The following information is taken from the pages of The West Virginia Daily News, The West Virginia News, and The Greenbrier Independent in The West Virginia Daily News archives from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.
December 2-6, 1996
25 Years Ago…
The local fire departments of Alderson, Fairlea, Frankford, Lewisburg, and Ronceverte, along with Greenbrier County Emergency Ambulance Service, Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department and Dispatch, teamed together to hold a “Fire Prevention Fun Day” at the State Fairgrounds on October 5.
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“I love my work,” says Ruth Ray of Fairlea, who on October 8 took ownership of Wiseman’s Floral in Ronceverte.
Ray was hired eight years ago by long-time Wiseman’s owner Mary Doggett, and then bought the shop when Doggett retired.
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Alderson Main Street has announced the grand opening of Alderson’s newest business, Driftwood Books, operated by Mary and Chuck Cutright.
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Kristen Holliday, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Holliday of Alderson, has been chosen as the 1996 Alderson Queen of Lights.
She is a senior at Greenbrier East High School.
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Under the coordination of Marilyn Leftwich, student intern from West Virginia Graduate College at White Sulphur Elementary School, a Drug Awareness Week program was staged for all students at the local school.
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Helen Osborne of Alderson was the lucky winner of the beautiful handmade quilt which was raffled on October 5 during the Town of Alderson’s Fall Fling.
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“Winterplace is opening with its biggest on-mountain expansion since the resort opened in 1983,” explained Terry Pfeiffer, president.
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Navy Petty Officer Third Class Troy L. Gallant, son of Sheila A. Cottrel of Lewisburg, has returned to Groton, CN, after completing a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea aboard attack submarine USS Grayling.
He is a 1992 graduate of Greenbrier East High School.
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U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall has announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $600,000 to the Greenbrier County Airport Authority to make various upgrades to Greenbrier Valley Airport’s facilities.
December 2, 1971
50 Years Ago…
The segment of I-64 from the Richlands to the Alta interchange was open by Governor Arch Moore Jr. Wednesday morning. This completes I-64 from the Virginia line to the Alta interchange.
Also on Wednesday morning, Moore officially opened the District Nine garage on U.S. Route 219 north of Lewisburg.
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Mr. and Mrs. Howard L. Coleman, who are closing out their hardware store on West Washington Street, will on January 1 open a new business in Lewisburg to be known as Coleman’s Art and Frame Shop at 102 North Court Street in Lewisburg.
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The Rev. and Mrs. Thomas William Apperson and children, Lucy and Chris, moved into the Old Stone Presbyterian parsonage on Greenbrier Street on Monday
The Rev. Apperson is the new minister of Old Stone.
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Airman Michael L. Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Miller Jr. of Lewisburg, has graduated at Keesler AFB, Miss., from the U.S. Air Force administrative specialist course.
Miller is a 1971 graduate of Greenbrier East High School.
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Navy Petty Officer First Class William S. McClung is serving with Fighter Squadron 51 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea with the U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific.
He is a 1960 graduate of Lewisburg High School.
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Haskell Shumate of Union was reelected president of the Mountainaire Travel Council at a recent meeting held by the MTC board of directors.
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This week, Gadd’s IGA store has 2-lb. bags of french fries for 29¢; 5 loaves of bread for $1.00; 17 oz. cans peas are 6 for $1.00, and round steak for 99¢ a lb.
December 5, 1946
75 Years Ago…
Bardel Albert Crum of Charmco enlisted in the regular U.S. Army at the recruiting office in Ronceverte. He was sent to Ft. Hayes, Ohio.
Crum, who was discharged on January 17, will receive his old rank of sergeant.
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The nationwide dim-out of lights is to continue until the coal strike is settled. Merchants of Ronceverte and vicinity are cautioned against burning window lights at night during the dim-out.
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Gerald Williams, son of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Williams of Blaker Mills, recently discharged from government service, left Saturday to enter Ohio Northwestern State College.
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Major Bill Perry was elected chairman of the White Sulphur Springs Library and Community House Association at a meeting of the executive board in the library last Tuesday evening.
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Pvt. First Class Estel B. Dalton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Dalton of White Sulphur Springs, has been awarded the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in action on April 18, 1945, in Germany.
December 3, 1921
100 Years Ago…
Some vandal or vandals during Friday night, last, broke one of the large plate glass windows in front of A.S. Russell’s store at Alderson, a large plate glass window in front and one in the side of the entrance to the J.N. Alderson Clothing Company, and a glass in the door of J.W. Haynes store No. 2.
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Miss Io Boone of Ronceverte is now instructor in the English department at Alderson High School, having entered upon the duties of this position Monday.
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Deputy State Fire Marshal C.A. Bryant of Charleston has been in Ronceverte for some days inspecting buildings in the interest of fire prevention. He reports a great deal of faulty electric wiring in homes and buildings of the city and has recommended changes in a great many instances in the interest of safety.
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J.D. Hoge, who was appointed receiver for the Neola Tie Company by the federal district court, will begin to ship next week all the lumber in the stock of the bankrupt concern. The laboring men of the neighborhood will be paid without red tape for hard-earned wages due them for their work several months ago.
