THE WI NEWSLETTER 03/04

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 55

March 2004

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the Hollow of His Hand.

CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC
This is your last chance....the picnic is to be held on March 13th in Sarasota, Florida. I have had this picnic for 5 years. Attendance has grown from about 50 to this year I am expecting 180. Come join the fun. If you have not made your reservations for the picnic or need information about it, please contact me at Roleta1@aol.com.

THE TRAIN
submitted by: Judy Noe Ashland (ND '57)
JUJUBEE40@aol.com
Growing up in Clarksburg in the 40s and 50s was sort of like living in a Mark Twain novel. We had no fears, we played hard and used our imaginations to create all sorts of fun. We didn’t have computers or video games, most of us didn’t even have television, so we were left to our own devices to have fun and that we did. Innocent, fearless, physical, satisfying fun.

I was the only girl child in a family with two brothers, which at the time, was decidedly a disadvantage. Even though I was the oldest, the words ”You are a girl and aren’t allowed to do the things your brothers do” reverberated often in my ears. One of the forbidden activities was going down the hill to the train tracks when the trains rumbled by. Because of some strange attraction, I would run up to my bedroom where I had a great view of these steel monsters as they sped by my viewing place. This was, however; not enough to satisfy my desire to stand close to one of them. My one brother was allowed to go down the hill, but not my little brother nor I. No matter how much I pleaded, the answer was always a firm “NO”.

I suppose the temptation became too great to suppress, so one sunny afternoon, when I heard its wailful whistle off in the distance, I threw caution to the wind and hurriedly made my way down the hill. Out of breath with anticipation, I stood within feet of the tracks. I could see the engine now, making its way around the bend, getting closer and closer. Feeling fear and excitement, I gave no thought to the sure to come consequences of my actions. When it was mere feet from me, it hissed to a stop. It was almost close enough to touch and to feel the heat emanating from its huge black belly. I slowly allowed my senses to take it all in—the acrid smell of the back smoke, the gritty soot that fell on my face, the unbelievable sight of this great piece of art. I don’t think I have ever been both impressed and afraid, as I was that day. Huge puffs of steam spewed into the air where it evaporated and disappeared. Cold black with silver accoutrements, the massive body shuddered on 8 bold wheels that strained to get on their way. A large, powerful light adorned the front of the engine and as my eyes moved upward, the engineer smiled at me and blew the whistle. The noise was deafening; I thought for sure that my ears would burst. He waved and then slowly, the great beast began to move. I backed away and watched until all of it disappeared from sight. I was sweating from the intense heat and the unbelievable thrill of seeing this mammoth of energy and power.

As I made my way up the hill, what I had done began to dawn on me. Imagining my punishment didn’t matter. I had fulfilled a dream beyond expectation. Of course, I was disciplined, but it was worth it. After that day, whenever I heard the whistle far off in the distance, I felt the excitement of knowing that I had experienced first hand the majesty of THE TRAIN.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thank you Judy---you did it again! You took all of us on this daring adventure with you. Thank you so much for sharing this experience with us. Welcome back--we've missed you!

I am sure many of you (especially the "boys") have some wild tales you could share about the trains that passed near your home. I hope that Judy's story will inspire memories of yours and you too will share them so the readers can enjoy them. Write your memories to Roleta1@aol.com.

TRIVIA QUESTION
Do you remember the Clarksburg WEEKLY Newspaper? What was the name of the newspaper and who owned it? Write your memories to Roleta1@aol.com.

May the leprechauns be near you,
To spread luck along your way.
And may all the Irish angels,
Smile upon you St. Patrick’s Day.

LUNCHTIME IN CLARKSBURG
submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)
Msspahr@aol.com
Memories of lunches:
Of all the many wonderful food memories I have carried through life, none surpasses the meat loaf sandwich with brown gravy and mashed potatoes that Rufus prepared and served every day at Rogers Drug Store. If you got there early in the lunch hour and ate really fast, you had time for one of his sundaes with chocolate/peanut butter topping that he made by stirring together chocolate syrup and peanut butter. I can still see him stirring it with a long teaspoon to get just the right consistency. Hmmm! The very thought makes me want to try it myself.

submitted by: Billie Anne Cork Clevenger (WI '52)
ElegantLady3452@aol.com
While I was a student at WI, I sometimes took a brown bag lunch and ate in whatever classroom was designated as a lunchroom but often went downtown to eat at G.C. Murphy's lunch counter. Then my best friend and I would tour the local stores and enjoy window-shopping, a welcome break from the long school day. As I recall, we had just one hour for lunch and only the students who lived in the downtown neighborhoods had time to actually go home for lunch. I went to Morgan Grade School and Central Jr. High, and did not ever attend a school with a cafeteria.

submitted by: Barbara Sutton Elder (WI '57)
BSE6@webtv.net
I really don't remember having a lunchroom at any school I ever attended. My grade school years were all spent at Morgan Grade School in Stealey and I know we walked back and forth for the lunch period. I lived on Grove Ave. so it was quite a long walk. My dad owned his own business in Adamston and was home a lot at lunch time, so he would drive me back and forth for lunch. Then I attended Central Junior High and had no lunchroom there either. During lunch at WI the Stealey kids had a chartered bus that took them from downtown to Stealey and then back to school in time for afternoon classes. They picked us up in the mornings and took us to Main Street in front of the restaurant close to the hill. We could also ride the regular buses to and from school. We had something like an hour and a half for lunch while at WI. It was plenty of time to ride home for lunch and then back in time for classes. By the way, I would guess that Miss Nutter wore size 5 shoes but should have worn about an 8 or so. Would have loved to watch her put those things on every morning.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I rode the regular Stealey bus back and forth to school. I don't remember anything about a chartered bus. Maybe they quit this by the time I was attending WI. Does anyone else remember riding the chartered bus back and forth to school?

submitted by: John Timberlake (WI '48)
JGTimberlake@aol.com
There were no cafeterias in any of the schools I attended. We had an hour for lunch. You had to walk fast and your Mom had to have lunch ready. I went to Carlisle School and we moved to Broad Oaks when I was in second grade, this made the walk much longer, so I went to my Grandmother's house on Oak St. which was several blocks closer. When in Central JHS I could walk or catch a city transit bus. WI was the same. Some of my best days were when my Mom was unable to be home, so I was given a dollar or so to eat in town. It was great to go to Bland's and get a toasted chicken salad or tuna salad sandwich and a coke. We were more used to walking than most kids are today, I could walk from WI to Broad Oaks in 15 minutes, take ten minutes for lunch, back in 15 minutes and still have time to socialize.

submitted by: Donald R. Bennett (WI '54)
dbennett5@neo.rr.com
There were about six of us from my freshman year on that went down to the Stonewall Billiard's and shot pool. We would run down the hill, to be the first ones there. The people were Tom Hayes, Ron Gregory, Bob Trent, J.B. Lawman, Bill Coyner & myself. We sometimes had a hard time getting back to school on time.

submitted by: Jody Buffington Aud (WI '77)
jbuffaud@comcast.net
What was for lunch......It was always a trip to Home Industry Bakery for pepperoni rolls. Couldn't get enough of them. I live in Maryland now, but whenever I'm home I stop by Tomaro's Bakery on my way out of town on Sunday for fresh, out-of-the-oven rolls and fresh bread. You just can't get it anywhere outside of Clarksburg. I lived down near College Park, MD for awhile and there was a small bakery about 20 minutes from my office that sold pepperoni rolls. I swear the baker had to have done an apprenticeship in WV! They tasted just like home. I had to call in advance and have them hold some for me, or they would all be gone by 12:30! If I had a good recipe for them, I'd open up a bakery near my home now and I guarantee I'd be doing a great business!

submitted by: Sharon Greitzner Dial (WI '56)
Luman4804@aol.com
Where did we eat lunch? During my freshman year I usually had lunch from the drug store next to Aaron's Shoe Store at Hammonds Drug Store. It was bring a sack lunch and get a vanilla coke for $.07. The sophomore year, it was the lemon coke and the price was now $.10, and on a meager allowance, it took some creative stretching! Remember how we all crammed ourselves into a booth or at a table? It was interesting in that we just took over the place and pushed all the tables together. They just loved to see the "bunch for lunch group" come in every day to their establishment. Sometimes, we could just get away with ordering water with our sack lunches. It wasn't long until they were on to us and required us to order something, anything would do! Junior and Senior year it was Bland's for lunch--by then, most of us either had a little after school job or had a raise in allowance since we were all able to buy our lunch some of the time. That was a really nice change from all those sandwiches!! Well, of course, this all brings back memories of not only Bland's for lunch but after school and then on down the way to Johnny Burrell's at the Central Restaurant on the corner by the main Post Office. That was just "The Place" to be after the games and it was always packed to the hilt! The more the merrier!! Okay, now I've done my part.......the rest of you gals and guys fill in a bit more here and there........treasured days, for sure!

submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)
Icedteadee@aol.com
Where did you eat lunch during school?
First through Ninth Grades I attended St. Mary's and Notre Dame and ate in the ND Cafeteria or went home, just 2 blocks from the school, or went to my family's restaurant, The East End Lunch on Pike Street. I am sure that will bring back memories for a lot of you. They were famous for their hot dogs and chili. When I switched to WI I ran out the side door and got a pepperoni roll from the little store that was there, I can't remember the name or else went downtown to either the Rexall Drug Store or Woolworth's. I don't remember if we had an hour at WI or not. I have no idea what was in my lunch bag, but probably a pepperoni roll, I loved them

submitted by: Bernice King McHenry (WI '52)
BerniceMcHenry@aol.com
Hi Roleta, I've thought a lot about your topics mentioned in the January Newsletter. You and all the writers are doing such a wonderful job. School lunches have been varied in content and location. At Morgan School, we walked home each day for lunch. Who remembers how long a lunch break was then? When I began piano lessons, Mrs. Brake came to the school and taught in the Morgan auditorium. (Those days my mother brought lunch and I ate it while waiting for my turn at the piano.) Though my family ate at Hammond and Harper Res. very often, I don't think I ate lunches there. Hagan's Ice Cream on Main St. made a delicious hot barbecued ham sandwich; and I ate there often usually finishing up with ice cream. The back lunch counter (a long double u-shaped counter) at G C Murphy's had nice lunches, ham salad sandwiches usually. Central Jr Hi, nor WI had lunchrooms or cafeterias in those days. We lunched with friends, usually planning lunch locations before classes began in the mornings. There was a time of lunches at the Rexall Drug Store, hamburgers and fries at Anderson's. At some point the business classroom at WI became available as a lunchroom. Sometimes I would stop at the deli counter of the Chicago Dairy on 4th Street for a slice of pickle-pimento loaf for the next day's lunch. In all likelihood our menus weren't the healthiest, but we enjoyed getting away from the school, the variety of places to eat, and spending time with friends.

May luck be our companion;
May friends stand by our side;
May history remind us all
of Ireland's faith and pride.
May God bless us with happiness;
May love and faith abide.

SMELLS
submitted by: Paul Cline (WI '51)

Paul recently mentioned to me that a very good memory he has of the roasted peanuts at the Ritz Theater. He said that the articles contributed by you writers concerning memory of smells brought back many memories to him…especially the smell of the salt rising bread baking at a local bakery.

EDITOR'S NOTE: All this talk about salt rising bead brought back a memory to me---I remember singing----"MaMa's little baby loves shortin, shortin, MaMa's little baby loves shortin' bread"…. Now you readers are very intelligent, tell me WHAT IS SHORTIN' BREAD? And what are the rest of the words to that song? I remember the tune! Write to Roleta1@aol.com.

submitted by: Bob Bramham (WI '53)
TwiceDollarBob@aol.com
Does anyone remember Hershey's Harness Shop on the east side of Third Street north of Pike Street? We always had horses when I was growing up, so my dad and I were in there often. Mr. Hershey made saddles, bridles, halters, harness and anything out of leather. I don't remember if he made boots or not, but he could have. He was a real craftsman working with leather, and the smell of that place was absolutely wonderful, at least it was to me. The United Cigar Store was across the street on the corner, and going west on Pike St. There was the Sanitary Hot dog shop, Jerry's Auto Supply, The Workingman's Store, and Tony Diamond's shoe shine shop near the Waldo Hotel. All of these are long gone now. If I ever have another rational thought, I'll send it along.

submitted by: George W. Scholl (WI '52)
georgegin@juno.com

My name is George Scholl, WI 52. I just recently learned of the Clarksburg Picnic and WI newsletter. In high school, they called me William. I was raised in Broad Oaks, went to Alta Vista and Central. I now live in Vienna/Parkersburg area. My wife and I are planning on coming to the Picnic this year. We have been wintering in Ft. Myers Beach for five years. I hope to see a lot of old friends that I have lost track of.

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

As to the mystery picture in Jan. issue -I recognize that as The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on W. Pike St. I attended a midnight mass there at least once with friends during high school. I was an attendant in my brothers wedding there in 1963. A beautiful church back then and now.

You mentioned some topics to be written about. One was the shoe size of Miss Nutter. For some reason that brought back a memory of her wearing a size 4. (I can't imagine why I would ever remember that). I don't remember her ever wearing a dress, navy blue suits come to my mind. She wore her hair braided and fastened down tight to her head.

NOTE FROM JUDY: Here is another, older picture of The Immaculate Conception showing the gray Victorian home beside the church mentioned by several readers last month.

submitted by: Gloria Caruso Shaffer (WI '58)
Mshaf@ma.rr.com

I have a request to be put in the newsletter. I would like to obtain WI yearbooks for the years 55, 56 and 57. Thank you.

submitted by: Mary Ann Hite Williams (WI '52)
mahwms@cox.net

Howdy from Phoenix! One of the big-time memories I have of hot dogs (reminded me since you'll be having them at the FL picnic) is from the WI Mother's Club. They had the best hot dogs, the best buns, the best onions, and most of all, the best chili! I wonder if anyone has that recipe and would like to share it with us?

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you have the recipe used by the parents for the WI football stand hot dog chili, won't you share it please? Send it to Roleta1@aol.com. I will publish it. Maybe it is time to once again have a cook off of the different hot dog chili sauce recipes….What do you think?

submitted by: John Oliverio (WI '57)
jtoliverio@earthlink.net

I just finished reading the newsletter. I was visiting in Ft. Myers this past weekend and ran into a WI graduate quite by accident.. He gave me the website so I could read the newsletter. It was so great to see names that I remembered from school and Clarksburg.

I was born and raised in Clarksburg and I am a 1957 graduate of WI. I now live in Green Cove Springs, Fl a suburb of Jacksonville.

My brothers (Frank '50 and Bob '56) both graduated from WI. Frank lives in Mississippi and Bob is deceased.

Thanks for the newsletter, I appreciate your hard work. I am going to try and attend the Florida reunion on March 13.

submitted by: Kaye McCall (WI '63)
Grameez6@aol.com

Oh my goodness, since I graduated in 1963 from THE GREAT WASHINGTON IRVING have I been so excited and happy to read and hear anything concerning the school except when my 3 daughters graduated from WI.

My daughter Tracie Mayes Wood included me in your e-mail last night and I have since sent it on to my sister Anita Mccall Rader also graduate of WI 1955 and my Daughter Cynthia Mayes Cutlip graduate of 1987.

I recognized many of the names from the 1960 class as that is when I was scared little freshman. My brother Joe Mccall also graduated from WI. If anyone on your newsletter remembers him, or graduated with him, knew him or dated him as he was quite the Romeo. Joe graduated in 1957. My sister Anita Mccall graduated in 1955 if anyone on your newsletter remembers Anita I have e-mailed this on to her and she would be glad to hear from anyone she graduated with. It is so interesting to read all about Stealey (although I did not live there when I went to school) I lived on Chestnut St. When my daughters attended WI we all lived in Stealey and shopped at Wagoners & Kellys.

Those were the days and the memories.

Again I would like to tell you how much I have enjoyed this letter and all the work you are and have done to accomplish this joining together of long lost friends.

submitted by: Jane Byrnside Anderson (WI '56)
eanders324@earthlink.net

I just want you to know how much I enjoyed Chuck Thomas's essays -- "Bear Dawg" and "If I Could Send Valentines to Any Two WI Women". He and I grew up in Clarksburg on the "hill" behind WI and spent hours playing basketball, sledding, talking, laughing, studying and, of course, getting into and out of trouble. They were great years and his essays bring back loads of wonderful memories. I have been in touch with Chuck and understand there will be more essays forthcoming. I look forward to reading them.

Thanks for the wonderful job you and Judy are doing. Living in California I will probably never get to the Florida picnic, but I certainly enjoy reading about it and seeing the photos of many of my classmates having a great time.

submitted by: Linda Spelsberg Wolfe (WI '58)
Wolfopolis@aol.com

You asked about a pro-basketball team in Clarksburg in February newsletter. Burt Spangler (WI '38), also in February newsletter, wrote about the Clarksburg Pure Oilers pro basketball games. So obviously there was one. Apparently Burt knows all about it.

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

Thanks to this newsletter, I have had via e-mail several conversations with Dian Gantz Hurley (WI 46). I grew up two houses from where her mother lived. She brought some fond memories from the back of my mind. Thank you for all involved in the newsletter.

submitted by: Roy Feldman (Central J.H.S. '52)
RAE2406@aol.com

Clarksburg, West Virginia, the home of the memories of my youth in Steven King existence with my boyhood friends from the Broad Oaks Section of town. Jim Alvaro, Don Sager, Steve Limbers, Doke Boone, Carolyn Lawson, Jeanie Talyor and many more names that I have not said in fifty years. The opportunity to see them in Sarasota is exciting.

Now let us focus on a few memories such as the camping trips with the Bresters, our hikes all over the area and the many trips to Lake Floyd. We can not forget the wooden swinging bridge on our way back and forth to Broad Oaks as we walked to the Junior High School or to the many events at the Carmichael Auditorium along with W.I. Friday night football games. We never missed the chance to have a cherry coke at the soda fountain or buy hot bread from the bakery on our way to the Alvaro house for butter.

Now for my tale that I am certain many middle school athletes can share a similar experience perhaps Michael Jordan. After our many years of training on the Johnson Field we were ready for trying out for junior high football. Don Cinci, Jim Alvaro, myself along with many others were sure we were as good as Sam Huff of W.V.U. however, our position in the rear of the large group running around the track sealed our fate. The coach split the runners in two groups. You guessed it, all the guys in the second group were sent home, cut from the squad. A lesson was learned that fall day in West Virginia and maybe that is part of our success over the past fifty years. We have never been satisfied with the end of the line, our goals will never allow it again.

P.S. I have been in education for forty two years and coached football for twenty eight seasons.

submitted by: Jim Hornor (WI '59))
RAE2406@aol.com

WOW! Well said and long over due. My congratulations on your continued excellent news letter. I know that you and your team (Judy and Bob) are greatly appreciated by all.

The picture is of MINARDS at the base of the Clarksburg side of Bridgeport Hill. Our family ate there for as long as I can remember and when in town I still try to get at least one meal there. Minards still has the best sauce in the world.

Thanks again for your efforts to keep all of the Clarksburg alumni in touch with one another.

A world of wishes at your command,
God and his angels close at hand,
Friends and family, their love impart,
And Irish blessings in your heart!

1961 MISSING CLASSMATES
submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
jteter@balmar.com
The WI class of 1961 is still missing 5 of their classmates. The five missing are:

CONSTANCE ANN KITTLE
JAMES (Jim) MANN SMITH
ALICE MARGARET REYNOLDS
PATRICIA MAE TAYLOR
ROGER (Toby) ELTON WISE

The last information that I had for Jim Smith had him working in Florida as a Physical Therapist.

I would also like to know if anybody has a current E-mail address for Gary Dawson.

1964 CLASSMATE MISSING
submitted by: Cheryl Corder McClure (WI '64)
mcheryl135@earthlink.net
I enjoy the newsletter very much. I was wondering if any of the readers could help me locate Betsy Gerwig WI Class of 1964. Several of her close friends have lost contact with her and would like to get in touch once more. If you have any information concerning Betsy Gerwig, please write to me --- mcheryl135@earthlink.net. Thank you.

VICTORY HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM 1954

These pictures are from Buzzy Floyd (VHS '56) floyds4@cox.net--if you have any other names or corrections, please write to Buzzy.

from right to left:
#1 Tuffy Knight...Bunk Sprouse (brother), Matt Perri, Punky Garrett, Clarence Leggett? Sam Hilton, Maybe Don Smith?

#2 Anthony DeMicco, Keith Clark, "A" Williams, John Anderson (my cousin. You sure? Doesn’t look like him to me) Joe Perri, Bob McNabb, Either Jerry Stackpole or Charlie Pyle? Robert Byrnes?

#3 Doctor Jimmy Kopp, Carl Taylor? David Toothman,George Beezel? Coach Neil Sappington (Sapp)

Wouldn’t it be easier to go left to right??????????? I can’t believe that neither Robert nor William “Hooker” Roberti was on that team, or Phil Messenger.

Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter;
Lullabies, dreams and love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums;
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes...;
That's the Irish for you!

TEACHERS
submitted by: John Timberlake (WI '48)
JGTimberlake@aol.com
Re: Miss Nutter: You could hear Miss Nutter coming a mile away, I have no idea about her shoes. Our concern, was DID SHE WEAR A WIG ?? I never did find out.

Re: Mrs. Bauer: I worked with "Lilly Mae" on the stage crew for two years, so I saw quite a bit of her in non-class situations. I heard the rumors about the plate in her head, etc, I have no idea if they were true. I know she got severe headaches at times, I suspect she suffered from migraines. Dealing with Bob Thomas, Jack Stickman and me would give anyone a headache.

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
The reason for the question about Miss Nutter's shoes----I was always amazed that there seemed to be more skin piled up on top of her pumps than was stuffed down inside of her shoes. I think her little chubby feet in length were about a 4 or 5 but she didn't select the proper width, thus the foot looked like one of the wicked stepsisters trying on Cinderella's shoe.

Do you remember how your teachers dressed? My female teachers were always in dresses and high heel shoes. The male teachers and principals wore white shirt, tie and suit or at least a sport coat. If they didn't wear a sports coat the dress shirt and tie were there. This is in contrast to the teachers today who even show up in class in jeans.

Being the daughter of a teacher and a teacher/principal, I can testify to the need for immaculate dress. My mother often didn't have many clothes but a scarf or a different piece of jewelry would change the entire look of an outfit. The hair, nails and makeup were perfectly groomed also. For many years, I never saw my father without a white shirt, even when he mowed the grass he was in uniform. This must have all come about due to strict rules they learned when they were attending college to become a teacher. (My parents were in favor of dress codes for students. They figured that a student behaved as they were dressed. Didn't matter to them if the clothes were patched--as long as they were clean.)

Remember that my parents started teaching when they had outside toilets, carried coal for the stove in the classroom and used a pump for drinking water. If I remember correctly, they even had to clean the classroom and schoolyard. Thus punishment to a student was often to pickup trash in the schoolyard, dust the erasers, and wash the chalkboard, etc. Later when my parents got a little older and moved to schools closer to towns, there were maintenance people who came in to spread oil on the floors and do the windows, and oh, they swept too using that rubbery, oily stuff that they scattered on the floor and then swept up---I guess it was to keep the dust down?

submitted by: Billie Anne Cork Clevenger (WI '52)
ElegantLady3452@aol.com
I had heard the rumors about Miss Bauer but to my knowledge, they were never substantiated. Does anyone remember Miss Melody, the freshman Latin teacher? Do you remember Mr. Hendershot the junior American History teacher? Miss Melody must have been in her eighties and was extremely senile and sometimes spent our entire one-hour class oblivious to the fact that we were even in the room. My young, compassionate heart ached for her and I felt humiliated for her. Some of the less compassionate (cruel!) students made fun of her and on one wintry day, one student made a game of opening each window in the classroom as poor Miss Melody went behind her and methodically closed each one, without complaint. This game took up the entire class period and must have exhausted both trickster and "trickee". If there is such as retribution, I wonder how those people perpetrating those mean escapades are faring in THEIR golden years?

Mr. Hendershot was a very sweet man and not at all old, but was extremely nervous and also the target of some classroom mischief. It was rumored that he had been in the war and was a victim of shell shock. He was certainly a victim of "student shock" as many ill intentioned tricks were played on him in the classroom.

I recall that Miss Nutter was always neatly and fashionably dressed, with sharply pressed suits in various colors and shoes that matched. I think her feet were especially tiny, perhaps only about a size 5 or 5 1/2. The rumor was that her perfectly coifed hairdo was a wig and that she was actually bald. Kids! We always had to have some suspicious stories about our teachers. I suppose it was so that we get satisfaction from that when we got a low grade!

submitted by: Anna Williams Welch (WI '71)
Gwill1004@aol.com
Miss Nutter:
I don't remember how long her feet were, but I remember the width! She always wore shoes too narrow. She probably should have worn extra wide but tried to squeeze those feet into medium or narrow widths.

I remember how frightened everyone was of her. You couldn't even cough in her class. If you did, she would shout "If you say you will not cough you will not cough!!" I only had her for Latin I; I refused to take her for Jr. English. Instead, I decided to go to summer school.

submitted by: Sharon Greitzner Dial (WI '56)
Luman4804@aol.com
Ummmmmm, Miss Nutter, I believe wore every day a size 4 heel shoe, and I can still see those puffy feet just begging to be soothed and bathed and massaged in at least a size 7!! Up and down the isles she would go, and of course, our heads were down looking at what we were suppose to be working on at our desks, and here comes these "puffy size 4's"!! Oh, mercy, how we giggled and snickered every time she patrolled the isles.......wonder if she ever found out just what it was that put is all into hysterics???

Oh, Miss Bauer!!!!!!!!!!! What I remember about her was her large flowered shirts and blouses that were "flouncy" and she was rather on the "flouncy" side, too........she always "scrunched" up her face into some sort of "contortion" grin and held her head off to the side.........ummm, get the picture? She was a "slow clunker" down the halls in her low heel shoes, and I can still hear her a comin'!! There was this long 4 page poem about a sailor that we were all to memorize that was to be recited in front of the class, remember??? Okay, guys, lets hear a few lines from it.

submitted by: David Noe (WI '65)
DBN4par@aol.com
Miss Bauer:
I don't know if she really had a plate in her head or if she did, why, but she was very sensitive to high-pitched sounds. I had speech class with her and she was always in another world. We would give some of the most obnoxious and perverted speeches believable and she wouldn't even blink. We did some very stupid things back then, but we learned a lot! Greg Knight, for one, brought a dog whistle into class and after attendance was taken, blew it. Poor Mrs. Bauer covered both ears and ran out of the room. At that, we jumped out of the windows and took off for a long break and probably a cigarette in the garage across the street.

VIRGINIA NUTTER

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE SUBMITTED BY CAROL VANHORN DEAN (WI '58) DBLU2@aol.com

EASTER TIME IN WEST VIRGINIA
Do you have a favorite Easter time memory? What did you do during Easter break from school? Did you work at a job to earn extra cash? Did your family travel during this time? Did you have a new outfit and where did you wear it? What was served for your Easter dinner? Did the Easter bunny come to see you when you were young? What did he bring and how was it presented? Did you hide Easter eggs? Do you remember snow at Easter? Did you attend Sunrise services, if so where? These are a few suggestions of subjects for you to write about….pick a few and write your memories to Roleta1@aol.com.

May God grant you many years to live,
For sure He must be knowing,
That earth has angels far too few,
And heaven is overflowing.

SHOPPING IN CLARKSBURG
submitted by: Jim White (WI '72)
BKCavguy@aol.com
The topics are great and bring back some memories.

I had it kind of easy as far as lunch goes. My grandmother lived two doors down on Lee Avenue, so usually I had lunch with her. Otherwise, it was a sack lunch in the gym or band room. There was a cafeteria at Towers School, and those of us at Central Junior could eat there. I think it was about $1.25 - $1.50 a week, or something like that.

I don't know what size shoes Miss Nutter wore, but they were about 2 sizes too small (or more!)

My parents were great believers in the Workingmans Store, so most of my clothes came from there. Parson Souders was a big favorite, as were Melets and Penneys. Sears was popular too, until it burned down.

There were three 5-10 cent stores on Main Street - Murphys, McCrorys and FW Woolworth. Murphys was probably the best of the bunch, although they were all about the same.

submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
WaynePawco@aol.com
Some of my best shopping days were at Sears, JC Penny's and Maunz. The store that was really in fashion with men's styles was Melets which had any type of clothing needed. They were also the Boy Scout headquarters for the area.

The last big store to go out of business was the Working Man's store on Pike Street. They had anything you could think of and good prices. Kyle and Company was the place to buy cameras and all photo supplies and office equipment. O.J. Morrisons was also a good store located on Main Street. The Rex Hex newsstand on Main Street was the oldest news stand in Clarksburg. This is just a few I liked to visit when I went shopping.

submitted by: Sharon Greitzner Dial (WI '56)
Luman4804@aol.com
Oh, did I like to shop!! Once I had my little part-time job going in the office of the Palace Furniture Company. Monies burned a whole in my pocket for things like shorts, tops, sweaters and skirts. I loved to shop at Watts Sarter Lear, loafers and suede shoes from Aarons. An alpaca coat at Rosenberg's that I had on lay-a-way for 6 months and finally went with me to Hagerstown, Md to Medical Secretarial School, on to Hershey, Pa at the Polyclinic Hospital and then to Washington, DC and the Washington Medical Hospital Center.

The best part was Toby and I going to the Workingman's Store and buying the guy's Levis........there were none for gals at that time........and the style was a very, very, deep cuff, and boy, were those things ever tight......just not built like the guys as they were really slimmmmmmm. Then, it was summertime and Loar and Whites for the Catalina bathing suit (1) that would have to make it thru 2 yrs wear.

Now the 5 and 10 cent stores were: Grants, McCrorys and Woolsworth. I believe Grants was more expensive, better quality items and was I ever drawn to the smell of the hot peanut machine counter!! You could smell it from the street and it would draw me in every time! I couldn't just stand there and sniff all day, so I would amuse myself with the jewelry that was right next to the peanuts, and pretty soon, I would catch the middle one, McCrory's, and sail up and down the isles and then go downstairs and look or maybe that was in O.J. Morrison's! Nevertheless, it always seemed to be Woolsworth that I found just the little "trinkets" that caught my eye. Let's go back to McCrory's......remember the lunch counter there and the dishes were all that light green glass wear that has now come back in style? Oh, how I hated that 'ole cheap stuff!

Of course, who could resist Candyland down on the corner by the Ritz Theater that had been the Chicago Dairy prior. All sorts of different candies to choose from! Of course, the big thing was going to the Clique Club and ordering my first "pizza pie" knew I'd died and gone to heaven! It was only 1 piece per person as too many of us were crammed into a booth and we all had to share.

submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)
Icedteadee@aol.com
What was your favorite Clarksburg store for shopping? My favorite store was Parson-Souders and there were 4 Five & Dimes, I believe. G.C. Murphy's, McCroys, W.T. Grant and F.W. Woolworths. Murphy's was my favorite because I lived downstairs in their basement in front of their 45's section on the wall. Also, at Easter they carried a wonderful nut filled chocolate egg from Tris Ann, I believe was the company's name. Does anyone remember those chocolate nut eggs?

submitted by: Bernice King McHenry (WI '52)
BerniceMcHenry@aol.com
The Dime stores in Clarksburg...Beginning nearest Fourth Street, FW Woolworths, Then WT Grant. (They made good lunches and delicious Harvard Beets), McCrory's was next. They had a large basement store, too. GC Murphy's was next in the line. They had a large basement too, with most of their housewares downstairs. Besides the large lunch counter in the rear of the store, they had a shorter one close the front door. All these '5&10's had rear entrances off the alley (Trader's Alley? I think) Other stores along that side of Main Street were (later) Friedlander's, Rogers Jewelry, Lerner's, Caplan's Jewelry, and early on Nussbaum's book store one of two places, the other was James & Law, where we rushed the first day of school to buy our school books and supplies. Shopping was always fun "up town" lots to look at.

submitted by: Patty Terrill Stealey (WI '59)
Pstealey@shepherd.edu
I remember four 5 and 10 cent stores on Main Street - Murphy's, McCrory's, Grant's, and Woolworth's. I worked for the W. T. Grant Company several summers when I was in high school. It was the first job that I had after baby sitting. The store used to have you work from 11:00 am. to 4:00 pm. I guess that had to do with part-time and not having breaks or benefits.

Hope you have a Happy New Year and thanks for all that you and Judy do in producing the Newsletter.

submitted by: Bob Teter (WI '60)
Bteter@chartertn.net
Favorite stores were the Sport's Shop, who could forget the Working Man's Store for jeans and such? And Melet's (when we had a bit of 'extra' money). I really have no idea how many 5 and 10 cent stores were on Main St, but would guess there were maybe 4.

I do not remember if we got any time off due to snow. My memory fails me, but maybe the reason I don't remember any days off is because there weren't any! Certainly we had no snow days to make up as today. I remember one Christmas season we were practicing basketball even though school was out for the holidays. Going to practice was an adventure in itself as the snow was piled over our heads along the streets. There was no walking on the sidewalks as they were where the snowplows put the snow from the streets!

submitted by: Sherri Gill Rasmussen Hallock (WI '59)
mom8941@casco.net
The most special memories of a store in Clarksburg is Parsons Furniture Store and their animated Christmas window display. Our family made a point of walking "up town" to look into the store windows in the evenings, summer winter and fall, perhaps getting a ice cream cone or coke along the way and seeing lots of neighbors to say hi to. Must have been cheap entertainment and exercise in those times which I remember with great joy. Does anyone remember the huge snowfall in the 50's where for days all we had was a small trail leading uptown in the 3 foot plus high snow? It was wonderful at night walking along these trails, no cars, just footprints to lead you forward.

Thanks again for a great newsletter and I love seeing my old classmate's names and trying to put faces with the names!

submitted by: Billie Anne Cork Clevenger (WI '52)
ElegantLady3452@aol.com
4. G.C. Murphy, McCrory's, W.T. Grant and Woolworth. I liked G.C. Murphy best because they had a wider choice of merchandise and it had a livelier atmosphere. I got a job there for Friday afternoon after school and on Saturday when I turned sixteen. Since I worked in the basement and one of my "counters" was the music and record dept., there were usually quite a few high school kids hanging around and selecting records. My favorite stores, however, were Parsons Souders (later Stone & Thomas) and Friedlander's, as they had the coolest clothes.

submitted by: Sherry Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
SKeith1514@aol.com
Remembering Saturday Shopping with Mother Circa 1960

On occasional weekends when my dad was working out of town, (he sold cigars for Havatampa Cigar Co.) my mother and I were free to enjoy a Saturday uptown. We enjoyed the day shopping at Friedlander's, Parson's, Aaron's Shoes and Marr's Jewelry ..with lunch next door at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel's dinning room (really posh) or down narrow stairs at Parsons' Submarine Shop with the aroma of fresh baked hot rolls where tables, booths and counter were always jammed so you usually shared the meal with strangers!

My mom worked in many civic organizations, Quota Club, BPW, (top two) and did good-grooming classes everywhere. Through this, as well as church activities, she knew what seemed to be everyone in town... it took three hours to travel from Parson's to Friedlander's...no lie... She would stop and talk with so many women on the way... the boredom for me, a young teen, was unbearable!

We usually visited the Library, and swung open the heavy oak door, stepping on the well worn stone threshold and finally made our way back to the car parked behind the courthouse at the gas station (name escapes me).

Our final stop was the Kroger Store and home to try on new clothes and straighten the house, which we left in a shambles in order to get an early start on the day...and start dinner. TV blasting a bandstand show in the background.

All this long gone is now a cherished memory to me , "Saturday Shopping with my mom"....Peggy Hutchison, cosmetic buyer for Fountain Cut Rate Drugs, (later bought out by Rite Aid).

submitted by: Melinda Mazza Sutter (WI '64)
Librian2@comcast.net
Well , when I think back, we had great specialty shops in Clarksburg for both women and men. There were so many on Fourth Street including the Style Shop and later the Clothes Horse. What a great store the Carriage Shop was. Mr. and Mrs. Weiss had the cutest up to date career and evening fashions. And Friedlander's had just about everything for young girls and women. Of course, we had Parson-Souders, and Watts, two major department stores. I remember walking in Watts with my mother. The cosmetics were in the front. Back on the left was the millinery department, with hats on long carved wooden hat poles. Then one could go down second street to find Melet's, Broida's, Pettrey's, Loar and White and Maunz! Please don't forget the Peggy Shop where Frank Martino's mother worked and knew a lot about fashion. Of course, my aunt Flo Iaquinta treated all the women royally upstairs in Melet's.

I also remember that Sue Ellen and Becky Stalnaker's mother was always eager to help at the Carriage Shop. What a nice-looking, elegant lady!

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR FEBRUARY

No one tried to identify that our precious child for February was Chuck Thomas (WI 1956). Send in your picture to be featured in our precious child section. Or better yet, send us a picture of a friend, then let them be surprised that month. If possible, send us a copy of a high school picture and a current picture also. Contact Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI 1959) at jkimler@ezwv.com for instructions on how to mail your pictures to her or you can scan and send them to her. Thank you.

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR MARCH

If you can identify this month's precious child, write your guess to Roleta!@aol.com. Remember that I don't print the incorrect answers.

PROM TIME
Prom time is quickly approaching. Do you remember your prom? Unlike the kids of today, I don't remember going to dinner in a limo do you? Where did you go before your prom? Where was your prom held? Who was your date to the prom? Was there someone you wanted to ask but you were too shy or didn't have the money to cover the expenses so you didn't make that big step? If you attended the prom, can you share a picture? Write to Roleta!@aol.com.

MARCH MADNESS
THE SOUND OF THE BOUNCING OF THE BALL
submitted by: Chuck Thomas (WI ’56)
THOMASDRCR1@juno.com
Quiet! Listen! Can you hear the bouncing of the ball? Some of you will hear it; some of you will not. If you can hear it, it may mean that growing up, you were part of the basketball madness. This is a “Wonder Years” story. As a kid, I dreamed of becoming a high school basketball star. And only one thing kept me from it talent! I did play for the WI freshman team, but not making the junior varsity, I was sent down to the church league. But I’m getting way ahead of my story. Let me back up a bit.

These days, the third month is called “MARCH MADNESS”—alluding to the much heralded, televised NCAA Basketball Tournament. But growing up in Clarksburg in the 1950s—particularly in those neighborhoods feeding into Washington Irving High School—for some of us, that basketball madness lasted from September through May and beyond.

Women who grew up back then may not have been aware of our masculine preoccupation. As young girls, they were preparing for and coping with the array of daily transitions of leaving girlhood behind and becoming women. Their physical appearances and hormonal levels were changing, the left and right sides of their brains integrating further, and their complex identities developing. Admittedly, the rites of passage from boy to man were much easier—requiring only that we learn three things: how to spit through a “V” formed by two fingers held in front of the mouth, how to tell jokes, and how to play basketball. In any case, most of us boys on the Hill had mastered the spitting by the age of 8—if not earlier—and the joke telling on the corner of Fifth and Wilson street by 12 or 13. (Granted, proficiency at swearing did not hurt either.) But developing our basketball skills, in no uncertain terms, was treated more as a sacred, ongoing calling and never considered fully completed.

On the Hill, we played endlessly. Speaking for myself, I’m absolutely positive that I did not study even one hour a week all the way through school. However, counting gym classes, I generally played basketball from the age of 11 for 3 or 4 hours a day or 21 to 28 hours per week during the school year and sometimes even during the summer when I hitchhiked to Maple Lake to go swimming.

But because our neighborhood adults seemed to harbor hostility towards basketball, street baskets did not stay up long. It would have been easier to operate a whiskey still out in the open than to keep a rim and backboard up. The cops or the Power Company was always tearing our baskets down. Nevertheless—we street urchins on the Hill continued to hone our skills, migrating almost daily to some outside rim, the Parish House Gym, or the Central Junior High Gym—the latter a microscopic replica of a real full-sized gym. We all chipped in pennies, nickels, or dimes for the dollar-an-hour rent.

Along the way, we played on many basketball teams. If we didn’t play for Central, we played for our homeroom teams. In the eighth grade, I got on the St. Johns Blues team in the Catholic League by being able to pronounce the polysyllabic name of the church. I was helped by the fact that my step-mother attended—the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church—and I used it correctly in a sentence a couple of times for the rightfully suspicious coach.

As previously stated, I had made the WI freshman basketball team but not the junior varsity, so I went to the Clarksburg Protestant Church League. Although not actually a gifted proselytizer during my youth, I managed to get almost 8 other guys to attend Sunday School at the St. Paul’s Methodist Church on the corner of Main and Chestnut. Dave Bell was the formidable starting center and star rebounder. Andy Hamilton, Rusty Rutan, Roger Goff, and I played forwards; and Alvin Garrett, Mack Rollins, Roy Bever, and Marty Elliott played guards. To his credit, Bever, actually the playing coach, taught me more about basketball offense in one season than I had learned all the way through junior high and high school. And Marty Elliott—whose passing skills the NBA superstar Jason Kidd later copied—was a key play maker on our team.

And now, here is the key part of the “Wonder Years” story. I remember one St. Paul’s game when our team was behind 1 point with only 10 seconds to go. My teammate Marty Elliot got fouled in the act of shooting and pretended to be knocked into the bleachers. When he struggled to pull himself up, Marty acted like he’d never walk again, let alone be able to shoot his two shots. The renowned actor Laurence Olivier himself would have been impressed with Marty’s legendary performance. And because I was the team captain, the referee said I’d have to shoot his shots.

As I said, our team was still down 1 point with only 10 seconds left. And while the ref was on the sidelines making sure my friend Marty was okay, this little guy—the captain of the other team—came up to me at the foul line and said quietly in a very concerned voice, “You know, a lot of my fans are going to yell to put pressure on you when you shoot those two shots. But that’s not where I’m coming from.”

“The way I see it . . . if you make that first shot, you’ll tie the game. And if you can make the second shot, you’ve got a chance not only to win the game . . . but to be a hero!!! Hey, that’s A LOT of pressure!!! I’m sure glad it’s you . . . and not me.” And then he calmly turned and walked away. I was so impressed with his evil pressure strategy that I literally sat the ball on the floor and actually applauded his feigned empathy.

Luckily, I made the two shots, but I never have forgotten the guy from Victory who intelligently tried to shake my concentration. He was truly my kind of guy. And I have never forgotten Marty Elliott, Dave Bell, Andy Hamilton, Rusty Rutan, Roger Goff, Alvin Garrett, Mack Rollins, and Roy Bever. No doubt each of my boyhood friends and teammates has—or had—a “Wonder Years” story of his own. Those of us ever affected by basketball madness—regardless of whether we played for a team, on the street, or at a playground—will never forget the charged intensity of being on the court, our teammates, and the sacred sound of the bouncing of the ball.

May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.

SNOW DAYS IN CLARKSBURG
submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)
Icedteadee@aol.com
I think once in a blue moon if it was really, really bad, but I don't think they were called "snow days" back then. I think there had to be a blizzard before school would be called off.

submitted by: Sharon Greitzner Dial (WI '56)
Luman4804@aol.com
Did Harrison County get snow days? Oh, yes we did!! I remember distinctly on May 10th, it was Mother's Day and it snowed so hard that it came up halfway up the windows all around the Hartland Planing Mill. Somehow, I had spent my bus money and had to walk from Stealey up town with my alpaca coat, knee high boots, which were just plain 'ole boots then, and ease my way through the snow plowed paths. I remember being a bit claustrophobic, as the drifts were much higher than I was and the paths were very narrow. I remember it being a bright sunny day and the beautiful glistening snow was an awesome site to behold.

Snow days were sled riding days and off to Lownde's Hill we'd go and sled down those hills. Boy, was that ever fun, fun, fun!!! When time was an element, Stealey hill worked just fine, too. We'd take our sleds and go from one hilly street to another. Of course, not many cars braved the roads, just us crazy kids on our sleds! Not much traffic to worry about! I've forgotten the street that Bernice Long lived on, but that street was one that was the most fun to sled ride down. Then there was Ash and it was pretty steep, too, but it led right straight onto my street at Euclid and the bus stop was right there, so we got around that by posting a guard at the bottom of the hill and that worked just fine. It was the most fun to pick up your sled and run real fast with it and then slam it to the ground and your hands were already on the steering handles and my stomach never felt a thing!! Amazing!!!

submitted by: Billie Anne Cork Clevenger (WI '52)
ElegantLady3452@aol.com
It was rare to get a "snow day" when I was in high school in the fifties - the most memorable exception was in 1950 - I think it was in November - when several feet of snow blocked the roads and there was no way school buses could get through the mess. It was quite a treat to get a few unexpected days off and we made the most of it.

HOBBIES
submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)
Icedteadee@aol.com
Right now my hobby is working on photo memory books, preserving the past as best I can. Creative Memories is a great company to find the best cutting systems and tools needed to make your albums. Back in C-burg, A.C. Moore has a really extensive scrap booking selection with lots of things to choose from. I have a small collection of mini shoes from, "If The Shoe Fits". I don't have the space or the money to invest in them, but they are really darling and I just love the styles from the 50's, 60's and 70's. A couple of the ones I have look exactly like the platforms I used to wear.

Thanks Roleta & Judy for all the great work you do on the Newsletter each Month.

submitted by: Billie Anne Cork Clevenger (WI '52)
ElegantLady3452@aol.com
I have never been a really dedicated "collector" but I do have a small collection of china bells. Also, I am a lover of lighthouses and though I didn't plan to collect them, I decorated my bathroom with lighthouse pictures and now it seems that family members are constantly giving me gifts with that theme. (not that I mind)

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR FEBRUARY
submitted by: Sara Stephenson Laber (WI '55)
aber@worldnet.att.net
I could tell by the aroma seeping from the building--it's Minard's Restaurant.
I have fond memories eating there as a child. After dinner, while our parents talked, my brother (John) and I would get restless. It was a real treat to take all the remaining bread and go to the car and listen to music until they decided to leave the restaurant.

Whenever I return for a WI reunion, a group of us still make a point to have dinner at Minard's. We were very fortunate in Clarksburg to have such fine restaurants at that time. Besides the Italian restaurant, there was the seafood restaurant, roast beef restaurant and 2 hotel restaurants, the home cooking restaurants and of course Anderson's. And, I had favorites in all of them. Well, I've made myself hungry. I think I'll head for the fridge.

submitted by: Sherry Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
Skeith1514@aol.com
It is Minard's Spaghetti Inn and it was part of everyone's life to some extent... I remember eating there with my folks, and also Melinda Mazza Sutter's dad, Hank Mazza, took us there one time. Food was always so good and the bread was always served before dinner and really too tempting to resist. Filling you up before the meal or even the salad came. When my son, now 42, was a toddler, I took him there for his first dinner out... He was loud, demanding and messy but being a family type restaurant, no one really minded and he learned how to behave when eating out....

About 1998, my husband and I were traveling through my old stomping grounds. He is from the Oak Hill area and not familiar with Clarksburg, we, too, ate there and I knew he would learn more about my town from that meal than anything or anywhere else. He loved the food, the atmosphere and the service. They did not disappoint! Minard's is a treasure!

submitted by: John Cooper (WI '51)
MYSTO99@AOL.COM
Oh yeah, MINARD's, we would go there late-all of us guys, maybe 6-or 7 at a time! I think Spaghetti was only $2 or $3 big plate full and great as it is today at a little bit higher price!

In the early 1950's, when 5 and 10 cent variety store, Woolworth, was going out of business in Clarksburg. I went to the store and noticed the big section of lead soldiers, the Indians and cowboys, all 10 cents and Indians and cowboys on horses were 15 cents each. I thought, if Woolworth's are going out of business, I bet these lead figures will be worth something some day. Then I thought why do I need all of these, as I was going to buy every one of them and I already had a prized dozen from my childhood days! --So, I left the store but returned 3-days later again determined to buy the whole collection but, they were gone, everyone of them! I asked the clerk what happened to the lead toy figures. She said, "the district manager in Pittsburgh re-called all of them, and we had to ship them back to him at his district office in Pittsburgh a couple days ago!"-- --(Oh sure!)----

And yep, we had three "5-and-10 cent-Stores" at the same time in the 30's-40's in downtown Clarksburg, Woolworth, McCrory, and Murphy that was managed the best of them all by "Pappy" Flynn. That awful Sunday, December, 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor that caused the drafting of many Harrison County lads, and many of them never came back from WW2. The attack on Pearl Harbor upset everyone (and I mean everyone) and also meant that every toy and trinket and item that the G.C.Murphy store was selling that had "Made in Japan" on it was tossed out in the waste pile behind the store in Trader's Alley by Manager Flynn. It was very patriotic, and literally a gold mine for the kids. How many of these (collector's) items did you get and yet have today?

I remember WBLK was over the Robinson Grand Theatre Building, with it's tower over in Glen Elk #2 where a micro-wave tower now stands. At WBLK-Charley Snowden was a sensational sports-announcer and coined the word "snowbird" in sports-- as a basketball player was coming in for a lay-up and would glide in toward the basket..."and he came in beautiful like a "snowbird" and dunked that one for a Big score!" I worked with Don McQuarter (sic?) in broadcasting, a good guy and he was also a great musician who played in local bands.

submitted by: Bob White (WI '72)
Rwhite@djs.state.wv.us
The picture is of Minard's Spaghetti Inn on East Pike Street. I remember on my 16th birthday, my parents and sister took me there as part of the celebration. Of course, I spilled a dot of sauce on my shirt with the very last bite. Later came the cake and ice cream at home with my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents to complete a great day.

We used to get a lot of to-go orders from the kitchen (their take-out waiting area then) which was next to the fence by the railroad tracks. I remember one time seeing Joe Minard dip a ladle with a little sauce in it into a boiling pan of pasta, which also was noticed by one of his workers. The employee mentioned this to him and Mr. Minard said it's good luck to put a little sauce in the noodles. Whether it is or not, that stuck with me and 35 or 40 years later, I do it each time I make spaghetti.

They still use the same jingle in their advertising "YOU OWE YOURSELF AN EVENING AT MINARD'S SPAGHETTI INN" (circa--the 1960's)

We still eat there with friends from out church and I still have trouble splashing that last bite of sauce. I guess that is why they make Dawn detergent for pre-wash.

submitted by: Chris Wyatt (WI '71)
cwyatt@access.k12.wv.us
The mystery picture for February is Minard's Spaghetti Inn. I remember going to Minard's for birthday parties. Our friends parents would take the birthday party goers to Minard's and feed us. Sometimes we would then go up to Compton's Lanes and bowl. Of course, Dad and Mom would take us there for family dinner occasionally. I really like their ravioli and manicotti. When I married my wonderful wife, Debbie from Job WV, (a mile up from Mike Snyder), one of the first restaurants my father wanted to take her to was Minard's. This is a Clarksburg institution.

submitted by: Bryan McIntyre (WI '65)
bmcintyre@ec.rr.com
It's Minard's Spaghetti Inn, the restaurant that my family always went to on special occasions. At the time it was too "upscale" (expensive) to go to on a regular basis. One Minard's memory was when the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars came to the Nathan Goff Armory in the Spring of 1965 sponsored by WHAR Radio. As a weekend d.j. I was invited to go to the dinner with the rock music performers at Minard's. Al (Newton) Cox, the WHAR program director, actually paid for the dinner, later saying that they "ate up all the profit". Bobby Goldsboro , Brian Hyland, the Ronnettes, Chad and Jeremy and Dobie Gray were the head liners. During the meal Gary Lewis (of Gary Lewis and the Playboys - Jerry Lewis' son) got a call from a radio station in Australia for an interview. Bobby Goldsboro was also a ventriloquist. As people cut into their food (probably those huge meatballs) it would cry out "ouch!"

submitted by: Shari Josephs Collins (WI '65)
Shari@ohaflcio.org
I recognized this restaurant immediately. Our family ate dinner at Minards practically every weekend. I even remember my favorite dish to order was Vermicelli with meat and mushroom sauce--my favorite. No matter if it was a Saturday or Sunday evening, you would know more than half of the other customers eating dinner there. At our last high school reunion, a few of us went there to eat again. It didn't taste as good as I remembered it to be (sorry Mindard family) but the memories haven't changed.

submitted by: Linda Spelsberg Wolfe (WI '58)
Wolfopolis@aol.com
That building is Minard's Restaurant on Pike Street. I have wonderful memories of their great salad and spaghetti. When we get to Clarksburg, we still go at least once to enjoy the atmosphere and food. Though I have to say it's not as good as it was when I was a kid, or is that old age talking. We used to get take out and my sister Carolyn and I would eat at least one salad on the way home, got to the point Dad would order extra salads. Great place.

submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)
IcedTeaDee@aol.com
This picture is Minard's Spaghetti Inn on Pike Street, in Kelly Hill. The restaurant is owned by the Minard family. One of their daughters, Cookie Minard, was my sister Anita's best friend. They went to St. Mary's and graduated in 1952. Cookie (Constance Marra), passed away a few years ago. I've got a lot of pictures with great memories of family gatherings and parties we celebrated there.

submitted by: Debbie Sharpe Fisher (WI '74)
Fish6564@bellsouth.net
Easy picture this month. Minards has changed some over the years but unless they tear it down and start over I will always easily recognize it. I was brought up on their spaghetti, lasagna, Bit O' Italy and especially the bread. When I was young I loved when my Mom would send my father and me over for take-out. Back then you just went into the kitchen area to pick up your order. I always loved to see them cooking all the great food. I forgot to mention the salad. When I was really little I used to eat the bread from the inside out leaving the crust. I guess my teeth couldn't handle it. That's my favorite part now. Very rarely do I go home and not have something from Minard's or go there for lunch or dinner. I tell people that they don't know Italian food until they've eaten at Minard's. My parents have always been friends with the Minard family. It helped me to feel really special to go there and everyone knew me. Kind of like "Cheers".

I also wanted to mention the Precious Child picture for January. I never made it through the Jan. letter so I didn't see it. I'm guessing that no one knew who it was since you didn't print any responses. I know her as Bonnie McGowan. I was told that Bonnie doesn't have a computer so I'm guessing she doesn't read this but I wanted to say what a special person she is to me. I took dancing from Bonnie for more years than I can remember. She was always someone I could talk to. I used to show up on her doorstep and she would always invite me in. I know now how really terrific it was of her to let me get away with that. She would listen to me for hours. I'm not even sure now what we talked about but I know I always felt better afterwards. Bonnie will always hold a very special place in my heart, so does her husband Mickey. He always made me laugh. I know that I'm a better person because of Bonnie's influence on my life. Thanks for letting me share and if anyone happens to talk to her please tell her I said Hi!

submitted by: Marcia Lynne Fox Schatz (WI '63)
LSchatz@CROWN-CHICAGO.com
Ah, Minard's Restaurant! SOOO many memories of Minard's. A big treat was a summer evening when it was too hot to cook, and we ordered take-out from Minard's - the big decision was how many meatballs to order with the spaghetti. The salads were great and the bread and... When I was a child, the sauce was too spicy for me but delicious enough to be worth the heat. When I was last in Clarksburg, a little over 18 years ago, to sell my late mother's house, I HAD to have at least one dinner at Minard's. It was so strange to find the sauce not the least bit spicy - still good, of course. I could not begin to count the number of times I either ate at Minard's or had take-out from there.

The day my husband, son and I drove away from Clarksburg, it had been raining heavily and continued to do so. On our return to Chicago, we learned that Clarksburg was having a "100-year" flood.

submitted by: Bob Hall (WI '56)
Rhall9171@charter.net
Not sure of the place but Minards spaghetti was in the curve coming into town that had a concrete barricade like the picture. If the picture is Minard's then 100 yds to the left is where I caught the bus to town for all of my grade-school years. We lived in the mining camp behind the restaurant and across the tracks (P.K.) Moved out to Nutter Fort area during the 7th or 8th grade. During grade school we walked on the other side of the tracks to Linden Grade School. I thought it was several miles but probably 1/2 to 3/4 mile. We weren't barefooted either!

submitted by: Marylou Strosnider Marshall (Parkersburg HS '64)
CAT1211WOMAN@aol.com
I believe that the mystery picture is of Minard's. I have many happy memories of that restaurant. It seemed that a lot of our celebrating was done there. My mother and stepfather had their wedding reception there, the marriage didn't last but the memories of the spaghetti have. Several restaurants in Clarksburg and surrounding area served Italian meals but none were as good as Minard's Spaghetti Inn.

submitted by: David Noe (WI '65)
DBN4par@aol.com
This month's Pix of the Month is the Minard's Spaghetti House. My one vivid memory of the place is that it served as the reception site for my dearly beloved grandmother's funeral, Constance Veltri Madia. My "Grandma" had 14 children, 3 sets of twins (2 sets died during childbirth) and another son, Johnny, who died at age 9 of influenza. In all, twin boys, and 7 girls. Quite a family.

My Grandfather worked in the coal mines where the pay was meager, thus they never had much all of their life except their love for their children and grandchildren. In addition to that was their small house and garden adjoining in North View. During her later years, my Grandma somehow saved enough money and had it written into her will to have this family reception at Minard's, courtesy of her. It was a meal I will never forget. She was a person I will never forget. Every time I'd see her, she'd stick a $1 in my pocket and say, "Go see a movie ! ".

submitted by: Nancy Kirkpatrick Gaines (WI '50)
Nanielee@aol.com
The picture has to be Minards. It is still my favorite place to eat.
I also wanted to tell your husband, (this isn't for the paper.) Seeing that he is from Monongah and I live in Fairmont. He had mentioned Jim Feltz. I wanted him to know I worked for Mr. Feltz as his secretary at Miller Jr. High School until his death. He was a wonderful man.

submitted by: Sonny Talkington (WI '57)
and Judy Talkington (WI '64)
Sonny57talking@aol.com
The picture is Minard's Spahgetti Inn. The picture may have been taken in the 1950s as there was a lot of changes made in the structure later. It is located on Old Rt. 50. Judy's grandmother was a cook there for many years and her mother and sisters were waitresses there. Grandmother is 99 years old and will celebrate the big 100 in April

submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
WaynePawco@aol.com
This is the Minard's Spaghetti Inn located on Rt. 50 off the Joyce Street exit in Clarksburg. This restaurant has been famous for it's Italian food since 1937. It is a landmark in the Clarksburg area. The addition on the left side of the picture was done as the original house was the first restaurant. Joe Minard was one of our WV Senators and is now seeking election in the up coming election. They have great Italian food, lasagna, fettucini, manicotti and the original spaghetti, which is sold, in the frozen food section of some stores.

submitted by: Diana Cleavenger Swiger (WI '66)
MaMaSwag6@aol.com
The food is wonderful. Thanks for the newsletter every month. I just don't know how it could be any better.

submitted by: Babe Bisping Cashman (WI '56)
scashman@ucnsb.net
The picture is Minard's Spaghetti Inn. Minard's was one of those places that we all saved our money to be able to go to on some special occasion. Back in the '50's, we didn't get to go out to eat very often, so when we did it became a very special event. It's fun to go back now and still be able to go to some of the same places.

Keep up the good work guys! We all commend you for your exceptional efforts. Any one of us who take the time to read the WI newsletter really do appreciate you and your huge staff!!!

submitted by: Jayne Rose Ross (WI '57)
Jynbilross@aol.com
I tell folks that Minard's Italian restaurant was our family's first "carry-out restaurant experience. Years ago I would take my Mom's aluminum pans to the back door of Minard's and them filled with their wonderful sauce and spaghetti. My mother was a very good friend with Agnes Minard. I was also a friend of her daughter, Joy and I always enjoy visiting Minard's when we are passing through town. My husband and I still think Minard's is the standard for Italian food. My personal favorite is the "double salad" while Bill thinks their cheese steak sub's are even better than Twin Oaks.

submitted by: John Harrison (WI '56)
johnh@teays.net
The trivia picture for February has to be Minard's Spaghetti Inn. I was in there not long ago and believe me, the food has only gotten better. I had the all you can eat spaghetti and meatballs. I only wish I could have eaten more. Thanks for the reminder.

submitted by: Harriett Danley Van Voorhis (WI '58)
Bill.VanVoorhis@mail.wvu.edu
Hi Roleta!
If I'm not mistaken, the trivia picture for the month is Minard's. I have wonderful memories of that place, both before and after, it was remodeled. For every special occasion, (birthdays, baptisms, etc.), my family got dressed up and went to Minard's. I think most of Clarksburg did! Since my mother did not cook spaghetti at home, I am free to say that Minard's spaghetti and Italian salad dressing was and still is the BEST!!!

Also, I had to write to say that I'm sorry I didn't recognize last month's "Precious Child" picture as Bonnie Smith McGowan. Bonnie and I were cheerleaders at W.I. together. We had so much fun and shared lots of joy and sadness over our football and basketball teams' wins and losses! Bonnie was a terrific girl and a very dear friend! I still think of her that way, even though we have only seen each other a few times over the years.

May your pockets be heavy.
And your heart be light.
May good luck pursue you.
Each morning and night.

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR MARCH

Can you recognize this picture? Send your guesses to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember your incorrect guess will not be published and correct guesses which don't include a memory will not be included. This is due to space.

THE RING
submitted by: Jan Gipson of Texas
Walla333@aol.com
Hi...thanks for all your research...I'm saddened by this news somehow even though I didn't know Ruth personally. I have worn her ring this year and felt a connection to her. The ring fits me perfectly. Interesting, the photo that you sent was from the year that I was born. I would loved to have seen her face when I returned the ring to her. I'll continue to search for her family to return the ring to them. Do you know where she was buried? If I cannot find them, maybe I'll just continue to wear the ring. I find this so interesting because Washington Irving is my favorite author. I have a book of his that is very historical. I've had the book for many years, it is a first edition of Sketch Book which was written in 1820. For years I've wanted to travel up the Hudson River in New York to his home place. That is really why I thought the ring was from the New York high school. It seems he was also a cherished author in West Virginia. I will travel to West Virginia someday. I have become acquainted with all of you through your newsletters. Thanks to you all. God Bless you in the reviving of your wonderful town through your love and memories. If you should run across anything further about Ruth and her family, please let me know. Through prayers and love of people here in Fort Worth, our city was revived years ago. We had many buildings that were in disrepair, all are being restored with new buildings. There have been some added in a similar architectural style to blend with the old. It just takes love to do this.

Thank you again...Jan

NEW ADDRESS

Barbara Sinsel Cunningham (WI '48)	speartwin@hotmail.com
Frank McDonald (WI '58)	Mcdjeep@aol.com
Tracie Mayes Wood ('83)	traciew@earthlink.net
Gladys Kaye McCall (WI '63)	grameez6@aol.com
George W. Scholl (WI '52)	georgegin@juno.com
Pasco Altovilla (WI '61)	paltovilla@dot.state.wv.us
Sue Shaffer Lancaster (NDHS '65)	sue_lancaster@hotmail.com
Sam White (WI '53)	jimbokodak@comcast.net
Pat Hardman Nicholson (WI '56)	hwnpan@prodigy.net

CHANGE OF ADDRESS
Linda Deturk Jones (WI '60)
Now: deturque@msn.com

Martin Danley (WI '73)
Now: rcrdan@verizon.net

Sallie Holden Day (WI '59)
Was: Breakers122@aol.com
Now: breakers122@earthlink.net

Connie Bailey Casto (WI '59)
Now: Castoca@earthlink.net

Charlie David (WI '59)
Now: bumper18@verizon.net

Cheryll "Sherri" (Gill) Rasmussen Hallock (WI '59)
Now: mom8941@casco.net

Elizabeth Swiger Layton (WI '61)
Now: EKL120@AOL.COM

FOOTBALL TEAM IN CLARKSBURG
submitted by: Pasco Altovilla (WI '61)
Paltovilla@dot.state.wv.us

You asked if Clarksburg ever had a pro football team. Well in 1977 they had a semi-pro team called the Clarksburg-Bridgeport Red Raiders. They played their home games at Bridgeprt High School Athletic Field. There were several WVU grads on the team:, Bernie Galiffa was the QB, other players from WVU were Dwayne Woods, John Schell, Marshall Mills, John Lopez, Mike Michael, Kerry Marbury, Brian Chiles, Billy Jo Mantooth, Doug Ox Steevens, Steve Early, Chris Yanero, Chuck Smith, Bernie Kirchner, Nate Stephens, and John Tree Adams. They won 9 games lost 2. Played their last game of the season in Columbus, Ohio against the Columbus Stingers (who they beat earlier in the season 26-14) and got crushed. Several key players were hurt, including Bernie Galiffa. Cliff Jones coached the team. There were a few Clarksburg boys on the team, the ones I remember are: Eddie Reynolds, Bill Bishop, Joe Rymasz, and Guy Curotz. The cheerleaders were: Paula Snyder, Liz Stanton, Patty Watkins, Robin Wilson, Priscilla Sandefur, Mary Kay Manchin, and Becky Taylor. The reason I remember all this is because my family and I prepared the hot dogs and my wife and I worked in the concession stand. The following year we opened Hillbilly Hot Dogs, on East Pike Street, formally Roots Grill. I've got a team picture and another picture from the program that I will send you in a few days.

OBITUTARIES

HELEN LOUISE THOMAS WOLFE
Helen Louise Thomas Wolfe, 69, of Woodbridge, Va. died Tuesday, January 27, 2004, at her residence after seven years of fighting cancer. Her husband, Junior E. Wolfe preceded her in death.

She was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, class of 1952. Surviving are two daughters, Cheryl Wolfe Carpenter of Spotsylvania, Va., and Kim Wolfe of Woodbridge; a son and daughter-in-law, Timothy Lee and Diane Wolfe of Woodbridge; one sister, Cora B. Everette, Potomac, Md,; one brother, Francis Wesley Thomas of Pinehurts, N.C.; six grandchildren. Helen had been a resident of the area since 1964 and retired from Universal Dynamics after 26 years.

For more information, please contact -- Carol Tomes Cassidy, Washington Irving class of 1952 at mommocas@atc-pa.com. She has the addresses for anyone wanting to make contributions, or condolences.

KENNETH SNIDER
Kenneth Snider, age 79 of Fredericksburg, VA and formerly of Bridgeport and Clarksburg, WV died February 10 in the Carriage Hill Nursing Center. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth H. snider. Surviving are three daughters, Linda, Barbara and Kathryn. He was a graduate of Washington Irving High School. He worked with Southern States Cooperative before retiring with almost 40 years of service. The obituary excerpts are from The Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram. Thanks.

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