25 Years Ago
in the Greensboro Watchman
February 10, 1997
Mrs. Eva M. Bryant, coordinator for the Family Resource Center in Hale County, will be the speaker at Sarah Christian Civic Club’s Black History Program to be held on Sunday afternoon, February 23, at 3 o’clock at the St. Paul CME Church in Akron. Mrs. Bryant, the mother of two, is a native of Sawyerville. The national theme is “African American and Civil Rights: A Reappraisal.” The theme will focus on issues and people in civil rights from 1954 to the present, which encompasses the civil rights movement. She received a bachelor of science degree in business from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. Her work experience includes job placement specialist, Career Center, the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; GATB test administrator, Mercedes Benz Project, Alabama State Employment Service, Tuscaloosa; and assistant program manager, West Alabama Health Services, Eutaw. Her honors and affiliations include: Súllman Scholar, 1994; and Nalional Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The Tree Commission of the City of Greensboro Greensboro Garden Club held a tree-planting ceremony celebration of “Arbor Week”, February 16-22. Four pink crape myrtle trees were planted in the strip bordering Main Street in front of the Hale and the at 10 Tuesday morning in County Courthouse extending from the old watering trough to near the edge of Whelan Street. Assisting Mayor John C. Jay and city workers in planting the trees were James Jennings of the Ala- bama Forestry Commission and members of the Tree Commission. Mayor Jay called attention to the importance of celebrating Arbor Week in a recent proclamation, in which he pointed out that “The economic and aesthetic welfare of the people of Alabama is largely dependent on forestlands of the state. Everyone in the City of Greensboro benefits either directly or indirectly from the trees.” Besstina Lyles, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lyles and granddaughter of the late Moderator George O. Lyles of Greensboro, has been chosen to participate in the “People to People Student Ambassador Program” It seeks students with high potential, and strong interest in the professional careers. Besstina is an 11th grade student. Besstina plans to attend sessions in Houston and Galveston, Texas, July 8-18. She is an advanced honors student al Choctaw County High School. This program sends outstanding students to Westerm Europe to give people of othera better understandingof each culture. The Alabama delegation of “People to People” will travel to Western Europe for 21 days. Points of interest include France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Preparation for the trip includes study sessions in history, culture, and customs of each country. Student Ambassadors will obtain high school credit for participation in the program. Depar-ture for the trip is early June. Besstina has also been selected to participate in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine. The NYLF is a non-profit, educa tional organization founded to help prepare students for their future field of medicine. On Thursday afternoon, February 6, at 2 o’clock the members of the Calliope Club of Greensboro celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding at the home of Mailande Sledge. Guests were greeted in the entrance hall by Doris Yeager, historian, assisted by Louise Howell, recording secretary, who had them to register and receive name tags. Betty Jo Ferguson, president, pinned a yellow rose corsage from the club on Aileene Foster, AFWC president, when she arrived. Lucy Harris, treasurer, presented yellow rose corsages to Betty Jo, Snooks Walton, and Mailande Sledge, the anniversary committe. Other active club members present were Dell Crawford, Carolyn Glover, Frances Jones, Freddie Lowry, Charlotte Lee, Mary Lou May, Nell МсMillan, and Mabel York. Members not able to be present were Ruth Gates, Janelle Brank and Mary Регу. Betty Jo welcomed, everyone, thanked Mailande for having the celebration in her home, and recognized the special guests. The Newbern Union Sunday School met Sunday morning with 37 present. Worship services were held at the Newbern Baptist Church. Dr. Paul Reitzer, led the service with a message on the meaning of the Lord’s Supper, followed by the service of communion. Arrangements of magnolia were placed in the church by Mary Tims. The Newbern Youth Group met Sunday afternoon. They made Valentines for the shut-ins and had refreshments. Bre James of Orange Beach spent last week with her grandparents, Richard and Charlotte True. Allen Chasteen was home for the weekend. Archer and Louise Howell spent the weekend in Dothan with Lucy and Randy Holcombe. They attended a basketball tournament in Enterprise in which Louise’s great-nephew, Chad Lavender, played.
50 Years Ago
in the Greensboro Watchman
February 17, 1972 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Leon Arrington, Sr., of Greensboro announce the engagement of their daughter, Cynthia Denise, to Erskin Ramsey (Pete) Stew- art, Jr., of Marion, son of Mr. and Mrs. Erskin Ramsey Stewart, Sr. Miss Arrington is the granddaughter of Mrs. Margaret Smith Lawless and the late SamuelWade Lawless of Greernsboro, and the late Edward Arrington and Mrs. Mary Thomas Arrington, also of Greensboro. The prospective bridegroom is the grandson of Mrs. Elmer A lbee of Ridge- way, Mo., and the late Virgil A. Stewart of Centreville, and Luther Hale and the late Mrs.Addie Lee Hale of Marion. The bride-to-be will continue her studies at Greensboro Public School, where she is a senior. The bridegroom-elect is employed with Williams Construction and Contractor in Marion. The wedding will be on March 17. M. W. (Doc) Adams, 43-year-old Greensboro merchant, made his formal announcement this week as a candidate for Place No. 3 on the Hale County Commission, subject to the action of the Democratic Primary of May 2. This is his first time to be a candidate for public office, Born and reared in Hale County, Adams is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hobson Adams of Greensboro. He attended public school at Havana, Moundville and Greensboro, and then volunteered for service in the United States Navy during W orld War II. For eight and a half months he served at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in 1947 received his honorable discharge. A fter ten months of business training in Marion, A dams returned to Greensboro where he went into business with his father, operating a grocery and service station at the west end of Main Street. In 1949 they bought the grocery store here formerly operated by T. W. Stone, and for a short while also operated a dry goods establishment formerly owned by the late H. A. Taylor. A few years later, the Adamses moved their grocery store, now known as Adams Market, to its present location on the business block just east of the Greensboro Post Office. Adams also operates the Lock 5 Bait and Supply Store, near old Lock 5. A dams is a member of the Richard W. Murphy Post No. 65 of the A merican Legion and is a past commander of that organization. He also serves as commander of the local group of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Married to the former Inez Arrington of Greensboro, Adams is the father of three children; Mickey, 22; Susan, 17, and Dennis, 12. An early morning fire of undetermined origin swept through the feed mill and store-rooms of the Kirk and Son Milling Company at the Greensboro Depot Sunday morning and completely destroyed the buildings and contents. The mill, which has been operated here by H. B. Kirk and his son, Lawrence B, (Mutt) Kirk, since November 1, 1950, is now temporarily headquarcered at the Greensboro Warehouse Company, just across the street from the firm’s former location, and it will continue to offer farmers and ranchers feed, seed, and protein. Definite plans have not been made as to the future plans of the business, according to Mutt Kirk, but he said, “We hope that you will visit us in our temporary location for your needs at this present time.” Mrs. Anna Ellis of the Crackerneck community, near Sawyerville, will celebrate her 105th birthday anniversary on June 2. She is the second daughter of the late Emma and Young Long, who also resided in the Crackerneck area. Born on June 2, 1867, Mrs. Ellis still has excellent eyesight, mental alertness and physical strength. The aged woman lives by herself in a house adjacent to that of a grandson. She does lots of sewing, quilting and walking; reads without the use of eyeglasses, and produces vegetables in her small garden, She is an active member of the “Willing Workers” Extension Homemakers Club and attends Sunday School each Sunday morning. Even though she is not presently teaching a class, she taught Sunday School classes for 63 years. Mrs. Ellis has one daughter, Mrs. Emma Ellis Williams of Sawyerville; two grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren and 29 great-great-grandchildren. When asked what she thought contri buted to her longevity, Mrs. Ellis said, “The only thing I feel has helped is obedience to God and being of service to others.”
75 Years Ago
in the Greensboro Watchman
February 20, 1947
H. T. Hay, owner of the Valet Shop, announces in this week’s issue of The Watchman the installation of a complete new set of dry cleaning equipment, bringing his shop up to the most modern standards in this field. The Richard Murphy Post of the American Legion made plans at a recent meeting to sponsor the baseball during this coming season. team for Greensboro Albert S. Douglass, widely known farmer and dairyman and for more than 60 years a resident of Hale County, died at the Greens- boro Hospital Monday night. The Jenny Hardy Missionary Society met with Mrs. Mabry Rhodes as hostess and Mrs. Ola Mae Williams as co-hostess on February 11. Mr. and Mrs. John Bush are receiving congratulations on the birth of a son at the Greensboro Hospital on Wednesday morning. Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Terry of Moundville and Mr. and Mrs. Ira Crawford of Akron visited Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Terry on Sunday.
100 Years Ago
in the Greensboro Watchman
February 16, 1922
Mr. H. H. Neal and family have moved from their home west of Greensboro to town and are occupying a portion of the residence of Mrs. G. W. Dugger. The Probate Judge has issued the following marriage licenses: Mr. John Rice and Miss Lilly McClean, both of Moundville; Mr. G. W. Whitfield and Miss Mae Stokes of Havana. Mr. Henry Hudson and Mr. Hal Hooton will establish a dairy beginning with 20 cows on the plantation of Mrs. Maria Boardman three miles west of town. The Hale County commissioners court met in regular term on Monday and Tuesday of this week. In accordance with law, the commissioners divided the Greensboro precinct into two wards. The dividing line of the beat runs through the center of the courthouse, east, north and south. Those residing on the east side of this line will vote in the Sheriff’s office, and those residing on the west side thereof will vote in the register’s office. The road commutation tax was reduced from $10 to $7.50. Under the auspices of the Study Club, a doll tacky party will be given in the Opera House. All little girls are asked to dress their dolls as tackily as possible and bring them to the show. Dr. D. W. Hubbard, pastor of the Greensboro Baptist Church, attended the opening of the Baptist hospital in Selma last Tuesday.
125 Years Ago
in the Greensboro Watchman
February 18, 1897
The small boy and his sling shot are both much in evidence in Greensboro. The bicyclists are enjoying these beautiful moonlight nights. The “ting, ting” of their bells can be heard until late into the night. Mr. Waller of Hale offered an amendment to the revenue codes – which passed the House – imposing a tax of $5 on every pistol owned in Alabama. Mr. Julius Northrup left a few days ago for West Point, Miss., where he will reside. His removal from Greensboro leaves a good opening for a first class tailor. Married – Near Havana, on the 16th inst., by Rev. J. H. Payne, Mr. George E. Chandler and Miss Mary Francis Stivender. The commissioners awarded the contract for keeping the Hale County poor house for the next two years to Capt. Jno. W. Williams. His bid was $3.35 per month for each pauper. The Greensboro Telephone Exchange has recently had a new list of subscribers printed. The sheet contains 62 names. The Exchange is growing in popularity on account of the splendid service rendered and the convenience of the ‘phones.
