Pocahontas High School Class of 1989 Reunion Picnic
October 8th, 2011
Boissevain Coal Miner's Memorial Park
Front row left to right: Cassandra Sabo, Pamela
Smith Belcher, Stephanie
Byrd Long, Michelle McKinney Lijoi, Michael McKinney,
Kimberly Harrison
Small, Donna Rash Lo. Back row left to right: Tracy
Carter, Larry Powers
Jr, Rachel Payne Morrow, Jamie Asbury.
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I have such good memories of the 4 years at Poca.
One of my favorites is the day we planned our “sneak day” when we were seniors. Edna Beasley (Dalton) had
an old car her grandfather had given her. Peggy Goodman (Gragg), Reba Fern Collins (Gibson), Adrian Edmondson
(Farmer), Edna Beasley (Dalton), myself Geraldine Lowry (Fox) all crammed into Edna’s car with smoke coming out the
windows; of course we were smoking cigarettes. We went up to Bluefield and had fun all day.
We were all best friends and were like sisters.
I feel so sad when I visit the area and see all the
buildings falling in and high school closed.
Geraldine Lowry Fox – Class of 1956
_____
Greatest place in the world to have grown up in. Had lots of good times with all my friends. We never
had a lack of something to do. We made and found these things. Remember the caves, elephant’s foot, swimming in
the mud hole up Butt's Hollow or at the sink hole in the Bluestone River. It's a shame that most of all this is now
gone. See all of you this summer. Come by and see Carol and I. We live in the Valley at Carol's Family
from April until Oct or Nov.
Robert Whitworth - Class of 1954
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Since Pocahontas
High School closed, I’m developing a yearbook collection to help preserve the history of the school. I have
over 65 yearbooks. Some are original and some are copies. However, I have some gaps. I need the following
years to copy or to collect if you wish to donate - 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945.
I can be reached by telephone 304-327-8202 or email for references. Email is as follows: ejm111@frontiernet.net. Please help
me to preserve the school history.
Ed McQuail
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The Pocahontas graduating class of 1959 held its 50th reunion with a breakfast at Ryan’s
in Bluefield, Va on October 10, 1959. Games were played and prizes were won by several classmates. We also learned that the
smell in the halls at the school were not caused, by someone who had eaten too many beans or rotten eggs in someone's
locker, but was caused by one Denny Presley letting propane gas leak in the Lab. It is really interesting what you find out
at these reunions. Some of us managed to keep our secrets safe for now. It was cold and raw that Saturday, but a few of us
brave souls walked around Pocahontas, and talked about then and now, and attended the Pumpkin Festival on Peel Chestnut
Mountain. I really enjoyed seeing all my classmates and will just say "Let's do it again!"
P.S It may also be noted that Gordon Gillespie's
wife gave birth when she was age 50. A mighty handsome lad he is.
Barbara Mathena Shrader - Class of 1959
_____
My good memory is seeing the Town now as it was in the days of growing up there.
Jack Barker - Class of 1954
