A Flashback by Ivalee Dalton

Gretna Christian Church 100th Anniversary

Minister:  Dwight Mays

111 Leftwich Street
Gretna, Virginia

Mailing Address: Post Office Box 644 Gretna, Virginia 24557

Ivalee Dalton

Last week I was going through some boxes and found a booklet that was written up by Gretna Christian.  It was full of memories and pictures which I will be posting in the next few days.  Below is a memory written by Mrs. Ivalee Dalton a long time member of Gretna Christian Church.

Flashback
History proclaims that Gretna Christian Church was founded in 1911, at Franklin Junction but the post office for the village was named Elba, as far back as the third of May, 1895, and I don't know how long it had been known as Elba.  The town council met in November, 1912 and voted to change the names to Gretna and eliminate confusion.  Like all changes, it took several years for the name Gretna to become firmly established and confusion eliminated.  In fact, some of the folk living in the area always referred to it as "The Junction".

I remember hearing Rev. J. W. West of Lynchburg, Virginia tell of coming to preach at the Gretna Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by train.  He studied the scriptures as he rode along in preparation for his sermon.  He looked up from his Bible and glanced out of the window, realizing that he had missed his station. He quickly summoned the conductor and told him he failed to hear him call "Franklin Junction" and they would have to stop the train and let him off, for he had a speaking engagement at the Christian Church and the congregation was depending on him being there.  The conductor stopped the train and it was put into reverse, taking him back to the station, with the conductor explaining the name had been changed to Gretna to avoid confusion.  Reverend West alighted and continued on to the church to keep his speaking engagement with the congregation.

Ivalee Dalton

Mark E. Poole  photos
Disciples of Christ Historical Society 

Gretna Christian Church

Atha Bailey

Linda Dalton

Ivalee Dalton