100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 23, 1920
from the Gloucester Gazette
A unique feature of the birthday party to be given at the Woman’s Club New Year’s afternoon is a measuring party. Those present will pay one cent for each inch measure of waist line. There is compensation for the “stout,” in the prospect of winning the prize which will be given the possessor of the largest waist measure. There will also be a prize for the smallest waist. The party will begin at 3 p.m. The proceeds will go to make improvements in the club room.
A friendly rivalry in heavy hog-raising between Messrs. W.E. Purcell and Charles Kimball had its climax last week when the hogs were killed and weighed. Mr. Kimball carried off the honors when his hog, a Poland China and Berkshire mixture, tipped the scales at 680 pounds, but Mr. Purcell was a close second, with a Duroc-Jersey weighing 639. Both hogs were about two years old.
from the Mathews Journal
Santa Claus paid a visit to L.M. Callis’s store on last Saturday afternoon much to the delight to the young people around. He came in town in style driven by Mr. H.K. Taylor in a new Nash touring car prettily decorated and remained at Mr. Callis’s store some time before taking his departure for other parts.
90 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 25, 1930
from the Gloucester Gazette
Dear Santa Claus: I am your little boy who has been good so you will bring me plenty of goodies. Please bring me a nice picture frame for my girl’s picture, also some dates, fruit and an electric toaster. I would like an alarm clock if you can spare one as I broke mine. Remember the poor little boys I know. Your little good boy, Stephen Field Jr., Nuttall
Dear Santa: I am a little girl eight years old and I will not ask for so much because I have some more little sisters to share with. Please bring me a writing desk and a white gold bracelet, also some candy, nuts, oranges and apples. Your little girl, Doris Belvin, Achilles
Dear Santa: I am a little girl eight years old, have no papa and hope that you won’t forget me. Please bring me a trycicle, a phone and some goodies, don’t forget mother and brother. Your little girl, Alma Bell South, Pampa80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 26, 1940
from the Gazette-Journal
The first report from the Red Cross Roll Call Drive in Gloucester, headed this year by Edward E. Heald, shows a total collected thus far of $1,056.22. Last year’s total was $707.47.
Mrs. Thomas C. Walker, chairman of the Gloucester Chapter of the American Red Cross for the Negroes, stated she had collected up to date $218 with a number of assistants yet to be heard from. This amount, Mrs. Walker stated, surpassed the collections of last year by over $50.
70 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 21, 1950
from the Gazette-Journal
A tired but happy Gazette-Journal Staff pauses now, as the last forms of its 1950 Christmas Edition are going to press, to add its voice to the grand, heart-warming chorus of good will which is already echoing through this entire community.
We are tired, because your very generous patronage has kept us all working hard, day and night, in order to do what you wanted us to do, when you wanted us to do it.
And so—WE ALL, feel very much like wishing YOU ALL, everything you could possibly wish for yourselves—which after all could hardly be better expressed than by the use of these time honored words:
Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year
Paul Titlow, Gertrude Bodurtha, Mrs. L.P. Oliver, Charles Cesil, John Cox, Joan Callis, Billy Titlow, Billy Vaughan, Jack Brown, Edward Fanning, Hayes Taliaferro and our correspondents in every section of Gloucester and Mathews Counties.
60 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 22, 1960
from the Gazette-Journal
The doctors of Mathews wish to announce that there will be no evening office hours from Friday, Dec. 23, through Monday, Jan. 2, 1961. Drs. Bowles, Keanney, Ransone, Sadler and Shinn will resume night office hours on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Dr. J.R. Gill will resume night office hours on Monday, Jan. 2.
50 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 24, 1970
from the Gazette-Journal
After 36 years and the anger of countless drivers, the Division of Motor Vehicles has done away with the parking test as a prerequisite to obtaining a Virginia driver’s license.
DMV Commissioner Vern L. Hill ordered the test—a matter of parking between two sticks laid on the pavement at each end of a marked parking space—discontinued Dec. 1.
“It has been determined,” Hill said, “that such a maneuver does not materially measure driving capabilities called for in modern-day traffic. The discontinuing of this maneuver will permit more emphasis in the on-street maneuvers, which always have been a standard part of the driver license examination.”
40 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 25, 1980
from the Gazette-Journal
In a small, back-room studio at D&H Sporting Goods in Mathews, an artist is at work.
The artist’s name is William Langley Deagle, and, for a reasonable price, he’ll design and make you a sign; or he’ll silkscreen a T-shirt for you; or he’ll hand carve a name board for your boat; or he’ll design and produce an emblem for your business; or he’ll paint a picture of your pet; or he’ll draw a funny cartoon about your boss; or (for somewhat more than a reasonable price) he’ll gold leaf your antique mirror.
In short, Langley Deagle is a one-man company, but in name, his Mathews Signs Co. is just a service offered by D&H Sporting Goods.
Deagle was born and raised in Mathews and he lives in Port Haywood. His talents, he says, were given to him by “the good Lord,” but he also admits he had a grandfather who was a blacksmith, a carpenter, a casket maker, and a buggy-striper, laughs Deagle.
30 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 27, 1990
from the Gazette-Journal
The Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad has purchased a new advanced life-support ambulance which is scheduled to be put into active service this week.
Jane Senyk, public information officer, said the vehicle will replace an outdated 1978 basic life-support ambulance. She said the 1990 model has an air cushion suspension system to provide smoother transport over country roads and “better enable us to perform important medical procedures en route to the emergency room.”
The cost of the vehicle and equipment was listed as $61,000.
Mrs. Senyk said the new ambulance will be on display for county residents to see Saturday, Dec. 29 in the Super Fresh parking lot from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
20 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000
from the Gazette-Journal
Dear Santa,
Are you feeling ok and Mrs. Clause the reindeer and the elves? I hope you are feeling good. Can I please have some Cds and tapes?Your Friend, Ashley Haley, Age 8
Dear Santa,
Does Rudolph have a red nose? I want a real kitten, a globe, a play horse and for my dad to be home for Christmas. Thank you,
Brent Owens
Dear Santa,
I hope you will come to my house on Christmas night because I want you to see my Christmas tree. I am seven years old. I live in Hayes, Va.
Love,
Xzavier Darden
Dear Santa,
Sumtims I am naughty. But most of the time I am a good boy! Are you ready for the big nitt? I would like to have a scate bord and a soccer ball.
Love,
Daniel Mitchem
Age 6
Dear Santa,
I have been good to my little sister this year. I have been really good this year. And I have been good to the cat. And I am doing good in School. And I am being good to my mom.
Love,
Tim Houston
Age 7
Dear Santa,
I am in second grade. I am seven years old. I want a bike. Please. I have tried my best.
Your friend, Jason
10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010
from the Gazette-Journal
The Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Inc., recently saved over $300,000 by having a 1987 model fire truck refurbished, rather than purchasing a new piece of equipment, which would have cost the volunteer organization approximately $400,000.
GVFRD captain Gordon Townsend said that the Spartan model-FMC (chassis) truck that is stationed at Harcum Station #4 cost the company $150,000 when purchased in the late 1980s. The total cost of refurbishing the truck was about $35,000.