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
Needle Points a
Menace
Automobile owners are complaining that the careless disposition of used phonograph needles is playing havoc with tires in Ronceverte, and the garage repairmen corroborate their statement that most of the serious punctures are being caused by these needles, which are carelessly thrown to the streets from windows or swept out.
The Walter L.
Main Circus
The performance of the Main Circus was unquestionably one of the very best ever seen in Ronceverte and recalled the glittering old days of Ringling having appeared once in 1898.
Free-For-All
There was a little “free-for-all” at Madison Wilson’s restaurant in Marlinton Sunday night. Richard Stewart, a section hand, was shot through the leg with a .38 caliber revolver, and Madison Wilson, proprietor, got “busted” over the head with the butt of a gun. Wilson was put under bond for the grand jury, he having been in charge of the artillery, no doubt.
1948 – 75 Years Ago
Bounty On Fox Pelts
E.L. McMillion of Esty was in Lewisburg last week, bringing with him the pelts of six gray foxes, to make proof before Justice Hutchinson, so he could receive the bounty of $5 on each fox. He trapped all of the foxes during March.
Chamber of Commerce
The regular monthly meeting of the Lewisburg Chamber of Commerce was held in the county court room of the courthouse last Thursday evening with W. H. Johnson presiding. The committee working for direct telegraph service for Lewisburg reported favorable progress and are still quite hopeful of securing this badly needed service for Lewisburg.
Big Strip-Mining
Project
Greenbrier County’s largest strip-mining project is expected to be placed in operation immediately by the Peterson Coal Company, which has leased 677 acres of coal lands near Rainelle, many acres of which may be mined by stripping. The company is named for R.K. Peterson of Florida.
1973 – 50 Years Ago
McCord Paid $3,000
To Keep Quiet
Watergate conspirator James W. McCord Jr. gave a federal grand jury records showing he was paid $3,000 a month, apparently to keep quiet about the bugging of Democratic headquarters, according to a source close to the investigation.
Cookie Champion
Miss Melissa Hoylman, a member of Junior Girl Scout Troop 633, sold 125 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies during the month of March. She received a necklace with a Girl Scout Trefoil for selling the most cookies in her troop. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Hoylman of Lewisburg.
Bricks Removed
from Streets
The last of Ronceverte’s original brick streets dating back to 1912 were taken up to make way for new paving. The original contractor from the brick streets was the late William R. Roderick Sr., who later built the first of two VEPCO smokestacks at the old power plant in Ronceverte. The contractor estimated there are 150,000 bricks in the four blocks.
1998 – 25 Years Ago
Early May Target for Trail Reopening
After the flood of the Greenbrier River in 1985, it took almost 10 years to reopen the Greenbrier River Trail, a 77-mile-long trail that runs through Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties. After the reopening in 1994, the trail was beginning to show promise as a premier hiking/biking trail in West Virginia. Then tragedy struck again.
More Than 90 Attend Meeting to Discuss
Proposed Strip Club
Over 90 residents from Renick and surrounding areas, as far as Caldwell and Droop Mountain, attended a town meeting Thursday evening to gather information about licensing procedures and find out what they can do, if anything, to stop a strip club from opening in Greenbrier County.
Congressman Meets with Ronceverte
Students
U.S. Representative Nick Rahall recently met with Julie Fisk and Alysia Morris, both of Ronceverte, at the congressional office in Washington. Fisk and Morris, both students at Greenbrier East High School, were in Washington participating in the National Young Leaders Conference.
