THE WI NEWSLETTER 04/08



THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 104 April 2008






If Spring came but once in a century instead of once a year, or burst forth with the sound of an earthquake and not in silence, what wonder and expectation there would be in all hearts to behold the miraculous change.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow





“GO TO BAT FOR BOBBY SECRET”

“IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS, YOU HAVE IT ALL”






THANK YOU

The Bob Secret Family expresses heartfelt appreciation
for your prayers, generosity, and gifts of love and
friendship throughout our battle with cancer. We thank
the committee who organized this spectacular event, to
the unlimited provisions of food and gifts by local merchants,
up to the overwhelming support of family and friends.
May God provide you all with peace in your mind and hope in
your heart. All our love and warmest wishes,

Bobby, Sharon, Tara and Ashlee Secret

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you would like to send a note of cheer or card to Bobby, you can write him and send it to:

Bob Secret
741 Mulberry Ave.
Clarksburg, WV 26301


NOTE FROM SHARON: It was the most breath taking and overwhelming night I can remember in a very long time.

The room at Village Square was packed wall to wall with so many friends and family............they all came for Bobby. Old to the young. The oldest being Gene Donalson mother.........she loves Bobby........he calls her often and would stop by to see her on many an occasion. The Tarantino's also in their 90's...they owned the ice-cream shop across from Victory High School.

So many Roleta... so very many friends and family showed there love and support for our family. I just hope each and every one of those people pray and continue to pray for his complete recovery.



LONGTIME FRIENDSHIPS

submitted by: Susan Beakes Madia (WI '64)
jsmadia@cox.net

I have a dear friend, Cheryl Corder McClure. We met in Sunday school at the Presbyterian Church which was pictured several months ago. We went through Central Jr. High and graduated from WI in 1964. We lost one another a few years after graduation then came back in contact some years later. The wonderful thing about Cheryl is she is always just a phone call away. She went through my recent bout with breast cancer via the phone. She was always there, always and there really is no way to thank her. No one knows what that means unless you’ve been through it. We share fun memories of dating, driving around the Satellite and Sky Castle drive-ins, all the great dances around town. We had such good times at the VFW, Bridgeport, and a place in Hartland. Great bands and so much fun dancing! Cheryl had the cutest blue Triumph. It was a cool car to rod around in. I loved her parents. Mrs. Corder was a great listener and always had time for any friend that stopped in. Cheryl will forever be considered a good friend and a true blessing in my life.



submitted by: Judy Ash Guy (WI '50)
jguy@gggha.com

For many years now, I have been looking forward to and enjoying the WI NEWSLETTER. Every issue brings back some happy memory of WI and Clarksburg but in the March issue, you really “pushed a button” and I must respond.

CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIP

One of the most important gifts in my 76 years is, undoubtedly, my 70 year old “best friendship” with Jill Garvin Modlin. Although for over 55 years now, we have lived many miles from each other, our friendship has remained constant and treasured.

Jill and I have been “best friends” since we were 7 and 8 years old, respectively. We grew up (both only children) living across the street from one another on Lee Avenue. It would take reams of paper and countless typed pages to fully reminisce about the wonderful memories we have shared but I would like to share just a few.

Of course, there was our “Lee Avenue” and the people who lived there. Remember, this was during World War II with gas rationing, few automobiles, blackouts, and air raid wardens patrolling the street in the dark of the evening. For the most part, our playground was the street itself and it was well suited for tag, prisoner’s base and all those other childhood games. Jill and I trudged back and forth (up and down Fifth Street) to Towers School together, bought those wonderful pecan rolls from the bakery at the top of the Arcade (I think they cost all of 5 cents). We were Girl Scouts in Troop 4, attended St. Paul’s Methodist Church Sunday School, labored over piano lessons and recitals with Mrs. Elmer Brake. We shared stray dogs and cats (even dead ones which we buried out on Chestnut Street in the Odd Fellows Cemetery!.) We strung tin cans with string across the street as our own “1940’s cell phones” and when the cell phones didn’t work so well, we tried our hand at Morse Code with flashlights. We were caught smoking corn silk behind the glider on Jill’s front porch and, as you can imagine, appropriately “punished”. Then there were the gypsy fortune-telling camps which we set up in the garage (after Mr. Garvin went to work) and somehow or other convinced the other kids that what we said had great insight into their future. We saw countless Saturday movies at the Robinson Grand and Ritz – sometimes sitting through two consecutive showings. But, perhaps my most cherished memories with Jill were our trips to the library (the beautiful old Waldo – not the new sterile library!!) We made weekly visits where we were allowed to pick out six books each - walked back up the hill and sat on her porch or my porch, drinking lemonade and reading. To this day, when we talk or write to each other, we always share “the latest book we are reading”. I graduated from WI in 1950 and Jill graduated in 1951. She was my “little sister” in Lambda and, also, my little sister in Be Square. Jill married one of my classmates, Bob Modlin, and I served as her maid of honor at their wedding. Since those wonderful days of our youth, we have shared many more memories and the love and friendship that we share will last forever. It’s one of those “treasured” gifts in life.

P.S. to Jill and Bob – I know you both read the Newsletter – so there – this is my tribute to my dearest friends.



submitted by: Marilyn Lightner Kittle (WI '65)
Pamak41371@wmconnect.com

I just couldn't resist sending this note on my friendship with Rose Bosley Sands McGee!

We met in our Junior year at WI and have been very close friends.

We went to Certified Laboratory Assistant training at Union Protestant Hospital (now UHC) right after high school & sealed our friendship even more during that time.

We have enjoyed visiting each other wherever we lived at the time throughout the years. Our children even call us Aunt and our husbands include each other as brother- in- laws! It is very special to know Rose & have her as my dearest friend and most like a sister to me. Life would be so boring without you Rose! Thanks for being my friend.



submitted by: Jody Buffington Aud (WI '77)
jody.aud@priogroup.com

I know I am not alone when I say I started 1st grade – heck, probably kindergarten – with many of the same people I graduated with from high school! Somewhere in my personal belongings I think I have a copy of my first grade picture from Morgan Grade School that along with the 5 year WI reunion picture. I counted something like 15 people who were in both! Anyway, I can name a few special friends that – no matter how many years go by – we can still pick up a conversation like we just stopped it a few moments ago – Susan Brown, Lee Ann Capehart and I were the Three Musketeers for most of my childhood. Susan and I walked to grade school together just about every day, meeting up at Wagner’s Grocery Store for the trip. Three years ago, the two of us with our spouses took a trip to NYC! Last year, my family and I made a trip to her home in Florida for the day.

There were two girls who were a year behind me in school, but the same thing with our friendship. Katy Sinsel and I went all the way through the same college together. A feat when you consider that both of us left Clarksburg to go to the University of Richmond – NOT WVU! She still lives in Richmond, so I try to get down to visit when I can. She and I lived five doors away from one another, so it was not uncommon to be at one another’s house after school. I seem to recall that I was the one to give her her first “haircut”. Her mother politely called later and asked that I leave that up to her.

My other friend, Robin Marsh and I don’t keep in constant contact (she’s the ONLY person I know without an email!), but it seems we are always able to catch up when I’m in town for a reunion. This year, everything was a whirlwind because I brought my children along, but in the middle of the evening, in walks Robin and her husband. She knew I’d be in town and wanted to make sure she got a chance to see me. I was really touched by that effort and I was delighted to see her!

Finally, I can say that, collectively, I have never had a better group of friends than the rest of the girls’ basketball team in 1976-77. We were the first girls to play in a state basketball tournament (we lost in the final round) and I strongly have not felt a stronger bond of “team” – at work or anywhere – than I did with those girls. However, I must say that any bit of trouble I got into in high school, it was likely because I was with one of them!!! For many years, our team picture hung in the halls of WI, but we have been replaced by better teams over the years. I can still proudly say, however, that we were the ones that went “first”. Thanks for letting me relive those memories!!!



submitted by: Betsy Wilson Kirk (WI '68)
betsy@wvdsl.net

I had many special friends growing up in Clarksburg, but my very, very most special friend was Charles “Choo-Choo” Christie (Ed Christie’s younger brother). I haven’t seen him since we graduated in 1968, but I don’t think a day goes by that I don’t think of him and wonder how he is. He disappeared, much to the dismay of his family, for many years and turned up in Maryland after Hurricane Katrina. His cousin, Jim, tells me he has been to Clarksburg a couple of times during the Christmas holidays. I’ve been told by many members of my church that he was the first boy to ever kiss me – we were around 5, 6 at the most – in one of the Sunday School rooms in the church beside a red piano. That piano now sits as a reminder in the sanctuary of the church. There was church camp and dances at the Y. He, myself, John Bush and a couple of other were very involved in the Coffee House in the basement of old St. Paul’s Church at the corner of Pike and Chestnut. Those were wonderful years and it would be one of the highlight’s of my life if I could hear from or see him again.



ARE YOU WITH US?

In May at the R.C. Byrd Scholastic Awards Presentation, WIN Scholarships for $3,000.00 each will be awarded to two 2008 graduates. This money is paid in two installments each year to the college administration office of the college of the student’s choice to help defray some of the costs.

I can tell you many sad stories about students who can not afford a higher education, students who do not qualify for a scholarship due to one reason or the other. We have set standards for The WIN Scholarship and I am proud of the students that the high school counselors and principal have chosen. We decided that we didn’t want our scholarship to go to the top student in the class, not the straight A student…we wanted one who is like most of us----average or above!

Each person who has given to the WIN Scholarship can be proud of our endeavor. These are your students! This is NOT my scholarship---it is OUR Scholarship! If you are with us and you have contributed, thank you and I hope you will continue to support this cause. If you haven’t given to the cause, if you haven’t caught our passion for education, loosen up! It doesn’t take much to join us….GIVE what you can afford. Every dollar helps the cause…no amount is too small or too large. I never divulge what an individual gives this is between you and me. I know who has given and who hasn’t…… IF YOU HAVEN’T GIVEN THAT IS A SECRET TOO. Now is the time to join us in this endeavor.

It amazes me that we don’t receive at least two thousand dollars a year, that is only $1.00 from each reader a year. (I do think we have over 2,000 readers as a lot of you share the newsletter with others and I can’t count them.) I am sure everyone who owns a computer and reads this newsletter can afford to give something to this cause even if it is only a dollar. Sure a dollar isn’t much and it doesn’t seem to go far but you put your dollar with my dollar and John Smith’s dollar along with John Doe and Jim Johnson and even Suzie Smith, etc..---we can make things happen.

I AM NOT TALKING TO A WALL! I AM TALKING TO YOU!

Write your check to:
Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship (NOTE: you must have both names on the check)

Mail to me at:
Roleta Meredith
c/o Meredith Brothers, Inc.
3025 Switzer Road
Columbus, Ohio 43219

Thank you for joining us in providing help to a student who is seeking a higher education.



MUSIC MEMORIES

“SPRING IS IN THE AIR”

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

Ahhh April....spring is in the air.... birds, bees and that age old, young love, dizzy feeling of SPRING FEVER.....This is the second edition of Music Memories and I want to thank all of you who got in touch with me. "Our" music is one of the many wonderful sets of memories we carry with us following graduation. A few bars of a favorite song and good times, from days past, are conjured on the spot.

A little housekeeping.....when I can't find a video for a tune consisting of the performer doing the song in the year that it was released, I will substitute the best representation of that song I can find. Sometimes it is just the song being played over a slide presentation of images put together to pay tribute to the song and/or performer. Sometimes it is just a record spinning with the turntable, needle and revolving 45 providing all of the action, but the song still sounding great. Once in awhile I find a special presentation that was done years after a song was a hit, but is something I think you've just got to see. (such is the case this issue for 1946, and Perry Como's "Prisoner of Love").

So here are some songs that were #1 in the nation, in the month of April from various years gone by. This time around we've got Elvis, The Beatles, and Otis Redding. But first, I think it only appropriate to start with this big hit for Pat Boone in 1957. Though it has "April" in the title, it was released in Oct. of '57, stayed on the "Top 40" charts for 22 weeks, and spent 6 weeks at #1.

Here is Pat Boone doing...."April Love"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sLaKFpMoRt0

1943....."I'VE HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE".....HARRY JAMES (w/ vocalist Helen Forest). * Video is a static picture of a still photo from Woody Allen's movie "Hannah and Her Sisters".
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rh0NZa0WMJQ

1946....."PRISONER OF LOVE"....PERRY COMO. * I love this video from 1957 of Perry Como and Pat Boone needling each other through a medley of their hits. Como being the "old" guy and Boone being the "young" guy. "Prisoner of Love" shows up in the medley, among some other classic tunes.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ip_DsiK4i80

1948....."MANANA (Is Soon Enough For Me)"....PEGGY LEE. * Check out the tasty guitar playing on display.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oUT6mTq5ekM

1950..... "THE THIRD MAN THEME".....ANTON KARAS. * Another real find.....this video uses the song as it first appeared....over the credits of the classic film noir movie, THE THIRD MAN, directed by Carol Reed, and starring Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles. I hope you've seen this great picture, if not, check it out.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=te9fqm6rUPY

1953....."HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW?"....PATTI PAGE.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2AkLE4X-bbU

1956....."HEARTBREAK HOTEL".....ELVIS PRESLEY. * The King makes his first "Music Memories" appearance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Qo1eaWF8c

1959.....*First let's do a "Chart Sweep" of 1959......here are all of the songs that were #1 during the year......presented in two minutes...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ofOYOhmAlSE

and for April of 1959 here is "COME SOFTLY TO ME", by THE FLEETWOODS * Also included is the Fleetwoods song "Mr. Blue", which also went to #1, in October of the same year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqhqBwGED1w

1962....."JOHNNY ANGEL".....SHELLEY FABARES.....* Video comes from The Donna Reed Show where Fabares played Reed's daughter "Mary".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4832LQ0_T8g

1965....."THE GAME OF LOVE"....WAYNE FONTANA and the MINDBENDERS.....* Rare live footage of this second tier British Invasion band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c88x35Nq0Ck&feature=related

1968....."(SITTIN' ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY".....OTIS REDDING. * Recorded just 3 days before his death in an airplane crash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzrXc68gNjQ

1970....."LET IT BE"....THE BEATLES. * Video shot in the studio and features the late, great Billy Preston on organ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67J_66hdN-I

1974....."BENNIE AND THE JETS"....ELTON JOHN. * It seems this song was being played everywhere that year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0WCQadt864

1977....."DANCING QUEEN.....ABBA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GFpMb0sOaw

1980....."CALL ME".....BLONDIE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7LZRaHz0Q8

Stay in touch and keep those songs in your heart.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I am so thrilled with this project that Steve is doing each month for us. I have listened to the songs and seen the videos as they are…..I am sure you are enjoying this too….Write and tell me your thoughts on this project—write to: Roleta1@aol.com.




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



Hi! Since we are talking about the bus-lines, thought you might like the photo of the street car I have, I might have already sent it to you, though. I do not remember riding the street car from Nutter Fort to town, but was told I had. I remember though, riding on the street car to Camp Goodturn many times to Girl Scout day camp in the 40's.





submitted by: John McFarlin (WI '60)
jmcfarlin@earthlink.net

I sure enjoy your newsletter as it brings so many fond memories of my time growing up in Clarksburg, as my family had very deep roots in Clarksburg. To this day I have Minard’s sauce and Oliverio's peppers shipped to our home in Houston. While living in Florida, Ginny and I enjoyed the picnics and the terrific hot dogs. Through your newsletter I was able to contact Bob Secret, who was a teammate of mine in many sports and a friend of mine for several years. We had a phone conversation and had not done so for over 20 years. It was great talking to him and I know that all of us wish him the very best with his challenge. Thanks for bringing back such great memories. I have the City Service Little League picture that I captured from your newsletter hanging in my office, as I was the catcher on that team.





submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)
IcedTeaDee@aol.com

Read Jim Ashley's article in the March newsletter & wanted to comment, as I have undergone a Stem Cell Transplant. Mine was an autologous procedure, which means my bone marrow was viable & therefore I was able to use my own stem cells after they were collected and separated thru the apheresis process.

However, there are many cancer patients out there who find their cells are no longer viable and are in great need of donors, such as Jim. When donor cells are used, the process is called an allogeneic transplant.

It's great that Jim was able to help 3 recipients and great that he wrote to the newsletter to bring attention to readers who may also want to donate their stem cells. There is a lot of mis-information out there regarding stem cells - but take it from me - we all have them and they can be safely removed to help ourselves or others.

My procedure was done at UF Shands in Gainesville, FL http://www.shands.org/find/service/bonemarrowtx.asp and I was lucky enough to get the department head, Dr. Wingard, as my physician. They accept donors over 17 and under 65, providing they pass a simple screening process. There are centers throughout the country that perform the procedure, but Jim's link to http://www.marrow.org/ is a good place to start for anyone who's interested.





submitted by: Jody Buffington Aud (WI '77)
jody.aud@priogroup.com

I remember Minard’s as the place we went after church on Sunday. My dad always ordered a “short order with two meatballs” and my sisters and I couldn’t get enough of the meat ravioli. I have spent my whole life trying to find someone that makes pasta and meatballs that good. Haven’t found it yet! But, I did take my family there recently – let’s just say that another generation has become attached to their food!





submitted by: Susanne Gabriel Arthur (WI '60)
susanne@soozie.com

This is a much delayed response to the February edition of the newsletter -- a monthly touch of home for all its readers. Thank you and your team for all the news gathering and the myriad of "nifty", creative ways to add "punch" to text in the newsletter.

As many Clarksburgers know, I married Bill Arthur in 1966 whose name was sprinkled throughout the February newsletter. It was humbling and heartwarming to read where quite a few folks remembered what place he had in their lives. We have had quite a journey in our life together -- from WV to PA to VA to SC to AL to GA and as of 3 months ago have "landed" (at least for now) in Greenville, SC. Our 40-year old daughter Amy, her husband and 3 children live about 15 minutes away, our 36-year-old son David and his wife Shannon live 90 minutes south of us, and Bill's 97-year-old mother is at the Presbyterian Home in Clinton, SC. We felt at this stage in our lives we needed to "circle the wagons" and be closer to family to enjoy -- and to win "brownie points" so our children will choose a nice nursing home for us!!

Bill has retired -- if you can call retired working as a parttime Parish Associate at FPC Spartanburg, SC and building, together with his business partner, their LLC ... a company which does feasibility studies, capital campaigns, etc., for non-profits! Yes, after 42 years as a fulltime, installed pastor and several interim pastorates, (that's a lot of covered-dish suppers and miles of meatloaf!!) we're able to savor all those years where our circle of friends and experiences have been more than this little girl from Clarksburg ever dreamed would be possible. We have indeed been blessed, and pray our circle will grow larger. I retired from the legal arena in 2005 and am presently relegated to unpacking boxes, lovin' our grands as they pop in and out of our lives, and wondering why I've / we've kept all this "stuff"!! I'd enjoy hearing from any Hilltoppers. Keep up the good work!



PRODIGALS

submitted by: Judy Holden Cork (WI '62)
jhcork@bellsouth.net

I have an original 45 record of the Prodigals. Marsha is on one side and Judy on the other. It is pretty scratched up because I played it so much and it is probably at least 50 years old. I have attached a scanned copy of both sides. Thanks for all you do with the newsletter. Tim and I look forward to it every month.





submitted by: Don Cinci (WI '56)
DonCinci@aol.com

This group was managed by Gene Jones, WI '55. Gene is semi retired and works some at the local Sears the last I recall.



submitted by: Joy Gregoire Stalnaker (WI '59)
joy1941@frontiernet.net

I remember Gerard and sharing a class with him. Funny thing, I remember the room and where I sat and where he sat, but I don't remember the class. Wasn't he born in France? I've often wondered whatever became of him.

On another note, re some personal things. I've had some changes in my life.

I don't think I've told you, but about six months ago I was nominated by our local club and honored by Lions Club International with the Melvin Jones Award for dedicated humanitarian services. I certainly never thought of myself is a humanitarian. I was so humbled. . . and bawled like a baby!

Since August I've been working for the Weston Democrat as a reporter. It's a weekly paper, published on Wednesdays. Retirement didn't give me enough opportunity to be among people and I'm loving every minute of it. I write a column, Joy's Journal, every other week; and I usually have several front page stories in each issue. Folks can read it by visiting www.westondemocrat.com.



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

The information on the Prodigals was great. Charles Collins was the first student from Kelly-Miller high school to come to Roosevelt-Wilson high school. In his first year as a Sophomore he was elected class treasurer (this is listed in the yearbook for 1957). Strange though, his picture is not in the book, perhaps he transferred to WI. I just don't know.



APRONS

submitted by: Carol VanHorn Dean (WI '58)
DBLU2@aol.com

I remember sewing an apron with three pockets in Miss Una Jarvis's Home Ec class. We were suppose to baste all seams before sewing them. Connie Thompson was more experienced than the rest of us and she sewed hers without basting. I don't think Miss Jarvis was aware of that. (the latter) They were fun to make, but only having access to three sewing machines for twenty plus students could try your patience. Finished, they were made very practical and pretty.

My grandmother, aunts and my mother always wore an apron. My aunt was the seamstress and made aprons for all the family. No doubt, most of them were made from feedsack material.

Lets not forget the sunbonnets. I can still remember Aunt May out in the garden with her apron and sunbonnet on. I was going to help her one day in the garden. She dressed me up like herself, but I didn't last over 5 minutes in the sun even with the sunbonnet on.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I made my first apron with all the pockets in the 7th grade sewing class. When we got to eighth grade we were required to wear them in our cooking class. I don’t remember either teacher’s name. I really liked to wear that type apron when I was cleaning the house. I made several of them when I used to sew. However, I found that that type of apron didn’t keep my upper body clean of splashes, etc. So now I wear a “granny” type apron. I love aprons—they sort of look and feel domestic and homey to me. My grandmother lived with us when I was young and she always wore an apron.



THE QUILT

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

Thank you to Roleta & Bill Meredith for hosting another fun CLARKSBURG-Sarasota Picnic on 1 March 2007. The Picnic was a success! It was fun seeing many "old" friends and neighbors from growing up in Clarksburg. I hope more of you will join us in 2009.

Many thanks again to the quilters who helped make the beautiful 2008 WIN Scholarship Quilt: "Spring Sensations". It really turned out lovely with all the blocks that were sent in by Carolyn Cady, Mary Liz Carder, Carol Dean, Sharon Kinney, Sue Moats, Mary Nophsker, Elaine Norteman, Kitty Sager and Mary Sue Spahr.

Congratulations to Judy & Sonny Talkington, Clarksburg WV, who won the 2008 WIN Scholarship quilt . They bought their winning ticket at the WI-Clarksburg August picnic. Hope they enjoy this beautiful reminder of Spring in WV. I really hated to send it away and enjoyed being the temporary "owner". Plan on purchasing your 2009 winning ticket at the next August WI Clarksburg picnic. You can also buy tickets for the next quilt via mail….just contact me at Moatsue@aol.com or contact Roleta at Roleta1@aol.com. You don’t have to be present at the CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC to win the quilt…This is the third year we have awarded a quilt and we have shipped it to two happy winners.

A BIG THANK YOU TO All of you Clarksburg residents and past residents, spouses and others who so generously support the WIN Scholarship Fund. It's very exciting that the sale of tickets for the WIN quilt drawing this year (2008) has added @$1500.00 to the Fund to help further a RCB HS student's education.

SO, now is the time to get busy on the 2009 WIN Scholarship Quilt. This next year's theme will be "Sizzlin' Summer" celebrating the fireworks of the Fourth of July. A "focus fabric" will be selected and each quilter will be sent a packet of some fabrics and directions to help make their block.

Please let Sue (Selby) Moats, WI 1955, know that you are willing to make a block (OR two) for our next quilt drawing. Email your name and address so that a packet can be sent to you (Moatsue@aol.com) . Blocks will need to be returned to Sue by June 15th so that the blocks may be put together and the top displayed at the August WI-Clarksburg picnic.

Let's join together to help the WIN Scholarship Fund grow large enough to support even more students' college education.



TRIVIA PICTURE FOR APRIL

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

This would be the Virgil Highland house-244 East Main Street .Build around 1903-1905-Romanesque style construction. The most outstanding feature of this house is the stained glass window with the dancing lady on the east side of the house. Virgil Highland was the president of the Empire National Bank in Clarksburg. The present owner is Dr Lopez



submitted by: Bill Spears (WI '62)
Spillbears@aol.com

Another great newsletter from you and Judy. This picture submitted was not of very good quality but it could be because it is an old picture. This is a single family residence located at 240 East Main Street in what is now called as Quality Hill. This begins just beyond Monticello Avenue and East Main Street, up the hill and all the way out to the Goff Plaza bridge. I do not know the exact dates but this area started developing way back in the 1800's. One of the earlier homes in that area was the Judge John George Jackson home at the corner of East Main Street and what is now Maple Avenue. This original home was built about 1816 and as I understand it remained there until about 1904 when it was demolished. Then another large house was built on the site which remains to this day.

Since our family lived on East Pike Street between Maple and Park Avenue which was once a part of the T. Moore Jackson farm and subsequent subdivision, I used to visit my Carlile grade school buddies, Smiley Martin and Phil Marstiller. Smiley, whose father was Jim Martin, Manager of Parson Souders, lived two houses east of this stone home and Phil Marstiller lived just across the street from the "castle". While I never was inside the castle, I did especially enjoy going to Smiley Martin's house which was an older, large home that had its' own unique character. The main thing I remember in his home and with which we had the most fund was riding up and down the elevation within that home. As I recall it ran from the basement and then to the first and second floors. I may be wrong on that but I know it was quite a novelty to ride an elevator within a home.

My significant other, Carolyn Smith, WI Class of 1963, who grew up in Stealey, remembers that stone home.When she was young she always thought that the house was a haunted castle. She says that whenever her parents drove by the house she turned her head so as not to see it because of the ghosts that she thought were there. I drove by the home on March 7th and it appears to be in good condition on the outside. Ironically, we have contracted with a company out of Grafton that refinishes and restores hardwood floors. He told Carolyn the other day that he was working on the floors for a young couple who own the "castle". He mentioned to her that the woodwork within that place is just beautiful.







submitted by: Jim King (WI '73)
jking@owaters.com

I’ll always remember the Virgil Highland house when walking to and from school. It always reminded me of this big castle. I always wondered who lived there and what he or she did for a living. Do you know what year it was built? It has to be one of the oldest houses in Clarksburg. Go Hilltoppers!



submitted by: Betsy Wilson Kirk (WI '68)
betsy@wvdsl.net

This house stands on East Main in Clarksburg almost directly across the street from the old Marstellar and Keeley homes (maybe a little diagonal from those) and also near Davis-Weaver Funeral Home. On the same side of the street as McGlumphy Mortuary. It’s never appealed to me, but my significant other who came here from Maryland thinks it’s one of the greatest houses we have in Clarksburg and comments on it every time we drive through town. The woodwork around the windows is now painted green, I think it was gray when I was younger, but the green paint certainly doesn’t do anything to make the house more attractive. I don’t know if I ever knew who lived in it but would sometimes walk past it with my cousin Mimi Hodges who lived on Virginia Avenue when we would go to Mr. Elsey’s pharmacy at the end of the East End Bridge.

The other thing I wanted to relate to you was my story on the “Clarksburg” song. In 1973, I moved from Clarksburg to Suitland, MD and worked for the Department of Agriculture in downtown DC. It was there I met my husband (now deceased) and he introduced me to a little country bar in his hometown of Accokeek, MD. We were there one Sunday afternoon in probably 1976 maybe 1977 watching the Redskins play and the song played on their juke box. I was absolutely shocked!!!!!!!! I asked the bartender/owner, Mark, about the song and he said his wife had played it. That she was from Clarksburg, again absolutely stunned because no one in that area had ever heard of Clarksburg, WV before. I finally worked up the nerve to approach the woman and she looked at me and said, “You grew up on Waverly Way and I used to babysit for you.” Well, the Waverly Way part was true, but since she was much older than I, the babysitting part didn’t ring a bell. Her name was Helen Evans and her father had Evans Transfer and Storage on Hall Street in Stealey. Helen passed away in the mid-80’s from cancer, and, yes, she did babysit for me. My mother remembered Helen well and how she used to take me to Stealey playground if she was babysitting on a Saturday afternoon and the weather was good. Between the two of us we just about wore the record out and it stayed on the jukebox at the B&G Tavern in Accokeek, MD until the tavern burned around 2002.

I finally retired from the Dept. of Navy, Naval Media Center in 2005 and immediately moved back home. I hate some of the changes to Clarksburg, but LOVE being home. It’s still a wonderful place to live.



submitted by: Barbara Paugh Patton (WI '61)
BAP5555@aol.com

This is a picture of a house on East Main St. My friends and I walked passed it on the way to school. I always wondered what the round room on top was like. It reminded me of a small castle. I believe it is being remolded now.



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

The newest Trivia Photo is of the Virgil and Gertrude M. Highland residence located at 240 E. Main Street also known as Quality Hill. Virgil was President of the Empire National Bank and Clarksburg Publishing Company. After his death Cecil B. Highland became the new president of the previous mentioned business places. Most of the Highland Families grew up in New Martinsvile, WV. The next family to occupy this residence was J. Vance & Florence Johnson moving in around 1956.



submitted by: Deedie Swisher Souders (WI '52)
DeedieDesigns@aol.com

The Virgil Highland home is located at 240 East Main Street among the beautiful vintage houses built during the turn of the century or the early Victorian Era.

I was born and raised on Meigs Ave. and our house looked at the back of the Highland house, because their property ran all the way back to Meigs Ave.

The empty lot behind their house was later very important to each of our families.

This is my story how I remembered the HIGHLAND HOUSE.

It was about 1939-1940 and I was just starting to grade school. I was taking dancing lessons from Mary Berger and I loved to dance.

One Saturday afternoon I had walked up the alley, which ran behind the Highland house and the empty lot which separated the property. For what ever reason, I just walked up on their side porch to use it as my own stage to perform my dancing program. Mrs. Highland opened the large front door & walked around to the side where I was dancing on her porch, without her permission, I might add, however, Mrs. Highland invited me to come inside & dance for her.

WOW, when I walked into this magnificent foyer, my heart dropped. I had never seen so many antiques or a room so large.

Could this have been my first love for interior design?

Everything was so different from my home..

Mrs. Highland showed me her large Victorian Victorola that had to be cranked up to play. There was a selection of large round tin's that she pulled out and placed one on the machine. The music began to play. Mrs. Highland pulled up a chair and sat down and asked me to dance for her. When I finished my steps, she politely applauded and thank me for a delightful afternoon. Then she asked me to stay for cookies, which were very special because they had just came out of the oven.

I said, "Thank you Mrs. Highland", and ran home to tell my father what a wonderful afternoon I had.

From that time on, this was my personal castle, where I could go & enjoy playing among the unique architecture arches. For all the homes in Clarksburg, it was truly one of a kind.

Soon after my new found stage and my love of the castle, we then had to turn our lives to World War ll which broke out in 1941. Times changed, our personal needs changed, because of so many cut backs now taking place in our country. That big empty lot between our two houses became very important because it turned into a Victory Garden for our food.

Mr. Highland, Mr. Skidmore and my dad, Swish, planted a garden. For 4 years the 3 men worked together so we had the good home grown food to eat for the summer plus canning food for the balance of the winter.

Over 100 years, this old home still stands like, THE GRAND OLD LADY on East Main Street in our home town: CLARKSBURG....

This was to me, a very found memory in my life time of 74 years about the HIGHLAND HOUSE on Main St. & Meigs Ave. and how two families shared their lives together...

I have seen so many different kinds of homes in my career, BUT, never have I seen another one with such character and none were as beautiful as the interior of this home.




TRIVIA PICTURE FOR MAY 2008



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



ATTENTION: WI CLASS OF 1966

SAVE THIS DATE TO CELEBRATE

YOUR 60th BIRTHDAY

WITH YOUR CLASSMATES!

submitted by: Jim Combs (WI '66)
WellingtonJC@aol.com

I hope that you will plan to join all of us on the weekend of August 22, 23 and 24, 2008 to celebrate our 60th birthday together. We are holding this Birthday Party on the same week-end as the WI Picnic which is held at the VA Park.

With the suggestion by Mr. "JT" Talkington, our class decided at our last reunion to celebrate our 60th Birthdays together, it has finally caught up to us and probably sooner than some would like. It would be wonderful if some of our friends, younger or older would be able to join us to play catch up! We may not be able to remember everything about our youth but we sure will have a good time trying.

Classmates, please email or contact all of your friends you have kept in touch with through the years so we are able to have the turnout that we have had in the past.

We will announce the location at a later date.



PICTURE IDENTIFIED

submitted by: Bill Spears (WI '62)
spillbears@aol.com

I believe that this trivia picture submitted by Dave "Doc" Kuhl is Jeanne Christie, WI class of 1961. If I am correct, she married Boyd Warner, who is a WI graduate and a longtime attorney in Clarksburg. They live a Lake Floyd. I still call Dave Kuhl "Doc" because he was our athletic trainer at WI. He mentored under Brooks Gainer, WI class of 1961, and has been a prominent doctor in Morgantown.



submitted by: Elaine Zabeau Norteman (ND '62)
Enorteman@roadrunner.com

The picture is of Jeanne Christie. I was at camp with her and she was also a neighborhood friend. We were Stealey girls from Morgan Grade School. Nice girl and very talented as was her sister Susan. This brings back many fond memories.



submitted by: Barbara Warren Williams (WI '58)
gembob@htwc.biz

The girl in the picture I believe is Jeannie Christie. I have known the Christie family for quite awhile as I worked for awhile at her dad's home (John Christie) doing secretarial work.



submitted by: Dick Hanifan (WI '59)
RKHanifan@aol.com

I'll take a guess that the girl is a Christie. One of Johnny's sisters. There were about seven or eight kids in that family. Can't remember her name.



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

Unless I am mistaken, the girl from the 4 H Camp group picture is Jeannie Christie. Jeannie was a couple of years younger than I and was my "little sister" in Lambda Sorority at WI. I remember her as being very sweet and shy. She later married Boyd "Sonny" Warner, who was in my class. As far as I know they are living in Clarksburg.

When my mother was still alive and I was in town for a visit, I took her to church at The First United Methodist Church. Occasionally, we saw Jeannie and Boyd there. However, that was 6 or 7 years ago.



submitted by: Linda Cooper (WI '61)
CFlcooprun@aol.com

That girl is Jeannie Christie. She and I were in the WI Band together, she was a twirler and I was a majorette 1959-60-61. We were both also in a military style all girls' drill team that used to march in parades in Clarksburg, and once on the local TV station.



HARRISON COUNTY 1956 4-H CAMP GROUP PICTURE

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



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



NEW READERS

Karen Britton Smith (VHS '63) Perdilia@aol.com
James Martin (WI '43) Jamesmartinjames@aol.com
Alecia K. Bishop
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Alecia would have been with the
WI class of 1960 but her parents took her screaming
and kicking to Ohio before her senior year)		 aleciakw@aol.com
 
 
 
Gina Oliverio Barth (WI '77) GMB1306@aol.com
Robert Barth (WI '76) GMB1306@aol.com
Jim King (WI '73) jking@owaters.com
Elizabeth Christie Shantz (WI '74)
but I have always gone by the name, Betsy		 betwvu@aol.com
Lisa and Doug Griffin (WI '74) newlook4u@yahoo.com
Suzette VanHorn (Bristol '56) vanhorn@ns.sympatico.ca
Susan Sutton (WI '65) susiesutton65@roadrunner.com
Lola Skufe Cox (WI '60) LolalCox@aol.com
Jim Combs (WI '66) WellingtonJC@aol.com


CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS

Judy Coyne Shepherd (WI '57) shep7420@comcast.net
Carol Greynolds Cleveland (WI '61) ccle132@bellsouth.net
Mickie Ford Brumage (WI '61) micdic324@att.net
Dick Brumage (ND '61) micdic324@att.net
Joan Hinkle (RW '48 - widow of Richard Hinkle WI '48) joan7@comcast.net
Mary K. McDaniel Lynch Bellisario (WI '65) bayouduo@bellsouth.net




This is the best presentation of the sixties that I have ever seen online. It is very well done. Just click on the link and sit back and enjoy the memories. It seems like only yesterday. . . . .

Turn on the SOUND>>>>>>>>>>>>

http://moreoldfortyfives.com/TakeMeBackToTheSixties.htm



THE 2008 WIN QUILT

SPRING SENSATIONS


Pictured above are Roleta Smith Meredith and Sue Selby Moats with the beautiful quilt “SPRING SENSATIONS” at the CLARKSBURG REUNION. The sale of tickets for the quilt earned $1,5000.00 for the WIN Scholarship. The winner of the quilt was Judy and Sonny Talkington, who bought their winning ticket at the WI Picnic in Clarksburg in August 2007. The quilt was shipped to them.



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

I thought those of your readers, who are WVU football fans, might like to see what our opponents will be facing next fall.

The picture was taken in Morgantown at Damon's Restaurant. It was a fund raiser for Ronald Mc Donald House and was called "Breakfast With Champions"--fitting, don't you think?! The attendees (150 of them) were treated to autograph signings, picture taking, and music performed by "The WVU Pep Band".

The little? guy on my left at the end is Charlie Russell, our 3rd string quarterback. Charlie is a "redshirt" freshman. The others are offensive linemen, and may just be big enough to "git 'er done"!





AND THE SHINNSTON BASKETBALL BEAT GOES ON . . .

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

“Frank Spadafore, Sr. may have been pound for pound Shinnston’s greatest athlete,” according to his son Frank, Jr.. And besides many others in Shinnston share that view, that point is substantiated four times in previous West Virginia All-State High School Athletic Records. In 1949, Frank made Honorable Mention All-State Basketball guard; in 1950, Third Team All-State Basketball forward; and in 1951, First Team All- State Basketball guard. And the previous fall of 1950, Frank Spadafore made First Team All-State Football as one of that year’s greatest Mountain State running backs. In both sports, the 150 pound, 5’9” versatile athlete was “slippery” and exceptionally fast.

Co-captain of the undefeated 1950 Shinnston High School football team and Co-captain of the 1951 18-3 basketball team, Frank Spadafore was an exceptional athlete. Stated another way, Frank Spadafore was one of the few West Virginia high school athletes who earned both a football scholarship and a basketball scholarship to WVU.

In basketball, Frank Spadafore’s basketball number was “12” when he played both for the Shinnston High School Spartans and later when he played for the West Virginia University Mountaineers. A few years ago, Frank, Sr. passed away, and his identical twin grandsons—Frankie and Johnny Spadafore—became interested in playing in the Jerry West Basketball League in Shinnston for the Maley Trailer Court team, comprised of young boys between the ages of 7-11 years old. Mrs. Wanda Roberts Spadafore, the twins’ grandmother, was once a head cheerleader for Shinnston High School herself, and she explained that she came up with the idea for the twins to share their grandfather’s famous basketball number “12.” Johnny, the left hander, chose to wear number “1” and Frankie chose to wear number “2.” And Frank Spadafore’s reformatted legendary Shinnston number “12” is well represented on the uniforms of his athletically talented grandsons.

On Sunday, February 3, 2008, the two Spadafore twins and their teammates coached by Danny Benson— Joe Lambert, Logan Minnix, Doug Moore, and Parker Benson—warmed up in the same Mahlon School Gym where Frankie and Johnny’s famous Shinnston Spartan grandfather had played 60 years earlier. During the initial tip off, the game between the Midway Motors team from Enterprise and the Maley Trailer Court squad appeared to be a match between giants and ants. Midway had noticeably much bigger boys. But referring to the Maley team as ants is not meant to be derisive at all. In the insect world, ants are among the strongest insects—that is, capable of carrying the equivalent of their own individual body weights and capable of organizing work projects that defy belief. For example, Doug Moore, the smallest tyke on the Maley team, appeared to be the most ferocious player during the game—going after the ball with the determination of a professional wrestler in a bad mood.

From the start, both teams of 7-11 year olds played a great 40-minute game, and immediately, the amazing talents of the young Spadafore twins became evident. Offensively, each twin demonstrated excellent ball control skills; each boy could dribble, pass off, or use a bounce pass. Frankie and Johnny alternated the role of point guard and moved the ball towards their team’s basket and setting up a shot for someone else—often the other twin—for a closer shot, or as a set of guards, they moved the ball to the area behind the 3-point line and looked for someone open on the side or cutting down the lane to feed for a basket.

Returning to the idea that the young boys looked like ants, that became only a temporary image to describe them. Because when either brother used his offensive basketball skills, each twin suddenly “morphed” into a more experienced high school freshman or sophomore basketball player. In addition, each twin resisted the temptation to shoot if someone else were positioned closer to the basket.

Each twin had definite shooting skills from the field and from the “adjusted” Jerry West League foul line. Each young Spadafore could fake, and each twin followed through with his shots and afterwards ran towards the ball if it did not go in. Defensively, each brother could create turnovers. Frankie took the ball away with his quick hands and moves, and Johnny intercepted two passes. That Sunday, the Maley Trailer Court team lost but only by two points—45-43. The young Spadafore twins had contributed 35 points to the scoring effort: Frankie had scored 21 points; Johnny scored 14 points that game. And before a week had passed, the Maley Trailer Court squad beat the Midway Motors team in a rematch.

Frank Spadafore’s legend as an outstanding basketball player lives on through his twin grandsons. The small town of Shinnston, West Virginia, supports all of its athletes and will continue to produce many outstanding athletes in football, basketball, and baseball—and that includes many outstanding female athletes also. Count on it!

NOTE: This excerpt has been taken from the research for my forthcoming biography entitled Coach Jack Moore—Highlights of His Coaching Career and His Life.



submitted by: Don Sager (WI '56)
dks@davtv.com

From: WVU TODAY:Musket has been passed
Clarksburg native named new WVU Mountaineer mascot



Michael Squires, 2008-09 Mountaineer mascot
Photo by: Shannon Dey




Michael Squires, 2008-09 Mountaineer mascot
Photo by: Brian Persinger




MOUNTAINEER PRIDE
Outgoing mascot Brady Campbell congratulates Michael Squires on being named the 2008-09 mascot.
Photo by: Brian Persinger


When Michael Squires says the Mountaineer spirit runs high in his family, it’s an understatement. “My father graduated from West Virginia University,” he said, “and my mother received her master’s here. My sister, grandfather, cousin, aunt and uncle all graduated from WVU as well.” That Mountaineer spirit will no doubt be on display when the Clarksburg native dons the buckskins as the 2008-09 Mountaineer mascot. Asked what will make him a great mascot, he said, “It would probably be my loyalty and integrity.”

Squires, a sophomore speech pathology and audiology major, is a graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School, where he was president and salutatorian of his senior class. A member of the Mountaineer Maniacs – WVU’s student fan organization – for the past two years, he has been following WVU athletics since he was a kid.

“As my sister went through college here at WVU, my family and I used to come to football and basketball games,” he said. “The thing I remember most about being a young fan was watching the Mountaineer mascot. “Looking back, I realize how influential a figure like the mascot can be in a child’s life,” Squires said. “Not only does the Mountaineer serve as an ambassador for WVU, a representative for our state and a mascot and cheerleader for our teams, he or she also serves as an all-around role model for young people.” As the Mountaineer, Squires looks forward to carrying on the many traditions of WVU, making sure that the Mountain State and its people are portrayed accurately and promoting positive fan behavior. “The Mountaineer mascot represents the deep heritage and traditions that we as West Virginians learned from our parents and grandparents,” Squires said. “He or she represents the camaraderie and the feelings that we share as WVU students and alumni about our beloved alma mater.”

Besides the Maniacs, Squires is involved with the Phi Sigma Theta and Alpha Lambda Delta national honor societies and National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He has been a tutor at WVU and volunteered at Norwood Elementary School in Clarksburg. He has also served as a counselor at Deaf Youth Camp of West Virginia and participated in Relay for Life and a mission trip to Wheeling to rebuild flood victims’ homes. Other community activities include singing in the choir, volunteering as a youth mentor and serving as a youth confirmation class teacher at the First United Methodist Church of Clarksburg. Squires has also appeared in community theater. Honors include the National Dean’s List and WVU dean’s and president’s lists.

Fifteen WVU students originally applied for mascot. A selection committee – consisting of students, faculty and staff – narrowed the list to four finalists based on applications, essays and interviews. The students then took part in a cheer-off competition, and Squires was named the mascot at Monday’s (March 3) WVU-University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball game.

He officially begins his mascot duties at the April 19 Gold-Blue Game at Milan Puskar Stadium.



submitted by: John Lee (WI '65)
pjlee@suddenlink.net

This video was sent to me by my nephew, Thomas Lee 4th. Although he lives in NC. and I reside in Ohio, our first allegiance is to the Mountaineers, and we keep in close contact.

I thought the Mountaineer fans who haven't seen this video would enjoy seeing Coach Stewart's pre game speech to the players in last year's Fiesta Bowl game against Oklahoma. As we all recall, the "blue and gold" were huge underdogs. Many were wishing to just not to be embarrassed!

From the beginning of the game to the end I said to myself, what has gotten into these huge "underdogs" to be playing with such nonstop intensity, and subsequently pulling off one of WVU's greatest football wins?

This speech had to have played a huge part in that win ! It started off somewhat slow but rose in crescendo as Coach "Stew" told the players about such things as: don't leave your wingman, strain, hit hard, play within the confines of the game, I'm proud to be a West Virginian, etc. Those kids could "read" it was from the interim Coach's heart. No false bravado or "fakey" speech stuff, straight from the heart which is exactly what those kids needed that night. Someone to believe in!! It remains to be seen what type of tactician or field general Coach "Stew" will be, but in the game of life he will have the credentials for which I feel are most important . A sense of allegiance and integrity, and a well grounded moral compass. Win or lose, Coach Stewart well finish out his career as a Mountaineers, as I feel that defection will never be a part of his playbook!!

I wish Coach Stewart and his assistants, the team, and WVU's prideful fans the best, for the upcoming football season!!.........



CJHS CHEERLEADERS

submitted by: Sharon Dillmore Smith (WI '58)
Shanangels@comcast.net


L-R: Nancy Goff, Marion Ribas, Martha Lou Morrison, Tanya Burt (in back), Lynna Sands, Mary Helen Thompson? (Sharon wasn't sure of this ID), Judy Coffman



JIM FRAGALE IN NEWSWEEK

submitted by: Jim Fragale (WI '58)
James.A.Fragale@abc.com



Clarksburg native Jim Fragale has an article in the April 7, 2008 issue of Newsweek Magazine on the newsstands Monday, March 31st, in which he recounts not only his love for cooper pennies but also his experiences with them growing up in West Virginia.





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