Rainelle Reunion Discussion
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T O P I C    R E V I E W
Chris Dawson 51 Posted - 02/12/2006 : 22:28:21
Looking at Gerry's pictures and how much things have changed at Rainelle over the years, my thoughts wondered back to my childhood years growing up there and the things I remeber. Maybe others can relive some memories and post them.

Alpine and Trail theather. (Looks like Alpine is vacant land.)
Roller rink.
The A&P was near 1st St & Main.
The bus stop was at the cornor of Main and Greenbrier.
Kroger was near Maryland and Main.
The candy store just east of Boley Chevy. (for a penny I got some Rock candy)
The State Police was on Rt 20 near the golf course.
The high school football field was in the middle of the current golf course.
Fred Pack use to dress as the lone ranger and ride his horse down the side lines at home football games.
The city bus that ran between Rainelle and Rupert.
Townley 5 and 10 store (Later GC Murphy)
The swimming hole on Meadow River just east of Sewell Creek.
Sleigh riding from the knoll east of East Rainelle Grade School down the hill out onto and down Greenbrier Ave.
The coal miners coming from Snake Island with black faces.
The CCC coming to town on Saturday evening by the truck loads and going to Grecco Tavern at 7th and Main.
The WPA. Had a storage shed just west of the King Coal Hotel.
The carnivals that came to town and set up maybe 10th or 11th street.
The motor car that use to run from somewhere east of town to Rainelle and then down to Gally River main C&O line.
The old C&O train station. (Does it still exist and is there any coal railroaded thru Rainelle?)
The clifts north of town I use to hike to.
The all volunteer fire dept.
15   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
Dale Tincher 64 Posted - 09/06/2010 : 21:53:38
Yvonne (Vonnie) sent me some more pictures from an article (some are easier to view than the prior ones), plus I found one of dapper Orph in one of my mom's old albums. I also learned more from my Uncle Junior Tincher about Orph. Orph was very involved in the Little Sewell Baptist church until he had to stop going because people were robbing the store while he was at church. The linked article also describes a robbery where he was tied up and thieves stole more than $3,000. Despite all that, he kept going and contributing to the community. I keep learning more good things about Orph that impress me. We had some great people in our community.

http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/orph_puckett_rev_parks.jpg - Orph, Pastor Ernest Park & others at Little Sewell Baptist Church. Orph is in the light blue coat and striped tie. Pastor Parks is on the right. Hmm, I think that is Jimmy Bennett in the middle.

http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/orph_article.jpg - Article & picture. If (in your browser) you click on View > Zoom In a couple times, you can read the article.

http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/orph_article_picture.jpg - Picture from article

http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/orph_newspaper_store.jpg - Picture from article

Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com
Dale Tincher 64 Posted - 07/23/2010 : 21:54:17
quote:
Originally posted by Dale Tincher 64

One of my favorite parts of the discussion board is this section. Lots of great memories were discussed and refreshed during this topic. At the 2010 reunion, I talked with the Puckett girls, Uala, Yvonne and Orvetta, and told them again the fond memories I have of Orph Puckett's store in Craig. I also recalled that I picked blackberries to earn enough money to buy one of the Puckett girl's bikes after they outgrew it. For Craigites, Orph Puckett's store was our hangout. As kids, my brothers and I would walk about 1.5 miles across the meadows to get a cold "pop" (ten cents) and candy bar (five cents) and other treats. They tasted wonderful on a hot day. Men would congregate on the porch or beside the stove in winter or, during summer, they would be outside pitching horseshoes. Orph was a colorful guy who dressed very sharply when he went to church and similar events. He was also a great citizen. He helped numerous people during hard times by letting them put their purchases "on their bill" and he sometimes did not get paid. He didn't expect to; he was just helping people in need. I didn't have a picture of the store and have wanted one for a long time and got three at the reunion. Dave Parks and Yvonne Puckett Coleman sent me pictures.

Yvonne's picture - http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/orph_puckett_store_yvonne_L_s.jpg

Dave Parks' pictures - http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/orph_puckett_store_dave_parks.jpg

I would love to get some more if anyone has any of the exterior or interior.


Yvonne has been kind enough to send a PDF of a Beckley newspaper article that had a picture of Orph in the store - http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/Mr_Puckett_Store.pdf This brings back memories.
jwpuckett71 Posted - 07/11/2010 : 17:16:13
When Mrs. Boggs (Don, Mike, Ann & Paul's mom) died a while back, I told some of her children at the funeral that she was, for me, one of the last of the "Osborne Addition" icons. I recalled to them that I could walk from our house on the hill above 13th Street through the Osborne Addition to my Aunt Marie Surbaugh's (Lillian, J.D., Jimmy & Charlie's mom) house and could have stoppped in at any house I passed by and felt as welcome as if I was at home. Now days you find people who don't even know who lives next door. What a treasure it's been to be able to live in this small town for 56 years! As our daughters have grown up and moved away, they understand more and more each day the value of "small town" America.

Thanks for reviving the memories of Orph's, too, Dale!!! He was a wonderful man and friend to so many!
Dale Tincher 64 Posted - 07/10/2010 : 20:45:05
One of my favorite parts of the discussion board is this section. Lots of great memories were discussed and refreshed during this topic. At the 2010 reunion, I talked with the Puckett girls, Uala, Yvonne and Orvetta, and told them again the fond memories I have of Orph Puckett's store in Craig. I also recalled that I picked blackberries to earn enough money to buy one of the Puckett girl's bikes after they outgrew it. For Craigites, Orph Puckett's store was our hangout. As kids, my brothers and I would walk about 1.5 miles across the meadows to get a cold "pop" (ten cents) and candy bar (five cents) and other treats. They tasted wonderful on a hot day. Men would congregate on the porch or beside the stove in winter or, during summer, they would be outside pitching horseshoes. Orph was a colorful guy who dressed very sharply when he went to church and similar events. He was also a great citizen. He helped numerous people during hard times by letting them put their purchases "on their bill" and he sometimes did not get paid. He didn't expect to; he was just helping people in need. I didn't have a picture of the store and have wanted one for a long time and got three at the reunion. Dave Parks and Yvonne Puckett Coleman sent me pictures.

Yvonne's picture - http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/orph_puckett_store_yvonne_L_s.jpg

Dave Parks' pictures - http://www.rainellereunion.com/images/puckett/orph_puckett_store_dave_parks.jpg

I would love to get some more if anyone has any of the exterior or interior.

My original post in 2006, in which I mentioned Orph Puckett's store, is below.

This is a wonderful topic. I am enjoying it very much.

As one of the slightly younger old-timers, I'll throw in a few comments. I lived in Craig until the 11th grade when we moved to the city (Rainelle - Lilly Park) so I don't have the familiarity of Rainelle that many of you do. I remember vividly the C&H Drive-In restaurant, a favorite hang-out of those in the 60's and probably 50's. We would hang out there, cruise downtown, then circle the C&H to see if anyone new (girls, of course) had arrived.

I remember well when we won the state football Single A championship in '62 and were paraded through town on firetrucks. The entire town seemed to turn out and cheer. It was great fun. I didn't play much as a junior at 132 pounds. I was primarily football practice scrimmage bait for fullback Tim Hanley to run over while I closed my eyes and prayed not to suffer too badly. However, I did get in on the last couple of plays of the State Championship when Coach Zopp cleared the bench. We had a proud football tradition.

There was, indeed, a Tincher's Jewelers to the right if you were facing G.C. Murphy's. Kerry Tincher (one of Simon Tincher's sons) ran it for several years. Kerry was formerly a school teacher among other jobs.

Those from Craig will remember Orph Puckett's general store and hang-out where people shopped and the men often gathered out front to talk. Orph Puckett type stores and the churches were often the social centers of small communities. Cokes were 10 cents and candy bars were 5 cents at Orph's store. Folks would get groceries and other supplies and would often tell Orph to "put it on my bill". Orph would keep a running tab of their purchases and they would come by periodically and pay their bill. I sometimes stop at a store near Roanoke that reminds me somewhat of the old stores. It has the old Coca-Cola signs, a front porch, etc., http://www.consultwebs.com/ncphotos/roanoke/1005/2/red_birch_4510.jpg and sometimes has an attendant who dresses like the men who would pump your gas for you when you drove up and said, "fill 'er up" http://www.consultwebs.com/ncphotos/roanoke/1005/2/attendant_4513.jpg then gave him a dollar or two for the fill-up. I also remember the boys washing their or their parents' cars at the creek (crick), then promptly getting them dusty as they drove on the dirt road to their girl friends' houses or to Rainelle.

I also remember Dr. Clausman (I don't recall his exact name) driving all the way from Rupert to Craig to make house calls when we were sick. If I tell a young person that today, they look closely at my eyes to see if I am losing it or if it is possible I could be telling the truth.

Ed Smith told me recently that he tells people he grew up in Mayberry - that it was a wonderful place. I agree. People rarely locked their doors. Neighbors were indeed neighbors and people pitched in when someone had problems. Whew - I'm starting to sound the way my dad and other old-timers used to sound.


Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com
ML2006 Posted - 09/07/2009 : 01:45:19
It has been such a long time since I logged in here that I've had a time finding my password. But, I've got it now and glad to see classmates posting. Dale, going down this memory lane is mostly good and sometimes bad. I don't want to get homesick. When I do, we go downtown, kick up some George Jones in the car real loud, roll down the windows and holler yehaw. haha, really I do! I'm here and miss there and when up there I miss here...ahhh bittersweet. We had a very enjoyable visit to home WV last week. Mr. B had not been there during the summer in several years. One forgets how green the mountains are and how big. I think the upcoming reunion is going to "The Reunion of The Heart" and also bittersweet. What a great life it has been with it's bumps and lumps but we are a hearty strong bunch raised in our hills, barefoot and good home grown food. A place where doors were seldom locked. We'd make a great TV show wouldn't we?? Now, that's a thought..."Return to WV".
Dale Tincher 64 Posted - 05/13/2009 : 23:43:42
Good, Janet. I'm glad we weren't the only ones who went barefoot.

I was thinking today, after eating some disappointing strawberries from Krogers, about how sweet the wild strawberries we used to pick were. They were small, but oh, so good! The blackberries were wonderful also. We had a favorite black cherry tree that we would climb and eat wonderfully sweet cherries until we couldn't hold any more. Store bought is more convenient, but pales in comparison to the foods we picked ourselves and enjoyed so much.

Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com
Janet Ballengee Estep 68 Posted - 05/13/2009 : 08:55:07
Yes, Dale, I also remember taking the shoes off as soon as Mom said the ground was warm enough. I even rode my bicycle bare foot. But things are different now. Oh, well.
n/a Posted - 05/12/2009 : 13:03:08
In town before the streets were paved, it was just a little difficult to play and run on cinders and slag! LOL

J.L.

Class of 1957
Dale Tincher 64 Posted - 05/12/2009 : 11:53:54
I was about to go to my car in the driveway the other day and stopped to find some shoes or sandals to put on. I recalled how, when we were small, we would (other than church) take our shoes off when school ended and not put them back on until school started again. The soles of our feet grew very tough. I don't know how good or bad that was for our feet and arches, but we could pretty much walk or run on any surface. Today, Nikes or New Balance, etc., shoes are required by the youth.

This was in Crag, mind you. I don't know if you citified Rainelle folks went barefoot, but we country folks did and we enjoyed it.

Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com
Evelyn Utterback Drake 56 Posted - 05/08/2009 : 10:59:23
How many of you remember the youth center that we briefly had in East Rainelle? This was during the time of 1953-1956. It was in a building in the area between Wallace and Wallace and what was then Rosalie's restaurant. It had a snack bar in the front and then in the next room was a jukebox so we could dance. The forum that mentioned Tom Moseley brought back this memory as his son, David, would come there. Such a shame that we didn't really get to know that family well...they were an important part of our community.
jdavis Posted - 03/13/2008 : 18:35:13
tieing strings on june bugs and letting them fly around like a small remote control planes,painting your face with lighting bug goo to look scarey in the dark. how come could we swim in the creek and it was great but now if my pool isn't 80degrees I ain't getting in it.
Riding to school on Mr Crookshanks bus with snow chains on it. Hearing stories of the eletric paddle in the princables office. When the worst thing I ever done at school was eat a bunch of ramps, Then how bad I felt when I saw how disappointed Ms. Haynes was in me.
Great memories indeed.
Dale Tincher 64 Posted - 03/09/2008 : 14:37:26
quote:
Originally posted by jdavis

Heres something to remember from childhood, making valitine boxes
decorated with hearts and crate paper and bringing them to school to
get cards from all your classmates, decorating paper bags for holoween mask,putting playing cards and cloths pins on bicycle spooks
for that motocycle sound, playing kick the can


Hello John,

Those are good memories - plus the chocolate candy and the candy hearts that had messages on them. The simple things were sometimes the most fun. I remember the paper bag masks and bicycle/motorcycle clothes pin technique. We made our own toys. Corn cobs with chicken feathers in one end (there were plenty of chickens around), and a piece of fence wire in the other end, made great darts. Elderberry reeds hollowed out made very nice launching devices for shooting small berries at each other. Sling shots made from a small Y-shaped tree branch, cut rubber strips from an inner tube and a leather pocket area could send a pebble for a long distance. Metal signs made great sleds although they were impossible to control and we typically turned around several times down the hill before we fell off. Lightning bugs in jars made fun lights at night. We learned quickly that umbrellas did not make good parachutes and that a cape like Superman's did not help one's flight off the chickenhouse. Playing cowboys and Indians was great fun, but we preferred to be the coyboys and shoot the cap guns rather than the Indians with bows & arrows with the bow made from a hickory tree and twine. It was fun, however, to occasionally be the Indians and have a band and feathers around our heads and paint on our faces. We practiced drawing our cap guns from their holsters, working to build up to the speed Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and others could draw their pistols. Hide and seek and tag were fun. Swimming in the creek and pole vaulting across the creek were fun. Our dog always followed faithfully behind. Fishing for chubs, suckers and catfish was fun. The fresh fish that we cleaned and grandma cooked were tasty, especially if followed by one of her fresh, hot apple or berry pies. The fresh-picked strawberries, plump blackberries and black cheeries were delicious and have little resemblance to today's store bought items.

We also played football and other outside games for long hours. Our parents often had to call us in after dark.

I guess I sound like an old timer when I say that these simple things seemed to be much more fun and far healthier than the video games, TV and IPOD's with which many of today's kids spend time.

Dale Tincher - Class of 64
919-272-8052
dale.tincher@rainellereunion.com
jdavis Posted - 03/02/2008 : 18:19:26
Heres something to remember from childhood, making valitine boxes
decorated with hearts and crate paper and bringing them to school to
get cards from all your classmates, decorating paper bags for holoween mask,putting playing cards and cloths pins on bicycle spooks
for that motocycle sound, playing kick the can
Evelyn Utterback Drake 56 Posted - 02/28/2008 : 09:33:55
I, too, miss all of you.
ML2006 Posted - 02/28/2008 : 00:14:54
I remember when it was such fun to click in this section and read all the posts! Hi to anyone who still stops by.

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