Wise or Otherwise By George Thomas Jones
Time flies too fast for accurate memories
If you don’t believe that memories cannot keep up with the flight of time, reflect quickly on these events and see how close you come to the actual number of years that have elapsed since these happenings took place.
9/11 destruction of the Twin Towers at Ground Zero in New York City.
Auto accident in Paris, France that killed Princess Dianna.
The bombing and crash of Pan Am Flight 103 in Lockerbie, Scotland in which 243 passengers and a crew of 16 were all killed.When Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans.
How long have our combat forces been fighting in Afghanistan?
Moving on now to the local level.
When did Monroe County Public Schools fully integrate?
When did Monroe County Hospital open?
When did Patrick Henry Junior College (now Alabama Southern Community College) first open?
When was the “new” courthouse built?
How long has the “Mockingbird” stage play been continuously running?
In what year was Harper Lee’s Pulitzer winning novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” first published?
When did Vanity Fair open its first plant in Monroeville?
When did Hurricane Ivan literally wipe out Monroeville?
O.K. Here’s your time check.
Muslim terrorists leveled the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Believe it or not, it was nine years ago. Today, a controversy is raging with regard to the construction of a 13-story Muslim combination Mosque and cultural center near the site.
The auto crash that killed Princess Diana in Paris occurred on Aug. 31, 1997. Fourteen years ago.
Pan Am Flight 103 went down on Dec. 21, 1988—almost 22 years ago. The incident has reoccurred in the news lately due to the mastermind of the bombing has been recently released from prison although he was sentenced to a life term.
Our military forces invaded Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001. Hard to believe that we have been there for nine years and have not been able to finish the job. Its high time we either sent enough troops to get the job done, or get the heck out of there.
Hurricane Katrina, pegged as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. History, swamped the City of New Orleans on Aug. 28, 2005. Six long years of slow rebuilding have followed.
Turning now to the local front:
Monroe County Public Schools were fully integrated in the fall of 1970. Can you believe that it was 40 years ago? C.M. (Charlie) Pouncey was superintendent of education. Principals were Roy Davis (MCHS), John Tucker (Middle) School) and Terry Wilkerson (Elementary)
Monroe County Hospital was open to receive patients in 1963. First administrator was Virgil Pittman.
The forerunner of present day Alabama Southern Community College was named Patrick Henry Junior College and opened with the administrative offices in a two-story frame house then located between the First United Methodist Church and the Cemetery. Classes were held in both the Methodist Church and the First Baptist Church across the street. B.E. Lee was the first president of the college. It stretches the mind when recalling that the opening date was the fall of 1965, a whopping 45 years ago.
Having been built in 1963, the so-called “new” courthouse is not so new anymore, since it has been in use now for the past forty-seven years. Probate Judge was E.T (Short) Millsap. County commissioners were Miley Pearce, Walter Agee, Fonde Williams and John D. Black. Otha Lee Biggs was serving in the capacity of Clerk of the Commission.
The annual play sponsored by the Museum, which is an adaptation of the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, performed for its 20th annual audience this past May, marking a continuous run of 20 years. The sad thing is that too many local residents have never attended. Charlie McCorvey, who passed away earlier this year, played the role of Tom Robinson throughout the first 19 years, the longest run of any local actor. Charlie, also a county commissioner, school teacher and civic leader is sorely missed by all who ever were privileged to know him.
Vanity Fair, first locally named Monroe Mills, built a small brick factory on the same grounds later greatly expanded and known as Mill 6 that fronts South Alabama Avenue. across from the Budget Inn Motel. Sewing machines first began whirling in 1937. It was the town’s first factory and the first to employ mostly women. Earliest employment was around 300. Not too many local folks left that can recall that small operation built 73 years ago.
Hurricane Ivan, rated only the 10th worst hurricane in the country’s history, was easily the most destructive to hit our fair city. I have lived in Monroeville since 1926 and never before has every street been impassable with fallen trees, utility poles and wires prior to removing with power saws and manpower.
After reading this I am wondering which might be bugging you the most, realization of a poor memory or the sobering thought, that the time that has flown by so quickly, has also carried your age on it’s wings.