Dale M. Brumfield
The Progress-Index
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Past articles by Dale:
Racist origins: Central State was built to imprison Black people in nightmarish conditions
Emancipated slaves were often considered insane by simply being free, then admitted into asylums, such as the then-called Central Lunatic Asylum, built especially for them. → Read More
What these 2 carousels in 2 Burlingtons have in common: Column
Of the over 4,000 carousels built in America between 1885 and 1935, many were the victims of fire, neglect and dismantling for sale, leaving only 150 machines still operational in 2021. → Read More
What these 2 carousels in 2 Burlingtons have in common: Column
Of the over 4,000 carousels built in America between 1885 and 1935, many were the victims of fire, neglect and dismantling for sale, leaving only 150 machines still operational in 2021. → Read More
Enslaved, hanged twice: The horrifying treatment of Rockbridge County man Isaac Chaney
He was born a free man, sold into slavery, then hanged for murder in Virginia. → Read More
When Lakeside Amusement Park decided to go big
The opening of Disneyworld had re-defined amusement parks forever, and east coast parks like Lakeside now felt pressure to “go Disney” or go home. → Read More
Blue Ridge Railway was the little railroad that could
The Virginia Blue Ridge Railway was incorporated in 1914 to haul American Chestnut timber out of the Piney River area. → Read More
New Waynesboro High School opened with ‘twinge of sadness’ in 1938
In 1935 Vice Mayor Louis Spilman traveled to Washington to try to secure funding for a new school building through the Public Works Administration. → Read More
1970s restaurant bombings remain unsolved
Cinderblocks from the exploding building flew out to the road and the front door was found 100 yards away in a nearby field. → Read More
Grazed donuts and mater soup
“He was a friend of many people and was probably known by more people than anyone in Waynesboro.” → Read More
Civil War spy unit named for Fairfield woman
Though these “Jessie Scouts” were believed to be named after a mythical Col. Jessie, their admiration for Jessie Benton Frémont gave them their name. → Read More
Augusta County led Virginia efforts against lynching
Lynching is a horrific yet nearly forgotten chapter of racial and class terrorism in American history. → Read More
The great Mint Spring elephant hunt
An elephant named Elsie survived a crash that included a truck hurtling a creek, then disappeared into the woods. The search was on... → Read More
Future farmers started in Weyers Cave: history
Humble origins: one program at Weyers Cave in 1926 consisted of one duck and two rabbits, with no indication of what exactly the training did with them. → Read More
The first MAGA? 'Make Augusta Golden Again': history
The original Augusta County motto was a little more wordy, but pretty much the same as MAGA. → Read More
New Hope bank robbed three times: History
They forced two tellers into the vault then escaped with about $18,500 in a car. → Read More
Local slick-talking visitor a fraud
He told stories of his war exploits, but he was actually a trusty at the penitentiary serving time for bigamy. Was that the whole story? → Read More
Hurricane Camille was not the first or the worst: Valley storm history
Devastating storms hit the valley before and after Camille. → Read More
Going to see Clarence: A damaged Korean veteran in Basic City
Clarence Warren Walsh was not killed in the Korean conflict, but his life stopped inside a house for 32 years because of it. → Read More
Former Augusta County slave helped found Liberia
Rev. Amos Herring may have been born into slavery, but he was one of the four original signers of the constitution of the African country of Liberia. → Read More
Secret to long life a mixed bag from Augusta centenarians
There have been several centenarians in the Augusta County, Staunton and Waynesboro area through the years, including "the old man of the regimentals." → Read More