From the August 3, 1937 Page News and Courier

LURAY, Va. — Gomertown was located at our present thriving little village of Stony Man. This village, at one time, was Blosserville.

A few memo…

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The door [at Whosoever Farm] in Luray, Virginia is open for destitute children without regard to creed or denomination, preference being given to the c…

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After dying under odd circumstances, Mamie was buried, exhumed, sent to autopsy, and her case closed — all in the span of a few days.

From the Page News and Courier archives

BODY EXHUMED

January 11, 1937

Page County officers today ordered the exhumation of the body of Mrs. Mamie Florence Cubbage Yager, 27-years-old, third wife of a hill country farmer, after her father complained that she was buried without any members of her own (Cubbage) family being present.

January 12, 1937

STRANGE DEATH NEAR GROVE HILL

An unusual death occurred last week when the wife of John I. Yager died from causes unknown at the home of her husband, about three miles south of Grove Hill, this county.

It was stated by parties familiar with the case that Mrs. Yager stumbled over an obstacle on the floor, and that a concussion apparently caused death.

Her husband was home at the time, and it is said, refused to let neighbors enter the house.

Friday afternoon, W. O. Brill, undertaker at Elkton, was called, and upon reaching the Yager home, could not induce any of the women in the neighborhood to prepare the body for burial. Mr. Brill called in his wife who performed the task.

According to Brill, no marks of violence or scratches were found on the body, although decomposition had set in to a considerable degree at the time.

It is not known how long after death of the body had lain before Brill was called in. Burial was made beside the road near the Yager home.

Mrs. Yager was a daughter of Ernest Cubbage, of the Cubbage Hollow section. Her husband, who was about 70 years of age, has been a resident of the Grove Hill neighborhood for years. They had been married about 10 years and were parents of two children, both living. It is said, both man and wife were reputed to be heavy drinkers.

Suspicion over the death has arisen from the fact that the body of the woman was not given attention until decomposition had set in, and that relatives of the dead woman were not notified until after her burial.

It also seemed improbable that a woman of Mrs. Yager‘s age could suffer fatal injuries by a fall over a floor obstacle.

The body was ordered exhumed yesterday, and taken to the Charlottesville hospital where it will be given pathological test and examination. No arrests have yet been made.

January 14, 1937

PROBE INTO DEATH OF LURAY WOMAN DROPPED

Commonwealth Attorney S. L. Walton, Page County, said today, the investigation of the death of Mrs. Mamie Cubbage Yage had been dropped following an autopsy report showing she died of a cirrhosis of the liver.

“I think she died a natural death, and have always thought so,” the prosecutor declared.

According to Find A Grave, the location of Mamie’s final resting place is unknown.

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From the August 3, 1937 Page News and Courier

LURAY, Va. — Gomertown was located at our present thriving little village of Stony Man. This village, at one time, was Blosserville.

A few me…

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The following article is from The Natrona County Tribune (Casper, Wyoming), dated September 15. 1897.

A Quiet Home Where They Are Sheltered and Educated — Rev. Dr. Wharton’s ‘Whosoever Home and School’ — A Magnificent Charity

The far-famed vale of Chamouny is not more lovely and picturesque than the charming little Page Valley, which lies between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Massanutton [sic] and forms a part of the great Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

In the heart of this beautiful region lies Luray, a village of three thousand inhabitants. Two miles to the westward flows the bright sparkling river which the Indians named Shenandoah, “the daughter of the stars.”

Between the two are the famous Luray Caverns, the most magnificent subterranean wonders yet discovered.

A mile to the east is another wonder of peace and contentment, where the hands and hearts of benevolent men and women have provided a home and school for helpless children. It is known as ‘The Whoever Home and Schools.’

About ten years ago three children, two boys and a girl, whose father had been killed, and whose mother was in the penitentiary, fell into the hands of Rev. H. M. Wharton, D.D., the well-known pastor-evangelist of Baltimore [EDITOR’S NOTE: Historical documents also revealed that Wharton was the president of Luray College and also the pastor of Main Street Baptist Church).

With these three children and five dollars, the work began.

Securing the service of a widow lady mid her niece, and renting their home, the door was opened for destitute children, without regard to creed or denomination, preference being given to the children of the fallen and outcast.

It was unique in its character and at once arrested the attention of the public. Applications came from societies for protection of children, and from mothers whose husbands were criminals or drunkards, and from poor lost creatures who desired that their daughters at least might be saved.

The needs were so pressing and widespread, that Dr. Wharton saw there must be an enlargement of his work.

Not having the means at hand to purchase larger premises. he moved them to an old home at Luray, Virginia and located them on a farm which he purchased within a mile of the town.

The railroad and turnpike run through the farm, the water is abundant, and the fine mountain air and charming scenery made it peculiarly fitted for the enterprise.

It is about six hours from Baltimore and five from Washington. He obtained a charter from the legislature, with trustees and officials, and all necessary provisions for its lawful and successful management.

Instead of one large building, he adopted the home idea—many cottages with a matron or "mother" for each, and a general meeting place for meals, school and worship.

Boys and girls are taken between the ages of 2 and 10 as a rule. but the rule is often relaxed.

For several years, there has been an average of a new cottage a year until there are now eight in all. There are always enough applications on hand to fill a new cottage.

The farm and cottages (the farm contains 230 acres), are under the control of a superintendent and his wife, and are managed with care and judgment.

It is supported entirely by voluntary contributions. Bands of young women are formed to send regular contributions or to clothe and care for one or more of the little ones. Money is needed all the time, and it comes. The little ones have never gone without a meal nor lacked clothing.

The object of the Whosoever Home and Schools is to take destitute children, and preferably children of outcasts, away from their pernicious associations, and give them pure air, fresh food, clean clothes and moral surroundings.

A strict regard is paid to religious influence, and without having it forced upon them, they are surrounded by an atmosphere of right living and right teaching, in which they may with God's help grow to be His children by the word and spirit of His grace.

A good English education is given to the children of soldiers who may be killed or disabled in the present war, or indeed any child of a soldier who is in the army serving his country and who needs help.

The tender of these homes was kindly received by the government. In view of this fact, it becomes necessary to greatly enlarge the facilities at the farm. If friends respond with their usual patriotism and enthusiasm, this amount will be contributed in a very short time.

A short time ago, a boy, eight-years old, went all the way from Flushing, Long Island, to Luray, Va., alone. He had only a little tag on his jacket which read: "Friends will please help this little fellow to Dr. Wharton's Whosoever Farm at Luray, Va." He was kindly treated by everyone and came all right.

Last October, Dr. Wharton was holding a series of meetings in Macon, Ga. He heard of the death of a fallen woman who had left a child only eight years old. He sought to get possession of her, and found a beautiful, bright-eyed. rosy-checked girl.

She was in the possession of an aged grandmother, who said, "There is nothing for her but a life like her poor mother. I'll soon be gone; then no one will care for her." The child is now at the farm.

A few days ago, a poor widow of Norfolk, applied for admission for her little boy. Her son, on whom she depended for a living, is on the gunboat Nashville, now off the coast of Cuba. The child will be taken, and the mother. too, if necessary.

Dr. Wharton has received a letter front General Fitzhugh Lee asking him to include the children of Cuban soldiers in his homes and he has consented to do so. This will add greatly to the work and needs of the farm, but is a fine opportunity for the little Cubans.

Un-cropped version of main story photo:

Images are in no particular order. Year and photographer noted when available. Additional Main Street images (East and West) to appear in future editions.

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NOTE: Images show two separate West Main Street Brown’s Restaurant locations. Unless indicated, images are undated and have no available attribution.

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Editor’s Note: Vernacular used in this story reflects that of the time of original publication and is not the present (or preferred) verna…

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Mrs. Allean Elizabeth Brown, widow of Andrew Brown, died at 9:50 Friday morning, January 4th, at her home at Parkway, north of Elkton, eleven days before her one hundred and third birthday.

She had b…

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MT. CLINTON, Va. – Some 100 people from Page County were among a crowd estimated at more than 2,000 persons on a small hilltop cemetery near Harrisonburg before dawn Saturday to …

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Please note: This story is direct from online 1950s newspaper archives, and may not reflect current politically correct and/or respectful terminology.

WILL JO…

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