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.
100 Years Ago
August, 1923
Girls Who Go To Hollywood For Movies Become Clerks
The department stores of Los Angeles are filled with pretty girl clerks who thought they were potential Mary Pickfords. Man, a “second Gloria Swanson” is now chewing gum and punching a typewriter, as a stenographer in the office of a studio where she first went hoping to win her way to fame and fortune on the silver screen.
Fortunately, however, the tide of screen-struck girls who come from all parts of the country to Hollywood has been checked.
Despite reports from tourists that everywhere girl hikers are “on their way to Hollywood,” less of them are arriving than ever before in the history of the movie game.
Apparently, the recent widespread publicity given to the small chance that a girl has to win fame in the movies and the starvation facts which usually confront her on arriving in Hollywood, have taken effect.
75 Years Ago
August, 1948
Tearful Crowds View Body of Babe Ruth in Yankee Stadium
Babe Ruth’s body, lying in state in Yankee Stadium today was a magnetic symbol drawing thousands of persons from hundreds of miles.
Long before dawn, crowds began lining up to file silently and tearfully past the candle-lighted bier of the idolized king of baseball’s body yesterday and last night. It lies in the Stadium lobby a couple of hundred feet behind the home plate from which he drove many of the home runs that brought him fame.
The Babe, racked by pain and wasted by cancer for nearly two years, died Monday night in Memorial Hospital at the age of 53.
Many of those in line today came from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, upstate New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. They came in autos, taxis and chartered buses.
They stood patiently as the sun came up, a quiet, remembering throng.
Children passing the bier knew the Babe only as a legend. But their parents remembered him in all his ebullient, ball-smashing reality. He was a part of a fast-fading era, but many of the records he set still stand.
Free Meal Policy Announced By County
Alleghany County today announced a free meal policy for school children unable to pay the full price of meals served to schools under the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Programs.
Local school officials have adopted the family size-income criteria for use in determining eligibility.
Children from families whose income is at or below those shown are eligible for free meals. In addition, families not meeting this criteria but with other unusual expenses due to unusual expenses due to unusually high medical expenses, shelter cost in excess of 30 percent of income, special education expenses due to the mental or physical condition of a child and disaster or casualty losses are urged to apply.
50 Years Ago
August, 1973
City Seeking Landfill Permit
Because State Health Department officials have rejected the landfill operation plan submitted by the city last spring, because the clay barrier between the garbage dumped at the Sunnymeade landfill and the Jackson River would be inadequate in the event of flooding, Covington still has no permanent permit for its landfill operation.
The City is continuing to operate the landfill on a previously issued temporary permit, however.
City Manager Ronald L. Waller said today that an updated plan providing for a larger barrier to prevent pollution of the river by garbage was sent to the Bureau of Solid Waste and Vector Control of the State Health Department Monday.
25 Years Ago
August, 1998
Covington Native Named Director Of Golf At Legends
Former Covington native Archie Lemon has been named the director of golf for Legends Resorts.
Lemon will oversee operations for the six Myrtle Beach area courses of Legends Resorts. Those courses include Heathland, Moorland, Parkland, Lyster Bay, Marsh Harbour and Heritage Club.
Lemon, an A-4 member of the PGA of America, has more than 20 years experience in the golf industry.
As Director of Golf, Lemon is responsible for golf operations and golf marketing for Legends Resorts. This position entails supervising more than 80 employees who work at the six Legends golf courses and in four clubhouses.
Lemon will direct golf registration, merchandise, programs and sales, and administrative operations, In addition, Lemon will also act as a liaison with all Legends Resorts departments.