THE WI NEWSLETTER 08/11

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 144

August 2011

TO THE READERS:
If you wish to make a comment on or about one of the articles in this newsletter, please send comments, etc. to Roleta1@aol.com.

If one of these articles causes you to have a memory, write and share it with us…write to Roleta1@aol.com

You need not be a writer…you just send your ideas, comments or stories to me. Just remember to put a period at the end of the thought or sentence. If I need to make some major changes, I will work up your story and send it back to you for approval before I publish it.

To those who do write often---Judy and I thank you for making this newsletter so special for so many.

WALKING THE TRACKS
submitted by: Bill Bryan (RW '57)
As a 14 year old, David Shinn and I would walk the tracks from Broadway to Stonewood to practice Babe Ruth League baseball for the Nutter Fort Lions (at Norwood Park). I usually would try to walk the rail and would fall off somewhere along the way. (Many days we would thumb from Marshall St. and would get rides pretty quickly in those days.) For some reason, we started to walk from Philippi Pike one day. That day I walked the rail to the end of the track past Stonewood, and back down to Buchannon Pike without falling off! I was quite proud. But sadly, that feat never improved my hitting, even through high school!

THOSE WHO GAVE
Thanks so much to Herb Cashdollar, living in Texas, for the generous check he sent to the WIN Scholarship. Herb is a 1957 graduate from Roosevelt Wilson High School. I certainly appreciate your continued support and I know the recipients of the scholarship thank you also.

If you would like to give a gift please write your check or money order to: Roleta Meredith /WIN Scholarship.

Mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219

THANK YOU NOTE TO YOU FROM BRADLEY LEDSOME
WINNER OF ONE OF THE 2011 WIN SCHOLARSHIPS
Roleta Meredith, WI Newsletter Scholarship Foundation

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to express my deep appreciation for the $3000.00 scholarship awarded me from the WI Newsletter Foundation. I have a family history of those who attended WI High School. My great grandmother graduated in 1944, my grandmother in 1969, and my mother in 1985. My family and I are very proud of this scholarship.

I am from a single-parent home, and I have a 16-year-old sister who will be a junior and a 14-year-old brother who will be a freshman at RCB next year. My mother does in-home care for a health care agency, and my father lives in Wilkes-Barre, PA where he works for the VA Hospital. He comes to Clarksburg twice a month, if possible, to see me and my sister and brother. I also have a close relationship with my maternal grandparents who live in Bridgeport and work at the FBI.

I presently work for the Kroger Corporation at East Point in Clarksburg and have been there for over a year and a half working as a cashier, supervisor, and file maintenance (pricing) assistant, along with going to school. I have also worked as a courtesy clerk and will soon be trained in the seafood department to help out. It is nice to get experience all around the store when possible. I also mow lawns in the spring and summer, and this past fall and winter I delivered newspapers in the mornings before school. I pay for my vehicle, gasoline, clothes, and cell phone to help out at home. I feel I have gained responsibility and independence from working. I plan to continue working at Kroger while in college as long as I can, and if my college location and schedule allows.

I attend church when I can and I not working. I attended a church retreat in Virginia last April with a youth group I try to participate in when time allows.

I played on the RCB soccer, basketball and tennis teams while in high school. I was only able to play one year of basketball and tennis due to a rough schedule. I was more focused on my academics because I felt that is what was going to get me somewhere one of these days. I was able to play soccer through my junior year. I also played on different Harrison County soccer and basketball teams as I grew up. I try to live a healthy lifestyle and stay as active as I possibly can. Sports have always been my passion and will always stay that way. I watch all kinds of different sports, but I focus my attention on WVU football and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I have been fortunate to have had many good teachers at RCB and have great respect for them, and I have received their respect and help also. I have made many friends in high school that I will always remember, and some will remain into adulthood.

I have always strived to maintain a high grade point average and to make the honor roll with the hopes of earning college scholarships. My goal and dream is to become a doctor in oncology or anesthesiology, and I have a great interest in cancer research. Cancer has taken everyone in my family in my lifetime and that has led me to have a great interest in fighting this horrible disease and trying to find a cure. Let us all join this fight and maybe one day we will find a cure. I have now been accepted and enrolled in pre-med at Fairmont State University. I am certain as I continue to pursue my medical career I will have to attend other universities, but I am happy to begin my college career at Fairmont University.

I need financial support for college, and this scholarship will help me tremendously in paying my college tuition and expenses. It has definitely aided my college financial security for the coming year and has helped give me and my family some peace of mind about the finances. I am very grateful to the WI Newsletter Scholarship for selecting and supporting me in my future education.

I look forward to keeping in touch with you and letting you know how my classes are going and the progress I am making.

Thank you and the WI Newsletter Scholarship Fund very much

Sincerely yours,
Bradley W. Ledsome
bled555@hotmail.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: I have included Brad's email address in case any of you would like to write to him with a few words of encouragement or help.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Fred Layman recently sent me a list of some of the former Clarksburg businesses and their locations. Read the list. Would you like to share your memories of any of these businesses? Or do you remember other businesses that once were located in Clarksburg? Write to Roleta1@aol.com

FORMER BUSINESS PLACES
submitted by: Fred G. Layman (VHS '46)
Sanitary Hot Dog: W.Pike St.; United Cigar Store: W.Pike St.; Wells Haymaker Drug Store: W. Main St.; Watts-Sartor Lear: W. Main St.; Prunty Bldg.: W.Main St.; Empire Laundry: Bottom of hill, W. Main St.; Western Union: W.Main St.; Hagan Ice Cream: W.Main St.; O.P.O. Clothing Store: Third St.; Orpheum Theatre: Moved from 4th St. to Main St.; Clarksburg Paint Store: 2nd St.; Western Auto: 203 N. 4th St.; Auto Trading: 2nd St.; Pecks Auto Dodge: Peck St., West End.; Imperial Ice Cream: 525 Clark St.; Diamond Shoe Parlor: W. Pike St.; Home Furniture: East Main St.; Rail Way Express; B.andO. Train Rail Way Station.; White Top Taxi: 525 Hewes Ave.; Moyle-Stanton Joyce Cleaners: 634 Monticello Ave.; Sanitary Laundry: 101 E. Pike St; Arlenes Dress Shop: 355 W.Main St.; The Style Shop: 125 S. 4th St.; Smart Shop: W. Main St.; Moskins Clothing Store: 325 W.Pike St.; Burl Thorp Cleaners: 100 E. Main St.; Carnation Milk: Rt. 50 West.; C.C.Keys Music: 224 W.Pike St.; Ryders Grocery: 507 S.5th St.; Pittsburg Plate: Anmoore; Meyer Siegel Jeweler: N. 4th St, Waldo hotel Bldg; Maiden Form: Corner Main and Monticello; Candy Land: Corner W.Pike and 4Th St.

submitted by: Bette Miller (WI '48)

Wow, I loved the you tube singer from Logan WV. Mr. Landau Murphy Jr. Thanks so much for making me aware of his performance. I hope everyone will watch him and be as proud as I am. Roleta, you just keep keeping on with this wonderful newsletter. My sincere thanks for all you do.

submitted by: Tim Corsini (WI '51)

Thank you for your prompt response in restoring my email address to the WI newsletter. It's a great piece and your efforts and accomplishments are appreciated.

submitted by: Martha Jefferies (WI '55)

I was so touched by the note written by Patty Ford about my mother, Louise Jeffries. I wish that she were here to read it as well. Thank you, Patty.

submitted by: Mary Virginia (Duncan-Johnson) Wilke (WI '55)

I meant to tell you how much I enjoyed the poem "Mountain Top Peace" at the beginning of your Newsletter this month! It expresses so much of my memories of West Virginia.

A LITTLE THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER

SHARING SOME MEMORIES:
submitted by: Mary Virginia (Duncan - Johnson) Wilke (WI '55)
Thought I had better write a little something this month since it's been awhile. Concerning the subjects suggested in this month's letter:

I look forward and read the WI Newsletter each month and enjoy everything that is written. Sometimes I see someone I went to school with and enjoy their stories of their current lives or memories! Sometimes I see where someone passed on and remembrances occur.

I collect bells and so several years ago, I visited Fenton Glass Company and bought a bell for me and one for my daughter, Michea Lynn, who was born in WV also. I remember the marbles from the plant around Clarksburg, but unfortunately did not keep any of those. I do, however, have a brick that says "Grafton Block T.F.B.C. Clarksburg, WV" It was in my sister's collection and I have no idea what it was for. Maybe someone can tell me. I keep it for sentimental reasons.

On the subject of visiting my Grandmother Carrie Duncan, she lived in Clarksburg on Horner Ave. with her daughter, Madge and I loved to visit her and she would play croquet with me, let me try on and play dress up with long, fancy dresses from a trunk in the attic. I stayed with her when my Aunt Madge was away on trips and then she would bake fantastic apple dumplings and custard pies. Between her and my Mom, I learned to bake. She and my Mom taught me the basic steps for crocheting, knitting, sewing and embroidering. She always encouraged me to sing and recite poems. She was always there for me but unfortunately passed away when I was thirteen.

I traveled a lot by train from Clarksburg to Martinsburg, Va. during the summer months. I visited my sister, Betty and her husband, Arthur, from June through August and they would pick me up from the train and we would drive to Boonsboro, Maryland where they resided. That gave my Mom a break from worrying about me as she worked. The train was usually the Centennial and was quite fine. I usually played a lot of Solitaire and wasn't bothered by many people. The conductors were always nice and I think watched after me in the beginning days.

On the subject of America's Got Talent, I love that show! Landau Eugene Murphy Jr has a wonderful voice and I hope he makes it to the finals. Sounds exactly like Frank Sinatra!

This past newsletter, John Teter wrote a piece concerning visiting his Grandmother in Bridgeport. I wonder if that is the same Teter residence I visited many times as a child. The house was at the bottom of the hill on Main Street. We lived on Gordon Street. I remember playing with a jar that was studded with all different buttons.

Things were much different in the past, so innocent and safe. I was born in Bridgeport and lived there until I was nine years old. There were no class differences. Every neighbor cared about each other. We were Methodists, but if something was going on at the Baptist Church, we attended there, also. Lots of pot luck dinners, community gatherings and the volunteer fireman's carnival every year. Parents didn't have to worry about their children. We played all over town and were welcomed into every home.

Well, that's all for now. Hope I didn't bore you. Looking forward to next issue of newsletter! Thank you again.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A great letter filled with all sorts of memories. I hope no one scanned over this one because there are many people, places and things within that would stir up memories.

HOME TOWN THOUGHTS:
submitted by: John A Teter (WI '61)
I am proud of being from Clarksburg, West Virginia as well as being from West Virginia in general. I think that I have come a long way in this lifetime and it all started with me being from Clarksburg, West Virginia.

The only reason that I left was that there was no work for me to do back in 1962, so when I came up to the Washington, D.C. area to visit my sister and brother-in-law, I just decided to look for employment in this area and I found a job and the rest is history, as I have been here ever since that "visit".

I do not understand the people that ridicule West Virginians, as I think that there have been quite a few very influential people in history that have come out of "them there hills" and Robert Byrd was one that stands out from recent times. Stonewall Jackson was one from earlier times, and I could go on for a long time naming the people that have been contributors to our present lives. AND, country singer Brad Paisley is a former West Virginian - AND, proud of it as is reflected in some of his mega hits.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Can you name some people from West Virginia who have become "famous"? Write to Roleta1@aol.com. Name the person and the reason that person is famous.

READING, REMEMBERING AND SHARING MEMORIES
submitted by: Beverly Brown (WI '55)
I now read the WI Newsletter with regularity. The June issue brought back so many memories. Especially, the list of now former businesses. I have a story for many of those bygone places.

United Cigar: I stole a roll of wild cherry Life Savers from United Cigar when I was 9 years old. When I confessed to my mother she told me I would forever be known as the little girl who took the wild cherry Life Savers. My life of crime was snipped in the bud.

I made an almost daily lunchtime trip to Blands Drugstore. Old George, the parking lot man at the Methodist Church lot needed fresh stogies (cigars) each day and this was my mission because George was not up to the trip. George had one eye, one arm, and a missing or bummed up leg. No kidding. I earned a dime for my errand of mercy, which I spent immediately if not sooner. I'm sorry to say I do not know George's last name. He was a gentleman and a kindly person.

Montgomery Wards: My first blue jeans! When I got home from school (third grade) my dad told me he was taking me to the dentist. Imagine my surprise when we walked to "Monkey Wards" and straight to the jean's section of the boy's department. Life was never the same. I was the best runner and tree climber around.

Moore's Opera House: I loved the cowboy movies, the serials, and the low-cost tickets. One afternoon my cousin, Fred Fernandez, and I each bought a Bazooka bubble gum to chew during the movie. We chewed all the pieces in the pack at one time. My jaws ached and I think I swore off gum on that day. It was just as well because my mother would not have it in her home.

Eva Doud: Is this Ms. Douds from the Robinson Grand? She hired me to work the concession stand. One of the other managers told me the candy was inventoried each day. This was shortly before I was "promoted" to ushering duties.

Sanitary Hot Dogs: My Aunt Ernestine Minardi told me Sanitary Hot Dogs were the best in the world. This was until she had one from Selario's Ritz Lunch. Too bad, she did not live long enough to enjoy one from Pete Fragale's (D and P)

I was born in Spelter and rode the streetcar from there to Clarksburg from an early age until we moved to Beech Street in Clarksburg when I was five. The street car ran right by the apartment house in which we lived. I sat on the sundeck with my sisters as we watched the Air Raid Warden make his rounds during WWII. My friend, Aaron, gave away his metal toys for the war effort and my family saved Carnation milk cans for the cause.

Washington-Irving's auditorium really brought back some good times. Has anyone responded to the question, "why did we call it chapel"? Lunch time in the auditorium was always fun with plenty of students to make it interesting. One such student, we dubbed her Cleo, started dancing on the stage each noon hour. The lunch crowd grew larger and louder until Principal Cubbon got wind of the show and shut us down. I hope Cleo went on to a career in dance that did not involve a pole. She really had the goods.

Some of my happiest days were spent in Glen Elk. I had many friends there with whom I began first grade and attended school with most through high school. Some of my great memories are with my friends:
Patty "Babe" Tiano
Patricia Oliverio
Mary Katherine Oliverio
Eleanor Ciancio
Bobby Lynch
Jimmy Moore
Angelina Bombardiere
Marshall "Bumpy" Goots

My family shopped at Policano's for groceries, Palladino's for donuts, Tomara's for bread. I played softball in the Bakery Alley, sledded down the steepest hill not far from the train station. I played in box cars and sneaked into a caboose parked along the tracks. Trains fascinate me to this day. Love to hear that lonesome whistle blow. I met one of my very best friends just before moving across the bridge to Locust Street.

My favorite teachers at Towers were Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Ampolini (sp?). I had no favorites in Central Jr. High School. Somehow, I felt I'd alienated every teacher there. Well, Ms. Hayes was special. My high school favorites were Una Jarvis, Yvonne Tiennebrunne and Maud Yoke. However, the very best teacher in that school had to be Ms. Emily Taylor, who took time from her English and diagramming of sentences to oversee the Music Appreciation Club. God Bless them all.

My sister, Shirlene Brown Kemmer, gave her Valedictorian speech in the auditorium. I watched from the balcony with friends. Shirlene married and eventually moved to California where she longed to come home to WV. Unfortunately, Shirlene died in May. We will be bringing her home to her beloved WV when we bury her ashes in the family burial grounds at Bridgeport Cemetery.

Not to end on a sad note, Ritz Theater ran the film, "The Last Tango in Paris" with Marlon Brando. I was under strict instructions NOT to see this movie. I went anyway but I did not understand half of the dialog. Partly because of Marlon Brando's diction and partly because of my naivete. You see, it's true Mother Knows Best.

WI TEE SHIRT
submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
I plan to attend the WI Picnic on August 27th at The Veteran Park in Clarksburg (follow the signs to the location). At that time, I will have with me, several WI Tee Shirts in sizes Medium, Large and X-Large for sale for $15.00 each. The proceeds from the Tee Shirt Sales are entirely for the WIN Scholarship Fund. Be prepared to get yours then!

ALTA VISTA ELEMENTARY
submitted by: Wayne Winters (WI '66 but had to move away)

TEACHERS FROM ALTA VISTA ELEMENTARY

Listed below are the names of those pictured above.

Seated far right Mrs. Loretta Mazzie
Standing far left Miss Elizabeth Morrow 5th Grade
Standing far right Mrs. Frances Bonnert 2nd grade
To the immediate left of Mrs Mazzie (4th grade) is Miss Haley (I think) 3rd grade
Genevieve Broughten
Miss Criegler
Miss Robinson

These are pretty much guesses.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Wish to comment on these pictures or this school? …write to: Roleta1@aol.com

COME JOIN THE FUN, GOOD FOOD AND GREAT MEMORIES WILL BE SHARED
This is the last notice, so make your plans now to attend the Eleventh Annual WI Reunion Picnic to be held on Saturday, August 27, 2011, in the Osborne Shelter at Veterans (River Bend) Park off Milford St. There will be signs, balloons for all to see. You can also get to the park via the Nutter Fort area by going over Rt 98. The time is 11AM until the last one goes home...whenever that is.

Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI 1959) is in charge of this picnic. She provides the table settings for you. You will need to bring a covered dish, your own drink, and money to put in the pot to help Sharyn cover her expenses. Some people bring a folding lawn chair. Don't forget your cameras!!!

You do not have to make a reservation but she will need to know about how many to expect. If you are going to attend please write Sharyn and tell her - mtmama41@msn.com. Also, let her know if you can come early to help with the picnic --- cover tables, registration, tell people where to put their food or stay late and help clean up, etc.

I AM A GREAT GRANDMOTHER
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith

MASON WILLIAM BREIDENBACH

Born July 14, 2011
5 lbs 4 oz
18 inches long
Our first great grandchild

RE: ARTICLE IN LAST MONTH'S NEWSLETTER
"A WAKE"
submitted by: Jim Selario (WI '57)
Re: the following in your memories of your grandparents "I remember there was always someone sitting in that room while he laid there. Why? I think it was the wake? Why did someone always stay? Wonder where that tradition started?" I believe that the tradition started in the days before the deceased was embalmed. Without embalming it is theoretically possible for a person to be mistaken for dead when, in fact, they were still alive. The heartbeat could be so faint as to be undetectable; respiration could be so shallow as to be undetectable, etc. Someone stayed with the body in case they did "wake" up, hence calling it a wake.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER
submitted by: Jim Selario (WI '57)
On the subject of the newsletter, I can't believe that anyone would say that it is too long. I read it leisurely and am usually finished with it within a week. Then I have to wait three more weeks before receiving another newsletter. Keep up the GREAT WORK and don't change the newsletter unless you want to make it longer. I appreciate all of your hard work.

submitted by: Lucy Ropp Hornor (WI '54)
Thanks so much for doing this newsletter each month. What an awesome task, and how it has grown from the initial postings. WOW!

I love reading it each month; however, I don't often contribute because I didn't grow up in Clarksburg and don't know the history and neighborhoods as so many do. I'm sure there are many like me who read and don't do much writing, but we enjoy the remembrances and memories of those who do. THANK YOU for putting it all together and sending it out to us.

I was raised in Martinsburg in Berkeley Co. and we moved to Clarksburg in 1949 when I was in eighth grade. My father became the manager of Kyle and Co. School Supply Co. here. He had contacts all over the state as he had been Supt. of Sch. in Berkeley Co. for 12 yrs. and Pres. of the state organization. It was a good fit, but he had to travel all the time, so in 1954, Mother and Dad moved to Ft. Pierce, Fl. and took teaching jobs in St. Lucie Co. That was the year I started in WVU. I spent summers in Fl. and the rest of the time in Morgantown. After I graduated in 1958, Paul and I were married in Ft. Pierce and headed to Ft. Hood, TX for two years where he trained fresh recruits and fired on the Fourth Army Rifle Team. Elvis Presley was there as a draftee during that time!

When he got out of the active Army in 1960, we moved back to WV, first to Morgantown for 3 years, and then to Clarksburg where he began his engineering career with his family business, Hornor Bros. Engineers. We have lived in Harrison Co. ever since 1963. We lived on Temple Terrace in Stealey for 28 years; then built a "country" home on 7 acres on Brushy Fork Rd. It's between Quiet Dell and Anmore, complete with cows, barns, and valleys and meadows, not ours, but we overlook it all.

THE NEWSLETTER
HOW IT REALLY WORKS
submitted by: Roleta Meredith---Editor
Ever wonder how the newsletter is created? How long does it take? We have decided that it takes me an average of over 3 hours a day. (If I miss a day, I have to work longer the next time.) Remember, each letter is read, answered, copied, pasted in place into the first draft and corrected. Each letter about each different subject has to be placed with letters of like subjects.

Each picture is studied, and decided if I want to run it or not and where I want it placed in the newsletter. I indicate the placement where the picture fits in the newsletter, then the picture is sent to Judy with an explanation of its use. If Judy receives a picture from a reader she sends a copy to me for consideration. All pictures should be sent to JKimler@frontier.com. Then Judy takes care of the picture. If you don't know how to scan a picture into your computer and send it, you can take it to WalMart and make a copy very cheaply and mail it to Judy. Just email Judy and she will give you her mailing address.

Headlines for subject sections have to be determined and put into place.

Each month I try to think up subjects that will cause you to remember and write to us. If people don't write, we have a short letter. In my opinion sometime one is more interesting than other times because not too many people have written and Judy and I have to look up fillers that might be of interest to you… this takes a lot of extra time and I am against ever using fillers again.

When finished with what I think might work, I send all the printed copy to my partner of 12 years, Judy Kimler, who works her magic with colorful graphics to separate each letter and different graphics to separate each subject. She uses beautiful seasonal and topical graphics each month. She always has included a few surprise teddy bear graphics just for me as I am crazy about teddy bears. Even still have a small collection. (I will write about that sometime.)

When all of this is done, Judy places the newsletter on tripod and when it is time, you are notified that the newsletter is ready to read. It is a month long process. I hope you spend a while and look over every letter as you may miss something about someplace, or somebody you know.

So this is the way it works. Why do we do it? We do it for you. I discovered about 25 years ago that my purpose on earth is to spread LOVE and make others happy. This newsletter helps me fulfill my mission. Judy does it out of Love for others too. We hope that each month you have felt the love.

JUST WRITE to: Roleta1@aol.com

To Bill:

The discussion of the drop kick and Gene Simmons brought to mind a game at Old Mountaineer Field after Spring Practice one year sometime between 1958 and 1962. For at least one of those years, the Spring Practice was followed by an ALUMNI GAME. Along with many previous players, Gene Simmons was present and attempted at least one drop-kick during the game. I don't think it was successful - I would have remembered that. Also present for that game was a quarterback from some years before who is seldom if ever mentioned - probably because he played very little. His name was Alex (or Alec) Szuch. He is remembered for being able to throw the football farther than any one had ever seen up to that time. I believe he attempted at least one pass during the game. Again, I believe it was incomplete. That and previous failed attempts while on the varsity is no doubt why he is not universally recalled.

Jim Brown, W I 1957

Reply to Jim:

Even though I was at WVU from 1957-61, I don't remember seeing an alumni football game. I know they were played, because I have read about them. After doing a little more research, I found that Gene Simmons played from 1948-50. Alex Szuch was from Logan, WV and was active from 1954- 56. I don't remember him, but he must have had quite an arm for his size. He was only 5'-10" tall and weighed 170 lbs. He did play some, completing 27 out of 60 pass attempts for 519 yds. Jim, it is obvious that your memory is much better than mine. Thanks for the letter.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)

If you played any sports at all, you probably had a coach. Even if you didn't play sports, you knew some of the coaches of your elementary or high school, college or (in some cases) even professional teams. Jim Alvaro, W I, 1956, thought it would be fun to write about our memories of our coaches. Thanks, Jim, I agree. Below is an example of what we mean.

To Bill:

You got me thinking about the coaches I played for and their personalities. I had a few I would like to list. Playing basketball in the church league for a few years, I had no regular coach. My cousin, Nick Alvaro, was the one who got the teams together, scheduled the games, and coached us. Several readers of the newsletter played on one of Nick's teams. I had a lot fun playing in that league.

We had no little league back then, so I didn't get to play in organized baseball until the Babe Ruth League came into play. The league consisted of 13, 14, and 15 year olds. The first year I played, I was 14. I played for Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. Our coach was Bill Lawrence. I don't know how he put this team together. We played with most of the boys living in West Milford and attending Unidis High School. All our practices were held in West Milford. The only Clarksburg boys, that I can recall, were Harold Brewster, Bernie Cohen and me. Coach Lawrence took us to all the practices. Our games were mostly played on St. Bridget's Field. Just mentioning that field caused me to remember that the right field fence was so close to home plate that any ball hit over the fence to the right of one light pole was a ground rule double. Any ball hit to the left was a home run. That may have been in tournament games only. But the left field down the line was 1 1/2 miles away. When I was 15, again, I played for PPG. That year we had a different coach: Vaughn Rice, who lived in Broad Oaks, was our coach. Again, we had players from West Milford, but Coach Rice picked up some more locals. Local players included: Phil Carter, Ross Terango, Bob Turner, Dave McGahan, Jim Westfall, Sargent McQuillan and me. Also, our games were mostly played in Stonewood.

I went out for football at Central Jr High, but I was too darn slow. Coach Bond lined us up on the goal line and had us sprint X amount of yards and the first 25 or so who crossed that line made the team, and he sent the rest home. It killed me. Another reason some didn't make the team is that there were 5 or 6 guys that started shaving when they were three and had a heavy beard. I believe that was another requirement to be able to put on a football uniform for Central.

High School was a lot better. I made the freshman team for WI. Bill Moore was our coach. There couldn't have been one nicer man than Coach Moore. He knew his football and he even warmed up with us before practices. Coach Moore moved up to coach the Jr Varsity team and Coach Garrett now became the freshman coach. After JV's, Coach Folio was the varsity head coach. He was tough as nails. I had a lot of respect for Coach Folio. When he yelled, "ALViiiiiiiro" I would shake. Also, I believed he thought drinking water during practices caused brain damage. We had no water during practices. I enjoyed playing for Coach Folio and Coach Moore.

Now getting ready to play for WV Wesleyan I was really prepared after playing for Coach Folio and working the summer at the North Pole Ice Co. I had two really super good coaches. Dave Reemsnyder was head coach and Sam Ross, assistant coach. Practices were much easier with Coach Reemsnyder. Coaches have different personalities, but one thing my coaches had in common, were they were all professional people. And by the way, Coach Folio's thinking that drinking water on a football field during practices could cause brain damage may have been right. I don't I have brain damage. Maybe a little because I sucked on a wet towel that I sneaked out of the dressing room.

Bill, I enjoy the sports section in the newsletter. Keep up the good work. I know there are a lot more guys and gals out there who have a lot to say about sports they played and their coaches.

Jim Alvaro, WI 1956

WHAT A MEMORY:
My first shot at organized basketball was in elementary school. We had no paid coaches, but during my time in the sixth through the eighth grades, a local grocery store owner, named Fred DeMary, volunteered to coach our school team. We had uniforms and a small gym in which to practice and play. The ceiling in the gym was very low, so we could not put any elevation on our shots. We won several games, because the opponents would hit the ceiling almost every time they shot the ball. We loved our coach, because if had he not given of his time to help us, we would not have had a team.

Spring forward at least 50 years to about 2005. I left West Virginia in 1961, but hadn't seen Fred since about 1955. One day, while visiting my sister, who still spends her summers in Fairmont, she suggested we go to Rivesville, WV, to see Fred and his mother, who was in her 90's. He was still in the grocery business, running the family store. I walked into his store and proceeded (without my sister, so he wouldn't be tipped off) to the checkout counter. There stood Fred, not looking a day over 50. I said, "I'll bet you don't know who I am". He simply turned around and took a picture from the shelf behind him and handed it to me. It was a small picture of our grade school basketball team from 1953. I was shocked. He had not forgotten me, after all of those years. It not only made my day, it made my year. What a memory!

You can bet that my coach, Fred DeMary, will always have a special place in my heart and mind.

READERS : As you can see, Jim wrote about several of his coaches. I wrote about my meeting a specific coach, long after I played for him. I'm sure there are hundreds of stories about your coaches, which you can share with us. Do it now, while you are thinking about it. Send them to me at billmere@aol.com

Thanks to Wayne Winters, (W I 1966), for sending the W I football schedule for the 1963. Surprisingly, all but three of the schools they played are still in existence. R-W, Victory and Shinnston have all closed due to consolidation. It was good to see that the Hilltoppers played all three of the local high schools. Often, larger schools don't play smaller schools in their own town.

Speaking of consolidation, I noticed a mention in the Clarksburg paper, that there is some discussion about combining R.C. Byrd with Liberty. I've always questioned the wisdom of making every school a "big" school. I realize that larger schools have many advantages, but many small towns lose their identity when the high school closes. Do you think consolidation is a good or bad thing? I remember when Preston County had twelve high schools. Now, they have one. Are the students better off riding a bus for at least an hour each way to the "big" school? Send your thoughts on this or any other subject to me. (billmere@aol.com)

GUESS WHO

Pictured above are three lovely Clarksburg lassies. Can you identify any of them? Come on, let us hear from you. Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Only correct guesses will be published. Guess one or all three. Let these ladies know you remember them.

WI CLASS OF 1955 REUNION
(1953 and 1954 too)
submitted by: Sara Stephenson Laber
laber@att.net
The class of 1955 has been invited to participate with the WI classes of 1953 and 1954 in a reunion in the year 2013. There are no plans for us to have any reunion in the future. We have support for e-mail and postal mailing for such a reunion.

However, I need to know if you, the classmates of 1955 are interested in joining the classes of '53 and '54 for a "last hurrah!"

And, if there is a classmate(s) in the Clarksburg area that is/are willing to join the classmates of 53 and 54 in necessary preparation for this reunion.

Get in touch with your high school friends, especially those who do not have access to the WI Newsletter--spread the word--this may be the last connection you have with those who meant so much to you in your teenage years.

Please respond to laber@att.net with your thoughts to these questions:
1. I would like to attend this reunion.
2. I will/will not be able help.

None of us knows what our mental/physical lives will be in 2013---just your thoughts as of today. It really was a great class--that of 1955! People and memories to remember. Hope you respond with a "yes" .

Thanks

WANT TO WRITE BUT CAN'T THINK WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT?
HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS.
submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com
Suggestion of this month: Since we deal mostly with the past, you can write anytime about anything.

Just write to Roleta1@aol.com.

My sincere thanks to those who write and to you others who haven't ever written or haven't written for a long time…NOW IS THE TIME!

TRAVELING BY TRAIN
submitted by: Martha Jefferies Rice (WI '55)
I don't remember traveling on a train from Clarksburg but do remember traveling on the street car from Stealey to Weston to visit my fraternal grandmother. We would look at the back of every house and commercial property while on the street car. I remember it as being a lot of fun.

submitted by: Patty Hickman Cravey (WI '61)
My father was a Brakeman on the B and O Railroad. When I was a little girl, he and my mother, I and my sister Helen would go from Clarksburg to Parkersburg to visit friends once a month. Of course it was excitement to us and very inexpensive as Daddy could get us our trip at no expense to him. The biggest remembrance of the first train ride was when we went through the first tunnel. It went totally dark in the train and my Dad said all you could see was the whites of my eyes as it scared me so badly.

Before the Hurricane, my husband Robert and I took a trip on the Amtrak from Birmingham AL to New Orleans along with about 12 other people and it was a blast.

I still love to listen to the train whistle, it reminds me of my Dad but also, fills me with happy memories of sitting on our front porch here in Broad Oaks and being able to see the light of the train as it went through Clarksburg.

I love traveling by rail and am ready to plan another trip in the near future.

BOOK SUGGESTION
submitted by: Jim Fragale
There's a review in The New York TIMES book review Sunday, July 3rd on a book called BRIGHT'S PASSAGE By Josh Ritter, The Dial Press -- reviewed by Stephen King. The head reads: "Appalachian Angel. In Josh Ritter's novel, a World War I veteran and his infant son is guide by a mysterious voice as they flee a forest fire." The first paragraph of the review reads: "Henry Bright is pretty much your ordinary 20th-century West Virginia farm boy, with one notable exception: when he winds up in the World War I trenches in France, he begins hearing voices."

Check out the NY Times review:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/books/review/book-review-brights-passage-by-josh-ritter.html?_r=1

BOY WITH THE BASEBALL GLOVE

submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)
The picture of the boy with his hat on backwards and with the catcher's mitt, just a guess, I think it is "Sarge" McQuillan. I believe we played on the same PPG Babe Ruth Baseball Team.

submitted by: Jim Brown (WI '57)
That smiling (or is it maniacal?) face belongs to Sargent Patrick McQuillan - WI Class of 1957.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I wrote to Sarge to see if he would like to comment on his picture and baseball career!

Roleta:

Nothing to say. Very ordinary ball player, always got chosen to be on a team, never first never last. Hit one home run in my career, Nutter Fort (?) ball park right of light pole. The very next week there was a new rule: all who hit over the fence to right of light pole, got a Ground Rule Double; Thanks for the one memory! My whole Sports Career in Central Jr. High; High School was like that. I played Quarterback at WI, there were two QB'S in front of me who got hurt, I got to play in WI/Victory 12-12 tie game to share the City Championship.

My sports career blossomed after I graduated and went to work, I played company Softball in Massachusetts. We played in small towns and had rabid fans! There many fights, take no prisoners!! You parked your car out of sight and after the game you rushed to your car and headed out of town. Example: I was on second base heading to third on a ground ball to the shortstop, knocked the ball out of his hands as I went by him. I stood safe at third base. He yelled at me and I smile::::; fight followed immediately. The game resumed and we won, I got out of that town ASAP. Lots of great stories playing Company softball in small towns. Every game was a fight to the finish, literally.

Thanks for asking about the picture. On a scale of one to ten in Grade School and High School I was a Five. Company softball I was a Nine. I played Third Base; that was my base and no runners should ever touch it; close plays were always bloody.

This was the best personal sports period of my life; No trophies except in my head.

GUESS WHO BY THE NUMBERS:

From: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI 1956)

1. Janet Webb
2. Sonja Alvaro
3. Roy Feldman
4. Doug Sinsel
5. Fred Alvaro
6. Don Sager
7. Bob Kopp
8. Jim Alvaro
9. ?
10. Delores Boone
11. Jean Taylor Teter
12. Jack Borror
13. Bud Collins
14. Mary Sue Clark Spahr
15. Sandra Shreves

From: John Teter (WI 1961)

My guesses on the pictures are very few, but:

# 5 Fred Alvaro
# 8 Jim Alvaro
# 9 Jerry Paugh

I realize that there are others in the picture maze that I should know, but ......

From: Don Sager (Alta Vista CJHS WI '56 WVU '64)

It appears to me that these are the culprits:

1. Janet Webb Wendt
2. Sonja Alvaro
3. Roy Feldman
4. Doug "Put" Sinsel
5. Fred Alvaro
6. Don Sager
7. Bob Kopp
8. Jim Alvaro
9. Jerry Paugh
10. Dokie Boone
11. Jean Taylor Teter
12. Jack Borror
13. Bud Collins
14. Mary Sue Clark
15. Sandra Shreves Davis

As an Honorary Broadoaksian, you would have grown up and gone to school with them. Even if you are many, many years younger. Most of these people would have been your close friends. Only Sonja falls outside the territory and Jim brought her in. The young black and white photos are from Alta Vista Grade School. Eleven finished up at WI. Eight in the class of '56.

From: Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)

#1.......Janet Webb #2......Sonja Grossa #3......Roy Feldman #4.....Doug Sinsel #5..... Fred Alvaro #6......Don Sager #7.....Bob Kopp #8.....Jim Alvaro #9..... Jerry Paugh #10...."Dokie" Boone #11.....Jean Taylor #12.....Jack Borror (Deceased) #13.....Bud Collins #14....Mary Sue Clark #15.....Sandra Shreves.

How many did I get????

From: Joe (WI 1956) and Shirley Heidelmeier Williams (WI 1957)

Hope you all are doing well. In answer to the pic, the people that we recognize are: 1. Janet Webb 2. Sonja Grossa 3.? 4. Doug Sinsel 5. Fred Alvaro 6. Don Segar 7. Bob Kopp 8. Jim Alvaro 9. ?, 10 ?, 11. Jeanie Taylor 12 ?, 13 ? , 14. Mary Sue Clark 15. Sandra Shreves.

We enjoy reading the newsletter...and appreciate your hard work...

EDITOR'S NOTE: My thanks to all who played this game. I hope you enjoy our section named "GUESS WHO"…If you have a pictures that we can use for a GUESS WHO? ….contact Judy at Jkimler@frontier.com

FAVORITE TEACHER
submitted by: Wayne Winters would have graduated with the 1966 class of WIHS
resides presently in Sacramento CA
Back in the 1950's it was unusual to have anyone other than a lady teacher at the elementary school level. Mr. Palmer was the principal and taught the sixth grade in the afternoon. Well except for the opening of deer season, when his 1957 two toned Chevrolet would be absent from it's usual spot. He taught us math and that sucker bet that you could make at the beginning of baseball season. You tell the other guy that over the course of the season you would add your own team's score each day. The "Sucker" could multiply his team's score each day. Sooner or later the sucker's team would be shut out. Then it was game over! You won!

I think the first class after lunch was Geography -- I could be mistaken. But I learned that bauxite was the ore that aluminum came from. Learned the states which had most of the anthracite coal deposits and where the bulk of them were. Which states had primarily bituminous coal deposits and the difference in their burn and the uses in industry.

Mr. Palmer also headed the School Boy Patrol as our principal. Which leads in to the ‘riding the train’ topic? I recall one of my first train rides was from Clarksburg and it had a stop in West Union, Doddrige county. There was no real reason for it but I guess my sister and I pestered our folks often enough so they broke down and let us ride once. And the longest train ride came when the Patrol had their annual Tag Day in downtown and we were turned loose on the hapless shoppers in downtown Clarksburg for a Saturday. Then later the train trip to DC as the reward.

The short trip west to Doddridge was the fonder memory. It was daylight and it was shorter. The one to D.C. left after dark and it was in the days before the hazards of second hand smoke were given much heed. By the time I arrived in the nation’s Capital city my lungs and eyes were burning and my head was pounding.

I recall I headed over to the first water fountain for a drink of water as soon as we got off of the train. I saw one with no line at all. Then I was stopped by an older gentleman there who was shining shoes. He suggested that I should probably find another water fountain because the one I was about to use was 'for coloreds' and the one for the white folk was over in a different spot. Not an example of our nation's finest hour but a good lesson. I would see more of those signs as later in life we traveled to Georgia, Florida and others.

submitted by: Vada Hickman (WI '66)
Thanks Wayne for the memories. I also remember that the "women's libbers" must have been at work on the School Boy Patrol when I was in 6th grade because I was one of the few chosen to join the patrol. BUT we were not allowed to be on patrol outside the building (outside patrol was for the boys only). And the main thing I remember was that being one on the chosen females, we were NOT allowed to go on the Washington, DC trip. I have many fond memories of ole Alta Vista and loved my years there.

WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE AND FIND OUT THEY ARE FROM OUR AREA OF WV
submitted by: Frank Bush (WI '59)
I belong to a church men's group that meets once a week for lunch at different restaurants in our town. We joking call ourselves the Romeos: Retired Old Men Eating Out. One day one of the men had a WVU baseball hat on so I asked him if he was from West Virginia. To my surprise he said he was from Clarksburg. Ends up that Wade Vore is a graduate of RW class of 37. Recently our church celebrated members over the age of 90 and Wade was one of those celebrated. His daughter-in-law read some stories about Wade's life and his family. It was interesting to find out things about Wade that he would never tell. So distance and time sometimes comes together to bring two more Mountaineers together.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I am positive that you have met people in an unusual situation or place and found out they were from central (Or Clarksburg) WV! Won’t you share this experience with us? Write to Roleta1@aol.com. Thanks for supporting the newsletter.

submitted by: Don Sager (WI '56)
While this may seem like a strange “chance meeting”, I feel that it was one. We have lived in Sun City/Hilton Head for over 12 years. The lady that I met has lived here for about the same length of time. And while the population has grown from 4000 to 13,000, our paths had never crossed.

Last summer at a social event for the Music Guild, which covers all the clubs related to Singing or Instrumental Music, I was on my way back from the ice cream bar when a friend of mine stopped me and said she wanted to introduce me to someone. My friend introduced me to a lady and the first thing she said was “I have heard about Don Sager for years and finally we meet”. Now, what in the world do you say to that at our age, except Hello. Her name is Libby Dickson. Most people here know that I am a BIG Mountaineer fan and grew up in WV. She is also a Mountaineer fan, WVU Grad and was born in Clarksburg. I immediately sat down and we chatted for about 45 minutes. She was born in St. Mary’s Hospital and I was born in UP. But her parents moved away from C-burg so no WI connection. But we both graduated from WVU in 1964. She was in the first School of Nursing Class. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Kuykendall and she was a Gamma Phi Beta. She also taught nursing at WV Wesleyan at some point. While I was at the social because of my Irish singing group, she was with the Mountain Strings. I decided to learn how to play a Mountain Dulcimer last year and Liz plays a Hammered Dulcimer so we practice together once a week now and have time to discuss the going-ons at WVU. I mainly am writing this so that anyone who remembers Lib can contact me and I will make sure that you get in touch. I’ll “pass” on all the stories that I could write about people that I have met in Wal-Mart, Gas Stations and Bars while having on a WV hat or sticker on my car.

"CELEBRITIES"
submitted by: Pat Elder (ND '57)
Thanks a million to all of you that sent e-mails, cards, letters and phone calls etc. when Joan went into cancer treatment in August, last year. It was a long year!! We know a lot of people around the country, but no group responded any where close to our friends from WVA !!! We want to both thank you Oh, so much!! Thank you.

Because of our last couple years, I have not written to the newsletter like I used to. I noticed the reference to celebrities you have run across a few mos. back--could not respond then and didn't even recall this until last week Betty Ford passed away at age 93. In about 1976 or so, we had a big fire in Dayton. The Shiloh Congregational Church was gutted in a big news story. They put the fire out before the structural frame was destroyed but the interior was history. The Reverend Barry Johnson was the minister there and was a member of our Optimist Club. I called him that night and told him that our company had built the church originally and that I would like to work with them to rebuild it. He told me to meet him in the morning and we put together a contract to begin work that day. Rev. Barry Johnson was a charismatic guy and he could really get things done. That was one of the most satisfying construction jobs I have ever done. He decided to add a huge pipe organ, a dream of mine to ever build one. I have always watched those favorite pipe organs in the large European cathedrals. We also added video features to tape weddings from the balcony and other events. We also added television and eventually he became a Sunday morning television service and he was excellent. This construction job went so well because of a friendly relation that DID exist on trust. We got done early and ahead of budget. That made it hard for Rev. Barry to carry out what none of us suspected. He invited President Gerry Ford and his wife, Betty Ford to attend the dedication of the newly remodeled church along with its magnificent upgrades. Would you believe, They Accepted! Our kids were in their teens and my wife Joan was working weekends as a Reg. Nurse. This was to be on Sunday morning so Joan could not go with me. We decided to take our daughter Holly in Joan's place. (Holly wrote a letter to Pres Nixon when she was six years old--we still have the copy) Holly was elated to go see the President of the US and his wife!! Barry did not tell me this--when we got there they escorted us (Holly is 13 yrs old now and all dressed up with six inch diameter eyeballs for this day) to the front row of the church. Believe Me, President Gerry and wife Betty sat in the front row alone on the right and Holly and I sat in the front row on the left alone!! During the presentations, Rev Barry Johnson introduced the President and his wife first and they stood to a rousing salute. Then, can you believe, he introduced Holly and I with a wonderful complement and as we rose and turned around we faced Gerry and Betty Ford for a moment and they gave us the biggest smiles and congrats you could ever imagine. Holly and I will never ever forget that. After the service we were introduced to the Fords and nobody will ever meet any nicer or friendly people!! They were so down to earth, our kind of people ! After President Ford died, Betty went on to do some really famous things. She helped so many people that we pray for her and President Gerald Ford to be honored in Heaven and we thank Reverend Barry Johnson for setting this scene, especially for my daughter Holly at 13 yrs old. The last I heard Rev. Barry Johnson moved to Upper Arlington in Columbus, Ohio. I think he was on T V there and then we lost touch. He was a real force in my life. +As far as I know Shiloh Church is an affiliate of The United Church Of Christ. It sure is a beautiful Church!! And I want to give ultimate credit to our Job Superintendent, Harold Coberly for building a wonderful credit to German Carpentry and superb workmanship.

Humbly, Pat Elder

ARE YOU WILLING TO HELP ME?
I have volunteers who now send out (copy and paste or forward) my monthly letter telling the readers how to get to the monthly newsletter.

I did this alone for 11-1/2 years but I can no longer do all the newsletter work and the mailings each month. I need help and am no longer too proud to admit it. If you volunteer to take a class or two, you do not have to be a member of the class in order to be responsible to help me with that class each month. How does it work? You would select a class to whom to send my letter each month. I send you the email address list for that class. The addresses are ready for you to put into your address book in a group. I write the letter and send it to you and the other volunteers each month. You would then forward the letter to the address in your group.

Sometimes you would only have to forward my letter 1, 2 or 3 times….You would forward the letter to each group, below you will see that most classes left for you to choose from include only one group…It only takes you a click to forward and a click to put the addresses in place.

Below I will list the class, the number of groups in that class and who is now sending the letter to that class or group. If it is blank, with no volunteer listed---I am now taking care of those groups, I need someone to help me with that mailing.

It would be easier for those who volunteer to know how to make up a group of addresses in their address book.

Please contact me if you are willing to help with any of those listed that do not show the name of a volunteer behind the year/years listed.

1934-1944 (1 group of names)
1945-1946 (1 group of names)
1947-1948 (1 group of names)
1949 (1 group of names)
1950 (1 group of names) DeDe Short King (WI 1994)
1951 (1 group of names) DeDe Short King (WI 1994)
1952 (1 group of names) DeDe Short King (WI 1994)
1953 (1 group of names) DeDe Short King (WI 1994)
1954 (1 group of names)
1955 (2 groups of names) Bill May (WI 1963)
1956 (4 groups of names) Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI 1956)
1957 ( 3 groups of names) Dave McMunn (WI 1957)
1958 (4 groups of names)
1959 ( 5 groups of names) Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI 1959)
1960 (3 groups of names) Christine Bailey Williams (1960)
1961 (2 groups of names) John Teter (WI 1961)
1962 ( 3 groups of names) Dave Kuhl (WI 1962)
1963 (2 groups of names) Bill May (WI 1963)
1964 (2 groups of names) Bill May (WI 1963)
1965 ( 3 groups of names) Dave Kuhl (WI 1962)
1966 (1 groups of names) Dave Kuhl (WI 1962)
1967 (1 group of names) Dave Kuhl (WI 1962)
1968-1969 (1 group of names) Diana Shablack Sandy (WI 1969)
1970 (2 groups of names) Diana Shablack Sandy (WI 1969)
1971 (1 group of names) Diana Shablack Sandy (WI 1969)
1972-73 (2 groups of names) Diana Shablack Sandy (WI 1969)
1974 (1 group of names)
1975-76 (1 group of names)
1977-78 (1 group of names)
1979-1982 (1 group of names)
1983-1984 (1 group of names)
1985-Parkersburg, Bridgeport and others (3 groups of names)
Notre Dame (3 groups of names) Brooke Beall (Notre Dame 1958)
RW (2 groups of names) Bill Meredith
WI, Unidis, and others (1 group of names ) Bill Meredith
Victory (4 groups of names) Buzzy Floyd (VHS 1956)

Most groups are made up of lists of around 20. There are only 14 groups left that need a volunteer. Surely out of all you readers there are 14 who can take about 2 minutes to forward my letter each month to one group.

Thank you for thinking it over. If you are interested contact me and we will talk it over. Write to Roleta1@aol.com

NEW READERS

David C. McCue (WI '65)	dmccue@mcpaulaw.com
Linda Newport Stricker (WI '65)	strickerdavelin@gmail.com
Johnda Sue Rudd Pintor (WI '61)	JohndaSue@gmail.com
Sam Urso (WI '57)	samuel.urso@nmfn.com
Pamela Sue Mc Williams Maxson (WI '65)	SCMPSM@aol.com
Linda Long Moll (WI '63)	mollqueen@aol.com
Jim Van Voorhis (WI '60)	jimvanwvu@gmail.com
Timothy Allen Corsini (WI '51)	tecor@bellsouth.net or tedgarcorsini@gmail.com
Bob Siron (WI '66)	siron1947@comcast.net
Karen Askins (WI '60)	angelid@msn.com
Dan Webster (RW '62)	Rcx2x2@aol.com

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS

Cynthia Molle Coates (WI '58)	was: caoates@netzero.net is now: caoates@frontier.com
Garry King (WI '65)	was: bfgking@citynet.net is now: bfgking@yahoo.com

HAPPY 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Pictured above are Mary (Richards) Jackson and Bill Jackson (WI 1943) driving their son’s jeep to Grater’s Ice cream parlor. Mary and Bill will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on August 25, 2011.

You can email him at: bjmj60@gmail.com

SKATING
submitted by: Rusty Sloan (WI '51)
Around my 9th grade year in WI (1947), I started skating at the Nutter Fort Roller Rink. A bit tentative at first, then I bought my own shoe skates and case and wound up skating a couple times a week for a couple of years. Since I couldn’t drive, and lived in Hartland/Stealey, my parents drove me. I never considered how time consuming that was for them until now. Eventually I progressed to fairly competent, doing the turn around on one foot, skating backward, 2 step, waltz, etc. At any rate, I found a skating partner, Seva Jo Freshour, about my age from RW high school. She even wound up carving our initials in a wooden post on the side of the rink. A couple of years later she was a RW cheerleader, and very popular. There was a lighted case in the far corner of the rink that showed which dance was current, 2 Step, Waltz, Grand March, etc. A lot of the music was big band, with such songs as Boogie Woogie, etc.. As an “outsider” I considered myself very important when we were selected to lead the Grand March a few times. There was a local enforcer by the name of Jughead. He had a lot of brothers, and I figured out he was a good guy to be friends with. Never had any trouble after that. Many fond memories of that time, although they have faded a bit.

submitted by: Phyllis Alton Nichols (WI '57)
Has anyone ever shared their memories of the roller skating rink (Which is now Grandma's House Furniture Store) or Jewel City Bowling Alley?

I remember as a little kid and up to a young teenager learning to skate backwards and do little dance steps at the roller rink. I think it was called the Roller Dome or something like that. There were some very good skaters there and I think some of them were from WI. They were older than I and much better skaters. Later the skating rink was at the Carmichael Auditorium.

My friend Rita Drummond and I used to walk from Stealey to Jewel City On Saturday or Sunday afternoons when she couldn't get her father's car. We had a lot of fun there. Always some young guys there and it was fun learning to bowl. I wondered if anyone else had fun memories of either of these places. Jewel City is actually where my husband first noticed me. He was from Victory High School and we hadn't met before.

submitted by: John A Teter (WI '61)
The only skating rink that I remember going to is the one in Nutter Fort, and it was a roller skating rink in the upstairs of a building that is actually still there. I am not sure what is now in the building (upstairs and/or downstairs). I remember going to that skating rink often during my school days. I remember that skating was fun and I felt very comfortable doing it, and considered myself a good roller skater. I also remember going to a couple of the lakes around Clarksburg and going ice skating (which I was not real good at), but I did manage to ice skate for several years without any major injury and/or falling thru the ice.

I wonder if any current high school people still go ice skating on the lakes around Clarksburg and if there are any roller skating rinks still left around town.

FOND MEMORIES OF SKATING AT THE CARMICHAEL
submitted by: Mason Matheny (WI '69)

I do remember Carmichael Auditorium very fondly. I went there most Friday or Saturday nights and I don’t recall which, but I did go almost every week. The auditorium was a smooth hard marble floor and I would bet most other skating rinks were all wood back then. I loved that place, as it was very cheap entertainment for kids in Clarksburg and a good way to stay out of trouble. I remember the "boys only" where we could go really fast and sometimes slide into the wall out of control or making the circle leaning way down and sliding around. I also remember the "couples skate" and finding that someone we probably went there to see, holding their hands skating and being very nervous. I remember the gentleman that always skated in the center backwards usually dressed up with nice black slacks, white shirt and even a black (what looked like) a tux tie. He would be skating with a very nice looking lady. They were very nice people and probably put up with a lot from us. The rink was rectangular with places to sit along each wall, concession stand on one end and a wall at the other end. I think the songs like Tammy were for holding hands, and for racing, Wipeout. I think the nice gentleman in the center liked to play Duke Of Earl a lot. It was a great place to have good, clean fun and that didn’t require a lot of money. Folks from all over town and surrounding areas came there. It was very sad when it closed down, probably closed because kids wanted more excitement than skating around and around listing to music and holding hands with a cute girl! Wow, those kids who didn’t get to experience skating there missed out I am sure.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Did you go roller skating on the week-ends? Where was your favorite place to skate? Did the letters above bring back any memories for you? Are there still rolling skating rinks in use in Clarksburg? Write to Roleta1@aol.com and share some memories about any subject with us.

SUMMER JOBS
submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)
My first paying job that I can remember was when I lied and got my social security card when I was 11 years old. I was a shoe stock boy for Kirby Shoe Store on Main St. Worked for Mr Kirby I believe, but cannot remember the pay I received. I also worked at McCroys or Murphys with Ed Christie. We buffed floors together. As was the shoe stocking job, it didn't last too long.

I helped deliver milk for Producers Dairy. I would get up at 3:00 am and walk down Monticello Ave from Haymond Hwy and help load the milk truck, then delivered milk until it was time to go to school. I did that 6 days a week and was paid $3.50 per week. Then I was asked if I would like to work in the plant washing milk bottles. I was so excited when they told me that would pay me $10.00 per week.

I also delivered the Exponent Newspaper. That was also early mornings and I believe that was 7 days per week. I know some of your readers will tell you that the job didn't pay too well, as I know some who were paperboys.

Before I got my driver’s license I helped deliver ice for North Pole Ice Co. The Viglianco family owned North Pole Ice and also Moyle-Stanton-Joyce Cleaners, now known as Elite Cleaners.

When I got my driver’s license I loaded the ice truck with 300# blocks of ice and drove to the Grafton Train Station and unloaded the ice in a building where they used the ice for refrigeration for the trains. I did that twice a day and when finished I would bag crushed ice and work in the back making ice at the plant. Those were "COOL" jobs. For two weeks of work, I cleared $95.00. When Bill Viglianco, (who eventually became our best man when we got married), handed me a check I told him he made a mistake and that it was too much.

I also worked at Moyle-Stanton-Joyce cleaning large rugs. I worked several years for the Viglianco family, part time and full time.

I would not change the work experiences I had growing up in Clarksburg for anything. Every job I had just strengthened my work ethics that much more.

submitted by: Fred Alvaro (WI '59)
Most of my summers, I was involved playing baseball except the summer after my senior year where I was employed at Roush's Market, Pike Street. Mrs Roush was a very strict and demanding employer and I was paid $6.00 per day. I had plans to work 'somewhere' for a year to save money for college. One afternoon, Mrs. Martino, WI teacher, came to store and I told her my plans. She strongly scolded me and said I should ride up to Potomac State with Anthony Julian and Mark Garrett and enroll. I took her advice, filled out an application and enrolled in Potomac State. (Back then it was just a simple matter of applying ). Played baseball my first year, and was elected class president my second year. Not bragging, just extremely proud and THANKFUL TO MRS. MARTINO.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Where did you work during summer break from school? I know that nearly everyone had summer jobs. Write your memories of your summer job to: Roleta1@aol.com.

WEST VIRGINIA GLASSWARE
submitted by: Rose Bosley McGee (WI '65)
I have over 100 Fenton glass slippers. I also have a Fenton glass bowl which Bill Fenton signed, I got it when we visited the Fenton factory several years ago. The factory is an amazing place. I also have several slippers made by Kanawha Glass which has been out of business for several years now. It is a shame that the glass factories in Harrison and Lewis Counties have all gone out of business. The Louie factory in Weston which later became Princess House is where Jacqueline Kennedy bought her glass ware for the White House. I don’t think any of us really appreciated what was here till we moved away and now it is gone.

submitted by: Brooke Beall (ND '58)
In the early sixties I was stationed at a USAF training base, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS. Biloxi is not far from New Orleans, LA. When Madri Gras rolled around several of us headed to New Orleans. One of the places we stopped on Bourbon Street was Pat O’Brien’s. Pat O’Brien’s had a famous drink called “The Hurricane” and it was served in a “Hurricane Glass”. If I recall there was a one dollar deposit on the hurricane glass. Being a poor GI and wanting a souvenir from my visit to New Orleans, put the glass inside my coat and left the bar. I put the glass in my locker when I returned to the base and later shipped it home to Clarksburg. It sat on my dresser and I filled it with change. A couple of years later it got broken. About the same time I went to work for a national computer company and while making a sales call to one of the many glass manufacturers in Lewis County was given a tour of the plant and the manufacturing process. In one warehouse I saw about a thousand cases of Pat O’Brien Hurricane Glasses being prepared to ship. I told the person giving me the tour about my hurricane glass and she offered me one right off the production line, I declined, but was surprised to find out mine had been manufactured about twenty five miles from where it ended up on my dresser. Keep up the good work on the Newsletter.

submitted by: Sue Selby Moats (WI '55)
We have some older Fiesta ware pieces from Charlie's Mother, Dorothy Moats, Morgantown WV. We also have some red carnival glass and Fenton glassware from both our Mothers. This past year we bought new sets of Fiesta ware-glad it's one of the few products still made in the USA!

Charlie grew up in Morgantown so he has gallon jars full of WV marbles-aggies-that he used to shoot in games with the guys growing up. We also purchased 2 sets of Seneca glassware before that Morgantown factory closed. Unfortunately, it's fancy crystal and it's up in the attic unused!

Isn't it a shame those factories are now closed and aren't we lucky to have some pieces from them?

submitted by: Don Sager (Alta Vista CJHS WI ’56 WVU ’64)
As usual, I think a picture is worth a thousand words. My Aunt Edna and Uncle Albert Griffith gave us an HA punch bowl set for a wedding present over 50 years ago. We used to use it more often when we were younger and now it mostly gets borrowed. I remember the years Kitty and I lived in Dayton and I filled it with Artillery Punch. We had more than a few occasions when our guests could not even get out of their chairs to go home. My aunt and uncle worked for Hazel Atlas for probably 40 yrs. I think my aunt was in the Packaging Dept. and my uncle was a General Foreman. Their son (my cousin) George (Jimmie) was also a Foreman, I think. The amber beer mugs are also marked HA on the bottom. I have no idea how old they are. They were in our cupboard at home in Broad Oaks long before I was born.

submitted by: Anne Pears Jones (WI '58)
I have been a fan of West Virginia glassware for most of my life. My father was friends with a man in Weston who had a glass making establishment and he would give me little figurines and cups and saucers when we would visit.

When I was at WVU, Jackie Kennedy was in the White House and bought stemmed goblets from Morgantown glass. I was so impressed I bought a set of 12 "seconds". I still have the magazine article showing the table settings in the White House.

Then there is Fenton! My husband is from Parkersburg, so close to the Fenton factory in Williamstown, and I have many pieces I have collected through the years.

Another is Blenko in Milton. Their wonderful art glass!! My daughter and I use the glasses regularly and I have given many pitchers and book end sets as gifts.

I do use all these wonderful glassware items and I am so sad that many of the glassmaking companies in West Virginia have gone out of business. Clarksburg used to have the largest marble plant in the world.

Pilgrim, outside Huntington, made beautiful glassware. This is a pet topic for me, as you can tell, and I have always wondered why more West Virginians were not as excited about such wonderful products as I was.

submitted by: Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI '59)
I have all kinds of West Virginia glass. My father worked at Akro Agate for a while when I was a little girl. I have 2 green cornucopia vases with matching powder box and lid. I also have a green glass tea set.

I have several glasses, dishes, pitchers from Hazel Atlas. I also have a lot of Anchor Hocking - 2 sets of cannisters, baking dishes, glasses and much more. Most of these pieces were inherited from my parents who lived in Clarksburg. I have a lamp, a bell and a vase from Fenton Glass in Williamstown, West Virginia.

I have all these things stored in my garage. I only got out a few that were easy to find and have pictures of them below.

Since I moved to Huntington I have collected some things from Blenko Glass in Milton, WV. They make a special vase every year to celebrate the state's birthday by creating and selling the exact number of pieces as the state's age. This year is West Virginia's 148th birthday so only 148 vases were made. I wish I could afford to buy one.

Below is a picture of this years vase which represents a theme of Appalachian music.

OBITUARIES
MARY JO KOPP SOTHERN (VHS 1956)
Mary Jo (Kopp) Southern, 73, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 21, 2011. She was the daughter of Elizabeth and Leopoldo Paul Kopp. She was preceded in death by her first husband, James L. Southern.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 19 years, Eugene Juba, and family; son, James (Darlene) Southern,; son, John Paul (Theresa) Southern;and son, BruceSouthern and several grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Ronald Kopp and Ann Britton and several nephews and relatives.

THELMA R. PAUGH (VHS 1939)
Thelma R. Paugh, 91, a resident of Meadow View Manor, passed away on Monday, July 4, 2011, at her residence.

She was born March 5, 1920 at Spelter, WV, a daughter of the late Conrad J. and Icie Bell Yeager Caldwell.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Minter H. Paugh, on July 8, 1992.

Mrs. Paugh was a 1939 graduate of Victory High School in Clarksburg. Thelma retired from the Workingman’s Store with 14 years of service and also from Parsons Souders. She was a member of the Simpson Creek Baptist Church, Harrison County Senior Citizens and attended the Shinnston Nutrition Site.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert H. and Susan Paugh and John E. and Dorothy Paugh, all of Bridgeport; four grandchildren, Robert C. Paugh of Bowling Green, KY, John E. Paugh Jr., of Jane Lew, Lee Ann Johnson of McDonald, OH, and Rick Paugh of Muskegon, MI; eight great grandchildren; two sisters, Mildred Singleton and Mary Bailey .

Thelma was preceded in death by three brothers, Julius, Ernie and Robert Caldwell and four sisters, Bessie Kennedy, Neva Myers, Minnie Mullins and Dolores O’Field.

CAROL CARDER STOREY (RW)
Carol (nee Carder) Storey, 74 passed away on July 3, 2011, in Hospice surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Flossie Carder; and brothers, Robert (Bob) and Charles Everett (Ed) Carder.

Carol is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Peters; son, Clay Storey; cherished grandchildren. Born in Miletus, WV, Carol spent her early years at Bonnet, the family farm. She later graduated from Roosevelt-Wilson High School in Nutter Fort, WV. While still in Nutter Fort she started a family and worked for many years at Hazel-Atlas Glass.

ALBERTA B. WALKER (VHS 1946)
Alberta B. Walker, 84, died Saturday, June 25, 2011. She was the daughter of the late Willis D. Walker and Beatrice (McFaden) Walker.

Surviving are three brothers, Willis (Susan) Walker, Jack L. Walker, and Charles Walker; one sister, Mary Bell Warner, and several nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by two sisters, Thelma Louise Simon and Bonnie Jean Durst.

She loved bowling. Alberta traveled and played in tournaments across the country on her “Jets” team. Alberta was a glass decorator for Hazel Atlas, Continental Can, Brockway and Anchor Hocking for 42 years.

EVELYN VIRGINIA OGDEN LEASEBURGE (VHS 1028)
Evelyn Virginia Ogden Leaseburge, 100, of Clarksburg, passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at United Hospital Center following an extended illness. She was, the daughter of the late Claude Ogden and Laura Bessie Parrish Ogden.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene O. Leaseburge, in 1995.

Mrs. Leaseburge is survived by one son, Randy Allan Leaseburge; two granddaughters and two grandson.

Evelyn attended West Virginia Business College. She then went on to work for the Department of Agriculture and worked as a dog groomer for 27 years. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness.

Our thanks to The Clarksburg Exponent Telegram for giving us permission to use excerpts from their Obituaries.

UM-M-M ICE CREAM!!!

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