Reclaimed Memories

e had our first trip to Florida while the church was being plastered. We left that job in good hands. Our close friend and a member of the church, was the contractor. A. J. McQuain and his crew of seven did a masterful job while we were away. A. J.'s son-in-law was a doctor and he had told members of the church that we needed to get away on a vacation. We traveled down the east coast of Florida, to Key West and back around the Gulf Coast to New Orleans, before heading home. We started the trip November 19th and returned home Dec. 5, 1952. 1 closed my notes for my trip book with the following:

Well! We have seen the Gold Coast and the Gulf Coast. We have driven the broad highways, and walked the narrow byways of yesteryears. We have read the billboards and liberally sampled the wares they proclaimed biggest, best or something else we should not miss. We have bought at the fruit stands lining the highways, and stopped at what-not shops, featuring pelicans on wire stands and ducks toddling in standstill rows, and other gadgets of the souvenir circuit. We have enjoyed the drive through the Keys and marveled at the immensity and grandeur of the waters we have seen and crossed, and we have been surprised and pleased with the display of colors along its surface. We have enjoyed the weather, and been annoyed by the multitudes of mosquitoes and sand gnats we have encountered. We have felt at times that we would not have missed the trip for the world, and at other times that we could not get out of Florida soon enough to suit us. (Trip 3,843 miles. Nov.19th to December 5th, 1952.)

I was able to build a very successful junior church attendance in the Elkins Church. Howard helped me with the music. Some of the men of the congregation built small pews and we had a nice children's chapel in the basement of the church. One Easter I had seventy-five children under the age of ten. The usual attendance was between thirty-five and fifty. The Sunday before I left they had a handkerchief shower for me and I received more than one-hundred beautiful handkerchiefs. I found working with the children very rewarding.

When Troy accepted the call as president of Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music he had to leave in July, but our old pastor, Harry Miller, came to fill the pulpit until conference. He stayed with Howard and me at the parsonage.


When the church had the farewell party for Troy, the toastmaster told an amusing joke which would not be considered in good taste today.

Quote: "A colored pastor told his congregation one Sunday that he 'specked he would not be with them anymore. He had an invite to be the pastor of a big city church. He was gone one Sunday, but the next Sunday he was back. Someone asked him what happened. He said, "I'h hates to tell yeh." Someone said, "Oh, come on parson, you can tell us." He replied "Well it wasn't my preachin. De liked my preachin fine. But after the service the good wife of one of the deacons axed me home to dinner. While we were eating the good lady of the house came around behind me and axed if I’d like some corn, and I passed my glass." Dale [Wright] ended by saying as he presented the gift to Troy, "Now, Preacher, don't you go over to Shenandoah Valley and pass your glass!"

NEXT - SHENANDOAH COLLEGE AND CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, 1952 - 1956

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