THE WI NEWSLETTER 03/05

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 67

March 2005

CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith
Roleta1@aol.com
The annual picnic was another wonderful event this year. The weather was beautiful and the attendance was great too. Again the food was terrific as is always expected when we experience those great “WV HOTDOGS” with the chili sauce made by Sue Ellen Stalnaker Crawford and her helpers. This year we had 3 raffle prizes: a blue and white stained glass hanging lamp (Tiffany style) with the WV logo in gold on several of the blue panels, a wood clock shaped like the state of WV both GIFTS donated by Bill and Roleta Meredith. A basket with blue trim and shaped to carry 2 bottles of wine was made and donated by Sheri Gretzner Dial (WI 1956). All proceeds from the raffle were for the benefit of the WIN SCHOLARSHIP. The raffle earned $318.00 in raffle tickets and there was $300.00 in direct cash and check donations to the scholarship at the picnic. Thus due to the picnic there will be another $618.00 added to the WIN Scholarship.

Several people jumped in and helped me this year and I had some time to visit with old and new friends. A big thank you to all who helped.

I hope all who attended the annual event had a good time visiting with others from Clarksburg and I hope you all return next year and bring a friend. Remember the picnic is scheduled for March 4, 2006…..the first Saturday in March.

Those who registered at the picnic were:

NAME	SCHOOL/YEAR	EMAIL ADDRESS
ALLEN, ALBERTA MALFREGOT	WI 1953
ALLEN, BEVERLY
ALLEN, DALE	VHS
ALLEN, TOM	WI 1957	DTA23@YAHOO.COM
ALTMAN, BILL	BRIDGEPORT 1956	SGALTMAN@aol.com
ALTMAN, SALLY GAINER	BRIDGEPORT 1958
BAUER, DOT
BAUER, GREG
BEALL, BOO	ND 1958	BBEALL@BUGGS.NET
BERGER, BILL	WI 1960	bbaa@mindspring.com
BLANKENSHIP, NELSON	WI 1949
BOOMER, JOE	WI 1954	JBOOMER@BELLSOUTH.NET
BRASSINE, BILL	WI 1954	BRASSINEW@AOL.COM
BRASSINE, CAROL
BROWN, JIM	WI 1957	JB1OBX@AOL.COM
BROWN, PAM
BRYAN, BILL	RW 1957
BRYANT, PEGGY LOVE	RW 1956
CARROLL, ESTER CARVELL
CASHMAN, BABE BISPING	WI 1956	SCASHMAN@UCNSB.NET
CASHMAN, STU
CASTELLANA, AL	ST.MARYS 1950
CASTELLANA, JEAN	WI 1952
CASTELLANA, RUTH ANN	WI 1988
CASTO, DICK
CASTO, CONNIE BAILEY	WI 1959
CHARLES, JOE	BRIDGEPORT 1955
CHARLES, BARB		CHARLESBARBJO@AOL.COM
CHIPPS, CHLOE ANN EVANS	WI 1951
CHIPPS, JACK	VHS 1950
CHRISTENSEN, CHERYL
CHRISTENSEN, DON
CHRISTENSEN, LIZ CARVELL	SHINNSTON 1951
CINCI, DON	WI 1956	DONCINCI@AOL.COM
CLINE, PAUL	WI 1951
CLINE, DIANA
CLOUSSON, BOB	WI 1955	BOBDARCLO@YAHOO.COM
CLOUSSON, DARLENE
COHEN, BERNIE	WI 1956
COHEN, LAJUNE
COLLINS, BUD	WI 1955	KEMils@aol.com
COLLINS, KAY
CORBETT, ANNE HARTER	WI 1957	RCORBETT@TAMPABAY.RR.COM
CORBETT, ROBERT
CORDER, LYNN	RW 1954
CORDER, JENA MOODISPAUGH	RW 1957
CRAWFORD, SUE ELLEN STALNAKER	WI 1971
CROSS, SALLY
DAVIS, CLARA JASON	WI 1959	CLARAANDJIM@AOL.COM
DAVIS, JIM
DEAN, CAROL VANHORN	WI 1958	DBLU2@AOL.COM
DEAN, ROGER	RW 1956
DENNISON, BOB	WI 1957
DENNISON, CAROLYN S.	FAIRMONT ‘64
DENNISON, VIVIAN
DIAL, LU
DIAL, SHERRI GREITZNER	WI 1956
DONATO, MARY ANN BAILY	WI 1956	MMADONATO@YAHOO.COM
DONATO, MIKE
DRUMMOND, MICKEY	WI 1959	KATO@CLASICNET.COM (Morgan,Cent/WI)
DUTCHESS, ERNISTINE
ELLIOTT, MARTY	WI 1957
ELLIOTT, RUSTY		RELL904@BELLSOUTH.NET
FELDMAN, ROY	WI 1956
FELDMAN, ELLEN
FLEMING, SHARON ASHCROFT	VHS 1963
FLEMING, TERRY	VHS 1963	TSFLEMING@aldelphia.com
FLEMING’S FRIEND	VHS 1970
FOWLER, BECKY STALNAKER	WI 1960
FOWLER, BILL	WI 1959	WLIFRAF5@AOL.COM
FRUSH, DICK	WI 1959
FRUSH, KAREN	WI 1963
GODFREY, KEN
GODFREY, MARY JO MARCHIO	WI 1960	GODFREYM@BREVARD.K12.FL.US
GRIFFITH, CRAIG	WI 1966
HALL, BETTY ALISTOCK	SJHS 1959
HALL, BOB	WI 1956
HALL, ALICE WALKER	BRIDGEPORT
HALL, JENNIFER
HAYES, JUDY MICHIE	WI 1951
HELTON, SHARON HICKMAN	LIBERTY 1978
HUTSON, ANNABELLE LETT	WI 1960
HUTSON, DAVE	WI 1957	ABELLEHUTSON@JUNO.COM
JACOBSON, SHARON WENDLER	WI 1960	SMJHOME@NETACS.NET
JACOBSON, STEVE
JENNINGS, BETTY
JENNINGS, BOB		FORMER PASTOR AT NUTTERFORT
JETT, JOHN help
JETT, MAROLYN TUSTIN help	WI 1956	MA5388@EARTHLINK.NET
KESSLER, MARTHA KINNEY	WI 1958	MKIKESSLER@AOL.COM
KINNEY, JUNE
KINNEY, LAWRENCE	WI 1951	DKINNEY@DNET.NET
LABER, SARA STEPHENSON	WI 1955	laber@worldnet.att.net
LANTZ, BEVERLY FELTS	WI 1960	BEVNMAX@IOLINC.NET
LANTZ, MAX	WI 1959
LARIMER, DAVE	WI 1950	Bradenton, Florida
LARIMER, JANET
LEE, MARILYN HURST	WI 1962	TEL3@AOL.COM
LEE, TOM	WI 1958
LINDKE, ALBERT
LINDKE, SANDY ZICKEFOOSE	WI 1956	ASLINDKE@WORLDNET.ATT.NET
LOVE, PEGGY
LOVE, RON	RW 1954
MALGREGOT, AUGIE	WI 1956	ADMASA@ONEARROW.NET
MALONE, JOHN	RW 1951
MALONE, PANSY	DHS 1957
MANCINA, CATHERINE, TIANO	WI 1952
MANCINA, JOE	VHS 1951
MARTIN, KATHLEEN BLANKINSHIP	WI 1939
MATHENY, OTTO	VHS 1953
MC CAULEY, BILL	SHINNSTON 1952
MCCAULEY, PATTY	SHINNSTON 1957
MCFARLIN, JOHN	WI 1960
MCFARLIN, GINNY		John.mcfarlin@nrtinc.com
MCGEE, JACK
MCGEE, ROSE	WI 1965	ROJAC432@AOL.COM
MCHENRY, BERNICE KING	WI 1952	BERNICEMCHENRY@AOL.COM
MCHENRY, RON	PINE GROVE
MEANS, BARRY
MEANS, CHARLIE	WI 1950	CMEANS@CFL.RR.COM
MEANS, MARCIE
MEREDITH, BILL	MONONGAH	BILLMERE@AOL.COM
MEREDITH, ROLETA	WI 1959	ROLETA1@AOL.COM
MILLER, BETTY BEVERLIN	WI 1948	BETTS08@VERIZON.NET
MILLER, MARVIN	WI 1945
MOORE, DAVE
MOORE, VICKI LIMBERS	WI 1967	VnDmoore@aol.com
NELSON, KAREN MARRA	ND 1964	NELSON610@AOL.COM
NESSELROTTE, NANCY
NESSELROTTE, KEN	RW 1956	KENNAN38@COMCAST.NET
NIXON, KEITH	WI 1965
NIXON, PATTY	WI 1965
OGREN, RON	WI 1950	RNOGREN@AOL.COM
OGREN, SHARON
OLIVERIO, CLAIRE
OLIVERIO, JIM	ND 1962
PANSING, HARRIETT MURPHY	WI 1957	HPANSING@EARTHLINK.NET
RECTOR, BOB	WI 1959	BCRECTOR@COMCAST.NET
RECTOR, CAROLYN	WI 1959
RICE, MARTHA JEFFRIES	WI 1956	LONOMA@AOL.COM
RODKEY, DON
SAGER, DON	WI 1956	DKS@DAVTV.COM
SCHOLL, BILL	WI 1952	GEORGEGIN@JUNO.COM
SCHOLL, VIRGINIA	WESTON 1953	GEORGENGIN@JUNO.COM
SCHELLENBERG, FRED
SCHELLENBERG, KITTY		Freddyskitty45@aol.com
SCHWARTZ, MERE GURSON	WI 1957	MARMER1@COMCAST.NET
SCHWARTZ, MARTIN	BROOKLYN
SCOLAPIO, JIM		WI HS PRINCIPAL 1982
SCOLAPIO, JULIANA	VHS 1954
SCOLAPIO, SAM	VHS 1949
SHARP, JAY	WI 1959	JSHARP@SWFLA.RR.COM
SHIELDS, CAROLYN RAND		CAROLYNMALONESHIELDS @YAHOO.COM
SHIELDS, MARANO	WI 1961
SINGLETON, ARGYLE	VHS 1949	AFSPAS@AOL.COM
SINGLETON, PATTY	VHS 1950
SMITH, SHARON DILLMORE	WI 1958
SMITH, SKIP	WI 1958	SHANANGELS@AOL.COM
SPAGNUOLO, CAROLYN BURNETTI	ND 1962	CSPAG315@AOL.COM
SPAGNUOLO, MANUEL	SHINNSTON 1946
SPAGNUOLO, MARY LOU	SHINNSTON
SPAHR, MARYSUE CLARK	WI 1956	MSSPAHR@AOL.COM
SPAHR, PHIL
STERN, BILL
STERN, NORMA SIMON	VHS 1950	NSTERN@TAMPABAY.RR.COM
STEVENSON, DANIEL
STEVENSON, LINDA BLANKENSHIP	WI 1959
STICKLER, BILL	WI 1953	STICKLERB@AOL.COM
STICKLER, SANDY
SUAREZ, FLOYD	BRIDGEPORT 1949
SUAREZ, PATTY OLIVERIO	VHS 1954
SWITZER, SONDRA	WI 1955	SONDU@AOL.COM
TALKINGTON, COURTNEY ANN
TALKINGTON, RON	WI 1954	RONTALK@JUNO.COM
TERNUS, ED	ND 1957
TERNUS, MARGE
TOOTHMAN, BARBARA	VHS 1955
TOOTHMAN, DAVID	VHS 1956
TUSTIN, LIZ
TUSTIN, BUCK	WI 1955
VAN DEVENDER, SHARON	WI 1960
VAN DEVENDER, PHIL	WI 1959
VITOLO, CAROLYN TUSTIN	WI 1952	CAROVIT@MSN.COM
WARBLAK, MARIANNA	WI 1956	MARIANNAW2001@YAHOO.COM
WATSON, ANGIE
WATSON, BOB
WINERMAN, GERRY	WI 1953	Ella Grace Spears
WINERMAN, JERRY	WI 1957	GERJERRY@EARTHLINNK.NET
WILLIAMS, RONNIE	VHS 1950
WILLIAMS, SOFIA
WRIGHT, GUY	WI 1950	GUYWRIGHT@WEBTV.NET
WRIGHT, LIBBY BRAMHAM	WI 1952

This is a picture of a few of the people at the picnic who were in line for food! The weather was great, the people were happy and the food was terrific.

TRAVEL DOWN MEMORY LANE!
Visit this website---wait until the music starts…The Statler Brothers sing—“Ah, Do You Remember These” and you can scan through pictures to remind you of all the things they mention in their songs. Click on this hyperlink or type it into your web browser: http://www.singingman.us/DYR.htm

Thanks Jay!

NEWSPAPER ROUTES
submitted by: Joe Malone (WI '52)
jmalone934@sbcglobal.net
When I was in Carlisle, much too young (but big enough) to have a paper route, I subcontracted from my older brother, Bob, who had a 180 paper, afternoon route. It roughly covered Maple, Clay, Carr, Elm St and environs. He gave me the Carr Ave - Elm Street part because the Reiser brothers (St. Mary's boys) controlled Elm Street and they intimidated (harassed?) him. (For some reason, they never bothered me. I had the Taylor brothers in my camp). The bundles were delivered after school to Carlisle each day, except for Sunday. Sunday, you will recall was a single combined edition delivered in the morning. Lordy, Lordy, do I remember those cold mornings trudging down to Hewes Street to pick those babies up somewhere between 4-6 AM?

My brother was three years older than I was (in Central?) and “many was the time” I got to deliver all 180 papers. The good news was, as you so aptly pointed out, I was never "richer" in my life. Except for a few customers who paid monthly to the newspaper office, it was a cash collection business. Door-to-door for nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars, whatever. I recall having $20 bills stuffed in my private cigar box - in elementary school! No expenses. No overhead. No taxes. A pure revenue stream! Never since have I been so independent of responsibility and relatively cash rich. I could (and did) buy any damn thing I wanted and if I thought my parents would disapprove, I bought it anyway and hid it. (22 rifle and shells?) I've told this story over and over again until my sons are sick of it. Now, my grandchildren get to hear it. And it gets better with every telling.

Charlie Hart, one of my classmates, who also was a customer living on Carr Ave. You may recall his dad owned a machine shop out in Annmore (Broadway?) Charlie's dad had built him a go-cart powered by a Briggs-Stratton gas engine. A really sweet piece of work! Occasionally, Charlie would haul me around my paper route on the back of his go-cart while I tossed papers on porches. I also frequented the bakery on Main Street, mostly on Sunday mornings on the way home. If you recall, we were allowed to sell any "extras" on the street. Pure profit (and non-reportable to my brother)!

Thanks for bringing back those memories and validating (for my kids) these wilds tales I tell. I'm sending a copy of this to Roleta, not for publication, but because I think she enjoys a good story and likes to hear that her efforts pay off in these kinds of emails.

submitted by: George (Bill) Scholl (WI '52)
georgegin@juno.com
Yes, I was one of those who delivered the papers. I remember very well the day in seventh grade, when a friend opened the door to the class room and said that the principal wanted to see me in the office. I was dumbfounded and could not think of anything I had done that would get me called to the office.

Any way, there was a man from the Exponent there looking for someone to take a morning route in Broad Oaks. I was already carrying the weekly Clarksburg News. I gave up the weekly then and started with the daily. My brother, Jerry, WI '54, deceased '55, each carried half the route. About a year and a half later, when James Binnegar contracted Polio, I took half of his Telegram route. My brother and I carried both routes until I graduated and went to the service. Jerry unloaded at least one route quickly. I have no idea who took over the routes.

Probably the toughest time delivering was the 1950 Thanksgiving snow storm. We never missed a delivery, but that Saturday morning we did not get started until noon when the bundles were delivered to us. At times, I wondered if I would be able to complete the route, or if I would get stuck in a snow bank as I was criss crossing the streets, and hoped someone would find me. Well, that did not happen and I finished the route without an incident.

I still feel that carrying the papers was very good experience for a Junior High and High School boy. It taught you a lot about people and how to handle money. I can still spend it fast to this day.

submitted by: Dave Kulina (WI '61)
kulina@mteer.com
I delivered papers to the 1st Street; Gore Street; School Street area around 1953 prior to the expressway construction. The expressway construction took a large number of the homes in School Street neighborhood area. I had 108 customers and delivered the afternoon and Sunday paper, I think it was called the Clarksburg Telegram.

I had to collect from all my customers every Saturday morning. One of my customers was a brothel, as I was told by the neighbors since I was only 10 years old at the time and didn't know the difference. On collection day the lady in charge would come to the door and promptly pay me, some of my customers were always not as prompt in paying their bills. She was always very polite to me and gave me a "nickel tip" which I thought was very nice of her. She was always neat in appearance, blond hair and wore a silk bathrobe to the door. She was my favorite customer.

Some of my customers were school teachers from Kelly Miller High School. They were always very courteous and were prompt payers. I also had a dentist, pastors and railroad porters as customers along with the "colored Elks Club". That area was a vibrant neighborhood back then and a safe, stable neighborhood.

submitted by: Jack Emrick (WI '53)
Cadilacjak54@aol.com
I never really had a route of my own, but my childhood friend Bob Bramham WI 53 had two different routes, and I would sometimes help him on them. His first route was a Telegram route (evening) and started at the corner of Main-Monticello and went out Monticello Ave. It took in Virginia Ave, Maple Ave, Clay St., Webster St, Jefferson and Lincoln Streets, Thompson and Denham Sts, Anderson, Maude, and all the area along the Elk Creek on the river side of Monticello, and across the swinging bridge to Water Street and all of that area (lower Washington Ave, Jarvis Street, etc) and over the Haymond Hwy. bridge and Harrison St, Ocello, Tyler, Vermont, Howard, back across the bridge (Goff Plaza), Elm, Carr, and Despard Sts and Main St (Quality Hill). Wow.

I think that he had about 153 Dailys, and something like 135 Sundays. I know that on Wednesdays and Thursdays they would drop the papers at two or three locations. It was all that two of us could do to get them delivered, and he did it most of the time by himself. I worked the route a couple of times when he was on vacation, and I don't think that I could have handled it on a full time basis. His second route was an Exponent (Morning) route. It was in much the same area, but was a little smaller and had some other streets, while losing some other streets from the afternoon route.

It was truly a kinder, gentler era and I know that people would sometimes take a paper out of the bundles and you would find the money lying on top of the bundle. He had a lot of the black community on that first route, and they were only able to find work as hotel staff, elevator operators, sanitary engineers (garbage men) and other work of that type which did not pay very much, but they were always good payers for the most part, and always gave him a gift at Christmas time. I think that the Wednesday and Thursday papers were the biggest back then---even bigger than the Sunday paper. It was hard work, but it was kind of neat to do, because you got to meet all kinds of folks

WIN SCHOLARSHIP
I am sure all of you know the purpose of me begging each month for donations. It is to try to encourage all of you to donate to the WIN scholarship which I set up one year ago at the 2004 picnic. I gave the entire picnic treasury to the fund to kick off the campaign! I have received donations from about 10% of the readers. I hope this year another 10% will be so generous. As I have stated before, this is a passion of mine and I will not stop until we have 100% of you donating something to the fund. I want all of you to be a part asking for donations as this is a wonderful endeavor where we can all come together for one purpose and make a difference in some person’s life. This April (just 13 months after I started the fund) we are able to award $500.00 to two different students from Clarksburg. I hope that we will be able to do the same if not more in the coming years. So remember, give a little or give a lot….it makes no difference. I will never reveal the amount of each person’s individual gift. Each dollar is important and each one goes into the same bank account. Alone our money would not stretch far but together WE CAN MAKE WONDERFUL THINGS HAPPEN for the future.

APRIL

1. MARY SUE CLARK WI 1956
2. DAVID NICHOLS WI 1955
3. CHRISTOPHER HILL WI 1960
4. GERALD WINERMAN WI 1957
5. NANCY CRANE JONES WI 1948
6. ALLEN ALVAREZ WI 1958
7. DON SAGER WI 1956
8. SANDRA ZICKEFOOSE LINDKE WI 1956
9. GENE DAVIS WI 1959
10. TONY MARCHO WI 1965
11. JEAN WELLS HIMMELL WI 1959
12. FRANK BUSH WI 1959
13. BILL BRYAN RW 1957

Cash from Sarasota Picnic

JUNE

14 SHIRLEY DEAN MHS 1957
15 MARIANNE WAROBLAK WI 1956
16 BABE BISPING CASHMAN WI 1956
17 BUD COLLINS WI 1955
18 SHARON GREITZNER DIAL WI 1956
19 CHUCK THOMAS WI 1956
20 PAT HARDMAN NICHOLSON WI 1956
21 PAT ELDER NDHS 1957
22 SAM IAQUINTA WI 1956
23 BETTY LAINE WI 1948

JULY

24 HARRIET STOUT NOEL WI 1959
25 PHIL HOOPER WI 1959
26 GEORGE SCHOLL WI 1952
27 LESLIE McKINLEY WALLACE WI 1960
28 JOE MALONE WI 1952
29 JANE ANDERSON WI 1956
30 JUDY DAUGHERTY KIMLER WI 1959
31 BILL COWGILL WI 1959
32 RUTHANN GRIMES HEROLD WI 1959
33 TOM MARSHALL WI 1959
34 ROLETA SMITH MEREDITH WI 1959
35 JOHN CAMPBELL WI 1959
36 JANET WEBB WENDT WI 1956
37 MARY STUMP HERRELL WI 1955
38 CAROLYN HARBERT ENEIX WI 1959

AUGUST

39 KONRAD MELKUS WI 1955
40 BILL AND HARRIETT DANLEY VANVOORHIS WI 1958
41 KENNETH MCIE WI 1959
42 SALLIE HOLDEN DAY WI 1959
43 CONNIE BAILEY CASTO WI 1959
44 MAROLYN TUSTIN JETT WI 1955

SEPT

45 WILMA COSTLOW ALLMAN WI 1953
47 JEANIE DILLMORE MASON WI 1958
48 MARY SUE CLARK SPAHR WI 1956
49 JERRY SKUFE WI 1961
50 CAROL GREYNOLDS CLEVELAND WI 1961
52 KENNETH NESSELROTTE RW 1954
53 JOHN TETER WI 1961
54 CHARLIE BURKHAMMER WI 1959
55 SHARON GORDON DI MARIA WI 1961
56 DIANA SWIGER
57 MIKE MOORE WI 1959
58 SHARON GREITZNER DIAL WI 1956
59 DAHRIE CHRISTIANSEN HAYMAN WI 1964
60 JIM ALVARO WI 1956

OCTOBER

61 MARY DONATO WI 1956
62 JOANNE WESTFALL TETRICK WI 1952
63 MARTY & RUSTY ELLIOTT WI 1957
64 PENNY FISH WOLVERTON WI 1958
65 BILL WOLVERTON RW 1951
66 ROBERT and MARY SMOUSE GRIFFIN WI 1949 Gift given in memory of her cousin Haseleah Kahl
67 BOB DAVIS WI 1959
68 ELIZABETH MURPHY WI 1949 Gift given in memory of her cousin Haseleah Kahl
69 DICK HANIFAN WI 1959
70 CAROLYN HORNOR WILSON WI 1960
71 ELIZABETH TETER AKIN WI 1956
72 ROY BEVER WI 1957
73 BERNIE COHEN WI 1956
74 JEANNIE SCHNEIDER PEET TROWER WI 1959
75 ROLETA SMITH MEREDITH WI 1959 (IN MEMORY OF HER PARENTS)
76 JUDY RICE DEUTSCH WI 1957
77 RUSTY RUTAN WI 1957
78 DOTTY RUTAN WI 1958
79 BILL SOUDERS WI 1946 &
    DEEDIE SWISHER SOUDERS WI 1952
80 MIKE SNYDER WI 1957
81 BILL BRYAN RW 1957
82 GLADYS WILLIAMS WI 1971 &
    TOM WILLIAMS VHS 1967
83 HERB CASHDOLLAR RW 1957
84 SHARON BEE ARMSTRONG BRISTOL 1959
    (IN MEMORY OF WILSON VICTORIA HOWELL BEE-HER MOTHER)
85 SHARON BEE ARMSTRONG BRISTOL 1959
    (IN MEMORY OF FREDA MAE LYNCH DAVIS—MOTHER OF BOB DAVIS AND A LOVING NEIGHBOR OF SHARON’S MOTHER LATER IN HER LIFE)
86 SANDRA ZICKEFOOSE LINDKE WI 1956 (IN MEMORY OF HER FRIEND CAROL SUE COSTLOW - WI 1955)
87 MARTHA SUE ROBINSON PIERSON WI 1965
88 DOTTIE SPEARS RINEHART WI 1960
89 JEANNE COLASANTE THOMAS ND 1961 &
    JOHN “COTTON": THOMAS ND 1961

LESS 2 ea $500.00 scholarships  -$1,000.00

90 MONEY FROM THE SALE OF CD’S
91 MERE GURSON SCHWARTZ WI 1957
92 HARRIET MURPHY PANSING WI 1957
93 PAT ELDER ND 1957
94 JUDY COYNE SHEPHERD WI 1957
95 OLGA STENGER HARDMAN VHS 1945

PROFIT FROM CD SALES—Many people who bought CDs also included extra money for the scholarship. This has been noted and is greatly appreciated.

AUGIE MALFREGEOT WI 1956
MARY STUMP WI 1955
DON SAGER (Bought 2) WI 1956
BETTY LATSTETTER WI 1958
NATALIE TRAUGH WI 1963
DOTTIE SPEARS RINEHART WI 1958
JACK EMRICK WI 1954
NORMA JEAN SIMON STERN WI 1950
JIM BROWN WI 1957
LESLIE MCKINLEY WALLACE WI 1960
CAROL VAN HORN DEAN WI 1958
DIANA CLEAVENGER SWIGER WI 1966
SHARON GREITZNER DIAL WI 1956
BOB HALL WI 1956
CHUCK THOMAS WI 1956
SANDRA ZICKEFOOSE LINDKE WI 1956 (PLUS MONEY IN MEMORY OF GENE THOMAS (WI 1954)
KAREN MYERS HORTON WI 1966
JOHN HARRISON WI 1956
BOB AND SUE MC NUTT WI 1955
SUE ROBINSON PIERSON WI 1965
TOM ALLEN WI 1957
FRANK MARTINO WI 1960
MAROLYN TUSTIN JETT WI 1956 BOUGHT 2
JOANNE MARLETTE (GAVE NO SCHOOL OR YEAR)
SHARON DIMARIA WI 1961
CHARLES MCCLUNG VHS 1948
NANCY BARR (GAVE NO SCHOOL OR YEAR)
BOB DAVIS WI 1959

So write that check today to Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship and send it to:

Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219

THANKS!

WW II MEMORIES
submitted by: Mary Griffin (WI '49)
Mlgriffin32@cs.com
Concerning Milkweed

In answer to Dave Bates’ (‘51) question about Milkweed Pods, I can remember collecting them when attending grade school in Oakland, MD. We were told the Milkweed would be used to fill life preservers for the troops. I was also involved with knitting sweaters for our servicemen. In the class one person would knit the front of the sweater and another person would knit the back. My mother, being a meticulous knitter, said to tell the teacher I would do a whole sweater myself, because she wanted the sweater to look nice and was afraid the other person would not knit with the same tension on the yarn.

Thanks for the great job you two do on the newsletter each month.

MAJORETTES
submitted by: Holly McMunn (WI '62)
Kevin32823@aol.com
How well I remember marching at the "home and away" games of WI in the early 60s! I was literally dragged to the majorette try-outs by classmate and neighbor Barry Talkington. Had he not "egged" me on for what had to be months, I would have been too shy to show up. As my "chaperone", Barry accompanied me to the WI gym where band director Mr. Mayer gave competition instructions to several dozen hopefuls. We all did our best twirling and prancing, despite the fact that few of us had ever performed before. I was so-o-o self-conscious and certainly, I was convinced that I could never be picked as a majorette. Besides, the thought of wearing a short, short shirt was completely beyond me. All through the try-out process Barry marched alongside me in a true show of support-----he knew I was totally "shaking in my boots."

At the end of the evening the names of the new majorettes were announced. I was not picked. Rather, Mr. Mayer declared that he had chosen me as drum majorette (the one at the front of the band) and had picked Barry as drum major (the other one at the front of the band). I thought I was going to faint!

We both had these big fur hats, huge batons and lucky for me, long white pants. Those two years were a wonderful experience. Wish I could do it again.

Best regards and thanks for a great newsletter.

WI BAND
submitted by: Anne Pears Jones (WI ’58)
anannaj@earthlink.net
In the photo you will see some of the members of the WI marching band in the fall of 1957 at a football game. These band members had fathers who worked for Equitable Gas Company and this photo was used in the company magazine.

Left to right: Nancy VanGilst Rice, ’60; Anne Pears Jones, ’58; Pat Shaw, ’58: Bill Zahniser, ’58.

I loved being in the band even on the cold mornings we had to practice our drills for the Friday night games. I played a clarinet in the band from 6th grade until I graduated and was a majorette my senior year. In looking at old photos, I discovered most of the parade photos my dad took were in the rain. Did it really rain that much?

The WI band won highest honors each year during the state band festival in Huntington. The band members would stay in the homes of people in the Huntington area and it was quite a learning experience for us. There was so much tension and excitement and then total exhaustion by the end of the festival.

Another high point in being in the band was the trip to Parkersburg to a football game. I think the Big Red Band was the only band that intimidated us. Then I ended up marrying a guy from Parkersburg!

submitted by: Sherry Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
SKeith1514@aol.com
Many of us were not in band, but were proud of our band and supported them as we could! Remember the Band Festival..held on Main Street when once a year all the county bands came to march and compete for honors.

WI had the biggest band with over 100 members.. And as we all know, was referred to affectionately as, "HAIRLESS HANK'S HOT ONE HUNDRED!"

The thrill and excitement we all felt as we lined the streets shoulder to shoulder to get a glimpse of a friend, classmate or relative, or better hear our favorite band! Of course when we spotted them back behind another band.. the anticipation built until it was "Our" band, at last!

Leading down the street the Banner, followed closely with the tallest most statuesque drum majors ever! Just how tall was he with that had on? And how he would come to a halt, lean way back, right leg up in march position and blow that whistle while giving his baton a quick-twirl stopping with the baton pointing forward. We could hardly breath in anticipation of the next loud command on the whistle signaling forward march, and here they would come! Behind him the beautiful majorettes, twirling and smiling and marching in step with high kicks of tasseled boots, whom we underclassmen all adored (talk about your "wannabes") !

My favorite uniforms were the off-white, with Gold and White trim. The majorettes had both the tall off-white hats with gracefully draped braid and tassels or those wonderful White fur berets! Remember rainy and cold days especially affecting the majorettes who wore those short pleated skirts! And that orange leg makeup that "ran" in rain or even on extremely hot days! But these girls were professional and marched on with enthusiasm and grace no matter the weather! And whatever march the band played we were thrilled and they just kept on coming each in step, filling the entire street with music! The heavy thud of the big bass drum would catch the beat of your heart and the trill of flutes would trickle out ... as they marched on.

They were so striking... I can hear/see them now! "LOOK, HERE THEY COME!"

Thanks you guys!

submitted by: Jack Emrick (WI '54)
Cadilacjak54@aol.com
Well, I got into the band kind of late in my youth. I didn't play an instrument, but just loved the big bands of the 30's,40's & 50's, and was trumpet crazy. I had all of Stan Kenton's records, and began to collect the Four Freshmen, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford, The King Sisters, then Maynard Ferguson, and many others, as they came into prominence.

My late friend Mary Clyde "MURPH " (Mason) Sharpe, Stephans was a drummer in the drum line of the WI Band. She talked me into trying out for the band, and in my third year, I did. I was accepted and began learning the techniques of snare drumming. We had some great times in band, with the road trips to football games and all. Of course, we performed at the basketball games in the smaller pep band. I continued to be in the drum line and when my class graduated without me, I came back for my second senior year. I was elected president of the band for my "official" senior year, and as a result got picked to be Boy of the Month for, I think, February 54. This meant that I got to get out of school on two afternoons that month and go to the Kiwanis Luncheon which was held at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel in the crystal ballroom. That was a real neat experience, and one that I remember fondly.

The capstone of the band year back then, was the annual trip to the Huntington Band Festival. That year, we traveled in three busses. There was the girl’s bus, the freshman bus, and the upperclass boy’s bus. Me and the band Vice-President, Mike Faron, a 6 foot 3 inch trumpet player were on the upperclass boy’s bus. Mr. Henry Mayer, our band director, charged us with keeping the peace on that bus. As we left town, one of the guys had a water squirt pistol and squirted from the front into the back of the bus. Someone in back had one also and then it became apparent that there were several that had them. The back and forth squirting went on until we reached Parkersburg, at which point we had a 40 min rest stop.

After we ate, and re-boarded the bus, it soon became apparent that we had a problem. It seems that my vice, and his friend Frank Ellis, had made a couple of purchases, in the form of 12 gauge pump shotgun squirt guns. These guns shot about 6 ounces of water in one squirt. They had brought gallon jugs with them. It also became apparent that many of the other guys (all of the ones that didn't have squirt guns) had also made purchases. Almost all had also brought jugs of water with them, and as we left Parkersburg, a full scale war broke out. It started out slowly, and then it escalated. In the beginning, the driver even had a gun that someone had given him. Of course, the guys couldn't shoot him, as that might cause an accident. So, he pulled his little curtain around himself and would shoot over his shoulder, without even looking. Then the shot guns began pumping, and then someone up front came back with a jar of water and threw all of the water on someone else, and then it was bedlam.

It was so bad that the water was running back and forth in the aisle as the bus would accelerate or decelerate. The seats were soaked and really smelled bad as years of soaked in perspiration was released. One of the guys tried to release the emergency window and pushed it up (it was hinged on the top and opened out and up) and it fell back down and broke the glass. We stopped for a rest stop and when Hank Mayer saw the condition of the bus, he really chewed me and Mike out, even though I tried to get them to cease and desist several times. I didn't have a gun. I was really thankful that I didn't. Ha Ha I remember that Mr. Mayer came on our bus with an open horn case and said, "OK BOYS---PUT THEM RIGHT HERE" He then took them outside and dumped them. I know some kid that lived on a farm in that area, had a real hayday when he found about 75 or 80 squirt guns laying alongside the road. I think that the bus company that we chartered the busses from said that they would never rent to us again. Can you blame them? Anyway, that is one memory I have from my band years. (I have many others, but that is for another day)

EDITOR’S NOTE: I thought band would be a very popular subject---after all, hundreds of you were in the band and the WI band was the best high school band I ever heard! (a little prejudice there I think!). Since it didn’t get too much response, maybe you can help me think of some subjects you think will get some response….WRITE: ROLETA1@aol.com.

GLASS PLANT MEMORIES
submitted by: Jim Ashley (WI '62)
jashley4@cox.net
I really enjoyed reading the memories of the Clarksburg Glass plants. My dad was a cutter at PPG for 35 years, ending with his retirement in 1963. My two uncles and my grandfather were also cutters there and my two aunts were married to glass cutters. I thought I was destined to be an apprentice cutter myself until my dad gave me one of those, "Go to school or else" speeches in which he gave me a very clear description of what the future of the glass industry was with automation looming.

One aspect of the glass plants that has always fascinated me was the impact it had on the ethnic make-up of Clarksburg. My dad told me that in the early days, the English cutters tended to work in union jobs and gravitated to PPG. The non-union (before everyone became unionized) tended to be the French or Belgian cutters and they worked at Hazel-Atlas and Rolland. In addition to living in different neighborhoods, there was also a lot of old-time friction between the two groups of cutters that came to a head in our family when my sister announced her engagement to a Belgian cutter. My dad immediately bought her a train ticket to Texas to spend the summer with one of my other sisters to "Think it over!!!!" I'm not sure there are very many places in the world where someone would think that there was a problem in marrying off someone named Ashley to someone named Lefevre, but it certainly was in our neighborhood (things seemed to have worked out OK in the decades following their 1953 marriage, however). I was briefly worried about also being sent away since this was about the same time I had my 3rd grade crush on Elaine Zebeau, but neither my dad nor Elaine ever found out about it, so I was saved the long train ride.

The other group that was associated with the glass plants were the Italians who did the lion's share of the work building the brick ovens that the plants used. Although I did spend some time throwing rocks at the Italian kids going to St Mary's and Notre Dame, I eventually realized the error of my ways when I ended up married to a woman named Maria Teresa Bachini (I tell my kids they are half Italian and half West Virginian -- drives my wife crazy). I also have had countless acts of contrition required of me by Jean and Laura Colasante (Jean Thomas and Laura Buchanan, nowadays) for not being kinder to all my Italian friends way back when. As they always remind me, "Where would Clarksburg be without the Italian Heritage Festival and where would you be without your nice Italian wife?"

NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES

Susan Lynne Brown Black (WI '77)	sblack@thecrossworks.net
Robert A Angotti, Sr. (NDHS '75)	RAangotti@aol.com
Patty Singleton (WI '50)	Afspas@aol.com
Argyle Singleton (WI '49)	Afspas@aol.com
Shari Josephs Collins (WI '65)	SJOSEPH4@COLUMBUS.RR.COM
Nancy Norvell LaFleur (WI '57)	JRLNNL@aol.com
Joe Boomer (WI '54)	jboomer@bellsouth.net
Patricia Fiorenza De Lille (WI '56)	pat.delille@santafe.cc.fl.us
Don Martin (WI '57)	dmartin740@zoominternet.net
Wilford Johnston (WI '42)	tomcat6@prodigy.net
Berenice Long Whiteman (WI '56)	evab@iolinc.net
Marcia Porter Heinz (WI '65)	mheinz@bbc.net
George Cinci (WI '60)	GCinci@myacc.net
Donna Stanley Meredith (WI '69)	meredithds@hotmail.com
John Meredith (WI '68)	meredithds@hotmail.com
Tom Garrett (WI '65)	tgarrett@access.k12.wv.us
Chuck Spann (WI '63)	cwspann@verizon.net
Vince Merendino (ND '64)	jvbond0007@att.net
Marie Fiorenza Garten Glass (WI '58)	stanmarieg@yahoo.com

EMAIL CHANGES

Mike Moore (WI '59)	mmoore59@comcast.net
Phil Hooper (WI '59)	bumpes@msn.com
Shari Josephs Collins (WI '65)	sjosephs4@columbus.rr.com
Bob McNutt and Sue Martin McNutt (WI '55)	unruly2@comcast.net
Otto Matheny (VHS '53)	GOMTAMPA@hotmail.com

PRAYER NEEDED
submitted by: Joanne Simpson-Tetrick (WI '52)
Fragilegranny34@msn.com
Thanks for the update on the Sarasota Reunion. We would love to be with all of you, however, I have a son, Gregg Simpson, (WI '77) who has been fighting Aden carcinoma of his lungs for the past year. He has Stage IV Aden carcinoma in his lungs with metastases to the lymph system. I am sure that there are classmates of his that would like this information. Any replies may be made to me and I will forward them to Gregg. Thanks for prayers and concerns from you and anyone reading the Newsletter. Chemo isn't working and we just can't make long range plans. We will think of all of you and when you say your prayers, please remember Gregg. He is a fighter and his faith is strong.

Thanks, Joanne

submitted by: Joe Boomer (WI '54)
jboomer@bellsouth.net

Hi, I was referred to your website a couple of years ago and at that time it was not working or something, and then when I recently began to search for some old high school friends and acquaintances, I was steered that way again, and what a pleasure. You and whoever else may be helping you are to be commended. Thank you very much. And thank you again, because your site seems to have become the focal point for a whole lot of people from other classes such as myself.

The newsletter is just very enjoyable and I like the format of subjects for comment. Who knows, I just might have a comment sometime. I did recognize the Harrison County Courthouse at once but I wondered where is the statue of Stonewall Jackson that I remember? Corny as it may sound I can remember sitting on the marble wall in the front with others of my time and commenting about the out of state cars that would pass by. We would make comments, sparked with foolishness, like " Gee, look at that one, he's from Florida. I bet he doesn't make it home for supper if he doesn't hurry." Obviously, we had time to kill and we were doing a good job of that.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The statue is off to the left of the picture --- basically out of the picture!

submitted by: Vince Merendino (ND '64)
Jvbond0007@att.net

I'm getting a kick out of your newsletter. I would appreciate being added to your emailing list.

My sister, Mary Clare, graduated with you in 1959. Through my sister's parties I remember: Helen House, Jean Wells, Phyllis Fitro, Karen Moffit, Julie Hurst, Sally Moshine. My friends and acquaintances from WI include the Sutters, Melinda Mazza, Markey Simpson, Edith Kline, Ann Ruck, Linda Humphries, Mimi Lee, the Heston sisters, John Lee, The Aspy families, and literally hundreds of others from all over Clarksburg.

I grew up in Clarksburg during the 50's and 60's and attended Carlisle Grade School and Central Jr. High.

submitted by: Bill White (WI '55)
whitecw@sbcglobal.net

Alicia and I have been looking forward to coming to Sarasota this year for the reunion to spend some time with great friends, but unfortunately we will be out of the country on the weekend of the party. Don Sager let me know recently and it was disappointing to learn that we would not be able to attend. But, I hope that you all have a wonderful time and that you will send us some pictures of yourselves and our classmates.

Brother Jim White and his wife Carolyn have a winter home now in Port Charlotte and will certainly be in Sarasota to be with you all. Please send an Email from time to time and let me know how you are doing. We will just have to look forward to next year and also to our grand 50th reunion in Clarksburg if everyone there is still willing to put it together. Please count with me for giving a hand as I can for our 50th.

To prove that we are still upright and mobile, attached is a photo of Alicia and me, brother Jim and his wife Carolyn and brother Bob and his wife Nancy, taken the day after our son's wedding, October 31.

With fond regards to all,

PRECIOUS CHILD

The precious child shown in the February newsletter was Clay B Hite.

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR MARCH

Can you recognize this child? Write your guesses to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember, I only print the correct guess so try to figure out who is pictured here.

Come on, play the game with us!

CANDYLAND THEN AND NOW
submitted by: Jack Emrick (WI '53)
Cadilacjac54@aol.com
Candyland------ what a place. When you went to the Ritz Theatre or the Grand or the Moore's Opera House, you would often go to Candyland. There were glass fronted cases with every kind of candy imaginable. Then the business began to go down, as TV cut into the movie business, and finally it closed.

Harriet Murphy's dad (who had a small sandwich shop on Chestnut St. It was up from the corner of Washington Ave. and under their house, which was situated on the corner of Lee Ave. and Chestnut St.) re-opened it and ran it for several years, and then it was bought by 2 brothers, Joe Skinner and Tony Skinner. They called it TerraNova Restaurant, and it ran successfully for many more years.

It was then turned into Marion's Beauty Salon, and was finally closed after Marion's moved. This came as a result of a plan to tear down the building to make room for a new parking garage which is a part of a re-development plan to re-furbish the former Waldo Hotel, and make it into a convention-tourist center. That plan has been altered and the building will be salvaged, as well as the Drs. Office building (where the Chicago Dairy was located on 4th St.) which was also slated to be torn down. As it stands now; all the area between the back of the buildings on Third Street, i.e. The Brunswick Poolroom, up to the Professional (Melet's) Building on the corner of Traders Avenue to the back of the Candyland and Drs. Office Building on Fourth Street will be torn down. (Most of it already is down) The parking facility will be built there.

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Baseball or softball (at school or at the local playground) …. memories from both guys and gals.
2. What kind of dog did you have? Were there purebred dogs in Clarksburg at that time?
3. When you took your test to get your driver’s license, what kind of car did you use and who owned it?
4. Did blue jeans come in different lengths? Did you have to roll your jeans up? What did real tall guys do?
5. Sabin or Salk vaccine? Did we receive both? Where did you get your shot?
6. Central Junior High School---pick a subject about Central and tell me something about it….here are some suggestions….your teacher, your art class, study hall, home room, art class, home ec or shop class, your boyfriend or girlfriend, the bus ride, hang out after school.

Write to: Roleta1@aol.com

CLASS OF 1955 PLANNING A REUNION
We are planning a class reunion. There are several people we can not locate to invite to the reunion. We need any information anyone might have on the following list of people. An address, an email address or a phone number would be great. But, if you just have a lead as to what city and state they might be located, at least someone could hunt for them with a clue.

GRAY BENNETT
WILLIAM BENNETT
CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL
ALICE CRIM CHENOWETH
NANCY JO SPRING CROSS
MYLES ENELOW
MARTHA ANN HICKMAN
ARLIE JO KNIGHT ALEXANDER
MICHAEL O. LYNCH
RANDALL McCLAIN
SUE ANN REGER
DONNA JO REED
LINDA HORNOR SISK
HELEN JO WEEKLEY
MILDRED KATHLEEN WOLFE
MARY WOODCOCK
ELLEN WU

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP Bud Collins (WI 1955) —Write to me at: KEMils@aol.com.

REMEMBERING MY GRADE SCHOOL
submitted by: Bob Davis (WI '59)
name@server.com
Alta Vista

I will start off by saying all the teachers I had at Alta Vista were good teachers and were very nice. I had Ms. Imes as teacher for the first grade. That is about all I remember about the first grade. The principal was Mr. Lawson and Mr. Baines was the janitor—he always wore a tan uniform.

The second grade teacher was Ms. Stall and third grade teacher was Ms. Hale. Both Ms. Stall and Hale were very strict and I did not care for them and was afraid of them. Alta Vista had too many kids, so I was placed in a mixed room with second and third graders. I think I think being in a mixed room hinders the teacher—has to go back and forth between the two grades. (I hate to admit this, but when my son was in the second grade at Alta Vista, we received a note telling us he would be in a mixed room with third graders. It took me about 2 seconds to call the school and have him placed in the regular second grade!) Ms. Baumgartner was my teacher for both the second and third grades. I did get in trouble once—I was left in charge of the room and was told to write the names of those misbehaving on the black board. I wrote several names for the fun of it, and then erased them just as the teacher came back in. I was the only one in trouble. And I kissed my first girl in the cloakroom.

The fourth grade teacher was Loretta Mazzie—the prettiest teacher in school. I also became a member of the schoolboy patrol. The patrol boys used the flags in front of Alta Vista, on Harrison St. at Ocello St. and on Buckhannon Pike at Haymond Hwy.

The fifth grade teacher was Ms. Marrow. She wore her hair in a bun and was an older lady. She was my favorite teacher.

Mr. Wagner became the school principal and also the 6th grade teacher.

We had a school lunch program—it cost 25 cents for a very good lunch. Mrs. Brewster was a cook and I can’t remember the other names.

I remember getting shoes with grip soles and walking up the muddy hill from Lynn Ave. to the side entrance of the school. It was “cool” seeing your tracks in the mud.

We also had carnivals with the fishpond—it was the favorite because you always got something. The “Mother’s Club” was very active and had other activities. My Mom was one of the more active members.

I remember taking a dime or quarter and getting a little Red Cross pin.

I remember Iaquinta’s store across the street and Mazzie’s store up the street. Both stores were busy with school kids usually buying candy, cough drops or a small bottle of cinnamon oil—we then put toothpicks in the oil and sucked them for the flavor.

I tried tap dancing with “Mr. Louie” but got kicked out when I wore tennis shoes—hard to tap dance with them and we could not afford tap shoes.

I remember Ms. Shackleford—the ovals, the straight up and down, etc. The pens had points that required bottles of ink.

I remember Ms. Caufield teaching music. I think her and Ms. Shackleford came around about four times a year—not sure.

We had snow ball fights on the way to and from school.

We rolled the big osage orange fruits down the street from a tree on Haymond Highway.

The shoe boxes for valentines.

Obrey Lawson was our Santa Claus—he lived on Shuttlesworth Streeet.

We also bought Jefferson Pilot insurance for 20 (??) cents a month.

It seems we also could have bank books for a few years. I don’t think I did, though.

SCHOLARSHIP DONORS IN FEBRUARY
Those who gave so generously in February to the WIN Scholarship are:

Judy Coyne Shepherd WI 1957
Martin and Mere Gurson Schwartz WI 1957
Pat Elder ND 1957
Harriet Murphy Pansing WI 1957
Olga Stenger Hardman VHS 1945

Thanks to all who have given to the fund. Some have given several times; I know you can feel the passion of this project. Maybe you would like to give in memory of someone, give in honor of someone, give because it is your birthday or the birthday of a loved one…..or just give because you want to be among those counted as caring enough to give to help a little toward a child’s education. Together we can make a difference.

Write your check to:
ROLETA MEREDITH/WIN SCHOLARSHIP

And mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave
Columbus, Ohio 43219

TOWERS GRADE SCHOOL
submitted by: John Cooper (WI '51)
Mysto99@aol.com
Very Interesting TOWERS bits and pieces...(may I add)... I lived in Country Club Addition-south of Clarksburg (and still do). We went by streetcar and regular bus to Towers after our 2-room rural Barnette school (later the County Cannery) was closed and students were sent into Towers.

The final teacher, Mrs. McGee, had just the one room the final few years and was all by herself all day in that rural school, with no support of day-time janitor, or telephone... to watch over that room full of 1st to 6th grade children!! When a group of us boys did something wrong such as we did now and then of coming back late from noon lunch break, from playing cowboys and Indians down by the West Fork River... she would use the paddle on 6 or 7 of us all at one time, each boy wishing to be the last one as her arms wore out (never the paddle)! We got out of class as all the students listened to the WW2 German surrender on the big radio on the steps of the 2nd. floor....

When the school closed after the fire around 1987, the building was torn down in 1997..I went to the top floor of the Clarksburg parking garage next door and video taped some of the tearing down of the building. I could look down into the building as they tore off the roof and could see the beams that had lettering on them with names and messages from those who originally worked on the construction....looking down into the school rooms there were the displays of students drawings and paste-ups yet displayed there on the walls. Mrs. McGee taught there after the closing of Barnette School. Mrs. Robinson the principal always threatened the students they were going to get paddled for her by the Janitor if you were late coming back from lunch hour (like she did me).

Miss Harris was a big blonde lady that grabbed me roughly, her long fingernails cutting into my arm that got my older sister so angry that Mary, went to school the next morning and gave Miss Harris the dickens for hurting her little brother. Miss Heater was always hitting the students over the head with a heavy book. Boys and girls! Indeed I have often wondered how many brain damaged kids went through her 6th grade. She was especially on the war-path one afternoon after she went to sleep in the warm sunshine coming directly through the window , starting to snore she woke up suddenly and her top false teeth almost falling out, us kids burst out with laughter which forced all us kids to bury our heads in our books supposedly in deep study.

Getting out of school some afternoons early we went out to collect paper for the WW2 scrap drive. And--Milkweed thistle pods for the (so we heard) life jackets.... Towers School, a great experience!

MISS LUCY, HER BOYS, AND THE SCHOOL BELL
submitted by: Dave Bates (WI '51)
Bates8806@aol.com
MISS LUCY, HER BOYS, AND THE SCHOOL BELL She stood ramrod straight; a stern, spare, severe woman, totally devoid, we children thought, of sentimentality or feelings. Miss Lucy Abigail Robinson - principal of Towers Grade School for over forty years. Almost as old, students gossiped, as the school which had served as a hospital during another war…1861 to 1865.

It was always "Yes, Miss Robinson, No, Miss Robinson" as we stood before her, the very epitome of adult authority and discipline. But, behind her back, everybody in town, excluding the children, knew her as "Miss Lucy", and most had their own tales to tell.

It was a time of excitement and anticipation on that long ago day, May 8 1945. Rumors were everywhere that the war in Europe was almost over. We sixth graders had some comprehension of what that meant, and that comprehension diminished, I am sure, in direct proportion to the descending age of the younger students. Miss Lucy had gathered all six grades, the teachers and the janitor into the lower hallway to listen to the school radio for the momentous announcements expected so soon. Finally, we heard the long awaited and prayed for words! The war in Europe was over! The enemy had surrendered.

Moving faster than any of us thought possible, Miss Lucy dashed up the stairs and down the long hall to the bell tower, students in close pursuit! She grabbed the bell rope and started to pull. The bell that had summoned boys and girls for almost ninety years rang out loud and clear. It was the first call, the first announcement of joy, soon joined in a medley of other bells, factory and train whistles and car horns. As she pulled, the turning bell lifted her off her feet again and again. Finally, she stopped and faced us. With tears streaming down her cheeks she quietly announced, "I rang our bell for all of my boys…those who will be coming back…and those who won't."

Her actions and words touched deeply and helped her current boys and girls to understand, at least in part, the enormity of the news, and proved to those of us fortunate enough to be present, that the iron exterior of our Miss Lucy covered a cove of warmth and tenderness.

TRIVIA PICTURE IN THE FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
submitted by: Bill Phillips (WI '51)
SilverFeather588@aol.com
I believe this was the Central News Stand. The Central Restaurant was on the left and on the right the Ritzy Lunch.

submitted by: Lyle Corder (RW '57)
WVLyle@aol.com
The pic is Central Newsstand. It was located on Pike St between Ritzy Lunch and Central Restaurant. You can see the top of the post office in the top left of the picture. Didn't spend much time in the newsstand but sure stopped in Central Lunch a lot while making our "rounds". The newsstand and restaurant part of that building is now H and R Block.

submitted by: Chuck Wilson (WI '67)
cwilson@aviall.com
The picture was Central News Stand. I use to go in and play the pinball machines after school. Romano Pizza use to be next door. Great letter.

submitted by: Jack Emrick (WI '53)
Cadilacjak54@aol.com
It is, of course, the front of the old Central News stand. It was accessible from the door shown, as well as, the Central Restaurant, which had a walk thru by the cash register. I would sneak over there from the restaurant side and read magazines when it was closed in the evening. The owner was a fellow named Dominic Loria, who had a brother named "Tin Can" Loria, who would sometimes work for his brother to give him a day off. They were very nice to me, as I would loaf in there while I was waiting for some of the gang to show up at the restaurant, which became a nighttime hang out spot for WI as well as some from both RW, and Victory.

The restaurant was the place to go after the basketball games which in those days were held at the Carmichael Auditorium. The owners were Buddy Barile (whose brother Johnny "Barrel" (because he was built like one) Barile was a classmate of mine in 54. He became a Doctor, and has been deceased for several years), and Buddy's brother-in-law Jack Merandi. They were both really nice guys and put up with an awful lot from all the high school kids in that period. I was really getting into cars about then, and would stand and read all of the latest publications until Dominic would say, "OK Jack-----that's long enough". Couldn't blame him ! ! !

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR MARCH

PICTURE SUBMITTED BY MELINDA MAZZA SUTTER (WI '64)
Write to me and guess the identity of this place and the person. Include your name, school and year….also include a memory. Due to space I will not print any incorrect guesses or guesses without a memory or story included. Write Roleta1@aol.com.

CHESTNUT HILLS SCHOOL
submitted by: Gladys Williams (WI '71)
GWill1004@aol.com
Chestnut Hills Grade School was on Fredrick St. off of Chestnut. I started 1st grade there in 1959. We walked to and from school everyday no matter what the weather. We even could walk home for lunch if we didn't want to eat hot lunch that day. It housed students in grades one thru six. We only had one room for each grade, so my twin sister, Anna, and I could not be split up. We were never allowed to be in a class together in Central or WI. Our principal, Mr. Swiger, was also our 4th Grade teacher. He worked nights at the train station, so some days he would fall asleep while trying to teach Social Studies to us.

We had many good teachers there. Mrs. Weekley, 1st grade, Mrs. Riddle, 2nd grade, Mrs.Strother, 3rd grade (her husband, Paul, owned Chestnut Hills Market), Mrs. Thomas, 5th grade, and Mrs Hart, 6th grade.

We had a school boy patrol basketball team. Cheerleaders for the team were Beverly McClung, Pam Bokey, Cathy Long, Becky Bedell, Denice Cottrill, Gladys Williams, Anna Williams, Melanie Heater, and Jan Canterelli.

Our 5th grade teacher, Mrs Thomas, hated any kind of worms, snakes or pictures of any of these creatures. One day we brought a green inch worm into her. You would have thought it was a 20' boa constrictor. She went crazy!

We made many friends there, and today one of my good friends and neighbors is Melanie Heater Squires who I started 1st grade with.

submitted by: Bill Berger (WI '60)
bbaa@mindspring.com
Memories of Chestnut Hills School…..When I attended, it was still called Monticello Elementary, though no one seemed to know exactly why. My first few years there (1949 to 1951), Monticello was a four room school, but sometime during that period a cafeteria was added.

We had some memorable teachers and a principal, Mr. Flanagan who was not afraid to use his infamous paddle (rumored to either have holes drilled into it for maximum return on effort, or possibly even electrified!).

We were given classic mixed signals routinely during our stay there. For example, certificates were awarded for reading (a different stamp for every 10 books or so), but since classes shared classrooms, if you were a 5th grader and were caught reading while the teacher was working with the 6th graders, you were sent to the “cloak-room” (most of us never knew what a “cloak” was)….of course, in the “cloak-room” we read books while waiting to be paroled back to class.

Lunch was a special event at Monticello because Mrs. Oliverio, the lunch room supervisor made it so with baked spaghetti and lots of smiles. Recess usually meant walking the 2 to 3 blocks to Hite field where we played marbles or just had unorganized play for 15 minutes or so. Then it was back to the oiled floors hopefully before the dreaded last bell.

Growing up in Chestnut Hills was a treat: Friends were special; the water board playground was always available for ball, sledding or campfires and nearby woods provided miles of freedom for all. I miss those days………………

WASHINGTON IRVING HAD UNDEFEATED TEAM IN 1954-55

The Washington Irving Hilltoppers Basketball squad of 1954-55 was one of the most exciting in the school’s history. Showing great scoring balance and overall talent, they reeled off 18 consecutive victories, and did not meet defeat until they ran into a hot-shooting South Charleston HS team in the State tournament. Members of the squad were: Front row—L to R..Bucky Tustin, Ron Grow, Dick Hall, Bobby Hart, Ed Westfall, Bob Clousson, Jim Hutson. Back Row—L to R..Coach Tony Folio, Mgr. Jim Heaberlin, Allen Brasseur, Ed Christie, John Harrison, Jim Warren, Doug Bailey and Mgr. Bill Conrad.

SPORTS TRIVIA QUESTION
Last month I ask the question: Name the schools in the Big Ten in WV in the 1950’s and 1960’s…(we think it was the same in the 30’s and 40’s too) name their school nickname and their team colors. I have several partial responses….at least you guys tried and had fun trying to remember—that is the important part. I am so proud of you who tried. Mary Sue Clark Spahr was the first to respond … even though her answer was incorrect, she named most of the teams. Freddie Layman tried TO COMPLETE THE QUESTION, Ruth Ann Martin Hill (WI ‘59) sent her guesses---she came up with all the teams but couldn’t get the nicknames or colors. Ruth Ann was a cheerleader for 3 years in WI. Chuck Wilson gave the question a good try. Joe Boomer (WI ’54) made a great stab at remembering the teams, Jack Emerick remembered high school basketball and gave the trivia question a try… Several others tried also.

Two guys came through with the most correct answers. Bob White (WI 1963) and the other was John Harrison (WI 1956). They both named all of the teams, all of the nicknames and all but one of the school colors. So let’s hear a round of applause for John Harrison!

I was surprised that so many of you Sport fans didn’t even try. So many of you guys played either football or basketball for your school and yet didn’t even attempt to remember the answers. This is all for fun but it is more fun if you participate!

It is all to help you remember the good old days! And it just might jump start parts of your brain that you haven’t used in years! So dust off those cob webs and join in our fun.

The correct answers are:
Washington Irving----Hilltoppers----Blue and Gold
Victory---- Eagles-----Orange and Black
Weston----Minutemen----Blue and Gray
Shinnston----Spartans----Orange and Black
Grafton-----Bearcats----Blue and Gold
Elkins----Tigers----Orange and Black
East Fairmont----Bees----Blue and Gold
Fairmont Senior (West)----Polar Bears----Blue and White
Buchannon Upshur----Buck-Ups (later became the Buccaneers) Blue and White
Morgantown ----No Mascot at that time (but later became the Mohicans)-- Blue and Red

submitted by: Tom Garrett (WI '65)
tgarrett@access.k12.wv.us
HI, my name is Tom Garrett , the younger brother of Mark and Bill Garrett. All three of us played football for WI: Mark graduating in 1959, Bill graduating in 1963 and I graduated in 1965. I can remember a lot of spectacular games in the big ten conference and some of the teams. My brother Bill made all big ten conference tackle his senior year and went to play 4 more years at WV Wesleyan, where he made all conference tackle in 1966. I bet that nobody knows that he was invited to the Houston Oilers rookie camp after he graduated from WVWC, received a $2000 signing bonus but sent it back with a refusal so that he could enroll at WVU law school in the freshman class for 1967. Mark also had a football career with WI, Potamac State and two more with WV Wesleyan.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks Tom for the nice “basketball” letter ---- Your guess was close but not exact!

BASKETBALL MEMORIES
submitted by: Joe Boomer (WI '54)
jboomer@bellsouth.net
Being a '54 grad I particularly remember Herbie Cottrell and Joe Malone, and I must say that they both downplayed their contributions to their respective teams. I was on the team but not much of a player. Coach Folio even told me that he dressed me and one other player mostly for when things got a little rough and we needed some muscle, like when we played Grafton at Grafton. Ron Talkington was out for one game having had some surgery and I did start in his place. I know I embarrassed Tony Folio, but he had made that decision and choose to endure, but only for a short time.

WI basketball was big during those years and Carmichael Auditorium used to rock, big time during those games.

I do recall with fond memories all the "pick up" games we used to have at the old Stealey Playground. Most all the guys would show up there to play and the court itself at that time was just dirt and uneven at best, there were no lines and the backboard's supporting structure was made from old telephone poles. Guys came all the way from Broad Oaks to play. A few names I remember that played there from time to time were Herbie and Joe, Bob McCarty, Jack Swisher, John Smallwood, who lived on the other side of the playground, would play once in a while. John Lynch, Clayce Kisbaugh, Don Douglas, "Punky" Goodwin, Jim Blair, Dave Corsini, Tom Ferguson, Bob Clousen, Lloyd and Bobby Hart. We even used to let Jim Warren play and look what a great player he became at WVU. Gosh there were plenty others but this old mind is stretched to the limit.

Not only did Jim Warren and Bob Clousen do very good at WVU, but I recall Corsini starred at Salem, McCarty at U VA and he was joined there by another Clarksburg guy and truly the only really big man the town put out during those days was none other than RW's Jerry Cooper. Jack Swisher played at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fl (next door to Orlando), RW's Clayce Kisbaugh played on the national championship team at WVU, and John "Cookie" Lynch also played at WVU. Of course my close friend Don Douglas played, and did very well in college. Don continued to play until he was an old man and he probably holds the Clarksburg record of shooting the most baskets and playing in the most games in the city.

One must remember that outside of playing a pick up game of basketball or football there wasn't much going on except hanging out at the Stonewall. Of course there were always girls, and Clarksburg always had an abundant supply of lovelies, so that kept a lot of the guys occupied in their spare time.

submitted by: Jerry Winerman (WI '57)
gerjerry@earthlink.net
I remember going to Charmichel Auditorium with John Randolph to see "Hot Rod" Hundley as a Freshman at WVU act as a decoy for one quarter and end up with over 40 points. As a kid, I rooted for many of the contributors to the newsletter, Malone, Swisher, Tustin, Clausson, Christy to name just a few.

And then the crowning moment, to be part of the HI-Y team that got slaughtered by the JV team on Charmichel Court.

Although WI didn't have a woman's team, I remember going to an AAU game or something similar where high school girls played. I think Neva Menear from Victory went on to play at Michigan

OBITUTARIES
WILLIAM HARRY CONRAD JR.
Mr. William Harry Conrad Jr. of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away following an extended illness February 9, 2005.

Mr. Conrad was born in Clarksburg, WV, December 4, 1937, the son of William Harry and Mary G. Conrad, who survives.

Also surviving are his wife, Gilda Distalo Conrad, whom he married April 10, 1965; daughter, Tina Louise Conrad Rapel, her husband Dan and son Matthew; one son, William Michael Conrad, who resides in Virginia Beach; a sister, Mary Ann Conrad Cowger, who resides in Stonewood, WV; and several nephews and nieces.

He attended Morgan, Central Junior and Washington Irving Schools in Clarksburg. Joining the Navy on August 31, 1955, he retired October 16, 1978, as a First Class Machine Repairman. He then returned to the same position as a civilian, working at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where he retired after 20 years.

CATHERINE DEISON WARNER
Catherine Deison Warner, 94, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away February 5, 2005, at her residence after a brief illness. She was born August 6, 1910, in Clarksburg, a daughter of the late William Lewis Deison and Martha Wines Deison. She is survived by one son, Boyd Lee Warner and his wife, Jeanne, of Lake Floyd; two daughters, Karen Feight and her husband, Terry, of Lake Floyd, and Roberta W. Wilfong and her husband, Dr. J.B. Wilfong, of Clarksburg; and nine grandchildren She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Price Warner, who passed away in 1972. She was also preceded in death by five brothers and five sisters.

She was a lifetime member of the Clarksburg Baptist Church and also a member of the Clarksburg Women's Club, the Lake Floyd Women's Club, the Sunny Croft Bridge Club and Queen Esther Chapter No. 11 OES.

CYNTHIA RUTH (RICE) RITTENHOUSE (WI 68)
Cynthia (Cindy) Ruth Rittenhouse, age 54, died Sunday, February 6, 2005, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown.

She was born April 7, 1950, in Buckhannon, a daughter of the late Vaughn W. Rice and Ruth Page Rice, who survives. She resided in Broad Oaks on Bryan Ave during her youth and attended Broad Oaks Methodist Church. Cindy was a graduate of Washington Irving with the class of 1968.

After graduating from beauty school, she married Jay K. Rittenhouse, who survives.

In addition to her mother and husband, she is survived by one daughter, Joni K. Cutlip of Glenville, WV; two granddaughters, Sidney and Lindsay Cutlip, Glenville; four sisters, Vonda K. Wetzel (WI 54), French Creek; Judith A. Talago (WI 56), Meadland Addition; Nancy L DeLaney (WI 62), Albuquerque, NM; and Linda L Swecker (WI 66), Valley Head, WV; and several nieces and nephews.

Cindy was a member of the French Creek Pioneers, enjoyed Ham radio and attended the First Presbyterian Church in Buckhannon.

Thanks to Clarksburg Telegram for allowing us to use the above excerpts.

BILL CONRAD
submitted by: Mary Ann Conrad Cowger (WI '58)
mcgower@berryenergy.com
I don't know if anyone will remember my brother Bill Conrad, but he passed away on Feb. 9th after a three year battle with leukemia. He is survived by his wife Gilda Distalo Conrad and parents Mary and Harry Conrad who still live on Hart Street. Bill attended Morgan, Central and WI, but did not graduate. Instead, he joined the Navy and finished his high school there. He was a junior in high school when he joined the Navy.

He retired from the Navy after 23 years and went back to work at the same job for 20 more and retired again. He lived in Virginia Beach, VA, had a son and daughter and one grandson.

Newsletter Archive

Back to WI Index