Way Back When the Sunday newspaper was the highlight of our week, I couldn't wait to run out and get it from the front yard, take off the rubberband and pull out the colorful comics. However, my favorite part was in the body of the paper, and we couldn't mess up the paper until my dad had finished with it. As he finished each section and put it aside, I started searching for that magical little square full of "Southland Sketches" by Walter Overton. The weekly feature, exclusive to the Mobile Press Register for 37 years except for two years during World War II, was full of illustrated local tidbits I found fascinating. As I absorbed the historical tales and oddities from the deep South, I built a knowledge base that would be perfect in a trivia competition about the Gulf Coast area. Similar to "Ripley's Believe It or Not," each week there were new snippets of information which came alive with his cartoon-like illustrations.

Fast forward almost 40 years, and we walked into the "Yellow House on the Corner" in Bay Minette, home of Leedon Art Gallery, where Mike Shipler was hosting a display and sale of the Overton collection. What a great evening in December of 1979, three years after Overton's death. Mike created a magical event with Overton's manager and publisher, Claude Bagge, entertaining guests with his stories of the famous artist and author. It was there I realized how extensive Overton's portfolio is: original watercolors, books, brass plates from newspapers, drawings and so much more. We were two school teachers and couldn't afford much, but I was able to buy a couple of the "Southland Sketches" books.

Sample of book of "Southland Sketches."

And then there is more…I was working part time at the Baldwin County Archives in 2008 when the county commissioners voted to acquire the remainder of the collection. I couldn't believe I was actually allowed to help catalogue and store this treasure trove, which is still there and is included in the online list of materials.

Overton's autobiographical book, "Texas Boys," published by Exposition Press, is full of entertaining tales of growing up in a Texas border town where he was born in 1893. The aspiring artist attended art school in New York, London and Paris, where he tutored students to pay for his art classes. Along the way, he met Claude Bagge who became a lifelong friend and manager. They decided to settle in Baldwin County where Overton had relatives. In years past, he had visited the Davis family in the oldest house in Fairhope (now the Robert Normand home) and returned there often to visit other relatives who owned the Colonial Inn. We are so lucky he fell in love with Baldwin County and lived most of his life in Bon Secour, where he wrote and painted for more than 37 years.

An example of one of the "Southland Sketches" is full of high-interest tidbits shared by readers.

Not only did he consistently produce "Southland Sketches," he often was commissioned to do the artwork and text for local cities, Chambers of Commerces and businesses. His Point Clear Cavalcade was produced to accompany the reopening of the Grand Hotel after World War II, chock-full of historical information about the area. His illustrated maps hang in homes all over the Mobile Bay area. His work was printed by Bagge at the shop in Elberta but was often hand-painted in watercolors by the artist himself.

His publications were strictly managed by Bagge. Overton would not give the newspaper a new sketch until the paper had returned the brass plate used to print the previous one. Some of those are in the collection in Bay Minette. He was also a gifted painter. In a photograph of him in his studio in Bon Secour, a painting is hanging behind him. In his will, he bequeathed it to the Eastern Shore Art Association.

A collection of Walter Overton's work is housed at the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History in Bay Minette. Director Felisha Anderson shows one of his maps of Baldwin County.

Many of his "Southland Sketches" were reproduced in booklet form. Some are annotated with text explaining the historical information illustrated in the books. He and Bagge traveled extensively to verify information that people sent to him. They traveled in what they called their homemade Gypsy Wagon. In fact, that is how they described it when they applied for a tag for it. Overton also loved his dogs. Jocko was one of his favorites, and he authored a story for children using Jocko as the main character.

If readers are interested in learning about the biggest flounder ever gigged, a root in the shape of the 4-H symbol, the record for catching mullet in Magnolia Springs, a japonica measuring almost 7 inches grown in Fairhope or false teeth worn by a dog in Pensacola, just check out his collection. The public can make an appointment with the Department of Archives and History to see some of his works. The Foley Library Genealogy Department has quite a large collection as well. Or drop by my house and look through a book in my personal collection. I love sharing what little I have.

Special thanks to Janice Hudson, Susan Stein, Robert Normand, the Foley Public Library and the Baldwin County Department of Archives and History for their contributions to the information file on Walter Overton.

"The Yellow House on the Corner" in Bay Minette was the setting for a display of Overton's work organized by Mike Shipler and Claude Bagge.