Twice-Told Tales
This edition of Twice-Told Tales was published ten years ago this week on Wednesday, March 18, 2015.
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Ten Years Ago – 2005
The 6th annual Belmont County Showcase, sponsored by the local chamber of commerce, takes place at the elementary school gym this weekend.
Belmont County Commissioners will hold their monthly evening meeting at the Barnesville Senior Citizen Center, Wednesday, March 30.
The Ohio Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation donates $2,800 for efforts of this year’s BARK tree planting project on former strip-mined lands.
Somerton Volunteer Firemen will sponsor fish fries the next two Saturday evenings at the fire hall.
Twenty-five Year Ago – 1990
BHS Cagers Reach New Heights is the headline announcing their post-season win over Shenandoah, 78-74, last Friday. This is the first time the Shamrocks have won a district title. The next step is regional tourney play, two games away from a state tournament berth.
Within the course of one day, the three-story, 100-room former Belmont County Children’s Home at Tacoma, was reduced to pile of brick and stones as demolition contractors razed the historic structure. Contents of the cornerstone, erected in 1879, were revealed at Monday’s county commission meeting.
Switzerland of Ohio School officials explained at a press conference Wednesday, the need to seek additional funds by way of an emergency 5-mill, five-year levy on the May ballot. At the same time, the district expects to ask voters to pass a bond issue in November for construction and renovation of facilities.
Eugene “Doc” Householder will again lead the Ohio Pumpkin Festival Committee.
Virginia McCort, 65, retired postmistress at Malaga, died at Barnesville Hospital Sunday.
Fifty Years Ago – 1965
The 5th annual Science-Art Fair was an unparalleled success. Large crowds were attracted to both the high school gymnasium and junior high auditorium last Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Nearly 100 persons attended Monday night’s meeting in the school auditorium at which some of the innovations taking place in the teaching of “new math” were discussed. Elementary principal Robert Mallernee chaired the program.
The time-worn issue of time what kind, fast or slow, became a timely topic for a time at Tuesday’s council meeting. No vote on the matter was taken.
Local businessmen flood Governor Rhodes’ office with telegrams urging him to support construction of the Appalachian Highway through Monroe and Belmont counties. The proposed highway would connect with I-70 at Hendrysburg and would follow Route 8 from Woodsfield north bypassing the communities of Malaga, Somerton and Barnesville.
The local school system with a payroll of 110 employees is a $1.370 million operation.
Seventy-five Years Ago – 1940
A total of $5,500 in individual $100 contributions is raised to date for the purchase of the General Hospital reports P.B. Worthington, chairman of the citizens committee.
Announcement is made this week by L.J. Taber that he will not be a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator from Ohio, stating instead the pressing national needs of the agricultural community he faces as Master of the National Grange.
Mayor David Laughlin orders a clean-up of gambling devices in town stating that all punch boards, pinball and slot machines must go.
The Barnesville Post of VFW will present here next month in the junior high school auditorium, the WLW Radio Boone County Jamboree from Cincinnati.
Frank Damsel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Damsel, who is a student at Iron City Business College, Pittsburgh, lost all his clothing and personal belongings in a house fire early Friday morning.
One Hundred Years Ago – 1915
From the Whetstone
The history of The First National Bank of Barnesville is recounted upon the 50th anniversary of the founding of the institution.
Under the headline of “Death’s Doings”, the obituaries of the following citizens and former residents are profiled: Mrs. Hannah Jane Price Galloway, 66; Mrs. Clara Buchanan, 47; Miss Rebecca Barnes, 69; Mathias Reischman, 68; William E. Berry, 33, of Jamaica, Iowa, formerly of here; and Margaret Amelia, 3, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Lucas of Vine Street.
Mrs. John W. Kirk of West Church Street has returned from Bellaire where she visited her parents, Dr. and Mrs. George B. Smith.
The play, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, played to a big house Monday night and the presentation of this old Southern drama was the best we have seen in a long time. The special scenery and electrical effects were features of the play, the snowstorm scene, the ice gorged Ohio River, and the great transformation scene being considered especially fine.
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Twice Told Tales is compiled by Bruce Yarnall, former general manager of the Barnesville Enterprise.
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