1924– 100 Years Ago
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is the chief cause of death of all persons beyond middle life, according to the latest insurance statistics. Rich diet and the noise, confusion and. Uproar of modern life are the principle causes of high-blood pressure, according to W. W. Trader, acoustical expert.
Big Fire At Richwood
Fire of unknown origin destroyed the entire main plant of the Cherry River Lumber Co., at Richwood, Dec. 4, with a loss estimated at $300,000. More than 1,000 men were put out of work temporarily by the fire.
The New Church Opening
Next Sunday, Dec. 7th, the new church building of the Ronceverte Presbyterian Church will be opened for service. The furniture has been moved, and the farewell services in the old building were held last Sunday, good congregations being present.
1949 – 75 Years Ago
White Sulphur Burglaries
Early Sunday morning burglars entered the Bowling Hardware & Furniture Co.’s building by breaking through three doors and took about $1,500 worth of ammunition, along with several rifles and other guns. The same night, the office of the Alvon Hotel was burglarized, the thieves carryng off the cash register with all contents.
Alderson Cannery
Mrs. Neil Thurmond, instructor at the Community Cannery, reports much butchering and canning for the two days the cannery was open the past week. The total for the two days was 30 hogs butchered, 590 cans of beef, pork and fruit cake canned and 650 pounds of lard rendered.
Gargantua Dies
Gargantua, the world’s most famous gorilla died at Miami, Florida, during the next-to-last stop of Ringling Brothers and Barnum Bailey’s circus before going into winter quarters at Sarasota, Florida. It is said the big ape died of pneumonia but that is questioned and will not be definitely determined until after an extended autopsy at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He was 20 or 21 years old, a ripe age for gorillas in captivity.
1974– 50 Years Ago
Nixon Will Not Have To Testify In Watergate Trial At All
Four months after leaving the presidency in disgrace, Richard M. Nixon has received the best news since he was pardoned. Presiding Judge John J. Sirica ruled Thursday that the ailing former president does not have to submit to lawyers’ questions at his home or even answer written questions.
Store Recalling Cans Of Beef Stew
Kroger’s supermarket and a Tennessee packing company have asked stores and consumers to return 24,000 cans of beef stew suspected of containing potentially deadly botulism bacteria. The beef stew was blamed for the death Sunday morning of a 79-year old Georgia woman.
Scientists Believe Pollution May Cause Disastrous Ice Age
Scientists of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration believe more air pollution could trigger another disastrous ice age, NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher said. He said the conclusion was controversial and “not yet fully accepted in the scientific community.”
1999– 25 Years Ago
Trillum Collective To Perform At Cultural Center
The magic of dance will light up the stage when the West Virginia Division of Culture and History presents the Trillium Performing Arts Collective’s performance at the Cultural Center in Charleston December 17. The richly-varied program will offer some favorite pieces from choreographers Lorrie Monte, Eileen Kramer and Barbara Michaelson, all members of the troupe.
Candlelight Tours Will Focus On Lewisburg’s James B. Laing Mansion
From the originators of the Ghost Tours of Lewisburg, visitors will now. be able to experience 200 years of Chrtistmas traditions through special candlelight tours of the James B. Laing home, Dec. 4. The candlelight tours will being at the Lewisburg Visitors Center on Church Street and will start out with visits to the colonial Old Stone Presbyterian Church and the 1902 Carnegie Hall.
GVT Drama Club Takes Honors In State Competition
On November 13, at the West Virginia Theatre Conference, Greebrier Valley Theatre Drama Club, in partnership with Greenbrier East High School, walked away with top honors in the Secondary School Theatre Festival Competitions. GVT winners of acting awards were Jason Johans, All-Conference Best Supporting Actor; Sarah Johnson, member of All-Conference Cast; and Ekadasi Fullman, All-Conference Best Actor.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their entire original form, including typos.
