Echoes of the Past is a collection of historical articles curated from The West Virginia News, The Greenbrier Independent, White Sulphur Star, and other publications archived since 1852.
100 Years Ago – 1922
Complaint filed
Formal complaint was filed on Wednesday with the public service commission by the Nelson Fuel company, Greenbrier and Eastern railway company and (others against the Limestone Telephone company, charging them with inadequate telephone facilities from Lewisburg to Rupert, a distance of about 12 miles. The telephone company was given 10 days to satisfy the complaint or file answer.
Raid home in the city
The attempted arrest of Olis Wylie, of Hart’s Run, and Ed. Huff, of White Sulphur, suspected of bootlegging in this city, was made Thursday afternoon by Chief of Police McMann. The two men were caught near the freight depot carrying out very suspicious maneuvers, indicating that some whisky was [in] the vicinity. The appearance of McMann caused Wylie and Huff to become excited and to do some rapid calculating.
It was submitted to arrest or argue with the policeman’s gun. Huff took the one chance and hit it out for a home run down the railroad track, passing under a train of cars without touching the cinders. The policeman’s gun barked three or four times, but Huff followed his nose, and escaped, Wylie was arrested and taken to Lewisburg jail, where he confessed to having sold whiskey.
The affair of the afternoon had hardly subsided, when the residence and store of Lonnie C. Miller, on Frankford Road, was raided by officers McMann, Hall and Butts. Upon entering the home of Miller, he was seen to throw a box or case out of a window into a branch which passes down at the rear of his home. Officer Hall went to the branch immediately and found that all of the contents of the box had been broken with the exception of one bottle, which was held as sufficient evidence. Miller was arrested and taken to Lewisburg. He confessed to having liquor in his possession and was given trial there last night. Miller was sentenced to sixty days in jail and a fine of $100.
75 Years Ago – 1947
Church to be dedicated
Plans are under way to dedicate the First Presbyterian Church of Ronceverte, which was erected in 1925 and the last dollar of the debt of $125,000 incurred having at last been paid. The church will be dedicated on Sunday, April 13. It is expected that the sermon will be delivered by Rev. R. L. Kinnard of Christiansburg, Va., under whose pastorate the building was erected.
Escape from serious injury
A. A. Hedrick of near Sinks Grove, had a very narrow escape from serious injury Tuesday morning, when what was believed to have been a dynamite cap exploded as he was dumping some coal in the grate at his home. Mr. Hedrick suffered only minor scratches about the face, although the flying particles of coal narrowly missed his eyes. Later he found a piece of metal resembling a dynamite cap which is believed to have caused the blast. It is assumed that the cap had gotten into the coal as it was being mined.
Board acquires buildings
The Greenbrier County Board of Education recently supplied a need at Alderson school by purchasing two buildings at White Sulphur from the War Assets Administration. One of the buildings will be used for a recreation field house for the athletic department of the school. The other building will be used for a cafeteria, which will eliminate the fire hazard of the cafeteria now in use on the third floor of the grade school. A large sink has been purchased for the new cafeteria and the board has approved the purchase of a large refrigerator. A lot has been purchased adjoining the school property on which the additional buildings will be located. The buildings will be moved from White Sulphur as soon as weather conditions will permit.
50 Years Ago – 1972
Rockefeller in Greenbrier
John D. Rockefeller IV, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor, campaigned in Greenbrier County today. Rockefeller is shown in the above photo as he talks to area residents on the streets of Lewisburg during his visit to the county seat. The Rockefeller campaign in Greenbrier started this morning at 7:30 a.m. as he greeted workers at the Bendix plant in Ronceverte. He remained in Ronceverte until 9 a.m. and then traveled to Lewisburg.
 |
| Rockefeller in Greenbrier. |
Rockefeller Visits Spa City Rotary Club
Visitors at the Tuesday, March 3, meeting of the White Sulphur Rotary Club included Secretary of State John D. Rockefeller at center, upper photo. Shown at left is R.A. Wiersteiner, visiting Rotarian from Lewisburg, with Harold Burman and Charles Gregory of the Covington-Hot Springs Club.
At right is White Sulphur Mayor John H. Bowling, Jr., M.T. Moss, Chairman Greenbrier County Democratic Executive Committee, and Rev. Walter J. Mycoff, visiting Rotarian from Ronceverte. Other guest included Frank Poueymirou, Aide to Secretary Rockefeller, Jim King, guest speaker, Mrs. John Arbogast, Pianist, and Mrs. Karim Hamoon, reporter.
The Secretary of State spoke briefly to the group telling of his visit to Lewisburg and Ronceverte Thursday morning. Noting that he finds the campaign for the gubernatorial candidacy interesting, enjoyable but serious, he said he planned to visit Rainelle, Quinwood, Charmco, Rupert and Lesley Thursday afternoon and evening.
 |
| Rockefeller visits Spa City Rotary Club |
Firemens [sic] honored for 50 years of service
The Ronceverte Volunteer Fire Department has honored two of their members after 50 years of service to the Department and the City of Ronceverte. The two members honored were C.W. Graves and J. K. Martin, Graves and Martin were presented with 50 year pins Saturday night by O.D. Fink; Jr., Chief of the Ronceverte Volunteer Fire Department.
Graves served as Chief of the Ronceverte Volunteer Fire Department from 1928 to 1948 and then served as President of the Department from 1950 to 1970.
Martin served as Assistant Chief of the Department from 1928 to 1948 and then served as Secretary and Treasurer from 1950 to 1968.
 |
| Firemen honored. |
25 Years Ago – 1997
 |
| This home in Union was declared a total loss after the Union Volunteer Fire Department responded twice to the scene. Photo by S. Walton. |
Flooding in Greenbrier
Streams swollen by hours of heavy rains caused the Greenbrier River to come out of its banks on Monday.
At left, Harry Perkins II of the West Virginia Division of Highways works to clear leaves and other debris from ditches and culverts along Coffman Hill Road in Ronceverte at about 2:30 Monday afternoon. He commented, “The creeks will be near normal before the river crests.”
The Greenbrier is expected to crest at flood stage in Alderson at 1 p.m. this afternoon. The crest has already passed in Ronceverte, but with more rain predicted for tomorrow, residents remain wary.
The water behind Monroe Avenue in Ronceverte was threatening to reach these houses, but, fortunately, fell short.
 |
| Flooding in Greenbrier. Photo by C. Jerman. |
According to Rudy Holbrook, the director of the county’s Office of Emergency Services, no one has reported water in any structure or loss of property due to flooding.
He did say that although the river in Ronceverte is receding, there may be a secondary crest. “I’m not really all that concerned about it, though,” he commented.
The river is expected to crest at 14 feet in Alderson early this afternoon. Holbrook explained that at that stage, water will cover Rt. 3 below Alderson but not cause any serious problem for the town of Alderson.
 |
| Flooding in Greenbrier. Photo by C. Jerman. |
Eight Greenbrier County officials were overpaid from July through December by Christine Jerman
According to Greenbrier County Commission President John Arbuckle, Jr., the state legislature passed a two-pronged salary increase bill last year, which created confusion.
The first part of the bill called for equalizing salaries among county officials and was to go into effect July 1, 1996. This increase was based on changing classifications of counties.
Arbuckle and former commission President John Bowling both agreed this pay increase did not apply to Greenbrier County.
