Look Back In Yalobusha History
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• 15 Years Ago, Dec. 3, 2009 – The Yalobusha Historical Society reported the old headquarters located on the corner of Depot and Front streets in Coffeeville would be sold. Two years earlier, the historical society had been deeded the Presbyterian church in Coffeeville for a new headquarters.
Also reported in the same article was that lifelong Coffeeville resident Janie Young Riddick had passed away. She was one of four surviving members of the Presbyterian Church when it was donated to the historical society and her funeral was held in the old church.
Several hundred friends, family and former patients gathered at Family Practice Clinic in Water Valley to honor Dr. Joe Wayne Walker upon his recent retirement.
For over 45 years, from 1963- 2009, Dr. Walker devoted much of his life to the health care needs of Water Valley and surrounding areas.
The Oakland Open house was held on Dec. 5 and the schedule included a short music program in the Methodist Church, with art on display at the Presbyterian Church. The Herron House, the Frasier Home and the Antique Mall were all included in the tour.
• 20 years Ago, Dec. 9, 2004 – Guy Reedy and his wife, Doris, were grand marshals for the annual Christmas parade and were chauffeured down Main Street by Linda Shuffield and Charles Shuffield.
As the renovations were winding down on the Water Valley courthouse, county officials were discussing moving back into the facility in January. Renovations for the Coffeeville courthouse would follow in the spring and supervisors were also juggling meetings, court dates and other business conducted in the First Judicial District that were scheduled during the renovation period.
• 30 Years Ago, Dec. 1, 1994 – Cellular South advertised cellular savings for the holiday. The newest phone was a Motorola DPC 550 Portable “flip phone” for only $189. The Motorola Bravo Pager was also available for $99 and offered statewide coverage. The old stand-by, a bag phone, was also available for $129.
The Water Valley area set a record for unemployment, dropping to an all time low of 4.7 percent, according to Water Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director Dr. Rayford Edgar. He credited the efforts of the Water Valley Chamber along with city and county officials for the success.
• 40 Years Ago, Dec. 5, 1984 – The Water Valley teams split games against Coffeeville. In action in the Water Valley gym, the Blue Devils whipped the Pirates 40-31. Johnny Turner topped the scoring with 18 points.
The Bank of Water Valley promoted “Shop Water Valley First” with an ad listing hundreds of name brand merchandise offered in the Valley. More than a dozen brands were offered for men’s clothing and more than two dozen manufacturers of women’s clothes were listed as being available in Water Valley.
An estimated 700,000 board feet of hardwood timber was salvaged from Enid backwaters north of Water Valley. The timber stands were composed of trees 80 to 90 years old that were dying at alarming rates. Silt, beaver damage and stagnant growth were cited as the culprit in the diseased timber.
• 50 Years Ago, Dec. 12, 1974 – TVEPA announced that electric rates would increase in January after the whole-sale rate from TVA had gone up. The increase would range from about six percent for customers using small amounts of electricity to about 21 percent for the larger residential customers.
The latest technology, a full size stereo 8-Track Car Player was available at Western Auto for only $49.95. The player even had an anti-theft alarm system to protect your sound from unwelcome hands.
• 60 Years Ago, Dec. 3, 1964 – George Groves, a farmer residing on the Coffeeville – Pine Valley Road, was killed at the railroad crossing on that road. It is believed that he lost control of his truck as he headed down a hill south of the crossing, hit the rail- road crossing sign, and was thrown out. The truck kept rolling a short distance down the tracks.
Water Valley’s oldest resident, Jim Robertson, celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday. He recalled his father, an early settler, fought in the Mexican War, Indian Wars and the War Between The States. He received a birthday card from President Johnson.
• 70 Years Ago, Dec. 2, 1954 – Boys and girls from Water Valley and surrounding areas were in for a real treat with the 1954 Christmas parade. Santa Claus had committed to attend the parade, complete with his reindeer – Donder, Blitzen, Dancer, Prancer and even Rudolph. The real reindeer would be hooked up to Santa’s Sleigh as part of the parade.
“Parade morning here promises to be the greatest morning from a spectacular standpoint in the history of the city,” declared the Jaycees.
• 80 Years Ago, Nov. 30, 1944 – Lt. Ray E. King, 23, of Water Valley, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for “extraordinary achievement” while participating in numerous Eight Air Force aerial blows against Nazi industrial tar- gets deep within the heart of Germany.
King was co-pilot of the B-17 Flying Fortress “Mo- Feudin’” and also received the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. King of Herring Street.
