Looking back: Wrestling bear causes problems

Published 12:06 pm Tuesday, February 23, 2021

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Thirty years ago, in 1991, Brewton mourned the death of Broox G. Garrett Sr. at the age of 75. He was a native of Grove Hill and had been a resident of Brewton since 1947 when he moved here to practice law. He was a prominent attorney and a community leader.

Bill and Myron Pugh celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Virginia Bradley was watching television at her home on Auction Street when the lights flickered and she noticed some smoke outside her home. She looked out the window and was shocked to see the smoke was coming out of her house. Two fire trucks responded to the fire, which caused a lot of damage. The fire department said there was no immediate known cause of the fire, but there would be an investigation.

Deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department closed Eddie’s Lounge, located on 31 north of Brewton after two weekends of what they called  ‘free for alls.’ There were an estimated 200 patrons, most of them drunk, and a wrestling bear. Fights broke out and when there was no more room inside, they carried it outside to the parking lot. Several people were injured but not critically, even when they pulled out the knives and began to slash at each other. One man needed more than 50 stitches. The sheriff said he believed the closing would be permanent.

One soldier in Iraq was able to get a call through to his wife. She was staying with her parents in Atmore her husband was away, along with their children, including a new son he had never seen. His call came while the soldiers were on the move and she said she could hear the trucks as they moved.

T.R. Miller High School seniors were getting ready for their senior play, “Anything Goes.”

Things have certainly been entertaining over the last few decades. Some things continue to be entertaining when it comes to things we witness around our community.

As we continue these trips down memory lane, I hope that we spark something that reminds you of what a unique community we live in no matter the year.