1925– 100 Years Ago
Champion Coal Loader
Walter E. Harrah, a miner working at the mines of the Morganette Coal Company, situated on the Sewell Valley Branch of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, Greenbrier County, holds the champion loader’s record for that field.
In October, 1924, Mr. Harrah loaded 640 tons of coal, working 26 days with an average of 24 ½ tons per day. Mr. Harrah is 28 yeas of age, weighs 150 pounds and is a bundle of energy.
Severe Form Of Smallpox
A severe form of smallpox, called the confluent type, has been reported to the State Department of Health from Marion County, thus recording the first case of the disease during the recent outbreaks. The Surgeon General of the United States has issued warning to the nation that vaccination is an absolute protection that no citizen should be without in the face of the present nation-wide epidemic trend.
Plan To Reforest
A definite plan to reforest West Virginia was announced before an audience of 600 boys, composed mainly of Charleston Boy Scouts, by Judge A. D. MacCorkle. Judge MacCorkle’s plan is to induce the county court in every county in the state to appropriate between $50 and $100 each year, which sums will be used for the purpose of buying the very best grade of hickory nuts It is here that the Scout troops play their part, for it is Judge MacCorkle’s plan that special hikes be arranged on which the nuts will be planted.
1950 – 75 Years Ago
Ban Ingrid-Bergman Films
Lloyd T. Binford, chairman of the Memphis-Shelby County Board of Censors, said that no Ingrid Bergman motion pictures will be allowed to show in Memphis, Tenn. The 82-year old censor said the films are being barred “because of her conduct, not because of the pictures.”
Atlantic Rough On “Mary”
The liner Queen Mary docked at Southhampton, England, 25 hours late with 50 of its’s 1,848 passengers nursing injuries suffered on a rough Atlantic crossing. Capt. G. E. Cove said, “Most of the time we were coming thru a whole westerly gale (55 to 75 miles an hour) with heavy following seas.”
New Skeet Club
Dr. P. E. Prillaman, Dr. Philip W. Oden and other interested sportsmen of Ronceverte are organizing a skeet club. Plans call for building a complete skeet course along the river west of town.
1975– 50 Years Ago
Food Store In Lewisburg May Close
Downtown Lewisburg may lose a major retailer in about two weeks. According to local management personnel, the A &P Super Market will close on or before February 24.
Valentine’s Day Began 498 Years Ago
When Margery Brews sharpened her quill pen 498 years ago and scrawled a note to her beloved, John Paston, she could not have known what she was starting. “My beloved Valentine,” Miss Brews began, and a trend was born. The letter, penned in London I 1477 is the first known valentine.
Ford Doesn’t Like Idea Of Gas Rationing
In an address before the Houston Chamber of Commerce, President Ford expressed his opposition to gas rationing in no uncertain terms: “The facts are, there will be, if we get into gasoline rationing – over my dead body – then we would have 140-some million licensed automobile drivers in the United States and we would have 290-some million gallons of gasoline a day.”
2000– 25 Years Ago
Ronceverte’s Bills Remain Unpaid In Midst Of City Hall Power Struggle
In the aftermath of a decision made during Monday’s city council meeting the wheels of government in Ronceverte have practically ground to a halt. Dismayed by what they perceived as an overreaching for authority by the mayor and recorder council members voted to rescind additional, temporary powers that were conferred upon Mayor Nancy Murdick and Recorder Cece Harris when the new government took office in June.
Lewisburg-Based Software Company Wins Business Spotlight Award
The Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce presented its annual Business Spotlight Award to GOVT.com, a Lewisburg-based firm described as a “leading provider of software solutions for local government.” Accepting the award was August Gudmundsson, the company’s president and CEO.
GGSA Swimmers Kick Off 2000 Meet Schedule
Twenty-three Greater Greenbrier Swim Association swimmers recently kicked off their 2000 meet schedule by competing in the 12th Annual Taco Bell Invitation Swim Meet held in Beckley.
East Girls Beat West 53-38 In Fairlea
Katie Kilcolin and Jessica White led the Lady Spartans to victory Tuesday evening over the visiting squad from cross county rival Greenbrier West High School. Kilcolin scored a game-leading 20 points, followed by White’s 15.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their entire original form, including typos.
