THE WI NEWSLETTER 12/03

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 52

December 2003

CONTACT
Do you have pictures, a story, newspaper clipping, an article or something for the newsletter that you would like to send to me via US mail/UPS or Fed Ex?

Write to: Roleta Smith Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219

This is the address of my office. When received there, it will be given to me. I will return any pictures, articles or anything if you put a note inside that you wish to have it returned. Thanks----

ROLETA NEEDS YOUR HELP
Do you know someone who is holding parties where they are selling fake name brand purses? It is very popular in some areas. I have a 12 year old grand daughter who wants a small Louis Vuton purse for Christmas. It is obvious that we can’t afford to buy such a purse for a 12 year old. However, we would be willing to buy a fake. If you can help, please contact me at Roleta1@aol.com.

GRANDPA’S CHRISTMAS
submitted by: Buzz Floyd (VHS '56)
Floyds4@cox.net
Sonny Preston strode with a purpose down Main Street, towards Third. Passing the courthouse, he glanced up and grinned at the statue of Stonewall Jackson astride his mighty steed. In a few weeks I’ll be riding too, he thought, as he waited for the traffic light. A few minutes later he stood in front of the Western Auto Store admiring the toys in the window. The object of his 10 year old enthusiasm was a shiny new, red and white, Schwinn, bicycle, the only thing in the world that he wanted for Christmas.

As he admired the bike, his eyes roamed other treasures in the window. Things to wish for next year, he thought, because he knew that money was always short. His mother was the breadwinner ever since his father’s accident, and women in Clarksburg, West Virginia, circa 1948, did not get equal pay for equal work, union or no union.

Glancing at a baseball glove, he noticed that it had the lowest price tag. Even lower than the Daisy Red Ryder BB-gun that he’d wished for last year. And lower still than the Voit basketball he’d also love to own. All well, he thought, if he gets the bike he’ll forget those other things.

On the bus ride home it was all he thought about. Walking the two blocks from the bus stop he waved at neighbors automatically, not really seeing anything but pleasant pictures in his mind of him and the guys riding together. All his buddies already had their bikes; now it was his turn, he thought, as he opened the back door and entered the kitchen where his mom was cooking dinner.

“You have a good time today uptown?” she asked.

“Yep, do you remember what I want?”

A slight frown formed on her face as she answered, “I remember, but I hope you realize, Santa can’t bring everything you asked for.”

“Yeah, I know. But, can I have some of those things?

“We’ll see,” she said giving him a hug.

He turned and went into the dining room which was the family gathering place. His dad, sitting in his old, wooden, cane back, wheel chair reading the paper, looked up and asked, “Well, Sonny boy, did you get your wish list for Santa done?”

“I guess.”

“He asked Santa for lots of toys, but no clothes,” his mom said behind him.

“Well, nobody wants clothes for Christmas,” Sonny replied.

With a chuckle, Mr. Preston said, “Yeah, but when you have to go to school naked, don’t blame us.”

Grinning, Sonny exclaimed, “Daddy, you’re just trying to scare me.” “Aren’t you?” he added.

With a straight face, Mr. Preston said, “I’m just warning you about what happened to me. I forgot to ask Santa for clothes one year, and didn’t get any. By spring, I’d grown out of everything I owned, so I tried to quit school. Mom made me go anyway, buck-naked. Thought I’d die of humiliation, but I learned my lesson. You can’t wear toys.”

Shaking his head and grinning, Sonny asked, “Can I go outside?”

His mom answered, “Just for half an hour. Listen for me to call you for dinner.”

Sonny ran through the kitchen and outside, slamming the back door behind him. Just then the phone rang, and his parents didn’t hear him come back inside to get something from the old ice box. He heard her say, “Hello,” then, “For how long?” Followed angrily by, “They can’t do that! Christmas is in three weeks!” She listened a few more minutes then slammed down the receiver.

Hesitantly, Mr. Preston said, “Don’t tell me…not a…”

Starting to cry, she confirmed his fear, “They shut down a tank. It’s a layoff. They don’t know how long. Probably two months. Dammit anyway! What about Christmas? I was getting him a bike. Mary Jo and Sara Lou need all kinds of things, too.” As her husband reached up to hold her, Sonny slipped quietly out the back door again.

Christmas day, Sonny sat in front of the brightly lit Christmas tree admiring his new baseball glove. Beside him, his sisters, Mary Jo and Sara Lou, were snipping tags off their new sweaters.

“I hate that ole glass factory. It’s not fair. Mom, why didn’t you let us get you a new blouse? We saved up the money,” Mary Jo exclaimed.

“They ruined our Christmas,” Sara Lou chimed in.

“Herman, I’m sorry. I know you need new shirts,” apologized Mrs. Preston.

“Don’t apologize, I don’t need anything. As long as the kids got something I’m happy.”

With that, Sonny, sitting on floor, crawled over to rest his head in his mom’s lap. “Mommy,” he said, “you got me the main thing I really wanted, and that’s all I need.”

“You know, Santa brought that baseball glove,” Mr. Preston told him, “Mommy just sent Santa the money so he could buy it.”

“Ah, Daddy, I don’t believe in Santa anymore. I’m gettin’ big. I can ride Skippy’s bike by myself now.”

Giving his wife a look, Mr. Preston said, “Well, I’m glad you haven’t forgotten what Christmas is all about. The presents are only supposed to remind you of that, they aren’t the reason to celebrate. So it doesn’t matter how much stuff you get. As long as we’re all here together, and love each other, then we have the true spirit of Christmas. Will you remember that?”

“Yes, Daddy,” he promised, and gave his dad a hug, too.

***

Wide eyed, Herman Preston II, who turned ten years old, March twelfth, 2003, inquired, “But, Grandpa, you only got one present for Christmas?”

“Yes, my dear grandson, that is the way we celebrated Christmas a long time ago, when I was your age.”

“But, Grandpa,” he repeated, “you only got one present.”

“Son,” his grandpa cautioned, “Christmas is not a competition. Your great-grandmother couldn’t afford to give us anything at all, yet she found a way. That’s how much she loved us. Remember, the presents are only to let you know that you are loved, not to buy your love. And, like my daddy told my sisters and me over fifty years ago, presents only remind us of the true meaning of Christmas, they aren’t the reason for Christmas. And, those words of wisdom haven’t changed a bit. Will you try to remember that for me?”

“OK, grandpa, I will”.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
Write to the December birthday babies listed below. I always felt sorry for the people whose birthdays were overshadowed by the Christmas holidays.

BIRTHDAY

29 John Teter (WI '61) JTeter@Balmar.com

ANNIVERSARIES

1 Leslie McKinley (WI '60) and John Wallace   Momvol@aol.com
13 Gary and Carol Grow Robey (Both WI '57)   Garcar928@cableone.net
25 Jayne Rose Ross (WI '57) and Bill Ross   Jynbilross@aol.com
31 Carol VanHorn (WI '58) and Roger Dean (RW '57)   DBLU2@aol.com

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
submitted by: Charlie Means (WI '50)
cmeans@cfl.rr.com

Semper Fi

Marcie and I are on our 49th year of marriage. Even though we have spent our Christmas in many places and with many friends that we still have contact with, we spent 24 years in the Marine Corps, this one is going to be different.

Last January I was supposed to attend a 30th anniversary reunion of the release of the Vietnam POWs at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii. The office I worked at in Hawaii during the war was instrumental in assisting in the release of the POWs. Buddy Flesher (Class of 50, a former POW) was trying to make it also. Marcie and I had all arrangements made and just a few days before leaving, our son Barry, who lives in Los Angeles, got very sick and the next two months was spent taking care of him.

Lo and behold, now we have $1200 worth of airline tickets and nowhere to go. After considering many plans we finally decided on this one. We are flying from Orlando, Fl. to Hawaii on Dec 14, staying there six days then to Los Angeles to spend Christmas with our son and Granddaughter Katie. We will not be decorating the house here so nothing to take down and put away after New Years. Due to airline security we will do our shopping in LA just days before Christmas.

Talk about different, this is going to be a first. I know I'm going to enjoy it and Marcie says she will too.

Merry Christmas

submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)
msspahr@aol.com
Roleta,
   I have received many wonderful gifts and I hope that I have given some meaningful gifts in my lifetime. One gift from me, though, stands out in my mind.

   Our third (of four) son, Tim, wanted to be an astronomer from the time he was a tiny little boy and saw Comet Kehotek and Comet West a couple of years apart. He read every article and book he could get about astronomy. He particularly liked the objects such as planets, comets and asteroids that come close to the earth.

   One year for Christmas, we gave Tim a pair of huge binoculars powerful enough to see the rings around Saturn on a good, clear night. Additionally, I "bought" a star for him from the International Star Registry and we named it Timothy B. Spahr Star.

   To make a long story short, Tim grew up and went to the University of Arizona where he got undergrad degrees in astronomy and physics in four years. He then started grad school at the University of Florida. While on an observation trip at the Catalina Observatory near Tucson, Arizona, in May of 1996, Tim and his observing partner, Karl Hergenrother, discovered Asteroid 1996 JA 1 which was the largest asteroid to come as close to the earth as the moon since people started discovering asteroids in the 1930's. This discovery became the inspiration for the movies "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" and the made for TV miniseries, "Asteroid."    Tim has since earned his doctorate in astronomy (1998) and works for the Minor Planet Center at Harvard/Smithsonian in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In addition to having a star with his name, he now has comets and asteroids that he has discovered carrying his name.

   I guess the moral of the story is, never underestimate the impact a child's interests will have upon his/her entire life, and strive to make holiday gifts meaningful.

Link to site re: my son: http://www.sciencenews.org/20031101/fob5.asp

submitted by: Gigi Selby Meredith (WI '62)
fmeredith@mail.fscwv.edum
Just read WI newsletter. Keep it up. My memory re: Dec is singing with the Girl Scouts on the Court House Plaza by the big Christmas tree. We all lined up on the steps and sang carols. We brought toys to be donated to Salvation Army. I remember it being a good feeling.

submitted by: Steve Griffith (NDHS '60)
SGriff2393@aol.com
For years (eons it sometimes seems) we had traditional Thanksgiving dinners with my parents. After I got married, we generally had Thanksgiving with my wife's family when they were in Ohio, and with my family after hers moved out west.

Then we had our own with our sons, and sometimes their friends. Many calorie laden dishes were prepared. I cleaned the turkey while Sherri prepared the stuffing (it always had to be Pepperidge Farm seasoned ingredients). Then I stuffed the bird (it always had to be a Honeysuckle White) and stuck it in the oven. Then I watched football while she did everything else. There was always more than enough food, and gluttony was not considered one of the seven terrible sins that day, although God might have felt otherwise.

Christmas Day dinners were the same, growing up with my family, then Christmas eve after we all grew up. We gathered at my parents Christmas eve for dinner and gift sharing, then Christmas day at my house was generally another gluttonous feast in mid-afternoon.

My, how times have changed. Jason and his family are two hours away, Sean is in Myrtle Beach. Depending on their work schedules, they sometimes make it in for one or the other. This year, with Jason's daughter almost three, we are going to do something different -- eat Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant. Next year we may start a new tradition as Jason and his family should be in their new home and we will probably have a gluttonous feast at his house. After that we may have alternating Thanksgivings at Sean's in Myrtle Beach as he has a new house there now.

Christmas has still been traditional with the family gathering at my brother Mike's on Christmas eve. There is always enough food to be a glutton, but somehow we have wizened over the years. Christmas day then falls at our home unless Jason is on call (he's a DVM), and we may go to his place and watch our granddaughter open presents. Plenty of good food and fellowship have always been present and anyone has been welcome to join us.

I hope all have/had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and may God Bless us all this Christmas.

CLARKSBURG PICNIC IN FLORIDA MOTEL INFORMATION
Make your plans now to attend the Clarksburg picnic in Sarasota, Florida on March 13, 2004. This picnic is for anyone who is from Clarksburg, WV. The only effort you have to make is to be there with a covered dish and something to drink. Oh, and of course you MUST make your reservations by notifying Roleta1@aol.com . Please use good manners and notify me. I don't want to run out of plates this year.

If you are coming to Sarasota from out of town and wish to stay in Sarasota, I just went to the Ramada Inn Limited and obtained a special group rate. They serve a continental breakfast, have smoke free rooms (tell them if you want smoke-free or smoking) and an outdoor swimming pool. The picnic is at Twin Lakes Park, which is about a mile East of I-75. The Ramada is located about 1/4 mile West of I-75. This location makes it very desirable. The motel is about 5 miles from Siesta Key, which has the most beautiful beach in the world. There are restaurants nearby and shopping also. To make your reservation, call 941-921-7812, ask for KIM tell her you will be attending the Clarksburg Picnic that Roleta is putting on at Twin Lakes Park---(use these code words). Kim will give you a group rate of $89.95. I told her that many people might wish to stay the 12th and the 13th.

CHEMISTRY CLASS EXPERIMENT GONE WRONG
submitted by: Bob White (WI '72)
RWhite7037@aol.com
Mike Reese (WI '71) and I were lab partners for Chemistry class my junior year. As we were conducting an experiment, mixing chemicals (unknown) in a test tube with a powerful acid, our Chemistry teacher, Mrs. Gloria Fisher, reminded all of us to add water, then any other chemicals first, then pour the acid in last....Well we all succeeded to follow those instructions well, but John Henderson (WI ' 71) decided to smell the fine bouquet of chemicals he'd blended and then suddenly sneezed, without warning to even himself, spraying the fluids everywhere, but especially onto his face. .

Well, receiving a face full of potentially harmful chemicals on his cheeks and mouth areas, he closed his eyes and ran towards the sink areas between his experiment and mine. His searching for the water faucet handles with both arms flailing all around, John made quick work of destroying his test area and our experiments, too. Liquids spilled and glass shattered and natural gas hoses for the bunsen burners fell into the sink and the floor.

After a thorough rinse and check-up by Mrs. Fisher, then came the explanation to her of how and why this accident happened and how it could have been avoided. All of us re-started the tests with John's lab partner, Mark Wanstreet (WI '72), mixing and heating their chemicals, while John cleaned the floor and lab tables affected.

For a couple days, I would see people walking behind John imitating the " eyes closed & arms flailing" techniques he'd used that day, and am glad that was the only injury he suffered, may have been towards his pride....

1961 CLASSMATE HAS A REQUEST
submitted by: Carol Greynolds Cleveland (WI '61)
Cle704@aol.com
Carol would like to have a copy of a picture taken at a recent 1961 Class Reunion. The picture request is for the picture that someone took of the group of classmates who had attended Alta Vista Elementary School. If you have any information about the said picture, please contact Carol.
Thanks.

NOVEMBER TRIVIA PICTURE
The trivia picture for last month was the old Benedum Airport. This picture generated many memories…thank you for contributing. Read these letters---there are some interesting things said herein……That is what makes this newsletter so different, more people contributing their memories.

submitted by: Marylou Strosnider Marshall (PHS '64)
Cat1211Woman@aol.com
I believe that the picture is of the airport terminal. I used to work there as a security guard and had the job of screening people who were going to Washington, DC. I had the pleasure of screening Senator Jennings Randolph. I know that will date me. He was a very nice man and I enjoyed meeting him. He was always patient and waited in line and took his turn with everyone else.

submitted by: John Palagino (ND '74)
autotec01@ma.rr.com
Hi Roleta:
This picture is the Benedum Airport Terminal, now known as the Harrison Regional Airport. I can remember being around the age of 8 or 9, my father, who was very interested in flying, would always take me there to look at different planes and also to watch landings. Of course the terminal didn't look like this at that time. I can remember it being a smaller building that sat closer to the now KCI hangar.

In the later years, say in the early 70's, dad was the station manager at WDTV, and their offices were in the airport terminal. Therefore I had made quite a few trips to visit him there.

I am still enjoying the newsletter. Keep up the good work!

submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)
MSSpahr@aol.com
WOW! Tough one. I am going to guess this is or was the airport terminal. I never flew in or out of Clarksburg. I have only been there once since I graduated from HS and it was to pick up someone.

submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
WaynePawco@aol.com
This is the Benedum Airport located in Bridgeport. This has several aviation businesses there. The names of a few are: KCI Aircraft Sales and Service; T&T Air Charter LLC Falcon Aviation LLC and several aircraft service and maintenance businesses. The building in the picture is the terminal and has been updated with all new interior and rental car services inside plus a restaurant. The restaurant is called The Runway, I think.

Keep up the good work, Great job on the newsletter.

submitted by: Ruby Mathews Casto (VHS '47)
recasto@iolinc.net
The mystery picture for November looks like a much older picture of the Bridgeport Airport Terminal.

Several of the people I worked with back in the late 40's & 50's use to go out to the park and have a lot of picnics and then we took our kids, nieces and nephews out there to watch the airplanes come in. Wouldn't people laugh at you now if you told them you did that for entertainment?

submitted by: Jeanne Walters Webster (WI '59)
hillbilly@rivnet.net
I do believe that the photo depicted in the November Newsletter is of the Benedum Airport Passenger Terminal. I really didn't get out that way much, but the best memory I can recollect is this: I lived in San Diego, California, when my first child was born in 1961. We did not have a lot of money (my husband was in the Navy) and my parents wanted to see their first grandchild very bad. They sent me an airline ticket to fly back home with my infant son and spend a couple of weeks. So when my son was just 7 weeks old, he and I boarded a plane in San Diego and after several stops and plane changes, we finally landed at Benedum, very late in the evening. That was the very first time I ever flew and I did not have any problems until my last leg of the flight from Pittsburgh when I had to board an old-fashioned three-tired mail plane that I thought was going to fall out of the sky. On my return trip, I had my father drive me and the baby up to Pittsburgh airport, because I was afraid of the "bumpy" flight from Benedum to Pittsburgh.

submitted by: Judith Rice Talago (WI '56)
JTalago@aol.com
I think the trivia picture is the Harrison-Marion Airport Terminal Building at Bridgeport. In the background you can see the"Aeromech" building, which was owned by "Steve and Angelo" in 1962 when I soloed a Cessena 140.

A new restaurant has recently opened up on the top floor of the terminal building.

submitted by: Burlin Tustin (WI '65)
Burlin_C_Tustin@dom.com
I am guessing, but I believe that the picture is of the Benedum Airport Terminal & was probably taken sometime around early 1960's, its hard to say since there are no vehicles or signs to give the date away.

submitted by: Mary Ann Conrad Cowger (WI '58)
mcowger@berryenergy.com
I believe this is the Benedum Airport, but it looks a lot different now. A lot of new businesses there. My last experience there was when my grandson (who is a wish child) arrived home with his family from Hawaii. His wish was to go to Hawaii and see a live volcano.

submitted by: Bill Bowie (WI '62)
oilpump@aol.com
This picture was made when you walk out to the airplane with your loved ones and kiss them good-bye. You could also, at that time, go to the railroad station and run along beside the train waving good-bye. Or, race up Bridgeport Hill and never break the speed limit.

submitted by: Chris Wyatt (WI '71)
cwyatt@access.k12.wv.us
The Mystery Picture for November must be the Benedum airport terminal. I remember the first airplane trip I took was from there. We flew to Parkersburg for a couple days then flew back. I also remember seeing my Dad off to business meetings now and then when I was little.

submitted by: Keith (D.K.) Roach Jr (WI '62)
WVFord28@aol.com
I guess the trivia picture is of the Benedum Airport in Bridgeport. Does anyone remember drag racing on the runways at the airport?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Drag Racing on the runway? That sounds like a great subject for an article for the newsletter—write! Roleta1@aol.com

submitted by: Lucy Ropp Hornor (WI '54)
LHornor@aol.com
My husband Paul identified the picture as the Terminal Building at Benedum Airport, and it was built about 1968. The airport is now known as the Harrison Marion Regional Airport. He is very familiar with this facility as his company, Hornor Bros. Engrs., designed the airport runway extension which was completed in 1999. It was a $32 million project and it extended the main runway from 5,200 ft. to 7,000 ft. in length, making it one of the longer runways in the state. We are now hoping for more airline traffic to keep everything going.

Just returned from a breakfast at Bob Evans with some members of our WI class of "54. We had ten there and are getting addresses together for our 50th Reunion next Aug. 13 and 14. We meet every month for breakfast and have been doing so since our 45th reunion. Such fun! The regulars are Don Douglas, Jim Blair, Norma Pratt Garrett, Dorothy Hinkle Snyder, John Oliverio, and whoever else shows up!

By the way, I just gave Jon Darnall the website and he wants to be included in the mailings. His email address is: jondarnall@dslextreme.com. He may have already been in touch. He also was a grad of 1953.

Thanks so much, Roleta..........Lucy

submitted by: Dian Gantz Hurley (WI '46)
CornieDee@aol.com
I am almost certain, with very little doubt that the picture is of the Benedum Airport Terminal Building. But what that attachment or out building is next to the main building, at the right of the picture is a mystery to me! The Aeromech Building is just beyond the main building to the left. We used to take our children there when they were small to watch the planes come in and fly out. That was big excitement back in the '50's and '60's!! And, even in later decades! Of course, before that, in the '40's, there were picnic tables at the airport and fireplaces where some of us would go for wiener roast and such while attending good ole WI!! Before this building existed, there was also a dance floor and juke box on the sight, and sometimes live local bands would play there.....some great parties and picnics took place on that location!! The air shows back there were great attractions. Not quite like the ones they have these days, but back then they were fantastic!

submitted by: Gladys Williams (WI '71)
GWill1004@aol.com
Airport Terminal Building at Bridgeport. The first time I ever flew in a plane was when they had Penny a Pound, I think it was on Sundays, probably in the 60's.

submitted by: Bob Stealey (WI '64)
BobnAlong1@aol.com
The photo is of none other than the terminal building at what's now called the Harrison-Marion Regional Airport (formerly Benedum Airport).

I still recall being taken to the airport to watch the planes land and take off. The planes are larger now, and the airport has undergone considerable construction.

Also, I remember going up in a plane on one of the "Penny-a-Pound" Sundays. In recent days, I'd hate to think of what it would've cost me. But HEY, I am losing pounds quickly.

submitted by: MaryAnn Hite Williams (WI '52)
mahwms@cox.net
I do believe this building is the old air terminal at Benedum (Clarksburg/Fairmont) airport up on airport hill above Bridgeport, across the hill from my sister's house, with our parents buried at the Bridgeport Cemetery in between. I have arrived and departed from there many times in my life as we lived in "far away places:" Syracuse, NY, and Phoenix, AZ, where we now are. I don't think we ever flew to/from Dayton, OH, where we lived when we first got married.

This place brings up some emotions. This is the last place I saw our father alive. I remember he insisted on buying flight insurance on me because he said he had invested a lot of money in me and my education, etc., and if anything happened to me, he would get some of it back! This was Christmastime 1957 when I got pregnant for his first grandchild, George Clay, who arrived 24 Sept. 1958. Daddy was proud to know he was on the way. George was the name of my maternal grandfather, who died before I was born. Clay was my father's name, Clay B. Hite.

George and his "harem" of wife and four daughters live in Colorado Springs and enjoys coaching his girls' soccer team! Thanks for the memories!

submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
FGL47VHS@aol.com
The Benedum Airport Terminal is the trivia photo for November. This airport was first started in 1935 and was known as Bridgeport Airport and had only a grass strip on which to land. In 1936 the WPA (Workers Progress Administration) napped rock, blacktopped the runways and built a hanger. The first public road to the airport was built in 1938 from Bridgeport-Boothsville Road (Rt. 73). In 1938 they started building another runway. A new entrance was constructed also in 1940 to connect with Rt. 50. In February 1944 the airport name was changed to Benedum Airport to honor Michael Benedum, a Bridgeport Philanthropist. The construction of the new airport terminal building shown in the trivia picture was dedicated October 1968.

This 1945 photo is of the first airplane hanger that was built (1936) and shows the name change to Benedum Airport.

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR DECEMBER

Do you recognize this picture? Send you guess to Roleta1@aol.com. I will not print incorrect guesses. Please include something about the place pictured. Due to limited space, I will only print letters that contain a little detail or memory.

Please include your name, school and class year you did or would have graduated from high school.

CORRECTION
submitted by: Sherry Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
SKeith1514@aol.com
Jimmy Harrison is alive and well and living in Morgantown, WV. Wow is that GOOD NEWS! Many thanks to John Teter who let me know. My Apologies to Butch.

SUBJECTS FOR JANUARY NEWSLETTER
A salute to a friend, classmate, neighbor or teacher---write a memory.

Tell me about that smell that invokes a memory to you….Was it coal smoke, wood fire smoke, fresh baked bread, a certain cologne or perfume, the smell of winter, a favorite food or something else….. Tell me about it.

Basketball-----the season is upon us. Who was the basketball star of your high school team? What year was it? Who was the cheerleader? Do you remember the pep band? Were you one of people on the team, cheering squad or in the pep band? Did you cheer at the games? What cheer do you remember most? Did you sing at the games? What did you sing?

WRITE TO: Roleta1@aol.com.

STONEWALL JACKSON STATUE
submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@aol.com
Just finished reading your excellent newsletter. On your question as why the Stonewall Jackson Statue is down sized is as follows: The late Joseph Bernstein [sp], who by the way lived close to WI, helped design said statue. Due to the lack of space it was decided not to have a full sized statue because of the limited space. They figured that it would look out of place and would also have to cut another Sycamore Tree down. They received some flack from some higher-up taxpayers about cutting down the one tree.

Your reader Mr. Pulice is right about having his privates painted RED. Around 6:30 a.m. on the following morning we tried to spray paint them black. About every time I would send a janitor out to do this a lady would pop up around the Merchants Bank Bldg or a car would come by. It took some time but we got it done. We also came to work one morning and he had a brass plated sign locked around his neck reading "Horse Power" This was when "Black Power" was swarming the country. There was also horse manure and straw put under his rear end. His sword was stolen twice and they even put funny hats on his head. This was all done by Salem College Students at the Clarksburg Campus from Carmichael Auditorium. I don't think 'Ole" Stonewall had this much trouble in the Civil War.

submitted by: Jim Pulice (WI '62)
jpulice@aol.com
I too thought the statue was too small...it was a disappointment to me also....still is...they had plenty of room on that spot to use....Maybe the architect was a dwarf...............!!!

I agree with you Roleta 100%!!!!!!!!

submitted by: Sargent McQuillian (WI '57)
Sargent827@aol.com
I remember throwing pennies into the cement as the statue was cemented to its base. I was going to be a freshman in school that year.

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR NOVEMBER

Precious child pictured in the November 2003 WI Newsletter was Barbara “Bobbie” Johnston Swisher (WI 1959).

submitted by: Sandra (Babe Urso) Williams (WI '55)
consanwill2@juno.com
Roleta, the little girl has to be Bobbie Johnston. I saw her not too long ago and she still has that same sweet face today. She has the most infectious laugh that still rings in my ears. Her sister Joan and I walked to WI together just about every morning while in high school. You remember the ritual. Joan would call me when she was ready to leave her house and I would meet she and Sally Orr up on the corner of Chestnut and Locust Avenue. Bobbie would tag along some times. We walked at least a mile to school and never thought about the distance. Sometimes we'd ring for Jimmy Heaberlin and all walk together. Did anyone get rides in those days?

submitted by: Phil Hooper (WI '59)
Bumpes@aol.com
I believe that child is Bobbie Johnston. We went to grade school together. I remember we would all exchange Valentine cards in grade school. I thought I was really something when I could give all the girls a Valentine, especially Bobbie. She was a sweet girl, have not seen her since 1959.

submitted by: Sandy Iaquinta (WI '59)
12csi09@iolinc.net
Roleta--that of course is my dear friend Bobby Johnston. She and I grew up together and completed 12 years of schooling together. She lived on Broadus Ave. and I lived on College Street. We walked to Pierpoint school and back home for lunch. Those were the good old days for sure. I spent many fond memories with her and Cherry Gill, Anthony Julian, all the Fragales, the Martinos, the Teters and many more kids that I can't remember. We then went to Central and to WI together. She looks great even now.

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR DECEMBER

Do you recognize the person pictured above? Send your guesses and a little something about the person to: Roleta1@aol.com. I will not print incorrect guesses and I will not print your guess if you do not include something about the person pictured..

NOT BEAR DAWG
submitted by: Linda Spelsberg Wolfe (WI '58)
Wolfopolis@aol.com
Reading the remembrance of Chuck Thomas (Nov. newsletter) when he visited Mike Tricot, and the obviously vicious poodle, I couldn’t help but chuckle about the little poodle chasing the bear up the tree. Even the fear the tough little dog would get hurt only added to the story, especially since he wasn’t.

My memory of a dog and a bear is slightly different. I was about 10 years old and was at our cabin at Lake Floyd with my Mom, twin Tom, older sister Carolyn. Dad stayed in town taking care of his patients. Older sister Marian, and older brother Walter were working (I think). My best friend Themie (Themis Chokatos Clessuras) was staying with us one week in Aug. (I think).

Themie and I had gone on a hike above cabin with Pat, our sweet Irish Setter, and Honey Baby, our darling cocker spaniel. Feeling brave, we had the two dogs after all and we were big and know-it-all, we went a little farther than usual. We went over the top of a rise and as we crossed over, we saw a creek in a little valley. It was hot and all four of us thought this would be a great place to get cooled off.

So we started to hurry down, at which point a bear (largest bear in the state!) stood up and whipped around to face us. Across the creek we now saw a yearling cub. To say we got out of there as fast as our legs would carry us was putting it mildly, Themie and I were sure that bear was coming after us, and was going to kill us. Haven’t we all heard about mother bears and the ferocity with which they protected their cubs?

Back we went over the crest, and started the headlong, panic-filled trip down the hill to civilization; leaping, grabbing at trees to help break our falls, and to propel us onwards when we were surprised, and a little angry, as both dogs passed us, and led the way. I have to say here, I was in front of Themie and was glad of it! When we got to the cabin, we threw open the screen door, passed my Mother cleaning up the kitchen, yelled ‘Bear, bear!" And ran out the front.

Dogs beat us to the water, and were wading and drinking. Themie and I got in the boat and started rowing before we ever looked back. Poor Mom, what could she have been thinking? She, no doubt, wondered if we were playing some game. At this point, I berated both dogs for not even covering our backs, ‘bear dawgs’ they weren’t!

Then I felt guilty at leaving my Mom to the bear. So we went back up to the cottage and she was fine. Bear probably never left the little creek, but you’d have had a hard time convincing us. The dogs probably knew that, and thought we were playing and just wanted to join in, I hope!

We’ve had dogs most of our married lives, and Dick and I both have many, many good memories of these dogs.

NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES

Jon W. Darnall “Dink” (WI '53)	jondarnall@dslextreme.com
John Davis (WI '64)	jwdavis999@hotmail.com
Katie Bowie (wife of Skip Bowie WI '57) graduated from Waverly HS, Iowa	WSR63@aol.com
Dino Colombo ( ? )	bigfootpond@verizon.net
Carol Harkins (Lost Creek '58)	charkins@sunline.net
Barry Rosenthal (WI '63)	barryrivka@sbcglobal.net
Bill Pinella (WI '65)	pinellab@sonic.net
Joe Marra (WI '58)	marra3@earthlink.net
Theresa Paugh (WI '69)	Tpaugh1951@aol.com

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS
David Saucer (WI '51)
Was: dvdsaucer@cs.com
Now: dsaucer@sbcglobal.net

William H. Bowie (WI '62)
Was: whbowie@earthlink.net
Now: Oilpump@aol.com

Marty Elliott (WI '57)
Was: elliott@panax.com
Now: rustye@earthlink.net

Margaret "Fran" Tate Barrett (WI '50)
Was: flmom1cat4@juno.com
Now: flmom1cat4@aol.com

Corinne Tannebaum Levy (WI '59)
Now: krinee12@yahoo.com

Tom Simons (WI '86)
Now: tsimons@wodagroup.com

A THANK YOU NOTE
submitted by: Chuck Thomas (WI '56)
thomasdrcr1@juno.com
My older brother passed away last February, and before that, I was trying to do a lot of writing. His death, although not unanticipated, stunned me more than I would have expected—primarily because he was 84 and had been failing for more than a year. I did continue to write but not as much as I would have liked, and I had trouble finishing longer, more complex writing projects. However, the short piece I did about Mike Tricot—“Bear Dawg” for your October WI NEWSLETTER—got me back on track. And the one on Mike Snyder (WI ’57) slated for January, 2004—which was actually more of a biographical sketch and much harder to write — continues to keep me on track. Thank you, Roleta!!!

EDITOR’S NOTE: You are very welcome. Your writings bring enjoyment to all of the readers. Keep the creative juices flowing! And I hope you will continue to share with all of us. Maybe your experience will encourage others to indulge into some creative writing.

WI HAD ITS NON-WHIMPS ALSO
submitted by: Jon Darnall (WI '53)
jondarnall@dslextreme.com
Roleta, many thanks for taking the time to bring together the people and memories that are why we are here….is?

WI had its naughty dozen and I’m here to admit to some of the pranks we pulled in jest. (no one was hurt but we did get a few people “P O ed” at us.) Mr. Cubbon’s said we were a “bunch of rowdies and wouldn’t amount to much.” That didn’t make him all bad…..

Who’ll admit to being involved with Harold “Sabu” Caplan, Caplans Jewelers was his fathers business, and myself, when we located a starter pistol and had it in a lead car that raced around the corner of Haymond Hwy. and Water St. near the Ice House and someone jumped out of the car and was shot with the starter pistol. The crowd scattered. My car followed and picked up the (dead) body and threw it in the back seat and sped off. Unfortunately a witness had the good sense to get a license plate # and turned it in to the police. “Sabu” never squealed on anyone but the (Demolay) bunch were blamed and justifiably I might add…..

How about the time the Broad Oaks bunch took off our shoes and crept behind a house, looped the rope interlocking the garbage cans (about 10) and quietly hooked them to the bumper of the city bus at the end of his run. Usually waited ten minutes before going back to town. Much noise and mess. Bus driver wasn’t pleased….Cubbons was right.

I feel better, I think.

submitted by: John Davis (WI '64)
jwdavis999@hotmail.com

Hi Roleta,

I would like to be added to the notification list for the WI newsletter. I just discovered it recently and have been amazed and delighted at the memories it has brought back. You are doing a great job on it. I can't tell you how much fun I had reading it.

I attended WI from the fall of '60 through '62.  I didn't graduate from WI, I went away for my last two years, but had I done so I would have been in the class of '64. I played in the band both years.

One image comes to mind from those days.   I used to go down to the Stonewall Billiards everyday for lunch and watch Doc Mills and Bob Aaron play endless games of pool, argue and carry on. It was the best show in town. Since this is a family publication I can't repeat any of the conversations but suffice it to say that it was extremely entertaining. I know there will be quite a few people out there who will remember these guys.

Thanks for adding my name to the list. I read the November newsletter 'cover to cover' and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks also for the suggestion to use Google for the search for my friend Bernard Schmidt. I found him immediately and have since talked to him by phone. It's interesting about the search engines, because I tried a couple of other ones and his name didn't pop up. Anyway, you can delete my previous request for info on Bernard when you put my previous email in the next newsletter. He is no longer among the missing.

I have also talked to an old friend in Florida thanks to your newsletter and hope to reach quite a few other people that I know from Clarksburg but have been out of touch with.

One of my other experiences from WI was playing in the band. I played the clarinet in both Central Junior and WI. I remember the band leader at both schools was Henry Mayer. He was a Clarksburg institution and had been doing it for years. He set very high standards and worked us all hard but he was also a really nice guy and he made it a lot of fun too. I remember being in the marching band and going out to Hite field early on fall mornings and practicing the drills. It was a great way to get out of the school for a couple of hours. I saw all the WI games from the end zone and then marched around at halftime. It was great fun. Then the rest of the year we would practice Beethoven and Mozart pieces for the spring concert. We would go over and over that stuff until we couldn't stand it any more, but by the time of the concert it always sounded pretty good so there was a real sense of accomplishment to it. It would be great to hear from any other members of the band from the Henry Mayer era.

Thanks again for the help finding my friend and thanks for putting out an outstanding newsletter. I live in the San Francisco area and have been here off and on (mostly on) since the sixties. Never a dull moment. Thanks for putting out such an informative and fun newsletter.

submitted by: Joe Marra (WI '58)
marra3@earthlink.net

I would like to be included in your mailing list of the WI newsletter. My class is 1958. I will later relate some stories from the good old days in Glen Elk. Back then a lot of students were not allowed to come across the bridges into our area. But we all lived through it and now on Sunday morning you can see a lot of people lined up just to get that good Italian bread. I ran into one of classmates who lives in the mid west at the bakery last summer. Her name used to be Beverly Morris one of the nicest girls I went to school with. It is indeed a small world. Your newsletter is great keep it up. Thanks

submitted by: D.K. Roach Jr. (WI '62)
WVFord28@aol.com

I also went to Pierpont grade school. Here is a list of my teachers:

1 Mrs. Gifford
2 Mrs. Gifford
3 Mrs. DeVito ?
4 Mrs. Weaver
5 Ms. Riley
6 Ms. Whalen

submitted by: Charlie Means (WI '50)
cmeans@cfl.rr.com

Viera, Florida is a small suburb of Melbourne but two classmates from WI Class of 1950 manage to get together there occasionally. Charlie & Marcie (VHS '49) Means live there all year. Lynn & Janet (WI '55) visit Janet's brother Roger Duncan (WI '57) and his wife Jodi. They only live about three minutes apart.

Marcie, Janet, Lynn and Charlie went to Merritt Island for dinner at the New Century Buffet to have Mongolian Barbecue. Lynn & Janet had never had it before. Janet still hasn't. Lynn was game and he thought it was very good. Marcie & Charlie have been eating it since 1969 when they were living in Hawaii. Try it...you'll like it.

Janet and Lynn are going to try to make it to the Sarasota Picnic in March. Marcie & Charlie will be there for sure. We look forward to seeing Janet & Lynn on their next trip to Florida.

submitted by: Bill (“Butch”) Berger (WI '60)
bbaa@mindspring.com

The older I (WE) get the more it seems that a lot of my sentences begin with “REMEMBER”. In that regard, remember when the biggest soft drink in town was “LOTTA COLA?” Wasn’t it the first 16 oz soft drink? Remember when Anderson’s Restaurant used to split and fry their hot dogs? Can anyone remember all of the corner grocery stores on Chestnut Street? I can think of Miles, Strothers, Wagners but there were several more.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Write to the newsletter with your list. Roleta1@aol.com

submitted by: Jim Ashley (WI '62)
Jashley4@cox.net

Roleta, some tardy notes on past topics!

My dad used to take me (reluctantly) and our old beagle, Queenie (who I always suspected he valued a lot more) rabbit hunting on the property now occupied by the VA hospital and River Bend Park. My mother was a volunteer in the hospital when it opened, taking magazine and newspaper carts around to the patients. When the little league baseball fields were built next to the hospital, the ambulatory patients used to come over to watch the games. My mother was always warning me about the "8th floor" patients (or was it "6th floor"). She was never very clear about what this floor was for, but I was left to imagine that it was something far too much for a 9 year old to know about.

As for the Stonewall Jackson statue, I am trying to remember where I saw a discussion about proportions for equestrian statues that said that the rider had to be sculpted larger than in true proportion to the horse to make the statue look realistic. Sculpting in actual proportion makes the rider look too small. All I could find in an internet search was this discussion about the work of Michelangelo:

The proportions of Michelangelo’s sculptures are often unrealistic. Michelangelo may have played with the proportions in his sculpture to make the piece look more realistic from the viewer’s perspective. He designed some of his statues to be seen from below, some to be viewed from many sides, and others to be seen from just one angle.

During my class's fortieth reunion, I learned that the father of Barbara Birshtein (WI '62) was instrumental in raising the funds for the construction of the statue. Her father was a Russian émigré', but had become a dedicated student of the career of Stonewall Jackson and was a very strong proponent of honoring the memory of Jackson. Barbara was able to locate her father's papers which had been donated to the Clarksburg Public Library and she asked (in 2002) for the papers to be taken out of storage in the local history collection (in the old library building) and made available for public study. I don't know if this happened, but anyone with a keen interest in the history of the statue should be able to access those papers.

Finally, somehow combining pizza and "first kiss". I never liked the looks of the pizzas that my mom made and never tried them. I was also horribly shy and managed to turn every encounter with a girl into a major blushing session. Not quite sure how I ended up at a pizza party at one of the neighborhood houses, but there came a time in the evening where all the lights got turned out, everyone paired off, and I suddenly found myself wedged into a reclining chair with a very pretty blonde who made the giggling comment, "Well, it's either me or the pizza!!"

That was the night I learned to eat pizza. It is also a night that I have often thought about in the ensuing 43 years and thought, "Just how STUPID was I??"

EDITOR’S NOTE: No. Jim, let’s say you were shy not STUPID!

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

Happy Holidays! After a 5 month hiatus, we are back on line and again enjoying your newsletter very much.

I retired in June after 23 years of teaching. We sold our home in Ventura and moved to San Diego this summer. After a month or so of looking, we found a lovely, small Spanish style home in the North Park area of San Diego, just 10 short blocks from Balboa Park. Our house was built in 1935, has hardwood floors and original tile in the bathroom. We are close to all that San Diego has to offer and only 15 miles from Mexico.

I am making plans to attend the WI Picnic in Florida in March. My cousin, Mary Ann Baily Donato and Mike will be there also. I hope to see my sister, Christy in Melbourne and as many old friends as possible. I am really looking forward to this and now that I am retired I can do it! Yes!

As for the Nov. trivia picture, I believe that it is the Benedum Airport passenger terminal. My father, Ben Stout, was a member of the FAA and had a lot to do with the expansion of Benedum Airport. I flew in and out of there many, many times. My fondest memory is seeing my mother and Ruby standing outside either waiting for my arrival and waving me off as the plane left the runway.

Actually, my father taught me to drive on one of the side runways back in the days when there were few airplanes taking off and landing. I have many memories of that airport.

The precious child has to be Bobbie Johnston. Her adorable smile is easy to recognize and I remember her so well.

I enjoyed all of the sharing of white water raft stories. Ed and I had an adventure ourselves, white water rafting the Zambezi River through Victoria Falls from the Zambian border to Zimbabwe. The rapids were all class 4 and 5 with one class 6 that we had to portage around. Ed and I were the only members in our raft that didn't get thrown out. We held on for dear life. There was some calm water in between rapids and we wanted to get in the river for a swim but were advised not to because a 9 ft long crocodile had been sighted there a few days before. Yikes!

Christmases in Clarksburg were the best! Hope all of you have a healthy, happy, joyous and safe one. I look forward to seeing many friends in Florida at the picnic.

submitted by: Connie Bailey Casto (WI '59)
castoca@aol.com

I was glad to hear Jane will be at the picnic. We used to be great friends in middle school. We got in a lot of trouble in 9th grade and then she was sent away to school. I read where her cousin Mary Ann Bailey Donato will also be at the winter picnic too.

News from our house is that I will retire on Dec. 18 after 36 years of teaching in Calif., Ohio, WV, and Florida. Dick decided to come out of retirement and has taken a part time job as the Priest at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Woodbine, Georgia. Woodbine is about 25 miles south of Brunswick, Ga. He has already moved there and I will join him after I retire, find a city council replacement, and sell our home here in Dunnellon. This has been a big surprise for me, but he just felt the need to continue his ministry in a church. I still plan on being at the Florida reunion if all goes well. Here is a cute poem for the Newsletter and those of us over 60.

HORRORS

I look into the mirror
And this is what I see.
A crinkled, wrinkled oldster
I'm sure it can't be me.

Where is that young girl laughing
Who loved that lad so trim?
I look across the table.
That surely can't be him.

By Ellen Marchese

NEW BRIDGE
submitted by: Dian Hurley (WI '46)
1946@aol.com
Ok, now you have ME lost......

The only new bridge that I can think of would have been on your left traveling from the Meadowbrook Mall on I-79, toward Route 50/Bridgeport Hill.... That bridge is part of a new road that will go from what we call the Lodgeville Road, that goes by the Holiday Inn, what they now call Gabriels Plaza, and Channel 5, a local Television station. It will come out on Johnson Avenue, here in Bridgeport, beside the 84 Lumber Company. Suppose to help with congestion in Bridgeport during the busiest time. We will see......... They built a new road, Route 279, from Route 50 east, just past Maple Lake, to Jerry Dove Drive, where the FBI is located, off of I-79. It was intended for use by trucks and other heavy traffic heading for I-79, by passing Bridgeport, thereby aiding congestion in downtown Bridgeport! Well, after almost two years, we are still waiting for the congestion in downtown Bridgeport to lessen, but, alas, we still can not get out on to Main Street from my side of town during the busy time of day. We all think of the area where the Walmart, K-Mart and all the motels are as being "Bridgeport Hill", and the section of old route 50, where it cuts off of New Route 50, going into Clarksburg, as Old Bridgeport Hill. I can think of no section of Route 50, new or old, that would have a New Bridge! However, I will check the next time I ride into town and see if I can locate a bridge to the left of Route 50.

Hope you will excuse what ever is happening to this print! I have no idea what the computer is doing, but it sure is making a mess of the font! It keeps changing part of my typing from one font to another!

EDITOR’S NOTE:--That is the bridge!—Thanks for writing.

A GUIDE TO AMERICA'S BEST ROADFOOD
submitted by: Betty Jo Nichols Laine (WI '49)
BettyLaine@aol.com
In the November issue of Gourmet Magazine was a supplement, A Guide to America's Best Roadfood. Ritzy Lunch was listed for its hot dogs and cheeseburgers. Country Club Bakery in Fairmont was named for pepperoni rolls. What a tribute to our area!

I look forward to the Newsletter each month. Thank you for bringing back memories. You all do a wonderful job and we do appreciate you for doing it.

The WI Class of 1949 will have their "55th" class reunion on July 9, 10 and 11th, 2004 at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn. It will be a "No Frill One". If you would like to attend, please contact me at this email address: BettyLaine@aol.com.

SOME THOUGHTS TO SHARE
submitted by: Ron Cleavenger (WI '63)
RonCleaven@aol.com
Hi Roleta:

I have been contemplating the following for several months now, so here goes!

First, let me say your work is without peer in this endeavor. We need more efforts to preserve our heritage. I love your monthly productions and they certainly make the old neurons come alive again.

I have been working on a preservation project for the past 18 years since my son was born. That project is preserving my own ancestry via genealogy. In doing this project only with the Cleavenger surname and not with my grand-parents surnames, I have discovered that there are quite a few W-I graduates, who have the name Clevenger/Cleavenger in their ancestry, and thus are distantly related to me.

For example in my 1963 graduating class, even though I am the only person in the class with the surname of Cleavenger, the following persons have a distant relationship to me either naturally or via marriage with someone connected to my Cleavenger/Clevenger family:

Larry Norris and their child by Barbara Moore,
Carolyn Wise (via her marriage to Bill Norris, Larry's brother),
Becky Bacchus, Donnie McNemar, Richard Nuzum.

In the 1964 class, the following are related: Lana Myers, Nancy (Pollock) Swats, and Jeff George fill the bill.
The husband of Mrs. Ruth Clevenger, the physical education teacher at W-I, and their descendants and his ancestors are related to me.

While I do not have a complete list in this vein, others (off the top of my head I can not list them all), whom I know to be W-I grads, who are similarly connected to me are the following:
Ed McCourt, W-I class of 1946, his wife Mary Lou (Govedich) McCourt (class of 1949), Ed's sister, Helen (McCourt) Newbrough (class of 1949),
Jo Ann (Morrison) Davis (1947),
Paul Myers (President of Class of 1927) and owner of Paul Myers Hardware Store on Pike Street,
Jack Robert George (class of 1961),
Carolyn White spouse of Robert Rector (both class of 1959).

There are many more, but will not list them all at this time.

I suspect, that if others look at their own trees, there would be many more such connections as the families in the Central West Virginia area have been therein located for a couple of hundred years; so it is only natural that these families should be distantly (not incestuously) connected. Thus, I would encourage more W-I grads to investigate their ancestry and I suspect that there are many more persons with actual familial connections in addition to their class mates connections to W-I.

Now, a few other comments about some of the topics of discussion in the past newsletters:
Hot Dogs- How about Joe Serafini's at the Sportsmens Inn in the West Inn—ask the W-I guys who partook of high school brewskis there.

Movie Theaters- I remember going to all four (Orpheum, Moore's Opera House, Ritz, and Robinson Grand) in one day for a grand total of $ 0.76.

Pizza- Hard to beat Colassesano's in Fairmont; however in Clarksburg, I think Twin Oaks was pretty good; they certainly had the best hoagies!!

Teachers- Personal bias here, but I think that Emily Taylor more influenced me personally than anybody else because she got me to reading again after I almost dropped out of school as a sophomore; and I have never forgotten that a gerund is PURPLE. Glyde Bailey certainly prepared me well for WVU's freshman English with her weekly Monday theme writings. Lewis Traugh taught a harder high school Chemistry class than my freshman Chem at WVU– and I ended up getting a degree in Chemistry at WVU. Mr. Gudekunst was certainly a task master and although at the time I did not understand the need for all of those steps in doing his problems, when I got to integral calculus in college, I sure did and was most thankful he had persisted; now I knew the reason why he did this.

I guess I will stop here for now. If there is any interest in this ancestry thing or any of the other topics, let me know.

THE VA HOSPITAL
submitted by: Margaret Snow Crocker (WI '49)
marorgeo@aol.com
Roleta, I meant to write last month, but we were moving back to Denver, NC and the time slipped away. The VA Hospital was built by Thompson and Street Construction Co. out of Charlotte, NC. George went to work for them at a Naval Hospital in Beaufort, SC and was transferred to Clarksburg to work on ours. The work was supervised by the Corp of Engineers. Except for a small staff, all the work was done by local construction and office workers. All the brick on the building came from a brickworks in Fairmont.

My husband George came to Clarksburg to build the VA hospital. We met when George and a friend got on a bus to go skating in Nutter Fort (I think). I had known the friend in Florida and they went to meet my folks instead of skating. We were married in the First Methodist Church in 1950 and moved to Birmingham, Alabama to work on another VA Hospital. We will celebrate our 54th in March and I've lost count of how many moves. We have only been back to see it a few times as his job has taken us all over the southeastern United States.

I love hearing about Clarksburg. Thanks for your efforts to keep us informed. We do hope to come back next summer for yet, another reunion of the "49ers" thanks to the group who work so hard to put them together.

submitted by: Pat Elder (NDHS '57)
st1pat@aol.com
I was surprised last month that no one mentioned the big fire at the VA hospital. It must have been in the late 40's and the new hospital was almost ready to open. It may have been a welding operation, but somehow it caught fire. I stood at the top of the hill at Hartland Ave. and US 19 at the curve in Stealey and watched in awe. I was about 8 or 9 yrs. old. I remember the thick black smoke rising toward the heavens—very high--they reportedly saw the black smoke in Morgantown, 50 miles away. (As I get older, I hope I didn't just dream this) then they rebuilt the hospital and it opened a year or two later. Anyone else remember that fire?

Yesterday was Veteran's Day. Do they still have a parade in Clarksburg on Vet's Day? Do WI (RCB) and VHS (Liberty) still play football that day? I never missed a Vet's Day for either the parade or the game. (write the newsletter at Roleta1@aol.com)

When I was 15, my brother, Jon was born. When I was a sophomore in college, I came home and took Jon, then 4 yrs. old, to the parade. We were right up front in the 1st row in front of Heck's, & as the WI band came by, Jon reached out & pinched a majorette on the leg. She turned abruptly & slapped me in the face. She couldn't see little Jon down there! Would anyone from WI like to own up to this in 2003?

Last month I wrote about our old coach JT Flaherty at NDHS in the 50's. There's a great new coach now. NDHS has had a great year in 2003. Nick Alvaro, WI 1956 lived beside me in Broad Oaks, his son, Sam Alvaro, is the head coach this year. Coach Alvaro, 1991 NDHS graduate, was 9-1 for this year and averaged 42 points per game on offense and gave up a stingy 4 points average on defense---the rest were shut outs. Notre Dame went to the Class A State Playoffs and lost to Matewan 20-14, closing out a 9-2 season overall.

Alvaro has coached at NDHS since 1995, as head jr. hi football coach from 1995 to 2001 and assistant varsity coach those same years, and as head coach since 2002. In his first year, his team finished with a 6-4 record (2002), the first winning season for the Fighting Irish since their playoff appearance in 1986. Alvaro coached the seniors on this current team when they were freshmen and had an undefeated season (5-0) in 2000.

Coach Sam Alvaro is the son of Nick and Joretta Folio Alvaro. Joretta graduated from NDHS in 1956. (the first NDHS graduating class). Siblings include Nick and Angela Alvaro. Sam’s wife is Angela DeFazio, the couple is expecting their first child in December.

The WI connection goes to Coach Alvaro’s uncles, Jim Alvaro (WI 1956) and Fred Alvaro (WI 1959). With that great family tradition, NDHS Football is going to be in good hands for a long time. The ultimate tribute to Coach Sam Alvaro is that his players love him and their record speaks to that.

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
submitted by: Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI '59)
mtmama41@msn.com
A few months ago I was cleaning out my mother’s home to sell. I ran across a couple of items that really brought back some memories.

My father was a “ham” radio operator and I followed in his footsteps for many years working right along with him. We spent many hours talking to people from every country in the world and every state in the U.S. and building new and better equipment. During emergencies in other parts of the world we helped set up Emergency Networks to allow people from our area to get messages to family and friends from disaster areas. One I really remember was the devastating hurricane that hit Lake Charles, LA. I didn’t realize how many people knew people from that area. Dad had developed a method to take the transmissions from the ham radio and connect it to our telephone so that the people could talk back and forth. At that time doing something like that was a big deal.

But that was not what I found- it is how it started. Dad had a friend that was a fellow ham operator and worked at WHAR. He knew I wasn’t “mike shy” and asked Dad if I would be interested in helping start the “HI-FI CLUB” that would be opened to all high schools in the area. They would have a radio show each Saturday from the station located on “Old” Bridgeport Hill. The students would play records with the help of a DJ, talk of things going on in their high school and interview teachers. The group would also sponsor “sock hops” in their respective schools giving away prizes for dancing and best decorated socks. The Club would be co-sponsored by WHAR and Coca Cola. Coke also gave away red footies with HI-FI on the sides to those that didn’t want to get their feet dirty…. we had to take off our shoes to preserve the gym floors!

Now have you guessed what I found nestled in the back of a drawer all wrapped up in tissue paper? That is right, a pair of red footies and a pair of socks that I had decorated for a dance. My decorated socks had faces made of felt with hair being made from yarn. I had braided yellow yarn to make pigtails for the girl and little strips of yarn were sewn on to make a crew cut for the boy. They were a little yellowish from age, and had shrunk since I was the same size I was then, and couldn’t begin to fit my dainty feet!

The old saying “What goes around comes around” does really happen – in 1991 while I was at Notre Dame High School, the Principal asked me to be advisor to a new group that she and our Partners in Education WOBG owner had come up with. I set down with them to hear what they had in mind. It was a radio show The Irish Hour to be hosted by a Notre Dame student each Saturday. The plan was the same as I had done many years prior at Washington Irving. It was a great success, winning an unprecedented 3 - 1st place finishes in the Partners in Education banquet the first year. It continued into the first closed circuit TV station in a Harrison County High School with the help of a local TV station. After WOBG was sold to a new syndicate and I had left ND it finally came to an end on the radio. WND-TV continued.

The only thing that was missing at that radio station was the station DJ that helped us. My advisor was none other than Jay Randolph of ABC Sports!!!! He worked at WHAR while attending Salem College. After graduation he worked there for a while and went on to a larger station in Texas owned by Lady Bird Johnston and then on to ABC. I would love to tell him how I ended up doing the same thing many years apart with the roles reversed- I was the advisor.

MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)
Icedteadee@aol.com
Roleta,
You better believe that Bob Stealey's music list brought back memories for me. That was my Junior year up on the hill and probably the best of my high school years. I love going over the song lists. I think we all have memories sparked when we hear old songs playing. Thanks to you and Bob for sharing with us.

A LITTLE BIT OF MUSIC
Visit this site and enjoy: Just click on the underlined blue words (a hyperlink) and sit back, read, relax and enjoy. Turn up your sound! www.americanbridge.com/boogie2.htm

BOB STEALEY’S LIST OF HITS
submitted by: Bob Stealey (WI '64)
BobnAlong1@aol.com
In the summer of '85, Brian Adams had a hit titled "In the Summer of '69" that I liked pretty well. And that's going to be the time-frame for this month's hits of yesteryear. Hang on, here they are:

One -- Three Dog Night
These Eyes -- The Guess Who
Love Can Make You Happy -- Mercy
More Today Than Yesterday -- Spiral Staircase
Good Morning, Starshine! -- Oliver
Hair -- The Cowsills
Crimson & Clover -- Tommy James & The Shondells
Dizzy -- Tommy Roe
Grazing in the Grass -- Friends of Distinction (vocal version)
Easy to Be Hard -- Three Dog Night
Hot Fun in the Summertime -- Sly & The Family Stone
My Cherie Amour -- Stevie Wonder
'Can't Get Next to You -- The Temptations
Sugar, Sugar -- The Archies
Everyday People -- Sly & The Family Stone
Honky Tonk Women -- The Rolling Stones
Something -- The Beatles
The Worst That Could Happen -- Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge
Welcome Me, Love -- Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge
Tracy -- The Cufflinks
In The Year 2525 -- Zager & Evans
The Israelite -- (artist unavailable)
Jingle Jangle -- The Archies
Smile a Little Smile for Me -- (artist unavailable)

There may be some from that era that you can remember and I can't. If so, e-mail 'em to me at BobnAlong1@aol.com. Look for another batch of tunes from another time next month.

Have a great Christmas and a fantastic 2004!

BRIDGEPORT
submitted by: Dian Gantz Hurley (WI '46 and '47)
WIHSClassof1947@aol.com
Roleta!
Thanks so much for the latest newsletter, so much work goes into them! You are to be commended for all your hard work!

Bridgeport was originally Bridge Fort. You would think since I have lived in Bridgeport for the past 47 years, I would know more than I do! But, there was a bridge spanning Simpson Creek, there was a fort here, it was an historic area a couple of centuries ago, and I understand that after the Fort was destroyed, by some means, the town evolved into Bridgeport. We have a big celebration each year because the mighty and wealthy Michael Benedum was born here and he did a lot for the town, like financing a civic center patterned to look like the home where he was born and raised. Also provided the Methodist financing for a lovely large church and later a recreational center was financed by the Benedum Foundation. So, they celebrate Benedum Festival week every July! And, it is usually so darn hot I never attend! but, many do, and our Woman's club usually has a booth. But, as I said, the heat is to much for me! And, this year they had a mighty big rain storm that even took down tents! In the spring we have a Scottish and Celtic Festival! Now, that is a great time. The dinner is unusual and so well attended, they need to find a larger place to hold it. They also have many events and vendors with Scottish and Celtic items in our City Park that has only been in existence a few years.

And, YES!!!!! The Parkette still has the same wonderful onion rings, and the best anywhere! They built a new and larger restaurant, just before old Bridgeport Hill joins Route 50 near the top of the hill, and the prices have stayed reasonable also! Two of the children of the original Lehosit family run it, and the food remains the greatest and as I said, the onion rings the best!! My usual when I get there is a small anti-pasta and an order of onion rings! They still sell many, many of them also! They cut the anti-pasta up small enough to handle with out a mess, and it is also the greatest!! Making me hungry thinking of it!!

If I remember more about the settlement of the town that has become my home town, by default, I will let you know!!

I have passed the address for your newsletter on to several others; I hope you are not deluged with mail! But, you do us all a great service!! Good Luck, and Thanks!

.........If you have read Carolyn Burnside's book, you will understand the "why" of that distinction...................

submitted by: Barbara Sutton Elder (WI '57)
BSE6@webtv.net
My understanding was that it was named Bridgeport because of a covered bridge on Simpson Creek called The Sutton Bridge. It stood on my grandparent’s farm, hence the word bridge was used. Of course I could be just a bit partial because of my last name being Sutton.

submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@aol.com
The town of Bridgeport, Harrison County, Virginia was chartered in 1816. It was so named because of a bridge being built across Simpson Creek and was the first bridge built in Harrison County. The first rail road station was built in 1855. In 1904 the Bridgeport Telephone Company was organized. The first street car trolley arrived in Bridgeport, West Virginia in October 1909 and the first house was wired for electricity also in 1909. May 1940 was when the new three lane highway was constructed going over Bridgeport Hill. To meet the demands of an ever increasing growing community for water, the city purchased Hinkle Lake in 1938 and then bought Deegan Dam, now known as Deegan Lake, in 1950. The Clarksburg Water Board in late 1965 started furnishing water to Bridgeport with a 12 inch line water main at E. Pike and Brown Street in Kelly Hill.

OBITUTARIES

JOHN BLACKSHIRE
John Francis Blackshire II (WI 1959), age 62, of 1218 Myra Street, Clarksburg, passed away Friday, October 24, 2003, following an extended illness.

He was born in Clarksburg July 13, 1941, a son of the late John F. Blackshire and Verna E. Luzader Blackshire of Myra St., with whom he made his home.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Diane Ross Blackshire of Fairmont; three sons, John F. Blackshire III, David Scott Blackshire and Joseph Patrick Blackshire, all of Fairmont, WV; two brothers, Michael Blackshire of Clarksburg and David Blackshire of Amherst, Ohio; four sisters, Winnifred (Freddie) Limer of Elyria, Ohio, Suellen (Peachy) Hall of Clarksburg, Deirdre (Dee Dee) Hall of Clarksburg and Taffy Blackshire of Clarksburg.

RONALD LEE HITT
Mr. Ronald Lee Hitt, age 64, of 136 Maple Lake, Bridgeport, WV, died Thursday, October 30, 2003, from injuries due to an ATV accident while hunting in Doddridge County on Maxwell Ridge.

Mr. Hitt was born in Sardis, WV, August 17, 1939, a son of the late Odius Hitt Jr. and Marie Strother Hitt.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Mary Jo Reger Hitt, (WI 1958) whom he married September 5, 1959; three daughters and sons-in-law, Juda Michele and Penn Fliess, Jacksonville, Fl, Pamela Jo and Joseph Pinti and Cindy Lee and Michael Jeffers, all of Bridgeport, WV; seven grandchildren. Mr. Hitt was a member of the Mount Hope United Methodist Church. He was a retired electrician with 45 years of service. He had worked for Sharpe Electric Company since 1980.

G. KEITH GORRELL
G. Keith Gorrell, age 83, of Bridgeport and formerly of Clarksburg, died November 9, 2003, in the United Hospital Center. He was born in Clarksburg on August 24, 1920, a son of the late George W. Gorrell and Sadie (Getz) Gorrell. His wife, Alice (Harrison) Gorrell, survives. Also surviving are a son, Thomas Harrison Gorrell, Lost Creek; a daughter, Robin Gorrell, DVM, and her husband, Ken Hotopp, Frostburg, MD; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathryn Ann Gorrell, in 1979.

Mr. Gorrell graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1938 and attended Potomac State College. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1942, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi.

Mr. Gorrell served in World War II in the cadre at Fort Ritchie, MD, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. Infantry at Fort Benning, GA. He served in the E.T.O. in 1945 and returned to the states before his discharge in 1946. After the war, Keith was an active member of the National Guard and Army Reserve. He was discharged in 1972 as a Major.

As a child, he grew up enjoying Lake Floyd and for the past fifty years enjoyed Oral Lake.

ARTHUR DALLAS ROHRBOUGH JR.
Mr. Rohrbough age 79, of Clarksburg departed this life Sunday, November 2, 2003 He was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, August 11, 1924, the son of the late Arthur Dallas Rohrbough Sr. and Nora Welling Rohrbough. His wife of 58 years, Virginia Ann Callis Rohrbough, whom he married November 5, 1945, survives. Also surviving are four children, Arthur Dallas Rohrbough III and his wife, Libby, of Nutter Fort, Robert Lee Rohrbough of Clarksburg, Vicki Wagner and her husband, Terry, of Clarksburg, and Tom Rohrbough of Nutter Fort; and six grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Mr. Rohrbough was preceded in death by one brother, Kenneth Rohrbough.

Mr. Rohrbough was a graduate of Washington Irving High School. He was a United States Navy veteran, having served his country in World War II. He was a retired yard master from the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Chessie Railroad with 35 years of service.

Mr. Rohrbough was a member of the Duff Street United Methodist Church and a longtime member of the Sunny Croft Country Club in Clarksburg. He had a great passion for the game of golf.

KAY F. MIHALIAK
Kay F. Mihaliak, 60 years old, Clarksburg, WV, died November 19, 2003, at United Hospital after an extended illness. She was born on February 22, 1943, in Clarksburg, WV, the daughter of the late William Rex Gum and Mary Winnie Gum, who survives. Her husband, David F. Mihaliak, survives at home.

Surviving also are five daughters, Vickie Ann Turner and her husband, Roger, of Lost Creek, WV; Leisa Pratt and her husband, Bob, of Sardis community, Michelle Smith and husband, Nate, of Morgantown, WV, Dee Dee Clay and husband, Rick, of Hurricane, WV, and Wendy Elder and husband, Tim, of Clarksburg, WV; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Survived also by two brothers, Bill Gum of Sutton, WV, and Bob Gum of Apopka, Florida; two sisters, Karen Matish of Narvon, Pennsylvania, and Debra Figenbaum of Exton, Pennsylvania, and several nieces and nephews.

Kay was a registered nurse, a graduate of Salem College in 1986. She worked for several hospitals and care homes in the area, including the old St. Mary's Hospital, United Hospital Center and Salem Continuous Care Home.

JOHN VINCENT POST
John Vincent Post, 79, of Clarksburg died November 19, 2003, in the Ruby Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was born in Clarksburg, November 5, 1924, a son of the late John and Vincenza (Susie) Squeo Postiglione (Post).

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elma Jewel (Hamrick) Post, whom he married November 19, 1955. Also surviving are five daughters, Susie Guzzi and husband Jimmy, Theresa Holyfield and husband Michael, Betty Jo Davis and husband Robbie, Linda Griffith and husband Brian and Rebecca Post, all of Clarksburg; five sons, Joseph Post and wife Dorinda, Steve Post and wife Lisa and Johnny Post, all of Clarksburg, Gary Post and wife Donna, Linden, Virginia, and Jerome Post and wife Lori, Ireland, WV; 23 grandchildren, two sisters, Mrs. Edith Cooper, Clarksburg, and Mrs. Lucy Lanum, Pennsylvania; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Post was a 1942 graduate of Washington Irving High School and later worked in the shipyards in Baltimore, Maryland, as a Master Welder. He later served in the United States Marine Corps in the 5th Marine Division during World War II, where he earned the rank of Corporal. He also fought in the Iwo Jima Campaign and witnessed the flag raising at Mt. Suribachi. Following his years of service, he attended cabinet-making school and bricklaying school. He was a bricklayer for 43 years, a member of Bricklayer Union No. 15, having worked for several different companies.

He also taught Masonry for 11 years at the United Career Center. He was a member of Meuse-Argonne Post No. 573, VFW, and the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where he served as a Eucharistic Minister. He loved sharing traditional Sunday spaghetti dinners with his family, and took strong pride in his Italian heritage. He will always be remembered for his strong family values, deep religious beliefs and his ability to create and grow things with his hard-working hands. He will always be loved and greatly missed, especially his sense of humor and charming smile.

Obituary excerpts from the Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram.

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