Peeping through my Venetian blind, I wondered what the weather would do next and if the groundhog would see his shadow tomorrow. I have a feeling that we are in for six more weeks of cold weather.

Last Saturday, I named Clayton Norris as president of the Board of Directors of the Covington Schools Federal Credit Union and said that he presided at the annual meeting of the union. I was a year behind the times. I should have named the new president, Bridges Anderson.

The current board includes Denise Pearce, vice-president; Traci Locke, secretary; and Jean Sellers and Clayton Norris, members at large.

The faithful credit-union staff should also be named – Elaine Counts, office manager; Leslie Threatt, assistant manager; and Melissa Bybee, clerk.

Seen at the Corner Market for lunch were Gloria Short, Lenora Johnson and Maria Thigpen.

The Covington Rifles Camp 1586 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Thomas Randolph Thomasson Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy met Jan. 21 in the Dixon Memorial of the Andalusia Public Library for their annual joint meeting to honor Lee and Jackson.

SCV Lt. Commander Larry Shaw presided.

“Hank” Roberts, camp chaplain, worded the invocation, blessing, and benediction.

In his invocation, Roberts read tributes to Confederate generals, Robert E. Lee and “Stonewall” Jackson, whose January birthdays were being celebrated.

Derick Davis led in pledges to the flags.

Randy Kelley, song leader, led all in “Dixie” as Margie Thomasson accompanied at the piano.

Tammie Evans of the UDC presented the Jefferson Davis Historical Silver Medal, plus a pin and certificate, to Preston Bales, a student at Straughn Elementary, for his winning essay on Confederate music.

Posters celebrating the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States were distributed for displays.

Following refreshments, Jimmy Cobb showed a video about the life of General Jackson.

Attending were Larry Shaw, Derick Davis, Wanda Davis, Jimmy and Madge Cobb, Linda Castleberry and her granddaughters, Laken Steel and Taylor Lawson, Sir Francis and Lady Ann McGowin, Kelly Carter, Irene Butler, Tonya Bales and her son Preston, “Hank” Roberts,

Joe Rawls, Joyce Leddon, Tammie Evans, Brandi Evans, Margie Thomasson, Randy “R” Kelley, Eleanor Williamson, Dr. Rex Butler, Kelly Veasey in Confederate garb, and Joe Wingard.

Miss Taylor Lawson brought her special friend, Sally, with her.

I ran into Gloria Tyree the other day and asked about her daughter, Linda, who once was a student of mine.

Linda, a graduate of the Andalusia High School who went on to finish at Troy, has retired after 27 years in elementary education, and has taken a job in Brundidge. She has a 20-year-old daughter in college, Lauren Smallridge, living in Enterprise.

Mayor Earl Johnson pointed out to me recently the pictures of mayors of Andalusia, now hanging in city hall (originally, the Andalusia School). He said only two pictures were still needed, and I volunteered to ask the public for help in locating them. One is that of James Morgan Prestwood, son of “Uncle Aus” of fact and legend. He was mayor 1924 – 1927. The other is T. E. Henderson, mayor 1906 – 1908 and 1918 – 1924.

Can you help, gentle reader?

Mayor Johnson told me that 2014 is the 100th anniversary of the building that now houses city hall. It was put up about 1914 as the second brick Andalusia School. The first one (circa 1902 – 1914) stood in what is now the front yard of city hall. It had become too small for the growing county seat and was demolished after the newer one was built behind it.

The Choral Department of the Andalusia City Schools is preparing for presentation to the public a local production of the musical, The Music Man, set for March l – 3 at the Andalusia High School.

Amy (Russell) Spurlin, retired, once teacher of English and librarian at the AHS, presented a program, “100 Years of Progressive Women in the Study Club of Andalusia,” Jan. 20, in City Hall as part of the auxiliary series surrounding the visiting exhibit on “The Way We Worked,” lent by the Smithsonian in Washington, D. C.

Introduced by Elaine Manning, Mrs. Spurlin emphasized the Study Club as an early effort by women in Andalusia to bring culture through educational programs and the establishing of a library.

Using a wealth of minutes from the Study Club, preserved by her Aunt Ethel Darling, later Mrs. D. D. Chapman, Mrs. Spurlin presented a fascinating and enthusiastic lecture, broadened by slides.

The lecture generated much interest from the audience, who learned hundreds of facts about local history, including the location of Pleasant Hill, the name of a residential area between Stanley Avenue and South Cotton Street, reached by Montgomery and Watson streets.

At the January monthly luncheon of Fifty Forward, the senior adults of First Baptist Church, East Three-Notch, John Thompson, city clerk and treasurer, spoke on city organization, using slides to outline various responsibilities.

Thompson, born and reared in Andalusia, a graduate of the AHS Class of 1980 and Auburn, Class of 1984, did an excellent job in summarizing the duties of local governmental departments.

In his splendid speaking voice, Thompson emphasized two city projects, the renovation of South Three-Notch and the additions to the Andalusia City Schools.

A member of the Rotary Club, he is husband to the former Dawn Jackson and father to their sons, John David, 19, and Jackson, 16.

John David is currently at the University of Tuscaloosa on a piano scholarship.

Gordon Vickers, director of senior adults, presided.

Dr. Morgan Moore, chairman of the Senior Adult Council, worded the blessing; Dr. Fred Karthaus, pastor, worded the benediction.

The lunch was catered by Wages – roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, fried bread and rolls, green beans and iced lemon cake.

The room and tables were decorated with snowmen for the wintry season.

Trudy Vickers, assisted by Betty Bass and Kittye Wyatt, placed centerpieces of snowmen, standing in “snow,” surrounded by white Life Savers and “frosted” greenery. The napkins featured snowmen, too.

“Happy Birthday” was sung to Irene Butler, the only January birthday person present.

It was good to have Margaret Smyly home again after her recuperation in Birmingham with her son, Carl, and his wife, Celia.

Seen at dominoes before the luncheon were Buddy Brunson, Fred Karthaus, Morgan Moore and Gillis “The Combman” Jones.

The celebration of the War of 1812 (1812 – 1815) continues.

Again, I ask that citizens of Andalusia join the Covington Historical Society and pay its annual dues of $25 to help preserve the history of our county, whether you attend meetings or not. Mail to CHS, P.O. Box 1582, Andalusia, AL 36420. Include your e-mail address if you wish to be reminded of upcoming meetings.

To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States, let us return to this week 150 years ago.

President Lincoln called for 500,000 more draftees.

A plan to colonize blacks in San Domingo was aborted.

For those who collect stamps, consider those associated with the War of 1812 and the Sesquicentennial of “the War.”

The mysterian is a bald-headed man who was struck over the head with a walking stick (his own, I think) in our public square by a man who was angry at the victim. The wound became infected, and the man died. Who was he?

Birthdays this week are those of “Lewis Carroll” or Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the English author of The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Austrian composer; Thomas Paine, the

American who wrote “Common Sense,” an essay encouraging the rebels against England in the Revolutionary War; Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States; Franz Schubert, the Austrian composer of “The Unfinished Symphony;” and Victor Herbert, the American composer of musicals, which included numbers like “Toyland” and “Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life,” perhaps the most gorgeous love song ever written.

Now, gentle reader, allow me to join Buffalo Bob Smith in encouraging each of us to be in his place of worship this weekend, Lord willing.

Fare thee well!