10 Years Ago
Week of April 14, 2016
PCER Celebrates 40 Years of Service
LOGS 7,089 MAN HOURS FOR 2015
Pendleton County Emergency Rescue celebrated 40 years of service on Saturday during the annual banquet held at the community building in Franklin. Sue Alt, PCER president welcomed members and guests to the program. Those attending the banquet were presented a scrapbook with copies of newspaper articles saved by Viola Riggleman marking the early existence of the organization.
CSO To Celebrate 49th Anniversary On Saturday
The Country Store Opry will celebrate its 49th anniversary at the Landes Arts Center in Petersburg on Saturday, April 16, at 7 p.m. This celebration should be very special because some of the stars of the CSO from years gone by are planning to come and perform on the show.
Also a portion of the show will be dedicated to the memory of the late Merle Haggard. This should spark the interest of many people throughout the Potomac Highlands and surrounding area.
The CSO was organized by Ernie Mullenax, who was the lead guitar player for the group until his death in 2004. Wendell Nelson is the lead singer and only charter member still with the group. Many tour buses have attended these shows over the years and continue to do so. The CSO has received recognition at the state level for its role in preserving classic country music that is a part of West Virginia heritage. The CSO has performed on both the Wheeling Jamboree and the Sage Brush Roundup in Fairmont. It is thought to be the third longest running country music show in West Virginia along with Wheeling Jamboree, first, and Sage Brush Roundup, second.
Current CSO members are Wendell Nelson, lead vocalist and acoustic guitar, Carolyn Simmons, vocals and acoustic guitar, Grey Cassell, harmonica, Danny Kendrick, lead guitar, Mark Phillips, bass, Jeff Broschart, vocals and drums, and Debbie Phillips, vocalist.
20 Years Ago
Week of April 13, 2006
Golf Course To Open Soon
“How green is My Valley” may be the title of a beloved American film, but it is also a phrase that applies already in early spring to the Highlands Golf Club course on Troublesome Valley Road off of Rt. 33 east of Franklin.
The much anticipated opening of West Virginia’s newest golf course is tentatively slated for May 6. All 18 holes will be visible from one or another clubhouse vantage points, which, if not unique, is at least a rare feature in the world of championship caliber golf.
SUGAR GROVE
The First Day of Spring Is One Thing and the First Spring Day Is Another
Henry van Dyke once stated, “The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another.” The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.
Easter traditions relate to the ancient custom that new life relates to the season of spring. Natural egg dyeing is a very simple process. To keep eggs from cracking, when boiling, add two tablespoons of distilled white vinegar per quarter of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the eggs with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to dry. When seeking a variety of colored eggs, use the following natural dyes:
Blue-green—use four cups of red cabbage per quart of water;
Copper—use four quarts of yellow onion skins per quart of water;
Bronze—use brewed coffee instead of tap water;
Yellow—use two tablespoons turmeric per quart of water;
Pink—use four cups raspberries per quart of water; and
Purple—use four cups blueberries per quart of water.
Rub the finished eggs lightly with a soft cloth dipped in vegetable oil to produce a bright shine.
First Graders Read 642 Books in March
During the month of March, the first graders in Room 1B at Franklin Elementary School were encouraged to read to their parents. Each child kept track of how many books they read. A reading celebration was held on April 2 complete with cupcakes, certificates, pencils and balloons. The students who read the most books were awarded a new book.
30 Years Ago
Week of April 11, 1996
Navy Base Retirees Back for Reunion
On April 5, a group of retired public works employees of the ‘former’ Naval Radio Station of Sugar Grove met for their second annual luncheon at the Cabin Restaurant in Brandywine. An excellent meal was served and enjoyed by all present. During and after the meal, many stories reminiscing the ‘Good Ole Days’ were exchanged.
Those present were French Moates (PW foreman) and wife, Jerri, Ken Miller (facility manager) and wife, Rose, Hinkle Ruddle (pipefitter), Delmar Lough (antenna mechanic) and wife, Agnes, and George Crider (painter). Also retired but unable to attend were Gerald Blake (AC mechanic) and Kermit Judy (electrician). Commemorative badges were given to each retiree.
Road to Summer Olympics Comes Through West Virginia
The road to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games will come through the cities of Wheeling and Martinsburg as part of the U. S. Olympic Trials-Cycling. This will be the first time in its 133-year history that West Virginia will host an Olympic Trials event.
“West Virginia communities really have risen to the challenge of preparing for and hosting a world-class event,” said West Virginia Governor William Gaston Caperton. “Our state is a premier location for this competition. We have excellent terrain for cycling, and it is a sport that really has captured the enthusiasm and imagination of West Virginians across the state.”
Martinsburg will host the women’s time trial on May 21 and men’s time trial on May 22. Wheeling will host a women’s road race on May 23. Courses and start times will be announced at a later date. Last year, both cities hosted successful stages in the Kmart Class of West Virginia, a six-day 500 mile international cycling stage race.
40 Years Ago
Week of April 3, 1986
DAHMER
Mushroom season began on Sandy Ridge with Berlie Eye finding two mushrooms on April 5, and son, Jeff, finding eight.
How many can remember their first time to attend a country auction sale? Johnny Arvin Dahmer’s first sale to attend was the Tommy Propst sale near Capito Hill in the early spring of 1931, with John Hedrick the auctioneer. Little did the writer think that he would have a machine sale on the same place 55 years later.
At that time five- and ten-cent bids were accepted. Bud Dahmer bought a two horse wagon load of items, of which then turned out to be junk or at least most of the load. Today, those items would command fabulous prices. In fact the man who bought the large spinning wheel and another item never even bothered to take the spinning wheel away. The old cradle that rocked all of Lewis and Henrietta Propst’s kids was left to rot in an outbuilding. A son, the late Cleveland Propst, identified the cradle years later to the writer. A skillet with a very long handle used at a fireplace was left to rust away. The writer now has them in is possession and would like to see them displayed at the Treasure Mountain Festival along with two of Henrietta’s hats, for they would fit into the theme of the festival, “Good Old Country Living.” Lewis and Henrietta Propst’s descendants are wide-spread and also very numerous today in Pendleton.
John Hedrick was a very popular auctioneer in his day and the first sale that he served as auctioneer was at Mrs. Sallie Thompson’s on Tract Mountain.
50 Years Ago
Week of April 1, 1976
‘Miss Lottie’ Wright Recognized for Lifetime of Service To Community
One of Franklin’s most outstanding citizens was recognized last Saturday night for a lifetime of service to others.
Teacher, civic worker, church worker, homemaker, friend—these were some of the terms used to describe “Miss Lottie.”
Mrs. Lottie Wright occupied the center of the stage at a “This Is Your Life” program sponsored by the Pendleton County Church Women United last Saturday night at the Franklin High School auditorium.
More than 200 people from Pendleton County and as far away as Connecticut, Cleveland, Ohio, and Atlanta, Ga., gathered to pay tribute to this special person who has left her mark on so many others during the course of her life.
Mrs. Smith Has Helpful Neighbors
Mrs. Walter J. Smith of Ruddle was pleasantly surprised Monday evening by her good neighbors who gathered together, paint brushes in hand, to put a new look in the living room of her home.
They were Freda Roberson, Mrs. Getty Shreve, Mrs. Opal Carpenter, Judy Kimble and her daughter, Mrs. Merle Kline of Akron. The neighbors and daughter knew Mrs. Smith had injured her knee and had been off her feet for the past week. Also Mr. and Mrs. Coy Thompson and daughter, Sandy, have been very helpful.
County 4-H’ers Tour Historic Philadelphia
Four Pendleton County 4-H youth accompanied a group of 80 4-H’ers hosted by Hardy County on a tour of historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Those from the county who participated in the trip were Jeanie Eye, Susan Lovegrove, Nola and Elise Miller and Extension Agent Dottie Deal.
60 Years Ago
Week of April 7, 1966
Library Moves To Larger Quarters
The Pendleton County Library was moved last week to the first floor of the Pendleton County Courthouse. Mrs. Mary Handlan, regional librarian of Keyser, gave the library group guidance in room arrangement, book selections and cataloging of new books. Assisting with the moving were the VISTA workers, 4-H junior leaders and library board members.
Cherry Grove Community Center Eyed
A public meeting and discussion will be held at the Cherry Grove Methodist Church on April 16 to explain to all interested persons the future plans of the community center at Cherry Grove known as the Lambert Hilltop Park.
This community center will be very beneficial to Cherry Grove and surrounding communities for family and community activities, but to succeed it must be supported by the public and all organizations that will be interested in using the park.
With proper public support this park can grow to be one of the beauty spots in Pendleton County. Mrs. Betty Lambert of Arbovale urges all interested families and organizations to appoint at least one or more representatives to attend this meeting to state your views on this important matter. Officers of the park will be present to answer your questions.
70 Years Ago
Week of April 2, 1956
CHS Students To Give Class Play
The junior class of Circleville High School will present “Coddled Egbert” by Jay Tobias in the high school auditorium Saturday evening, April 7, at 7:45.
Thirteen characters of a rest haven and a green monster from outer space provide the suspense and laughter in a plot designed to give courage to an overly protected youngster. This play is one of the latest releases of Playwright Tobias whose plays have been popular with the clientele of local high school drama.
The cast from the junior class is Sue Phares, Lorena Hedrick, Mary Lou Bland, Herbert Hedrick, Genevieve Sponaugle, Billie Warner, Bobby Barkley, Elaine Sponaugle, Charles Lambert, Kenneth Harper, Joann Ruddle, Ernest Bland, Jerry Ruddle and Bernard Raines.
Admission is 35 and 50 cents. Special arrangements were made with Barker’s Plays.
