THE WI NEWSLETTER 11/05

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 75

November 2005

AUTUMN
Written by: Vaneta Meredith (Roleta’s daughter)
(When she was in the 7th grade)

Each year when it’s autumn,
God takes his paint brush in hand,
And paints a colorful picture,
Clear across the land.

Jack Frost decorated the windows,
With crystal pictures for you,
This means that winter is coming,
And beautiful summer is through.

WE DON’T SKIP THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS!
This is the November issue of the WI newsletter. Happy Thanksgiving! I have so many things for which I am thankful. The media and the retailers certainly skip from Halloween to Christmas. I guess they couldn’t figure out a way to make that almighty dollar from Thanksgiving, after all turkeys are pretty cheap and only every other family or so will buy one. There aren’t many calls for turkey or Pilgrim costumes and people don’t seem to want to stick a light in a turkey and put one on their mailbox. Since they haven’t found out a way to merchandise Thanksgiving, they just skip it. But WE DON’T! No sir, no decent person from WV would ever skip it! Right? So we celebrate and give thanks for what we have—our health, our family and good fortune that we are not among the homeless. Then at Christmas we share with others and give to others for various reasons. Most people from our era even still call it “Christmas “. I say “Merry Christmas” don’t you? However, in stores the clerks are now told to say Season’s Greetings. One clerk told me that management told them to say Season’s Greetings as it might offend a customer to say Merry Christmas. I told her that was crazy! Why on earth did management think there had been such a holiday for so many years? Believe me, the store owners wouldn’t have near as many sales if it weren’t CHIRSTMAS and people wanting to buy and give to others. Without Christmas December would just be a cold dreary month. December is a month to think of others. No Sir, we won’t forget the meaning behind Thanksgiving or Christmas!

A CHANCE TO THINK OF OTHERS AT CHRISTMAS
Won’t you think of others and contribute to the WI Newsletter Scholarship? Make this a record month! In a year and a half there have been only 124 donations. (Several of those donations are from duplicate donors.)

I thought WI grads and people who are from Clarksburg would be more willing to join this great venture. I thought up this idea as a way for the readers to come together in a generous effort---a reason for being here other than to read the newsletter. I think this is a wonderful project. I am thankful for all who have given but won’t the rest of you join us and make a gift now?

Generous gifts were sent to the WIN Scholarship this month by:

ALVIN GARRETT     WI 1957
SALE OF CD’S
MARY SUE CLARK SPAHR    WI 1956
JANE HEABERLIN RAKESTRAW     WI 1956
JEANNIE WELLS HIMMEL     WI 1959
BILL BRASSINE, MD     WI 1954
      IN MEMORY OF HIS PARENTS FLORENT G. AND MARGUERITE R. BRASSINE
JOANNE TETRICK    WI 1952
ALLEN ALVAREZ    WI 1958
      IN MEMORY OF HIS MOTHER RUBY ALVAREZ
JERRY WINERMAN    WI 1957

BE A PART OF THE GROUP WHO ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
Make your check payable to:
Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship

Send to me at my office:
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219

Thank you for caring enough to participate!

NEW FRIENDS OF THE WI NEWSLETTER

Dave Rowe (WI '56)	canddrowe@aol.com
Michelle Been Liga (WI '86)	Mliga34@aol.com
Frank Martino (WI '60)	fjmartino@adelphia.net
Norm Julian (VHS '57)	trilpub@verizon.net
Jane Rokisky Bolton (WI ‘55)	BoltonJ13@aol.com
Watson Hartsock (WI '60) can be reached via	CFUMC@wvdsl.net
Ken Yost (WI '45)	kyost12@comcast.net
Bill White (WI '56)	whitecw@sbcglobal.net
Jim White (WI '58)	jwhite3740@aol.com
Joellen Welch Young Nieman (WI '70)	hjnieman@msn.com
Jerry Clouson (WI ?)	clousson@lowis-gellen.com
Jay Oliverio (WI ’57)	toliverio@bellsouth.net

EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGES

Frances Shaw Sinsel (WI '49)	fsinsel47@aol.com
Caroll Spring (WI '61)	bspring@tampabay.rr.com
Dale Palmer (WI '59)	dbp2020@verizon.net
Paul Rector (WI '58)	pwrector@cox.net
Mary Harbert Nophsker (WI '58)	menrn40@aol.com
Rick Waldemar, Ardsley H.S., Ardsley, NY, Class of '69 now in Inverness, FL Thanks for keeping in touch	Rjw11@earthlink.net

JIMMY COLOMBO
submitted by: Gloria Caruso Shaffer (WI '58)
Jim Brown asked abut Jimmy Colombo's restaurant and this is what I found out.

Jimmy had his first place in Quiet Dell in 1934 or 35. When the war started he went into the Army and when he came home in l945 he started his new restaurant on Old Bridgeport Hill. It was in the vicinity of Chenoweth Ford (then Wilson Ford) and Rollins Market.

As well as my informant can remember, Jimmy left Clarksburg in 1955 or 56 and went to Parkersburg and opened another restaurant.

The restaurant is now run by his son Jimmy Jr., who is also the mayor of Parkersburg.

Jimmy passed away in l995.

My informant--Dr. Armando Colombo of Parkersburg who is Jimmy's brother and my brother-in-law. I sure hope Armando's memory is correct.

RIDING THE RAILS

Hank (WI '59) and Marilyn Wolfe Ross (WI '61) and Mike and Gloria Caruso Shaffer (WI '58) are riding the rails again. This time they hopped a train, the Potomac Eagle, to see the Bald Eagles.

The Potomac Eagle leaves the Wappocomo Station in Romney and travels 17 miles, a 3 1/2 hour trip, to the area referred to as the "Trough". The "Trough" is the eastern home of our national symbol, the American Bald Eagle.

We were lucky because we got to see 2 Bald Eagles. They were very majestic sitting on a limb surveying their domain.

Pictured above at the Wappocomo Station are Hank and Marilyn Ross, Mike and Gloria Shaffer and the "star" of the trip the American Bald Eagle.

UNDER THE HUNTER'S MOON
submitted by: Mike Snyder
October 21, 2005. I was born 66 years ago today under the Hunter's Moon in Clarksburg. It is my good fortune, by the grace of God, to be situated on the Dry Fork River in Randolph County, West Virginia. Directly out my front door on the other side of the road to Spruce Knob and across the stony, bone-dry riverbed looms Allegheny Mountain. It is called The Allegheny in these parts. Out our back door is Rich Mountain, which stretches for miles, its wooded slopes broken by open green pastureland where sheep and cattle graze.

The mountainsides are drenched in a wash of dazzling gold, red, orange, brown and green. The tops of them have just become visible as the mist and clouds have retreated, taking, at least for awhile, the rains with them. The rain is badly needed if the waters in the trout streams are to be restored in time for the brook trout to spawn.

The brookie, our state fish, is the harlequin of the salmonids. It is actually a char, not a trout. But they are the only "trout" native to the Appalachians. They are beloved not only because they exist only in the coldest, purest water, but for their great beauty. They actually sport more colors than the autumn leaves which surround their habitat.

When the Lord made them he threw out all restraint, including the color brown, and included all of the colors mentioned above, adding crimson red spots surrounded by tiny rings of a blue that I can best describe as what I used to see when I was on the peak of Aspen Highlands in Colorado in February with snow capped peaks stretching farther than the eye can see. And above it all, this bluest blue that mere words cannot describe.

My work as a substitute school teacher took me to Tucker County High School atop Backbone Mountain for three days this week. I gladly drive the 32 miles through Canaan Valley and the old towns of Davis and Thomas, not only for the drive--which can be quite a challenge in the winter--and not only for the pay. It's the caliber of the kids there.

For the most part, they are polite, respectful and down-to-earth. The boys are more attuned to hunting and the natural world around them, and of course, a good set of wheels than to MTV. I remind these youngsters how fortunate they are to live in a world of two-lane black top roads and small communities surrounded by the woods and mountains instead of urban sprawl and freeways crammed bumper to bumper.

What's our state motto? I ask them. A hand will go up and a student will venture, "Montani Semper Liberi." What's that mean? I ask.

"Mountaineers are always free," another one answers.

"Don't forget that," I remind them.

More than a few WI boys heard the call of nature, hiking and hunting in back of Stealey on land owned by Dana Miller and Farmer Wilson, and in the Green Woods (now the site of Stealey Pool) and the Goff Woods beyond that. My pals and I hunted for rabbits, squirrel, grouse and quail there. That first touch of the wild in my life began just one block away from our house at the top of McDowell Street, past Johnny Miller's barn.

Another wild spot in Stealey that some of us will never forget was the Hollow. City maps called it Turkey Pen Lane, I believe. But to Sonny Talkington and me, it was a wild jungle where we could climb trees, swing on grapevines, build forts, fight Japs and Germans with our slingshots and be G.I. Joe, Tarzan and Huckleberry Finn all in the same day-- far removed from parents, teachers and civilization.

Sonny, who also graduated from WI in 1957, spent over 140 days in the hospital this year. He survived illnesses and surgeries that would stop a lot of people in their tracks. Sonny told me via his wife Judy and email that he was determined to make it to the WI reunion in August at Nutter Fort. He said we might not recognize him because of all the weight that he had lost. But how could he disguise that profile of his that we all remember so well? We still recognized old Walter Jay, skinny or not. After I left that wonderful get together (thanks to Sharon, Judy and Paula) I reflected on the determination and will power it took Sonny just to get there.

He will tell you that he couldn't have done it without his Christian faith. I agree, and I also look back on how our generation was raised. How we had to work for what we got. The lessons Sonny learned playing on the line for the “Hilltoppers” under Coach Tony Folio and as a sailor in the U.S. Navy also played their part. You taught all of your old classmates who got to see you there a lesson, Sonny; a lesson about not giving up. Thanks a lot.

Well, the mountains are calling me. Time to get my shotgun and hit the woods. After all, I was born under the Hunter's Moon.

KATRINA
submitted by: Mary K. McDaniel and Gene Bellisario
Roleta,
A fellow WI 1965 classmate, Layne Preston Harper, also evacuated from Katrina; she lives in either Jefferson or Orleans Parish, and has spent the weeks since Katrina on the road, as so many have done.

Gene and I gathered our family pictures, sandbagged the house and evacuated from Slidell north on Sunday, the day before Katrina hit Louisiana, with my son and daughter-in- law, ending up in Little Rock, Arkansas. We usually don't evacuate, but this time was different. We watched TV Monday the 29th, from our motel as Hurricane Katrina, at Category 5 strength, started over Orleans Parish, and came into our St. Tammany Parish, directly up the mouth of the Pearl River in our town. The builder of my house had told me that was the worst case scenario for Slidell in general, and our subdivision and house in particular. The tidal surge and rain push the Gulf and lake water into the Pearl River (very near our house), and then spill over into the bayous and Lake Pontchartrain, which then could flood down on New Orleans, parts of which are as low as 37 ft. below mean sea level. In contrast, the highest point in Slidell is 17 ft. above, and my house sits at 16 ft. For all we four knew up in Little Rock, our houses had either flooded, or were blown apart by the 180 mph winds clocked in our town. The house had withstood 135 mph with Hurr. Elena years ago, but this was different. Katrina's eye came in over Slidell, and the eye wall's winds are the top speed, and spawn tornadoes off to the northeast quadrant (which is why our side of town, and the small towns in neighboring Mississippi, received such devastation.)

As we watched TV, with the flooding and looting in New Orleans, I became more and more determined to "get home." Our Parish President told news reporters that evacuees were to stay away from our parish 4 to 8 weeks, since there was no drinkable water, gas, electricity, phone service, cell phone service, 911 service, security of any kind, gasoline, food, or much of anything. And St. Tammany's famous trees were everywhere, all over roads, along with downed power lines, some of which were live. You couldn't live there.

Gene and I decided immediately to return to Slidell, about the size of Clarksburg. He's very active in political and civic things, and I'm a school board representative, and knew one of the first priorities would be to rebuild the school system. We didn't even discuss not going. We moved from Little Rock on Wed. to a friend's house in Starkeville, MS, since it was within driving range of Slidell on one tank of gasoline-- a 5-hr. drive rather than 9 from Little Rock. We put containers of gasoline in the back of the car, so we could then leave Slidell for elsewhere if necessary, once we checked the house. Four days after Katrina went through, we left Starkeville and drove the 5 hours to Slidell, down I-59 in Mississippi, where there was tremendous devastation, hundreds of cars abandoned and demolished along the road. There was little traffic. Nothing open. Long convoys of military, and cherry-pickers from other states coming to help.

When we reached the border with Louisiana, there was a barricade that said "Last exit in Mississippi/ No exit in Louisiana." We drove around this and proceeded another 5 miles into Slidell. I've lived here 23 years, and at points couldn't recognize where I was. Photos don't do justice to massive power of winds, tornadoes and tidal surges. The center of town is about four miles from Lake Pontchartrain, yet the 28-ft. tidal surge had risen over the roofs of lakefront multi-million dollar homes, over some of our schools, over hundreds of businesses and come up into the middle of town. Lake Pontchartraine had reclaimed land filled in since 1935 for residential and commercial development.

As we had feared there were no security forces whatsoever. The National Guard apparently were all in New Orleans. No one asked for our identification, no one stopped us. We didn't see anyone. We drove over electric lines and around trees, and on to Cross Gates, our subdivision, which lies along I-10 to Mississippi, right on the state border. It was in bad shape -- trees through roofs, flooding in many homes that had never flooded. Some streets totally impassible. It was dark, hot and quiet. No people were visible. No comforting sound of air conditioners running. No sound of life at all.

We got home and couldn't believe our eyes. The house stood, even with an 80-ft. pine tree across the back roof, and a lovely 90-ft. or so water oak across the front of the house and garage. There were many other trees down as well, and the fence down all around the house, the gutters and drain spout rearranged, and a yard so full of debris we had to pick our way through to the front door. I turned the key in the lock carefully, in case there was a gas leak. Nothing. Hotness. And the smell of food beginning to spoil after four days of non-refrigeration in 98-degree heat and humidity. We threw ourselves into emptying the refrigerators and freezers, dragging all the food out to the curb. We created a path through the trees to bring in our luggage. We were home.

We spent the next three days and two nights there, clearing away trees. The heat was stifling, and without the ability to shower, flush, or have air conditioning, we decided to go to Houston for Gene to check in at his home office. (We couldn't call on our land line, cell phone, or e-mail of course.) Before we left, we hired two wandering Georgians, who for a very reasonable fee cut down and chopped up the water oak, so my car in the garage was accessible--more importantly, its gasoline which we could siphon.

On the other side of town, we threw out the food in my son's refrigerator (their house had no damage at all!) We talked to a couple other neighbors here, also determined to guard their property, since neither our sheriff's dept. or the military had a presence there. FEMA never appeared until this past Friday -- a full month after Katrina. They were totally inaccessible by phone, e-mail or presence here. Totally.

We checked into Houston, then returned to Slidell four days later. There was much to do. Our school board had a meeting that Friday with our 100+ principals, 1/3 of whom had lost their homes. We were determined to get the school system up and running by Monday, Oct. 3 -- today. We did it! 50 of our 52 schools are open and operating as of today. That's the first step in St. Tammany's coming back to life.

One month later status: Our two hospitals are off generator power. Some banks, restaurants and businesses are open. Many were destroyed. Grocery stores -- even the 24-hr. SuperWalmart-- are open limited hours now like 9 to 4, since so many employees are still gone. Electricity has been out for 2 to 3 weeks, and even though on, is not dependable. Water is now safe to drink in many parts of town. Our cable TV and internet service came on just yesterday -- one month later. Land line phones work sporadically; cell phones almost not at all -- all the towers were destroyed or flooded.

We have quit lining up each morning for ice, drinkable water and military MRE's--intriguing food packets, which were precious when there were no grocery stores. We still have gas lines and total gridlock on all our streets and interstates, since the number of vehicles in our parish has doubled (all the military, Red Cross, insurance adjusters, line men from other states, tree cutters, evacuees from other places, etc.) The Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of putting blue tarps on 90% of our homes. Slidell lost 30,000 residences, two schools, many businesses, several large churches, a fire station, a newspaper office, one of our three libraries, and miles and miles of roads. Then there were the bridges. Talk about building back the infrastructure.

St. Tammany Parish no longer had any connection with New Orleans and Orleans Parish, where most of Slidell's white collar residents work. For those whose homes survived, they haven't returned, as they have no place to work. The Hwy. 11 bridge was under water, the Rigolets bridge was in shambles, the Interstate 10-Twin Spans to New Orleans were lying in pieces in Lake Pontchartrain (you may have seen that on TV), and the 24-mile Causeway was unsteady, and needed to be checked before use. Even now the Causeway, our only bridge with Orleans, has been reserved for military and emergency vehicles. What seemed like a disaster is what kept the Northshore -- where Slidell is -- from the looters who roamed New Orleans the first week. The looters couldn't get here.

We're rebuilding our city. One step at a time. The schools opened today. The airport over in New Orleans has 2 flights daily now. (The trick is getting there.) Unfortunately many, many friends are gone. They've relocated, taken jobs elsewhere since they can't work in New Orleans (like Gene -- he's working now in Houston until retirement). Many of our friends lost their homes, their vehicles which were left behind, their boats and their jobs. We had seven deaths here in Slidell, too.

One month later our streets are still lined by gigantic mounds of yard debris, tree limbs, ripped out drywall and carpeting, discarded appliances, mattresses, furniture. Slidell looks like a third-world country. They say it will take 6 months to get it all carted away. Cell phone use is coming. Some of us just got internet. Be patient, we're told.

And yet, we are the lucky ones.
Mary K. (McDaniel) and Gene Bellisario
Slidell, Louisiana

THE QUILT

Sue Selby Moats (WI 1955) came up with an idea how to raise some money for the WIN Scholarship. She asked you to make and contribute a square to her and she would put the squares together, put borders on, put in a lining, quilt it and bring it to the CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC to be held on March 4, 2006 in Sarasota, Florida. She is selling raffle tickets to anyone who is interested in becoming a part of this. You need not be present in Florida for the picnic in order to win. Just contact Sue at moatsue@aol.com and she will tell you how you may purchase a ticket. If you will be attending the picnic on March 4, 2006 you will be able to purchase tickets from her there. There will also be other tickets (for a different raffle) on sale at the picnic for the other donated prizes. You may donate a prize for the raffle to benefit the WIN Scholarship---just contact me at Roleta1@aol.com. We are interested in any type gifts…Homemade gift or purchased. You may bake, sew, knit, crochet, do woodwork, metal work, draw, paint or some other craft---share it with us and help earn money for the WIN Scholarship.

WI BAND 1956
BEING IN THE BAND
BANDS FROM GRADE SCHOOL TO HIGH SCHOOL
submitted by: John Harrison (WI ’56)
johnh@teays.net
For those of you who remembered me from my school days, I am sure you are thinking something like “What is he talking about bands for? He never was in a band.” Wrong... it so happens that while a student at Towers Grade School, I was a member of the Towers Band. For those of you still doubting me, I have a picture of the “band” to prove that of which I speak.

I can still remember the excitement and thrill of being in the band. The instrument of choice for me was the trumpet, a shiny, new sleek horn packed neatly into the maroon velvet case that I carried dutifully to band practice. There was just one slight problem, after nagging my mother for months to buy this beautiful instrument for me, I was unable to do a couple of things. First, I was unable to learn to read music and second, I could not play two notes on the thing in any semblance of a tune. My love for music however, was undaunted. I enjoyed just about everything about marching bands and especially the Washington Irving Marching Band, although I understand that our band director had several bands at WI.

I remember how my heart would pound when the WI Pep Band played as the basketball team came running out on to the floor of the Carmichael Auditorium. I was ready to play as the first note sounded. I remember standing on Main Street and hearing a loud sound of trumpets and drums as the WI marching band approached. You could tell the WI band above all the others in the parade. We had over one hundred members and I must confess the prettiest majorettes in the state. In fact, as they marched by me standing on the curb, I just wanted to reach out and hug them.

At the football games, the half time shows were really special, I am told. Having played on the football team, I was unable to see them perform for several years, but I remember watching when I was a freshman, and it was exciting to watch all the formations they moved in and out of with such ease.

And so, from the humble beginnings of Towers Grade School, through Central Junior High School and on to Washington Irving, I say thank you to all the loyal band members who actually learned to play an instrument and added so much to the athletic programs and to our school overall. And a special thank you to all the beautiful majorettes who entertained us all. I find the older I get, the better you were. Memory don’t fail me now.

submitted by: Penny Christie Johnson (WI '60)
Penem329@optonline.net

TOWERS BAND
Will give a few of the names.......so long ago that it is hard to remember
First row l-r: band teacher, Naomi Callas, Penny Christie, Bobby Hamstead, (girl?) and Mr. Landacre our principal.
Second row: 5th one over is Raymond Oliverio
Third row: 3rd one over is Dave Hamstead
Fourth row: 4th one over is Wayne Satterfield, Tommy Tricot
Fifth row: 4th one over is Marcia Gaidos and then Marie Donnellon
Sixth row: Louis (Tykie)Oliverio, girl, Barbara Davis, Sally Parsons, boy, Bernadette Marino
Seventh row: Third one over is Gary Frost I think

CARLISLE HAMMONICA BAND
NOTE FROM JUDY: I'm sorry, I have lost the name of the person who contributed this picture. If you sent me this picture, let me know and I will be sure to give you credit next month.

submitted by: Beth Twigg Devericks (WI '59)
bedevericks@hotmail.com

MORGAN BAND 1950
Hi Roleta, I found a picture of Morgan grade school band as a group, year maybe 1950. Here are some of the names of the ones that I remember.

First row: Fred Heldreth, ? , Beth Twigg, Connie Coffindaffer, ? , Gary Weiner, ? , Sally Moshein.
Second row: , ? , Nancy Chilton, Penny Capehart, Judy Gabbert, ?, Marcia Woods, Eugene Davis, ? , ? , ? ,
In the middle of the last row Becky Stalnaker.

These are the only ones that I know.

submitted by: Trudy Morelan Moodispaugh
moodispaugh@copper.net

CARLISLE TOYLAND BAND
I ran across this photo of the Toy Band when I was in the Second Grade 1949-1950. I don't remember every one but I will attempt to name those that I think I know.

Row 1: (L to R) ? , Jone Davis, Karen Butcher, Sharon Lough
Row 2: ?, Judy Wolfe, Martha Sellers, Trudy Morelan Moodispaugh, Jeff Williams, Mike McGuire, Jane Wilson.
Row 3: Dana ?, Mary Elizabeth Weaver, ? , Albert McFarlen, Annabel Lee, ? , Jimmy Allen, Eddie Merchant, Dreama Garten, ? , ? , John Martin.
Row 4: David Alman, Sharon Elliott, Diane Callery, ? , ? , Carolyn White, Charles Farbee, ?.

submitted by: Bob Williams (WI '45)
Bwilliams@swfl.rr.com

CENTRAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL BAND
Recognize any of the people in this picture? Ann Romine is one of the two majorettes.

TRAVELING
submitted by: Glen Cowgill (WI '59)
gcowgill@adelphia.net
To All our friends and Family,

Today 10/14/05 we arrived back home after 3 wonderful months in Thailand. We visited with several old friends and made many more new friends. We got to do many of the things we wanted to do and of course several things we wanted to do we just didn’t have time to do. I had the opportunity to play golf almost every day if I wanted to and did play some very nice courses at bargain prices ranging from 80Baht ($2.00) to 1400 Baht ($35.00) for green fees. The more expensive courses were not necessarily the nicest courses.

Nun’s Mother seemed to be doing well when we left coming home. Please continue to pray for her. The doctors gave her 1 to 3 months to live and it now is going on 5 months since the doctors said that she only had at the most 3 months PTL.

Nun got to do her shopping and I think she finally wore herself out doing it. Thailand is a shoppers paradise with bargains galore everywhere you turn. We spent a fair amount of time at Nha Kha where Thai silk is sold as material or as finished goods, ( I think I am going to have to re-model the house so I can make more room for our purchases)

I promise to send out some pictures as soon as I download to my computer. For those who wrote via E-Mail while we were there, thanks for your letters of support. For those who refrained from forwarding a lot of mail, I really thank you.

Well the 27 hours since we left Bangkok is now starting to tell on me, I will say goodbye for now.

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR OCTOBER 2005

The Precious Child was Carol Tomes Cassidy WI 1952.

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR NOVEMBER 2005

Do you recognize this person? Please send your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember, I don’t print incorrect guesses! Include a memory of the person.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?
I don’t give too many instructions to the readers. (OOOPS---I did ask you not to write to me in all upper case or all lower case---and I do ask for name, school and year of graduation on each correspondence…..so a couple of requests in 6 years isn’t too bad---is it?) I often ask for each of you to take an interest in the newsletter by writing some of your memories. We don’t care what years you either lived in or visited Clarksburg or when you attended WI. It is just fun to compare your memories to ours. Remember---I keep saying---“If you don’t write, we have nothing to read”.

If you have any pictures to loan to the newsletter so copies can be made, please contact Judy Daugherty Kimler at jkimler@verizon.net. You can mail the pictures directly to her. She will scan them and return them to you ASAP. Thanks

Please email all things (other than pictures) to Roleta1@aol.com. Thanks.

NAME THAT TUNE
The name of the tune in the October Newsletter was “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” Those who guessed it correctly are:

Jim Alvaro (WI 1957)
Carol VanHorn Dean (WI 1958)
Doris Jean Walters Webster (WI 1959)
Dolores Costlow Wall (WI 1958)
Joyce Ogren Devine (WI 1945)

submitted by: Joyce Ogren Devine (WI '45)
Jodyvine@aol.com
Have just spent an hour with your fun filled news letter. I am so pleased to receive it. I think the notes of mystery are the beginning of one of my old favorites, and now I will say "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You..."

I hope I am right, but I often find that many songs begin with the same notes. I have sung that song many times. I started to sing at Sunday School at age four and never stopped entertaining until I found myself singing, to a few years younger man in the middle of a big baseball diamond, the song "You make me feel so young". Any way it all was fun.

I want to thank you for being able to send out such an interesting newsletter and today I have found another name and address from someone closer to my graduating year. I did it at WI in 1945. I will contact that name and see if he was at WI when I was there. What fun.

Love and hugs to all your workers also, They are what makes the world go round Oh Yes, I will be looking at the archives of the schools in the near future. History is so intriguing.

NAME THAT TUNE

For the month of November we have selected the above song. Do you recognize the tune? It's a little harder this month, so good luck. Thanks to Jim Alvaro for the suggestion. Please write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com.

Do you have a song suggestion you can contribute for the game?

MISSED A NEWSLETTER YOU WISH YOU HAD KEPT?
So you missed a newsletter or two? Or maybe you missed 3 or 4 years. Well, you can get them to read on your computer any time you want and you don’t even have to be on line to do it! Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI 1959) came up with an idea how she could earn money for the WIN Scholarship. She and Larry (her husband) produced a CD for the computer which has the needed running program and the first 6 years of the WI Newsletter CD’s all included and so easy that anyone who can read this message can operate the CD. If you want to give a little to the WIN Scholarship and you want something in exchange----buy a $10.00 CD. Judy sends all the profit to the WIN Scholarship. Her costs are the CD and the mailing charges.

CHRISTMAS is coming---beat the rush…give a WI Newsletter CD to an old friend for Christmas.

Write to Judy Kimler at jkimler@verizon.net and get the details on where to send your check

We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at least one which makes the heart run over. By: Samuel Johnson

REMEMBER IF YOU DON’T WRITE YOUR MEMORIES, WE HAVE NOTHING TO READ!
WRITE TO ME ABOUT THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS!

Write about as many of these subjects as you want but write different emails to me for each subject. Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

Write and explain to me the answer to the mystery question….What is a Sub Deb? Write to Roleta1@aol.com. Only correct guesses will appear in the newsletter.

Another subject for discussion---Do you remember Pruntytown? Were you intrigued about the place? Were you ever threatened that if you weren’t a good boy you would end up in Pruntytown? What is Pruntytown? Do you remember where it is located? Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

Ice Cream---Who had the best ice cream in Clarksburg when you were growing up? Write to Roleta1@aol.com.

Quiet Dell---What do you remember about Quiet Dell? What made it known throughout the USA? How did it become a house hold word? Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

What is your favorite memory of WI or Clarksburg at Christmas time when you were growing up there? Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

Does being from Clarksburg, WV make you a southerner or not? Write and tell me how you feel about this. Write to: Roleta1@aol.com.

TRIVIA PICTURE
Central Christian Church will celebrate it’s 100th anniversary in November but on Sunday, November 13, 2005 at 5:00 PM there will be a special memorial service. I hope all who are interested and live near will attend and make it a wonderful party for this church.

CURRENT PICTURE TAKEN BY JOHN TETER WI 1961

submitted by: Dian Gantz Hurley Classes 1946 and 1947.......either or both.......
WIHSclassof1946@aol.com
I would be very remiss were I not to write identifying the church in the picture for October! It is the Central Christian Church on the corner of Chestnut and West Pike Streets! It is an OLD picture, as it was remodeled a number or years ago, sometime in the fifties. Sorry I have forgotten the exact date, but have been a member of this Disciples of Christ church since 1942. I also raised my three children in this church. Many WI graduates have been members of this church! Present pastor is the Rev. Darrell Pierce. He and his lovely wife Sharon came to us from the state of Oklahoma.

This was such a perfect time for this church to be in our newsletter, as it is celebrating it's Centennial during the month of November! There is to be a Memorial Service on Sunday Evening, November 6 at 5:00 P.M. It will be a full worship service dedicated to those who served the Lord through our church in the past. On Sunday, November 13 there will be a Centennial celebration with a 10:45 A. M. Worship Service with a pastor from our past, Rev. Dr. Bernard Oaks bringing the message. At 1:00 P.M. a Luncheon Celebration will take place at the Elk's Restaurant on Route 19 south, across from United Hospital Center. The Reverend Richard Flowers, another minister from our past, will be the keynote speaker. Paid reservations are required for this luncheon.

So many of our members have moved away from our area, and many of the young people never returned after going away to school. We hope to have many "old" members from around the country join us for these celebrations! And, whom ever sent this picture, I wonder if they would have any pictures of the interior before it was remodeled? We have been unable to find such pictures, and would love to have one for our Centennial Yearbook! A little late perhaps, but we could always make copies and hand them out! The yearbook will have wonderful memories from contributing members..... So many wonderful memories come to mind with this picture....thanks to whom ever made the contribution!

submitted by: Steve Griffith (NDHS '60)
SGriff2393@aol.com
I believe that is the Central Christian Church on the corner of Chestnut and Pike Streets.

My memory reminds me of a deadly accident at that intersection over 40 years ago. I do not remember the people's names, but they were broad-sided as the were crossing Pike Street, and their car, a VW Beetle, was driven into the steps seen in the picture.

submitted by: Wayne Winters-would have been (WI ’66)
wwinters@ix.netcom.com
Thanks for your pledge not to print the wrong guesses. I'm 99 and 44/100th percent certain this is Central Christian Church on So Chestnut and Pike. Across the street was Roush's Market. Went to church there with Scott McKinney, Gary Harper, the Aspy boys --Doug?, Tim and Tom -- Kenneth was the father, Bill Brookover, Bobby Billingsley (brother Barry), David Cobb, Jean Cobb, Tommy Moneypenney.

Jean Post, who lived with her mother, Helen, lived on Buckannon Ave near us and they provided the loaf for communion every Sunday. Jean would fill in musically when the paid organist was sick or on vacation.

submitted by: Ron Werner (WI '59)
Mrzip60@aol.com

submitted by: Phil Hooper (WI '59)
Bumpes@msn.com
This is a picture of Central Christian Church at the corner of Main & Chestnut Streets. My grandparents, parents and brother and sisters all attended this church. We had a great youth group and I have many fond memories from that time in my life. Rev. Nelson was the first pastor that I remember, followed by Rev.Oakes. Rev.Oakes was a young energetic man and did a lot with the youth. He was a big man and when we played basketball you knew he was on the court. He loved the Lord and he shared that love with the people. There were many WI students that attended the church, too many to mention for fear of missing some. Hopefully some will respond to this newsletter. I again want to thank you for all the work you and Judy do with the newsletter.

PS:As a side note I want to invite all of your readers to watch my grandson on TV on Thanksgiving Day. He will be Prince Charming on the Disney Float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They will have an adult Prince Charming and a young Prince Charming, he will be the young one. The float is a large paddle boat. We are very proud grandparents. We wish you and all of America a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

submitted by: Jane Hamilton Ross (WI '53)
meezer83@msn.com
While that denomination is now my church affiliation, at the time I lived in Clarksburg it was a source of curiosity for me as well as a landmark. I was curious about the tenets of that church, but mostly it was a reference point for the turn to Miss Swiger's home. She was the social studies teacher while I was in school, and she was also the B Square sponsor. Some folks may remember that B Square was the female equivalent of Tri Hi Y, both of which were service clubs. Miss Swiger was probably the youngest teacher at WI when I was there ('49-'53), and she could relate to us teen-agers quite well. She was a super nice person and I could even begin to like social studies in her class.

submitted by: Willard F "Bud" Wheelock (WI '60)
hawkewoode708@yahoo.com
The pictured building is the Central Christian Church at the corner of Chestnut & Pike Streets. Although I was not a member there, I was there about every week when I took piano lessons from Mrs. Eva Rogers Freeland for many years. Also, I think I sent info about my military service some time ago to the lady you are taking over for. Should you not find it let me know and I will be happy to email it again. Thanks again for publishing this superb newsletter! It brings back so many memories! Hopefully I will be able to submit some contributions soon.

submitted by: Sherry Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
SKeith1514@aol.com
My guess is that this is Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on the corner of Chestnut and Pike Streets. This is where I went to Sunday School and Church and my father was a deacon and my mom taught Sunday School. I met the Aspy Twins (their dad taught us in Sunday School) and Carol Anne Posey Wiles there. We sometimes sat in the balcony and discussed the dances we had gone to on Saturday night. Some older kids too like, Sharon Cottrill and my first "older guy" crush, Phil Hooper who was such a gentleman at the time...

I sang in the choir sometimes and I remember one Christmas, one of the choir members jumped the gun on time to stand and march out of the church singing.. with vigor... Off he went alone.. we all were singing with him, but he was one verse too early on the leaving... ha ha... so with much conviction and pomp he sang and marched down the choir steps, and out the aisle and through the doors.. all by himself...One memory I will never forget.

We had one very young and handsome pastor, Bernard Oaks, during the early '60's when John Kennedy was our President. He too looked like a healthy football player. We had other wonderful pastors and great members who gave of their time and energy to make it a loving church.
Unleaven bread was baked weekly by one member for communion. I have never been in a church that did that.
I was married there and our children were christened and baptized there.
The pastors from there served at the funerals of my immediate family.
It was the pastor from there who let me know that my mother, who had been diagnosed with an acute terminal illness, did in fact know of the diagnosis. I was unsure of this and afraid to bring up the subject for two days after the news. Once I knew she knew... we could go on from there.

It was a great church; I understand they are hard pressed for members lately, sorry to hear that. I attend where I live now, and have met nice folks, but I guess Central Christian will always really be my church home.

submitted by: Judy Aspy Payne (WI '59)

CENTRAL CHRISTAIN CHURCH YOUTH CHOIR
First row l-r: -?-, Linden Perkins, Artie Aspy, Sandy Hooper;
2nd row l-r: -?-, Linda Brown, Sharyn Cottrill;
3rd Row l-r: Melanie Aspy, Richard Underwood, Virginia Belle Bonnett, Georgia Watson and Judy Aspy;
Back row: Aretta Jaranko director

submitted by: Marolyn Tustin Jett (WI '56)
ma5388@earthlink.net
Loved the October issue, so much information and so many interesting contributions. And the graphics were the best!!

I'm "throwing" in a guess of the mystery picture being The Central Christian Church located on the corner of West Pike and Chestnut Sts. I don't believe I was ever in that church but knew people that were members there for years. Not sure it's still being used.

submitted by: Jack Emerick (WI '53)
CadilacJak54@aol.com
I am probably too late, but the photo is of the Central Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which is located on the south-west corner of S.Chestnut and Pike Streets. My wife, Beverly (WI-66), worked there in the office for a few months as an assistant to Mrs Bob (Linda) Snyder, who was the co-coordinator of the Ralph Bell Crusade a few years ago. In case you were not aware, Ralph Bell is a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association member and the crusade was under their auspices. The building is a beautiful building in the uptown concept of yesteryear. Like many of our older churches, it only had on the street parking. Of course, in earlier days most churches were neighborhood churches and many of the members walked to church. I haven't been in it in sometime, but when last I visited it, it was very well maintained, and in first class condition. I believe that the church donated the office space to the crusade, which was supported by about 50 or more central WV churches. The crusade was a great success. This was the second Ralph Bell Crusade. I think that the first was about 8 years earlier.

HISTORY OF THE CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
submitted by: Freddie Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@aol.com
The latest trivia photo is of the Central Christian Church of Clarksburg located at the corner of West Pike and Chestnut Streets. After the church bought the property they had to demolish a house, meat market and a grocery store. This took place in 1905 and the cost was $12,000.00. the church was dedicated in 1907.

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR NOVEMBER 2005

PICTURE TAKEN BY JOHN TETER WI 1961
Do you recognize the place pictured above? Write to me with your guess and a memory. Remember I only print correct guesses with a memory included. Write to: Roleta1@aol.com

You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others. By: Henry Drummond

HARRISON COUNTY FOOTBALL SQUAD 1956 STYLE
submitted by: Don Sager (WI '56)
dks@davtv.com

Shown above are the winners for placement on the Harrison County All-Star Offense Team for 1956. An exception was ruled in the case of Shinnston, a team which placed two boys on this squad as well as being named the best football team in Harrison County.

Front row, l-r: Jack Bennett, Notre Dame; Joe Dinaldo, Notre Dame; Pat Elder, Notre Dame; Anthony Minard, Notre Dame; Dave Lucent, Victory.
Back row, l-r: Bill Morrison, R-W; Vincent folio, Notre Dame; Francis Knight, Victory; Bill Chandler, Unidis.

Shinnston boys honored were Zerl Price and John Marra.

Shown above are the winners for placement on the Harrison County All-Star Defense Team for 1956. An exception was ruled in the case of Shinnston, a team which placed two boys on this squad as well as being named the best football team in Harrison County.

Front row l-r: Roy Bever, WI; Grover (Skip) Bowie, WI; Dave Villers, VHS; Jim Jay, Unidis
Back row l-r: Dave Hutson, WI; Dave McMunn, WI; Jim Smith, RW; Paige Talkington, Wallace

Shinnston boys honored were: Wayne Layfield and John Costelac.

The insert is a portrait of Jerry Posey who played football for RW, but died from a heart attack last month. His position on our All-Star team was one of the most deserved.

1959 REUNION COMMITTEE DINNER
submitted by: Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI '59)
mtmama41@msn.com

The reunion committee from the class of 1959 is still getting together for dinner.

This is a group picture from Sept 24 at Raymon's. We had a great time. After dinner we went to a new bar on the top floor of Broida's.

Pictured above are:
Front row l-r: Judy Aspy Payne, Sharyn Cottrill McGahan, Becky LaRosa Fresa, Naomi Burrell Burkhammer, Carolyn Pinella Warne, Sandy Drummond Hefner, Bobbie Johnston Swisher and Phyllis Fittro Brown,

Back row l-r: Jim Payne, Jim McGahan, Mike Fresa, Charlie Burkhammer, Jerry Warne, and Allen Hefner.

FAVORITE TEACHER
submitted by: Susie Newbrough Young (VHS '56)
Youngfamily68@aol.com
The school was Adamston Junior High School, which has been torn down for quite awhile and the year was 1953 -

My favorite teacher thru my twelve years of school was in junior high school at Adamston Junior High (which as you know has been gone for quite awhile now). Her name was Miss Catherine R. Meredith. She taught English for grades 7-9.

I can remember her very well. She was a big lady, always had a handkerchief tucked in the belt of her dress, and had the meanest look on her face ever - or at least I thought so then. But, honestly I didn't appreciate her strict ways until after getting out of school. For the three years that I had her for a teacher, we would alternate between 6-weeks of grammar then 6-weeks of literature. The grammar I remember best - we diagramed sentences, learned the tense(s) of every verb in the English language and how to write every kind of letter possible. Learning from her helped me through high school, business college and thru my many years in the business world.

JIM FRAGALE INTERVIEWS ADA “BRICKTOP” SMITH (THE JAZZ SINGER)

Writer Jim Fragale got his writing start at Billboard Magazine soon after college doing the “Music on Campus” column. Jim did four GQ cover stories (Richard Gere, Hart Bochner, Christopher Reeve, and Ryan O’Neal), as well as a double-truck column for GQ several years running and an extensive article on Las Vegas in GQ.

Next, Jim produced Tony Award Winner Melba (“Purlie”) Moore’s first two record albums and wrote ten songs Moore recorded. He co-created commercial jingles – Valerie Simpson on vocals -- with Four Season’s arranger Charlie Calello; and, wrote songs with award-winning composer Angelo (“Mulholland Drive” and “Twin Peaks”) Baladalmenti. Then, Jim became an A&R man for Columbia Records. At the same time, Jim had stories on actress Susan Dey and a Beatle Auction in People Magazine and then Buck Henry in Writer’s Digest along with a “How-To” songwriting Writer’s Digest feature.

More recently, he wrote pieces in the LOS ANGELES SUNDAY TIMES and CHICAGO TRIBUNE on West Virginia jazz-age personality Ada “Bricktop” Smith when the Smithsonian Institute made a trek across country with their jazz age exhibition. Somewhere in the middle of all that, he wrote a controversial, news-making two-parter on actor Montgomery Clift and won the John Truby Student Screenwriting Script Award two consecutive years, covered in The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Jim’s article “Who Is Syd Field and Why Does Everyone Own His Books?” in Creative Screenwriting has one of their back issue biggest request for reprint copies. At one point, Jim sandwiched in assisting columnist Liz Smith as her New York legman, the first two years of Smith’s syndicated column.

Jim Fragale was born in Clarksburg, attended Pierpont Grade School, then Central Jr. High School, and graduated from Washington Irving High School (1958). In college stints included the University of Miami (Florida) which led to an English-Journalism degree from Salem College (1963).

OBITUARIES
FRED HARPER
Fred Harper, WIHS 1923, died at the age of one hundred. He was probably the last surviving member of the class, which included, Merrill "Speed" Reynolds, the father of Carol Reynolds Burnside to whom she dedicated her book "Hail, Washington Irving."

MICHAEL ADAMS JR.
Michael B. Adams Jr., 76, of Las Vegas, Nev. passed away Oct. 22, 2005.

Born Feb. 17, 1929, in Clarksburg, W.Va., to Josephine Martino Adams and Michael Adams, he was the fifth born into the family of 10.

A graduate of Washington Irving High School, Class of 1947, and a U.S. Navy veteran, serving during the Korean War, 1951 to 1954, aboard the U.S.S. Essex. Michael moved to Las Vegas in 1959, after a brief time in Miami. His career in the hospitality industry continued at the Stardust, where he was the hotel manager until 1974.

He started Mr. A’s Travel Service, coordinating group tours to Las Vegas in the 1970s and was the director of Sales at Grey Line Tours for many years, the general manager of Star Transit and recently at Ellis Island Casino. He loved Las Vegas and the tourism industry; he was a member of HSMA, serving as the allied director for several years and the Las Vegas Chapter of SKAL International, serving as president in 1992.

Michael is survived by his daughters, Misty Adams Rodda and her husband, Joseph of Miami, Tanya Adams and son, Anthony Adams, both of Las Vegas; granddaughter, Maya; his elder brother, John Adams; sisters, Mary Jo Ellis and Lois Tribbett; and brothers, Robert Adams and Donald Adams, all of Las Vegas; and innumerable nieces, nephews and cousins. Michael was greatly loved by many.

Selected words from Clarksburg Exponent Telegram obituary column.

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