WI CLASS OF 1959 NEWSLETTER
Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 10 June 2000



God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it...
Dad

~Author Unknown~




REMEMBER TO DISPLAY THE FLAG ON FLAG DAY---JUNE 14, 2000


WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL
1914-1995

REMEMBER THE TUNE?
LET'S SING IT TOGETHER

WI will shine tonight,
WI will shine.
WI will shine tonight,
All down the line.
They're all dressed up tonight,
Don't they look fine?
When the sun goes down,
And the moon comes up,
WI will shine!




THE NAME

How did Washington Irving High School get it's name? In 1914 an English teacher, Mildred Anna F. Dunn, admired the author Washington Irving. She suggested this name to the superintendent and thus Clarksburg High School became Washington Irving High School. (source: HAIL WASHINGTON IRVING! EIGHTY-ONE YEARS ON THE HILL by Carolyn Reynolds Burnside.)




DID WE MISS WHAT WE DIDN'T HAVE?
submitted by: Charlie Burkhammer
cbhammer12@aol.com

Many times, as I have occasion to drive by the old school on the hill, I am reminded of the way things were "back then." There have been a lot of changes in the last 40 years. It's hard for the younger generation of today to imagine what was customary and normal to us. But, we turned out pretty well, nonetheless. I'm sure you can think of many other items to add to the following list, let us know some you remember.

We didn't have

Driver education classes
High school baseball team
Homecoming celebrations
Computer lab
Air conditioning
Drug problems
Hallway cameras
New school building
School buses
Hot lunch at school
Student parking lot
Day care
Swim team
Calculators
Jobs at McDonalds
Disrespect
Girls organized sports
Guidance counselors
Shorts and halters
          




















 but We did have

Lessons from dad
Sand lot ball
VFW dances
Slide rules
Open windows
3.2 beer
Mr. Cubbon's eyes
The school on the hill
City lines
Ryders store
6 spots on 7th street
Caring people
Swimming pool
Pencil and paper
Cutting grass and baby sitting
Prayer in school
Gym uniforms
Clay B. Hite
Dress code


Note: Now can you think of some other things that they have in schools today and what we had instead? E-mail some of the things you think of to me and I will put them in the next newsletter. Roleta1@aol.com




REMEMBER YOUR WEST VIRGINIA HISTORY?

JUNE 20, IS WEST VIRGINIA DAY.
Yes, West Virginia became a state on June 20, 1863. So in honor of that day. Let's take a moment and sing a beautiful song for a beautiful state. Read the words and remember the beauty and I guarantee you too will get chills up your spine. I just visited WV again over the Memorial Day week end and the scenery is a wonder to behold. I love it in the spring, summer and fall.

West Virginia Hills
Words by Mrs. Ellen King,
Music by H. E. Engle

1.
Oh, the West Virginia hills! How majestic and how grand,
With their summits bathed in glory, Like our Prince Immanuel's Land!
Is it any wonder then, That my heart with rapture thrills,
As I stand once more with loved ones On those West Virginia hills?

CHORUS:

Oh, the hills, beautiful hills, How I love those West Virginia hills!
If o'er sea o'er land I roam, Still I'll think of happy home,
And my friends among the West Virginia hills.

2.
Oh, the West Virginia hills! Where my childhood hours were passed,
Where I often wandered lonely, And the future tried to cast;
Many are our visions bright, Which the future ne'er fulfills;
But how sunny were my daydreams On those West Virginia hills!

CHORUS

3.
Oh, the West Virginia hills! How unchang'd they seem to stand,
With their summits pointed skyward To the Great Almighty's Land!
Many changes I can see, Which my heart with sadness fills;
But no changes can be noticed In those West Virginia hills.

CHORUS

4.
Oh, the West Virginia hills! I must bid you now adieu.
In my home beyond the mountains I shall ever dream of you;
In the evening time of life, If my Father only wills,
I shall still behold the vision Of those West Virginia hills.

CHORUS





FOR SALE
submitted by: Carolyn Pinella Warne
wrmychsnut@aol.com

Carolyn writes that she will be willing to get tee shirts or sweatshirts and ship them to anyone wishing to order. The shirt is dark navy blue with old gold lettering. On the front is the lettering WASHINGTON IRVING ALUMNUS and a copy of the logo on the front of the class ring. ( I lost my class ring years ago but--if you have your class key, it is the same). The shirts are 50% polyester and 50% cotton.

Prices do not include shipping costs.

Washington Irving Alumnus Sweatshirts....
Sizes Small ---- XL.........$16.00
.........................2XL.........$18.00
.........................3XL.........$19.00

Jerseys T-shirts
Small-----XL.............$8.50
..............2XL...........$10.50
..............3XL...........$11.50
These will be shipped COD.

You can work out the buying details by contacting Carolyn at her e-mail address wrmychsnut@aol.com Carolyn will buy the shirts locally and ship them to you. Isn't it nice of our classmate to do this for us? She thought it would be fun to have them for a class reunion and all wear them for a picture!




GRANDMOTHER CONNIE
submitted by: Connie Bailey Casto
Castoca@aol.com

You do such a fantastic job with this Newsletter. Thank you for bringing back old memories. I am a grandmother again. Our daughter had her baby on April 17. Her name is Madison Ann and a real beautiful little girl.




NEWS FROM A CLASSMATE
submitted by: Jean Wells-Himmel
Dan-JeanHimmel@erols.com

Roleta,

All of a sudden it is the end of the month and I've been meaning for several days to send you some news. So here it is for whenever there is another newsletter. I saw the Memorial Day newsletter -- a good thought and nicely done. You may know that Eddie Kerns married Tom Brown's sister, so somewhere Lynda has two loved ones to remember. Tom was in the Navy for a while and I think Eddie was also.

We had another birth in our family during May: Brian Thomas Himmel was born in Raleigh, NC on May 5. His dad is my stepson, David (one of the bonuses I got when I married Dan). Brian's mother Angie was in two automobile accidents, one pretty serious, while she was carrying him; one of the uncles dubbed the unborn baby "Crash" and Dan is calling him that now -- hope it doesn't stick. Brian is our 12th grandchild and the boys are making a move; at one time it was 5 girls and 2 boys, now it's 7 girls and 5 boys.

There was a message about Home Ec in 7th grade. Yes, I remember it; Miss Connell was the teacher, I think. There was the embroidered tea towel, then the apron and a skirt. We had to wear the finished skirt to school and I was so slow that I had to wear mine on the last day of classes. I also remember 8th grade Home Ec, with Wilma Wine - were all the Home Ec teachers unmarried?? The things that stand out from cooking class were Chocolate Eggnog and a carrot-raisin sandwich filling. Eat your hearts out, guys -- you missed out on all THAT fun. (Did we really have a whole year of sewing and a year of cooking, or was it one semester each?)

There shouldn't be any more baby news from here until October.

Best Wishes,

Jean

EDITOR'S NOTE: Didn't the girls have one entire year of sewing in the 7th grade and cooking in the 8th grade? Anyone remember? And by the way, what did you guys do while in Shop? Did Mr. Corder teach both 7th and 8th grade shop? Did you make things in shop? What did you do in there? Where was the shop located?




HELP NEEDED
Joy Gregorie Stalnaker made an inquiry in the May issue wondering if anyone remembered Home Ec. classes in Central Junior High School. While the girls were taking Home Economics in school so we could all learn to be excellent homemakers (the general idea in the 1950's), what were you guys doing to learn to exist in the world? What secrets happened in those private boys/girls areas--the work shop, cooking class, sewing class, study hall and was there auto mechanics? What do you remember as one of the funniest things to happen while in school? We would love to have an area of the newsletter where these memories could be shared. Won't you write and tell us (male or female) about some event or class in school. It seems that life for everyone is a routine, at our age we are taking things for granted. No news worthy items in your life? But this newsletter is not only for current news to share with classmates it is also for sharing memories. Please help this newsletter to continue. Send any little snippet to ROLETA1@AOL.COM




CORRECTION
submitted by: Roleta
ROLETA1@AOL.COM

In the May issue I printed in the article titled LOOKING FORWARD that Deloros Costolow Wall (WI--'58) is going to write an article on colloquialisms.
It was not Deloros Costlow Wall who asked for this information. It was another female, I apologize, I didn't keep the note so I forget who sent the inquiry. So will the correct person please notify me, I have some information you might enjoy.




I WANT TO GO BACK WHEN
submitted by: Brooke Beall
bbeall9346@aol.com

Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo."
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!"
"Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in "Monopoly."
Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.
It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
Being old, referred to anyone over 20.
The net on a tennis court was the perfect height to play volleyball and rules didn't matter.
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.
It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb.
It was unbelievable that dodgeball wasn't an Olympic event.
Having a weapon in school, meant being caught with a slingshot.
Nobody was prettier than Mom.
Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides at the amusement park.
Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare."
Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute ads for action figures.
No shopping trip was complete, unless a new toy was brought home.
"Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense.
Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.
The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
War was a card game.
Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.
Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle.
Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin.
Ice cream was considered a basic food group.
Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest protectors.
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!!




WEDDING BELLS
submitted by: Loretta Mayer Brinkman
Lorettarp@webtv.net

This is wedding of Joseph Mayer, Loretta's son. Joe's wedding was beautiful. The ceremony took place in the synagogue under a beautifully embroidered chupah (canopy). Joe's wife, Stella is Jewish by choice. She converted to Judaism in December after studying for quite a long time. She had a great grandmother that was Jewish, and she felt very close to the religion.

Since the list of guests was so small, we took over a small gourmet restaurant, and we had a very intimate elegant reception. WHAT A MOTHER'S DAY PRESENT

Stella's father is not alive. Her mother is an absolutely wonderful woman. She actually joined us and took part in the religious conversion service last December. She also stood under the chupah at the wedding. She has opened her arms and heart to Joe completely.

We love Stella very much. She is just what Joe needs. They met 8 years ago, but they stopped dating after approximately 1 year. They hadn't spoken to each other in years when she called our home to see what Joe was doing. We gave her his phone number, and the rest is history.




Lt. J.W. McGahan
submitted by: Sharyn Cottrill McGahan
mtmama@iolinc.net


Jim McGahan, Lt. Wm. McGahan, and Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI 1959)


Just thought I would share this with you. Jim and I attended the swearing in of our son, now LT. J W McGahan III. He has been named Commander of Investigations and Head of the Harrison Co. Task Force. He was delighted to have passed his test on May 3rd. At 34 he is one of the youngest to hold the rank of LT. I am sure his time at the National Academy in Quantico this past year helped him score so high on his test. If he had only remembered the difference between to and too he would have made a perfect 100, instead of the 99 he got, taught him a lesson that no other teacher could, evidently. He said he would never forget the difference again.




CHEER!
submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

Just a little bragging, our oldest granddaughter, Tiffany, (14) will be entering the 9th grade at New Albany High School in N.A.,Ohio. She has been on the cheerleading squad and has been captain this year. She did the unheard of!!!!! She made Varsity Cheerleader for Basketball. Usually Varsity Cheerleaders are Soph thru Sr. Her younger sister, Chelsea, will be entering 7th grade next fall, she tried out for cheerleader and she made the middle school squad.




CLASSMATE SEARCH FOR CLASS OF 1960
submitted by: Joy Gregorie Stalnaker
hcpd.lewisco@westvirginia.com

Saw this in the paper on Friday. If you know of any of these, send them to me and I'll call her. Or you may contact Dottie Spears Rinehart (Class of 1960) 304-623-5050 or e-mail her der42@webtv.net
Without this kind of help from others, we would not have found many of our 1959 WI classmates. Joy

The Washington Irving Class of 1960 is planning their 40th reunion and are looking for addresses for:

Ray Allen Jr.
Christine Bailey
Jo Karen Blackwood
Karen Byard Laughlin
Inex Cochran
Cynthia Gerwig Rush
Frances Jeffers Bozorgmehr
Ronald Lang
Naomi Lewis
         Mary Frances Marra McAvoy
Sharon Martin Meador
Frank Martino
Patty Mason
Kelly Murphy
Frank McGahan
Margaret McGinnis Taylor
Francis Talkington Bostic (Carlisle!!!!)




SOME STILL MISSING
While you are thinking and trying to remember some clues for the missing in the Class of 1960, remember the Class of 1959 missing classmates too. Please contact Roleta1@aol.com if you can give us a clue to the location of any of our classmates. These were listed in the last newsletter. We still have NO clues on any of the remaining missing 7. We had been counting Ray Allen, Jr. in our graduating class but I guess he graduated in 1960. So that brings our list to 7 still missing. You can read any of the past newsletters by clicking on the ARCHIVES at the bottom of this newsletter.




ADDRESS CHANGES:
If you move and you get a new mailing address or if you change your e-mail address, please contact Bob Davis (davis29063@aol.com ), Phil Gloss(pgloss@home.com ) or Roleta (Roleta1@aol.com ). We are trying to keep the records of the Class of 1959 current. And to all of you others, we don't want to lose contact with you either.




LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
In response to: The Memorial Day Special Issue

from Pam Brown
Class of 1960
Pameez@aol.com

Roleta
That was a beautiful tribute to those who have died. I regret their passing and remember them from so long ago but sometimes when I am reading your newsletters and reminiscing about those days it doesn't seem so very long. Thank you for all your dedication and work, without it I would not be able to know about the people of my past. Keep up the good work. Pam Brown '60



from Brooke Beall
Class of 1958
bbeall9346@aol.com

Roleta,
I visited the Memorial Special Issue, and what a fantastic thought. It is very touching. I played some sandlot basketball with Gary Frost. Actually, he lived with his Mom, just down the street several blocks from where I grew up.

I also knew Freddy Heldreth, Eddie Kerns, and Sallie Sue White. Fred Heldreth went to work for Fred Ross in the musical instrument business. I graduated with Fred Ross's daughter (Mary Ann). I did not know that Freddy had passed away. I also knew Eddie Kerns, and did not know that he had passed away. Sallie Sue was a very nice person. I did know that she had passed away.

Roleta, you have done a very nice thing. You are to be commended.

Regards,

Brooke



from Connie Bailey Casto
castoca@aol.com
This was a great issue. Thank you dear Roleta. I sent it to Harriett since she doesn't have a computer.



from Bob Davis
Davis29063@aol.com
Thanks a lot for the newsletter. Brought tears to my eyes. So many gone, yet many live and we are lucky to be among them. Like you, I am sure we knew some of them very well, others we knew--but not as well.

Memorial Day for "memories."

Thanks, Bob



from Tom Marshall
Marshall@robert-morris.edu

Roleta:

What a nice tribute.

It is a bit chilling to see that we have lost 14 of our classmates. To see them in their yearbook pictures with all of the promise of youth touches one's sense of mortality and sympathy deeply. Some of the names I did not remember, but the pictures reminded me who they were, and I could see them all.

The poems are good choices. The Housman poem I especially like--so apt.

I thank you and Judy very much for being so thoughtful.

Happy Memorial Day,

Tom



from Seraphina Toompas
SToompas@aol.com

Hi,
Thank you for your wishes. Hope the same to you as well to all our classmates.

Seraphina Toompas



from Charlie Burkhammer
cbhammer12@aol.com

Great job on the memorial issue. I still feel fortunate that, considering the war, we haven't lost more classmates. Have a great weekend.



from Joy Gregorie Stalnaker
hcpd.lewisco@westvirginia.com

Thanks, girls, for doing this. I wonder if they ever wondered if anyone would think about them when they were gone. . . . . Each picture brought a special memory about each one to my mind. I still can't walk into our genealogy library without seeing Bill Baber sitting at the table in the front hall. And, Betsy Baxter. . . I remember spending many happy lunch hours with her in junior high. . . and. . . and. . .

Thanks for the memories.

Joy




NAMES FROM THE PAST
submitted by: Nancy Rice (Class of 1962)
NLDelaney@aol.com

I didn't get to go out any place while in WV, as Dad was home & Mom has a heart condition, so I stayed mostly with her & took care of Dad, his final 3 weeks. Glad I did, as he & I had some really good talks, as his mind was still sharp. My sisters are in French Creek & Buckhannon, Upshur County, Meadland Community, Taylor County and Elkins, Randolph County. Mom & Dad had recently moved to Maplewood Retirement Community right out of Bridgeport towards Grafton. I had dinner every evening with the "old" group, consisting of these people, I think you should remember: Bob Aaron (Aaron Shoes); Bill James (James & Law Books) & by the way, Mr. James is nearly dead, as he had a bad heart attack while I was there; & has been moved to the Heritage for 24 hr care; Bill Arnett, I think the Uncle of Bill Arnett (class of 1962), or possibly his father (?); John Christie (Penny Christie's father); Mrs. Rex Heck (Heck's Newsstand); Jimmy Martin (Parson's Sauders fame); Red Kennedy (in tires & worked the race circuits with Indy cars for years); & several retired teaches, but none from WI. Guess you would say that I was hobnobbing with the big boys!




AIM FOUND
Thanks to Dick Hanifan for the following web site. CNET.com - News - Entertainment & Media - Instant messaging start-up connects AIM, ICQ Still unsure about AIM? Check out this web site. Then download and join us on Sunday nights at 9:00 PM.




CLASSMATE NEWS
Welcome home John Iaconis. He recently returned from a trip to Greece and Turkey. How about sharing some travel tips with us, John.

Get well soon to Bob Davis who underwent nose surgery on June 1, 2000. This is to correct a problem which has given him trouble since he was a boy. He had his tonsils removed when young. He and his mother think that the Dr. broke his nose during that surgery. Well, Bob better corrected late than never. Hope the recovery is short and not too painful.




VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!
When in West Virginia recently (Fairmont area) I purchased a pepperoni roll. Nothing like I could purchase when living in Clarksburg. So who made your favorite peppereroni roll? Vote and we will publish the results in the next newsletter. Send your vote to ROLETA1@aol.com.




THANKS
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith
ROLETA1@aol.com

Thanks for the letters regarding the newsletter. It is nice to get feed back. Without the letters, I wonder if anyone is reading the newsletter.

Jerry Belt (tubelts@mindspring.com) scanned all of the senior pictures from the yearbook and furnished the pictures to us for the Memorial Day Issue. Many thanks to you Jerry for all of the help.

Also, thanks to all of you for sending in the news to share with classmates. That is the purpose of this newsletter, keeping in touch. It is so nice that everyone is contributing. Again thanks to Judy and Larry for putting this on their web site for all to enjoy. Special thanks Judy and Larry for all of the help.

Happy Birthday to all of you June babies! I am one of them. ---- Roleta







Newsletter Archive

Back to WI Index