1926– 100 Years Ago
In The Down Sign
The Cass correspondent of the Marlinton Journal says that Ed Smith has about finished planting his garden. On account of the extreme bad weather he has had considerable trouble in getting his garden planted while the moon and the signs were right. Such as potatoes, onions, beets and parsnips he will not plant except when the moon is dark and the sign going down. Several years ago an old lady died in the community where Mr. Smith resided. She was buried in the light of the moon when the sign was moving up. A few weeks later when Mr. Smith was passing the grave yard he saw the old lady sitting up on top of her grave singing, “Wait Till the Sign Goes Down.” Since then Mr. Smith has refused to plant anything that ought to stay in the ground unless the moon is dark and the sign is going down.
Must Have A Worm
Because part of a still which caused the arrest of the defendant was missing, Judge Bailey, in the Mingo circuit court at Williamson, sustained the motion of the defense counsel to strike out the evidence, and directed the jury to bring in a verdict of not guilty in the case of Joe W. Marcum, indicted on a charge of ownership in a still. The evidence produced when the officers took the stand showed that there was no worm with the distilling outfit.
New Church
The building committee of the Presbyterian Church at Alderson has decided to take steps toward building a new church which is to cost around $37,000.
1951 – 75 Years Ago
Neola News
There were five cases of measles among the children of Columbia Sulphur School.
Lewisburg Furniture
The Lewisburg Furniture Company is having the formal opening of their new show room on West Washington Street this weekend. The new show room adjoins the present store room, and is of equal length and size. It is attractively arranged with room displays, along with a section devoted to floor coverings and one to draperies.
Band Concert
The Lewisburg High School band and choir under of direction of Robert Barnette held its first public concert in Lewisburg in the Lewis Theatre, which was filled to capacity. The program was enthusiastically received by the appreciative audience.
1976– 50 Years Ago
Bendix Plant Opens Doors
The Bendix Corporation Process Instruments Division opened the doors of its new home to the public and to families of its employees. The history of the local company dates back to the Watts Manufacturing Company, a locally owned company that operated in Ronceverte for ten years in custom manufacturing of instruments and store fixtures. It was purchased by Beckman Instruments, Inc. in 1956, but Beckman announced plans to close the Ronceverte plant the following year. Beckman employees formed a new company, Greenbrier Instruments. In February 1962, Greenbrier Instruments was purchased by the Bendix Corporation.
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. Moore accused the Regents of possessing an attitude that “is anti-medical education in the State of West Virginia” and blasted its leadership under Chancellor Dr. Ben Morton.
Unsafe Mines Are Natural
James Day, outgoing chief of the Mine Enforcement and Safety Administration, thinks it is natural for ribs to fall and the roofs to collapse inside coal mines. “You’re always going to have roof and rib falls,” Day said. “It is inherent in mining.” Since its inception, MESA has been attacked by coal-conscious members of Congress, who have claimed the agency has failed to adequately pursue safety in the coal industry.
2001 – 25 Years Ago
Zoning/Planning/Permit Protesters Shout Down County Commissioners
The ugly confrontational tone was set Tuesday, even before the Greenbrier County Commission got underway. As commissioners debated whether to move the session to a more spacious venue, one man directed thinly veiled threats toward a member of the press and another crudely chastised the last county commissioners to arrive for the meeting. The group’s putative spokesman, Earl Sampson, a resident of Muddy Creek Mountain, demanded the county commission disband the current planning commission and start over. According to Sampson, the planners’ sins are many and are not limited to the area of zoning.
Johnson Appointed Bell Service Manager
Ted J. Kleisner, president and managing director of The Greenbrier, has announced the appointment of Franklin Johnson to the position of Bell Service manager, effectively immediately. Johnson, a Lewisburg native, recently returned to Greenbrier County after 20 years of military service. He joined the Front Office professional team in October 2000.
Cadette Girl Scout Troops 2127 & 2881 Earn Silver Award
Cadette Girl Scout Troops 2127 and 2881 have earned their Silver Award. This award is the highest achievement a Cadette Girl Scout can receive. The girls worked three years to achieve this honor.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their original form and may contain typos.
