Twice-Told Tales

This edition of Twice-Told Tales was published ten years ago this week on Wednesday, April 1, 2015.  

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Ten Years Ago – 2005

Residents of the local school district turned out at the Board of Education meeting last week to show their support for middle school principal Sam Shuman whose contract the board failed to renew.  At play was a debate of the principal’s qualifications to hold the job.

The annual BHS Diamond Classic gets underway, Saturday, April 2 at Barnesville Memorial Park. High school teams participating this year are Barnesville, Cambridge, Union Local, and For Frye.

Featured speaker at this year’s chamber of commerce spring banquet is Cara Dingus, district representative for U.S. Senator George Voinovich.

The Rotary Club’s annual Spaghetti Dinner is slated for Friday at the First United Methodist Church Dining Hall.    

Twenty-five Year Ago – 1990

Barnesville High School’s all-time leading scorer, Matt Powell, is a first-team All-State selection by both United Press International and the Associated Press. He will be in action this Sunday at St. John’s Arena in Columbus for the annual Ohio North-South All Star Basketball Game sponsored by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association.

Still going strong at 76, Alton Smith is the Barnesville Enterprise’s choice for “Citizen of the Year”.

Local masons will host a banquet and reception for the Grand Master of Ohio, John W. McKahan, at the local Masonic Temple on April 28.

The new dinner club at Whiskey Run Golf Course has opened under the ownership and operation of Brenda McCort, who owns and operates the Green Cottage Restaurant.

The Belmont County Historical Society is conducting a membership drive.

Clifford Huff, 79, of Sandy Ridge, active in the county soil and water conservation district and a member of the First Presbyterian Church, died March 25.

Fifty Years Ago – 1965

A map of the proposed Appalachian Highway indicates the road will go just west of Barnesville. The proposed $224.7 million dollar construction project will begin east of Cincinnati and connect with IR-70 north of here.

The Columbia Gas of Ohio Company’s fabulous Blue Flame Festival, a free event, will take place in the junior high auditorium next Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Newly elected officers of Local 540 of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union are: Agnes Hess, Melisssa McBurney, Cedora Lucas, Alice Johnson and William Wehr.

Trustees of Epworth Park reject an offer to purchase the Tri-State Asphalt lodge and land near Miltonsburg a new site for park activities. Instead, leaders intend to move forward with plans to improve the current site in Bethesda.

Seventy-five Years Ago – 1940

The land owned by the B & O Railroad on the south side of E. Main just above the tunnel gave way last Thursday to loosen the foundations of buildings near the tunnel resulting in the closure of the barber shop and Dixie Kitchen. 

Census takers begin work next week on the 1940 enumeration.

Kiddies at the Children’s Home received a 28 lb. chocolate rabbit from the Green Castle Confectionary/Restaurant and a 16 lb. hen from Dr. F.D. Daugherty. In addition, each child was given an Easter basket and Easter egg.

Two children, Lodge Hanlon and Terry Crum, are ill with typhoid fever. It is feared that two other children on East Church Street, are also infected but this will not be known positively until laboratory reports are received.

One Hundred Years Ago – 1915

From the Whetstone

The high school basketball team put another feather in their hat when they defeated the fast Union High team of Benwood here last Friday night.

As a reward for their fine work so far this season, members of the high school basketball team were each presented with a dandy sweater by Kirk’s Clothing of this place. The garments are red and green, the club’s colors.

The firm of Wilkins and Cassells, meat and provision dealers on West Main Street,  have placed a Ford delivery truck on the street and are now prepared to deliver goods to customers at the shortest notice.

Local college students are currently home for Easter from the following schools: Ohio Wesleyan, The Ohio State University, Oberlin, Bliss Business and Wooster.

A “tall woman” who is supposed to be the same creature reported here lately has the Cambridge police force “skeered plum to death.” She first made her appearance around the railroad station and has the police on the run proper. It is said she gives the officers considerable trouble, and they are afraid to catch her.

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Twice Told Tales is compiled by Bruce Yarnall, former general manager of the Barnesville Enterprise.