1924– 100 Years Ago
Fine Business
The Greenbrier & Eastern Railroad report the month of August as being its banner month. In addition to an unusually heavy local freight and passenger business, there were 1,517 loaded coal cars handles during the month containing approximately 90,000 tons.
Ku Klux Halted In Mercer
Prosecuting Attorney H. B. Lee and Sheriff B. B. Hunt have received a message from Governor Morgan instructing them to institute a probe into alleged Ku Klux Klan activities in Mercer County. Some twenty-five witnesses are said to have information of alleged whippings that had been administered to the citizens of the Montclam and Kegley neighborhoods by white robed parties.
Corn Ruined
The Marlinton Journal says that farmers in that section of the country are heavy struck because of the shortness of the season. All the ear-marks of a heavy frost can be seen all over the county. Along the river the frost did not do much damage, but through the rural sections and on the hillsides the crops not yet matured are utterly ruined.
1949 – 75 Years Ago
Hundreds Gather For 200th Anniversary
Hundreds of persons gathered at the State Fairgrounds to share in the first Bicentennial celebration in the State under the guidelines of the American Bicentennial Administration sponsored by the Greenbrier Historical Society.
Native Chestnuts
D. Tuckwiller, Lewisburg trucker, brought to the Independent office this week a cluster of chestnut burrs. Mr. Tuckwiller found the cluster on a bush in the vicinity of Duo, and he stated the bush had a good crop of burrs this year.
Wire In Cow’s Stomach
On Tuesday Dr. James Mann and Dr. Holden removed a piece of wire three and a half inches long from the stomach of a three-year old Jersey cow belonging to Alex Fogus near Lewisburg. The operation was a success and the cow is eating as though nothing had happened.
Whole Mammoth Found
Gold miners using hydraulic methods on loam banks of Alaska’s Yukon River have uncovered a prehistoric wooly mammoth which has been transferred to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The flesh of this perfectly preserved specimen has been kept intact for thousands of years by the ideal deep-freezing climate of Alaska.
1974– 50 Years Ago
New Business
Michael “Rudi” Rodoussakis, owner of his new restaurant “Rudi’s Pizza” in Red Oaks Shopping Center in Fairlea told the News that he specializes in a varied line of Italian and other foods including pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, and roast beef sandwiches.
Boston School Riots On
Police on horses broke up a noisy crowd of 200 white youths and parents in South Boston as they gathered to protest court-ordered school busing. Hundreds of other police lined roads and rooftops in South Boston as motorcycle police provided armed escorts for school buses carrying black children during the third day of a busing program designed to integrate Boston’s public schools.
Ford Still Feels Decision Was Wise
President Ford says Richard M. Nixon’s acceptance of a pardon “can be construed” as an admission of guilt for Watergate crimes and the former President has been “shamed and disgraced” by his forced resignation. Vigorously defending the pardon but admitting surprise at the antagonism it created, Ford said he acted to spare the nation further turmoil and division.
1999– 25 Years Ago
Ronceverte Supports Groups Working To Develop Walking/Biking Trail
Ronceverte officials agreed on Monday to lend the city’s support to a group that is trying to reactivate the old L&R Railroad base for use as a walking/biking trail. The railroad was in operation from 1907 to 1929 and ran between Lewisburg and Ronceverte, explained Troy Holbrook, a representative of the L&R Trail Committee.
Courtesy Patrol Program Proves Its Worth In Initial Nine Months
A new program budgeted by the West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) has helped more than 17,000 stranded motorists in the first nine months of its operation along the state’s four-lane highways. “We couldn’t be more proud of the people who make up the Courtesy Patrol,” said Governor Cecil H. Underwood. “The role of the Courtesy Patrol is to help make our major highways safer and ensure that stranded motorists are not alone when they encounter trouble.”
Carnegie Announced Toot Committee
Plans for the 1999 TOOT (Taste of Our Towns) festival are underway! This year’s TOOT planning committee include (row one, L to R) Howard Neviser, Larry Davis (row 2) Morse Reese, Shelia Cardis, Vivian Conly; (row 3) Kim Cooper, Mary Ann Mann, Molly Stathers; and (row 4) Susan Bell. Not pictured are Judy Westerik, Lucie Refsland, DeEtta Hunter, Mark Carver, Tim Stover, Nancy Zobel, Peter Hill and Mattie Hardy.
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