Alabama History & Culture News: June 14 edition

 

Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Some articles may be behind a paywall. Enjoy!

It Came From the Archives: Alabama Midland Railroad created 'The Iron Link' for ... - Troy Today

Troy Today - Troy University

He holds a master's degree in American History from the University of South Alabama and is a frequent contributor to Alabama Heritage and Business ...

New film tells tale of former Alabama football player Wilbur Jackson - CBS 42 CBS 42 Alabama halfback Wilbur Jackson (80) finds he is only able to look at the ball as Notre Dame's defensive back Reggie Barnett moves in during the ...

50 years ago Relf sisters were sterilized against their wishes; now Alabama, apologize, write a check AL.com She'd completed copious research for the book, hired a Montgomery-based researcher, made a few trips south from her Brooklyn, N.Y. home. As a side, ...

Union soldiers from Alabama protected General Sherman as he burned down the South We Are The Mighty MIGHTY HISTORY. Union soldiers from Alabama protected General Sherman as he burned down the South. Team Mighty. Posted On June 13, 2022 07:03:34.

Auburn University puts 82 million-year-old dinosaur egg, discovered in west Alabama, on ...

Alabama NewsCenter

Jonathan Armbruster, director of the Auburn University Museum of Natural History, right, was joined by dinosaur egg discoverer and physician Dr.

Former Alabama All-American Robert Stewart dies at 55 - al.com AL.com The cause of death was not immediately disclosed. Regarded as one of the strongest players in Alabama football history, the 6-foot, 308-pound Stewart ...

Tuscaloosa World War II hero honored at the U.S. Navy Memorial - KCRG KCRG “History will not soon forget the lifetime and the service of Mr. McFarland and his dedication to our country, and to the great state of Alabama,” ...

Author Mark Pinsky stops in Montgomery to launch new book about 2004 Garden District slayings Montgomery Advertiser “Brutal, bloody murder is an unlikely intruder in the sedate Garden District of Montgomery, Alabama,” is the first sentence of Mark Pinsky's book ...

“Lady of Bones: A Novel” By: Carolyn Haines | Alabama Public Radio Alabama Public Radio Carolyn Haines of Semmes, Alabama is surely one of the most productive, indeed relentless, mystery writers of all time. The novel opens at Hilltop

New book about 2004 Springford murders reveals new details - WSFA WSFA The author of a new book about one of Montgomery's most high-profile murders will ... Charlotte and Brent Springford (Courtesy Univ. of Alabama).

Auburn unveils dinosaur egg display | News | auburnvillager.com Auburn Villager As Jonathan Armbruster, director of the Auburn University Museum of Natural History, explained, Alabama is rich in fossils … although not usually for ...

City may take over two cemeteries intertwined with Decatur's history - Yahoo News Yahoo News Caroline Swope, the city's historic preservation specialist, ... City Council recently that both cemeteries are on the Alabama Historic Cemetery ...

Decatur historian documents miscarriage of justice | DON NOBLE - Tuscaloosa News Tuscaloosa News Her work was recognized in March by the Alabama Historical Association ... Her first book, “Duty Driven: The Plight of North Alabama's African ...

Morgan County Archives assists New York woman in locating enslaved ancestors

Yahoo News

Finding African American ancestors presents several challenges according to John Makowski, history professor at the University of North Alabama.

New York fund apologizes for role in Tuskegee syphilis study: 'A really good example of ... - Fortune Fortune ... of Black men die of syphilis in Alabama so they could study the disease, ... study: 'A really good example of history as restorative justice'.

Alabaster resident writes book focusing on foster care system - Shelby County Reporter Shelby County Reporter A book launch for her first book will take place in July, and a reading and signing has been set for June 28 with Alabama Baptist Children's Home ...

Smiths Station Baptist Church celebrates 100th anniversary The Alabama Baptist Ellen Dewberry of the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission and Lance presented certificates to the church. “It was amazing to see so many former ...

Unmarked graves discovered at Northport plantation cemetery - WVUA 23

WVUA 23

Each of the 600 people he enslaved had his last name, a common practice in the antebellum era. Congresswoman Terri Sewell of Alabama's 7th ...

Smithsonian Magazine ranks Africatown among places to visit in 2022 - AL.com AL.com Old Plateau Cemetery is among the historic sites of Africatown. ... Smithsonian Magazine has included Alabama's Africatown community among “The 15 ...

The Moth: a story-telling movement with a new book on narrative skills Atlanta Journal-Constitution This year Burns, a native of rural Alabama, has co-authored a book, “How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The ...

Where is Battle on the Beach Filmed? HGTV Filming Locations - The Cinemaholic The Cinemaholic It also holds a significant place in history as it is home to Fort Velasco, ... The resort city of Gulf Shores in Alabama served as the primary ...

Babs Deal, Scottsboro & The Torch

As I wandered recently in my book collection, I came upon this item. I've had it a long time and don't remember how I acquired it. The item in question is the 1973 issue of The Torch, a literary magazine from the "Literary Club" at Scottsboro High School. Since this issue is volume 6, the publication presumably first appeared in 1967. I found nothing about such a magazine on the current high school web site, so I have no idea how long it was published beyond that year. 

High school literary magazines are a genre little studied. A search on Google Scholar brings up in the first results a few articles ranging from 1930, 1966, 1971, and two in the 1980s. The 1971 article noted more than 600 such magazines were being published in the U.S. For my junior and senior years in 1968-9 & 1969-70, I worked on the one at Lee High School in Huntsville. Another journal seems to be have been published there recently. 

Well, now to the real point of this article. Back in July 2017 I wrote a blog post about Babs and Borden Deal, two prolific Alabama novelists and short story authors. Babs [1929-2004] was born in Scottsboro. As described in that blog post, I met her in Auburn in the late 1970s. She and Borden had divorced in 1975. 

If you look below at the page opposite The Torch staff listing, you'll find something interesting. In the middle of that page are some thanks to people who conducted workshops for students, and Babs is listed for "short story". So I guess she was in Scottsboro at some point during the 1972-3 school year. 

As noted in the blog post on the Deals, Babs is buried in Scottsboro. 

I've also included some sample writing from The Torch. 

I wondered if this Rodney Jones was the well-known poet and Alabama native of the same name, but he was born in 1950 and was thus 23 in 1973, so I guess not!

This article by Clarke Stallworth appeared in the Birmingham News 26 March 1982. In it she laments the "bestseller" mentality of publishers and notes that after 25 years her publisher Doubleday doesn't "want me any more." She mentions the completed manuscript for a thirteenth novel. Perhaps it is among her papers, also at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center at Boston University.  

Source: My blog post on the Deals

Alabama History & Culture News: June 5 edition

 

Here's the latest batch of links to just-published Alabama history and culture articles. Most of these items are from newspapers, with others from magazines and TV and radio station websites. Some articles may be behind a paywall. Enjoy!

Carolyn Haines' latest mystery is a scary Halloween story | DON NOBLE - Tuscaloosa News Tuscaloosa News With her 24th "Bones" novel, Carolyn Haines of Semmes, Alabama, is surely one of the most productive and relentless mystery writers of all time.

Artist Douglas Baulos uses Verdant Fund grant for project “Things shouldn't be so hard” University of Alabama at Birmingham Baulos will create a series of seven large works, and an accompanying catalog/workbook will navigate their interests in book structures, Alabama ...

1st remote air traffic control center in US to be in Alabama - KTAR News KTAR News ... on the site of an old Air Force base in Alabama, a newspaper reports. Advanced ATC Inc., an air traffic control academy based in Valdosta, ...

Helen Keller Birthplace Foundation to hold weekly performances of “The Miracle Worker” WHNT Helen Keller is one of the most recognizable names in Alabama history. Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller, has been turned into […]

The history of the City Federal Building, one of Birmingham's original skyscrapers [Photos] Bham Now We took a closer look at this historic structure #Birmingham ... held the title of the tallest skyscraper in Alabama from 1913 until 1969, ...

Civil Rights Tour Gives Participants the Chance to Immerse Themselves in History Alabama News Network An Alabama-based tour group is hoping people continue to carry the legacy of those who have gone before them.

Civil Rights Trail Tours brings tourists to central Alabama - WSFA TV WSFA TV The Civil Rights Trail and its many locations showcase Alabama's rich history and it's also bringing tour groups from across the country to the ..

Time-honored tradition Decoration Day observed across Cullman County The Cullman Tribune – Decoration Day, an annual observance still common throughout Cullman and North Alabama, has a history steeped in tradition, honor and homecoming.

20 years later, Alabama's connection to 'The Wire' lives on - CBS 42 CBS 42 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — It's a small Alabama connection that almost didn't happen. Before “The Wire” became one of HBO's landmark shows–one that ..

Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Verbena celebrates 150th anniversary The Alabama Baptist Plaques were presented to Pastor Bert Tippett (left) and Deacon Jonathan Bowen (right) by Pat Musselwhite of the Alabama Baptist Historical ...

'It's been a great time': Former broadcasters gather to share stories about bygone days working ... CBS 42 Ed Boutwell, left, talking with Steve Gray during the Legends of Broadcast Reunion at the Alabama Historical Radio Society. (Courtesy Drew Taylor).

In Africatown, tourism hopes following Clotilda discovery replaced with worries over zoning map AL.com 29, 2019, file photo, Old Plateau Cemetery, the final resting place for ... EPA denies air pollution permit renewal for south Alabama factory near ...

'Living the Gimmick' a bloody, breakneck novel | Slam Wrestling Slam Wrestling Mathews said that he and his dad didn't have much in common except for their love of professional wrestling. Mathews, a self-proclaimed “Alabama guy,” ...

Alabama Archives display honors Alabamians who served | WHNT.com WHNT.com On this Memorial Day, the Alabama Department of Archives and History looks back on the different ways in which Alabamians have served their ...

National Park Service grants to boost Auburn University research projects - Alabama NewsCenter Alabama NewsCenter This project is supported through an African American Civil Rights grant, provided by the Historic Preservation Fund, as administered by the NPS, ...

Alabama church replacing century-old pipe organ after fire - CBS 42 CBS 42 The yawning gap in the choir loft of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church is a sight that hasn't been seen in more than six decades, ...

New book provides guide to birding in Alabama - WRBL

WRBL

ATHENS, Ala. (AP) — An expert and author has published a new guide to identifying birds in Alabama. “Birds of Alabama” offers a unique experience ...

Alabama musician isn't done chasing his dream: 'This is not going to last forever' - al.com AL.com Born in Birmingham, Alabama musician Ham Bagby (above) spent formative years ... With summer and a new album on the way, Bagby will book gigs to ...

Former Messenger sports editor Bobby Mathews set to release first book The Troy Messenger During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mathews began to write more fiction and ended up selling two books to publisher Shotgun Honey Books. Sign up for our ...

Robert Bailey, author of 'The Professor,' to appear at Madison library

The Madison Record

MADISON – Mystery lovers and other mature readers soon can engage in thoughtful conversation with a local author who will visit Madison Public ...

Alabama Book: Thoughts of a Man Called Boozer

As the downsizing of my book collection continues, I'm even letting go of volumes that have Alabama connections. Can you believe it? This post is about such a book and its author.

The book collects the musings that John Emmett "Boozer" Pitts wrote during three hospital stays, primarily at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., from 1958 until 1963. You can read the details below. Pitts was born in Russell County on November 25, 1893 and died on February 10, 1971. He is buried in Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery along with his wife Martha, who died in 1952, and their two sons.

Pitts attended Auburn before World War I and played football as a lineman for two years. He was the center on the 1913 undefeated team that went 8-0 under legendary coach Mike Donahue. Pitts himself coached football there during the 1923 and 1924 seasons, as well as the final seven games in 1927. His record was 7-11-6. Pitts served as an assistant coach in the 1919-1922 seasons and 1925-1927. He also taught mathematics at the university from 1930 until 1940. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II, and retired at the rank of colonel. 

Both sons also entered the military. John, Jr. [1924-1977] went to West Point, served in Korea and Vietnam and by the time he retired in 1976 had risen to the rank of brigadier general. You can read more about his life and career here and here. Younger son William [1932-1964] was a captain in the Air Force when he died in an F-101 crash in Oregon.

The forward below by Mabel Yerby Lawson gives more details about Pitts' life. The nickname is mentioned, but not really explained.  

Take a book off the shelf, and you never know where you'll end up....

Photo of Pitts from the 1925 Auburn yearbook

Source: Wikipedia

Yes, this copy is signed by the author.

Alabama Book Covers: Tom Roan

In September 2016 I posted an item on this blog about Tom Roan's 1935 short story "Loot Island" which is set in Alabama. Let me quote myself from the beginning of that post about Roan's life; more comments follow. 

Although he wrote novels and other types of stories, Tom Roan is best known as the author of hundreds of stories published in the western pulp magazines from the late 1920's until the early 1950's. He's also one of those authors whose life is more unbelievable than most of his fiction.

Roan was born in Snead on Sand Mountain in December 1892. His poor family moved frequently as the men sought jobs. At one point the family lived in Cardiff near Birmingham where his father William worked in a coal mine. Roan left Alabama on a freight train when he was fifteen and headed west.

He ended up in San Francisco, but that was only one of many stops during the next two decades. He served in the U.S. Army from 1913 until 1917, much of the time in Hawaii. Around that period Roan fought for Pancho Villa in Mexico, and worked in a circus, as a private detective and a marshal in various western towns. He was said to have killed five bad men during those days.

Roan returned to Alabama in 1930 with his first wife Marjorie. Soon they were living in Collinsville in DeKalb County. The following year Roan shot Dr. William Preston Hicks several times during a drunken brawl at Roan's home. Three trials later, in 1933, he was finally acquitted. During his time in jail he requested a typewriter so he could keep writing stories. Dr. Hicks, born in 1889, was a 1913 graduate of the Birmingham Medical College.

Marjorie and their daughter left Alabama during the trials, and she divorced Roan. The daughter was later killed in a car wreck in California. Roan would marry again, but they had no children. He died on July 1, 1958, in Sea Bright, New Jersey. He is buried in Fair View Cemetery in Middletown, New Jersey. 

Two early novels are autobiographical portraits of Roan's young days in Alabama. Stormy Road was published in 1934 and set in Attalla where Tom spent part of his youth. Black Earth came out the following year and is set in the coal mines around Birmingham. 

We probably need to take self-described events in Roan's life before his return to Alabama with a grain of salt. So far researchers such as Bill Plott have found little evidence to support much of it. He notes in a May 2022 email to me:

Roan research is so frustrating because of the difficulty in documenting any of the wild stuff. It is indeed possible that he was with Pancho Villa at one of the battles of Juarez, but where is the documentation and which of the three battles was it? Did he really know Jack London while he was in Hawaii? Possible, but nothing in any of the London biographies I checked suggests that Jack was paling around with any military personnel.  And it's a short window, maybe 18 months that London was in Hawaii. Was Roan involved in capturing a notorious killer while working at as a deputy in Bannock County, Idaho? Again, possibly, but the sheriff's department personnel records do not list a Roan or Rowan during that time period. You see the dilemma.

As far as I can determine, these items below, along with one not listed-- The Rio Kid [Godwin, 1935]-- are the only novels Roan published. Life events and the hundreds of stories he turned out in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s probably kept him from writing more. 

Roan also wrote an occasional article, such as "Alabama Divorce—Cafeteria Style," published in Bluebook May 1953. At that time the state was a mecca for quickie divorces. Even famous people came to the Heart of Dixie. Too bad the state had no casinos to entertain them while they were here.

A.L. Burt, 1936
Burt was a New York publishing firm operating from 1883, until 1937, when the company was bought by Blue Ribbon Books. Doubleday purchased them two years later. 

1943 [in London]. This "abridged" paperback came later

Nicholson and Watson, 1935

Godwin, 1935

Stark realism! Swamplands! Deep South!
Published by Falcon Books [no. 31], 1952

For some reason Roan published this novel as by "Adam Rebel". Published in 1954, the cover art is by Walter Popp 

Nicholson & Watson, 1935; published in London by the same publisher also 1935

Dell, 1955; published in Denmark [in Danish] in 1957

Thanks to Bill Plott for the three images below.

Zenith Books, 1958 

An autobiographical novel published under Roan's real name

I. Washburn, 1934

End papers for Black Earth, also published as by Thomas Roan. Apparently one of the publisher's earliest titles, since the company was founded in 1935. The firm published a number of mysteries over the next four years. 

Hillman-Curl, Inc., 1935