1925– 100 Years Ago
Jake Has Woke Up
“Jake,” the alligator at Gladys Inn, Clifton Forge, Va., came out of his winter sleep and was placed in the enclosure of the lawn fountain at the hotel. In the winter time, Jake is kept in the boiler room of the Gladys Inn. As soon as warm weather sets in he makes it known by crawling to the door.
Bridge Wrecked
Traffic on the Greenbrier Division has been blocked this week by a wreck which knocked down a span of the bridge across the Greenbrier River at Watoga. No one was hurt. The big manifest freight train from Ronceverte, with two engines, was crossing the bridge when a car about the middle of the train jumped the track and hit the end of the bridge, knocking one of the two spans into the river. Two carloads of flour, a car of brick and a car of lumber went down.
Colored School Day
The Colored School Day was held May 1, at the Fair grounds. Although the day was cold and damp, there were a good number in attendance, about 300 in all. Three schools participated – Snowflake, Alderson and Ronceverte. Miss Mellichamp gave an able and timely address on physical fitness, conservation of school property, time and public money.
1950 – 75 Years Ago
Mattress Factory
Dewey Freeman, a former Lewisburg resident, but recently of Wheeling, is opening a mattress factory in the Lockard building on Route 219, north of Lewisburg. The establishment will specialize in the manufacturing, rebuilding and renovating of mattress, box springs, glider and furniture cushions
Community Concert Banquet
The annual banquet of the Greenbrier Community Concerts association will be held at the Masonic Building. It was announced by Horace Goodman, president. The banquet, to be attended by the captains, workers and officers of the association, will inaugurate the membership drive next week.
Funds Needed
The trustees of the Lewisburg Cemetery are badly in need of funds to carry on the up-keep of the cemetery. The cemetery that adjoins the Old Stone Church is a community one and does not belong to any one group. Anyone having any money to give please get in touch with Andrew W. McLaughlin, Dr. E. L. Houck, Newton W. Campbell Luther Wallace or John J. Echols.
1975– 50 Years Ago
Bendix Plant Opens Doors
The Bendix Corporation Process Instrument Division opened the doors of its new home to the public and to families of its employees. Ground was broken for the facility in April 1974 and initial occupancy began in February of this year. There are 321 persons employed in the new plant.
Moore Takes Steps To Curb Authority
Gov. Arch Moore took steps to curb the authority of the West Virginia Board of Regents after it turned down a proposal to establish a state college of osteopathic medicine. The governor displayed his anger at a hastily called news conference after the board decided against establishing a state-supported osteopathic school through the acquisition of the Greenbrier College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lewisburg.
Unsafe Mines Are Natural
James Day, outgoing chief of the Mine Enforcement and Safety Administration, thinks it is natural for ribs to fall and roofs to collapse inside coal mines. “You’re always going to have roof and rib falls,” Day said. “It’s inherent in mining.” Since its inception, MESA has been attached by coal-conscious members of Congress, who have claimed the agency has failed to adequately pursue safety in the coal industry.”
2000– 25 Years Ago
Elks Begin Rebuilding Lodge Destroyed In Fire
Just months after the Lewisburg Elks Lodge was completely destroyed by fire, a ground breaking ceremony was held to mark the beginning of the construction on a new and improved facility at the same location. According to estimates Wood McCue, trustee, provided, the cost of replacing the lodge facility is $1.3 million, and an additional $206,000 to replace the inventory and equipment lost in the blaze.
Local Doctor Faces Federal Fraud And Drug Charges
A felony information was filed against William J. Craske, D.O., of White Sulphur Springs in United State District Court charging him with scheming to defraud health care benefit programs and illegally handing out a controlled substance. The fact that the charges were filed as an information instead of an indictment possibly indicates that a plea agreement is in the works.
Car-Bombing Appeal Will Not Be Heard
Last week, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals refused to hear appeals filed on behalf of two men convicted last summer of murder in connection with the 1976 car-bombing death of a Rupert man. Gene Willard Gaylor and Robert Vernon Brown are both serving life sentences for killing Billy Ray Abshire.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are presented in their original form and may contain typos.
