Thursday,
February 13, 1964
From the desk of Mrs. Jane Price Sharp
Snow
Mondays seem to be snow days this year. Monday a steady fine snow started falling – and it kept on. Seventeen to 24 inches of snow gave the school children a holiday on Tuesday. Seven below zero in town Wednesday morning.
Musical Program
Several piano students of Mrs. Mildred Seagraves participated in a musical program, or “workshop” at the El Poca Saturday afternoon, February 8. All teen-age piano pupils and their parents were invited.
The purpose of such a program is to train toward intelligent listening, through the basic laws of interpretation. It is the hope of the teacher that the fundamentals presented by several will carry over to all pupils present, and will inspire both pupils and parents to a realization of more devoted practice.
Those participating were: Evanna Wyatt, Elizabeth McNeel, Cindy Faulknier, Grace Jane Moore, Cheryl Bailey, Harriet Johnson, Elizabeth Ann Graham, Walter Wm. Weiford, Mike Anderson, Ann Mallow, Lana Kay Thomas, Linda Hockenberry and Harriet Goddin.
Retires
Moro R. Beard is retiring after thirty-nine years of service with Armour and Company, Beckley, and is moving to his farm near Arbovale this week. He was born August 1, 1903, on the farm of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. R. Beard, which is now in the heart of the National Radio Astonomy Observatory. He has owned other land since 1940 and after the Government acquired the home place he purchased the Sam Ervine and Guy Townsend farms, and is now looking forward to enjoying the rest of his years in Pocahontas.
Memories of Summers Sharp 1880-1964
For several months in 1895, Summers, aged 15, and I, aged 10, attended Moore School on Knapps Creek, taught by the excellent teacher, Miss Rella F. Clark. While going to this school, Summers earned his living by doing some chores on the Washington Moore farm.
He was an alert and joyous youth with ability, ambition, and a deep gurgling laugh that was a joy to hear. Throughout his life he had this deep winsome laugh, full of cheer and good humor, that must have been a valuable asset to him as a lawyer, politician, and judge.
Next, while I was teaching at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the 1920s, I read in a Tulsa newspaper that Judge Summers Sharp and his wife were visiting her family at nearby Sand Springs. At once I got in touch with him and invited him and his wife to dinner with Mrs. Herold and myself. We had a grand reunion, exchanging recollections and getting acquainted with his charming wife. Their visit was a real treat to Wanderers far from the old home.
When in June 1960, I visited friends and relatives in the two Virginias, my brother, Henry, and I drove from Charlottesville through Highland County to Knapps Creek. Coming to Marlinton in an early afternoon, I called at Dr. Norman Price’s office and then at Judge Sharp’s and arranged to have them meet Henry and me at five p. m. for a visit together at the hotel. Though the Doctor and Judge, as I later learned, used to have basic political differences, we four had such a good and refreshing time chatting, reminiscing, and laughing for an hour that politics faded away and bygones became pleasant memories.
For this jovial occasion, Summers had a capital story to tell about the drawing power of Dr. Price’s father, William T. Price, as a Presbyterian preacher. He related that when he and his twin brother, George, were small boys, living on a farm at the foot of Michael Mountain near Frost, his mother heard that this clergyman would preach at Mount Vernon Church, two miles away on Knapps Creek.
Without automobile or carriage, the devoted and persevering mother on the appointed day, bridled and saddled a horse, mounted and took the twin boys on behind her for the two-mile ride. In due time they arrived at the church and heard the well-known and dedicated worker for the Lord. With such an example set by their mother, how could the boys fail to become serious, useful and distinguished?
Amos L. Herold
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Dean, of Huntersville, a daughter, named Vicki Lynn.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Smith, of Clover Lick, a daughter, named Connie Sue.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Delmas Kincaid, of Marlinton, a son, named Delmas Devore, Jr.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Theodore McClure, a son, Theodore Russell McClure, Jr. Grandparents are Dr. T. R. McClure, of Marlinton, and Mrs. Sally McClure, of Elkins.
DEATHS
Mrs. (Arlie) Martha Rhea Hannah, of Cleveland, Ohio; born at Linwood, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Adam Rhea; burial in the Gibson Cemetery near Slaty Fork.
Mrs. Rebecca C. Thomas Allen, age 38, of Hinton; born at Marlinton, a daughter of Mrs. Ona M. Thomas, of Hinton, and the late Harry Thomas; burial in Mountain View Cemetery.
Mrs. Lelia Katherine (Kate) McMann, age 77, of Gap Mills, a daughter of the late James A. and Mary Jane Dixon McCaleb; she was the last surviving member of the Dixon-McCaleb families; burial in the Carmel Cemetery at Gap Mills.