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
Girls War on Rats
Two young ladies landed in Ronceverte last Saturday to organize the city for a rat exterminating campaign. They are Miss Anna May Wright and Miss Helen Caldwell, and they came here from Hinton where a war is now being waged against the rodents due to their efforts. Yes, these young ladies confess to being interested in the sale of an effective and cheap rat poison, but that does not detract from the good accomplished by their organization of rat-killing campaigns, and you don’t have to use their particular exterminating agency.
Has Lockjaw, But Still Living
Master Ross Burgess, of Richlands, this county, is seriously ill of lockjaw in the Greenbrier General Hospital, Ronceverte. The dreaded disease developed from a slight wound of the foot caused by stepping on a nail. The lad has been hovering near death for many days but has in the past few days manifested some improvement after the administration of repeated large doses of serum.
Author of “Clansman” Thinks the Klan A Crime and Menace
Thomas Dixon Jr., author of “The Clansman” and son of one of the founders of the original Ku Klux Klan of the South, declared recently in an address before 1,200 persons in New York that the Ku Klux Klan of today rapidly was becoming “the most dangerous movement ever launched in the history of this republic.”
1948 – 75 Years Ago
Burr Purchases Ayrshire
Some high-grade purebred Ayrshire cattle have been purchased by the White Sulphur Dairy, owned by Carl Burr. Three of the purebred animals were added to the dairy herd already consisting of approximately 60 animals. The new cattle were purchased in New York state from one of the best Ayrshire herds in the county and are attracting a great deal of attention since the breed has been relatively scarce in this region.
Tuckwiller Loses Cattle
Ross Tuckwiller, prominent Hereford breeder, has lost two valuable yearling heifers recently of a queer malady. The animals apparently fell dead in the fields from some toxic or bloating materials in the grass. Some cattlemen believe the fatalities are the result of extensive use of phosphate fertilizing.
Has Large Rattler
George Musser of Frankford, popular and well-known naturalist, has just added to his reptile collection a 4-foot native rattler which he captured in a field on the west side of the Greenbrier River at Anthony. Musser is absolutely fearless of snakes and seems to be able to handle even the most dangerous ones without harm often carrying them around in his pockets and fondling them as one would a kitten.
1973 – 50 Years Ago
Nixon Says He Won’t Testify
President Nixon made clear Tuesday that he will not testify in either the grand jury or Senate investigations of Watergate, and he wants the independent prosecutor, Archibald Cox, to help find out who leaked a story suggesting he should testify.
Mrs. Holt is Guest Speaker
Mrs. Rush “Helen” Holt of Washington, D.C., former member of the local AAUW, was guest speaker at the annual luncheon of the Lewisburg Branch, American Association of University Women, held Saturday at O’Neils’ Restaurant, White Sulphur Springs. Mrs. Holt arrived in West Virginia in 1941 as the wife of the late Honorable Rush D. Holt, member of the House of Delegates. Upon his death, Mrs. Holt served as a member of the House for the remainder of his term. While a member of the state Legislature, she was assistant commissioner of public institutions and was later elected to the office of West Virginia Secretary of State.
1998 – 25 Years Ago
GVT Drama Club Shares Top State Honors
Greenbrier Valley Theatre’s drama club recently traveled to Charleston where they competed against 14 other regional winners in West Virginia’s State Thespian Competition. When it was all over, GVT’s drama club shared top honors with four other groups (all supported by school programs), and Mary Davis and Anna Gibson were both named to the all-state cast.
Local Citizens Try to Block Liquor License for Proposed Renick Strip Club
While no decisions were made during the public hearing held by the state Alcohol Beverage Control Administration in Renick, a total of 27 people went on record and voiced their opposition to a proposed strip club in the area. Louise McCormick, who is pastor at the Renick Church of God, said the type of club that the owner wants to open is both degrading to women and immoral. Dewey Beckett, who owns a Christian bookstore, said “the combination of erotica and alcohol is a formula for incest, rape, adultery and divorce.”
