Virginia Echoes of the Past
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.
JUNE 1923
100 Years ago
More deaths considered inevitable if heatwave continues
The terrible heat wave, which has enveloped many parts of the country since last Tuesday, causing many deaths and prostrations, will be broken in the East tonight, the Weather Bureau declared late today.
Tonight will mark the gradual descent of temperature and tomorrow will be cooler throughout the eastern part of the United States, the forecast stated.
Fifty-nine persons have perished as a result of the heat wave which is sweeping a great part of the United States. These casualties occurred in Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Suffocating heat is reported today throughout the East and Middle West. Thousands of sufferers slept on beaches along the Atlantic Coast and in big cities the parks have been thrown open for the same purpose.
JUNE 1948
75 Years ago
Couple escapes injury in plane crash here
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bawtenheimer, of Milford, Ohio, escaped without serious injury when their light sports-type plane crashed into the side of a mountain Thursday afternoon. The accident occurred beside Route 60 about 10 miles west of Covington.
The couple was taken to the Alleghany Memorial Hospital. Mr. Bawtenheimer, 22, was conscious and appeared unhurt at the scene of the crash. His wife was unconscious when removed from the plane. Both were to be released from the hospital today.
Edward Archer and Sidney Nicely, of Covington, were eyewitnesses to the crash and were the first to reach the plane after it struck. They were returning to Covington from White Sulphur, Mr. Archer said this morning, when they noticed the plane apparently coming right at them along the highway.
“It appeared to be about 50 feet up,” said Mr. Archer. “The motor was missing, I could tell it was not hitting properly. I could see grass and weeds in the undergear, which appeared to indicate the plane had already brushed pretty low.”
JUNE 1973
50 Years ago
Gathright Dam hearing planned
A hearing has been set for the week of August 13 in the U.S. District Court of Appeals on the Gathright Dam suit.
U.S. Judge Ted Dalton ruled in May that the dam is not a threat to the environment after environmentalists filed suit to halt construction on the U.S. Corps of Engineers project north of Covington.
His decision was appealed to the U.S. District Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, an $18 million contract for the dam and a spillway was awarded and work has begun on this portion of the project.
JUNE 1998
25 Years ago
Alumni baseball games to benefit local heart unit
The Alumni Baseball doubleheader sponsored by the Alleghany Heart Unit will be played Friday night at Casey Field, featuring former baseball players for the Covington, Alleghany, Clifton Forge and Bath County high schools.
All proceeds from the game will go to the fight against heart disease, and this will be the last fundraising event of the current Heart Fund year, which ends June 30.
Paul Siple, event chairman, noted that the first game will feature a team of former Covington and Bath County players 35 or younger against a team of former Alleghany High School and Clifton Forge High School players.
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