THE WI NEWSLETTER 05/05

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 69

May 2005

THE DAFFODILS
W. Wordsworth

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced, but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee —
A poet could not but be gay
In such a jocund company!
I gazed, and gazed, but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

READING THIS NEWSLETTER
Today you are able to read this newsletter and enjoy the memories of people who graduated from high school in Clarksburg from 1948 to 1978 isn’t that marvelous? We can scan over 30 years of progress in Clarksburg via their memories in the WIN Newsletter. My sincere thanks to each of you who wrote and made this possible. Your friend Roleta1@aol.com.

SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
The two $500.00 WIN scholarships were awarded early in April at the Robert C. Byrd High School awards ceremony.

The first recipient was Cory Zinn of Mt. Clare, WV who has a 3.9230 grade point average, ranks 11th in the 2005 Graduation Class of 167 students. He participated in the following: The National Honor Society, Harrison Unites Guys and Gals Eliminating Drugs (HUGGED), Junior Classical League, Math Field Day, Soccer, Football, Track, Horizons Church Youth Group, Member of Horizons Church and Volunteer at Secret and Shields.

Also receiving a $500.00 WIN Scholarship was: Stephanie Stopiak of Stonewood, WV. She had a 3.966 grade point average, ranked 8th in her class of 167 members. She participated in the following: Student Council, HUGGED, TATU, Junior Classical League, Latin Honor Society, SADD, Babes, LINK, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, National Honor Society, Key Club, Interact, Yearbook Staff, Band and Spirit Band.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to those of you who gave so generously to the scholarship fund and made this happen.

Check out the list of scholarship winners at: http://www.rcbhs.org/htm/htm/Found3.html#Scholarship

PLEASE
Do NOT scream! Do NOT yell! In computer language you are screaming or yelling when you type in all capitalized letters. So turn off the Caps. Be polite, write as though you are speaking. Each sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a period. Look at the way this paragraph is written, this is sentence form….all magazines, books, newspapers and even this newsletter are written in sentence form. When you yell on the computer and send it to me, I have to soften it all by changing the case of the article written. When I do this automatically then I have to manually change the case of each proper name mentioned and the first letter of each sentence …I do this so you aren’t screaming at the readers. So lighten up, help me out!

Thank you so much. Roleta1@aol.com

In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May to honor Americans who gave their lives for their country in wars.

Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for the president or vice-president to give a speech honoring the contributions of the dead and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually.

NEW MEMORIES
submitted by: Nancy (Nan) Norvell LaFleur (WI '57)
JRLNNL@aol.com
I have spent quite a few happy hours since I heard from you trying to think of my best memory of WI and Clarksburg. I even dug out the old yearbooks and browsed through them. I was not one of the lucky ones who was born and raised in WV. I only lived there during the junior high and high school years so I don't have memories of early years in WV grade schools. However, my only brother Ray Norvell (aka Butch--oh, how he hates that name today) did attend Morgan School in Stealey while I was doing my bit at Central and WI. And, the memories at Central and WI are all such happy memories.

I want to say something about how the newsletter has changed and improved our lives today. It is amazing and wonderful how many friends I have heard from (and have contacted via email) since you began the newsletter. It is as though all of the intervening years have been erased and we are great friends once again. It has been such a happy experience to learn about marriages, children, grandchildren, etc.; and once again to share special memories and secrets as though we were still trudging up the Hill or planning to double date on the weekend. I wonder if other schools and areas know what they are missing because they don't have a newsletter. Isn't it GREAT that we can renew old friendships and once again share our lives and special moments with one another?I'm afraid to mention any names for fear that I will leave someone out but some of our fellow West Virginians have contacted me when they were in Las Vegas and we have been able to get together and talk about the old days. I do have to mention Mike and Gloria (Caruso) Shaffer - WI 58. Mike was another Stealey kid and Gloria and I have steadfastly remained best friends throughout the years.

The annual Florida picnic looks like such great fun and now is the time of our lives that having fun and good friends is so important. Living in Las Vegas, I have not been able to attend the Florida picnic but I certainly do enjoy reading about it and seeing all the photos.

Roleta, I didn't mean for this email to be so long but I wanted you to know what a terrific task you have undertaken, and while our memories of younger days are great, it is even better that the newsletter has allowed old friends to reconnect and continue our friendships. You have done an extremely valuable service for all of us. Hopefully, one day I will be able to meet you and Bill in person and thank you for all the hard work you have done.

Side Note About The WIN Scholarship Fund: Would it be feasible to ask for a donation--say $10 yearly--from those who want to receive the monthly newsletter. Considering the vast number of people who enjoy the newsletter, that should bring in a substantial amount of money to the fund.

Again, thank you for bringing us together again and enabling us to rekindle old friendships and make new memories.

Sent with love and appreciation.

OLDER MEMORIES
submitted by: Dr. Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko
My son, Gregory Jaranko, shares the WI newsletter with me and I wanted you to know that I taught one year at Point Comfort, so I knew your mother. The principal was Merle Rohrbough. I had first and second grades with 47 students!! Overwhelming for a beginner like I was and I am sure teachers today would start protesting immediately if that many children showed up for their class.

Point Comfort has a lot of history and Clarksburg seems intent on getting rid of anything historical. I think especially of that beautiful old Goff mansion that stood between Hope Gas and the fire station. My mother started to school at Point Comfort and when Morgan School was built she went there. Mr. Wolverton was her teacher and the principal and he was still principal when I went to Morgan. My grandfather worked for old Judge Goff and my mother as a small child used to run in and out of that Goff mansion going to see her dad.

We are Stealey residents from away back. My grandmother had a little farm on Stealey Avenue before Stealey Avenue was Stealey Avenue. It was Stealey addition then. When it became incorporated, she had to get rid of her animals and had to tear down her barn etc. There were no other houses there on Stealey Avenue but I guess people soon began building. My mother was a little girl but she told me a lot about how things were then. Just thought you would be interested. Best Wishes. Dr. Arreta Radcliffe Jaranko

THAT TEACHER? WHAT TEACHER?
There has been a lot of discussion back and forth as to the names of the Home Economics teachers at Central Junior High School. I know that Miss Riley taught cooking at WI. I also know Miss Jarvis taught sewing there. It has been suggested that the 7th grade Home Ec teacher at Central was Miss Riley. Does anyone know the names of those two women who taught us in Central? Please write to me and I will put it in next month’s newsletter. Roleta1@aol.com

AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
As you may guess, I receive hundreds of emails each day This week I received a very interesting letter from a reader whom I have never met. She not only came up with a wonderful suggestion but she even volunteered to be in charge. Now that is a rarity! Sue (Selby) Moats (WI 1955) wrote saying she had an idea of a way we could raise money for the WIN Scholarship. But you readers will have to help and I am sure you will! She thought it would be nice to have a Clarksburg Quilt made to raffle off at the CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC in Sarasota, FL next March with the proceeds going to the WIN Scholarship. The raffle will be open to anyone who wishes to participate and would like to donate to win the quilt.

Here is the way you can make it happen. You will need to make a quilt square. Make up your own design. Use old team colors, old logos, old tee shirts, embroider a picture, cross stitch, piece a pattern or have a picture copied onto material. I hope people from all the high schools that were in Clarksburg will participate. You may write to Sue (Moatsue@aol.com) with your idea and I am sure she will give you some help. Now here is the amazing part! YOU DON’T HAVE TO QUILT! You just make your square. She will put it all together, put an inner layer in it, put a backing on it, and quilt it, etc. Isn’t that amazing? And you people who say you can’t sew — seems she has made it very easy for you too! Stop by Wal-Mart and go to the photo department or go to Jo-Ann’s Fabric Store and ask them what you need to do to get a picture copied onto a piece of material. REMEMBER to first wash and dry the material …. pre-shrink. Now won’t you help? Write to Sue or write to me ….. but please take an interest and help. This could be a wonderful money maker for the WIN Scholarship. But more than that, I can’t wait to see the QUILT!

NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES

Lisa Reymond Bennett (RW '78)	LBenn29255@aol.com
Bill Bennett (WI '73)	Lbenn29255@aol.com
Molly Lynch Knotts (WI '66)	Hotknots99@aol.com
Nancy Maple (WI '54)	dmarple@bellsouth.net
Don Maple (WI '53)	dmarple@bellsouth.net
Janet Ocheltree (WI '63)	JOchelt514
Jim Estes (VHS '55)	jeste35160@aol.com
Karen Myers Horton (WI '66)	missygk519@netscape.com
Lana Myers (WI '65)	Lmyers@benchmarkmanagement.com
Nancy Rossana Gregory (WI '56)	ngregory2@comcast.net
Nick Stevens (WI '63)	LNStevens@Yahoo.com
Terry Tibbs Davenport (WI '60)	mcprport@iw.net
Kim Ludwick Wildt (WI '77)	kwildt@sc.rr.com

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESSES

Ronelda Wilson (RW '59)	was RoneldaW@aol.com is now DayLily@cooper.net
Nancy May Fox (WI '65)	was scfoxden@cs.com is now scfoxden@charter.net
John Madia (WI '60)	jmadia@aol.com
Susan Beakes Madia (WI '64)	jsmadia@aol.com
Janice Hall McPherson (WI '65)	JanMcPhrs@aol.com
Jane Davis Weida (WI '62)	was b.weida@att.net is now jdavisweida@wi.rr.com
Sandra (Babe Urso) Williams. (WI '55)	consanwill2@juno.com
Becky Hollandsworth Day (WI '59)	rebeccahday@houston.rr.com
Janet Webb Wendt (WI '56)	phijan@verizon.net

APRIL DONATIONS

Those generous people who sent a check to the WIN Scholarship in April are:

BILL SCHOLL WI 1952
in memory of his brother Jerry Scholl (WI 1954) deceased May 7, 1955

JAYNE ROSE ROSS WI 1957

NANCY STARETT WI 1953

Come join the others! Get with it! Be a part of what is happening! There is no amount of money that is too small or of course too large for me to accept!

Write your check to Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship
And send to
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219

submitted by: Lisa Reymond Bennett (RW '78)
Lbenn29255@aol.com

I really enjoyed the Newsletter. My husband is Bill Bennett and he graduated from WI in 1973. We have 2 children age 20 & 23 and they were very fortunate to attend and graduate from the consolidated RW-WI High School (Robert C. Byrd High School). Your newsletter brought back some wonderful memories and I recognized some people in the pictures. We see Al Castellana often in Clarksburg. Thank you and keep up the good work. Maybe someday we can get to Florida for the picnic in March.

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

In regards to your question which was when did they stop giving driver's test in Clarksburg? The answer is as follows: It was in April of 1972. They were asked to move out of the courthouse so they re-located in Nutter Fort opposite the former Griffin Laundry Mat. They vacated because the assessor’s office needed the space. This gave this office the whole West Side of the building which faces Court Street. The last State Police officer's were Sgt. Brackenrich, and the following trooper's: Gary Edgell, N.G. McNeill, J.E. Williams, W.P. Anderson. T.R. Cowan and C.B. Cassell. the secretary was Connie Starr.

submitted by: Cindy Este Loy (RW '78)
Loyclan@aol.com

I know for a fact that my father, Jim Este (VHS '55) knows what his first car was, and his 2nd and 3rd, etc. When I was visiting them in Florida in March I ran across a list of all the automobiles he had ever purchased and the purchase price. I told him he must have been really bored that day to resort to making this list. I guess he knew it would come in handy for your newsletter. By the way, Dad hasn't been doing well the last month with his radiation and chemo. If anyone would like to send him a card his snail mail address is 571 Kentia Rd., Casselberry, FL 32707 and his email is jeste35160@aol.com.

submitted by: Jim Ashley (WI '62)
jashley4@cox.net

Roleta, one of your photos solved a decade's long mystery for me. When I was growing up on Hart Street in Stealey, I had Max Lantz as a neighbor. He was a couple of years older than me, but he was one of the friends I really looked up to in the neighborhood. Max and Richie Roach, Mary Ann Sharpilisky, and Bill Moats were the "old kids" who pretty much took care of all the rest of us in setting up games and activities.

Then, one day around 1953 or so, Max's family became the first home on the street to have a television set. I remember sitting in the dark with them while they ate their dinners in front of the set, but I eventually got lured back outside by the sunshine and the baseball games in the vacant lot down at the corner of Hart and Duncan. Max never did come outside again and, in kind of a Twilight Zone type of way, disappeared entirely from the neighborhood's view and none of us were ever sure what became of him.

Thanks to you, though, I now know that Max did eventually escape from that TV set and is enjoying life outside in the sun.

submitted by: Molly Lynch Knotts (WI '66)
Hotknots99@aol.com

You must hear from many WI grads who are as overjoyed as I to know that your site exists...but for me to discover that I live only an hour or so south of Sarasota and the WI picnic site has made me grin from ear to ear.

I devoured each letter for the April issue and look forward to delving into past newsletters to glean smiles and fond memories.

Let me take a moment to thank you for contributing so much of your time to keep all of us old WI, and for that matter Harrison County, grads in the know.

I look forward to attending next spring's picnic. March 4th is my birthday and I can't imagine a better way to celebrate!!!!!!!!!!

If there is a site especially for WI 66 grads I would be most interested in knowing about it.

submitted by: Gene Davis (WI '59)
edavis@midlandpaper.com

Brenda and I are very thankful that we took the time to attend the reunion last summer. It was a wonderfully fulfilling experience for me to be back in Clarksburg after so many years away; and for Brenda to have a chance to meet some of the "kids" of which I have spoken through the years was great. Thank you again for what you do. Gene and Brenda Davis

submitted by: Joanne Simpson-Tetrick (WI '52)
re:Gregg Simpson (WI '77)
fragilegranny34@msn.com

To those of you who don't know my son, Gregg, he is the guy you have been praying for. He is having a "well" period at this time. He will have scans later this week. We are cautiously optimistic. Keep the prayers coming.........I KNOW they work......................

ARMED FORCES
June 21, 2005 is Armed Forces Day. Did you served in any branch of the Military? The newsletter is doing a survey and would like to have the names of anyone who ever attended WI and later served in the Armed Forces. We would like the name of the person who served, the year they attended WI and in which branch of the military they served. Nancy Starett (WI 1953) ncdstarett@yahoo.com has volunteered to conduct this survey for me. Please write to her with your information. Tell us the name of your brother, father, sister, mother, uncle, or anyone else, etc who served. Thanks you.

TRY TO REMEMBER
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
I keep asking you to remember…I know this is one way to fight old age. Life is made up of memories. We make memories every day. But what good are they if you don’t exercise that brain by remembering. My father was an educator from the “old school” and one day he told me that as he got older he didn’t want to lose his ability to remember things. Until he died he watched Jeopardy everyday and tried to learn and remember something new each time he watched it. He had a very sharp mind when his body gave out in 1999 at the age of 84.

Someone sent me this the other day! I love it and had to share;
It's hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything!

My warning to you! TRY TO REMEMBER! And I beg you to share your memories with others.

WOODTAGGERS
submitted by: Greg Jaranko (WI '60)
JPAdomitis@aol.com
You should have seen the rehearsal!

Coach Moore bowed and shook his head in disbelief.

What was better is catching his look during our performance at the point when he knew from seeing our rehearsal that we were going to break up the chorus line and each of us was going to go into doing our own thing.

WOW was he surprised, relieved and joyous! What a big smile he had! If only the rest of the school had known why!

What great fun.

I was in the middle trying to keep the line straight. Do you remember us doing a complete rotation of the line on stage? It was perfectly straight the entire time.

The Woodtaggers "Chorus Line” in the Senior Play was choreographed by two Senior Girls.

Do you know who? I do.
NOTE: Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com

Prior to the Chorus Line these girls took the time to teach me how to jitterbug.
Both tried to teach me to dance. What a student! Stepping on toes and tripping over feet, often my own, the two young ladies with a high degree of intestinal fortitude, finally got me good enough to try dancing in public. One of them even gave up some of her own public dancing time to get me out on the floor. She was kind and pretty, so I was glad to dance with her. It was usually dark enough that I figured no one could really tell who I was, so neither of us had to be embarrassed. From that humble beginning came the Twist and Popeye right up to the Senior Play.

HOT DOG!

Am I the only one that preferred Joe Serafini's hot dogs? They were HOT!
If you wanted the non spicy sauce, you ate the ones his wife made.
Both versions were excellent. Just had to ask!

You are invited to the Fifth Annual WI Alumni Picnic in Clarksburg, West Virginia, on Saturday, August 27, 2005, at the Clarksburg Park in Nutter Fort (formerly known as Norwood or Nutter Fort Park). This is for anyone who ever attended WI (you do not have to be a graduate). This year the picnic will be in the Big Pavilion, on the right just as you come in the park. It is double the size, next to toilets and has black top parking. Tell your neighbors and all of your friends. Let's make this a big WI ALUMNI DAY!

Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI 1959) is in charge of this picnic. She will need to know how many to expect. It is nice to be surprised but it isn’t nice to be overcome with a large group of people and not have enough supplies. So write to Sharyn and tell her you will see her there. mtmama41@msn.com

She provides everything for you except you will need to bring a covered dish, your own drink, and money to put in the pot to help her cover her expenses. Some people bring a folding lawn chair. Don't forget your cameras!!!

If you live out of the area, you might want to make this picnic part of a week long vacation that would include the Italian Heritage Festival in Clarksburg on Labor Day weekend. If you don't have family in the area with which you can stay, you should make motel reservations now.

Some area Motels:

Days Inn      842-7371    Off exit 119 then west to Bridgeport
Knights Inn    842-7115   Off Exit 119 then west to Bridgeport
Sleep Inn      842-1919    Off Exit 119 then west to Bridgeport
Holiday Inn    842-0503 or 842-5411    Off Exit 119 then west to Bridgeport
Hampton Inn    842-9300    Exit 120 (Mall Exit)

Maybe I will be at the WI PICNIC this year too.

MOVIES
submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
jteter@balmar.com
My favorite indoor theater was the Robinson Grand and my favorite drive-in theater was Ellis Drive-in. However, I cannot remember ANY MOVIE that I went to see at either of these places, as I do not think that I ever actually saw an entire movie. REASON BEING: The lady that I was with and I had better things to do than watch a movie, as NECKING was a highly established happening back in the 60's and not in front of ANYBODY. So, my date and I would go to a movie to hide from the world. If we went to the Robinson Grand, we would get seats in the balcony. If we went to the Ellis Drive-in, we would sit in the back seat whether it was the two of us or Bill Post and his date. SOMEBODY should REESTABLISH drive-in theaters, so that the YOUNGER GENERATION could enjoy what we had back in the 60's.

submitted by: Jim Pulice (WI '62)
jpulice@msn.com
My favorite move in high school was "Splendor in the Grass" with Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood...favorite theater was the Robinson Grand. Butch Felts’ father would always let me in free

submitted by: Joanne Tetrick (WI '52)
fragilegranny34@msn.com
My favorite movie was "A Place in the Sun" with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Cliff. It was at the Robinson Grand. I was in the balcony and when the lights came on at the end of the movie, I was in tears. That was my favorite theater also. I worked some in the box office and concession stand. Don and I were able to see all the movies for free. In those days, most dates were at the movies, Little Rock, and the Clique Club. Today is a costly date for most young teens. Those were the days.........................

submitted by: Jody Buffington Aud (WI '77)
jbuffaud@comcast.net
Without a doubt, the Robinson Grand Theatre was my favorite theatre. And, actually, it was great part of my life. The owner, Madge Doud, introduced my mother and father to each other (Helen and Ulysses Buffington). Every year for Christmas, Madge would give my sisters and I a year’s pass to the theatre. She would never let us wait in line for a theatre….even if the line was out the door and around the corner! She’d send her assistant manager, Stewart, looking through the line for us and he’d pull us out and take us in another door. In the middle of movies, Stewart would come shining his flashlight around when kids got too rowdy, but I don’t think he ever reported me to my parents! More than one time, if I was needed at home or down at dad’s photography studio to help out, I’d get a tap on the shoulder from Stewart to let me know my mom was on the phone!!! My friends would just shake their heads in amazement that she wouldn’t hesitate to call while I was watching a movie.

When I got to high school, my dad used to produce summer theatre for high school kids to have something to do while school was out. My sister, Suzanne, starred in many of those plays (and she went on to college to study musical drama). I used to work backstage – building sets, handling props, and goofing off! I think it prepared me for my career in public relations and for putting on special events. I made a dear friend back then – John Rice from Shinnston. We lost touch for many years and one day, in Baltimore, MD, I walked into a job interview and he was sitting there in the office waiting for me. He worked in Personnel and recognized my name. He and I still keep in touch now!

Just a few years ago, I bought Lotus McDowell’s print of the theatre and it is displayed prominently in my house ---- along with an old ticket my sister found somewhere in Clarksburg. The ticket price on the ticket is 17 cents so I’m guessing it was quite some time ago. My earliest memory of what a ticket cost was about 25-30 cents. When I grew up and left town, I was really given a shock by how much movies cost, that’s for sure!!!

As for my favorite movie that I saw there -- a no brainer – "HELP!", with the Beatles. I remember the theatre being absolutely mobbed with screaming teenagers. I think Madge wanted to close the theatre after the first performance!!!

APRIL TRIVIA PICTURE

NOW picture submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
READER’S NOTICE---The first 3 letters written to me about the Trivia picture were sent by 3 siblings. Isn’t that marvelous? I think that is really special. And all 3 siblings live in 3 different states! This way we view the Benedum Civic Center through the eyes of 3 different people growing up in the same home.

submitted by: Elizabeth Teter Akin (WI '56)
LibAkin@aol.com
The photo is of The Benedum Civic Center in Bridgeport. Ground was broken for this building on July 6, 1955. I am aware of that because my grandfather, Michael D. Teter, a childhood friend of Michael Benedum, turned the first shovel of earth. My grandfather was 87 at the time. The building's exterior was modeled after a home the Benedums had lived in at approximately the same site. (Yes, I know the Benedum house on Philadelphia, but that came after the money that Mike made in the oil business, and was built for his sisters, I believe.) When I was a child the Main Street house was used as a restaurant. (Weber's, maybe?). The entrance to the restaurant was below street level.

I am attaching pictures that were taken at the groundbreaking ceremony. One is of my grandfather with a shovel full of earth. The other is of the platform group with my grandfather standing. I won't be hurt if you don't use them, but the one might be of interest to some Bridgeport grads as Mr. N. R. Tolley, a former principal of the high school, is in the photo. Also in that photo is Cecil Highland, then publisher of the Clarksburg newspapers.

Somewhere I have a photo of the house that the Center was modeled on, and if I find it, I will send that along.

I know my brothers will have different memories as they attended dances there, I think. I am just that much older than they are I did take my children to the pool when we were visiting in the 60's and 70's.

submitted by: BobTeter (WI '60)
bteter@chartern.net
Looks to me like the Civic Center in Bridgeport. My grandparents lived there and I have many fond memories of dances held on Saturday night. There was a great band from Morgantown that played, but for the life of me I cannot remember their name.

submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
jteter@balmar.com
I think that the TRIVIA PICTURE for April is the Benedum Civic Center in Bridgeport. That place really brings back some GOOD MEMORIES. Dancing, dancing and more dancing! PLUS, the trips out and about during INTERMISSION were awesome as well. If this is correct, it would be interesting to know if they still have dances there on Saturday nights for the kids in the areas of Clarksburg and Bridgeport. I can remember the Prodigals playing there a few times. It will be interesting to know what the building is if it is NOT the Benedum Civic Center.

submitted by: Mary K. McDaniel Bellisario (WI '65)
bayouduo_1@charter.net
That's the Bridgeport Civic Center, where we spent many, many Saturday nights, dancing to the Emeralds, or occasionally other bands. Early on there was ice skating to the left as you face the building in the photograph.

submitted by: Cheryl Corder McClure (WI '64)
jb777@ns.gemlink.com
It's the Bridgeport Civic Center I remember the ice skating rink what fun!

submitted by: Jim Pulice (WI '62)
jpulice@msn.com
I'm sure you will get a lot of feed back on this one. The trivia picture is of the Bridgeport Civic Center. Dances were held there every Saturday night....most of the WI boys would leave from the Sportsman Inn.....or as we called it "Joes".......the band would call for a ladies choice and if you were a good dancer...some times you had to fight the girls off...... Good times great memories....the Bridgeport girls always had a thing for the WI Boys....(they were the better dancers)

submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
Waynepawco@verizon.net
This is the Benedum Civic Center in Bridgeport, WV. This building is located on Main Street and has a swimming pool behind it and the tennis courts. At one time the Bridgeport Library was located on the second floor and other meeting rooms down stairs. Years back the Bridgeport city fathers had meetings in this building..

submitted by: Bob Kramer (WI '65)
slimedawgg@aol.com
This is a picture of the Bridgeport Civic Center. They had dances there on Saturday nights. People from all of the high schools would go and make friends, then go to the Green Parrot and have a brew or two.

submitted by: Mary Nicewarner Tucker (WI '56)
Spankytuk@aol.com
I'm sure you will get a lot of feed back on this one. The trivia picture is of the Bridgeport Civic Center. Dances were held there every Saturday night....most of the WI boys would leave from the Sportsman Inn.....or as we called it "Joes".......the band would call for a ladies choice and if you were a good dancer...some times you had to fight the girls off...... good times great memories....the Bridgeport girls always had a thing for the WI boys.... (they were the better dancers) My sister-in-law, Joan Nicewarner worked there for a period of time. Also her son, Philip Nicewarner had his wedding reception there. They have the big pool and recreation area. It is right next to the railroad tracks that really hold up the traffic. When you come down the hill from the junior high school you had better have good brakes on your car or else you end up in the front door of the center.

The official name is Benedum Civic Center. It houses the parks and recreation offices, multipurpose meeting rooms, auditorium with stage, kitchen facilities, parking for the civic center, pool and tennis courts, picnic area with grill and court yard, volley ball courts and lighted basketball courts.

submitted by: Roberta Stalnaker Paugh (WI '65)
Roberta2jerry@msn.com
This is the Bridgeport Civic Center - now (& maybe then) named the Benedum Civic Center. They held dances there every week-end. I think I was a freshman or sophomore. There were live bands, and everyone dressed up! Usually, the girls were on one side of the floor, and the boys on the other. Someone's parents would take us there and someone else's pick us up. If you had a boyfriend, or met someone who you liked, you'd take a walk across Simpson Creek on the bridge. I can remember the dances - the "mashed potatoes" - the "monkey" - the "twist" - and several I can't remember. There was also an ice-skating rink there in the winter. I lived in Stealey, and it was a big deal to go to Bridgeport then - seemed like a world away! What fun we had!!

submitted by: Gladys Williams (WI '71)
Gwill1004@aol.com
It is the Benedum Civic Center located on Main St. in Bridgeport, WV. I teach at Bridgeport High School. We have used the Civic Center for several trainings and dinners.

submitted by: Randall Martin (WI '75)
rmartin@aep.com
Is this the Bridgeport Community Center that is by the community pool? If it is, I remember going to see my then girl-friend - now wife, Tammy Tillman, dance in a ballet recital there in the spring of 1973. It was a warm spring evening with light rain showers, a very fond memory that has been too long in remembering, thanks for the picture to stir the memory. We have been married now going on 30 years. She graduated in 1976 and I graduated in 1974.

submitted by: Jody Buffington Aud (WI '77)
jbuffaud@comcast.net
I believe the trivia picture is the Benedum Civic Center in Bridgeport. They used to have teen dances there through the summer. I used to love to go there and see friends from other high schools that I knew casually but didn’t see that much throughout the year. I remember all of those dances being great fun!

submitted by: Jackie Harker Martin (WI '72)
jackie42454@hotmail.com
I believe this is the Bridgeport Civic Center. Back in the 60's my sister, Kathy (Harker) Helsley, and I spent time there at the Library with our cousins Tina (Lynch) Farley and Mary Louise (McCartney) Metzgar who lived nearby. I remember numerous fun afternoons spent at the Bridgeport Pool also.

submitted by: Nancy VanGilst Rice (WI '60)
nvrice@adelphia.net
I believe this building is the Bridgeport Civic Center. I remember attending plays both there and at the Clarksburg Civic Center with my mother -- a memory of one of the special things the two of us did together. I can also remember times at the ice skating rink which was beside the Bridgeport Civic Center. Friends and I would spend an afternoon or evening skating there when the ice on Maple Lake or the West Fork was not thick enough for safe skating.

submitted by: Gig Selby Meredith (WI '62)
fmeredith@mail.fscwv.edu
I don't have a personal memory about the photo but I thought you might like to print the information - assuming I am correct.

The photo in April newsletter is the Benedum Civic Center in Bridgeport. It was built as a replica of the boyhood home of Mike Benedum. Mike was a "wildcat oilman" and made bunches of money. Mike's only son was Claude Worthington Benedum. He died during World War One I believe. Mike left a legacy in the Benedum Foundation named after his son. It is one of the larger foundations in the United States. The western section of Pennsylvania and all of West Virginia remain beneficiaries of this foundation still today. The money usually is given in grants to projects that assist people in being more self sufficient- such as scholarships and grants to educational institutions. Hospitals, churches and many other agencies receive money each year. Nursing schools have also been recipients over the years.

The Benedum Civic Center today offers lots of activities and always is busy. It is a great asset to the city of Bridgeport.

submitted by: Bill Bryan (RW '57)
PBRNRX64@aol.com
I believe the trivia picture for May is the Bridgeport Civic Center. Time I spent there was as an older adult (4 years in the Navy, immediately after high school), and had to do with the dances that were (I think) on Saturday nights. I didn't dance, but enjoyed the scene and music. I have good hearing today, but wonder why--I stood in front of the speakers weekly to hear the "Fabians". As I remember, their opening number was "Wild Weekend". The music was great. Saxophones! I miss them.

submitted by: Jackie Clifton Goff (VHS '67)
jgoff@criss-crosswv.com
It is the Bridgeport Civic Center, which still looks pretty much the same. I spent many a fun Saturday night there is the 60's. We heard some great music and mingled, sometimes, with the other area schools. If only we knew then what we know now we probably would have gotten to know those people from those other schools better. It is a shame we had such cliques back then.

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR JUNE

Please write and guess the name of the picture above. I only print correct guesses. Tell me a memory too …… write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

HALL OF FAME IRISH LEGENDS NOTRE DAME/ST. MARY’S INDUCTION

From the EDITOR: In the January issue I suggested the readers send me their memories about basketball teams, players, etc. I am sure some of you readers remember an article in the February Newsletter in the section called “Let’s Play Basketball” about great basketball teams and players written by Joe Malone (WI 1952). Pat Elder (ND 1957) did a terrific follow up to this story. Now thanks to those marvelous memories that Joe Malone wrote to the newsletter, about the St. Mary’s team of 1947 and the nominations by Pat Elder, that team will be inducted into the IRISH LEGENDS Hall of Fame.

I think you basketball fans will find this discussion to be very interesting. I am letting you in on the ground floor

First I received this letter from Pat Elder (ND 1957)

Roleta, I am trying to pull up March newsletter & cannot. I think that is the right one. Right at about 60% thru the letter there was an entry from, I believe, Joe Malone WI '52 talking about some of the best HS basketball teams around Cbg over the years. He talked about the 1947 St. Mary's team that featured the Wanstreets and the Romanos, two sets of brothers. I would like to make an entry in the May letter that Joe Malone's recount of that era led to the nomination of the '47 team, coached by Tony Folio, into this years NDHS/SMHS Sports Hall of Fame known as "Irish Legends". I thought that was really cool of someone like Joe Malone to remember way back then and to compliment them the way he did. The induction will be made May 13 at the Via Veneto restaurant. If you can copy Joe Malone with this, I would appreciate it.
Pat Elder NDHS '57
PS: I think that Paul Romano is the only surviving member & will accept the award.
Congratulations to Joe Malone and the WI Newsletter for causing this to happen. Paul Romano is aglow!!

From The Editor: I sent the above letter to Joe Malone (WI 1952). Joe then wrote back with the following:

When Roleta asked for comments on the high school BB scene in Clarksburg in years past, my mind went initially to the WI teams that we followed in the early Fifties. I frankly don't recall much about Victory or RW (except Clayce Kishbaugh - RW '53, who was a personal friend and competitor) but there was that one team at SM that came to mind as a real "team" as opposed to a "star" and supporting cast. As I recall, Buddy Philbin was the fifth member of the Wanstreet/Romano combination playing center at roughly 6'1". He lived just up Fifth Street from me and probably was the reason I followed the team's progress as a 7th grader at Central Junior High School. He was one tough guy.

I guess it makes sense that Tony Folio coached them as he came up to WI from SM replacing Clay B. Hite in 1951, my senior year. Others will remember more about the specific record and accomplishments of the 1947 SM squad, but they clearly made a lasting impact on this youngster. I am pleased that they will be recognized this spring. Paul Romano wouldn't know me from Adam, but I would be pleased if word got to him as the sole surviving member of the team that some old jock out in California still remembers him and his teammates.

Next is a letter from Pat Elder in response to what Joe Malone had written:

In Joe Malone's remarks he asked if anyone out there knew the other players. The main 5 were Sam & Paul Romano; Bob and Paul Wanstreet and Buddy Philbin. The others were Jurick, Palmer, Libert, Angotti, Lopez and Cann. The coach was Tony Folio, who later, in '52 became the WI coach. Eneix was the manager. Paul Romano, along with Libert, Lopez and Cann still survive--the rest are now deceased.

ORDER 5 YEARS OF THE NEWSLETTER ON ONE EASY TO USE CD
Yes, you can just pop a CD into that little tray on your computer, click, sit back and read the first 5 years of the newsletter. Larry Kimler (Judy’s Daugherty Kimler’s husband) was kind enough to burn a CD that holds all of the first 5 years of the newsletter and he made it so easy to use, anyone can do it! So order your CD now. Remember all the profit from the sale of the CD goes into the WIN Scholarship bank account. Judy has raised over $500.00 for the WIN Scholarship bank account by selling these CDs. Contact Judy now at jkimler@verizon.net for details on how to order your CD. The cost of one CD is $10.00.

DO YOU REMEMBER
COME ON, PLAY THIS GAME WITH ME!
To discuss next month:

Select your favorites and why? I will keep a tally. We will find out who are the favorites of the WI Newsletter Readers? You can copy this section (know how to do that? If not, write to me and I can give you instructions.) But just copy and click on my email address then paste this into the body of your email to be sent to me….Then you can vote and type your reply! It is simple---just write to me and I will try to help you do it! Or of course, you can get a piece of paper, make a list of numbers from 1 to 15 and then write down your choices….Next, email them to me. Or mail them to me via US Postage…the address is scattered throughout this newsletter. I will try this for a few months if I get enough response. If you don’t care…..skip it and if I don’t hear from enough people, I will guess you don’t care for this and I will leave it out of future newsletter. YOUR CHOICE! Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

1.Ozzie and Harriet or Make Room for Daddy
2.Red Skelton or Jack Benny
3.Bob Hope or Fred Allen
4. Bing Crosby or Vaughn Monroe---name a song form each
5. Maw and Paw Kittle or The Little Rascals
6. Gene Autry or Roy Rogers
7. Martin and Lewis or Abbot and Costelow
8. Mr. Keen Tracer of Lost Persons or The Shadow
9. The Lone Ranger or Hopalong Cassidy
10. Inner Sanctum or The Saint
11.Jimmy Dorsey or Glenn Miller
12. Sam Cook or Jimmy Rogers
13. Perry Como or Nat King Cole
14 The Four Freshman or The Four Aces
15 The Ink Spots or The Mills Brothers

Okay---I thought of a few---now you give me more suggestions of some old familiar names in radio, TV, movies and recording artists. I will do this again if enough vote to make it worth my time! I just thought this would be interesting! Write Roleta1@aol.com.

CLASS OF 1965 PLANNING ITS 40TH REUNION
We are planning our “40th” class reunion to be held June 24 and 25, 2005, at the Village Square Conference Center (across from United Hospital Center/the old Jewel City Bowling Lanes). We are still searching for class members. If anyone has any information on the people listed below, address, email, phone number, etc., please let us know. Forward your information to: Marsha (Golden) Caplinger at WI1965@aol.com:

Michael Barnes
Sharon Bates
Sharon Buseman (Davies)
Eddie Bynum
Carole Castello (Cass)
Cathy Chapman
Charles Cheatwood
Philip Corathers
Gary Cox
Linda Dill (Evans)
William Dorfman
Rodney R. Gay
Myra Hanger (Moon)
Carol Hauman
Deanna Kennedy (Healer)
Diane Kyle (Trusler)
Dennis Losh
Beverly Mason
Sandra Matheny (Dent)
Ruth McCullough
Janie Mclntire (Russo)
Barbara McFayden
Rhonda Miller (Wharton)
Margaret Moore (Shaffer)
Shelia Moore
Sharon Myers (Johnson)
David Scott
Gregory C. Smith
Patricia Sparks (Cummings)
Bob Sturm
Michael H. Vernon
Frank Wilson
Beverly Wolfe (Coffman)

FENDER SKIRTS
submitted by: Charles McClung (VHS '48)
cmcclungsr@msn.com
Thinking about "fender skirts" started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice.

Like "curb feelers" and "steering knobs." Since I'd been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that direction first. Any kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you.

Remember "Continental kits?" They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.

When did we quit calling them "emergency brakes?" At some point "parking brake" became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with "emergency brake."

I'm sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the "foot feed." Didn't you ever wait at the street for your daddy to come home, so you could ride the "running board" up to the house?

Here's a phrase I heard all the time in my youth but never anymore - "store-bought ". Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days. But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought bag of candy.

"Coast to coast" is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term "worldwide" for granted. This floors me.

On a smaller scale, "wall-to-wall" was once a magical term in our homes. In the '50s, everyone covered his or her hardwood floors with, wow, wall-to-wall carpeting! Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors. Go figure.

When's the last time you heard the quaint phrase "in a family way?" It's hard to imagine that the word "pregnant" was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite company. So we had all that talk about stork visits and "being in a family way" or simply "expecting."

Apparently "brassiere” is a word no longer in usage. I said it the other day and my daughter cracked up. I guess it's just "bra" now. " Unmentionables" probably wouldn't be understood at all.

It's hard to recall that this word was once said in a whisper -"divorce." And no one is called a "divorcee" anymore, certainly not a "gay divorcee." Come to think of it, "confirmed bachelors" and "career girls" are long gone, too.

I always loved going to the "picture show," but I considered "movie" an affectation.

Most of these words go back to the '50s, but here's a pure-'60s word I came across the other day - "rat fink." Ooh, what a nasty put-down!

Here's a word I miss - "percolator." That was just a fun word to say. And what was it replaced with? "Coffeemaker”, how dull. Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this.

I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern and now sound so retro. Words like "DynaFlow " and "Electrolux ." Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with " SpectraVision!"

Food for thought - Was there a telethon that wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore. Maybe that's what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening their kids with castor oil anymore.

Some words aren't gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. The one that grieves me most "supper”. Now everybody says "dinner." Save a great word. Invite someone to supper. Discuss fender skirts.

Someone forwarded this to me. I thought some of us of a "certain age" would remember most of these

EDITOR’S NOTE: Did this discussion of words bring back memories to you? Can you think of another word that is now nearly distinct? Write your word and how it was used to Roleta1@aol.com.

BLUE JEANS
submitted by: Jack Emrick (WI '53)
Cadilacjak54@aol.com
When I think of blue jeans, I remember that there were the blue jeans that I thought of as workers jeans, as they were big in the leg, and only came in 2 lengths, long and too long, so they had to be rolled up, and for me that would mean 3 or 4 rolls. The jeans that all of the teens wanted were the western jeans. There were just three brands: LEVI"S , and the pretenders to the throne LEE'S, and WRANGLERS. LEVI'S could be purchased at the WORKINGMAN'S Store for $4.98 a pair. We rolled our's 2 times, so you had to purchase them about 2 inches too long and 2 inches too big in the waist. Some guys would put them on and jump in a bathtub full of water, and then get out and let them dry while they wore them. This was supposed to make them fit perfectly. As you may remember, jeans were not pre-washed back then. Later, we got them cut off, after they had been washed many times, to the perfect length. They seemed to look much better that way. Today, I wear the “el-cheapos” called RUSTLERS. I just love them, as I am a very plain vanilla kind of guy, and can not imagine paying 30 or 40 dollars for designer jeans. Still, after getting them for 10 bucks and paying 8 bucks to have them cut to length, they don't end up being all that much of a bargain. You see, I'm only about 5' 4.5" (I have shrunk about 3 inches) with a 26.5" inseam and a waist of about 37+" ,and they just don't make them that size. I am still a jeans and loafers person, and prefer that to dressing up.-------------------------JAK

CENTRAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

submitted by: Jack Emrick (WI '53)
Cadilacjak54@aol.com
I was a student at Central during the 47-48,and 48-49 years. In 7th grade, I had Miss Israel as my home room teacher. I really liked her. In the 8th grade, my teacher was "Pop Luzader" I think that the whole school loved that man. He was sort of a grandfatherly figure. He looked much older than he was, probably because of his bald head and glasses. Can any one of the readers remember "SLAM BOOKS"? These were note books, usually of the three ring variety, so you could add or delete pages. You would write the name of your class mates at the top of each page. In other words, each one would have a page of his/her own. The books were passed around and each person would write something about the named person on the page. there was no adherence to the lines, and some would write in circles and so forth. Sometimes the things that were written were even unkind---hence the name "slam book". I had a classmate, whose friendship I hold dear to this day, who was just a little on the "chuffy"side. Notice I didn't use the term "chubby" as I don't believe that it fit. I gave Pop Luzader the book and when I got it back, he had written in it, on her page, “rotund BEAUTY". I asked him (I was only an eighth grader, and didn't know), "Mr. Luzader, what does rotund mean"? He explained that it meant round. He said that that was why he wrote rotund in small letters and BEAUTY in capitols. He wanted the focus to be on how pretty she was. I never forgot that lesson. I remember some of the things that were written on "MY" page. Wow. Good thing I have always been thick-skinned. (This story has been related to the lady in the story, and she was not offended by it, so I feel safe in relating it, as she is not identified) I also remember the "CINCINNATTIAN" which was a sort of streamlined steam engine passenger train that operated from Cincinnati to Washington, D.C. It ran in the afternoon and there was one going each direction, as I recall. They traveled a little faster than the other trains of that day. I think that the westbound train came thru first around 1 and then the eastbound a little after 2 P.M. They were a midnight blue in color, and looked very fast. We could see them from Pop Luzader's room which was the science room. There were several deaths at the old Carnation Milk plant railroad crossing as a result of the trains higher speed coupled with the visibility problems at that site. (This railroad bed has been turned into a "rails to trails" venue, as the rails and ties were taken up years ago). These are a couple of memories that I have of Central

submitted by: Barbara Sutton Elder (WI '57)
BarbSutton6@aol.com
Oh the memories of Central Jr. High School! I was in Miss Ferguson's class and many incidents stand out in my mind of that year. First of course was the loss of our classmate, Howard Creighton due to an unfortunate accident and our entire class attended the funeral with our teacher and the principal of Central. What a sad, sad time for all of us to endure.

That same year our 7th grade basketball team beat the 8th grade team for the school championship!! We had a great team, Tom Allen, Dave Hutson, Jack Bennett and sorry can’t remember the others. In the 8th grade I unfortunately had Miss Cannon as home room teacher!!! Boy did you know math when she got a hold of you!!! Such memories!! But I wouldn’t change them for the world.

Thanks for the great newsletter again this month

submitted by: Judy McDougal Siders (WI '57)
siders_judy@hotmail.com
I believe it was 7th grade when we had sewing class. We had to make an apron and put our initials on it. My initials were JAM and let me tell you I have always been in one. However, I was in class and sewing along and forgot to move my finger! Guess what! The needle went all the way through my fingernail and finger. I screamed and everyone else did too. The teacher just turned the needle back up through and took me to a nurse. I can’t remember the name of teachers. The one lesson I learned in cooking class (I swear this is true) don't use black pepper in mashed potatoes because people will think they have dirt in them.

Oh, what memories!

submitted by: Marolyn Tustin Jett (WI '56)
Ma5388@earthlink.com
Going to Central Jr was a big step for those of us who had attended a neighborhood school. Now, we would be riding a bus everyday and taking our lunch. We would have a homeroom but would change classes, have several teachers and would be meeting many new students. In the very early fall, not long after school started, our new physical education teacher introduced the girls to the ring toss. I was small and not very athletic but I was quick and therefore good at the game of ring tennis. My friends' mother bought me a ring toss as a gift and I took it to school AGAINST my mothers wishes. That day some girlfriends and I played outside in front of the school on our lunch break. Our game had just started when a 7th grade BOY came running out of the doors of the school, jumped up and caught the ring toss and gave it a big "heave ho" far and beyond the school property, over a fence and shrubbery, behind a home behind The First Methodist Church. All of the girls ran to the fence and tried to climb it and through the shrubbery to no avail. We pondered what to do and decided to go see our principal, Mr. Lowther. He became very upset saying that there was no way we could get the ring toss as the neighbors of the school had complained many times about students ruining their fences and shrubbery trying to get their balls, etc. They had told him "what landed on their property became their property" so he refused to ask them. So the ring toss was never to be seen again! Needless to say I was very upset with Mr. Lowther, but more upset with a certain 7th grade student. I soon learned his name was JIMMY ALVARO! Yes, our good buddy Jim!! So Jim, I have forgiven, but not forgotten!

My home room was #210 (Miss Israel) on the right of the school at the end of the hallway on the left. She was a niece of Miss Mattie Israel, my third grade teacher at Morgan. We would walk single file to classes on that side of the hall. One day at the end of Math class, as we walked in line to the end of our aisle to file out of the class, I became faint and before reaching the doorway I fell to the floor. It was not unusual for this to happen to me but it was the first time it had happened at school. I awoke to an ammonia capsule being held to my nose and Mr. Lowther and Miss Smith standing over me with many anxious students looking on. Miss Smith was a redhead with very fair complexion. but I remember her being very ashen at that time. (She later told my mother she was more frightened than she'd ever been in her life as she thought I had died right there in her class room, as I was "out" for some time). Mr. Lowther then took me to the teacher's lounge to rest and have a cold drink and then drove me home to Stealey. What principal would do that today or be allowed to do that? I then, in my own mind, forgave him for the ring toss incident.

DRIVING
submitted by: Ken McIe (WI '59)
kenmcie@yahoo.com
And you asked for memories about that first car. But you win the daily double - I'm going to give you two for one!!

Reading the April 2005 Newsletter, there were several memories about that driving test. So, I am going to start with that and transition into the car.

As ever, I was a late bloomer when it came to driving. I went off to the Navy in 1959 a scant five days after graduation. And, in Nov 1961, I came home on leave after my first overseas tour in Turkey (but that's another memory). My Mom confronted me and said it was time to get the driver's license. So, I got the permit and I hit the road (here I am, over 20 without a license.). I went out in the big Oldsmobile on the back roads behind the VA Hospital - Mount Claire, etc. And in short order, I took my test in Clarksburg - not the easy one near the State Police Station on Rt 19. Everything went well, including going up Fifth Street, coming to a stop at the stop sign, and then, moving out again clutching all the way!! Passed on my first try and I had my license - all in the 30 day leave.

I went to my next duty station, the Washington, DC Naval Communication Station. My older brother, Virgil, was stationed at the Naval Photographic Station in SE Washington. He and I scanned the papers looking for a car for me. We found one and went up 14th Street NW.

Car number one was a 1956 light blue two-door Nash Rambler. What a bomb! But it ran, it was an automatic, it had a six cylinder engine, and it ran. I got city driving experience in the beast, named it Ben - all my cars have been named Ben. And, I came home as often as I could, running Rt 50 from the Potomac River in Washington, through Winchester, and across those beautiful mountains - in all weather conditions. We were inseparable. He was the first of some 13 difference vehicles, 11 of which were stick shifts.

I found independence with Ben. I was not tied down anywhere looking for transportation. Looking back on it, I was like Harry Potter and his broomstick!! Wow!!!

Ben, the First, and I knew the wind, rain, mountains, Saddleback, Cheat, Laurel, SNOW, ice, sun, interstates, turnpikes, tunnels, blue skies, fun times, a beginning of some 40 years of cars, other countries, other friends, - all because Mom gave me that push to get a license and buy a car.

Thanks for letting me carry on, Roleta. Hope you ring another bell and get me started again.

submitted by: Martha Ann Jeffries Rice (WI '55)
Lonoma@aol.com
I enjoyed the newsletter and photos as usual. You do an outstanding job!

About leaning to drive and taking the driver's test....

I was fifteen and my mother, Louise Jeffries, decided that learning to drive was important and that I should get my permit. She had her first car, a '48 Plymouth. Naturally the car was a "stick shift." My instruction began after school was out for the summer in 1952 at Lake Floyd. I was scared to death! The part I remember best was that there were no guard rails around the lake. Visions of driving into the water haunted my dreams. Mother took me out every day until she thought I was able to be on my own. As it turned out I did a good job and ran errands for mother to the club house to get milk, etc. for the rest of the summer. I also remember that I had a lead foot and probably avoided an accident because my guardian angel was with me.

When it came time for the driver's test, I had heard that the best time to go was around 4:45 pm when the policeman was ready to quit for the day. I drove around the block, did not have to parallel park, and was back at the lake by 6 o'clock with my temporary license in hand. I still love to drive!!

submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
jteter@balmar.com
I can remember my first car just like it was yesterday. It was a NEW 1965 Chevrolet, Impala Supersport; white exterior; light blue interior; a stick shift (4 on the floor); bucket seats; a 327 cubic inch engine with 250 horsepower (a beast in those days). It was the second car that I had driven that had a stick shift, as I had only driven my best buddy's parents' car once before I drove this NEW car out of the showroom at the dealership in Buckhannon. I managed to get the car out of the showroom without any damage to it and/or the people around me. I had that car for ONE YEAR; went thru 3 clutches and 2 transmissions; and finally traded it in on a 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass. A year after I traded the Impala, I actually went back to West Virginia (I lived in Virginia where I still am) to try to buy that Impala back. MUCH TO MY DISMAY, the person that had bought the Impala had driven it into a HAY BARN at what had been reported as "in excess of 100 miles per hour" and TOTALLED THE CAR. I have a picture of me with the car as the PROUD OWNER. The funny side of this story is that the week that the car was delivered to the dealership in Buckhannon, I received a letter from UNCLE SAM requesting my presence to take a physical to be inducted into the Army. Fortunately (as far as the car was concerned), I failed my physical because of a kidney operation that I had had while attending WI, and was unable to serve in the armed forces.

I still admire that car whenever I see the picture, and when I go by and see one of them on the road and still in use. AWESOME CAR.

submitted by: Kim Ludwick Wildt (WI '77)
kwildt@sc.rr.com
When I took Driver's Ed, Coach Alkire was the teacher. I already knew how to drive, but took the course for a decrease in car insurance.

I will never forget almost going over the hill as we reached the top of Loundes (I forget how it's spelled) Hill. I won't mention the guy's name that was driving, but Coach reached over and grabbed the wheel just in time. Fortunately, there was no car coming toward us.

Here in SC they have no idea how steep the hills are in WV. Never thought I'd say it but I miss those hills and winding roads.

submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
Fgl46vhs@aol.com
My first automobile was a 1931 Model A Ford Convertible that I purchased for $100.00. It had no side curtains so when I was caught in a rain storm I had to stop under an underpass till the rain slaked down. Going home one Saturday night the car quit on me driving up Gore Straight. Trooper "Kit" Carson came along and said I had to get it off the highway. I informed him that it wouldn't run so he helped me push it in the ditch. A mechanic friend of mine found out that I had a busted piston. We couldn't find the right size so he installed a smaller one. I then didn't have enough power to climb a hill such as the Adamston underpass. I then sold it to Rev. Desist of Hepzibah for $125.00. He used it for about a month then parked it. I then bought a 1941 Plymouth Coupe for $400.00.

submitted by: Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI '59)
jkimler@verizon.net
The first car I bought was a 1959 Buick LeSabre. It was a light blue-green, turquoise color. It had those big fins and was a dream to drive. I loved that car. I drove it for years and still had it in 1966 when I moved to Huntington. I started having some small problems with it and my father was the type that when things started going wrong with a car you got rid of it. He advised me to trade it in and I did. The next car I got was another Buick - a 1962 bright red Special. It was alright but not my LeSabre. I will always miss "my baby". It really was the best.

SCHOOL DISCIPLINE
submitted by: Jim Pulice (WI '62)
jpulice@msn.com
We were not paddled in WI….but you got your behind blistered in Central Junior High School. At WI you were put out of class!

SALK OR SABIN
submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)
MSSpahr@aol.com
The Salk vaccine came before the Sabin. I got mine from our family doctor prior to departing Clarksburg to attend nursing school.

submitted by: Ron Cleavenger (WI '63)
RonCleaven@aol.com
Actually Roleta, the Salk shots are no longer in use in this country; the Sabin Oral vaccine is now in use and I remember as a child at Pierpont Grade School refusing to get the Salk shots, as I was petrified of needles; when the Sabin oral came out in 1961, I got them.

HOME EC
submitted by: Gloria Caruso Sahffer (WI '58)
mshaffer@ma.rr.com

I remember Home Ec class in the 7th grade at Central Jr. High. I am pretty sure Miss Jarvis was my teacher.

She told us we were going to be making a skirt and to buy material and thread and a thimble.

My mother and I went to town and bought about 5 yards of putrid lime green cotton material for a gathered skirt with a waist band. No zipper, thank goodness. Who in the world would buy lime green for someone like me. While at Central and part of WI, I was called a "chubette" which is a polite word for "fat".

Anyway, we get the skirt made, the waist band on and then it is time to hem. Have you ever hemmed 5 yards of gathered material? It just goes on and on and on. Finally, I figured this is ridiculous and started taking stitches about 3 inches long. I was sick of that skirt. Of course I didn't get away with doing that. I had to take it all out and re-hem the whole skirt over again.

Miss Jarvis also made us use a thimble. To this day I cannot sew with one of those things on my finger.

Live and learn--there are no shortcuts!

submitted by: Catherine Custer Burke (WI '52)
katieburke@citynet.net
While the boys were in Shop class at Central Junior, we girls took Home Ec. Miss Gertrude Connell was our sewing teacher in seventh grade. Our class project was to make a big unbleached muslin apron. We wore the apron next year in Miss Wilma Wine's cooking class. One recipe I remember is orange toast probably because I liked it. Much of our time was spent in the busy work of copying recipes or something which could have influenced some of us not to take Home Ec in high school.

LOOKING FOR THAT OLD PHOTO!
submitted by: Davis Flynn (WI '59)
DavisFlynn@yahoo.com
I am desperately looking for some old photos I know are some where. It has all the McGanns, Comers, Boltens, Dick Hanifan, James Baird (pharmacy) etc. Also others of Morgan, Upper Stealey version of "our gang". One of my fondest memories is going to Ridenour's Store and getting a RC cola and a packet of Pink Snow balls for 15 cents. Just can't express the gratitude you have done with the newsletter.

SLIPPED MY MIND
submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
Did it slip your mind? Were you meaning to send me a check and forgot? Well, STOP what you are doing right now and write that check. If you wait until you are finished reading the newsletter, you will forget again. Each month I hear from someone who says they are going to send me a check and obviously he or she forgets! I hate to admit it, it is our age. I not only enter a room and forget why I went in there but I can sit there and try to remember and it won’t come back to me. But let me get in the car and drive a few miles from the house and all of a sudden it comes back to me why I entered that room! Drat, it was to get something I needed to take someplace in the car while I was out! So goes the day! You read earlier in the newsletter about the 2 students who were awarded the WIN Scholarships. It is a wonderful feeling to be a part of this scholarship program. The scholarship is the WIN (WI Newsletter) scholarship. It is from all of you readers of the WI Newsletter who donated! All of you can take pride in the fact you helped a child with the costs of their first year of college.

So write your check now:
Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219

This address is for my office….That way my mail will reach me wherever I may roam!

STREET CARS IN CLARKSBURG & FAIRMONT, WV
submitted by: Ralph Hardman (WI '59)
WeR1@aol.com

Picture above was taken on the Fourth Street Bridge in Clarksburg, WV

I made a program on a CD, The History of {STREET CARS IN CLARKSBURG & FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA.} This CD tells the history of the street cars from when they began in 1902 thru 1947 when they were removed. I'll be selling the CD's in the local Clarksburg area, and if any readers of the newsletter would like a copy, all they have to do is e-mail me for information. WeR1@aol.com.

One will be at the Clarksburg,WV Library for everyone in this area to view unless they would like a personal copy.

PRECIOUS CHILD OF APRIL 2005

submitted by: Phil Hooper (WI '59)
Bumpes@msn.com
This young boy turned into a fine gentleman. I went to grade school with him at Pierpont for a few years. We were in the Cub Scouts together and his mother was our Scout leader. Then his family moved, I believe to Stealey. Then we reunited at Central Junior High and graduated from WI in 1959. We were in the band for a few years together, he played the sax and I tried to play the drums. The next time I saw him was in July 2004 for our 45th class reunion. It was really nice getting to see this great guy again and meeting his lovely wife Brenda . Oh by the way this gentleman's name is Eugene Davis.

submitted by: Ruth Ann Martin Hill (WI '59)
RuthAnn275@aol.com
The child of the month is Eugene Davis. He was a friend from Stealey and I was pleased to see him and meet his lovely wife at the last reunion.

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
Sure it is Eugene (Gene) Davis. Hasn’t changed that much has he? He still has those big dark mysterious eyes. It was so good to see him at the reunion. I don’t remember him having been to one reunion in the past. I am glad he has reunited with his classmates and friends. I hope to see him again at the next reunion…..or sooner.

submitted by: Carolyn Warne (WI '59)
wrmychsnut@aol.com
Jerry and I will guess that the precious child for April is Gene Davis. One of the most wonderful surprises during our class reunion in 2004 was being reunited with Gene and meeting his lovely wife Brenda. It had been 45 years since we last saw Gene and it was a great reunion with him. We had extra time to visit and we look forward to being with them again in the future.

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR MAY 2005

Does the child pictured above look familiar to you? Would you like to guess? Come on, be a good sport, make a guess. I only print the correct answers but how do you know if you are correct unless you try? Join in the fun! Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com.

OBITUARIES
SAMUEL ELLIS
Samuel A. Ellis, 91, of Dunbar, formerly a longtime resident of Clarksburg, passed away, March 25, 2005 following a brief illness.

He was born October 12, 1913, in Willard, W.Va., the son of the late Anthony Allessio and Marie Theresa Guida Allessio.

Mr. Ellis was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Rago Ellis, on January 17, 2001.

He is survived by three sons, Richard L. Ellis of Atlanta, Ga., David J. Ellis and wife Sharon of Charleston, WV, Sam J. Ellis of New York, N.Y. and six grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Frank Ellis, John Ellis, Louie Ellis and Joe Ellis, and one sister, Flora Scalise.

Mr. Ellis was a businessman, having partnered with his brothers in the Ellis Restaurant and Drive-In Theater from 1950-1981.

He was a school teacher and band director at Roosevelt-Wilson High School, where he was also later instrumental in organizing and directing the R-W Alumni Band.

He was a former member of the House of Delegates and was an active alumnus of Salem College in the 1930s and '40s, and he led the "Sammy Ellis Orchestra," a popular dance band.

HYMAN ROSEN
Hyman Rosen died on Tuesday, March 22, 2005.

Husband of Joyce Rosen, the father of Amy Kaplan, IL, Ellen (Arnold) Rissman of IL, and David (Julie) of Glencoe, IL. Hyman Rosen was born and raised in Clarksburg. He was a graduate of Ohio State University.

Mr. Rosen was co-owner and operator of the Clothes Horse Shops in Central West Virginia and Friedlander's in Clarksburg until retirement in 1989.

Mr. Rosen was active in the Salvation Army, serving as vice president and on their board of directors. He was also a member and past president of the Clarksburg Rotary Club.

He was a lifelong member and past president of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

RUTH ANN SMITH
Ruth Ann Smith, 68, of Chestnut Hills, Clarksburg, died March 15, 2005, in the United Hospital Center. She was born in Clarksburg on June 7, 1936, the only child of the late Paul Rex and Ann (Koon) Vincent.

She is survived by her husband, Jack L. Smith; her son and daughter-in-law, J. Paul and Pam Smith, West Milford and 2 grandchildren.

Ruth Ann was a graduate of WI High School and the WV Business College, and retired as the bookkeeper in the Circulation Department of Clarksburg Publishing Company with over 37 years of service. She was a member of Evangelical Congregational Church.

Many of the above obits are excerpts from the Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram

DR. RICHARD A. BEVAN
Dr. Richard Arnold Bevan passed away peacefully April 17, 2005, at Coastal Hospice by the Lake in Salisbury, MD after a long illness.

Born in East Liverpool, Ohio, on Jan. 24, 1926, he was a son of the late Margaret Laura and David Arnold Bevan.

He moved with his family to Clarksburg, W.Va., in 1941, where he graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1943. After attending one semester at Potomac State College in Keyser, W.Va., he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving for two and a half years. Upon an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946, he returned to Clarksburg and attended Salem College in Salem, W.Va., for two years. He was accepted in 1948 at the Baltimore College of Dentistry, University of Maryland and graduated with a DDS degree in 1952. Upon graduation, he established a dental practice in Princess Anne for 34 years, retiring in 1986.

He was a member of the American Dental Association, the Maryland State Dental Society and the Eastern Shore Dental Society, where he served as treasurer, vice president and president.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Martha Louise Stansel Bevan; two daughters, Beverly Ann Bevan and son-in-law, Lawrence Bayley of Crownsville, Md., and Judith Kae Bevan of Boone, N.C.; two sons, Richard Arnold Bevan Jr. of Laurel and Thomas David Bevan and daughter-in-law, Carole Wilson Bevan, of Westover. He is also survived by three sisters, Ruth Ann Johnson and husband, Richard, of Parkersburg, W.Va., Jeanne Cottrill and husband, Herbert, of Palmyra, Va., and Margaret Brasseur of Weston, W.Va.; one brother, David Arnold Bevan Jr. and wife, Joan, of Warren, Ohio; and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Gainer of Bridgeport, W.Va., and Mary Lou Leuliette and husband, Chester, of Bartown, Fla. He was a loving uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. One brother, Robert Alden Bevan preceded him in death.

Excerpts from Salisbury Daily Times.

FRANKLIN DENNY NORRIS (WI 1953)
Denny died suddenly on April 9, 2005 in Monroeville, PA. He was married 47 years to Sandra Norris. They are the parents of Kelly Norris Easterling of Pgh. and Scott Norris of Colorado Springs, CO. He was the grandfather of 4, and brother to Martha Blair Chartrand. He was preceded in death by his parents. Denny graduated in 1953 from WI High School, a also was a graduate of WVU and Pitt. He retired as a Project Engineer for Oxford Development Company and a consultant for Fahringer, McCarty, and Grey Inc.

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