Streams

Mrs. Georgia Dunlop Arnold, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, after reading about the search for names of streams, kindly sends an old clipping from The Pocahontas Times on the origin of names of mountains and streams of this region. Here goes for a start on it:

To start in, the Greenbrier River takes its name from the pestiferous greenbrier which is still here to hang up the woods rambler and tear his clothes. However, it was not the English speaking explorers who gave the name. These merely translate the words, ronce, (brier), verte (green) the French name already given to the stream. As early as 1690, there were maps showing the Mississippi drainage as all claimed by France.

Another French name which had all but gone out through lack of use in the past hundred years is that of the St. Lawrence Ford of the Greenbrier at Ronceverte.

Still another name of French origin, I have no doubt, is Gauley, river and mountain. This being within the land known as New France, what would be more natural than to call this beautiful stream for the ancient name of France, Gaule?

Cherry, one of the four held rivers of Gauley having source in Pocahontas, was called for the wild cherry trees so plentiful in the forest area it drained. I remember seeing a copy of a survey of a great land grant made for Robert Morris back in the 1790s. One of the calls was for Cherry Tree Bottom. In my day, this had been shortened to Cherry Bottom. It is now the city of Richwood. Be it remembered, Robert Morris was the Philadelphia merchant prince who financed the war for American Independence. Virginia endorsed the nation’s notes and paid Mr. Morris back in land. This land bankrupted him, and he was sent to debtor’s prison.

First Woman Mayor

History was made Monday night when Mrs. Isabelle Michael presided over the Marlinton Town Council meeting acting as Mayor in the absence of Mayor Dale Curry. Mrs. Michael is the first woman recorder in Marlinton as far as can be learned. Bills were paid and a few local problems discussed.

Students

Miss Alice Nelson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cale Nelson, of Marlinton, was one of the models in the Style Show at Morgantown given to the Cavalettes by Irene’s Dress Shop. Alice modeled a three piece-woolen date dress. She is a sophomore at West Virginia University majoring in mathematics.

Our Boys and Girls in Service

Robert Lee Ware, of Marlinton, enlisted in the U. S. Army, at Beckley, and was sent to the receiving station at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Kenneth Gray Sharp, of Clover Lick, a Navy prior-service man re-enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to the receiving station at Norfolk, Virginia.

ALPINE THEATRE

“Day of The Badman”

Fred MacMurray ~ Joan Weldon

“3-Stooges Fun O’Rama”

“The Blue Angel”

Curt Jurgens ~ May Britt

“The Prefect Furlough”

Tony Curtis ~ Janet Leigh

DEATHS

Mrs. Lucy Hoover, age 83, of Marlinton.

Dennie Ross Snedegar, age 65, of Droop.

BIRTHS

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Reed, of Marlinton, a son named Lloyd Harlan, Jr.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Rehm, of Droop, a daughter.