WI CLASS OF 1959 NEWSLETTER
| Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith | Issue 14 | October 2000 |
When Autumn flings her banners wide upon October air,
All nature seems to thank its God for making life so fair.
The hills go robed in amethyst, the trees are dressed in fire,
The very air seems thrilling with a passionless desire,
One somehow feels that God on high must love this season best,
He holds it as a mother holds her babe close to her breast.
The pressure of his hand is on all nature like a prayer-
When Autumn flings her banners wide upon October air.
RKHanifan@aol.com
Dick was recently telling me of a WV Parks Program. This program is to encourage visitors to the state parks. Sign up, then visit parks and receive credit for the visit. Gifts are awarded for a visit to a required number of parks. I mentioned to Dick that the parks are so spread out that it would be hard to visit 10 or 15 of them. He brought to my attention how close several are to one another. In one day you can visit 5 or 6 parks. Also, if you haven't visited a state park in WV, I can testify that WV state parks are very well maintained. Such beautiful scenery is not available in many states. Check it out!
Abstract: VIPP PROGRAM A unique program introduced in 1986, the VIPP, or Very Important Parks Person Program, was created to develop "friends" for West Virginia state parks and forests and to give recognition to those who frequently visit the state recreational areas and support their programming.
For membership in VIPP Program : - size 1,854 bytes
DBLU2@aol.com
The Class of 1958 recently held it's class reunion at the Holiday Inn on Bridgeport Hill. There were approximately 60 classmates in attendance. The time was spent rekindling old friendships, seeing familiar faces to jog foggy memories and sharing good food.
Everyone looked wonderful and seemed to have a great time. I will admit, it was a bit of a shock to see Susan Milstead Namy and Gloria Caruso Shaffer's blonde hair, buy hey, they looked great! I agree with the comment from Harriet Danley VanVoorhis , "Thank goodness for those name tags!"
I consider this reunion a "very special" one. All of us have improved with age. A lovely poem was presented to the class which was composed by Frank McDonald's wife.
Tom Spelsberg and his wife, Liza provided us a with wonderful display boards of our high school pictures. Other class pictures were contributed by Dolores Costlow Wall.
Tom called each of us by name to stand and give a brief summary of the highlights of our life.
Some of the money left over after expenses was contributed to the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship fund.
Thanks to all who worked on this reunion to make it a success. Our next reunion is projected for 2003. Plan to be there...don't miss the fun!
Any new or changed addresses would be greatly appreciated. Class of 1958, keep in touch!
billf@ngn.com
I have lived for the past 10 years in Orlando Florida. After spending 35 years in the Radio business, topping those years with running the Park Broadcasting Group of 19 stations in 10 cities including New York, I decided that I did not want to dance with that lady any more. I am currently General Manager for Next Generation Network in Orlando and Tampa Florida. We have a national network of dedicated television monitors in convenience stores, office building newsstands, fast food locations, gas stations etc.....and we sell advertising space on those monitors.
I married the former Becky Stalnaker from the WI class of 1960 and this past August 20th we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. We had three boys...Scott, Todd, and Jeremy. Scott passed away in 1997, but Todd lives and works for the ABC Radio Network in Dallas and has three children, two girls and a boy, and Jeremy is a sophomore at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
My mother passed away two years ago at 92, but my father stills lives in Bridgeport and is fairly active. He will be 97 his next birthday.
I really enjoy keeping up with the class of 59 on the Internet, and Roleta is doing a splendid job!
KEEP THE COMMUNICATION COMING! IT IS GREAT TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU!
TRAVEL
Roleta1@aol.com
At the end of August Bill and I took our 2 oldest granddaughters to West Virginia. We visited Bill's sister and brother who both have summer homes there. It was a nice way for the girls to put a face with a name.
We visited Monongah--that took all of about 10 minutes.. just kidding (that is Bill's hometown)! We toured Fairmont State College. For any of you who attended FSC in the 60's, boy has it grown. There were about 1,500 students when I attended and now there are about 6,000.
We visited Clarksburg and I was surprised to see that most of the dives on the major block of Pike Street have been bulldozed. There is a beautiful federal building now located on Pike Street. The Clarksburg Branch of Fairmont State College, a nice new building, is located where the St. Mary's School of Nursing was located. The high school has a wing built on the east side in the same brick as dear old WI, so it doesn't look too odd. The addition is used as the gym. It was built over Fifth Street, which was relocated. We drove out to the new "WI" now called Robert C. Byrd High School, the campus is very impressive.
The town of Clarksburg seems to be alive and coming back. It still has that warm friendly feeling. Those who still live there are certainly lucky to have had a wonderful place to raise their families. I bought a teddy bear in Clarksburg and named him Clark.
Our next tour was of Morgantown and WVU. For any of you who haven't seen WVU in several years...WOW...would you be surprised. It has grown from 7,000 students in the early 60's to about 23,000 students now. There are 2 campuses with a people mover connecting them. Without the university, Morgantown would be nearly a ghost town.
We took the granddaughters to see the smallest church in the continental 48 states. Visited Cathedral State Park to see the virgin trees. We also visited Blackwater Falls State Park and Canaan Valley State Park. Remember when we could walk out on the top of the falls? Well, forget that, now there are wooden walkways and overlooks from which to view the falls. Safety first I am sure. We stayed one day and night at Canaan Lodge. For you deer hunters, we counted 136 deer in about 4 hours and were sure we didn't count the same ones twice. However, the deer seem very smart, most were in the park region where they are protected from hunters.
In Davis, WV there is a bed and breakfast named BRIGHT MORNING INN. If you get to Davis you must stop The proprietor is a friendly lady. She recently bought and reopened the inn. There are 7 bedrooms, each with a private bath. A couple of suites are available for accommodating more than 2. The place is filled with antiques which I love. Each bedroom has an antique bed and dresser. Breakfast special was pancakes with fresh WV blueberries They were the best pancakes I have ever tasted.
These mountain areas are a beautiful place to drive and see the magnificent fall foliage. We have traveled many places but let me tell you, there is no place any prettier than THOSE WEST VIRGINIA HILLS.
Dan-JeanHimmel@erols.com
Dan and I recently took a great vacation out west and saw some beautiful parts of this country. We were on a Tauck Tour (now Tauck World Discovery) and they took really good care of us.
We visited the Grand Canyon. While at Lake Powell, we took an airplane overview of the lake and then flew up to Monument Valley. This area is on the Navajo reservation in Utah, where a lot of movies, TV shows and commercials are filmed. Remember the car way up on top of the big red rock? Well, it was filmed in here. We were given a bus tour of the valley narrated by a Navajo women. Saw a Native American dance demonstration (and did a little dancing ourselves), visited a hogan (a round dwelling) and saw a demonstration of wool carding, spinning and weaving. We floated down the Colorado River in rafts (big stable ones) and even had a picnic lunch by the river.
We visited Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. From extreme peace and quiet to, well, something else, we then ended up in Las Vegas. We did a little sight seeing there and visited Hoover Dam before heading home, quite pooped. We ate a lot all week and met some really nice folks from the eastern part of the US, and from the UK and Northern Ireland.
This is the second Tauck Tour we have taken and are really satisfied with the way they run them. This tour involved a lot of time on a deluxe motor coach, but there are other types of tours. They offer tours to just about everyplace you would wish to visit. The have one which soon with be going to Peru and the Galapagos Islands. There is also one being offered to Antarctica. Next year, a variation to this tour we took will involve staying several nights on Lake Powell in a houseboat with access to ski boats and jet skis, among other things.
CBhammer12@aol.com
Half way through the season, the Robert C. Byrd football team, under the coaching of Richard Iaquinta (Sandra's brother), has registered a perfect 5 - 0 record. The team is currently ranked in the top ten of the state AAA ratings. The team was moved up from class AA last year. Victories have come over the following schools:
Nicholas County
Lincoln (formerly Shinnston)
East Fairmont
Grafton
Musselman
The remainder of the schedule promises to be difficult, with contests against Liberty (formerly Victory), Bridgeport (currently undefeated), South Harrison, Fairmont West, and Philip Barbour. At this point in the year, it appears that the team is well on it's way to a state playoff berth. The Bridgeport game, on October 6 has been designated as homecoming.
LETTERS
Tom Marshall
Marshall@robert-morris.edu
Roleta, Thank you for another great newsletter.
Here's some news for your next one. On August 21, Jim Hornor and Tom Marshall and their wives staged a mini-reunion in Castle Rock, Colorado.
I and my wife Kim were visiting our son Trey, who lives in Boulder and works for Sun Microsystems. On Monday evening, August 21, we drove to Castle Rock to have dinner with Jean and Jim Hornor at their new home. Their house overlooks the Rocky Mountain foothills--a spectacular view.
We also got to meet their daughters--two charming young women who joined us for dinner.
We sat in the living room around the fireplace to tell stories of Clarkburg and talk of last summer's reunion. We told some stories of childhood in Stealey, talked of our families, and tried to catch up on all the news of our lives since leaving Clarksburg.
Roleta, Jim and I concur that your efforts in organizing the reunion and writing the newsletter are extraordinary. We appreciate your work.
The Hornors are gracious hosts, and we had a delightful evening in Colorado remembering Clarksburg.
All the best, Tom Marshall
Joy Gregorie Stalnaker
hcpd@access.mountain.net
Great job, Roleta, as always!! Thanks. I got a special kick out of that picture of the guys at Kiwanis. I ran with a crowd of kids from WI, Victory and RW and we spent many hours at the Roller Drome --- Jim Highland (RW) of the Kiwanis picture was one of our gang. He was one terrific skater! Wonder where he is now?
Bill Fowler
BillF@ngn.com
Roleta.....thanks for the news letter. You are doing a marvelous job and I really enjoy reading the letter each month. Your e-mail addresses have put me in touch with so many people, and I have really enjoyed chit-chatting via computer with them. One recently e-mailed me. Cheryl Gill Rasmussen who now lives in a little town on the Oregon Coast called Yachats.
Jim Hornor
JYH2125@aol.com
What a great newsletter!!! They just get better and we thoroughly enjoy reading them.
We had a wonderful visit last week with Tom and Kim Marshall. They were visiting their son who lives in Boulder Colorado. We had dinner at our home and they were able to meet both our daughters. It was a great evening renewing old friendships.
Keep up the good work
Phil Hooper
Bumpes@aol.com
I just wanted to let you know about my new grandson. My oldest daughter Bonnie had her first child after 13 years of marriage. Our whole family is so excited for her. It is truly a BLESSING from GOD. Mother, son and even father are all doing well. The baby's name is Thomas David Lamkin. He weighed 7lbs 15ozs and was 21" long at birth. This is our 6th grandchild, we now have 3 boys and 3 girls.
On another note I was in WV this past week to attend the WVU and Miami football game (a blow out for Miami) and I ran into an old friend from RW class of '59', Frank Criss.Do any of you remember him? He was a good baseball player. We met at Pete Fragale's (Becky and Jim's brother) hot dog place. We talked old times for about 2 hours, we had a great time. Take care and my GOD Bless
E-MAIL CORRECTIONS
In the September newsletter, I listed an incorrect address. Here is the correct spelling...I put the r where the o should go!
Bobbie Snider Prochelo
Prochelob@aol.com
Rex Zickefoose has a new e-mail address. It is:
Rex Zickefoose@people.com
NEW E MAIL ADDRESSES
Allen Alvarez (1958)
XTSEA89@aol.com
Joe Williams (56) and Shirley Heidlemeyer Williams (57)
Fayenwv@cs.com
Roleta1@aol.com
Remember last year we started a little get together in Sarasota, FL? Are you interested in doing it again? Maybe a picnic at a pavilion on Siesta Beach? This time we will call it "WI DAY". Anyone who ever attended WI, no matter how young or how old will be invited. Know any WI people who either live in Florida or winter in Florida? I would love to see it turn into a big event.
We would take our blankets, folding chairs, maybe some food to share, bring your own drink, table service and pay a minimal amount to cover cost of hot dogs (no coney sauce--this isn't Clarksburg) buns, hamburgers, and toppings.
What do you think? Let me know. Do I need to set a date? How many of you can attend? Do you know anyone else to invite? Let me know and I will see if it is worth an effort. We were thinking of some of the Class of 1959 getting together at Mt. Dora. Which sounds best to you? I am game for both! Let me hear your vote. It is never to early to start!
jstealey@shepherd.edu
KANAWHAN PRELUDE TO NINETEENTH-CENTURY
MONOPOLY IN THE UNITED STATES
Edited by John E. Stealey III
Virginia Historical Society Documents Series
(Richmond: Virginia Historical Society, c.2000 Pp.xiv,133 $11.95. ISBN 0-945015-19-4)
Located near present Charleston, West Virginia, the Kanawha Salines became in 1808 the first major inland salt production field in the United States. With an ability to produce a commodity in excess of western consumer demand, the manufacturers combined in several pre-modern and novel legal arrangements to control production, to regulate sales, and to govern distribution and marketing.
Building upon his earlier published work, John E. Stealey III investigates early ante-bellum contract and associative law to challenge many interpretations and conclusions in American legal history. He spent over twenty years searching for legal agreements concluded by the Great Kanawha manufacturers. Presenting these agreements in contemporary context, he shows these western Virginians to be legal and business innovators when they tried to control their industry and markets. Their development of legal arrangements to adjust to their economic needs preceded what became normal economic and legal conduct for corporate America in the post Civil War era.
John Edmund Stealey III is professor of history at Shepherd College and author of
THE ANTE-BELLUM KANAWHA SALT BUSINESS AND WESTERN MARKETS.
Available for $11.95 plus postage at:
Museum Shop Virginia Historical Society
PO Box 7311
Richmond, Virginia 23221-0311
804-358-4901
804-355-2399--FAX
EDITOR'S NOTE--John is from WI Class of 1959.
Check out the MEMORIES section of this web site. You will find there a new section "Other Reunions" and a picture of the WI Class of 1960 reunion and the names of those who are pictured.
It looks as if the Class of 1960 had a record breaking turn-out. They must have had a very active committee to have gotten such great response. Great job Class of 1960.
Frank Jarret Belt
CLARKSBURG -- Frank Jarret Belt, 86, of Richmond, Va., formerly of Nutter Fort, died at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 2000.
His wife, Nellie Margaret Lambert Belt, whom he married July 26, 1940, preceded him in death Feb. 15, 1997.
Surviving are one daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Patrick Vine, Richmond, Va.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Robert J. and Shirley Belt, Huntsville, Ala., James Clinton and Pam Belt, Morgantown, and Jay Daniel and Ruth Ann Belt, Bluefield; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Olivia and Sarah Wills.
He was a retired electrician from Pittsburgh Plate Glass, Clarksburg.
If you are a veteran and have not sent me a small write up about your term of service, would you please do so now? I need the article this month. Most have written about a paragraph synopsis of their duty. Will you please share with us? These will be used in November. Thank you
Send to Roleta1@aol.com
In the September newsletter was a picture of a classroom party of some type at WI. Some names were missing. Here are some of the guesses of the ones who are missing. If you can identify the 2 missing names, please write to me. If you need to look at the picture again, check the Archives at the bottom of the newsletter and click on the September 2000 newsletter.
Guess from Bill Fowler
The second blank is Bob McDaniel who is now a professor at the Univ. of Arizona.
From Charlie Burkhammer
Paul Madzin is next to Jim Martin. The boy on the left is David Harvey.
Ok....let me hear from you...Bob McDaniel is that you in the picture? Anyone else have a guess?
Write your correct answer or guess to Roleta1@aol.com
REMEMBER WHEN
DBLU2@aol.com
It was Judy Lerner's birthday ......... I remember because I gave her a black pop bead necklace and the next day she let me know her Mother didn't like the gift she received from me ........ Today, I agree with her Mother. Why would I give her a black necklace anyway for her birthday???????
Lying on floor : Judy Lerner Kressel
1st row: ______, Barbara Kemper Harris, Carol Van Horn Dean, Susan Milstead Namy
2nd row: Sally Moshein , Becky Highland Haun, Cynthia Molle Oates
top row: Mary Ruth VanDevender Marple, Melanie Aspy, Jeannie Dillmore Mason
CRAVEN@westol.com
1st row.3rd from left is Marilyn Lynch, (#5) in little plaid top is Beth Twigg, beside her (#6) is Bobbie Snider, then to the right the little boy in the stripped shirt is (#8) Mike Swiger.
2nd row. (#1) Rex Zickafoose, (#2)Jerry Warne, (#3)Terry Warne, (#4)a boy, (#5) Sallie Moshein, (#6)Marsha Woods, is (#7)? Helen House?
3rd row(#5) Eddie Mitchel, (#6) Connie Bailey
Back Row is Ms. Malone,Mr. Sheets, Dorothy Wright and the Dance Teacher Mr. Louie Butafuscoe (?)
Do you know any of these children? Anyone know if these guesses are correct? ARE YOU in this picture? Can you help us identify any of these classmates? Was this picture taken about 1951?
HISTORY
RKHanifan@aol.com
The Waldmore, built in 1839, by Waldo P. Goff was bequeathed to the City of Clarksburg for a Library in 1930 by May Goff Lowndes, daughter of Waldo. The will stated that the "Waldmore is to be used as a public library and museum and no other purpose and if the city should attempt to convert it to other uses, this property shall revert to my legal heirs." Unfortunately Mrs. Lowndes left no money to the city for the maintenance and renovation of the building.
In 1975 a new building for the Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library was built but the library board was restricted by Mrs. Lowndes' will as to the use of the Waldomore. The board decided that the second floor to the Waldmore would house the genealogical and the West Virginia collections of the library. The board hoped that the first floor of the Waldomore could be decorated chiefly in the style of the eighteenth century and used for cultural and education programs such as concerts, lectures, etc.
The Waldmore was entered on the National Register of Historic Places October 4, 1978.
Revenues to support the Waldmore have come from the West Virginia Library Commission, Appalachian Regional Commission, the Clarksburg Library Board's Endowment Fund, donations from local industry, the Clarksburg City Council, the Harrison County Court, the Friends of the Library and private donations.
Like most non-profit agencies and governmental organizations no matter how much money is available it seems as though there is never enough. The Waldmore has a leaky roof, some falling plaster and a work order list that goes on and on. And still no air conditioning.
For those of you that need a year end tax deduction the Clarksburg Library Board would graciously accept you donation to the Library Board in general or in specific to the Waldmore Building Maintenance and Renovation Endowment Fund . If you are doing some estate planning and need to beat the tax man big time, rather than let "uncle" get your dollars the Library Board will accept gifts from estates. No money? There is room for your antique furniture, rugs, silver, china, paintings, and pictures on the first floor.
Please send donations to The Director, Clarksburg-Harrison Public Library, 404 West Pike Street, Clarksburg, WV.
Checks should be made payable to the fund of your choice. Library General Fund: Library Endowment Fund: or Waldmore Building Maintenance and Renovation Endowment Fund.
Details on gift giving can be obtained from the Head Librarian, Beth Nicholson; e-mail: bethchpl@hp9k.clark.lib.wv.us
Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friends face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine if, we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say "I will call on Jim"
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner!- yet miles away,
"Here's a telegram sir" "Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.
Our thanks to all who have contributed articles or ideas. Every input is greatly appreciated.
TRICK OR TREAT
submitted by:Bill Meredith
She was only five years old,
And you could plainly see.
Why didn't someone tell me,
What she'd grow up to be?
