Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. július-december (24. évfolyam, 27-52. szám)
1941-11-13 / 46. szám
November 13, 1941 Verhovayak La Ma Page S By MARGARET VARGO Branch 312 Idamay, West Virginia SOUTHWARD TO CHARLESTON This month’s article, it seems to me, is going to be a rushed job, for here it is three days before the deadline and I’m just completing the first sentence. The mailman has been particularly nice to me during the past few weeks by bringing me much news of the Steinmetzes of Sunkist Southern California. I not only received a greeting card from Mr. Albert Steinmetz, informing me of the first rain of the season on October 12, but I also received a snapshot of his endearingly sweet little dáugier, “Manci,” sent to me by Albert Jozik. In a Hungarian publication I noticed an account of Mrs. Steinmetz’s performance on a program. The favorable comments inform us that she’s an accomplished violinist and really an artist at producing those sweet strains of Hungarian melody which we all love to hear. Another item of interest to Verhovayans is an article of appreciation for Mr. Jozik's favorable comments on Los Angeles hospitality in his recent series. On Thursday, October 29, three friends and I started on a journey to our state capital, Charleston, located on the KanawhÄ» river in Kanawha county. The river was named by the red men who, many mo; ns ago, pitched their wigwams in these valleys where— “Dark behind {them) rose the forest Rose the dark and gloomy pine trees Rose the firs with cones upon them.” Although Longfellow wasn’t referring to the West Virginia Indians when he wrote these lines, the scene reminds us of the quotation. Tire very steep mountain sides in the southern part of our state were still cloaked with some magnificent bluish green pines intermingled with the yellow of the beech, maroon of the sumac, crimson of the maple, and russet of the oak. The trip of approximately two hundred miles was most delightful, for farther south the mountains rise steeper and more majestically and give Mother Nature a fine chance to display this season’s newly completed patchwork quilt. We also noticed along the way many pleasant peaceful country scenes, beautiful homes—some large and colonial—others tiny and cogy—some beautiful ones made of native stone—and still others which are white with blue roofs and shutters; we saw oh so many newspaper boxes. (It’s fun to see the names of the newspapers the country folk along the way read.) And we saw ever so many school bús stations, especially in Braxton County where most of the population is rural and their schools are consolidated. At Flat Woods, in Braxton county, is located the exact geographical center of the state. Some unusual rock formations may also be seen. One, “The Old Man of the Mountain,” is a fine piece of work sculptured by the artist Erosion, Wind and Weather, Inc, and almost as good as some of Gutzon Borglum’s work at Mount Rushmore National Park in North Dakota. Among the cities we passed were Clarksburg, named for George Rogers Clark; Clendenin, where we had a most delicious luncheon in the cutest diner; and Weston, where is located the grave of Alexander Scott Withers, author of “Border Warfare.” Upon reaching Charleston, our first thoughts concerned the securing of a room. We were very fortunate in getting an attractively furnished corner room in the Hotel Kanawha, which was large enough to accomodate all four of us girls who were among the 10.000 persons who had come to Charleston to attend the State Education Association’s annual convention. The meetings were fine because of the excellent speakers and programs. The entertainment highlight ot the convention was the program featuring the “All State Orchestra” and “All State Chorus” composed of students representing a large proportion of West Virginia high schools. Thursday evening’s momentous event was the governor’s reception. The governor’s mansion is a large magnificent looking home of colonial style with tall massive white colonnades. Inside, the elaborately carved white staircases, huge chandeliers, immense mirrors on the walls and beautifully furnished large rooms give the visitor a most elegant feeling. Upon entering, we were graciously greeted by beautifully gowned ladies with an ever so slight “southe’n” accent. To add to the touch of Southern hospitality for this festive occasion, a string orchestra rendered lovely southern melodious music. Other charming girls showed us from room to room, and finally we returned to another part of She first floor to the receiving line where we shook hands with Governor and Mrs. Neely, U. S. Senator Joseph Rosier, president of our college at Fairmont, and with other wellknown educators of the state. Next we were served dainty and delicious refreshments upon white plates bordered with gold and bearing the official state seal of West Virginia. We considered it all a most delightful experience. The capitol, which you can approach on a boulevard which at night is radiant from so many yellow lights, stands as a great sentinel over the city. It reminds us very much of the United States Capitol. The Charleston capitol was completed in 1932 and cost approximately ten million dollars. The original state capitol was established in Wheeling. It came to Charleston from Wheeling, then returned to that city but again returned to Charleston in 18*5. Fire destroyed the old building on Capitol street between Washington and Lee streets in 1921, so the new building was erected on a site two miles east, facing the Kanawha river. It was designed by Cass Gilbert of New York. Among other noted structures designed by Gilbert are the Woolworth building and the Custom House at New York, the U. S. Treasury Annex, U. S. Supreme Court building, and the offices of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce at Washington. The capitol’s group of three buildings and grounds covers 16 acres. The building follows the classic style of the Renaissance period. I The architectural forms are Roman with the single exception of the Doric vestibule at the ground floor on the river side of the building. The porticos and colonnades of the exterior are distinctly Roman, the main porticos being of the Roman Corinthian order. The other porticos and colonnades are of a modified Roman Doric type. The dome is the feature of the building. Its exterior closely follows Roman examples and its top has an elevation of 300 feet. The bell of the dome is of metal which is covered with 2214 carat gold leaf. The gold-leaf alone cost forty-eight hundred dollars. It’s really fun climbing up into I the dome. Circular stairs take you up, and one can come out on the small balcony and view the Kanawha river where frequently seaplanes are landing. The elevation of the ceiling of the interior dome is 180 feet from the ground floor. The large crystal chandelier, which is the feature of the rotunda, weighs two tons, has 15,000 candle power, is suspended 180 feet above the floor, and is held up by a gold chain 54 feet long. The chandeliers in the House of Delegates and Senate chambers are said to be made of 10,000 separate pieces of rock -crystals. (I didn’t count them—I’ll take the guide’s word for it.) It was fun sitting for a few minutes in a senator’s chair. Their voting device, which by pushing a button on the senator’s individual desk records his vote, was interesting to see. The rug in the governor’s reception room, 60 feet long and 26 feet wide, weighs 1809 pounds and is the second largest singlepiece rug in the United States. The sliding bronze doors on the south (river) side of the main unit of the Capitol weigh 2800 pounds each. Their panel design shows the leaves of West Virginia’s native hardwood trees as do the panels in the ceiling of the second floor. Downstairs, a state museum interests those who like things historical such as old books, por traits of famous West Virginians,arrowheads, coins, flags, etc. All together, there are 119 office rooms, the House and Senate chambers, and the Governor’s reception room in the main building. In the two office buildings are 214 office rooms, and the Supreme Court, Law NEW MEMBERS COLUMN (Introduced here by The Ferret, Publicity Agent of Branch, 429, Dearborn, Michigan.) Since the chap who sponsored this page is hesitant about bringing his pet idea to life, let is start with the Ferret’s new' members for the month of October: (I hope the rest of the publicity agents and secretaries get wise to themselves and realize that the best way to make a new member feel at home is by seeing his name in print in our Journal) —The Ferret. DEARBORN, MICHIGAN Branch 429 Little Edwina Horvath, barely aware of her existence, as she only arrived in our midst on October 3, A. D., will inaugurate the New Members (column or page, whatever may develop of 4t). Symbolic, isn’t it, that a brand-new infant will christen this brand-new (and should be important addition). Edwina weighed in at 6 lb., 14 ozs., and would have been the newest niece of our Edward “Bugs” Horvath, one of our cheeriest contributors, who passed into the land of honey and lotus blossoms in the month of October. Remember? Ethel Koy, a lovely blond lassie who, with the aid of Helen Zaker, was persuaded to become our newest member. Ethel is now a member of the bowling team and bids fair to becoming one of our most energetic members. Margaret and Emma Sara are the latest members of the Sara family to become one of us. Margaret was a member the year we began the branch, back in 1935, but slipped out, only to rejoin with new vigor. We would like to have Margaret join the gals and have fun. With her sister Emma, the Saras are now complete as Verhovay members. Editorial Note: We sincerely hope that the above “sample” will inspire all 'he secretaries and publicity , agents to follow suit by re- i gularly sending in for publication the names and short notes and descriptions of the new members of their respective branches. This innovation it titled NEW MEMBERS COLUMN, and when it develops into a full page will become NEW MEMBERS PAGE. It will appear in the first issue of every month; in both issues of every month if necessary. The secretaries and publicity agents are asked to restrict their new members introductions to this column only, and not include it also in their own articles, as this would mean sorting out the names and notes, and appearance in two places, which would be superfluous. Write the names and notes on your new members on I separate paper, and indicate that they are meant for the New Members Column. We are heartily indebted for the Nem Members idea to The Ferret (Mrs. Joan Lucas), Secretary and Publicity Agent of Branch 429. Dearborn, Michigan, and to Joseph J. Horvath. Secretary- Treasurer of Branch 366, Cleveland. Ohio. Library, Public Service Cotnmission, and the State Department of Archives and History. Now, briefly I’U try to sum up the industries of Charleston. Charleston has the largest edged-tool plant in the world. Its production of axes is greater than that of all other axe factories in the United States and Canada. Here is also the largest 1 sheet glass factory in the world and numerous other important industries. Charleston is the chemical center of the world today. The Great Kanawha Valley has become a chemical stronghold, second only to Niagara Falls, and. perhaps, surpassing it in diversity of product. There seems to be no other location where so many natural advantages are j found in such dose proximity and profusion. The salt from the salt brines, . known in that section for nearly j two centuries, is converted into J sodium compounds. By-products of the brines include bromine, iodine, calcium, chlorine, magnesium and potash salts. Here is the largest chlorine production in the world. One Charleston plant features solvents for rubber, dyes, varnish products and many new compounds. Another plan! makes methane gas used by the great dirigibles. It manufactures ethyl alcohol from a mixture I of ethylene gas and sulphuric acid. Scores Of other chemical j products could be catalogued, to which there are being added others every few days. The tourist, eager to see everything of human interest, and the industrialist from every point on the globe, studying the trend o) commercial life, flock to the Great Kanawha Valley, and both have been fascinated by the new chapters that are still being written of the world’s chemical history. * * * I didn’t tell you about how enjoyable it was meeting old friends, former classmates and professors, how much fun we had visiting some of the real exclusive shops, how we went sight; seeing in the real swanky residential section, nor how enjoyable the ride home was in spite of the fact that it rained the entire distance. We had lots to talk about, we sang and noticed how pretty lights look - through the raindrops on the windshield. But: It was a fine trip, as are all others when one has the priceless treasure of friendship of persons with whom one enjoys choosing a destination and then reaching it.
