Echoes of the Past is a collection of historical articles curated from The Virginian Review and other publications archived since 1914. You may be exposed to content that you find offensive or objectionable. For historical purposes and accuracy, articles are reprinted in their original, unedited form, and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the publisher.
MAY 1923
100 Years ago
Alertness of engineer
prevents serious
accident Saturday
The place: Monroe Street crossing. The car: A flivver. Train No. 6. Time: 7:50 p.m.
You wonder what all this means? It happened like this: since the new brick road has been laid at the top of the hill at the mayor’s office, all traffic has been detoured either through the undergrade crossing in East Covington or else over the Monroe Street crossing.
Saturday evening many cars were using the Monroe Street crossing just about the time No.6 was due.
As the train, running at the rate of about 15 miles an hour, rounded the curve between Bath and Monroe streets, a small car attempted to cross the track ahead of the train. He made the crossing OK, but if the engineer failed to see the car was trying to beat him across the crossing the train would have struck the car and a serious accident resulted.
As it was, the engineer slapped the emergency brake and prevented the accident, but the air was applied so hard that it took the train crew 15 minutes to release the brakes.
MAY 1938
85 Years Ago
Novel materials used for swimsuits this year
Probably the outstanding feature about the new bathing suits which will be displayed at resorts and beaches this season is the use of novel materials and unusual fabrics.
Milady can have her choice of latex, satin, rubber, silk net, cotton and wool and, of course, even glass or copper if she wants something really different. No longer is a bathing suit sufficient for the resort. A beach costume includes sandals, cape, slacks, bonnet, bag for accessories, sunglasses and various other accoutrements.
MAY 1968
55 Years Ago
Carpenter named
best area coach
Joe Carpenter just finished his second season as head baseball coach at Alleghany County High School, and it was a season he’s likely to remember for the rest of his life.
Carpenter piloted the Colts to a sparkling 13-1 overall mark, the District 5 championship and the championship of the six teams in the Covington-Alleghany-Bath area.
The Alleghany mentor today was named the top coach in the area, winning over the other five coaches.
It was a close vote between Carpenter and Clifton Forge’s Richard Trimble.
Carpenter’s 2-year baseball record at Alleghany now stands at 22-5.
Carpenter was assisted by the personable Lee Dunn.
MAY 2008
15 Years ago
Kerns marks 50
years as a local barber
To celebrate 50 years of serving residents in the Alleghany Highlands, barber Johnny Kern in Clifton Forge took the day off on May 19.
Kern was born in Lick Run and still lives there.
He graduated from Eagle Rock High School, and while in school, worked for Jake Cook in his grocery store at Sharon delivering groceries and as a stock boy.
When he graduated, he found that jobs were scarce, the railroad in Clifton Forge had just put in diesel engines and cut off some men, so he and two buddies joined the U.S. Air Force in 1954.
