Tuesday, January 9, 2018

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Jan. 9, 2018

 Grave of Gustavis O “Gus” Rudin in Evergreen, Ala.
18 YEARS AGO
JAN. 13, 2000

Weather observer Harry Ellis reported .62 inches of rain on Jan. 3, .05 inches on Jan. 8 and 1.48 inches on Jan. 9. He also reported a high of 76 on Jan. 3 and a low of 30 on Jan. 5. Total rainfall for 1999 was 52.38 inches.

Bryan Keith Davis of the Lenox Volunteer Fire Department was the recipient of the Lois E. Reeves Volunteer Firefighter of the Year Award at this year’s annual banquet. He was presented the award by Billy Mims of the Conecuh County Volunteer Fire Control Association.

The 2000 Annual Chamber Banquet will be held Tues., Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. in the Hillcrest cafetorium. Entertainment will be provided by the Hillcrest Marching Jaguar Band Percussion Section. They will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The guest speaker for this year’s event is Dr. Jerry Patterson. A humorist, Dr. Patterson offers practical analyses and hilariously accurate observations which have captivated audiences throughout the United States, Canada and the West Indies.

National Butane Co. closed its doors last Wednesday after completing the move to Conecuh-Monroe Counties Gas District on Highway 31. Conecuh-Monroe purchased National Butane last May for $2.7 million. The purchase of National Butane added an additional 2,700 propane customers to Conecuh-Monroe’s roster.
“The move has been smooth and we are enjoying the additional staff from National Butane,” Gerald Borden, general manager of Conecuh-Monroe, said.

43 YEARS AGO
JAN. 9, 1975

Rainfall in 1974 was above normal, lower than 1973: Rainfall in Conecuh County in 1974 was above the average annual rainfall, but below the figure for 1973, according to Earl Windham. Windham recorded a total of 74 inches of rain last year, compared with a total of 87.8 inches in 1973.
(Windham reported 0.9 inches of rain on Jan. 3. He reported a high of 71 on Dec. 31 and a low of 24 on Jan. 5.)

Memorial services for James Bentley Somerall, 57, will be held Saturday afternoon at three o’clock at the Evergreen United Methodist Church with the Rev. Zedoc Baxter officiating.
Mr. Somerall died suddenly Saturday in his apartment on Manhattan’s exclusive Sutton Place. He was for many years one of the top executives in the nation’s soft drink industry. He served as president of the Pepsi-Cola Co. from 1965 to 1971. He began his career as a deliveryman for a soft drink bottler in Lansing, Mich., working during summer vacations while attending college, and rose to the top through hard work and innovative management abilities.
Mr. Somerall was born Dec. 19, 1917 and grew up on a farm near Evergreen. After completing his early education in county schools, he worked his way through the University of Alabama which awarded him an honorary degree at graduation exercises in 1971 at which he made the commencement address.
Mr. Somerall was widely known in the nation’s top business circles. At the time of his death, he was board chairman of American Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co.

68 YEARS AGO
JAN. 12, 1950

A beautiful new residential subdivision is being developed by four local men. The new residential area has been named Crestline Heights and has two streets on which are 25 lots. The main street was named Monte Sano Street by E.E. Newton, local attorney, from whom the acreage was bought. The one side street running off Monte Sano has been named Crestline Street.
The new building area is located to the left of Liberty Hill Drive (Liberty Hill Drive runs into Skinnerton Road) just beyond the home of Judge Lloyd G. Hart. It is comprised of 30 and one-half acres.
Dr. W.B. Turk, popular young physician, was the first home-builder to get work underway. His beautiful home is nearing completion and will soon be occupied by him, Mrs. Turk and their two charming young daughters.

Reorganized Fire Dept. Lists Names Of Members: The newly reorganized Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department released this week a complete roster of its members. The announcement was made by Mayor J.H. Robison, who stated that while the number of members is smaller than before the present members will be trained personnel.
The complete roster of the department is Ed Carrier (Chief), Forrest Douglas (Assistant Chief), H.S. Dunn, Henry Powell, Clarence Carrier, James Nall, Darwin Mininger, John Thompson, Zell Grace, J.H. Dunn, J. Randolph Moorer Jr., Woodford Bolton, A.K. Williams, A.B. Johnson and Wilbur Hamilton.

93 YEARS AGO
JAN. 14, 1925

R.G. Kendall, Evergreen merchant, was badly burned while attempting to stimulate his fire with kerosene. The can exploded and set his dressing gown on fire.

GREENING LODGE No. 53, A.F.&A.M. – Evergreen, Ala. – Stated communications on second and fourth Thursday in each month at 7:30 p.m. – J.T. Amos, Worshipful Master; R.S. Smith, Secretary.

Raphael Semmes Camp No. 11, U.C.V. of Mobile, has inaugurated a movement to erect a monument to the women of the Confederacy to be placed in front of the State House at Montgomery, the first capitol of Confederacy.

The Orpheus Club held its first meeting of the new year Thursday at the club rooms of the city school. The subject for the morning was Folk Music of France, with Mrs. Robert A. Jones as chairman and quix leader.

SPENCE: Several of the people of this community went over to the Travis Bridge to see the high water Sunday.

While bird hunting Monday afternoon J.L. Kelly killed a monster rattlesnake bearing 10 rattles and a button.

F.W. Stanley of the Greenville Advocate was a pleasant caller at The Courant office Tuesday.

118 YEARS AGO
JAN. 10, 1900

Tax Collector Irwin informs us that his collections up to Jan. 1 amount to $17,796.24.

Superintendent Harper was here Saturday paying off teachers. He did not complete the pay roll, and will be here Saturday next to finish paying.

The work of laying the foundation of the new courthouse was begun on Monday morning. A number of bricklayers are employed and the work is progressing satisfactorily. It will be a splendid foundation as the excavation goes about two feet below the surface of the earth.

J.J. Dunn, conductor on the L&N road, was shot on yesterday afternoon in Montgomery by J.D. Griffin, flagman on the local. The shooting is said to have been accidental. Mr. Dunn is a brother of Henry W. Dunn of this city.

Death of G.O. Rudin: Mr. G.O. Rudin died at his home in Savannah, Ga. on Thursday last of paralysis. His remains were brought here and buried in Evergreen cemetery on Saturday morning. Mr. Rudin was a brother-in-law of our townsman, Mr. J.F. Irwin, and for a number of years was a resident of this place where he had the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. At the time of his death he held an important and responsible position in Savannah with the Central of Georgia Railroad. He was about 45 years old.


The Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist church will give an oyster supper at the Armory on next Friday evening. 

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