1924– 100 Years Ago
Rainelle News
The Recreation Room of East Rainelle has installed a late model radio receiving set and the public is invited to come in and get the best that the “ether waves” have to offer.
Crawley News
A big day was held at Amwell last Saturday and Sunday celebrating the one-hundredth anniversary of the church. A century ago, Old Amwell Church was dedicated on Otter Creek near where U. G. McClung now lives. Three-thousand and three hundred and seventy-five conversions is the record of this church.
Gambling Devices
The State Tax Commissioner has been instructed by Governor Morgan to discontinue collecting taxes from persons operating slot machines, punch boards and similar devices on the grounds that the operators were violating the law pertaining to gambling. The Governor called the attention of Commissioner Hall to several complaints from such operators saying they were licensed by the state and therefore permitted to carry on their businesses.
1949 – 75 Years Ago
Forestry Camp Opened
West Virginia University summer encampment forestry and geology opened Monday at Camp Arthur Wood in Alvon. The camp is located in the Monongahela National Forest as attended by 51 students. Their work includes surveying and timber estimating.
Wrecked Span
The partially fallen center span of the Bluestone bridge near Hinton was brought down Friday by 10 dynamite charges. Five men were killed when the span on the incompleted bridge collapsed. Since the disaster, the span has been left as it fell with one end in the water and the other resting against a concrete bridge pier.
C & O Trying Engines
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway began experimenting with diesel locomotives for switching services in the Hinton yards as part of a general study. An official of the company indicated the use of diesels would be slow and gradual to determine actual savings in operation, which it appeared would be substantial only in switching operations for which purposes only slightly more than one-sixth of the company’s coal purchases is used.
1974– 50 Years Ago
750 Attend New Hospital Ceremonies In Fairlea
“After twenty-two months we see the dream becoming dynamic; the vision being vitalized…” said Senator Jennings Randolph when he gave the official dedication speech for the new Greenbrier Valley Hospital building at Fairlea. More than 750 persons, a conservative estimate, were present for the dedication ceremony, the ribbon cutting ceremony and the guided tours through the three-story building.
Greenbrier Independent Changes Ownership
The Greenbrier Independent, Greenbrier County’s oldest weekly publication, will change ownership effective July 1. Named as editor of the Independent was Frank L. Spicer, a long-time resident of the Lewisburg area. Appointed publisher effective the same date was Mrs. Janice Moffitt of Lewisburg. She is the wife of West Virginia Daily News publisher and GDN, Inc. vice-president John Moffitt.
President Says No To Subpoena
President Nixon refused again to comply with a House Judiciary Committee subpoena for 45 White House tapes and documents, saying there would be no end to the impeachment panel’s request “unless a line were drawn somewhere.” He added, “Since it is clear the committee will not draw such a line, I have done so.”
1999– 25 Years Ago
Hunter Wins Lewisburg Election; Voters In Ronceverte Opt For New Government
On July 1, Lewisburg will swear in its first woman mayor, and Ronceverte will usher in a new form of government. Hunter, a current member of city council, won the election with 378 votes. John Manchester came in a strong second with 313, and Teubert garnered 109 votes.
For 117 years, the City of Ronceverte has been governed by a three-member board of commissioners. The River City is one of the last municipalities in the state to have the commission form of government, On Tuesday, the voters of the city by an overwhelming margin 212-15, cast their ballots in favor of changing to the council-mayor format.
Stage Is Set For 20th Annual Antique Show And Sale
The 20th annual Lewisburg Antique Show and Sale will open this weekend at the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea. The Lewisburg Lions Club sponsors this much-anticipated event each year. Since it began in 1980, the show has grown in every way. This year, 35 select antique dealers from ten states will be exhibiting and selling a well-rounded selection of quality antiques and collectibles to fit any size pocketbook, from $5 to thousands of dollars.
Crowd Attends Scots-Irish Family History Conference
Haunting Irish melodies wafted through the North House Museum, Greenbrier Community College, and the Fellowship Hall of Old Stone Presbyterian Church two days in early May. Fifty-four participants attended lectures and private inquiries during the West Virginia Irish and Scots-Irish Family History Conference sponsored by the Greenbrier Historical Society of Lewisburg.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their entire original form, including typos.
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