THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 48 August 2003




YOUR FINAL NOTICE

THE WI ALUMNI SUMMER PICNIC

Have you made your reservation? The picnic will be held August 23, 2003 from 11:00 AM until you want to leave. Email your reservations to Roleta1@aol.com or Sharyn Cottrill McGahan mtmama41@msn.com. If you live in Clarksburg, give Sharyn a call.

The location is the Lions Den Pavilion in the Nutter Fort Picnic Ground. Same picnic ground as in the past two years.

We had about 100 there last year. Come on, let’s beat that number.

Bring a dish to share, and your own drink (no alcohol). Don’t forget to bring a few dollars to put in the pot to cover expenses. And for your comfort bring your water bottle, a folding lawn chair and a tablecloth. There should be plenty of shade.

COME SEE YOUR OLD FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND CLASSMATES.

Remember to sign in and get your nametag. There will be one official list and we hope you will sign in so we can have an accurate count of all who attend and we can put it in the newsletter.





FINDING MY BEST FRIEND

submitted by: Judy Allen Hutson would have graduated WI class of 1956
Judithhutson@webtv.net



EDITOR'S NOTE: Pictured above is Judy Allen Hutson (the blond) and Janet Duncan Welch (the brunette) who had a reunion on June, 2002 in Akron, Ohio. This was the first reunion since 1953.

I read your request for additions to the newsletter and so I am adding this little tidbit. My best friend in high school was Janet Duncan. After we moved from Clarksburg in 1953 I spent years wondering what ever happened to Janet. She was so very dear to me and I missed her a lot. In 2001 my husband got me Web-TV for Christmas and I decided I was going to try to locate Janet. The first thing I looked up was WI high school and they had a bulletin board that one could post messages. I immediately asked if anyone knew the whereabouts of Janet Duncan. I didn't hear from anyone for a long time. As a matter of fact a year went by and I received an e-mail saying "I'm going to a WI reunion this weekend and believe I know Janet - do you want me to give her your address?" - I said yes, yes, yes. He did and she wrote to me. We started corresponding and picked up our friendship where it left off when I was 14 and she was 15. Several months later I called her at Christmas and in our conversation we discovered that her husband was my cousin - now how weird is that? Your newsletter has been awesome for me and I'm sure it has been for many other people. Anyone that recognizes the name of an old friend should get in touch because you never know what will turn up from it. I found my best friend again and also a cousin I never knew I had. How great it that? Sure wish I could find that little Italian guy I had a crush on my freshman year and life would be perfect.



PAYMENT

PLEASE READ THIS EXPLANATION

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

I thought I made it clear in my last newsletter, that your payment is, “Just write to me”. Several people wrote to ask what they owed and one protested that I would think of charging. Oh believe me, I have thought of charging, I spend hours doing this and for no pay. Judy spends hours working on the newsletter too and she doesn’t receive any money either. Bob Davis keeps my e-mail records and he receives no pay! There is NO MONEY! The web site that Judy and her husband, Larry use for their private web page is a FREE site. Judy and Larry share that site with us so that you might enjoy this newsletter. The pop up advertisements are what Tripod puts there and I guess Tripod sells that space and Tripod makes some money enabling them to let us use the site free. Judy and I did receive some nice gifts from a few of you readers for Christmas year before last but I don’t think anyone sent them as a payment or as payola….LOL- I have said before that this is a gift of love. Any questions, just write to Roleta1@aol.com.


      


MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC!

submitted by: Skip Bowie (WI '57)
Sbowie11140@aol.com

What was the top hit when you were a senior? What was the "Love Song". What was best to slow dance and who with?

The Rock and Roll Hits.

1957-Blue Velvet. Earth Angel. Little Darling. Come Go With Me, by the Delvikings "Shilowetts", ANGIE, By The Cords. aka The Prodicals.

1954-Shaboom Shaboom, Bill Hayley-Rock Around The Clock. Davy Crockett. Sixteen Tons. Alvin and The Chipmonks. Love Me Tender. Charades, Theme From Exodus. April Love, Ring Of Fire. Yesterday.

How many hours did you watch American Bandstand?

Where is WOWO Located, Ask Kay Lawson.

WPDX

1950-Mona Lisa, Abba,Babba Honey Moon, Be My Love. La Vie Un Rose

1948-Slow Boat To China, Blue Moon, Tennessee Waltz, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Its A Most Unusual Day

EDITOR’S NOTE: Write to me and tell me about your favorite song. Slow music or Rock, which did you prefer? Did you like to dance? Write: Roleta1@aol.com. Thanks Skip for your contribution, hopefully this will stir up many memories for other readers and they will write and share their memories with us.



VAN VOORHIS CLAN EXPANDS

submitted by: Harriett Danley Van Voorhis (WI '58)
Bill.VanVoorhis@mail.wvu.edu

I have BIG news to report--at least, it's big for Bill and I!!!

Our daughter, Leigh Ann, had her second son and our second grandson today (July 24th). Mitchell Lee is doing well, although he is 3 weeks early. Leigh Ann, her husband, Scott, and this set of VERY PROUD grandparents are doing well, too!!!

Bill and I are so fortunate to have 2 fabulous grandsons and 2 fabulous granddaughters!!



PRECIOUS CHILDREN FOR JULY



  



EDITOR’S NOTE: Barb replied to the my question about where the THEN picture of she and Jimmy was taken?

submitted by: Barb Warren Williams (WI '58)
barbwilliams@swfla.rr.com

“The picture was taken on Pick St. in Stealey where we grew up. We lived there at the same house until we were grown. I'm not sure how old we were in this picture. Pick St. was the next street past Duncan going down the hill from Morgan School. Jimmy Hall, Bobbi Snyder (I don't remember her married name) Suzie and David Ridenour lived on our street. Jimmy Hall is deceased. Thanks for putting the picture in the newsletter."



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

My guess is that the July "precious children" are Jimmy and Barbara Warren. They lived "around the corner" from me on Pick St. in Stealey. If I remember correctly it was # 601 Pick St. That picture looks like it was taken in front of their home which was next door to the Snider family. (A portion of that house is also in the picture).



PRECIOUS CHILDEN FOR AUGUST




Do you recognize the Precious Childen for August? Please send your guess to Roleta1@aol.com.




PIZZA

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

During much of the 1940's we lived at the corner of Maple and East Main St. Across the street at 154 East Main was our neighbor, the Vito Minutelli's. They were Italian-Americans and very friendly to my family. Mrs. Minutelli, who spoke with a heavy Italian accent, took a liking to me. One day about 1945 she called to me as I played on the street, "Come here, Davey, I wanna give you pizza." Not understanding, I asked, "Piece of what, Mrs. Minutelli?"

That was my first taste of pizza, right out of a real Italian kitchen. It was hot and delicious.



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

My first experience with pizza was when my brother was probably a junior at WI. That would have been about 1954. He, along with a couple of his friends, took me to a pizza shop which I think was on Main Street near Kroger’s and across from where the National Guard was at that time. They ordered the pizza….and I remember it so well. It was delicious but I didn’t get enough! Those teen-age boys had been there before, they knew how to CONSUME pizza! They would take a piece and roll it up and have a piece gone in 2 or 3 bites. I will never forget that part. I will always remember the first time, the way they ate the pizza and how great it was to be included with my brother and a few of his friends. You see he is almost 5 years older than I am and I wasn’t included in his older crowd.


submitted by: Babe Bisping Cashman (WI '56)
Scashman@ucnsb.net

First bite of pizza.

My first bite of pizza was at Marv's Pizza on Campus Drive in Morgantown. The craze started after I graduated in '56. I do remember that the crust was almost as thin as a cracker and just about as crisp. It certainly was a lot different than the pizza that we get today.

Thanks again for all the effort that you and Judy put in to keeping us all reminded of good times past and of all our good friends who have slipped away from us not only in miles but in memory as well. The newsletter is like finding an old journal that has lain forgotten for all these years.

I would like to reinforce Marianna's suggestion that all the class of '56 make an extra effort to come to the 50th reunion in 2006. Joe Williams has done such a wonderful job of keeping us together with the help of all you guys who are in Clarksburg now. I hope more will come to this "BIG" reunion. Marianna is right. It could be the last time we really can get together.


submitted by: Frank Bush (WI '59)
fbush@legacynet.com

While I can't say where I had my first bite of pizza, I do know who set the standard for me. The group I ran around with during those years on the Hill always headed for Romano's on Bridgeport Hill. It was always the same order for pepperoni pizza. It only differed in the size or number ordered by the amount of money we had. There must have been other types even then but we never ordered them. I also remember Jim Teter would always pick the pepperoni off his pieces and eat them after he ate the rest of the slice. His reasoning was that he liked pepperoni so much he didn't want the taste smothered by any thing else. Anyway, Romano's thin pepperoni pizza has always been the standard to which others have been compared. Of course no other pizza has met that standard. To tell you the truth, I don't know if Romano's could match the standard that has developed in my head after all these years since so much of it had to do with sharing it with my buddies.




REMEMBER PUDGE?

submitted by: Emory Cole (would have been RW '59)
coleyjuice@charter.net

My name is Emory Cole.

I was raised in Nutter Fort and attended RW school from grade 1 through 9. I then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where I lived for one year and then moved to Tennessee. I would have graduated in 1959. My dad who is 85 graduated from WI in 1939. Probably not many will remember him. His name is W. S. (Bill) Cole. I have told him about the newsletter and take him articles. He enjoys them very much.

Any of you RW boys or girls that remember me, get in touch.

My nickname was Pudge.




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

Just another note to thank you yet again for another great newsletter in the June issue. As I've said before I read it and save it and over the course of the month I reread it and respond as time allows and hopefully before the new issue is "put together" and sent. I am now going through past issues and contacting some of the contributors that I remember from years gone by.

Babe and Stu Cashman were here to spend the weekend with us. When she left today she promised to read the last 2 or 3 issues of the newsletter that she has missed due to trips, family and friends visiting and life in general. Babe and I go back a long way. We started first grade together.

I recognize several WI students in the post prom picture taken by Harry Lange and submitted by Elizabeth Teter Akin WI '56.

From left to right: Mary Ann Comfort Kersting, Dan Davis, Nick Linger, Max Davis and back of Loretta Huber. Max Davis lived on upper Hart St., the very last house on the right and was the only child of Max and Lola Davis. He died soon after college. Directly across the street from the Davis's, was the home of Donna Smith, also a '53 graduate and her younger brother Gary.

In identifying the July "precious children" I said I thought Jim and Barbara Warren lived at 605 Pick St. Maybe it was #102. HA! After all, it's been 40-50 years! Their home was next door to Patty and Barbara Snider and across the street from Bill Hutchinson, Myles and Herbie Enelow, and up the street from Dick, Jim and Pam Hall, all WI graduates of the 50's. Oma Hall, an aunt, lived with the Hall's. She was an 8th grade English teacher at Central at that time and a very good one. We knew our grammar when we finished her class.

Now, for Miss Nutter. I remember her vividly since I was "fortunate" to have her for Freshman and Junior English. You asked "was she ever married"? Rumors were that she had been married once and that it was annulled. Her father was a doctor and I believe they were from the Shinnston area. She would go into rages and once she admonished a classmate, Doug Bailey (56), for saying that he would liked to have lived in the pioneer days as it would have been a challenge. She "ranted" on and on that he didn't appreciate the advantages that he had (as opposed to what he would have had to deal with in the 1800's). He was "flabbergasted", as we all were! One day she called another classmate, Mary Hall, "cold hearted" for no apparent reason. Many times we left the class very confused and frightened by her actions. But, she was one of the many teachers, coaches and principals that visited the funeral home at the death of my father in 1958, after my siblings and I were out of high school. Would faculty do that today? I don't know.



submitted by: Bertis Eugene Davis, Jr. “Gene” (WI '59)
Edavis@,midlandpaper.com

I was added to your list about April of 2000. Your address line to me says "Eugene Davis". My e-mail address until April 1, 2003 was gened@cwpaper.com. After April 1, 2003 it became Edavis@midlandpaper.com when I sold my business, CWPAPER of Wisconsin, to Midland Paper Company of Wheeling, IL.

We look forward to the newsletter each month. I print it to give to my Mother (age 88) to read. My family moved from Clarksburg in 1961. The articles and pictures do evoke many pleasant memories for her. Thanks for the effort that you and others put forth to produce this.



submitted by: Burlin C. Tustin (WI '65)
MRT918@aol.com

I have been reading your newsletter & am really glad to have been given your web page to check out by my sisters. All ready I have found the email address of someone I haven't seen or heard from since the early seventies.

Please add me to your list of email.



submitted by: David Saucer (WI '51)
DvdSaucer@cs.com

Hello Roleta,

Reading your newsletter for the first time and it brings back wonderful old memories. I have to thank Sandy Conaway Mason for getting me onto this great source of information. You do a wonderful service by publishing this letter.

A little news about me, I am retired now and live in Northern California. Have five grandchildren scattered about the country . One in Maryland, three in Texas and one recent arrival in San Francisco. Keeps us busy making the rounds.

I also have to fix my scanner and then I will send you some pictures. Will comment on the July trivia picture of Main Street in another email.



submitted by: Glenna Phillips (WI '38)
glp13121@webtv.com

Thanks for sending the newsletter again to me. I really enjoyed it especially the letter from Marolyn Tustin. The Tustins were my next door neighbor on Duff St. We had the Phillips Market, & my son was a playmate of their youngest boy Burlin.

I remember the Ice card & the ice truck delivering ice to our house on Stealey Ave. All the children would get chips of ice when the truck came up our street. I also remember the city would patch the cracks in the street with Black Tire & when it ran down the street we would peel it off & chew it. Now I wonder how we kept alive? That surely wasn't good for us.

Joan & Jean Hamilton & I had a restaurant on our back porch where we served a salad we made out of weeds & grass. Which we now know was good for us. Such as dandelion, plantain, violets, and sourgrass, etc.

Thanks for all the time you must put into giving we old graduates the joy of reading the WI Newsletter.



submitted by: Deborah Lefever Britzki (WI '66)
Mdbritz@msn.com

Have just been introduced to the letter. Please include me on the mailing list. This is truly an amazing piece of work. I'm enjoying it so much. I've been gone from the C-burg area for 20 yrs. Lived in Broad Oaks, Vermont Ave. 1st marriage to a Bridgeport '66 grad, divorced, remarried & living in Pittsburgh. One daughter, 1 granddaughter & 1 ??? on the way. Kudos and my best to you. Thanks for this newsletter.



submitted by: Ann R. Yoke (WI '46)
Annryoke@aol.com

I look forward to your newsletter and promise to respond in length when summer is over. As you probably already know it just started in W. Va. last week. I would like to add Lois Wiseman Fields WI '46 to your list. Her address is wmfields@oburg.net. She lives in Santee, S.C. and was in Clarksburg for her brother’s funeral.

Thank you for all your efforts on our behalf. I hope to meet you on Aug. 23 in Nutter Fort



submitted by: Jimmy Ross (WI ?)
PhinsCanes13@aol.com

Hello. My name's Jimmy Ross. I am Bob Ross's son (Class of 69) and I'd like to receive a newsletter as well. I knew a lot of my Dad's old friends from high school and even lived in Clarksburg for a while so I'd like to keep up with things and also keep him updated as well as he is always asking questions about people when he flips through his old yearbooks. Thank you.



submitted by: Becky Rumble Littlepage (WI '66)
rlittlepage@cox.net

Thank you so much for all your effort on this. What a joy it is. I showed my daughter all the old pictures and she couldn’t believe it was Clarksburg, especially the one of Main Street. She is 21 and since she can remember, Main Street has been dead. I tried to explain how much fun it was to “go to town” on Saturday, but she couldn’t quite grasp the concept since she has grown up with “mall shopping”.

My oldest and dearest friend, Jane Poulicos Faust, forwarded the site to me. It’s great. We have been friends since the 3rd grade and went through Carlysle Grade School, Central Junior High and WI together and then roomed together at WVU. In case anyone is wondering she lives in Florida with her husband and has two grown children, one of whom is my daughter’s best friends. People from Clarksburg stick together.



submitted by: Dave Kulina (WI '61)
Kulina@mteer.com

I graduated from WI Class of "61". My freshman year at WI was 1957, I remember the indoor pool used for physical education. I learned to swim there.

Mr. Andre was my home-room teacher, wine breath and all, also had him for Civics class. I remember the bomb threats that emptied the whole school. Also, my freshman year I had 6th period study hall, the guy that sat next to me was a senior who showed me a "38 Special" hand gun he had brought to school. He always wore dark suits and told me he wanted to be a policeman. I think he actually ended up on the Clarksburg Police Force. We think that today is more unstable than our day but there is nothing new under the sun only somehow the crazy antics of our day seemed more innocent.

I remember Hagans Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street, a popular hang-out at lunch time. I remember the steep walk up to WI from Main Street. Thought nothing of it back then, probably complain terrifically of it today. I remember Mr. Fredricks, the American History teacher. He was well liked and very popular with everyone. I remember the "no air-conditioning" that was taken care of by opening the school windows. Students used to talk from the open windows to other students outside. I remember the train to Parkersburg for the football games. I think most people went for the train ride and not the football game. Well, that's all the memories I can muster up for today



submitted by: Patricia Taylor Smith (WI '61)
Psmith12@netscape.net

Memories of Linda and Bobby Humphries: Linda was in my Towers grade school class, and she and Susan Mollohan, Donna Jo Nutter and myself were friends. We would go to Linda's "big" house and we thought she was rich because her father was a doctor. We'd go home telling our parents how the "other folks" lived! Smile. Also, the trivia picture....isn't that Main St.? Probably during the 50's if I'm guessing correctly. When I was a senior at WI I took D.E. and worked half-day. First part of the year I worked at Williams Jewelers, until after the Christmas rush. Then I worked for a while at Chamberlain & Flowers Insurance, and finally at Samuel B. Urso Insurance, where I stayed after I graduated. I visited Clarksburg a few years back and thought I would just go up to see if the Urso's still had an office up in the building (can't remember the name of the building, but it was next to the Courthouse). When I went in the front door I saw a reception desk and the receptionist advising people about the "historical building tours". You know you're getting old when....... I can remember literally running up and down the nine flights of stairs in that building, to and from work and down for lunch and back up, just to get some exercise! Gone are the days. But I have some great memories. The Urso's were great people to work for, even though Sam, Jr. and I had a couple of run-ins!

Would love to come to the August picnic, but am headed for Spokane, WA, as my oldest granddaughter is expecting to deliver my first great-granddaughter on that very date. Maybe next year!



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

Hi Roleta:

On the date of the Empire Bank changing to One Valley Bank, the date should read 1994 instead of 1944. I'm assuming you hit the wrong key. Some one will catch this mistake I'm sure.

The railing the boys are sitting on is of the former post office building, [vacated around 1932], located at 3rd and Pike Street, former DPA office [Department of Public Assistance office[s], vacated after World War II to move to the courthouse and then the former Clarksburg City Hall building, vacated to move into their new city hall bldg. in 1997.

Also just thought of another "street character". Do you remember Danny Sayre, from Sayres Studio? He was the tall thin boy that delivered photos to the different drug stores in and around town. He delivered to Farlins Adamston Drug Store and even went to Furbees Drug Store in Bridgeport. He always carried a camera with him to take photos of pretty girls in their cheerleading outfits and drum majorettes or at he least did at Victory. After Sayres closed here in Clarksburg I know Mrs. Dwight Life moved to Elkins. Was told that Danny had gone there too. Have not seen him for over 15 years. Happy 4th of July



submitted by: Susan Dodds Michaels (WI '53)
Radhesai@aol.com

I was sent the newsletter by a friend when my mother (Mrs. Pat Dodds) and her NY trippees were featured in a picture. I have really enjoyed reading every issue! Lovely job! Please add me to your mailing list.



submitted by: Karen Cooper-Phelan (WI '73)
KPhelan101@aol.com

You have a GREAT newsletter! Even though most of your contributors graduated in the 50's and 60's, it's still entertaining to read their contributions! It would be nice to see some offerings from the 70's crowd. What a crazy bunch we were!

My father, John Cooper, reminds me to read the WI newsletter every now and then. Anyway, thanks for the walks down Memory Lane and the great pictures of the way Clarksburg used to be.



submitted by: Mary Beth Jeranko Hilburn
hilfarm@hawaii.rr.com

Mary Stump would know these things. I had just moved back to W.V. after several years in Va. and was in culture shock. Everyone had known each other (or so it seemed) from the dawn of time. My dad had been in the Navy, and 3 years in one place was unheard of, but I stayed 4 at WI. My aunt knew Ms. Nutter, and I think she might have been divorced. Could married women even teach at that time? What ever happened to Ms. Bauer? We all thought she had a plate in her head. She was something else, but we detected that she liked us under all the bluster. She sent us home from play rehearsal one night, and we thought that was the end of the play, then the next day acted as if nothing had happened. Peter Moshine drove me home, and we bought 25 cents worth of gas. Anyone know where Peter is? How about Elise Andre? She was another smart student, and musically talented. One sad note was Grey Bennett who came into our lives, and was so different that we were not kind. She might have had childhood schizophrenia. Brings back many memories.



submitted by: Dolores Costlow Wall (WI '58)
KidneyBean60@aol.com

I enjoy the newsletter so much. You do a great job.

I just wanted to let everyone know that today (July 6th) is the 7th anniversary of my kidney transplant and it is still going strong. The kidney was lovingly donated by my middle son, Charles, who was here for the weekend and able to enjoy it with me.

Dave and I also are celebrating our 41st wedding anniversary this month and hope to have 40 more. We have lived in Warren, Ohio, since we got married right out of college. (GO HERD). We have three sons all here in Ohio, so we get to see them often. Also, two wonderful grandsons. We were both in education and are now retired and enjoying it a lot. My mother still lives in Clarksburg, so we visit several times a year. It is fun to see how the town has changed and amazing to go out to the shopping area and wonder where all those people come from.

Keep up the good work with the Newsletter. It is much appreciated even if people don't tell you often enough.



submitted by: Bob Secret (WI '60)
RLSecret@aol.com

What an enchanting moment in time it is every month reading your newsletter and sharing so many wonderful memories from so many exciting alumni. Each recalling sites and experiences so vividly expressed as though it happened just yesterday. Thank you for these precious collections and for your time and effort in displacing them to us in a manner that really has quite a sense of order.

I plan to attend the picnic this year at Nutter Fort in great anticipation of renewing and rekindling past acquaintances and friendships that are long overdue. See you soon. God Bless you and your family and all of our wonderful readers.



submitted by: Claire Nicewarner Conley (WI '50)
Tomconlou@aol.com

My husband and I just came back from a four day visit to Clarksburg from seeing his family and I was amazed to see how the town has changed so much. It is so sad to see the once familiar places that I knew and loved, looking so dilapidated or gone all together. Of course, we drove around and looked for our favorite places but much to my dismay some don't even look like the same place. We don't get "home" as often as we would like, so many things have changed considerably.

My brother, Sonny and I delivered papers on Pike Street from the Point Comfort School, which is now a fire department, to the Adamston Bridge and when we drove around that area, it was like in another city. It was so different. I was so surprised when we went past the Hazel Atlas Factory and saw it was being demolished (I still have some glasses from there) and the drive through town was so deserted looking with some of their boarded up windows. How many of you can remember the Arcade that went from Main St to Washington St.? I always liked the dress shop on the corner of 4th and Main St that had the large window on the 2nd floor that intrigued me with it’s mannequins and beautiful gowns, dresses,etc;. I think it was Friedlanders.

While we were there, we drove to see the Stonewall Jackson Resort and it is beautiful. We are campers and every 2 weeks we go somewhere with our group of 6 trailers and spend the week-end and that seems like a superb place to go to sometime.. We went to Bulltown Campground a couple years ago which is also a pretty place with its lake that is not far from Stonewall Jackson Resort.

I believe the photo for the month is Main St. between 4th and 3rd Sts. I remember G.C.Murphy, Grants, and a jewelry store and some other businesses on one side and on the other side was the Orpheum Theater, Hagan's Ice Cream, Heck's Newstand. There was a radio station above Hagans that I believe had Cherokee Sue as an announcer.

Trivia Question: In what city was the first pepperoni roll invented?

Answer: A man by the name of Giuseppe "Joseph" Argiro that worked at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont in 1927 made the first pepperoni roll although one of the top pepperoni roll makers in Fairmont today, says it was in 1940. The bakery is still in operation and owned by Chris Pallotta.

I have many happy memories of Clarksburg and Roleta, you have helped me bring many of them back by all the work, thought and time you have put in doing the newsletter and I certainly appreciate your doing so. Thank you very much. I look forward each month getting it and hopefully someone will remember me.




MY MEMORIES OF CLARKSBURG

submitted by: Shari Josephs (WI ?)
shari@ohaflcio.org

We played outside late into the evening and no one was kidnapped, raped or murdered, and we didn't need cell phones to stay in touch with home. We would sled ride on neighborhood streets without fear of being hit by a speeding car. We did trick or treat on Halloween, not the day before or the day after, and no one put needles in our candy and we could accept homemade items with fear of being poisoned. We entered each other's homes without knocking or ringing door bells and no one was accidently shot by the homeowner who might have thought we were an unwanted intruder. We would open our front doors to a stranger without fear of a home invasion. We walked to school by ourselves - not with an adult escort for protection. These are my memories of growing up in Clarksburg. Let's forget about our tangible assets and reflect on how fortunate we were to experience such a carefree childhood. Tangible items can be taken away at a drop of a hat but these memories stay with us as long as we live.

I will be embarking on a new life. I'm getting married for the first time and my "new spouse" and I will be moving to Nevada sometime after the first of the year. I have been very fortunate to meet a very handsome and caring man with no "bad habits." We've been seeing one another for over two years. Good things come to those who wait. Even though I'm eligible to receive a "monthly stipend" and other benefits (I refuse to use the "R" word) from my current employment, I still want to continue working. If anyone has a friend or relative (in the Las Vegas area) that could be a potential employer for me to send a resume, I'd appreciate your help and/or guidance. I have excellent references, computer skills and a strong work ethic. I'm seeking just a little office job without a lot of pressure - something different for a change. I also have bartending skills if someone you know owns a little club that will hire an "old lady." You can't believe the discrimination in that field after a certain age. Thanks.....



submitted by: Sharon Bee Armstrong
Sharon1114@aol.com



The picture was taken at Ft. Bragg, NC. My son, Bill Armstrong, has been stationed there since Feb. Every time I look at it, it brings a lump to my throat. I'm so proud of him. His wife and 2 little boys are in Charlotte, NC, waiting for him to come home. He just got back from a month in the California desert, training troops to go to the real desert. I thought you'd like the picture.

Billy's the one in front NOT carrying a flag! I hope you'll forgive a proud Army mom




NEW E-MAIL ADDRESSES

Sam Iaquinta (WI '54) SAMIQIII@AOL.COM
Tauni Bryan (VHS '56) tanui.bryan@lmco.com
Becky Rumble Littlepage (WI '66) rlittlepage@cox.net
Lois Wiseman Fields (WI '46) wmfields@oburg.net
John Palagino (ND '74) Autotec01@ma.rr.com
Ralph Sturms (WI '65) Sukiralph@wmconnect.com
Claire Nicewarner Conley (WI '50) Tomconlou@aol.com
Mary Sue Kerns Carr (WI '53) Msd5328@aol.com
Jimmy Ross (WI ?) PhinsCanes13@aol.com
Gigi Selby Meredith (WI '62) fmeredith@mail.fscwv.edu
Deborah Lefever Britzki (WI '66) Mdbritz@msn.com
Lois Wiseman Fields (WI '46) wmfields@oburg.net
Paul Rector (WI '58) HAWKEYES_2@MSN.COM
Mary Stump Harrell (WI '55) Harrellms2003@Yahoo.com
Burlin Tustin (WI '65) Burlin_C_Tustin@dom.com
Emory Cole (would have been RW '59) coleyjuice@charter.net

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Nancy Rice DeLaney (WI '62) NLRDeLaney@aol.com
Mary Harrell (WI '55) rayharrell_32809@yahoo.com
Joanne W. Tetrick (WI '52) fragilegranny@msn.com
Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI '59) mtmama41@msn.com
Bertis Eugene Davis, Jr. “Gene” (WI '59) Edavis@midlandpaper.com




The following article can be found in the Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram of June 29, 2003. It is too long for me to reprint here but it is well worth you reading.

CLARKSBURG NATIVE MAKES HIS FORTUNE, THEN TURNS FOCUS ON ENVIRON

by: SARAH NAGEM, STAFF WRITER

CLARKSBURG -- In a time when a computer could take up an entire room and the Internet was known only to government agencies, a Clarksburg native had some big ideas. Addison Fischer's (Washington Irving High School, 1966) name may not be as instantly recognizable as Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, but his contributions are just as important -- maybe more so.

Excerpt from Clarksburg Exponent Telegram




RECIPE YOU REQUESTED

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

Hi Roleta, I hope I get this to you in time for the July issue. If you remember I couldn't make it to the Sarasota picnic but I have a recipe for a sweet potato casserole that might be the one that you are looking for. This is a favorite of my family. (It tastes like a dessert)

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE:

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes -------- (that's one large can-drained)
1 cup sugar
2 well beaten eggs
1 stick butter
1 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix above ingredients well. Pour in 13 by 9 pan--sprinkle with topping.

Topping:
Combine 1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup self-rising flour
1 cup chopped nuts
1 stick melted butter
sprinkle over mixture

Bake in 350 degree oven for 35 minutes




JULY TRIVIA PICTURE



    
PICTURES TAKEN BY SHARYN COTTRILL MCGAHAN


submitted by: Ken McIe (WI '59)
Kenneth.B.McIe@questdiagnostics.com
Thanks for a picture that should get you enough items to fill a couple newsletters.

The picture is Main Street looking east. It is taken from the south side. All of us have been up and down this street so often that GC Murphy's is burned into our precious memories of Clarksburg. On the right, if you keep walking, you would come upon the Orpheum Theater, and later on, the Court House Plaza with Stonewall Jackson astride his horse. I caught the City Lines Bus home, first to Broad Oaks, and, after we moved, out to Industrial.

Main Street always seemed to be broad. Now, it is just a couple steps to cross it. All traffic going east came down this street, buses, large tractor-trailers, cars.

We watched parades from this side of the street. Henry Mayer and the WI band was a splendid part, along with RW, Victory, Notre Dame (I think). Shinnston and Lumberport usually were there too.

Hagan's Ice Cream Store would have been behind the photographer, where one could be served the most satisfying hot fudge sundae ever!

The other side of the street had the dime stores. Friedlanders would have been behind and to the left of the photographer.

And, as a post script, last month's photo brought back memories of my Dad. He worked on the seventh floor of the Empire Bank Building for over 40 years. I used to meet him there and we would go to lunch at the Manhattan Restaurant on Pike Street. Bean Soup every Thursday, and an excellent bowl of chili on other days.

Could we go on and on? Yes, but maybe next time.

Thanks again for a marvelous picture and a unforgettable Newsletter - MONTHLY - what a task, what a job, what a labor of love!

I hope to see you next month at the picnic.



submitted by: Bud Wheelock (WI '60)
hawkewoode708@aol.com

This is a great view of downtown Main Street heading East sometime in the early 1960's.Nice view of a 1963 Ford. Oh yes how I remember good old Clarksburg then. I spent a lot of time downtown before joining the Air Force in 1966. It was fun to make the rounds of the entire block of "dime stores" we had then. Also there were several poolrooms on Pike Street-best one was the Victory Billiards. At that time we still had two downtown theaters and could shop at Montgomery Ward & Sears as well as our hometown standbys Parsons-Souders, Watts-Sartor-Lear, & O.J.Morrisons. We still had the Stonewall Jackson Hotel to remind us of our favorite son. It is difficult for people who don’t have a car to get out to the Mall and everywhere else.

It was great here in the 60's and I am thankful I was able to witness it. I took a jaunt around the downtown one morning last week while I was having my car worked on. Profoundly depressing to say the least. Oak Hall is the latest building to be condemned by the city. About all that's left downtown are lawyer offices and vacant buildings. The city has been redoing the sidewalks and putting in fancy parking meters but that isn't going to draw people downtown.

I had better stop for now. When I get started on what has happened to this town it's hard to stop. I am going to send a story on the West end shortly & try to jog some folks' memories about that section of town in the late 40's and early 50's. Keep up the great work with the Newsletter & have a great 4th of July!



submitted by: Frank Bush (WI '59)
fbush@legacynet.com

The trivia picture is Main Street looking from Fourth to Third. I'm sure many people will recognize it as so many of us walked along it during our years at Central and WI. My strongest memory of it is not how it looks in this picture but how it would look on a Sunday afternoon. I had a part time job in the newsstand by the Robinson Grand on Friday nights and days on Saturday and Sunday. Business in the newsstand was fairly steady on Fridays and Saturdays but would be really slow after church on Sundays. Since I made the grand sum of 50 cents an hour, I would walk to and from work whenever the weather permitted. So on Sundays I would walk along Main Street as I headed for Broad Oaks. It would always strike me how lonely this stretch of the route would look on Sundays with all the stores closed after being so busy the rest of the week.

Here are the 13 words of truth:
Inside each older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened.



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

This is Main Street looking Eastward from a place just about in front of the Orpheum theater. My aunt Edith Paladino sat in the little ticket booth under the marquis of the Orpheum for many years. She was the manager/ticket seller and knew everyone on Main Street. As a kid I used to get in for free (of course) and I watched every movie every Saturday and sometimes on Sunday. There was always a double feature, always re-runs. There were Tim Holt, Tex Ritter, Bob Steel, The Three "Mesquiteers" Hopalong Cassidy, and others whom I can't think of right now. Next door was Garo's soda fountain and news stand (now Main St. News) where I would get goodies with money Aunt Edith gave me. Later, when I was in WI High School, I worked at the Orpheum one night a week calling out numbers from the stage for the game of "Lucky" which was like bingo for the patrons. The biggest winner got an envelope with about 40 nickels in it. Was the game ever "fixed"? Not usually. Right across the street from the movie was Grant's five and dime where my friend Lou Deison hawked hot roasted peanuts every Saturday. Saturday was the big day and Main Street was the center of everything in those times. I miss it all.



submitted by: Marylou Strosnider Marshall (WI '64)
Cat1211Woman@aol.com

It is the main street of Clarksburg, WV. I see so many things that bring back memories. The Kyle and Co and Rex Hecks are on one side of the street. G. C. Murphy's is on the other side. I remember when I was younger my brother came home from the service and gave me a can full of change that he had been saving........ Boy did I have fun at five and dime stores.



submitted by: Gloria Caruso Shaffer (WI '58)
MShaf26478@aol.com

Trivia picture is Main Street Clarksburg.

Ah, Main Street, so much to remember about Main Street. Let's see there was the Orpheum Movie Theater, Wonders Shoe Store, Rex Hecks News Stand, Industrial Bakery, Hagans Ice Cream Store, Selbys, Wells-Haymaker, Rogers and Byards (which later became Aarons Shoe Store). Anderson Restaurant, Cheeseman's Paint Store, Elaine Shop, James & Law (remember standing in that long, long line to get your school books), The Arcade, O.J. Morrison, Parsons Souders, Watts Souder Lear, Murphys, McCroys, Grants and Woolworth and Kyle Photo Supply. The stores were open on Friday evenings and the streets and the stores were always crowded with people shopping and visiting. And, how could anyone forget Palace Furniture at Christmas time. The window was a winter wonderland of animation and people came from all over to stand and watch the characters in the window. They would tell you they came so their children could see it, but truth be known the adults liked it just as much.

Do you remember the parades? You had to go early so you could get a good spot to see and the WI Band either marched first or last, never in the middle.

I could go on and on. I can picture it in my mind as though it just happened last week.

Central Jr. High--How could anyone forget Mr. Lowther and his popcorn machine? Jim, you were lucky to get a C- from Miss Ferguson. I could do no better than a D. She told me she had never known anyone that could not draw stick figures. I guess I made her day.

Then, I get to 8th grade and have the good luck to get Miss Cannon for math. I think she called on me all of the time for Mental Mathematics just to embarrass me. Do you remember Mental Mathematics (those little green books) and the formula you had to go through to work the problem? I don't think I will ever forget! The best teacher I had was Mrs. Feeney, my homeroom teacher in 7th grade.

Regarding Miss Nutter: I have heard a rumor that she was married when she was in college or right after, but don't know for sure.

I don't know who walked on her car, but I do remember the toilet paper that rolled down that short hallway into her room and also the rock that was thrown through her classroom window. She told all of her classes that she was having fingerprints taken off of it and she would find out who had done the dastardly deed.

I was also fortunate enough to have had her for English and Latin--she was really a good teacher. In fact all of my teachers at WI were great. They made me work, but when I went to college I was glad that I knew how to study. I said they were all great, that is, with the exception of Mr. Limpert. I had him for Algebra--need I say more?

I could go on and on, but I guess I had better quit for now and save something for another letter.

I am still looking for more participation from the class of '58.

EDITOR’S NOTE:To Gloria and all the rest of the Class of 1958-Come to the summer picnic in Nutter Fort on August 23 and visit with each other!



submitted by: John Palagino (ND '74)
Autotec01@ma.rr.com

This is a great picture! It had to be in the early 60's, but not before 1963. Reason being the car in the lower left corner is a 1963 Ford. Really I was just a young thing at that time. But now this is a picture of Main Street looking east. The one thing that really stands out in my mind is all of the time that I spent upstairs in the Hagan building. During the mid to late 60's my father, known to many as John Peters, worked at WPDX radio. This of course to all who remember was upstairs in the Hagan building which was located at 339 West Main Street. I would always go with him after hours when he would be doing production work which consisted of recording either 30 minute programs or commercials.

Many fond memories for me. Even though I was at a very young age at that time, I can remember more than what people think that I can. I really enjoy this site, and thanks to Buzz Floyd who e-mailed it to me again, I can begin enjoying it again!

Thanks for a great site and keep up the good work!



submitted by: Paul Rector (WI '58)
HAWKEYES_2@MSN.COM

Thanks to Carol Van Horn and Steve Griffith I have been reading your letter for about a year.

The picture is looking east on Main Street about 1962 (I think). It jarred my memory as my very first job was in McCrory's Department Store just this side of the G.C. Murphy Store. I washed dishes behind the lunch counter on weekends. The picture appears to have been taken from very near the Arcade building. Do you remember that?

Thanks again for all the effort….



submitted by: Ron Cleavenger (WI '63)
RonCleaven@aol.com

Roleta:
The picture is looking East on Main Street just before the intersection of 3rd Street and Main. The Union National Bank is on the right corner beyond the intersection. Hagan's Ice Cream is just out of the picture on the right. Did anybody ever NOT go there after school? Great Job.



submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
WaynePawco@aol.com

This is Main Street in Clarksburg looking toward the Union National Bank Building and the Harrison County Court House. The Kyle and Company and the Rex Heck News brings back memories as I use to buy items in the business on the street. The GC Murphy is across the street and other 5 and dimes. From the looks of the picture it could be the Fourth or a busy Saturday,

Keep up the good work.



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

This is the 300 block of W. Main Street. I believe it was probably taken in the early 60's. Walked this daily when at WI, sometimes several times if I went out for lunch, had shop or mechanical drawing class.

Very few if any of the stores are left but I am not sure as I do not travel that way very often. I am sure the local residents will let us know what, if any, stores are left from 1959.

Very sad--we knew each store--except I did not know the ladies wear stores and you did not know Workingman's, etc. We went to G. C. Murphy's or McCroy's each year and let Santa know our wants--after we wrote the letter to Santa Claus to be read on the radio.



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

This is Main Street looking east between 3rd and 4th Streets. It is probably from the 60's. I have so many memories from Main Street that I could not begin to tell them all. Perhaps the best of the lot would be the Christmas season and the shopping. With what little money we had, we got a little gift for every family member and some close friends. The decorations seemed so beautiful and it was so exciting to be amidst the throngs of people on the street and in the stores. I have such wonderful memories of my childhood in Clarksburg. That little town seemed like the most glorious place in the world.



submitted by: Robert White
rwhite@djs.state.wv.us

I was reminded of the times that my cousins, my sister and I were dropped off in town each Saturday morning. My uncle, Don Gardner (WI '45), would take us all to Compton Lanes for league bowling Saturday mornings for kids age 8 to 18 or so ( in the late 60's and early 70's). On the way home, he'd let us out uptown to check out the new items in McCrory's, G.C.Murphy's and Rex Hecks News for comic books..

Then we'd stop at Blands Drug Store and pick up vanilla or cherry phosphates before going to the double feature for a quarter or maybe even a dime, if we had the six pepsi bottle caps to go with it) at the Ritz or the Robinson Grand. Then we'd stop at my grandparents magazine and candy shop (Ritzy News Stand --where H&R Block, by the Clarksburg Post Office, is today) to say " HI " and walk home to Point Comfort.

Then -- Monday nights -- when all the stores were open until about 8:30 pm, we'd shop with my mother and her sisters..and most of the stores would be busy up until the doors closed... those department stores and drug stores have gone by the wayside, but the memories can last a lifetime.



submitted by: Wayne Winters (WI '66)
Wwinters@ix.netcom.com

Freddie Layman's picture of Main Street brought back some memories. You can see the Lowndes Bank and the corner of Union National where my late uncle worked. He was a WI grad along with a lot of my relatives.

I recall Rex Hecks (sp?) which used to be the only place open on Christmas. If you got a toy with 'batteries not included' and were slick enough to con someone into getting you there you could get that toy powered up. Out of view is the side of the street which had the plaque honoring the site of Stonewall Jackson. I thought it pretty ironic that it used to be so near Grants 5 and 10.

There was a bakery where I can recall my friend Pat Mascaro and I stopped in after school and got a couple of their pepperoni rolls. After a bite or two he remembered it was a meatless Friday and had to toss it away.

From the ages of the cars it must have been just a year or few after my dad took a job in Huntington and left. If not for that I would have graduated with the class of '66.



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

This is a picture of Main Street in good old Clarksburg WV. I sure do remember marching down this street many times with the WI marching band. The sidewalks would be lined with people cheering us on. I for one was very proud to be a part of the band. In fact I still am proud. We had some really great times in the band. We played in rain, heat or cold. The plumes on our hats would get wet and sag. I know the drums would really sound dull when it rained. All in all it was great fun.

Thanks again for helping bring back the memories.



submitted by: Elisa Tillman Thompson (WI '73)
Elisa.Thompson@genmills.com

This is Main Street in Clarksburg, probably in the 1960s. I remember shopping in G.C. Murphy and McCroys, looking at the "unusual gifts" in the window at Kyle & Company, getting ice cream at Hagens and avoiding all the men sitting on the courthouse wall while wandering up and down the street after school or on the weekends.



submitted by: Babe Bisping Cashman (WI '56)
Scashman@ucnsb.net

What memories you bring back by sharing all these stories written by our classmates and others that we knew while we were growing up in Clarksburg. It really was a wonderful place to come of age. We didn't have to worry about drugs or crime. We grew up when people just got in the car on Sunday afternoon and went visiting (without an invitation) to the homes of friends and neighbors. If we were lucky, we ended up at Hagan's Ice Cream Shop for a cone that cost a nickel. That was one of the few places open on Sunday because of the "Blue Laws".

The picture this month is of Main Street looking east just east of 4th Street. The Smart Shop used to be owned by the Bernstein family (I think). I think Barbara Bernstein graduated in '58 or '59. The Kodak sign is over the newsstand (was it Hartsock's) and next to it was the bakery and the Sport Shop. The Sport Shop was a tiny little shop, but it seemed to have everything we needed for camping, fishing, and hunting. Just east of the Sport shop was Aaron's Shoe Store. They had only classy designer shoes and we all wanted to find something that we could afford there so that we could say that we got our shoes at Aaron's. Next to Aaron's was the courthouse plaza.

On the left side of the street is the G.C. Murphy 5 and 10 cent store. The only other building that I can remember on that side, in that block is the Merchant's Bank.

How many times we walked those streets after school.

I think the precious children are Jim and Barbara Warren. Jim graduated with me. It has been so much fun to see them at the Sarasota reunions after all these years. Those reunions are very special too. We all owe you thanks for that too. God Bless you for doing so much for so many of us.



submitted by: Don Sager (WI '56)
dks@davtv.com

This one is not too difficult. Main Street looking east from about in front of Hagan's Ice Cream store where my cousin (Mary Nicewarner) worked during high school. It seems I remember being banned a number of times from Hagan's during JHS and HS for who knows what now.

You can see the statue of Stonewall Jackson peeking out on the right in front of the Courthouse. This picture must have been taken after '56 since Kresge's (if that is what it says on the left) used to be McCrory's, I think.

Just in front of the two ladies on the right was a narrow passageway thru to the next block. Then the Bakery which was the best place to get eclairs in the early 50's. Next was the Sport Shop. As you went thru the door there was a wonderful aroma of leather surrounding you. This was the only place to get sporting equipment in the 40's. I remember going in with my Dad to select my first baseball glove--a Pete Reiser model which I still have. And you had to also purchase a can of Neatsfoot Oil to keep your glove treated. Plus this was where we all purchased our Taylor basketball shoes.

Roleta--your July newsletter continues to make my month. I hope that your "price" generates some new contributors. Your continued work has certainly given our class (56) a great boost in our effort to stay in touch. Some of us e-mail daily and certainly weekly plus we have rounded up some readers that we had not heard from in over 45 years. And if I cannot get a few to send you their e-mail--I just forward it to them. Plus we have rounded up the biggest Sarasota group. Seems like Florida works for us better than C-burg.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I don’t know why people in Clarksburg don’t want to come and visit with we out of towners. We certainly drive several miles in hopes of seeing old friends. I will be at the picnic in Nutter Fort and Judy Daugherty Kimler is coming to Clarksburg for the picnic for the first time. So come meet Judy! Come and introduce yourself to both Judy and me. Wear that name tag!




AUGUST TRIVIA PICTURE


Do you recognize this trivia picture? Please write to me and tell me what it is and why you remember it. Write to Roleta1@aol.com. Thanks




WPDX

submitted by: John Palagino (ND '74)
Autotec01@ma.rr.com

Hello again, Roleta:

By all means add me to the mailing list.

Indeed WPDX was in downtown. I can remember dad always telling the stories of yesterday, but I can not remember exactly where the station originated, nor can I remember when they first went on the air. I would bet that Freddie Layman would remember.

Anyway, I can remember they were in the upstairs of the Hagan building, and sometime, possibly in the mid 60's like around 1965, the roofed began to leak. Now I believe the station owners put up with the run around for close to a year, meaning the building owners dragged their feet concerning doing the repair.

Sometime, and I think it was about 1967, the station owners decided to purchase the "old poor farm" property, which had been vacant for quite a few years. As some can remember this was located on Route 19 South, across from Sunny Croft golf course and next to Country Club Chrysler, which at that time was named Shreve's Inc., owned by Charlie Ellison. After some extensive remodeling to the first floor, WPDX went on the air, possibly in the fall of 1967 or early 1968. Mike King could probably really add to this, as he was also employed at the station at this time.

The one thing that really sticks with me is that my dad always joked about finally making it to the poor farm! After several years, the station had been sold and they moved back to downtown. One of the places, and I believe it was the first place after the return to downtown, was upstairs in the old Stonewall Jackson Hotel building. And if I remember correctly this would have been in 1971 or 72.

Finally, the radio station that you are thinking about that was out toward Bridgeport was WHAR. It was located at the foot of Bridgeport Hill across the highway from Compton Bowling lanes and next to the Terrace Motel. It is a white building kind of up on the hill from the road, and is still standing vacant today!

I'm sorry that I rambled, but you know how it gets to think back on how things were a while back! Thanks and I will be looking forward to the next newsletter!



478 LEE AVENUE--CLARKSBURG, W. VA.

By Mark I (B. Carlisle Bowling) Palm Sunday, 1973
B. Carlisle Bowling, husband of Elaine Marie Fowler Bowling, WI '59.

Still, Still--Not a sound is heard,
Only one light stars the darkness,
For all the household sleeps--
Only I remain cognizant to the world.

Wait! There are sounds
Night sounds that scare
Little boys and little girls
From their sleepy bliss.

Cars swoosh by the street apartment,
Emergency sirens scream just below the hill
Carrying sick and injured to the hospital there.
Motorcycle sounds jar the house.

The town is alive with rumors--
An arsonist stalks the night
Leaving six buildings empty shells!
Where will he strike tonight?

Palm Sunday, 1973, heard church chimes
Peal forth the joyous words of the hope
That morning's light brings
To assure us another night has passed.




VIRGINIA NUTTER REMEMBERED


MISS NUTTER AND THE MINK STOLE

submitted by: Cindy Miller Murphy (WI '74)
clmurphy@gwinnettpl.org

Reading the current letter reminded me of a favorite story about Miss Nutter. Because I was 10 years younger (’74) than my sister Cheryl Miller (’64), I am fuzzy on the exact dates but suspect the incident occurred about 1962 or 1963. My sister Cheryl had taken me to Parsons-Souders. Remember the lady who operated the elevator. Anyway, Cheryl and I were on the third floor. I have forgotten what else was on the floor but I do remember winter coats and hats. Since I live in Georgia, I would guess my last winter coat probably came from Parsons.

Back to the story… As all 6 year olds are prone to do, I got away by crawling under the racks. I appeared in front of a nearly bald, heavyset lady wearing a mink stole. I climbed on a chair to investigate the mink. To my surprise, the lady was very nice and let me open and close the mouth on the mink numerous times. It was one of those that the mouth clamped together to hold the mink’s tail. I remember having a wonderful time talking to the lady and playing with the mink. My sister Cheryl appeared around the corner and much to her dismay spoke to Miss Nutter. Cheryl was horrified at the experience. It didn’t bother me a bit until 1973 when I had Miss Nutter for Junior English. I was always afraid that she would remember. Those were the days!



submitted by: James Timberlake
JGTimberlake@aol.com

Virginia Nutter was my 11th grade English teacher. She was perhaps the best I had at WI. I learned to write in her class, likely because she was one of two or three teachers who could scare me enough to make me work. As a result, I got nearly strait A's in English for the only time in High School.

The big question with Miss Nutter was did she or did she not wear a wig? This debate raged for most of the year. We never found out.



submitted by: Chris Wyatt (WI '71)
cwyatt@access.k12.wv.us

I don't think Miss Nutter was ever married. I do remember taking down the quote of the day each day in my notebook. She always seemed so stoic and really didn't like long hair or the new tide of the late sixties.

But on the other hand she had us read Thoreau. He was the hippie of the 1800s. I worked at Workingman's Store at that time and had to keep my hair cut and wear a tie to work. Soooo, Miss Nutter liked me. I had a lot of respect for her. She knew my mother from AAUW and the such and always said nice things about me. I learned a lot from her. Talk of protest, revolution was popular in the 60s. She taught us about the same things in literature of the 1700s and 1800s. I also remember reading about adultery and the church, Remember "The Scarlet Letter"? Shades of things today sometimes.



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

Miss Nutter was a very stern woman but I think she liked kids and liked teaching. She was a very good teacher and didn’t like any nonsense in school. I remember that she didn’t particularly like the guys who participated in sports - well, maybe that is too strong, let’s say she didn’t give them a break.

I was an average Latin student just bungling along but I remember her as being a fair teacher. Miss Nutter lived in Enterprise, WV. During the time I was in high school, my father was the principal of Enterprise Grade School. Several times when I was visiting there with him we would drive by and see Miss Nutter in her flower gardens and we would stop and chat. She was always very gracious.




TOPICS FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS

Write: Roleta1@aol.com.

SCHOOL

Thanks to those who wrote this month. Next month will be the September issue. I will be sharing emails from you about your memories of school…starting the first day! So if you wrote to me in July about Central Jr. High School or your first day in school, I have saved those and will share them in the September issue. If you wish to write about your memories of the first day of school---be it grade school, junior high school or high school, you still have time to write. Hey, ND, RW and Victory readers---didn’t you go to grade school or junior high school someplace? You didn’t go to Central but what was the name of your junior high school? Where was it located? What do you remember about it? Even though we were only in junior high school 2 years, how did you feel that first time going to a school not in your neighborhood, some had to catch a bus, the first time to be responsible for a key to a locker or a combination to a lock? How was it to see all of those strange kids in your classroom? Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

WHITE WATER RAFTING

Have you been to West Virginia for White Water Rafting? Where did you go? How did you like it? Share your memories -Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.


OBITUARIES

submitted by: Buzz Floyd (VHS '56)


Mr. Matthey taught chemistry and physics during the years I was at Victory. I don't know how many years he taught there though. My chemistry class started out with only one girl who he managed to get transferred so he could tell jokes. (Not for that reason, but... He was way ahead of his time.)

JAMES E. MATTHEY

SALEM -- James E. Matthey, 82, left this world to go to his heavenly home Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center following an extended illness. He was born October 7, 1920, on Turtle Tree Fork, the son of the late Charles Lloyd and Cora Williams Matthey. His wife, Dorothy Brohard, died in 1964. Surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Matthey was graduated from Bristol High School, Class of 1939, Salem College and earned a Master's Degree in Education from West Virginia University. He served in the U.S. Navy for six years; Postmaster at Bristol for seven years; taught at Victory High School; and had a store at both Bristol and Jarvisville for many years. He was a member of the DAV and VFW and the Odd Fellows Lodge of Adamston. He volunteered for several years at the Clarksburg VA Hospital. He also held membership in the K. of P. Lodge of Salem and attended the Methodist Church.

Excerpts from: Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram



submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
WaynePawco@aol.com

EUGENE GENE BRITTON

Eugene Britton, age 75, of 412 Kentucky Avenue, Nutter Fort,WV died 10 am Saturday, July 19, 2003 at UHC hospital. Born November 12, 1927. Surviving are his wife, Cornelia Rose Toots Britton, whom he married October 3,1947. They had two children. He was a graduate of Washington Irving High School with the Class of 1946.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

My obituary policy is---if one of you readers send it to me, I will use it. I do not check the Clarksburg paper. I truthfully just don’t have the time. Therefore, for you people who have written to ask why I didn’t run “So and So’s” obit, I didn’t receive a copy.




WHY ISN’T MY ARTICLE IN THIS NEWSLETTER?

FROM: THE EDITOR


If you were one of those nice people who wrote a letter for the newsletter this month and you didn’t find it in this issue, it will be in next month’s issue.

I saved some letters about school for the September issue. But feel free to write again….I often combine several e-mails from one person into one letter for the readers to see. Also, if you write to me and you don’t want your letter used in the newsletter for one reason or the other, please tell me and I will not print it.
Roleta1@aol.com.





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