History Tidbits . . . .
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Carol Coyet, active in the Presbyterian Church was not amused at the activity of the new Catholic priest, Fr. Eugene Jacobs. He remarked he was going to call on him and make a Presbyterian of him-the result, Carol accepted Catholicism under Fr. Jacobs.
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The center alter in use from 1966 until recently at St. Patrick's church , was built by the late John M. Weatherford of True. It was patterned according to design of Fr. Paul Hickey. The marble altar, a gift of the late Dr. J. A. Fox, was moved to the front center March 27, and the wooden altar dismantled.
Mr. Weatherford was a convert coming into the church while Fr. Jacobs was pastor. -
Originally, St. Patrick's was registered in the Charleston Deanery, then was transferred to the Bluefield Deanery. In 1965, the Beckley Deanery was formed and St. Patrick's was transferred there where it remains today.
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Fr. Becker was being bugged by a protestant minister on using wine at Mass. Fr. Becker explained the first recorded miracle was the changing of water to wine, and the minister answered "The juice would not have time to ferment", and Fr. Becker replied, "He must have fed the multitude dough, as he would not have had time to bake all that bread."
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The first May Day procession in the parish was held May 8, 1955, with all the youth of the church taking part. Miss Donna Sue Lang (Mrs. Jack Scott) wearing a glittering crown and trailing a white and blue cape, resigned as May Queen.
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Tokyo Rose was not a Catholic but frequently attended their services while an inmate at the Alderson Reformatory, and was often seen to go into the confessional.
Iva Toguri , also known as Tokyo Rose, died Tuesday, September 26, 2006, of complications of old age at Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago, said Barbara Trembley, a family spokeswoman. She was 90. -
Tradition tells us that Father Walsh in coming to Hinton, rented the home on the corner of Fourth Avenue and upper James Street, (Still standing and known as the Sale property) and that church services were held there, and also instructions were given to children at the location. Younger parishioners remember hearing their parents talk of those days and how stern Fr. Walsh was "not sparing the rod."
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A history of St. Patrick's would be be complete without Miss Sophia Wasmer. Tradition has it that she came to the parish with her cousin Fr. John J. Swint, (later Bishop of Wheeling) and remained as Fr. Edward Jenkin's housekeeper. Her niece, Anna Narklund, also lived at the rectory. Affectionately knows as Miss Sophia, she was loved by all, and many residents remember, as children, being invited for chicken and noodles. She always stood by lovingly when pets and dolls were taken for blessings. Through her efforts, the angelus rang three times daily, as she conscientiously "pulled the rope at seven a.m., twelve noon, and six p.m." Anna took active part in the social life of the community and was endowed with great musical talent. She was a graduate of the local high school, studied music at Huntington, played the church organ, and often sang. Many still remember the Christmas plays and children's choir, which she and Mary Kerby toiled with, as well as instruction classes. The "Mary Ann Beauty Shop" was originally a partnership Mary Bias Sullivan and Ann Narklund. There was much sadness after F. Jenkins' death when Miss Sophia and Ann left the rectory. Ann later married James Huffman, a Hinton boy, and they, with Miss Sophia established a home in Clifton Forge, VA. Two children were born to the union, a daughter who died at birth, and a son. Miss Sophia and Ann are both deceased, but there are many memories alive of their early help and companionship.
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When Mildred Gillers (Axis Sally) was released from the Alderson Reformatory, she was met by her sister and husband, and driven to Hinton, where they attended Mass and were served breakfast at the Rectory. Miss Gillers, now a college instructor in Columbus, OH, has visited in the parish several times since. (She was a convert.)
Mildred Gillars, AKA "Axis Sally", was a native of Portland, Maine. She was studying music at Hunter College in Germany in the 1930s and fell in love with her professor. He later enlisted her for German radio propaganda programs from a Berlin radio station. After the war she was brought back to the U. S. where, in 1949, she was found guilty of treason for a broadcast made just before the Allied invasion of Europe. Sentenced to 10-to-30 years in prison, she was eventually released in 1962. Until her death in 1988, she was a music instructor at a Catholic girls school in Columbus, Ohio.