THE WI NEWSLETTER 03/08

THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 103 March 2008







May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face
And the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the Hollow of His Hand.



NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE! NOTICE!
submitted by: THE EDITOR

Cut off date for anything sent to the newsletter is the 24th of each month.

You must sign your name, school and year you did or would have graduated. Please include maiden name (if female).

Please put all letters in sentence form---beginning the sentence with a capital letter and ending with a period. I will edit where necessary in between the capital and the period. Thanks

If you are writing to me and do not wish your letter to be used in the newsletter, say so, I respect your wishes.

If you have pictures from your high school days, or of anything in Clarksburg, your high school friends, activities or anything about your school we would love to have a copy for the newsletter. Pictures bring life to the stories… Contact Judy Daugherty Kimler at Jkimler@verizon.net to find out how to send them to her.

I use obits sent to me of people connected to our schools or who were prominent in Clarksburg. I don’t have time to scan newspapers hunting them. As sure as I undertake that, I would miss some and that would anger some people.

Sometimes not all things submitted are published. It is up to me to decide if things are acceptable for the newsletter. As most of you know, I publish nothing political, nothing about religion---hopefully we all have one but I am sure not all of us agree, I don’t believe in stupid, petty prejudice---I suppose all people are prejudice in some way—but we don’t want to hear about it, nothing obscene gets into my newsletter…and nothing racial. So if you send it to me, that is fine but it won’t get into the newsletter-this make you mad? Too bad, then you better quit reading this newsletter! This is not a soapbox publication but one for fun filled memories.

I may not always get to write and thank you for submitting something to the newsletter, but your work and effort is certainly appreciated.

Once in awhile these things need to be published for all of us!

Thanks----------Roleta Smith Meredith Roleta1@aol.com



PRIZES AND AWARDS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING!

submitted by: Jim Ashley (WI '62)
Jashley4@cox.net

I was fortunate enough to be picked from the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry to provide transplant marrow to a recipient in 1993. At that time, approximately 1,500 non-related (not from a family member) marrow donations had been made in the United States. For this, I got a donor pin and a whole lot of bleeding, bruising, and swelling around the harvest site (they extract the marrow with really, really big needles inserted into the top of your pelvis, so no photo necessary to determine where the swelling and discomfort was).

When I was once again selected for a donation in 1995, I got the same swelling, etc., but this time I also got to be the poster boy for the Capital Area 8K race which was held every September as a publicity and fund-raising vehicle for the donor program. I had signed up for the race before I had been notified of my donation date and the Red Cross nurses who were my contacts during the pre-surgery screening were a lot more enthusiastic about me running the race two weeks after the procedure than I was. The good news items were that I finished the 8K (and didn't do all that badly in my age category - "Ancient and Above") and that I was presented my second donor pin during the post-race awards ceremony by Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, head of the marrow donor program.

A few years later, I was selected for yet another donation, but that time only got the swelling and another pin which was sent to me in the mail. I was told (not sure if true or not) that I was the first person in the United States to make three non-related marrow donations. After that, I aged off the registry (maximum age 60) and then was removed from the Red Cross blood donor list since I had spent enough time in England to qualify as a mad cow disease candidate (my kids already think I am afflicted), so my time for active participation in Red Cross programs is past. For anyone interested in looking into the marrow donor program or apheresis (platelet) donations, check http://www.marrow.org/ or http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_19_00.html My 17 year old son, Charlie, just started as an apheresis donor, so I'm very proud of him (and glad that someone else is now dealing with those needles).



submitted by: Patrick A. Elder (ND '57)
St1pat@aol.com

I only hope I am on the right track, here. I am proud of these, but I am not after any bragging rights. I have been blessed to have received two national awards from the Associated General Contractors of America National Association that represents approximately 20,000 companies that are construction members of all disciplines across the USA. Each year they award about 6 to 10 "National Build America Awards" to members with the most innovative & outstanding construction projects across America & naturally each member must enter their project for consideration.

Around 1970 The firm I worked for got the contract to build a brand new Convention Center for the city of Dayton, Ohio, where I lived & worked. I bid the job successfully & became the project manager to build it. The job was the size of two football fields under roof & four stories high. We had to excavate forty feet deep & backfill with new material. The concrete work was all architectural with a grapestake form liner fifty feet high. It was the first EEO project in Dayton (how far we have come!) It was an extremely difficult structural steel job with trusses twenty ft. deep & over two hundred ft. long, taking three large cranes to lift into position. On & on & on!! The catch was that our CEO was very old fashioned on marketing & objected to me entering this project "on company time". So each night after he went home I would stay another six hours to produce the presentation documents. This took two months. (In the construction Industry, Marketing was still 12 to 15 years away yet.) The toughest part was to get it typed & arrange the pictures. I needed our Secretary to do this. Together, we used any minute that the CEO was out of the office & yes, a little overtime. The big day finally came & we sent in the portfolio, about three inches thick without any knowledge of it on the part of our CEO, who was about 73 yrs. old at the time & very "old fashioned". About a month later a phone call came into the office for our CEO. "Sir, This is so & so From The National AGC to inform you that your company has won our national award for your Convention Center Project in Dayton, Ohio. Will you be sending a representative to our National Convention in San Diego in February & will his wife be attending & what will their names be? He remembered turning me down on this & suddenly realized what had taken place & without a hiccup, told him the 2 names that were coming to the convention to accept the award. Then, he came into my office & congratulated me & announced the trip for Joan & I to San Diego,all expenses paid, & shook my hand & it took everything I had to not pass out on the floor!! I think that was the first time Joan & I were ever on a plane together. What a time we had & there was so much support from people from all over the country! I kept thinking about Clarksburg & giving thanks for the work ethic I got from there. It was a great day when we got back to Dayton with that beautiful trophy & we took an hour out of "work time" to tell the whole company about our adventure. What an Awesome result from hard work.

Project # 2 This was way bigger & better in 1982,11 years later.We negotiated a 27 million job to build a new airport facility for Emery Air Freight, Design & Build in 6 months time. Two hundred acres, 600,000 cubic yards of excavation, 300,000 cubic yards of concrete placement, 20 miles of utilities, & a building 300ft. wide x 700 ft long & 40 ft high with conveyors throughout. Three pages could not cover everything else that took place in such a short time. To this day people do not believe we did this. Yes, we won the National AGC Award for the second time!! Joan & I went to Houston for this one & it was presented to me by "Miss Texas" with a huge hug & kiss & yeah, guys, I do have a picture for proof & Joan handled it very well. When I got the trophy , my thoughts were of my parents & again, the work ethic I inherited from Clarksburg, W. Va. Go ahead & call it corny, but it is true by me. It is still hard to believe that these things happened, but my Alzeimer's Doctor says he believes me!!--just kidding---pat



submitted by: Leslie Moran Moore Bond (WI '79)
LMoore761@aol.com

In the newsletter you asked for info about anyone who received a national award.

For many years I worked at what was then Empire National Bank. In the early 90's, among the many hats I wore was that of Wellness Coordinator - meaning that it was my job to assess the health issues of my co-workers and develop programs to address/improve them. I was fortunate enough to be mentored by Larry Mazza, who gave me a budget, a great committee, and free reign to use my imagination. Over the years, our program - "HealthTrack" - was featured in many national publications (Inc., American Banker, the in-flight magazine of Northwest Airlines, etc.), but a true coup was when we competed for and won the coveted "Prevention Prize" from Prevention Magazine. The big deal was that our little bank in the heart of beautiful downtown Clarksburg beat out the likes of multi-national Johnson & Johnson and Quaker Oats for program design and effectiveness. We got to go to the National Press Club in Washington, DC to receive the award and were treated like celebrities. It was way cool!

In the area of national recognition - I began a small country line dance class in 1993 after the "Achey, Breaky Heart" craze swept the country. The group grew way larger than I had ever expected and kept me busy for the next dozen years. We put together a performance team (mostly 30- 40- and 50-somethings, although we had some kids and seniors, too!) - The Moore Country Kickers - that danced all over Clarksburg for many years. However, in 1995, 130 of us boarded buses and traveled to Nashville to appear on TNN's "Wildhorse Saloon" country dance program, where we were heralded as the largest troupe to ever perform on that show. We made that trip again in 1996 and 1997 with similarly sized groups, and ended up holding 1st, 2nd AND 3rd place for group size. The record stood until the show went off the air. We also danced on the Club Dance program, but they offered no real recognition -- they just split the group and wouldn't let us all come on the same day because there wouldn't have been room for anyone else!

I now lead a much quieter life in Uniontown, but remember with great fondness the superior friends and opportunities I had in Clarksburg.






May the leprechauns be near you,
To spread luck along your way.
And may all the Irish angels,
Smile upon you St. Patrick’s Day.




CAN YOU HELP THIS LADY?

submitted by: Anthea Randolph (Bridgeport HS 2003)
aceyclair85@aol.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you can help this writer, please contact her personally. Thanks

My name is Anthea Randolph. My Aunt Susan Madia told me about the pictures that you often have in the WI newsletter. Also, Bob Stealy gave me your e-mail address so that I could come in contact with you. I am looking for a picture, and I was hoping that you might be able to help. Before I was born, my grandfather, Anthony Madia, was a co-owner with a man named Eddie Hart of a restaurant in Clarksburg called the Satelite Drive in. Although it went out of business before I was born due to my grandfather’s poor health, I have heard that it was a very memorable place. No one in my entire family has a picture of the building. I have called many of the old customers looking for a photo, but have had no luck so far. I was wondering if you had a picture of it or if you could point me in the right direction so that I can continue my search. Thank you so much for your help –

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Satelite Drive-in was opened in 1961 and closed in the late 70's. It had Curb service in Kelly Hill across from the Loop and was known for its famous onion rings and hoagies. It was a local meeting place for drivers of "hot cars." I hope you can help Anthea, if so contact her through her email address…thanks.



BUS LINES IN CLARKSBURG

submitted by: Joe Charles (Bridgeport HS '55)
CharlesBarbjo@aol.com

In the late 1940's, I used to take a West Virginia Transportation bus to Maple Lake. I would board at the Streetcar and bus station by the bridge to Glen Elk. (Fourth Street?). It cost Fifty Cents . One left Clarksburg around 10:00 AM an another around 3:00. I think it was going to Morgantown.

It was a pleasant memory, but the exhaust fumes were terrible.



submitted by: Bob Griffith (WI '54)
Regr635@wmconnect.com

Greyhound was probably the main bus company running out of Clarksburg, but there was at least one more by the name of "The Reynolds Line". I rode it several times to Charleston in 1955 and 1956, where it would connect with Greyhound which would take me back to Fort Jackson at Columbia, SC. It was a time before the interstates and the trip took about 18 hours total. And there were no "East River" or "Big Walker" tunnels out of Bluefield. It was "up and over" the mountain which made for an interesting trip one cold, snowy, December night.



submitted by: Fred G. Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@AOL.COM

This is the list of bus lines that operated out of the Clarksburg bus terminal during the early forties and fifties.

BLUE RIDGE BUS LINES: Daily round trips to Pittsburgh via Rt. 19 North.
WEST VIRGINIA TRANSPORTATION BUS LINE: Daily trips to New Martinsville via Rt. 20 North.
REYNOLDS BUS LINE: Daily trips to Buckhannon and Elkins via Rt. 20 South.
ATLANTIC GREYHOUND BUS COMPANY: Daily trips from Charleston, West Virginia to Clarksburg via Rt. 19 North.

When the Blue Ridge Bus line discontinued in mid-fifties then the Atlantic Greyhound bus line extended their trips to Pittsburgh.

CAPITOL GREYHOUND BUS LINE: Their daily route was from St. Louis, Mo. to Washington, D.C. via Rt. 50 East with a stop in Clarksburg.

The Greyhound bus company quit stopping in Clarksburg little over a year ago. Bus passengers then had to find other ways to go to Pittsburgh. A new bus company, Mt. Line out of Morgantown was formed last October and came to the local passengers rescue with trips to Pitttsburgh. The only draw back was that they have to go to the Meadowbrook Mall to get on the bus.

FOOT NOTE: When veteran bus driver Shorty Harman retired from the Reynolds line the bus company gave him the bus that he drove for a retirement gift.



submitted by: Susie Young (VHS '56)
Young family 68

Roleta,
I believe the bus lines from Clarksburg back in the 1940's and 1950's was called City Lines. I rode it many, many times in my working days way back when I worked at Loar & White and then at Hope Gas Company. I remember one driver quite well, a Mr. Sterling, whose son went to Victory High and graduated with me in 1956. Mr. Sterling was a quiet fella and very polite to everyone. I remember that you had to pull the bell before getting to your stop and a time or two I dozed off coming from work but he still stopped at my stop and made sure I got off.



submitted by: Steve Griffith (ND '60)
SGriff2393@aol.com

As I remember, there were three bus lines, four if you include City Lines.

One was West Virginia Transportation (if memory serves me). I remember it ran on Route 19 because one had a flat tire below my house.

There was Reynolds Transportation Lines. I rode it to Wheeling a few times when I was attending Wheeling College in 1960/61. The Clarksburg to Wheeling trip took about 4 or 4 1/2 hours, and went from Clarksburg through Boothsville, Fairmont, Mannington, Cameron, Hundred, Moundsville, and up the Ohio River to Wheeling.

And Greyhound was there too.



submitted by: Joe Boomer (WI '54)
jboom36@tds.net

City Lines. Norwood, Broad Oaks, Northview, Stealey, Adamston, Chestnut Hills were a few of the routes and you could get, I think, three tokens for a quarter. There was no school discount. She ran mostly on time, was pretty clean and in good repair, and provided good service. No air conditioning! Headquarters was the central garage on Fourth Street just at the bridge which I think also served as the Greyhound depot. I remember riding the street car from there to Northview to visit my grandparents.

I boarded at Ridenours Store in Stealey, and can still remember most all of the stops on the Stealey route. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems that the bus departed from Ridenours on the hour, at twenty past and twenty 'til the hour. Now this was not always the most convenient for me particularly after girls became a part of my life. I remember an incident of being at Sue Stout's house at a party and failed to catch the Broad Oaks bus in order to connect at the Ritz Theater uptown with the Stealey, so I had to run all the way. I arrived home at about 11:05 or so, 5 minutes late so there were no wheels for Joe the following weekend. My Dad's response was that I should have started earlier.



submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com

I lived on Milford Street and the Hartland bus passed right in front of my house…I could step off the front porch and flag the bus and the driver would stop. However, I rode the Stealey bus most often…I would get off the bus at the Stealey playground and walk home. I remember buying books of tickets (each ticket was worth 10 cents). I guess the book of tickets had to be bought at the bus station and the cost of riding the City Lines bus one way to town or to school was one ticket during school hours. If I remember correctly, you could use one ticket plus a dime to go to town on Saturday. Am I correct? Anyone have any memories of that?

I remember several times I walked home from WI or Central and it made my father mad, he said it cost more to have my shoes resoled than it cost to ride the bus! LOL That is typical from an underpaid WV school teacher at that time!



“LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS“

Those boys being:

THE PRODIGALS

FROM: Roleta1@aol.com----If you have any pictures of The Prodigals when they were performing or when they were young, we would like to have copies. If you have any of their records, we would like to have you scan them and send us a picture of them. Remember, send pictures to: Judy Daugherty Kimler jkimler@verizon.net. If you wish to mail copies to her, contact her at her screen name for directions….thanks.

If any of The Prodigals read the newsletter, please write to us! We would love to hear from you.

We appreciate it!

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com

I remember The Prodigals. First people I ever knew who made records! When the 45 RPM of “Marsha” came out, I was happy because I had a friend in my class named Marsha Woods—although the song was not about her. Then the song “Judy” became popular---I had a friend in my class named Judy Daugherty…although the song wasn’t about her. I kept wondering why someone didn’t write a song named “Roleta” but I guess no one knew a Roleta other than me and come to think of it, what was there to say?

While dating, Bill and I often danced to the music played by The Chords later known as The Prodigals at various places in Harrison and Marion Counties. I am surprised that only 3 people from my class of 1959 remembered The Prodigals. They were our “band”. I think most of them attended WI at one time or the other. I remember being in class with some of those guys.. In the eyes of the teens in Clarksburg at that time…they were our ROCK AND ROLL BAND --- they were famous…..the closest we got to FAME at that time of our lives.

If you remember THE PRODIGALS, I hope you will write and share your memories with us. Write Roleta1@aol.com.

Here is a list of THE PRODIGALS:

Here are their names
Bill McCoy
Chuck Collins
Eddie Gales
Gregory Gales
Gerard Folio
Earl Tucker
Billy Smith
Maurice Davis
Mike Forte
Ted Wilson (replacement Drummer)



submitted by: Cliff Judy (WI '54)
judy278@msn.com

Although a 1954 graduate of WI, I never was aware that there was a group known as the Prodigals, but I find that easy to believe because I knew Bill McCoy and that young guy could really sing. As a young man he had what I thought was about the smoothest voice I had ever heard.

During WI years, after I had my driver's license, and while attending WV Wesleyan College, I had a part time flower delivery job at Dudley's Florist shop located on S. 4th St. in Clarksburg. I mainly worked there during school vacations or at other particularly busy times for florists. The manager of Dudley's was Eddie McCoy who was Bill's uncle, as I recall. It was through this connection with Eddie that I became aware of the extremely talented singing of Bill who, at that time, was probably in his early teens. Every time Bill would be at the floral shop or when I would stop by Eddie's house it was always easy to get Bill to sing a few songs for us.

I do recall that "Theme Song" was a nickname for Bill and Eddie often referred to Bill simply as "Themie". I don't know if Bill will remember me, but I surely remember him as being quite talented. It would be great if they could get some of the Prodigals together again. Good luck to them in that endeavor. I'll be watching the Newsletter for further news about their group.



submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)
JATeter@aol.com

Somewhere in my house, I should have the 45rpm record by the Prodigals entitled: MARSHA

Reason being that I should have this is because my first wife was a MARCIA and my brother (Bob) gave me the original 45rpm record that he had kept from his school days and he thought that I should have it even though the spelling of the name was different.

During my separation and divorce from MARCIA, she decided that she should be able to DESTROY that original 45rpm record without giving me the benefit and/or option to return it to my brother. SO, this being said and done, I was able to (somehow) get duplicates of the record MARSHA made, and I returned a COPY to my brother and I think that I even gave a copy to my sister (Elizabeth).

I looked for my copy over this past weekend, but was not able to find it. BUT, I am sure that I still have it, and at some point, I WILL FIND IT. I think that it would be interesting to see what the FLIP-SIDE of MARSHA is/was! I actually think that I know, but I do not want to guess incorrectly.

I can remember going to many many dances where the Prodigals were playing and I am thinking that TEDDY WILSON was the only one that attended WI, but I am not positive about that. I just thought that there was only one member of the group that attended WI.

IF I am ever able to find the MARSHA 45, I will let you know what song is on the flip side.

ANOTHER GOOD NEWSLETTER!



submitted by: Bill Van Voorhis (WI '58)
eerfanvan@comcast.net

The group I remember as "The Chords" played at the V.F.W., Willow Beach, and Billy's Meadowbrook which was located near Fairmont. They were fantastic and played a lot of "doowop".

One song that got stuck in my brain is "Oh What A Night (to love you dear)". I can still remember every word and the melody (oldies stations play it once in a while-it was originally done by The Dells). Later, as it says in the news article, their name changed to "The Prodigals" and they made a few records. The only one I can remember is "Vangie" (she's my cutie----she's my tuttifrutti--- she's my only heart's desire). The song didn't sound like "The Chords" and I don't think it did too well, although the local radio stations played it over and over again!

I had a few friends with cars (Ed Christie had an old, beat up Plymouth and Gary Bailey had an old car he called Herkimer) and we would go to Willow Beach and Billy's when "The Chords" were playing. We never went with dates and at Billy's, most of the girls were from Fairmont and Shinnston (don't tell Harriett).

Besides the above mentioned "Road Houses", we could go to Friend's, Green Parrot, Little Rock, Clique Club, Lake Floyd, and Maple Lake. They all had juke boxes and we danced. What happened to all these places? We had great fun!



submitted by: Harriett Danley Van Voorhis (WI '58)
eerfanvan@comcast.net

Although I have tried for many years to get my husband, Bill, to write something for the newsletter, he has stubbornly refused, until the request for memories of "The Chords/Prodigals". That request seems to have struck a "cord" (please, excuse the pun) with him.

In my opinion, Bill did a great job of recalling this talented musical group and the places where it played. Since our memories are so similar, I will add only one detail--I was fully aware of the girls from Shinnston and Fairmont.

One memory that Bill and I do not share is of replacement drummer, Ted Wilson. "Teddy" and I grew up in the same neighborhood. Although the neighborhood has changed, at that time it was full of kids, who spent hot summer days and evenings playing those wonderful childhood games such as: "Red Light, Green Light". "Red Rover", "Hide and Seek", "Kick the Can", etc. We also played basketball, baseball, football, and ran races. Because "Teddy" and I were the same age, and I was pretty fast (for a girl), the older kids would "pit" us against each other. Much to my embarrassment,"Teddy", who was very fast, always won. Even with those "painful" losses, my memories of "Teddy", the other neighborhood kids, and those times all come together to form what I feel was the very best of childhoods.

As always, many thanks to you and your partners for your diligence in providing the newsletter for all of your faithful readers!



submitted by: Rex Zickefoose (WI '59)
rexzickefoose@hrea.coop

Teddy Wilson attended WI. I'm not too sure about his musical talents but he taught me how to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Bread with lots of butter and cheese placed on a much too hot skillet and mashed to smithereens with a 303 can of peaches. It is probably a wonder that we didn't burn his parent's house down. We used to terrorize the downtown area during lunch break too.

I do remember the Prodigals having a hit tune but only remember seeing one performance. I am thinking it may have been as lead in for Conway Twitty at the Moose Hall.

Now I am setting here wondering if that really happened. (I mean the Conway Twitty part).



submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)
Jalvaro@aol.com

I don't know which of the Prodigals went to WI but someone in Clarksburg could find out in a hurry because Billy McCoy works at the library and Teddy Wilson works at the bank just across from the library. He manages the parking lot outside most of the day. I try to visit him when I go into Clarksburg. I should know information on most of the Prodigals because several of the guys would follow them around. I even sang with them sometimes. I would ride with them to Union Town, PA when they had a gig there. I remember John Harrison saying I had no business on stage because he said I had a monotone voice. He was probably right but I had a blast doing it when they would ask me to come out of the audience and sing with them. I was a pretty good friend with a couple of them because I worked a lot at the North Pole Ice Co. near where most of them lived. If you know anyone on your list that lives in Clarksburg, ask them to go visit Teddy at the bank and tell him that Jim Alvaro wanted them to talk to him. He is a super nice guy. I love talking with Teddy because he brings me up to date on the happenings around town. Sometimes I will sit in my car and play a cassette of 4 of the songs the Prodigals recorded and we would reminisce of the good ole days. Man, were they the good ole days.

What I remember are the songs they recorded and a few of the beginning lines.

VANGIE-- "Vangie is my Cutie, she's my Tutti Frutti, she's my only hearts desire,
She's my one and only, I'm her ever only, she's like a ball of fire."

JUDY-- "The night you left me Judy, oh how I cried.
? my truelove and my heart nearly died"

WON'T YOU BELIEVE-- "Won't you believe that I love you, won't you believe that my love is true,
Won't you say that you love me and please end my misery."

MARSHA "Marsha was my teenage love,
Marsha was, yea yea, my high school romance
Marsha was, oh oh, the coolest of the dance."

And one of the songs they would call me up on the stage to sing was (I hope you are sitting down)

MOMMALOOCHIE "She's my hoochie coochie they call her Mommaloochie my babe,
She's my hoochie coochie they call her Mommaloochie my babe,
If I want her 'bout half past nine, Mommaloochie is right on time,
She's my hoochie coochie they call her Mommaloochie my babe."

Talk about some crazy lyrics but man at that time they were great and the Prodigals made them great.

I cannot remember if they played at all the places I am going to mention but we were at some dance place every night of the week. No wonder I am not a rocket scientist or an aeronautical engineer. But the places that had bands that I remember were:

BILLY'S MEADOWBROOK, WESTEND DANCELAND, MELODY MANOR, MIDWAY MANOR, WILLOW BEACH, PAW PAW PAVILLION, and we used to go to a club downstairs of a hotel in Fairmont called the Hawaiian Room or something like that. I am sure I may be leaving a couple out.

Not everyone had cars then but at that time I did have a ' 54 Chevy that we all piled into. I could mention the names of the guys but I am afraid I would mention some that do not want to be mentioned or leave someone out that wants to be mentioned.

Oh, to go back to those days.



submitted by: Charlie David (WI '59)
Bumper18@verizon.net

The Prodigals played some songs that I liked. One was "The Chicken and the Bop" I wonder if anyone remembers that one? I dated a girl from Fairmont, we went to a lot of their dances at “Billys” and “Melody Manor”. I drove a 47 Ford and my dads Lincoln. Those were really good times.



submitted by: Steve Limbers (WI '57)
Slimberses@aol.com

Just when I thought the newsletter couldn't get any better, you and Judy knocked me for a loop with The Chords/Prodigals submission. These guys were a major part of my youth. How about a reunion concert at the Clarksburg picnic in August? If that's not possible, just meeting them would be worth the trip for me. I also was blown away by Don Sager's submission of that ancient picture of Cburg.

Many of my Christie relatives wrote articles about the Presbyterian Church, too, and I found out a few things I didn't already know. My parents were members of the Church and I was especially touched by the kindnesses of the congregation at the death of my dad two years ago.

All in all, a SPECTACULAR issue. Thanks!



submitted by: Bill May (WI '63)
billmayflorida@yahoo.com

About 2 years ago, I was grabbing a quick lunch at a McDonalds (a fine dining experience) on Route 100 in Palm Coast Florida. I heard a guy talking to a lady with him about West Virginia. I asked him where he was from and he said he was currently living in Ohio, but had lived in Clarksburg a long time ago. He looked familiar. I told him I went to WI and graduated in 63, and wondered if I had not seen him before. He told me that he had played in a band sometimes during that period of time. It was Earl Tucker, a guitar player who played with the Prodigals when Gerard Folio wasn't around. We talked for about an hour or so. He still plays music with his wife and apparently makes a living doing so. He told me that he was still in touch occasionally with some of the former band members. It is truly a small world.



submitted by: Barry Mazza (WI '58)
Mutzy007@aol.com

Well, that was a long, long time ago. I do remember Teddy Wilson, he and I talked and I admired his drumming.... However, I had a class with William Smith and I think Chuck Collins was in school but, not very often.

Gerard Folio, same thing, we started a band, (way before the Prodigals). It was myself, Gerard, Tommy Icklie and I can't remember who else. We practiced in my basement for weeks and I think we played twice or 3 times. We played once at the Blue Moon out side of Cburg on the way to Salem. It was fun to us. However Gerard was pretty good and getting better so he got taken away and of course Tommy Icklie was really good and went on to play in the Navy band , I think he got a scholarship?

A guy named Charlie David, drove us around in his fathers Lincoln, we played once in a church up in town. Charlie I guess you could say way our "groupie" I don't remember what we called ourselves but, we did have a few songs down. That's about it. One other thing, I knew a guy who collected records and the Prodigals records were worth some money to collectors. I still have mine but, very bad condition.

The thing about it is, I moved to New Jersey about 1960 and fell into a band as a drummer. It went on non stop for 11 years and we did make 2 records that didn't make the charts. I can tell you first hand, to be that close to "making it" was a roller coaster of emotions. I imagine the guys in the Prodigals had the same feelings. When it finally slipped away, it’s a lousy feeling.

One of the guys in my band went on to form another band and was hired to play in a movie being filmed in NYC area called "THE HORROR OF PARTY BEACH". They performed 5 songs for which they received nothing. The movie was listed for years as the worst movie ever made, ha ha! I saw it played in clips at the drive in Disney in Orlando. I knew everyone of those guys and it was a big laugh to see those guys 35 yrs after the fact.

My 15 mins. of fame came one week in the late 60's when myself and another band member sat in for the Rascals, who were injured in a car wreck. I had played with one of Rascals brother, so that was it.

Interesting, the guy who wrote the song we recorded wrote "Hey Little Girl In The High School Sweater". He lived near me and saw us play in a club and signed us to a contract.

I have thousands of band/club stories.......I could write a book. In those yrs I saw everything, from gun battles to wild pigs on the dance floor, 4 leg pigs.

Interesting to hear some band stories that you could print!



submitted by: Steve Limbers (WI '57)
Slimberses@aol.com

I remember The Chords mostly at Willow Beach, but also at Billy's Meadowbrook, once at Lake Floyd and (I think) a few times at a place near the Robinson Grand and the Ritz, nearer the Grand. We never took dates, but went in carloads of guys (occasionally a girl or two went along). A few folks had cars and some of us took the family car.

Most of us had "usual" dancing partners and danced with one of them exclusively for the evening. I think the first time I heard The Chords play was at Willow Beach. Rita Drummond (now Bowen) was in the group and we danced and tried to learn to learn to "freeze."

I think the first song I heard them play was a cover of Mickey and Sylvia's "Love is Strange." As I recall, their songs were mostly covers. "Boney Maroney" was a favorite. But at some point I remember being treated to "Judy" and "Marsha," their own songs.

I loved dancing to the music but I also loved watching the really good dancers. John Tenda (from Notre Dame or Victory) and Patty Oliverio were Clarksburg's own Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Betty Tiano (now Rossana) was one of the best. Linda Wolfe and Gary Frost were also terrific. At Billy's, all eyes were on Margaret West (from Fairmont).

We were very lucky to have had that introduction to live music of the fifties.



NOTE: Judy Kimler found this on Google. It is an excerpt from the book:

DOOWOP: THE CHICAGO SCENE
By Robert Pruter



The Prodigals were not what they seemed. Listening to their Vee Jay records, one pictured a vocal group from the streets of the big city, and an African American one to boot, given the label’s stable of artists. Most readers would be surprised to learn that the group, which was racially mixed, played instruments and thus was a self-contained ensemble. Moreover, it started in Clarksburg, West Virginia, around 1956 as the Jumping Jacks, an all-black group. But in 1957 the musicians changed their name to the Chords and began their transformation with the addition of a white guitarist, Gerald Folio, who had come to the United States from France in 1949. Besides Folio, the Chords came to include Billy Smith on keyboards, Roy Davis on saxophone, Maurice Davis on bass guitar, Eddie Gayles on drums, Billy Gayles as bass vocalist, Chuck Collins as lead singer, and a singer recalled only as “Theme Song,” who performed as alto vocalist.

The Chords would play at dances throughout the central West Virginia area and were eventually approached by some gentlemen from Cleveland who were friends of the Brackens. The contact resulted in the Chords’ being signed to the Falcon label in the late spring of 1958. The eight-member group and its manager then made the trip to Chicago in two 1956 Chevrolets. Finding themselves lost in Chicago, they poured out of their cars and into LaSafle National Bank to ask for directions. Police soon swarmed around them, but the group managed to persuade the nervous officers that they were merely asking for directions and weren’t bank robbers.

After the Chords found Vee Jay on South Michigan, they met with Calvin Caner, who would supervise their session. Caner told them that their name was already taken by a recording group and they needed a new name. They came up with the Prodigals. The session lasted two hours, and as usual, four sides were cut—”Marsha,“ “Judy,” “Vangie,” and “Won’t You Believe.” ”Marsha“, a jump tune, was paired with “Judy” a ballad, for the group’s first release, in March 1958. ”Marsha“ became a strong regional hit in the home territory of West Virginia and in the neighboring states of Ohio and Pennsylvania (particularly in Pittsburgh).

Most appealing is Folio’s guitar work, especially on ”Marsha“ in which he modifies the famous riff from Mickey and Sylvia's "Love Is Strange” to come up with something original that sounds tasty throughout the number. “Judy” is a standard “doowop” ballad that has more appeal today among rhythm and blues collectors. The lead, Collins, with his sad-sounding soulful voice, dominates the proceedings. The chorus work is barely heard, as one might expect from a selfcontained group, but it is there, making the record in essence a vocal group record.

The Prodigals parlayed a lot of work from the record, appearing in numerous country clubs, universities, and colleges. The group also started appearing in black nightclubs, such as the Off Shore Club in Blythedale, Pennsylvania. They appeared on a bill with Bo Diddley in Morgantown, West Virginia, and with the Chantels in Pittsburgh. Being a self-contained band, the group frequently would be used to back the vocalists and vocal groups who would appear with them. In September 1958, Vee Jay released “Vangie’ and "Won't You Believe” on the Abner label (renamed from Falcon). Although it appeared that “Vangie” would continue to keep the Prodigals in the spotlight, the group began unraveling. The member known as "Theme Song” had left just after the recording session. Then the group lost its manager when, after a local concert in Fairmont West Virginia, he disappeared with the Prodigals share of the receipts. In short order, the lead vocalist Chuck Collins, left and was replaced by Phil Lightfoot; drummer Eddie Gayles also left, to be replaced by Michael Forte. The new alignment of the Prodigals stayed together until 1961, but without any more recording opportunities.

Gerald Folio would continue throughout the 1960s with various permutations of groups, some using the Prodigals name and some not. One such group put out two records on the Raven label out of Clarksburg. In 1969 the last Prodigals group broke up.



A world of wishes at your command,
God and his angels close at hand,
Friends and family, their love impart,
And Irish blessings in your heart!


SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP

Do you have a friend with whom you have had a close relationship most of your life? A person who even if you are apart for several years, the time makes no difference. One with whom you are so comfortable that you could be related? A very special friend is hard to find and harder to keep. We would love to hear about your relationship with this person. Please write to the newsletter about this friendship. If you want to remain anonymous just tell me and I will respect your wishes. But share please….we are interested…….you don’t need to use any names------------Write Roleta1@aol.com

Here is a sample from Joe Malone (WI 1952) who suggested this topic:

Roleta, As you know my Sister's "best friend" passed away recently. This was a woman with whom she grew up on Rosemont Avenue. They both attended Carlisle Grade School, Central Junior High School, graduating from Washington Irving a year apart in the early 40's. Sis went to Potomac State after high school while her friend went directly to WVU. They rejoined two years later in Morgantown.

Upon returning home to Harrison County in the late 40's, they never lived more than 10 miles apart for the next half century. They were closer than sisters - sisters fight. These two could finish each others sentences and still trade clothes as octogenarians much as they did as teenagers. In the last ten years, a day never passed that they didn't speak, see each other or break bread together. It was the stuff about which books are written and movies made.

I fear that this kind of a relationship is becoming more and more rare. I have friends and acquaintances I have known for over 50 years. However, if only due to geography, there has been long gaps in our lives wherein we had no contact. It's always gratifying to find out that some of those relationships can survive long periods of separation. But to be that close to another human being, not your spouse, significant other or blood relative day in and day out for seven decades is truly unique in today's mobile world. I don't have the words to adequately describe such an attachment.

IF YOU HAVE HAD OR KNOW OF SUCH A LONG TRUE FRIENDSHIP-WRITE TO: Roleta1@aol.com

THANK YOU



A FRIEND MADE THRU MOTHER’S GIFTING FORWARD MANY YEARS AGO

submitted by: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI '59)
Roleta1@aol.com

I often receive emails from people who have made a connection through the newsletter with someone from their past. Sometimes it is a reconnection with a classmate, a neighbor, a friend, co-worker, teammate, etc. You get the picture?

This past week I received an email asking me if my mother was the Mrs. Smith who taught at Point Comfort School for several years. I was so happy to hear from this lady as it seems that not too many people read the newsletter who were my mother’s students. Mother taught 1st and 2nd for a couple of years then taught 3rd and 4th grades which seemed to have been her favorite.

This lady told me how much she loved my mother as a teacher and that my mother was her favorite teacher. She said mother had given her some clothing that had belonged to her daughter. I knew that they must have been mine as my parents left WV when Jalon was only 4. The lady mentioned that her favorite was a taffeta dress. Oh the chills I felt, you see, about a day or two before I received that email from her, I had been thinking of that same dress which was my favorite. It was dark green, had a plaid skirt and plaid short little puffy sleeves, a plain dark green bodice and plaid Peter Pan collar. It was great that when I outgrew that dress my mother had “gifted it forward” to a little girl to enjoy and it had become her favorite dress too. (I would share with you a picture of me in that dress---a school picture—about the 3rd or 4th grade---but my albums are in the back of our rented storage place).

So, you see, some of you are becoming reacquainted with people from your past or meeting new friends through the newsletter. I just met a new friend and the newsletter connected us through a little taffeta dress.

Thank you “new friend” for contacting me and telling me what happened to my favorite little dress and I am glad you loved it too. Write to me sometime and tell me if that dress was passed on to another little girl to enjoy after you outgrew it.

Have you made a connection with someone from the past thru the newsletter? Write and tell us about it. You don’t have to mention any names (I will leave it out of the newsletter if you ask---I will not even mention your name if you ask). Or if you have nothing to hide, write the story and tell me the names. Write Roleta1@aol.com



WHEN JEWS SAVED AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks goes to several people who sent me this article which was written for the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix this month. I found the article about “When Jews saved an Italian Restaurant” to be very interesting and I think you will enjoy it. Enjoy! Click on the article below which is underlined or copy and paste the article in your web browser.


"When Jews saved an Italian restaurant"

Visit http://www.jewishaz.com/issues/story.mv?080215+saved to read the story.

EDITOR’S NOTE:Did you dine at Minard’s? Tell us a memory connected to the restaurant. Write a memory to Roleta1@aol.com

My family went to Minard’s to eat nearly every Friday evening unless it was a Friday night when Roy played football for WI at Hite Field, and then we ate closer to home or the field. We loved that food! Most of you know that my favorite food is Italian….I usually smell like garlic…it has become part of my personal aroma, I have found it apparently mixes well with “White Linen”.

I remember going to Minard’s when Jalon (my sister) was a little girl and someone would put some money in the jukebox to play “The Theme Song of Daniel Boone”. Jalon loved to sing that song so she sang along, I wasn’t embarrassed that she was singing to the top of her lungs, I thought it was so cute! I wonder if any of you were there those nights. The place was always crowded wasn’t it? Oh, that wonderful salad dressing and the delicious bread that had the hard crust and the soft center…and those delicious meatballs. The memories are wonderful!I

I wish I could personally say thank you to the Minard family who served great food to my family on many Friday nights.



CLARKSBURG MY HOME TOWN

submitted by: Elizabeth Teter Akin (WI '56)
LibAkin@aol.com

Sorry to have taken so long to get this to you. I had copied the front some time ago, and then the back, but not the music itself. And, it goes without saying, I am not the computer whiz you and Judy are. So, here are the other two files in different formats that with the cover I sent you make up the sheet music. By the way, there is no date on this. I would guess, as you did, sometime in the 20's or early 30's given the cars in the photo on the cover. The "brags" on the back cover are amazing in what they reveal about the times, and about Clarksburg. What it doesn't mention is the railroad connections. Guess that was to be taken for granted and was not as important in selling Clarksburg as a forward-thinking, modern community as paved roads and paved streets were.



submitted by: Evelyn Anne Brown Harper (VHS '62)
whipharp@aol.com

I am mailing you a copy of the music this weekend. Notice that I have enclosed two (2) copies of page 2 because I couldn't get both the title and the copyright date (1926) on the same page. I'm so glad that I could help you in your quest for "Clarksburg, My Home Town." Some of the words of so funny!! I "Googled" Cliff Selden, but I couldn't come up with anything. If my mother, Mrs. Paul M. (Mildred) Brown, VHS Class of 1931 (my dad graduated from WI in 1931, also) were living, I'm sure she would know who Cliff Selden was! I think she told me at one time, but I just can't remember. I'll see if I can get any information on him.

Thanks again for the wonderful job you do with the Newsletter, Roleta....I look forward to it every month!

EDITOR’S NOTE: From: Roleta1@aol.com Thanks ladies for the copies of the music! Now if someone can play that music at the Clarksburg Picnic next year, let me know, I have an awesome keyboard I can bring….















May luck be our companion;
May friends stand by our side;
May history remind us all
of Ireland's faith and pride.
May God bless us with happiness;
May love and faith abide.



TRIVIA PICTURE


The former Merchants Bank. It is now City National Bank.

submitted by: Barbara Boreman (WI '55)
ladylake@tds.net

The picture of the month is the Merchant’s Bank on the corner of Main and 3rd Streets across from the county court house. The bank was on the first floor with offices above. My friends and I would go by it most every afternoon after school on our way to Bland's Drug Store. Those were the days when kids could hang out at the drug store for the price of a coke.

I look forward to the newsletter each month. Thanks for all your hard work.



submitted by: Brooke Beall (ND '58)
Bbeall2@verizon.net

Congratulations on another great WI Newsletter.

Keep in mind that I have not lived in Clarksburg for a long time. The building in this month's WI Newsletter is what was called (when I lived in WV) Clarksburg Community Bank. The offices of Hornor Brothers, engineers, was located on the top floor and has a separate entrance. My father-in-law, Ray Conrad, was the president of the bank. The bank was also a customer of mine when I worked for Burroughs Corporation in Clarksburg. The building is located at the corner of Third & Main Streets. With all the changes in the banking industry, I don't know what bank is located in the building now. I did a little research and Hornor Brothers is still on the second floor.



submitted by: Ron Cleavenger, MD (WI '63)
RonCleaven@aol.com

The trivia picture is of the Clarksburg Community Bank at the corner of main and 3rd Street. When I got accepted to medical school, I had to borrow $50 to send to confirm my acceptance. A Mr. Currence handled my loan application.



submitted by: Janice Hall Sorrells McPherson (WI '65)
janmcphrs@aol.com

The building in January issue is the dear ole Merchant Bank, I use to love to walk in there with my Mom because everyone was so nice and I love old buildings since my great, great, great, great uncles built most of the old brick buildings in C-Burg but I loved antiques before that. I think our Courthouse in Clarksburg is one of the best, but I miss the old elevator ride with the elevator person, once was a man and one time there was a woman......it was one of the ole time favorites. But back to the Merchant's Bank, it was very quaint and I loved going there with Mother but years later when my Grandfather passed Mother took all his money out of there but that is not to say there was a whole lot it was just that he did not like to have all his eggs in one basket because he went through the depression. I remember the people asking her "don't you like us anymore?" so it might have hurt them a little bit.......oh boy our folks sure use to know how to save.......whoops, they forgot to put that in my genes......darn it anyway. Congratulations on all you do and I hope everyone has a great time at the picnic....can't make it this year, but maybe one of these years. Blessings to all !


Interior of Merchants Bank



submitted by: Bill Hutchinson (WI '52)
Hutch21934@aol.com

This was the site of the Merchants National Bank which was created in the early 1860's as part of a National banking system which was instrumental in financing the Civil War. It surviving for a hundred years before closing, the accounts being distributed to the Union National Bank and the Lowndes Bank, all at the same Main and Third streets intersection. My mother Violet worked there as a teller from about 1933 thru 1960, moving to the Union Bank until retirement in 1977.



submitted by: Bob Feltner (WI '63)
bobf@cfl.rr.com

The picture for Feb. is the old Merchants' Bank building on the corner of 3rd and Main streets. While the building is still standing, as far as I know, all or most of the tenants at the time the bank occupied the first floor are long gone. When I was a child in the early '50s, my parents had an account there and I can remember being amazed when entering the lobby. It had more marble than any other place I'd ever seen and the bank still had the old-fashioned teller's windows set in a frosted glass wall. During those years, the building shared that intersection with the old Lowndes bank (NE corner), Union Bank (SE corner) and the county court house (SW corner). The upper floors were accessed from an entrance on 3rd St. which led to various offices of doctors, dentists and attorneys



submitted by: Vince Merendino (ND '64)
jvbond0007@att.net

The trivia picture is of the Farmer's and Merchant's Bank building. It was located on Third and Main across from the Loundes Bank and the Court House. The most vivid picture I have of this bank is when I worked for my Dad in the summers when I was in High school (1961-64). My Dad owned Goldsmit and Black and Stonewall Vending Companies in Clarksburg at that time. We were coin collectors. When I was paid I would take my $50 check and go to Farmer's and Merchant's Bank and cash my check and ask to receive the money in silver dollars. This was an old-time bank with the bars on the teller's windows and the counters were solid marble. When these dollars hit the marble counters they would make a real money "ring".

Unfortunately, now, our money is made only of base metals. Those were the good old days. When banks were banks and money was money.

Thanks for the memories, Roleta.



submitted by: Don Marple (WI '53)
dmarple@bellsouth.net

I think this is the bank building at the corner of Third and Main in downtown Clarksburg. I seem to recall it being the home of a Merchant's Bank or something like that, then some savings and loan. I'm not sure about these names but it was a bank, across the street from the Union National Bank where my father worked for nearly forty years before retiring in 1966.

Thanks for the newsletter; I read it every month.



submitted by: Marlene Parsons Andre (RW '53)
Eandre@twmi.rr.com

That was the Merchants National bank. An addition was made to structure by 1907.

It was later called Clarksburg Community bank, in the 60's and 70's. I had a checking account there at that time.



submitted by: Phyllis Alton Nichols (WI '57)
Nmimiphyllis@aol.com

Great newsletter for February! The trivia picture for March is the bank building on the corner of Main and third Street. At one time it was The Community Bank, but right now I have an account there and it is now City National Bank. It may have been called something else besides Community Bank many years ago. When it was Community Bank my husband Tom and I had our first checking and savings accounts there as newlyweds. That was 49 yrs ago. Wow, how time flies. Keep up the good work with the newsletter. Sounds like the Clarksburg Picnic would be a blast. Wish I could be there.



submitted by: Doris Jean Webster (WI '59)
Jeanwbstr@aol.com

I believe the February trivia picture is that of the old Merchants Bank at 300 W. Main Street at the corner of S. Third. It was built in 1894. During the 1960’s and 1970’s it was occupied By Community Savings and Loan. I'm not sure which bank is in there today, but I think it is Bank One??? You can tell I don't get "back home" much any more.



submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)
waynepawco@verizon.net

This is the Merchants Bank---Located 300 W Main St. Established 1860--as a branch bank of the merchants and Mechanics Bank of Wheeling--The first president was Nathan Goff Sr. Then his nephew, Nathan Goff, Jr, was next in this position. At one time Lowndes bank was involved as a branch but then was the Merchants Bank. During 1960"’-1970 occupied by Community savings and loan and now is the City Bank.

Upstairs over this bank is Horner Brothers Engineers which have been in this location for many years.



submitted by: Steve Griffith (ND '60)
Sgriff2393@aol.com

Another excellent job you girls have done for our enjoyment. Thank you!

The Merchants National Bank. I once had some money in a savings account there in the late 40's. If I remember correctly, it was making me about 1 1/2%.

Things aren't much different today.



submitted by: Buzzy Floyd (VHS '56)
Floyds4@cox.net

I believe this is the Merchant’s National Bank on 3rd and Main, but I always confuse it with the bank across the street. Was there a Trader’s Bank?

This doesn’t have anything to do with Merchant’s Bank, but it’s an embarrassing story about me and the other two banks at 3rd and Main. When I was about 13 years old I worked on Saturday’s for Thrifty Way Drug Store in North View. Lou Cavaliero (I hope I spelled it correctly), the owner, used to drive us downtown and have me take his deposits to the bank while he drove around the block, since parking was hard to come by. As all the banking I ever did was at Union National, naturally I took his deposit there and they accepted it. As it turned out his account was across the street at the other bank which I think was Trader’s or something. Fortunately, he was able to get it straightened out. I never could understand why they took the money and gave me a receipt when he didn’t have an account there. Anyway, next weekend I was all apologetic and determined not to make the same mistake, so I made sure I took the deposit to Trader’s or whatever it was called. Guess what. He had changed banks again without telling me and once again I had given the wrong bank his deposit and they accepted it.

I don’t remember taking any more deposits after that, but I distinctly remember seeing Lou crossing himself that last time as I approached the car after he realized he hadn’t told me about the change and realized I had done it again.



submitted by: Fred G. Layman (VHS '46)
FGL46VHS@AOL.COM


1902 photo of the former Merchants National Bank before the addition

The latest trivia photo is of the former Merchants National Bank which was built in 1894. The building is located at the corner of W. Main and S. Third Street. It's original name was Merchants and Mechanics Bank. There isn’t any known date when the Mechanic's name was discontinued. An addition to the bank was completed by 1908. The trivia photo shows the completed addition. The bank folded on November 4, 1961 and all assets were purchased by the Union National Bank. The bank then later sold the building to Community Savings and Loan. A couple of other banks located there were Clarksburg Community Bank and City National Bank which is located there at the present time.



submitted by: Joe Tripper (VHS '58)
jtipper@electricities.org

The picture for February 2008, I remember it as the Clarksburg Community Bank. That was in the late 60's or early 70's. Before that it may have been Merchants, but I am not certain.



submitted by: Ron Harvey (WI '55)
w4rrh@charter.net

The trivia picture looks like The Merchants Bank. My recollections of this bank are basically that it was there. We did our banking with one of the other banks so we had very little contact with this bank. I do know that it was near Murphy’s 5 & 10 store, which made very good hot dogs.



submitted by: Joanne Westfall Simpson-Tetrick (WI '52)
fragilegranny@ma.rr.com

I am late in reading and responding to your great Feb. Newsletter. The picture must be what was once the Merchant's Bank. Lovely architecture. I think later it was called Community Savings and Loan. It is still standing at the corner of Main and Third Street. It seems that the governing bodies of Clarksburg keep tearing down historic buildings. It is a sad, sad thing for former residents to return for reunions and such to find the city they remember missing some of the very things that are still hard to forget.

P.S. The building is still home to Horner Bros. Engineering

NOTE FROM JUDY: Since some people weren't sure of the location of the bank, I drew this map to show exactly where the bank is located.






TRIVIA PICTURE FOR APRIL 2008



Do you recognize the place pictured above? Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com. Remember I only print correct guesses which include a memory.



CHICKEN SALAD

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

Does anyone have a recipe for Sunnycroft Golf Club’s chicken salad? How about a Boston Cream Pie recipe—one like they made and sold in Reynoldsville or was it Jarvisville? If you have either recipe, please send it to me and I will publish it in the newsletter. Write and share your recipes---Roleta1@aol.com



May the Irish hills caress you.
May her lakes and rivers bless you.
May the luck of the Irish enfold you.
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.



GIFTING FORWARD

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

What is gifting forward? My explanation of it is giving today to someone or some cause that will keep giving for many years to come. Perhaps a gift that helps someone and they in turn later help someone else because of your gift to them. For instance, if you give a gift to the WIN Scholarship it will keep on giving, it helps a young person better themselves through getting a higher education, which in turn helps them better their life and in the long run they give back more to society.

Those who gave to the WIN Scholarship this month through checks are:

Nancy Jones
Carol Dean
Ray Bond
Diane Sullivan
Kaye Baker
Karen Malfregeot
Mary Wilke
Maryann Williams
Sharon DiMaria
Martha Rice
Jean Thomas
Ann Pushkin
Larry and Beverly O’Grady
Elaine Norteman
Mary Elizabeth Custer Carder

Won’t you join us and gift forward too? Join our passion for success by sending a check to :

Roleta Meredith/WIN Scholarship (both names must appear on the check)

Mail to:
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Dr.
Sarasota, FL 34240

We gave $5,000.00 last year to students who graduated from RC Byrd High School.

I don’t pick the child who receives the scholarship. But if you know someone who will be graduating from RC Byrd this year, have that child contact the counselors at the school and tell them they want an application for the WIN Scholarship. The principal and the counselors are the ones who pick the recipients.



HARRISON COUNTY 1956 4-H CAMP GROUP PICTURE

submitted by: Dave Kuhl (WI '62)
dbkuhl@bellsouth.net

I have a picture of the junior Harrison County 1956 4-H camp group picture. There are about 350 people in the whole picture. I have scanned the picture and am cropping out individuals that I need help identifying.

The ones that I need the most help identifying are the kids from other schools. I have kids identified from WI, RW, ND, Victory, Lost Creek and Unidis. Most of the kids are from classes of 61, 62 and 63. There are a couple older ones.

Funny how people don't even recognize themselves. Jim Sims, class of 63, identified himself as Boyd Welling, class of 62.

We would also like to smoke out group pictures from other 4-H camp years. I had one from about 1958 but have not seen it since before Katrina.

Here is the first picture. Do you recognize this girl? Write your guess to Roleta1@aol.com.





MUSIC MEMORIES

submitted by: Steve Goff (WI '72)
sgoff53@hotmail.com

Many of you who graduated with me in 1972 and/or were just in the building with me on the corner of Lee and Fifth St., through the years of 1968-72 may recall my passion for Rock and Roll music. My budding record collection was legendary at the time, and currently contains over 6,000 albums, a couple of hundred 45's and about 1,500 Cds. To say the least, I have maintained my love of music, and my rock and roll foundation has allowed me to build a musical house (collection) with full rooms (racks) for soul and r&b; country and western; blues; jazz; big band and swing; bluegrass; folk; classical; comedy; and world beat and reggae.

I also have quite a library of books and resources that assist me in my writing about American Popular Culture for various publications and online sites. I have my own little Goff Tips newsletter that draws on these materials every month.

At this time I would like to put those resources and my interests together for the benefit of the readers of the WI Newsletter. For this initial foray I have selected three years from each decade (starting with 1942) and I will site songs that were NUMBER 1 in the nation in the month of March. So if I don't hit your graduation year exactly, I'm sure you will still be very familiar with the songs that were popular while you were attending WI. For future issues I will rotate the years to make sure we include your year of graduation at least 2 or 3 times every 12 months.

Whenever possible I have included a link so you can hear the song and/or see a video of a performance.

The chart information comes from Billboard, Cashbox and Jukebox chart services and the music/video links come from You Tube and Last FM.

There is nothing like music to send us time traveling back to our high school years. It is my hope these songs will remind of you of special friends and places associated with your time at Washington Irving.

By the way.....like a good DJ.....I love taking requests.

WI MUSIC MEMORIES
#1 SONGS IN THE MONTH OF MARCH
FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS:

1942...."MOONLIGHT COCKTAILS"...BY GLENN MILLER. This song was #1 for the entire month of March. Vocals by Ray erle http://www.last.fm/music/Glenn+Miller/_/Moonlight+Cocktail

1946..."DOCTOR, LAWYER, INDIAN CHIEF"...BY BETTY HUTTON. What a great video this is!!! http://youtube.com/watch?v=zZYYqQInrDg

1949..."CRUISING DOWN THE RIVER"...this song hit number one in March by TWO different artists....BLUE BARRON in the first part of March and then by RUSS MORGAN as the month ended.

1952..."CRY"....the one and only JOHNNY RAY. This hit #1 in late December of '51 and hung onto the top spot through March. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hpfo21xP54g

1956..."THE POOR PEOPLE OF PARIS...BY LES BAXTER http://youtube.com/watch? v=fsrLkETsgvg

1959..."VENUS...BY FRANKIE AVALON. http://youtube.com/watch?v=G8SR9dRwsB0 **This video comes from Dick Clark's Bandstand and includes a short count down of the rest of the top 10!!

1962..."HEY BABY"...BY BRUCE CHANNEL. http://www.last.fm/music/Bruce+Channel/_/Hey% 21+Baby That's country/blues star Delbert McClinton playing harmonica.

1966..."The BALLAD of the GREEN BERETS" ....by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler. http://youtube.com/watch?v=2tglKP1C7aA

1969..."DIZZY"...BY TOMMY ROE.....I don't know about 'dizzy' but this song sure made me nauseous. http://youtube.com/watch?v=v7naDUGne9A

1972...Two from March of my senior year....."HEART OF GOLD"...BY NEIL YOUNG http://youtube.com/watch?v=c7M1Se-p7uk (a live version from 1971).......

& "A HORSE WITH NO NAME"...BY AMERICA. http://youtube.com/watch? v=EL6Bil2kuIY&feature=related

1976..."OH WHAT A NIGHT (December, 1963)... by THE FOUR SEASONS. http://youtube.com/watch?v=liyiT_DGREA

1979..."I WILL SURVIVE"...BY GLORIA GAYNOR http://youtube.com/watch?v=Xv6lHwWwO3w

1982..."I LOVE ROCK & ROLL"...BY JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS. http://youtube.com/watch?v=6wpyilPsi6Q&feature=related

1986..."SARA"...BY JEFFERSON STARSHIP http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZqRTtkEHrA4

1989..."THE LIVING YEARS"...BY MIKE and the MECHANICS http://youtube.com/watch? v=NqQM-HoFeEk

Contact me if you have any questions or comments. This was a lot of fun to do and I hope you find it of interest as well.



CATCHING UP ON YOUR READING

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

Do you often hear about something that has been in the newsletter and you say, “Well, I didn’t see that”?
Have you seen something in the newsletter that you wish you had saved?
Did you not start reading the newsletter when we started it 103 issues ago and you missed out on all the things that we have written about before you joined us?

Well, you know our newsletters are about the past----so what we have in our newsletters never grows old…it is full of memories of our schools, our families, our friends, our jobs, our neighborhoods,(Stealey, Hartland, Kelly Hill, Broad Oaks, Northview, Adamston, Nutter Fort, Bridgeport, Bristol, etc) , our sports, our music, our teachers, our town of Clarksburg including it’s surrounding areas, and our West “By God” Virginia!!!! Because our ‘FREE” website (Tripod) is not capable of holding all of our past newsletters, Judy Daughtery Kimler came up with a project as a way she can gift forward to the WIN Scholarship. She can make a CD which includes all newsletters to date. You can go back and read any newsletter or all of them over and over again and again as often as you wish. All you need to do to play the WI Newsletter CD is pop it into your computer---Judy’s husband has made a mini-program which is on the CD and enables you to enjoy the newsletter with no effort. Contact Judy and tell her you are interested in purchasing a CD. She will tell you where to send the $10.00 check. She will make you a CD and send it to you. All profit from the sales of the CD goes to the WIN Scholarship. So far thru this project Judy has been responsible for the gifting of $819.00 to the scholarship. Isn’t this a wonderful project? ……………GREAT JOB, JUDY! Thank you!

This month CD’s were purchased by :
Sam Selario (WI 1957)
Diana Shablack Sandy (WI 1969)
Ray Bond (Victory High School 1962)
Augie Malfregeot (WI 1956)

If you want further information or you wish to purchase a CD of the past WI Newsletters…just write to Judy at jkimler@verizon.net



May God grant you many years to live,
For sure He must be knowing,
That earth has angels far too few,
And heaven is overflowing.





SPORTS

submitted by: Boo Beall (ND '58)
Bbeall2@verizon.net

The Internet is full of stuff about Mountaineer sports. One of the best blogs is www.wvmountaineersports.com another web site is www.msnsportsnet.net. This one is run by WVU. Some of the articles on Rodriquez have come from Michigan papers and WV newspapers like the Charleston papers. A list of those newspapers can be found at the following web site http://www.50states.com/news/westva.htm. I depend a lot on Buck Tustin to direct me to articles from web sites and newspapers. Almost all of us try to keep up with what is going on with WV sports



submitted by: Lyle Corder(RW '57)
Wvlyle@aol.com

Another great job! In the 1953-54 Central Jr. High basketball picture, the adult on the right hand side is Frank Beto, coach of R. W. Jr. High, not Mr. Fowler. I played for him for three years.



submitted by: Pat Elder (ND '57)
St1pat@aol.com

A few years ago 0ur class of 1957, Notre Dame High School, Clarksburg, W. Va. started a high school hall of fame, entitled "Irish Legends". The very first inductee was our Coach, John Thomas (JT) Flaherty. Most of you have heard me talk of him--a disciplinarian, similar to Tom Coughlin, Coach, NY Giants, Super Bowl Champions!!. Well, the following article tells part of the story. Our coach moved on to Hanover, Pa. & won State Champs in Football. In Pa., then the small schools and the large schools all competed in one class. His team was one of the smallest and beat all of the largest for the crown!! He imparted this lesson to all of us, and then to all of his 9 children & to his Pa. teams. His son Patrick Flaherty, especially learned from him and guess what?? He earned a Super Bowl Ring last week. The following story leads up to that. I am especially proud of our old coach , his whole family & his super son Patrick. He was charged with protecting the multimillionaire QB, Eli Manning with his prized Offensive line!!!! He acknowledged his fathers induction with a beautiful Chicago Bears logo card back when we started the Hall.. They were on the West coast for a game & he was unable to attend, but all the rest of the family did. It gives us all a great deal of pride to see this offshoot of our Hall of Fame & makes all the hard work to get it started well worthwhile!!! Another West Virginia kid does super well!! read on—

This article appeared in the York Sunday News yesterday about Pat. CONGRATULATIONS, GIANTS!!! WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR BROTHER!!! Sue

From Hanover to Super Bowl sideline
By FRANK BODANI

Daily Record/Sunday News (http://www.inyork.com/sports)
Article Launched: 02/02/2008 11:48:49 PM EST

It's been decades since the Super Bowl coach walked a block from his Hanover home to the football field each day.

Back then, he was just one of nine Flaherty kids in the house on Third Street. All the boys had to do was walk up the alley to the field where their father ruled over practice at Delone Catholic High. What could be better?

Helmets cracking, whistles blowing, footballs flying. The boys fetched towels and carried water bottles, anything to be close to it all.

They were entranced, so much so that it seemed to shape their lives. The younger ones, Tom and Bill, grew up to become high school basketball coaches, teaching young men about games and life just like their father did.

Pat was a bit different, though. He seemed more preoccupied with the details of those summer and fall afternoons, especially with the way his father drilled the biggest players on the field. "I think Pat watched Dad an awful lot on the sideline while the rest of us might have been throwing the football around," Mike Flaherty, Pat's twin brother, said with a laugh. "He was observing Dad a lot more than we were.

"I think it was because he saw what Dad did was something he really liked. ... Pat knew from an early age that blocking (should be) just as aggressive as tackling. Pat didn't just want to get in someone's way, he wanted to knock you down.

"I think from an early age he knew that was his calling."

Of course, the road has had plenty of curves over the years for Pat Flaherty, a fourth-year offensive line coach for the New York Giants - the underdogs who will try to knock down the unbeaten New England Patriots tonight in the Arizona desert.

But it did all begin on that practice field in Hanover with his dad. The man who coached three sports and taught history and served as athletic director and even painted at Delone during the summers.

"He was the guy I always looked up to," said Pat Flaherty, now in his early 50s. "He made sure I did things right. ... At the time you don't appreciate the effort and the love that go into coaching. I think I appreciated it more when I finished high school. He gave it a lot of tough love.

"I can remember the day in college when he asked me what I wanted to do with myself. I told him I wanted to coach. He sat me down and asked me, 'Are you sure that's what you want to do?'" John Thomas "J.T." Flaherty had to be certain his son understood the amount of dedication and sacrifice needed to do such a job, and do it well.

The kid didn't blink when confirming. He had watched from the best, right? And learned from him, too. J.T. Flaherty schooled his son on the finer points of playing the offensive line when he made the varsity team at Delone.

So it was the toughest thing in the world when J.T. died suddenly of a heart attack soon after Pat finished an All-America offensive line career at East Stroudsburg University.

But Pat Flaherty knew what to do next. He comforted his younger brothers, made sure his twin brother upheld a commitment to join the Peace Corps and returned to Hanover to be close to his mother.

And he coached.

He helped the Delone staff for two years until his twin returned. That enabled him to leave and pursue his dreams, hooking on as an assistant at East Stroudsburg for two years before joining the Penn State staff. He worked under line coach Dick Anderson and helped the Nittany Lions win their first national title in 1982 before following Anderson to Rutgers.

"The same things that stood out in him then are present now," Anderson said. "There's only one reason for Pat's success, and that is he is a very determined and very hard-working individual. He's reliable, a good person and has good values. He's married to a great girl.

"It's not very often you find people who are the combination of all of those things." Three more college stops prepared him for a shot at the NFL. He coached the Washington Redskins' tight ends in 2000 before directing the Chicago Bears tight ends for three more seasons.

Tom Coughlin hired him to coach the Giants' offensive line in 2004. It was soon after reaching the big time, though, that he was hit with this: a colon cancer diagnosis followed by radiation and chemotherapy treatments. The intensely private man was not only forced to inform his players and co-workers, he also had to deal with the publicity from the New York City media.

He beat it, though, and praises his doctors, his wife, Lynne, and their son and daughter for helping pull him through.

Not too long after that he underwent hip replacement surgery. Now, he prefers to simply move on.

"Did it change me? It makes you stop and think, day in and day out, what you're going through," he said of the cancer. "I appreciate each and every day. ... I really look ahead as much as anything. I don't look over my shoulder."

"He doesn't blink," Anderson said, "he just keeps going."

The attitude has seemed to work pretty well, considering where it has taken him: The Giants started 0-2 this fall, won a record 10 road games and somehow beat the feel-good Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre at frozen Lambeau Field.

Now he's coaching in his first Super Bowl - a year after his brother-in-law Harry Hiestand (whom he met while coaching at East Stroudsburg) went as the Chicago Bears' offensive line coach. How big is this?

Consider how Flaherty and the Giants didn't arrive back in New York until 4 a.m. the morning after beating the Packers - but were in the office working before noon.

"After a couple of hours of sleep you're going 100 mph," he said.
The Super Bowl was still two weeks away then.
Now, it's a few hours away.
Through it all, the kid from Hanover remembers that practice field off of Third Street and the lessons he learned, the game he grew to love there.
How it started with his dad.

"I think about it all the time," he said. "I think about the foundation he gave me and how I want to make him proud with everything I do."



May your pockets be heavy.
And your heart be light.
May good luck pursue you.
Each morning and night.





ALUMNI PREPARE TO TAKE ON HILLTOPPERS
Article from The Exponent-Telegram, Clarksburg, WV, December 10, 1967.


submitted by: Fred Alvaro (WI '59)
FAlvaro33@aol.com



Several former star athletes at Washington Irving High School are pictured above while at a practice session in preparation for the Hilltoppers’ basketball game. The graduates expect to put up a tough battle with WI when they clash on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at the Notre Dame gymnasium. An 8 p.m. tip off has been scheduled, with a preliminary game slated earlier between the WI junior varsity and First Methodist Church.

The Washington Irving High School varsity basketball team will meet a highly touted WI Alumni squad on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 8 p.m. in the Notre Dame gym.

Much interest is being shown in the game which should provide an evening of both good basketball and nostalgic memories for area fans. Before the game a presentation ceremony will be held during which many local men who lettered at WI during the last 40 years will be recognized. Under the tutelage of the late Coach Clay B. Hite and, more recently, Coaches Tony Folio and Bill Moore, many championship basketball teams have been produced at WI. Bob Camp is currently coaching what promises to be a very fine Hilitopper team.

Appearing with the Alumni will be such stellar performers of the past as Howard Ryder, ‘31; Bill Ervin, ‘39; Charles “Cal” Forsythe, ‘43; Dominick Policano, '44; John Day, ‘45; Charley Kyle and John Ash, ‘47; Sonny Nicewarner, 48; Paul “Bud” Morris, 49; Dave Corsini, ‘50; Jim Blair and Don Douglas, 54; Allen Brasseur, ‘56; Fred Alvaro, ‘59; Bob Secret, ‘60; Dan Pettrey, ‘60; Steve Sutter, ‘64; Jim Christie and Chuckie Wilson, '67.

Many other HilItopper Alumni will attend the game either to appear in the recognition ceremony or to play in the game. Any WI basketball lettermen who have not been contacted are urged to attend.

Preceding the main contest a preliminary game will be played between the First Methodist Church and the WI junior varsity.



FOLLOW-UP ON HOT ROD HUNDLEY

submitted by: Margaret Cleavenger Maiocco (WI '65)
mlmaiocco@cox.net



Last week on Valentine’s Day I was privileged and honored to spend the evening with Hot Rod Hundley and other WVU graduates at a local sports bar to watch the WVU/Rutgers Basketball game. This was their first attempt for West Virginians in the Phoenix area to get together for a WVU basketball game, also my first time with the group. They have been getting together to watch football games and typically get 50-60 attendees. Hot Rod enjoys getting together with this group when he is in town. He lives here in the Moon Valley area of Phoenix when not in Utah broadcasting the Utah Jazz games. Rod said he is the only broadcaster the Utah Jazz has had and had been doing this for 34 years. He stated he has two years left on his contract. He said his pro-career was short (5 Years) due to a bad knee and the coach not liking him. He has had knee and hip replacements; otherwise Hot Rod Hundley appeared to be in good health. He lost his wife to cancer two years ago. I remembered reading about it at the time in the local newspaper and hearing about it on the TV news.

Also in attendance was Joedy Gardner and his wife Ruth Ann. Both were coaches at Iowa State some years ago. Joedy was a men’s basketball coach and Ruth Ann taught tennis. They have a close relationship with Hot Rod Hundley and get together with him as often as they can when he is in town. Ruth Ann said she grew up in Clarksburg on Hall Street and had left when she was in the 4th or 5th grade. I do not know her maiden name.



COACH JACK MOORE—HIGHLIGHTS OF HIS LIFE
AND HIS COACHING CAREER

submitted by: Chuck Thomas (WI ’56)
DrCRThomas@lcsys.net

I am working to complete the final two chapters and then publish a biography with photos about my now-deceased brother-in-law, Coach Jack Moore, by July 1, 2008. I need some additional help, especially from Shinnston and Victory people:

1. If you graduated from Shinnston or Victory, please email me the names of any All-State football or All-State basketball players who played BETWEEN 1914-1946 at Shinnston OR BETWEEN 1914-1952 at Victory. I will then substantiate each All-State player with a newspaper article citation. Family and friends will find players’ names and citations in Coach Jack Moore’s biography to print out their own newspaper records at the vast West Virginia Archives housed at the WVU Library on the main campus.

2. If you were one of his players, please email me an important detail you recall about Coach Jack Moore’s coaching style and his effectiveness. (Please include your name, the sport, the year and the position you played. If you send me your phone number, I will call you at my expense between 10 AM and 10 PM—or as otherwise directed.)

Coach Jack Moore was an outstanding football and basketball player who graduated from WI at 16 in 1936. At five years old and still not in school, he sold newspapers to help his family after his father lost his job during the Depression. After much research, I have finished the chapters about his early life and about his WI and Wesleyan College years—including details about his older brother, Ken Moore, a professional football player for the New York Giants, and his younger brother, Bill Moore, a head coach at WI and later principal at Bridgeport.

Also included are Jack’s World War 2 pilot and navigator training in the U. S. Navy, his proposal to his wife, Dee Moore, the loss of his first-born son—Jack Linwood Moore—and his decision to become a high school athletic coach. He coached a total of nine years in West Virginia: at Shinnston High School from 1946-1951; at Wellsburg High School in the Northern Panhandle from 1951-1952; and at Clarksburg Victory from 1952- 1955. Coming from poor financial circumstances himself, Jack was deeply committed to helping his players from Shinnston, Wellsburg, and Victory— real people with grit and determination.

An exceptionally “hard-nosed,” driving, and savvy coach, Jack Moore, produced two undefeated football teams—the first at Shinnston in 1950 and the second at Victory in 1954. He coached many outstanding football and basketball athletes and teams using both fundamental and innovative offensive and defensive strategies. He gave a 90 pound skinny freshman a chance to play football; that same player became a second-team All-State end during his senior year. If you knew Coach Jack Moore—intelligent, verbal, argumentative, and quite honest on a personal level—you will remember that he had a lot of character!

3. For more information, George Beezle, VHS ’55, in Hepzibah, and Pauline Reed, Wanda Johnson Ashcraft, and Louie Belcastro in Shinnston will know how to reach me. I welcome your help and your comments!

I thank Roleta for her help. Without a doubt, Roleta, Judy and Bob have put a lot of us in touch with our friends, and our classmates with information about both Clarksburg and West Virginia through her WI Newsletter!



WI BASKETBALL
submitted by: Chuck Thomas (WI ’56)
DrCRThomas@lcsys.net

The article was entitled "Washington Irving Finishes Season Undefeated With 18 Wins: Grafton Final Court Victim for City Team," Clarksburg Exponent, Wednesday, March 2, 1955, p. 16, and tells about a group of guys who could really play basketball.

GRAFTON, Mar. 1 1955 (Special) --Washington Irving's basketball squad finished out its regular season of play here this evening as the Clarksburg team captured its 18th consecutive victory, a 60-53 decision over Grafton High, to remain one of two undefeated Class A quintets in the state. Gauley Bridge alone shares the undefeatstatus of the Hilltoppers.

Buck Tustin pulled W.I. from behind in the final stanza tonight as the Hilltoppers guard's field goal put the visitors out to a 50- 49 mark. . . .

Bobby Hart and Tustin shared the scoring honors for W.I., each netting 16 points. Center Bob Cloussen hit the doubles with 14 points.



Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter;
Lullabies, dreams and love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums;
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes...;
That's the Irish for you!



FOOTBALL TEAM PICTURES

submitted by: Anne Pears Jones (WI '58)
anannaj@gmail.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Anne Pears Jones has found a treasure you might like to have--- here is a letter from her:

Roleta, I have found three large, mounted football team pictures someone might like to have. One looks like it is from Central Jr. High in the late 1920's. The coach's name is Paul Sheets. The other two are the WI team, probably the fall of 1931 and 1932; maybe '30 and '31. Coach Hite and Coach Talbott on one and Coaches Hite, Reynolds, and Folio in the other. Most of the players are listed on the back. I will be glad to send them to anyone who wants them for the shipping costs.

Anne Pears Jones ( WI '58) email address is anannaj@gmail.com



MUSIC OF YOUR TIME

submitted by: Ron Ogren(WI '50)
Ron_ogren@verizon.net

Old 45s!

DO YOU REMEMBER THESE?

http://oldfortyfives.com/DYRT.htm




submitted by: Mary Virginia (Duncan-Johnson) Wilke (WI '55)
mwdusty@aol.com

I believe the trivia picture is of the First Presbyterian Church, corner of Main St. & 4th (?) I attended Girl Scouts there.

I meant to write in December about James & Law store. Many fond memories there, with school supplies & etc. Plus on the second floor, they had so many nice things. I have a walnut knickknack mirrored box that I saved & bought for my Mother for a Mother's Day present. Still have the perfect little shoes & vases that I bought to display in it for her. Mom always took grandchildren there to buy books when they visited. Great store!

I am so sorry that I didn't realize that you could purchase wreaths for other people at Christmas time. Next year I would like to get two - one for my Mom & one for my Grandmother Duncan, who are at the Bridgeport Cemetery.

Thank you again for your newsletters. I am putting a small check in the mail tomorrow for the scholarship fund. It is so great that some deserving scholars can be helped in this way.

I hope all enjoyed the weather when they were here for the Fiesta Bowl! Right now, they are having the Super Bowl at a stadium in Glendale & some are complaining about it being cold. The temperature has been between 53 & 60 degrees this week. Of course, the skies are bright blue & this is my favorite time of the year in the Valley of the Sun. We do have snow in the mountains for those who miss it! Ha!

Well, take care.



submitted by: Toni Sprouse Erchak (VHS '57)
toni@erchak.com

Now and then someone sends me the link for your newsletter and I spend hours enjoying it. I say “hours” because I have to read the archives. It finally occurred to me that a clever person would read it monthly, instead of reading the whole year in one sitting. It’s obvious that a lot of work and dedication go into the newsletter, but the results are excellent. Please add my name to your email list. Thank you.



submitted by: Jane Hamilton Ross (WI '53)
meezer83@msn.com

Roleta, You and Judy do such a wonderful job with the newsletter! I really appreciate reading about some of the folks with whom I shared 12 years of school and church. Unfortunately I was out of the country when the January newsletter arrived and I just now got down to it. It never ceases to amaze me how my Inbox fills up when I don't keep after it every day, and that is despite separate junk e-mail filters and even 30 custom filters to even keep some stuff from ever reaching either junk or inbox!!!

Anyhow, I did recognize the January trivia picture as the First Presbyterian Church. It was my church when I was in high school and Dr. Kibler was the pastor. After I went to college, my brother Andy, and my mom kept their membership there. Sam Glass was the pastor when I was married in that church in 1962 and Bill Arthur did Andy's funeral in 1973. I have a lot of memories connected with that church - our Sunday evening youth group activities, our youth leaders who would have us in their home on some Sunday evenings, all the orneriness that we conjured up. Those folks had the patience of Job to put up with some of our shenanigans. Unfortunately, there was no handbell choir or youth choir back then. I wish there had been. I have been blessed to be involved with hand bells for the last 5 or so years to the extent that I now play in three church choirs - a Presbyterian church, a Disciples of Christ church, and a Catholic church. It is a great program for any church to have, and it affords a new musical experience for all ages. Even small children can be involved.

Anyway, thanks again for all you two do to keep all of us connected.



NEW READERS

Sheryl Pinnell Suplee (WI '65) svon347@aol.com
Toni Sprouse Erchak (VHS '57) toni@erchak.com
Carol Cleveland Greynolds (WI '61) CLE704@aol.com


CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS

Marcia DeMarco (Bridgeport HS '77) marciadwv@gmail.com
Diana Swiger (WI 1966) diana.swiger@yahoo.com
Habie Snyder (WI '59) snyderhb@gmail.com
Joseph Martin (ND '65)
(graduation date is different)		 josephmartin232@juno.com
Ruby Casto (VHS '47) recasto47@verizon.net




APRONS

Do you remember when women wore aprons when cooking? Do you remember when women cooked? Well, I cook and I usually wear an apron as I am messy when I cook. So when Ron Watkins, Sr. (Victory HS 1954) rwatkins@tx.rr.com sent me the following, I enjoyed it and thought you might also. If you wear an apron or remember someone wearing an apron tell us about it…Write to Roleta1@aol.com

The History of 'APRONS'

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears .

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know, and love the story about Grandma's aprons.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool.

Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.



OBITUARIES

JAMES H. ‘MUTT’ ASH

BRIDGEPORT — James H. “Mutt” Ash, age 80, of Bridgeport, passed away Thursday, January 31, 2008. He is survived by his wife Janet of 57 years, his daughter Jamie Baker and husband Dwight of Elm City, N.C., his son Matt and wife Kelly of Bridgeport and his son Jeff and wife Jill of Niceville, Fla. A beloved grandfather, Mr. Ash is also survived by his grandkids Logan, Luke, Jesse, Kathy and Chris.

Mr. Ash was a hunting and outdoors sports enthusiast, with a particular interest in Bridgeport and West Virginia athletics. Fellow community sports fans may remember Mr. Ash’s dedication to overseeing the Bridgeport High School Football press box.

Mr. Ash is a graduate of W.I. High School and Ohio University, where he graduated with a degree in finance. A former member of the U.S. Navy, he worked in the banking industry for 26 years, retiring in 1987 from Lowndes Bank. He was a long-time member of the Bridgeport Lions Club.



CHARLOTTE REEVES STONESTREET

BRIDGEPORT — Charlotte B. Stonestreet, 70, of Highland Dam Road, West Milford, passed away Thursday, January 31, 2008, at her residence.

She was born January 6, 1938, in Shinnston, a daughter of the late C. Bernard Reeves and the late Virginia Shipman Reeves Smith. On February 9, 1957, she married Clyde H. “Stoney” Stonestreet, who preceded her in death on June 8, 2007.

She is survived by five children, Anita Guesford and her companion Larry Golliway of Stephens City, VA, Douglas K. Stonestreet and his wife Suzie of Reedsville, Cheryl C. Taylor and her companion Barry Lemaster of Gypsy, Clyde H. Stonestreet III and his wife Tonya of West Milford, and Clay H. Stonestreet and his wife Tammy of Clarksburg; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Her brother and sister-in-law, William B. and Catherine Reeves, Clarksburg; a sister and brother-in-law, Karen and James Marks, Bridgeport; a sister, Linda Weaver, Leesburg, VA; several nieces and nephews; and her best friends, Judy Haught and Sharon McCloud, complete her family.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Serena Nicole Stonestreet, and a sister, Iris Davis.

Charlotte retired from United Hospital Center in 2004 after 39 years of service, where she was an admissions tech in the emergency room. She was a graduate of Victory High School, Class of 1956. She was a member of Stealey Assembly of God, where she was very active in the Intercessory Prayer Group. She also liked to read and do crosssearches.



DR. WALTER SPELSBERG

Graduated (WI 1949)

Dr. Walter Spelsberg passed away suddenly on Dec. 30, 2007 at Palo Verde Hospital from a heart attack. Walter was born July 7, 1931 in Clarksburg, WV. He was predeceased by his parents Dr. Walter W. and Marian R. Spelsberg of Clarksburg. He is survived by his wife Edith and two children and two granddaughters; his sisters, Marian Stevens, Bridgeport, WV; Carolyn Shiben, Shepherdstown, WV; Linda Wolfe, (WI 1958) Newark, DE; and his brother, Thomas Spelsberg, Mayo Clinic of Rochester, MN.

Walter and his wife Edith resided in Blythe, CA and he enjoyed a small town practice as an ophthalmologist and general practitioner. He was held in high regard by his patients and staff and his fellow physicians.

Walter and his siblings all graduated from WI. After WI, Walt went on to WVU and then to Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA. He served in the military in the medical corps as a physician and ophthalmologist for nine years..



BETTY L. WOLFE

CLARKSBURG — Betty L. Wolfe, age 86, of Clarksburg, WV, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008, from Heartland of Clarksburg. She was born in Harrison County, WV, on Oct. 9, 1921, a daughter of the late Harry Holliday and Faye (Fox) Holliday.

Her husband, Homer Wolfe, preceded her in death. Surviving are a son and a daughter-in-law, Jack and Margaret Wolfe, Clarksburg, WV; one sister, Ann Schmidt Dunham, Clarksburg, WV; and three grandchildren, Brian Wolfe and his wife Noelle, Heather Wolfe, and Amy Wolfe and her partner Patricia Rogers. Also surviving are her niece, Marsha Molina, and her nephews, Louis Schmidt and Don Schmidt, their spouses and families.

She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Jill Ann, and an infant brother and sister.

Mrs. Wolfe was a member of the Clarksburg Baptist Church, where she was active in the church choir for many years. She had fond memories of singing with the Sweet Adelines. Mrs. Wolfe graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1939, where she accompanied the school choir on piano. Mrs. Wolfe was employed 26 years at Kyle & Company and four years at Stone & Thomas before retiring.



CHARLES WOODROW “WOODIE” WILSON

CLARKSBURG --- Charles Woodrow “Woodie” Wilson, age 76, of Clarksburg, WV, departed this life on Monday, Jan. 21, 2008, in the United Hospital Center.

He was born in Clarksburg, WV, on July 14, 1931, a son of the late Charles Everett Wilson and Nellie Gay (Floyd) Wilson.

Surviving are his wife, Shirley Ann (Lyon) (WI'50) Wilson; one daughter, Kathie Wilson Shaver, Clarksburg, WV; two sons, Alan Wilson, Good Hope, WV, and Blaine Wilson, Avon, OH; one brother, Franklin D. Wilson, Rocklin, CA; two sisters, Thelma Maxine Sisler, Dayton, OH, and Wanda Grace Murray, Columbus, OH; four grandchildren, Stephanie Wilson Hill, Kathryn Wilson, Shaun Wilson and Alea Wilson; and one great-grandchild, Payton Hill.

Mr. Wilson was a member of the St. Mark's Lutheran Church where he served as a former member of the Church Council. He was a graduate of Washington Irving High School Class of 1950. He loved bowling and was a former Cub master for the Cub Scouts. Mr. Wilson will be remembered as a loving and caring person who loved his children and family.



MARGARET ANNE (MIM) ALLEN

Margaret Anne (Mim) Allen, age 81, (WI Class of '44) passed away peacefully in her home at Lake Floyd on Sunday, February 17, 2008. By her side was her devoted husband of 59 years James Leon (Jim) Allen (WI Class of '43). Mim quietly slipped away following a long illness she had bravely fought for several years.

She was born in Clarksburg, WV on December 8, 1926, the daughter of Lucius and Frankie Lowther.

In addition to her husband Jim, she is survived by two daughters - Beth Allen (WI Class of '70) and her husband Steve Goff (WI Class of '72), of Lake Floyd; and Susan Allen Kessler (WI Class of '72) and her husband Robert, of Heathrow, FL. - And one son, James S. (Jimbo) Allen (Liberty Class of '77) and his wife Michelle of Deltona, FL.

Mim and Jim have 6 grandchildren - Margaret Anne McAvey; Katherine, Kristopher, and Kenneth Kessler; and Joey and Michael Moy. And one greatgranddaughter, Madison Elizabeth Stout.

She is also survived by her dear, childhood friend, Sadie Graham (WI Class of '44) of Lake Floyd.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert S. Lowther and Richard W. Lowther.

Mrs. Allen graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1944; and West Virginia University in 1948, in medical technology. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority at WVU.

She was a life long and active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarksburg; a membership she deeply valued.

Besides raising her busy family, Mim found time for service work with her church and various local organizations including the March of Dimes and The League for Service. She was also a charter and founding member of The Mustard Seed, a non-profit, food pantry in Clarksburg

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mim was a member of a quilting group founded in Salem, WV. This group made and donated several quilt squares for the 2007 WIN SCHOLARSHIP quilt. This lady gave forward in many ways, including giving forward toward the scholarship which helps a child with their future. I won the 2007 scholarship quilt--------thanks to Mim and the other ladies of the Salem Quilters who gave of their time so generously. I know that she will be missed by her family and life long friends.





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