WAMCC Newsletter 2013 March - Weirton Area Museum and

MARCH-APRIL
P.O. Box 517, Weirton, WV 26062
Volume 5 Issue 3
Museum Façade to Receive Facelift this Spring
April 4, 2013
Newsletter Composer:
Dennis Jones
Also in this issue:
Rediscovering Holliday’s Cove
MARCH-APRIL
See Page 3
Museum Officers:
Elected 7-7-2012
President/Exec. Director
Dennis R. Jones
1st Vice President
Pamela Makricosta
Treasurer
Paul B. Zuros
Secretary
Kim Salter
Museum Location
3149 Main Street
MARCH-APRIL
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 517
Weirton, WV 26062
Museum Hours:
Mon thru Fri 10 - 2
You may call to set up an appointment
for other possible times.
Email Address:
Dennis143@comcast.net
Museum Phone:
(304) 224-1909
Website:
www.weirtonmuseum.com
WAMCC Building Front Conceptual Rendering
This spring WAMCC plans to have the front of its building made to look similar to the conceptual drawing shown
above. The fancy steel coil sign will be a future project; therefore, our current hanging museum neon sign (not
shown above) will continue to serve its purpose for a while.
Museum Will Help Beautify Main Street
This spring, Unique Walls & Ceilings will be
renovating the outside front of our museum
building. It is planned to give it a granite-type
finish at the base going to a brick finish on
top. The exterior insulation system is by
BASF-Senergy. Museum President Dennis
Jones explained, “This has been our main priority since we moved in - to make our 40 feet
on Main Street an attractive and eye-pleasing
spot in downtown Weirton.” Unique Walls &
Ceilings have done similar work at several other area locations in the area, where older
buildings need to be given a facelift. Some of
their jobs included Cuomo Law Offices in
Wellsburg, Beech Bottom Municipal Building,
Follansbee Library, Apsen Dental at Fort
Steuben Mall, and several other buildings.
The window interior display areas will also be
renovated by museum volunteers.
Photo by Dennis Jones
WAMCC Building - January 23, 2011
The above is not a rendering, but it is actually how the
building looked back in January 2011, before any renovations took place inside. We have come a long way
since then, as the entire first floor has been renovated
and a nice neon & fluorescent yardarm hanging sign is
on the outside. Hopefully by this summer, our building
will be looking like the top photo above.
Museum Donations this Past Month
Photo by Dennis Jones
1940’s Membership Voting Machine
Joe Stankiewicz, representing the Phoenix Society of WV, recently donated this
membership voting apparatus, which was used at the Weirton Heights Volunteer Fire
Department “back in the day.” As the firemen voted on each new prospective member, they would place either a white ball or black ball in the hole. After all had voted,
the contents of the chamber would be checked. In the earliest days, it took only one
black ball to disqualify someone seeking membership. In the later years it took 2 or 3
black balls. Joe’s father, John Stankiewicz, Sr., was a lifetime member of the Weirton Heights VFD (Company #3) and served many years as the company Fire Chief.
Joe also donated several photos including the one in photo above showing the Weirton Heights Volunteer Fire Dept. “Spirit of 76” fire engine, autographed by Governor
Jay Rockefeller. If you zoom in pictured in the photo Left to Right are: Gov.
Rockefeller (in truck), John Gates, Emanuel Alatis, and Vince Oliver
Photo by Dennis Jones
ESOP Memorabilia Donated
Wanda Granato, widow of Donnie Granato, stopped
by the museum on April 1, to donate several Weirton
Steel ESOP souvenirs which her husband had collected over the years. Thank you Wanda ! ! !
Photo by Dennis Jones
Weirton Vol. Fire Dept. Items Donated
Picture courtesy of Edwin Kirk
Marland Heights Fire Station - August 1972
This photo, donated by Edwin Kirk shows all the old timers with more than 25
years of service with Company #2 and the old 1933 LaFrance Fire Truck.
Left to Right are: Harold Smurthwait, Harold Melvin, John Mateusiak, Ray Adams, Charlie Myers, Ed Norvell, Harry Kirk, and Bob Fair.
Page 2
Volume 5, Issue 2
Edwin Kirk recently donated several items during the past
month. His father was a lifetime member of the Weirton
Volunteer Fire Dept. (Cove Company #2) and also a member of the Civil Aeronautics Patrol at Weirton’s Half Moon
Airport. Items donated include his father’s fire dept. uniform & lifetime membership badge, fire dept. photos, and
log book from the Half Moon Airport. Ed is holding a 1934
picture of the steelworks employees who had 25 years
seniority, and his grandfather, Harry McKitrick, is one of
those in the photo.
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter
Holliday’s Cove to be Rediscovered - Aug. 10
Photo by Michael Kraina
Holliday’s Cove Discovery Team Meets
WAMCC’s Holliday’s Cove Discovery Team has been meeting each week during
March and April planning the big day to recognize Holliday’s Cove and are also
ordering the commemorative marker to recognize Cove School. In picture left to
right: Andrea Anderson, Lea Shirer, Dennis Jones (team leader), Bob Shirer,
Mary Zwierzchowski, and Kim Salter. Team members not pictured include Pam
Makricosta, Nick Gallias, Jolene & Paul Zuros. Anderson, Salter, Gallias, Makricosta, and Jones are all proud to have been students at Cove School.
Exciting Day Planned for Aug. 10 at Event Center
Drawing by Dennis Jones
Cove School Commemorative Marker
The unveiling of this beautiful Cove School Commemorative
Marker will take place on August 10 at the Weirton Event
Center, where Cove School once stood. We thank those
who are equally sharing in sponsoring the marker:
Hancock County Savings Bank, Top of WV CVB, Hancock
County Commissioners, Weirton Area Museum & Cultural
Center, and one additional sponsor to be named.
In addition to the Cove School Marker Dedication, many other activities are being
planned for Aug. 10. The day will start with the regular Top of WV CVB Saturday
Flea Market. WAMCC will be there with games, raffles, activities, and souvenirs
(all related to Holliday’s Cove). Later in the day an old time Polka Band will perform, and their will be a Cove School Reunion with all former students and faculty being recognized. The City of Weirton has already contributed $100 toward
the event and all contributors and the 5 marker sponsors will be mentioned in a
special program book. Many surprises are coming, so stay tuned ! ! !
Author Tom Zielinsky Speaks on Weirton Steel’s Final Days
Above: John G. Pandelios at home after his WV History Hero award was
delivered to him by Dennis Jones. John was very touched and expressed
his wishes that he could have been present for the ceremonies.
Photo by Dennis Jones
Photo by Dennis Jones
On Saturday, March 9, author Tom Zielinsky spoke at the
museum on the “Final Days of Weirton Steel” and how the collapse
may have been prevented. About 45 people attended the event with
a lot of positive feedback. We thank Mr. Zielinsky once again ! ! !
Above:
Page 3
Volume 5, Issue 2
Above left to right: Bob Rine (retired Weirton Steel Public Relations Assistant Director) and Rick Smith (retired Videographer from Weirton Steel Communications Dept.)
had a chat to discuss old times after Mr. Zielinsky’s presentation. Mr. Smith often
helps WAMCC and is currently working with museum President Dennis Jones on a
new video documentary on the history of Holliday’s Cove.
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter
WAMCC’s Festival of Nations Set for April 13
Photo by Dennis Jones
Above L-R: WAMCC Festival Chairman Dr. J. K. Luthra and
Festival Master of Ceremonies John Sorrenti.
Photo by Dennis Jones
“Punxutawney Paul” Sees his Shadow
Above: On Saturday, March 30, the sun came out, reminding us that good
weather is coming sometime soon. The weather was so nice that
WAMCC’s own prognosticator, “Punxsutawney” Paul,” came out of his cubby hole and promptly saw his shadow. We are now crossing our fingers
that does not mean six more weeks of winter. In reality, WAMCC Treasurer, Paul Zuros, is shown putting up signs for WAMCC’s “Festival of Nations,” which will be held on April 13. The event is scheduled to take place
outdoors at the Weirton Event Center; however, if the weather is bad, the
event will take place inside at the Weirton Millsop Community Center. Admission is free, so come and enjoy. WAMCC wishes to convey thanks to
Nick and Argiro Latousakis of Wine & Beverage Merchants of WV for donating the outdoor signs. We are also thankful for all of the sponsors, and in
kind donations which will be recognized in the festival program booklet.
5th Annual Festival of Nations Set for April 13
Dr. Juginder Luthra, WAMCC’s Festival Chairman, reports that
all systems are go and this appears to be the biggest entertainment line up yet in the 5 years that WAMCC has hosted the festival. There will be Ethnic Food, Songs, and Dances with displays representing many countries that helped create the melting
pot we today call Weirton. This year’s festival is scheduled to
take place on Saturday, April 13, starting at 11:00 am and ending
at 3:00 pm. Due to an advanced gloomy forecast, we are considering having the festival indoors at the Weirton Millsop Community Center instead of outside at the Weirton Event Center.
Everyone will be notified of the final decision early in the week.
Along with the food, song, dance, and displays, there will be
Magic performed by Nick Gallias, and door prizes will be raffled. Check out the museum website www.weirtonmuseum.com
for updates and a complete schedule of participants. The latest
performance program information is included in the right hand
column of this page. We commend Dr. Luthra for his efforts in
pulling this together ! ! !
Page 4
Volume 5, Issue 2
Program Sequence
Check www.weirtonmuseum.com for updates
11:00—Hoisting of Flags (Tri-State Young Marines)
11:05—National Anthem (Sheena Chopra)
11:10—Inauguration (Mayor George Kondik)
11:15—Welcome (J. K. Luthra and Dennis Jones)
11:20—Remarks (Gretchen Weir and Maisie Weir)
11:25—Dances of China (Yan Lai Dance Academy)
11:45—Indian Musical Performance (Akshay Hari)
11:55—Dances of the Philippines (Philippines-American
Performing Arts of Greater Pittsburgh)
12:15—Songs (Carrie Oliver Shultz)
12:25—Ukrainian Dances (Kyiv Ukrainian Dance Ensemble)
12:45—Songs (Sheena Chopra)
12:50—Dances of Italy (Italian American Cultural Club)
1:10—Songs of Italy (Sofia-Teresa and Lucia DiBacco)
1:20—Dances of Greece (Grecian Odyssey Dancers)
1:40—Scotland / Bagpipes (Nila Boyd)
1:50—African-Americans (Kingdom Children - Diamond
Princess, and Zhane)
2:05—Civil War Era and Irish Dances
(Heritage Dance Association)
2:25—Dances of Japan (Tadashi Tadashi)
2:40—Poland / Accordion (Tom Zielinsky)
2:50—Raffle of Door Prizes
3:00—Conclusion
Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center Newsletter