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.
1922 – 100 Years Ago
AMONG THE MOONSHINERS
A total of 76 moonshine stills were seized, 174 persons arrested and thousands of gallons of liquor and mash confiscated during the month of April, according to the report of the state prohibition department. Ten stills were seized in each of Kanawha and Harrison counties. Other counties ranked as follows: Ohio, eight; Clay, Lincoln, Mercer and Raleigh, five each; Wyoming, four; Hampshire, Marion, McDowell, Mineral and Summers, three each; Tucker and Taylor, two each; Wayne and Wetzel, one each.
ON A WAGER
Ross Tuckwiller and Harvey Wilson, a few days ago entered into a contract with H. C. Jackson, a meat dealer of Lewisburg to eat five pounds of steak to be cut from a heifer which Mr. Jackson purchased from Mr. Tuckwiller. Should they succeed, Mr. Jackson was to furnish them the five pounds of steak free; should they fail, they were to pay double price. Last Monday evening the young men appeared and after preparations at the Lewisburg restaurant, they ate two and one half pounds of sirloin steak each, two rolls each, drank three glasses of water, one bottle of pop each, and finished with two Eskimo pies. They were alive and at work the last report we had from them.-Greenbrier Independent.
WOMAN LAW GRADUATE
The first woman to obtain a degree in law from the West Virginia University in 23 years is Miss Alice McChesney, of Charleston, who graduates in the class of 1922. Only three other women – Mrs. Lelia L. Frazier and Mrs. Lillian R. Miles, of Morgantown, of the class of 1899, and Miss Agnes Morrison, of Wheeling, of the class of 1895, have ever graduated from the College Law at the University.
Miss McChesney, who entered the university in 1919, intends to practice law in Charleston, beginning next fall. She will not be affiliated with any firm, but will establish a firm of her own. She is primarily interested in the legal problems of women and children and will make a specialty of this phase of her profession.
1947 – 75 Years Ago
NEW STATE TROOPER
Charles Lewis, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Lewis of White Sulphur Springs, was one of 31 men out of 2,100 applicants who was accepted as a recruit al for the Department of Public Safety last week. He has begun a three-month training course at the Naval Ordnance Station. Lewis served four years in the navy during the World War. He was overseas 39 months in both the Pacific and European theatres.
ALDERSON TICKET
At a convention held in Alderson city hall Monday evening, with J. E. Craig presiding as chairman, and H. Rodgers McVey secretary, the following nominations were made by the Citizen’s Party for the municipal election to be held June 3: For mayor, E. L. Roach; recorder, J. E. Craig, and council members, J. W. Dickinson, Rufus Bryant, C. E. Hawks, R. C. Housby and Curtis Shawver.
PRISON HEAD NAMED
The appointment of Grace P. Lockard, of Lewisburg, as superintendent of the new state prison for women at Pence Springs, effective May 15, was announced Thursday by Gov. Clarence W. Meadows.
CLEANING C. & O. STATION
The C. & O. passenger station in Ronceverte is getting a good spring cleaning with a new vapor-wash contraption.
G. M. S. BAND
The R. O. T. C. Band of Greenbrier Military School, which plays each Sunday afternoon for dress parades, made a good showing at Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival, winning a marching prize. The organization also participated over the air in the dedication program of the new Ronceverte radio station, WRON. The band plays a commencement concert the first Sunday afternoon in June.
1972 – 50 Years Ago
4-H Meet Is Held
The May meeting of the Organ Cave 4-H Helpers met at the Community Building, Monday night. Meeting was called to order by the president, Valerie McCormick followed by roll call. The meeting was then turned over to special guest, Mrs. Fonda Hawley who gave a program on nutrition and the proper way to snack.
Bobby McNeil gave a talk on his project, “This Is 4-H.” Plans are being made for a hayride and bike trail ride. Bill McCormick made a motion to adjourn and it was seconded by Betty Lucas.
Members present were: Marty O’Brein, Nicky O’Brein, Joe Howard, Bill Handley, Bobby McNeil, Bill McCormick, Terry Morgan, Valerie McCormick, Linda McCormick and Betty Lucas.
Campers Accepted
This summer for the first time Day Campers will be accepted by Camp Shaw-Mi-DelEca. This will be an opportunity for local boys and girls to participate in the camping program offered at this camp, said camp spokesmen.
Camp starts this summer on June 23 and ends on August 11. Day campers can sign up for one or more weeks or the full seven weeks. Dr. Eugene McClung recently purchased the camp which continues under the direction of Mrs. R.M. Harris of Lewisburg.
Seventh Annual Home and Garden Show Held
The seventh annual Greenbrier Valley Home and Garden Show held at the State Fairgrounds this past weekend, sponsored by the Ronceverte Woman’s Club, was a most successful one. General chairman, Mrs. Cecil K. Wiseman, said each showing was well attended with an estimate of 3,550 persons present.
The Greenbrier Junior High PTA, Mrs. Earl Glover, president, maintained the food booth.
The door prizes each day were numerous and created a great deal of interest, said Miss Stella Butler and Mrs. Karl Sweetwood, chairmen, thanks to the exhibitors, merchants and business houses.
Donors and winners included: A cassette tape player, D&J Music Co. of Lewisburg won by Debby Morgan of Ronceverte; A 2 lb. box of Russell Stover candy, Coleman’s Pharmacy, Lewisburg won by Malcolm McDaniel of Lewisburg; Blue candle holder, Coal House, White Sulphur Springs, won by Mrs. Sandra Moody.
1997 – 25 Years Ago
Water Bills Concerns Continue to Flow in Ronceverte
Water bills continue to spark discussions in Ronceverte despite a decision made in April to remedy unusually high water bills. On Tuesday, the Ronceverte Board of Commissioners was faced with making a decision to adjust the water bill of B.A. Mullican Lumber company.
In April, the commissioners voted to charge an average of the last six months of 1996 for any customers who had water bills in February or March that were in excess of 35% more than that average. The adjustment for the lumber company amounted to $2,944.14, Mayor Tom Morgan said.
“We’re bound by that previous decision; I don’t think we have a choice,” Morgan said on Tuesday.
‘Twin Towers’ Lead Spartan Tennis Team
Michelle Meadows and Esther Lilly are twin towers on the tennis courts this year at Greenbrier East. In doubles competition, Meadows and Lilly are 8-2 with the two losses coming at the hands of the Oak Hill Red Devil.
Lilly and Meadows both participated in the state playoffs last year and look for a repeat performance this year.
Meadows is 9-1 in singles play, was runner-up in the Coalfield Conference as a sophomore and hopes to capture the title in this, her senior year. She hasn’t decided which college to attend, but wants to major in physical therapy to prepare to become a physician’s assistant.
Meadows is a member of the Spartan Marching Band, the National Honor Society, Greenbrier Scholars, Student Action for Education and has been listed in Who’s Who in American High Schools for two straight years.
WVSOM Students Receive Health Service Corps Scholarships
Two students at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) are among 167 medical students nationwide who received National Health Service Corps (NHSC) scholarships in 1996, according to a report from the Bureau of Primary Health Care.
First-year students John Martin and Abigail Wilson were the only students in West Virginia to receive the scholarships, signifying the students’ commitment to primary health care in underserved areas.
