Echoes of the Past is a collection of historical articles curated from The West Virginia News, The Greenbrier Independent, White Sulphur Star and other publications archived since 1852. You may be exposed to content that you find offensive or objectionable. For historical accuracy, articles are reprinted in their original form and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the publisher.
1923 – 100 Years Ago
City Election
At the recent city election, in Lewisburg there being no contest, but little interest was taken. Only 27 votes were cast and each name on the ticket received the full vote polled.
Copper Stills Scarce
Copper stills are becoming more and more a rarity among West Virginia’s moonshine fraternity, W. G. Brown, state prohibition commissioner, declares. Steel gasoline drums, oil cans, milk cans, tea kettles and foot tubs are all found by dry agents in ever increasing numbers. The most common kind of still used is the zinc tub affair which makes the deadliest moonshine known. Lead and rubber pipes and tubes are used to distill the product rather than the old-time heavy copper ones.
For Better Teachers
Upward of 7,000 West Virginia school teachers, or more than 62 per cent of the 13,568 teachers employed in 1922, were enrolled in some of the 37 summer schools which were conducted last spring and summer to better prepare our schoolteachers for the task of training our boys and girls.
1948 – 75 Years Ago
Crickenberger Receives Bronze Star
Cadet William E. Crickenberger, son of Dr. Emmett H. Crickenberger, Lewisburg, and a college student at Greenbrier Military School, has received the Bronze Star for exemplary conduct against the armed enemy. Crickenberger was in the Army three years, was a corporal in Co. 1, 135th Inf. of the famous 34th division and had eight months of combat during his two years in Italy.
Post Office Sets Record
The postal receipts at the Lewisburg post office for the year ending December 31, 1947, were $35,314.91. This has been the largest year in the history of the office both in volume of mail handled and financial transactions in all departments of the office.
Chapel Choir Here
The Chapel Choir, a superb concert group of the Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, Ellis Snyder conducting, will be presented in a concert in Carnegie Hall at Greenbrier College, Wednesday, February 4. This choir, which sings entirely a cappella, has never appeared at a programmed concert with any instrument or accompaniment, and has been heard annually by capacity audiences in the metropolitan music centers of the nation.
1973 – 50 Years Ago
Dickson Farm Selected
Pageland Farm, owned by William M. and Page Dickson, an unusually beautiful example of Wild Wonderful West Virginia, is depicted on the 1973 issue of the C & P Telephone directory. Nearly one and one-half million issues will be published showing the Monroe County farm.
Acupuncture
A few call it hogwash, but a lot of doctors in New Orleans, La., were taking a serious new look today at acupuncture, a medical technique from the mysterious East that was old when Christ was born. Eighty physicians crowded the auditorium at Touro Infirmary’s nursing school for a series of lectures and demonstrations to be climaxed by actual surgery Saturday.
Spence Appointed To Fill Clerk’s Post
The Greenbrier County Court appointed Eugene V. Spence to fill the office of County Clerk left vacant Friday by the death of Paul Hogsett. Spence has been deputy clerk since 1969 and was Greenbrier County Sheriff from 1965 to 1969.
A Coincidence
An incident occurred in the clerk’s office of the Greenbrier County Court last week that was amazing. At the death of Paul C. Hogsett, who had with honor and dignity, served as West Virginia’s most meticulous and knowledgeable county clerk for over 53 years, the official General Order Book number 19 was filed to capacity thus requiring the opening of a new volume. Could a more fitting recognition of the ending of a long and hallowed career been possible?
1998 – 25 Years Ago
Covered Bridge Vandalized
Located just west of Lewisburg and built in the late 1800s, this unique bridge was vandalized January 9. The vandals tore several sections of boards from the sides of the bridge. One of two covered bridges left in Greenbrier County, it has withstood the travels of wagon wheels, horses’ hooves, children’s feet and automobiles from the Model-T to the Thunderbird.
Big Winner Unchanged By WV Lottery Millions
After nine years of receiving $876,000 annually from the West Virginia Lottery, Marvetta Coffman, 64, a retired insurance agent from Parkersburg, still can’t grasp the fact that she is a wealthy woman. It took her friends three years to convince her that she could probably treat herself to a “fancy” new car. She gave away her 1990 Chevy Cavalier and bought a Buick Riviera.
Monroe Board Hears Update On Hydroponics Lab
An update on the construction of the aquaculture/hydroponics lab and then the awarding of a bid for a meat smoker opened the regular meeting of the Monroe County Board of Education.
