THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 28 December 2001









We at the WI Newsletter wish all of you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPPY, HEALTHY, AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR. Hope you enjoy the holiday season with your family, friends and loved ones. Take a minute out of your busy time this month and give a thought to the Christmas of long ago when you were a child. Remember the magic? You can bring the magic to someone else this Christmas. Send a note to someone from your past and tell them how they touched your life. Give an extra smile and "thank you" to that person working in the store who is earning a small sum working during the season as we did when we were young. Give a toy to the fire department or Children's Service for a needy child. Give some extra money to the church to help a needy family. Give, give, give until it feels GOOD! That will make your Holiday season this year extra special! from -- Roleta and Judy





"T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE
NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING, NOT EVEN A MOUSE....."




REMEMBER THEM?

submitted by: Fred Alvaro (WI 59)
Falvaro59@aol.com


Pictured left to right are Ruth Ann Martin, Jane Stout, Sandy Drummond and Sallie Holden.

This picture was taken in one of those little coin operated machines. As you can see, it is reversed, look at the C on the sweater worn by Ruth Ann Martin--- it is reversed. This picture was probably taken around 1955. All are 1959 graduates.




submitted by: Roberta Stalnaker Paugh (WI 65)
RPaugh8998@aol.com

Roleta, just read Nov's newsletter & it was great as usual.

Thanks so much to those of you who do all the work. Jerry is doing fine - same problems w/ his knees, which will eventually require replacement surgeries, and other aches & pains associated w/ the inevitable aging process!! He was busy all summer taking care of me - I had a gastric ulcer which ruptured, requiring surgery, & resulting in some add'l internal damage. I've been off work since June 20 - hope to return the first of the year. So Jerry makes quite a good nurse, cook & housekeeper, but says he'd rather be out in the garden or on the riding mower!! Hopefully next summer he'll have more time to devote to his garden, & more canning will get done! He stays in touch w/several local people from your class.



submitted by: Mary Ann Conrad Cowger (WI 58)
mccowger@excite.com

Dear Roleta:

Just received your Newsletter, and as always, enjoyed it very much.

I was just thinking about the American History teacher, Mr. Fredericks. Remember him? Remember the teacher he dated? (Ms. Robinson) our good shorthand teacher. Can't say much for the one we had our senior year. In our class with Mr. Fredericks, I can remember and when we would hear him coming down the hall, we would stand at attention until he would come into the room and we wouldn't sit down until he would tell us to. I don't know if other classes did that or not. He was something else.

He told us a story about assigning one of his classes to do a picture depicting something in history. One of his students turned in a blank, black piece of construction paper. When asked what it was, he was told it was Washington Crossing the Delaware AFTER DARK. I believe he said he threw him out of class!!. Remember all the maps we had to color?

Seeing the pictures of Barry's car reminded me of the times I came out of school in the afternoon and it would be pouring down the snow and there sat my husband Jesse (now married 44 years) in his pride and joy, a yellow chevy convertible with the top down!!

Ah, memories.....

Also, remember Mr. Andre? Remember what he always wore. It was the same thing every day.

Well, I will close for now. Have a nice weekend.



submitted by: Judy Zabeau Shepherd (ND 58)
JZShepherd@aol.com

ROLETA

I was recently in Clarksburg visiting my mother and helping her take care of my nephew while Vickie and Gary Bowden were away on a cruise. I had to take her to Marion's Beauty Shop and so I visited inside and remembered the first time I was there was on my first date in the 6th grade with Jimmy White. I recall my mother telling me not to order anything but a coke. Ha!

Some of the original flooring can still be seen but that's about all that even comes close to the original building besides the outside brick.



submitted by: Jean Wells Himmel (WI 59)
dan-jeanhimmel@starpower.net

Roleta,

Almost five months after his kidney transplant surgery and husband, Dan, is still doing well. The only negative from this is that he now requires insulin to keep his blood sugar under control. He plays golf whenever he gets the chance - played yesterday in fact (11/25/01). We are very grateful to the family who donated the kidneys and other organs.

Cheers,




COOKIE RECIPE

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI 59)
name@server.com

GIANT GINGER COOKIES
I love the smell of ginger cookies baking in the winter time. These are terrific to bake and have on hand for friends when they drop by during the holiday season.

These irresistible cookies are giant in size and huge in snappy ginger flavor. To create texture, be sure to make them with shortening not butter or margarine.

4-1/2 Cups flour
4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups shortening
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
3/4 cup coarse sugar or granulated


Mix the first 6 ingredients a medium mixing bowl.

In a large mixing bowl beat shortening until softened. Gradually add the 2 cups of granulated sugar; beat until fluffy. Add eggs and molasses; beat well. Add half of the flour mixture, beat until combined. Stir remaining flour in with a wooden spoon.

Using a 1/4 cup ice cream scoop, shape dough into 2 inch balls, roll in the coarse or granulated sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet about 1-1/2 inches apart.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are light brown and puffed. (Do not overbake or cookies will not be chewy). Let stand for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Makes about 25 four inch cookies.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we do. These are simple to make but very delicious.




RESULTS OF TRIVIA PICTURE FOR NOVEMBER
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:

I think most of you guessed the correct identification of the picture in the November newsletter ---- B & O Railroad station. This picture earned more e-mail than anything we have run yet in the newsletter! You like the pictures? Let us know....we just aim to please.

I will publish some of the e-mails which were garnered due to the picture...apparently a lot of you have fond memories of trips on trains when we were young. That is one thing our children and grandchildren will probably not experience....maybe it will come back, who knows.




submitted by: Buzz Floyd (VHS Class of 56) The Class With Class
Floyds@lvcm.com

The trivia picture is obviously the old B&O train depot. I don't remember the street car going right up to it, though. That picture looks very old. I believe that hill in the background was stripped later on, because I think that is the hill where "Bare A**ed Beach" was located. Since I'm sure you were too much of a "nice girl" to know about such things, it was a big strip mine hole that contained sulphur water from the mine where us boys (and some girls) from North View and Glen Elk used to sneak off and go swimming in the all together. When our parents caught us it could have been referred to as "'RED' A**ed Beach". All I heard about in those days was how I was going to catch polio from places like that. Its a wonder I didn't.

Back to the depot: A lot of good memories come to mind, as I was privileged to ride the train numerous times to such exotic places as Washington, DC, with the Schoolboy Patrol, and Parris Island, with the Marine Reserves. Riding the smoky old steam engine trains in grade school, we would be covered with soot by the time we got to Union Station in DC.

If I didn't have "Buzheimers" disease, I'd try to come up with some trivia for you, but I always was short a few brain cells anyway.

Best regards to all,





submitted by: Penny Christie Johnson (WI 60)
penem329@optionline.net

Hi Roleta,

Another great issue....Thanks for giving us an easy site to identify this month...the B and O Railroad Station was a short block from where my dad was employed at Central Storage Company so I am real familiar with it. Claire Malfregot (sp) and I took a trip from the Clarksburg station to Fort Thomas, Kentucky to visit our friend, Kathy McDonald, who had lived in Stealey. We were hot tickets traveling all of that way alone on the B and O....

Right down the street from Central Storage is Tomarro's Bakery. My dad stopped there every evening and brought home a fresh loaf of Italian Bread and a few pepperoni rolls.....I still order P-rolls to send to family and friends and no trip to Clarksburg is complete unless we cross over the bridge to Glen Elk to pick some up to take home to CT.

Candyland was a dream world of candied eggs, jelly beans and chocolate bunnies. I remember as a little girl pressing my nose against the glass to look in the windows. The inside of the crystallized eggs were hollow and had small figures inside them. I had a great imagination so each egg told its own story. All the pastries seemed so lavish and reminded me of what I thought princesses must eat every day....In reliving the memories of this special store I think I realize why it created such fiction for me..I never ever was inside Candyland...I always just looked in the windows and dreamed!!

I cherish those wonderful memories of growing up in Clarksburg...

AND..... I remember with a grateful heart the classmates of Towers, Central and WI. May God bless each one of you~





submitted by: Gary Weiner (WI 60)
cias@iolinc.net

Roleta

I presume you're referring to the B&O passenger station, which is shown from its east end. Across the street to the far left is a small portion of the then three story Glen Elk Hotel. A fire later damaged the hotel and it was repaired down to two stories. Later the fancy porch was removed and a brick front covers the Baltimore Street side. Julio's Restaurant is now on the corner of the building .The other street is North Fifth. To the right of the hotel is the former Williams Hardware Company. The next two buildings are gone: the Koblegard Company and the Leatherbury Shoe Company. Then North Sixth Street intersects. The building with the flag on top then housed the Hornor-Gaylord Company, the largest wholesaler in Central West Virginia. I believe that James and Law now uses it for a warehouse.

I also guessed the St. Mary's.





submitted by: Sue Martin McNutt (WI 55)

Dear Roleta -

I am a few classes before you, but am enjoying the trips down memory lane. Thanks for all your work.

Of course, the photo is of the B&O station over in Glen Elk. I left for college from there a couple of times, feeling that I was quite sophisticated. Still have fond memories about train rides.





submitted by: Frank Bush (WI 59)
frank.bush@legacynet.com

While I'm not old enough to remember the trolley car in front of the building I do recognize Clarksburg's train station. I remember taking the "WI" train to Parkersburg when we played them in football. When I first went into the Air Force I used to take the Capital Limited from Chicago to come home to Clarksburg. Those were the days of real dining cars and the B&O (Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road) served a fabulous Russian salad dressing.

Oh, the things we remember.





submitted by: Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI 59)
mtmama@iolinc.net

That my dear is the B & O train station in Glen Elk...on Baltimore Ave...Oh for it to look like that today!





submitted by: Bob Davis (WI 59)
RAD29063@aol.com

All I have seen of the November newsletter so far is the Clarksburg train depot--Baltimore & Ohio RR. As you know I am a train buff. I left the depot 3 times while at Alta Vista with the School Boy Patrol on trips to Washington, DC.

I worked at the depot when I first started with the Post Office in 1963 after getting out of the Navy and one year at Monroe Calculators. I was a substitute Transfer Clerk-- we had two shifts --one in the afternoon and another on the midnight shift. I had 2 days training at Washington. We checked the mail going off and on the trains and ensured its security. We had to wear a badge and carry a pistol. Even had to train with the pistol using wax bullets. The bullets went every way but straight -- hard to be accurate. Clarksburg received two box cars each afternoon full of parcel post. The trucks backed up to the box cars and loaded the mail for the area -- Buckhannon, Elkins, Morgantown, Fairmont, etc., and of course, Clarksburg. The RPO (Railway Post Office) car carried the first class mail and it was separated to the various trips. The early morning trains (2 or 3 am) just carried first class mail and other cargo in a combination car -- many times carried a casket. The RPOs left the scene in about 1966 and all are gone now. I did see one in the RR museum at Altoona, PA a few years back and I have a video on the training for RPO clerks. Probably interesting only to Postal employees. Thanks for the memories--now I will finish the letter.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I remembered mail bags being hung on a pole outside the rural depots, when the train went by, someone in the train caught the bag with a pole that had a sort of hook on the end. I asked Bob about this---here is his reply about the mail drops.

If you remember correctly--when you were 4 or 5, so was I. Things change.

The sacks contained mail and probably one was thrown off the train twice a day when I worked there -- the trains from Cincinnati and from D.C. would take and throw off mail. The RPO cars had clerks who mostly lived in Grafton. They would go from Grafton to DC or Cincinnatti -- stay over night and return to Grafton the next day. They worked the mail enroute as the train ran the track.

Later we used trucks (star routes) who stopped at Wilsonburg, Wolf Summit, Bristol, etc and ended in Cairo. Went down each morning and returned to Clarksburg about 11:00 am, then went back about 4:00 pm and returned about 7:00 pm to Clarksburg.





submitted by: Freddie Layman (Victory 46)
FGL46VHS@aol.com

Hi Roleta:

Once again I enjoyed your monthly newsletter. I recognized your trivia photo (Clarksburg B&O station). Not sure what year but automobiles look like early 1930 or late twenties. The street car line to this station was discontinued in 1939 and that is when the buses took over. All street car lines in the city and to Bridgeport were done away with in 1939 with the exception of North View. It was stopped in the summer of 1947.





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

In the foreground is the old mainline of the B & O Railroad. The terminal building is beside the tracks. Unfortunately, I do not remember the names of the buildings in the background but I suspect that they were hotels for passengers in days gone by.

I spent many hours on trains when I was young. The B & O had nice passenger trains running a couple of times a day. When I was a child, we went to my grandmother's in Tunnelton, WV. Later, after I graduated from high school, I traveled back and forth from Baltimore, MD when I was in nursing school at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Please note, all, that the "s" does belong on the end of "John." The man's name was Johns. Really!





submitted by: Maureen Quinn Colasessano (WI 59)
Quinn1118@cs.com

It is the B&O Railroad Station in Glen Elk. The last time I took a train from there was when I was 21 (2 or 3 lifetimes ago) to travel to New York City. I went there alone and stayed for 3 nights at a hotel and did some sightseeing .......... looking back I cannot believe I did that or that my parents even let me ....... 21 seems so young now! Also when I was a child we lived in New York City and traveled between there and Clarksburg ( my mother and I during the war..) ....... Also I knew that was St. Mary's and I attended Nursing school there ( for a brief period ).... Lots of things I don't remember and yet I have a lot of fond memories too like trying to scrape up 17 cents for a peanut butter flop at Harberts Drug store ............. and lemon and cherry cokes at Blands and remember the Coffee Mill? ... How about the Arcade and Drexel's record shop? It certainly doesn't seem like 42 or 43 or even 45 years because we are all too young ( at least at heart). I really look forward to the newsletter each month .... keep it up and thanks for the memory......





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

That is the old B&O Railroad and just across the street is now a great restaurant called Julios. I remember getting on the train and taking it to Washington, DC with the patrol boys. Yes it was Patrol Boys. No Patrol Girls at that time. It was a yearly event that we all looked forward to doing.

Great Newsletter





submitted by: Betty A. Beverlin Miller (WI 48)
Betts08@aol.com

The picture is of the B&O Train Station in Glen Elk, across the street from my favorite Clarksburg Restaurant "Julios". Don't miss going there whenever you are in Clarksburg. It is a real treat and tell Joe Iaquinta I said hello.





submitted by: Phil Hooper (WI 59)
Bumpes@aol.com

I should know the building, my father worked in that building for many years. He was the Railway Postal Clerk. He saw that the mail got on and off the trains as they passed through Clarksburg. The building was called the B.O. Railroad Station.

I am not sure of the names of the buildings in the back ground, but when I worked at Main Street Grocery, I used to go there to pick up supplies for the store. That was in 1956-57. I sure do enjoy the newsletter. It does bring back a lot of memories, some happy, some sad .Please keep them coming, I will try to send something from time to time.

Thanks again,





submitted by: Bob Stealey (WI 64)
BobnAlong1@aol.com

The mystery trivia picture for this month is of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad depot on Baltimore Avenue in Glen Elk, with buildings across the street in the background.

My wife's (Nadine Criss Stealey, WI Class of 1963) father worked for B&O for many years in a management position. I am of the class of '64.

I met you briefly at the picnic this past August. I'm the editor of the Exponent and Telegram, which will become one combined newspaper some time after the first of next year.

You have a very nice newsletter! Keep up the good work!

A fellow Hilltopper,





submitted by: Al Starkey (WI 60)
penem329@optionline.net

Hi Roleta.

I remember this one.

It's the railroad station located in Glen Elk. The picture looks like it was taken about the time of WWII or maybe earlier. I remember also one of the red brick buildings across the street, the second from the left, as Johnson Hardware. The father of a friend of mine worked there back in the 1950s.

Love getting the Newsletter, keep up good work.

Thanks,





submitted by: Judy Zabeau Shepherd (ND 58)
jzshepherd@aol.com

Roleta:

The TRIVIA PICTURE is the train station in Glen Elk. Remember when Harry S. Truman came through on the freedom train?





submitted by: Erma Lynn Loria Uhle (WI 59)
Ermauhle@aol.com

Great job as usual. Can't wait until the summer picnic. This year I will definitely be there. Can't believe that I'm going to be 60. Feel like I'm 23, as my granddaughter told me that I looked like. I just love her....(ha).

I wish that I could remember a lot about growing up, but I just can't. I do know that the picture that you put out this month, was the B&O railroad station located in Glen Elk. Keep up the good work....





submitted by: Anne Pears Jones (WI 58)
ANannaJ@aol.com

This is the train depot from which I made many exciting trips. Probably the most exciting was the trip with about eight Harrison County Girl Scouts to Roundup, north of Detroit probably about 1956. I also made my first trip to Texas from there in 1945...and to think after all this time I live in Texas! At that time it seemed like a foreign land. I saw my first "real" Indian on that trip in the train depot in St. Louis.





submitted by: Jane Stout Galvan (WI 59)
Jognjsg@aol.com

I always love the trivia and know that the last picture you sent is of the Clarksburg B and O train station. I used to go there all the time when I was little with my father. He loved trains and we would watch them for hours. My grandfather was a doctor for the B and O so when my mother was little she used to get to travel for free. I have fond memories of that place.

Hope all is well with you.
Love





submitted by: Joy Gregorie Stalnaker (WI 59)
hcpd@hackerscreek.com

Hi Roleta:

Great job! Thanks so very much for keeping all of us together. In these troubled times, I think we all treasure our memories of earlier times even more.

The picture is the B&O Railroad Station. I have many memories linked with this place.

(1) My dad, Resta Gregoire, was classified as 4-F during WWII because of a compound fracture of his right ankle when he was 17. He had no "knot" which most of us call our "ankle bone." During the early days of the war, Dad worked for Equitable Gas in Doddridge County; but in 1944 Dad, Mom, brother Jene (left WI in 1959 and went to Ohio where he played ball for Green High School in Summit County), and I moved to Detroit, MI, in 1944 where Dad worked for the Department of the Navy training midshipmen and later for Ford Motor Company. We were in Michigan for three years. During that time, we would ride the train home to Clarksburg for visits with my grandparents who lived in Adamston. I remember watching out the window looking for my grandparents' home which happened to be near the tracks and I remember my grandfather meeting us at the station.

(2) After the war, my grandparents, my dad's brother and his wife, and my father and mother, opened the House of Resta in Adamston. The House of Resta manufactured baby bottle warmers and sold hundreds of thousands of these to retail businesses all over the country. Called Travel-R-Home, these warmers had an adapter that plugged into the cigarette lighter of the car and permitted traveling families and hunters to use the unit to heat baby bottles, soups, etc. in the car. While this idea is not unique today, this was a brand new idea in 1946 when my father invented the plug that worked in the cigarette lighter as well as the baby bottle warmer.

How does this memory fit in with the railroad station? Nearly every day my grandfather, George Gregoire, made trips in the business' panel truck to the railroad station with cases and cases of these warmers. It was a special treat for either brother Jene, cousin Wayne Gregoire (Victory graduate of the 1960s), or I to go along for the ride.

(3) Perhaps my saddest memory of the station is from 1962. I was working in Washington, D.C., for the National Science Foundation when, in April of that year, my maternal grandfather, Nick Winemiller, was killed in a logging accident in Lewis County. I remember receiving the call in the afternoon and then rushing to my apartment to pack and catch the 6 o'clock train from Union Station to Clarksburg. It was rather late (around midnight, I think) when the train arrived. I took a cab to my paternal grandmother's in Adamston. My mom picked me up there the next morning enroute to Weston from her home in Akron.

I don't think I ever rode the train to or from Clarksburg again.

Thanks for this memory-jogger.





submitted by: John Teter (WI 61)
jteter@balmar.com

Roleta,

ONCE AGAIN, you have put together a VERY nice newsletter, this one being the November issue.

The TRIVIA PICTURE is the train station in Glen Elk. I used to spend a lot of time in that train station, with my family living on Broaddus Avenue (at the end of Chestnut Street), I used to go up on the hill above the train tracks and play. Then, when we got tired of playing, we would walk down to the train station to see who and what was going on. Then, when I moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 1962 I used to take the train to and from here. At some point some 10 or 15 years ago, my mother took that trip from Washington to Clarksburg, but I do think that the service has now been discontinued (not sure).

My sister has been in Italy for the past 3 months and has had no REAL exposure to the impact of the September 11th happenings. My sister and her husband will be coming home the first week of December, and are curious to see how things are here stateside. My brother, sister-in-law and mother just returned from Italy this past Tuesday after being overseas for 2 weeks and I think that they were VERY glad to be back in the good old United States. I was glad to see them walk through the International Arrivals door at Dulles Airport when I picked them up.

I read Dave Kuhl ('62') request for finding 18 of the missing classmates from his class, and I plan to "play around" trying to help him locate some of the people. WISH ME LUCK. I was happy to be able to find all but 8 of our missing from the class of '61, but was VERY SAD to find a couple of our missing, as they had passed away in the past 10 years. Hopefully, I will be able to help Dave and the class of '62, without finding any of his missing to be deceased.

Keep up the good work with the newsletter and I will hope to send some more articles before your January issue is ready for the "Internet Press".




DECEMBER TRIVIA PICTURE

submitted by: Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI 59)
jkimler@ezwv.com


SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES WITH US!


We hope that not only will you be able to identify this picture but that it will stir some memory for you and that you will share it with all of us. Hope to hear from you soon...Roleta1@aol.com



    CONGRATULATIONS NEWLY WEDS!    
James Martin (WI 1959) married in September to wife Marion. They live in Henderson, NV (same as Las Vegas). Get in touch with Jim and congratulate him!    JEM12641@hotmail.com




CLARKSBURG WINTER PICNIC IN SARASOTA


Yes, it is Christmas time and it is early but it's better early than too late. Make your plans now. On March 2, 2002 we will be getting together for our 2nd annual winter picnic. I hope you will join us for some great times just visiting and eating. No big planned program or fun and games---you will have to provide those. But if you are coming, I only have 2 more months after this newsletter to make sure you get the notification and I receive a confirmation of your appearance. (Got to plan the main course!) I hope you spend those months spreading the word to others who are welcome to attend. Just contact me at Roleta1@aol.com. Hope to hear from you and hope to see you again this year. And too, let's hope we see some new faces!




RADIO SPORTS TODAY

submitted by: John Cooper (WI 51)
Mysto99@aol.com

Time sure passes swiftly. My granddaughter #2 is now a cheerleader for WI (middle school) where I played football for Coach Hite in '49-'50-'51------ I am in my 10th year -- a decade of doing play-by-play football- basketball -baseball for South Harrison High School here in this area. SHHS is located a few miles south in the Lost Creek -West Milford area. A young friend built his radio-station in that area and asked if I would do the sports for the local school there..not R.C.Byrd (formerly WI) -- so I agreed and have had a lot of fun, including broadcasting many games and especially a classic .... when South Harrison-- in 1992 --- Played WI-- to a 3 overtime -- 0-0 tie football game at Hite Field --we were the only radio station broadcasting the game ..it made mention in US Daily Newspaper ...and that same year.. a sensational high school local State tourney Regional basketball game between WI-Bridgeport at Salem College Gym ..etc... I keep thinking how much fun I have had... for an 'ole guy that is like that battery ad.... "I just keep on going ..!" --and have a great bunch of great memories including being an original staff member of the first two commercial TV stations here in 1950's-60's ...WBOY-TV, and WDTV ....doing kid shows, weather news,etc..yep, I'll get back to you ....your Newsletter and pics are tremendous..!!!!

YEP--I do have a scanner and will look for some good stuff and send you some pics plus other bits and things ...yep-- the archives you have on back material are also just great with wonderful ... stuff. My two kids live out of the state and have for many years, and now want to come back. They too left for good jobs. My one daughter and husband returned 5 years ago and all of us are glad of that, we have great times together on weekends and couple times through the week..experiences we would have all missed them being away like they were a number of years.There are many fine stores and restaurants,malls,etc..things to do here now, that almost beats living in the big cities in every way ...and so far,-- for WV... no terrorist attacks!--- also ...good to hear from you -- anytime .....
(JC in Clarksburg,)




RADIO OF YESTERYEAR

Picture submitted by: Buzzy Floyd (Victory 56)
floyds@lvcm.com



Pictured above are WPDX stars. Left to right, Russ Gardner, Bill Montgomery, Dee Wyatt, Jack Little, and John Peters. Picture was given to Buzzy by John Peters. It was taken in either the late 1940's or early 1950's. Hey, where is "Cherokee Sue"?




WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS



Above is a Christmas card sent to me from Jane Stout Galvan (Jane would have graduated in 1959 from WI but went away to a private school---we still consider her one of ours). Jane sent this card to be placed in the December issue of the newsletter. She also enclosed their "BEST WISHES TO ALL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND MAY ALL OF YOU FELLOW CLASSMATES HAVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY AND SAFE 2002".

Pictured left to right back row is her husband Ed Galvan; Jane; her daughter, Laurie, and Laurie's husband Tim Gardenier. Front row are Jane's grandsons, Jace, (13) and Max (11) Gardenier.




NEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES
Nadine Criss Stealey (WI 63) BobnAlong1@aol.com
Randy Moodispaugh (WI 59) RRM1@aol.com
Vickie Limbers Moore (WI 67) VnDmoore@aol.com
Elizabeth Teter Akin (WI 56) LibAkin@aol.com


CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Jim Martin (WI 59) jem12641@hotmail.com




HAPPY DECEMBER BIRTHDAY
John A. Teter (WI 61)       Dec.29       JATeter@aol.com

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Leslie McKinley (Mrs. John) Wallace (WI 60)      momvol@aol.com      Anniversary-12-1
She moved after her junior year but would have been WI 60

Carol Van Horn Dean (WI 58)      DBLU2@aol.com      Anniversary-12-31-60


EDITOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to Bob Davis for keeping the e-mail records straight and current for me. If you have a correction or you get a new e-mail address, please notify me. Also, thanks to Gary Weiner who suggested the Anniversary and Birthday section of the newsletter, he is in charge of keeping these records straight and notifying me each month of birthdays and anniversaries. Please contact Gary at cias@iolinc.net or me at Roleta1@aol.com with your birthdate or anniversary....thanks




THEN AND NOW


Then picture submitted by: Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI 59)
jkimler@ezwv.com


FIRE RAZES ARCADE BUILDING

From the Clarksburg Telegram
Monday Evening, October 28, 1957
article submitted by: Mary Ann Conrad Cowger (WI 58)
mccowger@excite.com


Smoke Overcomes 7 Fighting Blaze in Midtown Area

Flames Appear to Have Origin near Center of East Side of Block Long Structure; Neighboring Departments Come to City's Aid

A second visit shortly after noon today was made by scores of firemen as an early morning blaze that gutted the Arcade Building located in the heart of Clarksburg's business district, blazed anew.

Firemen said, however, the new blaze was in the charred ruins and caused no damage or threat. It was quickly wet down and only skeleton force remained on the scene this afternoon.

Fire discovered at 4:10 a.m. lay waste to the entire structure in the center of the 300 block of Main Street between Main Street and Washington Avenue.

The brick and frame structure housed an estimated 31 businesses in its 41 room, including a shoe store and women's apparel shop fronting on Main Street.

Late today there was no official estimate of loss but businessmen with offices in the building erected about 1930, said the loss is expected to reach a half million dollars.

The entire 300 and 400 block of Main Street was closed to traffic, with scores of Clarksburg officers and volunteers re-routed by way of Traders Ave.

The efforts of the firemen were successful in limiting the blaze to the Arcade Building, which has a 65 foot frontage on Main Street and extends 300 feet to Washington Ave.

There was no official statement as to where the fire started, but policemen arriving on the scene within minutes, said the blaze is believed to have started on the left side, about half way back from the Main Street entrance.




Fire fighters from Clarksburg and volunteers from surrounding departments, rip open the roof of the Arcade Building in an effort to locate and extinguish the blaze that early today lay waste to the block long building. The firemen shown above worked on the right side of the structure since the roof on the other side of the skylights already had caved in. Wielding axes, the firemen ripped away metal and wood in opening holes in the skylights. The firemen worked under extremely hazardous conditions since the walls of the building were in danger of giving way. At the time the picture was snapped, a part of the center roof of the building had caved in.

MANY BUSINESSES IN ARCADE ROOMS

The Arcade Building, one of Clarksburg's best known establishments, contained 41 rooms according to the recent edition of the Clarksburg City Directory of 1957. The building is 65 feet on West Main and Washington Ave and extends 300 feet through the block. It was owned by Marion Realty and Investment Company, (at the time of the fire) a New York investment group. It was purchased in 1946 for $135,000.00 from the late Melvin Sperry.

EDITOR'S NOTE:Test your memory, how many stores in the Arcade can you name? I will give you a hint---there were 31 ....see how many you can name.... answer in the January issue of the WI NEWSLETTER

THE ARCADE AREA TODAY

Picture submitted by: Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI 59)
mtmama@iolinc.net





After the fire a major reconstruction took place. The original building was the JC Penny building until it moved to the mall. The arcade building stayed empty for several years. It was renovated into a satellite office for Hope Gas, then Consolidated Gas Corp. and then the latest occupants were Dominion Resources. Recently, they found Black Mold in the building and Dominion shut down all operations from that location. This week there has been work inside the building and hopefully someone will open the retail space again soon.

Long forgotten is the Arcade as we knew it. Wasn't it a wonderful place? Just think how many times you walked up through the Arcade on the way to WI. And can you remember walking with that favorite someone? Going into those stores. Oh, the memories. How about walking down off the hill through the Arcade? Trips down for lunch time or after school to go home by walking or catching the City Lines bus. Remember the bus tickets we purchased in little booklets--each trip to or from school cost 1 ticket --- I think each was worth a dime. Do I remember correctly, on week-ends and evenings one could ride the bus for a dime and a ticket? Oh, if only we had realized then how important and warm those memories would one day be to us. Sure, I have a happy life and sure there is life after High School but I love those warm memories of yesteryear. Won't you share yours with us also?



Many thanks to all who contributed this month. I loved reading your memories of the B & O Railroad Station. I am sure your memories stirred memories for others also. That is the purpose of this newsletter....keeping our memories current.

While you are busy reading this month's newsletter, I am hard at work creating the newsletter for next month and Judy is looking for graphics to make the newsletter colorful. Our job will be so much easier if you will help us. I hope you will take a moment or two this month and write to the newsletter....Without you we will die!




SANTA LIKES TEDDIES, TOO

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