Twice-Told Tales Redux
This edition of Twice-Told Tales originally appeared in the former Barnesville Enterprise on February 24, 2016.
Ten Years Ago – 2006
The town’s police cruiser is damaged in a Friday evening pursuit of a local man who was arrested on a variety of charges including fleeing and eluding.
Joseph E. Stanfield, 82, of Brookville, Florida, retired vice president of Watt Car and Wheel Co, died last week. Services and burial took place in Brookville.
Jeremy Gardner, 25, is Barnesville’s new police officer. He currently resides in Brookside with his wife and three children.
The Barnesville BOE is considering hiring a resource police officer for the district.
Barnesville resident Capt. Chad A. Froehlich returns home following a 14-month deployment in Iraq, his second tour in the Middle East. He is a member of the 64th Army Military Police Company.
Rev. Charles and Eda Clark celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Feb. 21.
Jean Davies reports on the move of the Barnesville Area Education Foundation and Attorney Lodge Hanlon from 212 N. Chestnut Street to the former Herb Hall Grocery. The old house at 212 will be torn down. It was originally the home of the Murphy family that had a livery business across the street, then a veterinarian’s office for Dr. W.F. Ludwig and later Dr. Frank Daugherty. Dr. Paul Reeder had his office in the building before it became home for the Hanlon Insurance Agency.
Twenty-five Years Ago – 1991
Retiring BHS guidance counselor Roger Sowers is “roasted and toasted” by friends and colleagues at a retirement party held in his honor at the high school cafeteria Sunday evening.
Recent contributions logged for the Barnesville Railroad Fund Drive, headed by Mrs. Louise Cheffy, are reported by the Barnesville Development Council.
Eighth graders Michelle Miller and Lori McGinnis finished first and second, respectfully in the 10th annual Barnesville Middle School Spelling Bee.
The board of education heard initial plans to enlarge the running track at the high school from one-fifth mile to a one-fourth mile facility.
The Barnesville Development Council reports favorable feedback from the January 9 bus tour operators show in Washington, Pa. So far, over 38 bus tours have been pledged for the year.
Animal lovers rejoice, the annual Enterprise Pet Spotlight will be published next week.
Fifty Years Ago – 1966
Bob Shepherd, owner of Bob’s Chevrolet, Inc., announces his firm is moving to its new sales and service center 1.5 miles east of town on Route 147 this coming Monday, February 28. The business is currently located at the intersection of E. Main and Sandy Ridge Road (later Shamrock Drive).
The school board votes to continue a contract with the Newark architectural firm Joseph Blair and Associates to prepare plans for the proposed new high school. A bond levy will appear on the ballot this fall.
The Barnesville Jaycees organization is reactivated. Robert Owen is elected president with Joe Toohey serving as vice president and Tom Skinner, secretary-treasurer.
The annual meeting of the Belmont County Farm Bureau Cooperative Association will take place in the Belmont School gymnasium next Thursday evening.
Seventy-five Years Ago – 1941
Officers observed a man running away from a blaze that destroyed the coal tipple and 47 coal cars at the Bixler Coal Mine at Baileys Mills Friday morning. The state fire marshal is investigating the fire that has thrown over 50 men out of work.
The first primary for the City of Barnesville is only four months away, but candidates are shy. The distinction of being the “first city officials” lacks magnetic power.
A record-breaking graduating class of 106, 55 boys and 51 girls, will mark the 63rd annual commencement, May 29. This is the first time BHS will graduate more than 100. Mary Margaret McGill will be valedictorian.
Dr. W. E. Stephens, 65, a practicing physician in Barnesville for nearly 40 years, passed away Feb. 17 at Cambridge.
Barnesville Rotary acquired its first second-generation member recently when John D. Kirk became a member. His father, John W. Kirk, was a charter member and one of the club’s early presidents. Kirk, Jr. also has the distinction of being the youngest member of the club and the youngest member ever invited to join.
Last week’s freeze, thaw and freeze caused the bottom to drop out of many township and county roads in this vicinity.
One Hundred Years Ago – 1916
From the Whetstone
The death of John Hill, 76, occurred at the home of his son-in-law, F. Waldo Hilles, on W. Main after an illness of four weeks. A Beallsville native, he was a resident of Barnesville for nearly 50 years. His millinery store was one of the downtown businesses destroyed by the big fire of January 12-13, 1895.
Also passing this week was Mrs. Mary E. Mackall, 59, wife of John W. Mackall of E. Church Street.
A bake sale at the Hance Building Saturday will benefit the Presbyterian Sunday School Athletic Club.
The Whetstone is indebted to the E.O. Flaccus Co. and its local manager, W.E. Lawrence, for a self-sealer full of the celebrated tomato catchup made in Barnesville by that company. We think it is the best on the market. (Ed. Note: The frame factory building remains standing at 334 S. Chestnut Street).
Attorney William V. Bennett has opened offices on the second floor of the building just east of the gas office at 151 E. Main. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University, class 1913. He passed the bar the same year. He was previously associated with Attorney W.O. Chappell.
The Globe Men’s Store at 151 East Main Street, E.M. Wilkes, proprietor, is expanding to the rear of the building where a modern cleaning, drying, pressing and repairing department will be added.
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Twice Told Tales is compiled by Bruce Yarnall, former general manager of the Barnesville Enterprise.
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