A look back
By By Dr. Bill Stewart
Feb. 26, 1959-The MCHS basketball team handily disposed of Athens tonight in the quarterfinals of the 8th district AA tournament. The score wasn’t close-67 to 45. The point leaders for Hartselle were McElroy (19), Smallwood (15), and Atkins and Speegle (10 each).
Feb. 26, 1959-Sam Polytinsky is reported to be slowly recovering from a serious illness.
Feb. 27, 1959-A spring fashion show put on by the Rainbow Garden Club was held at the home of Margaret Sherrill.
Feb. 28, 1959-Former Gov. James (“Big Jim”) Folsom was in attendance at this afternoon’s annual Mutual Savings Life Insurance Company shareholders meeting. Many Hartselle residents work for Mutual Savings in some capacity or have stock in the company.
Feb. 28, 1959-Local Auburn fans had reason to celebrate tonight. The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide 69-50 in a basketball game played at the Montgomery coliseum. Four Bama players fouled out of the game.
Feb. 28, 1959-MCHS won the western AA district basketball tournament in Decatur tonight by defeating the Cullman Bearcats 75-62. Standouts for the local Tigers were Benford Mayfield, Scotty Maples, and Lothian Smallwood.
March 1, 1959-A prominent
state legislator recommended today that the state sales tax be raised by a penny to provide much needed money for schools. He believes the sales tax is the fairest tax since everyone contributes according to their abilities. Also, it should continue to be applied to groceries.
March 2, 1959-Twenty-one Morgan Countians were arrested for public drunkenness over the weekend.
March 3, 1959-Several hundred young people took part in a 4-H Club parade here this afternoon. Harry Houston, the assistant county agent who works with the clubs, said schools represented were MCHS, Crestline, Hartselle Elementary, and Massey.
March 3, 1959-The head of the state liquor board announced today that James W. Lott of Hartselle is the new liquor agent for Brown-Forman Distillers Corp. The agent whom Lott succeeds made $27,000 annually in this position. These are political appointments which the governor awards to his strongest supporters.
March 3, 1959-Hartselle moviegoers were saddened today to learn of the death of Lou Costello, the chubby half of the famed Abbot-Costello comedy team. Bud Abbot survives and is distraught over the loss of his longtime friend and colleague.
March 4, 1959-Many Hartselle stores began their annual Wednesday afternoon closings today.
March 4, 1959-A Morgan County woman, Mrs. Charles McCrary, won a Polaroid camera, a washer and dryer, and a suite of furniture on the TV program, “Truth or Consequences,” this afternoon. The emcee of the program is a newcomer to the entertainment world, Bob Barker.
March 4, 1959-After a thorough investigation, the Morgan County grand jury has found that the jail is filthy and needs a thorough (regular) cleaning. Prisoners need to be furnished with clean drinking cups and clean mattresses and blankets for sleeping. Finally, more money is needed by the sheriff to make sure that inmates have adequate diets. Sheriff Hyche doesn’t have the funds to provide prisoners with nutritious meals on a daily basis.
March 4, 1959-Gen. George C. Marshall, who was such an inspiration for the space-related work in Huntsville, is reported to be gravely ill in a hospital at Ft. Bragg, N.C.
