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Glenn Aubrey Hoy (1934 – 2017)

Glenn Aubrey Hoy (1934 – 2017)

Glenn served his country in the Navy, attended Penn State University, and retired from Newport News Shipbuilding after 38 years…

Archibald Atkinson (1792 – 1872)

Archibald Atkinson (1792 – 1872)

Atkinson was born on September 13, 1792, in Isle of Wight County to James Atkinson and Mary Atkinson. The father’s occupation is not known, but the family’s modest resources provided for only a limited primary education for young Atkinson…

Recognizing The Strength of Our Community: A Letter to Our Supporters

Over the past few months, the difficult decisions we have all had to make and the stressful times that have united us, have put the meaning of “community” into perspective for me. We are all part of many communities, both small and large, that connect us and influence our lives every day…

A Polio Epidemic and the Unflappable People of 1950 Wythe County, Virginia

During the Summer of 1950, Wythe County, Virginia experienced a polio outbreak that quickly spread, becoming one of the worst per capita epidemics of polio in U.S. History. The death rate reached almost 10% that summer, roughly twice the country’s average at the time. Despite medical advancements since then, including the creation of the first effective polio vaccine in 1952, the reason why Wythe County experienced such extreme cases of polio remains a mystery…

The Yellow Fever Outbreak of 1855 and a Surprising Connection to St. Luke’s

On June 6, 1855 a steam ship known as the Ben Franklin came into port in Norfolk, Virginia for repairs. The ship had traveled from St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, a place Yellow Fever was known to be prevalent. Local authorities were concerned about the possibility of Yellow Fever onboard because of the ship’s origins and interviewed Captain Byner upon arrival…