THE WI NEWSLETTER 06/03

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 79

March 2006

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR FEBRUARY

PICTURE SUBMITTED BY JOHN TETER WI 1961

The history of the church: submitted by: Fred Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@aol.com
The latest trivia photo is of the Stealey Heights Methodist Episcopal Church known today as Stealey United Methodist Church. It is located at 521 Milford Street. The land was donated by J.I.S. Stealey in 1915 and the lot was 80 x 120 feet. Cost of the building at that time was $16,000.00. The addition to the left of the main entrance cost $100,000.00 in 1960. The new addition houses the educational building and the pastor’s study.

submitted by: Stephen Chapnick (WI '60)
schapnick@yahoo.com
This is the Stealey Methodist Church which is on the southeast corner across the street (Rt 19) from Hall Street. The Stealey Playground (southwest corner) is just opposite the Church. I lived just one block from the Church at 118 Euclid Avenue. An apartment building was on the northeast corner from the Church and a gas station was on the Northwest corner. My friends and I had a fort that we built in the wooded area just down the street east of the Church (Barry Friedlander and Gary Weiner). Barry's brother Michael built the original structure.

submitted by: A.D.Malfregeot (WI '56)
admasa@onearrow.net
My guess for the February picture is Stealey Methodist CHURCH. I became a member in March of 1945. See, miracles do happen as the church is still standing 50 years after my becoming a member.

submitted by: Tom Marshall (WI '59)
Marshall@rmu.edu
The TRIVIA PICTURE FOR FEBRUARY 2006 is the Stealey Methodist Church. It was built by my great uncle Charles Stealey although I am not sure in what year. My grandfather Sam Babb, who was married to Eunice Stealey, my grandmother, and my great aunts Laura and Leila Stealey were charter members of the church. I became a church member when old enough. During the Great Depression, when the church could not afford a janitor, my grandfather kept the furnace fired up.

The church and Sunday school was a big part of my life when I was a kid. But as I got older, I followed Huck Finn and lit out for the territory.

submitted by: Keith (D.K.) Roach (WI '62)
Wvford28@aol.com
Stealey United Methodist Church,, 521 Milford St. Clarksburg, WV. My wife and I were married in that church. 2-06-71

submitted by: Diana Cleavenger Swiger (WI '66)
Mamaswag6@aol.com
Rev Connie Dickens was the minister. Married Feb. 11 1967. I was not a member, but my ex-husband was.

submitted by: Larry Norris (WI '63)
Larrynorris530@aol.com
This is the Stealey United Methodist church in Stealey. The reason I know is because that is where I work now part time after retiring from Dominion Transmission Corp. 5 yrs ago.

Doesn’t my church look nice?

submitted by: Willard “Bud” Wheelock (WI '60)
hawkewoode708@yahoo.com
Pictured is Stealey Methodist Church on Milford Street where several generations of my wife's family (Dillons) went. The excellent condition in which it is maintained reflects its caring congregation.

Thanks for another superb newsletter! The article reprinted from the Athens newspaper was SO sell done and special! It is a shame that more West Virginians don't feel that way about our state. I love it here and when I retire at the end of the school year plan on staying here.

submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
waynepawco@verizon.net
This is the Slealey United Methodist located at 521 Milford Street....The church is located across from the Slealey play ground where a lot of the WI kids played and had baseball and basketball games.. The church has been in Stealey as long as I can remember as I Lived in that part Of town.

submitted by: Jim Dumire (RW '60)
rjrd@charter.net
This is a picture of the Stealey United Methodist Church on Milford Street in Clarksburg.

submitted by: Bob Kramer (WI '55)
Slimedawgg
The picture is of the Stealey Methodist Church across from the Stealey Playground. I remember going to Cub Scout meetings in the basement.

submitted by: Davis Flynn (WI '59)
davisflynn@yahoo.com
Isn't that the Stealey Methodist Church on Milford across from the playground. If it is, there was a buckeye tree behind it and the only one I can remember seeing in Clarksburg. We would get them, shine them up and carry in our pockets.

submitted by: Rex Zickefoose (WI '59)

This is the Methodist Church located on Milford Street near playground. I remember the preacher there in the 50's had a daughter named Rosemary I believe.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Yes, I remember her also-I think her name was Rosalee Carlson. After her father left Stealey Methodist Church we received Rev. Moore who had a daughter named Carolyn Moore who graduated from WI in 1958. Does anyone know anything about either girl? Write Roleta1@aol.com.

submitted by: Carolyn Smith (WI '63)
mamacurds@aol.com
That's the Stealey Methodist Church on West Milford Street. It's across from the Stealey playground. My aunt and uncle, Kenneth and Lucille Swiger, lived in the house to the right of the church...a pretty stone house which I loved to visit.

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
My family was members of the Stealey Methodist Church. It was a very big part of our lives. It was nice because I could walk to church each Sunday and Sunday evening if I wanted to do so. I helped with Bible School in the summer, sang in the youth choir, attended Sunday School, and MYF, and went to Church Youth Camp in the summer. My father was Sunday School Superintendent there for many years in the mid 50’s. Under his leadership we had a very large MYF program that met each Sunday evening for fun and worship. This is where my baby sister and a couple of my nieces were baptized. I have warm memories of the late night (not sure if it was midnight or not) candle light services each Christmas Eve. This church was where I received the foundation of my Christian belief.

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR MARCH

PICTURE SUBMITTED BY JOHN TETER WI 1961
Do you recognize the place pictured above? Please send your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember I don’t publish incorrect guesses so you won’t embarrass yourself. Also, we enjoy a memory included with your guess.

WVU BASKETBALL PLAY BY PLAY ON THE INTERNET
submitted by: Boo Beall (ND '58)
bbeall@buggs.net
I just listened to the WV Mountaineers beat Georgetown. I listened to the entire ball game on WAJR (Morgantown) over the Internet. I live on the Southside of Virginia, about half way between Richmond, VA and Raleigh, NC. Needless to say this is ACC country, not Big East Country. All the local TV channels preempt network ball games for ACC ball games.

Anyway, I am sure there are lots of other Mountaineer basketball (and football for that matter) fans that would like to listen to the Mountaineers if they could. I checked out MSNSportsnet first, but they charge for listening to the ball games. I refuse to pay for any services over the Internet. The Internet is meant to be free. Sirius Radio broadcasts the WV games, don’t know about the other satellite radio network. I use Dell’s Jukebox by Music Match. Just go to WAJR’s web page and look on the right side of the screen and click on LIVE STREAM WAJR, turn up the speakers, or put on the headset. Below is the link to WAJR.

http://www.wajr.com/?cid=0

P.S: You also get all the local commercials.

JOHN STEALEY III WRITES ANOTHER BOOK (WI 1959) PORTE CRAYON’S MEXICO
The diary of America’s consul to the early Mexican republic.

When David Hunter Strother, also known by his pen name Porte Crayon, arrived as U.S. consul general in Mexico City in 1879, Mexico and its society, only a decade removed from French occupation, were initially struggling with questions of national order and stability, with maintenance of independence, and with all aspects of modernization. Achieving these goals without sacrificing its patrimony to imperialistic powers, which had capital in invest, proved to be difficult for Mexico and pushed the nation’s quest for stability into another dictatorship. Strother was present at the beginning of U.S. Involvement with the phase of Mexico’s evolution under President Porfirio Diaz.

Porte Crayon’s observations of Mexican society, life, and politics were broad yet penetrating and reflective. His perspective, however, extended beyond the political economic to the land, the people, individual lives, and historical events. Mastering Spanish, as he had previously assimilated the French and Italian languages, Porte Crayon’s contacts experiences encompassed all classes of Mexican society. He possessed the artist’s eye for nuance and detail and had the literary energy and skill to record his experiences. Specialists and nonspecialists alike will be entertained and instructed by Strother’s amusing anecdotes, his striking characterizations of key figures of the time, and his observations concerning Mexico’s modernization process.

Porte Crayon’s Mexico makes available for the first time valuable and fascinating primary-source material that will appeal to scholars of U.S.-Mexican relations, Mexican history, nineteenth-century America and art history.

John E. Stealey III is professor of history at Shepherd University in West Virginia. He is the author of numerous articles and essays about the Virginias, southern Appalachia, and nineteenth-century America and of books about an antebellum extractive industry, internal commerce and legal development.

John has worked on this book for about twelve years. Most of the research was in the Library of Congress, the National Archives, and West Virginia University. This research involved extensive use of French and Spanish.

To purchase a copy of this book contact:
Kent State University Press
c/o Bookmasters
30 Amberwood Parkway
Ashland, Ohio 44805

Or call for information or to place an order for a copy:
419-281-1802

submitted by: Bill Bryan (RW '57)
PBRNRX64@aol.com

I continue to be in awe of the work you and others do to make the “WI Newsletter” such a success. I look forward to it monthly even though I have only contributed a few times, I have tried to let others know about the newsletter,

In April of 2005, we moved from Punta Gorda to Asheville, NC. My wife never really liked Florida (too hot!) and agreed to move there for me. So it was my turn to move for her. We’ve become “Half-Backs”! (Not clear back to WV yet) And the weather here has been great. I’m working part-time for Kerr Drug as a Pharmacy Floater. I’m scheduled during the Clarksburg Reunion in Sarasota, so I'll not be able to attend this year. I’ll miss bringing the pepperoni rolls that I make. Maybe I can make it in 2007. I sincerely hope to be there next year!

submitted by: Sue Selby Moats (WI '55)
moatsue@aol.com

Due to my husband’s on going problem with severe sciatica since we arrived in Florida for the season and lack of response to treatment here, we have decided to return to Maryland the 27th of February. Consequently I will not be at the Clarksburg Picnic in Sarasota on March 4. I am really upset but he needs to get back to his regular doctors. I will get the quilt, raffle tickets and money to you before I go north. Get in touch with me so we can meet and transfer things. I am so sorry about this turn of events.

submitted by: Bernice King McHenry (WI '52)
BerniceMcHenry@aol.com

Those last couple of newsletters have been particularly outstanding.
I appreciated the Homer Hickham message. and the Red Skelton bit.
Thank you and Judy for all the hard work you put into the newsletter.
In response to Someone's comments about Barbara Ashley and Dolores Huber.. Dolores' sister's name is Loretta. I used to have her address in the St. Louis area, can't find it now.to pull out her married name.
But will write if I find it.
Another " whatever happened to" I would like to be able to contact Judy Schlicker Bowers, or Nancy Schlicker. I think Judy had been in Indiana somewhere.. Nancy in the east.. Maybe Maryland or Delaware.v We grew up on Bond Street in Stealey.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I once had an email address for Nancy Schlicker but it is no longer valid. If you have information on her, please write Roleta1@aol.com, thanks.

submitted by: Bob Swiger (WI '61)
BobSwiger@raspberryfalls.com

Sports rivalries, For example WI vs Victory and WI vs RW. Most of the rivalries were in football. The old Clay Hite stadium would be packed. Sometimes WI would find a painted V on their front steps and vice versa at Victory High. There might be some threats but I don’t recall any violence.

Drag Racing - I don’t know much about this other than the drag racers (1950’s) used Bridgeport Hill and had some pretty fast and good looking hot rods. Muggsy Policano was one of the drag racers and car enthusiast.. Again, this was not a gang related, fighting type of thing. While it may have been dangerous and against the law, to we teenagers it was good fun! Some of the “in” girls liked some of the “bad boys” during these James Dean days, but that’s another story.

School punishments. Today, no one can do any physical or perceived mental harm to a student. Right or wrong, we use to get punished in different ways

Including the paddle, (what ever happened to the electric paddle that Mr. Landacrer (sp), Principal of Tower’s School, had in his office?) Could that have been an Urban Legend? Some kids did stand in the corner or were sent to the principal office (I always wondered what they did there?) In sports you would run laps until you dropped as punishment for acting up or just loafing on the field. While these were not punishments, in football, players could not have water during practice because it might make them sick. Coaches gave us a huge salt tablet before we went on the football field in the middle of August. Some players would get so thirsty they would suck on their sweat drenched practice jersey (ask your husband) or look for a mud puddle to fall into. “Bull in the ring” was another fun football exercise.

School counselors. We had Miss Josephine Swiger (no relations, I never understood that) at WI as a teacher and later the school counselor. What did the school counselor do? What did she counsel about?

Smoking out back of WI. (What was the name of that Street behind the school?) Not just the bad boys but a lot of girls and teachers.

Glen Elk and Water Street. Two scary places for kids to visit because you might get “beat up” until the boys became older and played sports with others kids from those neighborhoods. Clarksburg adults were not “colored blind” and some religions were frowned on but most of the Kids were color blind and didn’t care where you went to church.

My parents went to WI in the 20’s and 30’s and my brother and sister and I went in the 50’s and 60’s and we had some of the same teachers as our parents. Miss Hollingsworth, for example taught typing to my Mother and me. Who were some others?

I remember having respect for the janitors, I guess because they were adults and worked for a living. Wonder if kids still have respect for the janitor? How many Jr. Hi School gym were on stages that you might run off of while playing basketball?

I don’t know if any of these are any good or if you have already used them but it sure was fun thinking about them. Tell your husband that if he is not good he will be sent to Pruntytown.

submitted by: Phyllis Alton Nichols
Nmimiphyllis@aol.com

Thank you so much for the newsletter. I have been ill this week, so I may not read it all now, but I am sure I will enjoy it. As everyone seems to tell you, keep up the good work. I wish I could come to the Clarksburg Picnic but I already have some commitments for March. I am sure it will be a blast! (an old 50's term.) Ha.

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

What a tremendous Newsletter this month. You are outdoing yourselves each month.!!! I am so proud to say that you and Judy graduated with me and our classmates in 1959.

submitted by: Jim Pulice (WI '62)
jpulice@msn.com

I am sending you a check for the scholarship fund in memory of Edward Lang and Teresa Romano all class mates from 1962...who both were so dear to my heart and both died so young...I have noticed that not many 1962 classmates have participated in this fund raiser.

submitted by: Marolyn Tustin Jett (WI '56)
ma5388@earthlink.net

I love each newsletter and am still amazed at the content and memories of so many. The work you and Judy put in it and the graphics are great!

I am just now catching up on some past months topics. One is Salem Industrial School for Girls. My mother taught there the last five years of her teaching career. She enjoyed it and felt sorry for the girls. She felt the majority of them would not have been there had they had a decent home life. She couldn't believe they were all "bad girls". She started a Girl Scout troop while there and bought some uniforms for the ones she thought were really interested. She was always going the "extra mile" and even brought one girl home with her on occasion.

I also remember the writing classes and the ovals. I still have the certificates as well as a "knot" on my finger from holding THAT PEN. So I can relate to Fred Layman and you others that wrote about that ritual of practice, practice, practice! And Roleta I can relate to parents being teachers as they always had very pretty handwriting and very legible. People knew my mother was a teacher by her handwriting even up until her death at 92. I remember learning the art of glide, glide, glide the arm and hand across the paper. We are probably the "last generation" to be taught that way and you can surely tell it.

submitted by: Sharon Burner (A HS in Colorado would have been WI 1959 but parents moved)
Dragonfly6_5@msn.com
(There is an underline between the 6 and the 5)

Hi, I'm Sharon Burner. I mailed a picture to Marolyn Jett. Maybe by now you have it. I've tried to e-mail you before, it wouldn't go thru, as Mmsntv 2 said @ was having some problems. So postmaster sends them back. I would very much like the newsletter. I moved to Colorado after 8th grade. Will catch up later.

COAL MINERS
Was your father, brother, uncle or anyone in your family a coal miner?
Were you a coal miner?

For the April newsletter, I would like to hear from you about COAL MINING---
What was it like?
Was the miner scared?
Did the miner smoke?
Could the miner ever get all the black out of the pores or out from under the fingernails?
Was there a company store?

Remember---If you don’t write---there is nothing to read. If you contribute, it makes my work so much easier. Please write Roleta1@aol.com, thanks.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOL
submitted by: John Timberlake (WI '48)
JGTimberlake@aol.com
In CJHS my teacher was Earle Orme, we did setting up exercises, ran obstacle courses, played dodge ball, basketball close order drill. This was 1942 so we were ready to fight. WE did have a uniform, but most guys wore old shorts or their street clothes. I am not sure, but some could not afford uniforms. The main requirement was no street shoes, stocking feet or gym shoes. We were supposed to shower, but most did not, some times the coach would pat you on the back and if you were not wet you had to take a shower.

At WI my teacher was C.B. Hite, he organized us into squads in military fashion. Uniforms were the same as CJHS, but there was the swimming pool so we had a choice of doing whatever or swimming. Generally we played volley ball from September to December. Basketball was from December to March or April, gymnastics till the end if the year, we had been introduced to gymnastics in Jr Hi. In my second year, Arthur Upton was Gym Sgt and I was the pool SGT. Our job was to take attendance and try to keep order if the coach was not available. In the pool we wore natural attire, there was lots of grab A--, throwing people in the pool. Some attempts at water polo, or volley ball. The coach tried to teach some to swim but usually something interfered. Mainly we were on our own so little got done.

The coach refereed volleyball and basketball so some learned about those games, but I do not think most got anything from PE. I did not like it and got little from it.

In my JR year the coach asked me to me a football manager so I really enjoyed that and learned a lot about football. All varsity players and managers were exempt from PE, having a sixth period study hall instead. During football season we left school for practice during 6th period.

When I got to WVU I found that many High Schools had wrestling, baseball and other programs. At WI they had football, basketball and track. Frank Colombo tried to start baseball, but I don't know how successful that was.

submitted by: Bill Meredith (Monongah '57)
billmere@aol.com
At our high school, boys who played sports were not required to attend Phys. Ed. classes. Since we had no organized girls sports, girls were never exempt. However, one thing varsity boys basketball players were required to do was coach in the class tournaments. I always asked to coach the girls teams, since it was more fun and they took instructions better than the boys. I didn't know much about girls basketball (A different game than played today), but that made it more enjoyable----uncontrolled chaos. No classes were held during games, creating the best and loudest crowds of the season. The Freshmen were always the underdogs and had the loudest fans. Plus, they often won the tournaments, especially the boys, since varsity and junior varsity players could not play. I think the girls were rougher then, but they certainly loved their coach. Maybe that's why I always asked to coach the girls.

submitted by: Judy Hudkins Phair
lphair9507@charter.net
I didn't think I would ever write to the newsletter but do enjoy it and appreciate the hard work that goes into it. But my comment is if you ever want to be young again, remember Physical Education. I can't remember the teachers name but I was calling her some unflattering names after class one day and she overheard me. She expelled me from class for the rest of the year which meant I couldn't graduate without Phys. Ed. After a meeting with the principal, I was allowed to write articles about health for the rest of the year. Had I known, I would have called her -----earlier. We wore uniforms that were blue and had to be ironed perfectly. We played basketball and it seemed rough to me until I got to Fairmont State and played dodge ball with Pys. Ed majors. Well, I had to strike while the iron was hot …..my feeling about that teacher..maybe someone will remember her name and who was with me at the time...they didn't get into trouble...

submitted by: Mary Sue Clark Spahr (WI '56)
msspahr@aol.com
You want to know something? I couldn't tell you the name of my gym teacher if my life depended upon it. I couldn't even tell you what she looked like. And, furthermore, I don't even care! It was such a waste of time when we should have been wasting energy and getting exercise. Heck, the most exercise we got was just changing clothes from our regular attire to our gym suit. I remember it as being kind of a one piece blue atrocity that I wouldn't have been caught dead in anywhere but the isolated gym on the back end of WI.

No, we didn't shower after gym class. It would have been tough going to process 25 girls in two showers. Why bother anyway when we didn't even break a sweat?

Half court basketball was the game of the day. I guess all us ladies were far too delicate to run the length of the entire court. I really don't remember anything else of any importance except one little anecdote.

The most exciting event of the year was the day a boy's basketball broke a window between the two gyms. Several of us had minor cuts from the broken glass. My laceration was a scalp wound with quite an impressive amount of blood running down my face and the side of my head. I'm telling you, it was the most exciting moment I can remember from that gym class and not because I got cut. It was because the hole in the window pane allowed us (even the injured) to get our one and only look into the boy's gym in our entire HS experience.

submitted by: Bob Swiger (WI '61)
BobSwiger@raspberryfalls.com
I never attended a Physical Education class in the four years at WI 1958-1961. If you played football, basketball and track you did not have physical education. At Central Jr. High School the physical education teacher and football, basketball and track coach was Coach Bond who drove a Henry J automobile. We played dodge ball (not allowed anymore), and basketball. Coach Bond was also the disciplinarian at Central. He would have you bend over the seats in the gym and he could raise you up one row of seats with his paddle, so they say. For years the swimming pool at WI was closed but for some reason was opened my Jr. and Sr year. We used it after basketball practice. Swim suits were in short supply that year.

submitted by: Ron Harvey (WI '55)
w4rrh@charter.net
My memories of PE class at WI are few, but I do remember a couple items at Central Junior High on the way to WI. Items that interested to me are as follows:

1. Our dress was just about any type of shorts. I do not remember the teachers name in 50”, but he was good one. We did the typical things like basketball and other games. One in particular I remember was “Dodge Ball”. In this game one would run from one end of the gym to the other while the opposing team stood across the court and tried to hit the runners with a volley ball. One day as I was a runner, someone hit me in the legs and my head hit the block wall. The next thing I remembered was waking up in the dressing room as sick as a dog. Made it thru that one OK.

2. Another time we had a visitor that stayed with us for a while and gave us the “itch”. If you don’t know what that is, we broke out with a rash that practically covered our bodies. Medicine for recovery was lard and sulphur mixed together and spread on our bodies. The main problem was going to gym in school, wearing shorts and not being noticed. Even with the sulphur smell, all went fine and I was not caught.

3. Being the “good boy” I was in school, I never received a whipping, even though I deserved at least one. In gym one day I was in the bleachers and the instructor came by and just happened to have a paddle. He tapped me on the bottom once. I didn’t deserve that one.

4. Central had a very good basketball team and they won all of the games I saw, which were the most of their home games. That team moved on to WI. While there, WI would have been state champions, but were eliminated in the last game by South Charleston.

5. Then one player went on to WVU. WVU had a good team then as well. Overall, the Central Gym Class was fun and run very well.

By the way, you girls really put out an excellent newsletter. Thanks.

submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)
jalvaro@aol.com
I have no memories of phys ed classes at WI because playing football would exempt you from those classes. However, I did have some phys ed classes at Central Jr High. The only thing I can remember of the phys ed classes at Central is that we chose two teams, one against the other each standing on half of the gymnasium. We had a medicine ball that weighed about 550 lbs. The coach would flip a coin and the coin would determine which team got to throw the medicine ball first. We would pick up the ball and heave it as hard as we could at a player on the other half of the court. If the person you threw the ball at would catch it, you would have to go sit down. If it hit him, and he did not catch it, he would have to sit down. Now I remember I did pretty good until here comes Augie Malfregeot who could spin this 550 lb medicine ball on his index finger and then throw the ball about 95 miles an hour at one of us. Usually I was the fortunate one he threw at and sometimes I would catch it and fall down because it was either that or go through the 12" concrete block wall behind me with the medicine ball still in my arms.

I did go out for football at Central but did not make the team. I really wanted to but here is how it went. The first day of tryouts, Coach Bond (I believe), would line all of us up on the goal line and blew his whistle and the first 30 or 35 to cross the other goal line made the team. Well, I was never a fast runner. I could get you on a take off but not in a long run. I guess that was because when I did things wrong when my mother was around all I needed was a fast takeoff. But, you know I had to face her later and it would have better if she would have caught me before the takeoff. So by not making the football team I went out for band because I was a very good trombone player in the Alta Vista Band. At least I thought I was because I was 3rd trombone in my line. I think there were only 4 trombone players. I liked band.

Now to WI. I went out for football my freshman year. The first spring morning practice was hot as heck. Coach Folio would not let us have water on the practice field no matter how hot it was. The first day my trombone kept calling me and I went home and said I quit. After taking a nap and getting ready for the afternoon practice, which was much hotter than the morning practice, I walked with some of the other guys to WI field. I told them I was quitting and they said they were also but we all agreed to stick it out one more day and maybe Coach will give us water since it was hotter in the afternoon than the morning. Nope no water. I almost died. But to make it a little short, days went by and then it was game time. I was more excited about having water to drink at the game than I was of the game itself. Now when I think about the water we drank at the games, we had a galvanized bucket with a long handled dipper. We would drink from the dipper and pass it on to the other players until it was empty and then dip again and pass it on until everyone had enough water. We never got sick and I believe we were afraid what Coach Folio would do if we got sick. I drank more than I should have because I was hoping I could store a lot for next Monday's practice.

I probably should have stayed with the trombone and played in the WI band, then I would not have got hurt playing football at Wesleyan and had not had 3 knee surgeries and a total knee replacement. Nah, I would do it all over again. I had some great coaches and met some wonderful guys playing football and still keep up with most of them, thanks to the WI NEWSLETTER.

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION IN APRIL
Were you required to take a government class? What was it called? Did you take Civics, Problems of Democracy, Social Studies, Government Class, or Humanities? Who was your teacher? What did you think of this class and your teacher?

Snow has melted, the temperatures are rising…winter is gone and Spring is nearly here----do you remember Easter from those by gone days? How did you celebrate Easter at your home when you were young? Did you go to church to start the day? Did you receive an Easter Basket as long as you lived at home or when did the Easter bunny quit coming to see you? Did you receive presents for Easter? What was in the center of the Easter Basket? Did you receive a new outfit from your parents for Easter? Can you remember one particular outfit? Tell us about it. Did mom fix something special for that day? Or did you go to a restaurant? Was it a day when a lot of the family got together? Did you take a spring break trip?

Now these are some suggestions ---get that old gray matter working---bring back those memories. And write to me Roleta1@aol.com.

PHOTO WE RAN IN DECEMBER OF ROBINSON GRAND

submitted by: Deedie Swisher Souders (WI '52)

Pictured above are:

1. June Skidmore Yates; 2. Deedie Swisher Souders; 3. Charlotte Binegar Robertson; 4. Barbara Antoine Goodwin; 5. Sue Brannon; 6. Mary Catherine Childs

7. Don Switzer; 8. Bob McCarthy; 9. Harold Caplan; 10. Jim Bennett; 11. Jim Hayes

It was a vampire movie, one that was very different than any other. Perhaps this was the reason so many people turned out. It must have been a Saturday night and it does look like we were all going to a slumber party which we did on many week-ends back then.

Charlotte and I were asked by the working crew of the movie to play a "stupid game". They asked us to run up the aisle as if we were frightened by the movie. They also had people dressed, in the seats, to jump up and act like they were killing people.

PHOTO WE RAN LAST MONTH OF THE FRONT STEPS AT WI
submitted by: Sue Bice Brantley Smith (WI '53)
ssbsmith74@hotmail.com
The Students on the front stairs of WI High. In the fourth photo. I believe the #1 girl is Sarah Jane Mandeville Smith who lives an hour from me in Georgetown TX. #2 is Norma Davis and the #3 person I think is Delores Huber. We set on those steps many times. It does bring back good memories.

NEW READERS

Terry Morrow (VHS '59)	ctm3@cox.net
Thomas P. Keenan (WI '49)	tpkeenan@hrea.coop
Roger Duncan (attended WI 1953 thru 1956 would have been WI '57 but moved)	rog.duncan@comcast.net
Nadine Schaffer O'Connor (WI '56)	toconnor1@verizon.net
Sharon Burner (A HS in Colorado would have been WI '59 but parents moved)	Dragonfly6_5@msn.com
Susanne Bryan Rogers (WI '60)	SusanneRogers@insightbb.com

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESSES

Mary Nicewarner Tucker (WI '56)	Spankytuk7@aol.com
Francine Willison-Perry (WI '64)	FrancineWP@sbcglobal.net
JoAnne Marlette (WI '58)	cricketmarie2006@Yahoo.com
Connie Combs Terango (WI '61)	cterango13@citynet.net
Mike and Betty Blackshire (ND '62-'63)	mshire1124@verizon.net
Tom Keenan (WI '49)	tpkeenan@hrea.coop
Marcia Porter Heinz (WI '65)	mheinz2@earthlink.net
Marcia Benson (WI '57)	marciajos@adelphia.net
Joe Boomer (WI '54)	was: jboomer@bellsouth.net is now: boom36@tds.net
Ron Ogren (WI '50)	was: RNOgren@aol.com is now: ronogren@verizon.net

RECIPE REQUEST
Do you have a recipe for home made peppers like Oliverio’s peppers? The peppers in the tomato sauce? I have received a request. Please send the recipe to: Roleta1@aol.com and I will publish it in the newsletter.

PRECIOUS CHILD
submitted by: Ken McIe (WI '59)
kenmcie@yahoo.com

And where did you ever get that picture (the Precious Child for Feb 2006). Why, it's ME. I am honored! Memories? Why, just a lifetime of them!!. This very sad lad is staring out at the camera in 1947/48 when the camera snapped at Alta Vista School - my first grade portrait!

submitted by: Randy Moodispaugh (Bridgeport '59)
moodispaugh@verizon.net
The Precious child for February is Kenny McIe. He was in my class at Alta Vista, Central, and WI. I often wonder what happened to him maybe he still lives here but the last time I remember seeing him was in Algebra Class at WI.

submitted by: Jim Dumire (RW '60)
rjrd@charter.net
Feb. Child: I believe that is Kenny McIe class of 59 lived in Broad Oaks. This must be his first grade picture at Alta Vista.

submitted by: Nancy Rice DeLaney (WI '62)
NLDELANEY@aol.com
February's precious child is Kenny McIe. Most may not know this but he is a true blue Monopoly player. I remember playing Monopoly with Kenny & his sister Cheryl for hour upon hour and I never did come close to beating him at that board game. He was the "Donald Trump" of Haymond Heights.

submitted by: Fred Alvaro (WI '59)
Falvaro33@aol.com
This is definitely Kenny McIe, class of '59. Also lived on the top of a Broad Oaks hill where Bob Davis, Dave Hornor and Ron Grow all lived. Kenny went to Alta Vista and we were in the same class from first grade.

submitted by: Bob Davis (WI '59)
RAD29063@aol.com
This is Kenny McIe who lived at the corner of Taft Street and Bryan Ave. in Broad Oaks. He had an older brother Virgil and a younger sister Cheryl. Kenny's Dad worked at the dental lab (I think) and had a motor bike/bicycle shop in their basement. Kenny and I went (along with David Hornor) from the hill to Alta Vista, Central Jr. and then to WI.

PRECIOUS CHILD FOR APRIL

Do you know this child? Send your guesses to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember, I will not publish an incorrect guess.

We NEED pictures for this segment. I know that many of you have a picture of yourself, a brother, sister, or friend that you can share. Just get a copy made and send it to Judy Kimler for sharing in this segment. You can also send the original and she will send it back to you ASAP! We are running out of pictures for this popular segment of the newsletter….Won’t you help us please? Contact Judy for mailing directions…or scan your picture and email to her…jkimler@verizon.net Thank you so much.

THOSE WHO CARED IN FEBRUARY
Here is a list of those who understand and also feel that education is very important. I hope you too will join us in this endeavor. Add your name to the list!

Write your check to: Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship

And send to:
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles Macdonald Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34240

Thanks---Every dollar helps!

Francis D. Muscari, Sr. (WI 1957) gift given in memory of classmate Roy Bever (WI 1957)
Dr. Chuck Thomas (WI 1956) gift given in memory of classmate Roy Bever (WI 1957)
Jim Pulice (WI 1962) gift given in memory of classmates Edward Lang and Teresa Romano
Mere Gurson Schwartz (WI 1957)
Bill Bryan (RW 1957)
Gladys Anna Walsh Williams (WI 1971) and Tom Williams (Victory H.S. 1967)
Deedee Swisher Souders (WI 1952)

PICTURES MENTIONED IN THE NEWSLETTER
Dear Roleta and Judy,

I am Evaline, (Evelyn) Georgeadis Kitts VHS '58
chkaboo@aol.com

The picture of the "Plant" is the "Tin Mill", located off Rt #50 East in Summit Park, Despard area. Foot of Bridgeport Hill.

This picture was taken before my time, as I remember it. My father, Louie Georgeadis--- "The Greek Barber", and my Mother operated the Tin Plate Lunch at the upper end of the Mill, at the railroad crossing.

My father had one of his barbershops in the same building as Mother had her small restaurant, serving to the workers from the Mill. (988) Summit Park Ave. The railroad tracks went right in front of my parents shop and restaurant and straight into the Mill. Also, across the tracks from it was/is "Greektown" and Tin Plate Grocery, (the Kourpas Store). the Greek Coffee House. The Coffee House was converted into apartments, the grocery store still stands, and across and up the hill the "Greek Church" is still there.

The hill above the plant to date is full of homes and paved roads. (Factory Street) Just for everyone's info--I am part Greek and American and had to attend both Greek school and American schools, and both churches.

The bottom land below the Mill was cleared of all houses, and the smoke stacks gone. as I grew up. My homeplace. At the time the Mill was in operation, I was only four or five years old at that time. The restaurant and barber shop were converted to another home for us. Today, as it was then, is at the very upper end of the Mill. When my Mother passed away, the homeplace was sold and is still there, renovated. We also, had another home, located down around the curve from it, where we lived while the Mill was in operation. My Daddy cut many of the men's hair, who worked at the Mill, haircuts, then were only twenty five cents, shave a dime, facials, twenty five cents. He also, barbered in the Arcade on Pike Street. They all called him "Louie The Greek". He may have cut many of your readers hair. I would love to hear from them if he has cut their hair.

There is a book in the archives, Summit Park. It all began on Murphy's Run, published by Mary "Gin" Sprouse and her daughter, Sharon Sprouse Bramhall. They lived close to the Mill also, in fact, they could see it straight across from their home on Lewis St. The book is on sale from the authors. It is an amazing book of one small town in Clarksburg.
Summit Park
This is the link to their book, they published, there is a picture of the Mill in it, with exception of a few houses that were built after the picture that you have in the newsletter. I personally never saw any of the "old" houses. There was only the Saw Mill.

The Mill was sold and as I remember as a teenager, Lockheed-Martin put a plant in it's location. (no smokestacks) and paved roads lead to it. The long building still stands, scenery is all different, the bottom land was cleared of all houses and at one time there was a Saw Mill below our restaurant and home. (Bottom Land) We visit the old homeplace every couple years, as I have a sister in West Milford. My husband and I visited Mary "Gin" Sprouse at her home on Lewis Street in 2002. Gin, as we called her, is the Mother of Toni Sprouse Erchak, (VHS-1957) and Sharon Sprouse Bramhall, (VHS-60 or 61) and Paul "Bunky" Sprouse (VHS-1955) We all attended Summit Park Schools together, and were members of the Summit Park Baptist Church. I have always told folks---it's all Greek to me. Smile.

I hope this clears up of what the picture is and it's location.

I apologize of not sending this in sooner, this latest issue reminded me, the Holidays were hectic for me. I really am a "Senior" again.

submitted by: Ralph Edward Hardman
WeR1@aol.com
The pictures that Judy Daugherty Kimler put in the newsletter are correct. The Tin Mill was located at the bottom of old Bridgeport Hill. On that location now is Lockheed Martin a plant that builds aircraft parts. I worked and retired from there.

submitted by: Bob Feltner (WI '63)
bobf@cfl.rr.com
My thanks to Judy Daugherty Kimler for providing the picture of the Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate factory in Clarksburg (and I thought I was a packrat!). After comparing the two pictures, I'm convinced they're of the same place. Thanks to having been given the name of the facility, I undertook to do a bit of research, both using both Google and my copy of History of Harrison County, by Dorothy Davis (copyright 1970, American Assn. of University Women). I've attached (in MS Word) a brief history of the plant, known more familiarly in Clarksburg as "the tin plate mill". Unfortunately, I haven't been able to locate any reference to what was done with the physical property after Weirton Steel gave it to Clarksburg in 1939. If any of your readers has any knowledge of what happened in the period following 1939, I'd love to hear the story. It's possible that one of the more recent glass factories took over the space, but I have no way of knowing.

SALT RISING BREAD
This is in response to all those people who wanted Carol VanHorn Dean to once again share her recipe for Salt Rising Bread. If you make this, ofr heaven’s sake share some of the bread with me---I am terrible at baking bread-I would have a salt rising brick! Roleta1@aol.com

SALT RISING BREAD

1 Medium sliced potato		1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon soda		1/2 Teaspoon sugar
1/2 Pint warm milk		1/2 cup flour
1/2 Cup corn meal

Mix all together and place in warm place overnight. In the morning add 1 pint warm milk, thickened with flour. Let rise; when well risen, add 2 Tablespoons shortening, 3 tablespoons sugar and enough flour to knead well and make into loaves, let rise to top of pans and bake from 45 - 60 minutes, in 350o oven.

(use hands to squeeze out potato slices, before adding the other ingredients.) Makes two loaves.

HOMER HICKAM
submitted by: Anne Pears Jones (WI '58)
anannaj@earthlink.net
Roleta, thank you for including the message given by Homer Hickam at the Sago miners' funeral. He has written several good books that I recommend highly. They are TORPEDO JUNCTION, ROCKET BOYS, BACK TO THE MOON, THE COALWOOD WAY and SKY OF STONE.

In the same vein, Denise Giardina has written a couple of novels, STORMING HEAVEN and THE UNQUIET EARTH about life in the coal mining areas of southern West Virginia and Kentucky.

I sent this message one time, but according to my sent items file, it did not go.........so hope you don't end up with this twice.

OBITUARIES
ROBERT BARTLETT
Robert Hollis Bartlett, 80, died on January 26, 2006, on Signal Mountain. He was a longtime resident of Signal Mountain, TN, where he was a member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church. He was born in Clarksburg, WV, on August 12, 1925, the son of the late Jake and Marion Bartlett of Maple Lake, WV.

Bob graduated from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg and from Ohio University in Athens,OH, with a degree in Business Administration. At Ohio University, he was a member and served as president of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.

He proudly served his country in World War II when he enlisted in the Navy after graduation from high school in 1943 and served on the USS Brooklyn as a radioman. He was active in the Brotherhood Protectorate of Elks and the Chattanooga Jr. Chamber of Commerce.

Bob had 25 years of service with Arcade Printing, where he served as Senior Vice President of Sales. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jim Bartlett; sisters, Edie Shetler and Eleanor Conley.

Survivors include his daughter, Kathy Sanders and her husband, Jim; his son, David Bartlett and his wife, Sallie; and his grandchildren.

DEREK LEE MERCHANT
Derek Lee Merchant, 56 years of Clarksburg, WV, was born September 8, 1949, and died, January 24, 2006, in the United Hospital Center.

He was a son of the late James S. Merchant Sr. and Millie Cox Merchant.

Derek was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, where he was a standout in basketball, receiving numerous awards. He graduated in the top 25 out of a class of 250 students.

He received an athletic scholarship to attend West Virginia State College in Institute, WV, where he played college basketball and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He then attended West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, graduating with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. During his basketball career, he played in many high school and college championship games.

He leaves behind his devoted and loving mother, Millie A. Merchant; one son, Marloe Hunter and his wife Lasonya, of Forest, Mississippi; two grandchildren, Marcus and Mariquis Hunter; two sisters, Pheon Merchant Gardner and Thea Merchant, both of Columbus, OH; three brothers, Kevin David Merchant, of St. Albans, WV, James S. Merchant Jr. of Columbus, OH, and Linel “Linny” Merchant of Clarksburg, WV; several aunts and uncles and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

NOTICE OF DEATH
I thought you would be interested in knowing that Mike Helmick died. He lived in Alaska since the early seventies. Of course you knew his parents were gone but did you know his sister Barbara is dead also. That is all of them.

He graduated from WI in 1963 and his sister graduated with my sister Judy (WI 1957), I think. They lived in the upstairs apartment on Liberty by the tracks and directly across from Oscar's Helmick's Barbershop. Their dad was Stanley and mom was Francis.

It is funny how some of us go away and stay but when we die we want our remains to come back home. His ashes are to be scattered on the old family farm.

Monday I am conducting graveside services for an old WWII veteran that left WV in the 40's or 50's but they drug him back home for burial. We do several of those each year.

Above information from Rex Zickefoose (WI 1959)

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