1928 - Alderson High School - 1968

Addendum To Article On Glen Ray August 27, 2019

This   newspaper   clipping   was   sent   to   me   by   Stacy   Eskins,   a   few   days   after   I put   up   the   article   on   the   history   of   the   little   community   west   of Alderson,   call Glen Ray. It states: “ Alderson   is   the   coming   town   of   the   State.   It   has   just   started   to   grow.   The best   advertised   town   of   its   size   in   the   world. A   two   hundred   thousand   dollar hotel   is   being   built   to   take   care   of   a   part   of   the   visitors   who   will   come   here   in future   years.   The   building   of   the   Federal   reformatory   for   women   here   has put Alderson on the map for years to come. WEST-ALDERSON,   just   across   the   railroad   from   the   Federal   grounds,   is one   among   the   prettiest   locations   on   the   Greenbrier   River   for   a   home.   The West   Alderson   Land   Company   will   sell   you   a   lot   on   terms   that   will   enable you    to    have    a    home    of    your    own    on,    this    beautiful    river.    For    further information, see our agents.   West Alderson Land Co., Alderson, West Virginia”

I   don’t   doubt   the   authenticity   of   the   ad,   however   some   of   it’s   claims   seem   to   be   a   bit   embellished.   The   ad was   published   April   2,   1926,   most   likely   in   the   town   newspaper,   The   Alderson   Advertiser,   which   was   in existence at the time. 1.   The   West Alderson   Land   Co.   was   selling   lots   in   what   they   were   calling   “ West Alderson ”.   It   would   appear that’s   what   it   was   called   that   before   it   the   Commonwealth   Lumber   Company   bought   the   land   and   built   their mill,   and   home   for   the   workers,   and   named   it   Glen   Ray.   This   adds   to   the   spelling   mystery   of   Glen   Ray written in the original article, Glen Ray & Lumber , which you might want to read to coincide with this one.   2.   The   best   advertised   town   of   its   size   in   the   world”,   is   statement   that   couldn’t   be   proved,   be   it   disputed,   or undisputed. 3.   “ A   two   hundred   thousand   dollar   hotel   is   being   built   to   take   care   of   a   part   of   the   visitors   who   will   come here   in   future   years.”   There   were   already   two   hotels   in   Alderson   at   the   time,   The   Monroe   House   and   the Alderson   House,   or   Alderson   Hotel.   I   wonder   where   and   who   was   going   build   this   one.   Obviously   they didn’t have “truth in advertising” in those days. Many   years   have   passed   since Alderson’s   Ferry,   then Alderson   was   settled,   and   no   doubt   there   have   been many interesting stories about the area. This has been one of them.