110 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 15, 1909
from the Mathews Journal
A merry entertainment by the ancient maids and bachelors of Mathews Baptist Church will come to pass in the Red Men’s Hall, at Mathews Court House, on the evening of April 22. At the beginning of the entertainment, everybody will attend Act I: The Donation Party on the Parson, after which they will proceed to, II: The Singing Skuyll with periods of song, study and rest. III: The Pioneer Pedagogue will instruct his favorite pupils, privately, and give public performances. IV: The Grand Concert will close the program.
The trouble will begin at 8:30. Admission 15 cents, children 10 cents.
100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 17, 1919
from The Gloucester Gazette
Bena: Well, spring is here and the farmers are busy getting ready for their crops. The pea crop is not looking so good in this section. Mr. Vollie Heywood is the largest planter around here. His crop is looking fine, we wish him well with them.
Mr. A.W. Walker shipped a very large turkey from his farm, Cherry Hill, last week, for which he realized a neat little sum, $6.50. It sold for $7.14. We folks know just how to raise turkeys.
from the Mathews Journal
The State authorities have completed the highway between this place and Twiggs Ferry on the Piankitank river. A portion of this road was about as bad as any in the county but has been made very good by the State force.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 18, 1929
from the Gloucester Gazette
Last week in testing 99 cattle in the County Dr. Gregory, State Inspector, found two infected with tuberculosis. These cows will be slaughtered to prevent further spread of the disease.
We regret very much that Dr. Gregory was able to give us only one day’s testing instead of one week as he had at first planned. Many applications for testing had to be turned down on account of lack of time.
from the Mathews Journal
The annual automobile count published by The Southern Ruralist, gives the number of automobiles in Mathews County, as follows: Buick, 33; Chandler, 2; Chevrolet, 310; Chrysler, 21; Dodge, 51; Durant-Star, 58; Essex, 52; Ford, 601; Franklin, 1; Graham-Paige, 1; Hudson, 9; Hupmobile, 5; Jordan, 1; Nash, 29; Oakland, 10; Oldsmobile, 1; Plymouth, 1; Pontiac, 38; Studebaker, 11; Whippet-Overland, 78; Willys-Knight, 5; Miscellaneous, 14; Total, 1,322; Trucks, 188.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 20, 1939
from the Gazette-Journal
Those who have been selected to represent Botetourt and Achilles High Schools in the literary contest, which will be held in the Botetourt gymnasium Friday evening at 8 o’clock, are: speaker, Everett Hogg for Achilles High School, and Atwood Moore for Botetourt; Reading, Miss Estelle Carmine, Achilles, and Sarah Moore, Botetourt; Declamation, Elizabeth Rilee, Achilles, and Margaret Lamberth, Botetourt.
The spellers for Achilles will be Dorothy Rowe, Betsy Ishkanian, Frances Hall and Billy Dudley. Botetourt will be represented by Ethel Thomas, Hugh Dischinger, Laura Hopkins and Virginia Fletcher.
The Glee Clubs from Achilles and Botetourt will compete in the contest with two numbers. Judges for this contest will come from Williamsburg.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 21, 1949
from the Gazette-Journal
The Senior Class of Achilles High School will present a play “The Daffy Dills” by Jay Tobias, in the school gymnasium on Friday, April 22, at 8 p.m. The cast is as follows: Richard Dill, Papa, a handsome widower, Wallace Taylor; Carol Dill, his seventeen-year-old daughter, Alice Rowe: Rod Dill, his sixteen-year-old son, Chester Brown; Doris and Dudley, twins, Reathia Belvin and Leonard Riley; Grandmother Dill, Richard’s neurotic aunt, Betty Hicks; Cousin Maude Maddox, a relative from Peoria, Estelle Nuttall; Elaine Escott, Papa’s bride, Mary Alice Williams; Aimee Lovewell, Rod’s sweetheart, Sylvia Deal; Pete Norton, Carol’s heart throb, Roy Davis; Widow Woggles, a nosey neighbor, Margaret Currier; Arnica Jukes, the cook, Mable Hogge.
This play is directed by Mrs. James Rowe, Senior Class Sponsor.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 16, 1959
from the Gazette-Journal
Get Acquainted Day for children entering New Point School in September will be held on Wednesday, April 22 at 1:30 p.m. No child may enter school unless he is six years old on or before Sept. 30. A recent survey of pre-school children indicated there would be 17 children to enter New Point School in September.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 17, 1969
from the Gazette-Journal
Approval has been given for Gloucester County to participate in the Food Stamp Program. Mrs. Lorraine R. Brown, superintendent of the Gloucester Department of Public Welfare, was notified last week by Hunter Bowles, Food Stamp supervisor, State Department of Welfare and Institutions.
Mrs. Brown said plans are being made to begin the new program as soon as feasible and an opening date will be announced later. She expects to attend a meeting on April 25 in Fredericksburg where additional information will be obtained.
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 19, 1979
from the Gazette-Journal
The Gloucester County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution Tuesday which effectively prohibits the issuance of permits for new construction in the Gloucester Point Sanitary District until the next regular meeting on May 15. The board’s action was in response to the water supply crisis at Gloucester Point.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 20, 1989
from the Gazette-Journal
Thursday, Gloucester County supervisors chairman Burton M. Bland (Ware) said Monday night’s public hearing on the proposed $51 million FY 1989-90 budget was set so residents can “tell us what you want” regarding the financial plan.
And tell the board they did. In all, about two dozen residents spoke during a session that ran more than 3½ hours in the Gloucester Intermediate School auditorium. An estimated 200 people attended the hearing, some applauding vigorously for points they particularly liked.
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 15, 1999
from the Gazette-Journal
The Gloucester High School varsity girls’ softball team has climbed to an exemplary 11-1 Peninsula District record. The Lady Dukes have earned a two-game lead over Bethel for first place in the district after winning two of their last three outings.
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 16, 2009
from the Gazette-Journal
Preparing to celebrate her 93rd birthday in June, Mathews native and Gloucester resident Ruth Diggs Rowe makes it a priority to share her musical talent every Tuesday morning with residents of Sanders in Gloucester. Residents have come to look forward to her playing piano for worship services at the facility, and many have established friendships with her.
A 1932 graduate of Lee-Jackson High School in Mathews, Rowe takes pride that she was the youngest in her class. “I hadn’t even had my 16th birthday yet before I graduated,” she said. From there, she went on to college and taught school for six years before getting married. “I taught in a three-room school house,” Rowe said. “They’re all torn down now.