100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 28, 1921
from the Gloucester Gazette
Mrs. Wyndham Clopton, of Gloucester Point, and Mrs. William Clopton, of Gloucester, were delightfully entertained on Wednesday evening by Captain Hart and Lieut. Green, aboard the submarine SKG. After the visit to the submarine they were entertained at a charming dance at the submarine station, Yorktown. Refreshments were served after the dance.
from the Mathews Journal
Misses Naomi and Virginia Hudgins, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton R. Hudgins, celebrated their twelfth and seventh birthday on Saturday afternoon, April 16, by entertaining a host of their little friends. Many games were played and dainty refreshments served which, with music, helped to gladden the hearts of those little friends.
The little hostesses were presented with many pretty and attractive gifts from their little friends. They were assisted in receiving and serving the little guests by their mother, Mrs. C.R. Hudgins, and aunt, Mrs. J. Edna Armistead.
Those present at the party were Misses Thelma, Jessie, Ora Lee and Dorris Armistead, Dorothy Diggs, Clara Gayle, Georgie, Sadie, Louise and Jeannette Hudgins, Mary Morgan, Susie, Rubie, Lottie, Adelaide, Nancy and Irene Ripley, Jack Stokesberry, Masters Francis Diggs, Cecil Williams and Robert Ripley and Mrs. H.C. Armistead.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 30, 1931
from the Gloucester Gazette
Mrs. Coleman returned to the County on the 22nd and has opened Annefield for the summer on the Ware River.
Mrs. Harry Hall arrived Thursday with a party of friends at White Hall. She also has as her guest, her mother, Mrs. Power.
Mrs. St. George Bryan spent the week-end at Severnby with Miss Vandergrift.
Mrs. D.P. Sanders had as her guests for several days Mr. and Mrs. P.L. Conquest of Richmond.
Mrs. Maxfield was the hostess at Paget over the week-end of eight ladies from Norfolk, members of a club to which she formerly belonged.
from the Mathews Journal
We are glad to see the carpenters busy at Beaverdam School, remodeling the walls there which have been in bad conditions for a long time. We in Beaverlett hope to see them painted in the near future.
Mrs. James Owens and baby spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Callis at Moon.
Miss Nina Cray and Master Homer Cray visited Miss Winza Music and Mr. Victor Music at Port Haywood Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. Harvey Hudgins was out to Sunday School Sunday morning, after being sick for a long time.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 1, 1941
from the Gazette-Journal
Joseph Carlisle Brown, Hinton Folkes Hogg, Jr., William Amos Graves, Joseph Hogge, John William Smith, James Nichols Brown, John Irving Brothers, Clyde Ashby Croswell, James Linwood Rowe, Ellis Singleton Jarvis, Joseph Woodrow Jenkins were called up for physical examination on Tuesday, by the Gloucester Selective Service Board.
Wylie Shackelford is recovering in a Richmond hospital from injuries sustained when he was run over by a corn cutter on his farm near Foster last Friday. Mr. Shackelford was cutting stalks when the team became frightened. He was thrown from the seat and was badly cut by the blades of the cutter.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 26, 1951
from the Gazette-Journal
The Mathews County Woman’s Club won first place in the scrapbook contest for Class E Clubs, according to an announcement made Tuesday by the Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs who held their convention in Washington this week.
The Junior Woman’s Club of Mathews was runner-up in Class C with their scrapbook.
The Club also was runner-up in Class O for the penny arts awards, given to the clubs for doing the most in the field of fine arts, according to membership numbers.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 27, 1961
from the Gazette-Journal
The Gloucester Lions Club will conduct their annual broom sale in the county on May 2, 3, and 4.
There will be two brooms to choose from, a No. 6 and a mill broom. Also on sale will be nylon dry mops and 16”x26” plastic door mats.
Bill Elias, chairman of the sale, announces that there will be nineteen teams working throughout the county. If anyone is missed being called on, call Mr. Elias or any member of the Lions Club and they will be glad to deliver your order.
These articles are purchased from the Virginia Workshop for the Blind in Charlottesville and the proceeds will go to defray their expenses and to help the Lions Club in the local community to carry on their extensive Sight Conservation program.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 29, 1971
from the Gazette-Journal
The Abingdon Volunteer Rescue Squad will hold a benefit rally at the Hayes Plaza Shopping Center Saturday, with drawing for free prizes at 3 p.m.
Prizes, which have been donated by various businesses include: a Pinto pony, first prize; 21-jewel watch, second prize; Berkley spinner rod and reel, third.
Tickets may be purchased at the rally or from individual members of the squad.
L.T. Wells, president, stated proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of a radio system. This system will improve the communication between the volunteer workers. “We deeply appreciate the efforts of all who gave toward this event,” Wells said.
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 30, 1981
from the Gazette-Journal
Attendance for the 1981 Garden Club of Virginia Tour was off considerably compared to last year’s tour, according to figures released by Mrs. Charles E. King, Jr., an organizer for the event.
Mrs. King, who was chairman of the tour in Gloucester, said the “energy crunch” and the Azalea Festival held in Norfolk over the weekend prevented larger crowds from coming to Gloucester.
She said approximately 800 tourists came to see Gloucester’s homes and other points of interest. Approximately 2,000 visitors were here for the same event last year.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, May 2, 1991
from the Gazette-Journal
Walkers of all ages and sizes came together Sunday afternoon at the Beaverdam Reservoir Park to help raise over $15,000 for the March of Dimes Campaign for Healthier Babies.
An estimated 400 walkers turned out for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica, raising approximately $5,000 more than the $10,000 goal which was set by even organizers.
Ron Saunders, who was teamwalk chairman for the walk-a-thon, said that he and other members of the Walk-
America steering committee feel that the walk was very successful. This was the first time that the event has been held in Gloucester.
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 26, 2001
from the Gazette-Journal
The Seabreeze Restaurant, an institution on Gwynn’s Island for more than two decades, will be able to stay right where it is for at least 10 more years, following the approval of a lease agreement between principal restaurant owner Ralph Valdrighi and the County of Mathews, owners of the parcel.
The Mathews County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the lease following a public hearing at Tuesday afternoon’s monthly board meeting. During the hearing several speakers spoke about Valdrighi’s exemplary record of community service, from providing food to volunteer firefighters out on a call to providing an important first step into the working world for many county teen-agers.
When the Seabreeze Restaurant opened in 1979 it was a small building with no air conditioning and inadequate heating, according to a statement prepared by Valdrighi, who was unable to attend Tuesday’s board meeting due to illness.
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, April 28, 2011
from the Gazette-Journal
The Gloucester and Mathews varsity softball teams battled for 14 innings last Thursday night, with the visiting Dukes eventually winning this epic battle by a 5-4 margin. Post-season prospects for both teams look bright, with the unbeaten Dukes handing Mathews its only loss of the year. Makayla Jenkins pitched all 14 innings for GHS to get the win.