10 Years Ago
Week of October 30, 2014
SUGAR GROVE
Busy Kids Are Happier And More Successful
Pioneers worked hard. They built their own home and barn, made their furniture and household items, sewed their clothes and made their own toys. Children were especially helpful as they could gather food from the garden, help with the crops and cut and pile winter wood. They could also draw water to use in the house, feed and milk the cows in the morning with the evening chores being cleaning out the animal pens and gathering eggs. The girls helped in the homes by assisting with the cooking, cleaning and caring for the younger children. The boys were busy with the many outside chores and hunting.
Despite all the responsibilities facing the youngsters, pioneer children found time for games and other activities.
The pioneer children’s life was much different to that of children today. Responsibilities are of a different nature. At one time, it was thought that overfull schedules were damaging the American children, but it has discovered that this isn’t true. There are benefits of children being busy. The conclusion of a study involving 300 eighth graders who were involved in seven to eight hours of extracurricular activities a week, ranging from sports to arts programs to civic functions, found that the more time kids spent in organized activities, the better their grades, the higher their self esteem and the richer their relationships were with their parents. Even kids who spent more than 20 hours a week in activities did not suffer. The ultimate conclusion was that not only a lot of activities are good for kids, but wished children from all income brackets would participate in as many activities.
To “parent” — an active pursuit that requires vigilance, study and a full tank of gas. Parents need to know when to back off and even let kids quit if they aren’t enjoying themselves.
Yes, times have definitely changed from the pioneer days. Raising children today is quite challenging. Child rearing season passes quickly and all too soon, one is left with fond memories. Seek to enjoy the hassles. Snap a few photos, take a deep breath and sow peace with those around.
30 Years Ago
Week of October 20, 1994
WIC Program
In 20th Year
The Petersburg office of the Women, Infants and Children program got a special birthday present a few weeks ago, as the WIC Program celebrated its 20th year. The office received a computer system which will allow it to better serve more clients.
The new system will decrease the number of visits clients make to the WIC office each year. WIC began in West Virginia in 1974.
“That first year, the program served 1,974 participants,” said state health commissioner William T. Wallace, “and we predict we’ll be able to serve more than 51,000 West Virginians this year.”
Young Riders Club
Enjoys Trail Ride
The 4-H group, Young Riders, enjoyed a trail ride October 9. They started at Terri Halewa’s home and ended in the George Washington National Forest in Westside Road. They rode for three and a half hours. Following the ride, there was an open air picnic/meeting.
Week of October 27, 1994
Clinton Bennett Honored For World War I Service
By Joan Ashley
World War I veteran Clinton Bennett, 98, recently was awarded a commemorative medal and an American flag presented by the Clinton M. Hedrick Post 183, Department of West Virginia American Legion to honor his service.
Bennett, a Cherry Grove resident, was discharged from the Army February 18, 1919.
Here’s How to Capture Halloween
With Your Camera
Pope Gregory III started it all in 739 A.D. when he officially designated All Saints Day, but he wouldn’t recognize Halloween as we celebrate it today. It’s become a night of fantasy for children of all ages, and with its pumpkins, costumes, and trick-or-treating, it’s also a great opportunity for you to capture the spirit(s) with your camera. “It’s easy to turn this night of fantasy into permanent picture memories,” says Chuck DeLaney, dean of the New York Institute of Photography, “but you have to follow two simple guidelines, or, excuse the pun, you won’t have a ghost of a chance.”
“The most important guideline,” says DeLaney, “is to know exactly what you want to be the subject of your picture. Then, when you look through the viewfinder of your camera, make your subject the most important thing in the frame and try not to show anything that distracts from it. The second guideline is to try to capture the ‘feeling’ of the occasion too.”
For example, if you are shooting a jack-o’-lantern, it’s your subject. Make that clear by moving in close and almost filling the frame with the pumpkin. Keep the background simple so it doesn’t distract from your subject. Hint: To make this picture even more interesting, include the faces of the kids or dad or mom carving it. They are also the subject in this picture. Get down low so that you see their faces looming over the top of the pumpkin. Careful now, you don’t want to cut any heads off, even on Halloween.
Now, the second guideline—to capture the “feeling” of Halloween, shoot at night using “spooky” lighting. You can start with a lighted candle inside the jack-o’-lantern. But this won’t light the outside of the pumpkin or the faces of the carvers. Add this light by having a helper shine a flashlight from off to one side or from below. If your camera has a flash, turn it off if possible. You want to capture the spirit of Halloween — the ghoulishness (and foolishness). And the glare of your flash will kill this spirit.
“The key to good Halloween pictures,” concludes DeLaney, “is to capture the spirit — the feeling — of the occasion.”
Ab Hartman
To Get Civil War Medal
A short ceremony to honor Ab Hartman, a resident of Pendleton Nursing Home, who is a true son of the Confederacy, will be held at Pendleton Nursing Home October 30. The Pendleton County Chapter of the Sons of the Confederacy will present Mr. Hartman a medal. His father fought in the Civil War.
Many Attend
First Reunion
Of Old Goshen School
The first Goshen School Reunion was held at the home of Phillip and Genavee Wimer. The school was located on Upper Smith Creek and was open from 1912-1956. Former students attending were Weldon Hartman, Conway Bennett, Phillip Wimer, John Hartman, Warnie Lambert, Loy Hartman, Helen Evick, June Lambert, Cornelia Teter, Ruth Warner, Delano Hartman, Howard Lambert, Vergie Bennett, Kathleen Mitchell, Otis Hartman, Genavee Wimer, Lucy Bennett, Dorothy Lantz, Lola Lambert, Rosalie Simmons, Harry Hartman, Edwin Hartman, Dora Murphy, Catherine Smith, Charles Hartman, Norma Warner, Lucy Warble, Benny Lambert, Mary Sponaugle, Beula Gorman, Roy Vandevander, Velma Lambert, Eva Simmons, Betty Mongold, Clara Pennington, Faye Downy, Ramona Luckel, Virginia White, Lucy Jean Propst, Vella Davis, Neva Waggy, Nettie Moyers, Buanna Judy, Anna Lee Benton, and Nancy Kipp. Mary Sponaugle was the oldest student, and her eight children, all students at Goshen, were present. Virginia White traveled the farthest from Seattle, Washington. A delicious carry-in meal and a beautiful day was enjoyed by all. Roy Rexrode was the only surviving teacher attending.
50 Years Ago
Week of October 31, 1974
Day Care Program Will Enable Mothers to Work; Help Children
Employees of two local industries, Hanover Shoe, Inc., and Franklin Garment Co., had an opportunity Monday to discuss a new Day Care Program developed by the federal government and administered by the W. Va. Department of Welfare.
The program would pay day care costs for lower income bracket families.
Help provide quality day care for their children.
Provide employment for relatives, neighbors or other persons who want to supplement their incomes by watching and teaching these children.
School
Gets Volley Ball Court
The South Fork Ruritan Club sponsored the recent paving of the volley ball court at Brandywine Elementary School. Total cost of the project was $1,475. The following organizations contributed funds to help with the project: Shenandoah Stars 4-H Club, $75; Brandywine Homemakers Extension Club, $100; Brandywine School PTA, $500; South Fork Ruritan Club, $800.
60 Years Ago
Week of October 29, 1964
100 YEARS AGO
By LON K. SAVAGE
Editor’s Note—The following is one of a series of articles on the Civil War. Each weekly installment covers events which occurred exactly 100 years ago.
Tennessee Prepares
For Hood’s Invasion
The state of Tennessee became a beehive of military activity 100 years ago this week as the Federal army prepared for a new campaign—an invasion of the state by Confederate Gen. John B. Hood.
For on October 26, Hood and his 35,000 veterans—who just days before had been in Georgia—suddenly appeared at Decatur in north-central Alabama. Five days later, they were at Tuscumbia in northwest Alabama, busily crossing the Tennessee River to Florence, Ala., whence they could turn northward into Tennessee.
At the same time, Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, perhaps the Confederacy’s greatest cavalry leader, was swooping in from the West toward Florence, ready to join Hood in his invasion of Tennessee. On his way, Forrest paused long enough to capture two Federal gunboats and five transports—a feat that brought admiration from North and South alike.
It was becoming clear that Hood and Forrest meant business on this new campaign.
Back in northwest Georgia, Federal Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman still refused to give chase to Hood. Sherman believed—and time would prove him right—that Hood and Forrest could be handled by George H. Thomas, the “Rock of Chickamauga,” who had been in Tennessee since early October.
Sherman’s heart was set on a “March to the Sea” across Georgia, to leave the state in ruin and wipe out its ability to produce food or manufactured goods for the Confederacy.
But just in case, Sherman decided to send Thomas reinforcements. A corps under Gen. David S. Stanley was sent into Tennessee. After it came 12,000 crack troops under Gen. J. M. Schofield. Gen. A. J. Smith, who had been operating in Missouri with two divisions, was sent into Tennessee to help.
Beyond that, Thomas had about 20,000 men at Nashville plus garrisons at Chattanooga, Bridgeport, Stevenson, Decatur, Murfreesboro and Florence. All told, there soon would be about 70,000 Federals in Tennessee to fight off Hood’s 35,000 and Forrest’s 6,000—and still more Federals were being drafted from the Midwest.
Up near Richmond, Va., Gen. Ulysses S. Grant—the man who commanded all the union armies—was in close touch with the situation in Tennessee. After all arrangements had been made, he added up the Federal strength and was satisfied.
On November 2, Grant telegraphed Sherman in Georgia, saying he believed Thomas now could handle Forrest and Hood. Sherman, Grant said, could pursue his own plan to devastate Georgia. Sherman could march through Georgia while Hood marched through Tennessee.
Next week: Lincoln re-elected.
Twins Arrive
To Join Triplets
It’s a set of twins this time for Mr. and Mrs. James H. Thompson, Jr., of Hughesville, Md. Five years ago it was triplets. Mrs. Thompson is the former Betty Lee Hartman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Hartman of Brandywine.
The twins, a boy and a girl, were born September 29 at Physicians Memorial Hospital, La Plata, Md. The young lady, named Christine Joy Thompson, was born at 9 p.m. and weighed in at 7 pounds. Her brother, Charles Edward Thompson, was born ten minutes later and weighed 6 pounds and 7 ounces.
Their 7 brothers and sisters are Patricia Sue, 3; triplets, Sherri Ann, Terri Lea and Gary Orin, 5-1/2; Vicki, 7, Debbie, 12 and Jimmie, 13.
Brandywine Firm
Gets Award
For Truck Service
A national award for quality service to truck users was presented to Williams Feed Service, Brandywine, October 22.
It was given to Fred Williams, owner of the firm, in behalf of International Harvester Company’s Motor Truck Division by Landon Wooten, International Zone manager at Brandywine. Williams Feed Service has represented International trucks in this area for the past eight years.
