10 Years Ago
Week of March 20, 2014
SUGAR GROVE
Which Types
Of Bed Coverings
Have You Used?
People sleep under blankets, bed rugs, coverlets, comforters, counterpanes and quilts. The terms bedding and bed clothes describe these items placed over a person in bed. Perhaps a quick look at bed coverings in general would be appropriate.
Bed coverings — Bed coverings were all those items mentioned that people placed over themselves as they slept.
Blankets — These were the least expensive form of a bed covering.
Bed rugs — In the late 1700s, bed rugs, spelled ruggs, were often homemade. They were wool or linen blankets onto which wool yarn was sewn on the top surface in running stitches of needlework.
Comforter — The name comforter first meant a heavy, woolen scarf used to wrap around the neck. By the 1840s the meaning had changed to a heavy covering for the bed.
Coverlet — A coverlet is a woven covering usually for a bed. Coverlets were one of the earliest forms of weaving in America.
Counterpane —Counterpanes can be considered wholecloth unquilted bed covering.
Summer spread – This is a lightweight bed covering used during warm weather.
Quilts — The quilt word is derived from a Latin word meaning a “stuffed sack.” More than likely, the early American quilts were similar to those of the English…a whole cloth quilt being put together on a solid top, a backing and a filling layer in between.
Week of March 27, 2014
SKSRT Responds
To School Messenger
System Problem
The general manager of Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telephone Inc. ( SKSRT), Vickie Colaw, says that the School Messenger robo-calls problem in the North Fork Valley this winter is “not unique to SKSRT.” Colaw additionally told the “Times,” School Messenger is a California-based company engaged by the county school system to inform students and school personnel of cancellations and delays. This past winter, the system has not worked in the North Fork Valley, where the service provider is SKSRT. In past years, School Messenger’s system functioned countywide.
Coyote Contest
Sets Record
It was the largest attendance ever for the county predator control board’s annual coyote contest drawing, and the number of coyotes harvested because of the contest was a record number, as well.
Forty-four people were on hand for the drawing announcement of the contest winners and a meal featuring pizza and chicken.
The number of registered coyote harvests from Sept. 7 through March 1 was 127. Last year’s contest coyote harvest was 78.
Herman Hevener recorded the most coyotes harvested—13, all of which were snared. Jackie Thomas, wife of the head of the county trappers association, John Thomas, trapped 10 coyotes.
The purpose of the contest is to try to get more people involved in the hunting and trapping of coyotes,” commented Jerry Warner, a member of the predator control board.
The other board members are Mae Waggy, Audra Arbogast, Jerry Ruddle, David G. Warner, Vickie Hartman, Kevin Gonshor and Terry Bennett.
The M-44 method used by Wildlife Services captured 801 coyotes in fiscal year 2013 out of a total of 931 harvest. The remainder was snared or trapped (104) or shot (26).
SUGAR GROVE
Death Customs
In Appalachia
Represent a Sacred Life
Many early burial rites and customs were practiced to protect the living, by appeasing the spirits who were thought to have caused the person’s death. Many of these rites continue to be practiced in some form or other. The custom of shutting the eyes of the deceased is believed to have begun this way, done in an attempt to close a “window” from the living world to the spirit world. Covering the face of the deceased with a sheet comes from pagan beliefs that the secret of the deceased escaped from the mouth. In the nineteenth century in America, the dead were carried out of the house feet first, in order to prevent the spirit from looking back into the house and beckoning another member of the family to follow.
Mirrors were covered, usually with a black crepe, so the soul would not get trapped and not be able to pass to the other side. Family photographs were also sometimes turned face-down to prevent any of the close relatives and friends of the deceased from being possessed by the spirit of the dead.
Death customs in the Appalachians represent the core belief of society, that life is sacred. Death does not always have to mean sadness and no doubt the departed would smile to know that he/she was remembered with laughter. Cemeteries were the final step on the earthly journey. Therefore, tombstones oftentimes had various inscriptions carved in them. Usually, they would carry only the name of the deceased with the birth and death date, and perhaps the marital status. Oftentimes, in the early 1700s and 1800s, the Germans inscribed hand cut designs, such as the Tree of Life, a heart, an arrangement of three flowers grown from an urn, the six-pointed star, a series of concentric circles, a spiral pattern, weeping willow and the pointed hand.
Because hardships were experienced by the early settlers, epitaphs or verses were often found on the tombstone. The act relays a message to the living—information about the deceased and to memorialize the deceased.
20 Years Ago
Week of April 8, 2004
Fate of Golf Course
Rests with State EDA
Rob Locklin, a Franklin land developer and former member of the county development authority (EDA), is fond of quoting Yogi Berra these days.
“Well,” Locklin said on Monday, “as Yogi used to say, ‘It ain’t over till it’s over.’”
In other words, he is awaiting a decision from the West Virginia Economic Development Authority as to whether or not he will receive a $3 million loan which will be used to develop a golf course and upscale housing in Deer Run on Troublesome Valley Road about a quarter of a mile from US Rt. 33.
Locklin said the loan will help him attract another $5 million in private investment capital.
“Pendleton County,” Locklin observed, “could be the gateway to tourism in West Virginia. That may be a marketing ‘brand’ the local Chamber of Commerce could use to promote the county—almost heaven’s gateway, the gateway to wild, wonderful West Virginia.”
Folklore Surrounding Easter Celebration
Recalled by Writer
Easter is here, a special day for many people. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon marking the arrival of the vernal equinox — spring. The “moveable” date could mean Easter falls as early as March 22 and as late as April 25. There are many strange customs and bits of folklore that surround Easter. It used to be widely believed that rain on Easter morning foretells rain on the next seven Sundays. The natives of Kentucky who live in the Ozark Mountains swear that an Easter-morning dip in an icy stream eases rheumatism pain. Austrian farmers ride horses about their fields on Easter morning in the firm belief that bumper crops will follow. The modern day Easter sunrise services probably evolved from medieval times when people believed that the sun “danced with joy” on Easter morning, and if one got up early enough one could see it. Much of the customs which were brought to America have remained unchanged over the years — the going to church, the exchange of gifts and cards, the Easter parade, the bonnet and the coloring of eggs.
60 Years Ago
Week of April 16, 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.
Forrest Wins Battle;
Carolina Town Falls
The hard-pressed Confederacy welcomed two victories 100 years ago this week.
Neither was crucial, but both were decisive and added to the morale of Confederate troops and citizens. The first was won by Bedford Forrest, the fighting cavalry leader in Tennessee. The other occurred in North Carolina where a makeshift Confederate ironclad and a division of troops recaptured Plymouth, N. C., from the Federals.
Forrest’s victory came first, on April 12, following a series of spectacular exploits. In March, Forrest had raided up through western Tennessee, capturing a garrison at Union City, then attacked Paducah, Ky., on the banks of the Ohio, occupying that city. Then, as Federal troops tried to catch him, he circled back and on April 12, fell on Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River about 40 miles north of Memphis.
Seldom has such a short battle been so bloody. Although controversy still exists about what happened, these basic facts are agreed upon:
Forrest appeared before the fort with about 1,500 men, drove the Union troops from their rifle pits into the fort and demanded surrender. Maj. Lionel Booth, commanding the fort and about 557 troops—about half of Negroes, refused. Whereupon, a bugle sounded, and Forrest’s men charged, yelling loudly.
It was a near massacre. The Federals were cut down by the score. Booth, himself, was killed. Some began retreating toward the river, hoping for help from a Federal boat nearby. Forrest’s men caught them in an enfilade, killing still more. Other Union troops fell into the river and drowned.
Within 20 minutes it was over. Forrest, in a report on the battle, described the scene: “The river was dyed with blood of the slaughtered for 200 yards.” Of the 557 Union troops, more than 400 were casualties, and a high proportion were killed.
The victory at Plymouth came six days later and followed a spectacular river fight.
On April 17, a Confederate division surrounded the river front and fort from its land side and opened infantry and artillery fire on 3,000 Union troops holding the city.
Next day, the “Albemarle,” an iron-clad that had just been built from scrap metal in a cornfield up the Roanoke River, descended the river to Plymouth and attacked Federal ships. She first dashed into the Federal gunboat “Southfield,” smashing her bow 10 feet into the gunboat’s side and sending her with some of her crew to the bottom.
The Federal gunboat “Miami” then fired a heavy shell at the ironclad. The shell hit the ironclad, bounced back and killed the “Miami’s” skipper. The “Miami” then retreated.
Next morning, the “Albemarle” opened fire on the town and its fort, while Confederate troops attacked. Within hours, the Union troops surrendered.
Next week: Preparations for spring.
County May Get
Farmers Market
A representative of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture will arrive here today to study the possibility of establishing a Farmers Market in Pendleton County.
The representative will meet with county farmers, businessmen and other interested persons in an open meeting to be held at the courthouse in Franklin tonight at 7:30.
The purpose of the meeting is to determine whether local residents want a market, and to explain the operations of such a market. Also the Agriculture Department representative is expected to make a report on a study which has been made in the area for the purpose of determining whether there is sufficient production in the area to justify the establishment of such a market.
Farmers markets provide a collecting point for farm produce and often results in higher prices to farmers for their products.
Since Pendleton County is largely an agricultural county, it is felt by many that such a market would be an important stimulus to the local economy.
All farmers and interested persons are urged to attend the meeting tonight.
70 Years Ago
Week of April 8, 1954
Military Rites
For Pfc Eugene Moats
To Be Held Sunday
A military funeral will be conducted by Our Five Boys Post, VFW, at Moyers Sunday at 2:00 p.m. for Pfc. Eugene Moats, who was killed in action in Korea July 8, 1953. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Moats of Moyers.
SIX TO BE INDUCTED
IN MILITARY SERVICE
The local selective service board announced yesterday that six Pendleton County registrants have been called for induction into the armed forces this month. They will report for duty at the Armed Forces Induction Station at Fairmont April 20.
Those who have received their calls are the following: Ray Walter Ratlief, Ft. Seybert (volunteer); Arthur Webster Hahn, Brandywine; Berlie Cletus Sponaugle, Cherry Grove; James Price Arbogast, Circleville; Herman William Alt, Mozer; Charles Edwin Merritt, Dayton, Ohio.
