115 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 21, 1909
from the Mathews Journal
The Sunday School rally or picnic for East Mathews Circuit after being disappointed and reappointed a number of times, came off on last Tuesday, Oct. 12. Quite a large crowd was in attendance, Rev. J.R. Laughton of Mathews gave the morning address on the duties of Sunday School teachers. His points were well taken and were calculated to do much good. After dinner had been served, the Superintendent of St. Paul’s Sunday school by the request of the pastor made a few off-hand remarks which were considered unwise, and out of place, he squeezed in the lemon first and in hurrying to close at the prescribed time forgot to add the sugar, making it too pungent for some palates. Mr. John F. Hudgins of Bethel, followed with a few well-chosen remarks. The proceeds of the day for dinner, supper, ice cream, etc., were something over $80.00 which amount after deducting expenses will be turned over to the treasurer of the parsonage building and furnishing committee.
—Leumas
110 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 22, 1914
from the Mathews Journal
As if the “mere male” were not sufficiently down-trodden by feminine oppression, some born idiot rises to suggest a project for preventing roosters from crowing. Brothers, we live in sad and troublesome times, and the longer we live the worse they get. (Editorial column)
100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 23, 1924
from the Mathews Journal
We desire to call attention to the danger of children on roller skates skating around the Mathews Garage. There are quite a number who enjoy themselves after school on the pavement, but it is especially dangerous around the garage where cars are constantly coming from the side entrance around the corner of the building. We have noticed several very narrow escapes.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 25, 1934
from the Gloucester Gazette
County Commissioner W.C. Stubbs, Jr., attending the affairs at Williamsburg last Saturday, came home five dollars poorer as a result of the activities of a pickpocket in the throng listening to the speech of President Roosevelt. Mr. Stubbs, in reporting his loss, said he had his pocketbook in his hip pocket and the button fastened, and that he felt the pickpocket at work and turned around quickly and caught the man by the shoulder, but someone pushed between them and the pickpocket shook his hold off and melted into the crowd. Besides the five dollar bill, Mr. Stubbs lost his driving card.
from the Mathews Journal
An enjoyable week-end was spent on Sept. 29 and 30. The occasion was Mrs. George Foster’s birthday, when her children gave her a surprise party. Among those present were Mr. R. E. Foster and son, from Norfolk, Va., Mr. D.M. Foster, of Mathews, Mr. Earl Foster, of North, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Chapman and family, of Richmond, Mr. and Mrs. A. Kern Brille, Miss Betty Tucker, Woodland Fields, of Salisbury, Md., and Rev. and Mrs. Guy Foster and son, Bobbie, of Fredericksburg.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 26, 1944
from the Gazette-Journal
Gloucester Schools Supt. J. Walter Kenney has announced that the new bus ordered in June, for the Ware Neck route, arrived Monday and made its first trip Monday afternoon. Mr. Kenney wishes to thank the patrons on the Dutton-Botetourt route for their patience and consideration during the period in which one bus has had to do the work of two.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 21, 1954
from the Gazette-Journal
Night classes for adults interested in Bible, agriculture, home economics, typing, shorthand, general mathematics, county government and bookkeeping will be taught at Gloucester High School this year, Dennis D. Forrest, division superintendent, announced this week. The classes will open to all residents of Gloucester and citizens are urged to take benefit of the studies offered.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 22, 1964
from the Gazette-Journal
The last rabies vaccination clinic of the season will be held at Gloucester High School between 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday for the benefit of local dog owners who have not yet had their animals vaccinated.
More than 2,100 dogs were vaccinated in two previous days of clinics in Gloucester County. Officials estimate there are still a large number of dogs which have not yet been vaccinated.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 24, 1974
from the Gazette-Journal
Two Veterans Day holidays will be observed again this year, with federal employees taking the designated fourth Monday, and the state recognizing the traditional date of November 11.
All federal installations, including post-offices, are scheduled to be closed on Monday. County offices and ABC stores will be open Monday, and will observe the November 11 holiday. Banks in Gloucester and Mathews, as well as most other business establishments, will be open on both holiday dates.
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 25, 1984
from the Gazette-Journal
Two county officials toured Gloucester from the air last Thursday and were impressed by the beauty of the county and the necessity for a zoning ordinance.
William H. Whitley, county administrator, and Joseph Hollingsworth, community development director and zoning administrator, climbed into a single-engine Cessna at the Gloucester Airport hoping to get a new perspective on the zoning issue and to familiar themselves with the county. The flight was arranged by the Gazette-Journal.
“It’s a beautiful county,” says Hollingsworth, “but we also saw signs of random, haphazard growth. Houses built too close to the road. Scattered growth mixing family homes with business and industry. Traffic congestion and dangerous intersections.” Describing the growth rate at seven to eight percent, Hollingsworth believes a zoning ordinance will provide the guidance and direction for long-term growth.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 27, 1994
from the Gazette-Journal
A change to the zoning ordinance was unanimously approved Tuesday afternoon by the Mathews County Board of Supervisors to allow mobile homes by right in the rural and residential districts, so long as the property meets current doubled lot size width setback rules. The change was proposed to simplify the process, and lessen the burden on county finances and man-power. According to zoning office administrative assistant Lynn Anthony, it costs the county approximately $330 to prepare each request, while the applicant only pays $75. At the time, only three of 34 requests have been denied since 1988.
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004
from the Gazette-Journal
Interest is high in the upcoming Nov. 2 presidential election, if requests for absentee ballots can be used as an indicator.
Gloucester has 20,751 active registered voters this year, up over 1,600 from a year ago, according to General Registrar Carol Sekula. Her office has issued approximately 674 absentee ballots with about 287 turned in as of Tuesday.
There are 6,709 registered voters in Mathews this year, up from 6,349 during the 2000 presidential election. Mathews voter registrar Jeanette Tomlinson said that so far the number of absentee ballots she mailed out plus the number of people who have already voted in anticipation of being absent on election day is 318.
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014
from the Gazette-Journal
Mathews County Administrator Mindy Moran is urging county residents to attend a town hall meeting on the proposed 4 percent meals tax that will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the historic courthouse. A referendum on the issue will be on the county’s Nov. 4 ballot.
She said that Mathews totaled $3.88 million in 2013, and if a meals tax had been in place, restaurants alone would have generated $155,000 in revenue. That amount would have equaled a 1-cent increase in real estate tax rates, she said or a 3-cent increase in personal property taxes.
“It’s the best option to take pressure off property taxes,” said Moran, “and would be paid by those choosing to eat out, including the increasing number of tourists and visitors coming to Mathews County.”