1925– 100 Years Ago
Return Of
The Brides
A French newspaper says that disappointed war brides are returning daily from America to their homes in France. It has been estimated that as many as 30 per cent of the marriages between American soldiers and French girls have resulted in failure. The returning women go back either of their own free will or are sent back by their husbands.
War Figures
After several years of work the League of Nations has finished the first complete assessment of the material losses of the World War, officially compiled by all the nations that participated:
9,998,771 known dead
2,991,800 presumed dead
6,296,512 seriously wounded
$186,333,637,097 direct cost
$29,960,000,000 property lost
$33,551,276,280, the capitalized value of the lives lost
Wrecked A
Log Train
On a recent Saturday night at Camp 3 in Pocahontas County officers raided Frank Costia’s place and seized a quantity of “ol hen.” The officers found a six-gallon churn full, four gallon jars and about 37 quarts. The concoction in the churn contained peaches, apricots, tomatoes, raisins, sugar, cracked corn yeast, and a half bar of laundry soap. It was declared to be so powerful that after it was poured on the tracks of a log railroad, the log train was wrecked the next day at the identical spot.
1950 – 75 Years Ago
Hampden-Sydney Alumni
Approximately 25 Hampden-Sydney men and their wives gathered in Ronceverte to hear Dr. Edgar C. Gammon, president of Hampden-Sydney College, speak at the annual meeting of the Allegheny Mountain Chapter. Bill Blake, retiring president, presided at the speaker’s table and Col. H. B. Moore,
president of Greenbrier Military School who played football with Dr. Gammon while both were Hampden-Sydney students introduced the honored guest.
Bloodhounds
Shifted
Lopey and Mack, the conservation commission’s bloodhounds, will be kept in the central part of the state during the present fall forest fire season. According to officials of the forestry division, both hounds have rendered valuable service in fire control work. They are used mainly for trailing suspected incendiaries.
Barr’s To Open
Barr’s Store, 119 E. Washington Street, will open for business in Lewisburg on November 18. Mr. Barr operates stores at Covington, Galax, Altavista, Bedford, Waynesboro and Roanoke, in Virginia. The show room at 110 E. Washington Street has been completely redecorated and new store fixtures
installed for the display of the full and complete line of variety merchandise that will be offered to the buying public of the Lewisburg and Greenbrier Valley area.
1975– 50 Years Ago
John Benjamin Is Featured In “Movin’ On’ Rumor has it that the television show Movin’ On will air its program “Prosperity I” on November 18. John Benjamin, familiar to local residents, will be featured in the production. The program stars Patricia Neal and her daughter as operators of a run-town coal mine. John Benjamin is now artistic director for Theatre West Virginia, one the state’s professional theatrical touring companies. John spent many years in the area and married Betty Vaughan of Lewisburg. Together they established the Greenbrier Repertory Theatre in the Greenbrier Valley.
Karen Quinlan
Allowed To Live
Her mind is destroyed, and her body shrunken and twisted. But Karen Ann Quinlan still lives, and a judge says that to disconnect the machine keeping her alive would be murder. Her parents went to court to seek to have the respirator turned off and allow her “to die with grace and dignity.”
Secretariat’s Colt Goes For $250,000
Ben Walden couldn’t help getting the feeling he had just picked up the horse racing bargain of a lifetime, despite dishing out a record price or a weanling at Keeneland’s 32 nd annual breeding sale. Walden paid $250,000 for the first colt sold of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat in Lexington.
2000 – 25 Years Ago
Lewisburg
Landmark Focus Of
Restoration Project
Representatives of the Greenbrier Historical Society announced the North House Museum Millennium Restoration and Rehabilitation project. The project, which provided for the preservation of the historic house and additions that will allow for expansion and improvement, is estimated to cost $1.2 million. The master plan for the restoration of the North House was prepared by Doug Gilpin, a noted architect and preservation specialist in Charlottesville, VA.
Lewisburg Strikers Compete For Tide American Cup
Championship
The elimination rounds of the “Tide America Cup” soccer playoffs held in New Martinsville held excitement and challenge for the under-14 girls’ soccer team known as the Lewisburg Strikers. Sunday’s finals matched up unbeaten squads from Lewisburg and Marshall County. The early morning match-up
found Marshall County up 3-0 at half-time, but the Strikers developed a never-say-die attitude and surged back on Briann Williams’ two goals. A great defensive effort by Kate Harris, Mary Beth Long, Haley Tamea and the rest of the team shut down the Marshall attack in the second half, but the Lewisburg squad fell for the first time in the tournament, losing 3-2.
Groundbreaking
Conducted
Over 200 graduate of Greenbrier Military School and GMS supporters participated in groundbreaking ceremonies for a construction project that will preserve the heritage of their school. The Greenbrier Forever Project will provide a museum for GMS artifacts and memories and will be the focal point for reunion activities. The project will also provide for the expansion of a conference center within the same building on the campus of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (formerly the GMS campus). Congressman Alan Mollohan, an alumnus of GMS, and Congressman Nick Joe Rahall, brought greetings to those gathered.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their original form and may contain typos.
