20 Years Ago
Week of August 24, 2006
Agriculture Is Still #1
In Pendleton
Take a drive through two of Pendleton County’s West Virginia neighbors, Randolph to the west, Pocahontas to the south.
One will see a landscape similar to Pendleton’s—big mountains rising above valleys dotted by scenic, productive and meticulously groomed farmland.
Take another drive through the other two West Virginia counties bordering on Pendleton, Hardy to the north and Grant to the northwest.
Again there is abundant mountain scenery that harmonizes with the lush farmland and green fields that enhance the landscape at lower elevations.
Almost all of those fields in the five counties are attached to productive family farms rather than so-called “hobby” farms.
It is well-known that the economic value of the agriculture industry is much greater in Pendleton, Hardy and Grant because the poultry industry has no commercial presence in Randolph and Pocahontas counties.
But Randolph and Pocahontas have their share of big cattle farms, and in terms of total square miles, they are two of the three biggest counties in the state.
Capito Takes Part In Pasture Walk On Seneca Rocks Farm
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito joined numerous federal officials as a special guest for a pasture walk on the Seneca Rocks farm of Joe and Carolyn Harper on June 24.
In addition to state sheep and cattle producers, the walk included the participation of representatives from Wildlife Services, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the US Forest Service and Trout Unlimited, among others.
Hay wagons took the participants to a mountain pasture on the eastern continental divide where over 400 ewes and lambs were grazing, along with 70 steers.
Congresswoman Capito was accompanied by her husband, Charlie.
The Joe Harper family also hosted a West Virginia lamb roast for the guests.
Harper is an advocate of advanced methods of marketing lamb as an emerging American delicacy.
40 Years Ago
Week of August 21, 1986
Hanover Shoe To Work with Local High Schools
The Hanover Shoe Factory in Franklin indicated Monday that it desires to form a Partnership in Education with Franklin High School and Circleville High School.
“A Partnership in Education is one of three programs that has been developed by the West Virginia Education Fund to lend assistance to the education system in West Virginia,” said Mrs. Vivian Kidd of Charleston, fund secretary.
Put Nature’s Pest Control Agents On Your Team
Certain insect predators and parasites play a vital role in preventing other destructive insects from over-populating the environment.
Farmers and homeowners can help increase the effectiveness of these natural “pest control agents” by maintaining favorable conditions for them. To take full advantage of these helpful insects, you must be able to recognize them and protect them from indiscriminate pesticide use.
Some of the most important beneficial insects found in West Virginia are ladybird beetles (ladybugs), lacewings, ground beetles, praying mantis, dragonflies, wasps, syrphid flies, (hover flies/flower flies), ant lions (doodlebugs), and lightning bugs.
50 Years Ago
Week of August 19, 1976
One-Armed Barber? It’s Possible!
Stories have been told about one-armed paper hangers, but Franklin has the distinction of having a one-armed barber.
L. T. Stickley has been snipping with one hand while carrying the other in a giant-sized bandage as a result of an accident last week.
According to barber partner Gene Boggs, Stickley severed a tendon in his left thumb while skinning a large groundhog at Boggs’ farm on Deer Run last week.
Stickley was treated at Rockingham Memorial Hospital but returned to work the following day, bandage and all.
Propst Finally Gets Revenge
By June Hammer
“Vengeance is Mine,” mutters Assessor Irvin Propst, former Times’ linotype operator as he demolishes the base of “Old Rusty,” a model 14 linotype typesetting machine that had outlived its usefulness.
The machine, purchased several years ago after having gathered rust in a Virginia barn for some time, was a constant source of irritation to Irvin during most of his 20 years stay with the Times.
“Old Rusty,” as it was named by the Times staff because of its cantankerous actions, was an undependable piece of equipment. Just as Irvin was thinking he had ironed out the latest mechanical problem, “Old Rusty” would break down again.
So they had it . . . for a great number of years, and possibly contributing to Irvin’s lack of hair, until April 1974, when the Times went offset, changing its method of printing and eliminating “Old Rusty’s” usefulness.
When editor William McCoy, Jr., decided to scrap “Old Rusty,” Irvin was given his chance to avenge Needless to say, “Old Rusty” is with us no more.
60 Years Ago
Week of August 12, 1966
Church to Observe Centennial
The Franklin Presbyterian Church will celebrate its 100th year of Christian service in Pendleton County Sunday with a special centennial service at the church.
The Franklin Presbyterian Church had its birth in an old church located a half-mile south of Upper Tract. First called The Pendleton Presbyterian Church, it was organized by a commission of Lexington Presbytery on August 19, 1866.
There were only 15 charter members of the new church, but by 1880 the membership had increased to 80. The church grew rapidly in the years that followed with membership increasing to 122 by 1890 and 224 by 1905. Present membership of the church is 237.
The first resident pastor of the church was R. H. Fleming who served from 1872 to 1876. Supply pastors were provided by Lexington Presbytery from 1866 to 1872.
About 1876 The Pendleton Presbyterian Church erected its own church building on the corner of High Street and Walnut Street in Franklin near the location of the present Franklin EUB Church and occupied this building until 1924.
When the Upper Tract and Ruddle Presbyterian churches were organized, the name of The Pendleton Presbyterian Church was changed to Franklin Presbyterian Church.
The Franklin Presbyterian Church continued to hold services in the brick building on the corner of High Street and Walnut Street until 1924, when the present church building just across the street was occupied.
Upon moving into the new church, the old building was sold to the county for use as a courthouse since the county courthouse had been destroyed in the town fire of 1924. Still later the Franklin EUB Church bought the building and used it as a place of worship until their new church was constructed and occupied in 1955.
Mt. Storm Power Station Will Be Dedicated Friday
Virginia Electric and Power Company will dedicate its multi-million dollar Mt. Storm Power Station in Grant County August 19.
Mt. Storm Power Station and its related 500,000 volt transmission line were constructed at a cost of about $182 million. The station is built in its remote location outside Vepco’s service area because of the abundance of nearby coal which reduces shipping costs. a 390-mile, 500 kv transmission system carries power from the station to Northern Virginia, the Richmond area and the Shenandoah Valley.
For its pioneering efforts in this extra voltage transmission system, Vepco received the Edison Award, the investor-owned electric industry’s highest honor.
70 Years Ago
Week of August 23, 1956
Antiques, Old-Fashioned Style Show Enjoyed By 1,000 Persons
Approximately 1,000 persons visited the Antique Show last weekend in the American Legion Home and viewed over 800 different items of historic interest that were on display.
Chief among the attractions of the show were the outstanding “Style Show of Long Ago” that was presented by the ladies of the Franklin Home Demonstration Club, and the exhibition of spinning yarn with the old spinning wheel given by Mrs. Don Lambert of Deer Run.
Although the Style Show was scheduled for only one production Friday night, [Verify: should the second show have been given Saturday night only, with a third on Sunday, or was the first show Thursday?]
Three cash prizes were awarded for the best collection of antiques displayed in the show.
First prize of $15 went to the Franklin Home Demonstration Club for an exhibit representing a room in an old-fashioned house furnished with a mantel, spinning wheel, and a number of other items of antique furniture.
The American Legion Post of Moorefield won the $10 second prize for its display of old firearms and collection of other miscellaneous items.
An exhibit by the Howard Dahmer family won the $5 third prize. The Dahmer exhibit included war hatchets, a sword, belt, pistol, epaulets and sash of Major Miles Dahmer, who fought in the Civil War, and a number of other items brought to this country by emigrants from Ireland and Holland.
EDITORIALS
Hot Lunches are Better – – –
The above information points out the serious need that school children have for proper food. A well balanced noon meal would contribute much toward well-fed youths. The cost of such a meal would be substantially less than what the youngster is now paying.
Many of the high school students live on farms that are a considerable distance from school. Consequently they must leave home early in the morning, and they do not get back until late in the evening. These students, especially, should have hot lunches.
“Nutrition experts say that many boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 19 are undernourished. The average American child is properly nourished up to the age of two; thereafter, his diet declines steadily until it hits an alarming low in the teens. Teenagers, with plenty of pocket money and allowed to eat anything they like away from home, become ‘meal-skippers.’ They do not get enough protein to build sound tissues, enough calcium for strong bones and good teeth, enough vitamins and minerals for steady nerves, normal blood, and efficient vision.
“Luncheon, favored by the high school set, consists of a hot dog, a bag of potato chips, and a bottle of pop. After school teenagers consume candy bars and soft drinks. They get so full of ‘empty calories’ that they have neither appetite nor capacity for the evening meal. These ‘empty calories’ add weight but provide no substantial nourishment.
“Most doctors feel that the real effects of teenage malnutrition may not become fully apparent for years. One immediate effect, however, is poor resistance to infectious diseases. Tuberculosis has been decreasing steadily in other age groups, but it is still a serious problem among teenagers.”
The above information points out the serious need that school children have for proper food. A well balanced noon meal would contribute much toward well-fed youths. The cost of such a meal would be substantially less than what the youngster is now paying.
Many of the high school students live on farms that are a considerable distance from school. Consequently they must leave home early in the morning, and they do not get back until late in the evening. These students, especially, should have hot lunches.
The groups that are working for the hot lunch programs in our schools are trying to raise sufficient funds to purchase the kitchen equipment needed to prepare food for the hot lunch program. If needed funds are not raised soon, the program will be delayed another year.
Those working for the hot lunch programs are performing a valuable service for our boys and girls. They deserve the support and encouragement of all who are interested in our schools and the youth who are attending them.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the hot lunch program at Franklin High School should send his donation to Leslie Keister, Upper Tract, or Mrs. John W. Hammer, Franklin.
