Follansbee’s celebration of the paving of Main Street illustrated the remarkable energy of a small town to accomplish big things.  City manager Delmar Jenkins completed plans for a street-opening celebration.   Committees from all lodges, civic clubs and schools were invited to participate in the street parade.  Invitations were sent to Governor William G. Conley of West Virginia and all mayors of nearby Ohio communities.  The paving of Main Street was promoted as a grand improvement linking travel on State Highway Route No. 2 in the northern Panhandle.  Committee chairman included, finance, William Lake; band, Leo Lusk; fireworks, Frank Desantio; parade, J.C. Spitznogle; stump committee, John McQuillian; invitations, George Hubbs; publicity, George S. Hahne; decoration, Mrs. Ella Walker; refreshments, Mrs. R.A. Swift, and fire equipment, Rees Reese.  Plans included a parade, dancing on the street, and band concerts.   Merchants and citizens were asked to decorate their stores and homes, while the city would decorate the street. As the 1920s closed, Follansbee was symbolized by its remarkable leadership and the commitment of its residents.

• Steubenville Herald Star, “Chairmen for 10 Committees are Selected,” November 18, 1929,  p. 17.
• Steubenville Herald Star, “Follansbee Planning Street Parade,” October 29, 1929,  p. 13.

“It was unbelievable, worse, it was Wellsburg who had finally stopped the Blue Wave’s continuous roll.”  The game was a series of punts and fumbled balls.  Once Follansbee had the ball on the two-yard line, but could not score.

Coach George Roark’s 1929 football team was one of the finest in the school’s history. The team scored 211 points to their opponents 24. Team captain Herbert Minnis played quarterback.    In the Weirton game, Minnis intercepted a pass for a 6-0 Blue Wave victory.  Others included Carlin and Gordon Dodrill, who fought hard for the center position.  Elwood Bowman and Melvern Still were tackles.   Gerald Carey, who played end, was picked for the All State team.  Frank Ellliott and Howard Freshwater held the guard positions.  Lawrence Ninerell and Lawrence Newmeyer were halfbacks.   The fullback spot was alternated between Patsy DiPasquale and Lee Campbell.

Schedule of 1929 FHS football team

• Ingot (Follansbee Yearbook), 1929, see “Football” section.
• Weirton Daily Times, “Weir, Follansbee to Meet for 14th time on Gridiron,” September 12, 1939.  p. 6.

In a column for The Herald Star, Warren Scott noted that the team members included early residents of Hooverson Heights, a section of Follansbee.  The starters were Steve Brandenburg, Tom Geary, Joe and Frank Janeshek, Bill Cole, John Karnage, and Ted and Ed Krystynak.   The home field was located near First and Second streets in the vicinity of Hooverson Heights known as Gearyville.  Orie “Mike” Davis was one of the first to coach the Hilltoppers baseball team, which continued playing into the 1940s. See photos and full column of Warren Scott’s text on-line given below.

The Weirton Daily Times reported on a 1939 game between the Weirton Heights Ex-Home Furniture baseball team and the Follansbee Hilltoppers.   “The contest developed into a spirited mound duel between Danny DeAngelis  [Weirton] and Dady with each moundsman giving up only five hits.”  DeAngelis pitched Weirton to a 2-1 victory. The Follansbee lineup for the game was E. Janeshek (c), Krystanak (lf), Bullock (ss), Dady (p), Brindley (2b), W. Janeshek (1b), Yevuta (cf), and Peters (rf).

The June 18th, 1931, Follansbee Review reported on the Hilltoper’s season under the management of Thomas Weatherhead in 1931. The team was having a fine season winning 18, loosing 2, and tying 1.  They played their hardest games of the season so far when they met the Louise Colored Athletics. The following schedule identifies only those games played up to June 18, 1931.

• Indians 8 High Y 4
• Indians 18 Follansbee Hillsiders 3
• Indians 10 Follansbee Hillsiders 7
• Indians 3 Logrow 9
• Indians 9 Colliers Athletics 3
• Indians 6 High Y 7
• Indians 5 Follansbee Lowerenders 3
• Indians 9 Steubenville Northend 3
• Indians 7 West Middletown (PA) 7    Called because of darkness
• Indians 12 West Middletown (PA) 3
• Indians 14 West Middletown (PA) 4
• Indians 8 Logrow 7
• Indians 16 West Middletown (PA) 4
• Indians 8 Follansbee Lowerenders 1
• Indians 8 Follansbee Lowerenders 5
• Indians 2 Louise Colored Athletics 1
• Indians 14 Eldersville 6
• Indians 12 Matheny Weirton Boosters 3
• Indians 8 Federal Cigar of Archer Heights 4
• Indians 18 Matheny Weirton Boosters 2
• Indians 13 Wellsburg Rabbit Hill Athletics 1

Members of Hillsdale Baseball Team  – Ralph Baldauf, Bill Schaeger, Russell Stillwell, Francis Smitz, – – McGraw.  Jim Baldauf & Harry Edwards kneeling in front, ca. 1935.  Courtesy -Larry Iafrate

• Warren Scott, Steubenville Herald Star, “I remember when …baseball brought community together,” October 4, 2009.   (On-Line) http://www.hsconnect.com/page/content.detail/id/526772.htrml?nav=5106
• Weirton Daily Times, “Weirton Heights Tops Follansbee,” Aug. 10, 1939, p. 7.
• Follansbee Review, “Hilltop Indians Win Two ..” June 18, 1931,12

The Hollidays Cove area of Weirton, which is part of the Cross Creek School District, was developing rapidly.  Hence “It was decided to furnish schools for the grades and transport the High School students to Follansbee High.   The Edgewood school was built in 1928-29.”  Before the construction of Edgewood, four portable structures were located on the site. Classes were first held in the new building in 1929.  “High School students were transported by trolley to Follansbee as arranged by the Board.”

• Quotes taken from Secretary notes of Follansbee City Meetings.: Quotes taken from Secretary notes of Follansbee City Meetings.

Dressed in the same clothes in which they were married 50 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mahan celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at their home on Main street.  Hundreds of guests and members of the family were present to honor the couple. Their home was decorated throughout with autumn flowers.   The grand-daughters served lunch upon a grand table with a center piece of gold candles and flowers.   Many beautiful gifts were presented to the couple including a handsome floor lamp bestowed by the Women’s Study Club.  A chime clock was given by the Presbyterian Church and a set of gold banded Haviland China by a group of Presbyterian ladies. Other lovely gifts included gold-banded glassware, linen, gold coins, books, a bar pin, and thimbles of gold.   The children gave their Mother an amethyst ring and their Father a wallet containing his name in gold lettering.  Mrs. Mahan’s maiden name was Miriam C. Browning.

• Follansbee Review, “Celebrates Golden Wedding Anniversary,” October 7, 1927, front page.

The first chapter of the American Legion for men who served at home and in Europe during the First World War was organized in Follansbee during July 1919.  Necessary paper work for securing a chapter was received from Charles E. McCamic in Wheeling, head of the WV American Legion.  However the first Legion post was disbanded after a few years due to lack of support from local service men.                                                                                     

On September 3, 1927, the Emrys Watkins Follansbee post 45 received its charter.  The Post is named in honor of the first city boy to be killed overseas. Corporal Watkins was a member of company F, 110^th infantry, 42^nd brigade of the Rainbow Division.  He was killed in action in France on July 29, 1918.  

The official headquarters of the Legion changed a number of times after its reorganization. For a short time meetings occurred in a room above the Weisberger store, and later in the basement under the post office at the city building.  The “Dugout” as this room was called remained the Legion home until 1934, when new headquarters were established in the Eagles building.  A year later the ex-service men moved to the upper floor of the city building, until a building was purchased on Main below Duquesne street.  Finally the headquarters was moved to its current location at the corner of Raymond and Main streets.  

Since its organization, the Legion has contributed much to the city of Follansbee.   During the Depression in1932-33, it acted as the agency for the distribution of Red Cross goods for approximately 600 needy families.  During the flood of 1936, the Legion again supported efforts to bring relief to those who were hungry, stood guard over homes temporarily abandoned, and promoted the efforts Follansbee Relief Organization.  In 1938, the Legion organized the Community Chest and distributed Christmas baskets to the needy, especially children.  In 1939 the Legion was responsible for the founding of the first Follansbee Library then located in the City Building.  

In the late 1930s, the Legion could depend upon a 100 of the 150 available men in the local area who believed strongly in their mission of service.  The theme of the Legion remains “We Continue To Serve.”  The American Legion is truly a reservoir of trained men, ready for any emergency and for any service.       

 L to R. Joe Settimio, commander of VFW; Guy Casinneli, president of Garibaldi Lodge; Jim Fleshman, American Legion commander; John Martino Sr. contractor, of the monument in background; Bill D’Michiel, American Legion trustee; Victor Martino, Quinciviten president. The occasion was, the dedication of the Veteran’s Memorial. It took place in the 60’s. Photo: Joe Settimio  

*Steubenville Herald Star, “Follansbee,” July 15, 1919.  *Follansbee Review, “Pictorial Souvenir Edition,” Dec. 19, 1940, p. 7. 

David F. Walker and his son Raymond of Virginia avenue returned after several weeks camping on the Potomac River near Moorfield, WV. David Walker was one of the few remaining G. A. R. veterans left in the city.   His trip proved very emotional as it was in the section where he fought during the Civil War.  “Walker stated that he was able to pick out a tombstone in a cemetery still standing near the town of Moorefield which more than 60 years ago he used as a breastwork in a battle with the soldiers of the Southern Confederacy.”

• Steubenville Herald Star, “Follansbee Veteran Visits Civil War Spots,” October 2, 1926, p. 4.

Following the New Cumberland game, high school athletic board decided to continue playing its home games at Pastime Park due to the lowness of the new athletic field.   The new field, located behind the school, became very muddy during wet weather and play was impossible.  “A special drainage system was being devised so to keep the surface water from flowing on it.”   The ground was also being sowed with grass with the hope that field conditions would be improved by the time baseball season rolled around.   The first actual full football season at the new high school field occurred in 1928.

• Steubenville Herald Star, “Follansbee Not Use New Field,” October 9, 1926, p. 2.

The Follansbee team played the first game on its new athletic filed against New Cumberland in a scoreless tie.   Follansbee had one of the heaviest teams in the valley averaging about 161 pounds.   The front line averaged 178 and the backfield 144.  T. W. Caskey, the new coach at the Blue and White, used the Georgia Tech shift against a  determined foe in Coach Roach’s Hancock team.  Each team made only 5 first downs.  In the first quarter, Speedster Mike Kasarda made a 30-yard run.  During the second half, the Blue and White was held with only a foot from the goal line. The Follansbee boys on the team were (QB) Cercone at 145 pounds, (RH) Cooper and Bowman, both 120, (FB) Dalesio at 165, (LE) Rees, 165,  (RE) Carey, 155,  (LT) Wells 192, (RT) Riggle 186, (C) Rue 155, (LG) Behnke175 and (RG) Pryor 165.  Other players were Dodrell, Petrelle, Gould, Rogers, Jeanette, Freshwater, Fluharty, Beatty, Lindrell and Ross.

• Steubenville Herald Star, “Follansbee High To Have One of the Biggest Teams in the Valley,” September 22, 1926, p.15.
• Steubenville Herald Star, “Follansbee And New Cumberland Teams play Scoreless Game,” September 27, 1926, p. 14.

A community meeting for the purpose of making plans for a new athletic field behind the Follansbee High School was held at the Municipal building.  The consensus of opinion was that a new field was an absolute necessity.   The present field, Pastime Park, was simply a sea of mud after the slightest rain due to its location on the bottomland close to the river.  That made it undesirable for both football and baseball.   Furthermore, Pastime Park had no fence around it and it was almost impossible to compel spectators to pay admission.

• Steubenville Herald Star, “Committee Named; To Report On Cost Of Field,” November 20, 1925, p. 19.