A look back
By Staff
Researched by Dr. Bill Stewart
Feb. 28, 1958-Little Edith Aldridge was badly burned in a fire today at the family home in the Woodland Mills community near Cotaco. Her dad, Buddy Aldridge, was also seriously burned on his hands while trying to put out the fire his daughter had started by playing with matches. Hartselle’s Bethel Baptist is ministering to the Aldridge family any way they can.
Feb. 28, 1958-Grand Ole Opry stars Roy Acuff and Porter Waggoner were in Decatur tonight to attract a crowd to the gubernatorial kickoff rally of Jack Owen. Mr. Owen is currently president of the Alabama Public Service Commission.
Feb. 28, 1958-Guy Walker, Somerville 1, retired as a mail carrier today. Mr. Walker had been with the Somerville post office in some capacity for nearly 50 years. The retiree is also very prominent in Morgan County singings and will be found at almost every one of them.
Feb. 29, 1958-If a U.S. Senate committee has its way, it will soon cost five cents to mail a letter. Three cents has been the price of a first-class stamp for many years.
March 1, 1958-Gubernatorial candidate Laurie Battle was campaigning in this area today. He carries around a Shake-O-Meter to tally the number of hands he has shaken. So far it registers 4,464. His goal is to shake 30,000 before the campaign ends.
March 2, 1958-Richard Penniman, who formerly performed before audiences around the world as “Little Richard,” was honored at a tea at Lakeside High School in Decatur this afternoon. Mr. Penniman is now studying for the ministry at Oakwood College in Huntsville.
March 3, 1958-Mrs. Dan Sims, Hartselle 2, is currently a patient at the Baugh-Wiley-Smith Clinic in Decatur.
March 4, 1958-The Morgan County grand jury said today that juvenile crime is “running rampant.” Burglary and larceny by teens has skyrocketed recently.
March 5, 1958-Ernest Maddox, local Belks manager, was elected president of the Hartselle Rotary Club today. Other club leaders will be Merrill Doss, Dr. David Chandler, Dr. R. W. King, C. L. Orr, and J. C. Pettey.
