Pocahontas County Bicentennial ~ 1821-2021

Thursday, March 20, 1930

NATURE NOTES

Last Saturday the 40 day ground hog weather period was up and the wild geese went over, going north. I calculate winter is broke. Saturday was the ideal day to be out of doors. I had been penned up all winter, had not even been up to the farm in six weeks. In the middle of the afternoon, I just stole away from work and went up on the hill. I found a vantage place on a stump, and took in the situation. There never was a better time to be alive. Birds were everywhere. Cattle and sheep, calves and lambs. Chickens crowing and cackling; a scattered covey of quail whistling; woodpeckers railing on hollow trees; families tending sugar camps; plowing, burning brush, pulling stumps and building fence. I do considerable farming by proxy, but I certainly had a longing to be actually working at it. Just about then came the honking of wild geese on their way from their winter home in the south to their summer home in the far north, and then the picture of spring was complete…

Potatoes in Pocahontas

Dee Crane spent three days in Pocahontas county last week talking about potatoes. Meetings were held at Hillsboro, Marlinton, Minnehaha Springs, Dunmore and Greenbank, but due to excellent weather conditions or lack of interest in potatoes, the meetings were not well attended.

A few of the high points in Mr. Crane’s talks may be of interest to the people who did not hear him.

There is no county in West Virginia that has better climatic and soil conditions for raising potatoes than Pocahontas.

Potatoes can be sold for cash in the fall, thus ensuring a quick return on investment. Potatoes which can not be sold locally may be marketed in carload lots through the West Virginia Farm Bureau Service Company at the actual market price or a little above, if properly graded, because Mountain State potatoes bring a premium on most markets. A farmer can raise a few acres of potatoes without interfering with livestock raising.

ELK CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

On Saturday night, March 15, the people of Elk and Slaty Fork held a meeting in the interest of the proposition to consolidate Crooked Fork, Linwood and Mace.

Meetings were held at Pleasant Valley, Slaty Fork, Linwood and Mace, as suggested by the board of education.

After short talks by school patrons and taxpayers, a vote was taken to ascertain the sentiment of the people on the matter. It was unanimous for consolidation.

A delegation was named to present the matter to the board.

For Slaty Fork: Dr. Cofer, Goldie Gay Hannah, L. D. and Ivan Sharp, Mrs. Jesse P. Hannah; alternates, James Hall, Mrs. Lee Hannah, Mrs. Ivan Sharp, Ruth Gibson, W. W. Gibson.

For Hannah: Frank Hannah and Harry Varner.

This was a meeting in which was demonstrated spirit and unanimity for the advancement of our school facilities.

After the meeting, several citizens went to Pleasant Valley, where they were cordially received. There too was enthusiasm and unanimity for a six room building with gymnasium in the basement, and to be centrally located.

STATE HIGHWAY

Nearly 100 citizens of Pocahontas and Pendleton counties, led by Secretary of State George W. Sharp told the members of the state road commission yesterday of what they termed the great need for a state highway from the foot of North Fork mountain, three miles north of Circleville, to the state route at Bartow. This road, they pointed out, would not only connect the two county seats, Marlinton and Franklin, but would provide a route to the South Branch valley, Washington and Baltimore, shorter than the present route by about 100 miles. It would provide a road to these cities through the eastern panhandle and would give the advantage of a good highway to Circleville, Big Run and Thornwood. Secretary Sharp stated that the federal government has constructed a narrow road from the top of Elm Mountain to within four miles of the mouth of Big Run in the Monongahela national forest, and has offered to assist in the construction of the proposed new road. – Charleston Gazette

ALDERNY

Windy March is here again and we hate to see it worse than any month of the year.

Stock has wintered up fine and everybody seems to have plenty of feed.

The Williams & Pifer Lumber company has bought a tract of fine timber from Jacob W. Sharp and are setting their mill and will commence sawing at once. Albert Barlow has moved his family here and will do the sawing.

John Dumire cut a chestnut tree on the Williams & Pifer job which had over 3,000 feet in it: three logs 16 feet, and one log 14 feet long. The butt log scaled over 1,600 feet. This is the finest and largest tree cut in this part of the country.  

MARRIED

C. P. Dorsey, county farm agent, and Miss Elizabeth McNeill, home demonstration agent, were married at Charleston last Saturday. Mr. Dorsey resigned as farm agent here and took up similar duties in Pocahontas county March 1. Mrs. Dorsey will continue her work here as home agent. – Fayette Tribune

Mrs. Dorsey is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. D. McNeill of Swago, and Mr. Dorsey is the new county agent for Pocahontas. Our best wishes and congratulations are extended.

PERSONAL NOTES

Mrs. Gilbert Ferguson, who has been seriously ill at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Rolin, is a little better.
The condition of Mrs. Easter Evans shows little change.

Miss Golean Loving entertained at a birthday party on Saturday afternoon. The little folks enjoyed themselves with games and other amusements. Delicious refreshments were served. Those present were: Misses Geraldine Carter, Alice Cashwell, Geraldine Jackson, Magnolia, Viola, Gertrude, Ada, Classie and Sardie Cashwell, Thelma Stewart and John Isaac and Richard Cashwell, Roy Jordan and George Jackson.

At the regular popularity contest held by the high school department of W. Va. State College, Miss Juanita Jackson was elected Miss State and Miss Eva Jackson, of Marlinton, attendant.

Our group joins with the nation in mourning the passing of Chief Justice William Howard Taft. “Requiescat in peace.”

Honor Roll: Mrs. Jessie Mitchell, Principal. Glenna and Mattie Stewart, Genevieve Daugherty, Anna Goodwyn, Lucy May and John Jordan, Gertrude and Classie Cashwell, Madeline Tibbs, Emmett Knapper, Mitchell Hill, George and Geraldine Jackson, Richard, John, Viola and Magnolia Cashwell, Arlie Carter, Anna and Alberta Hunter, Margaret Daugherty and Naomi Carter.