Echoes of the Past: UFOs, Eagle Scouts and Rupert

DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their original form, typoes and all.

1923 – 100 Years Ago 

A Slanderous Hint

At Hurricane, this state, two weeks ago an open air Konklave of the Ku Klux Klan was held on Sunday. In one of the addresses made by a preacher from Oklahoma, the guarded hint was that the late President Harding was a member of the Klan, along with much other boasting of the Klan’s strength among government officials, representatives in the Senate and House, and in other official places.

“Pump Corner” Sold

W. Welch and O. M. Gallemore of Marietta, Ohio, have purchased what is known as the “pump corner” property in Lewisburg from B. D. Eagan, and the work of erecting a gasoline filling station has commenced.

Greenbrier High School Notes

School is going strong, and everyone has settled to work. We have a larger enrollment than ever, the number being 181 – 61 boys and 120 girls. The Sophomore class had an average attendance of 99 percent for last month. They challenge another class.

1948 – 75 Years Ago

Ambitious Plan For Rupert

Curtis C. Jones, writing a column in the Greenbrier Dispatch of East Rainelle, makes ambitious predictions for the neighboring town of Rupert. He writes, “In approximately 10 years, I predict that the Township of Rupert will replace East Rainelle as the hub of industry and commerce of Greenbrier County. Rupert can and possibly will be the county seat of Greenbrier County in a few years to come. Keep your eyes on this little town. It will bear watching.”

Midnight Ramble

Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra, world-famous colored band, will play for another “Midnight Ramble” in the Ronceverte Armory Sunday midnight October 10, starting at 12:00.

Charleston Women Find Snake In Car

If ever four women were deserving of a long, hysterical shriek, it was Friday afternoon when a slithering copperhead snake appeared suddenly from underneath the front seat of an automobile in which they were driving to their Charleston area homes from Lewisburg. Braking her car slowly and pulling over by the side of U. S. 60, Mrs. H. W. Caldwell cool-headedly directed her three companions to step out and then, perhaps with a slight shudder, stepped out herself. The snake, finding no undue emotional disturbances among the women, crawled back into his hiding place under the seat. Two men, who appeared on the scene, dug the sly, two-foot-long reptile from his resting place and killed it. 

Wesleyan Enrollment

All previous enrollment records at West Virginia Wesleyan College were broken this week as 775 students attended opening classes of the 59th academic year of the Methodist institution. The women outnumbered the men about two to one,

1973 – 50 Years Ago

Spiro Agnew Resigns Vice Presidency

The results came before federal Judge Walter E. Hoffman with Agnew pleading “nolo contendere” – no contest – to a single count of tax evasion. The judge said the plea was the “full equivalent to a plea of guilty,” fined Agnew $10,000 and put him on three years probation. 

UFO Spotted In Mississippi

A Northwestern University astronomer says the “very terrifying experience” of two men indicates that a strange craft from another planet did land in Mississippi. Two shipyard workers, interviewed under hypnosis, told authorities they were fishing from an old pier when a “fish shaped” vehicle emitting a bluish haze approached from the sky. They maintain they were taken aboard the craft by three weird creatures with wrinkled skin, crab-claw hands, and pointed ears.

Israeli Tanks Push Deep Into Syria

An Israeli armored column pushed deep into Syria today, batting toward the capital in a drive to crush Arab opposition on the Middle East war’s eastern front. Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan said Syrian forces were “running away” and he predicted Damascus, the world’s oldest capital, “will be in real danger” by tonight.

1998 – 25 Years Ago

Legendary Jazz Musician At Carnegie Hall

The 1998 Taste of Our Town (TOOT) festival began with a spectacular performance by Mose Allison, one of the world’s premiere jazz musicians.

Lewisburg-Fairlea-Ronceverte 219 Bypass: Changing The Way We Live?

Change is coming, literally barreling down a new highway – “Lewisburg-Fairlea-Ronceverte 219 Bypass.” After years of surveying, at a cost of approximately $3 million, the West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) is nearly ready to choose the route around or through our communities. WVDOH distributed information at the September 15 public informational workshop that showed four potential “alignments” and a “start construction date” of early 2000.

Kyle Wheeler Awarded Rank Of Eagle Scout

In a ceremony at the Lewisburg United Methodist Church, Kyle Wheeler was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. Many family members, friends and fellow scouts joined Kyle in an Eagle “Court of Honor” to celebrate and recognize his achievement. Kyle is the son of Dr. Robert and Mrs. Linda Wheeler of Lewisburg. Kyle’s father (“Doc”) serves as one of Troop 70’s assistant scoutmasters. Shown in the photograph from left to right are Jared Pomeroy, Michael Hylton, Woody Leed, Kyle Wheeler, Ryan Wheeler, Tony Reese and Paul Grist.