Twice-Told Tales

This edition of Twice-Told Tales was published ten years ago this week on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.  

________

Ten Years Ago – 2005

WesBanco announces the construction of a new $3-million banking center that will replace the current Lincoln Avenue branch bank.  When completed, the company will also close its storied and historic Barnesville headquarters at 101 E. Main. Construction is expected to begin in late summer with the new bank opening in the second quarter of 2006. 

Paul Anderson is accorded the Barnesville Area Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” award at the group’s spring banquet. 

Jerry Rush of Fox’s Pizza was honored as the Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Year. Rush, who is known for his helpful personality, was nominated by his bosses.

Timothy Pickana II, treasurer of the local school district, is moving on to assume the same position for the Cambridge City School system.

A 16-year-old BHS sophomore, Dominic Anthony Tamborello, was killed in an accident on I-70 near old Washington Saturday night.

Members of the Barnesville Area Reforestation Kommittee (BARK) is seeking volunteers to plant 7,000 tree seedlings on reclaimed strip-mined ground this Saturday. This is the continuation of last year’s project.

 Deaths reported this week include Raymond “Jimmy” Gilmore, 66, of Barnesville, a retiree of the Saginaw Mine, and Esther M. Schnegg, 90, also of Barnesville, who worked as an aide at Barnesville Hospital for a number of years.  

 Twenty-five Year Ago – 1990

Owners of downtown historic buildings are offered design assistance by the Victorian Village Project. 

Substitute cooks, aides and custodians will see an increase in their wages from $3.35 to $3.80 per hour thanks to an increase in the federal minimum wage.

Rich Wells, a 1987 graduate of BHS, is a member of this season’s baseball team at Mount Union College.

Tech. Sgt. David P. Amos has been decorated with an Air Force Commendation Medal, his second. He is the son of Paul and Shirley Amos of Bethesda and a 1976 graduate of Union Local High School.

Fifty Years Ago – 1965

High winds do considerable damage in the area including felling 100-year-old pine trees at the Vernon Burkhart residence south of town, leveling a barn across form the Tom Skinner residence north of Somerton, and removing most of a 38-foot porch at the Gail Defenbaugh residence near Noble Junction west of Baileys Mills.

The Barnesville Dairymen’s Co-operative, which began operations here 27 years ago, has been sold by its members to Garvin’s Dairy of Wheeling. Garvin’s currently operates the Farm Fresh Store on W. Main Street. The local plant with 21 employees will continue operations as will the eight delivery trucks which serve stores within a 50 mile radius of Barnesville. The local Med-0-Rich brand will be replaced by Garvin’s products.

 Dr. Harvey H. Murphy, who has been in practice here for 27 years, announced his retirement this week.  

At the organizational meeting of the Little League organization Monday, Joe Toohey was elected president. George Cheffy, Sr. was chosen at vice-president and Wayne Stephens, secretary-treasurer.

Seventy-five Years Ago – 1940

The general contract for the construction of the new grade school was let to S.J. Isabel & Son of Columbus on a bid of $82,248. This firm’s bid was the lowest submitted. The plumbing bid was granted to A.R. Edwards of this city for $5,578; electrical went to A.D. George Co. of Ironton for $3,028; and heating to the Emrich Co. of Columbus for $8,100.   

Fifty years ago on March 28, 1890, electric light was turned on in Barnesville. This fact was revealed through a clipping discovered in a Bellaire paper by L.A. Wright local Ohio Power Co. superintendent. The article notes “Electric light was first turned on at Barnesville Thursday night and the people of Barnesville jollified with a brass band, on occasion of its brilliancy. Barnesville is impulsive but she is progressive.  

BHS junior George Starr, son of Mr. & Mrs. James Starr, was killed and two other local boys injured in an auto accident south of Woodsfield Saturday night.  Also injured were four Woodsfield girls, including the two daughters of Monroe Sheriff Clarence Crawford.

J.W. Lewis of Wellsburg is named the new assistant manager of the G.C. Murphy Store here. He and his wife plan to move to the city in the very near future.

Albert Livezey returned from Washington Tuesday where he served as one of 19 Ohio delegates to the National Socialist Convention.

One Hundred Years Ago – 1915

From the Whetstone

The district weatherman has been in an ugly mood for several days and most of us think he should be charged with malfeasance in office. The people’s demand for warm, sunny weather has been ignored. Instead, cold, cloudy and disagreeable rain seasoned with snow and sleet has been anything but pleasant.

Mrs. Margaret Ault, the mother of nine, marked her 97^th birthday at her Bond Ave. home Monday.

The Renfax Musical Pictures, a new feature at the Acme Theater, will start Saturday with an afternoon matinee at 5 cents and night shows at 10 cents. These pictures promise to attract large crowds as they are entirely new, having never been shown outside the big cities.

George D. Fowler opens a “cash” feed store in the Hanlon Building at the corner of Arch and E. Church. Please phone 57 for prompt delivery. 

The Alpha Phi Sorority will present a home talent minstrel at Moore’s Opera House Friday and Saturday night.

______

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