(Reprinted in The Clay County Free Press, Thursday, June 25, 2026, page 5)
Masthead: THE WIDEN NEWS — “DUNDON” RED ASH COAL — February 1959
Taglines: “The people who think alike should vote alike.” / “Where all think alike, no one thinks very much.”
HOME NOTES
Dear Jerry,
The weather this month has been very unpredictable. Snow, rain, sun, cold — we seem to have extremely cold weather, or unusually warm weather for this time of year, all the time. I just wish it would stay a little chilly for a while and then maybe when it warms up it will stay that way.
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I’m sorry to tell you that we have had quite a number of deaths since the last issue of the paper. Mrs. Bertha “Granny” Gibson, who raised such a nice family in Widen and was loved by everyone who knew her, passed away January 30th. I’m sure you know her — she was the mother of Mildred, Lovell, Helen, Virginia, Sam and Calvin. All of the Gibson Children are still in Widen except Virginia who now lives in Florida.
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Mr. Hugh Wood died January 29 in Sweet Springs, W. Va. He was the father of Jennings Wood and the grandfather of Darrell Wood of Widen.
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We learned also of the death of Mrs. Mary Wolfe, mother of Gladys Davis who taught school in Widen for many years. Mrs. Wolfe was a charter member of the Widen Woman’s Club. She had been in ill health for quite some time.
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We had a nice long letter from the Herb Johnsons — they are all settled in their new home in Orlando, Florida. Their new address is 528 N. Garland, Apartment A, Orlando, Florida, and they have issued a standing invitation to all their Widen friends to visit them there.
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The Widen High School Band is planning to go to the State Band Festival in Huntington again this year and the members are working very diligently readying themselves for the big event. The festival will be held the last of March and Mr. Simmons, band director, hopes to bring back a superior rating again this year.
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Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Lee Hamrick have announced the birth of a daughter, Pamela Sue, born January 27, 1959 at the Charleston General Hospital.
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Russell H. Mullins, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Mullins of Kanawha Street and former employee of the Elk River Coal and Lumber Company, is now a student at W. Virginia University where he is studying accounting.
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Mr. Buster Woods, a long time employee of the Elk River Coal and Lumber Company, suffered a very painful accident this month which resulted in the partial amputation of his right foot. Mr. Woods is a tram brakeman and while performing his regular duties was knocked from a car which ran over his foot.
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The Dundon Store and the Dille Store have been closed, and the Dille Post Office has been moved to a new location. The new Post Office is now located beside the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dodrill.
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Mrs. Leo Lykins of Dille has been a patient in the Charleston General Hospital for the past two weeks.
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Mr. and Mrs. Richard Strickland of Harrison are proud grandparents for the first time. Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Strickland are the parents of twin sons born February 7, 1959 in Akron, Ohio. The boys have been named David Lee and Dale Alan.
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The annual convention of the West Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs will be held at the Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, March 19-21. Capitol District will be the hostess club this year and that includes the Widen Woman’s Club. Hope to see you there!
Bye ’till next month,
—Co-editors.
BOY SCOUT NEWS
Awards for advancement in scout work were made to three members of Widen Troop 111 at a Court of Honor held at Clay Methodist Church on Friday, February 13. The local boys who were honored were Skippy George, who has reached Star rank; T. G. Griffith, first class; and the newest member of the troop, Roger Mick, who has just completed his tenderfoot work.
While the number of active members of the Widen troop has decreased, those who are still in the group have been hard at work striving to advance in scouting. Roger Strickland and Charles Johnson are both well on their way to first class; T. G. Griffith has already started on his merit badge work; and Skip George lacks only one more merit badge to attain Life rating.
The boys are already looking forward to summer camp and it is hoped that the troop will be able to attend during the week following July 4. Interested boys should get registered with the troop immediately, as the reservation must be made promptly. This will be the last camp at Clifton McClintic Reservation, as next year the larger spot at Dilley’s Mill be ready for occupancy.
WIDEN WOMAN’S CLUB TESTED RECIPE
Submitted by Mrs. Pauline LaCorte
8 ounces Philadelphia Cream Cheese
2 Cups flour
2 Sticks Oleomargarine
Pinch Salt
Mix cheese, oleo, work in flour and pinch of salt. Leave in refrigerator over night. Next day roll out as pie crust; cut with cookie cutter. On each one spread a filling such as jam, marmalade or jelly. Fold each one together, as a fried pie. Bake in 350° oven for 8-10 minutes.
WEST VIRGINIA FACTS
More than 50 academies and colleges were established, in what was to become West Virginia, during the period between the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Civil War.
Over 250 species and sub-species of birds have been recorded in West Virginia, which is approximately one-fourth of all the kinds of birds that are found in the United States and Canada.
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West Virginia Day, June 20, was made a legal holiday by the 1927 Legislature, to allow citizens to observe the State’s birthday.
West Virginia has nearly 140,000 acres devoted to recreation in 21 State Parks and ten State Forests.
The first oil well in West Virginia was drilled on the banks of the Hughes River in 1859.
It is estimated that West Virginia has coal resources sufficient to last 400 years at the present rate of production.
West Virginia’s official bird, the Cardinal, was designated by concurrent resolution of the 1949 Legislature.
CABINET MEMBER
The only West Virginian who has served as Postmaster General of the United States was William L. Wilson, eminent scholar and statesman from Charles Town, who served under President Cleveland and originated, and put into effect, the system of rural free delivery.
ADVERTISEMENT
THOMAS, FIELD & COMPANY
CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA
WHOLESALE
DISTRIBUTORS OF DRY GOODS, NOTIONS AND FLOOR COVERINGS
AT ALL
ELK RIVER COAL AND LUMBER COMPANY STORES
WIDEN . DILLE . SWANDALE . DUNDON
