THE BROWNTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER’S FIRST NEWSLETTERS
Most people living in Browntown are familiar with “ALONG THE GOONEY”, the monthly newsletter of the Browntown Community Center Association (BCCA). Until about 2016 the newsletter was distributed only by mail. Inevitably many of the original copies of the newsletter published prior to that date have been lost or destroyed. We believe that the first editions of the Community Center newsletter were published weekly beginning in 1980, with Rebecca Poe as editor.
In early 2023 Tom Lacombe, Browntown’s well known local historian and proprietor of the O.J. Rudacille old-time country store, discovered amongst his papers what appear to be the only known copies of the first three editions of the newsletter, all published in June, 1980. These are 1-page editions printed using a very basic, text-only format.
Back then the newsletter was known as “The Gooney Bulletin”. Later in the 1990s it was renamed “The Browntown Newsletter”; a name that continued to be used until it was changed finally to “Along The Gooney” some ten years later.
We have transcribed three original June 1980 copies of The Gooney Bulletin in their original format. You can read all three of these transcripts below. As you will see, they make fascinating reading for anyone interested in the history of Browntown and especially the work of the Community Center more than forty years ago. We hope you enjoy reading them.
SOME NOTEWORTHY ITEMS IN THESE EARLY NEWSLETTERS
The Browntown Fourth of July Celebration took place annually for more than thirty years. At its core was a parade that included floats, vintage cars, bikes, wagons, horses and llamas. Other activities included a firework display, games, and musical entertainment. The last of these celebrations took place in 2014, but it has been difficult to determine when these celebrations first began. Fortunately, the June 1, 1980 newsletter edition provides an answer to that mystery since it describes planning for the third such program that year. Based on this it seems safe to conclude that the first such celebration took place in Browntown in 1978.
The three newsletters also include articles written by Rebecca Poe (image left) called “FROM THE PAST” that provide a detailed geographical lesson/map on “who lived where in the early 1900s”.
One particularly interesting snippet of information in these articles appears in the June 6 edition of the newsletter where mention is made of the former Browntown Negro school and church.
The existence of these important institutions (now no more than lost ruins) is known from other documents, but this is the first written description by a reputable local historian of exactly where this school and church were located, i.e. “down the creek side” from Tom Lacombe’s store. It seems clear that this refers to a location north of the store, at the end of what is now known as Gooney Alley.
Please let us know if you have memories or stories about those times that you think would be of interest to others. Also, we would be very interested in hearing from anyone who still has either complete copies or individual pages of any Browntown Community Center Newsletters published between 1980 and 2010.
THE GOONEY BULLETIN, Vol. 1. No.1 June 1, 1980
Community center meeting set:
The Browntown Community Center Association will meet Monday night, June 9 at 7:30 in the center building.
All adult Browntown residents are voting members of the association
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JULY 4 CELEBRATION
Sharon Tharpe, chairman of special events for the Browntown Community Center is planning a meeting in the near future to plan for the third annual July 4 family day program.
Her committee will likely meet next week.
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BAPTIST YOUTH BAKE SALE
The youth of the Browntown Baptist Church will hold a bake sale at Drug Fair on Saturday, June 7, beginning at 9 a.m.
Proceeds from the sale will be used by the youth to finance transportation to Fork Union Military Academy where they will hold a treat in July.
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COMINGS AND GOINGS ——-
Mrs. Gary Baggarly has returned to her home from Winchester Memorial Hospital where she was a patient for several days.
Mrs. Mozel Baker – a former resident of Browntown who now lives in Front Royal, is a patient in Warren Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Nancy Coon and her three children and Mrs. Elizabeth Mills, all of Dayton, Md. were holiday weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Taylor.
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Compton have returned to their home in Florida after spending ten days with the Compton’s mother, Mrs. Fredia Compton.
Sunday guests of Mrs. William Poe were Mr. and Mrs. Donald Miller and their children, Laura and Chris, and Mrs. Alica Fritz and her children, Angela and Caroline, and Vernon Grumbly, all of Arlington.
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Neal and their family spent Sunday in Williamsburg.
Miss Roxanne Campbell of Front Royal was overnight guest Sunday of her grandmother, Mrs. Mary Robinson.
Tom Cooper and his daughter, Sarah Catherine of Woodstock visited Mr. Cooper’s grandmother, Mrs. Virginia Rudacille on Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Poe and their children, Amy, Eric, and Mark, spent Sunday with Mrs. Poe’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chester Riffee in Woodstock.
Sunday dinner guests of Mrs. Fredia Compton were Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Compton of Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Allan Rudacille and son Scott of Manassas; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Hamrick and family of Strasburg; Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Whorton and son of Caselton, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Compton and daughter of Front Royal and Mr. and Mrs. Karl Compton and family of
Riverton.
Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Rudacille and Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Rudacille and their daughters, Susan and Lillian were Sunday dinner guests of Dr. and Mrs. Aloneus White in Oakton.
FROM THE PAST ——-
Continuing our geography lesson on who lived where in the very early 1900’s:
On present Route 622, turning off the Browntown Road at Maurice Manuel’s and traveling east was Liberty Hall, then the seat of the Woodward family, and the Cameron and Craig places. That road curved and connected with the present Smith Run Road, and the families living there were the Jim Williams family, the John Rudacille family, and Al Vaught and Will Vaught. Families living on the Smith Run Road were John Marlow, Wash Marlow, Gill Manuel and John Manuel.
Coming back toward Browntown, Garfield Jackson lived near where Mildred Mathews now resides; Hez Cooper lived in the house now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Beall; and Winnie Thomas lived in the house where Ada Updike now lives.
In Browntown, beginning on the east side of the road, south of the school and the church were the Dr. Charles Updike house, the detached kitchen and dining room of the Updike house, the doctor’s office, the house of Miss Mary Compton (now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Deavers); a house which burned down (now the Baptist parking lot); the Byrd Updike house (now Weary); the Lutheran (now Baptist) church; the Ash Lake saloon (no longer standing). The store building; Jacob Masemer’s store-tavern; Masemer’s house (now Keim); the Frank Cover House. The next house was the Walter Good house, and at the corner of the main road and Broad Run Road was the old Good house.
Residents of the Broad Run Road, from Good’s corner up were Henry D. Baggarly, Isaac Rudacille, the Thornhill family, a house no longer standing occupied by John Poe. The Tom Rudacille House (now Harrison), and the George Manuel house. Veering off that road were the homes of two Frank Thorntons.
THE GOONEY BULLETIN, Vol. 1. No.2 June 6, 1980 10c
COMMUNITY CENTER MEETS MONDAY NIGHT
The Browntown Community Center Association will meet Monday night at 7:30 in the center building.
All members of the Browntown area are members of the association and are invited to attend.
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EH CLUB MEETS THURSDAY
The Browntown Extension Homemakers Club will meet at the Community Center on Thursday at 1 p.m.
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BAPTIST BIBLE SCHOOL
The Browntown Baptist Church will hold its annual Vacation Bible School June 23 to June 27 from 7 to 9 p.m.
All children and young people in the church and in the community are invited.
Mrs. J.E. Rudacille is director of the school.
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COMINGS AND GOINGS ———
Week end visitors of Mr. and Mrs. Giles Nossett were Maxine Melvin and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Palmatary and their children, Kristin and Donald, of Wilmington, Del. They returned to Wilmington on Monday.
Mrs. Grace Shoff has returned from Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville where she underwent surgery.
Mrs. Truman Baggarly has returned to her home from Warren memorial Hospital where she was a patient for several days.
Mr. Roger Coder of Alexandria was week end guest of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Poe and their family.
Mrs. Giles Nossett entertained the Valley Ladies Chapter of the Izaak Walton League Tuesday night.
Mrs. C.W. Wilson of Baltimore spent from Wednesday through Friday with her sister, Mrs Virginia Rudacille. On Thursday, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Rudacille were dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Rudacille in Manassas. Enroute home they visited Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Carter in Warrenton.
Melvin Partlow is a patient in Warren Memorial Hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Tharpe, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Frame and Mrs. Mildred Mathews held a picnic at the Izaak Walton Park Sunday.
The Browntown Bridge Club met with Mrs. Giles Nossett on Wednesday
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ADVERTISMENTS
PIGS for Sale: 8 weeks old, $20 each, call 636-6817
REMINGTON typewriter, manual, standard size. Call 635 4073
FROM THE PAST ——–
Completing the turn of the century location of Browntown residents as remembered by our older citizens.
Leaving Good’s corner and traveling around the mountain John Curry lived in the first house; next came the Baggarly mill and next was Amon Updike (now Dryer).
The next residence was that of Ashby Updike; beyond him lived Pappy Frank Updike and across from there was the Byrd Updike house.
Next came the Jack Updike house and next was George Sam Updike place; then came the Swartz house.
Beyond that were Aubrey Partlow’s house, then Dock Partlows, then Tom Updike’s, Pete Updike and Erastus Compton.
Coming back toward Browntown in the house now occupied by Steve Clark was the Henry Compton place. On the road toward Bentonville were Eugene Boyd and Phillip Rudacille.
Back in Browntown, from the Good’s corner heading north toward Front Royal on the West side of the road were the Clark (later Marvin) Good house; the old Edmunds house the Sims House (*corrected order), the house in which Jack Kline now lives which was rented to a number of families, the double house, the Ned Poe family (inc. the home of the Winn Smedley’s); the Tom Updike place (now Deavers); and much later, the house where Laura Manuel now lives was built as a store by Armond Rudacille (*corrected).
Beyond the bridge, the present property of the LaCombes was the Baublit store and across the road where George Baggarly now lives was Irvin Masemer.
Going down the creek side was the Ed. Rudacille house, where Hubert Manuel later lived, and the Negro school and church.
Traveling north on the Browntown Road to Front Royal, and on the west side of the road was Fountful Farms, and Jim Morrison was living there in the early part of this century.
Jim Curtis lived in a no-longer-standing-house (Browntown’s first post office); and next came the Steve Boyd house at Boyd’s Mill.
Miller Steve Boyd lived across the road where Jim Pitfido now resides; and Buck Johnson, a black man who went blind lived in a house that (no longer standing).
Next came the Heslett house; then the old Lewin house; next came the Jacob (Devil Jake) Rudacille; then Henry Lewin’s house and store; then the Burrus Lawson House, the Tom Lawson house, the John Lawson house, now Gooney Lodge, then the Nancy Collins house, and following the creek (and road) the Ike Manuel house (where Willie Sowers now lives.
Back on the present Browntown Road was the Dr. Fish house, which was later occupied by a black man named Frank Johnson; then the Frank Fish house, the Bo.. Curry house, the John Owen Beaty house, the John Jennings place, and the poor house.
THE GOONEY BULLETIN, Vol. 1. No.3 June 13, 1980
COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING HELD
Approximately 20 Browntown area residents attended the June meeting of the Browntown Community Center Association at the center building Monday night.
Plans were furthered for the Family Fourth of July Celebration.
The group authorized placing signs to prohibit camping on the center grounds
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JULY FOURTH PLANS
A committee planning the July 4 program at the community center met last Thursday and decided to hold an “outhouse race”. Similar organizations in smaller areas of the county will be invited to participate in the race. Sponsors said five man teams will race against each other, carrying an authentic, but abandoned outhouse in a sprint down the center lawn. A cash prize will be awarded the winning team.
Game booths, competitive games (weather permitting), live music, a covered dish dinner and a fireworks display will complete the activities of the day.
An arts and crafts display will be exhibited. The program will begin at 2 p.m. Admission will be $1 per person.
Attending the planning meeting were Sharon Tharpe, chairman, Carrie Nossett, Arnold and Marge Noel, Kenneth Poe, Wanda Burkhart, and Willie Smedley.
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BAND IS FORMING
The Browntown Band really is forming and held its first meeting at the community center last night.
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NEW RESIDENT
The Glen Echo area of the county has a new resident, a big black bear. The bear has been seen on the lawn of Mrs. C.W. Honsberger , and once coming off the lot owned by George Poe. A pair of curious neighborhoodites went out searching and believe they have found his bed on the Poe lot
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GRADUATES RECOGNIZED
The churches of Browntown recognized the graduates of Warren County High School at services on Sunday.
At the Browntown Baptist Church, gifts were presented to Stacy Alane Campbell, Cynthia Jean Poe and Randall Park Miller.
At Cool Springs Church of God, Lori Smedley and Michael Reardon were recognized as members of the class of 1980
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STRAIGHTENING THINGS OUT
In our hurry to finish up the geography of Gooney, we left out a house, reversed the position of a couple and credited the wrong person with building another.
The Morgan house was omitted from our Browntown residents, and the positions of its near neighbors, the Sims and Edmonds houses, were reversed.
It was Armond Rudacille and not Rennie Cooper who built the house where Laura Manuel now lives.
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COMINGS AND GOINGS
Danny and Michael Smedley, students at VPI & SU in Blacksburg have returned to the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Donnie Smedley for the summer months.
Mr. and Mrs. Ott Baker attended the Ruritan Horse Show at the Fairgrounds in Luray on Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Cooper spent last Wednesday with Mr. Cooper’s aunts. the Misses Bea and Lucy Deavers, Mrs. Mary Robinson and Mrs. Juli… Good and with his cousin, Miss Elsie Miller.
Mr. Raymond H. Rudacille entered ……….day to undergo eye surgery.
Mr. and Mrs. John Albert of Vicksburg, Miss. Were Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Poe and daughter Shannon.
Mrs. Mozel Baker continues as a patient in Warren Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Virginia Rudacille Partlow of Front Royal, a former resident of Browntown, is a patient in Warren Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Melvin Partlow continues as a patient in Warren Memorial Hospital also.
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SUNDAY CHURCH SCHEDULES
BROWNTOWN BAPTIST: 10 a.m. Sunday School; 11 a.m. Morning Worship.
COOL SPRING CHURCH OF GOD: 10 a.m. Sunday School; 11 a.m. Morning Worship.
SOUTH RIVER PRIMITIVE BAPTIST: 11 a.m. Worship.
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ADVERTISEMENTS:
SWIM at Deerpoint Campgrounds, daily 12 noon to 7 p.m. $1.50 per person. Swimming classes will soon form.
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Wonderful Article!