Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club on track to honor Shive
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PARKERSBURG -- The Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club will honor one of its own on Saturday.
Harold Shive was a long-time, important and beloved member of the club and his memory will be honored at the second annual model train open house bearing his name from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the club's recently refurbished facility in the rear basement of NOE Office Equipment at 610 Green St. in downtown Parkersburg.
Shive, a respected New Jersey native who passed away at age 90 in 2019, served the model railroad club as the editor and publisher of the club newsletter, librarian and printer of the club advertising brochures, business cards and event flyers.
A proud United States Air Force veteran, Shive, a staff sergeant, also was a key member of the club's N scale and S scale groups and represented the club at functions with his traveling model train layouts.
Widely known, "Hal" was a staple at the club's annual show and sale and open houses, all the while serving as president of the National Amateur Press Association and operating Harold's Quick Print and Old Harold's Print Shoppe in Pennsboro where he also published his "Break Time" pamphlets containing bits of country wisdom, crossword and jigsaw puzzles and stories about his many golf and bowling outings.
"Mr. Shive was a first-class gentleman and a great role model for many of us in the model railroad club," said member Mark Suek, a long-time friend who worked with Shive on many club projects. "Harold knew how to treat people and earned the respect of all our members as well as our regular guests. He was all about giving and we certainly miss him, and his many skills and contributions to the club. Although Hal was knowledgeable about many different subjects, particularly the printing business and operation of its equipment, he was always willing to learn something new. Hal had a great sense of humor and a quick wit. He also knew how to tell a story."
In the year prior to his death, Shive was the first person in the now 42-year history of the Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club to be honored with a life membership.
Saturday's annual Harold Shive Memorial Open House, formerly known as the Armed Forces Day Open House, will feature model trains, old and new, running in HO, O, N and G scales on multiple highly-detailed layouts, many of which feature vignettes of Parkersburg from bygone days and historic local events. Members of the Shive family will be present at the open house, as will a large contingent from the National Model Railroad Association Coal Division, visiting Parkersburg for meetings and model train layout tours.
The family-oriented event is free and is among four open houses hosted by the club. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with 62 members and is always accepting applications for new members. The club is led by four officers and a board of directors, including President Jonathan Insley of Marietta, Vice President Joel Kachel of Woodsfield, Treasurer Ed Baranoski of Parkersburg and Secretary Mark Suek of Vienna. Additional board members are Jimmie Bee of Parkersburg and Joe Stephens of Vienna.