10 Years Ago
Week of July 28, 2016
Navy Base Property Has New Owner
The online auction for the former Sugar Grove Navy Base which was scheduled to conclude on July 20, wrapped up on Monday evening with a final bid of $11.2 million. An individual known only as Bidder #7 submitted the winning offer.
A total of three open houses were held for prospective buyers to show off the 122-plus acre property boasting over 105 structures.
The property had previously been assessed by the state tax department at a value of $16.3 million. A writer for the “Washington Business Journal” reported that the sale price of $11.2 million “was a song” compared to the real value of the property.
New Store Opens In Brandywine
The town of Brandywine now has more to offer shoppers of Pendleton County. The new Family Dollar officially opened its doors for business on July 15 with the grand opening being held this past Saturday.
SUGAR GROVE
Dogs Can Prove To Be a Positive Influence on Life
One will be surprised at the benefits of having a furry friend.
•One will exercise more.
•The stress level decreases.
•One’s social life may improve as people are more likely to stop and talk.
•Cancer may be detected sooner with a dog’s amazing sense of smell.
•Children will be less likely to have allergies.
•One’s heart will be healthier.
•One is less likely to feel depressed.
•Dog ownership benefits elderly people in many ways.
•Dogs serve as an effective security system.
It goes without saying: A dog is man’s best friend.
20 Years Ago
Week of August 3, 2006
Seneca Rocks Tourism Numbers Up
Although Pendleton County’s overall economy may not benefit substantially from the travel/tourism industry—a state tourism commission study last year estimated that total travel spending here in 2004 amounted to $6.2 million, one of the lowest figures in the state—the summer of 2006 appears to be good again for tourism in Seneca Rocks, which is one of the Mid-Atlantic regions’ most popular travel destinations in the spring and summer and again when the leaves turn in the fall.
Official numbers for the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center through July 18 show 32,586 visitors there this year, an increase of 2,688 from the same time period last year.
The high water mark for visitation there in recent years came in 2000, when 106,701 people enjoyed the attractively designed tourist and information center, which is managed by the forest service.
Kimble’s Fast-Pitch Team Wins Virginia Coventry Games
Upcoming Pendleton County High School senior, Jenny Kimble, and her U-18 fast-pitch softball team, the “Smashin’ Apples,” recently won the Coventry Commonwealth Games of Virginia in Salem, VA, with a record of 6-0 against 20 strong teams.
Kimble’s out-fielding experience with the team, comprised primarily of Turner Ashby and Fort Defiance high school players, is a pre-cursor for college-level play. Pitching speed ranges from high 50s to mid 60s with various pitches—screwball, drop ball, riser, curve and of course, the fast pitch.
30 Years Ago
Week of July 25, 1996
Dr. Charles Sites Retires After 55 Years Of Medical Practice
Riding a bulldozer or horse, skiing, driving his favorite automobile, and climbing 26 stairs to his first office in Franklin, are several of the ways Dr. Charles Judy Sites, Franklin physician, reached his Pendleton County patients in the past 49 years. “I was a farm boy, though, and was able to ride about anything,” said Dr. Sites.
As of June 30 at age 84, he hung up his stethoscope for the last time and retired after 55 years of loyal and dedicated medical practice.
Originally Dr. Sites had no real intention of practicing medicine in Franklin. Eventually, though, after much schooling and military service, he opened an office in Franklin. He said, “I knew and liked the people here and found the region beautiful.”
Just after completing school at Pittsburgh Medical Center, he was called into the military service in which he served for five years as a medical officer. During World War II, he was stationed at Ft. Hayes in Columbus, OH, Camp Shelby in Hattisburg, MS, Uma, AZ. Needles, CA, Pamona, CA, and Camp Clayborne in Louisiana before being shipped overseas to England, Wales, France and Germany.
Dr. Sites returned home from the service in October 1945, and married Mary Lou Aulde on December 31 of that year. Following a month in Florida, the couple returned to West Virginia, making Parsons their home for a year while he worked in a hospital.
In 1947, Dr. Sites decided to open a medical practice in Franklin, the home to four doctors, O. S. Reynolds, Orlando Mitchell, J. L. Lambert, and Samuel Johnson.
SUGAR GROVE
Swinging Is Favorite Pastime for Children
Memories of childhood days sometimes fade or grow stronger as we grow older. We had trees to climb, wildflowers to pick for lovely table bouquets, ponds to skip stones on, and the exhilarating times swinging on a swing.
Most likely the frames of those swings were made from scrap lumber. It no doubt was attached to thick, long ropes from a tree branch.
On a warm summer day, it felt so good to bring the legs back, bend the knees, and stretch the legs out straight as we would pump ourselves back and forth.
The wind would blow through our hair, faces cooled by the balmy air. Swinging is one of the most pleasant things any child — no matter the age — can do.
40 Years Ago
Week of July 31, 1986
It’s Blueberry Picking Time on the Dolly Sods
Blueberries are ripening early this year on Dolly Sods in the Monongahela National Forest. Although, the berries are scattered this year and somewhat smaller, picking should be good now until mid-August. The berry crop is expected to peak the end of July.
50 Years Ago
Week of July 29, 1976
Simmons Sells Laundry Mat, Snack Bar
The Simmons Laundry Mat and the Simmons Snack Bar, both located on the basement floor of the Simmons Building in Franklin, were sold last week by A. M. “Hun” Simmons of Franklin to Richard Phares, Jr. of Onego.
Simmons, who has operated the laundry mat for the past eight years and the snack bar for almost as long, said he sold the business because he no longer was able to operate them because of his health.
Included in the sale were 33 automatic washing machines, 14 dryers, a dry cleaner and all snack bar equipment.
Simmons did not sell the building, but leased the basement floor to Phares who immediately took over management of the two operations.
Hanover Has Annual Outing
The annual picnic of The Hanover Shoe, Inc., Franklin plant was held last Saturday at Thorn Spring Park. Approximately 600 persons, including employees and their families and guests, were served a picnic lunch of barbecue chicken by the Franklin Latter-day Saints Church.
DAHMER
Some species of birds and wildlife will fare well here for a time, because there is an abundance of wild cherries that will soon ripen. The birds are already dining on the choke cherry.
Miss Elsie Blizzard of Franklin has a flower, the Confederate violet, growing in her yard. This violet is mostly a cultivated one but some places it has escaped and is growing wild.
Farms Offer Vacations In West Virginia
CHARLESTON — Are you interested in vacationing on a West Virginia farm this year? If so, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture has prepared a brochure containing eight (8) farms offering farm vacations.
This year farm vacations are located in Barbour, Braxton, Hardy, Jefferson, Pocahontas and Pendleton counties.
This program is designed with the purpose of providing W. Va. farmers with an opportunity to supplement their income by entertaining guests and allowing many who would not normally have the chance to experience the numerous amounts of fringe benefits offered in a rural setting.
In most cases, the visitors are allowed to work with the owners of the farm and help with farm chores, such as milking the cows or gathering eggs. Some farms even feature hay rides!
Facilities vary from farm to farm, however, many of them are close to state parks and national forests. Some include horseback riding, hunting, fishing, outdoor fireplaces, baby-sitting, laundry facilities, swimming, canoeing and hiking.
60 Years Ago
Week of July 28, 1966
$11 MILLION SUGAR GROVE PROJECT OK’ED
Washington, D. C.—U. S. Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) announced today that the Navy has agreed to his request to proceed with the development of the Naval Radio Receiving Station at Sugar Grove—now estimated to be an $11 million installation.
79 Teachers Employed By Board of Education For Ensuing Term
sugar grove elementary school is discontinued
A full complement of teachers has been employed, some new administrative positions have been created, and one elementary school has been eliminated in preparation for the opening of Pendleton County schools next month.
The biggest change in the school system for next term will be the discontinuance of the Sugar Grove Elementary School. Most of the pupils who normally would have attended that school now will attend the Brandywine School. Pupils living in the Thorn section who previously have attended the Sugar Grove School will be brought into Franklin.
The discontinuance of the Sugar Grove School reduces the number of elementary schools in the county to six. Thirty-one years ago there were 96.
70 Years Ago
Week of August 2, 1956
DAHMER
the board walks in franklin 65 years ago
How many people remember the Old Board Walks in Franklin 65 or 70 years ago? They were very inferior to those concrete walks of today. But they served the purpose in that day, but not without an outcry against them, because some people received painful injuries about their toes and feet as was the case of Newton Swan, a cattleman who often came to Franklin.
He was leisurely going along on the walk in company with Jesse Howard Simmons when a broken board caused him a great deal of pain. Of course, he used profane language, but no cop to hear him. So he went on his way but not in a happy mood.
A few other remarks not very religious came rudely spoke out. Next came along a lady who met with a like accident but of a religious nature and said, “O my Lord.” The third party was usually sparing of commands, but who had received the same dose of medicine, said, “These old board walks must be replaced soon or I will sue the town.”
During the time just mentioned, people thought “no money to do it” and the man is day dreaming, but not so, because his prophecy was fulfilled in a larger sense than he had dreamed.
Two colored gentlemen that figured prominently in the early history of Franklin were Elijah Custus, the butcher, and Sam Sunderland, a very polite gentleman, and they were seen by the writer trampling over those “Old Board Walks” when “brogans” were worn by them.
A true story — John Dahmer
