……We have a mystery dear readers! George Hines brought Shannon a print ad he had found from a newspaper of years ago. It was a “Vote for John D. Herron” ad that was unique. It described what he did and how he did it. I looked at his picture and would have said early 60’s. What we don’t know is who wrote the poem. J.B. Camilli, a local bail bondsman and sometimes candidate wrote on years ago, but this isn’t it. Here it is:
……Vote for John D. Herron, Republican, Clay District, Justice of the Peace
“Oh it’s early in the morning when the telephone gives warnin’. That’s there’s telephone brewing for the coming day. Mr J.P. come a runnin’ cause my husband’s for me gunnin’ And I want him under Peace Bond right away
Oh, there’s damages to be collected And, there’s children who are neglected They all want there troubles settled right away. State Police with electric timers Deputies with petty crimers And the J.P. has another busy day.
Justice of the Peace they call them Judging damages and mayhem Bringing everything from happiness to tears But in spite of rigor. Here I am just full of vigor. Ready to serve you for another four years.
So. When Election Day rolls round. If your ears been to the ground There’s one man you should vote for all the way For there’s sure to be no errin’ If you vote for John D. Herron He will give you real justice every day
………I have no idea who wrote this. Why it seems folksie. Kinda Mayberry and Andy Griffith, I think it’s genius. Dad always said you run FOR yourself, not against anyone else and this poem points out the many duties that job held and that he lived that job 24-hours-a-day. I know I didn’t write it. It’s not my Mom or Dad’s style nor Marsha’s. A couple names come to mind: Raymond Ewing (he was a JP,too, but they were good friends.) Rex Cowey was always a good friend. And, Dad was a good friend with a newspaper publisher of the WV Hillbilly, Jim Comstock. It was printed in the Courier, and maybe, just maybe it was Hughie Tate. Hughie worked on a lot of Bill Webster’s campaigns and it’s Hughie’s style.
Anyone, have any ideas. It’s pre-1970 cause he wore a checked jacket in that campaign shoot.
…….You’ll soon be inundated with election ads. How I wish we could go back to the non-attack ads and just talk about how the candidate could do the job.
……A few shorts. Hancock County Chrysler, Jeep and Ram has been sold to someone called RB out of Philadelphia. Word is the new owner is keeping all the employees. Good to see it stay in the County. Another new business in New Cumberland. The old Ice Dogs up near the Magistrate’s Office has opened up a breakfast/lunch bar. I stopped and got a sandwich. It was good and it’s great to have someplace to have coffee. With a new roof on the old Wickes restaurant, I feel someone is coming to town. Heard two rumors, “Nana’s restaurant from Weirton and someone with an arcade shop.”
…….About the CVB’s move to the old Walmart shopping plaza. I’m sure its more cost efficient. The old location was an albatross and I never did understand how it met the mission. But, I find it so ironic that the CVB which was formed with $15,000.00 in the original racetrack video lottery bill in Hancock County has not only deviated from it’s mission, but its location. The late Jeanne Ann Chetock was it’s first director and the office was at Mountaineer. The mission was always to attract tourists to Hancock County. I know things have changed and the majority of the hotel/motel tax comes from Brooke County, but when the CVBs were created it is not what the bills’ sponsors, the late Del Sam Love and I had in mind.