THE WI NEWSLETTER 02/14


THE WI NEWSLETTER


Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith Issue 174 February 2014






FINAL NOTICE

This is your last notice. This is your last chance. If you don’t act now, you will miss out on a wonderful opportunity!

What?     WHAT?     What?     WHAT?     What?

THE CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC

To be held on March 8, 2014
From 10:30 until about 4:00 or 5:00.
Location is Twin Lakes Park
Sarasota, Florida

Bring a covered dish to place on the food table to share

Bring your own drink and some money to put in the pot to help cover the costs.

Notify Roleta1@aol.com the names of those attending in your group.
I have to have a count as I supply the WV hot dogs and the table service, etc.

ANY QUESTIONS? CONTACT ME, PLEASE

ACT TODAY, DO NOT DELAY

DON’T LET THIS DATE GO BY

LIFE IS SO FRAGILE, WE MAY NEVER HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO BE TOGETHER



WANT TO TRY TO WIN THE 2014 QUILT?

YOU HAVE LESS THAN 30 DAYS!!!!

YOU MUST GET YOUR CHECK IN THE MAIL TODAY

THE DRAWING WILL BE MARCH 8, 2014

ALMOST HEAVEN~WEST VIRGINIA

submitted by: Sue Selby Moats

Almost Heaven—West Virginia is the name of the 2014 WIN Scholarship quilt. The WIN quilters have created another outstanding quilt for this year to raise money for the WIN Scholarship fund. The focus fabric in each block is a Hoffman of California batik fabric with the state of West Virginia outlined in it. This was the featured fabric in the West Virginia Mountain Quest Shop Hop a few years ago.


Each WIN quilter was sent a packet of fabrics and asked to make a star block of their choice. Participants this year are:

Row 1: Pam Wolfe Brown, Mary Virginia Duncan Wilke, Joyce Royse and Barb Charles
Row 2: Mary Ann Hite Williams, Mary Sue Clark Spahr, Mary Nophsker and Lin Stricker
Row 3: Kitty Sager, Elaine Nortemann, Kitty Sager and Sherry Keith
Row 4: Mary Hulick, Carolyn Layfield Cady, Gig Selby Meredith and Mary Liz Custer Carder.

One lucky ticket holder will win this beautiful quilt to use as a bed topper, wall hanging or a sofa throw. Not your color scheme-then it’s a good excuse to have to re-decorate! The drawing will be at the Clarksburg Picnic in Sarasota FL March 8, 2014. …….Sue

HERE IS HOW YOU GET YOUR LUCKY TICKET

submitted by: Roleta
Roleta1@aol.com

Send your check today to help the WIN Scholarship fund and receive your tickets for the quilt drawing. For $5.00 I will designate 6 tickets to your name, for $10.00 you will receive 12 tickets and then you can figure it out from there. All the way to $100.00 where you get 114 tickets put in the drawing in your name. And it you want to send anything higher, you do the math or I have it all worked out and can manage tickets for you no matter how much you send.

Make out checks to:
Roleta Meredith c/o WIN SCHOLARSHIP

MAIL TO:
Roleta Meredith
3201 Charles MacDonald Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34240
HURRY DO IT TODAY!
DON’T FORGET!




THE WI HISTORY
PLEASE READ
VERY IMPORTANT

submitted by: Tim Cork

I appreciated all the information and articles sent to me for the 100 year WI celebration project.
However, I want to make certain that NO INFORMATION has been taken from
Carolyn Reynolds Burnside's book "Hail, Washington Irving! Eighty-One Years on the Hill"
without giving her credit. This would be a copyright infringement.

Thanks for your cooperation….Tim






Do you know who this is and what made him so special?


Do you know how many years Orie McConkey taught at Washington Irving High School?






WI HISTORY COMMENTS

submitted by: Harriett Stout Noel (WI '59)

It was sheer pleasure to scroll down through the terrific articles from so many of my classmates from WI while reading the January 2014 Newsletter. What fun it was to read each person's remembrances of such good years and youthful times. Although I was only in Clarksburg for the last three years of high school, I loved the teachers, friends and school in general and I visited my grandparents there often over the years so I did not feel like a complete stranger when we moved there. Of course, don't remind me of any math classes at WI......I still have nightmares about making any sense of an Algebra problem!

Thank you, Tim, for your meticulous research into those early photos of teachers and classes of 1929, etc. I was thrilled to see pictures of my uncle, Malden Stout, my father, Lee Stout and my mother, Jean Sturm. I look forward to more great articles to come that will thrill others like myself. I just realized that a Jim Furbee was in one of those years and I am wondering if that was Holly Furbee's father! They may have all been "pals"! It was fun to see so many of the last names in those few years you featured that matched the last names of kids I was in WI with and I am sure it was their parents going to school with mine. Crazy!

I so enjoyed the whole newsletter and equally appreciate the effort it takes to get it done.
Thank You Everyone!



submitted by: Charles Ferrell (WI '46)

Retired nuclear and health physicist US NRC/AEC, DOD and US Army Chemical Corp

Thanks for the information on the WI history presented by Tim Cork. I just checked out the first addition and found a picture of my mother Ethelyn Selby in the 1923 photos of teachers at WI. I had never seen this photo before. She taught later at Victory and RW high schools during WWII.

Two other teachers shown at that time were Maud Yoak and J E Gudekunst who I had in the 1940s. Mr.Gudekunst and Mr. Duckworth were my best teachers at WI and inspired me to major in math and physics at Salem College and later graduate studies at Vanderbilt, WVU, UMD and MIT.



submitted by: Bob Modlin (WI '50) and Jill Garvin Modlin (WI '52)
robertmodlin@hotmail.com

We are enjoying the Newsletter so much. Many thanks to you for doing it all and to Tim Cork for his great history. Get well wishes to Bill too. Hello to John Cooper who brings back many memories for us.



DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED

DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED

WI CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

After much thought and consideration, the WI Centennial Committee has decided to move the WI Centennial Celebration to August 23, 2014 at the VA Park. The Centennial Celebration and the WI Reunion Picnic will be combined on this date.

This location will provide more parking spaces, bathroom facilities and room for all activities.

More information will be forthcoming. Watch the upcoming newsletters.

Any comments or questions, please write to Roleta1@aol.com and I will get your letter to the correct person. Thank you




MAYBE YOU HAVE READ THIS BEFORE

BUT WITH THE WINTER WEST VIRGINIA HAS HAD

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD READ FOR THE NEWSLETTER

Dear Diary: Aug. 12 - Moved into our new home in West by God Virginia. It is so beautiful here. The hills and river valleys are so picturesque. I have a beautiful old oak tree in my front yard. I can hardly wait to see the change in the seasons. This is truly God's Country.

Oct. 14 – West Virginia is such a gorgeous place to live, one of the real special places on Earth. The leaves are turning a multitude of different colors. I love all of the shades of reds, oranges and yellows, they are so bright. I want to walk through all of the beautiful hills and spot some white tail deer. They are so graceful, certainly they must be the most peaceful creatures on Earth. This must be paradise.

Nov. 11 Deer season opens this week. I can't imagine why anyone would want to shoot these elegant animals. They are the very symbol of peace and tranquility here in W.V.. I hope it snows soon. I love it here!

Dec. 2- It snowed last night. I woke to the usual wonderful sight: everything covered in a beautiful blanket of white. The oak tree is magnificent. It looks like a postcard. We went out and swept the snow from the steps and driveway. The air is so crisp, clean and refreshing. We had a snowball fight. I won, and the snowplow came down the street. He must have gotten too close to the driveway because we had to go out and shovel the end of the driveway again. What a beautiful place. Nature in harmony. I love it here!

Dec. 12 - More snow last night. I love it! The plow did his cute little trick again. What a rascal. A winter wonderland! I love it here!

Dec.19 - More snow-couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work in time. I'm exhausted from all of the shoveling. And that snowplow!

Dec. 21 - More of that white stuff coming down. I've got blisters on my hands and a kink in my back. I think that the snowplow driver waits around the corner until I'm done shoveling the driveway. IDIOT!

Dec. 25 - White Christmas? More freakin' snow. If I ever get my hands on the son of a gun who drives that snowplow, I swear I'll hurt him. And why don't they use more salt on these roads to melt this crap?? IDIOTS!

Dec. 28 - Snow hasn't stopped since Christmas. I haven’t been anyplace since then, except of course when that son of a gun, "Snowplow Harry", comes by. Can't go anywhere, cars are buried up to the windows. Weather man says to expect another 10 inches. Do you have any idea how many shovelfuls 10 inches is??

Jan. 1 - Happy New Year? The way it's coming down it won't melt until the 4th of July! The snowplow got stuck down the road and the idiot driver actually had the guts to come and ask to borrow a shovel! I told him I'd broken 6 already this season.

Jan. 4 -Finally I got out of the house. We went to the store to get some food and a darn deer ran out in front of my car and I hit the “ANIMAL”. It did $3,000 in damage to the car. Those beasts ought to be killed. The hunters should have a longer season if you ask me.

Jan. 27 - Warmed up a little and rained today. The rain turned the snow into ice and the weight of it broke the main limb of the oak tree in the front yard and it went through the roof. I should have cut that old piece of wood into fireplace wood when I had the chance.

May 23 - Took my car to the local garage. Would you believe the whole underside of the car is rusted away from all of that darn salt they dump on the roads? Car looks like a bashed up, heap of rusted cow manure.

May 10 - Sold the car, the house, and moved to Florida . I can't imagine why anyone in their freakin' mind would ever want to live in the God forsaken State of West Virginia.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Hope you enjoyed it and if you didn’t like it, I am sorry, it is just a joke!



SOME HISTORY CONCERNING THE WEST END FEED STORE

submitted by: Bill Randolph

Roleta, My name is Bill Randolph. Your newsletter was forwarded to me by Nancy Tonkin. The Tonkins were childhood friends. I moved from Clarksburg in 1954. I can give you some further update on the West End Feed Store picture. My grandfather was Clete Randolph , originally from Salem. My grandmother was Hattie Snider Randolph. I do not know if the Sniders in the picture are relatives or not. My father, M. Forest Randolph, was a 1936 (?) WI grad. My Uncle, Robert C. Randolph was also a WI grad (‘30-‘31, maybe).

The feed store in the West End was one of five that my father and grandfather eventually owned in Clarksburg, Bridgeport, Lost Creek, Shinnston, and Salem. We lived in Stealey from 1948-1954. I remember hanging out with my Dad at the store in the early 50’s. In mid 1954, the businesses were sold to Ralston/Purina and our family moved to Pittsburgh. The Tonkins and the Randolphs stayed in touch through the mid 60’s. In the last three years, I have reconnected with Nancy, John and Tim Tonkin.

I have been involved in business in Clarksburg over that last few years . I was amazed that the feed store building is still there. In addition, my grandparents home on Main St. is still standing. It was built in the 30’s and it is now a flower shop. I would like to be on your e-mail list, if I may. I know that I am not a WI grad, but I hope that my family connections may qualify me. I value my Clarksburg roots. Thanks for your consideration and Happy New Year!

P.S. This is one fabulous newsletter!

EDITOR’S NOTE: Thank you Bill Randolph. And for the readers, I ask Bill the usual questions, what school and what year did you graduate because I need to categorize people for my files and I know you readers like to know if he is someone you knew…

Well, here it is:

FROM Bill Randolph: The answers to your questions: I did not attend Morgan. My older brother John did from ‘51 to 53’ along with Tim Tonkin. Our family attended the Episcopal Church on Main St. My grandparents and aunt attended the Baptist Church just a block north(?) of the Episcopal Church.



submitted by: Bill Strickler (WI '53)

I cannot believe that I missed the mystery picture last month. I was sure it was the Clarksburg Ice Company at the foot of Locust Avenue. The two buildings were only a few hundred yards apart but were definitely different buildings.

The reason I am embarrassed that I missed this mystery picture is because that was my "home territory" during junior and early high school years. To top it all off, I worked at this Checkerboard store as a senior in high school. I unloaded, loaded and moved tons of 100-pound bags of feed from railroad cars to warehouse to trucks by hand in that very building for nearly a year. I simply had tunnel vision on that one.

Of all people, I should have gotten that one. My bad!



submitted by: Bud Wheelock (WI '60)

BTW in regard to the West End Feed Store picture. I lived with my parents on Glendale Avenue on the hill right above the railroad track up aways from the feed store. I don't remember the year but it was around 1960? That it caught on fire.

My parents woke me up in the middle of the night as there was smoke everywhere. Railroad ties caught on fire as well as the building itself. The firefighters had a terrible time since they could not get an engine on our dead end street. Their efforts to quell the flames by shooting water across the river from Park Boulevard were unrewarded.

It seemed like there were a lot of fires in Clarksburg in those days. I well remember Wilson Ford on Pike Street near the old liquor store that was totaled. From our front porch you could see flames shooting up a good thirty feed.

Much later of course there was the big fire that consumed much of the Anchor Hocking Glass warehouse (used only to store newsprint?). We could see it from our house on the hill in Stealey.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Okay I need an explanation here….is that building still standing?



NORWALK MOTOR CAR COMPANY

submitted by: Charlie McClung

Faced with financial troubles in Norwalk, Ohio in early 1911 a group of local Martinsburg, WV investors bought out the Norwalk Motor Car Company and its remaining automobiles and parts.

See pictures and more history here:

http://american-automobiles.com/Norwalk.html




We are all very proud of the fact that the coach of the Division 1 national championship college football team for the 2013 season is a native son of West Virginia. Jimbo Fisher is from Harrison County and the win by his Florida State Seminoles in the BCS game increases the total of championships won by West Virginia born coaches to eighteen and counting. Below is a film clip about Jimbo and where he called home. For those of you who haven't seen it and those who want to see it again, enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bdTaB-we-Q&sns=em




To Bill;

I know two out of the three remaining players on the Tiremen's basketball team. They were both from Salem College and local guys, Bennie Swiger and Paul Carter. These guys were both from Northview, the home of Jimbo Fisher. Maybe someone else can come up with the last one.
Hope this helps

Dave “Tuffy” Knight, Victory H S 1954

Reply To Dave:

Thanks for the information. I wish Fred Layman were still around. I have no doubt that he could have probably provided us with a team roster and newspaper clippings, recapping some of their games. I have begun saving various items, like game programs, ticket stubs, newspapers articles about special events, etc. hoping that they will be of interest to my children, grandchildren or great grandchildren someday. I only wish I had started earlier.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



INTERESTING FOOTBALL FACTS:

Thanks to Pat Elder, NDHS 1957, for sending the following to me. He suggested that I ask the readers to answer questions about this football trivia, but I realized that the average person would have to search the Internet for the answers, so let's just enjoy them and consider them as you watch the Super Bowl.

1. The huddle used in football was created by a deaf quarterback, Paul D. Hubbard, so the other team could not read his hand signals.

2. The total play time in a football game averages 11--minutes.

3. Football evolved in medieval Europe from "mob football." There were an unlimited number of players and you had to get the ball to the center of town any way you could, as long as it did not lead to manslaughter.

4. Since the American Professional Football Association became the National Football League in 1922, the Chicago Bears are the only team not to change its name or city.

5. Every single NFL football is made in a Wilson factory in the village of Ada, Ohio, whose population is approximately 6,000.

6. The highest score in football ever, occurred in 1916, when Georgia Tech beat Cumberland, 222--0.

7, The Baltimore Ravens are named after Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem "The Raven", not the actual bird.

8. It takes 600 cows to make enough footballs for one NFL season.

9. The Dallas Cowboys haven't played in Dallas since 1971. Their stadium is located in Arlington, Texas.

10.The St. Louis Rams were the first NFL team to use their logo on their helmet.

11. The Green Bay Packers are a publicly owned corporation. They are the only team in the NFL to have this status.

12. President Theodore Roosevelt radically changed American football rules, when he introduced the forward pass in 1906.

13. Dr. James Naismith introduced helmets to football, but he is better known as the inventor of basketball.

14. Former Minnesota Vikings kicker, Fred Cox, invented the Nerf football in 1972. He still receives royalties for every unit sold.

15. The NFL requires that all stadiums be built facing north/south so the sun never interferes with a play.

16. The average life expectancy of an NFL player is 55--years.

17. The NFL averages 290 million viewers. That's 4X the population of the United Kingdom.

Remember these facts and you will know much more than the average NFL fan. Incidentally, I really don't care who wins the Super Bowl. I'm just glad WVU's Bruce Irvin gets a chance to play in the game. However, I do wonder why it is being played in New Jersey. Remember the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium? Enough said !!!

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



To Bill:

WVU used to always have an intra squad football game in Clarksburg every summer. Gene Simmons would put on a drop kicking exhibition after the game. I was inspired and learned to drop kick a basketball into the hoop. I have earned 10 grand on national TV with my kicks, all thanks to Gene, who was from Elkins, WV.

Cotton and Jimmy Walthall were both WVU quarterbacks.

When Jerry West and later, Rod Thorn, came to DC to play George Washington, Uline Arena was packed with WVU fans. GW had twin brothers who were feisty guards. We usually lost to them and it hurt, because we really wanted to beat them.

In the last football game I saw in Morgantown, WVU had Freddie Wyant, who was a good pitchout quarterback. Unfortunately, we lost to South Carolina that day. Later, Georgia Tech killed us in the Sugar Bowl. Sam Huff and Carl "Stormin' " Norman also played on that team.

Thanks for your in depth information in the last issue.

Jim Callis, Greenbrier Military School 1953

Reply To Jim:

I remember Gene Simmons very well. All of the youngsters in my hometown tried to drop kick a football just like he did. None of us were very successful. He may have been the last major college drop kick specialist to kick in a game.

I also remember Jimmy Walthall, but not Cotton. Most people don't know that Jimmy was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Game after the 1944 season as a freshman, where he served as a back-up to Ohio State All-American Les Horvath. He then left school to join the military, before returning in 1947.

George Washington had some fine teams back in the day. I especially remember a big guy named Joe Holup, who played in the early 50's, who gave WVU fits. I really didn't like him because he did so well against my Mountaineers. Ironically, in 1988, we bought a condominium on Siesta Key in Sarasota, FL. and Joe Holup was one of our neighbors. Small world.

That 1953 WVU football team was probably the most talented group at the school until a couple of Rich Rod's teams came along.

Thanks for the letter. You always spark good memories of the good old days in West Virginia.

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



LOOKING FOR ANSWERS:

Throughout this long college basketball season, many people, including me, have been trying to determine what was missing from this WVU team. They used to say, "You either have "IT" or you don't". The Mountaineers have been close in many games, but have still lost them, so that must mean they don't have "IT". But, what exactly is "IT"?

Could it be shooters? No, we have several of those. Could it be defense? Yes, a little lack of that, but with the new rules, most teams are having problems defending this year. How about youth? Again, yes, but we're over halfway through the season, so that excuse is lame. Perhaps turnovers? No, since Staten is one of the better ball handlers in the country. So, what is "IT"?

A sportswriter for one of the Charleston newspapers may have found the answer. In a column last week he maintained that the missing ingredient in this team was REBOUNDING. After thinking about it for awhile, I tend to agree with him. How many times have we seen opposing teams get two or three shots during a possession? The answer is, too many times. How often have you seen WVU get second or third chances? Seldom !!

I once did some business with Jerry Lucas, probably one of the best rebounders in college and NBA history. He told me that being a good rebounder took two things----intelligence, that is knowing where the ball would be after a shot, and desire, wanting it more than the opponent. He said he studied shots from every angle to learn where the ball usually went. He also developed a work ethic to never let anyone else "out fight" him for the ball.

So there you have it. If the Mountaineers want to win more, they need five players hitting the boards on both ends of the court. However this will work only after doing their homework and only if they really want the ball. Finally, guess what? I'd wager that a gentleman named Huggins knows all of this and has tried to teach it to his team. Heck, he has probably talked to Jerry Lucas many times about it. But, Huggins doesn't play for WVU anymore, so it's up to the team to "Git 'er done".

Send your comments or sports memories to me at:

Bill (billmere@aol.com)



EMAIL: NEW AND CHANGES

Barbara Boreman (WI '55) ladylake942@gmail.com
Marcia Young Fletcher (WI '64) myfletcher@gmail.com
Gary Cobb (WI '71) GCB27@hotmail.com
Mike Frey (ND ’58) michaelhfrey@gmail.com
David Griffith (WI '82) dave.griffith@ge.com
Bill Randolph (left Clarksburg in 1954) wrandol1@columbus.rr.com
James (Jim) Smith (VHS '62) JamesDSmithcpa@aol.com
Cathy (Kay) Strogen (WI '65) strogenc@yahoo.com
Jackie Coter (WI '53) ackieammaw@yahoo.com
Barbara Allen Gordon (WI '56) barbaraallengordon@gmail.com
Nila May (WI '66) was: Nila@hbe1902.com
is now: NilaJane@hotmail.com




QUALITY HILL DISTRICT OF CLARKSBURG

submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)

Quality Hill Historic District in Clarksburg is located at East Main Street and Jackson Square areas. They are mostly residential buildings with 33 in number. They reflect a variety of popular architectural styles from late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable buildings include the Maxwell-Duncan 1872-Virgil Highland house 1903-1905 and Robinson-Hayes house/now American red cross office 1895-1897. The Despard house is now the Davis Weaver Funeral home. It was established in 1940 by John Huffman Davis & Harry G Weaver. The architectural style is Bungalow /craftsman and late Victorian. The area is around 14 acres of historical homes.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I hope that you will write and share your memories of this area of Clarksburg. Check out this link which describes Quality Hill.

http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/harrison/85001815.pdf

**** If you have any pictures, please send those also. Just contact me at Roleta1@aol.com or if you have pictures contact Judy Daugherty Kimler at jkimler@frontier.com

Picture below is of Quality Hill, but I don’t know the year. This picture has been posted on the internet several times.




DRIVER’S LICENSE

submitted by: Sandy Zickefoose Lindke (WI '56)

I got my drivers license while expecting my forth child in 1960. I learned to drive with three very young kids in the back seat of our 4 door 1957 Chevy. I learned to park by going downtown, finding an open spot and parallel parking. When I went home and told Gene that I could parallel park, he asked where and how, when I explained that I just parked between two parked cars he ran outside to inspect our car. When I went to take my test I asked if the kids could be with me but the WV trooper said "NO". So they waited on the curb with my neighbor friend while I passed my test. One of my best jobs was driving school bus in MI. I also trained new drivers and transported used and new buses to and from other school districts and states. I even liked towing our travel trailers. I still like to drive, especially in WV. My husband, Albert, likes for me to drive so he can see the country side. See you round the next curve or over the next hill.



MYSTERY PICTURE FOR THIS MONTH



Do you recognize this place? Write your guess to me. Include a memory, your name, school and year of graduation. Thanks. I only publish correct answers…..so you can’t be embarrassed.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com



REMEMBERING MR. GARY POLING

submitted by: Joanne Westfall Simpson-Tetrick (WI '52)

I had the pleasure of knowing Gary since the seventies when my children, Kim, Gregg and Tracy had him for classes. He was tough but fair and encouraged the kids to think about all sorts of subjects. I would guess that most of the kids that had him as a teacher could and would entertain all of us with Gary’s influence. He had some serious health issues and the last time we saw him before the Holidays, we were at IHOP and he stopped at our table to chat. He was very lonely since he lost his love, Loretta, a year or so ago. I had the privilege to introduce him at our Alumni Scholarship Banquet a couple of years ago. We presented a deserving senior with the “Gary Poling Honorary Scholarship”. He spoke briefly to the large crowd gathered to honor our seniors. We are very proud of the Alumni Association and have grown to be able to present a ‘ton” of money to help the seniors with their college expenses. Back to Gary, he will be missed and is probably teaching all the angels in Heaven.



submitted by: Sherry Ellen Hutchison Keith (WI '64)

I remember Gary Poling.

Gary was in 6th grade with me at Pierpont Elementary. We all lived at Locust Court Apartments at that time... We had a huge, by our standards, playing field where we congregated when we had free time and the guys played ball and the girls watched. Gary and his family lived in the "Big House" and it was divided into apartments. The rest of our crew lived in the several townhouse type apartment units. There were four apartments to a unit.

It was a pretty good place to live, as a kid, we could ride our bikes or walk to the Dairy Queen and on Sundays, thanks to the Blue Law, the Krogers was closed and we could ride our bikes on their huge parking lot! Sometimes we would ride the bus to Norwood and go roller skating and come back really late on the bus! Very exciting at 11 years old!

Our crowd consisted of:
Pam Jacobson, her brother Kevin, and younger sister Kim; Stephanie McKenna; Steve Gottlieb and his sister Andrea (a cheerleader at WI). Many kids from the area were included too: Billy Watson and his cousin, John; Stephen Radcliff; Sherle Montgomery; John Bell; Billy Smith and his sister; Lana Myers; Sharon Myers and her sister; Mary Sue Thompson and her cousin; the Cottrill family; DK Roach; Kent Hall and his brother; Janet Steele and her sisters Rachael and JoAnne; Carol Tibbs and Kay McCall to name a few. There also was an older crowd..Bobby Shipman and others.

I remember Gary's mom, Jean, always made him practice his instrument, which I believe was the trumpet before he could come out and join us on the big field. We would always hear him playing and the notes would drift out of that great big house through the open windows. He would be serenading us all! He could play well even then. He was sweet and kinda shy. He wore a crew cut and had light blonde hair. He was a good kid. I will always remember him that way. He loved his mom and was very respectful of her, and obviously, her insisting on his practicing paid off for him. Sounds like the rest of his life was very successful and happy! He deserved it. If we listen very hard, we may still hear the strains of the trumpet.... He is still playing for us!



submitted by: Willard F. Wheelock II “Bud” (WI '60)

I just read the January Newsletter and it is superb as always. I have lot to say about Gary Poling as I consider myself to have been his best friend. We started teaching together at WI (Gary in 1970 and me a year later) and worked together until our retirement in 2007. I can truly say that he was the best man I have ever known and I have known many in my 72 years working in education and the military.

Gary took care of his invalid mother for years while working more than one job and volunteering as a driver for the Harrison County Emergency Squad. He was an accomplished EMT. In addition to his teaching duties he worked tirelessly with the WI football program. He was active in local politics and ran for the House of Delegates. I have not known another educator who took more of a personal interest in the success of his students and/or their welfare. His motivation has resulted in untold numbers of his students becoming successful in public life including holding public office. They are his legacy. Both my daughters owe much to him for their success in the business world. During our years of working together he always set standards that I strove to meet in my teaching career. Gary also taught classes at the Clarksburg branch of Fairmont State College (University).In all honesty I do not feel that his talents were ever appreciated or rewarded by Board or school administrators. (He certainly had the qualifications to become an administrator but I think we all know how the politics of education in Harrison County have been played over the years. I have seen entirely too many with NO classroom experience be handed principalships.) ** Please feel free to print my comment as I am sure my views have never been in doubt!** Gary and I kept in touch by phone on a weekly basis especially after my wife and I moved near to Martinsburg. We considered him as part of our family and miss him greatly!



submitted by: Tony Marchio (WI '65)

Gary Poling and I were long-time friends first as high school classmates and then as teacher colleagues at WI. Since our classrooms were close together when we were teachers, we spent countless hours in the hallway talking with students and to each other. He was a wonderful teacher, and his students admired and respected him. He was demanding yet fair and compassionate, and he gave his students a knowledge and perspective of history and current events that would benefit them throughout their lives. One of my best memories of Gary was a trip that we took to Virginia Tech to watch WI’s Jeff Schneider play basketball. As we were crossing the mountains, we got caught in a huge snow storm and had to spend two nights in a awful motel near Lewis. We had no food, and when the TV wouldn’t work, Gary gave it a couple of good whacks, and it went up in a puff of smoke. I couldn’t stop laughing and never let him forget that incident. A year later, we took a road trip to Ohio State to watch the Mountaineers play and got caught in another snow storm which resulted in an eighteen hour trip back to Clarksburg, but with Gary that was time spent in interesting conversations with a good friend so the time went quickly. I always valued our friendship, and I hope Gary did too.

We lost a kind, caring, talented educator when Gary Poling left us.



GOD BLESS AMERICA
By KATE SMITH

This nice video was sent to us by Sonja Alvaro and was in the January issue. If you missed it, you can go to the ARCHIVE and select the January 2014 issue to enjoy.

Comments: Bud Wheelock (WI '60)

Thanks to Ms.Alvaro for the video! I was just a little kid during WWII but remember hearing Kate sing on the radio. No one has or ever will sing it like she did. I agree with Ol Blue Eyes that she was the greatest



MYSTERY PICTURE IN LAST MONTH’S NEWSLETTER



submitted by: Bud Wheelock (WI '60)

The mystery picture sure looks like the Compton Bowling Alley on Bridgeport Hill not far from Minards & Lockheed.



submitted by: Victory Eugene Jaumot (WI '54)

The Mystery picture is off Compton Bowling Lanes . I bowled once a week for the Rolland Glass team called the Wheels. I was there the Night that Frank Lewark rolled a Perfect 300 game, it was the first 300 game rolled at Compton lanes



submitted by: Jim Ashley (WI '62)

Think this is Compton Lanes Bowling Alley? When my oldest son was about 3 or 4 years old, my sister, Barbara Ashley Lefevre, WI '52, and her best friend, Norma Davis, WI '53, took him bowling at Compton and the first ball he threw in his life was a strike. It did take forever for the ball to get to the pins and most of the rest of the day he just rolled the ball straight into the gutter, but it was a great memory for me, my sister, and Norma.



submitted by: Wayne White (WI '60)

This is the Compton Bowling Lanes...The business is located on Bridgeport hill in Clarksburg...They have a snack bar inside and sell Bowling apparel & accessories. Been in business for many years...My sister in Law was on a bowling League with the Hope gas company. A lot of leagues were formed and bowling friends made... The business is now called Compton Lanes...Otha Compton is the owner.



submitted by: Lyle Corder (RW '57)

It is Compton's Bowling Alley and was owned and operated by Junior and Betty Compton. They have been our next door neighbors for over thirty-eight years. They sold the bowling alley several years ago, but, it is still in operation.



submitted by: Laura Cleavenger (Bridgeport High '71)

The mystery pic is Compton's Bowling Alley on old Bridgeport Hill. I used to bowl on a league there many years ago. We also enjoyed taking our kids there when they were younger.



submitted by: Jim Alvaro (WI '56)

I believe the mystery picture is the Compton Bowling Alley on the Clarksburg side of the old Bridgeport Hill. My brother Fred and I took my granddaughters bowling there about 15 years ago. After not bowling for about 20 years, it was a disaster. We threw so many gutter balls the attendant had to bring out the metal ramp where you place the ball on the top and let it go. Embarrassing but it saved the lane from being destroyed



submitted by: LaDonna Emrick (RW '56)

For the next issue. the mystery picture is COMPTON LANES, located on Old Rt 50 at the foot of Bridgeport Hill.

I spent many evenings bowling there and many Saturday morning coaching youth bowling.



submitted by: Barbara DeFazio Kroll (WI '79)

We had our senior class bowling party there. It was a fun night. If I remember right we had a hundred or so classmates there!



submitted by: Charlie Wilson (WI '67)

Happy New Year, and thanks for the hard work that you do.

I believe the picture is Compton Bowling Alley located on Rt50 E. at the bottom of the hill. Use to go there on Sundays. I really don't have any stories to tell, sorry. I was not a bowler, can remember going there on a few Sundays with friends. I had a Aunt & Uncle that bowled there in a league and Compton's did have good Hot Dogs at the snack bar.



submitted by: Cheryl “Fain” Mehaulic (WI '74)

It is Compton Bowling Lanes – still in existence but under new ownership. I learned to bowl there, however, I am not very good. My sisters and brothers have all belonged to leagues and bowl weekly.



submitted by: Jim Rogers (WI '64)

I remember going to Compton Bowling Lanes with Gary Poling, Richard Harrison, Joe Caruso, Larry Zinn, Dave Cobb and several others for bowling on Saturdays. It was Winter and something to do. We started a league against other WI and Victory classes. I think Compton's opened in 1961. It is still in business today.



submitted by: Bob Sommerville (WI '66)

My Dad and Uncle bowled there as part of the Hazel Atlas, Anchor Hocking factory leagues. I believe there was also a church league. I used to go with them and sometimes keep score. I don't believe that I actually bowled there myself.



submitted by: Phyllis Jean Alton Nichols (WI '57)

Thanks to you and Judy for the Newsletter. The mystery picture is Compton's Bowling Alley. I bowled in a Women's league there for a few years. My team was called the Happy Rollers. We weren't good, but we had a lot of fun.

Also, Jim Lacaria is back in business at his same old barber shop location. He was off for a while due to surgery, but he is back. My husband got his hair cut there Saturday the 18th.



submitted by: Greg Merrill (WI '66)

Regarding the Mystery Picture. It looks like Compton Lanes to me. I grew up on the hill across the street from Compton Lanes next to the WHAR radio station. For several years, I would spend hours with my friends from the neighborhood around the vacant lot (that eventually become Compton's Lanes) playing wiffle ball. Most of these kids went to Victory High School where I went to WI being on the opposition side of the Highway. The northeast corner of the lot had a concrete retaining wall that was used as our backstop. Many of the kids that played ball there ended up playing baseball through their high school and some college days.

They then built Compton Lanes. I was a Jr. Bowler and got to know the workers pretty well. Most of the time I would get either free bowling (when the boss was gone) or pay 10 Cents per lane. I spent a lot of time behind the machines visiting with the crew. Turns out that after moving west, I was on the Utah State University bowling team and met my wife who was the State Jr. Bowling Champion for two years while in High School/College. We had our first date while traveling with the team at Arizona State University. So I guess you could say that Compton's Lanes had a big influence on my future, having been married now for 42 years, 4 kids and 9 grand kids later.



submitted by: Jackie Cotter (WI '53)

Dear Roleta, would this be Compton Bowling Lanes at the foot of old Bridgeport Hill?

Would you please add me to your News Letter list? I enjoy all the memories this brings to mind. Things I had long ago forgotten about. What a wonderful thing you are doing. Thank all of you for your hard work. Also your mention of hot dog places reminded me of Loel Drummond's at the foot of Main St. I can't remember the name of his place. But very good hot dogs. And I love the history of WI. Can't wait for next month edition.



submitted by: Phil Hooper (WI '59)

I think the January mystery picture is either Compton Bowling Alley at the bottom of old Bridgeport Hill on the Clarksburg side or the Jewel City Bowling Alley near the Clarksburg Armory. We used to go bowling many times at Jewel City not much at Compton. Keep the newsletter coming look forward to it every month. Great Job.



AND THE PRESENT OWNER OF COMPTON LANES WRITES

submitted by: Jim Smith (VHS '62)

That is Compton Bowling Lanes, circa Sep, 1961. I worked as a mechanic/ pin chaser my senior year at Victory, and I now own it. It was only 16 lanes then, rather than 24 now.



CORRECT ANSWERS BUT NO MEMORIES SHARED:

Bill Phillips (WI and Elkins 1960)
Gladys Williams (WI 1971)
Bob Kramer (WI 1965)
Jackie Hays Lafferty (VHS 1954)
Cathy (Kay) Strogen (WI 1965)
Lanny Long (WI 1965)
Linda DeTurk Jones (WI 1960)
Homer Burnett (WI 1965)
Fred Alvaro (WI 1959)




IT’S A SMALL WORLD

submitted by: Steve Limbers (WI '57)

I enjoyed Marolyn Tustin Jett's story about running into (Sandra) Sue Day on a cruise. I knew her as Sue, but checked the yearbook and her first name was indeed Sandra. Who knew?

We live in Wilmington DE and our oldest son had Mrs Feeney for math in seventh grade. She taught math at CJHS when I was there, but she was across the hall (on the odd side) from my math teacher, Hattie Smith, who also taught my wife that same year. The school my son attended was not very big for a junior high, and we attended some sort of PTA thing that was held in the cafeteria one evening.

A female parent also in attendance looked very familiar and it didn't take long for me to figure out that she was Sue Day (WI 1956). My wife and I approached her after the meeting and we had a nice chat. She lived about a mile from us, but we heard she and her family had moved and we never saw her again.

Glad Bill is doing well.



LITTLE POEM, BUT SO TRUE IT HURTS!

Another year has passed
And we're all a little older.
Last summer felt much hotter,
And winter seems much colder.

There was a time not long ago
When life was quite a blast.
Now I fully understand
About 'Living in the Past'

We used to go to weddings,
Football games and lunches.
Now we go to funeral homes
And after-funeral brunches.

We used to have hangovers,
From parties that were crazy.
Now we suffer body aches,
We're sleepy and we're lazy.

We used to go out dining,
And couldn't get our fill.
Now we ask for doggie bags,
Come home and take a pill.

We used to often travel
To places near and far.
Now we get sore asses
From riding in the car.

We used to go to nightclubs
And drink a little booze.
Now we stay home at night
And fall asleep watching the news.

That, my friend is how life is,
And now my tale is told.
So, enjoy each day and live it up...
Before you're too darn old.




WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN TO YOU?

45, 33-1/3, 78

If they don’t mean a thing, just forget I asked you. But if you were alive from about 1930’s until 1990’s, you must have some idea why I am asking?

Write and tell me what you know….Write to Roleta1@aol.com



A BOOK

submitted by: Sherry Hutchison Keith (WI '64)
skeith1514@aol.com

There is a new book available and reviewed in the Winter Goldenseal Magazine (a magazine of WV traditional life.) Fall 2013

This new book in their Images of America Series is Italians of West Virginia Arcadia Publishing Co. By Victor A. Basile and Judy Prozzillo Byers.

Focuses on the "vibrant Italian community in north-central West Virginia, particularly in the Clarksburg area."

This may be of interest to many of our fellow "Letter" readers! Available at http://www.arcadiapublishing.com (843) 953-2070 for $21.99 (plus shipping)




THOSE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF THE DRIVE IN'S

submitted by: Jay Sharp (WI '59)

Sunset-Ellis Restaurant treats employees as family - The Exponent Telegram : Business Finance




CHECKS FOR THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP

David Grimes (WI 1982)

Stu and Babe Bisping Cashman (WI 1956)

Gladys Williams (WI 1971)

Dorothy Ann Hughes Shaffer (WI 1952)

Kaye and Bud Collins (WI 1955)

Beverly Ellis O’Grady (WI 1958)

Larry O’Grady (Bridgeport 1955)

Catherine C. Burke (WI 1952)

Alexis Julian Scott (ND 1965)

Elizabeth Burke (WI 1958)

Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)




submitted by: Sherry Ellen Hutchison Keith (WI '64)

Ha Ha.... The Emeralds always played the Hartland Youth Center in the late fifties and early sixties and we loved 'em! The building was whitewashed clapboard, old with wide wooden steps up to the large front porch. The double doors would be open and the lights up bright and everyone just dancing and bopping to the music! I remember they always played snippets of Night Train for their break number and the last song of the evening too, it was such fun! Always a new style, I remember some of the older girls wore their bobby socks with the ribs swirled instead of straight up... Ha Ha and tennis shoes, we called our "tennies" or flats some were "T" straps. Our skirts were mid calf length lots of crinolines swishing as we danced, or straight skirts..with belts, most had a kick pleat in the back or two on the sides sometimes... blouses or sweaters short sleeved with matching cardigans, we had sweater keepers (two decorative clips with a chain) to keep our sweaters from falling off our shoulders, as we rarely really put our arms in the sleeves! Ha Ha... Those empty sleeves just danced around as we twirled.

We always hated for it to end... when we heard that last Night Train.. played in full, we made sure to dance with our boyfriends, if possible, knowing it was the last dance of the evening...

Great memories, as usual, girls, thanks!



submitted by: Barbara Boreman (WI '55)

Jackie Simpson was my favorite teacher. I believe she was younger than Miss Swisher who also was a favorite. Mrs. Simpson lived in back of the high school and ever so often I would go and have lunch with her at her home. I still remember ballet club and getting excused from study hall to go practice for a chapel program.

The class of '55 was the best!



submitted by: Charles Ferrell (WI '46)

My dad had a Quaker State Oil Company (Starling Oil Co) on Monticello Ave for 28 years. I was recently shown a web site "quaker steak and lube" site by my son, Frank, which shows a lot of restaurants all over the country with this name.



submitted by: John Teter (WI '61)

I remember my father taking my brother and I hunting for rabbits and squirrel out in the hills out beyond Anmore. We had more fun shooting the guns that he had at "targets" than we did hunting game (at least I did).

Later in my life, I ran around with a bunch of guys that went to Newfoundland hunting Moose, and I made that trip with them one time. I did not actually shoot a moose, but I had a lot of fun. Probably more fun outside of the camp that we had to fly in to than in the actual camp, but it was a trip that I will never forget. We drove from Virginia to Newfoundland in two campers, and the drive took forever. Some of the guys that I went with shot a moose, so the trip was worth what they went for. I just went along for the fun of it, as I was never a big hunter.



submitted by: Nila May (WI '66)

RE: Thank you:

I receive the monthly WI Newsletter and enjoy it immensely. I am retiring after 44 years of service to Hornor Brothers Engineers.

I think you and Judy have compiled wonderful newsletters over the years. Your dedication goes beyond what words can express. Thank you for your many, many years of dedicated service to the high school, alumni and friends.



submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)

This is in response to Eugene Jaumot's picture in the newsletter.

Hi Eugene,
After I saw the picture you submitted I found this picture. I have no idea if this is the same tipple. I couldn't make out all of the writing on your picture. I was able to see where it said Pinnickinnick Coaling Station. The picture I found says Clarksburg Fuel Co. Pinnickinnick Mine.

This was way way way before my time, but I think I remember hearing about "Pinnickinnick Hill". Does anyone know, was there a Pinnickinnick Hill? If so, where was it?


Write to Roleta1@aol.com and identify this picture.



submitted by: Phil Hooper (WI '59)

Re: Hot Dogs
I would like to add to what Bob Patterson had to say in the Jan 2014 newsletter about East End Lunch. In the early 1940's we lived on East Pike across from East End Lunch right next to the place Bob called Roots Grill. Then it was called Andy's Hot Dog. The house we lived in set back from Pike Street. We had a long front yard with a 4 ft fence.When my mother would put me out to play in the yard, Andy would come over and lift me over the fence and take me into his restaurant and give me whatever I wanted to eat. Then my mother at first would panic, but then she found out that it was Andy. I do remember the Hot Dog Wars, 10 cents is the price I remember. I know later Andy moved to Airport Road and Route 50 on the east side of Bridgeport. I believe that was in the 70's, not sure if he located some where else before Bridgeport.



submitted by: Diana Shablack Sandy (WI '69)

To Bob Patterson:
I saw your comments about East End Lunch in last month’s newsletter and I thought I would reply. East End belonged to my Uncle Paul Oliverio. My mom & my aunt were there round the clock. Roots Grill was on the other side of the street, same side as the Esso. I think they had Hot Dog Wars all the time, LOL!


Above is a picture advertising East End's 10 cent hot dogs. Since you worked at the Esso you probably saw the sign.



OBITUARIES

R. JENE GREGORIE



R. Jene Gregoire, 71, of Coalport, PA, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013 at the UPMC Passavant, Pittsburgh.

Born Nov. 25, 1942 in Clarksburg, WV, he was the son of the late Resta S. and Vivian (Winemiller) Gregoire. He attended school in Lewis and Harrison counties, WV. His freshman, sophomore and junior years were at Washington Irving High School, Clarksburg, where he was a part of Hilltoppers football team. In 1959, because of employment opportunities for his mother and step-father, his family relocated to Summit County, OH, where he played football at Green High School. He was named an All-Star Tackle of the Surburban League and an allstate tackle during his senior year.

He earned a scholarship to Akron University where he played football for one year before deciding that he wanted to enter the workplace.

In 1978, he married Cheryln Fox, with whom he had one daughter. In the mid eighties, he moved to the Coalport, PA, area, where he later met and married Darlene (VanDeVander) Gregoire. She survives him at home.

Mr. Gregoire was a member of the Utahville United Methodist Church. He was a gunsmith at Jene’s Gun Shop and a retired coal miner.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He pursued wild game in Alaska, Canada and Newfoundland, completing a hunting trip to the latter place just weeks before his passing.

In addition to his wife, he’s survived by a daughter, Anita Beers and her husband, Kevin of Coalport; step-sons, Jeffery Goss and his wife, Sabrina and Michael Goss, both of Altoona, and Timothy Goss and his wife, Brandi of Bellwood; sister, Joy DeFazio and her husband, John of Stonewood, WV; half-sister Tamera Sue Meyer and her husband, Dennis, of Carlisle, PA; half-brother David Gregoire and his wife, Barbara, of Newville, PA; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one half-brother, Resta S. “Snake” Gregoire, of Carlisle, PA.


FORREST THOMAS KEARNS


Mr. Kearns, age 70, of Mount Clare, WV passed away January 1, 2014.

Mr. Kearns was the son of the late Elmer Burgess and Orless Mae Burns Kearns.

He was self-employed as an owner of the Clarksburg Credit Bureau, member of the 4-H Club and Boy Scouts. He also worked for many years with his lifelong school friend, Charlie McGlumphy and the McGlumphy Mortuary in Clarksburg. He was a Rotarian with the Clarksburg Rotary, formerly served on the Harrison County school board and was known to so many as an avid historian.

He is survived by two daughters, Elisa R and Elexis B. Kearns; half sister, Paula Todd and a half brother, Patrick Kearns.

He graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1961.


ANTHONY JOSEPH TIANO, JR.


Anthony Joseph Tiano Jr.,(WI 1962) age 69, of Clarksburg, passed away Friday, January 31, 2014, at United Hospital Center.

He was born August 11, 1944, in Clarksburg; son of the late Anthony Joseph Tiano Sr. and Angelina “Judy” Oliveto Tiano.

Anthony is survived by his loving wife of 14 years, Tetyana Tiano; one son, Tony and Lori Tiano, III of Los Angeles, CA; two daughters, Anna and Alex Belov of Orlando, FL, Natalie and Alexander Cherevatiy of Spain; three grandchildren, Sophia, Yaroslav, Angela; several other relatives survive.

He was preceded in death by one son, Paul Tiano, and his parents.

Anthony loved golfing, cooking, gardening and being a handyman; he was a member of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Orlando, FL.



NO OTHER OBITS WERE SENT TO ME THIS MONTH….Roleta






Newsletter Archive

Back to WI Index