This week's Flashback Friday takes us to May 26, 1927. The front page of this Thursday evening edition issue reported on the very first illumination of the Natural Bridge. It was a very prestigious affair. The designer of the lighting, Phineas Stevens from New York, said, "Only the latest scientific methods were installed after the most careful study."
The front page stories of the May 26, 1927 issue of The Rockbridge County News were:
- The very first illumination of Natural Bridge. The article contains details of the ceremony, how President Coolidge ceremoniously flipped the switch, and how it was all arranged.
- The schedule of commencement exercises for Virginia Military Institute.
- The local Red Cross chapter donated over $2,000 to the Mississippi flood effort.
- The seven-year locusts were emerging.
- News in a Nutshell.
During this time, it was very common for our local paper to be filled with write-ins and submissions from other sources, such as national newspapers and magazines. This issue had a lot of small stories.
There were also longer stories that were often part of a series. This issue's long read is titled "Nancy's Successful Failure." It's about a young woman's small business and whether she has what it takes to keep it afloat.
We'll finish up this week with some vintage ads!
