10 Years Ago
Week of December 24, 2015
Pendleton Home Health Named Top 100
Pendleton Home Health Services, a division of Pendleton Manor and the Good Samaritan Society, has been named one of the top 100 home health agencies in the US by Home Care Elite. Now in its tenth year, Home Care Elite identifies the top 25 percent of agencies and highlights the top 100 and the top 500 agencies overall. Honorees are ranked by an analysis of publicly available performance measures in quality outcomes, best practice implementation, patient experience, quality improvement and consistency and financial performance.
West Virginia Poison Center Offers Toy Safety Recommendations
During the holiday season, toy safety is always a concern. While most people focus on the age recommendations for toys and the potential for choking hazards, it is important to consider the poisoning risk of toys being purchased. The West Virginia Poison Center recommends these tips for children’s gifts.
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Check the list. Even with safety measures in place, some toys are recalled. Before purchasing a toy, check to see if it is on a recall list.
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If necessary, know the toy ingredients. Some toys, such as chemistry kits or art supplies, may contain an ingredient list. This list is extremely important if a child would become poisoned by the toy. For arts and crafts products, look for the ACMI seal to ensure they meet US safety standards.
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Liquids may be a concern. If a toy contains liquid, check the toy to ensure the liquid is not leaking, or isn’t likely to begin leaking. The liquid in some toys is unknown and may be a danger if the toy breaks.
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Don’t forget about lead. Even with safety measures that lessen the chance of lead poisoning, antique toys and collectibles (especially toys with chipping or worn paint), lead bullets and lead sinkers for fishing may still put a child at risk for lead exposure.
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Beware of batteries. Disc batteries, also called “button” or “coin” batteries, can cause severe injury or death if swallowed. Ensure children’s toys have a secured compartment for batteries (such as a compartment that requires a screw driver to open).
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Dangers of magnets. Some children’s toys and desk toys may be made up of or contain small, high-powered magnets. These objects can also cause severe injury or death if swallowed. If there are young children in the home, do not purchase magnetic toys or desk top novelties made out of magnets.
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Accidents happen. Even when safety precautions are followed, accidents happen. Keep the West Virginia Poison Center number (1-800-222-1222) near in case it is needed.
SUGAR GROVE
‘Shooting in the New Year’ Was Past Tradition
Although the custom of “Shooting in the New Year” is only a memory, there are still some in this neck of the woods who recall and can describe their experiences about this activity. This custom was a way to show that the community was in accord, and that everyone was concerned about their neighbor. In those days, people didn’t send Christmas cards or New Year’s cards, so visiting or delivering the message in person was a way to give out greetings. As the greeting cards became popular the older traditions gradually faded out of practice.
The leader or captain of a shooting group would always call out the name of the head of the household. Once the greeting was spoken in “Dutch,” the group would begin to shoot their guns. They would then be invited in to the house and served refreshments.
There were hazards of shooting. As one late Pendletonian said, “It was dangerous, so it was. They just kept pouring powder in the gun, and then they stuffed in paper and just kept stomping them with a foot full of powder. They just wanted to see who could shoot the hardest! My brother’s gun bursted and a piece hit him in the head and he was hurt bad.”
30 Years Ago
Week of December 21, 1995
West Virginia Farm Bureau Task Force Taking Aim at Coyotes
During the last five years, coyotes have increased their appetite for West Virginia livestock. The sheep industry has been hit so hard that the number of sheep in the state has declined by 44 percent. A conservative estimate from a survey conducted by the USDA and the WVU Cooperative Extension Service says that from July 1994 to July 1995, coyotes were responsible for 3,700 sheep kills, six percent of the state’s total flock, resulting in over $500,000 in losses.
In response to outcries of frustration by farmers affected by coyote predation, the West Virginia Farm Bureau along with assistance from other organizations, created a task force to find solutions to combat this problem.
Representatives of these various groups acknowledged that trapping, which has been successful in counties with the largest predation problems, was the best choice to deal with coyotes on a short-term basis.
The long-range plan was agreed upon after much discussion. It will involve an “integrated approach” consisting of trapping, snaring, chemical applications and training farmers to use them. An extended contract for the trapper, from the short-term plan, and the possible addition of another will also be included.
50 Years Ago
Week of December 25, 1975
DAHMER
There once lived on Dickenson Mountain a man who received the title of Reverend by preaching the word of God, not for a living, but to spread the word of God to sinners like you and me.
The man in this subject is Rev. Henry Dickenson who married Mary Propst, daughter of John Propst. Rev. Dickenson’s best known trade was blacksmithing, which some of his handmade articles have been handed down to the present generation. He is said to have taken the iron ore rocks near his home and smelted them on his blacksmith forge and made a horseshoe.
What is so unusual about Rev. Henry Dickenson is after he attained the age of 60 he performed 236 marriages.
After a wedding ceremony the groom often handed the minister some money. What did Rev. Henry Dickenson do with the money? He would give it to the bride.
70 Years Ago
Week of December 22, 1955
Stickley’s Barbershop Is Moved To New Location
The Stickley barbershop which has been located in the Warner Theatre building next to the Franklin Cut-Rate store for a number of years moved to a new location on Monday.
The barbershop is now located in the office space formerly occupied by the Moyers Gas Company in the Theatre building next to the Star Restaurant. The office space will be divided and the barbershop and the gas company will each share part of the space.
You are the Jury
The Case of the Frightened Apple Tree
By Morris Braun
Henry Latham moved onto his farm as a young husband. Clearing 15 acres, he and his wife were tempted when the sawmill in town offered to remove and pay for all the logs it could clear on Henry’s 2000 acres of woodland, mostly in pine and oak. After Henry and his Anna hesitated a bit, the Corwin Company upped his offer. The Lathams signed a contract permitting the sawmill to cut and move all timber for sawlogs for the next 20 years, if the trees were more than 12 inches thick around.
As the Corwin Company cleared the timber, Henry planted his apple orchard. In 15 years, the Lathams were harvesting their fruit, and the Corwin Company had cleared all the pine and oak. Back to the orchard went the Corwin Company; their men started to saw down one of Henry’s apple trees. Henry asked what it was all about; and the Corwin’s superintendent patiently explained that his company had the right to cut all the timber suitable for sawings, and that applewood had become in high demand as sawlogs. Henry sued to stop them.
“When I signed the contract,” argued Henry, “my intention was to have the Corwin Company clear all the pine and oak, which at that time was the only wood used in this area as sawlogs, besides hickory, poplar and ash. When I planted my fruit trees, I intended that they produce fruit, not be used as sawlogs. And besides, the apple trees were not on the property at that time.”
“It could be,” said the lawyer for the Corwin Company, “that Latham did not mean the apple trees, but if that were so, he should have said so in the contract. Since the contract was signed, new oak and pine have also grown on the property, and applewood has become in good demand as sawlogs. After all, he did agree to allow us to cut all timber suitable for sawlogs; and for our market, applewood is very good for sawlogs. We are entitled to cut them down.”
If you were on the jury, would you permit Corwin Company to cut down Henry’s apple trees?
The Corwin Company could not cut down the apple trees. In discussing the decision, the court said that the custom at the time of the signing of the contract, in that area was the true test. The local use for sawlogs at that time, were woods such as pine, oak, hickory, poplar and ash. There was no question, the judge emphasized that sawlogs were not cut from apple trees, when the contract was signed.
(Based on a 1914 case)
105 Years Ago
Week of December 17, 1920
STARTLING FACTS ABOUT PENDLETON COUNTY
The late Census shows the Following Facts for Pendleton.
Population 9652.
One person in every 666 dies of tuberculosis.
14 persons die in Pendleton County every year of consumption. There are 10 living cases for every one that dies.
140 living cases of consumption in Pendleton County.
9 men rejected in the draft for this reason.
2 soldiers returned from camp for same reason.
A human life is valued at $7500.00. $105,000.00 is lost by death from tuberculosis, without counting the poverty and suffering caused by it.
With out altitude and pure air, there should not be a case of tuberculosis in the county. Let us stamp it out, banish the poverty and end the suffering.
To do this, buy Christmas Seals and provide the money to fight tuberculosis. 65 per cent of it remains in our own county.
SHORT NOTES
The operator of the Independent Telephone Company has notified the manager that unless wood is furnished to her the central office here will be closed after Saturday. Hence, if you get no response after that time, you will know the central is frozen up and the Company gone into winter quarters. Our service has never been what we would like it, but it was far better before the present company took hold of it and completely ran it in the ground. We have had no communication with the outside world for months. Would it not justify our business people to get together and build a first-class line? There is no business need in the county more calling.
We are having an epidemic of small pox and mumps in our vicinity. Dr. Simmons have been very busy.
Floyd Shrader is going into the sled business, call and see.
Fleisher School is progressing nicely under the skilled management of Nannie Mullenax.
Willie Fleisher is going to Staunton to see if he can find a field of “daisies” that hasn’t been caught by the frost.
FIVE HUNDRED RED CROSS MEMBERS
The above number has been set as our goal for the year 1921. We are short something more than fifty, but if each friend of the Red Cross will secure one member between now and the end of the year, we will exceed the five hundred.
Let those who have worked see a few friends and send in as many members as possible. Those who have done nothing and have suffered their sections of the county to be unrepresented, we feel will embrace this opportunity and get a few members at once.
If no one solicited, you send your membership direct as several are doing. Probably fifty names have been sent in this way since the drive closed, which is only another evidence that the county was not properly solicited. At this season when we are giving gifts to our friends, don’t forget your greatest friend, the Red Cross.
