A look back
By By Dr. Bill Stewart
Jan. 29, 1959-Hartselle physician Dr. David Chandler has been selected to lead the annual heart fund drive which will begin in a couple of days and last through the end of Feb..
Jan. 29, 1959-Albert Clemons, owners of A. A. Clemons Gulf Service Station, is going out of business this week-permanently. He is retiring on doctor’s orders, he said.
Jan. 29, 1959-A substantial number of Hartselle women participated in tonight’s Mothers March against Polio sponsored by the March of Dimes. Mrs. B. M. Shull headed up the Hartselle campaign. Since the advent of the Salk vaccine, funds collected from the MOD drive are also used in the fight against birth defects.
Jan. 30, 1959-Another new home is gong up in Crestline Heights. Stone Construction has been issued a license to build a three-bedroom home. The estimated cost of the project is $10,000.
Jan. 31, 1959-Today at noon is the deadline for paying a prospective voter’s poll taxes. Doing this will necessitate a trip to the tax collector’s office at the courthouse. The tax is $1.50 per year with a maximum liability of $3 if the poll levy wasn’t paid last year.
Jan. 31, 1959-MCHS defeated Union Hill 53-51 in the semi-finals of the Morgan County basketball tournament this afternoon. The margin of victory was provided by two quick baskets by Benford Mayfield. The Decatur gym was filled to overflowing for this exciting game.
Jan. 31, 1959—Mr. and Mrs. W. H. (Buck) Gibson moved into their newly completed home on Woodland Drive today.
Jan. 31, 1959-The Roundtop-Fairview Home Demonstration Club held the Jan. meeting in the home of Mrs. Melvin Hardin.
Feb. 1, 1959-James William Woodall, 62, was killed tonight when he was struck by a vehicle on Highway 36, 1.3 miles east of Hartselle. Officers are investigating the fatality.
Feb. 1, 1959-Wayne White, 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred White of Danville 3, is in the Flint TB sanatorium suffering from tubercular meningitis. He has been comatose for over six months and little hope is held out for his recovery.
Feb. 2, 1959-Construction started today on the new MCHS gym. When completed, it will be one of the best plants in the area. About $125,000 will be spent on the building itself while $18,000 will be laid out for gym equipment.
Feb. 2, 1959-Decatur attorney A. J. Coleman was elected president of the Morgan County Bar Association tonight. Albert Brewer will serve as vice-president. Outgoing president is former state Senator Joe Calvin.
Feb. 3, 1959-Local Alabama and Auburn alumni were interested in predictions made today about their alma maters by the presidents of the schools. UA President Dr. Frank Rose projected the Capstone would reach 15,000 students within 10 years. Auburn leader Dr. Ralph Draughon also said his institution would reach 15,000 within a decade. Alabama currently has about 7,800 students, Auburn approximately 8,500.
Feb. 3, 1959—Famed Hartselle author William Bradford Huie will travel to Hawaii sometime the latter part of this month to begin research on a sequel to his highly successful book, “The Revolt of Mamie Stover.”
Feb. 4, 1959-The Morgan County Sportsmen’s Club sponsored a cakewalk at Flint school tonight. All the money taken in will support the club’s quail restocking program.
