1956 District Deaths and Disasters Highlight Four-County Area
A four county review shows 1956 marked by highway deaths, drownings, and residential fires accounting for most fatalities. Cullman led traffic deaths with 17, Morgan 15, Limestone 11, and Lawrence eight. District drownings numbered at least two dozen, with notable incidents near Decatur Cave Springs Courtland and Hillsboro. The Cotton Hardship Committee and local elections, annexations, and industry moves also featured in year-end briefs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cotton Hardship Committee
Limestone County
Alabama
Austinville
Decatur
Lawrence
Cullman
Highway Patrol
Morgan
Limestone
Hartselle
Decatur Boat Harbor
Cave Springs
Athens
Courtland
Seldon Ledlow
Moulton St
Howard Battles
Attens
Sti De sti De Vilmale Glimpses About Your
The note provides partial glimpses about a person or topic with limited readable context. It mentions names or terms but lacks clear actions, dates, or locations to build a full incident or event summary.
Decatur stores to close for New Year observance
Decatur merchants will close tomorrow in observance of New Year’s Day per a Chamber of Commerce notice. Various local residents travel plans and social events are noted, with police reports of a shooting, a car theft, and court sentences for prohibition violations among city happenings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Decatur
Chamber of Commerce
Dulles Plans to Outline Ike Checkmate Bid in Middle East
Secretary of State Dulles meets U N Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold to explain the Eisenhower plan aimed at blocking Soviet expansion in the Middle East. The outline seeks standby authority for U S troops if needed but no current intention to deploy forces.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United Nations
N. Y
Dulles
U. N
Dag Hammarskjold
Eisenhower
Middle East
U. S
Hammarskjold
Suez Canal
Washington
Congress
U.S
56 City Traffic Took One Life in Decatur 1956
A Decatur mother, Bessie Sue Sims, 28, was killed in a two car crash in August 1956 making her the city's sole traffic fatality that year. Richard Ellison died days after a wreck on November 1, but his death isn’t counted as a traffic fatality pending cause confirmation. The year shows some improvement over 1955 when two children died in police jurisdiction crashes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Decatur
Bessie Sue Sims
Richard Ellison
Sheriff's quiet weekend nets 21 arrests across three counties
A quiet pre holiday period ends with 21 people arrested by district sheriff's forces in Lawrence Limestone and Cullman counties over a two day span all on misdemeanor counts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lawrence
Limestone
Cullman
Fifteen East German Students Defect to West Berlin
All 15 boys from an East German senior class fled across the border to West Berlin to escape reprisals after staging a five minute silence to protest Soviet intervention in Hungary. They will be flown to West Germany to finish high school. The pupils are from Storkow, southeast of Berlin.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Berlin
West Berlin
Hungary
West Germany
Storkow
Traffic Deaths Climb Steadily During New Year Holiday
National tally shows 213 traffic deaths by 102 hours into the New Year holiday with 24 fire deaths and 37 from other accidents, totaling 274. The four day period began Friday 6 p m local time and runs to Tuesday midnight.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ned H. Dearborn
National Safety Council
Cullman County Farmer Wesley Collier Killed Crossing Highway 112
Wesley Joshua Collier, 71, a retired Cullman County farmer, died yesterday at 6 p.m. after being struck by a car while crossing Alabama Highway 112, four miles east of Cullman. It marked the county’s 17th traffic fatality and third pedestrian death of 1956, all on Highway 112. Rites set for Tuesday at 2 p.m. from East Point Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Interment in adjoining cemetery under Mass Service. Rev. T. E. Bright to conduct services.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cullman
Wesley Joshua Collier
Cullman County
Alabama
Here
Collier
East Point Cumberland Presbyterian Church
T. E. Bright
Fourth Montgomery Bus Hit by Gunfire in Week of Protests
In Montgomery Alabama a city bus was struck by gunfire the fourth time since desegregation began ten days ago. Driver W H Fullilove reported a hole below the seat from a .38 caliber shot while no injuries were reported. A pregnant passenger Rosa Jordan was shot in both legs on Friday.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montgomery
Ala
G. J. Ruppenthal
Fullilove
Rosa Jordan
Morgan County Schools End Christmas Break Thursday
Morgan County High, Hartselle Elementary, and Collins schools will resume classes on Thursday after a Christmas vacation extension. The Decatur Daily had misreported Wednesday as the reopening day. students were dismissed Dec 19 for two weeks off, now extended through Thursday.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Morgan County
Morgan County High
Hartselle Elementary
Collins
Decatur Daily
New Year Brings Tax Time Help At Local IRS Office
The article notes federal income tax filing begins in 1957 with the Decatur IRS office offering assistance days. Agent in charge Watson Bradley said taxpayers can get help on Mondays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 30 p.m. Additional help is available on Tuesday and Wednesday as referenced for page continuation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Watson Bradley
Internal Revenue
Bradley
Internal Revenue Office
Decatur Internal Revenue Office
Trio Killed Here By Fire In 1956
Fire caused the deaths of three people in Decatur area during the past year, per Decatur Fire Dept. report. Otto Thurnauer, 87, died after a chair he sat in caught fire at his son’s home on October 19.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Decatur
Otto Thurnauer
11Th Ave
Miss Nel- See Trio
Tax Collections Show Sharp Gain
Morgan County Tax Collector Price Bryant reports a $71,604.26 rise in tax collections through Saturday compared with 1955 due to more housing and industry. The 1955 total for real estate personal tax auto tax and poll tax was $893,570.80 and the week’s tally reached $965,174.06 with a day left before penalties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Morgan County
Price Bryant
Bryant
Rain in 1956 tops weather news in district figures
A 1956 weather review shows rainfall well above normal for the district with about eight inches more rain than average and near fifteen inches above last year. Temperatures largely normal with some exceptions. Official totals listed on page 2.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Poe
Weather and River Readings at Keller Memorial Bridge
Tennessee River at Keller Memorial Bridge shows 6.57 feet with a small fall in 24 hours and sea level reading at 550.87 feet. Morning temperature is 56 degrees with a fair warm day ahead. Forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, southwest winds 12 to 20 mph, high near 64, low 40, and 62 for Tuesday. Legal waterfowl shooting times set Tuesday 6:26 am to 4:17 pm and Wednesday 6:26 am to 4:18 pm.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Decatur
Tennessee
Keller Memorial Bridge
City Reports Strong Yet Not Peak 1956 Business in Decatur
Decatur records one of its greatest business years in 1956 though construction did not match the prior all time high near four million dollars. Chamber head Joe McCullers cites better overall commerce and record Christmas sales with merchants noting strong local spending and a parade drawing large crowds. The boom is linked to more residents moving in and spending where they live. City notes on page 2.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Decature
Joe McCullers
Decatur Chamber of Commerce
MecCullers
Decatur
See City
Eisenhower to push civil rights action in new Congress
President Eisenhower told Republican congressional leaders he intends to press for action on his civil rights program in the new Congress. In Birmingham six young Negro boys were charged with peppering a trolley bus with air rifle pellets last night. Police Commissioner Lindbergh said the incident did not appear connected to efforts to end segregation on buses.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Eisenhower
Congress
Birmingham
Robert E. Lindbergh
Miller dies after heart attack as daughter wounded in home accident
Edward B. Miller, 47, former Alabama state legislator and Democratic figure, died of a heart attack shortly after his eight year old daughter was shot and seriously wounded in an accidental shooting at the Miller home in Gadsden Alabama.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gadsden, Ala
Edward B. Miller
Alabama
Miller
Cotton farmers face new congressional round for better Dixie deal
Washington reports a new Congress likely to push cotton allotment reforms for the old South as West gains income. Southern small farms lack a unified voice while a strong West organization lobbies Washington. Prospects for enacted farm relief remain uncertain amid general expectation of investigations rather than major laws this session.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Congress
Dixie Farmers
South
Department of Agriculture
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Tennessee
Alabama
Mississippi
Arkansas
Louisiana
West
Washington
White House
Secretary of Agriculture
Ezra Taft Benson
Decatur Swells in Population as Mayors Change
Decatur marked a year of change with a new mayor after 12 years and annexation of two areas. Austinville joined Decatur in September adding about 1 100 residents and a 40 acre parcel. The city council also saw replacements while plans for state dock surveys on the Tennessee River were announced.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Decatur
Austinville
Knox L. McRae
H. R. Summer
Roy Odom
Rutledge S. Thomas
C. E. Poole
Charles N. Harvey
Johnnie H. Aycock
Leonard Moody
H. H. Higdon
Ned Frazier
Utilities Reflect Decatur Progress in 1956
Decatur utility departments gas water and electric added customers and boosted revenue in the year ended 1956. Electric customers rose about 5 percent to 8 996 with $1 473 000 in gross revenue. Gas added 186 customers reaching 2 882 and $577 761.60 revenue. Water gained 661 customers for 7 216 and revenue over $367 982.24 by Nov 30 1956.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Decatur
Gas
Water Department
P.O. Receipts Top 55 Figures
Decatur and Albany post offices report a jump in postal receipts with Friday totals at 260 912 21 dollars, up from 237 370 last year and 196 000 in 1954. One clerk added to staff bringing total employees to 57. Postmaster I E Self, acting last year, now holds the position. City routes total 15 in Decatur with 14 regular and one auxiliary plus three rural routes. December business peaked near 35 000 dollars, up 2 000 from last December.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Decatur
Albany
Self
Well Christmas tie finds way into Daily Want Ads
A playful line notes a wife gifting a Christmas tie seen in the Daily Want Ads. The snippet hints at humorous ad copy and domestic whimsy reflected in the listing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tool
Also Mentioned on This Page
Aed
Boo O Batuatia
Hiway
Town Creek
Big Nance Creek
Atheny
Detroit
Mich
Hillsboro
Madison County
Hanceville
Moulton Heights
House
E. C. Gathings
Vilmale
Virginia van Sant
Leon Skeen
New Orleans
S. G. Peter
Montevallo
J. R. Hunter
Danville Rd
Lorraine Peter
Anna Nabors
Hunter
Chuck Murphy
Homewood
Donna
Chuck
Tim
Katy
Chris
Gladys Ferguson
One Training Union
William Waller
Victor Deleane
Chicago
Decatur General Hospital
Willie Thatch
Tanner 1
Cooper Frazier
Jackie Bentley
6Th Ave
Cornelian Hotel
Reynolds Jewelry
East Moulton St
City Recorder’s Court
Talmadge Mosley
Bush Kelly
Morgan County Red Cross
Nora Kelford
Huntsville
R. L. Compton
16Th Ave
Compton
Buckley
Dag
Ike
Mid East
THE
Associated Press
City
Francis M. Lemay
California
Arizona
New Mexico
By Cullene Morgan
Tennessee River
McRae
P.O
Tes Sone
By Ken Reynolds
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!