110 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 11, 1911
from the Mathews Journal
The marriage of William D. Green, of Tulare, Cal., to Miss Mora Pierce, of Pinetta, Gloucester county, brought about by a two-years’ correspondence through an advertisement in a farmer’s paper, smacks of romance. The groom saw an invitation in the paper to correspond with its subscribers by means of post-card views, and he accepted with the above results.
The groom is a large fruit grower in California and the bride is the only daughter of J.M. Pierce, of Pinetta. They were married at the home of the bride in Gloucester by her former pastor, Elder William E. Wiatt. Miss Bertha Fuller, of Baltimore, played the wedding march, and Miss Florence Fethe acted as bridesmaid. The happy couple left at once for Visalia, Cal., their future home.
100 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 12, 1921
from the Gloucester Gazette
Mr. Herbert Thomas, representing the Orange Crush Co., of Chicago, Ill.; Mr. L.V. Hollingsworth, of the Langley Co., Newport News and Mr. Robert Y. Muse, of Gloucester Point, distributor for Gloucester and Mathews counties of the Orange Crush products, have been throughout the county this week arranging for the sale by local dealers of the Orange Crush company’s products, Orange, Lemon and Lime Crush and Pepsi-Kola.
from the Mathews Journal
A reward of $25 will be paid for evidence leading to the conviction of the parties who stole the spotlight from the Parish car between Sunday, April 24 and Friday, April 29.
-W.F. Carpenter, Kingston Parish, Mathews, Va.
To The Women of Mathews
Miss Roberta Wellford, Director of Citizenship Education, will give an address to the women of Mathews County on next Tuesday, May 17 at 3 p.m. in the auditorium of Lee-Jackson High School.
Not only those who have paid their taxes and registered, but every mother and High School girl should be interested in this lecture.
There will be no admission charge. Everyone invited to attend.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 14, 1931
from the Gloucester Gazette
Gloucester horses were right in the forefront in the Hampton horse show Friday and Saturday, which drew a number of spectators from this county.
“Louise Gray,” from the Church Hill stables, ridden by Mrs. J.H. Guitar, was adjudged champion saddle horse of the show, also winning class 31, open to all saddle horses, as well as the ladies’ saddle class.
Bob Farinholt cleaned up in the class for best yearlings suitable to become a hunter and sired by a thoroughbred. “Man of Gloucester” was first, with “Miss Freeport,” another Farinholt entry, second. “The King Fish,” from Church Hill stables, was third in this class.
from the Mathews Journal
The ladies of Westville Christian Church will serve lunch on the Court Green Monday, the first day of May Court, the proceeds to be used for the church. Please don’t drop any crumbs on the nice new grass.
There will be an important meeting of those interested in the Mathews Memorial Library, in the Court House, Tuesday night, May 19 at 8 o’clock. This is an adjournment of a meeting held Monday night at which the attendance was not sufficient to accomplish anything definite.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 15, 1941
from the Gazette-Journal
It was announced yesterday that the noted Jubilee Singers from Antioch Baptist Church with Violet Forrest as soloist, have been engaged as an added attraction for the musical concert to be presented at Mathews High School, Thursday, May 22 at 8 p.m., under the auspices of the Ruritan Club and Woman’s Club. Other headline attractions will be the Thomas Hunter 21-piece band with piano soloist, and Glee Club. Advance sale of tickets for this event indicated that a very large audience will be on hand.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 10, 1951
from the Gazette-Journal
Fifty-four seniors will graduate from Mathews High School at commencement exercises on Friday evening, June 1.
They are as follows: Hayes Allen, David Crockett, Langley Deagle, Bud Dunton, Carey Hunley, Gordon Jones, Donald Sanger, Jesse Wroten, Roy Adams, Joe Crewe, Herbert Figg, Clifton Hudgins, Harry Lewis, Eva Allen, Joyce Avery, Betty Faulkner, Joyce Ann Gayle, Joyce Jenkins, Helen Machen, Christine Sadler, Lillian South, Jean White, Gloria Brown, Jean Audrey Flippen, Ann Lily, Audrey Respess, Vivian Shipley, Donald Basford, and Frank Davis.
Also, John Robert Dillehay, John Ellingsworth, Lindy Hurst, Russell Mitchem, Luther White, James Adams, Leslie Callis, Morris Downs, Edwin Haufler, Bobby James, Richard Shirey, June Atherton, Barbara Callis, Elizabeth Forrest, Mary Nelson Haynes, Gloria Kemp, Margaret Owens, Sylvia Shawn, Iva Thomas, Betty Arms, Audrey Curfman, Betty Ann Hudgins, Betty Moore, Emma Lee Rowe and Peggy Turpin.
Mrs. Eleanor Respess and Mrs. Irene Sanger are senior class sponsors.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 11, 1961
from the Gazette-Journal
Alex Atkins, chairman of the Gloucester Board of Supervisors, polled members of the board by telephone on Wednesday and stated it was the opinion of the board that trying to change to fast time in Gloucester would only result in more confusion than already exists, despite DST or “fast” time, having already been put into effect in nearby cities, towns and come counties. He further said the board has no plans at present to call a special meeting to consider the matter at this time, or to request approval of the county adopting fast time.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 13, 1971
from the Gazette-Journal
New postage rates will become effective Sunday when the rate for a first-class letter will increase from 6¢ to 8¢ an ounce, and airmail letter rates will go from 10¢ to 11¢ an ounce. Post cards will go from 5¢ to 6¢ each and airmail post cards will go from 8¢ to 9¢.
These increases are authorized on a temporary basis until the newly created Postal Rate Commission can make recommendations to the governors of the Postal Service on permanent changes.
In addition to increases in first class rates, second and third class will also go up on May 16.
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 14, 1981
from the Gazette-Journal
Winners of a grocery giveaway sponsored by the Band Booster Club of Gloucester High School were announced this week by Joyce Trivett, publicity spokesman for the club.
They are Hilda Snapp of Newport News, first prize of $200 in groceries at LouSmith Supermarket; Bill Moore of Gloucester, second prize of $50 in groceries at LouSmith; and Teresa Haynes of Gloucester Point, third prize, country ham.
Mrs. Lou Smith drew the winners’ names.
Mrs. Trivett said funds raised by the event will be donated for the band’s trip to Florida.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 16, 1991
from the Gazette-Journal
More than 128 students at Thomas Hunter School jumped rope for one and one-half hours recently to promote their cardiovascular fitness and to raise money for the American Heart Association. Thomas Hunter students raised $4,408.13 for their collective efforts.
Jump Rope for Heart coordinator Ron Trainum noted that this was Thomas Hunter’s third JRFH and that each year the event has gotten better. “The students did an outstanding job of getting out and hustling sponsors,” Trainum said.
“They realized that they might be saving someone’s life with the money they’ve raised and that with teamwork, we can fight heart disease.”
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 10, 2001
from the Gazette-Journal
A new organization is forming in Mathews County. The Newcomers Club is designated primarily for new county residents, although a flier indicates that the club is also open to residents who “have been here awhile and would like to meet new people.”
For more information, call Sharon Leary or Judy Schick.
The recently reopened Daffodils Restaurant will be holding a fundraiser on Friday, May 25 to benefit the Mathews High School Auditorium fund drive. According to restaurant manager Ed Daniels, 10 percent of all sales that evening will go to the school auditorium project.
Daffodils will service its regular menu that night, along with several daily specials. The restaurant is located on Main Street in Mathews Court House.
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 12, 2011
from the Gazette-Journal
The modular units that will house Gloucester County Public School eighth graders on the Gloucester High School campus in the fall should be on site by the first week of June, school division Ben Kiser told the Gloucester School Board on Tuesday.
He also recommended that the cluster of eighth-grade housing be known as Page Middle School to preserve the name of the county’s semi-destroyed school building.
Due to the partial destruction of Page Middle School by the April 16 tornado, Page students are now attending Peasley Middle School on a split schedule with Peasley students. To ease the strain on the Peasley facility and end the late school day for Page students, the board will send all sixth and seventh graders to Peasley in the fall and move all eighth graders, approximately 425 students, to the modular units. Peasley will retain its name.