A look back

By By Dr. Bill Stewart
Oct. 23, 1958-The Hartselle library will reopen tomorrow in its new temporary home, the city hall auditorium. For the past few months the library has been operating out of the old armory building. However, its roof leaked and it was virtually impossible to get the building comfortably warm during winter.
Oct. 24, 1958-The MCHS Tigers easily defeated Moulton there tonight. The win had a decisive 25-0 margin. Turning in particularly good performances for Hartselle were Buddy Roberts, David McElroy, and Jim Speegle. One more MCHS win would put the Tigers at the .500 mark. They are currently 3-4.
Oct. 25, 1958-Alabama gained its first SEC win this season this afternoon, beating Mississippi State in Starkville by a score of 9-7. This was also Coach Paul (Bear) Bryant’s first major victory since taking over the football program this fall. Oct. 25, 1958-Many Hartselle homes have pianos they purchased at E. E. Forbes. The founder of the firm, Mr. Forbes, died today in Birmingham at age 91. He established his business in 1888.
Oct. 26, 1958-The new movie “Vertigo” starring James Stewart and Kim Novak is now showing at the Strand.
Oct. 26, 1958-Local motorists are hoping that a gas war currently in progress in Montgomery spreads northward. Regular gas has been reduced from 31.9 to 28.9 per gallon in the past few days. Ethyl is down from 33.9 to 31.9.
Oct. 27, 1958-Mrs. Merrill Doss entertained this afternoon in the First Methodist basement, honoring her daughter, Jean, on her fourth birthday.
Oct. 27, 1958-Long-time Hartselle resident Ed Watson, who now operates Lollar’s Fishing Camp, caught a seven pound, four ounce spotted bass this morning below Wheeler Dam. Watson believes he may have made a record catch but is checking TVA records to confirm this.
Oct. 28, 1958-The Alabama Department of Conservation released 70 wild turkeys today in a 20,000-acre portion of east Morgan County. Landowners in Cotaco Valley had requested this since this county is now closed to all turkey hunting. The turkeys were released at Florette crossroads and several other places in the area. Deer hunting in the county is also forbidden so some deer will also be stocked here at a future date.
Oct. 28, 1958-Angelo Cardinal Roncalli was chosen today as the new pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The 76-year-old pontiff has chosen to be called Pope John XXIII.
Oct. 29, 1958-The State Crippled Children’s Service conducted its fall clinic today at First Methodist. Dr. John Sherill, a prominent Birmingham physician with strong Hartselle ties, was the orthopedic surgeon in charge. Mrs. Lucia Lee and Mrs. Mary Yarbrough were the local coordinators.
Oct. 29, 1958-Since the win over Mississippi State on Saturday, local Tide fans are looking toward to future games with a lot of optimism. Coach Bear Bryant is more cautious, however. He wasn’t satisfied with today’s practice, saying, “We would have been better off if we had just played drop the handkerchief. We sure didn’t accomplish anything.”
Oct. 29, 1958-Mrs. Buddy Self and Mrs. Fred Summerford, clerks at Strickland Drug Co., and Mrs. T. B. Strickland, Jr., were in Birmingham today to attend a Tussy beauty training school at the Tutwiler Hotel.