REMEMBRANCES OF GROWING UP ON THE CHEAT

Dear Mr. Nassif:
I wanted to see if I could get a copy of Sam Bulford's CD. I am from the area; born in Parsons but spent a good portion of my time in Rowlesburg, and it would be good to have some material from back home.
BTW, are you by chance any relation to Bertha Nassif? She was a dear friend of mine, and I used to walk her and Freda Faris to church back when I was in my teens.
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing back from you.
Regards, David Thrower
I just recently read a letter from dad the other evening where dad wrote that this was a sad day in Rowlesburg because Doctor Glover was selling his store and that he had spoken with Bob Proudfoot who came to town to purchase everything in the store for use in his drugstore in Oakland.

I always thought that Mrs. Glover was such a lady. Once, she gave me a beautiful black and gold evening purse. I have the purse to this day. I have always admired their beautiful home. Anna N.
Doctor Douglas D. Glover visits the Rowlesburg clinic at least once a month and perhaps more often than that. I am told that he helps the sick as a volunteer doctor. Isn' that wonderful? On one of those occasions, he stopped in the store to say hello and to visit with our family. We sat there in the back room on the famous Glover's Drugstore Ice Cream Chairs and looked at other Glover memorabilia such as the large brown glass medicine bottle and the sign that said Glover's Drugstore. I had my first formal job at Glover's Drugstore. I worked there during one or two summers when I first started college. Anna
My parents both attended and graduated high school at RHS-they were Ralph and Helen (Wotring) Miller Class of 1934.  I attended school there until we moved to Cumberland, MD in 1954 (finished the 7th grade, and my brother, Ralph II, finished 1st grade)>  We have wonderful memories of our life there.  I look forward to returning to visit each year and will be there for the 2nd Annual Railroad Days this September.  I would have been in the Class of 1959, if we had not moved because of my father's employment with the railroad.  It will always be home to me when I get to come home to my "roots."
Christy Miller Soulsby
One time, Tom was serving Father Hanley on the altar and his vestment caught on fire. Young Si Faris, who was also serving on the altar, tackled him, rolled him up in a rug and put the fire out. We all were amazed and stunned as we watched this scene. Then, when it was over, we breathed a sigh of relief. What a show!
 
Anyway, after the Christmas Mass, we were invited to the Faris family house where we shared a beautiful supper prepared by Freda and Si. We laughed and talked and had happy times. Our Cousins - Si, Eugene, Leon, Marcella, Bonnie and Maggie were so delightful. They made us laugh the entire evening. Those were wonderful, graceful and happy days; and now, those days are gone forever. Anna
I remember that St. Philomena's Church had wonderful Creche scenes, poinsettas, candles and the works at Christmas time. We used to go to Midnight Mass every Christmas Eve. The Church was packed with people from the town and the county. We girls sang in the choir while the boys served on the altar. Mrs. Royer played the organ. The Cannons sang with us. I remember that Great Aunt Della John used to cover her ears when Bill Cannon sang. He had a powerful booming bass voice. What a singer. Anna
On the Ides of March (Shakespeare), you have reminded us of so much of what we were taught. Certainly, Mrs. Fern Jamison, 100 this coming October, should be a source of our acknowledgement and honor, despite the troubles less interested youth encountered. I sat with those less interested. But, as Brother Tom has wisely said, Mrs. Jamison was teaching for preparation for college.

I remember "Et tu, Brute!", "And also you, Brutus!" as the harbinger of Summer fun, since those most serious readings, in my memory, were the culmination in Spring of serious memorization.
And, I always knew: "When Spring had sprung, Summer would soon follow, with its Cheat riverine fun."
George
My first training in words was, other than the informal workshops at home in Joe's Place with all of the colorful and connotative language and laughter, was with Miss Beatrice (Heaton), who, I remember gave me a little red reader to encourage reading. Joe's Place still contains that book.
The book has drawn pictures. Of course, those drab black and white pictures of Dick and Jane and scenes of nature were only the poor copy of the rich, color-filled, real-life imagery of the men and the mountains, the women and the waters of the Cheat, in all seasons, but especially in the deep natural greens and other hues of Summer. George

I thought of a set of images and sayings for Rowlesburg in the 1940's. I experienced the war years, ration cards, teachers we listened to, parents we obeyed, upper class kids we respected and admired, assemblies, the park at lunch time, recess, sack races, bike rides, swimming, piano lessons, parades, minstrel shows, band, class plays, proms, bonfires, the library, home ec, geometry, civics class, Macbeth, Thespians, games and you name it.
Anna N.
What memories! I'll add to Anna's list: "Spin the bottle," the cutest Cheerleaders in the County", Louis Michael's RHS Band at the Buckwheat Festival, the world's greatest feeling playing on the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams, sledding down Church street hill and the "Bricks," admiring Manheim's principal's homemade snow skis (Mr. Helmick), being a "drug store cowboy" with a "brown cow" in hand at Dr. Glover's Drug Store, Monday morning's assembly in the old gym, and .......... Joe N. As Pascal said, "Happiness is being where you want to be, and needing not to go elsewhere..." To be at the center, and not in the suburbs, with the center safe, clean, filled with life, where everyone wants to be. Just the opposite of the forces that drove the middle and upper classes from city downtowns to the suburbs to the exurbs. And, eventually, back to the small towns. Rowlesburg is the hidden treasure metropolitan folk don't know: to be simultaneously at the center and in the most desirable locale, that is the kernel of truth of a small town. George N.
I enjoyed working in the (Glover's) drugstore and learned a lot about waiting on customers, making sundaes, lemon cokes, stacking the magazines in the front. Also, Doctor Glover said we must always clean up and sweep the store at the end of the day. I learned how to run a drugstore and to wrap packages from Doctor Glover. Anna
I remember the "after school feeling of joy and exhilaration" as I rollerskated on the sidewalks all over town in March. I also had a jolly time flying kites with my dad, siblings and schoolmates in the park during the month of March. Anna
RHS is our palace, our mansion, our special house. It is a beautiful and holy place for those of us who gained our first knowledge of the world from the first grade up through graduation. I know that it will become a showcase of culture, history and beauty. It is a solid project that will need subsidy from the government and donors. We all want to see our great brick building with style go upward. Tourists will be curious and amazed at the success and at the ability of our Rowlesburg citizens to pull together. Anna

Vera Hayden was a great role model. She made great "brown cows." She knew how to work with the public. Anna
For forteen years, St. Philomena's has been dark. Yes, a light went out in 1996, a very important light went out for the few Catholic families that were left. Now the light has returned in different ways.
At Glady Migglicio' funeral, Betty Wilson walked right up to the priest at St. Sebastian's, as only Betty Wilson could, and pulled herself up to her full height and then asked the all important question: "Father, how many people will it take to open St. Philomena's?" He looked straight in her eyes and answered with a gesture and then one word. He held up two fingers and then said: two! Wouldn't that be something if St. Philomena's would reopen? Well, it is time for another Christmas miracle. Anna
I remember getting my social security card. I earned $25.00 a week. I opened a savings account and deposited my earnings each week. My mother gave me the savings book right before she left this good earth. Anna
Your nostalgic memories take me back to my high school years and I can almost feel myself in Mr. Goodwin's algebra II class -- the only class I ever got a "C" in.  I was crushed, but I hated all math and algebra courses. Shirley
 
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Katie
Another author comes to mind when I think about memories from my youth. Marcel Proust in "Remembrances of things past" describes the joy he felt when tasting again a "petite madeliene" soaked in tea. He was transported back to his childhood where his aunt used to serve him that pleasurable treat. It's the same pleasure that comes from hearing the squeak of a rusty back door hinge reminiscent of Grandmother's back door, or an odor resembling that of the smell of Mother's kitchen, or the sound of turkey gobblers in Grandmother's side yard. Those little moments of "deja vu" do bring delight to the soul and Rowlesburg is full of those remembrances. Katie
I remember visiting my Great Aunt Mattie Eliason. She always had cookies for us. In
the 40's she made hats and beaded purses. I still have one of her purses. I remember 4-H camp, band trips, Mandy's, our covered bridge, movies at school, Mr. Dewitt's class, and still, when March 15 rolls around The Ides of March (must remember this from Mrs. Jamison). Dad would take us to Sunday School and spend the hour talking to Dr. Glover on the steps of his drug store, holding the Sunday paper he had just purchased. I remember our Senior class trip to D. C. Could never climb the Washington Monument now! What wonderful memories... Mary Greenwald Wotring (mother was Ethel, George Ayersman's sister)
 
All of the ideas for Rowlesburg School sound wonderful. We moved to Rowlesburg when I was in the 5th grade. Mrs. Henline was my teacher. We came back when I was in the 8th grade. Mr. Anderson fussed at my Mother because I was not there for his 6th grade class. I was not there for my Uncle George's W. Va. history class either, but did have my Aunt Evelyn for math (not my best subject). My mother also graduated from Rowlesburg High School! Mary 
I have been a member of RRC for several years; I feel my siblings might be interested in joining.  I was born in Rowlesburg (mother was Nina Macomber Davis, grandparents Paul and Pearl Macomber), and though they were not, they have strong feelings for Preston County and West Virginia.

Dr. Nancy Davis
Burke, VA
 
Maryanne Blackford
Atlanta, GA
 
Dr. Jim Davis
Gainesville, GA
I always enjoy receiving the Rowlesburg River Lines and thanks.
 
Sent in by Karolyn Holdren
Springfield, MO