Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-12-23
An Interesting Observation-Disclosures
of Woodstock and Vicinity.
BucHrEL, ONO, Dec. 8, 1892.

BUcHTEL, OHIO, Dec. 5, 1892.
, Ed. HERALD -
On October 10Th, after
nearly SEVENTEEN years absence from my
native State, l. IN company with my wife
and child, arrived st Woodstock. We
were met at the Il. & o. depot by Miss
Cora Pitman, the accomplished daughter
OF our old friend, p. A. Piiman, and con-
Quoted to her hospitable home on East
Main St, where glorious old Virginia
welcome was accorded to the returning
prodlgal by Mrs. Pitman and her pretty
daughters, Misses Blanch and Ada. The
dust of travel removed and bonntful
dinner disposed of, We started on an ex'
tended pilgrimage about towr, in happy
mood OF "reminiscences that carried us back
to the faces and scenss of twenty years
ago. seemed boy again attending the
High School, pursuing my studies under
the splendid tutorage of Prof R. D. Hait-
lip, who seventeen years ago, fresh from
Washington and Lee University, was the
personifcation of a magnificent manhood.
The dear old schoolmates, how the mem
ory OF their faces haYe outlived the years |.
We met Will Gillock on the street. lie IS
successful politician it seems. Dan.
Logan among the stamps in the post
Office. Jolly old Dan. Charlie Burner,
rafting along the street in a farm wagon.
Charlie is a tiller of the sofia successful
one, Judging from his snug home on East
Main St. Two young men come driving
along IN a buggy. Halt "Who are
these !" some ons asks. We carefully
scan the manly faces. A twinkle of old
time humor in the face and eyes Of the
nearest betrays him, and we recognize
Letcher Burner, who, in the old days
riyaled Letch Spengler as the funniest boy
in town. Letch divides his time between
being a democrat and posing as a humor-
est, and is an adept at both. The other
gentleman, fat and portly, is DR.. d. F.
Burner, of Forestville. Don't look much
like the slender youth we remember as
class mate, afterward a clerk IN Nj ton
Coffman's store. DR.. Burner Rumor says
he is ,killful physician and surgeon.
Glad to know it, old boy. That big 10
bust farmer coming yonder is Will Bur
ner. Knew him in an instant. Hasn't
changed much. Looks better naturCd
than once upon time, about eighteen
years ago, he gave us well deserved
thrashing for snow balling him on the
way from school. We .forgave you long
ago, Will. Henry burner, honest, upright,
large hearted Hen" Who III Woodstock
does not know him A little gray' Well,
yes, but just as young in heart as whom
nearly twenty years ego We made
handv in his harvest field. Henry farms,
teaches echool, but hasn't made q success
of married life as yet. So the list might
go on, but we STOP lest in o~ertaxiug the
patience of We editor he in turn tests Il G
capacity Of Lis waste basket. Old friend
uncle Isaac Haas, grand old pilgrim IN
the Methodist way, destined to be a pillar
in the church triumphant. &c years, over
the line and still marching Capt. Jno
II. Grabil, stately and dguifed as wher
years ago as County Superintendent b
gave a certain school boy his first certif
cate to teach and thus gave impetus t
the battle of life. The abundant raveI
hair was very dark then. Now It's sIlyerl
gray. NJ. L. Walton, just cut of college
in our day, now an eminent lawyer o
his section Of the Old Dominion. Ia
much of the old "Lauck" about him yet
and reminds one of his lamented father
Moses Walton. James Rodeifer, Mayor 0
: Woodstock, in other years, Is a hourishinl
E merchant, but sings as well as in days o
= yore, and is a pillar in the Methods
= church. Robt. II. Martin, oiherwls
"Bo6," has changed from an instructor f
; a newspaper man, and 10 now the gifie'
editor Of the Shenandoah County Record
Woodstock has wonderfully changed il
the years of our absence. Stately resi-
dences now occupy the commons" wher
we as boys played ball and klndred games
The business portion of the city has beef
rebuilt and improved until the splcndi'
street fronts and display of mcrchandis
remind one Of towns Of metropolitan pre-
tensions. P. J. Fravel, ". c. Barron, B
Schmtt, Capt Hugh Logan and W. II
Bargelt, are among the well known name
of the business men of or boyhood day
who still survive the years and enjoy vel
merited prosperity.
The High School building, changed bu
little cave in an added wing, was a
object of interest to our eyes II suggest
: cd familiar names Monroe Hotel, Dr.. I
Fl Richer and r. D. Halslip. Grand mer
all of tham, splendid specimens of old Vii
gilman nobility ard mastery integrity
, Ne pause to salute the memory of tina
man of God, Prot. Richey. Well do W
. remember a shadowy winters eve, near
q twenty years ago, when, owing to som
, disobedience of rules We were kept in
: alter school had been dismissed, an earn
est, gray haired man said to us in parting
"Roaudo, you are a man in stature, &C
like and conduct yourself as mai
q should." That was turning point il
f my life.
f The visit home, among the dear oil
mountains and by the clear streams Of I'll
sunny Southland did toiling Methods
, good. We were almost "a boy again
after many years sojourning on the wild
Z prairies Of Western Kansas, to stand one
O more in the shadow of the "Eterns
!. Hills" and listen to the voice Of the pas
Our visit to Cedar Creek Valley, nea
Van Buren Furnace, the place of our ma
s tivity, was one of delightful pleasure, tn
= meeting with old friends of our CHILDHOOD
old scboo,mates, and relatives, reyiewin
the past, calling the roll 10 note the alb
sent, many having "iallen asleep" nevt
r.