115 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 12, 1907
from the Mathews Journal
We have learned that the School Board for reasons good and sufficient to themselves, the chief of which we have reason to believe is a lack of funds, have determined to have but two teachers in the school at Mathews Court House; one to act as principal of the High School and the other to have charge of the rest of the school.
We regard this arrangement as a very poor and unfortunate one, and in saying this we do not mean to reflect upon either the intention or the business capacity of the Board. At the same time we know enough of conditions here to know that two teachers, no matter how competent, cannot do justice to themselves and to the scholars and this school.
110 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 12, 1912
from the Mathews Journal
Beulah Sunday School will give a picnic to the scholars Friday on New Point Beach.
A most delightful party was given Tuesday night by Miss Alice White. Many games were played and all seemed to have a jolly time.
Misses Nina Hutson, Della and Lottie Hudgins went out with Captain Enoch Hutson on his fishing steamer for a few days trip. They will return this week.
100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 7, 1922
from the Gloucester Gazette
The marriages of Miss Elizabeth St. Clair Mott to Mr. Catesby Todd Field and Miss Catherine Sanders Mott to Lieut. Landon Carter Catlett will be solemnized at Ware Church this evening at 5:30 o’clock, the rector of the parish, Rev. Doug W. Neff, assisted by Rev. Wm. B. Lee, rector emeritus, officiating.
from the Mathews Journal
Mr. J. Flave Marchant, United States Deputy Tax Collector, from the Richmond office, was in town several days last week on business connected with the collection of the special taxes due July 1.
He desires us to call attention to Subsection 11 of Section 1001 of the Revenue Law of 1921 which reads as follows:
“Persons carrying on the business of operating or renting passengers automobiles for hire shall pay $10 each such automobiles having a seating capacity of more than two and less than seven, and $20 for each such automobiles having a seating capacity of more than seven.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 8, 1932
from the Mathews Journal
Wedding bells were heard ringing around Cobbs Creek Saturday night. Mr. James Callis, of Warehouse, and Miss Lena Miles, from the lower part of the county, were married at the Methodist Parsonage.
Capt. Elwood Thompson has just arrived from Baltimore where he took a load of melons for market.
A large crowd attended the Mathews Chapel Sunday School picnic last Wednesday afternoon at the home of Brother and Sister H.W. Garrett.
Considerable time was spent looking at the eclipse of the sun. Enjoyable games were played. Some went rowing and swimming. A bountiful evening meal was served, with cream and cake and lemonade and watermelons for refreshments.
80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1942
from the Gazette-Journal
A miscellaneous shower and house warming was given by Mrs. Mable Gibson, Mrs. Spencer Hodges, Mrs. J.M. Shinault and Mrs. Robert Miller, for Mrs. Ann Shinault, who has moved to her new home near Mathews. Mrs. Shinault received many nice gifts.
Miss Virginia Hunley was mistress of ceremonies and was in charge of the games played. Delicious refreshments were served and an enjoyable evening spent by all.
Local rationing boards have been advised of the loss or theft of a number of rationing books recently. All filling station operators are being requested to check all rationing books carefully and to report to the rationing boards any cases in which the numbers on the books do not agree with the license number of the car for which gasoline is being bought.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 11, 1952
from the Gazette-Journal
The Gloucester County Day School opened Wednesday, Sept. 10, with an enrollment of 30 pupils. New on the faculty this year is Mrs. Page Titlow, who is teaching the kindergarten class. Miss Elizabeth Noland is head of the school, assisted by Mrs. Samuel Martin and Mrs. Titlow. This is the beginning of the fourth year of the school which is located in the Gloucester Woman’s Club House at Edge Hill.
On Friday, Sept. 12 beginning at 7 p.m. there will be a Lawn Party at Onemo P.O., for the benefit of Pear Tree Cemetery. The public is cordially invited to be present. Homemade ice cream and other goodies will be on sale.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 6, 1962
from the Gazette-Journal
Peoples National Bank of Gloucester open house last Thursday was attended by more than 3,500 persons from the immediate and surrounding area, Tidewater Virginia, and many others from throughout the State. There was a constant stream of visitors from 2:30 p.m. when the festivities officially started until 9:30 that night, half an hour after the time originally set for closing.
Speaking for the officers and directors, Hudgins Miles, executive vice-president and cashier, said this week, “We are most gratified at the success of our open house and the good wishes of the thousands who attended, as well as the business with which we have been favored since we officially opened last Friday. We shall strive to merit the confidence shown in us and will endeavor to furnish every banking service possible.”
Hundreds of prizes were distributed during the open house including several hundred silver dollars, a number of evening bags, two transistor radios and a number of others.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 7, 1972
from the Gazette-Journal
Gloucester County schools swelled to a record enrollment of 3,304 students as of Tuesday. The figure represents an increase of 205 pupils over last year’s enrollment of 3,099.
The hardest hit area of population expansion centers around Abingdon Elementary School with an enrollment of 597. The special education classes have been moved from Abingdon to Botetourt School in an effort to gain needed classroom space.
Overcrowded classrooms are a problem confronting school officials particularly at Abingdon and Gloucester High School. The pupil enrollment at Gloucester High School reached 882 students Tuesday. All facilities are filled to capacity, and two of the school’s four lunch shifts are experiencing seating problems.
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 9, 1982
from the Gazette-Journal
Walter Reed Memorial Hospital will celebrate its fifth anniversary next week, marking a five-year presence that has changed the face of medical care in Gloucester and Mathews.
To celebrate the occasion and to emphasize public awareness of preventative medicine, the hospital, located north of the Court House on Rt. 17, will hold a Health Fair Sunday between 1 and 5 p.m. The fair will offer free health screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, glaucoma and sickle cell anemia; free pap smear tests, and provide instructions in self breast examinations. Stations will be set up throughout the hospital for instructional purposes and screening clinics, giving the public a view of what Administrator David Tate calls “the wellness approach to medicine.”
The hospital will also raffle off a safety-approved infant car seat during Sunday’s fair.
A total of 9,454 patients have been admitted to WRMH between Sept. 13, 1977 and Aug. 31 of this year; patients that would have had to turn elsewhere for hospital care if the $5 million facility had not been built.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 10, 1992
from the Gazette-Journal
An unknown person dumped about 200 used tires in the Millers Landing subdivision off Rt. 612 near Woods Cross Roads late last month, then returned to dump another load a few days later. The tires were placed on a right of way controlled by the subdivision Home Owners Association, which now appears stuck with the chore of disposing of the hazardous stockpile. The Gloucester Sheriff’s Office is investigating the illegal dumping.
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 5, 2002
from the Gazette-Journal
By passing a resolution asking for voluntary water conservation measures in the county, the Gloucester Board of Supervisors said it might avoid “more difficult water restrictions in the future.”
The board unanimously approved the water conservation measure. Also, the resolution authorizes County Administrator William H. Whitley to issue a “water conservation alert” if the water level drops in the Beaverdam Reservoir to 70 percent of its operating capacity, an elevation of 38 feet.
The board’s action came during a regular meeting in the old courthouse Tuesday held days after Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner revised and expanded the existing state of emergency concerning water in the state.
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012
from the Gazette-Journal
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted Aug. 28 to lower the daily possession limit of oysters from 10 to eight bushels per waterman.
During a meeting at its headquarters in Newport News, the commission also set a 24-bushel daily vessel limit.
Commissioner Jack Travelstead noted that staff is reevaluating agency policy to have the commission consider sanctions against watermen who have acquired three or more violations in a year. Travelstead said in a staff report that “some types of violations, such as violating oyster sanctuaries or harvesting shellfish from condemned waters, maybe should be considered so egregious as to trigger an automatic appearance before the commission on the first violation.”