The RHSAA story...The RHS Alumni Association originated in March of 1996 with a primary goal to assist deserving Richwood High School students and alumni with furthering their education. Since that time the membership has grown to hundreds of RHS alumni and associates (non-graduates) who through supporting the association, in turn, have helped to better the live of many of our fellow Lumberjacks. The Association has also been very involved with community projects geared toward improving the quality of life in the Richwood area.Since the inception of the RHS Alumni Association in 1996 through the graduation of the class of 2000, a total of $16,500 has been awarded in the form of scholarships. The funding for these scholarship awards has been, and continues to be made possible through the support of alumni and associates who have joined the Alumni Association.
In addition to these scholarships, the Association has administered two other funds. One is the "Comstock Family Scholarships." These are five $1,000 annual awards ($5,000 total being split between the five students studying in the disciplines of business administration, secondary education, chemistry, pre-medicine and computer science) made at the request of the Mr. Doug Comstock ’57 from the children of Hugh and Nina Comstock. The other is the "Kathleen Westfall Barger" Memorial Scholarship," which is the result of a generous donation from Mr. Ross Barger who requested that a $1,000 memorial scholarship be presented each year in memory of his late wife Kathleen Westfall, class of '53.
The Alumni Association also helps with funding in the event a special need arises. An example of this was a $900 check being issued in response to a request by Richwood High School for emergency assistance for a student's enrollment at Marshall University in January 1999.
The Association is also active in community development projects geared toward helping Richwood become a better place to live and visit. The most notable such undertaking started in 1997 as the RHS Alumni Association began the project of renovating the former "Masonic Temple" into "RHS Alumni Hall" through a management agreement with the City of Richwood. The city had come into ownership of the building through a state grant. While this endeavor will likely never be totally finished, after lots of hard work by many volunteers and funding from private donations and the state grant, the building is now known as "RHS Alumni Hall" and is being utilized by the entire community for events, receptions and meetings.Improvements to date to the Alumni Hall include the installation of a heat and air conditioning system throughout the structure. In the main hall a new tile floor was installed along with curtains for all of the windows. The kitchen received new counter tops, a commercial refrigerator and was outfitted with cookware and other items through a very successful "kitchen shower" fund-raiser. To make the hall better suited for large gatherings, many tables and chairs were purchased. The exterior received siding on peak of the façade while the rest of the exterior was repainted. Future plans call for a wheelchair ramp and emergency exit to the second floor.
In the few short years that the RHS Alumni Association has been in existence, the organization has enjoyed plenty of success. This is due entirely to the spirit and enthusiasm that comes with being a RHS graduate and a native of the Richwood area. If you have not already become a member, please consider joining your fellow classmates in keeping the Lumberjack spirit alive.
Take a stroll down Main Street and count the handicap parking spaces. One is the grand total. It's nestled right by the red light, making it a long walk to visit the sculpture garden, Dean's Variety Store, and simply sit on the new benches donated to our town. In a population where many of the residents are elderly or handicapped, parking can be a challenge. The greatest challenge, however, is not parking but simply accessing the buildings.
Luckily this problem has been solved at the Alumni Hall on Main Street. Many RHS alumni members worked diligently to build a ramp to the hall. Their inspiration: Susan Brugnoli, a fellow RHS alumni. Six years after Susan graduated from Fairmont State College she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which has restricted her to a wheel chair. Her
The project was spearheaded by Maria Dooley and Bill Brewster along with Ronnie Bragg and Susan Sigley. They called people for donations and help and they contacted the contractor, Roger Hager of Hager Construction. When asked about her feelings during the dedication, Susan said, "My whole family was there; I was very blessed." As exciting as it was to see the ramp installed, something was still missing. The ramp looked rather dull. Bruce Donaldson announced in a meeting that he would donate an assortment of plants from Donaldson's Bloomingland Greenhouse to plant around the building and ramp. In addition to the landscaping, a new plaque will be placed on the ramp. The plaque will read, "This ramp was dedicated August 10, 2001 to all physically challenged persons, especially Susan F. Brugnoli, RHS Alumna, class of 1971 for her grace, courage, and constant inspiration. Presented by family, friends, and neighbors of Susan Brugnoli."
Thanks to everyone who put their time, effort, and money into making it possible for disabled persons to enjoy any event they wish. Thank you ever so much! Peni Rexroad
Contributed by Frances Adams
Contributed by Frances Adams
DO YOU RECALL
The 4l’ers huddled over a hundred “Do you Remembers” Here’s 20, and 20 a week for four more weeks.
1. Richwood Store Company toy display at Christmas.
2. The sound of the Big Mill whistle that signaled Fire.
3. What you were doing December 7, 1941.
4. Richwood on a Saturday night when we had the three C’s at Camp Cranberry and Camp Woodbine.
5. Sunday morning when you would find C.S. Badgett, J. W. Hollifield, Ed Heaster and others gathered on the Big Mill office porch.
6. Boone’s Dairy when it was located on the Southside.
7. Getting warm on a cold winter day at the Richwood Store Company on your way to R.H.S.
8. The Hub Factory, Handle Factory, Big Mill, Pin Factory, Tannery and Papermill.
9. The strike at the Big Mill and the violence that ended after Pearl Harbor.
10. The board walks around our town.
11. The long winter months waiting for spring to go barefooted.
12. Sleigh riding down Laurel Avenue in Papermill Town when it was called Wolf Alley.
13. Roller skating at the Dew Drop Inn in the building that was later taken down and moved ‘uptown” and rebuilt as the Rainbow Grill.
14. Crossing the Cherry River from Papermill Town to Darin by way of the swinging bridge.
15. Joe Campolio’s train set that sat in his store window every Christmas.
16. Rev. Beckett, Rev. Orr, Rev. Helen Tanner, Father Final.
17. Sneak Day and Freak Day at R.H.S.
18. The paddle that hung in the principal’s office at Tannery School. It was used by Mr. Fitzwater.
19. Swimming at Milltown, The Falls, Snake Hole, or Hubtown.
20. Edgel “Boss” Dean singing “Danny Boy” at assembly, and standing outside his office watching us enter the building.
41. The Chestnut orchard before the blight.
42. Before the Marlinton Road was built, motorists left Richwood the same way they entered.
43. The lady contractor that built some of the Marlinton Road, Mrs. Staples.
44. Bank night at the theaters.
45. The big five cent ice cream cone at Walker's Drug Store and the Shoe Shine Parlor next door.
46. Morrison Brothers (Vic, Tom, Otto) IGA store.
47. When Doctor Bennett wasn't mayor
48. The log train and the size of those logs, the splash they made going into the pond.
49. Doctor Echols riding his horse.
50. Crossing the Gauley River at Curtain on the ferry.
51. The Spring Floods
52. Breckstine's since 1901
53. Heni and Henry Ice the card displayed to indicate your order.
54. The Post Office on upper main street and the slick sidewalks.
55. The big fire when the new theater and other buildings burned.
56. Going to town with a penny to spend and the choices you had.
57. The popcorn machine outside Walker's Drug Store and New Star Theater.
58. Drug store cowboys.
59. Parade by American Legion on Armistice Day.
60. When the sound of a train whistle was not unfamiliar.
61. When ladies' Sunday attire included a hat and gloves.
62. When mail was delivered twice a day by Lee Reese and Glen Higginbothan.
63. When telephones and cars were luxury items.
64. When Julia Hickey was the switchboard operator.
65. The unemployed and the Big Depression, people coming to your back door for something to eat.
66. Riding the "Shanty Town Express" from Papermill Town to "Uptown" --one car for ladies, one for men.
67. Papermill employees receiving free writing paper once a month.
68. The color of the Cherry River down stream of the Papermill.
69. Having two taxi companies in Richwood, Cerres Taxe and Stulls Taxi.
70. Sixdays a week passenger train service to and from Richwood.
71 Freight trains that carried out the many finished products at Richood, Lumber, Paper, Clothes Pins, Paper Trays, Tannery goods.
72 Two busy drug stores - Walkers and Purtz/Juergens - those fountain cokes, weren't they great.
73. The auditorium theater in the City Hall Building movies for a dime.
74. First class merchandise of every sort that was carried by the company store. T. R. Richards, Manager.
75. Ice cold root beer, right from the barrel, at the company store, clerks Tom Sullivan, Casey McClung, Walt "Rabbit" Legg, Mark Legg. Harlam Meadows, Mrs Johnson, Mary McClean O'dell, to name a few.
76. Riding the elevator at the Company Store?McClung Hospital also had an elevator.
77. The Citizens Bank & Trust, where the whiskey store is now located.
78. Hick's Bakery -- 5 cents for a small loaf of bread, 10 cents for a large loaf, little pies for 5 cents.
79. Read Heater driving his little Willys car with his left hand resting on the top.
80. Garfield Williams store on upper Main Street.
81. When Murphy's 5 & 10 store came to town.
82. Playing tennis at night on the CRB&L Co. court.
83. This group hanging around under the street light at the corner of Spruce Street - J. W. & Harve Hollifield, Gene McCombs, Graydon Kyre, Bill and Page Nelson, Edgar and Spike Meadows, Jennings Seward, Bub Link, John and Wade Adams and Roy Hoover
84. Company boarding house on Cherry Street, operated by Mrs. Stewart.
85. The lodges at the New Star Theater, smoking permitted.
86. The Jolly Time Inn at the theater, those good 5 cent hot dogs and 10 cent hamburgers.
87. The barber shops, P. D. Cutlip, Reynolds, C. O'Dell, Trimbles.
88. The Pool Room on Main Street.
89. Bill Thomas and the big hardware store with display windows on the 1st and 2nd floor.
90. Waking up to a big snow storm and making the first tracks to R. H. S.
91. Butternut Island and the games we played -- rode Charley Sears horse.
92. The cliff, 1st and 2nd gave you a real view of our hometown.
93. Weber City
94. The day you changed from "long johns" to summer underwear.
95. The beer establishments located on Oakford Avenue and the crowds they attracted on Saturday night.
96. Bing, The German Shepherd Dog and how smart he was.
97. Agnes and Don Girondo, friends to us all.
98. When eating ramps was not considered fashionable.
99. The clerks who came to your home to take grocery orders, then would deliver the order.
100. The swinging bridges crossing to Southside from Hubtown and behind the pin factory.
101. Elementary Principals, Carl Hamerick, Harry Straley, Roy Mathney, Hoyt Dean, Dale Henderson.
102. Southside Baber's Store where Mrs. Cora McClung gave a 2 0z. barrel of cimmamon drops for a penny - also a warming place for students.
103. Sleigh riding down Williams Avenue and the sharp curve at the bottom.
104. The faculty at R.H.S., Velver Sparks, Brada Rader, Chris White, Ed Buck, Jim Comstock, Virgie Gorves, Cray Callahan, Frances Judy, Lyda Dietz, Bill Robertson, Ruth Smith, Hallie Duffield, Ed Pratt, Paul Jones, Mac Bowles, Frank Heaster, Helen Dunbar, Mrs. Maude Ayres, Nedra Myers, Mary Critchfield, Gene Deitz, Forest Dorsey, Marian McFadden, Naomi Norman, Madge McClung, Ruth Dunn, Dora Compolio, George Shawver, James Shelton, Mrgaret McKenzie, Opal Stevenson, Okey Cutlip and Pearl Peek.
105. The choir at the First Methodist Church, directed by Mrs. P. D. Cutlip and Arlie at the organ and beautiful solos by Mrs. Virginia Echols.
106. The "Cuspie Bragg Platoon" leaving for Parris Island and the band playing. How many can you name?
Contributed by Frances M. Adams and Karen Kessler Cotrill