A look back
By By Dr. Bill Stewart
June 25, 1959—Governor John Patterson today strongly insisted that the Legislature pass Hartselle Representative Bob Gilchrist’s small loan bill. The measure is designed to protect Alabamians from the usurious interest rates charged by unscrupulous loan sharks.
June 25, 1959—Bob Cain, popular young Hartselle entertainer, delighted Kiwanians with the show he put on at their most recent meeting.
June 25, 1959—MCHS Principal J. C. Pettey announced today that the school's new basketball coach would be Sammy Moore. Moore starred in both basketball and track at UA. He is a native of Fayette.
June 25, 1959—State ABC agents destroyed two stills near Valhermosa Springs tonight. The stills had the capacity to produce 800 gallons of moonshine. The men who operated the stills were nowhere to be found.
June 25, 1959—The Christian Advocate, an official newspaper published by Alabama Methodists, is criticizing Governor John Patterson for his support of Senator John F. Kennedy, a Roman Catholic, for the Democratic presidential nomination.
June 26, 1959—Hartselle fight fans like those elsewhere in the nation were stunned tonight when Ingmar Johansen of Sweden dethroned heavyweight boxing champ Floyd Patterson with his "thunder and lightning" right hand only two minutes into the third round at Yankee Stadium.
June 27, 1959—The Hartselle assembly of Rainbow Girls was in Auburn today for the group’s 27th annual convention. They were chaperoned by Mrs. Naomi Harvel.
June 27, 1959—The largest number of children yet (53) participated in the Hartselle library’s weekly story hour this morning. Mrs. Joe Denison led the program.
June 28, 1959—The annual all-day singing at Friendship church near Danville was held today. Jack Miller has been the chairman of this singing for many years.
June 28, 1959—A Sivley family reunion was held today at Woodall’s Barbecue.
June 29, 2959—Earl Payne led his Hartselle team to a 15-2 victory over Decatur Rotary in a civic league contest at Delano Park tonight. Hartselle is currently number two in league standings, behind Decatur Civitans.
June 29, 1959—Senators John Sparkman of Alabama and Albert Gore of Tennessee are touring TVA facilities today.
June 29, 1959—Gerry Rollins, MCHS junior who is president of the local chapter of the Kiwanis-sponsored Key Club, left on the Hummingbird today for Toronto, Canada, where he will be attending the international convention of Key Club.
June 30, 1959—Rev. W. P. Maxwell, minister of the Hartselle Presbyterian Church, spoke to the Rotary Club at noon today, using the topic, "All Human Nature is Religion."
A club guest was Rev. J. Clifton Draper, current minister of the Northport Methodist Church.
July 1, 1959—Morgan County Probate Judge T. C. Almon said today that petitions calling for another referendum on legalizing the sale of alcoholic beverages here might not be in the correct legal format. The Code of Alabama contains a number of requirements for petitions and the ones currently in circulation are deficient in omitting essential information.
July 1, 1959—Effective today Joe Wheeler Electric Co-op will no longer assess a 10 percent charge on the power bills of its commercial and industrial customers. This decision shows that Joe Wheeler is enjoying increasing financial health.
July 1, 1959–The Hartselle post office is a first-class federal facility effective today.
