100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 29, 1921
from the Gloucester Gazette
Chief Cook, of the Pamunkey Indians, declared that a hard, cold winter is just ahead of us. All Indian signs point to severe weather, he says. The moss on trees is growing doubly thick. Squirrels are hoarding acorns and nuts. But, notwithstanding this, nature, acting under the eternal law of compensation, has made plans for a happy winter. Chief Cook declares that there are more quail in his domains than he has seen for years. Deer are thick as rabbits and so plentiful that the bag limit should be easily obtained at ordinary tide. Mallard ducks are already coming and an early duck season is prophesied.
from the Mathews Journal
In Cobbs Creek news, Fall has arrived and the oystering season began on the 15th, and everyone seems busy at present. Madam Rumor reports marriage bells will soon ring in this vicinity. Wonder who the lucky ones will be?
Mr. Joe Andrew has purchased the farm known as “Foxhall” from Mr. T.H. Richardson and will erect a dwelling thereon at once. The buildings on the place were all destroyed by fire some time ago.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 1, 1931
from the Gloucester Gazette
The first of a three-game series between Amoco and Poquoson, played last Saturday at Poquoson, fell to the Gloucester boys by a score of 5 to 3. Both aggregations hit successfully, each gathering a total of ten hits, but the boys from this side of the river bunched theirs to a greater advantage. Hogge, Wilburn and Thomas did the heavy stick work for Amoco, with Sparrow pitching against Firth.
This Saturday the second game of the series will be played on the Gloucester Point field, with Lefty White pitching for Amoco. As this will probably be the last game of the season on the home grounds, a big crowd is expected.
from the Mathews Journal
Mrs. George Frank Hudgins, who has been living with her parents here, has moved to Norfolk, where she will be near her husband who is employed on one of the sea-going ships.
Mr. Norman Baxter and mother and Miss Lucile Winder and Miss Bethel Peters motored to Norfolk Sunday and spent a few days. Mr. Baxter has recently purchased a new Buick sedan from Gloucester.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 2, 1941
from the Gazette-Journal
Air raid warning groups organized recently in Gloucester and Mathews will have their first real test during the week of Oct. 9-16, when air-raid and black-out maneuvers will be conducted in this area by the U.S. Army and observation units and fire-fighting units will learn how they will be expected to function in case of actual attack by hostile aircraft. Army officers will arrive in the area in a few days to check all stations and give instructions to the observers.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 27, 1951
from the Gazette-Journal
According to the Battle School Construction Fund Survey released by the Virginia Education Association, the regular allotments for 1950-51 and 1951-52 will give Gloucester and Mathews Counties $131,812.10 and $81,669.75, respectively.
Gloucester will not use the Battle money before June 30, 1952, since a conclusion has not been reached on what to build, even though the need is great, according to the survey.
Mathews County’s share will be used by June 30, 1952 to aid in construction of New Point School, for which plans are now being drawn.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 28, 1961
from the Gazette-Journal
The Mathews High School Band has accepted an invitation to perform during intermission of the University of Richmond vs. VMI football game at the Richmond City Stadium on Friday night, Sept. 29, at 8:30 p.m.
The band also has been invited to appear in the Thalhimers Toy Parade again this year, to be held on Nov. 21.
An invitation to participate in the Oyster Bowl Festivities this year was declined by Bandmaster George Stevens, due to a scheduling conflict.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 30, 1971
from the Gazette-Journal
The 5th Coast Guard District has announced that it is stationing one of its three Air Cushion Vehicles at the Milford Haven Station in the near future.
The 39-ft. long hovercraft will arrive in the Chesapeake Bay area in early November with a four-man crew. It has been stationed in San Francisco for the past year.
Capt. Ernest H. Burt, Jr., Chief of Operations for the 5th District, said the craft would be used for a wide variety of chores throughout the Chesapeake Bay including search and rescue, maintenance of aids to navigation investigating oil pollution reports and ice reconnaissance. Personnel at the Mathews County Station will be trained in the vehicle’s operation, Capt. Burt said.
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 1, 1981
from the Gazette-Journal
Sterling N. Ransone Jr., a senior at Mathews High School and president of the student government, has received a letter of commendation for performance in the 1982 National Merit Scholarship Program.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Oct. 3, 1991
from the Gazette-Journal
For many people, a life insurance policy is something for future generations to collect. Not so for Lester L. Smith of Susan.
The 96-year-old has done something that New York Life agent Joseph B. Diggs has never encountered before: he’s outlived his policy. Smith purchased three policies in 1929, and has since paid New York Life the face value during the past 62 years in the form of monthly premiums. In addition to the face value of the policies, Smith will receive accumulated dividends which amount to roughly 300 percent of the initial life insurance purchase.
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 27, 2001
from the Gazette-Journal
Several businesses at White Marsh Shopping Center held a yard sale, bake sale, car wash and all-around fundraiser on Saturday to collect for the American Red Cross.
Diana Steele, of Brown Bottoms Tanning Salon, reports and overwhelming success, with $4,500 raised. A large part of the total, $2,309.20, came in response to Abingdon volunteer firefighters who stood on the side of the road holding boots. Motorists pulled over and deposited freely in these unusual, but appropriate, collection plates.
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011
from the Gazette-Journal
Despite on and off rain and muddy conditions, the 32nd Annual Guinea Jubilee was quite successful, according to Elliott Hogge, chair of the festival.
According to Hogge, the rain was a big factor in keeping down crowds for Friday’s opening night. “I estimate we had between 800 and 1,000 people,” he said. That is about 4,000 fewer than last year, according to Hogge.
“The committee certainly appreciates the courtesy extended to us by the vendors.” Hogge said. With three inches of rain falling in and around the festival grounds, he said, the decision was made early to stop traffic into the area around 2 p.m. All vendors were required to carry their materials from their vehicles to the festival area.
“They all understood,” Hogge said. “The courtesy they displayed to us was fantastic and it made the job for us a lot easier.”