THE WI NEWSLETTER 07/10


THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 131 July 2010






NEWSLETTER POLICIES
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER
YOU NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

I welcome mail from anyone; you did not have to attend WI to be included in this newsletter. I think the only prerequisite is that you have been to Clarksburg sometime in your life. If you have been there, you will remember it and appreciate what a unique town we have as our home town.

Subjects for discussion are suggested to arouse a reader’s memory and hopefully cause the reader to write that memory to the newsletter. You are welcome to write about any subject at any time. I welcome any memories, announcements, etc. If you have a subject you would like to have us mention for discussion, please let us know.

We love pictures…if you have pictures that you can send via your computer send them to Roleta1@aol.com. If you need to mail the picture or a copy of the picture (which will be returned to you) send them to Judy at:

Judy Kimler
1130 Huntington Av
Barboursville, WV 25504

Thank you

Cut off date for receiving information for the newsletter is the 24th of each month. All material received after that date will be considered for the next month’s newsletter.

We will not publish any written stories or pictures that may embarrass anyone. We will not publish any political, off color, racial, or religious subjects.

Believe me, I don’t write everything in the newsletter that I hear or receive. I actually have heard that people have said, “Don’t tell Roleta or you will read it in the newsletter.” This is absolutely not true! You have never read in the newsletter that I heard something about someone…..This is not a gossip column!

The only obituaries that we publish are sent to us. We don’t have the time to research newspapers for obituaries or other subjects.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com. Thank you for taking a few seconds to read this.



CLARKSBURG

Share with us a favorite memory of living in Clarksburg. Write Roleta1@aol.com

Did you know that you can click on my email address right now and write to me, then send the email to me and the newsletter will still be on your screen you can go on to the next thing to read? Try it now….click on Roleta1@aol.com.



DO YOU REMEMBER JUNE 23, 1944?

Why is this date significant to those who live in Harrison County area? Something very news worthy happened in Harrison County on that date…..what was it? What do you remember about it? Write to Roleta1@aol.com.



MR. CORDER
(CENTRAL JHS)



Did you take shop while in Central Jr. HS? If so, I am sure you had Mr. Corder as a teacher. Published here are several pictures sent to me by Mr. Corder’s sons Lyle Corder (RW 1957) and Lynn Corder (RW 1954).

Are you in one of the pictures or do you recognize any of the boys in these pictures? Please write and tell me their names. Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

Did you make any of the items pictured when you were in his class? What did you do with the item? Do you still have it? Write Roleta1@aol.com.











BEST FRIENDS FOREVER

submitted by: Martha Pulice Williams (WI '64)
mwilliams9@msn.com



Martha Pulice Williams, Bob Secret, Sharon Tiano Secret




BEOWULF

submitted by: Jon Rose (WI '62)
Jwrosenova@aol.com

For me it proved to be a self-inflating experience. I had just returned from spending my junior year abroad in Germany and found myself lucky to be in Miss Bailey's senior English class, I was delighted to be able to read aloud the Olde English text: Wann in that Aprille... b/c it was pronounced back then as the German which I had just learned, is now. I guess it stuck with me as I went on to WVU and majored in linguistics, had a full one-semester course on Beowulf and taught German until my retirement.

This Fall I will travel to Boston for a reunion with the other exchange students I traveled with to Germany FIFTY YEARS ago.

But I think what really set me on this course, was my 8th grade English teacher, whose room was at the far end of the hall in CJHS and whose name I can't remember - please help me - who embarrassed me by asking questions for which I knew the answers but was not able to respond until she pushed the button. Her emphasis on the importance of words has left me to be skeptical of any item I read. to wit: yesterday in the W Post there was a mention of the SC political race devolving into a debacle - I was about to write a note to the editor saying that was neither developing nor evolving so was it a new word. But checked it out, and it does exist. So I am glad I kept quiet - as my son is getting his doctorate in SC next month so would not want to devolve.



submitted by: Steve Limbers (WI '57)
Slimberses@aol.com

Unless I am mistaken, we read that in Miss Bailey's English class as seniors. We seniors had a choice -- "ancient" or "modern" English -- and I took an "ancient" class.

Of one thing I am certain. It is probably the most boring thing I have ever read. It was the only thing I didn't like about that wonderful woman's class. Enjoyed the newsletter, as always. Have a great summer.


MISS GLYDE BAILEY 1929




WHERE WAS YOUR HIGH SCHOOL BAND CAMP?

submitted by: Dede King (WI '94)
KING4189@aol.com

Our high school band camp was held at Hite Field during the last few weeks of August. There was always so much excitement to see what formations the band would make on the field and how we linked it all together with the music. As a majorette, we were off to the side during camp learning our own thing while the band learned theirs. When our routines were somewhat perfected, we would add it to the field show with the band. What a breath of fresh air seeing the finished product! I looked forward to band camp every year and all of the upcoming events of the school year :)

EDITOR’S NOTE: Were you a majorette at your school? Write and tell us about some of the events you remember most about being a majorette? Write to Roleta1@aol.com.




SUMMER ROMANCE

submitted by: John A Teter (WI '61)
jateter@aol.com

The only “summer romance” that stands out in my memory is one that I had the summer between my Junior and Senior years at WI. I was a member of the Hi-Y and we went somewhere to Hi-Y camp that summer. It was a “co-ed” summer camp and Richard Malcolm, myself and SOMEBODY ELSE met three girls from Huntington and we all FELL IN LOVE at camp. We used to sneak out after LIGHTS OUT, and met the girls. There was no hanky-panky going on, during the time that we were in camp.

However, sometime shortly after we returned to Clarksburg after Hi-Y camp was over, we all three had exchanged addresses with the 3 girls from Huntington and we 3 were invited to Huntington to visit with them. From what I understand, Richard and the other SOMEBODY made that trip to Huntington, but my father refused to let me go with them. I have questioned Richard on MANY, many, MANY occasions to see if we could remember who that 3rd SOMEBODY was that had been involved with the girls from Huntington, but it is pretty amazing that I can remember the one that I had been with during camp was named HELEN. Richard is also not telling me what transpired during the other two’s trip to Huntington, but after they returned, I lost contact with Helen.

Most summer romances with girls in Clarksburg, seemed to focus around just weekend times of going to dances and/or just meeting at dances and sometimes going to the drive-ins and/or going to shows in downtown Clarksburg. But it did not seem to be JUST a summer romance situation, as I remember dating some of the girls before and/or after the summer months.


submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)
jalvaro@aol.com

I had a couple summer (different summer) romances, or just a favorite special friend to date during the summer. One summer I had my friend pick me up every time we went out. I had no car and she had her father's car. We usually went out driving around or to the drive-in. Sometimes she would pick me up on Main St. at the end of Monticello Ave. She had just got her drivers license and she thought Monticello Ave. was too narrow and not enough street lights to see the cars parked on the side of Monticello Ave. Also, I had to walk from the same pickup spot, down Monticello Ave. and to my house on Haymond Hwy. My other summer date was a very dear friend of mine who was going with one of my best buddies who was away at summer camp. She and I would go out every evening and enjoy a banana split from Dairy Queen. She was and still is a wonderful person as well as my buddy. We all still keep up with each other.



VICTORY OVER JAPAN DAY

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

NOW IT IS UP TO YOU! FOR THE AUGUST NEWSLETTER I would like for you to write and tell me what you remember about that day. Below is an article that might jog your memory of this eventful day…… Send your memories to: Roleta1@aol.com.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



The Japanese representatives aboard the USS Missouri at the Surrender of Japan

Victory over Japan Day (V-J Day, also known as Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is a name chosen for the day on which the Surrender of Japan occurred, effectively ending World War II, and subsequent anniversaries of that event. The term has been applied to both the day on which the initial announcement of Japan's surrender was made in the afternoon of August 15, 1945 in Japan and to August 14, 1945 where it is observed as V-J Day in the United States when it was announced because of time zone differences in the Western Europe, the Americas, the Pacific Islands, and Australia and to September 2, 1945 when the formal signing of the surrender was made. The name V-J Day had been selected by the Allies after they named V-E Day for the victory in Europe.

A formal surrender ceremony was performed in Tokyo Bay, Japan aboard the battleship USS Missouri on September 2 1945. In Japan, the day usually is known as the "memorial day for the end of the war" (? ? ? ? ? Shusen-kinenbi?); the official name for the day is however "the day for mourning of war dead and praying for peace" (? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Senbotsusha wo tsuitoshi heiwa wo kinennsuru hi?). This official name was adopted in 1982 by an ordinance issued by the Japanese government .[1]

The day is commemorated as Liberation Day in Korea and some other nations



APRONS



submitted by: Harriett Stout Noel (WI '59)
leonnoel@charter.net

Just a note to let you know that I, too, love and wear an apron. I have some old and new ones and the only part I don’t like is to have to iron them. I have a wonderful Christmas apron made by a dear friend with all kinds of little Christmas figures that are three dimensional on it (I take them off to wash it) and so colorful. It is really a work of art. The apron with all the pockets around, similar to your pattern on the right, my Mother called a cobbler’s apron. It was fun to read about this. Also, tell Bill that I was in art school in Pittsburg when the Pirates won the World Series (1961-?). The whole town shut down, bars put tables in the streets and there was a “snow” shower of computer papers out of the windows of all the tall buildings. They literally shut down the town. As a young, single person, it was a blast to be a part of such joy. Thanks for all your hard work, I wish I would spend more time responding but please know that when I do get the time to read it, I love every article. Happy Summer.



submitted by: Sherry Ellen Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
SKeith1514@aol.com

The Apron or, the " new " seamstress' friend!

Well, the 7th grade home economics lessons in apron making at Central were only fleeting in my memory...Summer days, girlfriends, swimming and the opposite sex were far more interesting at the time...

Then, learning to sew the straight-skirt, the next year, was nearly disastrous! So ugly in color and fabric... that I lost interest in it early on and I can say I did learn how to use a straight pin to remove unwanted sewing machine stitches. Ripping out... became my specialty, I could spend the whole class ripping out...And I knew that if I did manage to sew a seam... this too would immediately require ripping out... I learned that skill well indeed.

Only years later, I decided to get serious about learning to sew when, while pregnant with my daughter, my mother bought me a little zig-zag portable Singer. Armed with this and confidence provided by a nationwide print media campaign promoting sewing and Singer Sewing Machines...showing movie/TV actresses saying " If I can sew, anyone can!" I thought,"Yes"! I began by making aprons...assisted by my true friend and second-generation seamstress, Melinda Mazza-Sutter.. who by phone and occasionally a personal visit... would help me through pattern directions, concepts and jargon....

Later I would graduate to more intricate garments... I made children's clothing for all the ages reflected in my family... I really enjoyed it!

I still sew aprons, curtains, pillows cushions, quilts, puppets, costumes, often without any pattern other than my own. I also enjoy doing crewel embroidery, counted cross-stitch, and crochet projects and am currently learning to knit. I find my creativity is bound only by my imagination and budget!

So many thanks to Melinda, Betty Crowley, the teachers at Central and the many fiber arts enthusiasts who have helped me discover my love for fiber arts,while breaking through my long held thought that "the ability to sew is in the genes...." I learned it is nurture not nature in this case and that I could sew even though my mother did not. Fiber Arts Rule!



POISON IVY, POISION IVY

submitted by: Roleta Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com

One bad memory I have of summer for nearly all of my life: POISON IVY (”scratch”)!!!! I caught the DARN stuff so easily I was afraid to even look at it… but it hid around and got me anyway. When I was young, my mother and grandmother used to make lye soap by boiling it in a large black kettle out in the back yard—during another season, they used the same kettle to make delicious apple butter. For some reason the two of them thought that bathing in lye soap would cure poison ivy….it stunk to me, it burned my skin and probably removed a lot of skin but it did nothing to the itching I always had from poison ivy. I think they made a poultice of water and salt or something to help but it just crumbled off my skin and I scratched…..scratch, scratch until the liquid oozed out of the sores and of course that spread it further. No matter that I was told not to scratch….I tried to not scratch, but it even itched in my sleep and of course I scratched---there was absolutely no relief.

I remember one summer evening (after dark) a bunch of us were playing hide and seek, I was just early into my teens. I had on short, shorts and we were playing in a large lot. A bunch of us found the perfect hiding place in a big hole in the ground…I remember several kids being in the hole (don’t remember who though). Well, the next day I broke out with the worst case of poison ivy I have ever had in my life. It was on my feet and all the way up to where those short shorts started on my legs. I was a mess! Calamine lotion never helped any for my poison ivy but a nice neighbor lady suggested I coat my legs and feet with white shoe polish every day, I tried it. I looked as though I was wearing long white stockings…..my feet were white and my legs were white all the way up to where the short shorts started…..after a few days or what felt like a week of walking around in those painted on white stockings, it dried up and I was healed… it worked! Besides, I never again had poison ivy that badly in my life… I later told a druggist about this and he said he wouldn’t suggest it as a cure because there could be a lot of things in the shoe polish that might do more harm than drying up the sores.

Have you ever had poison ivy? Do you remember when or where you got your worse case? Write and share it with me at Roleta1@aol.com.

But for now, for your entertainment….let me hear you sing Poison Ivy. (courtesy of Steve Goff)

POISON IVY
Lyrics.

She comes on like a rose but everybody knows
She'll get you in Dutch
You can look but you better not touch

(Chorus)

She's pretty as a daisy but look out man she's crazy
She'll really do you in
If you let her under your skin

Measles make you bumpy
And mumps'll make you lumpy
And chicken pox'll make you jump and twitch
A common cold'll fool ya
And whooping cough can cool ya
But poison ivy, Lord'll make you itch!!

You're gonna need an ocean of calamine lotion
You'll be scratchin' like a hound
The minute you start to mess around

Poison iv-y-y-y-y, poison iv-y-y-y-y
Late at night while you're sleepin' poison ivy comes a'creepin'
Arou-ou-ou-ou-ou-ound


OR if you don’t want to sing it by yourself---you can click on the link below (DO IT NOW) and sing along with the music…..(When you are through with the video, just click on the X in the upper right hand corner and you will be right back here to finish the newsletter)

Video The Coasters singing "Poison Ivy".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kh555NjxnU

DON’T FORGET TO SHARE YOUR POISON IVY MEMORY WITH ME….WRITE NOW AND TELL ME…Roleta1@aol.com.

Remember, you just write it, I will edit it if necessary….thanks




submitted by: Jim Hovey (WI '64)
Jhovey71846@yahoo.com

Hi. My name is John Hovey, a 1964 graduate and an attendee to many of our class reunions. I was recently informed about your involvement with keeping class members in touch with each other with the newsletter. I would greatly appreciate having access to it. Hopefully this will get to you and allow me to have access to former classmates.



submitted by: Bob Alton (VHS '55)
ralton1@satx.rr.com

Hi Roleta,

Just a short note to give thanks to Steve Goff for his efforts on the June Tunes segment of the wonderful Newsletter.

I volunteer at a local senior center, and twice a week we have a karaoke program after lunch. One of the songs that I sometimes sing as part of the program is Hawkshaw Hawkins' "Lonesome 7-7203".

I was really pleased to see him include that song in his presentation, and to learn that Hawkins was from West Virginia. As always, I enjoyed the Newsletter and appreciate the efforts needed to publish it each month.



submitted by: Bob Patterson (VHS '54)
james22055@aol.com

Hi Roleta, just a few comments if I may.

Bread companies I remember were Wilson's and Q-Bee. I think Wilsons was in the east of town. I worked at the Esso station at East Pike and Oak Street, it was called Robert’s Esso. We could smell the bread baking in the summer time. Sometimes we would go there and get fresh hot bread.

Across the street from the Esso station was a place called East End Lunch and just down the street was a place called Root's Grill. They got into a hot dog war and you could buy hot dogs at six cents.

Audra Park I remember but a lot of us didn't have cars so it was very hard to get there.

As I am writing we have a summer place at the Middle Fork River Campgrounds. Audra is only about one mile from us, and yes the water is still beautiful.

Air conditioned was a no no.

I would like to know if anyone remembers the air raid warnings we had during the war? At times we would have to have all the lights off. The factories would blow there whistles at the beginning and blow them at the end. There were air raid wardens and if you had a light on they would knock at your door and tell you to turn it off.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you remember the Air Raid Sirens and the Warnings, write and tell us about your memories…Write Roleta1@aol.com.



submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)
IcedTeaDee@aol.com

Name of the Bread companies when you were growing up?
I remember Sunbeam Bakery on the upper end of Jackson Street in the East End area of town and Tomaro's Bakery on 4th Street in the Glen Elk area & Home Industry Bakery on 4th Street in town.

Where did you take a dip in order to cool off?
In the tub every night and at the Hide-a-way Pool during the days. My older sisters and brother went to Lake Riley.

Was your home air conditioned? If not, I don’t think many of us had AC back then, what trick did your family use to stay cool?
No, we didn't have air conditioning - we opened the windows and used fans and sat out on the porch at night.

Walking up to the Dairy Queen and getting a Mister Misty was something else I would do during the summertime. My Uncle Paul Oliverio owned the East End Lunch, so I was always able to get a popsicle, if I wanted one.

4th Of July Memories
My Aunt Vickie Caputo lived up in Twin Oaks and we would go to her house to watch the fireworks that Ellis Drive-In set off. I think we always had hot dogs and watermelon to eat.

Also during the summers, The Thomas Joy Land Shows would come to Nutter Fort Park, that was always something to look forward to.

Saturday movies at the Robinson Grand or Ritz were always good places to spend time during hot summer days, as they did have air conditioning. Below is a pic in front of The Ritz from 1959 - maybe readers will recognize someone in the crowd





STAYING COOL IN THE SUMMER
COOLING OFF WITH A DIP

submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
jateter@aol.com

I can remember my family making many, many trips to Audra State Park on weekends, and making a day out of it. My mother would get up early in the morning and make food to take with us, pack a picnic basket along with drinks and such. We would always get to the park early as my father wanted to make sure that we got the best picnic table in the park, but even as important – the best parking space in the lower lot, just across the bridge going into the park. I think that of all the times we went there, we only had to park on the upper level of the park one time.

When my mother was still living on Broaddus Avenue in Clarksburg, I would go in for regular monthly visits and sometimes we would go for a ride around different areas where she had grown up and where I had been during my upbringing. Audra State Park was one of our more frequented trips, and it was amazing that the place looked much like it had back in the 50’s and 60’s when we used to go there. AND, there were still a lot of people going there even though it was during the week that we were there.



STAYING COOL ON HOT NIGHTS

submitted by: Wilma Allman (WI '53)
wallman5@verizon.net

We stayed cool at night with a huge attic fan. Our attic was a finished floor with a flight of steps. My dad would open up the door, prop it open, and turn the fan on. It was at least a 36" fan and it pulled the air in from outside - enough to blow the curtains out into the bedrooms. During the day, we just were used to the summer days and it did not seem to bother us. How things have changed! I still like fresh air and when the temperature gets below what our thermostat is set for - open the windows!



submitted by: John A Teter (WI '60)
JATeter@aol.com

I do not remember when my parents first got air conditioning in our house on Broaddus Avenue, but I do not remember HEAT ever being an issue. After all, my brother and I were normally playing some sort of sport (organized and/or otherwise) so we were used to the heat. I remember playing baseball one day that it was SO HOT, I was totally exhausted when the game was over.

I just do not remember HEAT being an issue, no matter what we were doing.

I remember going home during the latter years that my mother was still living on Broaddus Avenue and being SO THANKFUL to have the one air conditioner in the dining room and another one upstairs in one of the 3 bedrooms, as THEN IT WAS HOT!



A QUICK DIP AND AIR CONDITIONING?

submitted by: Jim Alvaro (Alta Vista, Central Jr. WI 1956)
jalvaro@aol.com

As far as taking a quick dip, we had no pool to swim in. We were not as fortunate as our Stealey buddies. We hitched rides past Willow Beach and we would swim in the river. The "beach" was called Bare A** Beach. I am sure some of the readers remember that one. I know Rudy Garten does. He was my swimming buddy. If I remember well, it was not a very clean beach.

Now, what WAS air conditioning back then? We never had air conditioning in any of our houses growing up. My Dad never drove and we had no car in our family, so we could not get in the car and turn on the AC and drive around for a while to get cool. What I remember, we had screens put in all the windows that came to the bottom half of the top window. We would raise the bottom half of the window and sit in on top of the screen. That would give us some real nice 90 degree fresh air coming through the house. We did have a couple of oscillating fans to move the "cool" air around. But, did we complain? NEVER!

As I indicated at the finish of all my comments to the Newsletter, "Would I trade that period for any other?" Absolutely not.



PICNICS IN THE SUMMER

submitted by: Roleta Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com

My family often went on picnics when I was young. I remember picnics when we lived in Wolf Summit from the time I was about 4-1/2 until I was 9. As I remember back, I don’t know who organized the picnics but it seems as though every one we knew attended those picnics….The Furners, the Rowes, the Bees, the Davises, etc. There were many, many people there. Also, we went on family picnics with aunts and uncles and cousins later on. I mostly remember the cakes those ladies made….They stood so tall and had wonderful icing on them. Do you remember 7 minute icing that had peaks like meringue? I think it was named thus as it only took 7 minutes to cook but it was a difficult thing to master. The white icing stood in tall peaks and it tasted like a meringue with marshmallow crème in it but of course it wasn’t, it was some secret concoction cooked on that old green gas stove in the kitchen. Well, my mother made that icing and it was delicious. And the flavors of the cakes were so amazing…..I think they were able to make cakes out of everything, black walnuts, berries, tomato soup, prunes (yep can you imagine but it was so good) mayonnaise, etc. And home made potato salad with that home made salad dressing where they cooked the eggs, flour, vinegar and milk and when it was ready, they poured it over the potatoes, eggs and onions that had been cooked and chopped to just the right size. I remember big galvanized tubs that held ice but I don’t remember what we had in there to keep cold…it might have been bottles of pop but we had a huge green metal Thermos jug that always was full of either homemade iced tea, homemade lemonade or Kool-Aid. If I remember correctly each family brought an entire meal with plenty for their family and others….the food was all set on a few common tables. We filled our plates and sat either on blankets spread on the ground or other tables. What a wonder simple time…what fun….the adults talking and laughing….the children playing games and sometime the adults organized games too. Often the boys and men played softball, we had 3 legged races, all sorts of games…do you remember any? Did you go on picnics? What happened to this simple means of entertainment? Write to Roleta1@aol.com.



WI CLASS OF 1952 GRADUATE HONORED

submitted by: Billie Anne Cork Clevenger (WI '52)
IamBlessed3452@aol.com

Lots of conversation and joyful laughter echoed through Oliverio's Restaurant on Wednesday, June 23rd, as ten graduates of the class of 1952, (plus three husbands, and one "guest") met to share memories and honor one of their fellow graduates. The honored guest was Mary Ann Hite Williams, now a resident of Phoenix, Arizona. I had received an E-mail a week or so earlier from Mary Ann, telling me that she would be in Clarksburg for about a month caring for her sister Emma Lee who was having surgery, so I sprang into action! (Not that I am that energetic at this age - "springing" into anything is now a complete impossibility!!) However, finding out that neither Carolyn Reynolds Burnide nor Joanne Westfall Tetrick had yet received that E-mail, (they are our classes' trusted and very efficient planners of past wonderful events, such as fabulous reunions!) I, began to call people. So I did kind of "spring" into action, though"springing" is a total misnomer in this case!

The truth is, I had a wonderful time phoning all of the local graduates whom I could find at home and still among the living. Sadly we have lost a few of our very beloved classmates recently, four this past year. This reality made our "mini-reunion" a bittersweet one, for we all dearly loved Bob Harrison, Carole Ann Currey Whaley, Marilyn Creighton O'Kelley and Dennis Kirby. Yet we found such joy in celebrating Mary Ann's return to her hometown, for she was and is, a very special lady, so sweet and unassuming, yet a tower of strength and dignity. And what fun she was to know in high school! So many of the girls recall going to Mary Ann's home, situated very near WI and enjoying the hospitality of not only Coach Hite, but also of Mary Ann's precious Mom. Mrs. Hite welcomed not only Mary Ann's closest girl chums into her home, but also the noisy, rough and tumble "football boys" who came to talk with "Coach" and stayed for the homebaked goodies that she seemed to always "have on hand".

So we had our "Welcome Back, Mary Ann" party and what a success it was! Attending was Mary Ann's wonderful husband, Gordon, who not only took pictures, but who plans to send them via the internet to all of us who provided him with our E-mail addresses. Carolyn Burnside was there, our classes' own author, who has written two wonderful books, the first one chronicling WI's past and present. I haven't yet acquired the current one, but it is my understanding that it is equally worthwhile and beautifully written. My dear friend, Marlene King Oliverio was seated to my left, and bless her sweet heart for taking pictures of everyone who attended and her willingness to also share them with all of us by E-mail. With her as her guest was a very friendly lady who fit right into our crowd with grace and humor, Judy Harbert, a schoolteacher who was already acquainted with some of us. Nancy Jane Rymer Laulis was seated at my right and we had memories to share with one another, as well as comparing notes on our current lives. Sweet and talented Shirley Tallman McClure and her friendly husband, Richard were seated at the end of the table and my husband, Ron was seated between Richard and Merlin "Nichy" Bisping LaNeve. I was so happy to have Nichy right across the table from me! She and her husband (also Ron) live in Elkins and operate a Nursing Home. She was one of my favorite playmates as a child and we were in Girl Scouts together, with her unforgettable Mom, Myrtle Bisping as our Girl Scout leader, the best ever! To complete our group were the charming and vivacious Tiano girls, Jeannie Tiano Castellana, Joan Tiano Peck and Catherine Tiano Mancena. It was the most congenial group imaginable and many new memories were created as warm and happy old ones were recalled.

There were several local 1952 graduates whom we could not reach on such short notice or who had other commitments, so on Wednesday, July 7th, Mary Ann has planned to have another great get-together" So, to any of you 1952 graduates who had to miss the party, you can still enjoy lunch with us! Those of you who were on hand on June 23rd are welcome to come again and those not present on that date are invited to attend and enjoy the fun, frivolity and sharing of the memories of a very special graduating class, the proud "Class of '52!" All classmates whom we are able to reach will be asked to confirm so that reservations can be made at Oliverio's for the 7th of July. If you are a 1952 WI graduate living here, or if you now live elsewhere and happen to plan to be in Clarksburg on July 7th, please let Mary Ann know by phoning her at her sister's home, 304-842-2071 or call me, Billie Anne at 304-624-5454.

Oh, and yes, I did wrote a little welcoming poem for Mary Ann, not an example of classic poetry, just a gift of love for a wonderful lady. In case you are a poetry lover, I am sharing it with you; I don't think that Mary Ann will mind: (In case you are not a poetry lover, you can skip this part!) But gotta warn ya, it's a "tear-jerker"!! : )

TO MARY ANN
You were our coach's daughter; he was such an honorable man
He was always in the limelight; and you were Mary Ann -
Not a person who was comfortable, when in the public eye
But it was a role you were born into, that you accepted - with a sigh

Though you were proud to be his daughter sometimes sharing him made you sad
For to you and "Baby Sister", he was simply known as "Dad"
There were times you had to wonder, why your home was full of "boys"
And such big rough and tumble ones , who made such awful noise!

But Mary Ann, our dear, dear friend, to us you're a hero as well
Also your precious Mom, so welcoming, oh, the stories you can tell!
You had a home so near our school, it smelled of cookies baking
With Mama in her apron, and goodies for the taking!

Young laughter filled its halls, for many friends would be there
All your many girl chums - and football boys we'd see there
But mostly, Mary Ann, our pal, it was you who made the fun
A friend so quiet and unassuming, yet a dear and loyal one

Yes, teenage days were happy ones, sharing memories is cool!
And now we greet you on this day, and speak of our old school
But mostly, we just want to say, and this has been our plan
To gather here to have some fun and say:

WELCOME HOME, DEAR MARY ANN!!!!!!




WI CLASS OF 1961 PLANNING 50TH REUNION

submitted by: John A Teter (WI '61)
jateter@aol.com

The WI class of 1961 is planning to have a startup reunion committee breakfast meeting on August 28th, 2010 to start planning for our 50th class reunion (the BIG ONE as some people have already started referring to it). Bob Swats and I will both be in Clarksburg that weekend and once we know who might be joining us for a reunion committee meeting, we will make reservations for breakfast and announce the time and place at that time. We will probably meet at the Panera Bread Company out on Emily Drive, as they were very helpful in giving us a place to meet for our last reunion in 2006. If anyone would like to join the reunion committee to start the planning for the 50th reunion, please E-mail me at jateter@aol.com and/or Bob Swats at rhswats@hotmail.com, so that we can plan on your joining us on August 28th.

ALSO: The class of 61 has a short list of missing classmates that we would like to know if anybody knows of there whereabouts. The list includes the following:

LINDA BROWN, NANCY DIAMOND, SUE RUDD, PATRICIA MAE TAYLOR, WILLIAM TAYLOR and TOBY WISE

If anyone knows how to get in touch with any of the above, please E-mail me their information to jateter@aol.com.



VICTORY CLASS OF 1954

VICTORY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 1954, will meet for their July monthly meeting, Monday, July 12, 6:00 P M, ELKS Restaurant, Village Square. Those attending the June meeting voted unanimously to go back to the Elks Restaurant. We welcome anybody who would like to join us for our monthly meetings. If you have questions, contact me, Jackie, at Grannieof15@aol.com or Louise at dorananny1@verizon.net

AND


VICTORY HIGH SCHOOL Class of 1954, will have their annual family picnic with a covered dish luncheon, with the meat, drinks and table wear furnished, Saturday, July 17, Pine Shelter, City Park, Nutter Fort. We plan to start gathering around 11:00 A M with intentions of eating around noon. Visitors are welcome. Just bring your covered dish and join us for a fun day at the park. If you have any questions, you can contact me, Jackie, Grannieof15@aol.com or Louise at dorananny1@verizon.net



WI CLASS OF 1960 50 YEAR REUNION REMINDER
Calling all Classmates!

Time is fast approaching for our 50th Reunion!!!!

If you haven't sent in your reservation and or information sheet, please do so as soon as possible. Remember that the INFORMATION SHEET is part of the program booklet and should be submitted whether you are able to attend or not. If you are not able to attend, the class photo and/or the program can be ordered.

The Reunion is August 27 & 28 at Village Square Conference Center. This is the same weekend of the Annual Clarksburg WI Picnic which will allow you to visit with any alumni attending from other classes.

If you have any questions, please contact met at: pameez@aol.com and I will get right back to you. The committee is looking forward to renewing old friendships.

Sincerely, Pam Wolfe Brown (WI 1960)
pameez@aol.com




BROAD OAKS REUNION

We are having another Broad Oaks Reunion on September 11, 2010 at the Sycamore Shelter at the Veterans Park. We have had a very good turn out every year. People from all over the country have attended. Anyone with any connection to Broad Oaks will be welcome. We have a covered dish event with a 50-50 drawing. Also, there will be a donation jar to help raise funds for the following year’s picnic. If anyone is interested they can contact Junion McQuain at 304-745-4277 or Dan Stalnaker for your reservation.



COME JOIN THE FUN, GOOD FOOD AND GREAT MEMORIES WILL BE SHARED

The 10th Annual WI Reunion Picnic will be held Saturday, August 28, 2010 11:00 am at the Osborne Shelter located in Veterans Park which is located just off Milford Street. You can also reach the park via Rt. 98 (from Nutter Fort).

THIS PICNIC IS FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER ATTENDED WI.

LET'S MAKE THIS A BIG WI REUNION DAY!
You need only bring a covered dish, your own drink and money to put in the pot to help cover the expenses for this picnic and to start one for the following year.

You might want to bring a folding lawn chair so you can sit under a tree in the shade. The pavilion is covered and there will be plenty of shade provided.

It would be nice and polite if you would email Sharon Cottrill McGahan (mtmama41@msn.com) and tell her how many people in your group will be attending so she can have enough supplies on hand for everyone.

Also, if you are in the area, it would be nice to tell Sharyn that you will arrive early and volunteer to help set up or clean up at the end. Thank you.



THE WINNERS WERE PICKED

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

There are certain guidelines that have been established that the counselors at RC Byrd use to pick the 2 students each year that win the WIN (Washington Irving Newsletter) Scholarship. We go beyond grades to search for the student that we want to represent our home town and earn the coveted scholarship.

I have been in contact with Mariah Calef who lives on Maryland Avenue in Nutter Fort and Amanda Seefong who lives on Euclid Avenue in Stealey to make arrangements to deposit into their college student financial account the first installment of their $3,000.00. The second installment will be sent in December.

They both have expressed how much they wish to thank those who have made this scholarship possible.

Remember every dollar sent is important. Your dollar will join the dollars being sent by others and soon we have another scholarship. I never disclose what anyone sends but I do know who does support this effort. Many thanks to all of you who have responded and I hope more respond this month.

Won’t you please help support this effort?
Write your check or money order to: Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship
And mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219

Those who gave this month are:
Judy Coyne Shepherd (WI 1957) Judy Lives in Kentucky and continues to give back to her home town where she grew up.

Herb Cashdollar (RW 1957) Herb lives in Minnesota but still continues to give back to the town where he grew up….thank you Herb.

THIS OBVIOUSLY THEIR WAY OF GIVING SOMETHING BACK FOR WHAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED.



NEW READERS

Jerry Belt (WI '59) jerrybelt@knology.net
Donna Elsey (WI '68) delsey@energycontractorsllc.com
Tom Elsey (WI '67) Tomelsey2@aol.com
Pamela Sue McWilliams (WI '65) SCMPSM@aol.com
Jim Hovey (WI '64) Jhovey71846@yahoo.com
Lois Adams Tribett (WI '55) ltribett@aol.com
Marjorie Elaine Glass Lewis (WI '65) eaglecheer@aol.com


CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS

Helen House Fleming (WI '59)
and Jim Fleming (WI '57)		 jhfleming@hughes.net
Jack A. Moore (WI '64) Jack.A.Moore@wv.gov
Robert Dennison (WI '57) RDENNISON39@YAHOO.COM
James King (WI '73) was: jking@owaters.com
is now: jimk@alc-net.com




STEALEY

submitted by: Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko (WI '40)
jjaranko@frontiernet.net

Good Morning, Roleta:

I don't know if this letter would interest any of your readers but some who were from Stealey might find it interesting.

My children are always asking me to write down our "history" and it makes me wish I had been old enough to ask more questions of my parents and grandparents. It was years before my oldest brother found out that an ancestor of our Grandmother Radcliffe was the 27th signer of the Mayflower Compact. Imagine that. And that my great great grandfather was Dr. Ogden whose patients came from the territory all around Sardis and my Grandmother Swiger and the Dr. Ogden whose offices were on Main Street in Clarksburg were first cousins. To look at them, you would think they were brother and sister as they looked so much alike.

Well, to get back to what I wanted to say about Stealey. From where Morgan School used to be, down Davis Street and down Stealey Avenue a little way is where my mother grew up and where I grew up. I don't know when it became an avenue but I know my grandmother always referred to it as "Stealey Addition". Her farm was there. She had a barn, a smokehouse, a cow, ducks and geese, fruit trees and berries, a grape arbor, a large piece of land that she farmed, a Star car, and when my dad married my mother, he built a garage for it on the edge of her property. When Stealey was incorporated into the city of Clarksburg, (I wish I had looked up the date that happened) of course, my grandmother had to tear down her barn, get rid of her animals, and for all intents and purposes, get rid of all that might be referred to as a "farm".

Houses cover the area now and no one would ever know what it once had been. I can only imagine it myself. When I was a little girl, we used to go up to Stealey playground. There were swings, sliding boards, a merry-go-round, and another swing that I don't know what you would call. There was a bandstand and on some evenings, the Clarksburg band would play. There would be places for the adults to sit and listen. On the fourth of July, there would be the band playing and picnics. In summer, there would be a playground instructor, usually a college student, who would teach crafts or some type of activity each morning. My sister would go and I remember one time she came home with a basket that she had made. When my sons came along, they,too, would go to the playground to play ball and whatever else was there, but it has never been what it was in years past.

Stealey itself is no longer the Stealey my family knew. It was a wonderful place to grow up. Everyone knew everyone else and when we went to school, we were there with our friends and those we saw everyday. I tell my grandchildren these things and they look up from the computer or their I-pod or their video game in wonder. Thank goodness, they are all athletes and are not stuck to those things.

Well, Roleta, you may not even want to use this as it is so personal but I think back to the Stealey that was and I miss it.

Love to you, Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko, WI 1940



THOSE WERE THE DAYS

Pictured below are a couple of very handsome guys all dressed up for a special event. Notice the slim ties, the pegged pants legs and the nice sports jacket, the true “in” look of the time. Very handsome and very stylish.


Pictured above are: Herb Cashdollar (RW 1957) on the left and on the right is Lyle Corder (RW 1957). They were best friends.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you have any pictures of people from the year you graduated write us the names, school and year of graduation (if you know it) then please email it to me Roleta1@aol.com or send a copy to:

Judy Kimler
1130 Huntington Ave.
Barboursville, WV 25504
Thank you



BREAD COMPANIES/BAKERIES

submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
Flg46vhs@aol.com

Chicago Dairy Baking Co.; Colonial Biscuit Co.; Ketterings Butter Nut Bread.; Markert Waybright Bakery.; Novel Baking Co.; Old Dutch Bakery.; Paladino Bros. Bakery.; Quality Baking Co.; Sanitary Baking Co.; Tiano's Bakery.; Tomaro's Bakery.; and Wilson Baking Co.

I just listed the bakeries that were in business when I started my sophomore year at Victory HS. You younger readers will probably list Bonnie Belle Bakery, Home Industry Bakery, McCoy’s Bakery, Helen Marie Bakery, etc….these started in the late 1940’s.



submitted by: Jim Pulice (WI '62)
jpulice@msn.com

Growing up Italian I never, like most Italians, experienced Sunbeam or Wilson bread......never. My Grandmother baked every Wednesday...She even tried to teach me how to need the bread....I couldn't master it like her ...there were two Italian bakeries in our neighborhood...Tomaro's and Tiano's...since Tiano's was the closest to our house that is were we went. My Mom would toast a whole loaf in the oven broiler for morning breakfast...Italian toast and coffee. Still a big hit today.... My sandwiches for lunch were so Hugh I was ashamed to eat them in front of my friends...eggs and pepper sandwiches with fried Bologna were a mess to eat... Mom would send me to the bakery every other day for 3 loaves.. that and hot pepperoni rolls we took for granted growing up. Eating fresh Italian bread right from the oven is like eating desert. Thank you John Tiano for your hard work and wonderful bread. There was on occasion when I would experience Sunbeam bread and to me it was a real treat...But you never ate Italian with American bread....No way p.s. all my Italian friends will nod there head after reading this one !



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

I don't even remember the name of the bakery that was in front of the swinging bridge that crossed Elk Creek from Monticello to Water Street, but my brother, Keith, worked there for a short time after he returned from WW II. I still remember the wonderful aroma of baking bread that could be smelled all over Broad Oaks if the wind was just right.

Keith arranged a tour of the bakery for some of the neighborhood kids once. They showed us the process from start to finish, including cutting and wrapping the bread. At the end of the tour we got a small, free sample.

There were numerous bakeries in Clarksburg and all were wonderful and specialized in different products. Some made plain white bread, some made Italian bread, some made pastries but I don't think any of us can ever forget the one that made salt rising bread.

My brother, Keith, never forget how to make that wonderful bread. He loved doing it.



submitted by: John A. Teter (WI '61)
JATeter@aol.com

I was never really a big “bread company” kind of person, as my mother made the best home-made bread in the world, and I could never get away from trying to talk her into making FRESH BREAD each and every day. I think that there were a couple of bread companies in Glen Elk, but the only one that I can remember is Tomorrow’s (even though I do not think that this is the correct spelling. Now, when my family is in Clarksburg, we normally just go to the bakery in Northview and I think that the name of it is DaNunzio’s. Here again I am not sure about the spelling of this place, but my brother and I seem to think that they have the best pepperoni rolls in town. They are not open on Saturday’s as they get a lot of Sunday church people, so whenever we go in, we always make sure to get to Northview on Friday and normally my brother calls ahead to get his order in. We had the misfortune of having to be in Clarksburg this past January for my mother’s funeral, but the family jointly decided that it would be OK with my mother that we go to Northview to get our pepperoni roll “fix”. I think that we ended up bringing about 12 dozen pepperoni rolls out of West Virginia that trip. My mother used to make the BEST pepperoni rolls, but the ones that she and my sister tried making before my mother passed away were GOOD; just not as good as “my mother used to make” by herself.



submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com

I remember Sunbeam Bread-with that cute little girl on the cover, where was it made?

Oh and salt rising bread, my father would bring it home and it was a treat to slice it and toast it….but it smelled like “puke” when toasting but it was delicious to eat it while still warm from toasting and with butter on it.

My mother often made home made bread….I loved smelling the bread as it was rising— covered with wax paper and sitting in a warm spot in the kitchen. Then how great it smelled when baking. But nothing surpassed the thrill of when mother took a loaf of bread from the oven and we waited just until it cooled a little and then while still warm, we tore off pieces and slabbed butter on it then ate it quickly. Everyone wanted a piece with crust and actually if you have ever torn off a piece of hot bread you remember that the insides just caves in and all that is left is that golden crisp crust.

Did your mother bake? Write to Roleta1@aol.com.



submitted by: Bill Van Voorhis (WI '58)
eerfanvan@comcast.net

Regarding bread memories-----retirement in Morgantown has enabled me to become good friends with Fred Wilson (WI class of '48). Fred was president of his class and his family owned Wilson's Bread " Wilson's Spendid Bread." I can remember many P & J sandwiches on that "splendid" bread and always remind Fred after I beat him at golf that his "splendid" bread gave me the edge!



JULY TUNES

submitted by: Steve Goff (WI '72)
sgoff53@hotmail.com

Which way to the beach? I hope everyone has their summer groove on by now. You know the drill. Working your way through a batch of summer reading; cutting back, by half, your spring gardening ambitions with the summer sun as your advisor; and staying cool and/or near the water. Here's some good time music, so go have a party on the patio.

Loudon Wainwright III - "The Swimming Song". Some of you may know this about me, but I'm not a swimmer. Nope. A close call at Buffalo Lake when I was 9, and a somewhat comic near drowning experience IN THE WI POOL!!!; combined to keep me out of the water, on dry land, and in the shade I might add. Some of you LOVE to swim. This one's for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdfXHWUKm-8

Stevie Wonder - "Master Blaster Jammin' (Hotter Than July)". Bob Marley Tribute. Album released in July, 1980, this song reached #5 on the Top 40 in September. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv_wZQJYlo0

Lovin' Spoonful - "Summer in the City". From the summer of '66. There is a spiritual linkage between this song and the Stevie Wonder tune. I've always loved the sound effects. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWXcjYNZais

HIT SONGS FROM JULY's GONE-BY

1950..."I'll Sail My Ship Alone"...Moon Mullican. This was a real find for me. I had heard the name, but didn't know the music. What a pleasant surprise this was with a solid song and performance set on what looks like a movie set. #1 on the Country charts for 4 weeks. Reached #17 on the national pop chart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9egdurd6Ik

1952..."Half As Much"...Rosemary Clooney. Here she performs on The Colgate Comedy Hour and gets an introduction from Dean Martin. She also performs "Botch-a-Me". Both songs were in the national Top 10 in July of '52. And yes, that is a Hank Williams tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKte3GVNxk8

1955..."It's a Sin To Tell a Lie"...Somethin' Smith and The Redheads. Bonus points for the group name! This plucky little trio covered a 1936 hit by Fats Waller and had a hit themselves, as it peaked at #7 in July.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLJiOP29M6s

1959..."Waterloo"...Stonewall Jackson. This song was everywhere in the summer of 1959. Besides being number one for 5 weeks on the Country chart, it got up to #4 on the national pop chart as well. This "Stonewall" hailed from North Carolina and claimed he was an ancestor our Tom. Where have you gone Dorothy Davis? By the way, the "Stonewall" is not a nick name. So, his given name is that of a stern fence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41u3_vyAJTk

1962..."The Stripper"...David Rose. This rousing number is now instantly identifiable. It was recorded in 1958 and forgotten, but when it was used in the movie Gypsy, the Hollywood bio of Gypsy Rose Lee starring Natalie Wood and Rosalind Russell, it went to #1.

A famous Noxzema shave-cream advertising campaign used the piece as background music for a television commercial that featured a Swedish model telling men to “Take it off! Take it all off!”. *** Warning. Cheesecake ahead. Pretend you're at the Thomas Joyland Shows and here's your first chance to see a hoochie-coochie act. No one should be offended. C'mon folks. The song's called "The Stripper".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YdMaZRVUU8&feature=related

1965..."For Your Love"...The Yardbirds. An English invasion gem. That's a young Jeff Beck strumming guitar as the video begins. We need more bongos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5zqidlxMQ

1968..."Hurdy Gurdy Man"...Donovan. Here's a song very much of its' era. Lyrics available on a "drop down" underneath video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lKCUuyojDI&feature=related

1971..."That's the Way I've Always Heard it Should Be"...Carly Simon. This was her first Top 10 song. Here is an excellent live version in Central Park, 1972. Note as she sits down at the piano, the camera cuts to ART GARFUNKLE and GEORGE HARRISON!! Wow. I've always felt this is her most under rated hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux7HgO9QhAc

1973..."Right Place, Wrong Time"...Dr. John. This funky little New Awlins' (sic) ditty snuck into the national Top 10 for a couple of weeks in July of '73. This live version has a droll intro, but once they get rolling the delta funk flows. An overlooked Zen line from this song: "Refried confusion, is making itself clear."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ8dS-fcx7s&feature=related

1976..."Got To Get You Into My Life"...The Beatles. Yes in the bi-centennial summer of '76, the British invaded again. This song had never been a single, but was released as one to help promote the first of many Beatle compilation albums, Rock 'n' Roll Music, and it peaked at #7. The video is my tribute to The Beatles, Saturday AM cartoon show. Trust me, they play the song at some point in this episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3MkEC_YS6A

1979..."Chuck E.'s In Love"...Rickie Lee Jones. I always loved hearing this little blast of hipster jive, with jazzy overtones, as it emanated out of a car radio on a summer's night. A "beat" Valentine if there ever was one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mYcaAXB0Eg&feature=related

1981..."Jessie's Girl"...Rick Springfield. It's hard to believe this is now considered "oldies" music. Kids now gather to hear '80's tribute bands the way some of us sought out the band Sha-Na-Na and their sounds of the '50's. This song is a staple of those '80's bands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2T7wKdQsTo

1985..."Would I Lie To You"...Eurythmics. A dramatic, MTV video sets up a great song. Nice horn section too with killer back up singers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhpu2N4rQZM

That's it for now. Remember don't go swimming one hour after you eat. But I think if you eat while swimming you'll be OK.


submitted by: Bill Meredith
billmere@aol.com

I want to thank everyone who wrote to us this month about sports. This month, we have some good reading. This newsletter is all about memories. The wonderful thing about memories is that we all have them. Therefore, each of you has something to write about. We love hearing from you, whether it's about sports or life in general, as you remember it. Please take time NOW to share a memory with us.

June saw the beginning of the college conference reshuffling. Neither WVU nor Marshall has been hurt, YET! But, our time is coming. I asked your thoughts on what you think might happen to the Big East, Big Ten, ACC, etc. a couple of months ago, but got very little response. I'd really like to hear from anyone who is concerned, as I am, about what the future holds for our two state schools.

Although we got several letters about baseball, I'm sure more of you can share an experience about our "National Pastime". How about those Little League, Pony League, Babe Ruth League or Industrial League teams you played for? Or just the pickup games at the local playground. Do you have a story to tell? We'd love to hear it.

How about auto racing, NASCAR, Indy Car or the Midget Car racing? I know some of you are big fans. I've got some great memories of attending several Indy 500 races. How about you? Do you like, Jimmie, Jeff or Jr.?

Send those memories or comments to Bill at billmere@aol.com



Bill, I was surprised, when you visited us a little while back, that you were a St Louis Cardinals fan. I loved the Cardinals back in the mid to late 50's. Why? I don't know why, with the Pirates just a couple hours away. Maybe I loved the logo. I do remember some of the players and the one that I liked more than the rest was Stan Musial. When I played for Pittsburgh Plate Glass in the Babe Ruth League, I had to have a Stan Musial bat. I would hit with nothing else. Didn't do to bad with it either. I also remember catcher Del Rice, Peanuts Lowery, Eddie Stanky, and great hitters like Red Schoendienst and Wally Moon. But, for the life of me, I cannot remember any of the pitchers except Vic Raschi. He must have pitched a fantastic game. I have been a Braves fan since they have been in GA. I think Ted Turner did a lot for the Braves when he went nationwide with Turner Broadcasting and showed all the games on TV. I remember going to Clarksburg and seeing several people wearing Atlanta Braves ball caps. I know my parents loved the Braves. I even had Skip Carey announce my Mom and Dad's name on TV as them being true Braves fans from Clarksburg, WV. One of my parent’s lifetime highlights was having an autographed picture of Hank Aaron with his arms around my Mom and Dad. I took the film with me and after I had it developed I mailed it to him and asked if he would autograph it and send it back in a self addressed envelope. I was surprised to see it in the mail about a week later. I also put that in the Clarksburg paper without my parents knowing it. Boy, did they get the calls from people in Clarksburg. Try getting current players to autograph a picture you send them in the mail. You can get their autograph in a store promotion or a special event, but it will cost you.

Enjoyed seeing you and Roleta when you passed through and I really enjoy the sports section of the Newsletter. Keep it up.

Jim Alvaro.........WI ' 56

Reply To Jim:

Great to hear that there was another Cardinals fan in W.Va. in the 50's. I became a fan of the Cardinals in 1946, when I happened to see the highlights of the World Series at a movie theater. Enos Slaughter scored the winning run in the seventh game against the Red Sox. Kids love a winner and I was hooked. I listened to their games on a big console radio, tuning in KMOX in St. Louis every chance I got. Thanks for the memories.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



To Bill: For some reason, my favorite team was the Brooklyn Dodgers!! My Dad was a NY Yankees fan (I even bought him an expensive Yankee hat)--but I still root against the Yankees and always will!! I had a friend, whose family lived in Brooklyn, and about 15 years ago, I had him buy me a Brooklyn Dodger’s hat in Brooklyn!! Still have it! I remember hearing one of our old neighbors listening to the Giant/Dodger game in 1951 and I heard the Bobby Thompson home run for the National League pennant---still don't like it!!! I have a big plaque with a picture, etc. of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers team, which won their first World Series. I can still recite most of the players names from the team and had many favorites--Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella and Preacher Roe. I liked them all!!

We went to Forbes Field several times. The first time, I was probably 6 or 7 and didn't know a lot about the teams, except the stars. I have no idea which team played the Pirates. I later took my grandfather (85 years old), father-in-law, Dad and son to see the Pirates, about 30 years ago. My grandfather really enjoyed it and I did root for the Pirates. I still root for the Pirates, but follow the Dodgers closely. Sometimes, my job sent me to places with Major League Baseball and I have watched games at Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Chicago (Wrigley Field). I caught a foul ball in Philadelphia and gave to my son.

I still prefer football to baseball--College first, then Pro.

Bob Davis, W I 1959

Reply To Bob: I remember the Dodgers of the 50's very well. They were always tough for the Cardinals to beat. It seemed like they were playing the Yankees almost every year in the World Series. Like you, I have been fortunate enough to see many big league parks. I got to meet and talk with Casey Stengel at a World Series game in Pittsburgh. That was the highlight of my baseball travels. My favorite places to watch a game are Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston. A night crowd at Fenway is by far the best I've ever experienced. They are really loud and rowdy. I, too, prefer college football nowadays. Unfortunately, most current MLB players are spoiled, overpaid prima donnas.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



To Bill:

Bill we have a lot of sports in this area. Steve Swisher, as you know, plays for the Yankees, Steve graduated from Parkersburg High School. There is an annual event here in Parkersburg, the WVU Caravan.

It is at a sports bar called JP Henry's, Also, there is an annual event for Marshall at the North End Tavern. It's called the Rally in the Alley. Parkersburg was named by ESPN as one of the Title Towns of sports.

When growing up my baseball team was the Cleveland Indians. Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Larry Doby,. Jim Hegan and Al Rosen were some of my favorite players.

Bob Patterson, VHS 1954

Reply To Bob:

Parkersburg has always been a good sports town. I seem to remember Steve Swisher playing college ball in Ohio. The first time I ever saw complete basketball warm-up suits were on the Parkersburg Big Red at a W.Va. state tournament in the old Field House in Morgantown. Boy, was I impressed.

Most colleges have "Caravans" to various cities in their state. Just before we left Sarasota in May, Jimbo Fisher and his Seminoles had a golf outing at the country club where we live. It is usually a fund raiser, plus a payback for local supporters of the programs.

Those Cleveland teams of the late 40's and early 50's were great teams. They used to draw huge crowds to old Municipal Stadium on the lakefront.

By the way, you left out a very good shortstop, Lou Boudreau, who may have been the last player/manager. (Does anyone remember one after Lou B.?)

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



To Bill:

In the late 1950's I discovered baseball. My favorite National League team was the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the American League, it was the Yankees. I liked these teams, because of family ties.

My dad was a Pirate fan. One of my uncles was a Yankee fan.

I can remember one summer afternoon; my dad roused me to listen to a game he was listening intently to. It was Harvey Haddix and the Pirates vs the Milwaukee Braves. Haddix was apparently on the way to a perfect game. I recall, Haddix was still pitching as Adcock, Mathews and Aaron broke up the perfection and Haddix lost the game in extra innings.

My favorite players were Bob Skinner and Dick (Dr Strange Glove) Stuart on the Pirates and Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra on the Yanks.

I saw my first major league game my fourth grade summer. It was the Cubs vs Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field in Chicago. It was an afternoon game. There were no tainted lights there yet I do miss the old ballparks. I loved Forbes Field. I despised the little league field that the hated Cincy Reds played in. (ed. Crosley Field) It had the terrace in the outfield and was a band box. My boss, at one point of my life, was Mike McCormick of the NY/ SF Giants, who was a Cy Young award winner. I saw the Cy Young Award, it was awesome. I batted against him at a company picnic. Candlestick Park sold more hot chocolate than beer, even in the afternoons. I hear telephone company park, ( I don't recall who has the naming rights today, Pac Bell/ SBS/ ATT) is supposed to be a good place, or so my daughter says of her experience.

Wayne Winters, W I 1966 (Had I not moved in 1964) Now living in Sacramento, CA

Reply To Wayne:

I can vividly recall the game in which Harvey Haddix had a perfect game for more than nine innings. I was working at a service station in Morgantown, while attending WVU. Too bad that he lost it in, I believe, the 13th inning. I agree that Crosley Field in Cincinnati was not among my favorite places to watch baseball. Of course, neither was it's replacement, Riverfront Stadium. None of those "Perfect Circles" (In Pittsburgh, Atlanta Cincinnati, Philly, and St. Louis) had any character at all.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



To Bill:

To Bill: I am going to send an answer to all of your requested subjects in one E-mail, as for me, they are all closely related to each other.

My favorite team during my upbringing in Clarksburg was the Pittsburgh Pirates. It just seemed to be the “local” professional team to root for and it was the only professional baseball team that I can remember going to see play while I was living in Clarksburg. Since I moved to Washington, D.C. a year or so after graduating in 1961, I only went to see the (then) Washington Senators once. I think that the price of parking, tickets and food at the baseball field here in the Washington, D.C. area are and have always been a little too steep for my liking. Not that I could not afford the prices, but it just seemed like the price of everything just kept going up and up and up. I guess when professional baseball players demand higher salaries, the money has to come from somewhere and I decided that I needed my money more than they did.

My favorite players were Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski, and they played in the old Forbes Field, when I used to go there with my father. I think it was Forbes Field. I do remember that it seemed to be right in downtown Pittsburgh and my father would always complain about the parking situation and parking prices. BUT, he enjoyed baseball as much as I did, so we would go whenever we could afford it. My father always supported my playing baseball and would take me to most of my games, and make those “post game discussion”, get HIS POINT across, as to how I should have done something different during and/or after the game.

I do not miss the OLD BALLPARKS, as I quit going to professional baseball and football games, as every time I saw a football player run up and down the field, and/or a baseball player strike out 3 times in one game, I always thought that I was watching dollar bills playing the game instead of people.

John Teter, W I 1961

P.S. It is interesting that I have never read an article in the “sports section” that has had to do with NASCAR, and it may be because I do not know of anybody (off hand – without really looking) that was from West Virginia and involved in NASCAR. I know that John Jett (married to Marilyn TUSTIN Jett) is now involved in NASCAR, but I do not remember John being from Clarksburg.

Reply To John:

Since we were so close to Pittsburgh, and several local stations carried the games, I, too, followed the Pirates. I remember listening to Rosie Roswell, the announcer. His "Open the window Aunt Minnie, here she comes", when a Bucco hit a home run, still brings a smile to my face, whenever I recall the words.

Forbes field was not an easy place to find a parking place or to watch a game. I remember one time, when we had seats, but couldn't see the scoreboard. After the game, we returned to our car, only to find a ticket on the windshield. Not a fun day!

Ticket prices are getting ridiculous. A friend of mine paid over $200.00 per seat at a Tampa Bay Rays game a couple of years ago. Way too rich for my blood. As far as NASCAR goes, I'd love to hear from anyone, who would like to add this to our discussions. I watch it occasionally, and know something about the sport. It certainly has become popular.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



To Bill:

I've been a Yankee fan since 6th or 7th grade. I really don't remember why. I've followed them through Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Yogi Berra, Roger Maris, Bucky Dent, Don Mattingly and a lot more, to Derek Jeter and A-Rod. And one of my favorites is Mariano Rivera. The Yankees are the only baseball team I ever watch on TV.

By the way, The only basketball team I ever liked, just won the NBA championship. I've liked them since they were the Minneapolis Lakers with George Mikan.

Judy Kimler, W I 1959

Reply To Judy:

Good to hear from you, Judy. Many people, nationwide, are Yankee fans. (I can think of one W I grad, who went to one of their fantasy camps). They are winners, with a great history and great players, year after year. Recently, and maybe in earlier years, it has been about money. George Steinbrenner has the money, and is not afraid to spend it on quality players. Let's face it, to the rest of the world, the N Y Yankees ARE American baseball.

While living in Columbus, we were fortunate enough to have seen many of the future Yankee stars play for the Class AAA, Columbus Clippers, then a Yankee farm team. Speaking of money, someday, when you have time, calculate how much A-Rod makes each time he comes up to bat. The amount is amazing.

I, too, have liked the Lakers, starting with the years when Jerry West played for them. Their current coach isn't too bad, either.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



Greg Merrill, W I 1966, sent the following article. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

PITTSBURGH PIRATES BEAT YANKEES IN 1960 WORLD SERIES

submitted by: Greg Merrill (WI '66)

One of the greatest world series occurred in 1960 when Bill Mazeroski in the bottom of the 9th inning of game 7 hit a home run over the vine covered left center Forbes Field wall to beat the New York Yankees 10-9. I was 12 years old in 1960 and loved the game of baseball. I would spend most of my summer playing baseball on a field across the street from my house next to WHAR radio station at the bottom of Bridgeport Hill.

The field had its own cement wall in center and right about 15 feet tall. It was actually a retaining wall but was ideal for us young baseball players. Most of the kids were from Despard and would eventually go to Victory High School. Our field would later be developed as the Compton Bowling Alleys. As a 12 year old I was actively involved with Little League and played for Compton. Our Summit Park field was the remains of a coal’s mine sledge and was hard as a rock. If you slid into a base either your uniform was torn or your body hurting. Compton did well during my 3 years of playing little league ball. We either won the championship or runner-up every year.


I just read a book by John Moody called “Kiss It Good-Bye”. It’s the story of one of my favorite Pittsburgh Pirates, Vernon Law. Law grew up in a small town in Idaho, made it to the big leagues and won 3 of the 4 games in the 1960 world series. He joined the Pirates organization because of Bing Crosby, the singer, who owned part of the organization. It was a fascinating book with Moody sharing his thoughts while growing up in Pittsburg. It reminded me of my days growing up playing baseball in Clarksburg. Moody takes you play by play, game by game during the historic 1960 world series. Vernon Law spoke to our church youth group that year and I got a baseball signed by him. Still have it today though the ink is fading. One of my other favorite Pirates was Roberto Clemente. I saw him play once at Forbes field. I sat in right field bleachers and was astounded by his arm. He could throw a runner out on 3rd base from deep right field. As you may remember, not only was he a great baseball player but a good person. He died at a young age in a plane crash providing service to others, taking humanitarian needs back to his native country.



We didn’t have summer football, soccer, basketball camps and leagues back in those days, just baseball. It was every young baseball players dream to make it to the big league and the Pittsburgh Pirates gave us that hope by winning the 1960 World Series.



Below is a link to a series of YouTube film clips. There are a couple of interesting pieces about old Mountaineer Field, plus some others you may like. We were in Morgantown recently, and if you didn't know where the stadium was located, you wouldn't know it ever existed. I spent many hours in the old stands, some good, some bad. A lot of memories there.

Our thanks to Diana Shablack Sandy, W I 1969, for sharing this with us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPeCh0wkIg



To Bill:

Since I love the WI newsletter and do not want to spend one month without it, I will tell you a sports story.

The 1960 class already knows this, but I would like to share it with other graduates. I never scored any points against Victory my first three years (I didn't play that much my freshman year) in football. Dad, being a Victory graduate, told me he would give me $20.00 for every point I scored. Since I kicked, Dad felt I wouldn't score, or, if someone else did, I could kick the extra point for the $20.00. Well, the first play from scrimmage, I broke loose through a huge hole and was heading for the end zone, which looked like $120.00 to me, when, untouched, I fumbled the ball and they recovered. I said someone really got the horns on me. Anyway, I scored 16 points, to make this a little shorter story. But, the real reason I wrote this, is because John McFarlin found me wide open in the end zone and I really did not see the ball. I just saw 120 smackers, when out of nowhere; Danny Pettry stepped in front of me and caught the touchdown pass. When I told this at our 40th reunion, I reminded Danny that he still owes me $120.00, LOL. I told dad to take me out to dinner. Love you guys.

Bob Secret, WI 1960

Reply To Bob:

Great story. For those of you who don't remember, $20.00 was a lot of money back in the late 50's. $120.00 was a fortune for a young man to have. Bob, I don't know how many points you scored while at W I, but I would guess that had someone paid you $20.00 per point, you could have bought a pretty nice house and probably a car, and still had some money left for gas.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)


QUESTIONS FOR THIS MONTH

1. Fall football practice begins in August for the high schools. We have had some discussions in the past about this, but many of you had interesting experiences during these hot, grueling times. I'm sure some are very funny. Were you allowed to drink water during practice? If not, what did you do to relieve your thirst? Do you have a story to share?

2. Bob Secret wrote this month about a WI-Victory football game. That was a big rivalry. Did these schools have other big rivals? How about RW, Bridgeport, Notre Dame/St. Marys, Salem, Shinnston, West Milford and the other schools. Who were your biggest rivals? Do you have a special memory about any of them? With all of the consolidations, what are the big rivalries today?

3. There have been many great high school athletes who grew up in North Central West Virginia. Who do you think were the best? What made them great? List both overall and individual sports. I expect a large variety of answers, since our readers cover such a wide time period. Every class had its own special athlete.

Send your answers and comments to Bill (billmere@aol.com)



MY YEAR AT CENTRAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
1951-1952

submitted by: Gloria Hunter Kennedy Santa Monica HS '57
huntknn@aol.com


After six years at Morgan Grade School, walking uphill almost a mile from Alexander Avenue, back down for lunch, up again and then home at the end of the day (between 3 1/2 and 4 miles a day), it was a relief to be able to ride the bus downtown to Central. Sometimes there was a special City bus which picked us up in front of Webb's Confectionery, both in the morning and after lunch. For that I merely walked up Alexander to the old streetcar tracks and walked down the tracks to Traction. Of course, since the streetcars abandoned the tracks in 1946, there was an occasional train using them, receiving or delivering goods to the factories down Bridge Street, so there was always a concern about what to do in case a train was using the track. As far as I recall, there never was, but I was prepared to jump onto the bank across the scummy water into the greenery. My sister is almost five years younger than I, so this was very scary to her---at Disneyland there is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride with a fake train headlight and loud whistle near the end of the ride which still never fails to send her into shrieks of terror.

I remember that a bus waited outside the school (in front of Towers School) to take us home to Hartland for lunch. After school I caught the City bus on Pike Street, counting my books over and over in case I had dropped one (no book bags, no backpacks). We had a yellow card which allowed us to ride the bus for a nickel. One time in the winter when the West Fork was flooded between Camden and Liberty, the bus stopped at the foot of Camden and the driver refused to drive across the bridge. I remember walking on the wooden sidewalk with cracks between the boards and knotholes in the wood, and seeing the water about two feet below rushing down the river.

The first week of school I walked past the First Methodist Church on the corner of 2nd and Pike without particularly noticing it (I had been taken to a wedding there when I was about 3, and had admired the large round colored glass window). After that weekend, when the church burned up, all that was left was a brick shell, broken out windows, and charred wood. This remained for the entire school year as an eyesore which after a while became part of the landscape.

Entering Central, the first room on the right was Mrs. Ferguson's, which was my home room. I was disappointed that the two girls I had most associated with at Morgan were not in my homeroom, namely Rita Drummond and Nancy Hamilton. Of course some of the kids I had known at Morgan were in my room. I can think of Barbara Sutton, Howard Creighton III (who died in a traffic accident during the school year), and I think David Hutson and Andy Hamilton were there. Some of the people who were new to me were Cheryl Langlet, Paula Morris (my locker partner), Denny Pickens, Betty Carr, and Gary Robey. Denny PIckens was always carrying a French textbook around with her, and the last I heard from her she was in France studying for a Ph.D. in French. Unfortunately I could not decipher the return address to keep up the correspondence.

Straight ahead across the hall was the homeroom of more of my former classmates from Morgan. Further along was Mr. Lowther's office. I never had a personal interaction with the principal, unless perhaps it was buying a bag of popcorn from him. The large popcorn machine was wheeled out from somewhere and set up outside Mrs. Ferguson's room, and he made the popcorn. I think this occurred at lunchtime but I never stayed at school for lunch except for a couple of days when my Mother left us and went to her mother's house in Columbus, OH. I think she realized pretty quickly that home was a better situation and she came back in a few days. Otherwise the popcorn was made whenever there was a basketball game in the gym... perhaps also after school.

We marched in line from classroom to classroom as a group, and sometimes if I had forgotten a book from my locker, I hoped to be able to quickly open my locker and retrieve it. The locker I shared with Paula Morris was between our homeroom and Miss Switzer's English class. There was not supposed to be any talking in the halls as we changed rooms, and I don't remember anything above a whisper.

Miss Switzer re-arranged our seating after every test, starting with the front left seat as we faced the blackboard. That seat was usually mine, and I am embarrassed to say I never gave a thought to how the other students felt about their seating until I was teaching math in junior college in my 30's and realized that even C students had a life and in fact were usually more interesting people than the A students. In English we learned how to diagram sentences, and we had to memorize a list of 43 prepositions (in, on, into, to, at, by, for, from,of,.......). I think we also were expected to memorize Whittier's poem "Barbara Frietchie " ("'Shoot, if you must, this old gray head, But spare your country's flag,' she said." ) Looking back on it, I suppose that was because Stonewall Jackson was mentioned, and he was born close to Clarksburg.

The math room of Mr. Moore was at the opposite end of the hall from English. Mr. Moore kept a running tally of stars on the blackboard of students who had 100% on the weekly quizzes. Again, in my generally unobservant state, I did not think about how the other students felt, just how awful it would be if I did not get 100%. The last room at that end of the hall before heading down or up stairs was the music room. At the beginning of the school year we had a young man named Mr. Green who was teaching us to sing "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...." but he suddenly disappeared. We heard he had been drafted (this was during the Korean conflict) and then we had Mrs. Rice. She taught us to sing (from Humperdinck's opera "Hansel and Gretel"), the prayer "Now I lay me down to sleep, fourteen angels 'round me creep, ...", and about the various musical instruments.

Across the hall from the music room was the science room. I think Miss Hayes was a rather new teacher, but she put together a credible science course. She performed all the experiments herself and told us what to write in the lab notebook, which I still have. One day she came in and said her house had burned down and the clothes she was wearing were all she had. We each had to be able to rattle off in 5 seconds the bones of the body: cranium, spinal column, ribs, clavicle, scapula, sternum, pelvis, humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges, femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges). From helping me practice this, my younger brother also ended up memorizing the list.

The art room was halfway down the stairs towards the girls' gym from Miss Switzer's English room. I was not a very good art student. The girls' restroom was at that end of the hall, I suppose the boys' was at the other end. Unlike at Morgan School, where there were no doors on the stalls except the teachers' stall, and we would stand in front of our friends to act as doors, there were doors at Central. However, I seem to remember they did not lock, so we stood in front of our friends to hold the door shut.

I only had occasion to go upstairs at Central for homemaking class (sewing), the Halloween parade around the halls, and one time for study hall. I think Mrs. Ferguson must have had the flu. While sitting in the study hall, supervised by Miss Cannon, I felt ill, and had heard such scary things about her that I just started crying. She was very kind, realized that I had caught the current flu, and arranged for me to go home. I always wondered if she remembered me from when I lived on South Seventh Street diagonally across from her house, when I was 4 and 5 years old. My mother had Miss Cannon when she first moved to Clarksburg about 1931. Also, I know there was a school library somewhere in the building because we were taken there once or twice to prepare our county reports for West Virginia history.

In PE, the girls had one piece bloomer suits in royal blue. We played ring toss, which had something like volleyball rules only with throwing and catching the rubber ring. I had my own ring and took it with me when we moved West in the summer of 1952. I never saw that game again when I lived in California. Miss Stealey seemed to me rather a large gym instructor and would come into the dressing room between classes. One time she discovered that one of the girls did not know about what a young teenage girl needed to know and proceeded to tell her just enough to embarrass the poor girl.

Whenever there was a basketball game in the boys' gym, we were excused from class if we wanted to attend, but at first I, having no interest in watching other people play sports (still don't), stayed in the classroom. I soon realized that nothing of an academic nature was going to take place so that the teacher would not have to repeat the subject when the other students came back. So I went to the basketball games.

Central was so close to the Clarksburg Dairy that every day nickels would be collected from those who wanted milk, chocolate or white, and a member was sent there from each class to collect the milk bottles on a tray. I only did that one time, perhaps I looked too scrawny to be able to carry the tray of bottles. I remember at Morgan I was sent out to clap the erasers on the flagpole to clean them only one time (this was a privilege, not a punishment). There may have been some directive from my parents to keep me in from the cold, or perhaps I was such a really, really good child that I was not noticed.

From more recent e-mail exchanges with Barbara Sutton Elder, I discovered that there were sorority-type clubs at the school which I had known nothing about. Since I went directly home after school, I imagine there was a lot I didn't know about what went on outside of class. Unlike my years at Morgan, I did not miss school due to illness at Central until the flu in the Spring. Even so, my father had me tested for allergies over Christmas vacation (over 100 needle pricks on the arms) and convinced the internist that I needed a change of climate, so we moved West that summer. We were in Phoenix about 6 weeks, then on to the Los Angeles area, where I lived 45 years before moving to Oregon at last in 1997.

There was very little interaction between students during the school day, we stayed with the same class all day, with the possible exception of science, PE, and homemaking/shop. There was almost no interaction between classes on the two "sides" of the hall. It could be that if I had stayed for grade eight things might have been different, or maybe students mingled if they brought their lunch.

For the eighth grade I attended Bret Harte Junior High in Los Angeles, where my Clarksburg education had prepared me to excel. My first class at Bret Harte was arithmetic. The students were talking loudly when Mr. Duernberger walked in. They just kept on talking! I had been stood in the corner in the second grade because Mrs. Heinzman walked into the room as I was whispering to Danny Kelly asking how he had broken his arm.

In the ninth grade it was Lincoln Junior High in Santa Monica, then Santa Monica High School, UCLA, Long Beach State College (later named California State University at Long Beach), where I met my husband. As a former perennial student, until the seats got too hard, whenever I order my transcripts I have to get them from UCLA, UCLA graduate school, CSULB, Santa Monica CC, Long Beach CC, CSU Northridge, Cal Poly Pomona, UC Davis, Claremont Graduate School, and UC Extension. Also, once having taught, I find it difficult to sit still and listen instead of trying to take over the class! So now I just concentrate on my family and my family tree.



ROBERT C. BYRD
November 20, 1917- June 28, 2010

As you probably know a WV hero has passed away. Robert Byrd was very instrumental in bringing life back to WV, thru federal fundings, when the state hit the hard times with the closing of many factories, coal mines and businesses. He certainly represented his state. He was elected to the WV House of Delegates in 1946, the WV State Senate in 1950, the US House of Representatives in 1952 and the US Senate in 1958. In 2009 he became the longest-serving member of both houses of Congress.

Yesterday we received our July copy of "WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA" and how ironic that they honored Senator Robert Byrd in this issue. Wonderful West Virginia Magazine The salute they did was printed before his death.

You can also read a salute to him at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/us/politics/29byrd.html?pagewanted=1&hp




OBITUARIES

PATRICIA ANN FLETCHER DOBBIE HUFF

Patricia Ann Fletcher Dobbie Huff, 87, of Lake Floyd, passed away June 1, 2010, in the United Hospital Center following a brief illness.

She was born May 30, 1923, a daughter of the late Ward B. Fletcher and Ada Irene Spur Fletcher.

Twice married, she was preceded in death by her first husband, William Clark Dobbie Jr. and by her second husband, Gard Huff.

Pat was a graduate of Washington Irving High school and attended Ohio University where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. She was a member of Junior League in Parkersburg and Fairmont and a member of P.E.O. Chapter R in Fairmont.



WANDA PHYLLIS MARPLE LAYFIELD

CLARKSBURG — Mrs. Wanda Phyllis Marple Layfield, age 77, passed away at her residence with her caregivers at her side, her son, Donald Layfield and Janice Henrey, his companion.

Wanda was born April 15, 1933, in Harrison County, WV, a daughter of the late Harold “Mike” Marple and Dora M. Alkire Marple. Wanda lost her Mom when she was 15 years old. At the age of 19, on June 7, 1952, she married her husband of nearly 53 years, Denver Ray Layfield, who preceded her in death June 2, 2005.

When growing up Wanda attended Quiet Dell Elementary School and Roosevelt- Wilson High School.



ALFRED LEE DODD

Alfred Lee Dodd of Shinnston, WV, died on May 24, 2010.

Alfred was born in Clarksburg, WV, on March 14, 1947, a son of the late Alfred Dodd and Betty Watson Dodd of Wilsonburg.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Marie Snyder Dodd, whom he married on December 31, 1969.

Alfred was a graduate of Victory High School and was a cemeterian with Greenlawn Masonic Cemetery for over 20 years. He was an avid bowler and a New York Yankees fan.



SHIRLEY JEANNIE CONAWAY JONES
(WI 1956)

submitted by: Shirley Heidelmeier Williams

Wanted to inform you that Shirley Jeannine Conaway Jones (WI 1956) passed away around late April. She lived in the Clarksburg Bridgeport area. I could not find her obit in the newspaper on line but it was in the paper. She was shown at Davis Funeral Home on Rt. 98. Her 3 children, mother Opal, brother Eugene and sister Karen survive. She had attended several of 1956 class reunions.



CHARLES ARTHUR MCGLUMPHY
(WI 1961)





THURMAN RAY NUTTER
North View JHS and Victory High Class of 1958

CLARKSBURG — Mr. Thurman Ray Nutter, age 70, of Pace, FL, (formerly of Clarksburg, WV), passed away in Pensacola, Florida, Tuesday, June 15, 2010. He was the son of the late Delbert and Esther Dotson Nutter.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Carrie Danette Nutter and two brothers, Wesley B. and Harold E. Nutter.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Griffin Nutter; daughters, Deborah Jo Godfrey and Karen Ray Nutter; stepsons, Scot T. Norman, Lee S. Gillum and Loren S. Gillum; a stepdaughter, Kim Harnett; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.



MARGARET E. PORTER HUNTER
(WI 1937)

submitted by: Gloria Hunter Kennedy Santa Monica HS 1957

Margaret Elizabeth Porter was born 3 May 1919 died June 10, 2010 at the age of 91. At the time her parents were living with her maternal grandparents, and their daughter Catherine Louise Tubman (Margaret's aunt, married name Dollings) was born 1 July 1919. Both girls grew us together as best friends. Margaret married Clarence Hunter at the First Baptist Church in Clarksburg shortly after her graduation. They had two daughters and a son. All three earned college degrees. Margaret (later with Clarence) lived in many places. Later in life, she moved to Knoxville, TN. She lived near her daughter Carol and they enjoyed taking trips together and daily contact at dinnertime. Eventually Alzheimer's affected Margaret's ability to live alone and her daughter Carol (Hunter) Tokay and son-in-law Stephen took her into their home and cared for her, later with the aid of Hospice, until finally she went to Shannondale, a care facility near the Tokays.

Contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer Foundation in her name.







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