This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 36 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 27, 1955
Page
2
Morgan sheriff forces locked up 18 persons on public drunkenness charges during the Christmas weekend. Jail records list highway intoxication driving while intoxicated grand larceny reckless driving peace proceedings and a dual charge of no driver’s license and reckless driving. The Central Methodist Church board will meet at 7 tonight.
The Highway Patrol reported a series of deadly incidents over the long weekend. Victims include Roy Elkin Beck, 43, Georgiana, struck Sunday. George Lee Salter, 20, Evergreen, died from Saturday injuries. William B. Stanley, 25, Cottonwood, after a Saturday two-car collision. Malcomb E. Cross, 65, Eden, in an Irondale crash. William Walter Davis, 65, Tus–cumbia, in a three-car wreck. James Ray Weeks, 31, Winfield, in an overturn near Winfield. Charlie Bean, 38, Florence, fleeing police Friday. and 17-month-old Martha Ann Tolbert, McKenzie, who died after ingesting rat poison on Saturday.
The 1339 ton freighter Honda Maru broke up after grounding near Hachinohe City as 65 mph winds and 40 foot waves pounded the area. Seven crewmen swam to shore about 150 yards away while thirteen others remain missing. Lt. Herbert G. Gates, a Kansas City helicopter pilot, rescued one sailor from the water and helped five from the ship.
Limestone County officers jailed 22 persons during the long Christmas weekend. In Cullman County Sheriff Waldrop noted eight or ten jailed there. Limestone Deputy Davis cited 11 jailed for public drunkenness, four for reckless driving, two for driving while intoxicated, one for passing a bad check, two for assault and battery, and two for violation of prohibition laws.
Local cinema listings feature Princess with Destry and Audie Murphy double feature plus 1:25, 3:25, 5:25, 7:25, 9:25 showings. ROXY presents Spy Chasers with Leo Gorcey and Huntz Hall at 1:34, 3:09, 4:44, 6:19, 7:54, 9:29. Sunset shows Revenue of The Creature at 6:45 and 9:00. Breck at 2:00 and 9:00. Good Morning Jennifer Jones at Ranch Theatre. Americano with Glenn Ford and Frank Lovejoy at 6:45 and 9:00. Hatfield Theater presents Woman's World with Van Heflin and June Allyson at 7:00 and 9:00. Starvue screens Shield For Murder starring Edmund O'Brien at 6:30 and 8:40.
About 500 of Lincoln Mills workers vote to return to work under proposals from talks with federal mediators in Atlanta last week. Union says strike continues until a firm agreement is reached. details of the proposal were not disclosed.
Floods across the delta threaten Yuba City with another crest as water returns to high marks. Federal and Army officials tour ravaged areas while health officials warn of potential typhoid risk and plan inoculations. Death tolls rise with six dead in Eureka and twelve in Yuba City, plus multiple injuries and missing drivers.
Sipsey residents report Carleton Moore left home then returned in a borrowed car claiming he would spend Christmas with his two children. Moore was found shot and bludgeoned. toxicology ties bullets to a pistol used by Moore in an apparent double fatality. Services were set for today with full military rites for Moore.
A 58 year old man named Jim Star died in a cell last night. Police Lt. Robert Banks said the death appears to be from natural causes.
Auction market notes show manufactured milk at 63.20 per hundred and a four percent margin in direct sales. Prime cattle range 23.50 to 26.50 for top grades. Utility and commercial steers quoted between 12.00 and 16.50, reflecting basic supply conditions.
New York trading showed a mixed day led by gains for Boeing among weaker aerospace issues. Pan American World Airways shifted jet orders to Boeing. General Motors and other major names posted declines while steels and rails firmed, with broad activity across numerous stocks and sectors in a volatile session.
In Birmingham, the AP notes that wholesale egg market grades lack enough sales to establish a reliable price benchmark, signaling thin activity and uncertain values for buyers and sellers.
Cattle activity shows 25 to 50 cent gains on brisk slaughter classes with good and choice steers 800 to 1,000 pounds at 16.00 to 19.00, and 1,020 pound items at 19.25. Heifers, cows, and utility stock advance, hogs mostly steady to weak with 170 to 250 pound ranges around 11.50 to 11.75, lambs and feeding lambs mixed with light steady to higher quotes up to 16.00 for 75 pound lambs.
Cotton futures in New York were irregular in slow dealings with late afternoon prices showing a range from 20 cents a bale lower to 60 cents higher than the previous session.
Mrs. Mary B. Stewart 80, a native of Rogersville, died at 4 p.m. yesterday at the Colonial Rest Home. Funeral services were set for 3 p.m. today at the Grant Street Church of Christ with Irwin Lee and J. W. Falkner officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Brown Funeral Co. hosted arrangements. She is survived by two cousins, John and Ross Hannah of Florence. pallbearers named.
Argentine authorities say they arrested over 50 military and civilian supporters of ex-dictator Juan Peron during Christmas weekend raids. One soldier was killed and another wounded as part of a broader plot linked to strikes sabotage arson and other unrest aimed at the Provisional President Aramburu government. Centers of activity included San Luis province and Tandil while the regime froze 98 foreign and domestic company assets including Kaiser and Williams Chemical subsidiaries.
The piece compares holiday and non holiday traffic deaths, noting 1955 Christmas weekend records and all time high totals. It cites National Safety Council forecasts and quotes Ned H Dearborn, warning of sobering lessons for 1956. It also cites recent daily averages and past holiday totals for context.
Fire department logs show no property loss from several small blazes around Austinville. A 10:17 a.m. fire in the 900 block of 4th Ave SE damaged cross ties in an old railroad yard. Additional grass fires Sunday and Monday and two Christmas Day blazes produced no losses. An extra response occurred at 8:45 p.m. Saturday near 1000 block of 8th Ave SE.
Mrs Ida Bell Waldrop, 75, of Decatur, died at 6 p m yesterday at home. Funeral services Wednesday at 2 p m from Union Hill Church six miles west of Moulton with Rev Willie Walker officiating. Burial in Union Hill Parker Cemetery. Body to be taken home this morning, funeral procession leaves home at 1 p m tomorrow. Surviving: five sons Robert Waldrop Decatur Louie Waldrop Moulton 2 Claude Waldrop Moulton 4 Grady Waldrop Moulton 3 Homer Waldrop Hillsboro 1. three daughters Mamie Collier Molly Melson Decatur Della Terry Baltimore Md. 36 grandchildren 16 great grandchildren.
The Senate Internal Security subcommittee released a 100 page handbook declaring the Communist Party U S A a Rus anti-American conspiracy against the government and freedoms. It cites Subversive Activities Control Board findings that the party is substantially directed by the Soviet Union.
Funeral services for William Oscar Bice 73 of 407 Roberts Ave Austinville were scheduled for 2 30 pm today at the Austinville Baptist Church with Rev Thurman Knight and Rev Jesse Rogers officiating. Burial details and survivor list include Ella Mae Bice two sons William Boyd Bice and Kenneth H Bice two daughters Frances Lamon Alma Lane Hull two brothers Fuller and James A Bice one sister Effie Carroll eight grandchildren and pallbearers C E McWright Grady Miller Homer Murphy A H Long Elmer Bussey Fred Vickers. Brown Funeral Home handled arrangements.
Two Chicago area passenger train accidents injured eleven people slightly. A Milwaukee Road train derailed near Union Station with 125 aboard but none injured. A North Shore electric train struck a stalled car near Waukegan, with four hospitalized and the rest treated and released.
Two thefts were reported in Decatur over the Christmas weekend. Tools including a new brace and bolt cutters were stolen from Glenn Construction Co. in Green Acres on Betty St Christmas night. Police records name Patrolmen Louis Landers and C J Martin as investigators.
Admission and dismissal entries across Decatur and Hartselle hospitals list numerous patients with names and streets, including J. J. Putnam 2009 Birch St and Mrs. Ted Coker Decatur, alongside master Virgil L. Kelley and Ezra White. Includes Baugh-Wiley Clinic staff and multiple Lawrence County Hospital entries with patient names from Moulton and Trinity areas.
A son born to Mr. and Mrs. James Call at 910 9th Ave SE on December 25. A daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Ira N. Oden at Eva 1 on December 27. At Decatur General Hospital a son to Mr. and Mrs. Estel D. Irons of 907 7th Ave SE. A daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Smith of 400 6th Ave NW. A daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Marvin F. Sides of 904 7th St. A daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Sam H. Malone of 1503 Woodland.
A son was born to Mr and Mrs William E Mills of Trinity. A daughter arrived for Mr and Mrs William A Jones of Moulton. A daughter was welcomed by Mr and Mrs Donald K McGill of Decatur.
PARIS Daniel Havas, a 45 year old pastry cook who tried to bomb Montmartre's Sacre Coeur on Christmas Day, was questioned by psychiatrists. Police said he might be sent to a mental institution without trial. He claimed a divine mission to halt atomic research and said the small bomb was planted to show the dangers scientists pose.
Centre Alabama John Brooks Shropshire 63 editor and publisher of the Coosa River News died this morning of a heart attack while walking to his newspaper office. He had worked on the staff his adult life and lived next door to the office. He is survived by a brother with funeral services to be announced later.
A report notes an estimated two billion tons of low grade iron ore within 100 feet of the surface in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, prompting renewed exploration and potential mining activity.
Bald eagles pair for life and change mates only after a partner dies while golden eagles frequently switch partners, indicating divergent mating strategies between the species.
Washington sources report Adlai E Stevenson aides quietly exploring a liberal vice presidential partner to balance a moderate ticket. While Stevenson remains distant from the effort, supporters name possible candidates such as Governors Meyner of New Jersey Leader of Pennsylvania and Bowles of Connecticut to appeal to Southern delegates and labor voices.
The Associated Press reports fairly mild late December weather for most of the nation. Temperatures were about 20 degrees cooler in the Mid Atlantic and extreme cold prevailed in New England and Michigan around 10 degrees. The freezing line stretched from northern North Carolina to central Montana with a warming trend expected in the Midwest. Pacific coast rain persisted but light elsewhere.
Industry activity shows a 5 percent gain in 1956 construction outlays, reaching about 44 billion dollars, compared with an estimated 42 billion dollars this year. Weeks notes current volume remains below what is considered normal.
Fred Dunlap Sr., 76, co founder of Birmingham’s first taxicab business in 1910, succumbed to burns suffered at his home Friday. Funeral services are held today.
A 3 p.m. reading of 77 degrees yesterday tied the all time Dec 26 high in Mobile. The 77 degree mark matched the record set in 1889, the first time it had been equalled since then.
A dog found Sunday night near Moulton Heights is awaiting owner identification and claim. A plain gold wedding band was found, owner may reclaim by paying details. A for rent ad offers a furnished apartment at 431 Johnston St for adults, contact 2965.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.