1925– 100 Years Ago
Convicts At Work
Thirty-five prisoners from the Federal prison at Atlanta have been brought to Alderson and put to work on the preliminary tasks for the new Federal prison for women. The men are digging ditches, making grades, laying sewer lines, clearing the tract of more than 500 acres acquired by the government. They are also building camps for their own use.
Renick’s Valley News
Farmers of this section are done making hay and are attending the Fair this week. We are having very dry weather and unless we soon have rain the corn crop will be badly damaged.
Second-hand Newspapers
Second-hand newspapers have a large sale in China. A newsboy who sells a paper on Monday, buys it back on Tuesday for a fraction less, smoothes it out and sells it again in a nearby village. The process is repeated time and again until the paper has been worn to illegibility.
1950 – 75 Years Ago
Greenbrier High School Band Plays At State Fair
The Greenbrier High School band, under the direction of Mrs. Noble Legg, played at the opening of the State Fair of West Virginia, for the flag raising ceremonies and were guests of the Fair for the rest of the afternoon.
30 Accepted For New Class In Medical School
West Virginia University’s two-year school of medicine has accepted 30 entering students for the semester beginning September 18. There were 175 applicants for the available places. Upon completion of the two-year course at the University, successful students are required to attend an accredited four-year medical school for their junior and senior years in order to qualify for M. D. degrees. Among those accepted are: James Vincent McKenzie of Quinwood; Thomas Porter Long of Lindside; and Jimmie Lee Harris of Alderson.
Carnival Late Arriving
Many first-day patrons of the Fair, especially children, were disappointed when they found the carnival had not been set up by Monday night. Endy Brothers, said to be the largest railroad carnival on the road, didn’t pull into Ronceverte until 5:30 Monday afternoon. The 35-car carnival came here from Bedford, Pa., and was routed through Durbin and down the Greenbrier Division. As soon as it got here they wasted no time in unloading and getting set up at the Fair grounds.
1975– 50 Years Ago
Kessinger Works Out Final Details
Secretary of State Henry Kessinger worked on the final details of a new Middle East peace treaty, guiding Israel, and Egypt to agreement on the major provisions of the pack. Diplomatic sources said negotiating concessions have brought the two nations to the point of putting the final version of the peace agreement down on paper.
Large Crowd At Pulling Contest
An estimated crowd of 7,000 people (standing room only) attended the horse pulling contest at the West Virginia State Fair. First place was taken by Ernest Ely of Goochland, Virginia, whose team pulled 5,500 pounds for a distance of 14 feet.
Winners In Tobacco Spitting Contest
“’Duck” Lewis, 5-year old son of Ken Penn Amusement Co. carnival worker was the youngest participant in the first Tobacco Spitting Contest at the State Fair. Jimmy Newman was first with a distance of 20 and ¼ feet. Several women entered the contest that was co-sponsored by the Beech-Nut Tobacco Company.
2000 – 25 Years Ago
Bridge Will Be Renamed For Local Medical Of Honor Recipient
The bridge carrying I-64 over the Greenbrier River at Caldwell will be officially renamed for a local war hero. The span will be renamed the PFC Ralph E. Pomeroy, Korean War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Bridge. The event is the result of Senate Concurrent Resolution 11, which requested the bridge be named for the Quinwood native, who received the nation’s highest honor for giving his life to allow his 31 st Infantry
Regiment comrades to consolidate their position during the Korean War.
Team Pulls Record Load At Fair
A record 12,000-pound load was pulled for 15 feet and 3 inches during the popular draft horse pulling contest at the State Fair of West Virginia. A pair of Belgian horses, Curly and Bob, pulled the top weight for owners Jerry and Becky Riggs of Cameron, WV. A heavy rain the night before had left the track wet and muddy, which was an advantage to many of the pulling teams.
Governor Honors Legendary Country Music Group
Alabama, one of the country music’s most honored acts, added another honor to its list of accomplishments during at concert at the State Fair of West Virginia. Delegate Steve Harrison of Kanawha County presented a Distinguished West Virginian Award to each of the band’s members during the middle of the group’s sold out concert performance. “With this proclamation, Governor Cecil Underwood has made each of you an honorary West Virginian,” Delegate Harrison said. The group has performed five times at the State Fair beginning with their first concert in 1982.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their original format and may contain typos.
