Oakey Streak 1902, Butler, AL submitted by Laura Leigh Elmore ***************************************************************************** USGenWeb NOTICE: Libraries and individual researchers may download this file for personal, non-commercial use only. Any other use requires written permission from the transcriber. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ****************************************************************************** The following article (probably from the Greenville Advocate) was found in the Greenville, AL Public Library, Genealogy and History Room. Oaky (Oakey) Streak, Ala, Mch. 24, 1902. Editor Advocate, Dear Sir:- As we seldom see anything in print from this part of the moral vineyard, we volunteer to give you a few dots. The health of the people in these parts is good. But one of the things to be most desired by our citizens just now is a doctor. This is one of the best locations for a good physician we know of. Our nearest practicing physicians are at Red Level and Georgiana which are 12 and 15 miles distant. If this should reach the eye of any good medical man who wants a location we have the place for him, and any of our citizens would be glad to correspond with him. Owing to inclement weather our farmers are somewhat behind with their work. Corn planting just begining. However with a little favorable weather we will soon be in the boat so to speak. Our farmers are beginning to realize the importance of raising more supplies and feed stuffs at home. Hence a large acreage in oats and much preparation made for hay. It now looks like the cotton acreage will be somewhat reduced, and the acreage of corn and hay increased. Oaky Streak, though she boasts of no real big farmers, has as good and scientific a set of farmers as can be found anywhere. Generally in good circumstances, many out of debt with some to spare. Our lands though not level, produce the finest of crops. Our ginneries, four in number, (operated by W.C. Shreve, J.B. & J.J. Hughes, W.A. Hogg, L.A. & E.J. Hughes) are generally kept busy during the fall season putting the fleecy staple in marketable shape. We have two churches. First, the Baptist, under the pastoral care of Rev. R.S. Hughes, second the M.E. Church South, with the Rev. Hartzog as pastor. R.G. Crittenden conducts our largest mercantile business with G.H. Smith a close second. C.A. Costen & Co., operates our only public distillery. However, with justice to them will say it is a turpentine and not a liquor still. Our courts are presided over by Justice E.Y. Shine, as clever an official as can be found in Butler county. Last but not least is our public schools. We have three established schools that are generally taught by competent teachers. Taken as a whole it is seldom that any one locality presents so many opportunities as Oaky Streak. For fear of finding the waste basket I will subscribe myself, Your friend, L.A. Hughes