1924– 100 Years Ago
The Combination That Wins
A 59-year-old man raced a jockey-ridden horse in London, England, 10 hours a day for six days. The man, C. W. Hart, won. He ran 345 miles, the horse 337 miles. The horse could easily out-distance the man – early in the race. But Hart had more endurance. Power wins battles. Endurance wins the war.
Don Chafin Under Indictment
Testimony to the effect than Don Chafin, famous sheriff and Democratic leader of Logan County, was a partner in the speakeasy formerly conducted at Barnabus, Logan County, by Tennis Hatfield, one of the numerous sons of the late Devil Anse Hatfield, led to the double indictment of Chafin by the grand jury. Tennis Hatfield, now the Republican nominee for sheriff of Logan, was a witness in the investigation that led to the indictment of Chafin.
Prayer Of An Ex-Kluxer
Wilt thou, O! my country, have mercy upon me? I was beguiled by those who did know, or should have known better. Thou knowest that hundreds of thousands parted with their money for initiation fees, hoods, robes and so forth, which went into the pockets of the scheming founders of the order – money which, in thousands of instances, was sorely needed for bread, meat, and clothing for wives and children. Why didst thou, O! my country tolerate it so long?
1949 – 75 Years Ago
State Population
West Virginia’s population has risen above the 2,000,000 mark, according to a state health department estimate. The estimate was based primarily, the department said, upon the birth and death rate in the state. During the past nine years, it explained, the birth rate in West Virginia has average 15 per cent higher than that for the nation as a whole while the death rate has been 10 per cent lower than the national average.
G.M.S. Football
Greenbrier Military School plays the Hampden-Sydney college freshmen under the lights on the Lewisburg High field Saturday night in a game that has many unusual angles. Head coach Charles Edward “Tite” Turley starred for four years at Death Valley, playing end under Charles A. “Yank” Bernier for the Hampden-Sydney team back in 1925-28. His assistant, John Hunt, is also a former Hampden-Sydney star. Both Hampden-Sydney and Greenbrier Military School are among our country’s oldest schools. Hampden-Sydney was founded in 1776, and Greenbrier traces its beginning back to 1812.
Polio Tapering Off
The nation’s worst polio epidemic in 33 years is tapering off rapidly according to the U. S. Public Health Service. For the third straight week the number of cases declined. So far this year, there have been 26,284 cases reported, the greatest number listed in any similar period since 1916.
1974– 50 Years Ago
Betty Ford Plunges Into Politics
Betty Ford has completed her first plunge into campaign politics as First Lady, telling Illinois Republican women: “It’s important to elect qualified women to represent us in public office.” She smiled as she told the women, “Even my husband agrees that talented women are needed in public office.”
Protests Of School Textbooks Still In An Uproar
A Bible cradled in his arm, the Rev. Ezra Graley, walked through the jailhouse door in Charleston into a crowd of weeping, hymn-singing followers. “We are defending God and His people,” he said. “The night in jail did not change my mind.” The protest against dozens of new textbooks for the county’s 121 schools was three week’s old. At its peak, there were two shootings and other violence.
Interest Rates Dropped
Several major U. S. banks made it easier for businessmen to borrow money today, lowering their interest rates slightly in a further easing of the tight monetary crunch. And one New York bank, First National City, took a step to help the car-buying public by offering 48-month financing on auto loans of $4,000 or more. The banks said it would charge 11.40 per cent for 48 months as opposed to 13.38 per cent for 36 months.
1999– 25 Years Ago
Cooley Honored For Years Of Service To Lewisburg
During Tuesday’s Lewisburg City Council meeting, Paul Cooley (right) was honored for his many years of service to the city. Mayor DeEtta King Hunter is pictured above presenting him with the “Circle of Excellence Award,” from the West Virginia Municipal League. He also received a 25-year lapel pin.
WVSOM Dedicates New Multi-Purpose Facility
Senator Oshel Craigo (D-Putnam) delivered the keynote address at the dedication of the new WVSOM Library/Osteopathic Skills Lab/Bookstore. Work on the $2 million project began in May of 1998. The school moved into the structure this past summer after the Greenbrier Community College Center relocated to its new location in downtown Lewisburg.
East Beats West
Finally! That’s what the players and fans were saying Friday evening when the Greenbrier East Spartans won their first game of the ’99 season. It wasn’t easy. The Greenbrier West Cavaliers came to town, and the cross-county rivals seemed intent upon taking the “Little Brown Jug” back to Charmco. The game ended with the Spartans getting their first win of the season, 35-21.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their entire original forms, including typos.
