Thursday, December 20, 1973
Billy Sharp and Mike Dunbrack were on Stony Creek last Friday and saw a big pheasant, more properly a grouse, sitting on a fence post. It eyed them but didn’t fly. Billy picked up a rock and threw it; it was an accurate throw and the grouse was killed.
STUDENTS
Charles Donavan “Donnie” McElwee graduated with honors this month from the School of Forestry and Agriculture at West Virginia University and has accepted a position as forester for Westvaco in Covington, Virginia.
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Miss Debbie Faulknier was recently initiated into Alpha Alpha Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority at Concord College. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a social sorority devoted to service projects, particularly to those helping children.
WINTER
On the 21st day of December this year, when winter arrives in the land, let us welcome it. It brings its challenges and its joys, but most of all it brings the change that lends the spark and spice of Life. Under the snow of December lies buds of May, remember under the snow lie next year’s flowers and always ahead are the happy hours. – Ruby Alice Gumm
Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree has evolved from German origins to become one of the most universal symbols of the season.
The first Christmas tree is attributed by some to St. Boniface, an English missionary to Germany in the 8th century.
He persuaded his converts to stop placing sacrifices to Odin beneath the sacred oak tree, and instead to adorn small fir trees in their home in tribute to the Christ Child.
Another story is that the Christmas tree comes from medieval morality plays of the upper Rhine River.
But the most popular account of the modern Christmas tree’s origin dates to the 16th century, when Martin Luther was supposed to have introduced the use of candles on the tree.
The story goes that Luther was walking through a forest on Christmas Eve when he was overcome by the beauty of the starlit heavens, the snow-covered landscape and the twinkling frost on the trees.
Rushing home to reproduce the scene for his family, he brought a small fir tree into the house, decorated it with candles to simulate the winter night sky and called it a Christmas tree.
The tradition gradually spread. It arrived in America with the Hessian soldiers who fought as British mercenaries during the Revolutionary War, and it persisted with the Pennsylvania Germans.
By the late 1800s, the custom had become an indispensable part of Christmas throughout the country.
BIRTHS
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Hansford, Sr., of Hot Springs, Virginia, a daughter, named Susan Lynn.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Madison, of Hillsboro, a daughter, named Mary Ann.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Zeglan, of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, a daughter named Christie Ann. The mother is the former Carole Ann Stemple.
DEATHS
Mrs. Cora V. Barlow Keen, 68, of Marlinton, a daughter of the late Silas L. and Leva M. Barlow… Funeral service from the Edray United Methodist Church; burial in the Cochran Cemetery.
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Robert Lee Liptrap, 64, of Marlinton, a son of the late William and Maude V. Liptrap. Funeral was held from the Marlinton Church of the Nazarene; burial in the Mountain View Cemetery.
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Mrs. Leona Galford, 61, of Indianapolis, Indiana, formerly of Pocahontas Coun-ty; born at Green Bank, a daughter of the late Clyde and Laura Sheets. Funeral service held from the Marlinton Methodist Church; burial in the Arbovale Cemetery.
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Grace McLaughlin Mass-ey, 86, of Hampden-Sydney; born at Marlin’s Bottom June 25, 1887, a daughter of the late Andrew and Mary Price McLaughlin.
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Ted E. Ray, 68, of Baltimore, Maryland, born at Boyer, a son of the late Howard G. and Maude E. Slayton Ray. Burial in a Baltimore cemetery.
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Dr. Howard O. Wall, Sr., 78, a well-known retired dentist of Gilbert. Funeral service in the Gilbert Presbyterian Church. He was buried in the family cemetery on the Cecil Shinaberry farm near Dunmore.
