A dip into Monongah history

Mary Jane McDaniel Pritchard, who passed away at age 64 from a massive stroke 27 years ago today, was the daughter of Monongah Streetcar Stationmaster Ted McDaniel.   Mary Jane and John Charles Pritchard’s daughters are Jane “Nene” Pritchard Moore, Class of 1975; Beth Pritchard Brooks, Class of 1978, and Jonna Pritchard Barnett, who was in the first graduation class at North Marion in 1980 after going to Monongah High for three years, and is married to Shinnston High grad Brad Barnett.   Ironically, the Pritchard daughters’ father’s demise was tied to the rails, too, but it was a train. John Charles Pritchard was killed in a train accident at the age of 42. Nene was 11, Beth was 8 and Jonna was turning 7 the next day.   Nene wrote:   “Life definitely changed for all of us that day. I never felt like a child again.”   Mary Jane reared the three girls as a widow.   Her siblings are Jo Ann McDaniel Huff, Class of 1949, who lives in Worthington; Donald McDaniel; and Jim McDaniel, Class of 1960, who lives with wife Mary Faust McDaniel, in Rehobothbeach, Delaware.