1926– 100 Years Ago
Made A Record
Sixty-four-year-old C. E. Summers of Summers County, who has taught school for 39 years, has just closed his term of school at Marie, which is seven and a half mines from his home. He walked the entire distance both ways each day of the term, a total of 1,800 miles and neither missed a day, nor was late during the term.
Local Girl Wins Honor
Miss Christine Gilhooley, of Ronceverte, captured a valued prize for Greenbrier High School at Morgantown last week when in the state university literary contest, she took first place for the oration in a state-wide competition. Miss Gilhooley’s oration was the plea of Robert Emmett before the judges just before his execution.
New Motor Fuel
The entirely new motor fuel recently developed by the Standard Oil Company will be available to motorist this week. This new fuel is more powerful than gasoline, and besides giving greater efficiency to present motors, will make possible further practical use of high compression motors. The new fuel will be marketed under the name of Esso.
1951 – 75 Years Ago
New W. Va. Motor Vehicle Law Goes Into Effect July 1
On July 1, a new Motor Vehicle Law becomes effective throughout West Virginia. The State Legislature at its last session completely re-wrote the traffic laws, enacting a voluminous bill covering every phase of traffic. Probably you have already heard that the new maximum speed limit on open
county highway is 55 miles an hour. That represents a boost of 5 miles an hour, but at the same time it puts more responsibility upon the driver to drive carefully.
Building Given Youth
The Greenbrier Board of Education has donated the old Williamsburg school building to the Youth Camp, Inc. committee. The old school building which has served the Williamsburg community for about three decades, is to be wrecked and the wood and lumber used in the erection of a dining hall and other buildings on a plot to serve as a camp for 4-H and other youth groups of Greenbrier County.
Dr. Ed Echols Unhurt
Dr. W. E. Echols, 75, of Richwood, one of the state’s few remaining mounted physicians escaped injury Sunday when a truck struck his horse on state route 39 near Richwood. The horse, which suffered a broken hip and leg, was destroyed after the accident. Dr. Echols travels solely by horse on his rounds of patients in the mountain areas of Nicholas County.
1976– 50 Years Ago
Seven Natural W. Va. Areas Designated As Landmarks
Seven outstanding natural areas in West Virginia have been designated by the Secretary of Interior as natural landmarks. They are Canaan Valley, Blister Run Swamp, Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, Fisher Spring Run, Gaudineer Scenic Area, Big Run Bog and Shavers Mountain Spruce-Hemlock Stand.
Arctic Storm Hits The West
Tornadoes and savage winds pummeled the nation’s heat- baked midsection Monday and an arctic storm brought foot- deep snow and howling winds to portions of the West. Farmers warned that the sudden blast of wintry weather could destroy much of Utah’s fruit crop.
27 th Annual Emmy Awards
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” ran off with six Emmy awards as the most popular weekly show on the air at the 27 th annual Television Academy awards. Peter Falk was voted best actor in a limited series for “Columbo.”
2001 – 25 Years Ago
GVEDC Works With Jiffy Foam To Identify Site For Relocation Of Plant
Due to past flooding problems, the Jiffy Foam plant in Ronceverte will close sometime next year, but local economic development officials are working to identify a new location in the valley for the facility. Jiffy foam manufactures various foam products, including some used to make mock-ups of new
products and as insulating batteries in airplanes.
Amar’s Appeal Falls Short In Circuit Court
Last week, after appealing his case to circuit court, a Lewisburg doctor was found guilty of domestic battery. John Jason Amar, 44, was convicted of the misdemeanor offense in Greenbrier County Circuit Court, after appealing a guilty verdict made earlier this year by Magistrate Doug Beard. According to initial reports released after the November 12 incident that prompted the charge, the doctor grabbed his girlfriend, Faith Kincaid, by
the hair, pushed her down and hit her in the chest.
Basketball Tourney Raises Funds For MS Society
Students from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine recently staged a charity event to raise money for the local chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Pictured is WVSOM medical student Chris Edwards (right) delivering a check to Jim Nemitz, Ph.D., professor of anatomy at WVSOM
and the chairman of the local chapter of the MS Society.
DISCLAIMER: The articles in Echoes of the Past are printed in their original form and may contain typos.
