Do You Remember
When. . . ?
DOZENS OF ALUMNI wrote to share their favorite places to hang out when they lived in Morgantown during their college years. Join them here for a trip down memory lane. Some entries update you on the current status of the place. Due to space limitations, only some of the many responses we received are printed here. Look below for more stories and photos.
My favorite place was Ernie's. It was on the same side as fraternity
row. I remember getting a red Washington State (I think) apple
for a nickel! You could sit in a booth or at the counter. There
was always (in those days) someone you knew or someone would
come in whom you knew. A wonderful, friendly place, long gone
but the memories remain.
Another place on a different level was the Rendezvous, downtown. That was sort of a "date place." But again, there was always someone you knew.
. . . . And how could you not remember Comuntzi's? I remember asking for a coffee milk, thinking I would get a coffee milkshake and they brought me a cup of coffee and some milk. They weren't used to a naive girl from Massachusetts. I didn't dare ask for a frappé!
Virginia Smith Lamanna '42 BA
Foxboro, MA
The former Comuntzi's is now the site of Gibbie's, a pub and restaurant.
Does
anyone remember Leone's beer and hero sandwiches? It was packed
every weekend night in the late '40s and '50s. First location
I remember was in a house on High Street (I think) and later
set back in a large Quonset hut (WW ll) utility building. We
would get mellow Saturday night and then go to church in gray
flannels and a blue blazer with girlfriend Sunday morning. Great
times!
Charles P. Winkler, '53 MD
Richmond, VA
If
you lived in Morgantown 35 years ago or more, you can't forget
Chico's Dairy! Everyone who was 
anyone
went there after football and basketball games to get those ice
cream sundaes named after the famous basketball players Jerry
West and the two Rods (Jumpin Jerry and Hot Rod were the names
of the sundaes).
Mary Ann Thomas, '72 BS
Raleigh, NC
The ever-popular Chico's Dairy closed in 1991, but is now Chico Bakery and home of the famous Julia's Pepperoni Rolls.
My fondest memories after all these years are:
1. College Inn-Sunnyside.
2. Blue Ribbon Restaurant-Pleasant Street, especially the original location by the bridge.
3. Stilwell Book Shop-Pleasant Street.
Tom Mottley, '73 BA, '76 MA
New Jersey
Sorry, Tom, but all of your choices are gone.
My favorite free-time locations were the two listening rooms at the Mountainlair. They were cool, dark, comfortable, and the music was outstanding! Time between classes was spent relaxing to CSNY, The Band, Zeppelin etc!
Ken Jones, '74 BS, '81 MS
Fairport, NY
I would have to say either Sleepy's in the Sunnyside area or King's restaurant on High Street. Sleepy's was a great place to have lunch, play pinball, and watch Batman. King's was a fantastic pool-playing establishment and had the best cheeseburgers in town. . . . The best eatery was either Chico's Dairy or right close to Chico's was a little Italian restaurant down some stairs-great food!
Scott K. Richter '77 BA
Milwaukee, WI
I was in the Alpha Phi Sorority from 1974 to 1979, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and loved the Greek socialization and activities. In addition, I loved Saturday football games in the old stadium. The downtown area was abuzz with people, and sitting in the stadium was an awesome experience (with the band coming out of the tunnel, the pregame rugby matches, the "frisbee dog," and the student section) especially for a small-town gal from Hardy County. My two favorite hangouts were Nick's on Wiley Street (where the current bookstore is) and Fat Daddy's where we lived for disco and had "Saturday Night Fever." I have nothing but wonderful memories of WVU and Morgantown and the fun I had while truly learning—I graduated cum laude. Thanks for the memories.
Donna Alexander-Lawson, '78 AB, '79
MBA
Richmond, VA
This Chestnut Street location has been home to quite a few establishments. Fat Daddy's, The Olympia, The Dungeon, and the Castle are a few. It's now home to Elements and Chick N Bonz Rhythm Cafe. My favorite place in Morgantown was Chico's Dairy on Monongahela Boulevard. I especially remember the Mighty Mountaineer, an extra-large sundae with seven scoops of ice cream!
Bill Pietraface, '79 PhD
Oneonta, NY
Fat Daddy's was the place to be on the weekends, when I was an undergrad at WVU from 19761980.
Lauren S. Unger, '80 BA, '86 PhD
Louisville, KY
On a chilly afternoon in the fall of 1983, a friend of mine and I stopped into Nick's Canteen for what was supposed to be a quick lunch between classes. As we waited for our orders to arrive, we examined the song selections contained by our table's jukebox unit, eventually noticing "Roxanne" by the Police. I convinced my buddy to let me play the record's B-side, the then-rare "Dead End Job."
I would not have normally felt comfortable subjecting my fellow diners to the song, a noisy punk rant that hardly qualifies as dinner music, but given the recording's brief duration, I figured no harm would be done. What I didn't know was that Nick's copy of the record was scratched. So instead of singing "Don't wanna be no number, don't want no dead-end job" and getting on with the song, Sting ended up singing "Don't wanna be no number, don't want no dead-end job" over and over. Because the skip did not interrupt the song's natural rhythm, no one noticed. Although it meant missing our next class, we decided to stay put and see how long it would take for anyone to complain.
Eventually,
someone sat down adjacent to us, made his own jukebox selection,
and ordered and ate his lunch without getting to hear the song
he'd paid for. Miffed, he brought the situation to the attention
of Nick himself, who immediately stopped what he was doing and
disappeared through a door, reappearing only after he'd brought
"Dead End Job" to an end—43 minutes after we'd
started it.
Arsenio Orteza, '85 BA
Opelousas, LA
Nick's? Mario's? Nope. My favorite hangout was the stacks of the "old" WVU library. I had a work-study job there, reshelving books. I enjoyed browsing among all the books—different floors and sections for various subjects. It was quiet, somehow mysterious, with all those authors, some alive, most dead, speaking to me in quiet voices from the titles on the book spines.
I wandered among the mythology, history, journalism, photography books—all subjects in which I was interested. Then, I'd come upon a book whose title shouted that I should pick it up. Old books that had been in the hands of many WVU scholars, books which I was privileged to read. It was, and I suppose still is, a wonderful place of vast knowledge.
Tim Terman, '87 BSJ, '96 MSJ
Morgantown, WV
My favorite place to go hang out back in the late '80s in Morgantown was Chico's Dairy. We used to go for grilled cheese sandwiches and milkshakes and I was crushed when I returned last year and it was gone!
Susan Baxley, '89 BA
Atlanta, GA
I attended WVU from 1988 to 1992. My favorite hangout my freshman year was the Dungeon. The 25¢ drafts on Wednesday nights were a tradition for my roommate, suitemates, and me . . . .
All throughout college I remember memorable meals from Boston Beanery and Ali Baba's (both downtown locations). The charbroiled chicken salad with curly fries and blue cheese dressing from the Beanery was my standard fare of choice, and the gyros sandwich or platter from Ali Baba's was the other standard fare.
Toward the end of college my friends and I would often begin the evening at Mario's Fishbowl. Mario usually started sweeping and closing up around 10:00 or 11:00, if I remember correctly, so we would only have time for one or two of the ice cold fishbowls of beer before heading back downtown to Sullivan's or Gibbie's.
Kathleen (Kletzien) Widner, BS '92
Plainwell, MI
The Beanery is still in the same downtown location, but has another location on Patteson Drive now. Ali Baba's moved across High Street and is now named the Mediterranean Market and Deli.
By far, my favorite place in Morgantown was Cheat Lake.
When I was midway through my senior year in college, my father unexpectedly passed away. Upon graduation, I decided to stay in Morgantown because it felt like home to me at that time (and also because I was offered a full-time position at Sanders Floorcovering, where I had worked part-time during school). At Sanders, I worked doing interior design work (my major and also my passion), and that is where I met LeeAnn-who became my colleague, lifetime friend, and is now my sister-in-law (another story).
In any case, Cheat Lake served as my "healing waters" during my last year of school and the year and a half to follow that I stayed in Morgantown. I loved Cheat Lake so much, and would often take my dog, Winston, a big wonderful English Pointer, to the lake to romp and play. One time, I even dragged a paint book to the lake to match the color of the water (a wonderful cerulean blue) to a paint chip and had my dining room painted that color.
Through all the studying, working, socializing, and praying I did in Morgantown (from 1989-1994), more than anything, the memory of those waters have stayed with me on my life journey (not to mention my husband, Michael, LeeAnn's brother. . .).
Christine Haught, '93 BS
Atlanta, GA
Cheat
Lake is still open to the public, but for boating and fishing
only. Swimming from the shore is prohibited. However, Allegheny
Power did install a new wooden bridge near the backwaters that
connects the rail trail with a recreation area. That area includes
a playground, vending machines, and bathrooms.
When I think of Morgantown, my hometown, I always think of Crockett's. Crockett's wings are by far the best in the state. My sister-in-law and I waited tables and bartended there during our later undergrad years. I enjoyed working at Crockett's on football game Saturdays (especially after a big win).
Heather M. Garrison, '95 BA, '96 MS,
'00 JD
Charleston, WV
Crockett's
is still in Star City and is still as popular as ever.
My favorite place in Morgantown was the arboretum.
Carisa Thomason (Dudley), '97 BS, '98
MS
Bend, OR
The arboretum is still beautiful. Now, the rail trail goes between the river and the bottom of the hill, offering people a great place to ride bikes and walk the dog.
My favorite place is Nick's Canteen. I lived in the Chi Omega house and it was always great place to get a meal on Saturdays when the house kitchen was not open. My mother was a Chi Omega and also lived in the house, so every time she came to town we would have a meal there. We would talk about what she did in the house when she was there, how different it was then, and other news and family events. We would even talk about my great-grandfather and grandfather's time spent at WVU too. I will cherish those moments with my mother, being a WVU student and a sister in the Chi Omega fraternity. WVU holds a very special place in my heart.
Robin Smittle Butts, '00 BA
Murrysville, PA
I would be remiss and drummed out of my family if I did not say
that Communtzis' Restaurant which was located at the present
site of Gibby's was a favorite of mine. Sunday dinners were not
served on campus back when I was at WVU in the early 1960s and
so, many Sunday evenings were spent eating and socializing at
my family's restaurant. It was a place where one could hob nob
with Gus and Peter Communtzis as well as Jack Fleming, Tony Constantine,
Mickey Furfari and some of the athletic greats that made their
way through WVU - Rod Thorn, Hot Rod Hundley, and even Jerry
West!
Another favorite
family hang out of mine was Nick's just down the street from
the Book Exchange. My uncle Tasso and cousin George Caravasos
owned the establishment. It was a great place to down a cold
beer and eat a hot dog! Not a bad place to meet other students
either. In fact, that is where I first met David Hardesty! On
Friday afternoons we would leave Nick's and stroll on down to
the Olympia to dance to the music of the Bonnevilles or one of
the many other great local bands that played back in the 1960s.
Summer school, of course, meant going to the Whip at Cheat Lake
in the afternoons. We could read and play bridge on one of the
many floating docks. Then dive into the cool, refreshing water
of Cheat Lake. It was a great place to relax and unwind.
Morgantown was a great place to grow up and an even more wonderful
place to go to college. The town and the region have grown and
become even more appealing than it was waaaaay back in the 1960s.
It is still a fun place to visit and spend time with good friends!
Kay Marie Comuntzis Getsinger
My husband-Harold A. Lorenz-class of 1939
remembers fondly eating french fries dipped in mustard at the
Sunnyside Grill
I remember dancing the night away at the VFW on Willy Street
and Johnny Mathis singing Misty on a record on the juke box.
None should forget Chico's and the big decisions about which
flavor of ice cream to choose. Those were wonderful days not
easily forgotten.
Jean D. Lorenz, '64
Mine was definitely Crockett's!
Lisa Garrison
My best academic year represented one of
the many things I learned at WVU-specifically budgeting time
and independence. I had a full 18 hours which I concentrated
on classes every day from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Then worked M-W-F
afternoons (after a quick bite at Nick's or a Mountainlair pepperoni
roll!) for Darcy Sapp at the University Shop in men's clothing.
On T-Th it was PT lab assistant for Carlin Pinkstaff, PhD, in
the histochemistry lab in the WVU Dental School. Wednesday and
Thursdays and alternating Friday/Saturday was bartending at Fat
Daddy's niteclub and always seemed to have a Tony's pizza downstairs!
Any remaining free time was till closing at WVU Med Center library
studying! It was a great balance of keeping my priority on pre-med
studies but having a retail contact with students/customers (and
a discount for clothes), exposure to medical/lab environment,
my social exposure, and making a few bucks on tips and still
enjoying campus life!
Allen F. Yearick BA (Cum Laude), '77
I graduated in December '79 and things were a lot different then.
I had a lot of favorite places and good times. The old stadium
was great. Seeing the band and the players charge out of the
tunnel was thrilling. Sunnyside was another great place. It was
the place to go upon your return from summer vacation. You could
run into numerous old friends and enjoy a beer in the street.
Never allowed today! Also, the Mountainlair plaza was great for
throwing frisbee and meeting friends.
Joyce Cosgray-Vontz
My favorite places,
in no particular order:
The Whip at Cheat Lake
Gene's on the South side
The Owls Club
The Olympia (better known as the "O")
The Haunted House
Mario's
Nick's
The "NEW" Mountainlair
The Library
and finally-standing in line waiting for a bus to or from Evansdale!
Grant Standiford '70
I hear Archie's in
Sabraton has really had a face-lift since I was in Morgantown.
I attended the University from 1994-1998 and we use to enjoy
going there for their GREAT food. Best wings, steak hoagies,
etc. They also had karoke on Thursday and Saturday nights-lots
of fun! They always had a really nice breakfast buffet before
the home football games-is that still happening?
Hamilton, Raffilena
Favorite hang-out spot: Of course, it would have to be the Castle.
It was there in 1970, down the hill behind the Book Exchange,
up a metal staircase above a car dealer. Good times.
JL '72
I attended WVU in the early 50's and have
many fond memories of Morgantown. One of my favorite places was
Gene's Place on the eastside I think. It was in a section called
little Italy. They served snifters of beer and had the best hot
dogs in town. I spent many nights playing bridge in the back
room with gene's brother Joe and also watching the elder Italians
playing a game called boccie (I think).
Also one of my favorite places was at Cheat Lake swimming and
boating. There was a place about half way up which had motor
boat rides and boats to rent. They had a raft anchored off shore
and an excellent swimming area in the cold water. I can't remember
the name but it was an excellent place to relax.
Lawrence Hunt
My home during my time at WVU School of Medicine was Ronceverte,
WV, in Greenbrier County. I attended Davis-Elkins College for
one year and Marshall College (as it was known in those times)
for two years and my twin brother and I were admitted to the
two year medical school on Beechurst Avenue in 1951. In the spring
of 1953 we attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new
four year medical center at the new part of the campus. Dean
Edward J. Van Liere (School of Medicine) presided at the event.
I understand that the "new" Medical Center has since
been razed and replaced. Time passes very quickly.
An article appeared in the Daily Athenaeum with our picture in,
I believe, September 1951 on twins entering medical school in
Morgantown.
We graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in 1955. I
attended Duke University Medical Center (three years radiology
residency) after general practice and service in the U.S. Navy
(two years).
I practiced radiology in Richmond, VA, until my retirement in
1992. My twin, Moseley H. Winkler practiced ophthalmology in
Charleston, WV, until his recent retirement. It is most pleasant
to recount my years in Morgantown.
Charles P. Winkler, Sr., MD FACR
I lived in Men's
Hall for three years (1954-1957) and a real favorite was to go
next door to Jimmy's and get a 10¢ hamburger. Fries were
great too, and place was always noisy and fun filled. Also enjoyed
an occasional ice cream cone from the dairy store in Oglebay
Hall, or walking down High Street to the Dairy Queen for a peanut
butter or chocolate chip milk shake. I have never come across
another DQ that has those flavors. I moved to California in 1980,
and unfortunately have not been back to Morgantown since. But
I am planning to attend by 50th high school reunion in Fairmont
next year, and will certainly look forward to touring the WVU
campus at that time.
William F. Hanway BSEE '58
I graduated in 1992. I spent five glorious
years at WVU all because of a wonderful place called Sunnyside.
I can't tell you how many pepperoni rolls I bought at the Sunnyside
Superette. I especially remember them because I live in the eastern
panhandle now, and you can't buy a pepperoni roll here. I buy
dozens when I'm home in Marion County.
Also, I used to
go to DJs and the College Inn. DJs was the hangout for the entire
WVU Wrestling team. College Inn or CI was just a great place
to hang out. There was a great guy there name "Captain."
I never knew his real name, but he was brilliant, a WVU history
major I believe. He loved Jeopardy, and knew all the answers
without even seeing the previous show time. He could drink the
heck out of Turkey and water. He was a wonderful person. He ran
a bar, but he really did try to keep us "students"
on the right path. The CI is long gone, but I would love to know
whatever happened to the "Captain."
Kelly Berthy Cookus '92
While
at WVU during September 1961 to December 1963 my favorite places
besides Mountaineer Field were, in order of preference:
1. Sleepy's: a little beer joint owned and run by "Sleepy"
Galusha in Sunnyside on University Avenue. Great place: subs
35¢; 16 oz. drafts 35¢. Sleepy was a great guy and
friend of WVU students.
2. The Green Lounge: located on Beechurst Avenue between Chico's
Dairy and the Red Cellar. Owned and operated by another great
guy John Wasick. You could get shots of Kessler and via the men's
room you could descend stairs to play poker. I remember one evening
my friend Dave Corbin, his cousin Ella Dee Kessell, Marty Pushkin,
myself, and a roomfull of other patrons were present when through
the door came the chief of police and an entourage of other city
law enforcement folks. It was a raid, but with little fanfare
or panic. Names were taken and those gambling downstairs were
told to leave, among them another friend and eventual Pitt graduate
Bob Wise (not the governor). Wasick was forced to serve the rest
of his legal beverage that week without charge and the joint
was closed while he served some time for his misdeeds.
3. The Olympia: located in an alley off High Street. The forerunner
to today's sports bar, charged a one time annual 25¢ membership
fee and provided weekend bands in a spacious and relaxing setting.
4. The Confectionery: located above the Sunnyside area. Great
frosted fishbowls, hot dogs and juke box. Only a few booths,
but nice place to spend an afternoon.
5. Club 7: speakeasy located in Westover (?) open from midnight
until later than I ever stayed. Shots of Kessler and Pall Mall
cigarettes.
6. Mutts: blue collar joint on Beechurst frequented by glass
workers, two of whom -Bugger and Wino-were really great but always
drunk guys.
7. Freddy's: located on Beechurst a few doors from Mutts: had
a nice large bench in front that some maniacs would swipe and
return when so inclined.
8. Chico Dairy: on Beechurst. Nice place for shakes and ice cream.
9. Sunnyside Restaurant: Joe Bassilio ran a tight ship, but the
food wasn't bad at all.
10. Pestun's: next door to the Sunnyside Restaurant. Mamma Pestun
always charged for extra butter, something Dave Corbin couldn't
stomach.
11. Maud's: boarding house near top of High Street where I ate
regularly for less than $13.00 a week, and that included milk.
12. Newman Hall: another boarding house; a little more upper
scale than Maud's but without Maud's lovely daughter there to
greet the hungry patrons.
That's a quick, not very well thought out brain dump of my favorite
places in good old Morgantown while I was there.
Lee Fischbach '64
Help.
My husband and I used to love to go to a ice cream shop down
towards the river from the old field. This was in 1965-66. Neither
of us can remember the name of it. Any ideas? [Chico's]
Joan Kennedy
-----
Just wanted to respond to your inquiry for favorite places to
remember.
Kathy, my wife, and I met at WVU in the fall of 1968, first day
classes in English 1. I hated English but the scenery was good.
We didn't really date until the following spring, but one thing
led to another and here we are 30 years later and still going
strong. It must have been that great, almost heaven mountaineer
air. Kathy is from Kinnelon, NJ, and I hail from Smithfield,
PA, and WVU is where me met.
Favorite places: Has to be the Castle, where I proposed and she
said yes. The rest is history. The Castle was on the second floor
of the building that Elements is now located. Another favorite
was the Cottage in Star City, now Crockett's Lodge. And of course,
Mario's was on the list.
Kathryn (Kujda) Voithofer, '73
Terry Voithofer, BS '72, MBA '73
(Captain 1973 Mountaineer football team)
I was a WVU graduate student during the 1960s, and recall several favorite places.
1. Friday night downtown on High Street always seemed to attract a mob of students, and ultimately we would always run into some old friends. It seemed that the entire university turned out especially during those first few weeks in the fall just prior to a home game, especially WVU vs. Pitt. As I recall other students saying, "This place is really jumping." Ultimately, we would head for a cold beer at one of the numerous hangouts. One unique place was a bar-dance hall called the Olympia located on the second floor above the local Pontiac dealer. There usually was a long line outside just to enter. Once inside the only way to move, if possible, was sideways through the most dense student population anywhere. Typically, there was a hot band like the Bonnevilles blasting the latest music, while possibly thousands of students were dancing, causing the floor (covered with at least a half inch of beer) to bounce up and down. I sometimes wondered if the floor might collapse onto all those nice new Pontiacs down on the first floor.
2. As a graduate student in the biological sciences, we didn't seem to have much free time. I do recall that Morgantown could be relatively hot and humid during much of the summer months. Very few university buildings had air-conditioning at the time. Fortunately, the Agricultural Sciences Building on the Evansdale campus did have AC, and nice labs and offices for grad students. The attractive buildings were another favorite place and a haven from the heat and humidity. I would return each evening after classes, do more laboratory research, and calculate resulting data usually until around 11:00 p.m., when our apartment would have cooled sufficiently to permit sleep.
3. Another favorite place was the WVU Medical Center library. It was always so busy, modern, and clean, with a wonderful collection of textbooks, and convenient stacks. Often, I would go over there to do some library research on a specific topic, find what I needed, and remain several more hours just reading some other "non-required" nicely written texts. It seemed like a utopian collection of everything one could ever want to know about any aspect of the biological sciences-I just knew this place had to be at least as good as Harvard Medical School, and possibly 400 years newer.
4. Other favorite places included the WVU
University Hospital and Blackwater Falls. We had heard there
were some really cute nurses on the 6th and 7th floors of the
hospital. Thus, I went to see and became acquainted with one,
Eileen Dorsey. We had our first meal together (lunch in the hospital
cafeteria) with lots of other cute nurses. Dating led to an engagement
and we enjoyed movies at any of the three theaters downtown on
High Street. I had been to Blackwater Falls State Park several
times. When Eileen and I were married, I included Blackwater
Falls lodge as the first stop on our honeymoon trip.
The dining room at the Lodge featured great food and a panoramic
view of the hills and valleys of West Virginia. After our marriage,
we remained in Morgantown for another year, where I was so proud
of my glamorous new wife, then the head nurse of WVU's first
coronary care unit.
Thirty-four years later, Eileen and I are parents of four daughters,
Lori Ann (and Christopher Payton), Christina (and Louis Preston
Jr.), Jennifer, Theresa, and two grandsons, Andrew and Noah-and
I'm still fortunate enough to remain employed full-time in research
and development for a producer of dental products, Ranir Corporation.
I also remain on the board of directors of a start-up company
I cofounded, Natura Inc., where we developed patented new food
ingredient technology, recently licensed out to another company.
Ronald J. Carlotti, MS '66, PhD '70
I still remember late-night sessions at Nick's Canteen-in fact, I still long for those subs. They were truly unique, as was Nick's way of doing hot dogs. Many a lunch was also enjoyed there, and the midnight trips were as regular as lunch.
Warren Napier, PhD '65
My favorite place in Morgantown during my school years there
was Nick's Canteen. It was a very small place with four stools
and a couple of small tables, big enough for two people. I may
be somewhat biased towards Nick's Canteen, because the owner
was my uncle (married to my father's sister) and I worked there
when I was still at Morgantown High School and later on when
I attended the university. I would socialize with the college
coeds as I served them their pitcher of beer and their cheeseburgers
with French fries. I remember them asking for wine glasses and
they would compete to see who was intoxicated first. Before the
building was demolished my father took over Nick's Canteen and
later on Nick's Lunch on Willey Street across from the Chemistry
building.
Let me tell you something about the owner, Nick. His name was
Nicholas L. Costianes, an immigrant from Zoupena, a small village
outside of Sparta, Greece. My uncle, shortly after immigrating
to the United States went into the U.S. Army and served in Europe
during WWI. Although very short in stature, around five feet
tall, that did not stop him for distinguishing himself for extraordinary
heroism in action. The enemy machine gun nests were directing
a constant hail of fire from several hidden directions. Costianes
and four other men were detailed to raid the enemy's shelters
near the outposts. This was an action calling for presence of
mind and dauntless courage. They filed out bravely from their
company's post of command and presently detected an enemy nest
camouflaged ahead with branches and brush. Their stealthy approach
having been discovered the machine gun sent for volleys or fire
to check their advance. "Come on boys, let's get them"
shouted Costianes, unflinchingly, exposing himself to the fire.
There were a number of Germans hidden in that nest. One of them
raised his bead above the protecting line. He was instantly seen.
Costianes raised his rifle with lightning speed and in another
moment the German fell back with outstretched hands, lifeless.
The remaining eleven Germans surrendered. The Distinguished Service
Cross was awarded him on September 7, 1918, when his commander-in-chief,
General Pershing, in the name of the President, pinned the cross
on his breast and shook his hand (see photo).
Nikolaos (Nick) Caravasos
Note: I make honorable mention of this
incident in my book, 'Recollections of Survival'. My recollections
are of WWII and the Greek Civil War that followed.
Your request for favorite hangouts hit a great nostalgic chord with me. As a 1982 grad, I have fond memories of playing backgammon in the cozy confines of the Chestnut Pub, seeing great live bands with my DA buddies at Ziegfeld's and making my dollars stretch a little farther with the cheap brews at Mario's Fishbowl. I saw my first punk band at the College Inn and still miss the all-time best beef burritos at Wings and Things. Good times, good times!
Mark Schaefer
BSJ '82
Hi, I graduated in '74, one of our favorite
spots was Mario's Fishbowl, we met our friends there and spent
many fun nights trying to break his records, both food and drink
. . . we never did. My now ex husband and his cousin came close
one night to breaking the most fishbowls consumed in a night
record needless to say, I drove home! My second favorite place
was the old mountaineer field in the fall, looking out over the
river and up on that mountain with all the fall colors, it was
beautiful . . . I have lived oversea's and have traveled and
seen a lot of beautiful sights, but that still is one of my favorites.
H. Blake
I don't know how long it has not been there, but in the 50s the place to go for a break from study was Jimmie's on fraternity row, also near the girls' dorms. One went out to dinner at one of the Communtzis for a special occasion. Later there was My Brothers downtown. It was Chico's Dairy for ice cream and on that same street (down there near the river), later there was a place-I think it was the Red Cellar-to go at night. Fun, fun, fun.
Diane Ash Podnar, '62
If you lived on or around Beechurst Ave, you probably spent time
at Chico's Dairy. I lived at 240 Beechurst and Chico's was close
buy. In the early 60s some of the basketball players lived on
the same street. I remember Willie Akers, and Jody Vincent, use
to run and open the double doors and announce that the king was
entering. Then came West who was a bit bashful even though he
was the biggest star in the country.
Bill Munsey '64
There was also a place where you could
get the best spaghetti-forgotten where and the there was a real
hole in the wall further down the hill where the gentleman made
the greatest hot dogs. And how could you not remember Comuntzi's.
I remember asking for a coffee milk, thinking I would get a coffee
milkshake and they brought me a cup of coffee and some milk.
They weren't used to a naive girl from MA. I didn't dare ask
for a frappe.
Virginia Smith Lamanna
'53 WVU
The old Lair! Some of the senior class from our high school went
to WVU for a workshop November 1958. One of the afternoons we
went there. Some of us gals (senior high school gals) went upstairs
and sat watching guys play ping-pong. One was extra good looking.
We gals watched as that group played. He looked up and smiled.
I was sure he was smiling at one of the other girls. Anyhow,
it was ME he was smiling at . . . we talked, danced in the Lair
and starting dating.
When I started as a freshmen in September of '59, I went to all
the dances there weekends. That place was great! Lots of great
old rock and roll bands played there and I was there dancing.
I did not marry that guy, but he is still "there" in
Morgantown (I think) and worked at WVU-may still be working or
retired-Stan Kloc.
Lois Santora
I think some of my recollections pre-dates some of the suggestions
you have made. But I'll send my 2¢ worth and see if you
get other old timers to mention the same ones.
1. The Rendevous-going down High St., I believe in the third
block, turn left up an alley and was on the right. This is fall
of '42; not there when I returned to school in '46. Beer and
sodas, etc. there.
2. Chico's Dairy-down the street running by old fieldhouse. Made
the best ice cream, sodas, and sundae's. Almost as good as the
Dairy Bar in the basement of Oglebay Hall.
3. The roller skating rink-in Sabraton, I think.
4. The Presbyterians had a house or place a couple blocks to
the left of High Street on th street in front of the big methodist
church.
5. Then alas, the sandwich shop just below the Delt house and
just up from Men's Dorm. Been too long, can't remember the street
names, nor the places much.
James E. Johnson
BS '48
Wesley Foundation was my favorite place to spend free time while
I was at WVU in the 1950s. It was located in the rooms atop the
Gymnasium Annex of Wesley Methodist Church and was open seven
days a week, including evenings.
About five percent of WVU's total enrollment participated in
the Foundation's programs, and all students were welcome, although
the majority had a conservative Methodist heritage. Otherwise
they were a typical cross-section of WVU's student body.
Many enduring friendships and marriages began at the Foundation
and today, fifty years later ,there is an active Wesley Foundation
Alumni organization that holds reunions in Morgantown.
Joseph D. Parriott
The Dungeon still remains the benchmark in late night social
activity.
Michael Stolarczyk
BS '86