10 Years Ago
Week of April 4, 2013
FARM NOTES
by Roger D. Dahmer
I want to begin with a piece called, “Batting My Eyelashes.” It was written by Janet Perez Eckles.
A baby camel asked his mother, “Why do we have such large hooves on our feet?” She turned to him. “God made us that way for a very special reason,” and she began her explanation. “The big hooves are to keep us from sinking into the sand.” “Oh! So why do we have long eyelashes?” “It’s to protect our eyes from the sand.” “Why the big humps?” “That is to store fat and have enough energy to go long distances in the desert!”
“I see!” the baby camel stretched his neck and looked up at his mother. “The big hooves are to keep us from sinking into the sand, the long eyelashes are to keep the sand out of our eyes, and the humps are to store energy to travel long distances…then what are we doing in this cage in the middle of a zoo?”
Goodness, gracious. Each time I reached another point in my journey, my eyes saw a whole new world with opportunities to make a difference. Best of all, I was delighted with affirmation that I was indeed created for much more.
Bars come in all sizes and shapes. Some are physical, others are emotional or even mental. But none can withstand the force of determination that breaks them down. The effort is worth it and the results, simply amazing! So, batting my long eyelashes to keep out the sand of discouragement, I challenge you. Step back and peek at what bars limit you. Take a deep breath, break them down, and emerge into the freshness of a new life!
20 Years Ago
Week of April 3, 2003
SUGAR GROVE
Volunteerism —
Critical To Health
Of Community, Nation
April is known as the dainty month as newborns arrive, and flowers gesture their graceful arms. It is also a time to recognize the 89 million American volunteers, whose national value totals more than $180 billion. Now, probably more than any time in the nation’s recent history, citizen involvement is critical to the health of the community and nation. States are designating April as “general clean up in the communities” month. People who willingly volunteer their time are special. They give a gift to the society around them. Daily lives can be made a blessing to the fellow men and women. Sir Henry Davy once wrote that “life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things in which smiles, kindness and small obligations given habitually are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort.” To simply notice, care about and communicate with others can make their spirits soar above loneliness, insecurity and hopelessness. A short note of encouragement during a time of despair, or unmerited forgiveness are only a few of the seeds that can grow abundantly in the humanity garden. It must be said that the yellow bows and flags flurrying in the breeze has certainly been a contagious tribute to all the gallant men and women who are serving this country in such a magnificent manner. Knowing that their homeland whole-heartedly supports them can help ease their burden, a little.
30 Years Ago
Week of March 25, 1993
One-Fourth of Births
In West Virginia
Are to Unwed Mothers
Final vital statistics for 1991 remain consistent with preliminary reports showing West Virginia’s infant mortality rate at its lowest ever. The “1991 West Virginia Vital Statistics” released this week, lists the state’s infant mortality rate at 8.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. That is significantly decreased from the state’s 1990 rate of 9.8, and well below the 1991 provisional United States’ rate of 8.9.
Other important findings in the report show that, overall, about one-fourth of the births in the state in 1991 were to unwed mothers, and over half of all births to teenagers were to unwed mothers. The report also found that 26% of all women giving birth in 1991 smoked cigarettes during the pregnancies, down only slightly from the 27% who reported tobacco use in 1990. In contrast, only 2.5% of mothers in 1991 reported that they used alcohol during pregnancy.
Week of April 1, 1993
First Steamboat Built
By West Virginian in 1787
By Ellen Hoffman
SHEPHERDSTOWN— “My God, she moves!” exclaimed Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, formerly of Gen. George Washington’s Continental Army.
“Yes,” echoed Maj. Henry Bedinger, standing at Gates’ side. “And when she moved, the destiny of the world, too, moved…”
So goes the eyewitness account of the demonstration December 3, 1787, of the first successful steamboat by its inventor, James Rumsey, on the Potomac River at Shepherdstown, about 75 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.
Rumsey’s boat was about 50 feet long and carried two tons of rocks and eight women passengers to prove its river worthiness. It made history by steaming against the current at a speed of about three knots.
40 Years Ago
Week of March 24, 1983
Parachute
Provides Fun, Exercise
Residents of Pendleton Nursing Home have been enjoying a new piece of exercise equipment — a parachute.
“No, we are not jumping out of airplanes, but we are exercising our arms,” said a nursing home staff member.
The parachute is 15 feet in diameter. The residents and staff sit in a circle, each holding on to the edge of the parachute. Simultaneously all involved raise their arms and the parachute billows up.
Just to add a challenge to the activity, a very large beach ball is placed on the top of the parachute. The object of the game is to toss the ball over the head of the person across the circle. All benefit from exercise and have fun too.
Week of March 31, 1983
HOPEWELL
The writer has been asked how the word Hopewell originated. Asking questions and probing deeply, it is regrettable to state nothing surfaced. However, a little history was dug up, which might be of interest to the readers. The Pioneer Hopewell School was built in the late eighteen hundred. Because of the central location, it was built on the late John Wesley Warner’s estate. The students would have to walk from half a mile to three. Two miles were average. It was here the McGuffey Reader was taught from the primer to sixth grade. The area where the school was located proved too swampy, so with men and horse power, it was moved to a more convenient spot. This old school was paneled inside with pine lumber. One night it burnt completely. Arson was suspected, but no one was ever brought to justice. While the New Hopewell School was being built, the teacher held classes in the old house of the late Ashby Warner. Being overcrowded there, permission was given to teach the children in Solomon’s Chapel Church. The New Hopewell was completed around 1915. It was not clear when the Elson Reader took over, replacing the McGuffey Reader, and the eighth grade went into effect. Some of the educators that taught in the pioneer school were Clay Day, Oscar Harper, Margie Teter, Jessie Mullenax and George Grady. The New Hopewell School had one large room and a huge dark hallway, which was used to hang cloaks in and shelves were installed for lunch baskets and karo syrup buckets that some pupils used. It also was used to store school supplies. Lunches consisted of biscuits, pie, cake, apples and sometimes buckwheat cakes with apple butter spread on them. Drinking water was carried in buckets, with one dipper for everyone to drink from. Each day the teacher would choose two of the oldest to go for water. Later on, this school was renovated into two rooms. A few of the educators’ names emerged that taught at the New School—Joe Biby, Leslie May, W. S. Dunkle, Leslie Thompson, Elmer Nelson, P. C. and Denver Warner. Incidentally, Denver Warner was the last teacher. The only surviving teacher is Robert M. Raines. Today, there is nothing left of this school, except a rock foundation and memories.
A frightening incident occurred to the writer, as a pupil under the supervision of P. C. Warner. There was a time, back then, when one could mail order just about anything to sell on credit. To name a few items, handkerchiefs, garden seeds, Cloverine salve, chewing gum and snap fasteners. The writer yearned for dolls—the years haven’t changed that fascination. So, she ordered snap fasteners to sell to get a doll. Being eight years old, she didn’t realize that folks didn’t have money, leastwise not for snap fasteners. Nevertheless, the snaps weren’t returned, and the writer continued to get duns from the company. The last one she received had a picture of a man looking out from behind prison bars, with his hands extended. P. C. would let the younger children out to play in the afternoon. On this particular day while out playing, the writer looked down the road and saw a man atop a wagon, pulled by two horses. The wagon looked like it had prison bars on it and arms darting in and out. Saying nothing, she darted for the schoolhouse and hid in that huge dark hall, for well she knew, the jailer had come for her. It seemed like forever to her, but nothing happened. Being scared and desperate, she dared to take a peep out the door. The jailer turned out to be the late Albert Warner, with a wagonload of crates filled with turkeys. Their heads bobbing in and out from a distance looked like human arms. Happily, the writer rejoined her playmates.
60 Years Ago
Week of April 4, 1963
100 YEARS AGO
By LON K. SAVAGE
Editor’s Note—The following is one of a series of articles on the Civil War. Each weekly installment covers events which occurred exactly 100 years ago.
Lincoln, Wife Visit
Virginia War Front
A little steamer, the “Carrie Martin,” headed out of the Washington Navy Yard and down the Potomac River 100 years ago this week with a most important party aboard: President Abraham Lincoln, his wife, Mary; their 10-year-old son, “Tad,” and the President’s good friends, Dr. A. G. Henry and Noah Brooks, the California newspaperman.
Hardly had the trip gotten under way when a blinding snowstorm blew up, and the little vessel had to put into a cove for the night. But next day, the boat arrived at Aquia about 30 miles down the Potomac, and the group debarked amid cheering from soldiers who lined the waterfront. From there, they rode a freight car—furnished with benches and decorated with flags and bunting, but still a freight car—to the Virginia front just north of Fredericksburg.
With one newspaperman in the party and others at the front, the Lincolns’ visit was well reported from beginning to end. First, they went to the headquarters of “Fighting Joe” Hooker, commander of the Army of the Potomac, who provided them with three large hospital tents, with the luxury of floors and bedsteads. Then they began reviewing troops.
It was a time of color and pageantry throughout, but the cavalry review of April 6, perhaps, outdid the others. Lincoln, Hooker and a long line of generals and colonels rode out to the reviewing field on horseback, mud flying from their horses’ hoofs, Lincoln sitting tall in the saddle with his high hat pointing skyward. To one side, Brooks noted, young “Tad” rode along, “His gray cloak flying in the gusty wind like the plumes of Henry of Navarre.”
Once on the field, Lincoln watched the cavalry pass in review. “It was a grand sight to look upon,” Brooks wrote, “this immense body of cavalry, with banners waving, music crashing, and horses prancing, as the vast column came winding like a huge serpent over the hills past the reviewing party, and then stretching far away out of sight.” Hooker, looking at the 17,000 horsemen before him, told the President it was the largest army of men on horses ever seen in history.
The infantry, too, got its chance. Sixty-thousand men, their rifles and bayonets so thick they resembled a forest, passed by the President in one review. The President “merely touched his hat in return salute to the officers but uncovered to the men in ranks.”
Lincoln also called on the wounded in the hospital tents, and Brooks watched the men and reported “tears of gladness stealing down their pale faces.”
“Tad” wanted to see some real, live Confederates, and one day, the President, “Tad” and Brooks noticed several staff officers rode down to the picket line and looked across the Rappahannock River to the war-ravaged city of Fredericksburg. They saw smoke from Confederate campfires in the hills beyond and a Confederate flag flying from a house.
Some day soon, Lincoln knew, Hooker’s army must cross that river and attack those Confederates.
