10 Years Ago – Week of July 9, 2015
DOC or KVC? Community Remains in Limbo
With the official closing of the Sugar Grove Navy base just two months away, Pendleton County residents and base employees remain in the dark about the future of the facility. Del. Isaac Sponaugle confirms that General Services Administration has awarded ownership of the base to the state of West Virginia, however, as of Tuesday, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has yet to accept the offering.
Disestablishment of the base is slated for September 30. In addition to the nearly 200 naval occupants that must be relocated, the base serves as an employer for nearly 300 civilians most of which are residents of Pendleton County.
Two entities have expressed interest in the facility, the state Department of Corrections and KVC Health Systems.
In a county still feeling the effects of the January 2000 closing of the Hanover Shoe Factory at Franklin, what seems to be the big question on the minds of county residents is, which one is going to bring the most jobs to the area?
Jim Rubenstein, DOC commissioner, has estimated that a correctional facility would provide around 230 full time positions. Officials at KVC have quoted employment numbers ranging from 40 to 100 depending on student enrollment. Meanwhile, the current workforce waits to hear who the new occupant will be. Some employees have already sought jobs outside of the county, while others remain hopeful that they will have a future at the base.
20 Years Ago – Week of July 14, 2005
SUGAR GROVE – Language Is Unique
Old memories, old remedies and old phrases have a way of hanging on. Most everyone will have to agree that Appalachia has a language that is unique.
“Blabbermouth” is a word used to describe a person who was “windy” or over-talkative.
Accurate or not, the metaphor “hen peck” has been firmly established in one’s speech. Aggressive wives were compared with fowls and said to “hen peck” their mates. Actually, henpecking of this type is limited to humans. Females of the barnyard peck one another with fervor, but let the lord of the barnyard alone. It is used to describe a female’s verbal attacks upon a male — despite the fact that few, if any, roosters ever undergo henpecking.
The description of the downward journey of a once splendid roast has been referred to as “go to pot.” In the 15th century, the English squires ate much more meat than do most modern people.
Beef was favored, but mutton and pork also were consumed in large quantities. After the best pieces were cut off a roasted joint, the remnants were likely to be used in making stew. This meant that it went into the pot along with onions, vegetables and potatoes.
No person is immune from danger of taking a downward course named from household customs of long ago. Therefore, a business or person can “go to pot” very rapidly.
“Two-way street” arrived when the automobiles created a demand for new and better roads. In land-rich America, wide streets are commonplace. Since traffic simultaneously moves in both directions, one speaks of any situation or relationship that can be approached from opposite directions as a “two-way street.”
A person fooling around on a mate or other underhanded business is engaged in “hanky-panky.” Strange as it seems, the expression is a logical one whose roots are easily traced. About 150 years ago, many a British magician swung a handkerchief with one hand to keep viewers from noticing what he was doing with the other. This practice was so common that the use of a hanky came to be associated with undercover activities. So, “hanky panky” came into being as the right label for undercover things.
40 Years Ago – Week of July 11, 1985
Spire Rises On New Church
Construction of the new Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Halls Hill west of Franklin moved nearer to completion last Friday when workmen installed the 26-foot spire and cross atop the 3200 square foot structure. The spire is made of aluminum with a fiberglass covering, and the four-foot cross at the top is of solid bronze. Construction of the church is expected to be completed by the first of September.
70 Years Ago – Week of July 7, 1955
HOMEMAKER NEWS By HARRIET WRIGHT, Home Demonstration Agent
Better, faster and easier ways to clean—that’s what families are interested in, especially now that summer cleaning is here. Though the housewife may be most concerned, cleaning in many households is a cooperative affair in which older children lend a hand and the men folks often help, particularly with heavy work.
It takes more than four times as much energy to walk up stairs than it does to walk on the level at a good clip.
That’s reason enough why homemakers today prefer to have all of their work areas on one floor of the house.
There are a lot of other reasons too why families that plan to build or remodel should locate work areas so washing and ironing can be close to the kitchen, and on the same floor.
On laundry day, few homemakers can devote full time to the weekly wash. It is no fun to run up and down stairs to tend to all jobs that need to be done.
EDITORIALS
Another Selling Point – – –
We notice that Pendleton County is one of the counties that are far enough removed from centers of population and industrial areas as to make it improbable that an enemy would waste an atomic bomb on us.
At first glance we may be inclined resent this relegation into insignificance and unimportance, but a sober second thought might restore our pride. Perhaps it could be a selling point for us.
If this is such a remote area why wouldn’t it be a good place for the federal government to use for storing some of its important records. For example, Uncle Sam could store all the income tax files in the depths of Hell Hole Cave and then securely seal the entrance for all time with an ample charge of dynamite.
80 Years Ago – Week of July 6, 1945
WEEKLY NEWS ANALYSIS
SUGAR: Dicker With Cuba
Rejecting the U. S. offer for virtually all of the 1946 sugar crop at 3.45 cents a pound, Cuban millers and planters countered with demands for 4-1/2 cents plus guarantees for continued American support of their market.
Under the Cuban proposals, the U. S. would have to assure purchase of 85 per cent of the country’s sugar output through 1950 at a price equal to that paid Puerto Ricans producers; guarantee annual imports of not less than 3,000,000 tons of Cuban sugar, and supply chemical fertilizers, agricultural implements, mill machinery and spare parts for the expansion of the Cuban sugar industry.
In addition, the Cuban interests seek assurance that the cost of American rice, lard, jam, bacon, pork, cornmeal, wheat flour, shoes, lumber and machinery will not be increased to upset the balance between prices received during the paid in trade between the two countries.
SALARIES: List Tops
Business men and movie stars were among the highest salaried Americans in 1943-44 with President Charles E. Wilson of General Motors topping the latest treasury list with $450,041.
Right behind, Thomas J. Watson of the International Business Machines corporation drew $425,549, while Film Actor Fred MacMurray made $419,157.
No less than five other General Motors officials drew over $300,000 during 1943-44. Film Actress Barbara Stanwyck made $323,333, while Crooner Bing Crosby earned $294,444, exclusive of radio fees.
AUSTRALIAN BOOM
A network of strategic highways born of military necessity promises to speed the development of Australia in peace, says Ethyl News. These roads, some comparable to the Alcan and Pan-American highways of North America, now tie together the north, south, east and west of Australia, and open up more than 1,500,000 miles of almost virgin land.
The First World War gave Australian industry its first big push, and World War II has carried it immensely further, it is pointed out.
MacARTHUR ONCE FIRED EISENHOWER
Sometimes it is from quirks of fate or personal jealousies that heroes are born.
Old army friends of General Eisenhower couldn’t help but remember this as they gathered to pay him tribute.
For, if it had not been for a personal row with General MacArthur in the Philippines, Eisenhower probably would be in a Jap prison camp today instead of receiving the plaudits of millions.
When MacArthur retired as chief of staff and began the reorganization of the new Philippine army, he took with him to Manila one of the bright, up-and-coming men of the army, Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower. But, after some time in the Philippines, things didn’t go well, and MacArthur fired him. Eisenhower went back to the U.S.A. to climb to fame and the top command of the American army.
If he had remained with MacArthur, he probably would now be with Gen. “Skinny” Wainwright and the 16 other American generals taken prisoner by the Japs.
LOCALS
The name of the Post Office at Crabbottom, Virginia, on Star Route 16242, Franklin to Monterey, will be changed to “Blue Grass” effective August 1, 1945.
The 4th of July celebration, sponsored by the Lion’s Club, brought a large crowd to town to enjoy the various amusements and entertainment provided.
MOUTH OF SENECA – “Hot Weather”
Hot My Gosh! We have just passed through a week of the hottest, most scorching, burning heat we think we ever experienced in this valley. It pushed the thermometer up to and around 95 and 98 in the shade and left it there for hours at a stretch. The extreme heat did much damage to potatoes, gardens and injured the wheat crop. We had a shower Monday evening which gave much relief.
When you drive up and down North Fork and see so many tents of fishermen, it makes you feel that “Uncle Sam’s army has moved in for we certainly had a crowd of them over the week-end.”
The Board of Directors of the North Fork Telephone Association met here last week and decided to buy a new modern and up to the minute electric switch board which we are badly needing. We have always had the reputation of having a fine telephone system and this is keeping step with progress on the march and we congratulate the Board.
—Yours Katinka
105 Years Ago – Week of July 9, 1920
LAWN PARTY
There will be a Lawn Party near Johnstown, at Pleas Pitsenbarger’s place on July 10, 1920.
Ice cream, lemonade, cake, pie, chicken, bananas, oranges, peanuts, and everything good to eat.
Pop of all kinds and Huckly-buck.
Proceeds for benefit of school library. Everybody come and have a good time.
S. B. Thompson, Mgr.
ADDITION TO CEDAR HILL CEMETERY
Mrs. Rebecca J. McClure has given to the town an addition to the cemetery, which nearly doubles its area.
The new addition adjoins the cemetery on the south extending to the public road at the front entrance, and extending down over each side of the hill so as to carry the width of the cemetery its entire length.
The most desirable lots in the cemetery have been pretty well taken up and the new addition not only provides to the beauty and symmetry of the grounds and makes of it an ideal cemetery.
In the deed of conveyance Mrs. McClure makes provision that the lots shall be sold to people living outside the town at the same price as to the citizens of the town.
In addition to this valuable gift to the town and county, Mrs. McClure has had the road from town to the cemetery rebuilt and we now have a splendid road, the equivalent of a Class A road. Dr. Dyer personally supervised the construction of the road and did not spare expense in having it done so as to be permanent.
FOR SALE
One Ford touring car in good condition. Will sell or trade for livestock.
Glenn J. Moomau.
FOR SALE
One Ford Runabout in good condition. Bargain to a quick buyer. Can be seen at my home.
Frank Anderson
