A look back to Sept. 15-21, 1961
Sept. 15, 1961 – The MCHS football Tigers defeated Athens on their home turf tonight by a score of 13-0. More than 4,000 spectators, including many from Hartselle, watched the game. The Tigers’ first TD occurred following QB Wayne Brown’s returning a Golden Eagles punt to the Athens 25-yard-line. On the initial play from scrimmage in the second quarter, he handed the ball off to Roger Cornell who dashed into the end zone. Tommy McDaniel secured the second and last TD for MCHS in the third period. MCHS now is 1-1 early in the season and faces the Decatur Red Raiders next Friday.
Sept. 16, 1961 – Hartselle has been spared from any serious fires recently. There was a grass fire today on Teague Road north of the city but it was quickly put out.
Sept. 16, 1961 – Governor John Patterson now has on his desk what is referred to as the 9-8 congressional redistricting plan. Since the Legislature was unable to agree on eight new districts following the loss of one Congressman as a result of the 1960 Census, all of the current representatives will run at-large on May 15 and May 29 and the ultimate low man from whatever part of the state he comes will be out of a job. The Governor supported this concept over the plan to “chop up” Jefferson County so he will quickly sign the bill.
Sept. 17, 1961 – Hartselle physician Dr. Fred Sherrill, Jr., spoke at the morning worship service at Bethel Baptist today. Rev. Dewitt Prince filled the pulpit at tonight’s service.
Sept. 18, 1961 – The Hartselle Civitan Club hosted its quarterly ladies’ night meeting tonight at Forrest Chapel Methodist Church. The guest speaker was Capt. John D. Buckley of the U.S. Navy who will discuss his travels in the Far East.
Sept. 18, 1961 – The 1961 edition of “Morcohi,” the MCHS annual, was distributed at the school today.
Sept. 18, 1961 – The MCHS junior football team defeated Moulton here tonight by the decisive score of 34-0. Jimmy Wallace scored three TDs. The Bee team also beat the Moulton boys, this game ending with the Tigers on top 19-0. Tommy Hobbie was the leading offensive player.
Sept. 18, 1961 – In a speech to a chamber of commerce group tonight, former Gov. Big Jim Folsom said he was a “conservative in money matters” but a “liberal where human rights are concerned.”
Sept. 19, 1961 – The First Christian Church was the site this afternoon for funeral services for Mrs. Lucy Alexander Hartselle, age 87, who passed away Sunday morning. Mrs. Hartselle was a prominent member of two prominent families who contributed much to the settlement and later development of the town. Rev. C. R. Lundy officiated at Mrs. Hartselle’s funeral.
Sept. 19, 1961 – Hartselle Mayor Grady Long presided over the city recorder’s court this morning and found several men guilty of several different offenses mostly related to alcohol abuse.
Sept. 19, 1961 – The U.S. Senate today approved the expenditure of $4.75 million at Redstone during the next fiscal year. This translates into high paying federal jobs for north Alabamians, including many from Hartselle.
Sept. 19, 1961 – Doctors Clinic of Hartselle is being represented at this week’s Medical Progress Assembly in Birmingham by Dr. Tom Guyton.
Sept. 19, 1961 – Lacey’s Spring school, currently under renovation, was entered by robbers tonight for the fourth time since the fall term began. The thieves are mainly interested obtaining flooring material.
Sept. 19, 1961 – Members of the Jewish community began their commemoration of Yom Kippur at sundown.
Sept. 20, 1961 – Gov. John Patterson has signed a contract that will result in the construction of a new bridge over the west fork of Flint Creek northwest of Hartselle.
Sept. 21, 1961 – The annual Morgan County Dairy Cattle Show was held today at the city park. The Hartselle Chamber of Commerce sponsors this event along with the county agent’s office.
