Twice-Told Tales Redux
This Twice-Told Tales was published in the Dec. 23, 2015, edition of the former Barnesville Enterprise.
Ten Years Ago – 2005
Tim Kemp has been recognized by the Belmont Soil & Water Conservation District as the “Good Year Farmer of the Year.”
Roger McKeen, 83, of Bethesda died last Thursday. He was a 40-year veteran employee for Consol (Hanna) Coal.
Buckeye Mortgage Company of Bellaire announces the opening of a production office in Barnesville at 112 N. Arch Street. Local resident Carolyn Markovich will manage the office.
Twenty-five Year Ago – 1990
Two Japanese exchange students, currently living at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller on Pigeon Point Road, help blend eastern and western cultures.
Veteran BHS counselor Roger Sowers will retire effective March 1. Sowers, an educator for 34 years, 30 of those in the Barnesville system, has served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, guidance counselor and acting high school principal. He is a 1952 grad of Roseville High School who had a tryout with the Washington, DC Senators baseball ball club before attending Marietta College where he obtained his bachelor’s degree.
Chamber officers elected for 1991 are Mike Lucas, Vicki Ackerman, Eugene “Doc” Householder and Frank Dumas.
Deaths this past week include Jerry Burkhart, 53, owner of Jerry’s Office Machine and Repair who died of a heart attack while on a service call at Watt Car on the 14th; Donald Jack (Pickle) Broomhall, 60, of Tacoma, retired employee of Custom Carpet of Wheeling; Inez Butler Wonski, 73, Westerville and formerly of Barnesville and Bethesda and a retired plant manager for the former Barnesville Manufacturing Sewing factory: and Violet Groves Pastva, 68, of Bethesda, also a retiree of Belmont Manufacturing.
Fifty Years Ago – 1965
A 76-year-old Barnesville Route 3 resident, R. Carl Grier, died early last Thursday morning in a fire that leveled his story-and-a half house west of town.
The December issue of Ohio Bell Magazine has a story about the former wire chief here as a man on the move. In fact, Zane Barnes, who was here from 1949-51 and is now vice president in charge of personnel for Ohio Bell in Cleveland has moved nine times for his job in the last 24 years.
The Rev. Ralph Geiger of Somerton, who has been serving as a substitute bus driver, will begin full-time driving duties January 1.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter E. Thomas of Ohio Street will observe their silver wedding anniversary on December 28. They are the parents of one daughter, Rebecca Jane, a freshman in the local high school.
A family dinner marked the 40th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hagan of Somerton. Mrs. Hagan is the former Audry Fisher of Speidel.
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Warrick, also of the Somerton community, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary at an open house at the Somerton Methodist Church Sunday.
Seventy-five Years Ago – 1940
The city is ablaze with colored lights as Christmas Day nears. It is expected that many homes will compete in this year’s yuletide decoration contest sponsored by the Better Business Bureau.
Funeral services for Mrs. J.W. Bradfield, were held Saturday from her former home, now the home of her daughter Mrs. Earl B. Watt on N. Chestnut Street (ed. note – current Victorian Mansion Museum). She died last Wednesday in Columbus.
Barnesville High inaugurated its 1940-41 basketball season by winning at Belmont High School Saturday night by a score of 44-32.
The Rotary Club purchased a live Christmas tree for the club party Tuesday afternoon and after its use, gave it to the school to be planted in the school yard. It is the intention of the club to make this an annual custom.
A freak turnip was brought to the Enterprise office Saturday by Mack Reed of Quaker City RD 4. The vegetable consist of one turnip with the stem growing through the middle of the other turnip leaving one stem for two turnips. It is currently on display in the Enterprise window.
Jake Schafer of Somerton is the latest claimant of the record of dressing the season’s biggest hog. Last week he butchered a Poland China sow dressing 573 pounds.
One Hundred Years Ago – 1915
From the Whetstone
Christmas Day being on a Saturday this year, the Wilkins & Cassells meat shop will forego its usual custom of closing all day by keeping the market open for business until 11 o’clock Christmas morning.
The death of Mrs. Milly Mahoney occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Gatton, south of town Saturday evening resulting from a general breakdown. She was 72 years of age.
Mr. Earl G. Harrison, proprietor of Harrison’s Store, is confined to his home on E. Main by a sickness that it is feared will develop into pneumonia. He has just passed through a strenuous holiday season and his general condition is said not to be the best.
Dr. F. P. Cook, formerly of this place but lately of Wheeling, has opened dental parlors on the second floor of the Kennard Garage Building on N. Chestnut.
Joe Selim, a professional confectioner from Canton, has opened a new store at 131 N. Arch opposite the city building. He has a fresh supply of nuts, candies, cigars and tobaccos for sale.
Now showing at the Acme Theater – The Broken Coin (Wednesdays) and The Diamond from the Sky (Saturdays). Matinee tickets are 5 cents; evening tickets, 10 cents.
Twice Told Tales is compiled by Bruce Yarnall, former general manager of the Barnesville Enterprise.
Barnesville Area News Needs Your Support!
We're dedicated to providing coverage of the local happenings in Barnesville and the neighboring communities.
As a non-profit entity, we rely on the donations of readers like you.
Make a donation today and you'll be helping keep local news alive in the Barnesville area.