A look back
By By Dr. Bill Stewart
Nov. 19, 1959-David Buckalew is now a private in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C.
Nov. 19, 1959-The student in the “spotlight” at MCHS this week is Douglas Moss. His fellow-students say that, “It’s not hard to please this fellow, just do away with homework and let him have gobs of peanut butter and fried chicken to devour.”
Nov. 18, 1959-A new home demonstration club has been formed at Neel. Mrs. Raymond Brown will serve as the first president of the group.
Nov. 19, 1959-The Edsel automobile, introduced with such fanfare only a relatively short time ago, has been discontinued by the Ford Motor Co. Corporate officials in Detroit said “sales of the 1960 Edsel model have been particularly disappointing.” There was no Edsel dealership in Hartselle. The closest place to get one was McRae Motors in Decatur.
Nov. 19, 1959-Several members of the Morgan County Board of Education were here this morning checking on progress as far as the almost completed new MCHS gym is concerned. County Superintendent of Education Lester Wooten says the new facility will be one of the best in the state. The gym will go into use in a couple of weeks.
Nov. 19, 1959-Gov. John Patterson signed a bill into law today that makes it a crime to catch fish by means of nets in Morgan County.
Nov. 20, 1959-The Christmas season started officially in Hartselle tonight with the annual Yule parade put on by the chamber of commerce. The MCTS and MCHS bands provided music. At the conclusion of the parade Christmas lights were turned on to the delight of all assembled. The $50 float prize went to MCHS sophomores who had constructed a beautiful nativity scene commemorating the birth of Christ.
Nov. 20 1959—J. F. Stewart Sr., former mayor, died at age 83.
Nov. 21, 1959-Max Lee is the newly elected president of the Danville High School student council. Other officers are Faye Bates, vice president; Margaret Sims, secretary; Nora Morris, treasurer; and Faye Bowling, reporter. This is the first time Danville students have had an SGA.
Nov. 22, 1959-Law enforcement officers located a still with a capacity of 1,000 gallons near the Morgan-Lawrence county line today. Although the still was going at full blast, a watcher spotted the revenuers and the moonshiners promptly scattered.
Nov. 22, 1959-Mrs. John L. Brasher died at her home in Attalla at noon today. She was the wife of Dr. John L. Brasher and had visited Hartselle many times in the summer when her husband preached at the camp meeting. (Dr. Brasher continued this preaching until he was over 100.)
Nov. 23, 1959-Area sportswriters are saying that Alabama has at least an outside chance of beating Auburn in Saturday’s matchup in Birmingham. The last time the Tide prevailed was in 1954, five years ago. Coach Bear Bryant’s rebuilding program is succeeding more quickly than was expected.
Nov. 24, 1959-After earlier saying it wouldn’t give the library any money, the Hartselle City Council reversed itself tonight and decided to appropriate $150 per month to support one of this town’s most valuable institutions.
Nov. 24, 1959-MCHS beat Danville in basketball there tonight by the score of 56-46. Jimmy Speegle was the Tigers’ leading scorer with 19 points.
Nov. 25, 1959-Mrs. Dona Bailey of Hartselle today was appointed to another term on the Morgan County Board of Voter registrars. Mrs. Bailey has served on the board for many years, having originally gotten her appointment through the efforts of former State Rep. W. H. Stewart.
Nov. 25, 1959-Close to $500 was raised at a bazaar sponsored recently by the Falkville Methodist Church. Laymen J. D. Light and Sim Howell Jr. said the money would be deposited in the parsonage fund.
