Berkeley Springs High School - Arrowhead Yearbook (Berkeley Springs, WV)

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PROPHECY FOR SENIOR CLASS OF 1955 By: VIRGINIA ANN BATEMAN It was an early fall morning of 1965 and I had been flying for four hours since the plane had left California. I was an- ticipating the class reunion at the new high school at Berkeley Springs that evening, and as the plane taxied to a stop at the Hancock Airport I prepared to alight. The charming steward- ess, Miss Barbara Twigg, and the handsome pilot, Lieutenant Carroll Leighty, helped me from the plane. When the steward- ess for the next flight arrived I saw with surprise the former Glenna Barnhart. We planned to meet again that evening at the reunion. I hailed a taxi and as I got in I recognized Mr. Charles Carlisle as the driver. Since it was early morning I decided to stop for some coffee at a lovely motel just off 522 near the Old Lover’s Leap. I was pleasantly surprised to find the head waitress was the former Phyllis Corbin whose husband was the proprietor of the motel and restaurant. She told of some of the other classmates: Nancy Hessler who had mar- ried and moved her family to Martinsburg, Joan Hewett, mar- ried and living in Kentucky with her Lieutenant husband, and Anna Lee Barnes, a nurse in the Hagerstown Hospital. I left then and traveled on to the lovely old town of Berkeley Springs. Charles told me that a radio station had recently been established and several of our old class members were working there. John Morgret was one of the announcers, Kent McBee head of the new program How to Remain A Bache- lor, and of the lovely afternoon program in which Myralin Spriggs stars in Myralin’s Mural. I finally arrived at my destination and I found the town really had changed, for the traffic cop, Mr. Bobby Yost, stopped us for going too slow in heavy city traffic. When he saw who we were he dismissed the charge. At the hotel I ran into more friends: Genevieve Riggs who was with the American Embassy in France and who recently arrived to celebrate the class’s 10th anniversary, Ethel McBee who was home on furlough from her Marine nursing in Hawaii, and George Rowland already a famous writer land speaker. I told them of my life in California and my little boy, and how I had been teaching since college days. Genevieve wished to shop a bit so we went down to a lovely dress shop, Frocks de Sylvia. Of course the former Sylvia Burkhart was the proprietress who told us of her hus- band, Jack Fisher, who was doing fine as an Insurance Broker, and of many other classmates: the former Sylvia Ann Apple whose twins were beautiful, and the former Ruth Aulabaugh and her new home on 522, and Phyllis Henry whose husband had recently helped negotiate a new highway out past their pink rambler ranch home. We finally left the dress shop and went on to the new department store and the manager was none other than Mr. Byron Cross whose able secretary, Lena Lafollette, told us of her sister Letha Lafollette’s job with the Navy Department in the Pentagon. After leaving the department store we sauntered on down North Washington Street until we came to a lovely florist shop. The assistant manager, former Betty Arbogast, and her able assistant, Ellen Evans, greeted us cordially. They told us of Shirley Neely who lived in New York with her architect husband, Rose Zeta Spriggs, who had recently returned from Germany, where she had spent the last five years with her husband, and Evelyn Butts who was a local telephone oper- ator. At that time a lovely young matron walked in, the former Lois Bushman who was planning a party for her little daughter and wanted some flowers. She told us of Eileen Avey who had a new home in Cacapon, Anna Shrout and her home and family in South Carolina, and Charlotte Whisner who now lived in Ohio with her family but had come back for the Class reunion. Suddenly we were all surprised by a sudden explosion in the greenhouse. We all moved at once. One called the Fire Department, and Betty, after realizing the trouble was a broken pipe, called the plumber. Since Lois’s little girl had been knocked down by the explosion, I called the doctor. The fire chief was Carroll Bohrer, the plumber turned out to be Leroy Michael, and the fine doctor was none other than Dr. Donal Newbraugh. LIFE Photographer, Henry Ruppenthal, III, was in town for the reunion, so he took pic- tures of the explosion and said he would work in the story of the reunion. We were all pleased at our prospect of being in a world-known magazine but decided that the excitement was enough for one day and we left for our homes. I had received an invitation to dinner at the Presbyterian Manse, so I went and on arriving there, who opened the door to receive me but the gracious hostess, the former Joan Bratton. We discussed old times and hurried on to the reunion at the new high school. The faculty was the greatest shock to me of all. The new principal was Mr. Joe Mechem, the Vo-Ag teacher, Mr. Gerald Selders, the Home-Ec teacher, Gloria Shisler, the French instructor, the former Betty Lou Ambrose, and the Physical Ed. Teacher, the former Marthyne Rider. There were many friends there. Some of our celebrities were Billy Michael, Gen- eral in the U. S. Army, Vera Shisler who had become a glam- orous model, Patricia Stotler, manager of the well-known TV program, The Home Hour, and Elmer Wills who is a pro- fessor at Purdue University. The music for the evening was provided by the Morgan Melodiers, directed by the well-known orchestra leader, Alvin Alexander. In the orchestra, for the occasion, playing her be- loved sax as usual, was Alice Shirley who was head nurse at the new Memorial Hospital. One of her able assistants there was former June Whisner. We soon discovered other teacher friends—Ruth Richardson who was Assistant Principal for the new elementary school on South Washington Street ex- tended, and former Daisy Crouse, Anne Dunham and Mary Jane Hofe who divided their time between their lovely fami- lies and part-time teaching. It seemed everywhere one went one heard of new homes and additions to families. Some of these proud matrons were former Eleanor Spriggs, Pauline Ambrose, Mrs. Viola Bohrer Harden, Elsie Bohrer, Marlene Sickinger, Delores Whisner and Joan Taylor. Of course, not all of those had remained in Morgan County. Many had gone to other parts of the state and to other states. One could not help but admire all the service uniforms. There was Sergeant Jack Risinger of the U. S. Army wearing several over-seas medals; Herbert Wachter, who had also won several medals serving in the U. S. Air Force, and Philip Eppinger who had followed his brother into the Coast Guard and had won great acclaim there. Our women were not to be forgotten in the services either, for there was Deloris Weber, a Sergeant in the Women’s Army Corps. Joan Wachter had kept us laugh- ing all evening with her funny anecdotes about her experience as secretary to the professor of biology at West Virginia Uni- versity. We had all been so busy talking we had forgotten the time. The president of our alumni organization called a meeting and proceded to have the roll called. He was none other than Deannie Kesecker, who had been a star farmer on his farm near Sleepy Creek where Ervin Stotler was the overseer since being graduated from high school. After calling the roll we found we had one missing. It was Mr. Lowell Harmison. We were discussing his absence when he walked in. It seemed his plane had been delayed because of bad weather for he had come all the way from South America where he was engineer for several new bridge constructions. At last we were all to- gether again as a class after ten years. We sang several class songs and planned to hold another reunion in 1975.

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CLASS WILL As our last year comes to a close we, the Senior Class of 1955, of Berkeley Springs High School, being of sound mind and mertiory, do make, ordain, publish and declare this to be our LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, bequeathing our most precious belongings to the Junior Class, to-wit: Alvin Alexander wills to Lois Ann Crouse his love. Betty Lou Ambrose wills her parking tickets to anyone who is short on pennies. Pauline Ambrose bequeaths her big brown eyes to Rosemary Corcoran. Betty Arbogast wills her place on the cheerleading squad to Kitty Shriver. Sylvia Apple wills her ability to sing to Phyllis Alderton. Ruth Aulabaugh wills her ability to tell a story with a straight face to Mary Jo Crouse. Eileen Avey wills her bashfulness to Lois Jean Miller. Anna Lee Barnes wills her long curly hair to Jean Householder. Glenna Barnhart wills most of her evenings to Larry Davison. Virginia Ann Bateman bequeaths her expression Great Caesar to Jean Arbogast. Carroll Bohrer wills his Pepto Bismal to Lewis Close. Elsie Bohrer wills her glasses to Evelyn Clem. Joan Bratton bequeaths her nicknames to Joan Ridgeway. Sylvia Burkhart bequeaths her long eye lashes to Carol Fox. Lois Bushman wills her shorthand skill to Ruth White. Evelyn Butts wills her wise remarks to Carole Sommers. Phyllis Corbin wills her false tooth to Alice Tritapoe. Byron Cross wills his corpse to the biology class. Daisy Crouse wills her blonde hair to Carole Catlett. Anne Dunham bequeaths her booth in the Glen Luta to Chlorine Henry. Philip Eppinger wills his math. 12 grades to Tex Clark. Ellen Evans wills her ability to chew gum without getting caught to Jackie Cooper. Jackie Fisher wills to Varnell Burkhart his number one. Viola Harden wills her average height to Doris Garlisle. Lowell Harmison wills his hitting power to Ronald Clatterbuck. Phyllis Henry wills to Lou Ellen Morgret her ability to start a riot. Nancy Hessler wills her broken glasses to Sandra Place. Joan Hewett wills her corny jokes to Anna Jo Hovermale. Mary Jane Hofe wills her black hair to Mary Lee Dawson. Julia Jackson wills her natural curls to Shirley Fisher. Deannie Kesecker wills his ability to farm to Walter Beddow. Lena Lafollette wills her giggle to Calvin Unger. Letha Lafollette wills her math skill to Marian McBee. Carroll Leighty wills his basketball uniform to Douglas Ambrose. Ethel McBee wills her small feet to Kay McBee. Kent McBee wills his black hat to Leroy Hiles. Joe Mechem wills his quietness to Larry Miller. Billy Michael bequeaths his 101 original excuses for not having his homework done to Jim Merica. Leroy Michael wills his mechanical drawing skill to Roy Koontz. John Morgret wills his speed to Silas Allen. Shirley Neely wills her F. H. A. pin to Marlene Heironimus. Donal Newbraugh wills his million and one freckles to Virginia French. Ruth Richardson wills her piccolo to Lavern Hendershot. Marchyne Rider wills her green knee socks to Nancy Noah. Genevieve Riggs wills the mole on her nose to Peggy Hawvermale. Jack Risinger wills his desk in Senior Home Room to Wayne Ziler. George Rowland wills a log chain to Sylvia Werdebaugh. Henry Ruppenthal wills to Shearl Close his bottle of Nervine. Gerald Selders wills a bottle of castor oil to Raymond Hovermale. Alice Shirley bequeaths her ability to play softly to Douglas Lutman. Gloria Shisler wills to Dixie Arnold her shorthand skill. Vera Shisler wills her bangs to Retha Heironimus. Anna Shrout wills all her school equipment to Guy Farris. Marlene Sickinger wills her smile to Janet Divelbliss. Eleanor Spriggs wills her ability to cook to Wilma Harden. Myralin Ann Spriggs wills her blonde hair to Josie Lutman. Rose Zeta Spriggs wills her height to Linda Merica. Ervin Stotler wills to Jack Stotler by hook or crook, his English book. Patsy Stotler wills her short hair cut to Patricia Risinger. Joan Taylor wills her long curly hair to Margella Widmyer. Barbara Twigg bequeaths her shortness to Armeta Whisner. Deloris Weber wills her chemistry book to Cloyd Frock. Joan Wachter wills her ability to talk 50 MPH to Wanda Wachter. Herbert Wachter wills his sense of humor to Jackie Rankin. Charlotte Whisner bequeaths her shortness to Lewis Avey. Deloris Whisner wills to Marie Burke her democracy book. June Whisner wills her dimples by the bushel to Walter Peck. Elmer Wills bequeaths his interesting English Book to Emmett Capper. Bobby Yost wills his democracy book to Jack Allen. WITNESS: FATHER TIME (SEAL) Senior Class of 1955

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SENIOR ACTIVITIES ALVIN ALEXANDER: Band 1, 2. 3. Clinic Band 4; Glee Club 1, 2, 3, 4; FFA 3; Safety Patrol 1; Monitor, School Cafeteria 1; Junior Class Play. BETTY LOU AMBROSE: Student Council Secretary 3, President 4; Secretary Eastern District Student Councils 3, 4; Masque and Gavel 3, 4; Editor, Warm Springs Echoes 4; Junior-Senior Usher; Literary Contest Winner3 —First Place in Poetry; Golden Horseshoe Winner; Band 1, 2, 3. 4; French Club 2, 3, 4; FHA 1, 2, 3, 4; Pep Club L 2, 3. 4; Senior Class Play; Girls’ State 3; Queen of Charm Princess 3. PAULINE AMBROSE: Glee Club 1, 2; FHA 4; Pep Club 1, 2, 3; Library Staff 4. SYLVIA APPLE: Hi-Light Staff 4; Band 1. Majorette 2, 3; Glee Club 3, 4; Pep Club 4; Junior Class Play. BETTY ARBOGAST: Masque and Gavel 2, 3, 4; Class President 2, 3; Annual Staff 4; Literary Contest Winner 1—First Place Short Story; Glee Club 3; FHA 1, 2, Del. Reg. FHA Camp 3, President 4; Pep Club 1, 2, 3, 4; Cheerleader 1, 2, 3, 4; Library Staff 1, 2, 3, 4. RUTH AULABAUGH: Class Sergeant-at-Arms 4; FHA 4; Pep Club 4. ANNA LEE BARNES: Hi-Light 4; Band 1, 2, 3, 4; Pep Club 4. GLENNA BARNHART: Band 1, 2; Glee Club 2; Senior Class Play. VIRGINIA ANN BATEMAN: Masque and Gavel 2, 3. Vice President 4; Class Treasurer 3; Annual Staff 4; Junior-Senior Usher; Band 1; Glee Club 1, 2, 3, 4; French Club 2, 3. 4; FHA 3, Song Leader 4; Pep Club 4; Junior Class Play; Senior Class Play; Library Staff 1, 3. ELSIE BOHRER: Pep Club 2. CARROLL BOHRER: Student Council 3; Varsity Club 1, 2, 4, Sergeant-at-Arms 3; Football 1, 2, 3, 4; Track 1, 2, 3, 4; Basketball 1, 2, 3, 4. JOAN BRATTON: Masque and Gavel 3. President 4; Co- Editor, Warm Spring Echoes 4; Junior-Senior Usher; Band 1, 4. Clinic 2; French Club 2, 3, 4; FHA 1. 4. Treasurer 2, 3; Pep Club 1, 2, Secretary-Treasurer 3, President 4; Junior Class Play; Senior Class Play; Cheer- leader 2, 3, 4. SYLVIA BURKHART: Student Council 1; Annual Staff 4; Hi-Light Staff 4; Junior-Senior Usher; Band 1, 2, 3, 4; Pep Club 4; Senior Class Play. LOIS BUSHMAN: Student Council 2; Annual Staff 4; Junior-Senior Usher; Literary Contest Winner 2—Second Place Biography; Golden Horseshoe Winner; Glee Club 3, 4; FHA Historian 3, 4; Pep Club 4; Homecoming Queen 4. EVELYN BUTTS: Pep Club 4. CHARLES CARLISLE: Varsity Club 3, 4; Football 1, 2, 3, 4; Baseball 2, 3; Track 2; Basketball 2, 3. PHYLLIS CORBIN: Class Secretary 2, 3; Hi-Light Staff 4; Glee Club 1, 2; FHA 1. 2; Pep Club 1, 2, 3, 4; Junior Class Play; Cheerleader 1, 2, 3, 4. BYRON CROSS: Student Council 3, 4; FFA 1, 2, 3, 4; Varsity Club 3, 4; Football 2, 3, 4; Baseball 2, 3, 4; Track 2. DAISY CROUSE: Glee Club 4; Pep Club 4. ANNE DUNHAM: Student Council Secretary 4; Class Treasurer 1; Band Majorette 1, 2, Clinic 3, Drum Maj- orette 4; Glee Club 2; FHA 2, 3, Reporter 1, Secretary 4; Pep Club 1, 2, 3, 4; Senior Class Play; Homecoming Princess 4. PHILIP EPPINGER: FFA 1, 2, 3, Assistant Parliamentar- ian 4; Key Club 4; Baseball 4; Track 3. ELLEN EVANS: FHA 1, 2, 4. JACK FISHER: Class Sergeant-at-Arms 2, 3; Varsity Club 2, 3, President 4; Football 1, 2, 3, Captain 4; Track 3. VIOLA BOHRER HARDEN: French Club 4. LOWELL HARMISON: Annual Staff 4; FFA 1, 3, 4, Secretary-Treasurer 2, Vice President Tri-County Federa- tion; Key Club 4; Varsity Club 3, 4; Football 4; Base- ball 3, 4; Track 2, 3, 4. PHYLLIS HENRY: Band 1, Majorette 2, 3, 4; Glee Club 2; FHA 1, 2, 3, 4; Pep Club 2, 4; Junior Class Play; Senior Class Play. NANCY HESSLER: Student Council 1, 2; Glee Club 2, 3, 4; Pep Club 4. JOAN HEWETT: Hi-Light Staff 4; Band 1, 2, 3; Glee Club 4; Pep Club 4. MARY JANE HOFE: Student Council 2; Class Reporter 2, 3; Annual Staff Treasurer; Junior-Senior Usher; FHA 1, Parliamentarian 2, Reporter 3, 4. DEANNIE KESECKER: FFA 1, 3, Reporter 2, Secretary 4; Key Club 4; Junior Class Play; Track 2. LETHA LAFOLLETTE: Hi-Light Staff 4; Glee Club 3, 4; FHA 4; Pep Club 4; Library Staff 4. LENA LAFOLLETTE: Glee Club 3, 4; FHA 4; Pep Club 4. CARROLL LEIGHTY: Varsity Club 4; Football 4; Basket- ball 4. JOE MECHEM: Masque and Gavel 3, 4; Student Council 2; Junior-Senior Usher. ETHEL McBEE: Library Staff 1, 2, 3. KENT McBEE: Student Council 1; Annual Staff 4; Hi- Light 3; Band 1, 2, 3; Varsity Club 4; Junior Class Play; Football 3, 4; Basketball Manager 1, 3, 4. LEROY MICHAEL: FFA 1, 4, Assistant Vice President 2, Key Club 2, 3, 4; Senior Class Play; Baseball 2, 3, 4; Varsity Club 2, 3, 4. JOHN C. MORGRET: Hi-Light Staff 4; Key Club Treas- urer 4; Pep Club 3, 4; Junior Class Play; Senior Class Play; Baseball 4; Camera Crew 1, 2, 3, 4. WILLIAM MICHAEL: Masque and Gavel 3, 4; Class Vice President 4; Annual Staff 4; Hi-Light Staff 4; Junior- Senior Usher; Varsity Club 4; Boys’ State 3; Football 4; Track 3; Basketball 2, 3, 4. SHIRLEY NEELY: Band 1, 2, 4, Clinic 3, FHA 1, 2, 4. DONAL NEWBRAUGH: FFA 2, 3, Reporter 4; Senior Class Play; Basketball Manager 1. GENEVIEVE RIGGS: Masque and Gavel 2, 3, 4; Annual Staff 4; Hi-Light Staff Editor 4; Junior-Senior Usher; French Club 2, 3, 4; FHA 1, 2, 3, Vice President 4; Pep Club 1, 2, 3, 4; Junior Class Play; Library Staff 1, 2, 3. GEORGE ROWLAND: Class Vice President 3, President 4; Key Club President 4. HENRY M. RUPPENTHAL. Ill: Masque and Gavel 3, 4; Class President 1, Treasurer 2; Student Council 1, 2, 4, Vice President 3; Annual Staff Business Manager 4; Hi-Light Staff Business Manager 3, 4; Junior-Senior Usher; FFA 1, 2, 3, 4; Junior Class Play; Senior Class Play; Camera Crew 1, 2, 3,-4. RLJTH RICHARDSON: Masque and Gavel 3, 4; Class Treasurer 4; Annual Staff 4; Band 1, 2, 4, Clinic 3; FHA 2, 3; Pep Club 4.