75 Years Ago

Herald of July 10, 1947

Nine “Fresh Air Children” from New York City arrived in the Cove at the invitation of the Martinsburg Rotary Club. The children were spending 12 days enjoying life in the country.

Carl Allison Jr., aged almost 10 years, was bitten by a copperhead snake that was hidden in the woodpile in the basement of the family home at Rodman. His mother quickly tied off the arm and got him to Nason Hospital, where he was recovering. His father left work and went home and shot the snake.

WWII General “Jimmy” Doolittle addressed the crowd at the big Air Show in Martinsburg and asked the assembled crowd to urge their legislators to fund a large air force. As the general left, his pilot did a simulated carrier take off, lifting the plane off the ground with a minimum of run. The blast from the propellers was reportedly so great that several people were knocked off their feet.