Newburg history to be focus of meeting

By Staff
From staff reports
What do the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church, the Masons, a pencil factory and Major William Russell all have in common?
They all played a big part in the founding of Newburg, Ala.
Newburg was a busy area back in its day, according to Frank Bishop, president of the Russellville Heritage Preservation Society. The community still boasts one of the oldest standing church buildings in the area, the Mount Pleasant Church, built back in 1872.
Johnny Davis, a local historian for the area, will be the guest speaker for the Russellville Heritage Preservation Society's town meeting Tuesday, March 1, at 7 p.m. at the Russellville City Hall Auditorium.
Davis will discuss the old church, the local Masonic Lodge, which was built in the 1800's, the old pencil factory and Major William Russell, who was the founder of the city of Russellville and lived his final days in the Newburg area.
Said Bishop, "This is our way of sharing the county's history with citizens of our area."
There is no admission charge and the meeting is open to the public.