THE WI NEWSLETTER 01/07

THE WI NEWSLETTER

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Issue 89

January 2007

THE NEW YEAR
submitted by: Dahrie Christiansen Hayman (WI '64)
Dhayman2@cfl.rr.com
“I am the New Year. I am unused, unspotted, without blemish. I stretch before you three hundred and sixty-five days long. I will present each day in its turn, a new leaf in the Book of Life, for you to place upon it your imprint.

“I am the New Year. It remains for you to make of it what you will. If you write with firm, steady strokes, my pages will be a joy to look upon when the next New Year comes. If the pen falters, if uncertainty or doubt should mar the page, it will become a day to remember with pain.

“I am the New Year. Each hour of the three hundred and sixty-five days, I will give you sixty minutes that have never known the use of man. White and pure, I present them. It remains for you to fill them with sixty jeweled seconds of love, hope, endeavor, and patience.

“I am the New Year. I am here but once past. I can never be recalled. Make me your best.”

NOTE FROM DAHRIE: I wrote the above story during my senior year at WI. Over the years, several versions have evolved and have been published with either "anonymous" or "author unknown" listed. I am the original author. Please feel free to use it in the January edition of the Newsletter

CORRECTION
submitted by: Roleta
roleta1@aol.com
In the last letter to all of you concerning the newsletter being ready to read, I made a mistake and wrote:
“I often told my children that once you stop believing in Christmas, Santa quits coming.”

I meant to say:
“I often told my children that once you stop believing in Santa, Santa will quit coming!”

My children still believe in Christmas….but no longer believe in Santa!

APPRECIATION
submitted by: Bud Collins (WI '55)
KEMils@aol.com
I am sending a check for the WIN Scholarship in appreciation of the work done by Roleta in producing the monthly newsletter.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks for the gift, Bud. I certainly appreciate it and it is a gift that keeps on giving…… Roleta

PROUD GRANDPA
submitted by: Glen Cowgill (WI '59)
gcowgill@comcast.net

My granddaughter reading her award winning essay at the Veterans day parade in Bellevue, Nebraska.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW
The CLARKSBURG PICNIC will be held Saturday March 3, 2007 at the same location as the past few years. We begin gathering around 10:00 or so to set up things and you are welcome to come and help. I always need help covering tables, arranging foods, unloading my car, etc. (Yep, another labor of love!)

You must write and tell me how many will be in your group and their names. This makes it easier and quicker for the volunteers to sign you in at the picnic and you will have more time to visit, relax, and enjoy the great food that people bring. Of course, again this year we will have hot dogs with that wonderful famous WV chili sauce.

You only need to bring your own drink and a covered dish to pass. Also, bring some money to put in the pot to cover expenses. All money over and above the cost will go into the WIN Scholarship.

There will be only one raffle this year. We will raffle off the WIN quilt made from pieces donated by several wonderful ladies who are so thoughtful to help the scholarship fund. These pieces are all put together, a border added and the stuffing and backing, then it is quilted by Sue Selby Moats. The quilt this year is in autumn colors and reflects our state in the fall. You can buy raffle tickets by mail from Sue. (moatsue@aol.com) Just contact her via email to purchase the tickets. You do not have to be present to win. We will ship the quilt to you if you win and are unable to attend the picnic.

A group of people relax in the shade at the 2006 picnic

E MAIL ADDRESSES TO BE ERASED:
Email addresses listed below have been erased from my notification file. I could not get an email to go through to their mail box for one reason or the other. If you know any of those listed, please contact them and tell them that if they wish to receive notification of the monthly WI Newsletter, they must send me their name, school and year of graduation so they can be reinstated.

One thing that I just became aware of, if a person has AOL, my mail won’t go through to them if they haven’t signed up for the free service AIM. If your name is not listed below, and you are receiving the WI newsletter you are safe!

Lrond3@yahoo.com
Marple@software.org
Liztustin@netscape.com
lolgen@wvconnect.com
leewilson@wideopenwest.com
sblack@thecrossworks.net
jflowers1@earthlink.net
Jgbennet@cox.net
jeff.george@verizon.net
Triciad20@cs.com
WesLou29@aol.com
WKWhaley@cs.com
clmurphy@gwinnettpl.org
barryrivka@sbcglobal.net
Jerry Warne (WI 1959)
Carolyn Warne (WI 1959)
Bill Fowler (WI 1959)
Abanana53@aol.com
Bell5513@aol.com

IN MEMORY OF MR. JACK FREDERICK

submitted by: Leslie Moran Bond (WI '79)
LMOORE761@aol.com
"George Washington, Federalist; Hamilton's financial policy; debt; revenue;.........." That group recitation is how Mr. Frederick's American History class always began for my classmates and I in the '70's. I suspect that's how they all began, as in a casual conversation with a younger friend not long ago, his name came up and we simultaneously began the chant in unison.

Mr. Frederick was almost a caricature of himself and was the good humored target of many a high school prank. I have vivid memories of him applying his infamous "sleeper hold" to David Gordon, son of Dr. Paul Gordon, for some smart remark or incorrect answer.

There was the day that someone taped a Playboy centerfold to his beloved roll-up map in front of the class. He clutched at his heart, but his deadpan facial expression never changed. On the band's "hot dog day," Mr. Frederick had obtained his dogs early (to avoid the rush, I'm sure) and had put them under the lamp in his room to keep them warm until lunchtime, only to have the paper wrapper ignite and start a small fire.

Then there was the day he discovered that some students had found a way around his test grading method. Tests were always multiple choice, and we were instructed to draw a line through the correct answer. His key was a copy of the test with the correct answers cut out, so he could just place it on top of an answer sheet and if he could see a line through his opening, the response was correct. Naturally, someone figured out that if you draw lines through ALL the answers, the right one would certainly reveal itself. After the 9th or 10th perfect score, he got wise.

I wasn't aware that he had passed away, although reason would have it that he had, since I figured him to be about 100 when I was in school more than 20 years ago. He is, himself, a piece of history and I once had a conversation with Jamie Logue of the Exponent-Telegram that perhaps one of his columns should be attributed to Mr. Frederick. Only Jamie could capture the true spirit of the guy, as he did in a humorous tribute to Towers Grade School years ago that left me in stitches.

I hope that when "Cactus Jack" left this world he finally got to meet George Washington -- that would truly be "heaven" for him.

submitted by: Willard F. "Bud" Wheelock (WI '60)
hawkewoode708@yahoo.com
I was fortunate to have a lot of great teachers during my 12 years in Clarksburg Schools, but the one that made the greatest impact on my life was Mr. Edwin J. "Cactus Jack" Frederick, who taught from 1946 until his retirement in 1981, almost all of it at WI. This man did not miss a single day in the classroom during that long career! No one will ever come close to that! He served in the Air Corps in WWII with distinction. As far as I know, he got his nickname because he was an admirer of FDR's first vice-president, "Cactus Jack" Garner. Every day in his class was an adventure. If you did not care about history when you started in September there had to be something wrong with you if you felt the same way by June. I have known no one, myself included that could use audio-visual presentations as effectively as Jack. I still have and still use many teaching aids that he gave me when we worked together from 1972 to 1981. With every holiday, you expected to see him go all out decorating his room appropriately and sometimes wearing a costume of sorts in keeping with the event. We looked forward to that.

There would occasionally be someone who was "defying him" and needed discipline. Though not a man large in stature, he could always handle the situation & we had some pretty big "boys". I was fascinated with history before I went to school, but it was "Cactus Jack" who instilled in me the desire to teach it. I still consider him the benchmark and I will be starting my 36th year of teaching history this fall, at Robert C. Byrd High School.

submitted by: Barbara Williams (WI '58)
bjwilliams@roverusa.com
My one memory of Mr. Frederick is when he had stepped out the classroom and when he came back he pointed his finger into his room from the door and he said whoever his finger is pointed at had to go to the principal’s office and of course it just happened to be me. Of course the principal just had me sit in his office for a few minutes and then told me to go back to the class. He said that Mr. Frederick is always doing something crazy.

submitted by: Don Marple (WI '53)
dmarple@bellsouth.net
This is a story I shared with my classmates (WI '53) when I learned of his death. It will bore those who heard it before and I hope everyone else enjoys it. He was a wonderful teacher.

I gave Mr. Frederick a hard time once in a while (?), but he did get the best of me at least once.

When I was cutting up in class one day he told me that I was never going to learn American History and I would surely fail the next test. I quickly responded by saying, "I'm not going to fail. I'll bet I'll get as good a grade on the next test as anyone else in the class."

Having set the hook, he said, "Just this class?" (There were two.)

With testosterone rising, I said that I would get as good a grade as anyone in either class.

Jack: "How much?'

"Ten cents!" (I was a big spender then, too.)

He came to my desk and we shook hands on the bet.

So I was quiet and paid attention in class, studied every night and learned all he taught before the next American History test. (I forget what it was about.)

Mr. Frederick graded the tests using the template he always used, then came to my desk and, with a flourish, placed a dime there. Shirlene Brown and I had gotten 98s.

As he walked away, I (finally) began to think; let's see -- who won here? He got me to shut up and pay attention in class, study American History and learn what he wanted me to know. I got a dime.

He got exactly what he wanted and it only cost him ten cents.

VIDEO ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA
Pam and Jim Brown thought you might like to visit this site and watch the video about West Virginia…..circa 1935. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8887963968104949210&q=west+virginia&hl=en

PRECIOUS CHILD

submitted by: Ken McIe (WI '59)
kenmcie@yahoo.com
And I believe the December 2006 Precious Child is Carolynn Harbert. We were at Alta Vista in BROAD OAKS (Go Oaks!!).

May you and your's have a very memorable Christmas and prosperous New Year.

submitted by: Meredith Eneix (WI '93)
MaeMae4xs@aol.com
As a first timer to the alumni page, what a surprise it was to see this picture. It is of my best friend, and my mother Carolynn Harbert Eneix.

PRECIOUS CHILD PICTURE FOR JANUARY

Do you recognize this child? Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. I will only use correct guesses.

WI CLASS OF 1947 REUNION PLANNED
Mark your calendars now. The WI Class of 1947 is planning their 60th Class reunion to be held the week-end of Labor Day in Clarksburg, WV. More details later.

If you are interested in more information or making reservations to attend, contact Dick Albright (WI 1947) at jada50@earthlink.net

1967 CLASS REUNION
submitted by: Terry Snider Fazio (WI '67)
terrymomma@msn.com
The WI class of 1967 is planning it's 40th reunion--It will be held 7/13 and 7/14/07 at the Bridgeport Conference Center. There will be live bands both nights--both have ties to WI--Subway and Dennis McClung Blues Band. If you missed the 36th reunion we had 4 years ago, you missed a great time of renewed friendships, making new friends, and reliving memories. We hope to have an even bigger turnout for the Big 4-0.

We are still missing some class mates addresses:

Sandy Ash Lewis,
Jean Barbour,
Linda Bartlett LaPalm,
Carol Carter,
Carla Gidley,
Sandra Holbert,
Karen Inks,
John Keenan,
Donna Leach,
Linda McDaniels,
Larry Stout,
Carol Toothman,
Candace Wilson,
John Wyer,
Celeste Zickefoose,
William Morgan.

If anyone knows how to reach these people, you can e mail me or Paul and Linda Wyckoff at lrw7072@aol.com.

We are planning an elimination dinner fund raiser February 24, 2007, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Clarksburg. The proceeds will help defray the cost of the reunion and go towards our Washington Irving Scholarship Fund. Tickets will be $40 a couple--gives you a great buffet dinner and an evening of fun and entertainment. The theme for this will be the 50's--this will be a great fund raiser plus a way to connect again.

Roleta--thanks for a great newsletter and a forum for this type of announcement--doesn't seem like it has been 40 years since we were on the "Hill". Goes by fast!

SCREEN NAME
How did you pick your screen name? Write to Roleta1@aol.com.

submitted by: Carol VanHorn Dean (WI '58)
DBLU2@aol.com
I am an avid card (Bridge) player. One of the bids to the game is "double." My club buddies nicknamed me "Miss Doubler" because I have a tendency to double the bid every chance I get. For that reason, I gave myself the screen name dblu2. (double you too)

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS

Barbara Boreman (WI '55)	ladylake@tds.net
Jim May (WI '67)	jamaygto@aol.com
Kay Cottrill (WI '70)	CottrillK@uhcwv.org
Paula Milstead Pickler (WI '56)	paulampic@aol.com
Carolyn Layfield Cady (WI '53)	rcadyc@sbcglobal.net

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS

Vaughn Williams McDonald (WI '56)	pastsnoop@suddenlink.net
Frank Bush (WI '59)	frankbsh@sbcglobal.net
Patricia Hardman Nicholson (WI '56)	hwnpan@verizon.net
Ron L. Watkins (VHS '54)	was: ronw@ticnet.com is now: ronw@tx.rr.com
Barry Rosenthal (WI '63)	was: barryrivka@sbcglobal.net is now: barryrivka@yahoo.com

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR DECEMBER 2006

The picture is of the Ladies dressing room at Oral Lake.
Congratulations to so many of you for identifying the building as being at Oral Lake. Your memories are great
submitted by: Ann Romine Yoke (WI '46)
Annryoke@aol.com
The trivia picture for December is a place very dear to my heart. If it is the ladies dressing room at ORAL LAKE, it still looks the same.

I swim almost every day until the water gets frigid . There are only two of a large group of regular swimmers, who became known as the "shady ladies'. We love the lake and have special memories of that group. Thanks to the sender. I hope she, too has good memories of swimming there.

submitted by: Mary Stump Harrell (WI '55)
msharrell2005@verizon.net
That is the building containing the women's dressing rooms at Oral lake.

I remember its smell (musty old wood and Clorox), and the roughness of the doors to the cubicles- or dressing rooms. The floor was usually wet and there was a tray for you to step into to disinfect your feet - hence the Clorox odor.

When I was a child, I remember being challenged by my older brothers (who went, of course, to the boys' dressing room) to see whether I could dress and get to the car faster than they did. Naturally, I never won. They would roll their swim suits into a neat cylinder inside their towels - it was a long time before I mastered that skill.

I remember walking barefoot down to the road and across to the pier and the lake. In summer the asphalt road was often soft and squishy underfoot and to this day when I smell tar, I see Oral Lake. The water was clear and cold - we could swim on a hot day and locate the springs under water by the feel of the cold water. We would swim to "middle pier" and lounge in the sun. The piers had jute (?) mats that were rough on the feet- but at middle pier the jute baking in the sun had a wonderful earthy smell. A great challenge was to dive off the top of middle pier - I remember being most impressed when Sue White performed this feat. Since she and I were the same age, I figured I could do it too. I finally did achieve this great accomplishment - but never liked it. The height was too frightening to me. One time I arched feet over back in such a way that my back was mildly painful for a few days, so that became my excuse for returning to the cannonball from the top of the pier.

We swam from there to the other side of the lake where there was a ladder up onto a big rock from which you could jump or dive into the water. Few people went over there, so it became a favorite spot for me and my friends. I remember one time being over there with Louanna Furbee when she spotted a large snake stretched out on a limb above our heads. The thing fell into the water and swam away. I was properly terrified. Still don't like snakes.

We spent many many hours at "the lake" and it is one of the happiest locales of my childhood.

submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)
jalvaro@aol.com
I don't know why I should know the trivia picture for Dec 2006 but some reason I think the picture is a building, or maybe a dressing room at Oral Lake. Buck Tustin and I usually drive all over Clarksburg and surrounding areas and the lakes were some of the places he took me to when I went in. I think the last time we were there, there was a sign over that building, or one near it that read, ORAL LAKE FISHING CLUB. I do know I had several friends from WI who had summer homes there.

submitted by: Bill May (WI '63)
billmayflorida@yahoo.com
The trivia picture is the men's dressing room at Oral Lake. I worked there as a lifeguard one summer when I was in college. Great memories! The water was always cold and surprisingly deep. I also went there to swim and fish almost every Thursday and Sunday in the summer months when I was a child with my uncle, Dr. Jim Brennan. He had an old aluminum row boat that never had a fish in it.

submitted by: Jerry Hustead (WI '63)
JJHustead@aol.com
The picture looks like a changing house at "Oral" Lake outside of Bridgeport.
What a great place.

I remember one sultry summer night when the "Stealey" gang loaded up for a trip to Oral lake for a swim. We parked on a bluff opposite the club house. All of us got "Booty Buck" naked and jumped into the water. Little did we know they hired a night watchman. He heard the noise of six boys coming from the water and raced over in his car to catch us trespassing. We saw his headlights bouncing down the road so we ran to the car grabbing what clothes we could find on the way. All of us jumped into the 4 door car naked. We tore off down the road toward Bridgeport.

I was driving. On the way I saw a hitch hiker standing along the pitch black road. I stopped to pick him up and told everyone to be quiet. The rear door flew open and without looking he jumped into a dark back seat to find 4 wet naked guys! There was dead silence in the car. About a mile down the road I ask him where he was going? He stuttered to say " You can let me out right here." We all busted out laughing . I stopped the car and let him out. What a hoot that was.

submitted by: Jane Stout Galvan (WI '59)
Jognjsg@aol.com
The Dec. trivia picture is of the women's bath house at Oral Lake. That lake was my second home in the summer and I have such fond memories of all the time that I spent there with family and friends.

My husband and I were back in Erie, Pa. for a wedding the first part of Oct. and on the way back to Pittsburgh to catch the plane, we drove through Bridgeport and headed straight out to Oral Lake where I jumped in, swam to the middle pier, dove off the top and swam back to the bull pen. It was 80degrees that evening, the fall leaves were dropping and we were the only people there. What a great memory. I love that place.

submitted by: Lyle Corder (RW '57)
WVLyle@aol.com
It is not the club house; it is much larger. It is a dressing room. Nothing to share, my family lived in Nutter Fort and we didn't belong to the lake group of families. Might be interesting to know if any of the club members know what the lake was called before it became Oral Lake.

submitted by: Mary Ann Baily Donato (WI '56)
mblanchard2@patmedia.net
The trivia picture for December is the girls bathhouse at Oral Lake. The memories flowed back the minute I saw it. I grew up going to Oral lake with my cousin Jane Stout Galvan and that little bath house has hardly changed at all. However, it does have an indoor toilet now so people don’t have to go up to the out house with little critters that seemed to multiply there.

We all, Martha Blair Norris Chartrand, Doug and Chad Sinsel, The White Girls, Bob Bailey, Bob Weaver, to name just a few, spent many a summer day and evening at Oral lake. Spin The Bottle was a big draw in the Clubhouse many a summer’s night. 4th of July swimming races, picnics and sleepovers at Martha Blair’s house are all part of the memories of Oral. I went to the lake last June while attending my 50th WI reunion and when Sheri and I walked into the bath house the wood smell was the same as it has been for the past 60+ years. How is that for bringing back memories? Thanks Sheri for submitting this picture.

submitted by: Jim Hornor (WI '59)
JYH2125@aol.com
This is the women's change house at Oral Lake.I had only one occasion to go inside after Buck, my brother , and Glen Morrison hid my change of dry clothes there.

Oral Lake was a great gathering place, both summer and winter. Ice hockey with middle pier and the main dock as the goals. Lumps of coal, from the near by railroad tracks, as pucks. Had to use several as they would get busted up during play. Lighting was poor but we would supplement it with a bon fire built near the boat docks. Wow, we had fun.

Obviously the summer activities of swimming, boating and fishing were also enjoyed. The fourth of July activities were Great with Mr. Bailey officiating all of the Games. I think the winners of each race got a silver dollar. I still have mine.

Here is to all those great memories.

submitted by: John Emerick (WI '53)
CadilacJak54@aol.com
I haven't written in quite a while. Please forgive me, as I am sure that you need for all of us to relate the memories that we have, so that you can have something to share each month.

I am not certain, but I think that the December mystery picture is of the Clubhouse at Oral Lake. It has been years since I have driven out that way, and I am not even sure that it is still there ( the clubhouse), or if it is, that it still looks the same.

In the summers of 52 , 53, and 54, we used to go out late at night and sneak in from the other side of the lake. In that day, there were no houses on the other side, and we would park our cars at the turn just before you reached the lake. We would (sometimes) take bathing trunks, and at other times we would just take towels and sneak down the railroad tracks and slip down into the water and swim quietly around, sort of like a UDT team on a training mission. (And, yes Virginia, that means that we were swimming in the buff) We would swim over to the main pier and untie a WW II type naval life raft which was made of some kind of wood and then wrapped in gray tape. We would tow it back towards the other side, and then we would begin to get a little loud and, of course, at 1:AM that would arouse the caretaker, Mr. Helky, and he would come out with his shotgun and elevate the muzzle and fire across the lake, and we would take off towards the bank and climb out, as the birdshot rattled through the trees and run towards the tracks and then beat a hasty retreat back to the cars and quickly leave, before the county or state police could arrive. Wow, it is a wonder that we weren't caught and put in the "crossbar motel" for a night.

I said "we" at the beginning of this piece. The we was made up of Sal Vespoint - WI - 52, Bob Harrison - WI - 52, Bob Summers WI - 53, Gilbert "PUNKY" Goodwin - WI 52, and John Barile -WI 54. There were some others that occasionally went with us, but just now, I can't seem to recall any of the other names. I am sure some of the guys that are mentioned above would remember who the others were. This whole adventure would usually start at the Central Restaurant where we would often spend our late nights. It was open 24 hours six days of the week, closing only, as I recall, on Sunday afternoon at 1 or 2, and re-opening at 6 the next morning. Usually, Jack Merandi or his brother-in-law Buddy Barile ( the older brother of John mentioned above) would be working the "cat eye shift", and we would sit there and tell jokes and relate experiences and someone would say, " Man, it sure would be a great night to go swimming". Of course, someone else would say, " Yeah- - - -let's go"! The adventure was ON !

Well, anyway, I hope that I am right about the picture, as it would surely be a waste to tell this story if that is not what is pictured. Well, I hope that this little essay will brighten somebody's day as they remember doing things like this. It was wrong, but it surely was FUN !

'Til next time,

submitted by: Anne Byrnside (WI '52)
annbyrn@ma.rr.com
My husbands' grandfather was one of the original members of Oral Lake. My husband and several friends spent many summer weeks camping out across the lake (which belongs to CSX). From the time that my children were small we picnicked there every Sunday with friends and their children. When my children come to Clarksburg they go there and they love to take their out of town friends there. It is indeed a step back in time.

THE REST OF THE STORY
submitted by: Fred G. Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@AOL.COM
The latest trivia photo is of the ladies dressing room at Oral Lake which is approx. 4 miles South East of Bridgeport on the old route to Flemington. A group of Clarksburg businessmen in 1913, namely John O. Brooks, W.A. Vance, B.D. Bailey, C.C. MCCarty and R. E. Ash leased a dam on property owned by a family named Kester. They called the dam Oral Fishing Club and was limited to 25 members at first. They later added a few more members and some summer cottages. The Oral Fishing Club name was dropped later and the property became known as Oral Lake. The name Oral was derived from the Oral one room school house which was located on the other side of the B. & O. railroad tracks. This road was called Green Valley and the Oral school was on the left of Pig Tail Run Road. This graded school had students from grade one to grade six. Average enrollment through the years was 19. The Oral School closed in 1944 and the last principal-teacher was Lucy Dunkin.

TRIVIA PICTURE FOR JANUARY 2007

Do you know the place in the picture above? Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember, I only print correct guesses so there is no harm in trying to guess…test your memory. If your answer is incorrect, sometimes I even give you a clue and ask you to try again…..

PRANKS
The question---Did you play any pranks when you were young? One person wrote to share a prank he and some friends pulled. Do you have one you can share? Write to me: Roleta1@aol.com. Here is a sample:

submitted by: Bryan McIntyre (WI '65)
bmcintyre@ec.rr.com
Let's call this one Pranks Gone Bad. Somewhere in my sophomore/junior time period, I was roaming around with several male friends when we happened upon the motor from a washing machine that had been left at the curb for pickup. As many streets in Clarksburg run "downhill", the temptation to roll this motor down the hill was too great. Unfortunately it started down the middle of the street but quickly veered to the right, jumped the curb, went airborne and crashed through the screen door of the kitchen of a house where a family was having dinner. As far as we knew, no one was injured.

There are some other adventures involving throwing recently picked/stolen vegetables from moving vehicles, firecrackers going off in a vehicle when the thrower did not manage to hit the open car window, creating new roadways in Lodgeville where there had been nothing but backyards, cow-tipping at ES's grandfather's farm (note initials only), a classmate (DW) going to sleep in the closed chest freezer at BA's house (more initials) and re-routing a city bus down a narrow alley by moving a detour sign... but I'll let other members of the Class of 65 talk about these pranks.

The best prank I remember was when I was a freshman at RW. There was a construction company equipment yard at the top of the hill above the high school. At night, when cars would come up the hill, just as they were at the crest, their headlights would be aiming up in the air. We moved the boom of a large crane over near the fence and different guys would swing out over the street on the wrecking ball hanging down from the crane. What the drivers would see was a human body flying through the air right in front of (actually 10 feet or more above) their car. Running to hide afterwards meant only 2 or 3 occurrences happening in a two hour period, especially if the Nutter Fort police had been called. As my Columbus, Ohio-raised wife has said many times when she hears these incidents rehashed at reunions, "it's a wonder none of you were not caught and arrested!"

FOOTBALL PRACTICE
submitted by: Bill Meredith (Monongah '57)
billmere@aol.com
Jim Alvaro wrote in the December newsletter that the WI football team was not allowed to drink water during practice. Apparently all high school teams at that time, at least in north central West Virginia, were the same. At Monongah HS, we were given no water during practices. Our field was a 15-minute walk from the school. We, too, took lemons to help with our thirst. There was a small stream, or ditch, that ran near the field. Some of the players would sneak to the ditch to find water. One year, toward the end of the season, someone discovered the carcass of a dead dog just upstream from our drinking spot. No one ever drank from that "ditch" again. Thanks Jim, for bringing back the memories, some good, some not so good.

WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM
submitted by: Kimberly Ludwick Wildt (WI '77)
kwildt@sc.rr.com
The courts were at Riverbend Park. There were only 4, and a 1 hour limit was allowed. And, let me tell you it was enforced by the people who were waiting.

One thing we would do while waiting was to hit against the wall, but that was only after the picnic tables were removed for the Fall and Winter.

There were two courts at Norwood Park, but they were in bad shape---we only used them when we were desperate to play.

Finally, two nice courts were built at the 4-H barn. Unfortunately, I was attending WVU and could only use them holidays and when I would come to visit.

EDITOR’S QUESTION: Did WI ever have a boy’s or girl’s tennis team as part of their sport program? If so, when did they first start playing tennis at WI?

submitted by: Joe Malone (WI '52)
Jmalone934@sbcglobal.net

Ro----I just thought you might like to know that once again through the auspices of your newsletter I found a friend. Because you published David Vespoint's email message from his dad, Sal, I was able to set up a lunch with Sal and Rusty Sloan in Annapolis earlier this month.

For the benefit of those who know them and are interested, both Sal and Rusty are still standing and able to take sustenance. Sal is retired and claims to fish 200 days/year which must include every day outside football season? Later in the day, Rusty and I watched the Maryland Terrapins beat up on Fordham at the Comcast Arena where David Vespoint manages/runs the sound systems. David also does all the sound systems for Maryland football and soccer games.

submitted by: Shari Josephs Collins (WI '65)
sjoseph4@columbus.rr.com

Thanks for your greeting - you covered all the bases. The entire season has lost its meaning. Too bad there can't be a Christmas/Chanukah that requires people to give from the heart only - meaning to others that are needy. I realized what a mess this entire season has become as I witnessed people at the Thanksgiving dinner table spreading out the newspapers and inserts frantically searching for the best deals and planning their 5 a.m. departure for said stores/sales. This at a time when we should be thankful for what we have - not want we want. Feel free to print this in your newsletter.
Bah Humbug

submitted by: Dorothy Ann Hughes Shaffer (WI 52)
cshaffer@pathwaynet.com

Just wanted to wish a Blessed Holiday Season for both of you and thank you for the newsletter. It is definitely one of my blessings for the year as it renews old memories and has put me in touch with other WI grads. I especially appreciated the stories and picture of the Arcade fire but all the news is interesting to me. You guys do a fabulous job. A big THANK YOU!!

submitted by: Judith Siders McDougal (WI '57)
siders_judy@sbcglobal.net

Santa Claus is a spirit, a spirit of giving and loving. If you just believe he will always be real.

Many years ago Arlene Francis had a TV show, she said this is what she told her son. When my own kids started asking questions this is what I told them and they have also told the same to their kids. This makes the world go around. This year I have given my family the spirit in the form of a donation to St. Jude’s hospital in their honor...............wishing all our newsletter friends a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year.........................

submitted by: Carolyn Hornor Wilson (WI '60)
chw10@gv.psu.edu

You two do such a wonderful job and should be at the top of our THANK YOU List for every student that attended WI. We are most grateful.

submitted by: Robert Dixon Bewick, Jr. (WI '47)
dynaflow29@verizon.net

Thanks for the WI newsletter which I really look forward to receiving. Our WI Class '47 will be having our 60th Year Class Reunion in September 2007.

I was very sad when reading about the death of Ms. Swiger who with Mr Zigler were our Class wonderful sponsors.

submitted by: Willard F. "Bud" Wheelock (WI '60)
hawkewoode708@yahoo.com

The newsletter is priceless! You two are doing a unique and superb achievement with it! Best wishes to you and yours for a joyous Christmas and Prosperous New Year!

submitted by: Sue Robinson Pierson (WI '65)
NJSUSIEQ@aol.com

What a fabulous Christmas issue - the art work is wonderful - you do an amazing job. I don't know if you know how much it means to all of us who have moved so far away. I was born & raised on Denam Street in Clarksburg - while a freshman in college my mom passed away and my dad consequently moved out of state. I never really spent much time in Clarksburg after that, but it is the core of those fabulous growing up years. All of these old stories are so important, as you get older it seems that your memories and the people you shared them with are even more important.

My husband and I are planning to go on the same cruise you discussed in your last letter. We were excited to hear all about it and we are booked to go this July.

Keep up the great work!!

TRIVIA QUESTION:
submitted by: Ron Harvey (WI '55)
w4rrh@wt4ra.org
Automobile Trivia -
Do you remember seeing this car and driver around WI in the years 53’, 54’, and 55’? The car was a 1950 Crosley bought in Stealey for $387.50. The car got good gas mileage as it had a four cylinder engine with 26 HP at 3600 rpm. Top speed was about 62 mph downhill. A long trip for the car was to Elkins and back. This car was used for transportation by Gary Garrett, Albert Myer, and Ron Harvey (owner) (all WI ’55). The car was a station wagon and had a manual transmission and individual electric windshield wipers. It would hold two in the front and two in the back. In a pinch, you could ride an extra girl in the front, if she road in the middle. This made changing gears a treat. Any one wheel could be lifted, making it fairly easy to transplant the car onto a sidewalk. The car finally caught on fire one night not to be used on the road again. Famous passengers riding in this car were Mr. Fredrick and Miss Robinson (WI teachers). The FAY on the front license plate attended RW High School.

NOTE FROM JUDY: This is a picture of a 1950 Crosley station wagon I found on the internet. It probably isn't the right color but it should give you an idea of what a Crosley looked like.

WE ARE MARSHALL
submitted by: Wayne Winters (almost WI '66)
wwinters@ix.netcom.com
Saw the movie today. The people I went with have no ties to WV or Marshall but they were affected too.

Noted last night on Yahoo the movie critic reviews are a C average. Movie goers themselves are giving it an 'A' though. It was painful and deeply moving to me in some of the scenes but I am glad I went.

The Keith Albee Theater where the varsity who missed the trip and heard the announcement of the crash was where my high school senior class held graduation.

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com
Bill and I saw “WE ARE MARSHALL” the day after it hit the local theaters. I cried, I laughed, and I applauded. I of course remember the story well. My good friend Erma Lynn Loria Uhle lost her brother Frank Loria in that plane crash. She still hurts from her loss.

I thought it was very well done. I thought the actors did a great job. I certainly recommend it to you. Spend a few bucks (go to a matinee when the tickets are cheaper if you wish) but go see it in the theatre with the big screen. We saw it in Columbus, Ohio. The theatre was packed, it was hard to find 2 seats together. I sat down beside an older gentleman who cried a lot during the movie.

Please go and support this movie….they don’t make too many movies concerning anything about WV.

submitted by: Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI '59)
jkimler@verizon.net
I recently saw the movie "WE ARE MARSHALL" and like so many others was deeply affected. At the time of the crash I lived in Huntington and can vividly remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. I had attended a football game in Parkersburg with a friend who was the residence director in a dorm where a lot of the players lived. We were returning to Huntington when we heard the news on the radio. He immediately took me home and went to the airport to help. He was an ex-State policeman and a member of the Civil Air Patrol.

Everyone in the city lost someone ... a family member, a friend, a business associate, boyfriend or girlfriend. It was overwhelming for the entire city.

CLARKSBURG GAL WRITES AN ITALLIAN COOKBOOK
submitted by: Alexis Julian Scott (ND '65)
alexisrscott@yahoo.com

I would like to thank you (again) for the wonderful memories your newsletter brings to mind. It was a simpler, easier time to be a young person growing up. Everyone knew the rules back then. There is a cookbook that has just come out by Rosalyn Queen Alonso (RW) entitled: Arrivederci: Recipes and Customs Every Italian Girl Takes from Home. It is lovingly written and beautifully presented by a woman who has dedicated her life to her family, faith and ancestor's memories. It is really everyone's story whose parents, grandparents and relatives came to this country through Ellis Island. The recipes are excellent, but the best part is how she weaves the story of her parent's lives and the connections to the Italian heritage so many of us come from. There are recipes for Baked Eel, stuffed calamari, pita piata, fried dandelion greens, pasta fagioli and so many many more.

I know this book is available at James & Law, but I got my copies at Tomaro's Bakery - I think I wiped them out I bought so many.

I know you will love this book and if you are like me I will be giving copies to my daughters and highlighting those tidbits from my memories in the margins of this wonderful book. If I had more time I would tell you my "love at first site story" maybe some other time.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you want to purchase one of these books write to Alexis…She can put you in contact with Rosalyn who was the director of The Italian Festival for 20 years. Her family and children are Clarksburg natives. Her son Michael is on the Harrison County Board of Education.

FRANK GAYLORD

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article was written by Keith R.Smith who only attended WI for one year but is a hilltopper at heart!

submitted by: Keith R. Smith, Jr. (WI '40, Jr. year only)
graduated Urbana HS, Urbana, IL 1942.
keithramsey2@earthlink.net
It’s strange how some people keep popping up in your life. Frank Gaylord was one of those in mine. I met Frank in the fall of 1940 at WI. We were in Mr. Gudekunst’s sophomore geometry class. I was a junior, but transferred to WI from another school whose math program hadn’t allowed me to follow the normal progression, so I was a year behind in this regard.

Frank, even then, was a laid-back person. He was there because it was a required subject, not because he wanted to be a mathematician. He wanted to be an artist.

I wasn’t much interested in girls at the time. Model airplanes were my thing and my best friend and mentor in this hobby was Jerry Hill. Jerry was smitten by a girl by name of Virginia Mae Lemasters and wanted to take her to the Prom, but he didn’t drive. Since I did, he convinced me that I should go to the Prom and drive him and his date. He even offered to introduce me to a girl! With some reluctance, I agreed to his plan. I met the girl, Elaine Nance, and we went to the dance, but not just the way Jerry had planned, but that is another story.

In the summer of 1943, Elaine and I were married and while I awaited a call-up for the Navy, we moved in with Elaine’s mother and grandparents on Carr Avenue in Clarksburg. Living next door was, who else, but Frank Gaylord! We went our own ways, he to the Army to become a paratrooper and to serve in Europe and fight in the Battle of the Bulge. I went into the Navy, followed by the Army and the Air Force. We lost all contact, although on one visit to Clarksburg after the war, I heard that he had moved to Vermont to work in the granite up there.

Half a century passed. Elaine died in 1996 and that fall, I drove from my California home to Washington, DC for a reunion of my Air Force pilot training class. We did the tourist bit, visiting all the great places in the capital. This included the Korean War Memorial. Visiting the Memorial is a very moving experience. Looking at the plaque dedicating the Memorial, I was startled to see that none other than Frank C. Gaylord had sculpted it!

The next point on my itinerary was Vermont where my brother Phil (WI 1946) lived. While I was visiting him, I looked up Frank who lives in Barre. Phil and I drove to Frank’s studio and had a delightful visit with him. Frank showed us models of the many sculptures that he has completed and several that he had in the works. Probably the Korean War work is his most famous, but it is only one of many great pieces that he has done and are on display through out our great land. On a subsequent visit to see Phil, I was again fortunate enough to pay a visit to Frank’s studio.

Like the rest of us who were walking the halls of WI in the early 1940’s, Frank is retired. He says the rigors of stone cutting have taken their toll on his back and his eyesight isn’t good enough to do all the fine work required to do the art that he loves so much. We talk on the phone at times and relive our younger days in Clarksburg and our time in the service. I just wish that Mr. Gudekunst could have seen the mark that Frank has made! Maybe then, he would concede that math wasn’t all that important for this particular dreamer.

“Sculptor Frank Gaylord created the 19 statues of the soldiers, whose moving, weary expressions reflect the harsh circumstances of the war. The polished granite wall reflects the images of the soldiers and doubles the platoon’s size to 38— a metaphor for the 38th parallel, the border between North and South Korea.” Photo by Lee K. Marriner from Photojournalista.com Feb/Mar, 2003.

REMEMBER?
Do you remember Peanut butter flops at Wells Haymaker drug store on 4th street? Does anyone have a recipe for their sauce.? Write and give us the recipe. Thanks.

OBITUARIES
LEAH STALNAKER MARTINO
CLARKSBURG — Leah Stalnaker Martino, of Powell, OH, formerly of Joseph St., Clarksburg, ZWV, beloved wife, Mother and educator passed away December 8, 2006.

She was born Leah Blanche Stalnaker, June 28, 1918, in Arnoldsburg, WV. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Guy Stalnaker and Emma Parks Stalnaker.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, Frank Martino, whom she married August 21, 1937. In addition to her beloved husband, Mrs. Martino is survived by her children: son, Dr. David (Denda) Martino and daughter Judy (John) Gray, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her brother, Guy Stalnaker Jr.

Mrs. Martino graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Glenville State College and a Masters Degree in Education from West Virginia University. She taught 3 years at Calhoun County High School and 26 years at Washington Irving High School, Clarksburg, WV. She taught Biology, Botany, Zoology, and Human Physiology. She adored her students and was a Mother to all. Many credit her teaching and positive influence as the defining factor in their going on to Medical School and/or majoring in the Biological Sciences.

In 1966, she was selected as the Outstanding Science Teacher by the West Virginia Chapter of the Society of Sigma Xi. Mrs. Martino was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International honorary, Daughters of the American Revolution, Harrison County Association of Retired Teachers, Glenville State Alumni Association, and the West Virginia University Alumni Association. From 1946 to 2002, she was an active member of The Clarksburg Baptist Church, serving on numerous committees.

CHESTER ALBERT ‘CHET’ ROWE
CLARKSBURG — Mr. Chester Albert “Chet” Rowe, age 91, of Friendship Manor Apt. No. 40, Morgantown, WV, (formerly of Duncan Avenue, Clarksburg, WV), passed away at 1:40 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2006, at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown after an extended illness.

He was born in Clarksburg, WV, April 2, 1915, a son of the late Albert Rowe and Mary Marquess Rowe.

Chet attended the Clarksburg public schools and was a 1933 graduate of Washington Irving High School.

On June 26, 1941, he married his wife of 65 years, Eleanor Carter Rowe, who survives.

“Chet” is also survived by a son, David Rowe and his wife Alice of Bridgeport, WV; a daughter, Diane Arnett and son-in-law, Dr. William Arnett, Morgantown, WV; a nephew, the Rev. Raymond Rowe Jr. and his wife Mary Belle, Bluefield, WV; and a niece, Louise Hill, Jackson, MI.

In addition, he is survived by three grandchildren and their families, Amy and Craig Irons, Pittsburgh, PA, their sons, Albert and Eddie, and Stephen and Kimberly Arnett, Morgantown, WV, and their daughter, Emily, and Jeffrey and Angela Arnett, Morgantown, WV, and their son Aiden.

A veteran of World War II, Chet served in the European theater in the U. S. First Army, 2nd Infantry Division, 38th regiment, attaining the rank of sergeant.

Mr. Rowe worked in the Accounting Department at Hazel-Atlas, Continental Can Corp. and Brockway Glass companies. After his retirement, for several years he was a volunteer at the United Hospital Center.

A resident of the Stealey neighborhood of Clarksburg for most of his life, Chet was a member of Clarksburg Lodge No. 155, A.F. & A.M. , the Fifty-year club, and was a 32nd- degree Scottish Rite Mason, with membership in the Clarksburg Valley. He was also a member of the Stealey United Methodist Church and had a long association with the First United Methodist Church of Clarksburg, which he attended with his wife, Eleanor.

JAMES A. ESTE
James A. Este, 70, of West Virginia Avenue, Nutter Fort, WV and Kentia Rd., Casselberry, FL, passed away on Monday, December 11, 2006, at home in WV after a courageous battle with cancer.

Jim was born on June 1, 1936, in Clarksburg, WV, to the late D. Frank Este II and Alice Maseda Este. He worked in the oil & gas industry until his retirement. He and his wife, Janielle Brown Este, enjoyed being snowbirds dividing their time between Nutter Fort, WV, and Casselberry, FL. He was a member of the Vincent Memorial United Methodist Church in Nutter Fort and attended Casselberry United Methodist Church in Casselberry.

Jim enjoyed metal detecting, deer hunting, genealogy and researching the Civil War. He was a member of IOGA, the Victory High School Class of 1955, the Nutter Fort Volunteer Fire Department and an original member of the Centipede’s Car Club.

He will be dearly missed by his wife of 48 years, Janielle; his daughter and son-in-law, Cindy & Brett Loy of Winfield, WV; his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Djuna Este of Avondale, PA; and his beloved grandchildren, Jaime, Ashlea, David, Taylor & Justin and his beloved pet, Makayla. Also surviving are his sisters and their husbands, Marion & Chuck Powell of Nutter Fort, WV and Barbara & Dave Bonnett of Clarksburg, WV. He was preceded in death by his sister, Kathryn Freshour and brother David Este III.

RICHARD BRENT YOKE
CLARKSBURG — Richard Brent Yoke, age 63, of Monroe Ave., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at Heartland of Clarksburg, where he made his home since July 2004. He was born in Clarksburg, July 29, 1943, the son of the late Truman Jasper and Bessie Peters Yoke.

He was preceded in death not only by his parents, but by his brother, David Yoke (WI 1959).

Richard is survived by two daughters, Anne “Margie” Jones of Huntington, WV, and Katrina Eskins and husband Rick, also of Huntington; one son, Richard Dale Yoke and wife Karen and grandson Xyland of Clarksburg. He is also survived by his brother, William Yoke Sr. and his wife Ann of Clarksburg; one sister, Betty Yoke Fish and husband George of Roanoke, VA.

Mr. Yoke graduated from Washington Irving High School, where he lettered in track and football. He retired from the Creasey Co.

He was a Protestant by faith.

ROY ALBERT DILLMORE
Roy Albert Dillmore, 88, Venice, Fl. died Dec. 21,2006.
He was born May 14, 1918 in Bridgeport, W.Va., and moved to Fl.
in 1970. He was a salesman and a member of the Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite of Clarksburg, W.Va., and St. Alban's Church, St. Pete Beach, Fl.
He was predeceased by his wife Cloris Gain and son Paul Franklin Dillmore.
Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Smith of Venice, Fl., Sisters Lila Wright of Clarkston, Ga., and Dorothy Edelstein of Lilburn, Ga.; six grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

MRS. BIRDIE VIRGINIA HART MUSCARI
Mrs. Birdie Virginia Hart Muscari passed away on December 20, 2006. She was born on October 30, 1913. She was preceded in death by her husband Francis (Frank) Anthony Muscari.

They were the parents of six children. Their two infant twins died within hours of their birth. Maryella Muscari Flowers, the oldest living daughter, resides in California. Deloris Muscari Alvino, the younger daughter, resides in Clarksburg.

Francis (Frank) Daniel Muscari, Sr., the oldest living son resides in Virginia.
Paul Muscari, the youngest son of the Muscari family, has also passed away.

All deceased members of the Muscari family are buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in the Goff Plaza section of Clarksburg.

A thank you to The Clarksburg Exponent Telegram for allowing us to use excerpts from their printed obituaries.

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