This chapter may get a bit tedious for those who aren’tfamiliar with the back parts of Wetzel and Marshall County that are waaaaaay out Proctor. But I wanted to include these bits of trivia because they illustrate one of the simple, inexpensive, and pleasant things our family did together.My ...
Some readers will remember that in 1978 the Paden City High School Stage Band pictured here won the West Virginia State Jazz/Stage Band Championship. The Stage Band, under the direction of Ed Hood, won the state championship three times. As a matter of fact, the PCHS Stage Band placed no ...
Two much older “out-Proctor” musicians were tremendously influential for me. Brady Colvin lived about two miles out Proctor on Route 89 along the creek and had a son, Jim, born on the same day and year as me. Brady was the best fiddler and five-string banjo player in Wetzel County. He had a ...
This stroll down memory lane will require a lengthy walk. Does anyone recall the beautiful colored glassware that was produced by the Paden City Glass Factory from 1916 until 1951? Maybe you are one of the many people that collect rare samples from this line which was unsigned. The only ...
Route 2 along the east side of Proctor had an uphill but straight mile-long grade of a about a hundred yards. Once (at least) Proctor boys and my Magnolia High classmates Steve Bohrer and Lewis Gautschi had an epic uphill car race with two severely under-powered cars. I didn’t personally ...
Do you remember the very first PCHS Band? Pictured here are members of the 1952 band, the first in history of Paden City High School, comprised of students from the classes of 1952 through 1957 (7th – 12th grade). During this time, Paden City High School shared Band Director Robert Thomas ...
Dementia is cruel joke that is played on those who suffer from it. For those who watch it happening it is sad and confusing. My mother’s memory fades in and out so quickly that it is difficult to know what world she is living in at any moment in time. You can’t predict or prevent dementia. ...
As mentioned in earlier chapters, the St. Joseph’s settlement in the Marshall County backcountry way out Proctor was the home of origin for the Frohnapfel (maternal) side of my family. Along with many other conservative German Roman Catholics families, they immigrated in the 1850s and ...
Our Aunt Mom is like a second mother. We are sisters and brothers. Fifty-six years has past Since that terrible tragedy! Alas!* To raise her Brother’s children – A Must!* Her decision never to be questioned – It’s Just!* Aunt Mom’s future changed at “this” fork in the ...
I don’t recall that either my Mom or Dad or any of my seventeen aunts or uncles played a musical instrument to any great extent. Nevertheless, when I was growing up there always was a lot of music around our house and car from daytime radio broadcasts from WETZ in New Martinsville and WWVA in ...
