THE WI NEWSLETTER 10/01

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 26

October 2001

Judy and I wish to express our sympathy to the families of the people who lost their lives in the New York and the Washington, DC attack. Many things have been written about the recent tragedy that America has experienced. What has not been said? We have so many questions and are sure you do also. We have shed so many tears as have all the people of this great nation. It is a sad time for our entire country; however, we Americans will pull together and heal our wounds. We must overcome this invasion of our freedom! All we can do is pray for God's help to overcome these heartless people who led this attack on us.

I really don't want to dwell on the tragedy but my heart was so touched by my grandchildren and their thoughts of that day. I want to share a couple of their writings with you. They were so kind to share with me. I cry for the children---they have no idea what all of this means.

A DAY TO REMEMBER
submitted by: Chelsea Meredith age 13

On September 11, 2001,
People walked to work in the sun.
At 8:45 people began to choke,
Because a plane had crashed creating clouds of smoke.

The plane had crashed into the World Trade Center,
Thousands died within each gender.
You could see the terror in survivors eyes,
And all you could hear were surrounding cries.

We'll always remember people that died that day,
In the streets of New York tragic memories will forever lay.

MY THOUGHTS
submitted by: Hayley Meredith age 10 (in her exact spelling too)

MY FEELINGS:-- I feel sad, mad, horified, frustrated, because our country is so big and has a good milatry, navy, army and all that good stuff. Why and how could this happen? It sort of doesn't make sence that they are so good and this would happen.

MY THOUGHTS:--My thoughts are that if they ever find out who did this they should do something to the state and country that the person was from.

MY QUESTIONS:-- Will we have a war or not? How many people have died from this horibal event? Who did it? Why did they do it? How long does it take to plan something like this?

THINGS I CAN DO--I can give clothes, food, blankets, pillos, give money. Tex books, papers, and penciles to give to the school that was right across from the twin towers. Give bandaids, wraps, and American flags for the grave yard.

NOW WE MUST GO ON WITH OUR LIVES

WEST VIRGINIA GHOSTS

October is a perfect month to read about ghosts. I know you will be particularly interested in the web sites sent to me by Buzzy Floyd (VHS '56). These stories are about the haunting going on in some popular spots in West Virginia!

http://www.prairieghosts.com/hauntwv.html

or try this one

http://home.wirefire.com/sheppard/

RIGHT SIDE--LEFT SIDE--PRINT IT
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith
Roleta1@aol.com

Many of you have written saying you wish to print the newsletter but have been having a difficult time getting the right side of the print on the paper. This has been solved, Judy has removed the pretty borders from the left side of the paper so now it isn't as colorful but you will be able to print it. Thanks Judy!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS GRANDPARENTS

Mr. and Mrs. David Noe (WI '65) DBN4par@aol.com announce the birth of grandson, Ethan Brandon Noe was born Aug. 30, 7lbs. 9oz. 20 inches in length. He is the son of Todd and Lori Noe of New Albany, OH. Photo attached is of proud grandfather and Ethan.

BEING A GRANDPARENT
Bob Davis (WI '59) sent me an e-mail recently and put the feelings of a grandparent into the perfect perspective.

From Bob: "Now we know why our grandparents seemed special to us -- they treated us as special when we were their grandchildren. It makes growing older easier to take--one of the big PERKS"!!

OOPS
Someone told me I am allowed one mistake a day ---- so here is my mistake. While rummaging through my downloaded pictures, I discovered a picture of a beautiful dark haired, dark eyed baby named Cameron. I don't think I published this picture in the newsletter. Can someone solve the mystery? I don't know Cameron's last name. Is he yours? Let me know. I will publish this darling picture and put the announcement in the newsletter. Roleta1@aol.com

Janet White Davis (WI '60) October 9
rad29063@aol.com

Fred Alvaro (WI '59) October 17
falvaro59@aol.com

Happy Birthday Janet and Fred!

Send your birth and anniversary dates to either Gary Weiner cias@iolinc.net or Roleta1@aol.com.

PROM
Did you attend your prom? We would love to see your picture. Send me your prom picture. You can either scan it and e-mail it to me or send it via US mail and I will scan it and return it to you. Contact me at Roleta1@aol.com for instructions on mailing it to me.

Pictured above are Sharyn Cottrill McGahan and Jerry Paugh at the 1959 WI Senior Prom.

PICTURES FROM THE SUMMER PICNIC

Pictured above are most of those from the WI Class of 1959 who attended the summer picnic.

Left to right: Phyllis Fittro Brown, Paula Brasseuer Riley, Ron Werner, Joy Gregorie Stalnaker, and Sharyn Cottrill McGahan, Dick Hanifan (in the red hat) Roleta Smith Meredith (animal print top) Ken McIe, Patty Pferdihirt Wagner, and Jeanie Werner Davis.

Attending the summer picnic in Clarksburg from the WI Class of 1960 were left to right: Becky Mc Clain Werner, Dick Taylor, Dottie Spears Rinehart and Gary Weiner.

submitted by: Mary Ann Cowger (WI '58)
mcowger@excite.com

I have really enjoyed your newsletters, but never seem to have the time to respond. I work on a computer most of every day and don't usually pay any attention to the one at home.

I am a '58 graduate and was married to Jesse Cowger during my Senior year. As a matter of fact, he was on stage with me during one of our activities. I enjoy reading the stories from Janet Long Brosius. She and Jesse use to be skating partners at the Roller Drum (that is were we met). Haven't seen her for quite a while (Hi Janet). By the way, Janet and Jesse's cousin Bill eloped with us to Winchester, VA. I'm sure, Janet remembers that well.

What a day!!

We are proud grandparents of 8 grandsons, 1 granddaughter and 1 great granddaughter. Luckily, they are all in this area so we have been able to watch them grow up.

After graduation, Jesse and I moved to Washington, D.C. and came back home in 1963. We are so glad we were able to raise our children, Debbie, Diana and Joe here in the Clarksburg area.

Have something in mind for your trivia section of the newsletter, but have to get it put together.

Catch you later

submitted by: Richard Underwood (WI ' 60)
undie@zoominternet.net

I have been looking at the news letters in the Hilltoppers web site, and just saw that I was lost. Just wanted to get my name back in the pot and to let people know that I am alive and well, fat and sassy and working in Connellsville, Pa.

My home is still in Good Hope WV, but I work for Anchor Glass Container in Connellsville. I stay here during the week and go home on the weekends. I am probably the only guy you know whose wife allows him to have his own apt. ha ha.

I really enjoy reading the letters that everyone sends in,it brings back so many memories some good and some bad.

I wish someone would put some pictures on from inside the dinner and dance at our reunion.

Thanks Love ya all

submitted by: Elaine Marie (Fowler) Bowling (WI '59)
Zarvon@aol.com

Please give all my best regards to everyone at the summer picnic and tell them I wish I could be with them. If you are ever in the Flagler Beach, Florida area, our flower shop (Bellevue Florist and Gifts) is five doors from the ocean on State Route 100. Everyone is welcome to stop by and chat a spell.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Elaine has been having some bad health problems. Hope some of you who know Elaine will drop her a line.

submitted by: Marolyn Tustin Jett (WI '56)
jdjett@attglobal.net

Sorry I couldn't make it to the summer picnic. But would love to be there for it. I didn't get my visiting all in while there, so wish I could do it over. Never enough time. I am passing on info about it to my brothers and friends from different locations, that may not see it in Clksbg. paper.

Sorry you had so much trouble sending the last Newsletter. That had to be so frustrating!!!!! I felt something must have been awry when it wasn't here first of month. But was relieved when it wasn't something to do with you or Judy's health or families. I do very much enjoy it and want to continue receiving it and updates in between. Have you heard recently about how Clara Jason Davis is doing? I didn't know them, but do remember them and seeing them at the Florida picnic. Such a shame with the business and move going on with them. I guess that's on hold for now? I've had them in my prayers, although I didn't write to them.

Do you know yet when the picnic will be at Siesta Key? Babe said it might be a little earlier this time. I will be on a trip for a few days mid Feb., so hope I don't miss it. Sounds like lots of interest for this one. We passed around info. at my reunion.

Hoping all is well!

submitted by: Christopher T. Hill (WI '60)
chrishll@erols.com

By now, you probably know that Valerie Silver Ellis, wife of Sam Ellis (WI '62 I think) has been lost in the World Trade Center tragedy. Today, the Washington Post ran a wonderful tribute to her in its special obituaries column devoted to the victims of September 11. I will forward it to you as a separate email. You may want to include some of it in the WI newsletter.

We have all lost so much in the events of the last few days. It is difficult to fathom the kind of life and the loss of human connection that could motivate the actions taken by the terrorists. We try to understand, but our grief and anger surpass our understanding, at least for now.

I left my home in DC to go to my office in Virginia later than usual on the morning of September 11, and by the time I reached the Rock Creek Parkway in my car, I could see the terrible dirty brown column of smoke rising high over the Pentagon. I realized then that the world had indeed become a different place. Let us hope that we can put our way of life back together again and that, ultimately, these events will move the world to address both the real threats we face and the causes of the loss of hope that motivates them.

Peace,

submitted by: Rex Heck
rex@WeBeGone.com

In the May 2001 Newsletter there is a question about the Ritz News Stand. It was owned by my parents from about 1940 to 1965. They also owned the Rex Heck News Company on Main St. They lived in Clarksburg most of their lives. My mother, Stella Mossor Heck, graduated from WI about 1920. I do remember Lucy who was mentioned in the June newsletter. I believe she worked there in the 50s.

If anyone is interested in additional information, I will try to provide it.

submitted by: Pam Wolfe Brown (WI '60)
Pameez@aol.com

Roleta, I know that everyone was affected by the events of 9-11-01, whether directly or indirectly. I just received this email from Patty Barman Hayden, class of '60, and thought I would share it with you and that it may be something for the Newsletter. I hope all is well with you. Jim and I both look forward to the Newsletter each month, keep up the GOOD work. I know that you and Judy spend hours putting this together and I just wanted to say again how much it is appreciated.

(email from Patty Barman Hayden)

Hi Friends,

Just a few lines to let everyone know that after being gone 10 weeks, we are back and "on line" again. Jim & I left July 13th and flew to Norfolk, Virginia in our plane to visit our kids. We had a great time, even rented a motorhome and all eight of us traveled 2800 miles to a huge airshow with 800,000 people in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and then across lower Canada to Niagara Falls and back through Washington, D. C.

We were in the air on our way back home last Tuesday when the air traffic controller said we had to land immediately at the nearest airport, orders from the Pentagon. Naturally, that scared us to pieces. We landed at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and after being there a day learned that general aviation would not be flying again for some time. So we rented a car and drove the 3 1/2 hours back to Norfolk.

Since Trey, Kathy & her husband Joe are all Navy pilots, and Norfolk is the largest Naval base in the world, it was a difficult waiting time for us. Kathy, who flies the largest flying helicopter in the world, was in the air immediately flying crew and supplies to a carrier that immediately went to the New York area. Joe also started flying immediately since his primary mission is search and rescue. He left this past Wednesday for his 6 month deployment to the Mediterranean. They have been told not to expect to be back then. Kathy leaves for Bahrain in the Persian Gulf in mid November for her 6 month deployment. Trey just got back from there in May so he should not be involved at this time. He is presently in Puerto Rico doing drug operations. Please remember all military personnel in your prayers.

Finally, some of general aviation was cleared this past Thursday to fly again, in limited airspace. So, thankfully, we were able to get home yesterday.

Our email is only held "in space" for a month, so I may have missed mail from some of you since we were gone 10 weeks. I look forward to being in touch with you all. Now that we are home and I don't have to get up early this coming Monday morning, my retirement will seem real.

Hope everyone is doing fine. Take care.

Pat

SITE TRIVIA

Judy has several pictures of places in Clarksburg. Over the next few months, we will run the picture and you name the site. The first one is an easy one! If we hear from you about this, we will know you enjoy this section and we will continue running the pictures. I keep trying new things to make the newsletter interesting. Hope you are all enjoying it!

NEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES

Ed Christie (WI '56)	echristie@yahoo.com
William E. Gardner (WI '42)	billdonnagardner@aol.com
Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)	msspahr@aol.com
Nadine Lou Criss Stealey (WI '63)	psychnurs@aol.com
Vanessia Coffindaffer Hillberry (WI '79)	Hill0508@cs.com
Lanny Miller (moved but would have been WI '61)	lancemillerjd@aol.com
L.G.Jerry Skufe (WI '61)	lgskufe@erols.com
Christopher T. Hill (WI '60)	chrishll@erols.com
Bob Mcgee (WI '55)	REMcgee2030@cs.com

CORRECTED E-MAIL ADDRESSES

Mary Harbert Nophsker (WI '58)	menrn40@aol.com
Richard Underwood (WI '60)	undie@zoominternet.net

MY LIFE TODAY
submitted by: Steve Griffith (NDHS '60)
SGriff2393@aol.com
My life "today" began in November, 1998.

Prior to that, and after leaving the retail automobile industry field in 1987, I tried various occupations. I really enjoyed unemployment, but the income possibilities were extremely limited.

I managed to successfully interview for a position as a Job Placement Specialist, working under a JTPA contract. This position operated out of the Regional Education Service Agency (RESA VII) in Fairmont. I covered twenty counties in North Central and Eastern West Virginia, working with vocational training centers and JTPA students (comprised of dislocated and disadvantaged adults). Under JTPA, students are trained and then expected to go to work. It was my job to assist them in finding employment, counsel them, and try to keep them motivated. We (my boss and a coworker) managed to place 85% of our students.

This was good training experience for my new position is that of a Mentor and Job Placement Coordinator, working under a Welfare to Work program through the WV Department of Education. Placement success is not quite as high in this field.

I am also a recently licensed Adult Basic Education teacher. I will be substitute teaching at Pruntytown Correctional Center. Absenteeism is not much of a problem. Iliteracy is a problem and my patience is very necessary. The success rate is steadily improving, and I enjoy my work enough to continue this well past retirement age.

Where has the time gone?

WALDO HOTEL TO BE RESTORED
submitted by: Gary Weiner (WI '60)
cias@iolinc.net
As you know, there are no operating hotels downtown. The Vandalia Corporation, a nonprofit organization, has bought the Waldo and is in the process of cleaning it out to restore it. They are interested in borrowing any photos or memorabilia (menus, etc.). Also, they are interested in any stories about the place. It would be a great help to the area to have the hotel operating again. If anybody has anything that could be used, it would be copied and returned. Either e-mail me or call 304-622-0553.

SPORTS REMEMBERED
THE END OF A 51 YEAR OLD RIVALRY VICTORY, WI PLAY TODAY
FROM: November 1972 Clarksburg Telegram
submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
fgl46vhs@aol.com

It will begin at 1:30 but when it ends 2 hours later it will mark not only the end of a game and the end of a season, rather it will be the final chapter in a classic book that has taken 51 years to write.

The annual Washington Irving-Victory football game, originally scheduled to be played Thursday night but delayed two days because of vandalism at Hite Field, has been for more than half a century the main attraction and traditional climax of the city football season.

Though the Hilltoppers and the Eagles have long been arch enemies on the field, it has been the tradition for both to wish the other a successful season in the first nine games, hoping to prove Thomas Paine's Revolutionary War soliloquy that "the harder the battle the more glorious the victory."

In the last ten contests, the orange and black dominate with eight wins as opposed to one loss and a tie. Since John Mazzie took over the reins as head coach of the Eagles in 1957, his teams have won the contest 11 times, lost 3 and tied 1. It was also under Mazzie's direction that the Hilltoppers suffered their worst thrashing, when, in the 1957, high school All American quarterback "Turtle" Knight (whose brother Mickey plays safety on the present squad) led the team to a 53-0 win. Mazzie is not unfamiliar with the other side of the coin, however, undoubtedly remembering WI's 40-0 triumph in 1958 when Bob Secret (WI '60), also a high school All American, along with burley Gene Donaldson combined for an unstoppable duo. Secret later became an assistant coach under Mazzie.

Both the Hilltoppers and the Eagles afford each other a high amount of respect since upsets in this long series have not been uncommon. And though Victory dominates the series 27-16-7, Washington-Irving has also known their years of dominance.

Although Mazzie has been Victory's most successful coach, both in this series and over-all, it was between the years 1928-39 the Hilltoppers managed to score only 39 points as opposed to their opponents 170. Coach Farley Bell was the Eagle mentor nine of these years (1931-39), and it was under his leadership that the blue and gold were held scoreless in six contest. Hite Field will be as it always is, filled to capacity for this contest. It will be crowded not only with students and long-time supporters of both schools, but by countless former players who in days gone by wore the blue and gold or the orange and black with pride. Every former football player remembers his last game with a little sadness, they will all feel some regret as a great tradition comes to an end.

SYMPATHY EXTENDED TO THESE FAMILIES

CHARLOTTE FERRELL LOCKWOOD
Our deepest sympathy to the family of Charlotte Ferrell Lockwood (WI '58) who passed away in March, 2001.

VALERIE SILVER ELLIS
Sympathy is sent to Sam Ellis (WI '62) I have included excerpts from her obituary.

Takoma Park native Valerie Silver Ellis, 46, relished New York's challenges. She could also plan and carry out elaborate practical jokes. A colleague was on the phone from Los Angeles, discussing just such an idea, when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Smoke soon filled Mrs. Ellis's office on the 104th floor.

She is among the 700 people missing from the large bond brokerage firm of Cantor Fitzgerald, where she worked for 18 years. As a top trader, she was one of the first women to make partner in the equities division.

To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7858-2001Sep22.html

DIFFERENT NAMES
I am using different screen names to send out the notices about the newsletter being online for your reading. AOL has a red flag beside my name (Roleta1@aol.com). If I send more than one e-mail to too many people...in less than 5 minutes, AOL freezes my screen and I have to call them for a release and choose another password, etc . It is a pain. So as long as you wish to receive a notice, I will figure out a way to send it. Please let me know if you wish to be removed from the list. It also helps me if you notify me of a change of your screen name. Thank you.

WI MARCHING BAND --- FALL 1956 HITE FIELD
picture provided by: Gary Weiner (WI '60)
cias@iolinc.net

Left to right front row--Tanya Burt, Beverly Morris, Miriam Ashland, Sandy Spencer, Annabel Day, Becky Bibbee, Sandy Price, Cheryl Garten, Kay Lawson, Judy Coyne, and Juanita Harper.

ALTA VISTA CHOIR
submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)
msspahr@aol.com
I have known Jim Alvaro, Steve Limbers (1957), and Don Sager since I was a tiny little child even before we started school at Alta Vista. Jim (JB) Brown, class of 1957 was also a wonderful friend, but he arrived in Broad Oaks much later than early childhood.

Anyway, as has previously been stated by Don Sager, there was an exchange of email addresses at our reunion. Soon after returning home, I received a 5th and 6th grade choir picture via email from Don Sager who got it from Jim Alvaro. Lo, there were several kids that they could not identify. Steve and I were invited to lend a hand and at some point JB jumped in also. Forty kids in all were in that picture, all dressed up in white choir robes and black skirts or pants, hands folded in front of them just so and looking for all the world like little cherubs. Try as we might between the five of us, we just could not identify all of them.

Finally, I mailed the group to tell them that my sister, Janna May Clark Westfall (1954) was coming for a visit on Friday, August 17, and I promised that she has a mind "like a steel trap" when it comes to putting names to faces. Given that she is so much older (two to three years) than the rest of us, I thought I sensed some skepticism on the parts of some of my friends.

In the meantime, as we wrote back and forth, we remembered colorful people in the neighborhood and reminisced a lot about the good old days. We all expressed that we felt so blessed to have been raised in Clarksburg, to have lifelong friends and to have thought that we had everything we needed while growing up in Broad Oaks. Don Sager put it best when he said, "We didn't know what we didn't have until we left Clarksburg." How very true was his statement and it is one that I will probably remember for a very long time. Anyway, my sister, Janna, arrived yesterday. I pulled up the picture and true to form, she rattled off the name of every kid in that picture. Even my mouth dropped open in amazement. Jim Alvaro jokingly accused her of using a cheat sheet. I swear that she did not. I am attaching the picture and the names of the children therein for others to enjoy. I hope that somebody out there who had forgotten their choir experience at Alta Vista will see her/himself and have a little chuckle while thinking about days gone by.

Row 1 (l to r): Sandy Price, Betty Koverlan, Carol Grow, Steve Limbers, J. Bill Thornhill, Ruth Straight, Nancy Straight

Row 2 (l to r): Ron Patsey, Jeanne Taylor, Susan Caplan, Janet Webb, Sandra Squires, Connie Welling, Mary Sue Clark, Carolyn Lawson

Row 3 (l to r): Ann Moore, Jim Alvaro, Sandra Shreeves, Alice Crim, Alice Fortney, Joan Cortez, Judy McDougle

Row 4 (l to r): Peggy Smith, Joanne Stout, Bud Collins, Ron Grow, Don Sager, Bob Kopp

Row 5 (l to r): Ron Brown, Linda Horner, Glen Shaver, Bill Hickman, Rita Flowers, Sandra Poling, Dave Nutter

Row 6 (l to r): Delbert Jones, Jackie Loria, Patty McCune, Slyvia Bayliss, Janet Shook

SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
submitted by: David Noe (WI '65)
DBN4par@aol.com

During my school years at St. Mary's / Notre Dame (2nd through 10th), I was always compared to my sister, Judy and brother, Allan. This mostly a ploy of the nuns, Sisters of St. Joseph, to "encourage" me to do better school work and to a degree it worked. Everyone has their own set of skills and abilities and Judy and Allan were very intelligent and "book smart". They were 7 and 5 years older than me and achieving accolades for their classroom performances. They were continually officers of their classes, always on the honor roll and inductees into the Nation Honor Society.

The nuns, as well as my parents, wanted me to follow in my siblings footsteps. My parents weren't as adamant and vicious in their tactics as the nuns though. The nuns would always ask me, "How come you're not as smart as your sister and brother?" or "Your sister and brother never had this much trouble learning this!" or " We never had any trouble with your sister or brother!" or "When are you going to start acting / learning / making grades like your sister and brother?" This was pretty much my encouragement to education for 8 years.

I had many friends at St. Mary's / Notre Dame as well as friends from Monticello Elementary / Central / WI. The parochial kids stuck together as we saw each other day in and day out and we had different days off than my public school friends. My friendships still last to this day with some of those parochial school kids.

Here's where the record needs to be set straight. After my sophomore year at Notre Dame, I had had about enough of the comparisons and verbal / physical abuses and rebelled. I decided with the helpful advice of Ernie Fragale and Joe VanVoorhis to transfer to WI. That summer was a long one fraught with constant pressuring on my part to switch schools. My parents would have nothing to do with it for a long time. My sister came to my rescue and helped persuade my parents to grant my wish. I started my junior year on the "hill" and the comparisons were history as none of the faculty even knew me, much less my sister and brother. It was fantastic! I quickly got reacquainted with my old WI friends and made many new friends. I still had my old Notre Dame friends, but they weren't too friendly with me anymore, thinking that I had betrayed them. One time as a prank, I was out on the front steps of WI after lunch and several Notre Dame kids drove by and dragged me into their car and took me to Mt. Claire where I was dropped off, to find my way back home, which wasn't too difficult. But the Notre Dame friendships weren't there anymore, unfortunately! I was considered a traitor to them.

I didn't leave Notre Dame because of my classmates / friends there, but because of the constant harassment of the nuns. Now, I just thought it's time and the opportunity has presented itself to set the record straight.

CLARKSBURG PICNIC IN FLORIDA 2000

Carol VanHorn Dean (WI '58) and husband Roger (RW) with daughter Felisha enjoying the food at the Florida picnic last winter.

Left side of the table is Becky Stalnaker Fowler (WI '60) and Steve Jacobson, on the right is Sharon Wendler Jacobson (WI '60)

Pictured above is Marvin Miller (WI '45) with Sue Ellen Stalnaker Crawford (WI) and husband Jack Crawford.

A STONE CAN SAVE LIVES
submitted by: Phyllis Fittro Brown (WI '59)
HMB531@aol.com

Who would ever think that a stone the size of a gumball would save lives? Well, I truly believe that happened. On September 8 I had my gallbladder removed at UHC and by the way, I'm doing fine. My daughter, Beth, a graduate of WI with the class of 1980, lives in Freehold, NJ. She insisted on being with me through this "minor surgery" and flew home on Saturday, Sept. 8 and arrived in Bridgeport at 10:30 am. She stayed with me until Monday afternoon and left the Bridgeport airport headed for Newark, NJ. She should have arrived at 8:30pm there but because of a terrible rain and lightning storm in Newark, her plane was delayed. The airline in Pittsburgh offered her overnight motel accommodations but she said she "had to get home" as soon as possible. Her husband Frank is a re-insurance broker with Holborn Corp. and his office is located on Pine Street, one block from Wall Street. He was due in the city to met a client from Iowa and Frank was to treat him to lunch at the famous Windows of the World Restaurant that day. But because of my gallstone and because of rain in Newark and because Frank went to work late, because of all this, my son-in-law is alive and so is his neighbor and employee. How thankful can I be to a God who does look after us? This terrible tragedy has affected us all and some of us a lot more than others.

And other news from Clarksburg --- I saw Jerry Paugh at the Mall last week and yelled at him for not attending the WI picnic. He told me he was with his wife, Roberta, at the hospital then. Roberta has been very ill and still has a lot of healing to do. Please keep them in our prayers.

Joy Gregorie and I have thought of something for all of us to consider --- DNA evidence of our loved ones. This all started out as a genealogy project but because of the NYC and DC disasters, this could help in identification of loved ones. I'm sure Joy will be letting everyone know about this project soon.

Have a great day, Phyllis Fittro Brown

TRIVIA
submitted by: Bill Fowler (WI '59)
billf@ngn.com

1. During the mid to late 1950's there were 2 long haul bus lines which ran daily in and out of Clarksburg. Can you name both of them?

2. During this same time period, who played rock and roll on WBOY daily from 4-7 pm?

3. Who was the Dodge Dealer in Clarksburg during this same time?

LEAF PEEPING
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
"Leaf Peeping" is a term I heard for the first time last fall on such a trip to beautiful WV. Yes, I was there to view the fall sites. Yes, we have trees in Ohio but the trees in WV are truly a different color! Recently while in WV I picked up a visitors guide to Harrison County. It is a very nice booklet. If you want to take an autumn trip to Harrison County, a few interesting places to view the leaves would be Fort New Salem, Watters Smith Memorial State Park, Bowstring Arch Bridge, Simpson Creek Covered Bridge, Simpson Creek Baptist Church, Fletcher Covered Bridge, Waldomore Museum and Library and the Shinn House. Because this issue of the newsletter is so long, I won't go into detail about any of these locations but will hopefully have space in future issues to tell you a little about each site. You have already read about the Waldomore in a past issue. If you can't get to Harrison County this fall, go outside, smell the autumn air, view the trees and the beauty around you, and do a little "leaf peeping" around your home.

TAPS

submitted by: Mere Gurson Schwartz (WI '57)
marmer1@mediaone.net
An interesting fact.

We have all heard the haunting melody of "Taps." It's the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But do you know the story behind the song?

If not, I think you will be pleased to find out about its humble beginnings.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing, Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who was severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.

Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward the encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead. The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was denied since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody, which we now know as "TAPS" used at military funerals, was born.

Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well,
safely rest.
God is nigh.

Fading light
Dims the sight
And a star
Gems the sky,
Gleaning bright
From afar,
Drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.

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