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
From The Mountains Of West Virginia
Nature lavished great mineral wealth on West Virginia. Her own progressiveness has developed it. The state ranks second in annual mineral production with an output of $289 million. She is first in natural gas, second in coal and quarries much building stone. Her manufacturers reach $472 million, including glass and hardwood lumber, in which the state ranks second and third, respectively.
Bryan’s Ideas Rejected
William Jennings Bryan was defeated, and the evolutionists or liberals scored a victory, when the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America defeated his resolution to bar schools from the use of church funds which permitted preaching the evolutionary hypothesis.
1948 – 75 Years Ago
Cat Adopts Fox
Freddie Davis of Union has a tiny baby fox given him by a friend. Davis also has among his pets a mother cat with five little kittens. The fox and the cat family were housed in separate boxes in the same room. Soon after spotting the baby fox, the cat picked it up, brought it over to her own box and has since been nursing the little animal along with her own brood. The fox apparently is thriving under the care of its foster mother.
Residential
Hotel Opens
Oak Terrace, Lewisburg’s new exclusive residential hotel, opened its doors to guests last week. Occupying the old Dabney Davis estate, one of Greenbrier’s oldest and most beautiful homes, it offers a gracious welcome to guests visiting Greenbrier County. The owners, John North Caldwell of Lewisburg and W. Rufus Bowling of White Sulphur, since the purchase of the property a year ago, have made extensive improvements and repairs. The interior of the large building has been completely made over with the addition of private baths and other items make it comparable in service to the best hotels in our country.
Outdoor Theater
Movie fans will be interested to learn that Lewisburg is to have a new out-of-doors theater next month, just outside the corporate limits on U.S. 219. David C. Weakley and Eugene V. Spence, two enterprising young Greenbrier County gentlemen, have purchased 2 ¼ acres of land on the old Dr. Harry Beard farm and have workmen busy erecting a drive-in theater where they will show up-to-date films.
1973 – 50 Years Ago
Watergate
Masterminds Used McGovern Signature
Convicted Watergate mastermind G. Gordon Liddy and his secretary, Sally Jackson Harmony, prepared a fake letter authorizing entry to the headquarters of Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern. Sources close to the Watergate probe said the letter carried a phony signature of McGovern campaign director Gary Hart and authorized the bearer to make repairs at the campaign offices.
Extortion Plot
Against Moore
“We have a problem that we think you can help us with,” said a letter to Gov. Arch A. Moore Jr. “The problem is that we want $1 million. If you don’t agree with us, we will blow up the Summersville Dam and the Sutton Dam all to hell,” it said. The letter ordered Moore to deliver $1 million personally to a wooded area of Nicholas County or risk the destruction of two large reservoirs and loss of untold lives and other property. The plot reached its peak a few moments before the appointed 7 p.m. hour when authorities closed in on two young men who allegedly planned the extortion.
New Basketball
Coach Is Named
Al Morgan, athletic director at Greenbrier East High School, announced today that Paul Greer, head basketball coach at Oceana High School for the past 16 years, has accepted the position as head basketball coach for the Greenbrier East Spartans. He has been a coach for 22 years, and his teams have won 340 games while losing 172.
1998 – 25 Years Ago
Lack Of Federal
Support Sinks
Greenbrier River Dam
The Army Corps of Engineers officials provided details about the several flood control alternatives included in their recently completed study. Corps officials explained that the significant environmental hurdles, including the costs of anticipated litigation — 50% if which would have to be borne by the local communities — would put any mainstem dam, dry or wet, out of realistic consideration.
Spartans End Baseball Season With
21-5 Record
The dark and dismal clouds of defeat descended upon the proud Spartans of Greenbrier East Thursday evening in Beckley where they lost 12-3 to the ferocious Tigers of Elkins. Spartans Todd Wood and Craig Terry did their best on the pitcher’s mound, and teammate Dwight Bunding did an excellent job as catcher for the entire game.
GVT Offering
Dramatizes
Greenbrier
Ghost Trial
The century-old Greenbrier Ghost trial will be recreated when Greenbrier Valley Theatre opens the 1998 season with “Zona.” This new work by playwright Jam Buttram dramatizes the trial of Trout Shue who was accused of murdering his young bride, Zona, whose “ghost” was allowed to testify at the trial.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.