On June 29, I wrote about our move from Texas to Mount Hope, West Virginia, which occurred in the summer of 1957 before my 3rd grade year.
While we were living in Mount Hope, there were several occasions in which my family “made the papers”. I thought I would share some of those clippings since there may be other names that you recognize—-maybe even your OWN!
During the Christmas season of our first year in Mount Hope, the Beckley Post-Herald published an article about planned Christmas activities at Mount Hope High School, where my father was the band director.
There is a photo of the Band Hall in Panorama of Fayette County, by John Cavalier (of Smithers). The book was printed by McClain Printing Company in 1985, and is now in my possession. Of the building, Cavalier says on page 321, “The YMCA Building was constructed in 1921, built by donations from the public, and included a beautiful swimming pool, bowling alley, and other activity rooms. . . In 1932 the Fayette County Board of Education rented this building for school purposes. The Board purchased the building in 1936. . . The building which was purchased . . . was remodeled and now houses a full-size gymnasium and other activity rooms but no pool or bowling alley.”
The photo below was found on GoogleMaps and shows that the building is now a Community Center. It is a much better photo than the one in Panorama of Fayette County.
I remember the building well. I would go there after school to meet my dad before we went home. Many times, he would be playing various recordings of symphonies, etc. since no students were in class, and I always enjoyed listening to the music. Those melodies stuck in my head forever after, for which I am grateful.
This article is about a Christmas parade that I do not remember at all. This was during my third grade year.
The Raleigh Register, Monday, December 9, 1957
The article below is about an upcoming Christmas program at the high school, which I attended with my mother and younger siblings. I remember that in the middle of the program, one teenage girl fainted, causing quite a commotion. I found out later it was because she was pregnant. I have no idea who she was, but I hope her baby had a beautiful life and is now happily retired!
Beckley Post-Herald, Monday, December 16, 1957
Now, I’ll skip to the end of my fourth grade year.
It’s nice to be able to look back and see that my dad (pictured at far left) helped the Mount Hope Band be successful at contest. The coolest thing is that Harold Davis, who is mentioned as the band director at Ansted, was my dad’s band director when he was in the Ansted schools. My dad thought very highly of Harold Davis. I’m glad he was there to be an influence in my dad’s life, since my grandfather died a few months before my dad was born.
Raleigh Register, April 29, 1959
Before the end of that school year, we found out my dad would be transferred to Fayetteville High School. It was an action taken by the Fayette County School Board in May 1959.
Beckley Post-Herald, May 15, 1959
Because we were moving away from Mount Hope before school started in the fall of 1959, my mother’s mission group at church gave her a “going-away gift”. I have no idea what it was, but I do remember how thoughtful it was of them to do that. Both my third-grade teacher and my fourth-grade teacher were in attendance.
Beckley Post-Herald, Friday, June 5, 1959
Another event of that summer was a picnic held by my parents’ Sunday School class. I don’t know why they or anyone else was “feted”.
If I remember correctly, Mrs. Tissue was the music teacher at Mount Hope Elementary. I remember her coming around to the classrooms when it was time for music. We did not have a separate music room.
The Raleigh Register, June 9, 1959
Before we moved, I got to go to Brownie Camp. During the planning for the trip, I remember one of the parents (with a fat daughter) saying pointedly at skinny me (or so I thought) that she wanted HER daughter to be healthy. Well, I WAS healthy; I was just skinny like a lot of other Steeles were. And, I’m still here at age 74, so . . . what does that tell you? By the way, I’m not skinny anymore. Wish I were!
Brownie Camp was really fun, but the parts that stand out for me were learning new songs like “White Coral Bells” (a round) and “Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee” (video version is slightly different from what I remember). I also found a salamander that I took home with me. I can’t imagine myself doing that. Very out of character! I did finally let him go. Hope he survived. I remember especially enjoying the hikes at Brownie camp. I’m not athletically inclined, but I do love walking in the woods.
Beckley Post-Herald, The Raleigh Register, June 28, 1959
By the time August rolled around, we had moved to Fayetteville and then headed to Texas for vacation before school started in the fall.
The Raleigh Register, August 7, 1959
August in Texas—-
So, it was bye-bye, Mount Hope, then a quick trip to Texas, and hello, Fayetteville.
By the way, my cute baby brother is now a church music minister. Methodist.