Amelia with one of her many Easter cards

Love poems to Amelia from a grateful town

By John Olesky, Monongah High Class of 1950

When Monongah coal miners went on strike in the 1940s seeking safety and survivable income, Pete and Nell Shenasky, owners of the P.P.  Shenasky Grocery next to Thoburn School, let their families run up grocery tabs so their children wouldn’t go hungry.

When the strikes ended, some as long as eight months, the miners would work off the tremendous “loan” as quickly as they could. The only interest Pete and Nell had was in aiding its customers.

Monongah never forgot the Shenasky helping hand when its residents needed it the most.

So, for Easter, 84 Easter cards have reached Amelia Shenasky Zentz, 98, with more on the way, in response to a “bombard Amelia with love” suggestion from Mary Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968, who lives on Lyndon Avenue in Monongah.

The goal is to have 98 cards, one for each of Amelia's years on this Earth.

It’s a “thank-you” from grateful people with memories that go back eight decades.

Many of the cards, such as the one with Jackie Olesky Straight, Class of 1955, recall the generosity and kindness of Amelia’s parents and their blonde daughter behind the counter who was beautiful enough to be a model.

Kitty and Personnel administrative assistant Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, the angel of Thomas Street who led the Charge of the Lights Brigade that put 21 Christmas street lights in Monongah, visit Amelia often. Their emotions ping-pong between delight and amazement.

Amelia was the blonde behind the counter of her parents’ grocery store. Amelia and Nell, her mother, handed out free candy to the children of the parents who shopped at P.P.’s place.

Amelia was amazing then and now.

She was a fantastic dancer and was invited to compete in ballroom dancing in New York City. As Amelia recalled, “When I was 19, I went to New York City and danced in the Cotton Club.”

Her partner, the late Walt DeWitt, was her dancing partner for years, including in West Virginia. They were the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers of Monongah.

Joining Amelia behind the Shenasky counter was Bruce Zentz, her husband. In 1968 George Shaw built their Dairy Kone on property that once housed Joe Hanus’ garage. It was across U.S. 19 where children played baseball in the 1940s and where brothers Angelo and Alec Catania built the Sinclair service station that covered part of the baseball field where children played before the Catania family  -- father, the brothers and two sisters – moved to Covina, California.

Belinda Morgan Sheppard, Class of 1969, recalls working for Bruce and Amelia for three summers (1975-1977). “I loved working there,” Belinda writes. “They even gave me a baby shower in 1977.”

After 18 years, Bruce and Amelia – married for 55 years -- sold the Dairy Kone to Chris Martin, Monongah’s #1 photographer, who had worked for the Zentz couple for a few years.

Later owners were Patty McCombs, Milton Hurley, Larry and Donna Anderson, Gary and Diane Masters and Lloyd and Sandra Parrish.

Pete and Nell bought the Shenasky building from Mr. Martin in 1921. Pete, who passed away at the age of 69, sold the building to John Boggess, son of Evelyn Kasper Boggess, Class of 1953, and retired coal miner Okey Boggess, who still owns the building today.

Amelia and Bruce also accumulated a roomful of bowling trophies. This woman could do anything, including play a wicked around of golf that brought her more trophies. But, most of all, she could make the children of Monongah smile with a few pieces of free candy and a “welcome!” greeting.

Bruce passed away years ago from Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS, amyotropic lateral sclerosis), after 55 years of marriage to Amelia. Her brother, dentist Dr. John Henry Shenasky, also passed away.

Amelia is as famous in Monongah as Amelia Earhart was to the world with her solo flights into history and death.

At 98, Amelia has a fantastic memory. You mention a name from Monongah’s past and Amelia is an encyclopedia of their life events.

When I phoned Amelia once, and said, “This is John Jr. Olesky,” the almost-century-old Amelia responded: “Johnny and Lena’s boy, on Church Street. I remember you and your sister, Jackie,” Class of 1955, who today lives in Rivesville and sent Amelia an Easter card with a note thanking the Shenaskys for letting the Oleskys avoid starvation and the free candy.

Astounding! Many of us can’t remember what we ate yesterday, but Amelia recalls accurately, without prompting, what happened in 1940 and 1950 to people in Monongah. They aren’t even her family. Actually, they ARE her family, thus the out-pouring of Easter cards to the lady who lives on Shenasky Lane, which was renamed to honor her family.

Coal mining towns do not forget incredible acts of kindness and generosity. The dear hearts and gentle people who live in Monongah are repaying Pete and Nell’s daughter.

There isn’t a movie made that can beat this emotional payback.

John Olesky graduated from Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic elementary school and Monongah High School, in 1950, before attending Fairmont State for a year before graduating from West Virginia University School of Journalism and embarking on a 43-year newspaper career as founder of the West Virginia High School All-State selections, 15 years as a sportswriter, later a newsroom electronics coordinator, State Desk assistant editor and Television Editor. He retired in 1996 and has traveled to 56 countries and 44 states and has had season tickets to Mountaineer Field for more than 30 years, thanks for his Monongah upbringing and education.

When I phoned Amelia on Easter Sunday to wish her a Happy Easter, she reminded me that she was the 1935 Marion County jitterbug champ and that she still can "kick her leg up." Oh, yeah!!!