84 bank apart as is their required custom, almost regretfully report that they can find no real cause for criticism or complaint in the condition of the bank or the conduct of its business.” Mr. Potts reported that the bank’s post-war plans included a “willingness to provide credit to ex-servicemen of capacity and character who are willing to do a job, and to supply the reasonable financing opportunity better than was the case following the last war. Following the last war, many government agencies had their birth under the stress of economic necessity and have since grown to be parasites on the Federal Treasury which every taxpayer must help to support. The same thing can happen following this war unless banks supply the legitimate credit needs of their people.” In February of 1945 Miss Margaret Barthel was hired as a bookkeeper and a new check perforating machine was purchased. A serious threat was being proposed for Clarke County in 1945 – a dam across the Shenandoah River. This dam would succeed in flooding miles and miles of rich bottom land. The Board of Directors joined others in voicing their extreme opposition to the plan in March: Resolved; that, not since its organization over a hundred years ago has our county been confronted with such a menace, such a threat to its economic integrity and its social welfare as it meets today in the proposed gigantic hydro-electric dam to impound the waters of the Shenandoah River and submerge such wide areas of the county’s most fertile and productive lands. No river in America, not even the Hudson, surpasses the Shenandoah in natural beauty and scenic attractiveness. In recent year hundreds of thousands of dollars have been expended in construction of new and modern homes and rehabilitation of old ones along the foot hills that reach this beautiful river, all of which would be swallowed up in this wholesale scheme of destruction. Steeped in tradition and rich in historical lore, it seems little short of sacrilege to disintegrate and destroy this almost sacred soil. From a material standpoint this proposal is almost revolutionary. Removal of such a large proportion of the county’s agricultural land from production would disorganize and disrupt the whole economy of the county. Not only the owners of the condemned and flooded land would be affected but indirectly, though not less surely, all of our people would feel the evil effects of this proscriptive measure, which has not justification in law or morals. We deplore it as an invasion of the county’s rights and feel that no consideration of the public welfare justifies this radical and undemocratic violation of the principles of our government, this ruthless disregard of private and corporate rights. The Board, along with other concerned citizens who voiced their extreme disapproval, was successful in its efforts. An ad that appeared on May 10, 1945 encouraged everyone to “attend the