Down Memory Lane
From Back Issues of the Rappahannock News
February 25, 1960
Alice Wood, daughter of Mrs. Downing Wood of Washington, was the lucky person given the clock radio by the seniors of Rappahannock County High School at the basketball game at Sperryville.
In spite of the wind-beaten, rain packed snow, Rappahannock Hounds met at the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Elsy Brown on a cold bright morning.
A field of 17 riders gingerly picked their way through the woods, as the pack made admirable efforts to find a track on the glazed hillsides.
Mrs. Joe Jenkins entertained for bridge Monday evening at her home Hill View. Guests were Mrs. John S. Browning, Mrs. Frank Spalding, Mrs. Lockett Buford, Mrs. M. R. Bradford Jr., Mrs. W. A. Moore, Mrs. James Massie, Mrs. Emory Russell, Mrs. Paul Miller. Prizes were awarded to Mrs. Browning, Mrs. Massie, Mrs. Burford and Mrs. Miller.
October 24, 1985
The American textile industry is fighting back against low-price imports. And in Rappahannock County, that struggle cannot be closer to home.
Wayne Walker, for 20 years the manager of the Flint Hill Aileen, Inc. plant, said this week the 300 employees there are in no danger of losing their jobs, despite rumors to the contrary. “I see nothing to indicate” the complete shutdown of the plant, Walker said. The rumor is “totally false, at least from the information I have.”
“The ground has sunk 10 inches from the weight of all these people out here,” said Jesse Pond, a Sperryville resident and wagon-maker, who was selling his wares last weekend. The Sperryville Apple Harvest Celebration, the first-ever of its kind, drew “thousands” of people to the southern end of Rappahannock County.
It was estimated that as many as 80,000 visitors would come to the county for three main attractions: the Sperryville celebration, the Annual House Tour and Dried Flower Sale and the autumn colors in the Blue Ridge, all available on the same weekend this year.
It took three days of rain — Sunday through Tuesday — to drop more inches on Rappahannock County than had fallen in nearly the previous three months. In a 55-day period ending Saturday, Sperryville weather watcher Dennis Wingfield recorded only 1.54 inches of rainfall.
Aug. 26, 1998
In its long history, Woodville has seen a handful of landmark events: the petition of December 1796; auction of lots in 1798-99; its naming (after the woods surrounding it); the establishment of a post office in 1803; the authorization for the New Market and Sperryville Turnpike in 1848, which put a road from Sperryville to Culpeper Court House; the Blizzard of 1899; The Tornado of 1929, which wiped out parts of the quiet town; and the drought of 1930, one of the worst ever in the county.
In 1833, Woodville was a thriving town along a major route. It boasted four mercantile stores, two taverns, one school, 30 homes, one tanyard, three blacksmiths, one saddler, one boot and shoe maker, one cabinet maker, one carpenter and house joiner, one tailor, an attorney, and two physicians.
During the Civil War both Union and Confederate troops were encamped in and around the town.
This September will mark another major event in the town’s history — its bicentennial celebration. The festival and history parade will take place in Woodville on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The parade will begin at noon and the festival will continue through sundown. Set to culminate on a historic hilltop overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, the event is designed to celebrate every aspect of the county and the heritage of all its people.