Why do you read the newspaper? Is it for the local high school sports? Maybe you enjoy the hyperlocal reporting on news and events? Or do you just enjoy the feeling of reading an actual paper, with pages you can feel and turn?
Whatever your reason is, you can count on The News-Gazette to deliver. The more we delve into the archives, the more we can physically see the dedication to reporting on what's important to our communities. From the time these papers started, to them merging into the paper we have today, we see the lives and interests of Rockbridge County reflected and supported.
This week, we're looking back on the late 1940s. The front page stories for April 1, 1948 were:
- News from Richmond about the House of Delegates session, which ended without a resolution on the probe into Richmond Newspapers Inc.
- Bond money was unanimously approved by the town council for improvement of two Lexington City schools and a sewage disposal system.
- The Red Cross drive hadn't met it's quota and the drive chairman wrote: "Those who are called on to contribute to the Red Cross rarely realize what this organization does because they don't have need of it's services. The needy and those in distress know what the Red Cross means."
- Two other stories about fundraising drives, their causes, the goal amounts, and when they will take place.
- Bankers and professional agricultural workers from all around Virginia were going to have a meeting at the Natural Bridge Hotel to discuss "the agricultural community, its problems, and how the financial institutions and agricultural workers can work together in promoting a sound agricultural community in Virginia."
Adair-Hutton had a full page ad to advertise clothing, fabrics, a live demonstration of a Bendix automatic washing machine, and a dress-making contest. The contestants weren't allowed to be professional dress makers. They could use their own designs and patterns but had to buy materials from Adair-Hutton. The entries would be judged on tailoring, pressing, inside finish and clean finish. Entries could be sport, party, or evening dresses and they would be judged by "a committee of competent judges." Would you enter this contest?
Who remembers shopping at Rose's in Lexington? Check out one of their ads and try to solve Dr. Quiz's three questions!
And if you saw or heard the N&W 611 steam engine earlier this week, on June 1st, take a look at the Norfolk & Western Railway ad, which lists all the jobs "not generally thought of as railroading."
