Ashley Hunt Tennant

Ashley selling Downtown Grill

Ashley Hunt Tennant is selling the Downtown Grill at 323 Adams Street in Fairmont. She opened the restaurant early this year.

Ashley’s father is Brian Coleman (Mr. Hoagie), who spent four weeks in the West Penn Burn Center after a 2014 fire that destroyed the home of Brian and Ann Coleman.

Ashley’s mother is Paula “P.J.” Hickman, North Marion Class of 1983 who started at Monongah High before the consolidation into North Marion. Her stepfather is Odis Martin of Fairmont.

Brian recovered to resume his Mr. Hoagie business in several Marion County locations.

Ashley is a Marion County substitute teacher after graduating from North Marion High and Fairmont State. She is involved in charitable work or helping out those in need after a crisis.

Middletown Mall to be auctioned off August 30

The Middletown Mall, which was built in 1969, will go on the public auction block at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 30 at the Marion County Courthouse, 219 Adams Street, Fairmont.

Stephen K. Shuman and Robert Louis Shuman once owned the mall, before it folded and has been empty for a while.

The winning bidder has to write a check for $250,000 on auction day and then complete the terms of the sale.

Middletown Mall was the first enclosed mall to open in north central West Virginia. But as competing malls went up, in Clarksburg and Morgantown, more and more business was siphoned away.

It doesn't help that Marion County has the lowest median per capita income of any county in West Virginia. People who don't have spare money can't spend it anywhere.

I remember walking through the Middletown Mall nearly a decade ago. It was like an eerie ghost mall.

Vandals have had a field day ravaging it.

When Elder-Beerman moved out, that began the freefall.

Crown American of Pennsylvania, Middletown Investments, Pine Lake, Southland Properties and Pin Oak are owners’ names attached to the property as it stumbled to its death.

For an interesting video tour of the Middletown Mall, click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtdCExjiwec&sns=em

There have been more than 450 glass companies in West Virginia.

Monongah Glass Company was only around from 1904 till it was purchased by Hocking in the early 1930s.

But the glass made by Monongah Glass still is for sale on eBay and other Internet sites, including Cat Lady Kate’s Elegant and Depression Glass at www.CatladykatesGlass.com  The prices are at or close to $200 per glass.

Monongah’s Springtime etch, with center motif of Isidora Duncan dancing with scarves surrounded by swags, was copied by Hocking as its Cameo depressing glass.

Other famous Monongah Glass pieces are the Bo-Peep etch, and the subject is Bo-Peep who lost her sheep in the famous rhyme; Roseland, arching flowers with stem and double wreaths and four ribbon streams that look like arrows; and Secretaries Primrose, five-petaled flowers grouped into bouquets.

The Monongah Glass factory opened in Fairmont in 1904 and, in 1908, made 144,000 pieces every hour! In 1933, the glass plant closed. It was built by William Riley Hickman, who was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania and married Frances Anna Martin.

As they did in the coal miners, fathers brought their children with them to work in the Monongah Glass factor. The dad got $1.75 a day, the children 80 cents to $1.25 depending on their ages.

I’ve never been able to find out why it was called Monongah Glass Company when the plant and home office were in Fairmont. If you have authentic proof, email the URL to me at jo4wvu@neo.rr.com Thank you.

Chancey’s Grill may not re-open

Vince Fazio, 2009 North Marion High grad who took over Chancey’s Grill, 1602 Locust Avenue, Fairmont, has distressing news connected to the cold weather that’s freezing pipes all over Marion County:

“I'm sorry everyone; the break is pretty major in multiple spots and we will not be open until further notice.” 

Later, Vince said there are other issues that may make it impossible for his to re-open the restaurant ever.

Vince’s parents are Nancy Fazio, who passed away in 2005, and Steve Fazio. Steve’s parents were Renzy Fazio and Frances Olesky Fazio.

That makes Vince my first cousin, once removed, since Renzy married my dad’s sister.