THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 40 December 2002





CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

submitted by: Jim Brown (WI '57)
Jbrown@gabrown.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jim wrote this to me in December 2001. I saved it for the December issue this year. Hope you enjoy.

It’s Christmas Eve and I’m thinking back as I often have to this special evening in years past. One that always comes to mind is 1956 - my senior year in high school. I had a job that fall and winter at the newspaper and had to work on Christmas Eve. For no reason that was evident to me at the time, at about 10 p.m., I made a point of going out and walking around the main block of the Downtown streets - Fourth, Main, Third, and Pike.

I can still see the Christmas lights that the City put up. They stretched from one side of the street to the other with a peak in the middle and a swag to either side. There was a large lighted medallion- shaped globe in the center. It was circled with a holly wreath. I believe there was a Santa face on some of them and perhaps a bell on others.

It was a cold night but I wanted to drink it all in. I may have walked it twice.

I don’t know why I remember it so well. Perhaps it was just the novelty of being out by myself on Christmas Eve - probably for the first time in my life. But it became more than that - a symbolic break with the past I suppose - that foretold of all the changes that were to come-such as, college, work, marriage, children and now grandchildren.

The boy in me - and there is still a lot of it - wants to go back to that time and place. To the security that you never doubted, to the friends who were always there, to the good times that would never end.

We can’t go back, of course. And from appearances, none of us in this circle of conversation seems to have reason to complain. But I can’t help but believe that we grew up in a special time and in a special place. And the simple memory of that is all the Christmas present I need. I just wish I could pass it on to the future generations.

I am stone cold sober as I write this but now I believe it is time for a drink.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!!




CHRISTMAS 1941 / 2001

submitted by: Buzzy Floyd (VHS '56)
Floyds@lvcm.com

Looking out of the window onto the ever busy runways of McCarran International Airport, I was waiting for the plane to carry me home to West Virginia for an event I never thought I’d have to experience...the funeral of my favorite uncle, John Trevy Tibbs. As I stood there lost in memories, thoughts of my first airplane ride came to mind, and stirred up another ancient memory regarding Christmas, and my Uncle Trevy, that I really shouldn’t be able to recall at all, given my age at the time. It is the first Christmas that I can remember, and my first memory of a man who I came to love almost as much as I did my own father.

I don’t know what Christmas was like at our house before that one, because I was too young to remember. But that year, I learned what Christmas is supposed to be, and I like to think it was a gift from him that taught me the lesson. By my possibly faulty reckoning, I estimate the year to be 1941, the year Aunt Roxie and Uncle Trevy were married. No one else in the family seems to remember it, but, for obvious reasons, it “impinged” on my feeble mind. Further reckoning, based on the economic situation of my family at the time, tells me that it was a pretty bleak Christmas that year for my mom and dad and two older sisters. In 1938, my father had been hurt, and by 1940/41 was barely able to walk. It would be two years later before mom got a job, and became the family bread winner.

Anyway, that Christmas morning we were all gathered around Grandma and Grandpa Heater’s beautiful tree, in their Patterson Court apartment, watching various family members open packages. I’ll admit that the picture is just a bit hazy, and is pretty surreal, now, 60 years later, but many things stand out sharply in my mind. For one, even though I wasn’t getting any presents, I was extremely happy seeing my relatives opening theirs. Maybe that proves the old saying, “its better to give than to receive,” although technically, I wasn’t giving, and didn’t know the reason for all the presents. Still, I can see my own face as if I were looking at it from someone else’s body, and it has on it a big, happy, grin as if to say, “I don’t know what you people are celebrating, but you seem to be having such a good time, I hope it goes on forever.”

The whole thing unfolds in my head like a continuous loop of tape, interspersed with several still pictures, all shot in soft focus, the way they do to cover the laugh lines of an aging actress. I can see a still of the tree, stills of my grandparents, and now and then, a bit of my mother’s face, or one of my sisters, pops into the frame. I’m aware that other family members are there, but the continuous video loop shows my very young, and attractive, Aunt Roxie, smiling and laughing. She’s sitting on the floor in front of my handsome, if ageless, Uncle Trevy, who is also smiling, his facial expression frozen in time with the look that I will forever remember him by. The same look he had every time I saw him for the next sixty years.

If he wasn’t the epitome of a 1940’s Hollywood leading man, my name isn’t (wasn’t?) Buzzy Floyd, Carl and Frena’s little boy. No, he didn’t resemble the Tom Cruise, pretty boy type, of leading man. He was more the Dan Duryea, or Humphrey Bogart type. A real man’s man, with a classic WWII-era style about him, except without the moodiness of those movie stars. Instead, in my memory, he always had an easy laugh, and if his voice were a few octaves higher, it might almost have come out as a knowing giggle, instead of a deep voice chuckle, like the cat that ate the canary. For a man about to go off to war, he was remarkably cheerful.

So, after all the gifts had been unwrapped, the little group began moving about the house, as some tried on new clothes, and others began preparing food for the big Christmas dinner, and I recall the disappointment I felt of it being over. The intimacy of the whole family in one place, having such a good time, created a warm feeling in me that has never quite been duplicated, as it was my first such experience.

It’s strange that I wasn’t the least bit disappointed at not receiving any gifts, but the termination of the party atmosphere made me sad. I had never received a gift before, and had no expectations or desires for anything of a material nature, but I had never felt so secure as I did, surrounded by several generations of Heaters and Floyds, and I never wanted it to end.

My look of disappointment must have shown though, and as I’m sure everyone had thought I was too young to care about presents, that look might have been misinterpreted as meaning, “Where is my Christmas present?” If nothing else had happened, that day might have remained a warm memory, but would probably have had little meaning to me now. Instead, it became the day that I learned what Christmas is all about when my wonderful Uncle Trevy stepped in and gave me my fondest Christmas memory, as well as my favorite toy.

Uncle Trevy might have become a great actor if he had gone on the stage, because that day his performance convinced me that there really was a Santa Claus; something I believed for years. He also might have made a great magician, because even though I had seen that every present had been opened, and there was nothing else under the tree, he was able to make the most wonderful gift I have ever received, magically appear. Making a show of it, he said that Santa must have accidentally placed my gift behind the tree, and that everyone had overlooked it by mistake. Then, when he told me to go look and see if it was back there, sure enough, Santa had left something for me behind that tree.

It was a simple, thoughtful gift, that I will always remember as the first one Santa ever brought me. One that I would play with for years to come; a toy airplane made of tin, which, at the time, was almost too big for a three year old kid to handle. Looking very much like the airliners of the day, it had propellers that turned, and wheels that rolled across the floor for takeoff, with a paint job, and symbols, just like the real thing.

As a teenager, I gave away all my childhood toys when I discovered other, more grown-up, interests. Now, all that is left of that old toy plane is a memory that will never fade, because it meant so much. What “Santa” did could never have been planned, and I’m sure it was forgotten long ago, by all concerned, except for this “kid” who has never completely grown up. I sometimes wonder, though, if maybe there had been another kid in our family, that Christmas, who came up short one airplane?

That terrible day, when the sad news came that Uncle Trevy had died, I was asked by my wife, Carol, if I had a favorite memory of him. So many good memories came to mind (there were no bad ones), that it took a while to sort through them. Then, it came to me, as I remembered that old, tin airplane.

My fondest memory was that he had given me the gift of Christmas, to remember him by, forever.



submitted by: Sharon Bee Armstrong (Bristol '59)
SharonA116@aol.com

I have a lot of memories because Christmas was so important to my mother. The house was decorated inside and out. The Wolf Summit Wesleyan Methodist Church always had a cantata on Christmas Eve, and my sisters, Andy, and I were always in it. After church, we went home, had 1/2 pint (remember those little cardboard pints?) of vanilla ice cream, were allowed to eat it out of the carton, and were allowed to open one gift, but Mom picked out which one we could open. We were always so excited it was almost impossible to sleep. On Christmas day we always had the traditional Christmas dinner with the turkey and all the trimmings. Mom was one of those that put marshmallows on the sweet potatoes and we loved it.

When I was very young, before I was old enough to go to school, I have memories of Mom sitting for days at her treadle Singer sewing machine. I didn't know what she was making until Christmas day, when my doll had a whole wardrobe of clothes and I recognized the fabrics. I could go on and on, but it's too hard to dredge up all those wonderful memories and then try to get through today!! I know you'll get a lot of responses.



submitted by: Ruth Ann Martin Hill (WI '59)
RuthAnn275@aol.com

As an elementary student I attended Pierpoint School on Sycamore Street. I vividly remember walking to school every day, going home for lunch and back to school for afternoon classes. My mother used to fix the best custard on cold days that I really looked forward to at lunch.

The fact that I remember all of my teacher's names and things about each one says something for the school family. I loved the wide wooden steps that went up and then divided at the landing. At Christmas we would all gather around the rail on the second floor and line the entire stairway to sing carols.

Oh what our own children have missed!



submitted by: Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI '59)
jkimler@ezwv.com

I don't think this memory is so special but it sure is memorable. I'm sure all of you at one time or another hunted for your presents. Well, one year I discovered the "special hiding place". I went through everything, opening bags and boxes and thinking I was so smart. It was the worst Christmas I ever had. I was so sorry I had found the presents. It was awful knowing what everything was before opening the package. I never hunted again.

Thinking back, I guess what I remember most was my father not being there. He was a young policeman with no seniority and always had to work Christmas Day. When I was older, he always volunteered to work Christmas so some of the younger men with small children could have the day off. He remembered what it was like not spending Christmas Day with your family.




A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: Freddie Layman checked his history library and reported a memory----He checked his records back to 1941 concerning the courthouse plaza tree and the city lights. The city did not decorate because of the Pearl Harbor attack but the tree on the plaza went on as scheduled with lights. There were no lights on the tree during World War II. They came back on December 1945.




HOLIDAYS REMEMBERED

submitted by: Gary Weiner (WI '60)
Cias@iolinc.net

As far as Chanukah went, I remember lighting candles for eight days, presents and potato latkes (small pancake shaped) topped with either sour cream or jelly or sometimes just sprinkled with sugar. I remember playing a game with a top called a dreidel. Also, there was Chanukah gelt which came in two forms. "gelt" is money. Sometimes we got real money. Other times we got chocolate wrapped in gold foil shaped like money. Both were good. Some parents gave one large gift while others gave small gifts for each of the eight days of the holiday. Also, some people when lighting the candles added another each day until there were eight plus the Shamas (the candle which was used to light the others) whereas some people did it in reverse. The reason for the eight days was to commemorate when the Maccabees threw the occupying Greeks out, the Temple had to be thoroughly cleaned before it could be used. Before they could make new pure oil for the large menorah (candelabra) they found only one cruz which hadn't been contaminated. It should have lasted only one day but lasted eight which was considered a miracle. Hence the holiday is eight days.

Christmas was for other people but as I got older I entered into some phases of the festivities. In college I would go to the Delt house and if some help was needed would join in. During my years in school in Morgantown the Delts had a blue Christmas tree, It was very tall and stood near the large window in the living room. Strands of blue light bulbs were used and the ornaments were usually only blue or silver. Where the front and side walls met the ceiling, four-colored rotating wheels were in each corner to shine on the tree which was heavily flocked. Do any of you remember using a vacuum cleaner shaped like a torpedo to blow the flocking which came in clear bags onto the tree? I do. One was lucky if most of it went on the tree. While nice inside, outside the blue tree was spectacular and set off the whole shelter. Sometime in the eighties or late seventies, I was rummaging through the closet of a sleeping room which had once been the living room for the housemothers. I saw a pile of something in the back and when I pulled it out I was holding a strand of the blue Christmas lights. I found enough to cover a tree. I told some of the brothers the story of the blue tree and put the bulbs back. Several days later as I was coming down Maiden Lane toward the house I saw a sight that took me back. Once again, there stood the blue tree in all its glory as it had years before. I've never had a Christmas tree but that one was a part of me because it was a part of people who meant a lot to me. That feeling and spirit lasts beyond Christmas.




SEND AN E-MAIL OF CHEER THIS MONTH

submitted by: Joanne Westfall Simpson Tetrick (WI '52)
Fragilegranny34@aol.com

Dear Roleta

Really enjoy the interesting things that folks remember. The newsletter is a great way to enjoy all of that. We all seem to have our fond memories of days gone by............

One of my classmates and dear friend, Dianna Robey Tillman--W.I. 1952 is terminally ill with cancer. She has been the "glue" that has kept our class in touch through the years. We fondly think of her as our Good Will Ambassador. Not only is she coping with this insidious disease, she is grieving the loss of her son, Kevin, who passed away last month from cancer also. Not only is Dianna a special friend, but has the "tax lady" for many years for me and many others. . Her sense of humor is wonderful and she enjoys the endorphins that laughter provides. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I know she would appreciate hearing from any and all who know and love her--Tillmanor@aol.com

Thanks and Merry Christmas.





A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: A huge Christmas Tree on the courthouse plaza all decorated for the season. So often it was donated by the Eneix family on Wilson Street.




NOVEMBER TRIVIA PICTURE

    
picture's submitted by Freddie Layman (VHS '46)


submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
WaynePawco@aol.com

Roleta, that is the Union National Bank building. The building in the picture on the left is the former Montgomery Ward store which is now a park and walk through to the lower bank lobby. The trees you see to the right is the Harrison county court house corner. The right side of the building at one time had an entrance and was the Stonewall Jackson Hotel this would be to the far right of the picture on the street side.





submitted by: Linda DeTurk Jones (WI '60)
DeTurque@aol.com

My husband tells me it's the old Union National Bank Building across from the Court House where he worked for several years for my grandfather, Harley A. Wolf, who was County Clerk for many, many years. I remember the long counter that seemed to stretch nearly the entire length of the building on the third street side. It was always a busy place.

Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading every new issue of the newsletter.





submitted by: Mary Lou Strosnider Marshall (WI '64)
Cat1211woman@aol.com

I do believe that this is a picture of Union National Bank. It brings back some memories for me since it was across the street from the courthouse where my grandfather was a judge. He was Judge Homer Strosnider and had adjudicated in many cases. One such case that he had a part in was the murder farm case. Although I don't think that he was a judge at that time.....





submitted by: Chris Wyatt (WI '71)
Cwyatt@access.k12.wv.us

My guess is the StonewallJackson Hotel on the corner of 3rd and Main. The Union National Bank was in there as well as the hotel and office buildings. I had my first savings account as a child with Union National Bank. There was a barbershop off the lobby. I also remember when my father started working for Chamberlaine and Flowers that his office was in that building. The Stonewall Billiards, on the other hand, was not in that building but across the alley from it.





submitted by: John Timberlake (WI '48)
JGTimberlake@aol.com

I think the picture is of the old Union National Bank Building at Main and Third. The"Stonewall" Jackson Hotel was in the back, Wilber Mar's Jerwelry store on the side.


picture submitted by Freddie Layman (VHS '46)




A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: Stores didn’t decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. Wish it was still that way!



TRIVIA PICTURE FOR DECEMBER



Do you recognize the above site? Guess the site and tell us a memory of it! Write your memories to Roleta1@aol.com.




A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: Church bells playing Christmas Carols in the evening.




LETTER TO JOHN IACONIS

submitted by: Jim Pulice (WI '62)
Jpulice@ms.com

Thanks again for some great reading. I graduated in 1962 but I grew up in Glen Elk with Joe Marra, Buddie Bice, Bob Secret, Gerald Folio and Dave Patsy. I remember the Iaconis family store. My Uncle Joe Pulice had Main Street Grocery. I grew up in that store. Phil Hooper and I delivered groceries. There was an Iaconis family who lived across from our house on 7th Street in a large apartment building. Both were old and very nice people. I can remember John playing football for W.I. I spent a lot of time at the Bowies house since Bill and I were in school together. I think John went to the Naval Academy. John, I really enjoyed reading your article. Your writing brought back lots of memories for me. Thanks John.




GETTING TO KNOW JUDY DAUGHERTY KIMLER

submitted by: Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI '59)
jkimler@ezwv.com


Roleta asked, and who can refuse Roleta, if I would do a GETTING TO KNOW... article this month, so here goes.

As I said last month I was an only child but I grew up with my cousin, Mary Ellen Howell. We were only a few months apart in age and fought like cats and dogs. She was real shy and ladylike and I was bullheaded and stubborn. I can remember so-o-o many times when we were little, 3-6 yrs old, having real fights. I bit and she scratched and we always had wounds all over our bodies. She lives in Fla now but we keep in touch regularly and are good friends in addition to being cousins.

I went to Pierpont Grade School for 5 yrs and Towers for 1 yr, CJHS, and WI. Jerry Winerman mentioned recently that during recess at Towers we marched up and down the halls to march music. I remember that very well. It was so different from Pierpont.

After graduating from WI in 1959 I went to work for C&P Telephone Co. I transferred to Huntington after 6 yrs and eventually retired with 33 yrs service. I had many different jobs and at times was loaned to a lot of cities including Morgantown, Fairmont, Beckley, Charleston and Logan.

I have always had a dog. My father liked to hunt and raised and bred beagles. Over the years I have had other breeds but beagles are the ones I remember the most. I now have a Dalmatian named Calamity and boy is she high strung and aptly named. The movies show them to be so cute and sweet...I think I have a throw-back or mutant. I call her "scaredy-dog". She is afraid of her own shadow. Can you imagine an eighty pound dog trying to hide under the bed or sticking her head, like an ostrich, under chairs and tables.

I also have a cat, my very first one. And he rules the roost. A little 10 lb, solid black ball of fur named Ebony. I thought once a male cat was neutered he just laid around and ate...like Garfield. I guess no one told Ebony. He still likes to go out at night and hunt and occasionally he brings me a present...don't ask.

I have been married to Larry Kimler for 20 yrs. We have no children, just the cat and dog...oh wait, I forgot the fish. We have a 55 gallon aquarium with 4 very large fish. No one can believe we have a plecostomus that is 20" long and 18 yrs old. Most only grow to be about 12 inches and live just a few yrs.

I don't exactly have any hobbies. I do enjoy reading, sewing and working (playing) on my computer. In addition to the WI newsletter, I do a quarterly newsletter for the Telephone Pioneers in Huntington.

I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at the 45th reunion in 2 yrs.

NOTE: We would like for this to be a monthly feature...a GETTING TO KNOW... article from each of you. Roleta and I have done ours, now its your turn.


A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: Stores with animated Christmas window displays




BROAD OAKS DAIRY BAR

EDITOR’S NOTE: I don't remember the Broad Oaks Dairy Bar. If I was ever there, I don’t remember it. Sounds like a special neighborhood in a special time. I wish to thank all these people who allowed me in on their round robin discussion of this place. If you read the following memories, you can remember a similar place in your neighborhood


picture submitted by: Marjorie Jones Kober (WI '59)
MKober6254@aol.com


submitted by: Don Sager (WI '56)
dks@davtv.com

The Dairy Bar was at the Harrison St. location between Point St. and Tyler at least from the early 1940's and maybe prior. Seems to me that Joe Bennett's father operated it for a time prior to Joe and his wife Vi running it. I remember that Joe went off to Alaska for a few years when the Alaska boom was going on in the late 40's. It was a big deal in the neighborhood when he returned. I cannot remember if he was married or got married shortly after he returned. But I do know that he paid another boy and I about $20 each to clean the apartment over the Dairy Bar before he and Vi moved in. I can still remember scrubbing the baseboard of all the rooms. When we were old enough to go to the store alone (probably 1st grade) until we got to Central Jr. High, the Dairy bar was the everyday hangout for that section of Broad Oaks. While Steve Limbers remembers the hot dogs and they were excellent, I remember the milk shakes, especially chocolate.

I can still see the interior in my mind. There was a small back room which had the large refrigerator and next to it was a pin ball machine that got plenty of action as we waited to be old enough to get to play and then waited on line to play as we got to be "old guys". There were green screen doors into the store with the ice cream counter straight ahead and candy counters on the left side plus a counter of paper products. The magazine racks were on the right side where we rushed every month to buy the latest comic books and movie magazines. Joe used to pay me once and awhile to clean and mop the floor-black and white check tiles- and counters.

We used to hang out in the summers with an RC Cola since it was larger than a Coke and cost the same (5 cents). Joe would always have the Baseball Game of the Day on the radio so we could listen to "ole Dizzy Dean". And it would be loud enough to listen to outside the store sitting on the curb or Hank Ross's front wall next to the store. The store rule was "outside" unless you were buying something or playing pinball. But at night, you could listen to WVU and WI away basketball games without too much hassle.

Next to the store was a "small" vacant lot where we all played games. During the day, Baseball using a rubber ball or a ping-pong ball and at night Kick the Can, Hide and Seek etc. (Girls took part in the nighttime games and sitting on the corner of Point and Harrison after dark). Ron Brown's house lot ran back into Bennett's and we were always having to climb fences or go around to gates to retrieve balls. Saturdays afternoons in the fall we would all gather at the Dairy Bar to listen to WVU football games and the Voice of the Mountaineer's-Jack Fleming. Along with this, came games of touch football in Harrison St. in front of the store. We used regular balls or the small rubber balls about 8 inches that cheerleaders now throw into the stands. Of course the traffic continued as we played. The number of guys that showed up to play was also related to the number of times the City cops came by to visit us each time and how often the neighbors called the cops. Anyone from C-burg remembers playing ball in the streets throughout the city. One day I ended up on the hood of a parked taxi that had pulled in before the play began and while we were in the huddle. "Go Long" took on a new meaning. Who were these guys---Meyers, Davis, Shaw, Brewster, Limbers, Alvaro, Collins, Jones, McMann, Sinsells, Judy, Douglas, Kopp, Borror, Elder, Feldman, Brown, Talkington, Clayton, Grow, Riley, Garten, Besterman, Ross and many more before and after my time in the neighborhood.

It's been 50 yrs. + since most of this took place.





submitted by: Steve Limbers (WI '57)
Limberses@cs.com

Well, you certainly bring it all back. And there is some stuff that I don't remember but as you said, it has been a long time.

There was also a guy involved in all that named Tom Reasinger. He lived on Tyler near Harrison. Anyone know what happened to him? He went to Notre Dame and was sort of an outcast because of that.

Jim's note brought back a lot of stuff. We have all forgotten about the Michies, who lived a few houses down from Brassines on Vermont. I was best man and Sandy was best broad at Arthur and Kay's wedding. There was also Judy and Susan, who were older, and Phil (who's dead) and Pep, who were younger, and I think that's all.

Near Michies, on Buckhannon, was Mike Hanley, another cool Notre Damer. He went to New York and saw West Side Story, then bought the cast recording. Listening to it at his house (many, many times) is I THINK what initially got me interested in NY, Broadway, etc. I think of him every time I shell out nearly a hundred bucks for a ticket.

Thanks for the memories.





submitted by: John Timberlake (WI '48)
JGTimberlake@aol.com

My family moved to Broad Oaks in 1937. The Dairy Bar was a great place to get ice cream, candy, gum, comic books, sodas and other " necessities" for kids.

At that time it belonged to Mr. John Flynn who lived next door, it was a Mom & Pop operation. After World War II, he sold it to Joe Bennett (sp), who ran it up into the "60s. When I became a teen ager it became a favorite hang out to the boys in the area.

It was kind of like "Duffy's Tavern" without alcohol. We plotted all kinds of practical jokes, mischief, enjoyed the girls going by. Some of us took up smoking, but the only vice I can remember was pitching pennies.

Mr. Flynn was retiring and moving away. When he sold his house, he bought a Crosley(one of the first small cars made in this country), it was a great curiosity, we had not seen a car that small. Mr. Flynn's front yard was about three feet above the sidewalk with a retaining wall. The temptation was too much so we picked his car up and put it in the yard at night. It probably took him two seconds to guess who did it so the next day we had to put the car back on the street.

A number of people who hung out there were Carl White, who lived across the street, George Fish, Bob Thomas, Ralph Wilson, Bob Martin, Andy Rogers, Tom Keenan, and others whose names I cannot get straight in my mind. All went to WI.

This was better than the Mall that today's kids seem to favor.





submitted by: Jim Brown (WI '57)
Jbrown@gabrown.com

I have great memories of the Dairy Bar. I spent many hours in and around it. We didn't move to Broad Oaks until I was in the eight grade - 1952-53. Joe married Vi sometime after that. Do you remember serenading them after they moved into the apartment? Joe was the neighborhood distributor of Football and Basketball Parleys. On Saturday mornings, Joe would drive up town and circle the block while I took the cards and money into the pool hall. I bet on more football games while in high school than I have since. I spent a lot of hours on that pin ball machine. Another frequent player was Cliff Judy.

I delivered the evening paper on Point, (where I met the Clark sisters) Tyler, Rosemont, Spring, (all above Harrison) Also St Clair and the street off Spring a block above St Clair. Can't think of the name. It was a dead end. Mr. Duckworth lived about half way up on the right. Terry Shorr lived on Point below Harrison. Dave McMunn's house was on the corner of Rosemont and Vermont. Next door was Bob Cottrill, a masonry contractor. I had the privilege of working with him in the seventies when he subcontracted masonry work from the company I later came to own. Across Rosemont were the Brassines - Bill WI '54, Roberta - ND - maybe others.

Do you remember Carrol Muntzing? He sometimes lived in the stone house on the corner of Haymond Hwy and Tyler. He wasn't always around which was okay since he was a real you - know - what, at least at that time.

Remember "Stumpy" Bice lived on Vermont as did the Neals, Frances and Bobby. What ever happened to them? Stumpy had that nickname from an early age - probably because he was short. Those of you who believe in self-fulfilling prophecies can point to the lawnmower accident he had while in high school in which he really became "Stumpy".

Tom Reasinger was a good friend. I've lost contact with him. The Spieldenners lived above them on Tyler. JoAnn Baker lived across the street. The Elbons moved to Harrison below the Dairy Bar. Fred, Dennis, others I think. Dennis works in Clarksburg for an excavation contractor (Jack Keely from E. Main St.) - I see both of them from time to time. Barbara Stanton lived on Spring Street almost up to Buckhannon. Jeff Williams and older sister Patty?? lived on the corner of Spring and St Clair. Bob Taylor lived down the street from them He must have gone away to school as I don't recall him after Junior High School. Alma Jean Quinaut lived around there somewhere. Annabel Day from my class lived on Harrison across from Spring.

Boy does the West Side Story adventure sound familiar. Dave Spelsberg, Dave Zinn, Bob Bridge and I were in Dave Laughlin's wedding in Vermont the first Saturday of September, 1960. We came back by way of NYC and saw West Side Story on Labor Day. It was about ready to close so they had the original cast back for a farewell run. Only Chita Rivera was missing - I think she was in Birdie at the time. We sat in the front row - what a thrill. I also went out and bought the album which I wore out over the next few years. Have it on CD now and still get goose bumps when I play it.





submitted by: Carl Besterman (WI '56)
CFKB@mindspring.com

The Dairy Bar subject is a fond memory, I was involved in a lot of the CHASE games that was played throughout the neighborhood, which always started at Joe’s Dairy Bar. I do remember one other thing about the pinball machine in the back room. I do not remember just who did it, but a little hole had been made between the glass top and the wooden frame and we use to push a little wire inside and give us free games.

My Mother used to send me to Joes to get her a pack of cigarettes @ .21 cents.





submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)
Msspahr@aol.com

Didn't anyone remember that my sister, Janna, and I used to work at Joe's a few hours almost every day? We relieved Joe so that he could eat dinner in peace with Vi. We were paid a quarter an hour (pretty good money) and could have a free hot dog or ice cream. It was a pretty good deal. We worked there for several years after school and sometimes for Joe and Vi to take brief vacations in the summer. Who would give kids that kind of responsibility now?

Joe was not young when he got married. I can't remember exactly how old he was, but he had to be close to 40. Also, his vision got very bad due to cataracts. He ultimately had surgery in the days before lens implants and ended up with glasses about a half inch thick.

The dead end street was Hedge Street and probably still is. JB, your recollections of all the people is astonishing, but I guess you would know given that you had to memorize your route.

Frances Neal has lived in Scotland for many, many years. She is married to a Scot. She was in Clarksburg and attended the last reunion in 2001. Did you mention Jean Myers who lived on Tyler close to Dave McMunn? She also attended the last reunion of the class of 1956.

As always, it is good to read your recollections. Though you came to Broad Oaks later than most of us, you are a vital part of us.

Joe was a nice person. He was far more tolerant of kids than a businessman probably should have been. Many kids read those comic books for free. Adults came in, bought a coke and read the magazines for free. What might have been a thriving business was a mediocre business because Joe was too soft. He really did not want to offend anyone.

Anyway, it was another time, another era. By the way, guys, when you really got desperate for another person to play ball, I sometimes got in the game. I am seriously offended that you don't remember.





submitted by: Pat Elder (ND '57)
St1Pat@aol.com

Hey gang, I remember playing baseball with a cutoff broomstick & a tin foil & paper ball wrapped in tape. We spent lots of hours at Dairy Bar! A lot of parents were missing brooms & mops too. At the age of 13 I was convinced that I was the best football player in the Harrison St./Dairy Bar stadium. I thought I threw more touchdown passes than Unitas. I thought I was a terrific receiver too. The next year in frosh, football at Notre Dame High School, my dreams of All-American were seriously dimmed when coach evaluated my speed and throwing arm. He then assigned me to the role of offensive center. Oh well, I still got just as many touches as the quarterback. Great memories, great friends and I have to laugh at myself some when I look back.





submitted by: Gary Weiner (WI '60)
Cias@iolinc.net

Thanks for the info on the Dairy Bar. I have been in there several times since it reopened. The kitchen is being used in the back room but there is no pinball machine. The are some tables and chairs. The ice cream cooler is straight ahead when you enter but it is more cost effective to keep the ice cream in a freezer. There is a big wooden magazine rack to the right with used books and other items in it for sale but I have seen people reading things while they wait for their food. They will deliver orders over $10.00. They have real good steak hoagies at $4.99. A few other toppings are 30 cents extra. People park either across the street at the curb or in the empty lot. They have real good potato salad at $2.00/pt. or $1.00 per bowl. There are other items on the menu including milk shakes. I took the recipe for peanut butter flops over there but haven't had a chance to see if they tried to make them or not.




A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: Garland stretched across Main and Pike Streets. In the central position was a Santa face or a candle surrounded by a wreath..



WI BAND MEMORIES

submitted by: Anne Pears Jones (WI '58)
ANannaJ@aol.com

Band was the most important thing in which I was involved in WI. I loved it. The Richard that played the clarinet was R. Ellis. I also played a clarinet and was a majorette my senior year. That was the first year that the band students were allowed to try out for majorette. That year Lorena Smouse, Carolyn Moore, Pat Shaw and I were chosen.

And to answer Delores' question, yes we were good. We won top awards at the state meet in Huntington. The only band that gave us a run for the money was the Parkersburg Big Reds! Remember that trip to Parkersburg for a football game? Their football team and their band won! Great November newsletter!





A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: Remember Santa visiting the grade school and passing out boxes of candy in a holiday decorated box with a little handle? One would think that was the only candy we ever had. However, it was special candy because it came from Santa. Even after one didn't believe in Santa, the candy was a special treat. Maybe because back in those days, we weren't handed many treats at school. Oh those are sweet memories!



FRIENDS

picture submitted by: Marjorie Jones Kober (WI '59)
MKober6254@aol.com







A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: A Salvation Army person standing beside a red pot on a tripod, and ringing a bell in front of Murphy’s 5 and 10 cent store.







submitted by: Irvin A. Miller (WI '61)
Irvinamiller@aol.com

Hi! I think I have been dropped from your newsletter email list. I have for the past few months been getting it forwarded by John Teter. I would like to get back on your list. Your newsletter is great and I know how much effort you put into it. One thing that makes your newsletter different than most is the format. Your format is attractive and easy to read. I have been reading it for some time and the interest continues to increase. Just knowing how much you have helped bring the group together has to be rewarding.



submitted by: Judy Mc Dougal Siders (WI '57)
Siders_Judy@hotmail.com

Merry Christmas everyone and happy New Year I hope everyone is well and ready for the holidays. At my home in Ohio I have open house on Christmas eve for one and all. We've even been known to go Christmas caroling to a few elders on my street.

I will be 63 on November 24 isn't that a hoot? I couldn't believe people lived to be 40 yrs old, think how silly I feel now.

I was in the marching band and Mr. Mayer was excellent in reverse psychology. He would make you so mad by telling you how awful you were that you would do anything to prove him wrong. His favorite expression was "what'd you do? trip over a blade of grass !!!!!" In drill practice those lines had better be straight - but we always got a superior rating. I do think of often and have used that psychology many times in my life. Other wonderful memories: ---- I remember the Dairy Bar on Harrison Street very well. Does anyone remember the newsstand on Monticello Ave? It was owned and run by Mancel and Connie Morland. Their daughters, Patty and Trudy went to WI.

Thank you many times over for this wonderful newsletter and God be with you and yours. Have a happy holiday!



submitted by: Wayne Pawco (WI 60)
WaynePawco@aol.com

Roleta, I live in Bridgeport, WV. My mother still lives in Stealey where I lived as a boy. I went to the old Morgan Grade School then to WI. I will look for some old pictures and try to send you one. The snow in the fifties was my Dads favorite as I was in Florida and he had to keep snow off of the roof in the front of our house as it was very heavy and could collapse. Keep up the good work



submitted by: Patricia Taylor Smith (WI '61)
Psmith12@netscape.com

Dear Roleta: Please put me on your email list for the WI Newsletter. I recently got in touch with the class of '61 through the Classmates web site, and have been so very moved reading your archives. Really brings back so many memories. I attended Towers Grade School as well and recognized a lot of names and places as I went along. Someone wrote about marching up and down the hall at Towers during recess, and really remembered that with a smile. The old victrola that had to be "wound up" and what a privilege to be the one doing the winding!

I live in Elgin, TX (near Austin) and have been in Texas since 1967. I have since visited WV only once and that was in the 80's. Would love to perhaps attend one of the picnics. Again, I do so appreciate the time and effort you have given to give us all such great memories and opportunities to interact with old friends.



submitted by: Jolene Morris Barthel (WI '58)
j.e.barthel@worldnet.att.com

I do enjoy receiving the WI newsletter and wish to continue

Thanks for all your hard work I'm still praying for your son and hope he is doing well. All is well in Fenwick Island, Delaware. We do not get back to WV much now that my Mother passed away this past August at the age of 89. I don't have any family left in WV now except some cousins so I enjoy the newsletter to keep up with the happenings.



submitted by: Jim Hovey (WI '62)
Jparsons2@hotmail.com

I graduated from WI in 1962 and after VietNam I graduated from Salem in 1974. I live in Md and work at BWI Airport as a Principal Project Controls Engineer with Parsons, of Pasadena, Ca. I have three children. My daughter just got married and works for Pepsi in Wilmington, N.C. My 22 year old son will graduate from Towson University in December and my 17 year old son will graduate from High school in May. My wife is part-owner of a company that manufactures (in China) gift-type "chautskys" and owns six Hallmark/American Greetings stores. Yes, they sell Boyds. Enough?

Thanks for all your hard work in putting together the newsletter. It surpasses all others I've seen in style, content and technical utilization.




PRECIOUS CHILD FOR NOVEMBER

    




WHO IS THIS PRECIOUS CHILD?




Do you know this precious child? Send your guesses to Roleta1@aol.com. Send a memory of the person also. Come on - guess --- I only publish correct answers!




E- MAIL ADDRESSES

I have spent hours this month bringing the e-mail lists up to date. Bob Davis (WI 1959) in South Carolina keeps my records for me. He updates my e-mail records and then he e-mails me a copy each time we have completed the update. As I have stated before, many e-mail addresses do not work each month. I have no choice but to remove these from my newsletter listing. If these outdated addresses are kept, it certainly adds a lot time to my work each month. I will never understand why someone would request to be added to the e-mail list and then not notify me of a change of address or when they discontinue using the internet. PLEASE---make a promise to yourself and me---if you change or discontinue-notify Roleta1@aol.com ---immediately. Below are the changes and removals Bob and I have made to the listings. As some of you know, I had to write letters to a lot of people in order to check if their addresses were current. If you see a person listed below and know that they still wish to receive the newsletter, will you have them notify me, otherwise, the changes were made as listed below.

1938--remove
Burt Spangler ----- brtsbs@nccn.net

1942--change
William Gardner to BGDG2335@aol.com

1943--remove
R.Wayne Ashbee ----- ashbee97@aol.com

1952--change
John Bennett and Gerry Danley Bennett-old address jimgerry@prodigy.net--new address is jdbennet@cox.net

1956-remove
Greg Myers ----- myers@usna.edu

1958--remove
Jim Clovis ----- Clovii@aol.com
Phillip Elbon ----- noblep58@aol.com
Alvin Garrett ----- jagarrett351@comcast.net
Mary Harbert Nopsker----- menm@webtv.net
Mary Jo Reger Hitt ----- MEJOMAW@aol.com
John Stemple ----- stemple1@home.com and also doesn’t work at comcast.com

1960--remove
Gary Fain ----- gfain@neumedia.net
Judy Franklin ----- judy.franklin@mail.state.ky.us---she just retired

1961--remove
Linda Humphries Hall ----- Deflwyr@aol.com

1962--remove
Shirley Burnell Welling (WI) ----- sw321fl@aol.com
Ray Smith rayray@iolinc.net

1964--remove
Connie Combs Terrango ----- cterrango@netzero.net

1969--remove
Tom Wetzel ----- nasnut1@earthlink.net

1980 remove--
Beth Thomas Harrison (WI) ----- bharris6223@aol.com

Remove
Ken Godfrey ----- KMBlizz@aol.com

Remove
Victory 1956
Belle Ashcraft Wamsley ----- pennym@earthlink.net
Ron Wamsley ----- pennym@earthlink.net

Remove
BRAXTON COUNTY--
Debbie James Wetzel (1974) ----- nasnut1@earthlink.net

Change
David Shinn (RW 1957) change to david_shinn@msm.com--(yes there is an underline mark between david and shinn...)

NEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES

Dick Hinkle (WI '48) rlhinkle@att.net
Madalyn McClung Stout (WI '55) manu3@earthlink.net
Joseph Williams, Jr. (WI '56) JoedocnWV@cs.com
Hugh Wolfe (WI '56) Wbuckster965@aol.com
Patricia Taylor Smith (WI '61) Psmith12@netscape.com




A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY-Do you remember downtown Clarksburg in the 50's during the Christmas Season? All the people! The streets would be filled with people. There were times you could barely walk down the street because of the crowds. Ahh, see what progress has done to our downtown areas?




NOVEMBER 1950 SNOW REMEMBERED

submitted by: Gary Weiner (WI '60)
Cias@iolinc.net

We had gone to New York by train for Thanksgiving and returned on the National Limited at night. There were no cabs available. Someone took us to the Cadillac Club which was then right next to the Fourth Street Bridge. We were taken home in a pickup truck, I believe, by "Hot Dog" Bill Tiano. The next day my father went outside, slipped and fell into the snow in the front yard. When we pulled him out, the impression in the snow resembled one of the old fashioned clothes line poles shaped like a "T". We too made tunnels on Milford Street.




submitted by: Harriett Danley Van Voorhis (WI '58)
Bill.VanVoorhis@mail.wvu.edu


Hi Roleta!
I remember the "great snow" of 1950 well! It was one of the most fun times of my elementary years! Besides sled riding, snowball fights, and NO SCHOOL, the kids in my neighborhood and I built a network of tunnels that we could crawl through. We had our own secret passages--COOL!!




DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

John Teter (WI '61) ----- Jteter@Balmar.com ----- December 29

ANNIVERSARIES

Leslie McKinley (would have been WI '60) and John Wallace ----- Momvol@aol.com ----- December 1, 1967

Gary and Carol Grow Robey (Both WI '57) ----- Garcar407@cableone.net ----- December 23, 1958

Jayne Rose (WI '57) and Bill Ross ----- Jynbilross@aol.com ----- December 25, 1962

Carol Van Horn (WI '58) and Roger Dean (RW '56) ----- Dblu2@aol.com ----- December, 31 1960




THE BLOWED-UP MAN

submitted by: Buzz Floyd (VHS '56)
Floyds@lvcm.com

In Central West Virginia they still refer to it as the Year of the Big Snow. It happened on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Bobby’s mom was working at the Hazel Atlas glass plant when the blizzard hit. His family waited up all night worrying, not knowing how she would make it home, but he fell asleep sometime after midnight in the front bedroom next to the porch where he could hear if a car happened to stop. There were no cars running that night though. The snow, by midnight when her shift ended, was two feet deep and still falling. Phone lines were out, so even if she could find a phone she couldn’t call.

Finally, at about 2:30 in the morning, he heard voices and the crunch of footsteps in the snow. Sound carries at night when the ground is covered with the deep white stuff. You’d think it would muffle sound, but voices seem to carry further in the crisp night air. The voices were those of the neighbors who also worked the midnight shift. They were bidding her goodnight as they made their own way along in the knee deep fluff to homes a block or two away.

When the key turned in the lock, Bobby jumped out of bed and ran to her, excited and happy that she had made it home safely. She seemed tired but exhilarated and spent the next several minutes telling about the walk home in three feet of drift. Some of the taller men from the factory, who had on boots, were able to lead the way, kicking a path through it for the ladies. Her low top boots were inadequate, but she managed to make the mile long walk and was anxious to relate the story. Pretty soon he was satisfied that she was all right and his dad sent him back to bed. There he dreamed of snow falling, kids sledding down Pride Avenue, snowballs flying, and a quiet, peaceful calm over the neighborhood.

For years he would recall that night as fearful, yet exciting, and he would remember it as the best sleep of his life after his mom got home. He would tell his grandchildren about it, and claim that the best time to sleep is during the late night quiet when the earth is covered in a blanket of deep snow, when you are cozy and warm inside. “Sometimes you can “hear” the winter night,” he would say, “especially if a wind is howling around the eaves of the house, and through the dark, barren trees which stand out against the gray-white background like emaciated goblins.”



FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

submitted by: Ron Ogren (WI '50)
Ogrenron@aol.com

You always put out a great newsletter and the last is no exception! Thanks.

A month or so past, you ran a picture of the Methodist Church that burned, and you did a follow-up about it, getting a lot of comments. I didn't have time to offer any input then, and wondered if I should. I guess it's about time I did, because now that I'm older, the event seems to be rather humorous.

One of the most embarrassing moments in my life; or why I remember that Church:

Our WI class of 1950 held the graduation church services at that church. We were all there dressed in our best "Sunday-Go-To-Meeting" clothes; suits, ties polished shoes and all the necessary items as set out by Mom and Dad. We were proud as can be, and ready to go to Bland's Drug Store up the street for the usual chocolate or cherry Coke with our favorite friends as soon as the church services were over. I had just enough money for such an adventure and already had my eye on a special girl to ask if she'd accept a coke with me. That is what we did back then. We were all seated and the service was nearly over when all of a sudden and very unexpectedly, at least to me, a collection plate appeared from my right, being passed from one person to the next. I took the plate with my left hand and quickly reached into my right hand front pocket for some change. I did not have a billfold with folding money in those days. I came up with of all my coins and dropped them into the collection plate. My first thought was: there goes my date, and coke. As I dropped all the coins, I saw nickels, a few dimes, maybe a quarter and also my bus tokens! It will be a long walk home to Hartland! My first reaction was to try to recover my bus tokens because they were just not supposed to be there! I reached into the big round wooden collection plate just as the classmate next to me tried to pass it on down the pew. As I poked around trying to find my bus tokens, I knew I should not be doing that -- stealing from the collection plate! I stopped and let the plate go, with a few laughs coming from around me and probably a few "Stop thief! "s too! I don't remember if I got my bus tokens back, (probably not), whether I was too embarrassed to get a date, whether some nice classmate had pitty and loaned me a quarter, or whether I walked home! But I'll always remember that church and the 1950 class graduation Church Service! (What would you have done?)

The newsletter was very interesting, as usual, and I enjoy the letters. Thanks for doing it.






A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: Working in a store in downtown Clarksburg during the season.




GORE HOTEL

submitted by: Carris House “Pinky” (WI '51)
CarrisHH@aol.com

Under the arch on the Second Street side, in the corner of the building was an unmarked door which led into the Redman's Club, a bar operated by Harry Jeranko and Lowell Drumond. "Members only" but no one ever turned away. Archie Thompson, piano, Sid Alonso (WI'54) bass and Dick Bowers, drums, played really great jazz, over the heads of most patrons. The Redmans Club operated through the late 40's and into the early '50's, before Voyager Lounge opened on the second floor of the Gore. Bob Cotter (WI '51) and his brother Skeets could usually be found tending the bar. Dave Hostetler owned the Voyager and still has Dave's Restaurant in Nutter Fort. Stop by and talk over the old days with him sometime. He makes a great "Dave's Delight" sandwich.

The 1950 snow material was nostalgic. I got a temp job with the B&O RR over that weekend sweeping snow off the tracks at the West End crossing. Worked 24 straight hours for something like $50. Bought my girlfriend a ring. (Virginia Knight, VHS '51Drum Majorette) with the money. I lived across the Stealey bridge on Park Blvd. - three houses around from Pringle's Packard dealership.

Has anyone ever written about the Arcade that used to run from Main Street up to Washington Ave? Had lots of little shops including Drexal's music and record store. We WI types walked through it on our way to Blands after school. Great for bad weather days.



A CLARKSBURG CHRISTMAS MEMORY: One Christmas eve-maybe 1956-it was so warm that we could ride in the car with the windows down to go look at the Christmas lights.



IN CLOSING

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

Boy, you people make me so nervous. I was worried this month that I wasn’t going to have enough “stuff” to create a nice newsletter for you. I guess I start getting worried too early! YOU CAME THROUGH! I think I worked harder during the month of October than I have ever worked on a newsletter preparing the November newsletter. I had to write to people and ask them for contributions in order to get a newsletter going….it took a lot of time and thought. I was starting to think that December was going to be another chore for me. Due to my traveling and the holiday preparations, I was worried. Many, many thanks to all of you who wrote this month and even to those who intended to write…because I know you will write to me this month. Remember, if you don’t contribute, there won’t be anything to read! I can’t do it by myself.

For the January newsletter, let’s discuss hair fads of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Do you remember someone who had a crazy hairdo? Guys tell me about that ducktail, Mohican cut, crewcut, flattop, long hair, or curly hair. Gals…what were some of the hair fads? Who had terrible hair, who had great hair? You don't need to give names, just descriptions. A few suggestions are ponytails, page boys, flips, French twists, natural curly hair, beauty shops (where you had your hair done). Tell me about yours or the hair on the head of someone else!

I hope you will help me out! Write about hair or anything! JUST WRITE!!!

Thanks, Roleta1@aol.com.



JUDY AND ROLETA
WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES




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