Marion County4

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The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 2

EDUCATION HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN MARION COUNTY

Education had made great strides of progress in all the sections of Alabama
and Marion County and this is certainly true in Winfield, also, as is
evidenced in the buildings and methods of teaching today compared to the
first schools in Winfield.

No record is available as to where the very first settlers attended school,
but after the railroad was built in 1887, and more families began to
migrate to the small town of Winfield, almost immediately the few citizens
saw the need of providing schools for their children.

It seems well established that Mrs. Mattie EARNEST, under the principalship
of a Mr. GARRETT.(sic) She began her teaching career in 1889 as Miss Mattie
WESSON, after completing her college work at the Florence Normal. The
former Miss WESSON and Mr. GARRETT taught in the old school south of the
Methodist Church, near the home of Mrs. Mary SMITH, and Miss WESSON served
as assistant principal along with her classroom teaching.

Some of the first students in this school were also some of the earliest
settlers who were then in their teens or some above that age. Included
were: Mr. and Mrs. Newt WHITEHEAD, Mrs. M. W. HARRIS (Then Jo WHITEHEAD),
Bob WHEELER, Cora WARD, and Jesse COUCH, who later became principal of the
Brilliant and Winfield Schools. Lynwood EARNEST, who was also a student of
"Miss Mattie", later married his teacher, then went to medical school and
returned to practice in Winfield for many years. He was the son of Dr. J.
F. EARNEST, one of the earliest doctors of Winfield.

Miss Mattie resigned from teaching after her marriage and later wrote for a
number of magazines and other publications. She died on January 14, of this
year, after reaching the age of eighty-four.

This first school was a plank building, one large room, that was built with
funds raised by the citizens, according to Mrs. Newt WHITEHEAD.

John WINDOM was believed to be the next teacher in the same building until
the time it burned in 1893. After this time, school was held in the
churches and among the teachers in those year were Professor ZEIGLER,
Professor Hass SHERER, according to Mr.s R. E. MOORE, Sr. and Dr. R. K.
SHIREY taught in the Church of Christ. Others were: (If more are membered).

Continuing in the churches until the early 1900's, the next school was
built next to where Mrs. VANN now lives. John McKENZIE and also Professor
J. H. COUCH taught there according to Mrs. R. E. MOORE, Sr.

The third school building was built near the home of Albert HOLT and the
Chiropractic Clinic of Dr. Boyd JACKSON in South Winfield. Mrs. MOORE said
that J. H. COUCH, Humphrey BISHOP, and C. R. WELDEN were there with Mr.
WELDEN as principal. Al the teachers in that school were not available but
a list taken from the School Booklet printed in 1812-13-14 listed C. R.
WELDEN as principal; C. D. HUGHES, assistant principal; Mrs. Fannie BEEKER,
Second assistant; Miss Corinne TUTHILL, Primary Department; and Miss Anice
BOYSTON, Music department.

The Board of Education during that year included: J. R. COCHRAN, Chairman;
Dr. R. L. HILL, secretary and treasurer; T. C. McCLESKEY, M. S. ASTON, and
R. F. WHEELER.

In this same school, Mrs. R. E. MOORE, Sr., then Miss Jennie Lee REESE,
began her teaching career in Winfield in 1908, after she had received her
degree from the Florence College in 1906 and taught in Walker County for
two years. Mrs. MOORE taught in this school from 1908 to 1912, the year of
her marriage to Mr. MOORE, then of Brilliant and Engineer on the Illinois
Central Railroad.

Mrs. O. W. ODEN, then Miss Nora EZZELL of Belgreen, also began her teaching
in this same school in 1914, and taught for two years and until her
marriage to O. W. ODEN who was connected with the drugstore.

Principal WELDEN was instrumental in getting the larger school built where
the Winfield Manufacturing Company now has its factory. This school served
the children of Winfield from 1916 until the time it was almost completely
destroyed by fire on the night of January 8, 1951.

According to Mrs. MOORE, the principals who served this school, included C.
R. WELDEN, Humphrey BISHOP, John KUYKENDALL, a Mr. MILLICAN, William MOORE,
J. H. COUCH and Gordon CRAWFORD, the principal who was serving at the time
the building burned and is the principal in the new ultra-modern Winfield
Elementary School which was enlarged the summer of 1955.

After the building burned in 1951, the grades were again taught in churches
and the small remaining part of the school which did not burn.

The new building was built in 1951 and opened for the first school term in
August of 1952. It contained one of the most modern and well-equipped of
lunchrooms, large beautiful entrance, principal's office and teacher's
lounge, nice rest rooms, library music room, and classrooms for the six
grades and small private piano room which was used by the Kindergarten
during the past year. The addition of four classrooms and possibly another
was completed during summer 1955. These new rooms housed the three first
grade classes had Kindergarten with separate bathrooms for the different
rooms which indeed was an asset to the growing school.

Mr. William MOORE, who came to Winfield in 1923 and served as principal of
the Elementary and High School for a period of twelve years. He was
instrumental in getting the present Winfield High School built in 1925 and
served as the first principal, and Miss Zora ELLIS, a past A.E.A.
president, taught English in the school during its first term.

The High School principals since Mr. MOORE, have been: C. C. EDMONDSON, R.
J. LAWRENCE, A. C. WALKER and J. S. BRINDLEY. Additions have also been made
to the high school since its original structure was built in 1925,
including the Home Economics Department, a gymnasium.

On the present school board are Sam COUCH; Olen CUNNINGHAM, Homer HOOPER,
Parker SPANN, and Billy GILBERT.

A most sentimental part of the Winfield Education system is the fact that
many of the present faculty members are descendants of some of the very
first families in the town of Winfield. And another important factor in the
Progress of Education in Winfield, is the great support of the City
Governing body and the cooperative citizens who designate special taxes
earmarked for the improvement and progress of the schools, such as was
evidenced in the program for meeting the city funds for much of the recent
building.

The Estes Hudson Stadium is another example of public spirited cooperation
and support of the citizens as the Winfield Stadium is one of the most
modern in this section and the support which has been given to the Winfield
High School Band.

LOAN FUNDS
There will be no shortage of loan funds in he(sic) Southeast this year, but
lenders will be concerned about the ability of borrowers to repay and will
supervise loans closely. Following the pattern in all of the U. S.,
interest rates on farm loans will stay high.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 1

"DODDLE BUG" WAS ONCE THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION

When you mention "Doddle Bug" in the presence of anyone who grew up around
Haleyville, Hackleburg, Hodges, Vina or any of the way stations between
Haleyville and Corinth, the term evokes a nostalgic memory, especially
during this Bicentennial year, when memories bring back the past 200 years
of the Nation's history.

The area was always railroad-oriented, because a good number of the men
worked for the Illinois Central.

Beginning in 1903, when the first Illinois-Central train puffed across the
Brushy Creek Trestle north of Hackleburg, and ending in 1941 when the
little local ceased being listed in the timetable of the I.C., the "Doodle
Bug", as it was affectionately known to the people, served a multiple
purpose.

It was made up in Haleyville, and began its run at 7 a.m.

Once a week, Dr. John ROBINSON, a Haleyville dentist, rode it to Hackleburg
and spent the day working. (His son Fred, remembers going with Dr. John,
and trembling with fear as the train slowed and swayed across the 200-foot
wooden trestle.)

Along the route, children flagged the train and rode it in to Hackleburg
to attend school, catching it back home on its late-afternoon return trip.

Twice a year, spring and fall, mothers took their children up to Corinth to
outfit them with clothing. Business-men rode up to Corinth to do their
banking, there being no easily-accessible bank nearer. Cotton-growers took
samples to the brokers in Corinth, and sick people rode up to see doctors
there.

Not all the traffic was of a business-type, however.

Whole school classes caught the "Dood" and went on class-picnics. One local
lady in Hackleburg recalls riding two miles out to Wiginton in the morning,
spending the day with a friend, and riding back in the evening.

Couples would go up to Corinth on a fine Sunday, eat lunch, stroll around
town or otherwise entertain themselves until time for the return-run at 5
p.m.

Mrs. Margaret PARKER of Fayette now 90 years young, whose husband was
engineer on the train, says that her daughters and their friends were
considered most fortunate, because they were allowed to ride the train on
into the yards where it was run onto the round-table to be turned about for
its return-run.

And Bill BEDFORD, a Russellville attorney, remembers being allowed to ride
in the cab of the engine when he was about two years old: a highpoint, he
assures you.

Other faster, more luxurious trains ran the I. C. rails, such as the
Seminole, and the city of Miami.

But the little "Doodle-Bug", with its engine, mail and baggage car, and its
passenger car is the one everyone remembers with undying affection.

The Illinois Central has merged with the Gulf, becoming the Illinois
Central Gulf Railroad; the long wooden trestle has been long-since replaced
with one of steel; and paved roads and modern automobiles have obviated the
necessity of the local.

The ICG's press representative says that no pictures of the little local
exist in his files; but there are many mental pictures in the minds of
those who rode it.

Not much in the way of geneaology information here, but a glimpse into the
issues that affected the livelihood of many of our families.
Monya

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 1

FROM BROON(sic) SEDGE, BRIERS, AND GULLIES, BILL COTNEY RELATES ABOUT THE
FARMER'S

The Upper Coastal Plain Substation, usually referred to locally as the
Experiment Station, is one of eight such branch stations in the Alabama
Experiment Station System of the Alabama Polyechnic(sic) Institute -- one
being located in each of the major soil areas of the state.

This station was created by an act of the 1943 Alabama Legislature. Work
was started on January 1, 1945. It contains 735 acres of land of which
about 475 acres are in crops of all kinds. Some seventeen different soil
types are found on the station, being one of the main reasons for the
selection of this particular block of land for the station. The land was
bought and donated to the Alabama Experiment Station of Fayette County.

Funds for the operation of it come from an annual appropriation made by the
Alabama Legislature to the Alabama Polytechnic Institute for this
particular station, and from the sale of products produced and sold from it.

At the time operation was started, some two-thirds of the open land was
idle and producing only broom sedge, briers and brush. Some of it was badly
gullied. As funds, facilities, and labor would permit, this has been
reclaimed and planted to the crop or crops thought best for the particular
area involved.

Results of this have brought some surprises. Some of the land, once
considered very poor, when brought into cultivation, reasonably well
fertilized and with winter legumes included in the rotation, is now
producing fairly high yields of cotton, corn, oats, and other crops.
Hillside land, once producing sedge and brush, is now producing good
services for hay and grazing. Bottom land have been cleared, fertilized and
limes, planted to permanent pasture crops, and are now producing excellent
grazing for cattle. Other areas have ben left in timber. All of this brings
to our attention the fact that all of the land in the Upper Coastal Plain
soil area, when planted to adapted crops, fertilized and limed as needed,
and with reasonable management, will produce additional imcome(sic) to add
to the agricultural wealth of the area.

A few years ago, cotton brought in most of the cash income to farms in this
area. In planning the work on this station, it was felt by those in charge,
that cotton faced a decline in acreage. this happened to the extent that in
1953, with no acreage controls, only about fifteen percent of the open land
in the Upper Coastal Plain soil area was planted to cotton. This year, with
cotton acreage controls, it is even less. This simply means that additional
income must be gotten from those acres not in cotton if we are to have a
reasonably decent income. On most farms this means adding livestock and
livestock products suited to the farm feed production program to convert
this feed into ta salable product. With this in mind, most of the work on
this station has been directed toward the development of feed production
programs that would support the production of hogs, milk, eggs and beef.
For instance, work on this station has established that about an acre of
good alfalfa and an acre of crimson clover is sufficient to furnish grazing
most of the year for a sow and her two litters of pigs per year grown out
to market size. Other crops, such as white clover, oats, kudzu, etc., in
their session will do about as good job. Earlier work on other stations had
already established the fact that good green grazing would reduce the corn
required to grow a market hog by nearly one-half. Also work on this station
has shown that corn can be efficiently hogged off in the field. On the
other hand, tests have shown that grain sorghum is not hogged off
efficiently, but should be combined and fed to hogs.

In the production of milk, it has been found that much hillside land
planted to sericea can be used profitably for hay and grazing. At the same
time it has been found that sericea is not too good as a grazing crop for
milking cows during the summer and fall dry periods. During these periods
it needs supplementing with sudan grass, kudzu alfalfa, or other grazing
crops to help maintain milk production. However, beef cattle will maintain
themselves on sericea during these dry periods better than dairy cattle.

Work with poultry has established the fact that more than seventy percent
of the feed that laying hens will eat can be home-grown in the form of oats
and corn.

Other work being done included the continuous testing of new and old
varieties of cotton, corn, oats, wheat, grain, sorghum, alfalfa, pasture
and other crops to find those varieties best suited to this area. Also
fertilizer and lime tests are conducted to determine kinds and amounts of
fertilizers best to use. Tests with winter grazing crops are under way to
determine those crops or combinations of crops giving the earliest and most
winter grazing. Three years work on cross-breeding hogs is just being
concluded. Many other tests are under way to determine practices that will
improve production and income of farms.

What are some of the results? Some five thousand to seven thousand farmers
visit this station each year to see and discuss work under way. These are
brought there in organized groups by County Agents and other agricultural
works and are from twelve to fifteen counties in this area. In addition,
many farmers visit the station individually for some specific information
needed.

However, this station is only one member of a team in the agricultural
workers, farmers, bankers, and interested businessmen.

With this continued team effort, and with reasonable weather conditions,
this area has a bright future for continued growth toward a balanced crops
and livestock agricultural.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 1

FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL AT METHODIST CHURCH

The first Sunday School of the Hamilton Methodist Church was originally
organized on Sunday April 7, 1878 at Lebbanon(sic) Church, located about
two miles west of Hamilton.

W. R. WHITE was the first Sunday School Superintendent and served for over
fifty years.

The first class was made up of the following people: Miss Emma KEY, Miss
Della KEY, Miss Annie HUGHY, Miss Nannie HUGHY, Miss Emma CASHION, Miss
Sillie CARPENTER, Nora CARPENTER, Johnnie HUGHY, Johnnie CARPENTER, Tommie
CARPENTER, Willie DUNN, Alice M. WHITE, and Pleas CRUMBIE.

The second class consisted of: Bula CASHION, Lalie KEY, Mollie CRUMBIE,
Artie CARPENTER, Rebecca SMITH and Warren CARPENTER,

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 1

THE HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC CHURCH

Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Highway 78 West is a relatively new
structure servicing the needs of Catholic people and others in the Counties
of Lamar, Fayette and Marion. It also stands as a focal point in these
counties for fellowship and growth in unity with all Christian Faiths, for
service to the community at large, and for all people still seeking a
church home. Through it's extension resdiency(sic) in Russellville, it also
serves Franklin and Lawrence Counties in Alabama.

In December 1960, Rev. Michael QUEALY (later killed as a chaplain in the
Vietnamese War) offered Mass, that is, the Eucharistic worship service, for
the first time in Winfield in a downtown building. It was later moved to
the two-car garage at the home of James V. HAWKINS, and then moved to the
southside half of the McDONNELL building on South Main Street. Services had
previously been held for the 25 Catholics then living in the
Winfield-Guin-Fayette area in private homes and a mission trailor(sic) in
the city of Fayette.

In the spring of 1964 construction of the present Holy Spirit church and
apartment residency began on the two and two-thirds acres. It was bought by
13 Catholic families. Among these wee Brad and Betty ALEXANDER of Guin,
Mrs. Nelson KEMP of Winfield, and Shirley and Helen PALMER of Hamilton.
Nelson KEMP of Continental Conveyor Co., Mayor Lymon GOOLSBY of Winfield
and Ivan HILL of the Citizens Bank helped expedite this land purchase. Mr.
Ed ORTH, and(sic) executive of Birmingham paid for the church. He also
helped plan and carry out its construction under Rev. Ed FOSTER who
directed the parrish(sic) in Winfield as a mission at that time from Mobile.

On April 4, 1965 Archbishop TOOLEN, Catholic Bishop of Alabama, blessed and
dedicated the church. Citizens of various churches attended. Subsequently,
the sisters of the Society of the Most Blessed Trinity from Birmingham held
instruction classed(sic) for the children. Rev. Michael J. DYER was the
priest immediately in charge of this Winfield mission church.

During the years from 1968 to 1972 Holy Spirit church was a mission of St.
Cecilia Parish in Jasper under the care of Rev. Patrick O'DONOHUE. In
September 1972, it became a new parish center under Rev. Pat BREHENY as
Pastor and there began the care of the three counties of Marion, Fayette
and lamar. In December adult religious education began with assistance from
the Glenmary Religious Education Department, Nashville, Tenn. The first
Midnight Mass and reservation of the Blessed Sacrament was held on
Christmas. In June, 1973 the first Bible school program was had at the
parish, with the aid of the Birmingham Diocesan seminarians.

In October of the same year a mission was established in Russellville as a
part of Holy Spirit church to care for the people in Franklin and Lawrence
counties. Rev. Robert CAMERON came as Assocaite(sic) Pastor to Fr. Pat
BREHENY. In December Sunday service was extended temporarily into Fayette
and held at the Episcopal Mission chapel, and into Hamilton at the United
Methodist Church. A mobile home was added in October, 1974, in Winfield for
extra residency space and parish programs.

In August 1975 a home was rented in Hamilton for three Sisters of Charity
of Nazareth, Kentucky, who came to coordinate the religious education and
social ministry of the parish in the five counties. Srs. Julie BRISCOLL and
Marie SWEENEY work in religious education and Sr. Pat CHUCKERY cares for
the social ministry. In September Rev. Robert VALENZA came to replace Bob
CAMERON in Russellville.

At the present time there are 250 Catholics being reached from Winfield,
and about 70 from Russellville. The parishoners(sic) with their two priests
and three Sisters are anxious to grow in their commitment to God and to
each other, and in addition, to other Christian Faiths in service to the
community, and to all people seeking to find a church home.

Winfield was incorporated as a town in Marion County, Alabama located on
the Frisco Railroad sometime between 1887 and the 1900s, the exact date is
not definitely recorded because of several different fires including the
one in the Marion County Courthouse that destroyed the county records, and
even the state records also were destroyed by fire. From the Winfield City
Hall, full records from May 1928 on to the present time were available.

Ez TRULL, well-known builder and contractor in Winfield, stated that his
father, W. Jasper TRULL, who came to Winfield in November 1891, became the
first Mayor of Winfield in 1902 and served several terms during those early
pioneer days after the railroad was built in 1887 and the town grew to the
position of needing a governing body. W. R. LODEN followed Mr. TRULL as the
second Mayor.

Several people including Ez TRULL, M. L. LUCAS and Mrs. R. E. MOORE, Sr.
agreed that somewhere around 1910, Tom A. ROBERTS was in the Mayor's office
as the third head of the town. That was the term that the present Town Hall
was built. On the Board of Aldermen, under Mr. ROBERTS, were J. P. EARNEST,
W. A. BLAKNEY, W. M. CURL, H. K. CADDELL, and R. K. SHIREY, who served as
clerk.

Under this administration, J. E. (Birt) SMITH was town marshall. Up to this
time, the town had had several people who served in the capacity of
"Keeping the Peace." Mrs. R. E. MOORE, Sr. had learned from several of the
earliest citizens that Calvin WEATHERLY was said to have served as the
first policeman, Shirl ASTON [David Sherill "Sherl" ASTON] had served for
many years as Constable and a Bill MOORE had also been an early policeman
but the definite years wee not known when each served.

Mrs. R. C. SIZEMORE, a former City Clerk, stated that the corner stone of
the Winfield City Hall bears the date, September 1, 1912, and lists the
Mayor T. A. ROBERTS and the above aldermen and S. T. CARROLL as the
Contractor who built the building that still remains today.

T. B. WARD said that he followed his uncle, Tom ROBERTS, as Mayor of
Winfield for two terms. Mr. LUCAS remembered J. B. WHITEHEAD as following
Mr. WARD. It also seems well-agreed that Walter C. CURL followed WHITEHEAD
as Mayor from 1924-26, during the period that the first streets of
Winfield, were paved. Up until this period the streets had been quite muddy
and, Mr. Ez TRULL tells the amusing story about Mr. John WHITE hooking up
his old mule, known as "Aberdeen", and plowing main street from the depot
to First Avenue. The merchants would donate sacks of salt and all the
citizens would tramp the salt until smooth to form a crude form of "paving"
to keep down the mud and dust.

W. C. CURL succeeded himself as Mayor in 1928, and in his cabinet,
according to the City Hall Records, wee R. E. KIRKLAND, George W. McDONALD,
R. C. SIZEMORE, W. L. ROBERTS, and J. E. CADDELLE. W. T. PATE was in charge
of street and marshall work, and J. H. HILL was listed as Town Marshall. J.
W. WESTBROOKS was also listed as serving sometime during that
administration as marshall.

Several interesting items were listed in the books of this administration
including the Mayor's salary which was fixed at $50.00 and the marshall's
pay was $75.00. In May 1928, Winfield's first traffic guides were bought by
the CURL administration of $27.50, and also purchased was the one hundred
and sixty-five gallon electric pump which was installed in the city well on
main street, which furnished water for the town until the franchise was
granted to Warrior Water Works September 17, 1928, to furnish water for the
townspeople.

During this period, in cans and garbage was picked up in wagons on Fridays,
and if weeds near the street were not cut and cleared by the property
owners, the town did the clearing of the unsightly brush and charged the
property owner for the service. In August of 1928, Fourth Avenue and
Eleventh Street were graded and gravelled at sixty-three cents per yard.

On August 6, 1928, the Town Board voted to fix the speed limit at twenty
miles per hour, and the fine for violating this limit was to be not less
than one dollar nor more than twenty-five dollars. This was later changed
to fifty dollars. In September, the board also passed the ordinance that
all business houses on blocks 10, 11, 14, 15, be built of block, stone or
brick, and that any dwelling houses on these blocks should cost no less
than one thousand dollars.

FIRST SPEED LIMIT IN WINFIELD CITY ELECTION SEPTEMBER 17, 1928 (sic)
Of course there were city elections before this time, but since the records
were destroyed, this was the first election recorded in the City Hall
Books. T. C. McCLESKEY, W. R. ROSE, H. M. WEBSTER [Houston Monroe WEBSTER]
wee listed as managers and N. S. WHITEHEAD and George McDONALD, clerks.

Following this election, H. M. COUCH was sworn in as Mayor, October 1,
1928, by former Mayor CURL, and Aldermen were Wyman BOWLING, J. T. BEEKER,
G. W. McDONALD, and R. C. SIZEMORE. Earnest FITE of Hamilton was named
Winfield City Attorney. R. C. SIZEMORE was appointed clerk and J. P.
EARNEST, treasurer.

A new ruling was made fixing the following salaries: Clerk, $180.00 per
year; treasurer, $120.00 per year; aldermen, $50.00 per year. J. W.
WESTBROOKS was appointed Day Marshall at $100.00 per month and Jim H. HILL,
Night Marshall, at $75.00 per month.

FIRST FIRE DEPARTMENT
The First fire department, then called fire club, was organized February
18, 1929, and March 17, Solon WHITEHEAD was appointed Fire Chief and Kelley
MILES, assistant. During this first term of the "Bucket Brigade", WHITEHEAD
and MILES were paid $25.00 per year and exempt fro the five-dollar street
tax. In 1930, however, the rule was changed to $50.00 per year for
WHITEHEAD, and MILES was paid two dollars per fire.

END OF USE OF PUBIC WELL
Probably quite a sentimental day for many old timers was the boarding-up of
the old town well on November 18, 1929. by vote of the town council, W. T.
PATE hauled old railroad ties and boarded the well that had been used since
the beginning of the town, and on January 6, 1930, the pump which had been
removed, was sold t the highest bidder (the town board had stated that at
least fifty dollars must be gotten for the pump.) There was no record as to
who bought the famous old pump. The well-known well was located in the spot
where the large round manhole can be seen on Tenth Street, walking across
from the ODUM's 5 and 10 to the Citizens Bank.

M. L. LUCAS TAKES OVER
In the election of 1930, J. Holley ROBERTS and Gat CARPENTER served as
clerks, and A. W. McDONALD, Houston WEBSTER and P. W. WEBSTER, managers, M.
L. LUCAS was elected to the Mayorship and sworn in by outgoing Mayor COUCH
on October 6, 1930. His cabinet included: R. C. SIZEMORE, Kelley MILES,
Albert MAY, Solen WHITEHEAD and J. Morris HIGHTOWER, Sr. and Kelley MILES
as clerk and R. C. SIZEMORE as treasurer. Foster BEASLEY was named Day
Marshall and James BURNETTE, who had been hired at the last of Mayor
COUCH's term, as appointed night policeman, with their salaries lowered to
seventy-five and fifty per month, respectively.

FIRST WINFIELD TOWN BUDGET
M. L. LUCAS, a former member of the Winfield City Council, said that it was
during this term as Mayor in 1930, that the town of Winfield had its first
budget or financial statement. Mr. LUCAS and his cabinet realized that the
town was growing rapidly and that the methods of deriving income necessary
to meet the expenses of the town's advancement was far below what it should
be to make "the finances balance." In fact, the town owed about thirty
thousand dollars at the beginning of the LUCAS administration, according to
Mr. Lucas, and the administration borrowed three thousand dollars from the
Winfield State Bank to operate on, and began figuring new ways to bring in
income to the town. At the end of the LUCAS administration in 1934, the
town was only thirteen thousand in debt and all current expenses had been
met. Through city tax, street tax, fine money, privilege license, paving
and bridge funds, the financial statement totalled receipts in the amount
of $30,784.38, and expenses including salaries, utilities, fire department,
street work, bonds and notes inherited from previous years, the total
disbursements amounted to $30, 784.38, and expenses including will be place
in the Journal Window as, according to Mr. LUCAS, the first to be printed
in the record of the town. (sic)

The move to new ways of income got underway on October 20, 1930 when the
administration moved to adopt the ordnance fixing the rate of taxation and
levy assessment on all property within the corporate limits of Winfield.
The tax was fifty cents on each one hundred dollars worth of property.

FIRST CITY TRUCK
Seeing the need for a City Service Truck, Mayor LUCAS suggested on November
3, 1930, that the city purchase a truck, and the council deliberated over
the suggestion for two days before deciding in favor or(sic) the actual
buying of this truck.

The Privilege License ordinance was passed in Winfield on January 5, 1931.

FIRST TOWN SEAL
As far as is known, the first official Town Seal of Winfield, was purchased
from ROBERTS and Sons in Birmingham, January 29, 1931, for the sum of
$5.56, according to City Records.

On March 2, 1931, the town bought from Eurica Hose Company, over five
hundred dollars worth of Fire Hose. The public had made up money shortly
before that time to purchase the first fire truck of Winfield (a record of
this project was not available but it seems that a great deal of credit was
due the general public and a number of citizens who took the lead in the
behalf of the project).

Some of the ordinances passed in this period that have been continued to
the present time, and some that greatly affected the health and progress,
of Winfield, included: Sanitation rules on June 1, 1931; ordinance
requiring dogs to have Rabies shots on April 4, 1932; the law prohibiting
cafes to operate with out certified approval of County Health Department.

CHANGE OF OFFICIAL SALARIES
In August 1932, the Mayor's salary was advanced to $300.00 per year; the
town clerk, $120.00 annually; and the town treasurer, $90.00 annually;
aldermen, $50.00 annually.

Following the election of October 3, 1932, M. L. LUCAS returned as Mayor
and Councilmen were J. M. HIGHTOWER, Sr. Clarence HUBBERT, C. C. COUCH; R.
C. SIZEMORE, clerk; and R. G. CARPENTER, treasurer. H. F. BEALSEY(sic)
served as Day policeman, and Julius ESTES, nigh police (at sixty and forty
dollar salaries, respectively). Leon TERRY was added to the fire squad as
the third man. Bud WESTBROOKS was also rehired as policeman in 1933.

BEGINNING OF SEWAGE SYSTEM
On August 18, 1933, the town of Winfield authorized J. B. McCRARY
Engineering Corporation to prepare plans for the Winfield Sewage System,
the actual work of which was done later.

AIRPORT PLANNED
A special meeting of the Winfield Town Board was called on December 19,m
1933, for the purpose of locating an Airport near Winfield. Marvin PEARCE
read the telegram from Sumpter SMITH about the airport project and
explained how it was to be handled in connection with C.W.A. and Board
motioned to lease or purchase the land.

JAMES McDONALD TAKES OVER
On October 1, 1934, Mayor James McDONALD was sworn in for this first term
as Mayor of Winfield, and on his Board of Alderman wee: C. C. COUCH, R. C.
SIZEMORE, J. G. PEARCE, R. W. HARRIS, Jr. and C. A. HOSCH. Mayor McDONALD
was voted a salary of $500.00 per year (paid by month) and was required to
donate at least fifty percent of his working day to the town and assumed
the duties of clerk and treasurer. Morgan HAWKINS was named City Attorney
and on December 3, 1934, was appointed to make improvements on Jail and
remodel the City Hall with money to be publicly subscribed.

CIGARETTE AND GASOLINE TAXES
November 19, 1934 was the beginning date of the first cigarette and
gasoline taxes levied by the Town of Winfield. Plans were also gotten
underway for much of the present paving on this date (Federal Relief
Administration furnished labor and matched city money for paving). Also in
connection with F.A.P. was the curb and guttering in October 1936.

NEW ORDINANCES OF PROGRESS
October 29, 1936, the Winfield speed limit was coordinated with the Alabama
Highway Code for through traffic on First Avenue; Ordinance prohibiting
loitering, idling and loafing on streets and sidewalks, November 1936;
ordinance to define and enforce traffic signals and fine was set at not
less than one dollar plus cost.(sic) and not above one hundred dollars.
October 1937, Ordinance raising licenses twenty-five percent thus giving
approximately one thousand dollars extra town income; present electrical
code was recommended and approved by Alabama Power; Special meeting on
April 14, 1941, granting J. N. COX and H. W. VAUGHN and Associates a
franchise to construct and maintain a telephone system in the town of
Winfield, under the name of Alabama Telephone Company; decision to pave the
sidewalks, 1937, under the W.P.A. project (the minimum cost was twenty-five
cents per foot); ordinance taking Hill Addition into city limits,
september(sic) 19, 1938; December 1938, bought land from J. D. CANTERBURY
for City Park for seven hundred and fifty dollars; March 20, 1939, Marvin
PEARCE, W. C. CURL and J. H. HILL elected to Tax Equalization Board. Also
during this period Richard WHITE was appointed night policeman, a nd Furman
COUCH retained as day policeman. On June 19, the city requested the Hon. R.
L. HILL, Representative, and Sen. Z. L. WEATHERFORD to pass local law
rearranging the corporate limits of Winfield, and a map of the town was
made by C. R. FRANKS.

NEW FIRE TRUCK RECEIVED
On April 2, 1941, a special meeting was planned for the receiving and
accepting of the New Winfield Fire Truck, by Mayor James McDONALD, and
Aldermen: Ivan HILL (chairman and treasurer of fire truck purchase); G. F.
TIDWELL, M. V. WHITE, Sr., R. W. HARRIS, Jr., and Rayburn WEBSTER. The
truck which serves the people of Winfield, today, was purchased from Peter
PUSCH and son in Kinosha, Wisconsin for $3100.00 and the company allowed
fifty dollars on the old hose, and the down payment was donated by money
from citizens of Winfield. Jack HUGHES was made Fire Chief; Joe Edd
McCONNELL and Hershell ROBERTS, assistants. Also a 500-gallon pumping
engine was bought in 1941.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 4

THE BOSTON AREA DATES BACK AS FAR AS THE 1880'S

Many of the communities in the areas around Boston, date way back in the
1880's and maybe before, such as the Goldmine, Piney Grove, Mt. Joy, Old
Salem, Popular Springs, Center, Pearce's Mills, Mt. Pleasant, Bethel, Sunny
Home, Brock's, Burleson, Mount Brook, Gum Springs, etc.

Mr. and Mrs. J. T. GIBBS and Mr. and Mrs. John MOORE of Route 1, Brilliant,
between Goldmine and Piney Grove, were most helpful to the Journal Staff in
establishing some facts in churches and schools in those early days.

Sam BOWEN, husband of Bette GIBBS BOWEN and father of the late Sterling
BOWEN, taught one of the first schools in the area north of Boston, known
as Mt. Joy, in 1888. John Jesse GIBBS, father of Wilburn GIBBS, Maude GIBBS
BYNUM, and the last Willie GIBBS HINZ, taught the next schools in the
section, a number of years at the Old Salem School and then many years at
the Goldmine School. He taught his youngest brother, J. T., Mr.s J. T.
GIBBS, and even his own wife Amanda BEAUCHAMP GIBBS, before their marriage.
He had previously prepared himself for the teaching positions by attending
High School and Glen Allen and Guin, and had his higher learning at the old
Agricultural College in Hamilton.

In these little one-teacher schools in the early years, the teachers were
paid around twenty to twenty-five dollars per month, by the County, and
they taught anywhere from one hundred to two hundreds(sic) students in the
little ill-equipped schools of one room. as (sic) far as it is known, the
students attended school because they were strictly eager to learn, and J.
T. (Jim) GIBBS learned the same math and algebra under his brother's
techings(sic), and since that time, until he was able to solve any
difficult problems that his children brought home in all their high school
and college years. it is almost incredible when one thinks of a lone
teacher being actually able to teach the large number of students ranging
from the beginners to sixth grades, all ages, but the older students were
able to helpout(sic) in holding some of the classes of the lower grades,
and so the full school dya(sic) progressed and the students learned much.
Even after Jim GIBBS was out of school, he and Tuck ASHMORE, another
student who finally went on to study medicine and practice in Eldridge for
many years, exchanged any hard arithematic(sic) or algebra problems they
happened to run across in their later years in the effort to "stump" one
another with difficult problems. They both usually kept figuring until they
came up with the correct answer which they proudly returned to the sender.

According to Jim GIBBS and his wife, the former Minnie Belle BEAUCHAMP, Kel
FITE followed John Jesse GIBBS as the second teacher of the Goldmine
School, and then in line after Mr. FITE, were: bill CANTRELL, Sally THORN,
Letha THORN, John CLARK, Jim LOGAN, Anderson GAY and the last was Elsie
WHITEHEAD HAWKINS.

The Piney Grove School, established several years, later, was first taught
by Charlie BURGESS, then Sally THORN, and in line after Miss THORN, were:
Beatrice MIDDLETON, Nanny SANDLIN, Lee PALMER, Carrie WAKEFIELD McCALEB,
Nerva WILLIAMS GAY, Augusta HOLLEY, Autie CAGLE, and Edith COUCH, the last
teacher, taught for many years and up to the time that the school was
consolidated with the Brilliant Elementary School. Miss COUCH taught in
Winfield after leaving the Piney Grove School, and is currently on the
staff of the Wilson School.

John MOORE of Route 1, Brilliant, attended the Mt. Pleasant School back in
those early years and a list of teachers there were Mat WESLEY, John
CONNER, Will LETSON and Mrs. WILSON, and he also attended the Webb School
taught by John CONNER and Charlie FRANKS. Mr. MOORE's wie(sic), the former
Velma INGLE went to the Gum Springs School. Her teachers were Jesse GORDON,
Dave LAMBERT, Albert YOUNG, Miss Fildie HUGHES and Gus BURGESS, present
Postmaster of Winfield Post Office, and after Mr. BURGESS, Lena WEST, who
taught in the Brilliant Elementary in later years, followed by Mr. BURGESS
and a Miss BOTTOMS of Hamilton, a Mr. BEASLEY and Mr. Bull WESLEY followed
by Miss WEST.

Sterling and Bob UNDERWOOD were the noted fiddlers of the communities, Jack
FOWLER; could beat a snappy drum, and John COCHRAN would team with them as
leader of the band at the school functions in the Goldmine School. At the
end of the school term, it was the custom for the students to march in line
for the final ceremonies. Sterling and Bob UNDERWOOD at the "fiddles", Jack
FOWLER at the drums, and John COCHRAN leading with the United States Flag,
would head the line of students in the School parades and marches.

The great sport of the young crowd, back then, was baseball. Jim, tim and
John Jessee GIBBS, Lewis Harm FOWLER, Billy, John and Ellie BEAUCHAMP, and
Sterling BOWEN wee among the players of the team that played at the STOKES
place. They also played a game known as "Town Ball" in which the ball was
knocked with a paddle-like bat. Among the other forms of recreation
included "Base", "Mumble-Peg," and of curse, the old "Huskin' Bees," but
the greatest and most interesting form of recreation, which was in a way
very serious, was debating.

Debates were held in alternating places in Old Salem, Goldmine, and Piney
Grove, and among the debates weer Jim GIBBS, Bill COCHRAN, Charlie BURGESS,
Jim COCHRAN, Henry RAWLS, Young and Lum GREEN, and others. The debates
covered a varied field of subjects, and of curse politics, and were held on
Friday and Saturday night after week-long research had been done in
preparation for both the affirmative and negative sides of the questions.
Thee were three judges for each debate and Jim GIBBS expressed the opinion
that these debating sessions were the assemblies that really brought the
audiences.

Among the earliest families in those years included: The UNDERWOODS,
HUSTONS, GIBBS, BEAUCHAMPS, BOSTICKS, LOGANS, GILBERTS, HANEYS, STOKES,
THOMASES, ASHMORES, MILSES(sic), HALEYS, LAMERTS, ESTESES, HUGULEYS,
MOORES, INGLES, GREENS, McGUIRES, WHITES, STANFORDS, WHITMANS, COCHRANS,
BURLESONS, FOWLERS, RAWLSES, and TIDWELLS.

The Goldmine Community had two churches in those early years, the people of
early Boston having come to Goldmine before the churches were established
in Boston. There were the Methodist Church and the Church of Christ located
at Goldmine (The church(sic) of Christ is till(sic) there today). The Free
Will Church was located at Mt. Joy, the Primitive Baptist at Popular
Springs, and the Missionary Baptist had churches at both Old Salem and Red
Dirt. All denominations could use the Piney Grove Church except Mormans.
There was a period of years when the Piney Grove church was inactive, then
in the 1930's Mrs. J. J. (Amanda) GIBBS, the REv. L. G. ALVERSON, Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew MILES, Mr. and rs.(sic) Samuel GAY and other interested
families held an assembly to reorganize the Methodist Church. The Rev.
ALBERSON, Pastor of the Brilliant Methodist Church and for a number of
years Principal of the Brilliant School, served as the pastor of the Piney
Grove Church, Mrs. Amanda GIBBS led the singing, and also taught Sunday
School; Samuel GAY served as Superintendent, Mrs. GAY, Mrs. Andrew MILES,
Mrs. Bufa CAGLE, Miss avonnah(sic) LITTLE and Miss Rachel GIBS(sic) taught
sunday(sic) School Classes, and the little group of Methodists grew until
at the present time, a modern church has been erected south of the original
church held in the old School building. The Church of Christ, which also
reorganized shortly after the Methodist, held services in the same school
building until they built a modern church just northwest of the old school
on the property of Albert Gibbs, Among the early members of the Church of
Christ wee the CORKRENS, DICKINSONS, GREENS, FARRISES, BURLESONS, and
DOSSES, The family of tim and Mary GIBBS became members at the time they
moved from the Burleson community, and many other added since.

The Bethel Church and the BROCK Church have both had churches of Christ for
long periods. Among the leaders of the Bethel Church have been the HOLDTS,
MILESES, CAULDES, LAMBERTS, DICKINSONS, CORKRENS, and LOGANS, etc. and at
the BROCK Church are the BROCKS, DIKESES, BURLESONS. Among the Goldmine
leaders are the SELFS, GILBERTS, LOGANS, McCALEBS, MILESES, GREENS,
CORKRENS, BERRYHILLS, etc.

At the Gum Springs Free Will Baptist, there are the John MOORES, Trellis
MOORES, Mr. and mrs.(sic) Max GIBBS, the SEXTONS, the HALCOMBS, the MCKAYS,
and the TUCKERS among the regular members.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 4

DR. S. D. BEVILL IS THE FIRST SURGEON IN TOWN OF GUIN

Dr. S. D. BEVILL was the first surgeon to locate in Guin in the early years
of the town.

Dr. BEVILL formed a partnership with Dr. Will COLLINS, one of the town's
first medical doctors. they both practiced there in the 1890 era.

Mrs. BEVILL, his wife, was the daughter of John W. INGLE, pioneer citizen
of Mrion County, and Mrs. BEVILL spent over seventy-nine years in the
County. She and Dr. BEVILL did not have any children.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 4

HARMONY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH IS ORGANIZED IN 1859

Harmony Grove Baptist Church was organized in a log building i 1859 with
ten members. Ten years later with Brother M. C. OWING Pastor and Mr. J. J.
DICKINSON serving as church clerk, they went into North River Association
with about 23 members, the church was know(sic) as Harmony Grove Baptist
Church of Christ. In 1892 they went into Harmony Grove Association with 60
members with Pastor R. COLBURN and church clerk D. I. MEADS meeting once a
month. Still in1903 meeting once a month with Pastor J. A. TRIM and clerk
M. C. BOWLING membership had grown to 101. In 1925 they went into the
Marion County Association with Pastor F. M. HOLLY with his annual salary
$77.10 with 140 members. Repairs on the building for year was $27.20.
Serving as church clerk W. T. PATE.

IN the last 30s still meeting once a month with Pastor W. M. REEVES, is
salary $91 a year. In the late 40's, Pastor T. L. GRIFFIN of Fayette was
pastor, with about 201 members.

Then in the 1950s Brother Ray GREEN served as Pastor, serving as clerk was
Louis NORRIS. In 1955 Pastor Glenn HOULDITCH and Junior Ray MARKHAM was
church lcerk with Pastor's salary $720 a year.

In 1964 they called a full time pastor Brother Art HERFORD and built a
Pastorium. In 1968 the Harmony Grove congregation built their fifth
building with Brother C. W. BOX as Pastor and serving as clerk was Presley
COUCH. We have has (sic) one Preacher ordained to the ministry who serves
today as paster, Brother C. W. BOX, with membership of approximately 250.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 2

W. A. COLLINS WAS EARLY STANDARD OIL DEALER

Note: This article has border that overprints part of the text.

W. A. COLLINS was born August 12, 1880, and came to Guin with his father,
J. ?. COLLINS in 1888. His father bought thirty acres of land and two
hundred dollars and built the second house there after the town was
started. Dr. Jerry GUIN having had the first and Jim KIRK the next after
Mr. COLLINS. This thirty acres is a part of the acreage that the town of
Guin is built on today. Dr. __ J. COLLINS bought forty acres just north of
Guin, somewhere around the same period and built the first hotel known as
Wail Hotel.

Leaving Guin in 1893, the COLLINS family returned in 1912, the year that
the Marion County High School came into being. Mr. COLLINS remembers that
D.r John B. CLARK was the first principal and J. B. HODGES was on of the
teachers. He also remembered Clark WHITE and Company's opening the first
store and that Tom KIRK was the first postmaster.

Mr. and Mrs. COLLINS were married in 1901, on December 21, and have lived
most of their years in Guin.

Mr. COLLINS became the third agent for Standard Oil, White ANTHONY being
the first and Jim POLLARD next in line before Mr. COLLINS. For a time, Mr.
COLLINS delivered oil by mules and wagon, but in 1917, he bought the
chassis of a Model T, and equipped it with a tank. In 1917, in the fall of
the year, Mr. COLLINS bought a Republic Truck, with solid tires all-round,
for use as an oil truck. He stated that he believed this to be the first
truck in the county at that time.

The COLLINS family put in a Delco System in 1920, the first electrical
system in Guin, and the one unit furnished power for the COLLINS home and
for the Methodist Church of Guin, the church in which the COLLINS have been
most active. Mr. COLLINS had served forty-four years as a Steward in the
church and twenty-five years as Superintendent of the Sunday School. He
also was a member of the Guin Lions, the Masons of Guin and Guin O.E.S.

Mr. COLLINS was elected Mayor of Guin in 1932 and served for a period of
twelve years. he was in power at the time that the City Water System was
installed. Mr. COLLINS was very interested in al civic, religious and
educational movements toward the betterment of Guin and surrounding
communities.

Mrs. COLLINS had been most interested in making a home for her husband and
children. but she was also active in the Methodist Church, S. C. S., Guin
Chapter of Order of Eastern Star, Guin Garden Growers, having been a
charter member in some of the organizations.

Their children include: Cecil G. COLLINS, who is in business in Guin; H. F.
(Jack) COLLINS, a businessman of Talladega; Dana COLLINS of Pensacola,
Florida; and Mr.s Paul GUIN (Blanche COLLINS) who lives in Guin.

Mrs. Paul GUIN has also been most helpful in securing valuable information
from the family of her husband, regarding this edition.

The Journal-Record - Bicentennial Edition
Thursday, July 1, 1976
Section B, Page 2

EDUCATION HAS MADE GREAT STRIDES IN MARION COUNTY

Miss Mattie resigned from teaching after her marriage and later wrote for a
number of magazines and other publications. She died on January 14, of this
year, after reaching the age of eighty-four.

This first school was a plank building, one large room, that was built with
funds raised by the citizens, according to Mrs. Newt WHITEHEAD.

The Board of Education during that year included: J. R. COCHRAN, Chairman;
Dr. R. L. HILL, secretary and treasurer; T. C. McCLESKEY, M. S. ASTON, and
R. F. WHEELER.

After the building burned in 1951, the grades were again taught in churches
and the small remaining part of the school which did not burn.

On the present school board are Sam COUCH; Olen CUNNINGHAM, Homer HOOPER,
Parker SPANN, and Billy GILBERT.