1958

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← 1957 Janus.jpg This article is about the year 1958
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This article is a date listing important or significant events that happened for the year 1958

Facts

  • There were no fatalities as a result of traffic accidents in the city of Charlottesville in 1958. However, there were 389 automobile accidents and 103 people were injured. [1] There were 12 fatalities in accidents in Albemarle County. [2]

Events

  • April 3 – Gov. James Lindsay Almond Jr. proclaimed April 13, the 215th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth, as a legal holiday in Virginia. Jefferson’s birthday was one of four state holidays eliminated during the administration of former Gov. Thomas B. Stanley. The others eliminated were Jefferson Davis’s birthday (Jan. 13), Columbus Day (Oct. 12), and Armistice day (Nov. 11).[3]
  • April 21 – Charlottesville’s first Dogwood Festival kicked off on this day. The festival was originally held in the fall, beginning in 1950, and called the Apple Harvest Festival. The change to a springtime event was intended to showcase the city’s beauty and to coincide with Historic Garden Week.[4]
  • April 21 – Charlottesville City Council agrees to enter into an agreement with Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority for terms on how a public housing project would proceed at Vinegar Hill. Such an agreement would be required before the federal government would provide funding. [5] [6]
  • September
    • Governor J. Lindsay Almond closed schools in Charlottesville, Front Royal, and Norfolk rather than see them segregated.
    • Students at Lane High School in Charlottesville wrote a letter to Governor Almond requesting reopening their school. They cited their rights to a public education as outlined in the state constitution and alluded to the ruling that state school be immediately reopened. They asked that control of the schools be returned to the local school board and that they be directed to reopen public schools.[7]
By January 1959, both the federal court and state supreme court demanded that schools be reopened, and Massive Resistance laws overturned. In 1870 a Virginia law made it illegal for black and white children to attend the same schools.

Deaths

  • December 15Mary Bernice Proffitt, aged 77. First known female member of the Seven Society. As news of her death spread around Grounds, the Chapel carillon tolled a familiar chime: seven notes struck simultaneously, seven times for seven seconds, the customary tolling for a member of the Seven Society. People were shocked. Until then, it was assumed that the Sevens were all male. [8]

1958 election

  • June 10 – The regular municipal election was held on this Tuesday. Louie L. Scribner was elected councilman of the City of Charlottesville for the term of office for four years commencing September 1, 1958.
  • August 5 – In the Clerk’s Office of the Corporation Court of the City of Charlottesville Louie L. Scribner, who was elected councilman of the City of Charlottesville for the term of office for four years commencing September 1, 1958, took the oath of office before C. E. Moran, Clerk.

References

  1. Print: No Traffic Deaths here in '58 But Accidents Climb, Staff Reports, Daily Progress, Lindsay family January 2, 1959, Page .
  2. Print: Area Traffic Death Toll in 1958 Shows Decrease of 17 Per Cent, Staff Reports, Daily Progress, Lindsay family January 5, 1959, Page .
  3. Web. Jefferson's Birthday Made Legal Holiday, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Thursday April 3, 1958, retrieved January 22, 2024.
  4. Web. First Dogwood Festival celebrated 59 years ago kicked off April 23, The Daily Progress staff, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Apr 21, 2017, retrieved Apr 21, 2021.
  5. Web. City Will Be Asked to Agree to Conditions for Housing Project, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, April 18, 1958, retrieved April 21, 2023. Print. April 18, 1958 page 9.
  6. Web. Council Okays Housing Pact; Voting Machines Ordered, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, April 22, 1958, retrieved April 21, 2023. Print. April 22, 1958 page 1.
  7. Petition from students at Lane High School, Charlottesville, to reopen, to Governor J. Lindsay Almond Jr., Richmond. September 1958. Virginia, Governor (1958–1962), Executive Papers, 1958-1962, Accession 26230, Box 136, Barcode 1052833, Folder Norfolk Segregation, State Government Records Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/dbva/items/show/200
  8. https://uvamagazine.org/articles/first_things_first

References