DOWN MEMORY LANE
From Back Issues of the Rappahannock News
Feb. 9, 1950
Hoping to get farmers in Rappahannock more interested in Ladino clover W.H. Lyme purchased twenty pounds of certified seed from the Josephine Co-operative Ladino Growers Association of Grants Pass, Oregon in the spring of 1947. Two of the farmers who purchased a part of this seed were Joe D. Keyser and D. Lyle Miller. In fact they became so interested in Ladino both purchased more seed elsewhere.
Upon a recent visit to C. M. Ramey, of Slate Mills, he was found doing a bit of fencing. Mr. Ramey is an Extension TVA farm unit demonstrator in Hawthorn district, a director of the Culpeper Farm Bureau, and a member of the Rappahannock Agronomy Advisory Committee. Says Mr. Ramey about better pastures: “It’s the salvation of a farmer in these days of high labor and machinery costs.” Farmers of the county concur with Mr. Ramey and believe this will become more true as farm prices are already on the downward trend.
Aubrey Keyser witnessed the unusual births of her two lambs born twelve days apart. The white lamb is the older and could be asking the later arrival, “Where have you been so long?”
We have had some terrible days this winter for sheep to be out — cold, raw, undecided weather, undecided on rain or hail, ice forming on the brush and fence — a terrible time for ewes heavy with lamb to be draggin’ through belly deep mud with a wet overcoat on.
May 26, 1983
When the state of Virginia moved the mountain people from their homes to clear the way for Shenandoah National Park, “it hurt some of them pretty bad... It hurt their souls their heart,” Elmer Atkins believes. “But I’m not sorry. I mean that. I didn’t have to come. I had a choice I could have made about it, but now I’m proud I came. Yea, I’m proud.”
Atkins, who now numbers a gas station, an antique shop and cider pressing mill among his business interests in Sperryville, grew up in Beach Spring Hollow, one of a dozen children in a log house with five fireplaces.
One of Elmer Atkins’ favorite boyhood recollections of life in the mountains are the trips by covered wagon he’d take to Luray with his father.
At 85, Mr. Harold Brown has the good looks and sharp mind of a man twenty years younger. Although blind for the past two years, he’s been active since his retirement from a very successful 43-year banking career.
He counsels older people, free of charge, on investment and financial planning, meets with the board of directors each month of the Shenandoah National Bank in Winchester where he served as executive officer for 33 years, and is leading the effort to provide perpetual care for St. Paul’s cemetery in Woodville.
Douglas K. Baumgardner, incumbent commonwealth’s attorney for Rappahannock County, announced on Tuesday that he will not seek re-election to the office this November.
“Instead, I intend to devote more time to my family, private law practice and business interests,” Baumgardner said. Of his four years as commonwealth’s attorney, he added, “I want to thank the people of Rappahannock County for giving me the opportunity to serve them in this capacity.”
Dec. 18, 1996
At last Wednesday’s meeting the Town Council considered whether or not to set up a site on the Internet.
Mayor Stewart Willis had asked Treasurer Louise van Dort to research the issue. She said she found a variety of sites, some well-designed and some poorly designed. She said the town would have to decide first what it wants and then contract with a professional if it wants a good job.
She said there is a page being developed for the town and another for the county, but these are being done by a private individual. She said the town might want to reserve the location even if it does not have a page.
Ms. van Dort said some page designers do not realize that most people will not wait more than 30 seconds for a page to download. Some pages rely too much on graphics that take a long time to download, she noted. She estimated the cost for setting up a well-designed page for the town and its businesses would cost between $400 and $800 with a cost of $100 to $150 per year to maintain it.
No one could accuse veterinarian Carol Lundquist of not knowing her mind. Since childhood, she has followed a path that would lead eventually to her new holistic practice in Rappahannock County. Just like she imagined years ago, Dr. Lundquist practices holistic medicine and includes no traditional treatments in her little black vet case.
She uses a grab bag of remedies and physical therapies that include acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractics, homeopathy, herbals and special saddle-fitting techniques. Dr. Lundquist is able to offer all the knowledge standing behind her doctorate in veterinary medicine earned in May 1992 from the Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine backed up with a full range of holistic solutions and natural treatments.
Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Woodward Jr., of Castleton celebrated 50 years of marriage on Nov. 3, 1996. The celebration was held at the Castleton Fire Department and was given by their children. Approximately 150 friends and family members joined in the celebration. Mr. Woodward is a farmer in Castleton. His wife is retired from the Aileen Plant and is now a homemaker. Both J. T. and Melzie now enjoy babysitting their grandchildren.