Remains of the old Sardine Bridge as seen from modern road
The ghosts of our not so distant past haunt us every day. Not in the sense of apparitions and spirits floating through the air necessarily but the haunting is to be found off the roadsides and the backwoods where old homesites, cemeteries and memories collide in a crescendo of the past following down the river of time into the sea of eternity. It's my speculation that these people of the past want to be remembered for the places where they lived, worshipped, loved and died and they want their life lessons to pass to us. Therefore it makes sense to seek out their story
Up the road from the Sizemore Creek Bridge (see last week), sets the Sardine Bridge, just beyond the Creek Indian Magnolia Branch facility. Yet more so than just a concrete and steel memorial to engineering, the spot where it crosses Big Escambia Creek marks the location of a treasure trove of history if one can filter out the static of our modern day.
Annie C. Waters mentions Sardine in her book, History of Escambia County. She notes the location as "The northeastern area of Township 2N, Range 7E and has at different times been known as Sardine, Magnolia, and Stanley Cross Roads."
Waters notes that as early as 1879, the community had a church, school, agricultural facilities and sawmills. Yet the name Sardine naturally raises the curiosity of any who hear it because there are no "sardines" or herring native to Big Escambia Creek. On March 7, 1957, The Brewton Standard sought the source of the name and found the following:
"It seems there was a landing at that point on Big Escambia Creek where logs were placed in the stream and floated down to Conecuh River and on to Pensacola unless they were detoured somewhere along the route and manufactured into square timber. Sardines and soda crackers were the principal "traveling" diet of loggers who visited the landing and they consumed them in large quantities. Naturally, they threw the cans on the ground and for want of a better name and to identify the spot among themselves, they began referring to it as the "Sardines Can Landing."
It was also noted in the story, "There was a ford there also and when the bridge was later built the name remained unchanged and it was first known as "sardine can bridge." Somewhere along the line the "can" was dropped and it has been "Sardine Bridge" ever since. The Brewton Standard verified this information through Rev. J. C. Myrick and others.
The site was the location of many social activities over the years. The Atmore Advance noted on Thursday September 7, 1933, "There will be another big dance at Sardine Bridge Saturday night, September 9th. Good music and other entertainment features have been arranged for those attending. The open-air dance pavilion is more enjoyable than ever during the beautiful moonlight nights at this time of year."
There was also a tavern on the east side of the bridge, just to the south of the roadway. It has been said this was a rowdy place.
Yet the recreational side of Sardine is only one side to the story. It was a community, with flesh and blood people living there lives miles from Brewton, Flomaton and Atmore and prospering in the backwoods of Escambia County.
The Pine Belt News reported on Thursday, December 8, 1910 that Sardine had two schools operating. A North Sardine School existed as did a South Sardine School. Miss Jessie Owens was the teacher during those days.
The community also had a well-stocked store and US Post Office that existed for several years. Mrs. Earline Smith Crews remembered, via Facebook, the store in its later years, "The home (at the cross roads) belonged to Willie and Bessie Hinnot. They had a little store which also doubled as a post office at one time. I remember the store being still in operation when I was a small child. Willie was a close friend of my Daddy. They attended Magnolia Baptist Church. Richard, their son, lived in the big old wooden house that wrapped around the corner at the crossing there, it sat on the southeast side. The store sat just to the front side toward Flomaton. I remember it having a cold drink case and snuff boxes on the shelf."
The original post office dated to 1898. Notable postal employees included J. L. Jorden, Lew J. Jordan, Lemuel Jordan and Olly Jordan and several others that space and time preclude mentioning in this article. Lemuel Jordan and J.L. Jordan were proud Confederate veterans, having been members of the 1st Florida CSA Infantry. J. L. Jordan went on to become a county commissioner. He is buried at Traveler's Rest Cemetery off Upper Creek Road. Mr. Ben Black counts these honorable men as his kin.
Mrs. Rena Graham's parents ran the store at one time as well.
From time to time the peaceful rolling countryside would be disrupted by tragedy. The Pine Belt News reported on December 30, 1909 that Mrs. Mary Booth burned to death at Sardine. "She was standing at the fireplace with her back to the fire and her clothing caught," stated the paper.
Her daughter, Mrs. Furr, "Did everything possible to save her mother's life, but was unsuccessful," according to The Pine Belt article.
Mrs. Rena Graham commented via Facebook, "Mary Washington Booth was my Great Grandmother. [Her] two sons were Gordon Booth and Charlie Booth. Grandmother Booth was holding infant JP Booth when her skirt caught fire, he wasn't hurt. He was Charlie's son my Father's oldest brother." Mary Booth is buried at Magnolia Cemetery.
Industrial accidents were common in those days such as when Mr. E.M. Jordan had his hand mangled in his "stave" saw, his recovery was slow.
Mr. Willie Dosier often travelled the backroads of the area selling stoves for the Wrought Iron Stove Company and made frequent stops at Sardine.
A local Justice Court was held regularly at Sardine. One notable trial from May of 1900 revolved around the curious case of Mr. Clark Lambeth who was charged with being a "road defaulter." He was acquitted by a jury of his peers.
In the late 1890s, Sardine had both a "singing school" and a "debating society," which would add greatly to the intellectual development of any community. The debating society, known as Magnolia Debating Society held its third meeting on Saturday November 5, 1898 with the topic for debate being, "Which has more influence over man, woman or money?" The result of said debate remains a mystery for the ages.
Next week, more tales from Sardine.
Quote of the week, "The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worth every time Congress meets." Will Rogers.
Shadows and Dust Volume III: Legacies is available for purchase in the amount of $30.00+$5.00 shipping and handling to PO Box 579 Atmore, AL 36502 or visit Lulu Publishing.com; Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles.com OR at the Monroe County Heritage Museum in Monroeville, Alabama or by calling 251 294 0293.
The Canoe Civic Club is proud to announce the date of the upcoming Canoe Homecoming in beautiful downtown Canoe from 8:30am-2:30pm on Saturday November 23, 2019. Call 251 294 0293 for free vendor spots.
