| Hail, Washington Irvingtakes you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane and back up the hill to WI. Whether you graduated fifty years ago or in the final class, you will find anecdotes and recollections to bring back Hilltopper memories'. |
ContentsPreface
Introduction..................................1
The Early Years:1914-1923.....................5
The Jazz Age:1924-1929.......................19
The Depression Years: 1930-1940..............33
End of an Era:1941-1946......................51
The Quiet Generation: 1947-1959..............69
Baby Boomers:1960-1966.......................97
Transitions:1967-1972.......................115
New Challenges: 1973-1980...................139
The Exemplary Path: 1981-1989...............163
Consolidation: 1990-1992....................197
An End and a Beginning: 1993-1995...........211
Appendix 1: Faculty.........................234
Appendix 11: Class Presidents...............235
Appendix III: Clay B. Hite, A Remembrance...237
Appendix IV: Clarksburg, an Early History.. 241
Bibliography................................245 |
Mrs. Burnside captures the essence of the school's tradition of excellence through meticulous attention to detail combined with personal interviews of past faculty and students.
Phylis Wilson Moore "Library Corner"
The Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram
Carolyn Reynolds Burnside WIHS 1952 as written a readable, informative story of the school . . . No stone goes unturned. She writes of clubs, class trips, and senior plays . . . Hail, Washington Irving! is worth flagging own.
Greg Stone The Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail
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Hail,, Washington Irving! is available at The James and Law Company and Heritage Square Book Cafe, Clarksburg; Taylor Books, Charleston; Renaissance Books, Huntington; The Art Company, Davis; and Tamarack, Beckley. Back
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Local author helps students
through publication of book on Washington Irving
by Darlene J. Taylor
LIFESTYLES WRITER
Clarksburg Exponent Telegram
Carolyn Reynolds Burnside, a local teacher and author, remembers fondly her years as a student. at Washington Irving High School, as well as her eventual return to teach at the former Clarksburg High School.
In the late 1980s, Burnside was asked to write a brief history of the school by Sam
Scolapio Jr. a former principal, for a Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram series on Harrison County schools. During her research, she realized that many phases of her life were connected to the "school on the hill."
"Preserving history was the focus and drive of authoring the book that serves as an oral history," said the Harrison County Magnet Program teacher. I wanted this to be
 available for people in the future."
"Hail, Washington Irving! Eighty-one Years on the Hill: A Reminiscence" is the final
result of three years of research into its history.
"I decided to write the book in January 1993. It was 'Soon after we were assured that Robert C. Byrd High School would be built. I thought then that it would be nice to do something about WI," Burnside explained. The book was published in November 1996.
Proceeds from the book annually fund scholarships at Robert C. Byrd High School in honor of the Reynolds and Burnside family members who graduated from WIHS. Her family has been associated with the school since 1918 and, through three publications of the book, continues to be active in its preservation.
"I always intended for any proceeds to go for a scholarship. I've been really gratified with sales during the first eight months paying my publishing costs.
"I self published the book. At this time, I have been able to contribute to three scholarships in three years. This will continue for as long as I have the book," said the original Liberty High School faculty member.
"Applications are submitted and we have a selection committee. The scholarship is actually awarded through the Alumni Foundation. This is one of five foundation scholarships this year," she said.
"I had a basis for the book and simply expanded -- greatly, of course. By spring, I had my format in mind and decided to do it according to principals primarily. At that time, WI had so few principals early on. It has just been in recent years, since Mr. Scolapio retired, that we have had two more principals.
"The first principal at WI, Orie McConkey, was also the principal at Clarksburg High School. He served as a school administrator for 50 years. That is unheard of today. He was a much respected, much loved man," Burnside said.
"It was the end of an era at WI when McConkey retired. It was the beginning of
some real social changes, too. It certainly isn't the major thrust of the book, but I think there is a little bit of social history tied in, too," she said.
"Hail, Washington Irving!" is highlighted by many perspectives. Comments from those connected to the school as well as records derived from "Reminiscences" (1916-1933) and in "Memoirs" (1934-1995) were a major information source.
"At the end of each chapter I have two sections. One I called perspectives - comments from various alumni and teachers I talked to, that didn't quite fit into the narrative. Some of them were really fun.
"The second was what was going on, influences around the world, and I tried to
concentrate on Clarksburg," said the 1952 graduate of WIHS.
The book is available locally at James & Law and Heritage Square Book Cafe,
where it remains a best seller. It can also be purchased at Taylor Books in Charleston and Renaissance Books in Huntington.
The publication has been juried and accepted at Tamarack and continues to be
popular as reunion favors.
"My one regret is that I was rather limited by the numbers of people I didn't know
to interview," she said.
Due to numerous requests, she is considering a reprinting.
Georgette Griffith, RCB art teacher, designed the book cover, Janice Ferrell is
responsible for the back cover drawing and graphics were done by Patricia B. Griffith.
For more information, contact Burnside at 32 Garden Circle, Bridgeport, WV 26330.
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