20 Years Ago
Week of July 31, 2003
Unemployment Rate
Lowest in State
Pendleton County recorded the lowest unemployment rate in West Virginia for the month of June with a jobless rate of 3.2 percent, according to data released by the West Virginia Bureau of Employment Programs.
The unemployment rate statewide last month was 6.3 percent, meaning that about 51,000 workers out of the state’s 817,800-persons civilian labor force were idle last month.
In the category of lowest unemployment rate, Pendleton County was followed by Hardy (3.3 percent), Monongalia (3.3 percent), Morgan (3.5 percent), Jefferson (3.6 percent) and Monroe (3.6 percent).
The counties with the highest unemployment rates were Wirt (18.3 percent), Calhoun (14.3 percent) and Mason (14.2 percent).
Week of August 7, 2003
Safe, Easy Microwave Cleaning Tips Listed
To keep the kitchen cool during the dog days of summer, one has probably been using the microwave oven for loads of easy-to-make snacks, sides, and even main courses. And probably the microwave could use a good cleaning right about now.
It doesn’t take much to keep the microwave looking good, smelling good, and running in tip-top shape.
Several great suggestions are listed for caring for the microwave.
- Most important: Unplug the microwave before starting to clean it.
- If the unit has a glass turnplate, wash it in the dishwasher or by hand (per owner’s manual) with warm soapy water.
- Soften any baked-on foods by placing a microwave-safe bowl of water in the microwave and micro-wave it on high for about three minutes. The steam should loosen stuck-on foods so they will wipe off easily.
- Do not use abrasive cleaners or scrubbing pads.
- Don’t forget to wipe down the inside seal around the microwave door.
30 Years Ago
Week of August 12, 1993
DAHMER
Dog Days
Don’t Really Control Weather in August
The name dog days for sticky, close weather started with the ancient Greeks. According to the calendar, dog days began this year on July 3 and ended August 11. The dictionary definition of dog days — a hot, sultry period between mid July to September. During this time in the sky, Dog Star Sirius rises and sets with the sun. Sirius, a star in the constellation Alpha Canis Majoris, is the brightest star in the night sky.
Fire Department Gets ‘Jaws of Life’ Tool
A new Jaws of Life tool has been added to the emergency equipment of the Upper Tract Fire Department, thanks to the generosity of Wampler-Longacre, Inc., of Hinton, VA, and the hard work of the Upper Tract Ladies Auxiliary. The tool was purchased from Sites Fire and Safety Equipment of Franklin, and members were instructed in its use by Fire Chief Johnny Smith and Assistant Chief Jimmy Holloway.
40 Years Ago
Week of August 11, 1983
Mt. Horeb Church
To Observe 100th
Anniversary August 28
first church built in 1883
August 28th marks an historical milestone in the life of the Mt. Horeb Church at Mozer.
Mrs. John (Susannah) Miller and son, Silas M. Miller, are the first known U. B. converts in the Upper Tract area. Rev. Ben Stickley conducted a revival in the North Fork section where they attended his meetings. They were converted and then persuaded Rev. Stickley to hold special services in a union church one mile north of Upper Tract. As a result of these meetings more conversions followed. Peter Moser was the first class leader of a group of converts of this special meeting.
It is thought that these movements probably occurred about 1840. Class meetings were held from time to time with the small group of believers of the United Brethren faith. Some of these meetings were held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Miller near Upper Tract. Mrs. Miller died in the faith September 11, 1877.
Services were held in various homes during those first years. In 1883 land was deeded by Daniel Lough and wife, Elizabeth, to the congregation for the purpose of constructing a church building. The dedication date was December 9, 1883, and the sermon was delivered by Rev. J. E. Hott, pastor of the Dayton, Va., United Brethren Church. The church seems to have been placed on the Franklin charge at this time. The church was located approximately halfway between Kline and Mozer.
Rev. A. M. Horn became the first pastor and he led a movement to build a house for the “spiritual” church.
Some of the early ministers were W. D. Barger, George Rexrode, W. P. Bazzle, R. L. Dorsey, John A. Negley, P. J. Jennings, A. J. Walton, Ida Judy, Lee Racey, J. W. Stearn, who served from May 1904 to October 1918, T. D. Ritter, E. B. Caplinger, G. W. McNeil, E. R. Kessecker, and George College.
Rev. Lester M. Leach’s work played a very important part in the life of the church. He preached his first sermon June 21, 1925, and when the “Harvest Reunion” was held on August 30, 1925, the first money was raised for the purpose of constructing a new and larger church building.
After approximately 18 months, the pastor and members could see their way clear as to the erection of the new building, and a building committee was composed of Rev. Leach, Hasper A. Hevener, J. A. Lough, Glenn Harman, H. J. Dahmer, Charles S. Dahmer, Howard Hartman, W. C. Calhoun, Edward Kesner, and W. S. Harman.
On March 26, 1927, B. J. Lough was appointed contractor for building the new church for the sum of $1300.00. Much free labor was also donated by members and the new building was dedicated October 23, 1927.
Ministers serving the Mt. Horeb Church after the new building was constructed include the following: J. S. Stamback, B. F. Spitzer, L. C. Messick, L. W. Hendrickson, John R. Sawyer, H. E. Richardson, Lee E. Sheaffer, Leslie E. Gillum, John Ware, Jr., James Wilhelm, Edgar D. Null, Charles Andrews, Stanley Moore, Ernest Metheny, and the present pastor A. L. Harman.
60 Years Ago
Week of August 15, 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.
Rosecrans Advances
Toward Chattanooga
“Old Rosy” Rosecrans had been a hard man to get moving, but once on the road he more than made up for his slow start.
Rosecrans’ 60,000-man Federal Army of the Cumberland began moving out of central Tennessee toward Chattanooga 100 years ago this week toward its old enemy—the Confederate army of Gen. Braxton Bragg.
The movement was far from easy. His army had to cross the rugged Cumberland Mountains, then cross the Tennessee River and attack Bragg near Chattanooga at a site to be chosen by Bragg. Moreover, the Confederate government, no longer occupied with affairs at Vicksburg or in Pennsylvania and fully aware of Bragg’s important position defending Atlanta, was rushing re-enforcements to Bragg from both east and west.
But Rosecrans planned his movement with skill and launched it successfully. Railroads were repaired and his men put in motion. On August 16 he reported to Washington: “All three corps are crossing the mountains…I think we shall deceive the enemy as to our point of crossing. It is a stupendous undertaking.”
Rosecrans’ plan was, indeed, stupendous. His purpose was to feint in one direction, and while Bragg prepared to meet the feint, to attack from the opposite direction.
Therefore, his left flank, under Thomas L. Crittenden, moved west toward Chattanooga and even north of the city, as if it would circle around and come in from the upstream side of the city. Crittenden’s men moved ostentatiously; they built huge campfires. And as they planned, word quickly got back to Bragg that Rosecrans’ attack was coming from upstream.
But such was not the case. Rosecrans’ main force, meanwhile, descended to the southeast to meet the river downstream from Chattanooga. The army looped down into Alabama near Stevenson and Bridgeport on the river. Pontoon bridges were brought forward by rail and hidden in the woods behind Stevenson. Rosecrans ordered bridges to be rebuilt along the river and boats to be constructed for use along it.
Gradually, his main force began emerging from the woods at numerous points along the river southwest of Chattanooga. Phil Sheridan began building a bridge across the shoals at Bridgeport.
At the same time, Gen. Ambrose Burnside, the man who had lost the battle of Fredericksburg the previous winter and who now was commander of the Department of Ohio, began moving down into east Tennessee toward Knoxville to further threaten Bragg.
Bragg, meanwhile, hustled to and fro between Atlanta and Chattanooga, trying to marshall his forces and calling for help from Richmond. Whether he was deceived by Rosecrans’ feint or whether he simply decided not to resist Rosecrans’ crossing downstream from Chattanooga, the fact remains that Rosecrans met little opposition.
On August 21, Federal soldiers appeared on the river bank opposite Chattanooga and lobbed artillery shells into the city. A steamboat was sunk at the landing, and a little girl, a woman and a ferryman were killed. Chattanooga was in serious trouble.
Next week: Fort Sumter Wrecked.
70 Years Ago
Week of August 13, 1953
Franklin POW
Released By Communists On August 8th
Pvt. Theodore W. Willis, son of William Willis of Franklin was released from prison camp by the North Koreans last Saturday night. He was the first Pendleton County soldier to be exchanged.
Willis volunteered for the army before Pearl Harbor and was discharged after World War II. He enlisted again on August 22, 1950, and was sent to Korea. On November 25, 1950, he was taken prisoner.
His family first knew that he was a prisoner in July of 1951 when he wrote a letter to his father. His family heard from him six times afterwards.
The 35-year-old soldier’s mother died about 29 years ago and his father suffered a stroke in May from which he is just recovering. His father is 73 years old.
His father told a reporter Saturday night that “there wasn’t a happier family in the good old U.S.A.” when the news came that Theodore had been released. Willis’ sister, Armeda Fisher of Franklin, said, “We all prayed for his return and for the return of all other boys the Reds are holding. We feel so sorry for those families sitting at home by their radios who weren’t so fortunate as we were.”
Willis has a brother in the army at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and two other sisters, Lucille Beckwith and Mrs. Edith Morgan, both of Grafton.
The family knew that Willis was in prison camp from which the Reds were exchanging prisoners. “If he hadn’t been released tonight, (Saturday) we were about to give up hope,” they said. “We figured that about all the prisoners from Camp no. 5 had been exchanged.”
“We listened to the radio last night (Friday) and the prisoners that were exchanged were in such terrible shape with T.B. and mentally sick and all, that we were really worried,” Armeda said.
The Associated Press reported that the prisoners released on Saturday were in fairly good condition, however. They joked, sang songs and danced into the staging area.
Pvt. Willis served in an Artillery unit of the U. S. 2nd Infantry Division before he was captured. He said in his letters that he was homesick and asked the family to do everything they could to bring about peace. “We could read between the lines though,” the family said, “and we knew that someone was telling him what to say.”
The letters were in his own handwriting. He said the Reds were awfully good to him, and asked about members of his family.
POPE
SIGNED BY SENATORS
Bob Pope, pitching star of the Franklin Free Staters baseball team has been signed to a contract by the Washington Senators. Pope, who pitched Franklin to two pennants, will report to Washington next spring and will probably be assigned to a farm club for training and schooling. Pope went to Washington on Tuesday.
