This is our Christmas card to you. Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. May all of you feel love during this Holiday Season.
A TRIP THROUGH CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
I hope you enjoy the Christmas memories shared by some of the readers. I have scattered them throughout the newsletter so you can enjoy each of them separately. I ask Judy to collect old looking graphics for this newsletter as I wanted a nostalgic feel. I hope you get that feeling when reading this issue. In the five (plus) years that I have been doing this newsletter, I have had many favorite issues but this one is my all time favorite! Those who contributed have made this the greatest newsletter ever. I hope you agree.
This is one of the longer newsletters we have had so I suggest you print it out and consider it a magazine to enjoy over the Holidays.
Even now, at 57, I still am convinced my childhood couldn't have been scripted any better. I had the honor of growing up in Glen Elk. The holidays were the best time of the year. I had the incredible good fortune of growing up in a culturally mixed family. My father was Italian, my mother of Scotch/Irish, Dutch/English heritage. My sister and I were Heinz 57.
So, what was the advantage during the holidays? I was blessed with the best of both worlds. If there was a minority in Clarksburg in the '50s it was the Italians. We lived on the "other" side of the bridge ... but it was on that side of town that my holiday would commence on Christmas Eve. We would walk to my grandparent’s home for a traditional pasta/fish dinner. The table in their basement/dining room always looked to be about 20 yards long to me. It would start on one end with pasta and bread and fish sauce, and end on the other side with Italian pastries. But it was 20 yards worth of food that would make Emeril froth at the mouth. Even he couldn't have "kicked it up a notch" any better than Rosina Pignanelli did. The aromas were incredible, the tastes beyond anything I have eaten since. After that meal and visiting with the seemingly endless line of "cousins" surrounding the table, we would attend midnight Mass at St. John's church (we'd walk there, of course) and then came Christmas Day.
Following Santa Claus' visit (yes, I still have the Erector set and the Lionel train), we would go across the 6th Street bridge to my other grandparents on Washington Avenue. This is where the turkey and dressing and mashed potatoes and cranberry salad and rolls and green beans and pumpkin pie entered the picture. Pearl Blackwell put this spread on the table and she did it without ever measuring a single ingredient. Literally, she threw it together. From a culinary standpoint, are you beginning to understand why I had the best holiday experience imaginable? Maybe my diversity should have been the model. I lived it and barely knew it until I left Clarksburg and then looked back. All that Christmas holiday was packed into one annual 24-hour period. Hard to believe this routine started about 50 years ago, and that was a few years before I became a Hilltopper freshman in 1962.
The days after Christmas, as I would degenerate into one of the earliest forms of couch potato, I would start planning another tradition - walking across the bridge again and watching WI play in the Carmichael Auditorium. What an incredible venue that was....but that's a story for another time.
Most metropolitan areas today have "Italian" sections to their towns. In modern lingo, they are "throwbacks" or maybe "old school" attempts to replicate what once was. But mostly they are far too commercial – business upon business, restaurant after restaurant. The facades of the stores are closer to Disney than the Oliverio's and Policano's markets I remember. Glen Elk certainly wasn't a tourist attraction...it was home. Maybe one of those cousins, Bobby Secret, put it best many, many years ago. "Billy," he said, "I never left Glen Elk, Glen Elk left me."
To all WI graduates and all readers of this wonderful newsletter –Happy Holidays from northern California!
THE NEWSLETTER
We need pictures of anyplace in Clarksburg, in your high school, your friends getting together or around the town –for our Trivia Picture section…We also need pictures for the Precious Child (or Children) section. For these submissions---write to Judy Daugherty Kimler at jkimler@verizon.net. She will give you directions on how to scan and email pictures to her or how to mail to her via US postage. She will scan the picture (it won’t hurt a bit) and she will return them to you ASAP. We don’t want your photo to keep—we only want to borrow a copy of it.
Just take one minute and remember how wonderful it was as a child to go to town in Clarksburg and enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas. The streets and stores were decorated, the Salvation Army volunteer was ringing a bell in front of several stores or maybe even a little band of people would play some tunes. Remember that big tree decorated and sitting on the court house plaza? There was garland stretched across the street at several places and a big wreath hanging in the middle with a large red bow or some of the garlands were centered with a Santa head. In the evening you could hear a local church playing seasonal music which drifted from the steeple across the streets to warm our hearts. Mothers made sure that their children made that all important visit to see Santa. People rushed from store to store to purchase that perfect gift for someone they loved….everyone was happy with wonderful smiles. Store fronts were decorated with a beautiful Christmas scene or the latest holiday fashion. The entire downtown was bursting with Christmas cheer. Due to the shopping malls—Wal-Mart and Target---so much of this is lost to the young people today.
Christmas 1924 and Santa left these two children a toy. Pictured above is my mother, Thelma, holding a beautiful doll and her younger brother, Artie Coontz, with the little horn he received. They were the two youngest of 5 children and lived in Belington, WV where my grandfather had saw mills. Times weren’t easy back then but that didn’t change the excitement of Christmas and the visit from Santa. This is one of my favorite Christmas pictures.
Mother and Uncle Artie are standing in front of the spinning wheel which belonged originally to their grandmother. That spinning wheel went through the family (5 generations) and is now in my son’s home. Have you ever been asked the age old question, “If there was a fire in your home, what would you save first—after the lives of your family?” I can honestly say that many times I answered that I would save the spinning wheel and the old 1793 family Bible.
Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus showed up at our house on Christmas Eve. They seemed to know all of our kids names and they distributed the Christmas gifts to us. This was the last Christmas I got a doll. I actually got 2 dolls, one from my Dad and one from my Mother. My Dad and Mom were separated and they were probably trying to out do the other. At this late date, it really doesn't matter. Anyway, the doll my Dad gave to me, I still have. I guess one day it will go to one of my two Granddaughters. I'm just glad I won't have to make this decision.
I've asked my Aunt Betty and Uncle Victor if Mr. and Mrs. Claus were them and they have always said NO!! They are of course gone now. However I spent about 3 weeks with my family back in August of this year and a bunch of us got together at the Clique club to eat and my Mother's youngest brother was there and I confronted him about who Mr. and Mrs. Clause was and he finally admitted it was Uncle Victor and Aunt Betty. The mystery is finally solved.
ANDREW BRIAN HAMILTON SCHOLARSHIP
There has been a spin off from the WIN SCHOLARSHIP. Several of his friends from the WI Classes of 1956 and 1957 have gotten together and started a scholarship in memory of their best friend, Andrew Hamilton. Andy graduated from WI in 1957, graduated from WVU, married his wife Lynn and moved to Anchorage, Alaska to pursue a career in journalism. He died of cancer at the age of 31.
If you are interested in more information about this scholarship, contact Rusty Rutan (WI 1957) at dottyrutan@yahoo.com or Jim Brown (WI 1957) at Jb1obx@aol.com. Either will send you a detailed letter about the scholarship and how you can contribute. Good luck to this committee in this endeavor—this is a wonderful way to honor a friend. This will be a one time gift scholarship to a RC Byrd graduate.
OVER THE RIVER AND UP CHESTNUT HILL TO GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE WE GO
My dad's 2 brothers and his sister all lived in Clarksburg. We would all go to my Grandmother Williams' house in Chestnut Hills for Christmas dinner. All my cousins would be there too. There would be about 18 people there for dinner. My grandmother would fix turkey with all the trimmings. She also baked pumpkin pie which I would never taste. (Wish now I had never acquired the taste for pumpkin.) For entertainment the cousins would play Concentration with all the Christmas cards my grandmother had received. I remember my dad would get a carton of Lucky Strikes and my uncle would get a box of Mailpouch from my grandmother. It was always a good time there. Everyone seemed to get along even though the house was small.
TRIVIA QUESTION FOR DECEMBER
Seems as though many of you like to play the Trivia Question game. So put on your thinking caps and call your friends and relatives. I have the answers provided by my friend and cohort in crime (THE CLARKSBURG HISTORIAN)—Freddie Layman. So GUESS! But play the game—come on, join in the fun. Remember to sign your name, school and year you did or would have graduated from school. As I have said, this is the way we find you in our listings. We don’t care if you graduated, heck we don’t even care if you didn’t attend a school in Clarksburg. You reading this newsletter? Then play the games! The more the merrier.
Now the question: See how many different glass plants located in Harrison County you can name. Try to guess the number of plants that were located in Harrison County in or around 1950. This may amaze you! Email answers to Roleta1@aol.com.
By the way, this is a game---don’t look it up on the internet----we want your guess!
THANKS FOR PLAYING: There are no prizes----I can’t afford them! The prize will just have to be the fun of playing and helping us all remember. If your parent worked at a glass plant ---tell us a remembered story.
Do you have a suggestion for another trivia question for another time? Write the question to me and the answer too if possible. If you don’t know the answer, we will try to find it!
A CHRISTMAS GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
Giving a Christmas gift this year? Would you like to give a gift in memory of a deceased person or to honor a living loved one? Ever wish you could go back and say thanks to that special teacher? Or thank someone special? Send your check to me for the WIN Scholarship fund. Write me a note and tell me who you want to thank this year and why. I will print your letter and put your name among those of the others who have sent me their donations.
Make check payable to Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship and mail to:
Roleta Meredith/Scholarship
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219
HARBERT’S DRUG STORE
Freddie sent this picture of what Harbert's looks like now
The latest trivia photo is of the former Harbert’s Drug Store located at 126 S. Fourth Street which opened in 1929. The owners were J. Alden and Marguerite Harbert. Their residence was 458 Lee Avenue. Mr. Harbert was a brother to Arlos J. Harbert who was a Harrison County Criminal Judge from 1933 to his retirement in 1969. The drug store closed in 1993.
The trivia picture in the November newsletter was indeed Harbert’s Drug Store on 4th Street. I worked one summer at Wunder Shoe Store next door to Harbert’s. Every morning most of the people from Wunder’s would meet for coffee before the store opened. I hate coffee so I would start my morning off with a coke….WOW—a real wake up! I remember how nice everyone treated me---the sales crew from the store and the staff at the drugstore all became instant friends. I enjoyed everyone and the lunch time food too.
This is Harbert's Drug Store on 4th St. in Clarksburg. My cousins Steve and Georgeanne Trahanis owned the store until it's closure a few years ago. (Don't remember the exact dates.)
This is Harbert's drugstore. On Sunday mornings after church my family would go here for ice cream. My favorite was the peanut butter flop....the best peanut butter fudge topping ever.
The picture is of Harbert’s Drug Store. They had the best peanut butter flops!!! When I was pregnant with my first son, I'd eat for 3 weeks, starve 1 week, go to the Doctor and head straight to Harbert's Drug store for the FLOP!!!
The trivia picture is of the famous Harbert's Drug Store on 4th street. It was one of our syrup accounts for RC Cola and Dr Pepper. It was owned by a man by the name of Steve Trahanis and Chet ????? Forget his last name. Had many a vanilla mike shake here.
Too bad Clarksburg had to let this classic spot vanish, they spend money on out of town Idea people--for landscapes etc, and then in a few years do away with it and start over again. We had better save what we have as tourist attractions! Why don’t they put some money in those places around Clarksburg and save our history? It was sad that the home of the only presidential Democratic candidate from Clarksburg, John W. Davis, was demolished to build a telephone building. The town should be preserving history. Thanks for another GREAT WI Newsletter!
I think the trivia picture is Harbert's Drug Store. I really don't remember much as ball practice kept me from going there after school a lot. Do remember vanilla Cokes and am amazed at how the cola companies are trying to recapture the mystique of such, including cherry Coke, etc.
Again, a nice job with the newsletter, I am always amazed at the stories
I believe the picture for November is Harbert’s Drug Store on 4th St. Chet Grimm, Jack Grimm’s dad worked there and later owned the store. I liked the Ham Salad Sandwiches and sodas they served.
Could that be Harbert's Drug Store on 4th Street? I don't remember that place ever having that much light.. ha ha...
Seriously, after school or on Saturday’s downtown with girlfriends, this place served up the most affordable and delicious ice-cream treats in town!
The booths were so well worn and it seemed to be a forgotten hangout of the kids who were the "Teenagers" we always wanted to be... You know those at least four years older or more than us. Our mentors... ha ha the first generation " bobbysoxers " They had moved on and this place was no longer a favorite... But it had a" cool " all it's own.. left there by them.
The menu was available over the fountain counter in plastic letters... faded and some hard to read. You could order any flavor combination! Any ice-cream and any syrup! My favorite was a "Flop" served in an old style Coke glass two scoops of ice-cream...I liked chocolate and vanilla with chocolate syrup and marshmallow syrup! Sugar rush extraordinaire... no doubt. The cost of a "Flop" was about 15 cents.
This memory is made sweeter when I think of the girl in this photo... and Jenny and Sharon and Nancy and Suzie and Beckie and Tammy and Pam and whoever I have left out of the wealth of great friends that was that time! Between savored spoonfuls we shared school girl gossip and jokes and griping about assignments we were dreading even to begin then before time for the last bus that would take our tickets, was it the 10 to 4 for Stealey? we would slide out of the seats making that squeaky skin on varnished wood sound and check our weekly bus ticket book grab our books which we proudly carried home by the stacks, no book bag or anything like that!.. .
This has been a time trip and thank you Melinda for sharing your pictures.
Melinda also sent this picture, taken outside Harbert's.
I believe it is Harbert’s Drug Store on 4th street. I didn’t go in there much, but I do remember drinking my first chocolate coke there. So many places from my memory of Clarksburg are gone, and so much history has been lost. It is really a shame.
The November trivia picture is of the interior of Harbert’s Drug Store on Fourth Street in Clarksburg. My memories of Harbert’s are mostly of the period during which I worked in the office of Monongahela Power Company which was located on the corner of Fourth and Pike Streets at that time. We enjoyed our two daily fifteen minute coffee breaks at Harbert’s and many a gooey glazed doughnut and strong cup of Java were consumed as we hashed over the day's happenings and shared our views on everything from fashion to world affairs. That was where we truly got acquainted with one another, as there was not much in our work day for conversation. I recall how friendly the servers were at Harbert’s and since we were regulars, they became part of our daily routine. That was a very happy period in my life and the picture was a pleasant reminder.
Jerry and I both agree that this must be Harbert's Drug Store.... Oh, this was a neat place to stop and have a cup of coffee or an ice cream soda... I remember when Steve Trahanis owned this drug store... it brings back some great memories.
I believe the November Trivia Picture is Harbert's Drug Store. My father who had an office in the old Ritz Theatre building use to take me there for lunch when I was in high school and would visit his office.
submitted by:Dian Gantz Hurley (WI classes of '46 and '47.........you choose) WIHSclassof1946@aol.com
That picture sure brings back memories! Of "Peanut Butter Flops," the best Ham Salad sandwiches in Clarksburg, and many fun times with friends! The place? Harberts Drug Store!! Located on South Fourth St. Had many a good lunch there, while in school and when working in downtown Clarksburg, back in the 40's. Later, would stop by when shopping and paying bills downtown for a coke and a "flop." Sure miss that place.
Really just miss "Downtown Clarksburg!" Those were the days.............
The picture of the month certainly looks like Harbert's Drug Store on Fourth Street. I used to have coffee every morning when I was a working girl. It was quite a gathering place. I happen to know Steve Trahanis who was the pharmacist/owner and he is a very nice man. I miss Harbert's almost as much as I miss the "old" Bland's with their fresh lemon cokes....
Well now------this is a place that is near and dear to my heart. It is of course, Harbert's Drug Store located on S. Fourth St. in Clarksburg. It is where I met my wife, Beverly. She was employed there as a clerk for the last owner of the store, Steven Trihanos. It had been previously owned by Ralph Fervere and Chester Grimm, and prior to that was I believe owned by the Harberts. I spent many happy hours in that store between 1960 and 1975. They had a wonderful fountain/lunch counter, and as you can see in the picture, wooden booths and tables and chairs.
For many years they had a dollar-a-day-club. This was a daily ritual of adding a dollar each day to the sum which was written on a mirror with white shoe polish, at the rear of the store, and in front of the prescription dept. On a table beneath the mirror was a ledger book in which you could write your name. They had cards that you filled out, which also held your name. These cards were then put in a large glass jar and each day a name would be drawn out. If that name was written in the book, that person would win all the money, and the whole thing would start over again. Many folks would come to town and go in and sign the book, without buying anything, just to have a chance to win.
At lunch time you could see many of the attorneys and their secretaries eating their lunches there. People like John Wyatt, Cal Forsythe, and Donald E. Wilson. In the late forties, Don had one of the largest parades ever to be seen in Clarksburg. It was the Welcome Home Donald E. Wilson Parade given in honor of his having been elected to the post of National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It was rumored that he was being prepped for a run at the White house, or Governor's Mansion.
As a shift-worker, I spent many afternoons in that store drinking coffee and shooting many BULLS, if you know what I mean. I do not recognize the gal sitting in the booth, and judging from the looks of the tile floor, the picture was probably taken before the sixties, as the tile floor looks much brighter than I remember it. When I think back on it, I can remember going to Bland's Drug Store in the morning, and then going to Harbert's in the afternoon. This was usually when I was on a day off.
That would be Harbert's Drug Store on 4th Street. I worked there as a
pharmacist for a couple months in 1981 then moved on to the VA Hospital in
Clarksburg. At the time, Steve Trahanis was the owner. A nice place to work,
and as I remember, they had a pretty good lunch crowd. Fountain cokes of many
flavors--a nice memory!
Judy, Rex and I were all in bed one Christmas eve, when an awful ruckus started downstairs. We ran downstairs to find furniture turned over and the front door open. Dad was on the front porch yelling "I almost caught him." I for one was very relieved that he didn't. Back to our rooms we went. Judy and I had a front room over looking the front porch roof. When I looked out the window I saw sleigh tracks in the snow on the porch roof. It took me a while to realize that the tracks were really indentations made from the snow dropping off the overhead power lines. I’m still glad dad didn't catch Santa. I can also remember the sound of the treadle singer sewing machine humming away well into the night. On Christmas morning I found a one of a kind wardrobe for my doll. I wish I had that doll and all her homemade clothes. I have wonderful memories of my mom who was great at singing, whistling and sewing. Happy, healthy holidays to all.
Can you identify the above picture? Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Please include a memory you might have of this location....Thanks
Remember, we need pictures for the newsletter. We need pictures of people, places or events at your school or in Clarksburg. We don’t want your picture to keep---we have enough of our own. We just want a copy. You can scan and e-mail, have it copied at Wal-Mart or send the original to Judy. She will scan them and mail them back to you ASAP. Enclose a self addressed envelope to insure faster return. Judy takes care of the pictures. Contact Judy at jkimler@verizon.net and she will send you directions on how to contribute your pictures. Please include identification with the picture.
Looks of curiosity crossed their faces as the small ceramic ornament was passed around. Barely two inches in height, the brightly painted, smiling figure of an elf was passed to each family member and lastly to me. None of them knew where the ornament had come from; they had never seen it before. As soon as I saw it, I knew. A feeling stirring in my heart told me instinctively from where the elf had come.
In the early morning hours of a spring day, I awoke with the feeling that something terrible had happened. From my bedroom windows, I could see my grandparent’s house. The lights were on. I could hear voices drifting up from the kitchen of our home. Quickly, I made my way down the stairs. As I entered the room, my parents and an aunt and uncle turned to face me. I knew that something really bad must have happened. Even as I looked at my dad’s face and his tear filled eyes, I was not prepared to hear that my beloved grandmother had died. Disbelief turned into anger as I rejected what I was hearing. How could she be dead; I had just seen her that very afternoon. Why had God taken her from me? She was my confidant, my best friend.
Days and months passed and I was not able to find peace with her death. I needed to hear her soft voice, feel her loving embrace and look into her soft, blue eyes. I needed her!
One day, I asked for a sign that she was in a good place and was happy. Maybe that assurance would bring me acceptance. I repeated this prayer many times. Christmas was coming and we were all occupied with decorating and baking. On that night as we began to decorate the tree, the small elf was found in among the other tree ornaments. As it was held up by my mother for all to see, I knew that this was the sign I had prayed for.
I keep my grandmother’s elf on a shelf where I can see it everyday. It is a reminder that love never dies and miracles, even small ones, do happen.
CLASS CONTACT
If you would like to volunteer to help me and to help your classmates, please contact Roleta1@aol.com. You can be your class contact. Thanks.
Class Contact:
Carol Van Horn Dean (WI 1958) DBLU2@aol.com
Resigned Contact:
Class of 1957---Steve Limbers---This class now does not have a contact.
CHANGED EMAIL ADDRESSES
If you change your address, please notify me at Roleta1aol.com. When writing to the newsletter please sign all e-mail with your name (maiden name if it applies) school and year you did or would have graduated. I don’t care if you did or did not graduate from school---this is just the way we have people categorized. Remember, once you attended a school in Clarksburg, I consider you a part of that class….. You are always one of US in our hearts!
We have had many Christmas trees during our 50 years of marriage.
Our first tree in the 50’s was a small tree that we cut down ourselves. We put it in a silver bucket filled with white sand so it would stand upright. I then painted white spots on it, added some cotton to make it look like snow on the branches. It looked a lot like what they are selling today in the stores. A tree with no leaves or pine needles on the limbs….BARE!
Our tree in the 60’s was the sliver white aluminum tree that revolved on a stand with only white lights shinning up words on the tree. Some had colored lights but not for us!
One year I bought 4 sheets of white Styrofoam that were 8 feet tall and cut Christmas trees, (shapes) out of them. Each child had their own tree to decorate to their own liking---Black and white of course.
It was a cold winter’s day in early December; we all went to the tree farm to cut our first green tree. This was a perfect tree and we set it up on the stand in our garage and set about spraying the snow on so it would be white. It was dark by now, we turned on the garden hose and sprayed the white mist on the tree. (It was like today when you fasten a jar on your garden hose to feed your plants and flowers.) It was a beautiful tree but very heavy to move to the living room. It was perfect. It was late in the day so we decided to decorate it the next day after church. We were all snug in our warm beds until morning when we got up to go to church. For some reason I went to the living room to get something and I found our beautiful white tree had melted….yes, melted all over the hard wood floors. The tree was once again all green and the white snow was all over the floor.
Next experience was with artificial snow that we sprayed on a real live green Christmas tree. Needless to say from that time on, the Good Lord has created for us a fake white flocked Christmas tree that won’t melt in the house.
In the early part of our marriage, I put up a clothes line in our basement and hung all of our Christmas bulbs on the line and spray painted them black. Some I decorated with glitter, pearls and silver accents. Today we still have our black Christmas decorations plus many other kinds of collectables that we have acquired over the years. A few years ago, I purchased my first black Christmas bulbs at “Burdines” in Florida.
In this particular home, I need a black Christmas tree. The kids were older—some married, and some in college. We bought a green tree and sprayed it black (the color stayed on) and then we put on hundreds of small white lights. I found the most unusual white garland that looked just like white mink; I put it on the tree. Added few accents to give it a little more glitz and a white satin tree skirt around the bottom and it was set. All gifts under the tree are wrapped in black, white and silver of course.
These are a few stories about our Black and White Christmas over the past 50 years…one of a kind.
But do you know what has been really hard to find to finish out our Black and White Christmas? Black and White Christmas Cards…MERRY CHRISTMAS!
ARE YOU IN THIS PICTURE?
The little girl in the center of the picture with the red star on her dress is me, Deedie Swisher Souders. All the children received a gift from Santa. Jill had beautiful red hair and looked like a Christmas ornament herself.
INFORMATION NEEDED
The tune for the WI Fight Song is used by what college as their fight song also? Of course the words were changed to represent WI. This isn’t a trivia question. I need to know the answer!
Roleta1@aol.com
I received my Newsletter CD and I have read the first two years of the newsletter. What a treat! I am glad to know that someone else bakes Jesus a birthday cake for Christmas. Does anyone know where Mike Tricost is now located? I would love to get in touch with him. I used to wear his letter sweater while passing out programs for the basketball games at The Carmichael Auditorium. I always thought he was a nice looking guy. Thanks.....
NEWSLETTER TO READ ANYTIME
If you would like to purchase a CD containing all of the newsletters for the last five years, contact Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI 1959) at jkimler@verizon.net. She will tell you where to send your order and your check, etc. The cost of the CD is only $10.00. All profit from the CD sale goes to the WIN SCHOLARSHIP fund. Judy’s husband, Larry Kimler, has programmed the CD so all you have to do is put it in the CD slot on your computer and sit back and follow directions, click when necessary and read past newsletters to catch up on our memories of Clarksburg over the years.
BUY A CD FOR SOMEONE FOR CHRISTMAS.
Sledding is a difficult subject for me. I really can’t relate to this activity. You see, I suffered from bad health every winter of my life in West Virginia and later Ohio. This probably is the reason I hate winter, and most of all, I HATE SNOW! My license plate on my car is SNO H8R. I suffered from bronchitis and tonsillitis several times each winter until I started wintering in Florida about 20 years ago. Thus I was never allowed out to play in the snow because I couldn’t breath the cold air. So I never got to experience the thrill of riding down a hill on a sled until after I graduated from WI and was living in a dorm at Fairmont State College. My first experience was one day when Bill and I were visiting his brother’s house in Fairmont and we took a big orange disk out on top of a hill---both of us climbed on and down we went---me screaming at the top of my lungs. What freedom, what fun. But due to me hating snow, (psychological I know---I relate it to my illnesses) I didn’t experience sledding more than about half a dozen times in my entire life. I actually had to make myself go outside in the winter when my children were small and teach them to make snowballs and snowmen. The sledding part was left up to their father. I always stayed inside and greeted them upon their return with hot chocolate and warm dry clothes.
POINT COMFORT SCHOOL
Pictured above is Thelma C. Smith in front of the Point Comfort Grade School where she taught third and fourth grade for many years.
The Point Comfort School was built on three-quarters of an acre in 1897 at a cost of $6,000.00. It was a two story building that housed grades one through six with only three teachers including the principal. Some principals since 1920 were as follows: C.E. William; R.B. Romine; Argel Rittenhouse; Bunner D. Palmer, Ulenna Micheau and Myrl Rohrbough. Mrs. Rohrbough was transferred to Hartman Grade School in North View when the school closed in 1963. Up to 1936 it was referred to as the West End School. The school building for several years later was a distribution center used by the Harrison County Court to give surplus food commodities to welfare clients. The Clarksburg West End Fire Department is now located on this property.
Pictured above are Cora May Coleman and Bunner Palmer. Picture taken in the 1950’s.
I unfortunately don't have the memory that Bob has concerning my younger years. I remember very little about my grade school years. However I told him I would write a little and we did send Judy a picture of when I was queen of the school and Charles Luliette was the king. He moved away shortly after that I believe.
Wasn't your mother a teacher there? I don't remember what year she taught but I can remember her talking about you and how you had to brush your hair 100 times each morning to keep it shiny.
Some of the people who also went to Point Comfort were Gary and Karen Wamsley, Bob Miley, Ruby Johnson, Beulah (Johnson) Gyke, Lenora (Hart) Brown, her husband was Tom Brown (deceased) from your class.
I remember music class and learning the songs from "Oklahoma", a popular movie at the time. Never did see the movie.
I don't remember the names of my teachers; I know we had a man teacher in the sixth grade.
Pictured above left to right are Thelma Smith (Roleta’s mother), Mr. Argel Rittenhouse and Cora May Coleman.
I went to Point Comfort School from 1944 to 1950. We did not have a play ground at this school. The school had 4 class rooms. When you went in the front door, to the right was the stairs to the basement where we had the restrooms and a place to hang our coats. On the first floor in the big hallway was the principal office [all out in the open kind of under the stair case]. There were two rooms on the first floor, one was the first and second grade room and the other was the fifth and sixth grade. On the second floor was the music room and the other room was for the third and fourth grades. We did not have a lunch room. At recess time we all went out to the yard and played games.
Mr. Rittenhouse was the principal and I can not remember any of the other teachers. He taught the fifth and sixth grades.
They have since tore down the school and built a fire department in the space.
I lived on Bailey Street, which was right across the street from the school; I could walk to school in about 5 minutes. In the winter time it was great. Behind the school was a hill that led down to the railroad tracks. When the trains went by you could not hear the teacher because of the noise of the trains.
I do remember that the school crossing guard was a Mr. Armstrong.
Some of that games we played at recess were "Farmer in the Dell, drop the bean bag and ring around the rosy and tag".
I must say, “They were the good old days, with not a care in the world."
Pictured above is the West End fire Department which is located on the site which was formerly occupied by Point comfort Grade School. Picture contributed by Freddie Layman.
I received a Silvertone radio (Sears) for my eighth birthday. Lots of static, but it was my very own. I had it for many happy years.
GRADE SCHOOL TO BE DISCUSSED NEXT MONTH
The Grade School which we will discuss next month is Linden.
If you attended this school, please write us a memory. I know that your memories will jog the memory of another reader. Write your memories to Roleta1@aol.com.
I was a little disappointed that only 2 people remembered Point Comfort Grade School. I thought we had more readers from that area. I guess since my mother taught there for several years I was hoping someone would remember her and more about the school. I remember the school very well but that is probably because I visited her classroom several times. She taught grades 3 and 4 and I was about that age when she started teaching there. (Most of my visits were when students were not present.) My mother enjoyed teaching and I remember she really enjoyed being at Point Comfort.
My favorite Christmas present was given to me from my Mom and Dad, it was a mouton jacket. It was dark brown fur and was beautiful. I really thought I as the Cat’s pajamas when I wore that coat. Winters were wonderful in Clarksburg. I lived on Grove Avenue (A hill) in Stealey and we had such great fun sled riding, building bon fires in the vacant lot at the top of the hill and drinking hot cocoa (usually at my house). The city always blocked our street off with wooden saw horses and only local or emergency vehicles could come on the street. The city engineer along with Judge Karl Kyle and Judge Wolfe lived on my street so went along with the things we enjoyed in the winter. I have lots and lots of memories of Clarksburg.
Question:
I noted in the memories re: Alta Vista that Frida Perkins was at one time a principal there. Did she happen to teach Math at Morgan Grade School in the early 70s? Is she still living?
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFT
submitted by:Martha Ann Jeffries Rice (WI '55) Lonoma@aol.com
My favorite Christmas gift was one that was given me by my grandmother, Mazie Thomas, in 1945. It was a stuffed dog about 12 inches high that was covered with real sheep's skin. It was so soft. I slept with it for years--probably more years than I'll admit!
I have had many wonderful Christmas gifts from my husband since 1963, but the dog was the only one I remember from my childhood in Clarksburg.
I did enjoy seeing the picture of the Alta Vista Choir. Many of the kids in that picture were friends in high school. I even recognized them, which is more amazing!
I'm looking forward to the reunion in Sarasota in March. See you there.
I have received many special gifts for Christmas. So many when I was a child. I remember a special red head baby doll with pretty blue eyes. I received her from Santa when I was about 5 years of age. I named her Judy.... my favorite name at that time. I would still have Judy but my father cleaned the basement when I was about 13 and he threw Judy in the coal furnace along with many other dolls I had stored away. I cried for hours. I wrote him a long nasty letter. My mother told me he felt bad but he never said a word to me about it. I bet if he had apologized I wouldn’t remember it so vividly.
I remember so many special gifts that Bill has given me for Christmas. One I remember fondly was a little red Toyota Celica convertible. Boy was I surprised and I sure did love that car. But after 11 years, I got tired of it and using the stick shift in town driving. I sold it to a man who promised to treat it with loving care. Bill always treats me real well at Christmas with many surprises; I will not list them here. I will save some of those to tell you about another time. Now that I have matured, I get a big thrill out of giving Christmas gifts. (Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love to receive gifts any time of the year.) I love to hunt and hunt for those special things that will surprise someone, wrap them up in special Christmas wrap and watch their face when they open the gift. As the children and grandchildren get a little older, I am tempted to give them money so they can go to those after Christmas sales and get more for their money.
I have a suggestion of a way you can give a gift and help make several people very happy. A gift you can be proud of giving. Now my suggestion for that special gift is a donation to the WIN scholarship fund.
Make your check payable to Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship fund, put the check in a Christmas card and mail to me at:
Roleta Meredith/Scholarship
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219.
I also love receiving Christmas Cards.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
WEST VIRGINIA
To read stories of West Virginia coal camps (little towns) open the hyperlink below. Either double click on the hyperlink or copy and paste into your browser or type the address into your web browser. You can read some very good stories about those days gone by. Even if you didn’t live in a coal camp---you probably had a relative or knew someone who lived in a little coal town. There are even some good Christmas stories on this site. When you open the site you will hear “Take Me Home Country Roads”....wait a little while for the site to open. Then make sure you scroll down toward the bottom of the opening page and see the list of stories offered. I hope you enjoy this site. I certainly did. Thanks to Buzzy Floyd (VHS 1956) for sending me the site. Buzzy certainly furnishes me some interesting things. Thanks Buzzy!
It's hard to choose just one special memory of Christmas since there are so many. But every year, when it's time to get out the decorations, I am always reminded of my father and the beautiful tree we had. We always had bubble lights and a silver star behind each bulb to reflect the light, plus lots of shiny ornaments. The tedious part was putting on the icicles (nice heavy ones, unlike those we get today) - starting at the stem of the tree, working forward on each branch, one icicle at a time, from bottom to top. It took hours, but what a beauty it was when finished! Then when Christmas was over, each icicle was carefully taken off and draped over a piece of cardboard to use the next year. Of course, the strands of lights were wrapped neatly and put back in their box. To this day, I still do the one at a time thing, (no taking a handful of icicles and throwing them on), but the icicles are still on the tree when it's time to dispose of it!!! AND, unfortunately, the strands of lights stay in a tangled mess until the next year when I start the process all over again.
My favorite gift: Three short-sleeve angora sweaters in pale blue, pink, and yellow.
Favorite past time: Sled riding with all the kids in Broad Oaks when the streets were blocked off. We would start at Alta Vista, cross Harrison Street, go all the way down Ocello Street, and end up on the frozen Elk Creek. What fun that was!!!! My grandchildren here in Texas have never even seen snow or a sled. They're sure missing out on a lot!
Thanks again for the Newsletter and the opportunity to share precious memories.
Roleta, before I sent my kids out the door to school today (Veterans' Day), I told them about what a special day it used to be for us to go uptown to see the parade and to cheer for all the veterans from WW I, WW II, and Korea marching so proudly down the street. Can you remember the "40 & 8" float that the First World War vets always marched behind? (The name derivation for the float can be a quiz item for your younger readers)
The walk to Hite Field to watch the WI - Victory game came when I was older. When I was younger, my dad always drove us to the game, but with a stop for hot dogs and a Coke on the way (at least that was the story we always told mom when she asked if dad had also stuck to Cokes). Our detours were either to the Canteen or another similar place (near corner of Duff and Milford Streets, but a name that has gone from my memory.....maybe "Julie's"?). Before I go off on a tangent about all the hours I spent spinning on the stools at the Canteen watching the old men playing shuffleboard or staring at the painting of Custer's Battle at Little Big Horn that hung behind the bar, let me just go back to the sad feeling I had today with this day being just another school day for my kids.
I know this letter is not timely for the December issue, but needed a friend from my generation to "talk" to today.
None of us can thank you and Judy adequately for the pleasures you have given us these last several years. Nor can we thank those teachers who gave us the education that, along with others in our shared community, bind us.
Thanks again for giving us a sense of who we’ve been, who we are, and what we can continue to be.
Although I graduated from Bridgeport in "55, I have read your newsletter on a regular basis and it has brought back many fine memories.
Until Grade Four, I lived on Liberty Avenue in Hartland. Joanne Westfall & Marian Reep were my babysitters from time to time. I also attended Morgan School until Grade Four, & recognize many people from there. Also had a cottage at Maple Lake and many of the gang was there summers--Carol & Ron Grow, Helen Thompson, John Singeleton, Lynna Sands to name a few. (These names have all been mentioned in previous articles.)
Jack Fredricks, whose name has been mentioned several times grew up with my Mother and Aunt. My Aunt Mary Harbert was also a teacher in Shinnston and Jack used to come to our cottage at Maple Lake to visit. Glad to hear he is still around. I think he had some influence on me as I am a retired social studies teacher.
Is the picture in this month's newsletter of Harbert's Drug Store, or possibly Mercer's?
It's been over 50 years since I lived in the area, as I left after graduations and memories do fade.
As we mentioned when I first signed up for this newsletter, Joe and Rich Newbrough are cousins. By the way even though his Mom was a Harbert, the drugstore people have to be distant relatives. I don't think they knew them. I discovered much about the Harbert family when I worked on the family history, so they are all related.
He just wanted me to tell you about something else. He happened to think about the Ramps a couple of issues ago, and wanted to mention about the time that he, Rich, Dave Ferraro and John Alexander, and he doesn't remember who else, ate some ramps, and Mr. Tolley locked them all in the teacher's room because of the smell, and they had to keep the windows closed.
Keep up the good work, as it is nice to relive memories.
Hi Roleta,
Another great newsletter--Congratulations--and another blessing for us to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
I did notice in the list under those who bought CD's and contributed to the scholarship that my name was misspelled--first time as it has always been spelled correctly in the newsletter. Please make the correction in future issues. Thank you.
My favorite Christmas memory took place year after year, really. For months ahead, my mother would purchase/collect things for children and adults in our large family. Mother came from a family of 9 children and my dad had 3 sisters. Nearly all were married with several children. All but 2 lived within the borders of West Virginia, which brings us to the "Christmas Trip"!
By mid December, most of the gathered gifts were wrapped, tagged and ready to be delivered.
Daddy would wait until I was off school for the holidays and we would load up the Hava-Tampa -Car ( My father's company car was his own car really, but the company painted it bright red and yellow with huge cigars along each side from front to back over a foot tall! When you opened the doors, parts of the cigar would separate! He had a car like this since I was about 7 years old and I was used to it. Some of you may remember seeing his car, which almost reminded you of a taxi cab.)
The final gift to carefully place in the car was always a large handmade fruit basket just loaded with all kinds of fruit and nuts and wrapped in crackly see-through wrap topped with a beautiful bright red bow! This for my only living grandparent, my father's mother... who lived in Huntington with a spinster Aunt who worked as a case worker for the Welfare Department.
Mother would help me pack a "bag", or suitcase, and give us a lunch and Thermos of coffee for my dad as well as the all important list of where all the gifts had to go.
Daddy would create an itinerary and off we would go with the radio playing regular rock 'n roll mixed with Christmas carols. Sometimes the roads would be snowy or rainy and always the weather cold, but it was warm and cozy in my dad's car. He was a jovial man, a real Santa Claus...anyway, so he was the perfect one to undertake this yearly mission of love!
We always left Clarksburg headed first to Spencer then Charleston, Dunbar and Huntington.
Of course we were welcomed baring gifts! Good cheer all around and we were offered the candies of the season and got to see how the decorations looked in each home!
Most often, they too, gave us gifts and after our visit we would toss the presents into the backseat and be off to the next stop! Someone with a comfortable bed would put us up and we would begin again the next day and go house to house until all the gifts were given out! Then we began our trip home with a different load of presents, much more mysterious to us! Upon arriving on Magnolia Avenue and climbing the steps to the house, my dad would announce, "We made a big haul!" and laugh... we would then begin to tell mother all our adventures and how big the cousins had grown, new dogs, and crazy stories.
We settled down that night back in our own familiar beds, and the warm feeling of sharing Christmas with so many others and actually remembering relatives' laughing faces .. would lull us to sleep ..Santa couldn't have done any better! " Thanks, Daddy and Merry Christmas!"
THOSE WHO GAVE GENEROUSLY TO THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP IN NOVEMBER
A generous contribution was received from JEANNIE (SCHNEIDER PETE) TROWER. A lot of you remember Jeannie---she went to Morgan Grade School and then to Central but her family moved her away from us to Florida after the 8th grade. Jeannie sent a generous donation to the Scholarship due to her fond memories of Clarksburg and friends she made there. She would have graduated from WI in 1959.
Gifts given in MEMORY OF a certain person were given by;
SANDRA ZICKEFOOSE LINDKE (WI 1956) Sent a generous donation in memory of Gene Thomas (WI 1954)
ROLETA SMITH MEREDITH (WI 1959) gave a Christmas donation in loving memory of her parents Roy and Thelma C. Smith—both deceased.
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS ARE:
DICK HANIFAN...WI 1959
CAROLYN HORNOR WILSON...WI 1960
ELIZABETH TETER AKIN...WI 1956
ROY BEVER...WI 1957
BERNIE COHEN...WI 1956
BOB HALL...WI 1956
JUDY RICE DEUTSCH...WI 1957
RUSTY RUTAN...WI 1957
DOTTY RUTAN...WI 1958
DEEDIE SWISHER SOUDERS...WI 1952
Contributions were made to the WIN SCHOLARSHIP through Newsletter CD’s purchased by:
BOB HALL...WI 1956
CHUCK THOMAS...WI 1956
KAREN MYERS HORTON...WI 1966
JOHN HARRISON...WI 1956
SANDRA ZICKEFOOSE LINDKE...WI 1956
In the race between the Class of 1956 and my Class of 1959...
The Class of 1956 leads with donations or CD purchases of 24
The Class of 1959 has only 20.
What is the matter CLASS OF 1959? Can’t you hear me crying?
In 1972 I was at my home in Clarksburg and it was Xmas Eve.I was nine months pregnant. My mother and I were wrapping last minute gifts.......when out of the blue..........I knew I was due!
Off to the hospital we all went and Santa brought me a 7lb precious baby boy in a BIG RED Christmas stocking. THE BEST GIFT EVER!
Half of Glen Elk was there with me to welcome this child along with all my family.
They spent Xmas day with me and my son. These are the gifts I treasure.
Blessed......you bet!
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION IN JANUARY NEWSLETTER?
SUBMARINE RESTAURANT: Do you remember the Submarine restaurant in the basement of Parson-Souders? What was your favorite memory or what did you like to eat there?
FLOPS: Where did the ice cream flop originate? (this isn’t trivia—I haven’t any idea—do you?) What was your favorite flavor? It seems as though they were served in every drugstore in Clarksburg but people from neighboring towns never heard of them...is this true? Where do you think you could get the best FLOP? Does anyone have a recipe for the hot fudge or the peanut butter sauce?
SLEDDING: Where was your favorite place to go sled riding?
Thinking back to all the Christmases of my childhood, it seem as though they merge into one wonderful day. On Christmas Eve, I would put out the cookies and milk for Santa and try to go to sleep early. My thought was, if I go to sleep early Santa will come right away.
Christmas morning would dawn clear and cold. I would wake up long before my parents, and oh, the endless waiting until they said I could scramble out of bed, put on my robe and go see what Santa had brought. I could hardly wait for that first glimpse of the presents all nestled under the tree.
Trying to come up with a "Favorite Christmas Present" wasn't easy. I thought and thought about what was the best present I had received as a child. I finally settled on three: my 26 inch Schwinn Bicycle, my wooden toy box, and a wonderful doll dressed all in pink that my Grandfather Daugherty gave me.
Although not a present, I can still remember the "presence" of sounds that come out of the past - footsteps crunching along, occasionally stopping to stamp the frozen snow from their boots, neighbors calling out "Merry Christmas" in the sharp winter air and the smells of roast turkey with all the trimmings, pumpkin and mince meat pies and fresh brewed coffee- all blended into one.
Christmas in Clarksburg in the 1950's is a time that will never come again. Those of us who were lucky enough to have experienced it will forever be grateful. And that is really the best present of all.
I was a PATROL BOY at a time in my grade school days, and I can remember having a SILVER badge. The SILVER badge represented my being JUST a PATROLMAN, while other colors signified other levels of RANK: BLUE being a CAPTAIN; RED being a LIEUTENANT; GREEN being a SARGEANT.
I wish that I could remember who had these other color badges, as all that I can
remember is my having the SILVER badge, and I thought that I WAS SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT with that badge.
At present I do not know where a school patrol badge or belt may be located. At my grade school (Hepzibah) we were required to return ours at the end of the school year for the next term. I have never seen any at yard, garage or auction sales. They are very rare and I am very sure most schools had them kept for the next school year. There were three colors of badges. RED (Captain) BLUE (Lt.) and SILVER (patrolman) I think I have the colors correct. I’m going back 64 years into my memory as a patrol boy.
I believe there were three different safety patrol badges: PATROLMAN – Silver; LEUTENANT –Red;, CAPTAIN - Blue. I had many happy memories during the 1950’s while serving on the patrol at Linden. The fondest memory was of the basketball league. We played the other schools in town.
Roleta, I was a patrol at Hartman School in North View. George
Walters was a member of the patrol team. George and I went all the way
through school together until senior year. He moved to Chestnut Hills
and went to WI his last year, so many of you probably remember him. He
was a terrific miler. Anyway, George and I and the other patrol would
run out of class and try to get to "rabbit ears" first. "Rabbit ears"
was the name we gave the best patrol flag we had. The pole had two
little burn marks at an angle, hence the name "rabbit ears". I think
we had names for a couple of other flags, but after 55 years I am just
happy I can remember the name of the school.
Three colors:
Silver ---- Entry level
Red ---- Lieut. Responsible for a younger group of "Patrolees".
Blue ---- Capt. You were in charge of the patrol at a certain location.
When I was at St. Marys' Grade School, I was assigned Main Street at the top of the hill leading out of Clarksburg. I always wanted a "longer pole " with the Stop sign at the end.
After 'begging for badges' (sounds like an old TV show) in the November issue, I'd be remiss if I didn't respond to your trivia question.
If memory serves, Patrolman was plain silver; Lieutenant was silver with a red center; and, Captain was silver with blue center. I had all three before those sweet, lovable, drop dead gorgeous, WI girls tossed them so callously away, and broke my poor, Victory boy, heart. Oh, well. Ya gotta love 'em. :-) Reminds me of that famous scene in Treasure of Sierra Madre... "Batches? We don't need no stinkin' batches."
On one of our Patrol Boy trips to DC, some of us North View boys arrived late for a parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, only to be told that we had just missed seeing President Harry Truman go by in his limo. Then later, on a tour of the White House, we were told we had just missed President Harry Truman, who had been passing through at the time. Story of my life; always a day late, and a dollar short.
By the way, our chaperone in DC was always Coach Stanley Juranko, who refereed many a WI / Victory game. I think his daughter went to WI, and submits to the Newsletter. Sorry if I spelled the name wrong.
I did not realize that the School Safety Patrol still existed, or that it has been in existence for 84 years, apparently all over the world. I excerpted this from a story on the web.
And, to set your mind at ease…I know your mind is not at ease…concerning my long lost badges, I just made a bid on EBay for three just like mine, one for each rank. If I win, it will be a great Christmas present.
As of January 2004, there are only 5 high schools in Harrison County:
Bridgeport, Liberty, Lincoln, RC Byrd and South Harrison.
Two others which some named as Harrison County schools were:
United Technical Center [formerly United Career Center] This institution teaches only separate classes for nursing, brick layers, auto mechanics, carpentry, computer classes,etc
Tri-County I have no idea as the UTC has students from three counties [Tri-County] which includes Doddridge, Taylor and Harrison Counties. This is a trade school
Dear Readers---Thanks to all who played the game. Check your answers and see how well you guessed.
So many people guessed the answers to this question. I am not reprinting your answers this time. Give yourself a pat on the back. Job well done. THANKS FOR PLAYING...
WI NEWSLETTER
The WI NEWSLETTER is only as good as you make it. It is only interesting if you respond to my prods. It is here to help everyone get a jolt to their memory. I understand that the newsletter has put many people in contact with old friends.....I appreciate that you are writing among yourselves but don’t forget to write to the newsletter. Without your input, the newsletter will get very boring. I hope you join in some of the discussions and contribute your memories. If you have some suggestions for subjects to discuss, please write to: Roleta1@aol.com
When you write about your memories, it helps others to remember---that special place and that special time in our lives.
THE BOY WHO HAD NO HEART
By Buzz Floyd - Christmas 2004
Once upon a time, in a nearby desert resort area, there was a boy born without a heart. He had everything else; head, spleen, lymph nodes; just no heart. He even had good parents, who loved to spoil him with gifts, but having no heart, he never shared, never cared, never went out of his way, and, he even spoke harshly much of the time.
Then one day, he met a girl at the mall; a pretty little girl who said she was originally from Houston, Texas. She was everything he wasn’t. She gave of her time unselfishly, and offered to share whatever she had. She cared for him very much, but having no heart, he wasn’t able to show that he cared for her back. This troubled him down deep inside, but having no heart, he thought these feelings were indigestion or something.
When he asked why he never saw her in school, she told him that her school was in a different part of town, and that she only had a temporary Christmas job at the mall. One day, in the food court, she offered to share half of her Philly steak and cheese sandwich with him, and suggested that he get the cokes. He bought one coke…for himself. He didn’t even offer her a sip. But, he did accept half her sandwich, all the while complaining that he didn’t know why all these people were shopping for gifts. Why give anyone anything? He didn’t understand generosity, as he had no heart.
Very patiently, she began to explain about Christmas, and about love. She explained that at Christmas, people were reminded of how the Baby Jesus was born in the manger, and how the wise men brought gifts, and gave from their hearts to show reverence for the Christ Child. She told him that after all these years, people still give gifts from the heart to their loved ones, in order to keep up the tradition, and to remind them of the sacrifices that Jesus made.
Gifts from the heart? But, he had no heart. How could he give gifts from something he didn’t have?
That night, his mother heard him in his room, sobbing, for the first time ever. When she hugged him, he told her he was sad because he was the only boy in his class who was born with no heart. He told her about the little girl, and how she had told him the story of Christmas. About how she shared, and cared, and gave of her time; but, no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t give back.
He thought about the little girl all night, and the next day when his mother asked what he wanted for Christmas…well, you guessed it…he wanted a heart. But, his mother told him little boys were either born with a heart, or they weren’t. She couldn’t give him one, no matter how much she wanted to, because there was just no way to buy a heart.
Later, at the mall, he again met the little girl, who was buying stocking gifts for her brother. For the first time, he admitted to her that he was born without a heart. The funny thing was she wasn’t surprised. She seemed to already be aware, even though he had kept it secret from all the other kids. Not because he didn’t want them to know, but because he didn’t share…not even his problems.
Again, she was patient, and caring. She assured him that it didn’t matter, and maybe if he really wanted a heart badly enough, that someday he could get one. This made him feel so good, that he bought a coke and gave it to her, and her smile made him feel warm all over. That was the first time in his life he had ever given a gift.
On Christmas Eve, he was having a cup of hot coco, by the tree, when something caught his eye. It was a large, round ornament; a pretty blue one that the girl had given him just that day. Getting closer to it, he saw a movement that he thought was a reflection of someone behind him, but turning around, he saw that there was no one there. When his attention returned to the ornament, he was amazed to glimpse what looked like a beating heart, but the image faded so quickly he thought he must be seeing things.
All evening he sat staring at that one ball, but the image never returned. When he fell asleep, there on the floor in front of the tree, his mother covered him with a blanket, and that’s where he awoke on Christmas morning, while the rest of the family still slept.
Amazing even himself, instead of tearing into his presents as he usually did, he went into the kitchen and started making pumpkin pancakes, bacon, and coffee. The wonderful smells from the kitchen soon woke his parents, who ran downstairs to see what was going on.
They couldn’t believe their eyes. The boy with no heart had made breakfast for all of them. That had never happened before, and to add to their surprise, he insisted that they enjoy the meal before they opened their gifts.
As soon as they had eaten, he led them to the living room, and began handing them gifts from under the tree. Of course, they had bought gifts for each other, as well as for him, but some of the gifts had tags that said, “For Mom, From Your Son”, or “Merry Christmas, Dad”.
His mother was so happy, she pulled him to her bosom to give him a huge hug, and that’s when she felt something strange. She pushed him slightly away, and felt his chest with her hand. Sure enough, it was there…a heartbeat…and it was coming from his chest. There was no mistaking it. Her little boy had a heart.
The next day he hurried back to the mall to exchange a sweater that was too small, hoping to see the little girl again. He was so excited, and anxious, to actually share his news with her, that he ran all the way. As he scurried towards the food court, his eye caught a sight in a store window that he hadn’t noticed before. It was an animated Christmas display. In it were several dolls, dressed like Angels, raising their voices toward Heaven. As he skidded to a halt in front of the display, the Angel closest to him actually winked. It was at that moment he realized exactly what the pretty little girl’s temporary job had been.
PRECIOUS CHILDREN
The precious children featured in the November issue of the newsletter are:
The Christie Children…Cleve – WI 1951; Barbara – WI 1950 and Penny – WI 1960
This is a picture of me, my brother, and my sister, all of us are former WI Hilltoppers. I am on the left: Penny Christie Johnson, Class of 1960. My brother, Cleve Christie, Class of 1951, and my sister Barbara Christie Morris, Class of 1950 are the other two. Barbara was a teacher and the librarian for several years at WI.
We were at the wedding of Steve and Sandra Lough Limbers's son, Kevin just two weeks ago. It was held in Wilmington, Delaware. Sandra's sisters, Judy Lough Bell and Sharon Lough Price also Hilltopper alums, were also there. Sharon is Kevin's Godmother. Steve was my nephew which was always such a joke to everyone since he was 3 years older than I was. He was and is a great person and I was proud to be related to an upperclassman ... LOL
My niece, Melissa Morris Phillips, who was the mascot for the football team in 1960 when I was a cheerleader also attended the wedding. Another niece, Vicki Limbers Moore who lives in FL and Maple Lake also enjoyed our reunion.
I thought this mini reunion might be of interest to some of our classmates...I have never been able to attend a class reunion but hopefully with retirement right around the corner Emil and I will be in attendance at the next one..
My sister has pointed out that there were more WI grads there..Steve's dad, and Kevin's grandfather, Slug Limbers was of course there and he graduated in 1934...John Paladino, who is Kevin's godfather, and graduated with Steve and Sandy was there also.
I have fond memories of Lowndes Hill since it was just behind my house..Wonder if anyone else remembers picnics with their parents up there?
Also I am wondering if anyone remembers when Ryder's grocery was on the corner of Wilson and 5th ST ...It was a tiny store and am not sure when they moved up closer to WI but Howard and Jaunita Ryder were wonderful owners and were kind to all the kids....they didn't have any of their own...You could buy something and just say "Charge It" and out the store you would go...My mom would send me down at 4:00 PM to buy meat for supper and it was prepared and on the table at 5:00....Does anyone remember City Chicken that they sold??? It was pork and chicken on a stick and I loved it as a kid. Have never seen it anywhere else. Maybe you have already done a story on this but I got to remembering and thought I would share.
I remember the day I rode my bike from the hill over to Stealey playground...I even remember what I was wearing...that is how important it was to me to go so far.....I was in the 8th grade.
Those precious children are Christies.....Barbara, Penny and their brother. I knew Barbara in high school. She was a 1950 graduate and very mature. She was a perfect petite. I remember Penny, as a small child, being escorted by Barbara. She was almost a duplicate of her older sister. I do not remember the brother. If the two younger children were anything like their older sister, they must be great assets to our society. I have not seen Barbara in many, many years but have heard good things about her from my cousin, Nancy Kirkpatrick Gaines.
I had no idea who those kids were at first, but I had a weird feeling I had seen the picture before. Some time later I realized that the precious children were my aunt and uncle, Barbara Christie Morris and Cleve Christie.
My mom's mother died at a young age and her dad remarried. As a result, I have three very young aunts and uncles. The third is Penny Christie Johnson, WI 1960. I arranged a blind date at WVU for Penny in her senior year at WI and she ended up marrying the guy.
In Barbara's note in the newsletter about Alta Vista, she mentioned that the principal, Mr Lawson, called her Miss Twisty. I never knew that. He called my mom Miss Twisty, too, when she went to Alta Vista, many years before Barbara started school.
Thanks for a great issue.
submitted by:Mary Ann Hite Williams (WI '52) mahwms@cox.net
I neglected to write last month to identify Bob and Joe Malone, whom I recognized almost immediately but did not respond.
This month I am sure the dear ones are Cleve and Penny and Barbara Christie. I especially admired Barbara as cheerleader and girl friend (now wife, of course) of one of WIHS's favorite sons, Bud Morris, who scrambled for the basketball with great energy and was/is held in great respect as one of "Daddy's Boys."
It is wonderful to enjoy thinking of past experiences and especially of the people we have been separated from for so long. Seems like only yesterday.
May God bless you all. Thank you for all the reminders!
I guess it's only fair that since a number of people identified my
brother and me last month, I should take a shot at this month's
offering. The three children pictured are Barbara Ann Christie
(Morris), WI-50, and her siblings, Cleveland Washington Christie, Jr.
WI-51 and Penny Christie, WI-??.
I was helped by Barbara's contributions to this month's newsletter
regarding Alta Vista elementary school, but would like to think that I
would have recognized her smile anyway. She married the late Bud Morris
who was the starting guard and Captain of the WI basketball team in
1949. Bud was a good guy. I see Barbara each summer when I go back
"home" for the summer.
I can't recall the origins of Barbara's nickname, (Punchy) but I can't
resist disclosing my understanding of her brother, Cleve's nickname -
"Sonotone." Throughout high school, the Christies lived up on Wilson
Avenue just up the hill from WI. I knew Cleve much better than I did
Barbara. He wasn't an "A" player in school and had a bit of a devilish
streak in him. I'm told, on good authority, that at some point in Ms.
Melody's Latin class, Cleve was called on to read and translate a
passage from the text. Being ill-prepared, Cleve feigned deafness and
convinced poor Ms. Melody that he was hearing impaired. As a result,
she never called on him again and he was dubbed, "Sonotone" (a popular
hearing aid at the time) by his classmates from then on. My source for
this tale is none other than the infamous Alexander Maxwell (Rusty)
Sloan, Maj. Gen. USAF (Surgeon General) Ret. Rusty was there when it
happened and attributes the nickname to Pinky House. Many of you will
recall that Ms. Melody was (unfortunately) terrorized by many scalawags
in her twilight years at WI.
PS - Barbara tells me that "Sonotone" went on to a very successful and
rewarding career in the financial world in NYC. You just never
know.....
The precious children for November happen to be relatives of mine. Far left is Cleve "Junie" Christie (my uncle); middle is Barbara Christie Morris (my aunt); and far right is Penny Christie Johnson (my aunt). They certainly make a nice looking trio if I do say so myself...............always smiling to this day. Guess I'm slightly biased since my mother (Gayle Christie Limbers) was also part of the Christie clan. Actually, quite a few members of my family graduated from Washington Irving (father, brother, sister-in-law, uncles, aunts, & cousin) and we were all proud to be H-I-L-L-T-O-P-P-E-R-S.
Cleve and his wife, Maryanne, live part time in New York and part time in Florida. Penny (former WI cheerleader) and her husband, Emil, live in Connecticut and Barbara (former librarian at WI for several years) lives in Clarksburg. My husband, Dave, and I live in Florida most of the year, but we all try to get together periodically for family reunions. I am eagerly awaiting the next newsletter with the precious children "now" picture. I know they're still a nice looking trio and I bet they'll all be smiling!
PRECIOUS CHILD
Do you recognize the child pictured above? Please write Roleta1@aol.com with your guess and a memory or two.
Saturday I went to the Paul Myer's [Myer's Hardware Store] estate sale and bought his collection of WI Year Books. He graduated from WI in 1927. I purchased the following years: 1925, 26, 27 [2-copies] and 1928. I will sell them for what I paid which was $12.00 each plus postage which may amount to approx. $3.00 as they are heavy bound books I sold all the others I had via your newsletter.
OBITUARIES
WI Newsletter obituary policy: I do not look in any papers for obituaries. I do not have time and I might miss one causing someone to be hurt or upset. I print most of the obituaries sent to me. I will print obituaries of people from any of our high schools. If you cared enough for the deceased person to want others to know of their death, I will print it here. I try to send a copy of the obit to your class contact and ask that the classmates be notified. I do shorten and modify the obituary due to space—Roleta1@aol.com
WARDER W. HENLINE
Warder W. Henline, age 69, of Anmoore, passed away suddenly, November 5, 2004, at his residence.
He was born February 27, 1935, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Worder Henline and the late Martha Griffith Henline.
He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Leah Rae Green Henline; one son, Bradley Henline of Glendale, WV; two daughters, Renee Lawrence and her husband, Dave, of West Milford and Robin Ann Kimble and her husband, Burnie, of Glendale, WV; four stepchildren, four sisters; five grandchildren; 10 step grandchildren; and nine step great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one stepdaughter, Donna Critchfield, and two brothers, Kenneth Henline and Robert Henline.
Mr. Henline was a 1953 graduate of Washington Irving High School, where he was a star player and co-captain of the football team. He retired as a supervisor from Newell Co. and its previous companies of Hazel Atlas, Continental Can, Anchor Hocking and Brockway Glass. While residing in Phoenix, AZ, he worked as a Certified Nurse's Assistant.
MYRNA RAE GRIFFITH
Myrna Rae Griffith, 74, of Braintree, MA, a homemaker, died September 30, 2004, at home.
She was born in Clarksburg on October 4, 1929, a daughter of the late Harry G. Davis and Edna McIntyre Davis.
She graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1947, where she was the lead majorette for an award-winning high school band. She lived 39 years in Braintree, MA.
Mrs. Griffith enjoyed working in her garden and playing bingo.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, John L. Griffith; three sons, John Charles Griffith of Hanson, MA, Mark Steven Griffith of Columbus, Ohio, and William Cannon Griffith of Baltimore, MD; three daughters, Mona Karolene of South Yarmouth, MA, Mary Kristina Goes of Braintree and Gemma Marie Mueller of Sanford, FL; a brother, Harry R. "Jack" Davis and his wife, Esther, of Clarksburg; 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several cousins.
SAMUEL A. MASCARO
Samuel A. Mascaro, 65, of Bridgeport, WV, passed away suddenly November 6, 2004.
He was born in Clarksburg, WV, on July 16, 1939, a son of the late Frank "Cheech" Mascaro and Angeline Piccolo Minard Mascaro, who survives in Stonewood.
He was from the R-W High School graduating class of 1957 and in college for 2 years to follow. Mr. Mascaro served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam Era. He was employed with DuBois Chemical as their sales representative and manager for 22 years.
His wife of 41 years, Mary Ann "Marie Ann" Vacolas, survives him. Also surviving are his two sons, Steven Mascaro and wife Tina of Morgantown, WV, and Frank Mascaro of Bridgeport, WV. He had two grandchildren. Also included in his family are one brother, John Mascaro of Columbus, Ohio; one sister, Angel Mascaro of Stonewood; one niece, Holly Ann Austin of Columbus, Ohio, and one brother-in-law, Jim Dutchess of Nashville, Tennessee.
One sister, Marie Jo Ann Duchess, and an infant brother, Salvatore, preceded him in death.
JOHN ROBERT COX II
John Robert Cox II, age 58, November 15, 2004, in the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, N.C., following a sudden illness.
He was born in Clarksburg, WV, on December 29, 1945, a son of the late John Robert Cox and Betty Jean (Limbers) Cox of Clarksburg.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Irene Cox, in 1994.
Surviving in addition to his mother are three guardian children, Roberta Nicholson, Jupiter, FL, Nick Nicholson, Clarksburg, WV, and Tina Bumgardner, Aliquippa, PA; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Karen Sue and Chief Joe Gonzalez, Good Hope, WV, and Betty Jean and David Louzy, Boynton Beach, FL
ROBERT DONALD NORMAN
Mr. Robert Donald Norman, age 67, of Adamston, Clarksburg, WV October 28, 2004, at the residence of his foster son in Barrackville, WV, following an extended illness.
He was born in Clarksburg, WV, April 12, 1937, a son of the late James Guy Norman and Lattie V. Knight Norman.
Surviving are one brother, Richard L. Norman, Clarksburg, WV; a foster son, John Leary Jr., and a foster daughter, Jessica Yeager, both of Barrackville, WV.
Mr. Norman was also preceded in death by three brothers, Guy P. Norman, Stanley W. Norman and his twin, James Thomas Norman, and a sister, Vera J. Norman.
DIANA SECRET LEHOSIT
Diana Secret Lehosit, 57, departed this life November 17, 2004 following a brief illness.
She was born February 17, 1947, a daughter of the late Patrick G. and Mary
Shields Secret. She was married to Anthony F. Lehosit Jr. who preceded her
in death on December 13, 2003.
Surviving are one son, Anthony F. Lehosit III and his fiancée Rhonda Janice of Clarksburg; one grandson, Anthony F. Lehosit IV of Clarksburg; one sister, Marianne Hanner of Bridgeport; two brothers, Patrick M. Secret and wife Lora, and Robert L. Secret and wife Sharon, all of Clarksburg; several nieces, Karri Iaquinta, Traci Iaquinta Turner and husband Mike, Tara Secret, Ashlee Secret, Meredith Hanner and Alex Jayne Secret.
Mrs. Lehosit was owner and operator of two businesses, The Flower Shop for 18
years and, along with her son, Ramon's Restaurant, both in Clarksburg.
She was a member of the Fraternal Order of Elks, Clarksburg League for Service,
Glen Elk Association and The Sons of Italy.
She was a certified beautician and worked for House of David for several years
before going into private business.
Thanks to the Clarksburg Exponet-Telegram for the use of excerpts from their obituary column.
