A look back
By By Dr. Bill Stewart
Dec. 11, 1958-A vigorous advance today sent the stock market up to a point where it was threatening the all-time high set three weeks ago. It is approaching 584, and this is more evidence that the current recession has about run its course.
Dec. 11, 1958-Jack Ray, a Decatur resident and professional photographer, has discovered spectacular new caverns in Crystal Cave, six miles south of Union Hill. For reasons best known to them local residents have not explored the cave any more than a small distance from the entrance. The stalactites and stalagmites in the caverns reach huge proportions. The Huntsville chapter of the National Speleological Society plans further investigations.
Dec. 11, 1958-The Morgan County Cattlemen’s Association elected new board members at their meeting tonight. They are Bill Lindsey of Hartselle, Eddie Summerford of Falkville, and Curtis Crayer, a Priceville resident.
Dec. 11, 1958-Hartselle Kiwanians celebrated Christmas tonight with their ladies at the All-Steak Restaurant in Cullman.
Dec. 11, 1958-The MCHS basketball team beat Eva 45-35 in a game played there tonight. The low-scoring contest emphasized defense, Eva being limited to 12 FG’s, while Hartselle got 15. Jerry Atkins led Tiger scorers with 14 points.
Dec. 12, 1958-The annual MCHS football banquet was held tonight. Morgan County legislator Albert Brewer was the featured speaker. Buddy Roberts, gritty little halfback, was named the most valuable player.
Dec. 12, 1958-The Bowline Drive-in is offering free in-a-car heaters to movie patrons. The current offering is “The Fiend Who Walked the West.”
Dec. 13, 1958-The Piggly Wiggly store on U.S. 31 was the site today of a Christmas tree sale by the Falkville Lions Club. Funds collected will go to the organization’s sight conservation campaign.
Dec. 13, 1958-To facilitate Christmas mailing the Hartselle post office will be open this afternoon until 5 p.m.
Dec. 13, 1958-The office of Morgan County circuit clerk Harrison Hill at the courthouse was broken into tonight. The thieves were unable to open the vault containing cash and checks, however.
Dec. 14, 1958-The fifth anniversary of West Hartselle Baptist Church was observed this morning. The church was organized on Dec. 13, 1953, with 29 charter members. Now there are 250. Rev. John Ingouf is the present pastor.
Dec. 14, 1958-Dedication ceremonies were held tonight for the new worship facility of Salem Methodist. The congregation was organized in 1910.
Dec. 15, 1958-About 2,000 basketball fans witnessed MCHS’s thrilling 66-62 victory over the Austinville Hornets in a game played there tonight. The Hornets had won their previous 20 games, including the ‘57 state championship. Brilliantly coached by Herman Myers, the Tigers did well in both the field goal and free throw categories. Hartselle’s leading scorers were Smallwood with 15 and Speegle and Maples with 14 apiece.
Dec. 16, 1958-Grady Nicholson was inducted as a new member of the Hartselle Rotary Club at its meeting today.
Dec. 17, 1958-Hartselle will sell $70,000 in bonds to finance a new sewer upgrade project. This decision was made in a special meeting of Mayor John Burleson and the city council today. Federal funds in the amount of $26,000 will cover the rest of the cost.
