Winston County, Alabama Community News Stories

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1868 - April 17 - Memphis Daily (Memphis, TN)

Winston County, Alabama court house was destroyed totally by fire recently.

1887 - July 7 - Lamar News

WONDERFUL DISCOVERY - A Galena Mine Found In Winston And A Large Quantity Of Bullets Supposed To Be Used In The Revolutionary War - [Jasper Headlight]

             A gentleman who has a contract on the Sheffield & Birmingham road was in town Saturday and related an interesting story to the Headlight in regard to a discovery he has recently made. In a wild and uninhabited portion of the county, where probably no human being sets foot from year in till year out, he discovered indications which led him to believe that a strata of Galena existed there. He marked the place and in a few days returned with tools and help and began investigations. It proved to be as he expected – a Galena mine of the finest quality and in great abundance. But the most wonderful part of the story is yet to come. In cutting away the undergrowth from the hillside an opening was discovered which led into a large spacious room dug into the hill under the ground. It was evident that this cave was not a natural one but made by man, as there was signs that a wooden floor and ceiling once existed therein. One or two rude iron vessels of ancient designs lay half buried in the mouldering floor, in one corner a large quantity of bullets of various sizes lay piled in a heap weather-glazed by years of exposure. It is supposed that this mine of Galena was discovered and operated during the Revolutionary War and that the bullets were manufactured there to be used by our forefathers in their struggle for independence. - (Lamar News, Lamar County AL - July 7, 1887 - transcribed by Veneta McKinney)

1891 - August 7 - Daily Journal - (Tenn.)

A Court House Burned.  Birmingham, Ala., August 7 - The court house of Winston County, Alabama was burned Tuesday morning with all the records.  Nothing was saved. The fire is believed to be inciediary.  The loss on the building is about $7,000.

1895 - March 14 - Hamilton News Press - (Marion County AL)

UNLICENSED STILLS DEMOLISHED

Deputy Revenue Collector D. A Hughes and Deputy US Marshal C. C. Smith seized and destroyed an illicit distillery of large capacity and 500 gallons of beer Saturday night in Winston County. C. C. Cooper, Sam Shain, and J. M. Burns were arrested and taken to Jasper. It is claimed that these men owned and operated the still. Near Barton post office, Colbert County, Deputy Collector Coffee and two deputy marshals destroyed a cooper still of 150 gallons capacity and about 600 gallons of beer, but no arrests were made. (Hamilton News Press - Marion County AL - March 14, 1895 - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney)

1902 - August 7 - Montgomery Advertiser

FIRE IN DOUBLE SPRINGS - Double Springs, Aug. 6 - (Special) - At 3:30 Monday morning the store of E. Blanton, a two-story frame building was discovered on fire.  The building with its contents was consumed in a few minutes.  The upper story of the building belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was used as a lodge room.  The fire reached the drug store and office of Dr. W. R. Bonds, a one-story frame building which was quickly consumed.  Judge R. L. Blanton's residence was considerably damaged.  The Blanton store was insured, while the Bond's house was not. - (Montomgery Advertiser- August 7, 1902- Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney)

1907 - Sept. 18 - Montgomery Advertiser

INDEPENDENT TELEPHONES - People of Double Springs Build Line to AddisonDouble Springs, Sept. 17, - (Special) - The Winston Telephone Company,a corporation organized under the general laws of Alabama, will, within the next ten days, complete a line between Double Springs and Addison, and will connect at Addison with the line now in operation between Hartselle and that place.This will give Double Springs long distance connections with all points touched by the Bell  system. It is the purpose of the local company to also construct a line to Jasper, and one to Haleyville. The stock of the Winston County Telephone Company is taken exclusively by Double Springs people.  It is the purpose of the local company to extend the lines to every important point in the county.  (Montomgery Advertiser- Sept. 18, 1907- Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney)

1916 - April 27 - Montgomery Advertiser

WINSTON COUNTY HAS FINE SCENERY 
         Winston county was established by act February 12, 1850, under the name of "Hancock," in honor of Governor John Hancock, of Massachusetts. Its name was changed on January 2, 1853, to Winston, in honor of John A. Winston, Governor of Alabama from 1853 to 1857. It lies in the northwest portion of the State and has an area of 630 square miles. 
         Winston is generally hilly, though there are occasional stretches of fine tablelands within her borders. The hill lands are especially adapted to fruit and grape culture. Corn, cotton, oats, wheat, rye, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes are the principal crops, although strawberries and other vegetables grow luxuriously.
         Winston is perhaps the best watered county in the State. Sipsey River, Clear Creek and Bushy Fork are its principal streams. These are fed by numerous rivulets and branches, which find their source in living springs of clear freestone water among the hills. Indeed, it is difficult to find a single forty-acre tract of land in Winston county that does not have from one to a dozen springs on it.
         Fish are numerous in Winston streams, trout, perch, suckers and catfish abounding in great numbers. This county is also the hunter's paradise, as deer, turkey and quail are numerous.
         The natural scenery in Winston county is at places exquisitely beautiful, as others sublime. Clark Creek falls, situated in the southern portion of the county, is perhaps as fine an example of unbridled power as can be found in any Southern State. There are two of these falls, about one-quarter of a mile apart. The water of the upper fall tumbles down a distance of thirty-six feet. At the lower fall the descent is thirty-four feet. These falls if properly harnessed, could be made to generate enough electricity to turn every wheel in Alabama, and will doubtless some day be a source of great wealth. - (Source: Montgomery Advertiser, April 27, 1916 - Transcribed by C. Anthony)

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