Published: October 12, 2008 10:27 pm            

Staying in touch

Frank Spevock still keeping people connected

FAIRMONT — Frank Spevock has been turning out his Circuit Rider newsletter at Owens-Illinois since 1947.

He started his Montana Mines community newsletter in 1954. His Owens glassworkers’ newsletter began in 1981 when the plant shut down and all the employees at O-I became former employees.

He had a weekly radio show on WTCS for 40 years.

Frank Spevock has been linked with so many people for so many years with his various publications. But he says of himself, “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”

If Frank were a sinner, more sinners are needed in this world.

Frank Spevock is clearly one of Marion County’s “Everyday Heroes.”



Frank keeps busy

Let’s look at some of the things Frank has done regularly for up to 60 years.

That’s how long he has edited the Circuit Rider.

“It’s a church-community paper. It involves birthdays, anniversaries and memorials. I started this in 1947 with 50 people and ended up with 850.

“I’ve also put out a Montana Mines community newsletter. It was almost monthly, and I’ve been doing this for a lot of years.”

His radio hymn program on WTCS aired for more than 40 years until his health problems intervened.

“We started it (Owens newsletter) after the factory shut down. Those people were tied together with lots of friendship. They had all sorts of friendship gestures and went on bus trips and things like that. We thought it nice to make a newsletter and keep them in touch.”

He said there are 350 being sent out.

“The people seem really glad to find out where other folks are. That comes out every two months now. It used to come out every month.

“We also send out a newsletter for our high school class that graduated in 1943 for the ones who are still living and the ones who are departed. We try to tie the people together — with love and friendship.”

Something he’s mighty proud of is the Memorial Cross.

“We have a big cross here, a Memorial Cross. That is sponsored from time to time by different people in memory of their loved ones. We keep it burning from dusk until midnight.”



He stocks up

Frank Spevock is quick to admit he still works with the old-fashioned mimeograph machine.

Most of the younger generation have never hard of these things, but as Frank said, “I think we have the only one in West Virginia.”

His secret is stocking up on supplies.

“A school teacher found out on a computer the fact we can get stencils and correction fluid from Japan, Venezuela and Mexico. When computers came in, mimeographs went off the market. There was a time when offices, schools, churches, everyone had mimeograph machines.

“I’m just going to do this as long as I can,” he said.

55 years in Montana Mines

Frank and his wife Helen have lived in Montana Mines for 55 years.

“Rivesville is my hometown. This is Helen’s hometown here,” he pointed out.

“I moved here in 1953 when we got married. We have two sons who are in construction work. They had a big part in developing Northwood Estates out by Pricketts Fort.

“I peddled papers when I was a kid out in Rivesville. My brothers also peddled the Fairmont papers. We’ve had the Times West Virginian come into out home all our life. We always looked forward to going to the tube and bringing it in.”



Went to New York

In 1940, Frank was one of the 24 newspaper carriers who went to New York for the World’s Fair in a promotion sponsored by the Fairmont newspapers.

“I remember Dave Cerisano was one of the others. We later both worked at Owens. We both had about 35 years there.”

He recalls the train coach the boys stayed in traveling to New York.

“We went to the Statue of Liberty,” he said. “I remember walking clear up to the crown. We visited the Empire State Building. We were all in our middle teens at the time.”

He has also done a considerable amount of layman’s work in the churches.

“The two Morgan churches above Rivesville — they’re both closed now, but I put in about 10 years working out there as a layman.

“I’ve done about 250 funerals myself. But I had to give that up.

“We’ve tried to work with anyone who is workable — all under the Christian banner.”

Over the years, he has made many speaking engagements, had a Christian slide presentation for 40 years, been a local Christian historian for 44 years, sponsored the annual Circuit Rider Sing for 29 years and served on the board of the Union Rescue Mission and the Montana Mines Improvement Association — the latter for more than 40 years.

He said his wife was postmaster of Montana Mines for 25 years. She’s been pianist at their church for 35 or 40 years.

Health problems have slowed down Frank in recent years as they have for most people his age. He is 82.

“I have a blockage, and they can’t operate or can’t put stints in,” Spevock said. “I have to try medication.”

Spevock had prostate cancer and then suffered from melanoma.

“I’m just sorry I can’t do as much as I used to.”

E-mail John Veasey at jcveasey@timeswv.com.

        

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