30 Years Ago
Week of January 11, 1996
Pendleton Still Digging Out Of Great Snow Storm
COUNTY ACTIVITY SHUT DOWN BY 25 TO 35 INCH SNOW STORM
BULLETIN!!!
Blowing snow and heavy snowfall have created white-out conditions on U.S. 33 on Allegheny Mountain west of Seneca Rocks at the Randolph-Pendleton County line as of Wednesday morning. Visibility is reduced to zero percent in these conditions and travel is not recommended according to First Sergeant Rick Gillespie. Additional heavy snow fall is occurring. Department of Highway crews are on the scene and have plows, graders and snow blowers available, but the visibility is a major safety hazard.
They call it the blizzard of “96. Some say it’s the biggest snow storm in 70 years. Others call it the storm of the century.
Call it what you like, but it hit Pendleton County Saturday night and by Sunday morning it had dumped 25 and 35 inches of snow on the County of Pendleton. Another six to 10 inches fell Sunday and Sunday night.
It was pretty much like that throughout West Virginia, except for some counties such as Pocahontas and Randolph which had as much as 40 inches.
The Governor of West Virginia declared the winter snowstorm a state emergency and ordered the cessation of all travel on West Virginia highways except emergency travel of a necessary nature.
Gene Scott Hammer, observer for the U.S. Weather Bureau, said we not only have had a lot of snow in Pendleton County, we also have had unseasonably cold weather. He said the temperature fell to three degrees early Tuesday morning and that he had recorded readings recently of five, seven and nine degrees.
The unusually heavy snowfall, which covered the eastern seaboard from the Carolinas to the New England states, was caused by moist air coming up from the Gulf of Mexico and colliding with a cold front coming down from the northwest.
Pendleton No Longer To Be State’s Only County Without A Stop Light
Pendleton County soon will lose the distinction of being the only county in West Virginia not to have a stop light.
The Mayor announced at the January 2 meeting of the Franklin Town Council that Franklin now qualifies for a stop light at the intersection of Routes 33 and 220 at the Main Street Chevron corner. The estimated time for installation is nine months to one year.
American Agriculture Could Feed the Hungry of the World
By: Stewart Treulsen
There’s hardly anyone who doesn’t put on a pound or two in the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Unlike the pilgrims who were thankful for having enough to eat, Americans today are more concerned about having too much to eat, especially during the holiday season.
What do we know about famine? Nothing really. But an Illinois state representative is proposing that students in his state be required to learn about the Irish potato famine of 1845-1850.
The Irish potato famine is acknowledged to be the most important event in Irish history. Ireland lost one-fourth of its population. More than a million people died and another million emigrated to escape starvation. The disaster had long-lasting effects. It fueled Irish nationalism and resentment of the ruling British which continues today.
Nothing like the Irish potato famine could happen here, we think, and it probably won’t as long as we safeguard American agriculture. We need to pay attention to the concerns of farmers and ranchers. We need to invest in agricultural research to feed a growing world population. Above all, we should be ever thankful for the food on our plate.
40 Years Ago
Week of January 16, 1986
Senator Byrd Promotes The Clean Coal Technology Program
A joint U. S.–Canadian recommendation proposing the use of clean coal technologies to control acid rain, is a “realistic and reasonable” approach to the problem, according to U. S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D.–W. Va.
Byrd, the architect of the Clean Coal Technology Program in Congress, said he was “delighted” that the hand-picked representatives of President Reagan and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney recently recommended the same solution he has been advocating for the past several years.
DAHMER
The Audobon Society Christmas bird count was held in the Franklin area December 29. The total number of bird species count was higher than last year according to a news release by Carolyn Ruddle. Why, the common little chickadee numbers are so scarce this year is not known. But, it is nice to know that Lorraine Harper was able to take part in the bird count.
Local names for the winter birds by various people are many. The late John Dahmer when a boy knew the chickadee as the little bird, knee deep. When it uttered these notes there was to be a deep snow.
The late Columbia Rader’s name for the flicker was the yellow hammer.
Uncle Bud Dahmer called the red-bellied woodpecker, “Chunkie Cheater” because of the notes that it utters.
The late Estella Dahmer called the titmouse the sugar bird. The cardinal (red bird) was the weather prophet because of its song wet-cher wet wet and pretty, pretty, pretty. The school knew the nuthatch as the dern little sapsucker.
John Conrad of Fort Seybert was of the opinion the hoot owl would foretell the weather. This depended on what location the owl hooting came from, whether it was for colder or warmer weather.
The late Alston Propst knew the pileated woodpecker by the name wood-cock, etc.
This story originated probably before the Civil War. One day Jacob Propst came rushing into his home for his gun to shoot a bird that was making fun of him.
Now, Jacob and his wife, Matilda Bowers Propst, often spoke in the Dutch dialect. This bird, was the blue jay whose notes would also be in Dutch. In English it would mean straggly Jacob, straggly Jacob.
50 Years Ago
Week of January 15, 1976
Tips on Grocery Buying
To help you save money at a grocery store, Dottie Deal County Home Demonstration Agent, lists the following suggestions:
—Watch for newspaper and store ads and coupons. Take advantage of these, but be sure your family will use a “bargain.” If they won’t, it’s no saving.
—Plan ahead main foods you will cook for the next several days. Are there items on sale this week you can use? Using coupons and newspaper ads may make planning ahead easier. Check how much storage space you have for groceries. And remember to plan around leftovers.
—Make a list. Add items as you discover you need them during the week and finish writing the list before you go shopping. Stick to the list. Don’t be tempted to buy things you had not planned on getting, unless you find less expensive substitutes for listed items.
—Do most of your shopping once a week. If possible, try to buy most of your groceries at one time. You’ll save gasoline and time, and not spend as much money on “extras.”
—Shop by yourself. Go without friends, so you won’t be led astray by items they buy, Miss Deal continues. If possible, avoid taking your children, too.
—Shop on a full stomach. You aren’t as apt to be tempted when you aren’t hungry.
—Compare brands. Usually the store brand is cheaper, but not always.
—Look at prices in several stores if you have a choice, and if it does not use too much gasoline. It will take longer, but you can get the best buys from each store. If you find one store is generally less expensive, stick with it.
—Buy a lower-cost form of the product if it will meet your needs. Compare frozen, fresh and canned products. Canned tomato pieces are usually cheaper than whole tomatoes and can be used for stews and sauces. “Day-old bread is as good as regular, if it is to be eaten soon, toasted, or frozen. Non-fat dry milk can be used for cooking and drinking.
Try following these tips every time you shop for groceries, Miss Deal suggests. With their help, you can save money.
60 Years Ago
Week of January 13, 1966
FLORIDA COMES TO FORT SEYBERT
Mrs. Noah Rexrode of Fort Seybert thinks she might be the first person in Pendleton County to produce a ripe tomato in January.
Mrs. Rexrode said she replanted a geranium last fall and apparently a tomato seed got into the flower pot. Anyway, she now has not only a beautiful geranium, but also a good healthy tomato plant bearing a nice, ripe tomato.
Simmons, Harper Given National VFW Assignments
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Andy Borg, Superior, Wisconsin, Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, has announced the appointment of two area men as National Aides-de-Camp, VFW. They are Norman L. Simmons, Sugar Grove and Herbert H. Harper of Mouth of Seneca.
‘Let’s Have Another Cup of Coffee’ For March of Dimes
Taking note of the current revival of old songs, Pendleton County Chapter March of Dimes Director Mernie Kesner and Treasurer Paul Mallow hope that a certain one will catch on during the month of January.
Their candidate: “Let’s Have Another Cup of Coffee and Another Piece of Pie.”
It is their hope that all coffee drinkers in Pendleton County will increase their usual number of cups on several different days.
These are the dates that all coffee served at many restaurants will be free. By paying for the coffee that you drink, you make a contribution to the March of Dimes.
Participating restaurants are Thompson’s Motel and Restaurant, January 16; New Frontier, January 21; Star Hotel and Restaurant, January 23; Brandywine Motel and Restaurant, January 22.
Other restaurants will be contacted and dates announced. “We think it is a mighty painless way of raising funds for the important March of Dimes fight against birth defects,” Mallow said.
70 Years Ago
Week of January 12, 1956
Face-Lifting Of Warner Theatre Nears Completion
For the past few weeks the local Warner Theatre has been undergoing a complete face lifting. With the on surge of vast improvement and progress made in the field of motion pictures, the management of the local theatre saw the necessity for the remodeling so that the best in motion picture entertainment could be offered their patrons.
One of the many improvements that is being included in the tremendous remodeling process will be complete facilities for screening the new media in motion pictures: Cinemascope.
Comfort and relaxation of the patron has been the primary consideration throughout the remodeling operation. New seats and rest rooms have been installed. A “crying room” to which ladies with crying babies may retreat, and still watch and hear the movie without any annoyance to the other patrons, has been added.
The auditorium has been completely decorated and rearranged.
Max Ruddle Purchases B. J. Aulde Sawmill And Woodworking Plant Here
Announcement has been made here of the sale of the B. J. Aulde sawmill and woodworking plant, Franklin’s largest employer of industrial workers.
B. J. Aulde, former owner of the mill, said yesterday that it was transferred to Max Ruddle of Franklin on January 1.
Located on the South Branch of the Potomac River in east Franklin, the mill is one of the largest woodworking plants in this area. It gives regular work to approximately 60 employees and has a weekly payroll of from $500 to $3000.
Max Ruddle, the new owner, has been employed by the Aulde Mill for the past 18 years and he has been foreman for the last five years.
