1926 – 100 Years Ago
“Carrie Nation” of West Virginia Passes Away
Mrs. Fannie Fisher Ellison aged 65 years died at her home in Richwood. Mrs. Ellison is credited with the elimination of the saloon in Webster County. She declared God had commissioned her to burn the only saloon in Webster Springs, as it was working against the morals of the community. She made her way in stockinged feet one night, set the saloon on fire, and watched it burn to the ground, then returned home. The next day she was tracked to her home and arrested. At the trial a jury failed to convict.
The Methodist Picnic
The Preston Grove on the Midland Trail in the Richlands was the scene of a great gathering of Methodists when the church and Sunday school adherents of the M. E. Church South, from all points in Greenbrier gathered in a monster picnic. At noon there was a basket dinner served to all on the grounds, each church organization serving a separate dinner. In the afternoon there was a song fest, all of the old-time Methodist hymns being rendered. Mr. John Raine of the Meadow River Lumber Company at Rainelle, presented a gavel, made from the first hardwood log to be cut by his company in Greenbrier County, to Rev. G. W. Richardson, presiding elder of Lewisburg district.
7,500 Bus Companies
Last year there were sixty-five hundred bus companies doing business over 179,000 miles of highways, and this year there are seventy-five hundred bus companies. The steel rails took in 200 million fewer fares in 1924 than in 1920, and the number of passenger busses was estimated (it is a guess) at 60,000.
1951 – 75 Years Ago
Mrs. Kee Elected
Mrs. Maude Elizabeth Kee of Bluefield was elected by a large majority at the July 17 election to fill the unexpired term in the House of Representatives of her husband, Hon. John Kee, who died of a heart attack on May 8. She carried every one of the seven counties in the district.
Leggett’s To Open
Leggett’s Department store for Lewisburg will open next Thursday. This modern department store is located at 113 East Washington Street and is new throughout. The building having just been built. Leggett’s offers to the shoppers of the Greenbrier Valley a full and detailed line of up-to-date quality merchandise.
Drs. Strader and Oden To Open Main Street Office
Dr. H. B. Strader and Dr. Philip Oden, both of whom are associated with the Greenbrier Valley Hospital at Ronceverte, will open offices on Main Street in White Sulphur Springs. Since both doctors are affiliated with the Greenbrier Valley Hospital and have very limited time, they do not plan to make house calls here but will receive and treat patients at their offices. Plans at present are to maintain the office here until a suitable physician can be obtained to alleviate the doctor shortage.
1976 – 50 Years Ago
Holdup Men Hit Motel
“It was a frightening experience,” recounted Milton Perry, owner of the Colonial Court Motel in White Sulphur Springs as he related the particulars of Sunday night’s holdup which netted the robbers more than $1,400 in loot. It was shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday night when Perry stepped into the front office to meet what he thought were new motel guests for the night. Instead, he was greeted at the switchboard with a sawed-off shotgun pointed at the back of his head. “Give us all your money, you……., or you’re a dead man;” growled the man with the gun.
Seneca Foods Opens
Greenbrier Valley’s newest and largest supermarket opened its doors this morning. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies brought out many area dignitaries to help Del Chase commemorate the grand opening of his new venture at the Seneca Trails Shopping Center in Fairlea.
18th Victim
The death of an 18th victim was reported today from a baffling viral-type illness among persons who attend a Pennsylvania American Legion convention two weeks ago in Philadelphia. The painful disease which resembles pneumonia and is believed caused by a virus according to state health officials, has also hospitalized at least 70 other persons across the state.
2001 – 25 Years Ago
Western Greenbrier Hard Hit By Weekend Flooding
Over 200 houses and buildings were affected by flooding last weekend in western Greenbrier County. Rudy Holbrook, director of the county’s office of emergency services, reported that some homes had a much as five feet of water and mud in them from the Meadow River. Others had as little as ten inches, he added. As a result of the damages sustained throughout the area, Greenbrier County was declared a disaster area.
City Council Gives Green Light To City Hall Renovation
During a contentious meeting Tuesday evening a deeply divided Lewisburg city council approved the second and final reading of a bond ordinance necessary for the financing of the $1.5 million project. Jack Stafford, who serves as the city’s engineer on many projects, including the city hall remodeling, explained the $1.5 million that must be financed includes the building’s purchase price of $250,000 and a 15% contingency set-aside for unexpected cost overruns, as well as the cost of construction and fees. Boso & Boso of Summersville won the renovation contract with a bid of $999,597.
Girl Scouts Learn About Hospitality Industry At Resort
The Greenbrier recently hosted members of Girl Scout Troop #2017 who are working on their Gold Award. The visit provided the Scouts with information on the many careers within the hospitality field and was coordinated by Vivian Conly, director of community relations. Kathryn Tuckwiller, director of the spa, showed them the recently renovated and enlarged spa. Enjoying the educational visit are (from left) Christy Shires, Kathryn Tuckwiller, Sara Johnson, Abby Click, Katy Gibson, Casey Get and Libby Johnson, troop leader. (See attached photo)
