Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
Most readers are not aware that there used to be a school in the Sugar Grove District known as Westburn School. This school was located in Little Stony Run, thence being known as the Little Stony Run School. The school came into existence in 1902 or 1903. When the late Gertrude Mitchell was six years old, she began attending this newly-built school. Prior to that, the students attended the Big Stony Run School. When Westburn was built the Little Stony Runners were very proud to have a school in their community.
Nine families living in this area had their children attend Westburn: Ed Moyers, Albert Eckard, Emanuel Mitchell, Ami Simmons, Elizah Simmons, David Wilfong, Jack Puffenbarger, Mordecai Simmons and William Wilfong. In those days, most of these couples had large families, which supported the school for attendance.
At that time, Flick Warner was superintendent of schools. He named this school Westburn, but the name never became too well known. It was always referred to as Little Stony Run School. This school was located on the past Sandy O’Goreck’s farm.
Teachers were hired by trustees. Written examinations were held in Franklin. Certificates were given for first-, second-, or third-grade placings. A teacher with a first- grade certificate received $50, second grade $45 and third grade $40. Some teachers who taught at the school were Cora Puffenbarger, James D. Puffenbarger, Ella Rexrode, Perle Puffenbarger, James T. Rexrode, Harry Snyder, Bryan Mitchell, Margie Puffenbarger and Mary Puffenbarger.
After closing in the 1939 – 1940 school year, the Westburn students began to attend the Sugar Grove School.
Life’s instructions for better living include the following:
- Have one’s pastor over for dinner.
- Learn the history of one’s town.
- Say something every day that encourages a person’s children.
- If a person knows one is going to lose, do it in style
- Pass down family recipes
Weather sure has been fickle lately. Birds are hunkering down in their nests, trying to keep warm. Blossoms are shivering as well. Spring seems to have “something up her sleeve,” as the weather forecasters are in dismay as to what will be “around the corner” as far as weather is concerned. Then, add sleet to the mix. Come what may, life still continues to walk its own beat.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- Victorians once used teachers to predict the weather.
- The funny bone is actually a nerve.
- The chief translator of the European Parliament speaks 32 languages fluently.
- Research shows that all blue-eyed people may be related.
- The average person will spend six months of their life waiting for a red light to turn green.
Life sure is better by the fire to hear the “Talk of Sugar Grove.”
Marti Fisher of Romney and Judy Rader have returned from Boca Raton, Florida, after spending several days in the home of Ruben and Krista Nieves. They enjoyed celebrating Krista’s and Judy’s birthdays, touring the Japanese Gardens, Gumbo Limb Nature Center, Glades’s Park and other points of interest. They had beautiful weather, safe traveling, good food and a great time.
Benny and Linda Custer and Willard and Judy Rader enjoyed a delicious Easter dinner Sunday in the home of Ed and Barbara Parker and friends.
Rosalee Grogg’s visitors were Terri Grogg and friend, Claude, Marleta and Junior Wimer, Leanna Leap, Clint Davis and Hendrix Bogan. They all enjoyed an Easter dinner.
Sunday afternoon, Phil Downs visited with K.D. and Verla Puffenbarger and family. Last Wednesday, he motored with Evelyn Varner, and Wanda Pitsenbarger to Staunton, Virginia, where they visited with Cleo and Vernon Simmons. Other visitors in the same home were Jenna Williams, and Larry Simmons. They all very much enjoyed the time visiting.
Sunday visitors of Evelyn Varner were Donnie and Judy Smith of Bridgewater, Virginia, Judy Costello of Verona, Virginia, Janet Judy and Bill Troester of Kansas.
Enjoying the Sight and Sound Theater’s production of “David” recently in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, were Paula and Tom Mitchell, Jane and Steve Conrad and John and Cynthia Hughes. The production was outstanding and, as usual, it lived up to its famous production reputation.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“April comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.” — Edna St. Vincent Mellay
“Winter’s done, and April’s in the skies, earth, look up with laughter in your eyes.” — Charles D. Roberts
“None but a fool is always right.” — Augustus Willliam hare
“That is one good thing about this world…there are always sure to be more springs.” — L.M. Montgomery
“Life stands before me like an eternal spring with new and brilliant clothes.” — Carl Friedrich Grauss
Easter sunrise services were well attended throughout the community. Most churches had breakfast following the services.
The youth group at St. Paul Independent Lutheran Church in Moyers did an Easter play on Sunday, which was very good. The kids did a really good job presenting the true meaning of Easter.
Concerns for this week are as follows: Charles Anderson, the Merle “Cub” Bennett family, Bill Brackman, Scherry Chambers, Charlotte Copley, Jeff Craig, the Joy Darnell family, Jeff Evick, Lee Roy and Ina Evick, Mary Eye, Ron Gilkeson, Lola Graham, Marlene Harman, Ramona Harman, the Carole Hartman family, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Starr Hedrick, the Winona Judy Hewitt family, Virgil Homan, Jr., Charlee Hoover, Lorena Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie Horst, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Margaret Kiser, Rex Landis, Jay Linaburg, Angela Lung, Linda Malcolm, Morris and Sue Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Neil McLaughlin, Naomi Michael, Joe Moats, Lincoln Moore, Ernie Morgan, Aaron Nelson, Kathy Nelson, Ken and Ruth Nelson, Betty Hoover O’Donnell, Cheryl Paine, Sutton Parrack, Betty Lou Propst, Kara Propst, Linda Propst, Nathan Propst, Sheldon Propst, Bryer Puffenbarger, Eldon Puffenbarger, Willard Rader, Don Rexrode, Donna Ruddle, Barbara Simmons, Chloe Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Charlie Sites, Ona Smith, Stanna Smith, Steve Smith, Berlie Sponaugle, Patricia Swecker, Harry Lee Temple, Charlotte Thompson, Rosa Tichenor, Sandra Vandevander, Jack Vogel, Amby Waybright, Jr., Ron White, Judy Williams, Junior Wimer, Larry Wimer, Carol Windett and the people of Ukraine.
