(July 17) Since a few facts about the Jarvisville community appeared in Bob'n'Along recently, I've had some further comments from readers. One person who referred to "another wide place in the road" was Harry B. Gloss Jr. of Bridgeport, who recalled Jarvisville from the late 1920s and '30s.
He said Bill Mowrey owned one of two stores and had one gas pump -- Quaker State. The writer's father, H.B. Gloss, was foreman for South Penn Oil Company.
"I went to work with him most every day in the summer," said Harry Jr. "We bought our country eggs and butter from his store. I always got a small treat of candy when Dad paid his bill at the end of the month."
He continued that the bridge mentioned in my column was a covered bridge that took those who crossed it to a small place called Deweytown that consisted of a scale (sic) house and a one-room schoolhouse. Also the South Penn Oil office, warehouse and pipeyard.
"Going straight through would take you to the Mount Olive Church and down Patterson Fork to Salem. The right-hand fork would take you to Halls Run Road past Lake Floyd and on to Route 50. Most of the land was owned by Jim Finley, George Brown and Cassell Barber."
Mr. Gloss said the roads were made of dirt and were impassible during bad winter weather. He added that it was where he learned to drive -- first a 1926 Model T Ford and later a 1929 Model A Ford.
I'll have more about Jarvisville and other area communities in a future column.
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¨ ¨I should hasten to inform readers that in my column that appeared Monday, July 13, pertaining to a lack of "bridge closed" signs on Brushy Fork Road, there are some clarifications which must be made.
After the column appeared, I was contacted by Corbet Phares, a resident of the Craigmoor area, who informed me that there was indeed a bridge closed sign in place at the turnoff from W.Va. Route 20, just north of Quiet Dell, but that someone apparently dismantled it and made off with it.
Shortly afterward, I received a call from Mike Scott of the Division of Highways, who said he was "lost" by the bearings I indicated. I'd said the particular stretch of road between Harrison County Route 23 and W.Va. Route 20 was the Brushy Fork Road. The DOH refers to the road as County Route 42.
Scott said he believes that particular stretch is known as the "Abner Stout Road." I know Abner and Sue Stout and where they live, but I was not aware that was the name of the road. So my apologies for not being more clear.
Furthermore, Scott asks that individuals please not confiscate road signs from their designated posts. I'll second that motion.
Incidentally, for those who were confused by my mention of Route 23 Ñ W.Va. Route 23 is in the western part of the county -- that road is County Route 23/9.
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¨ ¨As a final note, I'll quote the famous educator Horace Man (1796-1859) who once suggested the following "lost and found ad":
"Lost yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with 60 diamond minutes. No reward is offered, for they are gone forever."
I'll have more Bob'n'Along Sunday. 'Hope your weekend is terrific.