom English house to its new location at the corner of U.S. Highway 84 and Taylor Street in Repton last Thursday. The house will be restored and converted into a visitors center and community resource center, according to Repton Mayor Terri Carter.

Excel wins: In the closest football game between Excel and Frisco City in 12 years, the player wearing the golden shoes proved to be the difference in the game.
Excel senior Justin Whatley, who entered last Thursday night’s game in Excel wearing golden-colored shoe covers over his cleats, kicked an extra point with 7:24 left in the third quarter to give Excel a one-point lead and a 7-6 win over in-county rival Frisco City.
Whatley’s extra-point kick was only a small portion of his golden performance against Frisco City. He also led Excel’s offense, carrying the ball 17 times for a team-best 53 yards. He caught two passes for 22 yards and returned three punts for 61 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, he led the Panthers with eight solo tackles, three assists and a quarterback sack. Whatley, The Journal’s 2004 All-County Team punter, also boomed six punts for an average of 33 yards each.

Moody Maness of Excel is the proud owner of Robin, a 38-year-old horse that has collected over 200 timing event competition wins. The horse, which was born on July 1, 1967, collected wins in barrel and flag races as well as pole bending contests and the 50-yard dash. The average life span of a horse or pony is about 20 to 30 years. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Old Billy was a horse born in 1760 and lived to the age of 62.

41 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 4, 1980

Members of the downtown Monroeville revitalization steering committee elected officers for the newly formed Downtown Merchants Association of Monroeville in a morning meeting Wednesday of last week.
Bob Burns of Tri-Motor Co., committee chairman, was elected to serve as president. Other officers are vice president Nick Black of Williamson’s Home and Auto and secretary-treasurer Jim Davis of Lazenby’s Department Store. Also attending last week’s meeting were committee members Norman Barnett, Glen Gladwell, Raymond Owens and Brent Metts.

Panthers win fight to the finish: It was a fight to the finish Friday night in Beatrice, but the J.F. Shields Panthers survived a late field goal attempt that went wide and edged Francis Marion, 9-8, at Shields Stadium in a high school football game.
John Davison led Shields with 41 yards rushing on five carries, and (Larry) Nettles picked up 38 yards on eight attempts. Defensively, Shields was paced by Alphonso Stallworth with six tackles.
(Other top Shields players in that game included James Prevo, George Preyer, Mark Rodgers, Calvin Stallworth and Lloyd Tucker. John Wiley was head coach.)

The second annual Monroe County Fair, featuring rides and games, exhibits and concessions, will be held Sept. 22-27 at the Monroe County Coliseum. The event is put on by the Monroe County Fair Association and sponsored by the Monroeville Jaycees. The Jaycees’ Fair Committee includes Tim McPhaul, Tom Lomenick, Tony Rollins, Jimmy Holmes, John Grider and Charlie Black.

66 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 1, 1955

Lumber Is Destroyed In Frisco City Fire On Monday Night: Flames of undetermined origin destroyed some 23,000 feet of ash lumber Monday shortly before midnight at the B.F. Chambers Hardwood Lumber Co. in Frisco City.
Both the Frisco City and Monroeville fire departments answered the alarm and succeeded in keeping the fire away from a large amount of other lumber stored on the yard. The fire was brought under control about one o’clock.

15 Out For Practice For Uriah Football: Fifteen candidates reported at Uriah’s football practice drills throughout last week. Coach Allen stated that many of the football probables were busy picking cotton but that he would continue the drills if the 15 boys remained.
Only four lettermen were lost from the 1954 Uriah squad. Those who were lost were tackle Joe Ed Hayles, guards Murray Tyson and Labon Smith, and halfback Gordon Corely. Nine lettermen will return to the Uriah eleven, seven of whom were starters last year. Only one boy on the Uriah team is a two-year letterman.

Father of Journal News Editor Suffers Attack: Mrs. Leon Nettles, news editor of The Journal, is in Stigler, Okla. this week at the bedside of her father, who suffered a heart attack Monday.
In her absence, The Journal expresses its thanks to Mrs. Dolly Sowell, Miss Alice Lee and others for their assistance in obtaining this week’s social news.

91 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 4, 1930

Early Ginnings In Monroe Are Heavy: According to figures received from the Department of Commerce, Washington, there were 1,012 bales of cotton, counting round as half bales, ginned in Monroe County from the crop of 1930 prior to Aug. 16, 1930 as compared with 410 bales ginned to Aug. 16, 1929.

MONROE COUNTIAN GIVEN DEGREE AT PEABODY: Degrees were awarded at George Peabody Teachers College at Nashville to a number of Alabama teachers. Among them was Miss Ernestine Kelly of Excel, who received the Master of Arts degree.

Prof. and Mrs. G.A. Harris left last week for Thomasville where they will make their home, Prof. Harris being principal of the Thomasville school.

Rev. T.C. Delaney of Mobile was in Monroeville Sunday. Rev. Delaney preached the homecoming sermon at Scotland Church.

Miss Margaret Fountain has gone to Camden where she will be a teacher of English in the local high school.

Mrs. L.J. Thomas and daughter, Miss Jessamine, returned to their home in Houston, Texas, Sunday after spending a week with relatives here, guests of Mesdames Q. and E.M. Salter. Miss Thomas is a talented pianist and soprano singer whose voice has been frequently heard with delight by those who have listened to radio broadcasts from Houston stations. She was shown pleasant social attentions during her stay in Monroeville.

116 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 7, 1905

COUNTY MASONIC CONFERENCE: The Monroe County Masonic Conference was organized at Monroeville on Thurs., Aug. 31, holding a most harmonious and profitable three-day session.
Representatives of each of the seven Masonic lodges in the county and a number of visiting brethren were present and participated in the proceedings.
The following officers were elected for the ensuing year, viz: S.H. Dailey, Worshipful Master; D.D. Cole, Senior Warden; N.A. McNeil, Junior Warden; R.E. Barnes, Secretary and Treasurer; Q. Salter, Assistant Secretary and Senior Deacon; J.D. McKinley, Junior Deacon; J.R. Montgomery, Senior Steward; R. Perry, Junior Steward; J.C. Falkenberry, Tyler; W.N. Huckabee, Chaplain; O.O. Bayles, Orator.

Mr. Henry Hudson has returned to his post of duty with the Western Union Telegraph Co. at Castleberry.

McCreary Brothers are installed in their new quarters in the Russell building, where they will be pleased to have their friends and customers call.

The offices of Dr. McMillan and Smith are now located in the old courthouse in the suite of rooms formerly occupied by the late H.W. Jones.

J.W. Fore has purchased the stock, fixtures and good will of the People’s Drug Co. and will continue the business under the same name.

JEDDO: We hear that Mr. J.C. Kyle will soon assume the duties and responsibilities of new postmaster here and we feel sure that John will make a very efficient postmaster.

George Singleton tells of August 1996 trip to ghost town of Old Cahawba

The "Crocheron Columns" of Old Cahawba.

(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 “Visit takes one back in time” was originally published in the Aug. 8, 1996 edition of The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)

On the first day of August, I had the privilege to escort a group of senior citizens from the hub city up to the site of old Cahawba, our first state capital. Not a lot of activity is taking place around the old capital site at this time, other than those like ourselves who came to visit and travel the trails that takes one back in time.

Cahawba didn’t appear on the scene with the coming of the early settler. As early as 4,000 years ago, Indians occupied the area where the two rivers join. In the month of September 1540, the Spanish explorer DeSoto visited the large village located there between the two rivers. He was on his way south where he would cross what is now the Alabama River at the present site of the community of Claiborne, right here in our own Monroe County.

This area was quite important to the early Indian due to its location and that they were able to travel the two rivers in their canoes. It was a large trading center among the early inhabitants of the villages along the rivers and the higher ground to the north and west. The low bottom lands near the large streams were filled with wild game and the rivers flourished with fish. But, the good life that the Indians enjoyed between the two rivers was soon to chance.

In 1819, the state of Alabama would make its debut from out of the wilderness. From the territorial capital at St. Stephens, Cahawba was to become our first state capital. The area at that time was an undeveloped town site. The land where the capital was to be located was a gift from then President James Monroe. Due to the lack of building and living quarters at the new capital, the Alabama Legislature was forced to find temporary accommodations in Huntsville until a statehouse could be built. By 1820, however, Cahawba had come into full swing. It was a fully functioning state capital.

But, Cahawba would never enjoy the full popularity of a state capital. The low areas along the rivers gave it a reputation of flooding and being mosquito infested. Those that opposed the selection of Cahawba as the new state capital used this reputation to force a vote in the state legislature that it be moved to another location. Tuscaloosa and the town of Claiborne were to be voted on for the new capital. The town of Claiborne, that rested along the high bluffs of the river, right here in our own county, missed being chosen the capital by only one vote in the legislature. The new capital was now the city of Tuscaloosa. After the moving of the capital in 1826, within weeks, the town of Cahawba was nearly abandoned.

The two was not ready to give up as yet. The flooding and malaria had been greatly exaggerated by Cahawba’s opponents. The town would recover and reestablish itself as a social and commercial center. Cahawba became the major distribution point for cotton shipped down the Alabama River from the fertile “black belt” to the Port of Mobile. Then, the addition of a railroad line in 1859 triggered a building boom on the eve of the dreaded Civil War. Over 3,000 people were to call Cahawba home.

But, the glory days of Cahawba were again to be short lived. The dreaded Civil War was fast approaching on the horizon. The Confederate government would seize Cahawba’s railroad. They would tear up the iron rails and use them to extend another railroad nearby. The army of the Confederacy would locate a Union army prisoner of war camp on the old capital site. They would send over 3,000 Union prisoners of war here into the lice and mosquito infested prison. Many died from disease and hunger there in the prison.

More tragedies were set to strike another death blow to the now dying town. In 1865, a flood would almost destroy the town of Cahawba. Because of the high waters, the county seat was moved to Selma. Businesses and families followed. Within 10 years, even the houses of Cahawba were being dismantled and moved to the new county seat.

The old abandoned courthouse became a meeting place during the Reconstruction period for freedmen seeking new political power. Cahawba became the “Mecca of the Radical Republican Party.” A new rural community of 70 former slave families replaced the old urban center. These families turned the vacant town blocks into two-acre fields. But, Cahawba’s troubles were not over yet. This community of former slaves was to disappear also. By 1900, the town that was once the capital of Alabama had almost faded from the countryside. Most of the buildings had been dismantled or burned. Only local fishermen or hunters walked the abandoned streets of the old capital. Many of the artesian wells that were located within the capital city had disappeared from the area. Today, only one or two remain.

Not much remains of what was once the capital city. Today, nature has reclaimed much of the streets and open land of the old town between the rivers. As one walks the old abandoned streets and views the few remaining markers of certain important locations, a feeling of sadness comes over one. While visiting the lone “Crocheron Columns,” or the site of “Castle Morgan,” which was the site of the Union prison camp, the ghosts of another time seem to call out from the shadows and beg to be remembered.

And, those that sleep beneath the leaning and fallen tombs in the old cemeteries seem to cry from the shadows; from their place in another time. They too wish to be remembered. The old slave cemetery, abandoned until recently, speaks too of hardships and misery. The old town of Cahawba is truly a ghost town of the past. A place where the ghosts of another era still walk the abandoned streets and drinks from the ancient wells and waits for that time when the old capital will flourish again from the pages of history of the past. The words of a former resident, Anna Gayle Fry, said that the “ghosts of Cahawba will never be still.”

(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime resident of Monroeville, he was born to Vincent William Singleton and Frances Cornelia Faile Singleton, during a late-night thunderstorm, on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County, graduated from Sweet Water High School in 1946, served as a U.S. Marine paratrooper in the Korean War, worked as a riverboat deckhand, lived for a time among Apache Indians, moved to Monroe County on June 28, 1964 and served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from June 28, 1964 to Dec. 14, 1987. He was promoted from the enlisted ranks to warrant officer in May 1972. For years, Singleton’s columns, titled “Monroe County history – Did you know?” and “Somewhere in Time” appeared in The Monroe Journal, and he wrote a lengthy series of articles about Monroe County that appeared in Alabama Life magazine. It’s believed that his first column appeared in the March 25, 1971 edition of The Monroe Journal. He also helped organize the Monroe County Museum and Historical Society and was also a past president of that organization. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville. Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)

100-year-old news headlines from Sept. 1921 editions of The Wilcox Progressive Era in Camden, Alabama

Chincapin nuts.

Today marks the first Friday 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 September 1921.

In the Sept. 1, 1921 edition of The Wilcox Progressive Era, publisher Stanley Clifford Godbold reported, under the headline “Residence of Dr. T.W Jones Destroyed by Fire,” that the “beautiful home of Dr. T.W. Jones was completely destroyed by fire Tuesday morning when an explosion from an oil stove started the flames. The alarm was immediately sounded, but the flames spread so rapidly that it was impossible to save the house when helpers arrived. Neighboring houses were endangered, but the fact that no wind was stirring no doubt saved them from damage. Dr. and Mrs. Jones have the sympathy of the entire town in their loss. Their home was one of the most elegant in Camden.”

On the front page of the Sept. 8, 1921 edition of The Progressive Era, readers saw, under the headline “Camden Juniors Defeat McWilliams,” that “in one of the most interesting games of the season here last Thursday, the Camden Juniors defeated McWilliams by a score of four to three.

“Johnnie Winters and Clifford Albritton occupied the hill, and both kids had the opposing hitters at their mercy. Winters was relieved by Cater in the seventh, and bunched hits with errors caused his defeat.

“Till’s hitting featured for McWilliams, while Conner’s fielding at short was good for Camden.”

The front page of the Sept. 15, 1921 edition of the newspaper carried an item that let readers know that the “chincapins or chinquapin (Webster says both spellings are correct) are now ripening, and the boys are now gathering them. The chincapins is a species of the chestnut. There are yet many trees on the hills near Bridgeport and also in the Grampions.”

The Sept. 22, 1921 edition of the paper also reported another major fire in the county, this time in Lower Peach Tree. Under the headline “PARSONAGE BURNS,” readers learned that “fire which originated from an oil stove explosion destroyed the parsonage at (Lower Peach Tree) Tuesday morning. The flames spread so rapidly that it was impossible to save anything from the building which was only partially covered by insurance. Rev. Mr. Carpenter, pastor of the Methodist church here, was away at the time of the fire, having left Monday for Florida.”

In the Sept. 29, 1921 edition of The Progressive Era, under the headline “Church Pride at Enon,” it was reported that “on last Sunday, the pastor of the Baptist Church went to his regular appointment at Enon Church in the Fatama neighborhood. A pleasing sight greeted his eyes when he drove up to the church. That band of splendid people had been doing some work on their building. Within two weeks a new roof had been put on, the church re-painted, the grounds well cleaned off and the floor thoroughly scrubbed. The men came together and did the work themselves. To the girls of the church is due thanks for the inside cleaning. The total value of this work is about $350.”

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 October 1921 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.

Monroe County, Alabama's historic Jeddo community had its own post office from 1898 to 1918

Poplar Springs Baptist Church

Monroe County’s Jeddo community is located, as the crow flies, about three miles northwest of Uriah. The best way to get there, if you’re traveling by car, is to turn west off of State Highway 21 onto County Road 8 (aka Jeddo Road) and drive about three miles. When you reach the intersection of Jeddo Road and Rocky Hill Road, you have arrived in “downtown” Jeddo, according to most historic maps of the area.

There is little doubt that Jeddo is one of the most uniquely named communities in all of Monroe County, but the origin of its name is shrouded in mystery. Oddly, there is no entry for “Jeddo” in Virginia O. Foscue’s authoritative book, “Place Names in Alabama.” However, records reflect that this area was once known as McGill before the establishment of a Jeddo post office in 1898. That post office closed in 1918.

The earliest reference to Jeddo that I could find in old newspapers was in the April 26, 1900 edition of The Monroe Journal. In news from the Weatherford community, located west of Jeddo on Waller’s Creek, a correspondent to The Journal reported that “Miss Pauline Bell, who has also been quite ill, is better and is now visiting friends at Jeddo.”

I found myself passing through Jeddo on Friday, which many of you will remember was a day of dark clouds and stormy weather. When I arrived at the intersection of Jeddo Road and Rocky Hill Road, I was struck by the sight of expansive fields of tall corn that stretched off in row upon row as far as the eye could see. It was a scene that conjured up images of Nebraska and Iowa rather than South Alabama.

Those of you who have been to Jeddo before will know that the two most prominent landmarks there today are a pair of old churches: Poplar Springs Baptist Church and St. Paul Baptist Church. Poplar Springs Baptist Church, which I visited many times as a young person, includes a large cemetery that contains hundreds of graves. During my walk through the cemetery on Friday, the oldest grave that I could find was a small antebellum headstone that belonged to a Nancy Dees, who passed away in 1832.

Back in my truck, I pulled out my trusty National Geographic map of this area and saw that Dees Creek flows through the woods just north of the church. Perhaps years ago, the presence of poplar trees along the banks of this “spring” lent its name to this historic church. I would not be surprised to learn that baptisms were once commonly conducted in this creek, which also bears the name of some of the community’s earliest settlers.

You’ll find St. Paul Baptist Church a little farther down the road, at the end of a dim lane that runs south off of Jeddo Road. This church features a distinctive cornerstone near its entrance. It reads – St. Paul Baptist Church, Built March-April 1948, Trustees: E. Harris, J. Johnson, W. McCreary, Sec., Rev. A.J. Stokes, Pastor.

The grounds of this church also include a small cemetery that I would say contains less than 50 graves. The oldest that I could find there on Friday belonged to a woman named Vinnie Logan, who passed away at the age of either 73 or 74 in 1951. The inscription on her headstone reads: Mother, Wait For Us In Heaven.

In the end, I’d like to hear from anyone in the reading audience with more information about the early history of the Jeddo community. I’m especially interested in any old ghost stories, local legends and Indian lore from this part of the county. If you know of anything along these lines that you’d like to share, please let me know.

Wilcox County, Alabama News Flashback for Sept. 1, 2021

Alabama Gov. Emmet O'Neal

68 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 3, 1953

Camden Schools Open Friday: The Camden School will open Friday, Sept. 4. All interested people are invited to attend the opening day.
A general assembly of all 12 grades will be held in the auditorium prior to the students going to their home rooms. N.P. Benton, principal, urges all students to be present to register and get book lists and familiarize themselves with their schedule.

Guard Company Back From Camp: Camden’s National Guard unit returned Sunday from Fort McClellan, where they had been attending a two-week summer camp. Leaving here on Aug. 16, the local group joined other units from Linden and Selma in Selma and proceeded by convoy to Fort McClellan.
Attending with the local group, Co. A of the 203^rd Infantry Battalion, were Lieutenants Jasper A. Hayles, Clifford Bradford and John M. Middlebrooks; Sgt. Labon Reeves, Sgt. Alfred Fall, Sgt. Herman Harrison, Sgt. Charlie Spencer, Sgt. John L. Kircharr, Bubber Dunnam, Travis Durant, Mickey Tait and Dan Campbell.

Sample White Way Light Set Up: A mercury vapor street lamp similar to the 25 planned to be installed as whiteway lights for the business section of Camden, has been set up at the corner of Water and Court streets, near L.Y. Sadler law office. Pointing out the contrast between the amount of light cast by the new type light and those in use at the present. Mayor Cooper said this week that the lights to be installed in the downtown section would be similar though not necessarily identical to the new light at the Water Street corner.

81 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 5, 1940

Miss Frances Perryman will open her kindergarten school Sept. 10. It is interesting to visit this school and see the little children at work and how happy they are. Miss Perryman has a beautiful room and is a wonderful teacher.

DEATH OF REV. GEO. W. JONES: Camden and Wilcox County friends will regret to hear of the death of Rev. George W. Jones of Adamsville, Texas. Mr. Jones preached at the Shelter Church here many years ago and made many friends in this section.

Judge R.T. Ervin of Mobile, who has recently returned from a two months stay in Maine, spent a weekend recently at his old home in Rock West.

Beginning Sept. 2, throughout entire month of September, a prize of one dress shirt of highest quality and one box of Berkshire pure Chiffon Crepe Twist Hose will be given to the gentleman and lady bowling highest score for the month of September, providing 20 or more games within the month have been played.
These prizes can be seen in show windows of the firm of Hickey’s, Camden, Ala.
Camden Bowling Alley will continue to give 10 free games for highest weekly score.
All participants are urged to enter for these worthwhile prizes at earliest possible date as YOU may be the lucky winner.

94 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 1, 1927

OLIVER PERRY KELLY DIES AT SELMA HOSPITAL: Oliver Perry Kelly, resident of Pine Hill, died at a Selma hospital Friday afternoon after a short illness. The body was sent on the Mobile train at 4 o’clock by Brislin Brothers to Pine Hill for funeral services and interment Saturday morning.

TO THE PUBLIC: The Wilcox County High School and the Camden Public School will begin the fall session on Tues., Sept. 6, at 9 a.m. It is important that all students be present on the first day. The Junior and Senior High Schools will be together in the High School building and the first to six grades will be in the Grammar School Building. Matriculation fee for the first eight grades will be $7.50 per pupil and for the last four, from eight to 12, the fee will be $9. Half in each case is due when school opens, and the other half at the middle of the year. Let’s all make this the banner year in school history for Camden. – CURTIS MATTHEWS, Principal.

Chas. Dobbins, a popular Camden boy, left Tuesday for Camp Cosby, where the Howard College football team will train a few days before the opening of the school.

James Miller will leave for Erskine College Friday. He will go a few days early on account of football practice, he being captain of the team.

The schools in Wilcox County will open Sept. 6, the teachers for Camden district 1 are: Curtis Matthews, Holtz Pitts, Miss Zelma Ward, Miss Agnes Smyley, Miss Frances Stuckey, Miss Jessie Monroe, Miss Pearl Perdue, Mesdames. Ann Ervin, H.H. Dale and Frank Cook and Misses Gladys Herman and Elise Bonner.

107 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 3, 1914

Dale Lodge No. 25 will meet in regular communication next Friday night at 8 p.m. Work in Fellowcraft degree.

We have received from Mexico, with the compliments of Capt. Leon Schwartz of Mobile, copies of the Mexican Herald, published at Vera Cruz.

Camden regrets the removal to Selma of Mr. and Mrs. S.E. Ellis and bright little boy, Sam. Mr. Ellis has for a year or more been conductor on the Camden branch of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.

A pleasant dance in compliment to the visiting young ladies was given at the Masonic hall last Monday night.

Gov. O’Neal has appointed Hon. J.B. Lloyd of Pine Apple and Mr. John W. Pharr of Catherine as delegates to the Farmers National Congress to be held at Fort Worth, Texas oct. 15-17.

Mr. M. Gerhardt, who formerly resided in Camden, but is now in business in Mobile, was murderously assaulted in his store by a man who pretended he wanted to make a purchase. He was struck over the head with an iron pin and sustained serious injuries that are not however fatal. He is slowly recovering and the man is in Mobile jail.

Capt. John Marston of Mobile, who died last week, aged 70 years, was a native of Camden and was a relative of the Ervins and Taits. Mr. Wm. B. Dunn, one of our oldest Camden citizens, says he remembers when he lived near here.

120 YEARS AGO
SEPT. 5, 1901

An altercation occurred near Furman last Friday between two men, about some pigs going into the field through a neglected gap. The dispute ended in the murdering of Jordan McChondichie by the other, Frank Savage Jr. Jordan McChondichie was one of our old men, and seemed to be a good, quiet old fellow. The murderer is a young man but has never been known to do anything bad. He is still at large.

Mr. F.W. Hare of Auburn was in the city a few hours Saturday. Mr. Hare graduated from the law department of the University last year, and took a very creditable stand in his class. He was en route to Monroeville on a prospecting visit, having stopped by here to see some of his college friends.

A BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE COUNTY: To the People of Wilcox County: The undersigned is gathering data for the purpose of writing a history of Wilcox, to be published in the near future.
The work will be historical, biographical, statistical, anecdotal and reminiscential. I trust the people of the county or elsewhere will give substantial aid in subscribing for this book, the only one of the kind ever undertaken in the county. It will be sold by subscription at 50 cents per copy. Parties desiring to subscribe can address the author at Oak Hill, Ala. – J.F. Lee, Oak Hill, Ala.

The first carload of cattle that has been carried over the Camden road was shipped by Mr. Joe Lambert Saturday afternoon. There were 39 head.

The Evergreen Courant's Sports Flashback for Aug. 30, 2021

Cliff Harper

23 YEARS AGO
AUG. 27, 1998

Barlow recipient of Hart Scholarship: Rotary Club of Evergreen, administrators of the Wendell Hart Scholarship Fund, announces that Ben Barlow has been named the recipient of the 1998 Wendell Hart Scholarship in the amount of $2,500.
This scholarship is presented in memory of Wendell Hart, former football coach of Evergreen High School. Coach Hart was dedicated to the success of his students not only in athletics but academics as well.
His enthusiasm and generosity so earned the respect of former students that they established this memorial scholarship in his name.
The Rotary Club of Evergreen continues to raise funds to help provide even more financial assistance to deserving students seeking higher education.

The Hillcrest Jaguars will kick off their 1998 football season at W.S. Neal in East Brewton tomorrow night. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

The Sparta Academy Warriors kick off their 1998 football season on the road against Monroe Academy tomorrow night. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Their first home game is here in Evergreen next Friday.

34 YEARS AGO
AUG. 27, 1987

Warrior blanks Sparta 21-0: Warrior Academy blanked the Sparta Academy Warriors 21-0 Saturday night in Eutaw.
Robbie Bolton had 15 yards on four carries; Lee Wild, 10 on 12; Kenny Bledsoe, 15 on 9; and Jamie Deason, 7 on 5.
Bledsoe completed five of eight pass attempts for 24 yards and was intercepted once. Brad Watts was incomplete on two tosses. Jeff Carrier had two catches for 21 yards; Watts, 1 for 9; Craig Blackburn, 1 for 1; and Deason, 1 for a loss of 7 yards.

Probable starters on defense for the Evergreen Aggies when they open the season with J.F. Shields here Friday night at 7:30 at Brooks Memorial Stadium are Craig Palmer, James Gross, Patrick Atkins and James Grace; Travis Stallworth, Greg Stanton, Tony Simpson and Russell Meeks; and Earl Johnson, Steve Cunningham and Marvin Cunningham.

This is probably the way the Evergreen High Aggies will line up on offense here Friday night when they meet J.F. Shields in Brooks Stadium in the season-opener at 7:30: Travis Stallworth, TE; Patrick Atkins, T; James Gross, G; Craig Blackburn, C; Russell Meeks, G; Scott Jones, T; and Marvin Cunningham, SE; Tony Simpson, TB; Steve Cunningham, FB; Jack Harvey, QB; and Greg Stanton, TB.

Head Coach Ed Parrish and Assistant Coach Gerry Watson are readying their Evergreen High Aggies for their season opener with J.F. Shields High School of Beatrice Friday night.

48 YEARS AGO
AUG. 30, 1973

Evergreen Aggies open the season: The Evergreen High Aggies will open the 1973 football season tomorrow night when they meet the powerful Georgiana High Panthers in Georgiana at 7:30.
The Aggies are hoping for better things this season under their new head coach, Buddy Davis. Coach Davis has as assistant coaches Charlie Branum and George Armstrong.

Sparta Warriors meet Greenville: The  Sparta Academy Warriors will open the 1973 season here Friday night when they meet Greenville Academy in Stuart-McGehee Field.
Head Coach Richard Brown and assistant Jimmy Hart and “Check” Ellis are hoping to improve on last season’s 5-5 record.
Returning starters are Walt Lee Ward, fullback; Buddy Monroe, quarterback; Greg McKenzie, Will Ward and George McKenzie, guards; Sam Skipper and Walker Scott, halfbacks; Tubby McInvale, tackle; Larry Reid, center; and Bruce Hutcheson, end and quarterback.
Other players being counted on are Eddie Hooks, end; Danny Joyner, Larry Darby and Ronnie Pugh, guards; Woody Register and Dennis Culbreth, tackles; Johnny Cook, center; Joe Andrews, quarterback; and Danny Baggett and Bobby Johnson, halfbacks.

Cheering the Aggies on when they open the 1973 football season in Georgiana tomorrow night will be these Evergreen High School cheerleaders: Lisa Armstrong, Susie Neese, Maxine Matthews and Martha Smith; and Sara Ward, Co-Capt. Melinda Ausby and Capt. Rita House.

Eight of north Alabama and Georgia’s top professional wrestlers tangle in an eight-man battle royal tonight at the Evergreen High Gymnasium at 8 p.m. The battle royal will lead off the Evergreen Quarterback Club’s first big wrestling card.

73 YEARS AGO
AUG. 26, 1948

From “The Week’s Wash” by Bob Bozeman – Cool nights have brought a flurry of football talk, the consensus of which seems to be that Evergreen will have a better team than last year. Well, it won’t be long before we find out just what they do have.
Practice will start at the high school next Wednesday, and exactly three weeks from Friday night Evergreen tangles with the improved Bulldogs of Repton High. One of the season’s largest crowds will probably be here for that one.
I understand that last year the people over in Repton had to hire a few night watchmen from Monroeville to guard the town the night of the Evergreen game. Everyone in Repton had gone to Evergreen to see the game.

Aggie Gridders Report To First Practice Sept. 1: Coach Wendell Hart issued a call this week for all football candidates to report to the high school next Wed., Sept. 1, at nine o’clock. The Evergreen High School head coach said that equipment would be issued and practice get underway at once.
Coach Hart has a big job in front of him to get the team ready for their first game Sept. 17. The Aggies will play the Bulldogs of Repton High in the season-opener at Brooks Stadium on the night of the 17^th.
All boys who will try for the team are urged to be at the school at nine next Wednesday morning, so that no delays will be encountered. The team will have only about 11 practice days before the game with Repton.

The Evergreen Greenies lost to the Standard Roofers of Montgomery by a 9 to 6 score. It was the first game they had lost at home this year.

High School Stars Play At Tuscaloosa Friday: Football will get an early start in Alabama this year with two teams of handpicked high school stars of the 1947 season scheduled to play in Tuscaloosa tomorrow night. The game will be played in Denny Stadium under the best lighting system in the state.
The best backs and linemen that concluded their high school careers last year have been divided into two squads, one representing the northern part of the state and the other the southern. H.L. “Shorty” Ogle of Decatur is head coach of the northern squad and J.E. “Hot” O’Brien of Tallassee heads the southern coaching staff.
No Evergreen High players will play in this first all-star classic, but Coach Wendell Hart of EHS is assisting O’Brien. Russell Taylor of Enterprise and Comer Sims of Selma are the other members of the south’s coaching staff.
Cliff Harper, former principal of Evergreen High and now the first full-time secretary of the state athletic association, was a member of the South’s staff, but resigned to put all his time to promotional work on the game. The athletic association is sponsor of this annual game.