THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 44 April 2003



PRAY

In W.W.II, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every day at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America.

If you would like to participate, every evening at 9:00 P.M. Eastern - 6:00 P.M. West Coast, Standard Time, stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, its citizens, its men and women in the military, and for peace in the world.

If you know anyone else who would like to participate, please pass this along.




THE BOYS DOUBLE QUARTET

submitted by: Olga Stenger Hardman (VHS '45)
Fsa00180@mail.wvnet.edu



This picture was taken when these boys were THE BOYS DOUBLE QUARTET at Central Junior High School in 1965-66 and I was their music teacher.

Only the 4th boy from the right did not graduate from WI. His family left the area while he was still in junior high school. (Wouldn't it be great, if he saw this picture and let us know where he is now??? His name is Glen Butler.)

I'm sure these guys shortened my life by a bit, but I loved them dearly (still do) and we had a wonderful time together. Even traveled to Charleston with Mr. Lowther to put on a performance. Names left to right: Phil Wyatt, Dick Glass, Jim Goodwin, Curtis Leachman, Glen Butler, Doug Wamsley, Garland Walker, and Tom Thompson.

I only know the whereabouts of: Phil Wyatt, Clarksburg; Dick Glass, Washington Court House, Ohio; Jim Goodwin, northern Utah; Garland Walker, Clarksburg. It would be wonderful to hear from any of them.




GETTING TO KNOW YOU

submitted by: Mike Hanley (ND '58)
Mdhanley@bellsouth.net

What a compliment to be asked to be in this section of the newsletter. Of course I am in agreement. Perhaps this will be my 5 minutes of notoriety everyone is promised.

I was the third child of three born to Charles and Agnes Hanley. Born on March 27, 1940, I have an older brother, Charles Robert (Bob) Jr. (born in 1933) and a sister Mary Dolores (Lori) date of birth is confidential. I resided at 113 Webster St and attended St Mary's Catholic School until the fifth grade when we moved to Parkersburg, where I attended St Margaret Mary's grade school and later Parkersburg Catholic H.S. While I was in the 10th grade, my family returned to Clarksburg. I entered NDHS. It was a thrill to finally attend a school that had a football program even though we practiced beside a graveyard and played wherever we could get a field. Tom Resingher was my mentor until he broke his arm. Jim Mazzie became my best buddy and we spent many a good time together then and now. We communicate on the computer and since Jim followed me to Notre Dame University, we try to meet up for a football game or two.

I recently returned to Clarksburg for the 44th class reunion of NDHS. One fond memory was returning to Lake Floyd where my cousin, Steve Broughton and his wife Margie have a summer home. I vividly remember basketball and tennis with Chuck Bibbee, Sonny Warner, Marty Elliott and learning duplicate bridge from Martha Gribble. My neighbors on Webster street included the Garten boys (Martin and Rudy) their sisters Sharon and Dreama. Connie Gemma and Tom Spelsberg lived up the road and Marty Elliott, Jack Emery and Marty's little sister were there also.

I was a class officer my two years at NDHS and went to the NDU on a Navy ROTC scholarship. My major was in mechanical engineering receiving a BS degree in June 1962. I was hired and worked for Procter and Gamble as an engineer for 1 month in Cincinnati, Ohio prior to entering active duty with the navy.

In July 1962, I entered flight training at Pensacola, Fl and got married to Mary Pat Sanford. I earned my navy wings of gold in Sept of 1963 after tours in Meridan, Miss and Kingsville, Texas I was assigned to training for the F4 Phantom out of Miramar in San Diego, CA. Awaiting transfer to fighter squadron 21. We were one of the first carriers on duty in Tonken Gulf when hostilities broke out in Vietnam. I experienced two cruises with VF-21 aboard the USS Midway ( CVA41) and sister carrier ship USS Coral Sea( CVA 43). I had 198 missions over North Vietnam and many more over the south. Our squadron shot down the first three migs of the war. I saw the fourth mig of the flight escaping to the north but we were unable to get a successful shot off at him. I detached from VF21 and active duty in March of 1967 and joined Pan American World Airways.

Shortly thereafter Mary Pat and I divorced. We had two children and they both reside in CA. I flew F4’s out of Los Alimitos in Irvine and F8 Crusaders out of Navy Dallas, TX. I was in the reserves until 1974. In 1976, I was furloughed from PanAm and migrated to the Virgin Islands where my brother bought a beautiful house on the eastern end of St Thomas, of course I volunteered to house sit. I started my own business as a perfumer and Sun Products Cosmetologist. I distributed all over the Carribbean and on all the cruise ships. It was quite an experience but I returned to flying when Pan Am recalled me in 1980.

I moved to Miami for PanAm and flew the Boeing 727 and Lockheed L1011. I eventually sold my business in St Thomas when I started commuting to New York to fly the Airbus a 310 to Europe, Africa and the Middle East. After 7 years of Moscow, Greece, Germany, Israel, Nairobi, France, Scandinavia, England, and Ireland, I yearned for and returned to domestic flying out of Miami on the A300. After the Lockerbie disaster, PanAm declared bankruptcy and PanAm divisions were sold to United and Delta. I was sent to Atlanta with Delta.

I met and married Sara Jane Keen, a divorced mother of three and a registered nurse. We presently live in Ft. Lauderdale with our pet dogs, Over the years my hobbies have changed from tennis and squash to snow skiing, boating, fishing, scuba diving, sailing, parachuting, and golf. Coupled with a love of music where I have 8 guitars, a piano, keyboard, 3 violins, banjo, harmonicas, baudrain, bangitar, and mandolin. I bagpipe. We enjoy traveling. I will probably always live in Florida, there is something about balmy breezes and picking fresh fruit in your own back yard for breakfast or for cocktails that is sooo appealing. Retirement started in 2000 and is frustrating in that I seem to run out of time and or money to accomplish all the new goals we set. We really enjoy being on the topside of the grass.




GRANDFATHER

submitted by: John P. Harrison (WI '56)
Johnh@teays.net

This spotted, twisted hand that up the stair
Once carried me with firm, strong grip to bed,
Now by my young and supple hand is led
From room to room, from chair to empty chair,

He is a child and has to be convinced
That mommy went down to the corner store;
He thinks he hears her humming through the door
And wonders if she has his knickers rinsed.

I promised to hitch up the buggy team
And take a cord of wood to Parson White
The Parson’s daughter is a real delight
And on and on go his sweet, senile dreams

Of years long gone, yet happening again
In his mind’s time, till time for him must end.




IT WORKS

submitted by: Roleta

Last month I printed a notice in the newsletter that Ray Allen (WI 1960) was looking for copies of senior pictures from the 1959 and 1960 yearbooks. A friend contacted Ray and is giving him a copy of a 1959 yearbook. Thank you donor….Ray is very appreciative.




  1. Harriet Danley VanVoorhis (WI '58) Bill.VanVoorhis@mail.wvu.edu
  1. Vicki Limbers Moore (WI '67) VnDMoore@aol.com
  4. Gary Robey (WI '57) Garcar407@cableone.net
20. Jane Poulicos Faust (WI '66) Poulicos@aol.com



  5. Frances Tate Barrett (WI '50) and James Barrett, Jr. (Kittaning High '46) Fran.Barrett@att.net
15. Bob Davis (WI '59) and Janet White Davis (WI '60) RAD2906@aol.com
16. Ken McIe (WI '59) and Meg McIe KenMcIe@yahoo.com


EDITOR'S NOTE: To add your birthday or anniversary to the list, write to Gary Weiner at cias@iolinc.net



Washington Irving High School Class of '53
50th Year Reunion

The dates are Friday, Aug. 22 and Sat., Aug. 23, 2003. The cost is $60.00 per person and payment must accompany registration. All activities will be at the Bel-Meadow Country Club. Address all correspondence to Don and Patty Robinette Davis, 83 Garden Circle, Bridgeport, WV. 26330.

Events are as follows:
Friday Evening, August 22

Registration & Informal Get Together - 6:30 PM till 11:00 PM
Hors D'oeuvre - Cash Bar

Saturday Evening, August 23

Social Hour - 6:30 PM till 7:30 PM - Cash Bar
(Group Picture will be taken of the class members before dinner)
Buffet Dinner - 7:30 PM


After dinner, there will be music to dance to for those who wish to do so, and time to visit among classmates. For further information, please email me at lhornor@aol.com and I will find have Paul get in touch. A reunion booklet will be published, so please send in information as requested in the mailing even if you are unable to attend.




REMEMBERING WHEN

submitted by: Pamela Jacobson Waugh (WI '64)
HowWahwv@wmconnect.com

My family transferred to West Virginia from Wisconsin in 1957, we moved into an apartment complex on Locust Street in Clarksburg. It was called Locust Court and was comprised of 24 - 2 story apartments, a separate 1-story house and The Big House, which probably had 4 to 5 apartments in it. Locust Court was owned by Mr. Birshtein and Mr. Rosen. The tenants came from many different areas in the United States; most had children; and just a few stayed at that location for many years.

There was a large field beside The Big House, which was the gathering place for all elementary and junior high school boys who could walk to it. Everyday, those boys played wiffle ball with plastic bats and a plastic ball with holes in it. "Real baseball" wasn't allowed due to the history of broken windows in the Complex. Frequenters of this field included Kevin Jacobson, Billy Heater, Bobby Heater, Dickie Heater, Steve Radcliffe, Billy Watson, Steve Gottlieb, Spike White, the Lamb brothers, the Schenck twins, DK Roach, John Selario, Freddy "Butch" Smith, Johnny Johnston, Richard Duez, Shurl Montgomery, John Bell, Dale Gombarcik, Blair Thrush, Kent Thrush, "Tyke" Martino, Gary Poling and many other boys. Girls were not allowed to play ball, but those who spent part of their time there included Sherry Hutchison, Lana Myers, Eleanor "Ellie" Smith, Sharon Myers, and me.

This crew spent many hours filled with ball playing, arguments, a fight now and then, hide and seek in the evenings, and I know that there are many people out there with stories to tell about the days spent at Locust Court. Most of us went to Pierpont Grade School and on to Central Junior, but most also moved to different areas of Clarksburg by high school.

Groups of us visited Alvarez's Dairy Queen next to the Kroger Store almost daily. We got our pizza at the Pizza Plaza in the building where John C. Giese Engineeers is now located on Pike Street. We pooled our Pepsi or Coke pop caps together to attend movies on Saturday afternoons at the Robinson Grand Theater. We walked everywhere - to town, to the library, and to school. I wonder where all of that old gang is?




GROUP FROM 1959

Fred Alvaro, Jay Sharp, Carolyn White Rector, Roleta Smith Meredith, Jerry Warne (in rear), Carolyn Pinella Warne,
Clara Jason Davis, Erma Loria Uhle, Sallie Holden Day, Bob Rector


submitted by: John Harrison (WI '56)
johnh@teays.net

Roleta,
I just wanted to say a big "thank you" to you for all the hard work you and your friends did for the get together. My wife and I had a wonderful time. We stayed for a few extra days and enjoyed seeing the gulf side of the state. Really beautiful white sand and so much of it. I saw and spoke with some folks that I had not seen or spoken with since 1956. I look forward to the next newsletter and the feedback from Sarasota.

Thanks again.



submitted by: Bernice King McHenry (WI '52)
BerniceMcHenry@aol.com

Roleta, we just got back into town from our trip to southern FL. The picnic was wonderful, thank you for all your efforts. I'm still working my way through the newsletter...I LOVE IT!

I believe the March picture is the old Union Protestant Hospital...(can't remember the street? Washington Ave?). I was born there (can't remember that) but visited nurses there just before they went into service in WWII. Alberta Davis (Victory I think) worked there as a nurse and was a friend of my mother, Victory '32.

EDITOR'S NOTE: One thing people mentioned that they like about the picnic---People don't hang with cliques! Everyone is friendly! So many were amazed about seeing people they hadn't seen in 20-30 years or more. It is a great time. We spend about 5 hours visiting. Some out of town people who stay in motels eat their Friday night dinner and Saturday breakfast together. They make the arrangements as they see each other. Maybe some year one person will volunteer to have something on Friday evening for all of us to attend, visit and enjoy.

GROUP FROM 1958

Barbara Warren Williams, Carol VanHorn Dean, Tommy Lee, Kay Lawson Adair, Allen Alvarez in front, Bill Swats in WV cap, Sharon Dillmore Smith and Hubby Skip Smith, Martha Kinney Kessler, Jim White




CLARKSBURG PICNIC THANK YOU

submitted by: Roleta

I have received so many thanks for the picnic. It was a joy to see everyone enjoy themselves. I was so busy that I only had half a hot dog but it was delicious. As I mentioned in last month's newsletter, there have been many requests for some of the recipes. I hope you will share.

I mentioned to my husband, Bill, a couple days before the picnic that it was easy to prepare for the picnic. He asked me if I was crazy? He reminded me that I had been working on it for about 3 months. Oh well…I want to thank him for putting up with all this crazy stuff I do for you Clarksburg people!

I want to thank Babe Bisping Cashman for lending me a helping hand at the picnic. She is the one who helped me tell people where to set their covered dish. Also, thanks to Allen Alvarez who brought hot dog sauce from Ruby's Dairy Queen recipe and put the wieners in the buns for you to enjoy. Thanks to Sue Ellen Stalnaker Crawford who brought the delicious hot dog chili from Clarksburg's "Hamburger Mart". I do wish you people would share those hot dog chili recipes. A big thanks to all whom helped Bill and I unload both of our cars and load them back up at the end.

Thanks also to the ladies who chipped in and helped put the table cover on the food tables. It all worked out very well. I think everyone had a great time.

Thanks to Carolyn White Rector for the use of the megaphone, it certainly made it a lot easier for me to be heard this year. A special big THANK YOU to all of you who came to the picnic. I think it gets better every year! So many came from great distances to attend. Many people came from out of state. I think Skip Smith's brother Bud arranged a trip from California to visit Skip at the right time. People in northern states arranged their Florida vacation so they would be able to visit at the picnic with old friends.

I hope more of you will escape the horrid winters next year and join us in Sarasota, Florida for the annual Clarksburg Picnic.

You people up north remember there is a WI PICNIC this summer in August. I will be reporting about it in future newsletters.

GROUP FROM 1950

Fran Tate Barrett, Constance Wilkinson Pois, Guy Wright, Ron Ogren, Charlie Means




YOU ARE INVITED TO DINNER

submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
JTETER@BALMAR.COM

I am extending INVITATIONS to anybody who might be in the Northern Virginia area on APRIL 12th, 2003 to join my LOCAL WI DINNER GROUP. We will be having dinner on April 12th, in the Tyson's Corner, Virginia, area at JR's Steak House. If anybody would like to join us, please get in touch with me at JTETER@BALMAR.COM and/or JATETER@AOL.COM and I will give you all of the details regarding the dinner.




HAIR

submitted by: Gloria Caruso Shaffer (WI '58)
Mshaf26478@aol.com

Hi Roleta,

You asked for something about hair in the 40s and 50s a couple of months ago. I’m late because I could not find the pictures, which I figured are worth a thousand words.



Pictured are my older brother Michael A. Caruso (WI 48) and my sister Angela Caruso Colombo (St. Mary’s 50). She went to WI for a couple of years before she switched to St. Mary’s. When I went through my brother’s yearbook, I noticed that most of the boys had the same hairstyle.

My brother and sister both had naturally wavy hair. How I envied them. Every night I had to pin curl my hair. Do you remember pin curls?

I also remember the perm machine that Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI ’56) mentioned. I had an aunt that was a beautician and she gave me a couple of perms using that contraption. It was so heavy you could not hold your head straight and then when I was finished I came out looking like a brillo pad. Another hairstyle that I remember is the long curls or sausage curls. I remember that my mother had a curling iron that she heated on the burner of the stove. What torture we went through for a few curls that never stayed in anyway.

Another hairstyle to remember is the ducktail. Does anyone remember that one? I know my husband had one for a while, but I cannot find the picture. I think I have “ghosties” (is that a word?) in my house because there are so many things that I put away for safe keeping that I cannot find when I want them. I can’t even find my graduation picture. Darn “ghosties”. I think I need to start a page on Microsoft word so I won’t lose things when I “put them away so I will remember where they are.”





This is the way my brothers and I looked a few years ago, but since then my hair has “turned” dark again. Pictured left to right: Michael A. Caruso (WI 48), Gloria Caruso Shaffer (WI 58) and Joseph A Caruso (WI 64).




submitted by: Carol Van Horn Dean (WI '58)
DBLU2@aol.com

I have a story to tell about a “Hair Do.” I was about 14 years old and considered myself having a good ‘knack’ for hair care. One of my ambitions was to be a hairdresser.

The DA was IN, so I decided to give myself a DA haircut and style. I didn’t get it quite short enough to stand out good, so I soaked it good in beer. I had heard that was good to use to make it stiff. Well, I thought I had done a pretty good job and walked up to Susan Milstead’s house to show off my new ‘hair do.’ For some reason, she and her mother were not impressed, nor my mother, when I got home. My mother quickly made an appointment to the neighborhood beauty shop, “Vivian’s,” where I got a professional job done. Since then, my hair has remained short.



submitted by: Mary Elizabeth Weaver Snead (WI '60)
auntmerts@earthlink.net

I think of the endless nights I would go to bed with curlers in my hair and not being able to put my head down on the pillow for the rollers. When I look back on those days and even when I look at my class picture, I laugh at what we girls went through just for our self-esteem. How things have changed. I can also remember wearing clips in my hair till I got to school so my curls would stay in place. If we had hair spray back then, I sure don't remember using it.



submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com

I remember one year (probably 1953) when my brother, Roy, came home with a Mohawk haircut. He had the sides shaved and that one longer path of hair growing down the middle of his head. This might be acceptable in some households but my father was a principal from the old conservative style school and my mother a teacher trained in the same era. They had a certain standard by which they expected the family to live. My father was so mad.

I often wonder if he was just embarrassed and had to teach my brother a lesson? I think after my father got through ranting and raving he probably went in another room, closed the door and had a big laugh. I know that is what I would have done if my son had come home with that haircut. But my father told my brother that for his evening meal, he could go outside and eat with the dog as that is what he looked like, A DOG. I believe my brother had the rest of that hair shaved off the next day……it really wasn't too long until it grew into a flat top.

Oh, yes, there is another one, FLATTOP---didn't you guys use wax or Alum to make those things stand straight? Girls didn't have that problem, we just had to sleep on pin curls or brush rollers and then in the morning brush and brush to try to get some of the curl out so it would lay down and look natural. There was no such thing as hairdryers, hair gels or spray. How did we manage?




submitted by: Carris House (WI '51)
CARRISHH@AOL.COM

FOR THE REALLY HIP (NOT "HEP") CATS OF THE LATE 40'S AND EARLY 50'S THERE WAS ONLY ONE REAL BARBER. THAT WAS TROY REED. Troy's shop was on Courthouse Square. He could give a "Detroiter" with a "New York" sweep and a "Hollywood Box" as cool as it could be done. I went to him but my hair wasn't thick enough to be as cool as I wanted it. His crowning achievement was the style he gave Sydney Alonso (WI-54). SYD was a jazz bassist and had great hair to fit his persona, thanks to Troy's magic touch. Syd always looked very, very hip with every hair exactly where it should be. How we envied him. Fonzie would have envied him. Troy operated his shop into the 1980s. My wife and I would always go and get our hair cut whenever we visited C-burg. Thanks, Troy we won't forget you!

And, of course, there was Franks Barbershop down on Pike Street where you could get a cut in 10 minutes for 25 cents. Your dad would give you 75 cents for a cut and you could pocket the difference. Hey, it filled a need!




WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL

BY: Emma Lou Wolf
WI 1940

Written while in WI

WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL IS THE PLACE FOR ME.
YES, WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL IS THE BEST PLACE YOU CAN BE.

OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO STUDY, BUT OH, NOT VERY HARD,
YOU CAN PLAINLY SEE I DIDN'T. TAKE A LOOK AT MY GRADE CARD.

THERE ARE SOME KIDS THAT STUDY AND MAKE ALL A'S AND B'S,
BUT I WAS AWFUL LUCKY IF I GOT D'S AND C'S.

BUT REALLY I DIDN'T BOTHER MUCH, AS LONG AS I COULD PASS,
I NEVER GAVE A GOOD GOSH DARN, TO BE THE SMARTY IN THE CLASS.

MY MOTHER SAID "NOW EMMA LOU, YOU OUGHT TO STUDY MORE."
AND OH MY GOSH YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD , HOW MY DEAR DAD WOULD ROAR!

BUT I WOULD SAY, "OH, DON'T RUN ON, ITS NOT THAT I'M SO DUMB,
IT'S JUST THAT I DON'T STUDY MUCH, AND DON'T CARE MUCH BY GUM.

THEN OH, SUCH WORDS MY POP WOULD SAY, AND GEE WOULD HE GET MAD,
AND I WOULD LOOK AT HIM AND SAY, I'LL DO BETTER NEXT TIME DAD."

BUT HE WOULD SHAKE HIS HEAD AND SAY, "I'VE GIVEN UP ALL HOPES,
YOU'VE PROMISED ME THAT SO MANY TIMES, I'M AT THE END OF MY ROPES."

"NOW IF YOU DON'T DO BETTER "EM", I SO VERY MUCH DO FEAR,
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE GIRL GET PADDLED ON THE REAR."


It took a long time to get published so to speak, sixty years. That's a long time.

My mother died in 1942. Her name was Emma Lou Wolfe. She was the daughter of Jessie and Harley A Wolfe and they raised me.

My dad remarried when I was 4 or 5 and guess what, he married another 1940 graduate Eleanor Young. In fact my mother and stepmother were on the same page in the 1940-year book. What was my dad up to or in our modern language "what's up with that?" He went to Greenbrier military school. I guess he just had a thing for WI girls!

My dad died 7 years ago but my stepmother is still living and would love to hear from some of her classmates. They can e-mail her at cows10@peoplepc.com. She lives in Henryetta, Oklahoma and has 6 other children. She is just as lovely and beautiful as ever.

So far, no one knows who I am, although some may have been able to guess by now. Its Linda Deturk Jones. (Deturque@aol.com) I graduated in 1960.

It is great to have this newsletter each month and I doubt that any other high school in the world has something like this. You & Judy can never be thanked enough for what you do ....taking the time to do this each month.




NEW READERS THIS MONTH

Bernice King McHenry (WI '52) BerniceMcHenry@aol.com
Ron Cleavenger (WI '63) RonCleaven@aol.com
Larry Norris (WI '63) larrynorris@aol.com
Dave Morris (WI '63) Dmorris@iolinc.net
Frank McDonald (WI '58) Jeep1940@aol.com
Caroll Duffield Spring (WI '61) Bspring507@aol.com
Tony J. Marchio (WI '65) Tony.Marchio@appo.k12.de.us
Tom Cook (WI '52) tac_342003@yahoo.com
Wilma Costlow Allman (WI '53) Wallman103@aol.com
Karmyn Frum Will (WI '58) Kay573@juno.com
Bill Yoke (WI '46) Annryoke@aol.com
Ann Romine Yoke (WI '46) Annryoke@aol.com
Mary Ann Hite Williams (WI '52) mahwms@cox.net
Barbara Garilli (VHS '51) jbgarilli@earthlink.net
Ann Christenson (would have been
WI '56 but moved)		 Ann_Christenson@DRSOptronics.com
Marianna Waroblak Coey (WI '56) mariannaw2001@yahoo.com
Loveta Cleavenger Nutter (RW ?) LuvGrMa6@aol.com
Judith Rice Talago (WI '56) jtalago@aol.com
Margaret Ann Heflin Bailey (WI '62) mabailey44@aol.com
Clifford Cleavenger (WI '70) cliffcsc@aol.com
Mickey Drummond (WI '59/60) kato@clasicnet.com
Mary Lou VanHorn Pitts (WI '54) cmlpitts@hargray.com
Chuck Pitts (WI '54) cmlpitts@hargray.com


CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Cynthia Molle Oates (WI '58) caoates@nfis.com
Marolyn Tustin Jett (WI '56) majett@atlantic.net
Philip Wyatt (WI '70) philip.wyatt@verizon.net




submitted by: Elizabeth Ann (Bobo Swiger) Christenson (WI '56)
Ann_Christenson@DRSOptronics.com

I just received the Link to your wonderful Newsletter through Mary Ellen Killingsworth Shachat, Class of '56. I was born in Clarksburg, lived in Stealey, 1st through 6th grade and 7th through half of my junior year in Chestnut Hills. I attended WI 9th through half my junior year. My family moved to Washington, D C and I graduated from McKinley Tech. Mary Ellen and I have kept in touch down through the years. I attended the last reunion held in Clarksburg jointly with the Class of '55. I would very much like to be involved and receive the newsletter. I too have memories growing up in Clarksburg and going to Lake Floyd and Maple Lake. Will this be OK even though I didn't graduate from WI? I live in Florida, east coast and missed the Florida WI celebration.



submitted by: Alex Sandonas Thwaites (Class of '65)
Alex13741@cs.com

As far as schools are concerned, it had to be RW, Victory or Central Jr. High. Regardless if I'm right or wrong, I love these old photos. I enjoyed the First National Bank shot too, especially the old version. The remodel of the interior was atrocious. Destroyed all the original integrity of the marble quality, etc. I knew that bank well, my dad's business was just down the street (next to Bluebird Grocery Store, billiard parlor, Gabberts Filling Station) and he would send me there to get rolls of coins for the cash register and to make deposits for him.

Does anyone remember Gabberts Filling Station (Esso) and the Gabbert family?



submitted by: Bernice King McHenry (WI '52)
BerniceMcHenry@aol.com

Roleta, I have just spent a delightful afternoon reading archive issues of the WI Newsletter. You and Judy and all classmates are creating a treasure of Clarksburg history.

Although a lot of my memories were formed before I graduated from Wl in 1952, the later memories are filling in the gaps after I left Clarksburg for college. Not snow, but the old streetcar tracks on Hartland Ave did me in one summer afternoon as I was riding my bike to see Joanne Westfall (Tetrick) on Liberty Ave. I hit the tracks the wrong way and went sailing. No major injuries, but have always been wary of tracks and bicycles!

Marbles, marbles, marbles. Akro Agate was one of the marble factories. They also made flower vases, pots, ashtrays, and children's tea sets. I was fortunate in that someone gave me a tea set, which I treasure to this day. Colors were green, blue, orange, and yellow. As I remember, the glass industry moved to central WV for raw materials, sand and silica, cheap fuel for melting (natural gas) and even probable some workmen who had done glass-making in homelands of Europe.

The Stonewall Jackson Hotel had a seafood buffet on Friday Nights during the mid-to late 50's, all you can eat. Shrimp in various forms, Lobster Newburg, and many other mouth-watering goodies. Does anyone else remember those feasts?

Keep up the good work with the newsletter. I'll head back to the archives on another rainy afternoon in central FLA.

Go Hilltoppers!



submitted by: Bob White (WI '72)
rwhite@djs.state.wv.us

One that I remember was Heck's Department Store above Harry Green Chevrolet and also the site of many tragic wrecks. It was there from 1966 to 1974, when it moved to the site of the current Gabriel's Brothers Store in the Holiday Plaza. The one memory of speeding on Bridgeport Hill was with my mother driving our 1960 Chrysler New Yorker (with a 413 V-8) on our way to pick up pizza /steak hoagies from Twin Oaks .... She was trying to pass a 1954 FORD in front of the Truck-O-Tel .... another business of the day .... and the Ford sped up in an attempt to not let us by ..... By the time my mother got to Wilson Ford (was that one mentioned?) she was going 85 mph ..... oh,what memories...
and with your mom....
THANKS,
THANKS, MOM
Jacqueline "Jackie" Donnellan White (B-port '46)



submitted by: Mary Stump Harrell (WI '55)
Harrellm@earthlink.net

I remember George Josephs well. (I remember you; too, Shari but you probably don't know me). Shari is right - George was the darling of WI when he first came to live on Stanley Avenue -- Miss Tinnebrunne (sp?) was teaching him English and if I am correct, paired him with Bill Thomas (then a Sophomore) who presumably spoke a little French and who walked George home for lunch. I have a very vivid memory of watching George fly down Maple Avenue from Carlisle school yelling Bill! Bill! - trying to catch up with Bill. Strange memory, because as I write I think George was spending his time at WI in order to learn English. Maybe he was splitting time between WI and Carlisle to spend time in the school day with children his own age too. Anyway, his story and he himself fascinated us and I remember him quite fondly. I am so sorry to hear that he is no longer with us.

The mystery picture for March is the Union Protestant Hospital if I am not mistaken. I do not have any particular memories of the hospital, but to the left of the hospital used to be a building called the Melbourne Apartments, famous to me as the place where my mother and father "set up housekeeping" when they married in 1927. They had a gate-leg table that they used for a dinner table and my daughter now has that table in her house in Virginia. The table has traveled from the Melbourne Apartments to Stanley Avenue to the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC to Orlando Florida and finally to Fairfax Virginia. It is still in service after 76 years!

Sledding for those of us raised on Stanley Avenue was down Concord Street (past Coach Hite's house). The city would come and block off Concord at the intersection of Stanley so cars did not cross and so that cinders would not be placed on the street. I remember coming down one time after dark and turning into Stanley and running under the wheels of a delivery truck. I thought it was funny, but now I wonder if that driver didn't have a heart attack! Judy Lough had a wonderful Dalmatian dog - "Danny Boy Gocke Lough" - and her father had a harness made for Danny so that he could pull us on our sleds! And speaking of dogs - who remembers the name of the Spelsberg's Irish Setter? His name was Patrick O'Shaughnessy Spelsberg Dog. -- there is a topic for you - people's favorite pets.

Does anyone remember when the cast of the 1955 senior play broke with tradition and presented Miss Bauer with a parakeet instead of an orchid at the closing of the play? We thought it was a brilliant idea - she was a speech teacher - she would love to teach a bird to talk! We were SO wrong. I inherited that bird when we subsequently replaced him with the coveted orchid - his name was "Birdie" and he was a great delight to my Father - fortunately, since I went off to college and could not take the bird along.

I enjoyed the picnic in Sarasota and think you and your helpers are terrific for putting it on. Good food, great people, and lots of fun memories!



submitted by: Nancy Kirkpatrick Gaines (WI '50)
Nanielee@aol.com

Thanks again for a wonderful Edition. Just wrote my cousin Betty Jo Laine and asked her if she had read the latest Hilltopper, what a slip!

It always brings back memories of my teachers, places, and old friends.

Also, enjoy reading comments from my relatives Dave Nichols, Debbie Sharp Fisher, and old classmates.

Keep up the good work.



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

Another wonderful edition!!! I enjoyed the excellent Coach Hite material. I even enjoyed my own contribution--hahaha! --

The mystery picture is of the old Union Protestant Hospital, before St.Mary's and that hospital united for the new combined current United Hospital in Clarksburg.

The Carmichael was the scene for political rallys, big band one-night (stop-over)stands. Most of the famous touring orchestras stopped on their way from Ohio to Pittsburgh. Appearing were such acts as: basketball games, skating, wrestling matches with the then famous "Gorgeous George" and boxing matches. Of course the yearly appearance of the Shrine Circus when all the schools got out early to attend was something to remember. I was always wondering if the floor would hold those elephants. And they did parade down Clarksburg from the train station where the circus arrived via boxcar.

Memories are being renewed of The Four Clarksburg Theatres. ORPHEUM with the "B" movies, cheaply made westerns, Monogram, PRC. The RITZ Theatre with the crackling Warner Brothers movies with the just a pitch higher soundtracks than other film companies, and those Warner Brothers Bugs Bunny-Porky Pig cartoons. The ROBINSON GRAND featured MGM, Columbia and RKO, and Fox features with 3-changes of programs each week and the Disney cartoons. The MOORES OPERA HOUSE (where back in the 1930's there indeed appeared the big stars of Hollywood and show-biz.) In the 1940's, my favorite hang-out after-school on Fridays taking in the Charles "Durango Kidd"Starrett, Gene Autry,Roy Rogers westerns and a "B" feature..and the most important serial episode.

Manager Madge Stout who managed the Grand also would place the newspaper ads for the Moores with the heading "Big Triple Bill", I always wondered why that big guy never showed up. The Grand would even have bigger budget western --Hopalong Cassidy now and then from Fox. Yes, .for a couple or three fun filled hours, 15-25 cents would buy you a lot of entertainment.

Last month John Harrison mentioned the trial for Harry Powers, the Quiet Dell murderer, that took place at Moores Opera House. This is a scene of that trial.




submitted by: Phyllis Fittro Brown (WI '59)
HMB531@aol.com

Recently, my husband and I decided that with our combined ages of 137, we needed to look for a home all on one floor. We also wanted to stay in the city limits of Clarksburg and we wanted easy access to major highways. Also, we wanted city water, cable, paved streets and a safe neighborhood, We didn't want to live someplace where a junk yard was on one side and a trailer park just down the road.

All the realtors in town said such a place did not exist in Clarksburg, but we persisted. About this time last year I found a condemned house in the Glenwood Hill section of town. We were able to buy the old falling down structure and have it torn down along with the "A" word--asbestos! We had the lot cleared off and hired an architect to draw plans from our sketches. Elkview Builders started on the construction of our "retirement-style" home July 1 and we moved in on January 8 of 2003. We really like our new home all on one floor and the neighbors are really old-fashioned kind of neighbors. During this terrible snow, the neighbors cleared off the city streets so we could get out. That was after I shoveled the driveway. I shoveled so much snow; I've gotten very good at it by now! Oh for the warm days of spring.

My husband (class of 1944) still works at the Disability office in town as a medical consultant and I fuss around with volunteer things for the Harrison County Medical Society Alliance where I am very involved with the Breast Cancer Projects and Osteoporosis Prevention. We belong to the Wilsonburg Lions Club and are very busy there, too, From April to October we sell 50/50 tickets at the I-79 Racetrack as a major fund raiser for the club. We usually give away about $1,000 every Friday night. If you're in town, come on down on Friday night. We think many of the folks come to play the 50/50 instead of watching the races. We have steak dinners and hot dog sales. Also we sell used paperbacks at the Meadowbrook Mall. Books go for 10 cents and that's a lot of good reading. We're always looking for other fund raiser ideas. If anyone has a real success story, let me know. We buy lots of eye exams and eyeglasses with our money. For a small club, we're very generous with the money we raise. And we have a lot of fun, too!



submitted by: Bob McNutt (WI '55)
Unruly@capecod.net

Roleta - Below are some remembrances of WI and Clarksburg, stimulated by your latest newsletter. You may use any, all or none, as you wish.

1. Bridgeport Hill: The two most vivid memories of Bridgeport Hill that come to mind are the garbage dump and the fighter plane that crash-landed on the highway. This was mentioned in passing in last month's newsletter, but not identified. It was a P-51 Mustang, the first WW II combat fighter most of us had ever seen. It crashed near the town dump, a mountain of trash, rumored to have rats as big as dogs, although never documented.

2. The mystery photo looks like the old Union Protestant Hospital, although in my memory, the walls are ivy covered. I was born there and 13 years later returned for an appendectomy. That trip introduced me to the world of medicine and started my long trip towards becoming a physician.



REMEMBERING JIMMY WERFER

submitted by: Carris "Pinky" House (WI '51)
CarrisHH@aol.com

How many remember little Jimmy Werfer (WI 51)? He was a phantom member of the class of '5l. He was invented by Bobby Cotter ('51) when Bobby would call the Ritz or the Robinson Grand theaters and insist that they page little "Jimmy Werfer", his son, whom he knew was "in there". Jimmy supposedly had a "little patch of red hair which stuck out from under his baseball cap." His last name started off with a blurred pronunciation something like "werrrrflllllll" which was a big part of our call-in game. The people at the theaters who say "who? what?" and Bobby would repeat it, blurred, over and over, growing less patient with each try, finally accusing the theater people of trying to hide the fact that "Jimmy" was there. And, if not, what had they done with him?

We had to give Jimmy a real last name so we decided upon "Werfer." We then applied for entrance to several colleges in his name, and put his name on every class list that we could. The librarian would announce that his book was "now available." He was signed up as a member of every club and senior group. We knew him so well that we felt that he was almost real. We even had personal cards printed for him. At one Friday assembly Kenneth Cubbons, our principal finally asked the whole student body, "Who the dickens is Jimmy Werfer?" This brought the house down.

Now Jimmy Werfer lives on in the heads of all those who enjoyed him so much in those days. One of my AOL screen names is JIMMYWERFER@AOL.COM. So watch out, little Jimmy may be sending YOU an email one of these days.



PRECIOUS CHILD FOR MARCH

    


submitted by: Bob Teter (WI '60)
Bteter@chartertn.net

That delightful child is none other than Charlie Burkhammer, who lived up the street from us on Mulberry Street growing up. His father, I believe, worked at the Carbon Plant in Anmoore, as did my dad. We used to play a lot together as children on "the field", located where the expressway now runs just above Broaddus Avenue toward North View, maybe the end of Beech Street? We played lots of hotly contested games on a very crude 'ball field". I have seen Charlie at the WI summer picnics and have had great fun sharing old memories.



submitted by: Jeannie Schneider (Peet) Trower class of '59 if I hadn't moved to Florida in 8th grade
OPAL II@aol.com

The mystery picture has got to be Charles Burkhammer. I don't know how I even pulled his name out of the air let alone spell it! The hair is the give away--

Keep up the good work! I love reading the newsletter. I thought the picture from last newsletter was Victory--I am only a day late, and a dollar short.

Regarding Carmicheal Auditorium--I remember it well as my Dad worked for the Carmicheal family at the Pontiac dealership. We would sometimes sit on top of the refreshment stand (up high or so it seemed in the rafters) for the wrestling matches. I particularly liked the women wrestlers.



WHO IS THIS PRECIOUS CHILD?



Do you recognize this precious child? Send your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Tell me a memory you have of this person. Remember that I don't print incorrect guesses.



MYSTERY PICTURE FOR MARCH


NOTE FROM JUDY: I had 2 pictures of the Union Protestant Hospital -- this is the one I didn't use.
Bob McNutt, here are the ivy covered walls you remember.


submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
Fgl46vhs@aol.com

The March trivia photo is of the former Mason Hospital located on Washington Avenue and opened in November of 1917. It was so named after Dr. Salem M. Mason. Dr. Mason died of broncho-pneumonia one year after opening his new hospital. In 1918 a group of local physicians purchased the hospital from the Mason heirs. In 1933 the Mason Hospital became known as The Union Protestant Hospital Corporation. Seventeen and one half acres of land were purchased in 1958 near the intersection of Davisson Run road and Rt. 19 for the purpose of building a new and larger hospital. In 1968 the former Union Protestant Hospital located on Washington Avenue was demolished. At this location now is a building housing senior citizens on low income and is called "Mason House."

The former St. Mary's Hospital was consolidated with the Union Protestant Hospital in 1969 and the hospital was renamed United Hospital Center (U.H.C.) The St. Mary's Hospital closed for good, December 1976.



submitted by: Wilma Costlow Allman (WI '53)
Wallman103@aol.com


I believe that this is the old Union Protestant Hospital formerly known as the Mason Hospital. My sister, Helen Costlow Simpson, graduate of 51 (now deceased) took her three-year nurse's training there. There was a house next to it and one across the street, which were used for dorms for the students. I was never there as a patient but stayed with my sister when she had her tonsils removed when she was in high school.



submitted by: Margaret Ann Heflin Bailey (WI '62)
MABailey44@aol.com


I truly appreciate the job that you do. You are a blessing to so many of us. Thank you!

The mystery picture is a beautiful view of the Old Mason Union Protestant Hospital on Washington Avenue. I was born in this building in 1944 and lost my tonsils there in 1952. What a building! I distinctly remember the strong smell of ether that permeated the hallways as soon as you entered the hospital. High beds, starched white uniforms, cold metal bedpans, dim lights, and employees with a heart of gold! Presently, the Clarksburg Housing Authority operates there The Mason House, a high rise apartment building for the elderly, at this site.



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


I think this is the old Union Protestant Hospital that was probably on Washington Avenue near Water Street. It was a very small hospital with only a few beds, but it did have an operating room and a delivery room. My sister-in-law, Dove Whisner Clark (WI '45) graduated from the UP School of Nursing and was a RN.



submitted by: Bob Stealey
Bobnalong1@aol.com


The mystery photo for this month is the former Union Protestant Hospital, which was located on lower Washington Avenue in Clarksburg, where the Mason House high-rise is now situated. I believe it was also called the Mason's Hospital at one time.

Even earlier, there was the Kessler Hospital, which I believe sat up on a terrace- or bank-like property.

It was around 1959 or '60 that the U.P. Hospital closed and the patients were moved to the then-brand-new facility on U.S. 19 south of Clarksburg, which would later be part of what is today United Hospital Center.



submitted by: Bob Williams
bwilliams@swfla.rr.com


I certainly remember this hospital from early childhood having tonsils removed and my wrist stitched with 20 some stitches after falling on a broken sugar bowl playing back yard ball in Broad Oaks. Two of my three children were born at the Union Protestant hospital, Suzan Williams Hood, and David Williams who now is a Veterinary on Bridgeport Hill road. My doctor for the tonsil operation was Dr. Jesse Williams, father of Martha Kehoe who taught home economics at WI for many years. Martha is still living in Clarksburg and one of my closest friends. Martha's husband Dave and I used to hunt and fish together in the mountains.



submitted by: Dave Morris (WI '63)
Dmorris@iolinc.net


The Trivia Picture for March is a picture of the Union Protestant Hospital, which was located on Washington Avenue where the Mason House apartment building is now. I was born there in 1945 and had minor surgery there in 1950 and released just before the "Big Snow of 1950."



submitted by: Lyle Corder (RW '57)
WVLyle@aol.com


That is the U. P. Hospital where I was born in 1939, as was our first child, Julie born in 60. Julie will become a grandmother in August of this year, making my wife and me great grandparents.



submitted by: Wilma Costlow Allman (WI '53)
Wallman103@aol.com


I believe that this is the old Union Protestant Hospital formerly known as the Mason Hospital. My sister, Helen Costlow Simpson, graduate of 51 (now deceased) took her three-year nurse's training there. There was a house next to it and one across the street, which were used for dorms for the students. I was never there as a patient but stayed with my sister when she had her tonsils removed when she was in high school.



submitted by: Susanne Gabriel Arthur (WI '60)
Susanne@soozie.com


It looks like the old, yea ancient, place of my birth -- Union Protestant Hospital on Washington Avenue. Love the air conditioning!! When Bill and I were first married, we lived about 4 doors up from the then-demolished hospital towards 2nd Street in a duplex. Our son David was born in 1971 in the then relatively new Union Protestant Hospital.



MYSTERY PICTURE FOR APRIL 2003



Do you recognize this picture? Tell me where it is located and why you remember it. Write to Roleta1@aol.com




LOOKING FOR A LOST CLASSMATE

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

I am currently in search of Udo Thiem, the foreign exchange student that was at WI with the graduating class of 1961. I have not been able to find him. Nancy Swing (61) has been searching different resources from her Italy residency and I have been searching my US resources with no success. If anybody should have any knowledge of Udo Rudolf Thiem, it would be very appreciated if you could please send the information to me at my E-mail address. Or if anybody should know of any organization that would have kept records of foreign exchange students, I would be willing to contact those organizations. The last KNOWN address we had for Udo was: WINSONER STRASS 23, HANOVER-KLEEFELD, GERMANY.




CLASS OF 1959 NEWS

Did you know? Connie Bailey Casto was elected Council Woman in Dunellen, Florida. Congratulations, Connie



REMEMBERING GEORGE JOSEPHS



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


Dear Shari,
Although I do not know you, I was very touched by your letter in the WI Newsletter about your dear brother/cousin, George. Though I thought I knew him well and he was a wonderful friend, I did not know how he got to the US and that relatives adopted him. It was just not something that he talked about.

I knew George throughout high school. He was always pleasant and upbeat and he was a good student. He was a bit serious at times, but I think I understand that better now. We had some wonderful times at ball games and at "open house" at someone's house after the games. He was a part of our crowd of kids who hung around together. At no time were George and I anything but friends. I mean that we were never romantically connected. Our prom date in 1955 (our junior year-we graduated in 1956), was a date of convenience. I did not have a boyfriend at the time and if he had a girlfriend, she would have been too young to go to the prom. I simply do not know. Anyway, I thought you would enjoy this picture of us at prom, all dress up in our best "bib and tucker" and having a perfectly wonderful time.

I am sure he turned out to be a fine man who was a good father and husband. He will always live in my heart as a true friend. I never saw him after graduation day, but I treasure this picture. I am so sorry that he died so young.



submitted by: Betty Jo Nichols Laine (WI '49)
BettyLaine@aol.com


This delightful, very bright, young lad was in my French class taught by Miss Yvonne Tiennebrunne in 1947 -1948. The whole class enjoyed him very much. He taught us more than we taught him. He was like a sponge and learned English very quickly. I was in the group that did the "birthday" gifts for him. I have often wondered what happened to George. I am sorry to hear of his demise.



submitted by: Carol Van Horn Dean (WI '58)
DBLU2@aol.com


Dear Shari,
I enjoyed reading the write-up of your cousin, George Josephs. George lived in Stealey on Duff St not far from where I grew up. He was indeed a fine person.

George was my first boyfriend. Clayce Kishbaugh (librarian) introduced me to him. I worked in the library for her. I invited George to a church hayride at Dean's farm on route 50. We dated during my sophomore year. He was a good-natured person. George was a good friend of Harold Sloan. Harold was dating Mary Lou Vincent, my neighbor. The four of us were good friends.



submitted by: Elizabeth Teter (Liz or Libby) Akin (WI '56)
LibAkin@aol.com


I remember George. He came to Pierpont School when we were in fourth grade. He was an excitement. I remember going on a hayride at the airport, for Judy Hudkins birthday, I think...oh, Roleta, you do get the memory flowing... and as Shari suggests, we all wanted to be close to him. As we matured, he earned our respect, and I always remember him with fondness.



submitted by: Marolyn Tustin Jett (WI '56)
majett@atlantic.net


To Shari Josephs,
I went to school with George. He was in my graduating class in 1956. My name is Marolyn (Tustin) Jett and I grew up in Stealey on Duff Ave.

About two years ago I e-mailed Mere (Gurson) Schwartz asking her if she knew anything about George. I had not seen him since we graduated and over the years I had wondered about him. He had not been to any of our class reunions that I could remember. Mere contacted a couple of people and I wrote to one she mentioned. We learned that he was deceased.

So I was very pleased to see your note about George in this month's newsletter as it gives me a chance to tell you what I remember. After finishing grade school at Morgan I started the big adventure of going to town to school and riding the bus. That was big in itself but the most exciting part was having classes with many different children from all over Clarksburg that I had never seen before. I was in room 210 and my homeroom teacher was Miss Israel, a niece I believe to Miss Mattie Israel who had taught at Morgan School for many years and who taught me third grade. In my homeroom was a brown curly headed boy with a French accent. And not only that he was cute! He seemed quiet and studious but also had an odd sense of humor; maybe mischievous is the word. We knew he had come from France and that he was an orphan and was being raised by his aunt and uncle. We weren't told any details but that seemed to bring the tragedies of war closer home for me. I did not know how long he had lived in this country at that time, but remember I was impressed with his English skills. I did not know that he had taken English classes at WI beginning at ten years old until I read your message. I can imagine that he was the center of attention and the older students took right to him. I laughed at your story of the birthday presents, that was a good example of his personality, and can imagine his blue eyes sparkling with glee that he had pulled that over on the older students.

I don't believe you lived in Stealey on Duff Ave. at that time did you? It seemed that your family moved there a little later. I do remember you, although you were ten years younger. I remember George catching the city lines bus at the corner of Duff Ave and Josephs St. and I caught it at the next stop on Duff at the end of Duncan Ave. at Phillips Market. During high school George was very polite, always a gentleman. He grew to be very tall it seemed at the time. I am sorry to hear that he died such an untimely death after surviving the horrors of war at a young age. I am sure you miss him and I am happy to share my memories of your brother.



submitted by: David Nichols (WI '55)
Dnicholsii@aol.com


I knew George from his first day at Carlisle to our final parting when we left WVU. George's arrival in Clarksburg was an anxiously awaited event for us. We had been prepared to greet him in our pigeon French. It was soon after WWII and we had been told that the Nazis had killed his parents. Holocaust was an unknown word at that time but we were aware that Jews had been persecuted in Europe. During the war we played our part, collecting newspaper, tin cans, even milkweed for the war effort. Some of us had relatives who fought in the war and so we were all touched by it in one way or another, but the arrival of this boy our age that had actually survived the war was something else. He had a past that none of us could imagine. As time went by George and I became friends. He joined our ball games, learned his English and became another one of us. I never heard him speak of the horrors he must have seen in his native Belgium. After leaving WVU, I never heard anything about George and I was saddened to learn that he had died, and so long ago. George and I were the same age.



submitted by: Mary Ann Baily Donato (WI '56)
Mimidonato@yahoo.com


I was extremely happy to hear the words about George and to know that he had a family. I was extremely saddened when they announced his death at a previous reunion.

My memory goes back to Carlisle School, fourth grade with Miss Bright. One day in class she announced that we were going to get a new student and his name was George. He arrived and was silent because he didn't understand our language that well. All the classmates made him welcome and he soon joined in with the class. He was always funny and so very bright. I remember one day we were having a lesson in health and Miss.Bright was talking about our feet for some reason. Anyway, he finally began to understand and the next thing we knew he had taken off his shoes and socks and was pointing to his feet. Of course everyone laughed, including George.

Soon he invited several of us to come and play at his home in Golf Plaza. We all knew he was from far away but at our age we were not aware of the atrocities that were happening to our fellow human beings. I think we all felt his aunt was his mother and she was very kind to us. It must have been near Passover because we were given a huge delicious cracker for a snack. I remember how we all asked for more before running back outside to play. When I went home I told my mother about the great crackers and it was then she explained about Matzo and the religious significance.

As usual in schools as the years go by one forms many friendships and that was the way it was in Central Jr. High and W.I. But George always remained a friend and we'd always laughs about the shoes and socks incident. Sadly people loose touch with friends throughout the years, but to this day I still love Matzo and whenever I do eat it I think of the little boy who came to my school from a far off land a long time ago. Thank you so much for letting his former classmates know about his past and what caused his untimely death.

Several other class of 56 children were in the fourth grade with me at Carlisle. To name a few: Rudy Garten, Jean Myers, Martha Blair Norris, L Chartrand, Doug Sincel, Alma Jean Quinaut, Frances Neal and I'm sure there were others that I'm forgetting.

Thanks for letting me share a memory from the past.



STINK BOMB HITS WI

submitted by: Bud Wheelock (WI '60)
Hawkewoode708@aol.com

I promised to send you the story of the infamous stink bomb at WI. It was unleashed against an unsuspecting population sometime during 1958. My best friend Bill Ward and I were very much into science at the time, inspired by our biology teacher, Mr. Judy. We were not lucky enough to get to do dissections or labs, but he loaned us things so we could do research on our own. We had a microscope and really enjoyed studying bacteria. He gave us some Agar solution and we proceeded to grow bacteria cultures. One got out of hand. It filled a quart canning jar. At first we weren't sure what to do with it, as Bill's mom was anxious to say the least to be rid of it. It didn't take long to come up with an answer.

One fine morning we took it to school. You WI grads remember "the hole" where you went down the stairs to the furnace room? Well, there was an air duct that crossed right inside the door and it had an access hatch on it. You could stretch and just reach it. Since I was taller, I got to put it in while Bill kept lookout. Wow, when I opened that jar the odor about floored me. Nonetheless, I thrust the jar in, closed the hatch, and we got out of there. By about 9:30 it had dispersed to every nook and cranny of our beloved "home on the hill" and the faculty and inmates dispersed to their homes. Until now, no one ever had a clue as to who did this dastardly deed, but everyone was glad to get a day off. Now, it would no doubt be considered a "terrorist act".

Next month, I will send a story about the WI "Rocket Boys". Love your newsletter!

Bye & God Bless



STONEWALL JACKSON HOTEL



submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
Fgl46vhs@aol.com

The Stonewall Jackson Hotel was opened in 1929. Its cost was $750,000.00 and was located on the corner of Third Street and Modoc Alley. Around 1968 fifteen-efficiency apartments and four-pent house apartments were built on top of the hotel. This hotel had a large ballroom where many high schools held their Junior and Senior Proms and class reunion.

Former President Harry Truman stayed in this hotel once when he was in town to speak at the Democrat fund raiser held at the National Guard Armory. The grand piano that was in the ballroom was moved to the Harrison County 4-H Center Building on Rt. 19 south after the hotel closed on November 12,1976. The piano is still at the center and is still playable



submitted by: Evelyn Anne Brown Harper (VHS '62)
Whipharp@aol.com

Dear Roleta,
The Stonewall Jackson Hotel brings back many happy memories to me. My wedding reception was held there in the "Mirror Room" in 1966. It was such an elegant room! I also remember the seafood buffets in the dining room. I believe that the buffet was $3.95, including all the lobster tails you could eat!



So many, Roleta, appreciate your newsletter, even those of us who were Victory graduates. I enjoy the "WI Room" at RCB High School. My mother, Mildred Gregoire Brown (also a Victory graduate, Class of 1931) and I recently donated one of my dad's (Paul M. Brown, WI Class of 1931) team sweaters to the "WI Room."

Thanks for all your hard work!



submitted by: Jim Pulice (WI '62)
jpulice@msn.com

Happy Beard, was the head bell Captain at the Stonewall Jackson hotel....what a great person....we were also neighbors. I mowed his lawn for several years. He always paid me better than anyone else and always had a cold beverage for me. I was so impressed when I would see him at the hotel in his Dress uniform. He was always so immaculate. The hotel was so active. People coming and going all the time. Today that Hotel should be a landmark like the Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg W.Va.



submitted by: Mary Elizabeth Weaver Snead (WI '60)
Auntmerts@earthlink.net

I can't remember the exact year but I was small, so it must have been in the 40's but I do remember going with my parents to watch a man climb the outside of the Stonewall Jackson. I remember he started of course on the bottom floor and we watched him climb to the very top. I do remember lots of people standing around to see if he really could make it and he did. I can remember the color of the hotel was pale yellow or even beige and in the sunlight it sparkled. I also remember eating in the restaurant in the lower level and listening to beautiful organ music being played by Mrs. Sarah Yunkin (I think that was her name.) I also remember there were several doctor's offices in the building, one of which was my dentist. To this day I still remember the sound of the drill in my ears. No Novocaine was used, either. To this day, I do not like to go to a dentist!!!

Keep up the great work. I look forward to the first of each month for your newsletter.



submitted by: Jim Brown (WI '57)
Jb1obcx@aol.com

One of the recent trivia pictures prompted me to finish the piece I promised you several months ago. Here it is.

This is the story of the demise of the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, its conversion to a new use, and some later events that unfortunately are characteristic of the last quarter of the 20th Century in our home town.

To set the stage, first remember that the Union National Bank occupied the Southeast corner of Third and Main. Going down Main toward Second were, in order, the Prunty Building, Montgomery Ward’s, James & Law, O. J. Morrison’s and a couple of smaller stores. Behind the Bank building on Third was, of course, the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, then the alley, Stonewall Billiards, the Bluebird Store, etc.

Sometime in the early to mid 1970’s, the Bank acquired the Hotel. In 1976, G. A. Brown & Son, Inc. the company I worked for at the time and now own was hired to convert the third floor of the Hotel to office space. This floor lined up closely with the adjacent floor of the Bank. We cut a door between the two buildings, gutted the Hotel rooms and developed spaces for back office work, data processing, etc. This was first step in what was to become a much larger project.

The Bank was growing and the President - Alfred Reppert couldn’t stand the sight of customers standing in line at the teller windows. Apparently, he was afraid they would take their money across the street to another bank. So Union National decided to create a much larger facility - especially a large Lobby with many more tellers' stations. They purchased the Prunty and Montgomery Ward’s buildings. A Chicago architectural firm was hired to draw the plans. The work began in 1977.

Essentially, the Bank would occupy the first three stories of all three buildings. The Wards building would be demolished and a plaza with trees, a fountain, etc. would take its place. A new elevator and stair tower would rise from the center of the plaza and serve all ten floors of the complex.

The Stonewall had ceased operations as a typical hotel but still had some more or less permanent guests on the upper floors plus the residents of the “penthouse” apartments. These had been tacked on the top of the building in the late forties or early fifties. They are still there and, I assume, occupied.

The hotel lobby operations including the Front Desk, Newsstand and Barber Shop were shut down. The mezzanine was removed. On the second floor, the ballroom was gutted and yes, the famous revolving mirrored ball disappeared forever. Several people (including yours truly) tried to get custody of this important artifact. I do not know who got it but I’m sure it was someone who could not possibly have the memories of that magical spinning ball that we have. It serves him right that a few years later, cheap imitations appeared at Sam’s Club and numerous other stores.

The teller line was tripled in size and stretched in a serpentine pattern across the new lobby which now occupied the combined space of the old lobby and the Prunty Building first floor. In addition to the inside teller stations, four walk-up teller windows were located in the east wall of the lobby to serve customers on the plaza.

The Trust Department of the bank occupied the second floor of the complex. It was served by a new escalator, which became the main feature of the new Lobby. As you can imagine, this was quite an attraction in our hometown. The project was completed in late 1978.

Epilogue:

Unfortunately, by the time the expansion was completed, the need for it had virtually ceased to exist. West Virginia was catching up with the rest of the country and branch banking was now permitted. As the bank opened branches or bought banks in other parts of the county, there was no need for customers to come to the main facility.

They stayed away in droves. Only one or two of the walk-up windows were even equipped for operation. They were used a few times but soon abandoned. The lines of customers that had formerly been standing in the lobby were now waiting in their cars in Nutter Fort, Shinnston, Lost Creek, etc.

Union National merged with banks from Charleston and Huntington and became Key Centurion. After a few more years, they were bought by Bank One. The downsizing started. Data processing was done elsewhere. What once had been autonomous operations became satellite offices of the main bank. We began undoing much of the work we had done only ten years before. Eventually, the three floors of banking operations shrank to what had been the new Lobby plus the basement. They told us they would have abandoned it also but the Vault was down there and they had to keep it open. What had been one of the largest banks in West Virginia had become a relatively small branch of the larger institution.

In the mid nineties came the cruelest blow. The escalator was no longer needed and we were called in to do the dirty deed. Thus we have the regrettable distinction of having installed and removed the only escalator ever to appear in Downtown Clarksburg.




REMEMBERING FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

Growing up in Clarksburg

submitted by: Pat Elder (ND '57)
St1Pat@aol.com

Hello to all of you:
I've been all over the U.S. and several other countries. I would not trade my growing up experience for anywhere else other than good old Clarksburg. I was fortunate to live in different neighborhoods.

During WWII, my young mother and 2 babies lived in a small Boy Scout cabin along the West Fork at Dolan stop on the streetcar tracks in Country Club Addition. Duke, my dad, was in the infantry in the Philippines. I started 1st grade at St. Mary's grade school on Pike St. Yes; I rode the streetcar to school. The Kirkpatricks, Mitchells, Stones, and many others rode with me. We had fights going and coming. Kermit Kirkpatrick and I were buddies but we both came rolling in the cinders when we came to Dolan stop.

The war ended and we moved to North View. We were at the top of Pearlman Ave. at the dead end of the street. Beyond that were the hills was the end of town and another small house. My sister, Caren, got milk on the even days and I took my turn on the odd days. Things were tight. It was 5 years that we got our first family car. Cliff Jones lived across the street. Norman Julian lived next-door. Lots of others that I remember are: Dale and Turtle Knight, Pete Perry, Gerry Criner, Frank and Tom Lopez, John Paletta, Joe Deluca, the Tianos-Sherrif, Bill, Rose Marie, Vicky and Fred Kroll, Rose Ann Oliveto, the Mancusos, Kenny Insani, Fred, Happy Kopp, Heffners, Jim and Linda Villers and cousin Dave.

Connie Diaz gave us dancing lessons and we had sock hops in 5th grade. Roberta Williams, the McCoy sisters, the Brunetti's and so many others were all friends. Most of these friends went to Victory High School.

We moved to Broad Oaks in 8th grade. Don Sager, Nick Alvaro, and his cousins, Jim and Fred, were friends too. I have fond memories of all of their parents who were very,very good to me. Harrison and Tyler (the corner wall) was the school where I learned about sex. Two years later my dad came to me to have that "little talk." I said, dad, I learned all this down on the corner---feeling very relieved he went back down stairs and told mom that he took care of it. I had great instructors---Steve Limbers, Bob Westbrooke, Cliff Judy--all of the dairy bar gang. Most of these people went to WI. as did those I knew from Country Club Addition.

I was still in St Mary's and in the 8th grade when we played Kelly Miller in basketball. I made a lot more friends along Monticello & Water St. One of whom was Jackie Wilson, a super nice guy. I don't know how many of you ever saw inside Kelly Miller High School, but it was the nicest school around. A big swimming pool, very nice gym and the modern tube style sliding fire escapes. That school was closed about 1955 for desegregation. Those were confusing years.

Some families in Broad Oaks were the Brassines, Azelvanders, Farrels, Stantons, LaRosas, Romanos, Riesenger, Selarios. There were many others that I can't recall right now. Some went to Notre Dame High School and others went to WI. I had relatives in Stealey, Lee Avenue, Broadway Addition, Adamston and Nutter Fort and in Wolf Summit. I got to know those neighborhoods and a good number of RW people too. We played ball all over central WV and always tried to meet the players afterward and make friends, not to mention all of the cheerleaders! Joe Dinaldo, Jack Bennet and I led this practice. Joe fell in love with Martha Jane Cain from Weston who later married Jerry West---a bummer for Joe! When Notre Dame built the new school in 1955 it was exciting. Keeleys, Petitos, Hanley, Hall, Yonavac, Petrigacs, Oliverios---all from around Pike and Main Street areas. Some other names from the past are Namesterneus, Carney, Minardall great people.

This is what I gained from Clarksburg, which was a city of great diversity, and a community that really supported their youth. All the coaches and volunteers, teachers (the nuns saved my bacon!) the police and schoolboy patrol. I remember some trips I took -- Kiwanis Boy of Month, Boy's State. Harrison County King and Queen contest, attending Moose dances, spaghetti dinners, pizza treats, and WV hot dogs are great memories. Remember the dance halls? The memories go on and on. Most outsiders don't believe half of my stories. Remember when John F. Kennedy campaigned at the Stonewall Jackson hotel? I was there and stood about ten feet away from him. Remember the guy that came to town & climbed up the outside of the Stonewall Jackson hotel?

One other thing - I never missed a WI Victory game on Veteran's day. I knew everyone on both teams. I would change sides at half time to see both sets of fans. It was always cold & snowed. That was my favorite time. Another favorite--going to Huntington to State Catholic basketball tourney----that was a riot! We spent two nights in a hotel and met loads of people from around the state.

I don't type very well so this note took a while. I have wanted to participate in WI newsletter for some time. Now, thanks Roleta---by the way, Roleta's husband Bill is one great guy! He went to Monangah High School. He has a real good bunch of stories too. GO IRISH!



OBITUARIES

VIRGINIA ROBINSON

Virginia C. Robinson, age 83, Clarksburg, WV, died March 5, 2003, in Meadowview Manor, Bridgeport, WV. She was born in Rachel, Marion County, WV, April 19, 1919, a daughter of the late Clyde J. Robinson and the late Addie Page Robinson. Surviving are cousins and their families.Mrs. Robinson was a member of First United Methodist Church in Clarksburg. She was a graduate of Weston High School, received a BS degree from West Virginia Wesleyan College and earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Pittsburgh. During her 14+ years as an educator, Virginia taught business courses in Jane Lew High School and Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg and throughout her teaching tenure she was often a class sponsor. Following her career as a devoted teacher, she became Coordinator of Personnel Services with Hope Natural Gas Company and retired in 1982 from CNG Corp.


WILLIAM C. 'BILL' GARRETT

William C. "Bill" Garrett, (WI 1963) 57, of Flatwoods, a prominent trial lawyer, died March 5, 2003, at Braxton County Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.

He was born July 23, 1945, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Willard E. and Virginia Starling Garrett. Mr. Garrett graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1963 and from WV Wesleyan College in 1967. During his college days, Bill was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity and lettered four years on the Wesleyan football squad. During his senior year, Bill was selected as a WVIAC All-Conference tackle.

Bill attended the WVU College of Law for one year before being drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division before being injured and evacuated to an Army evacuation hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Bill saw action in the Ia Drang Valley and in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Bill then returned to the West Virginia University College of Law, where he received his law degree in 1972, and graduating 4th in his class. He was a member of the Order of the Coif and was the editor of The West Virginia Law Review. He practiced law from 1972 in Webster and Braxton counties until his death.

A son, William Charles Garrett II and former wife Linda Garrett Dyer survives him, both of Summersville. Surviving is his law partner and devoted companion Elizabeth Farber of Sutton and her three daughters, Kina, Katie and Brooke Farber; two brothers, Marquis E. Garrett (WI 1959) of Clarksburg and his wife, Ann, and Thomas W. Garrett of Fairmont and his wife Lois.


MARGARET SHREVE ELLISON

Margaret Shreve Ellison, age 79, Clarksburg, WV, died March 15, 2003, at her residence. She was born in Clarksburg, April 22, 1923, a daughter of the late Robert Shreve and the late Lillie Jenkins Shreve.

Her husband, Charles D. Ellison Jr., whom she married December 19, 1947, preceded her in death in 1985. Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, William Marshall and Mary Elizabeth Ellison, Fairfax, VA; one daughter and son-in-law, Anne Ellison and Frank Tayloe Mickey, Bethesda, MD and grandchildren.

Mrs. Ellison was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarksburg. A lifelong resident of Clarksburg, she was a 1941 graduate of Washington Irving High School and in 1945 graduated from Wheaton College, Norton, MA.

Following World War II, she worked as a Foreign Affairs Analyst at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C. After returning to Clarksburg in 1951 she was a homemaker.


CHESTER A. GRIMM

Chester A. Grimm, age 92, 794 Verdun Street, Clarksburg, WV, died March 19, 2003, in United Hospital Center.

His wife, Irene Call Grimm, whom he married in 1934, preceded him in death in 1991.

Surviving are one son and daughter-in-law, Jack C. (WI '59) and Sheila C. Grimm, Charleston, WV, one sister, Vivian Dumbleton, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, Sarah, Margaret, William and Samuel Gleason and Jack and Luke Grimm.

"Chet" had a great affinity for young people and was the quintessential father figure, and his efforts for youth were responsible for the ballfield at the Veterans Administration Park. He was also a loyal "Mountaineer" sports fan.

He had retired after an association of over 50 years with Harberts Drug Store in Clarksburg.

Obituaries are excerpts taken from the Clarksburg Telegram.



REMEMBERING OTHERS

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)

After reading the nice memories that some had of George Josephs, the memories from Pat Elder about his friends and the contributor's memories, I started thinking. When you stop and think about it, we are only a big mass of memories, aren't we? The things we are, the things we have learned and experienced and the things we relate to or do for others. How do you measure up? Have you been kind to others? It is never too late to start being kinder to others. Have you hurt someone in someway? It is never too late to apologize. Did someone do something nice for you at sometime? Why don't you write and thank them or send a little gift. It is always nice to receive a surprise whether in a note in a small envelope or a big box. And the pleasure you will receive in doing this is greater than the one you gave. Stop and think of someone in your life that has made a difference to you in someway. Thank them. And remember you are building memories for others. Because what you say or do today will be remembered by someone the rest of his or her life.





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