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25 Years Ago – 1997
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“Bowling Decides To Run For Mayor Of Spa City Once More” By Christine Jerman
For more on this story, see the White Sulphur Star on Page 6 in today’s West Virginia Daily News!
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| The frame home, owned by Adrian and Ruth Jackson, was engulfed in flames when fireffighters arrived on scene in 1997. S. Walton photo. |
“Williamsburg Couple Loses Home In Monday Fire” By Kerri Flanagan
The smoke coming from a fire in Williamsburg Monday, February 3, could be seen from miles away. The Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 8:30 a.m., Monday morning to a flue fire. When the crews arrived the fire had already engulfed the rear portion of the house.
The two-story home located on the corner of Water and Church streets in Williamsburg, owned by Adrian and Ruth Jackson, was discovered to be on fire early Monday morning by their neighbor, Steve McGraw. According to neighbors, McGraw noticed the flames coming from the Jacksons’ home and reported the fire to the Williamsburg VFD. McGraw then returned to the home to find Mr. and Mrs. Jackson still inside the burning home.
According to neighbor Nora Judy, “They had to go in twice to get them (the Jacksons) out. By the time the fire trucks got here, you could only get into the front two rooms. The rest of the house was engulfed in flames.” The Jacksons did manage to save some of their personal items including some furniture.
“The Jacksons had just donated their other home to the Williamsburg Historical Society in the spring and moved into this house,” said Judy. The home was completely destroyed by fire. The Williamsburg VFD, with aid from Clintonville, Frankford and Rupert Volunteer Fire Departments, worked to extinguish the flames for over an hour.
“Lady Spartans On Streak” By Vernon C. Jones
The Lady Spartans are enjoying a three-game winning streak and have now won 5 out of their last 7 games, including an exciting overtime win at Spartan gym over Pikeview last week and a 45-43 victory over Pocahontas County Saturday.
East assistant coach Kevin Baker said, “Pocahontas County had a solid game plan, but our kids were mentally tough enough to do what we had to in order to win.”
Head Coach Peck Dorsey said of East’s slow start this season, “We knew there would be some bumps along the road until we gained some experience.” He added, “They’re sure exciting to watch!”
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50 Years Ago – 1972
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A Letter To The Editor: Referring to your editorial in issue of Friday, Jan. 28 [on the first vote remove a House of Delegates member], I am pleased to say it gives me great satisfaction that we have a newsman in our area that is willing to speak out against our elected servants who dissipate their trust that has been extended to them by the voters of our Greenbrier Co., which is made up to a large extent by God fearing people. I hope Ralph D. Williams gets the message loud and clear that he is not about to become the cornerstone of a political faction such as W. Bernard Smith was derived, namely. ex Gov. W.W. Barron and others that are now paying the penalty for their various crimes against the people of West Virginia. Let us keep our guard up and be sure our people are led astray when we again go to the polls. Sincerely M. Haymond Smith
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| The Lewisburg Squarers in American Legion Hall in Lewisburg, 1972. |
Western Square Dancing, the second oldest form of dancing in the country, is being taught at the American Legion Hall in Lewisburg on Thursday nights starting at 8 p.m. Hilbert McCombs, who calls the square dancing, called it “lots of fun, good light exercise, and wholesome, and inexpensive fun.” Pioneers took their square dancing with them as they moved West, dancing wherever they could find some music and a caller. The Lewisburg Squarers, the club responsible for reviving Western Square Dancing in the Lewisburg area, started in 1962 and were active until four years ago. Woodrow Taylor of Lewisburg was the last president of the Squarers when it was an active organization. Club plans include traveling to other parts of the state to join in Western Square Dancing with other clubs, and invitations to other clubs to join dances in the Lewisburg area.
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75 Years Ago – 1947
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Serious Auto Wreck – Saturday evening about 6:30 Fred Porter and his brother, Robert, were going to Elmhurst at Caldwell on route 60, and when about half way down what is called Caldwell hill, Mr. Porter undertook to pass a truck going east, when he collided head on with a car driven by Mrs. Dora Biggs coming, west, the impact badly damaged both cars, seriously injuring Mr. Porter and his brothers as well as Mrs. Biggs and Mrs. John Preston and two children, Bradford aged 2 and Elizabeth aged 4.
Robert Porter aged 60, died at Ronceverte hospital early on Sunday morning and Fred Porter died at same hospital late Monday evening. He was 55 years old.
Mrs. Biggs, who was considerably shaken up, is still in the hospital, and Mrs. Preston and her daughter, Elizabeth, are also in the hospital, recovering well. Master Bradford Preston was able to come to the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. S. P. Preston, in Lewisburg.
We will give a more detailed account of the death of Messers, Porter next week. They were among the most prominent and respected citizens of our county.
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100 Years Ago – 1922
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Joseph L. Peck, colored, celebrated his eightieth birthday at his home on Brushy Ridge, Irish Cornier district, on January 23. Three of his children, two grandchildren, and a son-in-law and daughter-in-law were present on the occasion. Peck is a veteran of the civil war, having been a member of the Fifth Massachusetts cavalry. He was wounded at the battle of Petersburg by shell and ball. After his recovery from the wounds, he was transferred to Charleston, this state, as a treatment center for the Federal government. Later he was a boat-hand for the Kanawha river steamboats.
MARRIED. An interesting wedding was solemnized on Wednesday afternoon, January 25, 1922, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Aquilla Lipps, of Lewisburg, where their daughter, Miss Nellie May Lipps, became the bride of Mr. Eugene H. Morgan, of Louisville. Ky Rev. L. B. Bobbitt, of the M. E. Church, South, was the officiating minister. This was a very pretty, though quiet, wedding. only intimate friends and relatives being present.
BANK ROBBERS CONVICTED. Harvey and Joy Bright were on Wednesday of last week in the circuit court at Lewisburg, found guilty of holding up the Bank of Rupert, on Sept. 15, last, and securing $2,000. Toy Bright, who is alleged to have been the third member of the armed gang who made the day-light hold-up, escaped from the Greenbrier county jail a second time several weeks ago and is still at large. The chief witnesses for the state were Mr. H. W. Bivens, the bank’s cashier, Charles Thompson, assistant cashier, and O. M. White, a bookkeeper employed by the Patrick Construction company, who was in the bank.
