THE WI NEWSLETTER 08/09


THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue120 August 2009






“YOU CAN TELL ‘EM EVERY TIME”
Author unknown

If you’ve fished in clear water and waded in mud,
Watched a calm river, seen many a flood,
Traveled the highways, on good roads and bad,
Cussed like a trooper, yet seldom get mad~~
I bet you’re from West “By God” Virginia.

If you’ve sweat in the valley, cooled off on the hill,
Tramped through the mountains, drank corn from a still,
If you like a good fight, can loose and then grin,
Get up on your feet, and go at it to win,
I bet you’re from West “By God” Virginia.

You ain’t afraid of the Devil, got fire in your eye,
God-fearing and loving, The Father on High,
Go the limit for friends, but slow to forgive,
I bet you’re from West “By-God” Virginia.

If you’ve drank Coca Cola and ole’ Sassafras Tea,
Used pennyroyal for the bite of a flea,
You say what you think, whether sober or drunk,
You can tell you the wind, the trail of a skunk,
I bet you’re from West “By-God” Virginia.

If you’ve cleaned your teeth with a birch tree twig,
You’ve dance to “Rocky Top” for many a jig,
Hidden back of the barn, away from the folks,
For Indian Stogies and corn silk smokes,
I bet you’re from West “By-God” Virginia

If you’ve talked “Pig Latin,” sung “The Old Gray Mare,”
Felt the bite of a jigger, love a good County Fair,
A bit clannish of kin, though ornery they be,
You admit it yourself, but dare us to agree,
I bet you’re from West “By-God” Virginia.

If you love corn pone, and ole turnip greens,
And ole’ “salt pork”, when cooked with your beans,
If you love berry cobbler, and all kinds of pie,
Would druther drink Corn, then any ole Rye,
I bet you’re from West “By-God” Virginia.

You’d love all the guys, think each one the best,
Flirt with the Devil, if he had a leather vest,
You’re proud of your State, and thrill when you hear
The “Star Spangled Banner”, and stand up and cheer,
Then I know you’re from West “By-God” Virginia!




THINK SNOW!

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

The Theme for the 2010 WIN Scholarship quilt is “Winter Wonderland”. It will have snowflake blocks and mountain cabins in a winter wonderland.  

We're off to a slow start making it - which is my fault. I bought the fabrics while in Sarasota for the 2009 Clarksburg picnic-but still haven't mailed them to the quiltblock makers. Several new quilters are joining the effort so this should be another great quilt for which you'll want LOTS of chances to be the winner.  If anyone else is still interested in participating on the quilt project, email Sue Moats, Moatsue@aol.com to have a fabric packet sent to you.  

Hopefully I'll have some blocks returned and put together to bring to show at the Clarksburg Picnic at the end of August.  We will have the chances for the quilt there to purchase so that you can continue to support the WIN Scholarship which Roleta started and which is helping several deserving students. Together we have given $17,000.00 in scholarships over the past few years.



JUST ONE DOLLAR

I asked for each reader to send me one dollar ($1.00) for the scholarship. Have you sent yours?

Those who sent me a belated Birthday wish with a gift to the scholarship fund are:

Jim Callis (WI '53)

Fran Barrett (WI '50) thanks for the nice card you made for me.

Rex Zickefoose (WI '59) What a wonderful gift you gave to the Scholarship and in honor of the men who have served their country.

Connie Bailey Casto (WI '59) Thanks for the gift to the scholarship. It is always special when I hear from classmates and this month 2 sent their support for this endeavor.

Bill Bryan (RW '57) Thank you for the generous gift to the Scholarship for my birthday and in honor of our service men. And then the added $1.00 that I am hoping to receive from every reader was added….thanks. Glad to hear you are mending well after your bypass surgery. Does this mean no more pepperoni rolls?

Write your check now to:
Roleta Meredith c/o WIN Scholarship

Mail it to my office—they are always able to get my mail to me:
Roleta Meredith
3025 Switzer Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43219

Thank you so much!



LETTER OF CORRECTION

Roleta:
Not to be toooo picky, but I graduated from Victory in 1955, not WI (no offense!!).  
As always, enjoyed the Newsletter very much.  Please keep up what has to be a labor of love.  

Bob Alton (VHS '55) ralton1@satx.rr.com

ANOTHER CORRECTION

Carol Grow Robey was a graduate with the WI Class of 1957 as is her husband Gary Robey.




NEW READERS

Dr. David Williams (WI '68) dmwilliams50@msn.com
Suzan Williams Hood (WI '66) suziejay@hotmail.com
Murphy Kovach (WI '55) mlkovach@ma.rr.com
Tim Corsini (WI '51) tedgarcorsini@gmail.com
Sara McCullough Knotts (WI '64) sara@mwmrealestate.com
Robin Newhouse (RW '65) wvrobin2002@yahoo.com
Cathy (Kay) Strogen (WI '65) McStrogen@aol.com
Sam Urso (WI '57) samuel.urso@nmfn.com
Dede Short King (WI '94) KING4189@aol.com
Amber Bailey (RW '90) peoplerstranj@aol.com
Ed Propst (WI '74) egpropst@msn.com
Robert Fazzini (WI '58) papa-fuzzy@comcast.net

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS

Roberta Larson bertspals@nc.rr.com
Diana Calverley Haskell (WI '60) dianahaskell@mindspring.com
Ed Terneus (ND '57) edterneus@yahoo.com
Nina Meredith Chace (WI '60) was: Nina.Chace@fda.hhs.gov
is now: mynichace@comcast.net
Diana Cleavenger Swiger (WI '66) was: mamaswag6@aol.com
is now: dianaswiger@verizon.net




PARTY FOR COACH AL CASTELLANA
AUGUST 8, 2009

DON’T TELL COACH AS IT IS A SECRET



We are trying to have a dinner in honor of Coach Castellana on August 8th, at 6pm, at the Knights of Columbus in Clarksburg, WV at $10. per person.  Coach does not have a computer so we are trying to get word to all interested people via the internet.  This is going to be a surprise so don't let anyone tell him about it.  Only 200 seats are available. So please contact Coach Jim Reed at 304 622 7149, Coach Mark Clayton at 304 622 2463 or Coach Richard Iaquinta at 304 622 4813 at the earliest possible convince.  Any football, basketball, or track players or students interested in attending are most welcome.



CLASS OF 1959 HELD THEIR 50TH CLASS REUNION

We had a wonderful class reunion which was attended by 72 classmates and spouses. There were 171 in our graduation class and we have 26 classmates who have passed away. If you would like to see our 50th Class Reunion Picture Album, just click on the following:

WI CLASS OF 1959 50TH REUNION

Hope you enjoy this.
Thanks to Judy for putting this together for us.

NOTE FROM JUDY: Here is the group picture taken on Saturday night. I divided in into 4 parts so you can see our happy, smiling faces.


1st row l-r: Mike Nelson, Sandy Iaquinta, Clara Jason Davis
2nd row l-r: Dick Hanifan, Erma Loria Uhle, Kitty Hess, Jean Wells Himmel, Elizabeth Wilkinson Astin, Mike Fresa, Habie Snyder
3rd row l-r: Ray Allen, Gene Davis, Frank Iaquinta, Mickey McGowan, Bonnie Smith McGowan, Phil Hooper


1st row l-r: Sharyn Cottrill McGahan, Paula Brasseur Riley, Judy Aspy Payne, Ruth Ann Martin Hill, Carolyn Pinella Warne
2nd row l-r: Karen Conner Petrosino, Jane Stout Galvan, Harriett Stout Noel, Judy Daugherty Kimler, Sharon Orme Wilfong, Roleta Smith Meredith, Carolyn White Rector, Beth Twigg Devericks
3rd row l-r: Bernie Bice, Jerry Belt, Charlie Burkhammer, John Campbell, Jerry Warne, Larry Martino, Ronnie Werner, Wirt Wolfe, Jim Martin, David Dorvitt, John Christie


1st row l-r: Rosemary Grow Warne, Helen House Fleming, Bobbie Johnston Swisher
2nd row l-r: Phyllis Fittro Brown, Joy Gregorie Gilchrist-Stalnaker, Patty Terrill Stealey, John Stealey, Patty Pferdehirt Wagner
3rd row l-r: Jack Grimm, John Iaconis, Glen Cowgill, Rex Zickefoose


1st row l-r: Sallie Holden Day, Linda Johnston Binkelman, Marsha Woods Roper
2nd row l-r: Larry Ruland, Bob Davis, Leslie Babette Holland Sullivan, Mary Frances Hart Smith, Sandy Drummond Hefner
3rd row l-r: Dick McIntire, Fred Alvaro, Jay Sharp, Bob Rector, Mark Garrett



submitted by: Robin Newhouse (RW '65)
Wvrobin2002@yahoo.com

Hello WI Nation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Robin Newhouse here!  My daughter, Rebecca Newhouse Cheshire graduated from WI in 94.  My son, Brooks Newhouse's class would have graduated in 96 from WI but they opened RCB and he graduated from there, being RCB's 1st Valedictorian in 1996.

I was a parent volunteer, WI band booster, helping with all the WI band activities.

Last year, my wife, Lynn and I attended the WI Class of 1968 reunion as guests of Lynn Wiseman Lynch WI 68 and her husband Jeff Lynch RW 65.  I supplied the WI banner for their group picture.  Brian McIntyre WI 65.  Brian's birthday is the same as mine 7-07-1947.



submitted by: Darla D. Merrill Clark (WI '63)
darladclark@pcu.net

Just a note on the newsletter. You have I graduated in 58 from WI. It was 1963. I have that in the text of my letter which was printed. If you could change that I would appreciate it.

Thanks



submitted by: Amber Bailey (RW '90)
peoplerstranj@aol.com

Please add me to your newsletter. I am a graduate of R-W BUT most of the people I was friends with in High School went to WI, as did my Dad, Brad Bailey. My brother in law, best friend and boy friend are also W-I graduates. My son is now attending W-I. It sure felt funny the first time I put on that W-I Hilltopper’s shirt for Football! Haha.





submitted by: G. Diane Cork Sullivan (WI '52)
n1tdf@hotmail.com

I have had such an education about CKB, reading all your news letters. I have learned so much about the different parts of town. I must have lived a very sheltered life.



JIMY'S BARBER SHOP

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


Dear Roleta and Judy, I found an old picture of my dad and his uncle, who we called "Big Uncle." Big Uncle was part of the Demundo family. The picture is both of them standing in front of what we think is our uncle's barber shop. As you can see the sign on the window is JIMY'S BARBER SHOP. I know there was another barber shop with the name JIMMIE'S BARBER SHOP also in Glen Elk. We believe that was owned by an Oliverio. We would like to know if anyone from Glen Elk has any knowledge of Jimy's barber shop.



STREET CAR TRAVEL

submitted by: John C. (WI '51) to Freddie Layman
These 2 had been talking back and forth

Freddie: The street-cars seemed to always make it through the bad winter snows,etc..and hardly ever an accident, jumping the rails,etc..only if hitting a car that crossed against the streetcar at the wrong time on the tracks. I wondered at the fact there was hardly ANY accidents involving the streetcars. The same back in the 1940-1950s..the Trains....very few accidents. Perhaps best during the WW2 days when troops were being moved,etc.on the rails.

I would as a kid go to DC to spend summers with my sisters who worked there and they would travel home many weekends for a visit..never an accident or late arrival due to bad snow.etc..-my dad would be there at the depot in Glen Elk waiting for them to come in. Seems the rail-travel was very safe. They worked on the rails-tracks ... -and kept them safe with great work crews.

Loretta and I took a vacation, cross country trip on Amtrack 20-years ago, Pittsburgh to California, stopping off at LasVegas. Worked all day on the phone with an agent to get a private compartment reservation. It was worth it, one of the best vacations I ever taken! People said, "you'll get bored" ..but not one minute, watching the scenery go by was superb entertainment and at night the one-piece seamless rails gave out no "clickety-click" as the old rails did, sleeping was so easy, every now and then we would peep out the window to see if we were standing still..the train was the "Desert Sand". Amtrack doesn't  run it now. Too bad. it was great..! Amtrack was wonderful. We met fun people in the dining car with the free meals, the best was 2 airline pilots taking a mini trip by rail, "too really see the nation, not from away up in the sky".

Sorry Freddie, I got carried away with Rail Travel a little too much here..thanks again for the material!...(JC)



GEORGE JONES SINGS A SALUTE
TO THOSE WHO SERVED IN VIETNAM

http://home.comcast.net/~singingman7/TNOTW.htm



A QUILT

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

I have had that type of idea in mind (ever since the first one when Augie sent a WI sweater letter).

Wondering if enough people would send patches, T-shirts, etc from ANY of the Clarksburg/Bridgeport or surrounding high schools, or just other T-shirts, such as from the Italian Festival, Bridgeport Heritage Celebration, etc.

What do you think about throwing out that idea for 2011? or an extra one for 2010?

I have the fabric already for the Winter quilt.



SHARING NEIGHBORHOOD MEMORIES



You didn’t have to live there to share your memories of these neighborhoods. Maybe you visited someone in your family who lived there or a friend….tell us about any memories you have. Give the neighborhood a respectful salute. Make sure you mention the name of the section of Clarksburg in the letter that you write to me. I am unable to distinguish areas of Clarksburg by street names mentioned.

Last month in the newsletter I ask for people to write about the sections of Clarksburg that we knew as : Industrial, Kelly Hill and Montpeiler (aka Pinnicinick Hill ). I only received one response. Perhaps no one else lived there? No one else wanted to share their memories of these sections so there is only one memory for August. I miss reading about the neighborhoods.

For the September newsletter, I hope we get a big response to one or all of the following:

ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT STARTED WITH AN N:

NORTHVIEW
NIXON PLAZA
NORWOOD
NUTER FORT

Write to Roleta1@aol.com about any of or all of these 4 featured areas…

We have already featured the following but you can write about your neighborhood any time:

ADAMSTON
ANMOORE (FORMERLY GRASSELLI)
ARBUTUS PARK
ARLINGTON
BROAD OAKS
BROADWAY
BRUSHY FORK
CHESTNUT HILLS
COLONIAL HEIGHTS (aka THE HILL)
COUNTRY CLUB ADDITION
DAVISSON RUN
DESPARD/ SUMMIT PARK
DOWNTOWN / UPTOWN (this is a new section added to cover all those who lived in any other “TOWNY”)
EAST POINT
GLEN ELK
GLEN FALLS
GOFF PLAZA
HARTLAND
HEFLIN HEIGHTS
HIGHLAND PARK
INDUSTRIAL
KELLY HILL
MONTPELIER (AKA PINNICINICK HILL)

Write your memories to: Roleta1@aol.com. Just click on my address and you will be able to write about your neighborhood right now, before you forget. Once you close the newsletter you possibly will forget to do it! Write your friends, relatives and neighbors and ask them to join you in showing your respect to your area:

For September write about:

NORTHVIEW
NIXON PLAZA
NORWOOD
NUTTER FORT

Below are the neighborhoods that are still waiting to be saluted…So if your neighborhood is listed below, prepare and make sure you encourage others from your neighborhood to join you in paying respect to IT.

PARK PLAZA
POINT COMFORT
STEALEY
STONEWOOD
WEST END





MY MEMORIES OF MONTPELIER

submitted by: Judy Daugherty Kimler (WI '59)
jkimler@verizon.net



This is me and my grandma on the front porch steps

During WWII my father went to Detroit and worked at an airplane factory, Republic Aircraft. My mother and I lived with her parents on N Florence St in Montpelier. Our house was the first one you saw when you crossed the bridge...a big red brick on the left at the bottom of the hill. It was a huge house. A full basement, 2 stories and an attic. There was a coal furnace and I can still remember the coal being delivered and tumbling down the chute into the coal bin. Since I wasn't allowed to play outside very much in the winter, my grandfather put up a swing in the basement. I would swing so high I could kick the furnace vents. I really enjoyed that. Isn't it funny what we remember.

My grandfather had a garden across Ohio Av and I "helped" him pull weeds. I can still hear him when we got home, "Dagnabit, she pulled my plants up again". But the next day he always took me back to the garden with him.

Whenever it rained really hard the storm drains would back up and water would collect about a foot deep at the bottom of the hill. All the other kids would be playing in the dirty water but my germaphobic mother made me sit on the porch and watch.

In wintertime it was a great place to go sledding. The hill was steep and there was a long run-off at the bottom. Sometimes when my father would be home for the week-end we would sled together. That was a lot of fun.

I remember some of families in the area...the Fazzini's, Woofter's, Zigmont's. When I was 5 I had the chicken pox (a very mild case) I was supposed to be quarantined but was allowed to be on the front porch. I didn't like that at all and soon ventured out into the neighborhood, went up the street and into the Woofter's house. My mother was mortified. She took me back home and I was no longer allowed on the front porch.

There was a little grocery store on Ohio Av at the end of N Florence. A girl named Betty and her parents owned it. There was another grocery store over the bridge on Pike St. We went to both from time to time.

We walked to Minard's to eat when the weather was nice, I remember my first time going there. They got me a childs serving but it wasn't enough. I ended up eating mine and some from anyone else who would share. My mother said I shoveled it in with both hands. I don't remember that!!! I still love spaghetti.

We also walked to Pure Ice Cream in the summer. I loved their raspberry ripple. And nearby there was Dent's Drug Store where I got a big pretzel stick.

We lived there until my father returned from Detroit. I was 6 and about to start school. We moved to Birch St.



This is the back yard



GROWING UP IN GLEN ELK

submitted by: Ada Pinion Trupo (WI '44)
WVAgata@aol.com

My name is Ada Pinion Trupo. I would like to share some of the many fond holiday memories I have of growing up in the 30’s and 40’s. I grew up in the Glen Elk section of Clarksburg, where there were so many wonderful families. My father was a coal miner for 50 years and my mother a housewife. Both have passed away. I had so many dear friends that I grew up with, some are still here and some have passed.

Times were simpler back then. My mother and most of the women in those days did not have the modern conveniences we have today. They did not have dishwashers, washers & dryers, everything was line dried. We didn’t have television, we listened shows on the radio. We all walked to church (St. John’s Church) on Sunday. Stores were closed on Sundays back then. After church we would go home to a family meal, usually spaghetti and meatballs. Sunday afternoons are also when the children would go to the movies. At that time they were only 25 cents!

The Christmas season was beautiful. I can remember walking across the bridge into downtown Clarksburg to go Christmas shopping. Back then we walked everywhere, not many people had cars. The streets in Clarksburg would be crowded with people, beautiful store front windows, and Salvation Army volunteers ringing their kettles. I would always ask my mother for some change to drop in the bright red kettles. It felt so good to help other people. My mother was very hardworking, especially at the holiday time. Entering our home you could always smell the fresh baked pastries, bread and fish cooking. The Italian tradition of fish around the holidays was always celebrated at our home. The local grocery stores would carry many varieties of fresh fish, displaying them on ice. My mother also baked bread twice a week for us and other families she shared it with. My parents always made sure that my brothers, sister and I were surprised by presents under the tree Christmas morning. They would hide the gifts and tell us not to look in any boxes or bags. On Christmas morning we would find dolls, doll carriages, high chairs, red wagons, games, etc. Before we played with any new toys the whole family would go to mass. We all enjoyed singing Christmas carols and praying.

I am so thankful for all of the great memories I have of growing up in Glen Elk. The wonderful, caring parents I had and the friends I made and continue to share these memories with. I now have a beautiful family of my own to continue the traditions I remember so fondly. I have been married to my husband, Louis, for 62 years. I have three children (two sons & a daughter), 6 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and two on the way. We are so blessed. I am trying to keep some of the old customs for my family, but it will never be the same as the good old days!



WI CLASS OF 1944 65TH REUNION

Dear Classmates of Washington Irving High School, Class of 1944,

We have finalized our plans for the weekend of August 21-23, 2009 to have a glorious, very special 65th reunion, perhaps our last, and it will be done in style. We are holding it at the Bridgeport Conference Center just off of 1-79 on Rt 279. Take Exit 24 off 1-79, go east toward Bridgeport/Rt50. After about 1/4 mile turn left, and then again left to the Conference Center which is between the Microtel and Wingate Hotels. Check in with us at the Wingate hospitality room (Both hotels are new since 2004)

FRIDAY: Noon until 5 pm a Hospitality room is at our disposal in the new Wingate Hotel connected to the Conference Center by an indoor hallway. There will be snacks, and soft drinks. At 5 pm a social hour on the patio of the Center (cash bar) followed by a cookout at 6pm featuring Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Barbecue Chicken, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Vegetables, Corn on the cob, Baked Potatoes, Watermelon, Strawberry Shortcake and Granny Smith Appie Pie. Cost $31 per person (Includes tax/gratuity)

SATURDAY: Hospitality room at Wingate Hotel open all day to sit and visit, catch up. Snacks available. At 5pm social hour (cash bar) followed at 6pm with a scrumptious plated dinner serving tossed field greens, char-grilled filet of beef and pan scared salmon filet, seasonal vegetable saute, garlic/herb roasted new potatoes, fresh rolls, milk chocolate mousse in a dark chocolate shell with fresh seasonal berries and warm vanilla sauce. Cost $44 per person (includes tax/gratuity)

SUNDAY 9am - 11 am Breakfast with juices, assorted sweet and savory breads, toast, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, hickory smoked bacon or sausage patties, home fries, caramelized onions and bell peppers, butter, preserves, freshly brewed coffee. Cost $15 per person (includes tax/gratuity)

$90 per person covers all events

Questions?: call Melba Yates Harmer 304 592-1116, M.E. Shreve Woodward 304 842-6550, Ada Pinion Trupo 304 842-6313 , Bob Lefever 304 592-5340, or Jim LaRosa 304 677-6334



GRANDMOTHER THANKS YOU

submitted by: Marg Fahey Robey (ND '59)
NUNNA58@aim.com

Thank you for choosing Ronnie Fazzini for a scholarship. Ronnie is my grandson. I would like the address so I can contribute to this cause to help others. I received an email from Sandy Shalback. Sandy also grew up in the East End and now we are email buddies. She sent me a back issue about the East End and my cousin, Kristina Shaffer, was in the communion picture. Small world. Kris will be sending you a note about growing up in the West End.

Thanks for your hard work for keeping people up to date and in touch with one another.



PEPPERONI ROLLS ARE A BIG HIT OUT OF STATE

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=63138&email=1




WI CLASS OF 1954 TO HOLD REUNION

55TH CLASS REUNION

The 55th Reunion for the WI Class of 1954 will be held on August 28-29 at Philip's Banquet Hall in Glen Elk.  There will be an Informal Gathering on Friday evening at 6:30, and a Banquet on Sat. evening beginning at 6:30 with Social Hour and Class picture will be taken before the dinner at 7:00.  Folks coming that weekend can also attend the annual WI Picnic for all graduates at River Bend Park.  Cost for the reunion weekend is $60 per person and alumni can make reservations by calling Don Douglas at 304-622-8049 or email: diannedouglas@ma.rr.com.


This is the final notice for the 9th Annual WI Reunion Picnic in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The picnic is Saturday, August 29, 2009, at Veterans (River Bend) Park, off Milford St. You can also get to it via the Nutter Fort area by going over Rt 98. The time is 11AM until the last one goes home...whenever that is. The picnic is for anyone who ever attended WI. (YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A GRADUATE).

LET'S MAKE THIS A BIG WI REUNION DAY!
Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI 1959) is in charge of this picnic. She provides the table settings for you. You will need to bring a covered dish, your own drink, and money to put in the pot to help her cover her expenses. Some people bring a folding lawn chair. Don't forget your cameras!!! If anyone needs directions to Veterans Park they can e-mail Sharyn at mtmama41@msn.com

You do not have to make a reservation but she will need to know about how many to expect. It is nice to be surprised but it isn’t nice to be overcome with a large group of people and not have enough supplies. If you are going to attend please write Sharyn and tell her - mtmama41@msn.com. Also, let her know if you are willing to come early and help with the picnic --- cover tables, registration, tell people where to put their food, or stay and help clean up, etc.

If you live out of the area, you might want to make this picnic part of a week long vacation that would include the Italian Heritage Festival in Clarksburg on Labor Day weekend. If you don't have family in the area with which you can stay, you should make motel reservations now. There was a list of motels in June's newsletter.



REFLECTIONS

submitted by: Bill Adler (WI '54)
wjadler@cox.net@aol.com



Nick the Tailor ©

Nick fought in World War One for the Italian Army, on the Allies side. He lost a leg, above the knee, in battle and for the rest of his life walked on a wooden leg. What he lost in walking agility he made up with his tailoring skills. Nick was one heck of a tailor. He worked for my dad in the late 40’s and early 50’s at Adler’s Men’s Store on the corner of Pike and 3rd Streets, right next to the Hammot-Harper Restaurant.

I always admired Nick, not just for his skills, but for his caring attitude. From time to time it was difficult understanding what he was saying because of his Italian accent, but what I couldn’t understand verbally, I could understand from the look in his eyes. He was a very special human being. One of the greatest Nick stories occurred when dad took a suit, a customer unexpectedly returned, back to Nick’s bench, in the rear of the store, for him to examine. Nick had a keen eye for anything that seemed unusual.

This customer, who dad said was not a regular, came into the store a week earlier to purchase the suit. When dad asked what size he wore he replied it wasn’t for him but for his brother, who couldn’t come in. He quickly chose a nice suit in his brother’s size and took it, without even having the pants cuffed.

Dad thought this a bit strange but the customer, after paying for the suit, said he would bring it back to have it cuffed if his brother liked his choice.

A week later, the customer returned with the suit and asked for his money back. My father sensed something was not quite right. It was a bit wrinkled. Nick would have to at least press it before dad put it back on the rack. On a hunch, before refunding the man’s money, he took the suit back to Nick and asked him to look it over and press it. Before the inspection was complete, dad returned to the customer to see if he might want to purchase something else with his pending refund. He didn’t.

A few minutes later father heard Nick walking toward the front of the store. Nick could never sneak up on you because with every other step, his wooden leg would emit a loud click! The metal knee joint was designed to stop at a certain angle, preventing it from folding up under him. When his knee reached that point, it clicked. Dad turned to see Nick beckoning him to come back to his bench.

“Mr. Adler, “he said, “Please smell the pants!”

Dad sniffed and smelled what appeared to be the faint scent of embalming fluid. Then a light went on. He remembered seeing an obituary that this customer’s father had recently died. The suit wasn’t for his brother. It was for his father! Because the customer’s father didn’t have a nice suit in which to be buried, his son got a loaner suit, or so he thought, from Adler’s. After the service, but before the burial the suit was removed from the corpse and returned for a refund.

Because of Nick’s sharp nose, not only did the man not get his refund, Nick refused to cuff the pants.





THANK YOU
FRIEND FOUND THROUGH THE NEWSLETTER

In the July newsletter Denise Jones was looking for her mother’s (Gayle Jones Wolfe) high school friend. Bryan McIntyre provided Denise with an email address for the friend.

Another successful connection! If you have lost contact with someone, write to us and perhaps one of our readers will recognize the name of the person you are searching for and will respond. Write Roleta1@aol.com



LOOKING FOR AN OLD HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND

submitted by: Sharon Sponaugle Hammond (WI '57)
Sponaugle62@aol.com

One person I have not seen or heard from since high school is Sandra Spencer (WI - 57). She was one of my best friends and I would really like to know what happened to her. Sandy was in the band and a bit of a loner like me. Can anyone help me out?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Please contact Sharon at the above email address. And Sharon, I hope you will share your success with us.


A LETTER TO READ

Another great newsletter from you and Judy, Thanks so much for all that you do for all of us. I hope all the people who enjoy the news letter will get busy and send a little money every month to support the scholarship fund. I think that is the least we can do for you and Judy. We may not have our old high school name but we are all die hard Clarksburg people and hope the tradition continues long after we are gone.

Thanks again,
Bud Collins WI 1955



HARTLAND MEMORIES

submitted by: Charles Ferrell (WI '46) Retired US NRC nuclear engineer
eagle1928@starpower.net

I enjoyed reading about Hartland from some of the younger WI students. I graduated in 1946 and lived on Hartland Ave until drafted for the Korean Conflict in 1950 along with five other WI graduates. I grew up with Tom Wilson, Dick Albright, Rusty Sloan and Jack Longacre. I once took a trip in the scout canoe at Zeb Wesfall’s and got my haircuts from Oscar Helmic’s barber shop next to the street car line.

This reminds me of a Halloween prank that some of their local boys played on the street car as it passed under the bridge on Hartland Ave. They tied a rope across the path of the trolley to shut off the lights and power and then placed a stack of corn stalks in front of the rails. The car hit the corn stalks without lights but it was not damaged. I am not sure of the condition of the operator's pants.

On the Stealey playground baseball field sometimes the ball would go a long distance and end up in a yard across the road which was guarded by a mean bull dog. This resulted in a lost ball. The residents would not let the players retrieve it. One Haloween night the team decided to get a tom cat's revenge. One brave sole knocked on their door and tossed the panther size black cat into the living room. This was followed by loud screams, cussing, etc as the cat chased by the dog brought down the curtains, lamps and other items. The next season the players had no trouble in returning their few hard driven balls.

Stealey and Hartland was a good place to grow up in. We had excellent neighbors and a lot of us attended the Stealey Heights Methodist Church. If anyone is interested a summary of my 81 years service may be found in Marquis Who's Who in America.



CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MAYOR OF CLARKSBURG


Mary Ann Heflin Bailey (WI '62) mabailey44@aol.com, has been named the Mayor of Clarksburg. She is the second woman to ever hold the seat of Mayor of the County seat of Harrison County.



A STATE BORN OUT OF THE CIVIL WAR

In a strange way, West Virginia owes a debt of gratitude to the Civil War. The Mountain State, along with Nevada, is one of the only two states formed during the war, and West Virginia is the only one to form by seceding from a Confederate state.

Even before the Civil War, there was already lots of conflict between eastern and western Virginia. Western Virginians, where the population was largely rural and working class believed the eastern part of the state had an unfair representation advantage in state government.

The crack broke wide open on April 17, 1861, when a convention of Virginians voted to submit a secession bill to the people. Led by John S. Carlile, a lawyer from Clarksburg, a group of western Virginians walked out of the Secession Convention, vowing to form a state government loyal to the Union.

All parties got together for a series of their own conventions in Wheeling. They first formed the Restored, or Reorganized, Government of Virginia and Oct. 24, 1861, residents of 39 counties in western Virginia approved the formation of a new state.

From there, the issue went to Congress, where it turned a little complicated. The Constitution says a new state must gain approval from the original state. Well, Virginia wasn’t really in a giving mood.

Here’s where a little Constitutional rationalization comes into play: Because the Restored, or Reorganized, Government of Virginia was considered the legal government of Virginia, it granted permission to itself to form the state of West Virginia.

On June 20, 1863 the state of West Virginia was officially created.

Taken from “West Virginia 2009 Official State Travel Guide”, pg. 59 of the 2009 issue www.WVTourism.com 1-800 CALL WVA



EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to the great number of obituaries that we are receiving, I am now having to cut the obits to include just the most vital information that might help you recognize the person.

CAROLYN SUE SAUERWEIN
Carolyn Sue Sauerwein, 40, (WI 1987) of Philippi, has gone home to be with the Lord.

She was born November 23, 1968, in Clarksburg, the daughter of Karl P. Sauerwein, who survives in Bridgeport and the late Carolyn Reynolds Sauerwein, who passed away in 1977.

In addition to her father, she is survived by three brothers, Karl P. Sauerwein II, of Lutz, Florida, William Brandon Sauerwein of Elkins and Christopher R. Sauerwein of Belington and several other family members.

Carolyn attended Clarksburg schools and graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1987. She was a graduate of West Virginia University College of Economics and Business with a degree in business administration and finance. While in college she was a member of Beta Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Sorority. She was previously employed at Bank One in Charleston and Stone and Thomas in Clarksburg.



ELIZABETH ANN MINUTELLI BONASSO

Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Bonasso, age 83, of 256 Clay Street, Clarksburg, July 2, 2009, at the United Hospital Center. She was born in Clarksburg, WV, May 20, 1926, a daughter of the late Vito Minutelli and Emma Pezzullo Minutelli.

Surviving are her husband of sixty years, Russell L. Bonasso, whom she married January 2, 1949; a son, Michael L. Bonasso and his wife, Patricia Sadar Bonasso, of Cleveland, OH And several other family members.



NANCY ANDRE HATTON

Nancy Andre Hatton passed away on June 3, 2009.  Born on August 14, 1934 in Clarksburg, WV to Oscar and Ruby Andre. 

She is survived by her siblings, M. Elise Andre of Berea, Kentucky and David J. Andre of Kansas City, Missouri.  Also her children, Marcia Aline Curtis and Christopher Andre Jones of Colorado Springs, and several grandchildren.   

She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Kathleen Ann Jones.  

After graduation from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg, WV, she attended Goucher College in Towson MD.  She married Oakah L. Jones in 1953 and was a devoted wife and mother to her three children, Marcia, Kathy & Chris.  She lived aboard her sailboat in Florida with her second husband, E. Lynn Baker.  She moved to Virginia to help her aging parents, where she met and married her late husband, Daniel Hatton.



PETRY SINZINGER ELECTRA JEAN LOCHART PETRY

WORTHINGTON, Ohio — Petry (Sinzinger) Electa Jean Lockhart Petry (Victory HS) passed away on July 12, 2009.

In John, chapter 14, verse 6, Jesus said, “I am the Way the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” She joins her parents, Albert and Texie (Snyder) Lockhart; her brother, William Franklin Lockhart; and her baby sister, Dorothy Ann Lockhart.

Jean was born August 18, 1922, raised in Clarksburg, W.Va., where she graduated from Victory High School, and later attended Philadelphia School of the Bible.

She is survived by her children, Jeanetta and William Sinzinger and I. Edward and Martha Petry; and several grandchildren.



JOSEPHINE CLEAVENGER-ELWART

Josephine (Jo) Cleavenger-Elwart (RW 1949) passed away on July 16, 200. She was born on January 13, 1932, in Clarksburg, W.Va., a daughter of the late Joe and Josephine Delapa.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, William “Bill” Cleavenger, in 1982 after 29 years of marriage. She is currently survived by husband, Jim Elwart; son, Gill (Sheila) of Toledo, Bryan (Bonny) of Temperance, MI; daughter, Brenda Phillips (Jason Barber) of Toledo; sisters, Marie Golden of Florida, Jeannie Fernandez of Florida, Paula (Tony) Julian of Ohio, Anne Pinti of W.Va.; brothers, James (Judy) Delapa of Michigan, John (Kaye) Delapa of Las Vegas and brother-in-law Jack Swiger, W.Va.; 6 grandchildren.



ROSEMARY WILLIAMS

Rosemary Williams was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on January 30, 1923. She spent the early years of her life in Clarksburg, WV, graduating from St. Mary’s High School in 1941. She moved to Phoenix, Ariz., in 1954 and then on to Sacramento in 1959, where she made her home until she died July 6, 2009.

Survived by her children, Jack (Donna) Williams of Sacramento, Patty (Don) Gonzalez of Clarksburg, Michael (Maureen) Williams of Phoenix, Ariz., Chuck (Katie) Durrett Jr. of Nevada City, Calif., Diane (Mike) Durrett of Eugene, Ore., and Carl (Margo) Durrett of Sacramento; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.



BARBARA ANN HARRIS

Barbara Ann Harris, 73, (VHS '53) of Bridgeport, WV, passed away July 16, 2009. She was preceded in death by her father Clifford J. Harris, and sister, Winnalee Sprout.

She was born in Clarksburg, WV, on November 9, 1935, to the late Ernest E. and MilWanda Lantz.

She is survived by four children, daughters, Terry Jo and Bill Kelley, Tammy Le and Rick Carson, Kelly Lyn and Frank Klepadlo, and one son, Clifford Aaron and Vanessa Harris. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren.



DAVID PAUL ASH

David Paul Ash, age 58 (VHS '69) passed away on July 16, 2009. He was born in Clarksburg, WV, May 22, 1951, a son of Bernard P. Ash of Bridgeport, WV, and the late Shirley S. Frum Ash.

Surviving are: his loving wife of 38 years, Diana L. Hyatt Ash; two sons and daughters-in-law,and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Joseph E. Helms, Clarksburg, WV, and Charles W. Helms, Bridgeport, WV; a sister and brother-in-law, Robin D. and Richard Jones, of NC



HAZEL S. PAYNE

Mrs. Hazel S. Payne, 81 years of age, (RW 1946) died on July 4, 2009. She was born May 22, 1928, in Clarksburg, WV, the daughter of the late James P. and Gail Thrash Bryan.

Mrs. Payne is survived by her husband, Ray M. Payne. They were married on January 8, 1949, and had celebrated 60 years of marriage. She is also survived by a son, Donald R. Payne and his wife Laura of N. Scituate, R.I. and three grandchildren.

Mrs. Payne retired from C&P Telephone as the business office manager. She was a lifetime member of the Telephone Poineers.



RUBY G. ALLEN CLEM

Ruby G. Allen Clem, 87, (RW 1939) of Clarksburg, passed away June 23, 2009. She was born in Gilmer County on September 16, 1921, a daughter of the late Walter Lee and Laura M. Messenger Allen.

She was married to John A. Clem, who preceded her in death. Surviving are two daughters, Nancy J. Rexroad and her husband Charles, Moundsville, and Rebecca Lee Allen and her husband John, Ironton, OH; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Ruth Mills, Nutter Fort.

She was also preceded in death by four brothers, Luther Allen, Roy Allen, Lloyd Glen Allen and Walter Allen Jr.; and one sister, Wanda M. Allen.



JAMES DALE TALKINGTON



Our family's beloved "JT" went to Heaven on the morning of July 19, 2009.  He is predeceased in death by his parents.  Wilford and Frances Talkington, and his brother, Barry, and sister, Elaine.  He is survived by his cherished wife of 38 years, Anne; and his loyal and faithful lab, Sadie; his brothers, Ronnie, and wife, Courtney of St. Albans, WV. JT was born and raised in Clarksburg, WV.  After graduation, he joined the United Sates Marine Corps and served in Vietnam and Guantanamo Bay.  After being Honorably discharged as a Staff Seargent, JT attended WVU and then graduated from George Mason University with a BS in Business Administration.  He and his wife, Anne, moved to Woodbridge, VA in 1971.  He has been a Real Estate Broker since 1994. 





GLADYS LOUISE MAZE HUFFMAN

BRIDGEPORT — Gladys Louise Maze Huffman, 75, (RW 1952) of East View passed away July 19, 2009. She was born January 21, 1934, in Clarksburg, a daughter of the late Floyd Sylvester Maze and Marie Sue Ocheltree Maze.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Theodore Eugene Huffman, whom she married on March 29, 1952. She is also survived by two sons, Robert E. Huffman and his wife Joanna and Allen C. Huffman and his wife Michael Ann, all of Salem.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Ray Maze, and one sister, Mary Currence.



“HODGE” HARTJE HARRY REBROOK, JR.

“Hodge” Hartje Harry Rebrook, Jr., age 79, (VHS '48) of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on July 18, 2009. He was born on February 20, 1930, in Clarksburg, a son of the late Hartje Harry Rebrook and Sarah Edna Elswick Rebrook.

Having never been married, he is survived by one niece, Terry Denise Rebrook Gibson and husband, Steve of Herndon, VA. “Hodge” was preceded in death by one brother, Charles Jack Rebrook, in 1974.

He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a 40-year member of Roy E. Parrish Post No. 13, American Legion, Clarksburg, W.Va., and an active member of Meuse Argone Post No. 573, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Clarksburg. He had been employed as a glass cutter for 26 years at PPG Industries, as well as Hazel Atlas Glass and Eagle Convex Glass.



JAMES JOSEPH SMITH

James Joseph Smith, age 81, of Jupiter, FL, passed away on July 16, 2009.

Mr. Smith graduated from Washington Irving High School, Clarksburg, W.Va., in 1946, Potomac State College, Keyser, W.Va., and was a graduate of the University of Florida and Mississippi School of Law in Jackson, MS.

He was the son of the late Captain Joseph D. Smith and Alice Mary Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Smith; son, Mark Joseph (Kim) Smith of Jupiter, FL; daughter Jodee (James) McIver of Tampa, FL.



ADRANETTA ERVIN WEIMER

Mrs. Adranetta Ervin Weimer, age 90 (RW ) of Blacksburg, VA, July 18, 2009. She was born in Nutter Fort, W.Va., on February 5, 1919, a daughter of James Henry Middleton Ervin and Etta Belle Bruffey Ervin.

Her husband, Kenneth Francis Weimer, whom she married on January 29, 1947, preceded her in death. Surviving are a daughter, Mary Ann Weimer Lentz Poole and husband, Thomas Allen Poole, of Blacksburg, VA; four brothers, Kenneth Francis Weimer II and wife, Betty, Richmond, VA, William Milton Weimer and wife, Kathie, Mechanicsville, VA, John Middleton Weimer, Capon Springs, W.Va., Michael Warren Weimer and wife, Deborah, Winchester, Va; two sisters, Bonnie Belle Hawkins and Merceline Allen Stevens, both of Nutter Fort, W.Va..

Mrs. Weimer was also preceded in death by a brother, Patrick B. Ervin, and five sisters, Eula Regal Ervin Conrad, Ruth Margaret Ervin McClung, Clalie Esther Ervin Watkins, Ressie Hester Ervin and Mary Frances Ervin.



TWYLA “COOKIE” QUEEN MAXWELL

Twyla “Cookie” Queen Maxwell of Warrington, PA, and McKinney, TX, passed away Sunday, July 19, 2009. She was 68 years old.

Twyla was the beloved wife of Edward I. Maxwell. She will be sadly missed by her daughter, Michelle Kay Vatteroni and son, Mark Edward Maxwell, son-in-law Jim Vatteroni and daughter-in-law Jill Maxwell.





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