Look Back ... to a dangerous Alexandria intersection, 1999
Apr. 18—April 18, 1949, in The Star: J. L. Todd Auction Co. based in Rome, Ga., advertises that it has been contracted to sell the grocery store property of G. C. Gilliland located in the heart of Oxford. The furnishings come from Oxford's largest and most modern grocery store, having served the citizens of Oxford over a number of years. The grocery stock is for sale, including animal feed, while fixtures to be auctioned off include a new electric Coca-Cola box, 15 push buggies, two large radiant gas heaters, one new Hobart meat slicer, a walk-in refrigerator, three large electric fans and much more. The auction will be held Thursday, April 21, 1949, at The Oxford Super Market. The ad mentions that Mr. Gilliland "has business elsewhere," so he might simply be getting out of the retail grocery business.
April 18, 1999, in The Star: In a special section of today's Sunday paper, the editors present the work of Anniston Star reporters and photographers who fanned out across Fort McClellan recently to capture the routine, normal activity of the Army base even as it faces its final days. Also this date: The constant danger faced by motorists who pass through or make use of the intersection of U.S. 431 and Gate 5 Road in Alexandria is explored in an article about the deaths and injuries that keep occurring there. Its only traffic control is a flashing light, which blinks yellow for traffic flying along the U.S. highway and red for those attempting to gain access to the busy four-lane. Design appears to be a factor in the danger: Vehicles trying to turn off the highway and those that are waiting to cross it often end up jammed together, pirouetting around one another. That creates obstructed vision and other hindrances for motorists. Howard Goodwin, who has owned and operated Goodwin's Drugstore at the deadly Alexandria corner for 35 years, says he uses an access road that runs beside U.S. 431 to get to and from his business. "I don't use that intersection at all," he said.
Assistant Metro Editor Bill Edwards: 256-236-1551. On Twitter @bedwards_star.
