1923 – 100 Years Ago
Shays Moved
Col. L. C. Dyer has moved the two large Shay locomotives purchased from the Sewell Valley Railroad to the state of Washington, his son Hampden, having arrived in Seattle, Washington, early last week with one of the locomotives, there being 2,200 miles of trip over one road, the entire distance being about 3,000 miles.
K.K.K And Santa
The poor and needy were well remembered Christmas by the local Ku Klux Klan. At 7 p.m. on Dec. 24th, Alex Brown, colored, left the Klavern at Ronceverte with a truck loaded with all kinds of good things to eat. Ten Klansmen directed him to more than a score of homes. Expressions of surprise and delight were given on every hand. A group of the Klan visited Lewisburg and distributed blankets. Previous to this they had visited the Davis-Stuart Orphanage and made a cash donation of $50 and had sent $50 to a minister of the gospel who has been sick for some weeks.
World’s Largest Room
The world’s largest room is the passenger concourse of the Union Station in Washington, D. C. It is 760 feet in length, and an army of 50,000 men could be accommodated on its floor.
1948 – 75 Years Ago
Meadow River Runs Over; Two Feet On Route 60
After a steady 36 hour rainfall, aggregating three inches, Meadow River ran all over the place last Thursday and Thursday night in East Rainelle and eastward to Rupert. Traffic on Route 60 was virtually at a standstill Thursday although Greyhound buses managed to get through. City buses and the Toney Bus line from East Rainelle to Rupert and Clear Creek towns abandoned their schedule Thursday.
Signs With Boston Team
Eugene Leach, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Leach of Hillsdale, has signed a contract to play baseball with one of the minor league teams of the Boston Braves. Eugene, who is now a star athlete at Greenbrier Military School, was an ace pitcher at Union High School before going to the Lewisburg academy.
Peterstown Getting Phones
Work of installing the necessary lines for local and long distance telephone service for the town of Peterstown began a few days ago, and an over-subscribed allotment of 40 telephones will be connected with the C&P system as fast as the materials are available, within the next few months it is expected and promised.
1973 – 50 Years Ago
River At Ronceverte At Highest Level Since 1918
The worst flooding in 55 years struck Greenbrier County area as many families were forced to leave their homes due to the high water. Heavy rains and melting snow sent the Greenbrier River surging to its highest level since 1918.
Hanover Employees Enjoy Dinner, Party
At the close of the working day Friday, employees of Hanover Shoe Company, White Sulphur Springs, retired to the grade school cafeteria where they were guests at a turkey dinner and party courtesy of Hanover management and staff. Approximately 200 were present for the event.
Gasoline Hard To Find Tuesday
One airport described as “a cemetery at midnight – dead,” but the gasoline shortage apparently wasn’t enough to deter Christmas Day visiting and travel by automobile. While airlines, bus lines and railroads reported little business, state and local police around the country said many motorists were stranded on highways unable to buy gasoline.
1998 – 25 Years Ago
Resort Honors 50-Year Employees
Greenbrier President and Managing Director Ted J. Kleisner recently recognized five employees for 50 years of service. The honorees include (from left) Vincent O’Neil, Clarence Childers, Mary Alice Carter, Nathaniel Leftwich and (not pictured) Simon Nester. These individuals’ outstanding careers were celebrated with a reception and dinner at The Greenbrier and a gold and diamond 50-year pin presented to each by Kleisner.
Carnegie Hall Received “The Spirit Of West Virginia” Award
Carnegie Hall, Inc., received “The Spirit of West Virginia” award at the 1998 Governor’s Conference on Tourism which took place in Shepherdstown. The award is presented annually to an individual, organization or community that has made a significant contribution toward the presentation of some aspect of West Virginia’s natural, cultural or aesthetic legacy. Carnegie Hall was recognized by the Division of Tourism for preserving one of the state’s historic treasures and its cultural legacy through The Renaissance Campaign.
WVSOM Students Help Needy Families
WVSOM students recently got together and made the holiday season a whole lot brighter for some local folks. A total of 15 needy families received toys and clothes for Christmas during the “Heart of the Holidays” get together at the WVSOM gymnasium. “There were 25 children plus all the parents. We had clothes and wrapped toys for the kids,” said student spokesperson Joy Elliott, resident of the Sigma Sigma Phi club.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their entire original form, typos and all.