110 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 16, 1911
from the Mathews Journal
A Thanksgiving entertainment will be given on Friday night, Nov. 24, 1911, at eight o’clock, in the auditorium of the new New Point High School building.
A prominent feature of the evening will be a debate, “Resolved, that the Suffrage should be Extended to Woman.” This much discussed question will be settled we trust, for good and all.
There will be music, both vocal and instrumental and recitations. Refreshments, varied and excellent, oysters, coffee, ice cream and cake will be on sale.
The object of the gathering is to furnish an opportunity for patrons, pupils, teachers, school officers and friends to meet and get acquainted with each other and to raise money for our new desks.
100 YEARS AGO Thursday, Nov. 17, 1921
from the Gloucester Gazette
On the evening of Armistice Day, the Cornelia Thornton Unit of the American Legion Post of Gloucester, gave a supper and smoker to the ex-service men of the county, at the Women’s Club.
The room was bright with flowers and red, white, and blue. There was a cheerful fire and a good supper, that perhaps tasted all better from being served by sisters and wives and mothers and sweethearts of ex-service men. After the supper, Mr. Graham Jones, Commander of the Edward Field Post of Gloucester, proposed a vote of thanks to their hostesses and then spoke of the good work that the American Legion had done and was continuing to do in the county.
from the Mathews Journal
Work has been begun by Contractor J.E. Callis on the new Drug Store building to be erected by Mr. Ellis C. Richardson on the corner lot purchased recently from Mr. L.S. Miles. It is understood that the building will be a modern brick structure equipped in the most up-to-date fashion.
The old Sears & Williams store building which was on the lot when sold by Mr. Miles and which was subsequently purchased by Mr. Wyatt Wolffe has been moved by the latter to an adjoining lot. Mr. Walter Foster has charge of this work.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 19, 1931
from the Gloucester Gazette
The Gloucester Public Library announces that it now has the use of a second room, as a reference and reading room, which will be quite a convenience to the public.
The library has received a box of books, the gift of Miss Walke, of Norfolk. These books are all fiction and mystery stories by modern and well-known authors.
The library is for the use of all the people of Gloucester, who should have no hesitancy in availing themselves of the opportunity it affords to borrow books for home reading.
from the Mathews Journal
In news from New Point, Mr. and Mrs. Dawson Owens and baby, of Gloucester, are spending some time with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grover Hudgins.
Mrs. Sidney Miller and two sons, and Miss Dora Miller were supper guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Smith on Sunday night.
Mr. and Mrs. Claude Hudgins and Mr. and Mrs. Willard Diggs and children visited with Mr. and Mrs. Guy Armistead on Saturday night.
Mr. and Mrs. Warren Deagle were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Hudgins on Sunday.
We are glad to see little William Pugh out again, after being in for the past two weeks with tonsilitis.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 20, 1941
from the Gazette-Journal
All Mathews County is talking about the “Gala Sale for British Relief,” to be held at Mathews High School all day Friday, under the auspices of the Woman’s Club.
Public interest in this project was encouraging from the beginning and almost everything imaginable, contributed by interested citizens and merchants, will be offered for sale.
The list starts with a pedigreed Guernsey bull calf from Mobjack Farm and runs down through canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, china and cooking utensils, poultry, furniture, clothing, fancy work, handcrafts, and a hundred and one items, too numerous to mention.
The sale begins at 9 a.m. At 8 p.m. a program entitled “Fanfare” and a fashion show showing costumes, new and old for young and old, is on the program. There will be music and other attractions. Refreshments will be on sale all day.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 15, 1951
from the Gazette-Journal
The Public Welfare committee of the Mathews Junior Woman’s Club met on Monday, Nov. 12 with Mrs. Roland Wortham. Plans were made for the December meeting. There will be a Christmas party for children of the members and a play “Child Face of a Star” will be presented by club members.
The committee will sponsor a Bake Sale at Mathews on Saturday, Dec. 1. The money realized from the sale will be used to buy articles for the Loan project. Medical supplies are still needed for this closet which will be located in the upstairs room of the County Jail. Anyone having articles to donate may call 5-XXXX and arrangements will be made to have them picked up.
Anyone having new or used toys to contribute to the local welfare department to underprivileged children may bring them to the local office or put them in boxes which have been placed in Colonial 5c to $5.00 Store, Hudgins Drug Store, Mathews; Hudgins Store at New Point; and Donk’s Theater, Hudgins.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 16, 1961
from the Gazette-Journal
Foster’s Inc., one of Mathews County’s leading department stores, is anticipating the greatest sale in years scheduled this week-end.
Due to a large supply of fall stock, and to make room for Christmas stock coming in Foster’s Department Store announces a reduction of prices to almost cost during a big sale scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17. The sale will end at noon Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Twenty items of value from the first floor and 20 from the second floor will be on sale. The sale items area all new fall merchandise.
As an additional opportunity to benefit during this sale, five turkeys will be given to the first five people who correctly estimate the number of beans in a jar on display in the window. Each winner will receive an approximately 10 lb. dressed turkey. The drawing will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 18, 1971
from the Gazette-Journal
A $1,296,552 contract for the Gloucester Court House bypass has been awarded by the State Highway Commission to Henry S. Branscome, Inc., of Williamsburg.
The project calls for 2.6 miles of 24-foot-wide parallel roadways on a new location around Gloucester Court House. It will begin near the airport on Rt. 17 south of the town, pass west of Gloucester, cross Fox Mill Creek and connect with the present Rt. 17 construction north of the village. It is not known when actual construction will begin. Plans for the bypass have been underway since 1966.
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 19, 1981
from the Gazette-Journal
Approximately 36 units will take part in the Thanksgiving Holiday Parade to be held at 4 p.m. Saturday under the sponsorship of the Mathews Chamber of Commerce.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 21, 1991
from the Gazette-Journal
The Mathews Holiday Parade was a flag-flying time on Saturday, as war veterans took some of the attention from Santa Claus. American Legion Post 83 presented colors while the Mathews Retired Officers Club followed.
Mathews High band played Christmas music for Santa Claus. The grand old fellow appeared on Mathews Main Street during Saturday’s Holiday Parade.
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001
from the Gazette-Journal
Voluntary drug testing of Mathews High School students at their parents’ request appears likely, after the Mathews County School Board received this recommendation from the MHS Drug Testing Committee at its meeting Tuesday night.
Implementation of this voluntary drug-testing program is still several months away, with a subcommittee of the MHS Drug Testing Committee meeting to hammer out the details.
Results of the tests would remain confidential and not result in consequences at school. However, if an athlete tests positive for drug use, the MHS athletic policy would be enforced. In the case of positive results, parents would be referred to available resources, such a drug counseling programs and support groups.
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011
from the Gazette-Journal
Mathews High School volleyball players advanced to the semifinals of the Group A Division II State Volleyball Championships with a three-set sweep of Goochland at MHS Tuesday night. The unbeaten Blue Devils won by 25-15, 25-23 and 25-14 to earn the third consecutive trip to the State Final Four. The win takes Mathews to the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University for a 4:30 p.m. Friday match-up with Auburn. The winner will advance to the final at Siegel Center on Saturday.