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.)

Is County Road 5's ‘Booger Bottom’ the scariest road in Monroe County?

Salter Monument on County Road 5.

I read the results of an interesting survey the other day about the scariest roads in Alabama. In the spirit of Halloween, 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, including three in Alabama.

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 a short drive from Monroeville, that is, State Highway 5 in the town of Pine Hill in 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 the scariest road in Monroe County. Several spooky roads came immediately to mind, but if I had to pick just one, I would say it’s the stretch of County Road 5 north of Burnt Corn known as “Booger Bottom.” Over the years, a number of Burnt Corn residents have told me that Booger Bottom was located about 100 yards south of the Salter Monument on County Road 5.

There are many spooky stories associated with this stretch of highway. Some say that an entity called “Harry Bill” supposedly lived in the woods at Booger Bottom. Others have told me that “Hairy Bill” was a fictitious character created by older adults in the community to keep small children from playing in and around the logging woods.

Another lady told me that she remembered not wanting to travel through Booger Bottom at night because it used to give her “an all-over creepy feeling” when she was a little girl. She claimed to have seen “a ball of fire once in a tall tree when mama, daddy and I came home late from a relative`s house. We never knew what that was. It just sat up there in the tree.”

Another story about this area involves a man riding a horse down the road in the 1920s. Something “white” reportedly crossed the road in front of the man and disappeared. This spooked his horse so bad that it refused to go any farther down the road.

In the end, there are doubtless other spooky roads in Monroe County. The stretch of County Road 1 near McConnico Cemetery at Perdue Hill, the road to the Davis Ferry at Nancy Mountain, and State Highway 59 at Butterfork Hill near Uriah come immediately to mind. If you know of any other spooky roads elsewhere in the county, email me at news@monroejournal.com and tell me about it.

Kazek is the heiress apparent to Alabama's Kathryn Tucker Windham

Kelly Kazek’s new book, “Some Nightmares Are Real: The Haunting Truth Behind Alabama’s Supernatural Tales,” will be of special interest to readers in Wilcox County because one of the 10 tales featured in this book takes place in Wilcox County.

Published by the University of Alabama Press in August and illustrated by Sarah Cotton, this 135-page book “weaves a gothic tapestry of ten stories drawn from real people and legendary creatures, cursed places, and harrowing events. Each story or legend takes readers to a different place in Alabama.

“Unlike most ghost-story collections, ‘Some Nightmares Are Real’ includes an appendix of facts, historical resources and information about how to visit the locations. These contemporary stories embrace a beloved Southern folkloric tradition for a new generation of young readers. The tales will terrify and ensnare ghost-story lovers of all ages.”

Wilcox County readers will be especially interested in the story of the “Strange Light at Gee’s Bend Ferry.” This story talks of the mysterious “greenish” light that can sometimes be seen in the river near the ferry. Some witnesses claim the light starts small and grows to cover 60 feet.

Some say the mysterious light comes from a military plane that crashed near the landing decades ago. Others say it comes from some mysterious, unidentified creature that lives in the river near the landing. Some say that it comes from a ghostly overturned riverboat while others say that it’s the ghost of a person who drowned in the river.

The book also talks about the Gee’s Bend community and the role the Farm Service Administration played there during the Great Depression. Kazek also talks about the role the ferry played in the Civil Rights Movement. Her book also talks about the community’s famous quilts and the Gee’s Bend Quilters’ Collective.

Other stories in the book include the “Wolf Woman of Mobile,” who is said to have terrified the residents of Alabama’s haunted port city. Kazek’s book also describes the “Dead Children’s Playground” near the Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville. Another chapter describes the “Old Mill Witch,” who is said to haunt a rickety cotton yarn mill in Jacksonville.

It’s also noteworthy that Kazek dedicated her book to the memory of Kathryn Tucker Windham, the author of “Thirteen Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey” and a number of other books on Southeastern ghost stories. Windham is no stranger to Wilcox County residents as she worked for a number of years in the county. In many ways, Kazek is the heiress apparent to Windham for her ongoing writings on Alabama ghost stories.

Many in the reading audience will be familiar with Kazek, a Southern writer and folklorist who for many years was the “weird news reporter” for AL.com, the Mobile Press-Register, the Birmingham News and the Huntsville Time. An award-winning journalist, Kazek is also widely known as a humor columnist and Southern culture author. Her previous books include “Y is for Y’all: A Book of Southern ABCs,” “Southern Thesaurus: For When You’re Plumb Out of Things to Say” and “A Guide to the South’s Quirkiest Roadside Attractions.”

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Oct. 29, 2024

58 YEARS AGO
OCT. 27, 1966

Capt. Hyde cited for heroism by Army in Vietnam: Capt. Clinton O. (Neal) Hyde Jr. of Evergreen has been awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism in Vietnam. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Hyde and a graduate of Evergreen High School and the U.S. Military Academy.
The citation stated: ‘For heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force: Capt. Hyde distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 16 February 1966 while serving as senior advisor to a paramilitary strike force unit conducting a search and destroy operation in the Tion Phuoc District, Republic of Vietnam.
On two occasions after his force had made contact with the Viet Cong, Capt. Hyde effectively organized a fire and maneuver tactic which forced the insurgents to withdraw from their positions. Pursuing the Viet Cong force, Capt. Hyde and his counterpart, along with the lead element of the friendly force, became pinned down by intense hostile automatic weapons fire. At this time, Capt. Hyde with complete disregard for his safety, exposed himself to the deadly fire to move to the rear to radio for air evacuation of friendly casualties.
After the medical evacuation Capt. Hyde further exposed himself to the Viet Cong fire while moving to the front of his force to adjust mortar fire on the hostile emplacements. His accurate adjustment of the supporting fire drove the Viet Cong from their positions and allowed the friendly patrol to continue on their mission. Capt. Hyde’s heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

73 YEARS AGO
OCT. 25, 1951

The fall term of Conecuh County Circuit Court reconvened here Tuesday morning to dispose of the criminal docket, the civil docket having been taken up week before last. Due to the illness of Circuit Court Judge F.W. Hare, who is confined to his bed with flu, Attorney Ralph Jones of Monroeville is presiding as acting Judge.
Wednesday, the case of Willie J. Lassiter, young white man charged with first degree murder in the killing of Carlton Crosby, was taken up. The work of striking a jury began about 1:30 Wednesday afternoon and had not been completed as The Courant went to press.
Lassiter was tried last spring and it ended in a mistrial. He is represented by Jones and Key while the State’s case is being handled by Circuit Solicitor A.H. Elliott and County Solicitor E.C. Page Jr.

A check for $1,550 to help provide for local polio patients has been received by the Conecuh County Chapter of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, it was announced today by Judge Lloyd G. Hart, Chapter Chairman. The check was presented by R.C. Dobson, State Representative of the Foundation in Alabama.

Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Neese recently heard from their son, Pfc. Levaughn Neese, who is with the Airborne Field Artillery in Korea, informing them that he was back in Tokyo for a period of rest.

88 YEARS AGO
OCT. 29, 1936

Foster Brooks Dies In Auto Accident: Foster Brooks, 26, only son of Mayor and Mrs. J.R. Brooks was instantly killed Sunday night about 8:30 o’clock, when the auto in which he was riding with five young men friends was wrecked on Highway 31, about one mile north of Flomaton. Mack Binion Jr. and Stanton Coker also received serious injuries and are being treated at Century hospital where they were carried shortly after the accident. They are reported to be improving. Bob Kendall Jr., Clinton Hyde and William McGehee, the other occupants of the car, received only minor injuries.
Young Brooks was born and reared here. Since graduating from the local high school, he had held a position with the city in the light and water department. Only recently, he was made assistant superintendent of this department. His tragic death was perhaps one of the worst shocks the citizens of this city have ever experienced.

The 1937 Pontiac is now on display at Wilson-Owens Motor Co., local agents for this popular line of automobiles, one of the new cars having arrived early this week. Those who attend the Fair on Thursday and Friday of this week are invited to visit their show rooms at the L.L. Moorer building and see this car.

EVERGREEN THEATRE – ‘THE HOME OF GOOD PICTURES’ – Saturday, October 31 – (One Night Only) – Warner Baxter in ‘Robin Hood of El Dorado’ – A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture – Admission, 10 - 25 cents.

103 YEARS AGO
OCT. 26, 1921

Fiddlers Convention: Paul, Ala., Nov. 12 – From 5 to 12 o’clock p.m. all fiddlers who expect to enter contest please send names to E.L. Queen, Paul, Ala.

Every member of the Citizens Military Committee of Conecuh County, Ala. is urged to be present at the courthouse in Evergreen at 11 o’clock on Oct. 28 for the purpose of organizing a Machine Gun Co. for Conecuh County. Also every man who wants to join this organization is urged to be present on that date. Those wishing to join who cannot be present are asked to give their names to R.A. Baird, Castleberry; C.H. Moorer, Repton; W.R. Lindsey, Belleville; or S.B. Sanders, Brooklyn. Signed, S.P. Dunn, Chairman, Military Committee.

The Belleville Community Fair: Belleville, Ala., Oct. 20 – The object of this article is to make known to the people of Belleville community, Loree, Osterfield, Hamden Ridge, Baggetts and Kindig communities that there will be a Community Fair held at Belleville on Nov. 4 and to ask every farmer and housewife to get something ready to bring to the fair for exhibit.

Baptist Revival: The meeting during the last week at the Baptist Church has been a gracious one. Dr. J.T. McNew, pastor of the 56th Avenue Church, Birmingham, came and began the meeting on Oct. 13 and continued until Oct. 21.

118 YEARS AGO
OCT. 31, 1906

A handsome new organ has just been placed in the Methodist Church. The Baptist people instituted an excellent one not long ago.

General P.D. Bowles has left with Capt. J.F. Foster of his staff the honor of naming a maid of honor to Miss Helen Booth of Mobile, sponsor for the 2nd Brigade, Alabama Confederate Veterans. A distinguished honor awaits some daughter of Wilcox County. – Camden Banner.

The Building Boom: The building boom in Evergreen continues unabated. The saw and the hammer and the paint brush and the mason’s trowel are constantly at work, making music that thrills those who love progress and prosperity. The handsome residence of W.B. Ivey is nearing completion and will be one of the most ornate and attractive in the city. S.J. Robertson has completed a neat cottage on the property which he recently purchased of W.H. Hawkins, and it will be occupied by Dr. and Mrs. T.B. McDonald.
Next to this house, Jeff Millsap is having a nice six-room residence erected.
Mrs. John Hill has just had completed a three-room addition to their home.
The brick walls of The Courant’s office building will soon be completed. An annex to this building is being built and will be used for a barber shop when completed.
A large structure is being erected at the Orphans home.
The concrete block building of Lee & Pridgen on the site of the old jail will be commenced at an early date. The old building is now being razed to the ground.
There are other buildings and improvements in contemplation. It is understood a handsome, three-story structure will be erected on the block between the McCreary building and the Evergreen hotel, which was recently gutted by fire. 

The Monroe Journal's News Flashback for Oct. 28, 2024

Richard Mansfield

TWO YEARS AGO
OCT. 27, 2022

Museum honors Jones: The Monroe County Heritage Museum’s board of directors officially dedicated the research room at the Old Monroe County Courthouse as the “George Thomas Jones Research Room” Wednesday of last week during a special birthday celebration for Jones, who celebrated his 100^th birthday on Oct. 19. Museum Executive Director Wanda Green said that Jones has been an invaluable asset to the museum ever since its establishment in 1992.

Excel region champ: Excel High School’s varsity football team, led by head coach Jason Phillips, captured its first region championship since 1997 by defeating 3A Region 1 opponent, W.S. Neal High School, 27-14, Friday night at Panther Stadium in Excel.
Ashton McPhaul, a senior linebacker, led Excel’s defense with five tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Kaleb Browning followed closely with five tackles, including two tackles for a loss, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery.
Browning, a force to be reckoned with on offense and defense, had a “tremendous night” against Neal, carrying the ball 22 times for 118 yards, Phillips said.
(Other top Excel players in that game included Braden Anderson, Trayvon Anderson, Cade Barnett, Eli Bayles, Logan Holder, Hampton King, Gauge Lowery, Michael Maye, Gedric McCants, Admiryan McMillian, Zaylon McMillian, Jon McPherson, Allister Millender, Kolby Peavy, Jaxson Smith, Myles Taite, Will Thomas and Koleman Wiggins.)

27 YEARS AGO
OCT. 23, 1997

Winning calves: Rose Johnson, president of the Monroeville Kiwanis Club, presented trophies to winners of the calf show at the Kiwanis/Monroe County Fair. Showing the winning calves were Clint Case, who won grand champion, and Monica Stuart, reserve champion.

Blacksher Dogs defeat Red Level: J.U. Blacksher High School rushed past Red Level High School Friday in Uriah, recording a 20-0 victory.
Senior fullback Anthony Tucker led an offensive charge that piled up 235 yards on 56 rushes. Tucker hammered his way through the Tigers’ defensive line most of the night, hitting the line like a 220-pound wrecking ball. He finished the evening with 170 yards on 33 rushes. On defense, the Bulldogs were led by Tony Dean’s 14 tackles.
(Other top Blacksher players in that game included Anthony Adams, Brandon Bailey, Travis Boykin, Sherman Dean, Jesse Hadley, Larry Nichols, Justin Redditt, Israel Summers and Jacarro Tucker. John Williamson was Blacksher’s head coach.)

Excel crowns queen: Excel homecoming queen Amanda Wiggins, escorted by her father Darrell Wiggins, was crowned by principal John Ross during pre-game festivities Saturday at Excel High School.

Chamber to produce map: The Monroeville Area Chamber of Commerce has contracted with a map maker to produce a map of Monroe County and the City of Monroeville. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandi Smith said business owners may get a call from Wendell Harville of Southern Engineering GPP, Inc. Harville is selling advertising on the map.

52 YEARS AGO
OCT. 26, 1972

Old landmark going down: The stained glass windows have been removed from the old First Baptist Church building on Courthouse Square as the first step in dismantling the landmark. The building was recently sold by owner Allen Hall of Excel to Jack R. Bates and W.C. Owens of Monroeville, who have announced tentative plans to locate a business building on the site. The old church building was constructed in 1920 and housed the First Baptist congregation until 1959, when it moved to the present location on Pineville Road.

Shields High downs ‘Big Vikings’: The Shields High Panthers defeated the Eutaw Vikings 14-6 Friday night, Oct. 13, in Beatrice.
Shields came from behind in the second quarter with Richard Lett’s 55-yard touchdown run. The score at halftime was 6-6.
It seemed to be just a defensive battle until Richard Lett went off tackle for an 85-yard run, scoring the second touchdown for the Panthers. The extra point was made when Curtis Tucker found Robert Booker open in the end zone.
(Other top Shields players in that game included H. Bonner, M. Finklea, Joe Lyons, James Stallworth, F. Wiggins and F. Williams.)

Ronnie Bailey is named Frisco City alumni president: Frisco City High School alumni returned to their alma mater Oct. 7 to elect Ronnie Bailey of Frisco City their new president. Also elected at the annual meeting of the alumni association were Penny Baker, vice-president; Mrs. Connie Norris Griggers, secretary; George Burns, treasurer; and Mrs. Alberta Murphy Jones, historian.

76 YEARS AGO
OCT. 28, 1948

City Host To Crowds Here For Hog Fete: Monroeville and Monroe County are staging their first hog festival in 10 years today and, admittedly, its major purpose is to impress upon farms of this area the opportunities for profit to be found in the raising of hogs for the market.
Off to a gala start last night with a banquet at Williams Café attended by approximately 125 persons, at which Probate Judge Coma Garrett of Clarke County, was the principal speaker, the affair gets into full swing this morning with a pure-bred hog show at Monroe County Stockyards and will be concluded at the American Legion Clubhouse.

Monroe County High School’s football Tigers balanced up their won-lost columns last Friday night by dropping a hotly disputed contest to Thomaston, 27-6, on the latter’s home grounds.
Sparked by what numerous Monroeville fans termed questionable decisions of the officials, the game saw Thomaston score three touchdowns before the Monroe County team became sufficiently aroused to push across its lone tally of the night.
Significant during the entire contest were the numerous arguments among players of both teams and also between players and officials.
(Standout MCHS players in that game included George Klepic, Bodie Thompson and Hurtis Tomlinson, who scored Monroe’s only touchdown on a one-yard run.)

115 YEARS AGO
OCT. 28, 1909

Monroeville’s ball team and Ollie played last Saturday. The score was 17 to 5 in favor of Monroeville.

Hon. Kyle B. Price delivered an able address in favor of the constitutional amendment at Jones Mill on Saturday evening. The audience was not large on account of short notice but the impression made was apparently favorable.

W.G. McCorvey, Esq., and Dr. W.J. Mason met in joint debate on the constitutional amendment at Excel Tuesday evening, the former opposing and the latter favoring the proposition. A good crowd was present and a patient hearing accorded both speaker.

Dr. W.G. Hairston and wife expect to leave (Burnt Corn) Tuesday for Ft. Deposit in their automobile.

Mr. Tileson Bryce, a talented impersonator, formerly with the Fredrick Warde and Robert B. Mantell companies, presented a highly entertaining program at the court house on Wednesday evening. His repertoire embraced scenes from Shakespeare’s plays, “The Old Homestead,” the climax of Act I of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as rendered by the late Richard Mansfield, pathetic ballads and the one-act play “The Curse of Drink.” The role was varied and difficult throughout but performed with ease and skill.