(Look Back with Bob Enoch - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

Suggest Buying Stadium Bonds

Efforts are being made, it was learned today, to induce the city school board to purchase all of the bonds of the high school stadium corporation in order that the stadium may be fully controlled by the school system, with the possibility of returning to 50-cent football.

Legion Boxing Comm. To Meet

Fred Cochran, chairman of the American Legion boxing committee and a prominent nominee for a position on the West Virginia boxing commission, said today that the Parkersburg chapter had so far made no plans for moving the Belpre arena from its present site to a location in, or near this city. An outstanding schedule of bouts is planned for the summer season here and work on the moving of the arena will be started as soon as the group reaches a definite decision on the location for the bowl.

The Parkersburg Sentinel

March 26, 1931

***

Duck Pin Men Will Organize

Paul Bowers of the Recreation alleys said today that plans were underway for the formation of a duck pin league which will likely begin its schedule around April 6. The eight leading duck pin bowlers will captain the eight teams and everything possible will be done to make the teams of equal strength.

Duck pin bowling has fallen off here in the past few years but Bowers said that a number of local pin smashers were anxious to affiliate with the new circuit.

Pittsburgh Will Play Charleston

Manager Dick Hoblitzell’s Charleston Senators [WV] will play the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League in Charleston on May 5, according to an announcement made today. The Pirates will drop off for the game on their western swing and they have guaranteed owner Watt Powell that a first-string lineup will be used throughout the fray.

Bowlers Will Go To Buffalo

The Otto and Otto five-man bowling team will leave here Sunday morning for Buffalo, N.Y. where they are entered in the American Bowling Congress competition. They will bowl as a team on Monday with the singles and doubles matched scheduled for Tuesday.

Those expecting to make the trip include Ben Dorn, A.M. Otto, Herbert Wile, F.S. Radcliffe and Gene Kramer.

The Parkersburg Sentinel

March 28, 1931

***

STORKS WIN 2ND STRAIGHT BY 8-2 SCORE

Assuming a six-run lead in the initial frame as a result of Moore’s wildness and several solid bingles, the Stork Bakers won their second game of the second half schedule with an 8-2 decision over the Franklin Embalmers last night.

Several balls fell safe in right field because of the strong wind which was carrying the sphere out of Manager Franklin’s range. An exceptionally strong wind swept the field during the first two innings and made fly balls hard to gauge.

The line-up for Stork was: Hushion, ss; Whitlatch, lf; M. Baker, 1b; Melchori, c; Neal, rf; McGrew, cf; H. Peppers, 3b; Dowler, 2b; Whaley, p.

Franklin’s line-up was: Duckworth, 3b; Sperry, 1b; Guinther, lf; Hemsley, c; Louiseau, cf; Oliver, ss; Tryan, 2b; Franklin, rf; Moore, p; Quillen, p.; Young, c.

Whaley held his opponents to five hits, two of which were spanked out by Duckworth. He hit a home run in the third when his hard liner through the box bounced bad to McGrew and rolled into deep center.

The Parkersburg Sentinel

July 3, 1931

***

WILLIAMSTOWN TEAM BEATEN

Artcraft Studio kittenball team defeated the Williamstown Independents by a 4 to 1 score on the Williamstown diamond last night. Mooney struck out 14 of the upriver batters and permitted only one hit. It was one of the best played games all year.

Artcraft’s roster–Frezza, cf; McCullough, 2b; Joseph, ss; P. Mooney, p; Congrove, c; Russell, 3b; Kimes lf;

Freed, 1b; Turner, ss; T. Mooney, rf.

Williamstown–s. Fitch, c; Patterson, 3b; F. Fitch, ss; Hanley, p; Joy, 2b; Scott, lf; Bonnet, 1b; Hart, cf; Varner, rf.

The Parkersburg Sentinel

Aug. 18, 1931

***

Kittenball — Originated in the 1880s as an indoor game. Adult players used a short bat, and the ball was considerably larger and soft. The sport evolved into today’s game of softball.

***

Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.