90 Years Ago
Penney Store Observes Its Anniversary
The J.C. Penney Co. is celebrating their first anniversary in Covington today.
A year ago, this modern store came to Covington.
Realizing that Covington was a fast-growing town and the coming industrial center of this section of Virginia, the J.C. Penney Co. decided to locate a store in Covington early in 1929.
Work on the building, which was to be their home, started in the late spring and about the middle of August, the building was completed.
When the store was opened, it proved one of the most attractive in Covington.
The J.C. Penney Company believes in extensive advertising of their business.
As to newspaper advertising, Mr. J.C. Penney says, “Without newspaper advertising, no business can hope to succeed in the face of present-day competition and up-to-date methods.”
75 Years Ago
Paxton Infant Dies In Hospital Here
Virginia Pearl Paxton, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Paxton, died in the Covington General Hospital Saturday afternoon.
She is survived by her parents and two sisters, Regina and Dorothy, and one brother, James Berkley.
Funeral services were conducted from the home Monday with the Rev. A.R. Lotts, of the A.R. Presbyterian Church, in charge.
Interment was made in Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Westvaco Squad Sends Its Iron Lung To Richmond
The iron lung belonging to the Westvaco First Aid Squad has been sent to Richmond for use in the polio epidemic there.
The Westvaco First Aid Squad received a call last night at 12:30 from the Medical College of Virginia, asking for the iron lung to be sent to Richmond immediately.
It was placed in the baggage car of the C&O this morning and is due to arrive in Richmond today at 1:20 p.m.
The Westvaco Squad is happy to be able to aid in this siege of infantile paralysis in Eastern Virginia.
This makes the second iron lung Covington has sent to Richmond, one having been sent by the First Aid Squad several weeks ago.
50 Years Ago
Former Watson Coach Still Active
Bill Hodge, who has coached the Waynesboro Tigers through the last two seasons, has been named head football coach at Catoctin High School.
Hodge, a teacher at the Thurmont Middle School, hails from Elkhorn, West Virginia, where he played center and end on the state championship team in 1954.
He began his coaching career as an assistant at Watson High School in Covington.
He was in charge of the offensive team and developed the most explosive teams in the area.
In six years at Watson, Hodge’s teams had a 44-3-2 record and his coaching guidance produced four all-state backs and assisted in six straight district championships.
To Wrestle Here
Cowboy Lang will be one of the midgets scheduled to wrestle at Casey Field on Labor Day when Local 675 and Westvaco again sponsors pro wrestling.
25 Years Ago
Jennifer Brown, ‘Mark Doe Boy’ A Winning Pair
Jennifer Brown, a 16-year-old senior at Alleghany High School, represented Virginia 4-H Clubs Aug. 3-6 at the 12-State Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships in Baton Rouge, La., and came home with one championship and one reserve championship.
Jennifer, the daughter of Fred and Diann Brown, of Saddleridge Farm on Kanawha Trail, about 20 miles south of Covington on Route 311, competed at the regionals with a horse named Mark Doe Boy, a 7-year-old black Tennessee Walker gelding.
Jennifer noted that she is not aware of anyone from Alleghany County having ever placed in any form of livestock competition at the Southern Regionals.
She is a member of the Ears Up 4-H Club, a horse club, and notes there are current openings for more members.
She has been involved in 4-H for the past eight years.
10 Years Ago
Rotary Officers
New officers have been installed for the Covington-Hot Springs Rotary Club for the 2010-11 year.
Taking office in July as president was Sarah Campbell.
Outgoing president Libby McCoy was presented a plaque for her service during the 2009-10 year.
David Kleppinger is president-elect of the club.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.