10 Years Ago
Week of August 4, 2016
Tumbling Camp Held at PCHS
The first Pendleton County High School tumbling camp was held July 25-29. The camp was directed by Krystal Raymond. Raymond taught participants basic tumbling and gymnastic skills as well as ways to improve flexibility and strength. Classes were open to boys and girls in grades fourth through twelfth.
20 Years Ago
Week of August 10, 2006
New Bridge Improves Traffic Flow On Route 220
The old steel arch bridge in Upper Tract on Rt. 220 spanning the South Branch River dates from 1923.
It was 17 feet wide and 204 feet long. Route 220 north of the county seat to Upper Tract and on to Petersburg is obviously a main corridor through Pendleton County, and the width of the old bridge sustained only one lane of traffic.
Now a bridge exists alongside it, a 28-foot-wide two-laner that includes approaches which measure 817 feet in length.
Nevertheless, the proud old bridge still stands, as a monument to history, to the fine craftsmanship of the early 20th century steelworks and the preservation of the past.
Indeed it was the West Virginia Division of Culture and History that wanted the 83-year-old structure preserved, when, some years ago, the state highways department approved the construction of a new bridge in Upper Tract, which was long overdue given the obvious need and daily traffic load.
The old bridge is open to foot traffic.
The new bridge was built by MEC Construction for $3.04 million. Work began last July and concluded two weeks ago.
A new entrance into Smoke Hole also was constructed.
SUGAR GROVE
‘Everything Hurts, and What Doesn’t Hurt, Doesn’t Work’
The last fling of summer has rolled around. Students know that it is the last month of freedom before the grind of school begins. August is slowly drifting in the hills with an easy gait. With all the chores that tag along the fruitful, mature days, one is able to tell if one is getting older by looking at the following suggestions. For example, one might be over the hill if:
•One gets winded playing a board game.
•One looks forward to a dull evening.
•One’s knees buckle but one’s belt won’t.
•One burns the midnight oil until 9:30 p.m.
•Everything hurts and what doesn’t hurt doesn’t work.
•One’s favorite part of the newspaper is “25 years ago today.”
•One feels like the morning after, and one hasn’t been anywhere.
•One turns out the lights for economy reasons, not romantic reasons.
•One’s idea of a “nooner” is a nap.
•One can’t operate the television without the remote control.
•One regularly uses the word “new-fangled.”
•One is offended by the things that are said on the radio these days.
•One doesn’t like it when someone sits in one’s chair.
Pet Permits Will No Longer Be Issued for Raccoon, Fox, Skunk
Based upon the serious public health and wildlife disease concerns associated with the raccoon rabies virus, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has determined it will no longer issue new Wildlife Pet Permits for raccoon, fox and skunk. WVDNR has not issued Wildlife Importation Permits for these same species since 2001.
30 Years Ago
Week of August 1, 1996
Two County Schools Hook on To Internet, More to Follow
Increasingly, success in school and the workplace requires information—the ability to access it, manipulate it and use it to produce an end product. The Information Superhighway, more commonly known as the Internet, is a great way to access the latest information. Internet access levels the playing field for students in rural areas providing the same access to information and resources available to students in urban areas.
Two of Pendleton County’s schools recently entered the information age by hooking up to the Internet. Franklin Elementary School and Franklin High School each had computers hooked up, compliments of Bell Atlantic-West Virginia’s World School Initiative, on July 16. A third school, Brandywine Elementary, will follow shortly.
Pendleton County To Represent West Virginia In Tournament
Pendleton County will send 13 All Stars and three coaches to represent the state of West Virginia in the 1996 Ohio Valley Regional Babe Ruth Tournament. Pendleton won the right to represent West Virginia by winning a state championship last weekend in Elkins.
The 14-year-old members of the team are Cory Koliscak, Brandon Reel, Chuck Hiett, Matt Vance and Travis Johnson. Fifteen-year-old members include Eric Smith, Jeremy Harper Josh Harper, Jeremy Adams, Elijah Byers, Dan McGrath, Billy Beachler and Derek Vandevander. The coaches are Lannie Harper and Wilson Reel with Tim Johnson acting as manager.
Week of August 8, 1996
Child Care Center Takes Field Trip
Children attending the Franklin Child Care Center, Inc., recently went to Harrisonburg, VA, on a field trip. They stopped at Burger King for lunch. Then they went to the mall to see the new Disney movie, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
To be able to rent a Potomac Valley Transit bus they had a bake sale during May Days.
DAHMER
Kids Wore Asafoetida Bags To Ward Off Disease
The title A.B.C. days often is referred to that period of time when young children wore the asafoetida bag made of muslin-like material and measured about two inches square. The string tied around one corner was long enough to reach around the neck and drop below the undershirt, thereby making the sack unnoticeable to the eye—but certainly not to the nose. This was believed to ward off contagious disease.
When this region was still dominated by the German language, the dialect name for this deep smelling essence was deivels-dreck or devil’s filth. The English name derived from the Latin foetidus or fetid—having an offensive odor—is quite appropriate, as many one-room school teachers can well remember. A class full of pupils wearing such preventatives, certainly add little to the charm of the school room.
The large herbaceous plant stands up to nine feet tall and was native to India. The material used for medical purpose is obtained from the roots and is a gum resin. It appears as a yellowish brown opaque in small lumps. Certainly, the popularity of the asafoetida bag stemmed from the faith placed on it. The writer has a little asafoetida in a small round wooden box.
40 Years Ago
Week of August 7, 1986
Gas Line Rupture Spouts Flames 500 Feet into Sky
The Monongahela National Forest took on the appearance of the Yellowstone National Park Monday afternoon when a geyser spouted 500 feet in the sky.
But it wasn’t water that was reaching for the stars. It was gas.
A rupture in a 26-inch gas line between Seneca Rocks and Onego about 4 p.m. created a blow torch that shot flames 500 to 600 feet high.
“It made a terrible roar, like a jet plane coming right down on us,” said Joe Harper of Seneca Rocks. Harper and his son, Matt, were on their way to Onego to pick up some sheep to take to the Tri-County Fair at Petersburg when the gas line ruptured just several hundred yards from the road.
“The noise got louder and louder,” Harper said, “and I asked Matt what it was. He looked out the back window and saw the fire shooting into the air. When it was at its peak, it was spewing fire 500 to 600 feet high and several hundred feet in diameter.”
Seven area fire companies were called by Columbia Gas Company, owner of the line, to control possible forest fires. Fire companies reported to the scene from Circleville, Bartow, Durbin, Harman, Petersburg, Maysville and Franklin. They had all fires out by 6:30 p.m.
Peach Harvest
West Virginia’s peach harvest for 1986 may be the best in the last five years, according to projections by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.
Mountain State growers are expected to harvest 21 million pounds of peaches this year. The state’s 1985 peach crop was wiped out by a January freeze. Yields totals for other recent years are the following: 1980, 22 million; 1982, 17 million; 1983, 19 million; and 1984, 17 million.
50 Years Ago
Week of August 5, 1976
Flower Arranging Of Colonial Days To Be Festival Feature
At this year’s Treasure Mountain Festival the Potomac Valley Garden Club is going back to the 18th century (not really). That was the time flower arranging was first expressed in America. The early colonist attempted simple flower arrangements using common household vessels.
When gardening was established as a proper occupation, interest in flower arranging developed. Native wild flowers and grasses were used as well as garden flowers. The custom of gathering material during the summer months to be dried and used in winter decorations probably evolved during this period. Corn cobs, cattails, sea lavender and straw flowers were popular for use in dry arrangements, and still are today, particularly for the table center piece for the feast at Thanksgiving.
Doing What He Loves Best
J. Samuel Simmons of Franklin, who is in his 92nd year, still loves to work in his garden. And quite a garden it is — rows of corn, tomatoes, beans, potatoes, and not a weed to be seen. “We have had corn, tomatoes and lots of beans,” Mr. Simmons said last week as he paused for a brief rest from digging potatoes. “Our potatoes aren’t quite as good this year,” he said. “They seem to have some sort of blight.” But there were several in each hill and many of them were twice as big as a man’s fist. Judging from the way he was rolling out the potatoes last week, Mr. Simmons will be planting straight rows and digging weeds many seasons after his 92nd year.
60 Years Ago
Week of August 4, 1966
July Month Accident-Ridden Month In History of Pendleton County
A rash of five automobile accidents on Pendleton County highways last week sent three persons to hospitals, caused several thousand dollars worth of property damage, and brought the total number of accidents occurring on county highways for the month to 16.
Circleville Leads Softball League
Circleville, Brandywine and Monterey won double headers Sunday in the Pendleton County softball league permitting Circleville to remain in first place and Blue Grass in the cellar.
Next Sunday Monterey will play at Circleville, Upper Tract at Franklin, Entry Mountain at Brandywine, and Blue Grass will enjoy a much needed rest.
70 Years Ago
Week of August 9, 1956
Pendleton is Among Top Poultry Counties In United States
Pendleton County is among the top 100 counties in the whole United States in the production of turkeys, chickens and poultry products, according to the 1954 Census of Agriculture figures just released by the Bureau of Census, U. S. Department of Commerce.
Among all the counties in the United States, Pendleton ranks 12th in the number of turkeys raised, 40th in the number of chickens sold, 33rd in income from the sale of chickens, and 58th in the value of poultry products sold.
Among the top 100 counties in number of turkeys raise, four were in West Virginia. Hardy County was 12th, Pendleton was 18th, Grant was 25th and Hampshire was 43rd.
States placing the most counties in the top 100 were California with 15, Pennsylvania with 9, 8 in New Jersey, 7 in Georgia and 6 in Massachusetts.
