Issue 236

Editor: Roleta Smith Meredith

Publisher: Jalon Smith Burton

NOTE FROM EDITOR:

On March 7^th, at the recent Clarksburg Picnic held in Sarasota Florida, Mary Ann Donato (WI 1956) handed me the poem below. It was written in 1996 by Marianna Warblak Coey (WI 1956). Marianna passed away in January 2018.

It says many of the same things that I think about when remembering the last Clarksburg picnic as so many of us talked about possibly never seeing each other again.

REUNION

Like a vintage Victrola

grinding, winding slowly down

so do our lives.

The memories, voices, conversations

like faded patterns on old silk

become a hazy repertoire

of tunes played long ago.

The fleeting moments when we

chance to meet again,

contrived or otherwise

piece us together in an

intricate pattern like a Chinese puzzle.

It is a new tune

in vivid, bold, eye-catching

colors and for this time

We catch the donkey’s tail of

shattered dreams and schemes

and hang on tight.

It is a nostalgic wild week-end ride,

and then it is done.

The vintage Victrola all too soon

begins to whine and grind slowly down,

merging memories, voices, conversations

into a faded photograph with

just a hint ------a tint of color.

Until we chance to meet again.

THE WIN SCHOLARSHIP

From: Roleta Smith Meredith (WI 1959)

In 2004, I thought it would be nice for the readers of the WI Newsletter to come together to say thank you to Clarksburg (our hometown) for our schools, teachers, principals, neighbors, whoever - but how could we do this? I started collecting money for the WI Newsletter Scholarship and presented the first scholarship in 2005 for the amount of $500.00. Now 14years later, with the $6,000.00 scholarship we are giving to the lucky recipient at the 2019 Awards Presentation Night at R.C. Byrd High School, we will have given back $70,000.00 to Clarksburg, WV through our support of education.

This just shows what a difference we can make when we pool our money for a common reason! I thank you and I am sure all who know about this thank us too. We should know the name of the 2019 recipient by the time you receive the May issue.

THOSE WHO GAVE THIS MONTH

The following gave cash:

Allen Alvarez (WI 1958)

Bill Cowgill (WI 1959)

Linda Oliverio (WI 1960)

Sharyn Cottrill McGahan (WI 1959)

Bob Adams (WI 1958)

The following sent a check:

Marcia Young Fletcher (WI 1964)

Barbara Allen (WI 1956)

John Allen (WI 1957)

Allen Alvarez (WI 1958)

Susan Kyle

Jean Vickers Kennedy (WI 1958)

John Campbell (WI 1959)

Mary S. Harell (WI 1955)

Gregg Merrill

Anita White (WI 1948)

James Gallo (WI 1961)

Bob Hall (WI 1956)

Joe Malone (WI 1952)

Gerald Winerman (WI 1957)

Dr. Robert (WI 1950) and Jill Modlin (WI 1951)

Many thanks to all of those who gave to the scholarship this year.

  

THE 2019 WIN SCHOLARSHIP QUILT

WINNER

A Great Big THANK YOU to those who gave to the 2019 WI Newsletter Scholarship. So many of you are so loyal to the scholarship and have given each year. This year, through the one and only fund raiser, our readers gave $5,385.00.

The winner of the 2019 WI NEWSLETTER QUILT is a very loyal supporter of the scholarship. This year she was lucky enough to have her name drawn.

CONGRATULATIONS

TO...

SANDY ZICKEFOOSE LINDKE (WI 1956)

Sandy and her son at the Clarksburg Reunion held on March 9 2019

CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY FAMILY

PICTURE CONTEST

Joe Malone (WI 1952) suggested that we run this contest in the newsletter. Joe is the single and sole judge of who wins. It is his game so it is his rules!

From Joe Malone (WI 1952)

I'd like to thank Roleta, Bill and Jalon for their outstanding work on the WI Newsletter for ~20 years. It has truly been a "Labor of Love". I also want to heap praise on Sue Selby Moats and her cadre of ladies who have, for 13 years, annually created a unique quilt to be raffled off each year to raise money for the WIN Scholarship Fund. My sister, Sadie Graham (WI-1943) contributed squares to that effort for many years and still quilts on a small frame in her room at the WV Skilled Nursing Facility on Davisson Run.

Next, my personal thanks go to all of you who submitted pictures of your family and friends in support of my offer to subsidize the Quilt Raffle. I sincerely enjoyed each one, particularly those that came with brief stories about your Holiday life. 

Regardless of the outcome, I encourage all of you who are reading this "post" to buy tickets for and/or make individual donations separately to the Scholarship Fund. Every dollar goes to the education of RCB Graduates.

In the process of reviewing the photos, I decided to increase the award's kitty to accommodate three winners! As Roleta said: "My $$$$ - My Rules!" That is, there will be one winner in each of the following categories: 

MOST CREATIVE - BRONZE MEDAL (50 Tickets)

SMALL GROUP - SILVER MEDAL (100 Tickets)

LARGE GROUP - GOLD MEDAL (200 Tickets)

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

BRONZE MEDAL - MOST CREATIVE CATEGORY

Easy-Peasy: No question about it - I loved the Feline Entry. I've raised five cats of different breeds over the years and you hit my soft-spot.

Additionally, Toni, to subsidize a second tree and then let him/her repeat the performance - you deserve it!

Congratulations, 
Toni (Sprouse) Erchak (Victory 57)

 - 50 tickets in bucket!

SILVER MEDAL - SMALL GROUP CATEGORY

Now it gets tougher. I didn't really know the Ogren Twins (WI-1950) that well during high school, but by reputation they were outstanding student-athletes and still look like a formidable pair. (But where's the Xmas angle, Guys?) Besides, Paul Horner, Sr. was my parent's landlord on the corner of Fifth St. & Horner Ave. (forever, it seemed). (Hey, Paul - Sweet-looking wife & daughter-in-law!). However, all that being said - my overall "Fave" was young Penny (Christie) Johnson (WI -1960). I knew her older siblings, ("Punchy & Son-A-Tone") when Penny was the little "cute" one and it appears that she is extending the family line with granddaughter, Hope. (Mama "C" would be proud!) Emil, you're a lucky man.

Congratulations, 
Penny Christie Johnson (WI 60)

- 100 tickets in the bucket!

GOLD MEDAL - LARGE GROUP CATEGORY

Now comes the tough one. I don't know any of the other people except Bill Williams. So, any personal bias is put aside. I was moved by the group headed by Ann Williams (Victory - 1940) as our Sr. Citizen "Matriarch". (I've always liked older women!) Great group! Then Linda Purcell (WI-1967) jumped in with coordinated clothing and a really nice-looking group! I loved the look! Very close, Linda, but no cigar! 

SO - THE GOLD MEDAL WINNER IS........

THE MARTINO FAMILY!

"Traditional Xmas Eve Dinner of the Seven Fishes"

I loved the picture; the story; the size - everything about it just rang true to "Xmas in Clarksburg" as I choose to see it. Maybe, as someone might have said, "It's Xmas The Way It Ought to Be!" - every year. No bias here. In spite of growing up in Harrison County, and returning home each of the past 21 years, I don’t recall ever meeting a member of the Martino Family.

Congratulations,
Larry Martino (WI 59)

- 200 tickets in the bucket!

In closing, I wish you all could be winners. But Roleta only pulls one ticket and she's never pulled mine! Whoever wins, enjoy the quilt. 

More importantly, enjoy the feeling of contributing to the further education of an RCB graduate.

PS - I thought it only "fair" to include a "selfie" of my family outside the house after Xmas dinner - 2018.

CLASS OF 1969 REUNION

SAVE THE DATE

From: Donna Meredith (WI 1969)

The Washington Irving Class of 1969 will have their 50th high school reunion August 2 and 3 2019. Information will be sent to class members if the committee has the correct email or mailing addresses. If you graduated from WI in 1969, please make sure we have a current address for you.

Send your current contact information or any questions to Donna Meredith at  meredithds@comcast.net

Thank you

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FOR 

THE NEWSLETTER

So many say they can’t think of anything to write about.

Each month we try to give you suggestions... Some ideas that should jog your memory.

In the February newsletter, we asked our readers for some help:

Write and tell us where your family shopped for groceries in Clarksburg when you were in high school there.

Were there stores in your neighborhood?

Did you mother shop at them?

Do you remember the name or location of any?

Did your family own a store in Clarksburg? What was the name of it?

Here is what you wrote:

From David Ellis (WI 1960)

I grew up on Main Street, at the corner of Main and Summers. That is at the base of the Main Street Hill, just above the Angle-In where Main and Pike split.

My family owned the Ellis Brothers Market, which was located on Main Street right across from where I lived. It was only opened until I was about 4 or 5 years old, around 1947, but I remember the market.

The market had a butcher shop, and I remember getting a paper butcher’s hat just about every time I visited the store. They were made of paper, with a mesh hairnet-like top.

We also shopped at Harrick's Market, which was on Pike Street, at the corner of Pike and Sumner. Sam Caputo ran the store, and I always called it Caputo's. But it had been started by the Harrick family.

I think Sam Caputo married a Harrick and took over the grocery store sometime in the 1940's. That store was small and old with an uneven oiled wooden floor and a pot-belly stove sitting in the middle of the floor. A couple of benches and wooden chairs sat around the stove and I remember listening in on many weighty discussions, mostly political, by the regular denizens that commanded the cherished seats around the stove. There were a few barrels of items like beans, rice, flour and pickles sitting on the floor, but most of the shelves holding the groceries were behind the counter. Sam, or a store employee, would fill my Mom's order, sometimes using a long pole with a grasping mechanism that could be squeezed to grab cans and boxes on the higher shelves. When Sam got out of the grocery store business, he went into the drive-in theater business at the Skyline Drive-in on Route 19 South, towards Weston. Sam's brother, John, stayed in the grocery store business, big-time, and opened the Garden-Fresh Markets.

Up Pike Street from Caputo's, or Harrick's, was Rouche's Market.

Rouches's was more like a Farmer's Market. It sold only fresh fruits and vegetables.

In the early 1950's, Joe Pulice opened a small grocery store on the corner of Chestnut and Main Streets. We shopped there often. Joe later expanded the store at the same location and it became more like a small supermarket, where you could move up and down aisles gathering your own boxes and cans of food. The store had a butcher shop in the rear and Joe's brother, Jimmy, was almost always waiting on customers and cutting meat in the butcher shop. By then, we had to walk home from Pierpont Grade School via Chestnut Street to cross at the stoplight. Later, when I went to Central Junior High, I walked by the grocery on the way home. I often stopped at Pulice's Market and perused the comic books which were displayed at the front of the store. Joe would give me about 10 minutes, and then ask, "You buying, or just looking? This isn't a library." That was my hint to head for home.

From: John Petitto (NDHS 1964)

The section in the March issue of the newsletter about neighborhood grocery stores in Clarksburg brought back a lot of memories of my growing up there in the 50's & 60's.

I grew up in Broad Oaks. I remember the stores there. We had Stanalker’s on Haymond Highway sitting on the edge of the bridge as it came from the Monticello area and the Ice Plant. We had two stores further up Haymond Hwy---one directly across from Alta Vista and the Broad Oaks Methodist Church and one on the corner of Haymond Hwy and Point St. There was another one on the corner of Harrison St and Tyler St.

And then there was the Broad Oaks Dairy Bar! A name and a place that anyone who grew up in Broad Oaks knows and will never forget. Joe and Viola Bennett were the owner/operators and 'surrogate parents' to all kids growing up in Broad Oaks. Joe worked for the B&O Railroad in the 'Weights & Measures' division and operated the Dairy Bar afternoons and evenings. Vi (as she was known) ran the store in the morning & early afternoons until Joe got home. Joe and Vi did not have any children other than every kid in Broad Oaks. If you had any questions or concerns growing up (especially the guys) that you did not or could not talk to your parents about, Joe was our 'Go to Guy'. I spent a lot of time hanging out in front of the store. I could tell many stories about those days and Joe, but one that touched me deeply I will share. Joe was a WWII Navy Veteran and had served in the Pacific Theatre as a radio operator on some island. When I received my orders for VietNam in the summer of 1968 and was home on leave, I stopped in to see Joe as I always did when I was home. I told him why I was home and where I was going. He reached in to his pocket and pulled out his wallet and opened it up. He handed me a worn Sacred Heart Cloth Scapula that had been given to him prior to his departure for duty in the Pacific during WWII. He said, “Keep this on you at all times for protection. And I expect you to bring it back to me”. Thankfully I brought it back to him. When I think of my youth growing up in Clarksburg and when I drive by the Dairy Bar when I visit home, Joe is always in my thoughts. A better Friend and Mentor, I have never had since those days.

Also in the February issue, we asked our readers:

Please write and tell us your memories of Miss Hollins, WI teacher. It’s never too late to write, let’s hear your memories about our typing teacher.

And in the March issue, we asked our readers these questions:

1. Do you think Miss Nutter was ever married? Yes or No and give us the reason for your answer?

2. Do you remember SHOP CLASS or HOME EC CLASS?

Who taught the class? What projects did you make? If you still have the item, send us a picture of it.

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

When emailing, please always include:

Your Complete Name

Your School's Name

Your Year If and/or When You Graduated

Thank you.

Here is what you wrote:

From: Anita Bartlett White (WI 1948)

Do not think that Miss Hollins was ever married. She could teach typing and was a faithful member of Clarksburg Baptist Church.
Miss Nutter was an awesome English teacher, scared me to death, but I really learned a lot in her class.
The only thing that I have left from Home Ec. class in a dishtowel, which we hemmed and embroidered our initials on. When I was a freshman, Mutt Ash brought a skunk to cook during the boy’s class. Not a happy teacher. She kicked him out of class. I got kicked out of Math class the same day for arguing with the teacher that the answer in the book was wrong. and I was right. Mr. McConkey agreed with me.
Jone’s Grocery was on the corner by my home. I still have a little Easter toy they game, named him "Puddin’ Head Jones”. Dave Saucer mentioned his grandfather's store across from Alta Vista. This wonderful man became my grandfather also, after I married Carl White. Grandpa Saucer was a saint on earth. No one went hungry, money or not. This was evidenced by the customers' unpaid bill left when he passed away. My Uncle, Truman Young had a meat marker on the corner of Point and Harrison Streets. John Parrill opened a grocery store in the other half of the building. The Dairy Bar belonged to John T. Flynn before Joe Bennett. I remember when he raised hot dogs from a nickel to seven cents. WOW, what would folks think now? Across from Stalnaker’s on Haymond Highway was little store that I think was an A & P at one time. We shopped at the A & P at the foot of Main Street. I remember Dad standing in line to get salad dressing and coffee for us. Later we shopped at Thorofare on Buckhannon Pike. They gave green stamps and there was green stamp store right next door. One thing I remember about Chicago Dairy was city chicken.
February picture was Palace Furniture. Dave Saucer's Mom worked there, and they gave all of the girl’s little cedar chests when we graduated.
Often wonder about all the kids from our neighborhood: Tom and Jeannie Myers, Janet Lemasters, Dave and Ann McMunn, Holly and Jerry McMunn, Spence White, Joe and Martha Cruise, Punchy Christie, JoEllen Duling, Brassines, Cottrill, Wilsons, Youngs, Waroblaks, Blands, Bob Taylor, Andy Rogers. I remember 2 little guys were killed: Jack Squires in a sledding accident and the Ambrose boy hit by a car crossing Rt.20 to get the paper.
The group of students that I remember the most were girls in my class and "Our Club": Marilyn Lemasters, Jean Duffield, Barbara Gainer, Edith Dessent, Barbara Young, Wand Kuhn, and Mary Jane Gaskins, may have left someone out. I do not remember conducting much business, but do remember the awesome food our Moms prepared for us. Maybe that is why we met.

I remember these same Moms coming to Alta Vista and working very hard to make costumes for plays and decorating floats. Does anyone remember the play where Leonard McDaniel was the Lion King? Carl White a squirrel page and cannot remember the other squirrel. I was a blue jay. We had different animals. Any memories from anyone about this?

From: Jackie Skinner King (WI 1971)

Was Miss Nutter ever married? No, I do not think so because even when I was little before I had her as a teacher she went to my church and do not recall ever seeing or hearing anything about that but even more to the point, Miss Nutter was very proper and particular with everything including never using nick names. Example: I was always Jacqueline in her class, never Jackie so I truly believe had she been married she would have gone by Mrs. and I don’t believe had she divorced as she would have changed her name back to her maiden name back then.

From: David Corsini (WI 1950)

I worked at Union National Bank for many years and Miss Nutter would come in to borrow small amounts of money. One time she came in and asked me if I would be her power of attorney. I asked her if she had any children and the answer was no, I then asked her if she had any other relatives and the answer was, she had a nephew or niece and I don’t remember which. I told her they are the ones that should be her power of attorney and I don't think I ever saw her again. I don't know if she was ever married, but I doubt it.

From: Ted Wolfe (WI 1974)

I ask you is this evidence enough to answer our age-old question?

While searching for something else I discovered this old newspaper article.

She was married Nov. 30, 1934. In 1940 she is listed in the census as divorced. She was hired at WI for the 1935 school year and is always listed as Virginia Nutter, so the divorce (or separation, at least) must have occurred pretty soon after the marriage.

I couldn't find out what became of Mr. Neely, but in the research I did I learned that Miss Nutter's brother was married to Mr. Frederick's sister.

NOTE FROM EDITOR:

Maybe she was angry due to a broken heart, not tight shoes as we always suspected!

From: Jackie (Skinner) King (WI 1971)

I remember Home Ec. Class very well teacher was Miss Jarvis. I was her home Ec. Assistant for 3 years while at WI. Because of her I later attended W VA Wesleyan and became the Home Economics teacher at Liberty High School. Miss Jarvis was a wonderful teacher/mentor and later friend. She had a huge impact on my life and of many others she taught!

From: Randy McCue (WI 1968)

I had shop class and remember the long walk to Central Jr. High School where shop class was located. I made a wall gun rack out of walnut that held 3 rifles and a drawer for ammo and cannot remember the teachers name. I still have the gun rack but unfortunately, I can't provide a picture of it because my Dad who is 92 has it hanging on the wall of his log cabin out in Dodridge County and I am in Maryland also, I wanted to let you how much I enjoy your monthly WI newsletter.

From: John Teter (WI 1961)

I can remember building 3 tables when I was in shop, but I cannot remember whether it was when I was at WI and/or Central Junior.

I can remember that I made the first 2 tables and finished both of them in the same year, and they went into the hallway in my parent's house on Broaddus Avenue. Size wise, one of these tables fit perfectly under a mirror that hung in the hallway; the other fit perfectly next to the front door and was used for a telephone table. The third table was a 2-year project, as I started it late in the school session of one year and finished it the following year. It was large and long, and was used at some point to house a stereo system, with shelves that housed plants and "knickknacks". The table by the front door was replaced in 1996, when my mother decided to put a table from my Uncle's house by the front door for the phone as it had a drawer that you could put papers in. My "phone table" was moved to the basement. All 3 tables were still in the house when we sold the house. My brother and sister asked me if I wanted to take the tables and bring them back to my home in Virginia, but I declined as I did not have any place to put them. SO, those tables were sent to the auction house when we decided to sell the house, and decided to have items sold at auction. I do remember that the bigger of the 3 tables was so strong and sturdy that I sat on it to sand it down, before I put the finishing touches on it.

From: Larry Taylor (WI 1972)

I did not take shop at WI in high school, but did when I attended Central Jr. High. I believe Mr. Corder was the shop teacher for 7th grade and Mr. Brown was the teacher for 8th grade. The shop classes were held in a separate building beside Central Jr. High.

In 7th grade I made a rifle rack for my bedroom wall. It had some engraving on it and had felt glued to the hooks to protect the rifles. In 8th grade I made a tie/belt rack out of oak using the wood lathe. I have used that continually since 8th grade, and recently installed it on the wall of a house we just built in Bluffton, SC. (see photo above)

I also remember that Mr. Brown was especially well known for his paddle. I remember it being especially well crafted and scary looking. My friends and I experienced that paddle one day in study hall.

QUESTIONS FOR MAY NEWSLETTER

Do you think the education system should once again teach shop, mechanical arts, Home Ec., Home Planning in the School? If yes or no, tell us why you think this way. Remember, NO POLITICS!

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

When emailing, please always include:

1.     Your Complete Name

2.    Your School's Name

3.    Your Year If and/or When You Graduated

Thank you.

A MYSTERY CHILD

In the March newsletter, we posted this darling little boy who grew up to graduate from WI and he even was at the Clarksburg Picnic on March 9 2019. 

We asked you to guess who he is and to tell us how you know him.

And here is the only correct answer that we received:

From: Carolyn Hinzman Ramsay (Weston High School 1952)

I think the “Mystery Child” is Bucky Tustin. He lived on Duff Street & we lived on Hall Street when he was that age. His sister, Carolyn, was in my class.

MARCH MYSTERY PICTURE

From: Sandy Zickefoose Lindke (WI 1956)

The photo is of a lantern powered by oil. Maybe carried in the coal mines.

From: Bob Alton (VHS 1955)

First, I must tell you how much I enjoy your hard work on the Newsletter!!

I think the mystery item in this issue is a carbide lamp that coal miners put on their hard hats when they went to work underground.

Again, thanks for the effort you put into this project.

From: Mike Snyder (WI 1957)

Hey Roleta, the troops sure came through for the Newsletter this month--so many posts from so many readers! Your mystery pic is none other than a Carbide Lamp. I had one and I loved to mix the carbide chips and water in the bottom and gas would come out the tiny opening in the center of the reflector. Then you'd light it with a match or the wheel and "flint" on the reflector and this brilliant flame appeared. Papaw Snyder wore one on top of his miner’s cap like that pictured in his days as a coal cutting machine operator in the Monongah Mines before he came to Clarksburg. Coon hunters like my Stealey hunting and trapping pal Johnny Miller (WI '58) had big reflectors on theirs to see in the pitch-dark woods when running after their hounds. I especially liked taking mine into the old mine shaft around Stealey Hill. I heard some guys would mix the carbide and water in an air tight container until it blew up. Some even killed fish like that. Not me, mine was strictly for night adventures that a flashlight couldn't touch.

From: Joe Tipper (VHS 1958)

The picture is of a carbide lamp. It was used by coal miners before battery powered lamps were used.

From: Terry Shorr (WI/Elkins 1958)

After ruling out a pressure cooker and a U.S. Navy depth charge, I'm gonna go with a miner's carbide lamp for the first photo, and for the second, a miner's helmet with a carbide lamp that's missing its reflector.

From: Ruby Casto (VHS 1947)

Looks like a carbide light that men used in the coal mines.

From: John Teter (WI 1961)

I think that the "What is this" is a lamp/flashlight that coal miners used to wear on their hard hats when they were working in the mines. One of my next-door neighbors used to work in the mines around Clarksburg, but I do not remember ever seeing him wearing one of the hard hats with this on the top, but I am pretty sure that my "guess" MIGHT BE correct!!

From: Charles Ferrell (WI 1946)

The photo is a carbide lamp that is used on miner's helmets. I had one at home in my school days, Carbide when mixed with water produces a flammable gas. these often resulted in explosions in coal mines which sometimes contained methane gas when not ventilated properly.

From: John Campbell (WI 1959)

I would guess that it is a carbide lamp. CaC2 plus H2O will Generate Acetylene gas which is highly flammable and will burn very hot and bright making light. Some had been used in mining but they could cause mine explosions by setting off gas released by the mining process. Not used now!!

From: Randy McCue (WI 1968)

I am guessing that the mystery picture is a carbide lamp that coal miners used. It was attached to their hard hats as the picture shows after it was lit to provide light in the dark mines. I used one when I used to spelunk back in the 60's.

From: Mike Snyder (WI 1957)

The photo above is from the “Beckley Exhibition Mine” the display may remind many West Virginians of a link to the heritage of many of us.

Notice the hat the miner is wearing. The whip around his neck was used to drive mules hauling coal cars in the mines. Over 500 million tons of coal was used in the US before the 1930’s and almost all of it was loaded one shovelful at a time by the miners.

From: Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)

This is a miner’s lantern. If I remember correctly, the container unscrews from bottom and a powder is placed in side. The lid on top opens to put either the powder or the water inside. Then, I believe mixed with water, this creates a gas-like substance that comes out at the center of the reflector. The little wheel at the side of the reflector contains a flint, that when the wheel is spun with your thumb, creates a spark that ignites the gas which gives off light for the miner to see in the mines. Same principle as the old Zippo Lighters. Moving the leaver at the top one way or the other adjust the brightness of the flame. When this is complete, the miner connects this to his miner’s helmet.

Hopefully someone who knows exactly how this really works will respond. It is pretty interesting. All my uncles on my mother's side were all coal miners.

From: Babe Bisping Cashman (WI 1956)

I know that Bill knows what this is! It’s a carbide lantern. The back portion is filled with carbide pellets. Water is added and a gas is formed that is flammable. The reflector behind the gas outlet makes the light shine like a flashlight!!!

The lanterns were used by miners. Our family used them on camping trips.

On another front. Thank you so much for doing all the grunt work for another fantastic reunion! I don’t think many know or appreciate how much work it takes to make the reunion run as smoothly as you make it look!!! Don’t lose touch please!

From: Roleta Meredith (WI 1959)

At high school graduation time, Bill earned a college scholarship from Consolidated Coal Company, which entitled him to also work in the mines each summer to help him earn money. We had one of those miner’s hats in our basement for years. I think our children played with it. It never meant much to me because I had no personal contact with any miners who went into the underground mines. I had an uncle who lived in Philippi who drove a big dump truck back and forth to the tipple and another uncle who worked as a supervisor or superintendent…not sure which but neither ever went into mines. Anyway, just last year our son asked whatever happened to the old miner’s hat that Bill had from when he worked in the coal mines. Who would ever guess he would be interested? Well, he was so interested that Bill (knew right where it was stored) and he gave it to our son Victor. He was so happy to receive it that he hung it on the wall of his media room in Ohio.

PS: Someday I will have Bill write about the first time I was ever in a mine. I think it was the deepest mine in WV at time.

From: Ronald Harvey (WI 1955)

The item in the "What is this" section of the March newsletter is a Carbide Lamp (I have one similar to the one shown). The principle behind the light is water is stored in the top chamber. The lever on top regulates how the rate that water drops into the bottom chamber which contains calcium carbide. As the water unites with the calcium carbide, pure acetylene is formed. The acetylene is flammable and used as the light source. The equation is CaC2 (calcium carbide) + 2 H2O (water)→C2H2 (acetylene)+ Ca (OH)2 (calcium hydroxide used in white wash) (I have a can of this which has never been opened.) To light the light, one would hold his hand over the reflector letting the acetylene concentrate behind his hand. A quick movement of his hand would cause a spark from the sparker and light the acetylene producing the light.

Sports Editor: Bill Meredith

(Monongah HS 1957)

billmere@aol.com

please email our Sports editor with your comments, questions and especially your memories

ANSWERS TO MARCH SPORTS SURVEY

Last month we asked our readers to answer five questions about WVU basketball. 

Surprisingly, we only got one response, but it was a good one.

The questions were:

1. Were you surprised to see Wes Harris and Esa Ahmad dismissed from the WVU basketball team?

2. Which, if any, current team members with eligibility remaining will leave the team after the season ends and why would they leave?

3. Will Sagaba Konate return to play for the Mountaineers next season? Please give a reason for your answer.

4. Would you prefer that Sagaba Konate return to play at WVU next season or should he move on to the pros?

5. Will Beetle Bolden return to play for the Mountaineers next season?

From: Terry Shorr (WI/Elkins 1958)

1.Esa Ahmad's dismissal did not surprise me. Rumors had been circulating that Esa and others were spending time in Charleston with various forms of mischief and, obviously sacrificing opportunities for practice and academics. It now appears the purging has had positive effects as Huggins says the team is paying attention to coaching.

2/3. Of potentially returning player: I hear practically every name mentioned by someone who expects that player to leave. I have no idea, but suspect that Sagaba Konate may not return as either he and/or his brother seem to think he's the next Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Chase Harler may opt to go down a level, perhaps West Liberty, where he could excel, or he may decide to stay and compete. I think he's better than many give him credit for, and he protects the ball better than the other guards.

4. I'd prefer Konate would stay and play on a front line with Derek Culver and Oscar Tshiebwe, and further develop for a possible NBA contract. That trio of bigs would be the most talented ever at WVU. On the other hand, Sags may not want to be forced to the side of the limelight by the other two and just go pro now.

5. I see no reason for Beetle Bolden to transfer. He'll be a senior and is firmly established as a proven contributor. If they can armor him up with braces supporting every joint so he can stay healthy, he should retain his starting position for next year.

Football will be interesting and exciting come fall, and basketball should follow suit.

PS: Gonna miss the picnic Saturday, only because I'll be at the Coliseum watching WVU win its 20th NCAA Rifle Championship. Followed by catching the Mountaineer Baseball team for two games at Morehead State on 12 and 13 March.

Let's Goooooooo, MOUNTAINEERS!!

Reply to Terry:

1. I was not surprised by the two players being dismissed from the team. I have seen enough basketball in my time to recognize when there is something wrong with a team's play. I commented to friends early on that there was a "cancer" on this squad and I hoped that Huggins would remove it soon. Were Ahmad and Harris the problem? I don't know, but they have certainly looked more like a team recently.

2 & 5. I had the opportunity to wait long enough to answer the question to have seen Beetle Bolden announce his departure. His leaving surprised me at first. However, after giving it some thought, I decided that it was a smart move. Bolden is not the point guard that Huggins needs. Jordan McCabe probably is. Because of their small sizes, both would not play together regularly next year. Exit Bolden.

I would not be surprised to see any or all of the following players transfer.

Trey Doomes - I question whether he can beat out Jordan McCabe.

Andrew Gordon - Won't start in place of Culver, but should stay, since Culver may be gone after next year.

Taevon Horton - A good walk on, who could play at a place like Fairmont State.

Brandon Knapper - Should stay, but I feel he wants to start now.

Lamont West - Was a pro prospect last year. His stock has gone down, so he might stay another year to improve his worth.

3. Konate should have played this year. I think he got some bad advice and may have been upset that Huggins wanted him to play the low post and not take 3-point shots. It is hard to remove dollar signs from a young man's mind, so, as much as I'd love for him to stay, I expect him to leave.

4. I agree with Terry that WVU could have the top front line in the country if Sags stays for next season, but unless he does something to prove to me that he is an "all in" team player, the team might be better off without him on the roster.

Thanks to Terry for participating in the survey. If you have anything to add to our comments or wish to still answer the questions, please send your thoughts to me.

Send your Sports Thoughts and Comments to Bill Meredith (billmere@aol.com)

When emailing, please always include:

1.     Your Complete Name

2.    Your School's Name

3.    Your Year If and/or When You Graduated

Thank you.

HUGGINS, 

AMID RARE SEASON BELOW 500:

"I still love it"

Many thanks to John Teter (WI 1961), who sent me an excellent article about WVU Coach Bob Huggins, which appeared in The Washington Post and was written by John Feinstein. If you'd like to read the story, click HERE.

THINGS ARE BUSY IN MORGANTOWN

From: Bill Meredith (Monongah HS 1957)

As I write this, the WVU Football team is well into their spring practice sessions, the baseball team has begun their Big 12 season and Coach Bob Huggins is methodically dismantling, what was probably his worst ever basketball team.

A new football coaching staff will have a major job of replacing Will Grier at quarterback. The three players hoping to earn the starting position are Austin Kendall, a redshirt junior, who transferred from Oklahoma, Jack Allison, another redshirt junior and Miami transfer and Trey Lowe, a redshirt freshman, who is probably the only true dual-threat QB of the three. Most fans were not impressed with Allison during his limited playing time last season and were happy to see Kendall land at WVU. I would love to see what Trey Lowe could do in real game action. I miss seeing a running quarterback. Regardless, I like what little I’ve seen and heard from the new coaches and, like most fans, I look forward to a new beginning in the fall.

We have previously discussed the fact that big changes are coming to the basketball roster and they have started. In addition to the dismissals of Esa Ahmad and Wes Harris, four current players have entered the NCAA transfer portal. They are James “Beetle” Bolden, Trey Doomes, Lamont West and Andrew Gordon. If you have followed Mountaineer basketball this season, none of this should surprise you. What would be a surprise, is if some others didn’t leave the team. Currently, Huggins has two recruits signed for next season and will have at least four more scholarships available if all players in the transfer portal leave the team. Whether a fifth is open depends on Sagaba Konate’s decision about coming back in 2019-20. As you can see, we’ll need a program to identify all the new faces by the time fall practice begins.

Remember, the newsletter is all about you.

Send your thoughts and comments about sports to billmere@aol.com

When emailing, please always include:

1.     Your Complete Name

2.    Your School's Name

3.    Your Year If and/or When You Graduated

Thank you.

MARCH MYSTERY PICTURE

From: Janice Waller Metzgar (WI 1968)

The picture of the Esso station was what we called "on top of the hill" on Pike St. since we lived at the bottom of the hill on River Road.

I remember Eric Curtis lived in the house behind it and I went to school with him. Across the street was a grill with a Greek guy named John that ran it, which is where my love of chili buns began and has never ended.

From: Bob Twigg (WI 1955)

That will be Clovis' Esso in Point Comfort, between Clarksburg and Adamston. Carl the son and Fred Bolton, Jim Strider and myself had a Model A Fords during high school. Carl was a radio announcer for one of the radio stations in Clarksburg later on.

From: Randy McCue (WI 1968)

The March mystery picture is located on Main St. the west side of Clarksburg heading towards Adamston. If you turned into the side street beside the gas station it was the back way to Hazel Atlas glass factory. I double dated with the owner’s son Eric Curtis who at the time had a black 58 T-Bird he later owned a blue 66 Corvette

From: Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)

This has to be the service station on the way towards Adamston, owned by Carl Clovis Sr. Carl's son Carl "Pooter" was a very dear friend of mine. He had a nice brother Jim. "Pooter" was one of the funniest guys I've ever known. Always telling a few jokes and laughing all the time. He was our "hot shot" DJ in Clarksburg. He was a DJ in the "Sky Castle" overlooking Ellis's Drive-in. I remember one evening he got my Mom up in that box and interviewed her. She had the time of her life. "Pooter" left us way to early. What a great guy.

From: Doris (“Jeanne”) Walters Webster (WI 1959)

The March Mystery picture looks like the Esso Station over in Adamston on West Pike street. My mother's sister lived in Adamston pretty close to that station, I'm not too sure of it because it was such a long time ago and my memory is fading more and more each year. But I do remember that we turned on a street right after passing that station (or one like it) when we went to my aunt's house.

You are one in a million Roleta, for keeping the Newsletter alive. Thank you so much.

From: Shirley Heidelmeier Williams (WI 1957)

The mystery picture was Clovis gas station on the corner of W. Pike Street and Coleman Ave. Carl Clovis and his sons worked there. Pooter Clovis a 1956 graduate of WI, and Jim Clovis a 58 graduate of WI. We all lived on Coleman Ave in the 50’s. Some of the Clovis relatives lived in the big house behind the station. Travelers Cafe was across Pike Street from the station. Best cheeseburgers. Mr. Cubbon, the WI principle, lived by the Cafe. Kids would hang out on the wall on the corner across from gas station. Good times.

NOTE FROM EDITOR: Glad you enjoyed the memories, I love jogging readers' memories.

From: Jackie Morris Corsini (WI 1949)

The mystery picture for March is Carl Clovis ESSO station at the corner of Coleman Avenue and West Pike Street Clarksburg. I used to live in Point Comfort and walked by there every day going to school at Point Comfort Grade School.

From: John Fratt (WI 1968)

I am guessing the picture was taken in Point Comfort at Carl Clovis filling station. Carl later turned it over to his sister, Wanda Curtis and her husband. I pumped gas at 34 cents a gallon in 1967. The “WALL” was beside it where guy n girls of the neighborhood hung out.

From: David Corsini (WI 1950)

The mystery picture is Carl Clovis ESSO Station in Point Comfort

From: Joe Tipper (VHS 1958)

Mystery pictures: The gas station was located on the corner of West Pike Street and Coleman Avenue run by Carl Clovis. His sons worked there. WI graduates Pooter and Jim.

From: Bob Kramer (WI 1965)

The Exxon station was located in Point Comfort towards Adamston. It was owned by the Curtis family. After they got out of the gas business, it was a detail shop.

From: Shirley Heidelmeier Williams (WI 1957)

The mystery picture was Clovis gas station on the corner of W. Pike Street and Coleman Ave. Carl Clovis and his sons worked there. Pooter Clovis a 1956 graduate of WI, and Jim Clovis a 58 graduate of WI. We all lived on Coleman Ave in the 50’s. Some of the Clovis relatives lived in the big house behind the station. Traveler’s Cafe was across Pike Street from the station. They had the best cheeseburgers! Mr. Cubbon, the WI principle, lived by the Cafe. Kids would hang out on the wall on the corner across from gas station. Good times.

APRIL MYSTERY PICTURE

Photo submitted by Marsha Golden Caplinger (WI 1965)

What is the team? Why are they pictured? Can you name the players?

Write to Roleta1@aol.com

When emailing, please always include:

1.     Your Complete Name

2.    Your School's Name

3.    Your Year If and/or When You Graduated

Thank you.

NEW ADDRESSES

Dewayne Cooper (WI 1977) dtbcooper@gmail.com

George Haskins (WI 1993) Titans2797@yahoo.com

Phil Bryan (Notre Dame 1964) Plbryan225@gmail.com

CHANGE OF ADDRESSES

Becky Stalnaker Fowler (WI 1960) wfowler12@cfl.rr.com

Catherine Custer Burke (WI 1952) katierose052@frontier.com

Lynn Corder (RW 1954) lynncorder81@yahoo.com

NOTE FROM EDITOR: 

An address that was to be deleted, we received new information from Jim Fragale: Beverley Brown (WI 1955) beverleyb7640@yahoo.com

CHARLES M FERRELL

(WI 1946)

Charles Ferrell and his wife Donnie moved to Asbury last July. Donnie lived in Wilson for about a week, but sadly she died on August 3. Their two children, Frank and Kimberly, live in Germantown. A celebrated figure in his industry, Charles has amassed more than 65 years of professional excellence. A consultant in the field since 1995, he formerly served the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a nuclear engineer from 1974 to 1995. Prior to this appointment, he was a radiological physicist with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission from 1956 to 1974. He commenced his career as a physicist and physical scientist with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps from 1951 to 1954. To prepare for his illustrious career, Charles earned a BS from Salem College in 1950. He subsequently completed post-grad work at Vanderbilt University, West Virginia University and the University of Maryland. Among many notable achievements, he was responsible for the design of instrumentation to measure thermal radiation from nuclear tests, the study of gamma radiation shielding, the evaluation of radioactive sealed sources and devices for Atomic Energy Commission licenses, and the evaluation of shipping casks for spent reactor fuel. He also coauthored five U.S. Nuclear Regulatory publications. In recognition of his contributions to the scientific industry, Charles won a U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Radiological Physics Fellowship in 1954 and 1955. In addition, he has won various volunteer service awards, as well as the James F. West Fellow Award and Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. The recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Outstanding Community Service Award by the City of Gaithersburg in 2004, he was named to the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2001. Gaithersburg also gave him the Government Award for Character Counts. He has also been highlighted in several editions of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, Who’s Who in the World, and Marquis Who’s Who of Top Scientists. He received the Health Physics Society, Public Services Award in 2015, and is a charter member of this society. He has been a Boy Scout leader for many years and also served many other positions in the Boy Scouting field. He has been on a Gaithersburg ad hoc committee to build a new senior center. He does volunteer work at the Epworth Methodist Church and has received the church’s Flame and Cross Award. This busy man is in the process of completing 20 years of work on a book about his varied U.S. Army career! Charles’ apartment has many lovely or interesting examples of his variety of interests: model tanks and airplanes which he built to help train military personnel to identify both U.S. and enemy aircraft. He received a citation from a naval admiral for his work. Further, he has beautiful photographs, especially of sailboats. We welcome this multi-talented new resident to the Mund family. — Anne Kuester Mund.

THE NEW ROBINSON GRAND

POSITIVE RESULTS FOR

CLARKSBURG BUSINESS

I received this from several readers. Thank you for thinking of the newsletter and helping keep readers, located all over the US and many other countries, updated! Click HERE to read a very interesting article.

MEMORIES FROM

THE LAST CLARKSBURG REUNION PICNIC IN SARASOTA
March 9 2019

From: Bill White (WI 1956)

Many, many thanks to you and Bill and your sister for the great event we were part of this past Saturday in Sarasota. It was wonderful to see so many of my classmates as well as others from WI and Notre Dame. I think we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and were glad to be there. You deserve a great big medal for all of the effort and work that you have put into creating this picnic and for your tireless work in producing the monthly newsletter for these 20 years.

Please know that you all are much appreciated and loved and will always be in the hearts of those of us who have benefited so greatly from these events and publications.

May God bless you all abundantly and keep you in good health as we face the future.

From Roleta: Thank you so much for your kind words. It was great seeing you. It was so nice that so many people found friends that they hadn’t seen for years. I love bringing people together. Hopefully someday, sometime we will see each other again.

From: Jim Nutter (WI 1971)

Thank you Roleta for another fine Clarksburg Reunion Picnic at the Twin Lakes Park, Sarasota. Your hot dog chili sauce is the best in Florida. The high point was being able to spend time with two of my childhood friends,  (see above photo) Andy Vac (left) and Tommy Thompson (right), both WI 1970. My mother has a picture of the three of us when we were still toddlers. Tommy moved away prior to kindergarten, but Andy and I remained close playmates until he moved out of Golf Plaza after grade school. 

While I am remembering childhood friends, it was good to read Eann Hodges' (WI 1971) postings. I met her when we were about three or four. I was exploring down Wayside Lane and found her playing in her back yard. There was a high brick wall on one side of the yard. If you were brave (or foolish enough), one could climb upon the wall and swing out on a weeping willow branch. Eann, if you are reading this, I have a six-grade memory of you and Stephen Cooksey at Jennifer Yoho’s (WI 1971).

From Roleta: Thank you Jim, it was great seeing old friends find each other at the picnic. I enjoyed the reactions each time one friend found another - the whole intention of the newsletter and especially the picnic. It was great that Andrew Vac took time out of his busy day to come to visit us. I think he won the prize for the number of hot dogs eaten in one day!

I hope to see you again someday.

From: Vicki Limbers Moore (WI 1967)

Roleta, my husband captured this picture of you and I standing there (at Clarksburg/Sarasota picnic March 9 2019) waiting for others from my WI class of ‘67 to appear for the photo - to no avail. They must have already departed the event. It was a lovely day - only wish I hadn’t had a case of laryngitis. Had fun anyway. You and I look pretty relaxed. Thanks for all the memories.

From Roleta: Thank you Vicki for sending me the picture. It was great seeing you again. You have attended several of the Clarksburg Picnics in Sarasota. I am glad you and hubby came to the last one.

From: Jim Alvaro (WI 1956)

We just got back home from the trip. I had a great time. Well, Sonja did also. I was about to cancel the last minute because I didn't know if I could have a good time without Fred for the first time. I really missed him but the people who came up and said how sorry and shocked they were when they heard the news and told me how much he meant to them, made me really glad I went. Also, he would have wanted me there.

On the way home, I started thinking about this being the last time this reunion will happen. Then it hit me. I told Sonja we will not see 99% of these people ever again. I mean some of them I have known since grade school. I told her that you have held us all together for these many, many years. That without the hard work that you, Judy, Jalon, and Bill have put into this, most of us would have never made contact and kept up with each other. There were several who have passed on during this time but were not forgotten. I know there were a few that were not feeling up to par, which was the majority of us, that made it there. I know several who would have made it if it was at all possible. They were not forgotten either. Those should not feel like they were not missed. We worried about the reason of them not making the reunion. Those we knew, if at all possible, would have been right there with us. I agree, this should have been the last one. It went out with a bang. Not only that, but a lot of us at my age, who knows how many may be too sick to travel or some may not even be living the next time around. God forbid.

I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate the hard work you all put into this. Believe me, I'm not sure who else could have done this and for the number of years. I don't know if anyone enjoyed this as much as I.

Hey, I'm 80 and had a great life. So, it's like rounding first base and heading home, which means I still have a long way to go, as do all the others my age.

Again, thanks to you all for a great time and fantastic turnout.

From: Bill Bryan (RW 1957)

Thank you "one more time" for the WI/Clarksburg Sarasota Reunion. I believe there were eight of us from Broadway - either St. Mary's/Notre Dame or RW grads. Everyone had a great time mingling, reminiscing, and enjoying all the wonderful food. The hot dog chili seemed to be the best yet! We appreciate the effort you, Bill, and Jalon (and any others I missed) put into making this last one so successful. Thank you again.

From Roleta: Thank you Bill for coming each year to the picnics in the past, even though you were often the only one from Broadway or RW. But it was great to see you with several pals this year. It was great meeting you and I hope we will one day meet again, some place, sometime.

From: Jay Sharp (WI 1959)

I have to say that I enjoyed this picnic more than any of the rest. This one turned out to be very special for me. As you know, I don’t think I have missed one of the picnics.

From the time I arrived and sat down, I had someone sitting next to me and talking about either the past or the future. I was so busy talking with my friends and classmates that I didn’t even have a chance to have lunch.

This was the first time I missed out on some of those good West Virginia hot dogs and your great chili.

I have to admit though that since I returned home, I have been a bit depressed.

I don’t think I will ever see any of these people ever again. That very thought has hounded me ever since I returned. It is so sad but I guess I should feel grateful for the opportunity to have seen these friends one final time.

I just wanted to thank you and your sister and Bill for all the work that you put forth.

Thanks again for another great Picnic

I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

From Roleta: Thanks Jay. I can say that of all the picnics I have had in Sarasota, this was the BEST. Perhaps it wasn’t the largest attendance but it was the most fun. I think we all realized that we will probably never see each other ever again. I agree it was a wonderful day but a thought was always in my head that so many regulars who use to attend were not there and they were missed and it will just get worse as time passes. I hope we will see each other again some time.

From: John Allen (WI 1957)

I do not know how you find the time to do all that work it takes with the scholarship and the newsletter. I am most appreciative of your generousness.

From Roleta: John, thank you for the nice note. I don’t know how I get it all done either but it is a gift of mine to the people who read the newsletter.

HERE ARE SOME GREAT PICTURES 

THAT HELPED CAPTURE OUR MEMORIES

Class of 1945

Bob Williams, 94 years young and still going strong... Looking Good Bob!

Class of 1954 and 1955

Left to Right: Buck Tustin (WI 1955), Janet Molle Morse (WI 1954), 

and Ron Love (WI 1954)

Class of 1956

Left to Right: Marilyn Tustin Jett, Bob Kopp, Barbara Allen Gordon, Jim Alvaro, Bob Bridge, Babe Bisping Cashman, Augie Malfregot, Mary Ann Donato, JIm Warren, Sandy Zickefoose Lindke, Bill White, Sandy Squires Beverly.

Class of 1957

Left to Right: Tom Allen, Fran Muscari, Sam Selario, and Sam Urso

Class of 1958

Left to Right: Martha Kinney Kessler, Bob Adams, Beverly Ellis O'Grady, Allen Alvarez, Barb Warren Williams, Buck Horner, Jean Vickers Kennedy, (might be??) Alex Cazzetto, and Tom Lee

Class of 1959

Left to Right: Nancy Mayer Capilla, Roleta Smith Meredith, Clare Jason Davis, Jim Hornor, Marge Jones Kober in front middle, Bill Cowgill, Bob Rector, Sharyn Cottrill McGahan in front in WVU Navy shirt, Jay Sharp and Marsha Woods Roper

Class of 1960

Left to Right: Linda Oliverio Kolosky is on the left.

Write and tell me the names of the people and the order pictured and we will fix this caption!

Class of 1962, 1963 and 1964

Left to Right: ????, Melinda Mazza Sutter (WI 1964), Steve Sutter (WI 1964), Mariln Hurst Lee (WI 1962), and Martha Pulice Williams (WI 1964) 

Not pictured is Alex Lancaster (WI 1964)

Class of 1967 and 1971

Left to Right: Jim Nutter (WI 1971) and Vicki Limbers Moore (WI 1967)

Class of 1972 and 1975

Left to Right: ???, might be Tim Williams (WI 1975) name tag is turned over and K.C. Yost (WI 1972)

Roosevelt Wilson High School Alumni

Left to Right: Ron Love (RW 1954), Candy Bryan Hess (RW 1965), Bill Bryan (1957) and Peggie Love Bryant (RW 1956)

Notre Dame High School Alumni

Sorry, we don't have the names in order and we even have pictured 2 more people than we had names, so if you can help, we will make the revisions. Those attending were: Pat Elder (ND 1957) in front, Mary Jo McGann (ND 61), Elizabeth McGann Drake (ND 1960), Pete Secret (ND 1964), Samuel Lopez (ND 1960), Liz Brummage (ND 1959), Bill Brummage (ND1964), Marascio Williams (ND 1973)

Bridgeport High School Alumni

Left to Right: Sonja Alvaro (BHS 1958), Larry O'Grady (BHS 1955) and Gregory Hess (BHS 1968)

Your WI Newsletter Staff

Left to Right: WIN Sports Editor, Bill Meredith (Monongah HS 1957); WIN Editor, Roleta Smith Meredith (WI 1959) and WIN Publisher, Jalon Smith Burton (she's not a WI Alumna but now feels like she knows you all!)

Below are some additional candid pictures taken. It was wonderful seeing all those present. Some for the first time and some life time friends, all that we hope we will meet again, soon.

Babe Bisping Cashman (WI 1956), Stu Cashman, husband of Babe Bisping Cashman, (LaSalle High School/Niagara Falls, N.Y.) and Bill Meredith share a laugh

These 3 friends from Stealey, Marsha Woods Roper, Sharyn Cottrill McGahan and Roleta Smith Meredith, met in Morgan Grade School, went to Central Jr. High School and WI High School. Then Marsha and Roleta were roommates at Fairmont State University. They stood and shared lots of memories. Thanks to Marsha's daughter Robin Roper who drove Marsha and Sharyn to the picnic. Sharyn flew in from WV and Marsha and Robin came in from Hollywood, Fl. It was so good for these life time friends to be together again. This is what reunions are all about.

Barbara Allen Gordon (WI 1956) and Martha Kessler (WI 1958)

Bill and Roleta talk with Bill Cowgill (WI 1959)

Clara Jason Davis (WI 1959), Jim Alvaro (WI 1956) and Bob Capilla, husband of Nancy Mayer Capilla (WI 1959)

Frank (WI 1957) and Eva Muscari

Alice W, Melinda Mazza Sutton (WI 1964),Tom Allen (WI 1957) and Bill White (WI 1956)

Roleta visiting with a friend

Sandy Zickefoose Lindke (WI 1956) and son

Tannis Warren, wife of Jim Warren (WI 1956) and Darlene Clousson, wife of Bob Clousson (WI 1955)

Tom Thompson (WI 1970) and Andrew Vac (WI 1970)

Tony and wife Cindy Clousson -Son of Bob Clousson (WI 1955)

Two ladies and Bob Rector (WI 1959)

Any additional information on the above photos or any additional photos that we have not posted here would be greatly appreciated and greatly enjoyed by all!

JACK EMRICK

(WI 1953)

Hello Roleta,

This is Alisha (Emrick) Setchell, Jack's daughter. It is with sorrow that I write to you to let you know that my father passed away yesterday morning, April 1, 2019.

He had asked that I reach out to let you know that he was not doing very well so that something could be sent out to the WI Classmates. Unfortunately, his computer has not been working and it was not until this past Saturday that I was even able to get on and finally get into his email account.

I, much like my father, am a day late and a dollar short.

Congestive heart failure was the culprit. He went into the hospital on December 31 2018 with a-fib and was there for about 4 days until they got it under control. He came home on January 4 2019 and seemed to be doing better. After about a week, he began having a lot of swelling in his lower legs, arms and scrotum (a tall-tale sign of CHF). He went back into the hospital on January 21 2019 and had been in and out of the hospital and in skilled nursing facilities since.

Hospice was called in on Feb 28th. We sought medical opinions from WVU Hospital in Morgantown, Cleveland Clinic in OH, and the VA here in Clarksburg, but he was in advanced stages of CHF and his kidneys were also failing (and he did not want to go through dialysis), so there was just not a whole lot that could be done as far as treatment.

For the last month, we have spent lots of time together with him. We finally made it through about 8 Kodak Carousels of slides that he has wanted to show me for a long time and we took a drive around Clarksburg one afternoon so that he could show me all of the places that he had lived as a kid and teenager.

As you know, my dad was one heck of a guy. He always said he was the only guy in Clarksburg with enough hot air to blow up an onion sack, and this past weekend, I believe he blew up his final sack with words of encouragement and admonition to all of us (his sons, his grandchildren and great grandchildren, in-laws, my mother, and myself), assured us of his love and gratitude for us, and made sure we knew exactly what he wanted for his funeral services. I know that he was at peace with God and that he knew the Lord and I believe he was finally ready to go Home. He took his last breath at 3:57 a.m. on April 1st.

I know you know how much the WI Newsletter meant to him and I love looking through the blog and seeing the contributions that he has made in the past. If you would, please pass the word on that he has passed. And thank you for all of the work that you do for the WI Newsletter.

I am posting the link to the obituary HERE. Thank you again.

With love,

Alisha (Emrick) Setchell

MARK D. LEES
(WI 1967)

Mark D. Lees, 69, son of the late Gloria E. and Louis Lees of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on February 21, 2019, in Cincinnati, Ohio

He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Robert B. Lees and Lucretia Jo Hall, of River Forest, IL.

Growing up in Clarksburg, Mark was active in the Clarksburg Tree of Life Synagogue and graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1967 before heading off to college in North Carolina. He obtained degrees from Duke University and the University of North Carolina before beginning his career as a business executive. While his work took him to many cities in the U.S., his main residence was Cincinnati, where he lived following his retirement. He had specified that his corneas be given to others upon his death, after which he was to be cremated. The family requests that persons wishing to honor Mark may do so by contributing to a charity of their choice in his memory.

DENNIS MAZZA
(WI 1964)

Dennis R. Mazza I, 72, of Bridgeport, WV, went to be with the Lord on March 4, 2019.He was born on October 11, 1946, at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Clarksburg, WV, to the late Frank and Elizabeth Mazza.

He is survived by his daughter and sons, Dennis Richard Mazza II and wife Chrissy Timothy Michael Mazza and partner Kevin Swearingen, David Matthew Mazza, Michael Joseph Mazza and wife Kathleen, John Michael Mazza and fiancée Chelsea Davis, and Allessandra-Maria St. Clair and husband Tyler. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Myra Elizabeth Mazza, Drew Steven Mazza, Noah David Mazza, Isabella Rebekah Mazza, Gianna Lucia Mazza, Alek Elijah Mazza, Timothy Francesco Mazza, Samuel Thomas Mazza, Avery Jane St. Clair, Amelia Winslow Mazza and Aubree Nicole Davis; two brothers, Frank Mazza and wife Marilyn and Raymond L. Mazza and wife Adrian, both of Ohio; one niece; three nephews; five great-nephews; and two great-nieces; and an aunt, Violet Mazza, of Bridgeport, WV

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank Salvatore and Mary Marra Mazza of San Giovanni, Italy, and Charles and Sabina Wilfong and an infant sister, Mary Elizabeth Mazza.

He was a 1964 graduate of Washington Irving High School and attended Ohio Valley College, Fairmont State University and West Virginia University. He attended the W.Va. State Police Academy where he taught firearms training and was also trained at the Department of Dangerous Drugs and Explosives School.

Dennis retired from the Clarksburg Police Department and was the Police Chief in the town of West Milford, WV. He served in the United States Army and fought overseas in the Vietnam War, being honorably discharged, and received the Commendation Medal of Valor for saving 300 Vietnamese civilians. He also retired from the VA Hospital after 11 years, working in various departments.

Over the years, he coached several youth leagues; Minor League Baseball, Little League Baseball, Jerry West Basketball, Girls Soccer and YMCA Youth Basketball. He received awards from the police department naming him “Policeman of the Year” and was nominated for the J. Edgar Hoover Award. He started the organization known as H.E.L.P. (Help Every Little Person).

Dennis had the privilege of serving as the late Senator Robert C. Byrd’s body guard while he was in Clarksburg. He always talked about the senator playing his fiddle for him in his suite. He loved spending his days at the family cabin with his sons, daughter, grandchildren and friends, fishing from his favorite rock and swimming on those hot summer days.

DENA HANE GILCHRIST

Dená “Jane” Gilchrist, 54, of Stonewood, passed away after a brief illness on Friday, March 8, 2019 at her daughter’s house surrounded by loving family and under the compassionate care of WV Hospice. She was a local fiber artist and weaver and the owner of Loomyladi Handwoven Studio in Stonewood.

She was born in Barberton, OH on March 5, 1965 the daughter of Joy Gregoire DeFazio of Stonewood and the late Charles H. Gilchrist.

Jane treasured her time spent with her mother, Joy DeFazio and step father, John, of Stonewood; two children: Jeaneth Boyer Maxwell and husband, Steven, and Stephen “Charlie” Boyer both of Weston; two step children who she raised as her own: Dorsel Boyer, Barbara Larrison and their families; two grandchildren: Nicholas and Robert Maxwell; four siblings: Jene Gilchrist and wife, Wendy, of Ladson, SC, Joe Gilchrist of Goose Creek, SC, Mark Gilchrist of Columbus, OH, and Mike Gilchrist of Mansfield, OH; and one step sister, Cynthia DeFazio.

In addition to her father, Jane was preceded in death by three grandparents: Samuel V. and Esther Gilchrist, and Vivian Winemiller Rollins.

A graduate of Fairmont State University with a B.S. degree in Folk Life Studies and a master's degree in education, she was also a licensed auctioneer and a storyteller who focused on West Virginia folklife. Jane enjoyed teaching and sharing her spinning and weaving skills at various festivals in West Virginia and other locales. She liked to travel and was often accompanied by her business partner Bruce Bannerman of Culloden, WV and, on occasion, by her mentor and friend, Julia E. Bragg of Weston. Among her special memories were her trips to Barbados and Eastern Europe. Jane was recently featured on WV Public Radio for her life’s accomplishments. The article can be found HERE. 

CLARA J. MATHENY
(WI 1947)

Clara J. Matheny, 89, of Clarksburg, passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2019, in a local nursing home. She was born in Clarksburg on September 28, 1929, a daughter of the late Don and Alvie Lucente. She was married to Don B. Matheny, who preceded her in death on January 1, 1985. Surviving are two sons, Rick Matheny and his wife Beverly, and Dave Matheny and his wife Diane; one daughter, Kelly Benincosa, and her husband Chris; nine grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and one brother, Edward Lucente of Fresno, CA.

Mrs. Matheny was a 1947 graduate of Washington Irving High School and was a retired Eligibility Specialist with the W.Va. Department of Employment Security and was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

JEFFREY L. GRIFFITH
(WI 1974)

Jeffrey L. Griffith, 62, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on Monday, March 25, 2019, at Ruby Memorial Hospital following a courageous battle with heart and kidney disease, with his family by his side.

He was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, on August 3, 1956, a son of the late Howard and Delores Preston Griffith. Jeff is survived by his wife, Sonja Snyder Griffith, whom he married on June 24, 1978. He is also survived by his son, Justin Griffith of Clarksburg; daughter, Kalyn Edwards and husband Glenn of Clarksburg; two grandchildren, Kolton and Kenley Edwards; his brother, Mark Griffith and wife Kim of Mt. Clare; his nieces, Jennifer and Melissa; nephew, Brad; sisters-in-law, Pam Amos and husband Russell of Clarksburg, Tonja Merryman and husband Gary of Clarksburg; as well as many cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Tim Griffith, and wife Susan; nephew, Todd Amos; nephew, Tommy Amos; his mother and father-in-law, Tommy and Peggy Snyder.

Jeff was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, Class of 1974. He was formerly employed with Clarksburg Casket Company for 30 years. He retired from Beverage Distributing. He was an avid sports fan.

BRENDA YVONNE STEALEY HOGUE
(WI 1967)

Brenda Yvonne Stealey Hogue, age 69, of Clarksburg, WV, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2019, at the United Hospital Center.

She was born in Clarksburg, WV, on November 28, 1949, a daughter of the late Robert Wilson and Eleanor Jean Burnett Stealey.

Brenda was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Andy Hogue.

Surviving are her son, Robert Andrew Hogue and his wife Rebekah of Scott Depot, WV; one grandson, Ryan Hogue of Scott Depot, WV; her sister, Deborah Davis of Clarksburg; her brother, Mark Robert Stealey and his wife Toni of Simi Valley, CA; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Brenda was a graduate of Washington Irving High School, Class of 1967, and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Fairmont State College in 1971. She went on to West Virginia University to earn her Master’s Degree in 1978. She taught in Harrison County Schools, retiring after 35 years of service.

She was a member of United Methodist Temple and was a member of the West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees.