110 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 25, 1912
from the Mathews Journal
Among the most important measures thus far introduced in the Virginia Legislature are:
The enabling act, a measure allowing the people upon petition to vote on the liquor question.
A bill to establish a central tax commission to equalize taxable values.
A child labor bill which also prohibits the working of messenger boys under sixteen years of age after ten o’clock at night.
A bill to do away with contracts for convict labor.
An anti-gambling act.
100 YEARS AGO Thursday, Jan. 26, 1922
from the Gloucester Gazette
To the Merchants of Gloucester and Mathews County: I wish to announce that we have secured the franchise to bottle and sell Coca-Cola, in the above-named Counties. Any orders by mail or phone will be promptly filled. Gloucester Coca-Cola Bottling Works, R.E. Amory, General Manager, Gloucester, Va.
All citizens of the Belroi section interested in the new school building are earnestly requested to meet at the school house at Belroi Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7:30 p.m. A full attendance is desired. J.W. Fizer, Pres., Belroi Patrons’ League.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 28, 1932
from the Gloucester Gazette
Rev. Harry L. Corr preached a farewell sermon at Providence Baptist Church Sunday morning before a large congregation. Mr. Corr is retiring after a pastorate of 26 years, during which the church has made substantial progress. It was the first in the county to establish a modern Sunday School plant, consisting of nine Sunday School classrooms.
from the Mathews Journal
Mr. and Mrs. Wilton Forrest of Sarah were given a pounding last Thursday evening by her Sunday School Class and friends, they having recently moved into their new home. Those present were, Mrs. Rufus Diggs, Mrs. Moscow Hudgins, Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Hudgins and daughter, Mrs. Ray and Earl Hudgins, Mrs. Ed Brooks, Mrs. John Hudgins, Mrs. W.V. Savage, Mrs. Leon Hudgins, Mrs. Cecil Hurst, Mrs. Floyd Knight, Mr. and Mrs. George Diggs, Mrs. Jim Stuart and daughter, Mrs. Carroll Sadler, and Miss Helen Diggs. Games were played and all left at a late hour reporting a good time.
Mr. John Hall, of Gwynn’s Island, visited his brother, Mr. Andrew Hall, recently.
Mrs. J.R. Stuart entertained at dinner Tuesday last the following friends: Mrs. Ed Stuart, Mrs. Henry Jarvis, Mrs. Jesse Hutson, Mrs. Harold Morgan, Mrs. Leon Hudgins.
Mrs. Sallie Hall spent Thursday with Mrs. J.S. Hudgins.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 29, 1942
from the Gazette-Journal
An excellent opportunity for the farmers of Mathews county to put their farm equipment into first class condition at practically no cost is being made available to them at the Mathews High School Shop.
Every evening during the week (except Fridays) from 7 until 11 o’clock, the national defense class is meeting and these young men are eager both to be of service to the farmers and at the same time to have practical jobs on which to gain experience.
To correct any impression that the jobs will not be satisfactory and expertly done, attention is called to the fact that the work is under the supervision of men who are widely experienced in this type of work, namely: Willie Brewer, T.M. Emory, C.E. Kline, A.G. Birdsall and W.W. Moschler.
Except in cases of replacement of major parts, there is absolutely no charge for the services.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 24, 1952
from the Gazette-Journal
State Trooper Richard Campbell will present two motion pictures, “Driving Drunk,” and “Last Date” on Friday night at the monthly social meeting of the Young Adults of the First Presbyterian Church of Gloucester. The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. at the Fellowship Room of the Church. The program is being arranged by a committee headed by Mrs. Warren Franklin and Mrs. James N. England Jr.
LeRoy Woodson, of Gloucester, is president of the Young Adults.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 25, 1962
from the Gazette-Journal
Mr. and Mrs. Temple Bass of Cobbs Creek, had as their weekend guests Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Pritchett, of Richmond.
Mrs. H.L. Barnette and sons, of Richmond, were weekend guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Hudson.
Mrs. Cyrus Palmer entertained Mr. and Mrs. Richard Cotter, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Webb, Lt. Cmdr. and Mrs. Wilmott Matthews at dinner on Sunday.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 27, 1972
from the Gazette-Journal
The Abingdon Volunteer Fire Co. responded to 130 alarms during 1971, according to a spokesman for the company. Of these alarms, 29 were to house fires, three to business establishments; 85 to woods, brush, field, grass fires; seven alarms for vehicles; two assistance calls were rendered to pump sinking commercial seafood boats.
The department participated in four parades and one school fire drill during the year. Three schools and one church were inspected for fire hazards.
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 28, 1982
from the Gazette-Journal
The closing of Cobbs Creek Elementary School because of declining school population and a potential annual savings of $50,000 was proposed at Tuesday’s Mathews County School Board meeting.
The proposal was presented by Superintendent Ira R. Hanna as a part of the report from the Joint Committee on School Capital Improvements, a committee made up of school board members Dorothy Foster and Beverly Holmberg and county supervisor Charles H. Richardson Jr. The complete report will be reviewed over the coming weeks by the school board, and also presented at February PTA meetings, before any action is taken.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 30, 1992
from the Gazette-Journal
Even though Gloucester finds itself in difficult budgetary times, County Administrator William H. Whitley is recommending that some capital improvements be included in the fiscal year 1992-93 budget.
“Next year’s budget will be very difficult,” he wrote in a memorandum to the board, “with little money coming from the commonwealth and a flat economy.”
“However, to adopt a policy of not considering capital needs because of the economy would, in my opinion, not be in the best interests of Gloucester County,” Whitley said.
Whitley’s “must do” list included in the capital improvements plan package, which will be considered for the first time by the county board at a work session at 7 tonight in the old courthouse. That list includes:
Hampton Roads Sanitation District sewer line, $800,000; Landfill closure, $28,000; Lease/purchases, $180,000; Achilles/Page sewage, T.C. Walker/Gloucester High School pumping stations, $40,000; Nine sheriff’s cars, $140,000; Fourteen school buses, $440,000; County vehicles, $100,000; Convenience center, $140,000; Jail kitchen, $80,000; Social Services Building, $660,000; Animal shelter runs, $32,000.
Continuing projects include upgrading the fire and rescue communications system, trying to site an industrial park, and improvements to Gloucester High and Walker Elementary schools.
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002
from the Gazette-Journal
Library director Nancy Dwoyer told the Gloucester Library Board Jan. 14 that if state funding cuts come, the local library will be “getting along as best we can.
Chairman Harvey Williams asked Dwoyer if the cuts would affect personnel. Dwoyer replied that such cuts likely should not affect the personnel line item, but would affect acquisition of new books and some other services.
Former Governor Jim Gilmore had proposed a 25 percent cut in state aid to libraries, which Dwoyer said means FY2003 funding from the state would be $96,430. If there were full FY2003 funding from the state that year, Dwoyer said, it would amount to $138,227 according to a proposed aid breakdown.
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012
from the Gazette-Journal
The GHS Frozen Dukes, a team in the 2012 Polar Plunge in Virginia Beach, is holding a raffle to raise money for the event, which supports the Virginia Special Olympics.
Tickets are $10, with the winner getting over $800 in prizes, including more than $300 in Pampered Chef merchandise, a one-night stay at the Gloucester Hampton Inn, gift cards, a photography session, and dinner for two at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown. The drawing will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4, and the winner will be notified by phone.
GHS senior Kevin Birch is heading up the fundraiser as his senior project.