40 Years Ago
Week of August 22, 1985
Yesteryear in Pendleton
By: Janet H. Conrad
My father-in-law gave me two things that I prize above many other gifts — a low walnut rocker to rock my babies and an antique cord bed that was stored in a loft at the tenant house.
I am now in the process of refinishing this bed for I am planning an antique bedroom. I have this bed, a walnut rocker and a mirror. My husband and I have discovered the fun of attending sales!
I well remember in my grandmother’s home a cord bed that she had when she started housekeeping. It was set up over the kitchen and was seldom used except when there was an overflow of guests.
My sister and I would beg to be allowed to sleep in this bed. The night always ended in a fight! All cord beds I have ever seen dipped in the middle, and no matter how hard you tried, that is where you rolled!
One interesting convenience I just recently discovered is that the bed has a blanket roller at the foot. When one became chilly, the blanket could be unrolled and spread over the bed without scarcely losing a wink of sleep.
The bed is beautifully made with the wooden balls and high posts, but it does need refinishing. Instead of using the rope cords, I will have iron pieces made that will lower the springs so that the bed will not be so high. One reason the beds were built high was that a trundle bed was rolled out at night for the children. In small homes heated by a fireplace, this was a modern convenience equal to efficiency apartments of today.
The threshing machine will be here tomorrow. Those words meant work for both the women and men folk before the event of the combine.
To the children it meant fun and delight, even though their job would be that “baby one” of carrying drinking water to the men at the rig.
The thresher man in our community was a big hearty man who knew the management of a crew of men and equipment, one who thoroughly enjoyed the fine meals of the various households.
Every housewife knew her reputation was at stake as she planned and prepared food for at least 25 hungry men and children.
Chicken and noodles or heaps of golden fried chicken and gravy, fluffy mashed potatoes, green beans, cucumbers and onions in sour cream, cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, baked corn, fresh country butter, preserves and pickles, fresh warm crusty bread, gallons of iced tea, plus soft pies and fruit pies or ice cream were some of the foods made available. Always the fear in the back of the housewife’s mind, “Will I have enough food for these hungry men?”
As a young bride, I asked one of the men his choice of pie, and he answered, “I’ll take a piece of both!” A general laughter went around the table for he was known to be a huge eater.
The threshing was done in August — not directly from the fields. After the wheat was cut with the binder, it was stacked, butt down, and topped with two sheaves to shed grain. The wheat was hauled to the barns and stored there to go through a “sweating period.” The theory was that this made better grain.
I loved to watch the crew at work. An assembly line tossed the sheaves from one person to another. There was a right way of tossing the sheaf into the feeder of the threshing machine. It threshed better if the heads went in first.
My husband’s uncle always had this particular job. One year he overheard the loaders forming a plan to try to bury him in oats. Talking in secret with the man who put the sheaf of oats into the threshing machine, they planned a code word. If he called “more oats” that meant slow down. This happened and the crew marveled that he could weigh the grain so quickly. Joshing of this kind made hot, heavy work pass quickly.
70 Years Ago
Week of August 18, 1955
Mountain Climbers to Wed on Highest Point Of Seneca Rocks
Needed A Preacher
For romantic beauty nothing can beat the view from Pendleton County’s lofty mountain peaks.
At least, that’s what two young mountain climbers from near Cleveland, Ohio, think.
In fact, they have been so impressed with the natural beauty of the Seneca Rocks, one of Pendleton County’s most famous scenic attractions that they are planning to be married on the highest peak.
Roland Levens, 24, of 485 Bradley Road, Bay Village, Ohio, explains it this way: “Mountain climbing the Seneca Rocks with my girlfriend last May 1st that I was inspired to give her my Psi Upsilon fraternity pin.
“We were climbing the Seneca Rocks again on July 30. We had passed the “Gun Site” and were nearing the summit of the courage to ask her to marry me. She agreed.”
“Since we became engaged while climbing Seneca Rocks, and since we both feel that when you are on a mountain peak it is when you are closest to religion and God and have the best perspective of life and its real meaning, we decided that would be fitting for us to be married there,” Leavens explained.
The bride-to-be is Doris McCartney, 23, teaches English, Speech and Drama at Bay High School, and although a novice at mountain climbing, she is making rapid progress in the sport.
Leavens and a friend, Dick Smith, of East Cleveland, were in Franklin Saturday and Sunday making arrangements for the wedding which is to be held Sunday afternoon, August 28.
Their plans were shaping up nicely. Leavens said, except for one thing. They are having trouble finding a minister who is in good enough physical condition to tackle the climb up the 1000 foot formation to the top of the rocks.
The Rev. S. Kullman, pastor of the Thorn Creek Lutheran Parish and looked upon by his parishioners as an active and agile mountain preacher, was asked to perform the mountain-top ceremony.
The challenge interested the Rev. Mr. Kullman, and after finishing his preaching services on his mountain circuit Sunday afternoon, he went with Leavens and Smith to try out the journey to the proposed wedding site.
After getting half way up the towering formation, Mr. Kullman decided that this was a job for a younger man. “After all,” he said, “I am almost 50.”
When Leavens left Franklin Sunday night he was more determined than ever to have his wedding in the clouds. But he was still looking for a minister to perform the ceremony.
Social Security Act In Effect 20 Years
It was 20 years ago on August 14, 1935, that the Social Security Act became a law, James E. Robertson, district manager of the Cumberland social security office reminded people in this area today.
Generally, when people refer to social security, they are talking about the old age and survivors insurance program under the Social Security Act, he said. In commemorating the 20th anniversary of the signing of this law, Mr. Robertson indicated how it is now affecting the lives of almost all of us. He stated that almost 8 million persons are now receiving over 400 million dollars every month in benefits under the program. Over 70 million people are now under the law so that in the event of retirement or death they or their families will be eligible for benefits.
The average retired worker is now receiving about $60 a month. However, the average for those who have retired in the past few years is $80 a month and their wives’ benefits average $41 a month. Moreover, Mr. Robertson stated that an important part of the old age and survivors insurance program is the protection given to widows and children in the event of the workers’ death. Today, the average benefit for a young widow with two minor children is $185 a month. Total family benefits can be as much as $260 a month. In addition, lump sum death payments range from $90 to $255.
Looking ahead twenty years to 1975, Mr. Robertson predicted that by then 93 million Americans will be insured under the program. It is expected that of the 20 million persons over 65 at that time, 4 out of 5 will be eligible for benefits.
80 Years Ago
Week of August 17, 1945
WAR OVER
The Second World War, history’s greatest flood of death and destruction, ended Tuesday with Japan’s unconditional surrender.
Formalities still remained — the official signing of surrender terms and a proclamation of V-J Day.
But from the moment President Truman announced at 7 p.m. that the enemy of the Pacific had agreed to Allied terms, the world put aside for a time woeful thoughts of the cost in dead and dollars and celebrated in wild frenzy. Formalities meant nothing to people freed at last of war.
To reporters crammed into his office, shoving now-useless war maps against a marble mantle, the president disclosed that:
Japan, without ever being invaded, had accepted completely and without reservation an Allied declaration of Potsdam dictating unconditional surrender.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur had been designated supreme Allied commander, the man to receive surrender.
There is to be no power for the Japanese emperor—although Allies will let him remain their tool. No longer will the warlords reign through him. Hirohito—or any successor—will take orders from MacArthur.
Allied forces were ordered to “suspend offensive action” everywhere.
From now on, only men under 26 will be drafted. Army draft calls will be cut from 80,000 a month to 50,000. Mr. Truman forecast that five to five and a half million soldiers may be released within twelve to eighteen months.
The surrender announcement set in motion a whole chain of events. Among them:
To a Japanese government which once had broadcasted it would dictate peace terms in the White House, Mr. Truman dispatched orders to “direct prompt cessation of hostilities,” tell MacArthur of the effective date and hour, and send emissaries to the general to arrange formal surrender.
WAR ON DREADED POLIO FROM THE AIR
Airplanes that treat crops from the air may soon spray whole towns in an attempt to rid the earth of infantile paralysis. Read this remarkable story in the August 19th issue of The American Weekly, nation’s favorite magazine with Baltimore Sunday American.
WAR SHIPPING
In the five years and eight months of the European war, 75,000 merchant ships were escorted across the Atlantic by the British, Dominion and European navies, the British admiralty revealed.
Despite the large number of ships escorted — involving some 2,200 convoys, the largest made up of 167 ships—only 574 ships were lost in all, or the equivalent of 1 in every 131 which sailed, the admiralty further disclosed.
MOUTH OF SENECA
“People”
While in Ft. Seybert in the home of Ed Miller on business, we ran into Mr. and Mrs. Russell Bolton of Morgantown. We used to go to school with Russell and we had not seen him for a number of years. We were happy to have a talk with him and know he was so well and getting along fine. It was our first meeting with his wife and we found her a very gracious lady. Then we ran over to Uncle Willie Judy’s, as he is known in that area. It was our first meeting with him and found him a most courteous and gracious gentleman. He is a man that has seen a good many winters and summers go by but is reasonably well and active. He has a lovely estate with many broad acres. His mind is clear as a bell and he gave me much interesting history and I am planning to go back and spend more time with him. Mr. and Mrs. Ammond Simmons operate his farm for him and they are very clever and congenial.
We were invited to the fine and hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. James Dyer for six o’clock dinner. In this home we met Cpl. William Cowger and sister, Miss Janet. Their parents are Mr. and Mrs. Preston Cowger. Cpl. Cowger just returned from Germany on a furlough. He related many exciting and stirring events while overseas. Miss Janet is a graduate nurse of one of the leading hospitals of Baltimore and just returned from North Carolina, where she has been attending a training school preparatory to sailing to the Orient as a missionary among the natives. She will be the first person Pendleton has sent into foreign mission fields in a long time and like St. Paul said, she is well prepared, educated, cultured, tactful, patient, trained in medical science and a sincere and devoted Christian and may the Lord add his blessing to her every effort and Ft. Seybert may justly be proud of their lone missionary.
Dr. and Mrs. J. S. Lakin of Wheeling are here camping and fishing. The congenial Doctor says he is not particularly interested in catching so many fish, but he likes our cool nights, attractive scenery and homespun hospitality. —Yours Katinka
