10 Years Ago
Week of November 5, 2015
‘Flood of ‘85’ Wreaked Havoc
Some area residents are recalling one of the most devastating natural disasters to strike Pendleton and surrounding counties in the last century. This week marks the 30th anniversary of the “Flood of ‘85.”
On Monday, Nov. 4, 1985, over 7.5 inches of rain fell on the ground that was already saturated from above average precipitation in the weeks leading up to the flood. George Hammer, official weather observer for the US Weather Bureau, reported amounts from his station one mile east of Franklin. Some sections of the county reported as much as 12.5 inches of rain over the four-day period preceding the flood. Hammer commented that the 7.5 inches that fell on Nov. 4 was the most rainfall in a single day that he recalled during his 30 years of keeping records.
The ensuing flood waters ravaged homes, businesses and farmland causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and loss. Over 350 single family homes and 190 trailer homes were affected by the high water. Also impaired were some 39 businesses, 18 public buildings, 60 private bridges and culverts, 206 outbuildings, 51 barns and 204 recreational campers.
Pendleton County was essentially isolated from the outside world for three days. Road damage, washed-out bridges and massive slides made travel impossible. Otis Harper, Jr., Pendleton County road maintenance supervisor, estimated damages to primary roads at $34 million and damages of secondary roads at $20 million.
Electricity and telephone service was unavailable. The only form of communication out of the county was provided by ham operators, who worked tirelessly 24 hours a day relaying emergency messages.
Franklin Elementary School and Dixie School in Riverton were set up as evacuation centers to provide shelter for those losing homes to the raging waters.
Communities within the county were isolated from each other making it impossible for local service organizations to render assistance to many areas. The Franklin Fire Department sent teams of members to try to get to isolated areas to assess their needs and get emergency supplies to them. Attempts were made to obtain help from the National Guard at Buckhannon and the Elkins Fire Department, but volunteers were unable to travel past Harman.
Sanitation and health problems posed a threat until the National Guard came in with helicopters and began airlifting medical supplies to isolated areas. Of particular concern were shortages of insulin and nitroglycerin and a means of distributing the supplies that were available.
Water supplies throughout the county either were destroyed or the water was rendered unfit for drinking. All community water systems in the county were knocked out.
The swinging bridge spanning the South Branch of the Potomac River in South Franklin, which had survived floods for 45 years, was washed away, and the approach to the bridge a half-mile south of Franklin leading to Propst Gap was also washed away.
Pendleton, along with seven other counties was declared a federal disaster area by then-President Ronald Reagan, making it eligible for federal assistance. Two weeks after the flood, nearly 700 county residents had applied for some form of federal assistance.
Sixteen deaths in the county were attributed to the flood. Two of the deaths, Ivan Stone, 58, and Jody Whiteside, 16, occurred as they were attempting to rescue other victims.
County school students were dismissed early the afternoon of Nov. 4 and did not return to class until Dec. 3. Due to location, some students were not able to return until much later.
The Pendleton Times was not published the week of Nov. 7, because of the electricity outage and lack of distribution facilities. A special reprint of the edition following the flood was distributed the week of Nov. 21.
Despite 30 years of repair and rebuilding, the Pendleton County landscape still reflects the devastation caused, and lives were forever changed, by the raging waters from the “Flood of ‘85.”
60 Years Ago
Week of November 4, 1965
EDITORIALS
Keep Funds Intact – – –
One of the major problems which has faced the County Court of Pendleton County in recent years has been the problem created by the declining need for the county parish farm and the increasing cost of operating it.
A number of years ago when the county government had the full responsibility of caring for the indigent, the parish farm was a much needed possession of the county. But in recent years the state and federal governments have largely taken over the responsibility of caring for the needy, and as a result, the county no longer has the need for the farm that it once had.
Although the need for the parish farm has been declining, in recent years the cost of operating it has increased to the point where it was becoming a burden upon the county to maintain it. It had, indeed, become a problem. But the county court faced up to the problem and resolved it by selling the farm. We believe the court acted wisely in taking this decisive action.
But in solving one problem, another was created. The farm was sold for $74,600 and the personal property brought about $17,400 more, bringing the total proceeds of the sale to approximately $92,000. The problem now is what is the best use that can be made of these funds.
We are fortunate in having county officials with sound judgment. We are confident that they will see the merit in using the monies now under their control for something big, something that will be a significant and lasting benefit for the county, rather than in dribbling it away, little by little, so that there will be nothing to show for it 10 years from now.
70 Years Ago
Week of November 3, 1955
Firemen’s Hallowe’en Parade, Party Draw Large Attendance
Approximately 200 youngsters from throughout the Pendleton County, dressed in costumes ranging all the way from Cinderella to Satan, and from Davy Crockett to 20th Century Mechanical Men, marched in the firemen’s annual Hallowe’en parade in Franklin Monday night.
Following the parade, the firemen threw a big party for the youngsters at the fire station including contests and entertainment by the band, capped off with hotdogs, coffee and Kool-aid for everyone.
It was estimated that from 1500 to 2000 persons lined both sides of Main Street and parts of High Street. Approximately 1000 of them followed the paraders to the fire station.
Braving a chilly 40 degrees temperature, they saw Ervin Dale Lambert get his face well smeared with chocolate pie as he won the first pie eating contest. Jean Ann Simmons and Bill Cunningham tied in a second pie eating contest later in the evening.
Carrol Thompson won an apple eating contest, and Loren Bryan succeeded in blowing up a balloon until it burst quicker than his competitors. Roy Hartman revealed a good baritone voice to win the hog calling contest, and Dale Thompson was the champion bubble gum blower. Johnny Murphy won the hotdog eating contest.
Prizes were awarded for the prettiest, most original and ugliest costumes. Winners of the prizes were as follows: Prettiest costume–Candy Dalen, who was dressed as a fairy; most original costume–Sue Hiser, who was rigged up as a mechanical man; ugliest costume–Charlie Sites, who represented a scarecrow. Runner-up for the ugliest costume was Linda Stump, who was dressed as a tramp, and Carolyn Simmons who represented a television set, was runner-up for the most original costume.
80 Years Ago
Week of November 2, 1945
CLINTON HEDRICK AWARDED MEDAL
“Technical Sergeant Clinton M. Hedrick, glider infantryman of Riverton, Pendleton County, West Virginia, who gave his life covering the retreat of his comrades from German treachery last March 28, has been posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the War Department announced October 26.
Sergeant Hedrick died inside the court of an ancient castle at Lembeck, Germany, facing the Germans with a Browning automatic rifle while his comrades withdrew to return with reinforcements. When the reenforced infantrymen stormed the castle shortly afterward, they found him dying from wounds.
The medal will be presented to Sergeant Hedrick’s father, Preston Hedrick of Riverton.
“Sergeant Hedrick was fearless through two days of fighting,” Staff Sergeant Richard L. McKelvie of Eggertsville, New York, reported. “We made our landing near Wesel the day before and after gathering in a woods, set out on the attack on Lembeck. We came out into a field and attacked heavily defended positions. But when we were among the enemy they opened up with two machine-guns that pinned our men to the ground.
“There was a trench leading close to the machine-gun positions and I begged Sergeant Hedrick to use it when he said he was going out to silence the guns. But he got up and went at them with the automatic rifle firing from his hip. He knocked out both guns.
“When we ready to take up the assault on Lembeck he knew a frontal assault would be costly, so he took a squad around to the flank and opened a diversionary attack. When we started our attack he was fighting more than 100 Germans with his little squad.”
“In the final drive, Sergeant Hedrick again advanced alone against two machine-guns and blasted them out of action with his BAR,” Sergeant McKelvie related. “A six-man patrol, all armed with automatic weapons, appeared on our flank in a surprise move and Sergeant Hedrick killed them all with a burst from his rifle.”
Sergeant Hedrick was born on May 1, 1918, at Cherry Grove, and attended rural school. His parents later moved to their present farm home at Riverton.
A veteran of fighting in Africa, Italy, France and Belgium, he entered the Army on September 5, 1940, and participated in the landing at Oran. He wore battle stars for the Rome-Arno, Southern France and Germany campaigns, in addition to the Combat Infantryman Badge, awarded him for exemplary conduct in action against the enemy.
BY CARL E. BURGTORF FOREST RANGER
Arlie Warner of Cherry Grove, is now on duty at the Gatewood fire tower helping to protect the Monongahela National Forest from fire. He is one of the more fortunate veterans since he found a home for his family at Harman.
Arlie says that life at the fire tower before he entered the Army seemed quite rugged though it now seems somewhat refined. Undoubtedly this impression is due to the fact that Arlie has spent day after day lying in the mud, eating K-Rations when he could get them, and living out in all kind of weather.
Perhaps some of us would appreciate our beds more if we too had been in France and Germany when raincoats and blankets froze in the mud and snow, and just standing up was a luxury.
If you pass through the Spruce Mountain or Hunting Ground country, you are invited to stop at the Gatewood fire tower where veteran Warner will gladly take time off from baking biscuits or running his weather station to show you the highest mountain in West Virginia and other points of interest.
105 Years Ago
Week of November 5, 1920
TO THE FARMERS OF PENDLETON COUNTY
no better dollar gift
For those whom you wish especially to please, here’s the one ideal gift. Not once, but 52 times during the coming year, it will bring its rich budget of practical help in every farm problem and wholesome entertainment for the whole family. Yes, of course I mean The Country Gentleman. Let me be Santa Claus.
The Country Gentleman is the business paper of the General Farmer, Poultry Raiser, Feed Merchant, Gardener, Dairyman, Commission Merchant, Stock Feeder, Stock Raiser, Sheep Raiser, Town Banker, Farm Woman, Land Owner, Farm Tenant, Rural Teacher, and everyone who is interested in the world’s biggest industry–farming.
Send me your name and also your friend’s name. Only $1.00 for 53 issues to any address.
P. M. Lukens Agent.
Franklin, W. Va.
Also Agent for Saturday Evening Post, $2.50 and Ladies Home Journal, $2.00.
AT THE BLUE GRASS THEATRE
Crabbottom, Va.
Saturday night, Nov. 6.
“Gates Of Brass”
“Spring Fever”
