Time Travel: Bridgeport Junior High '38 Football Team and a 1960s Look at the Clarksburg Baptist Church
By Dick Duez on July 12, 2026 from History Blog
This is the team photo taken of the 1938 Bridgeport Junior High squad in a photo showing the individuals facing Orchard Avenue on the grounds of what today is Heritage Christian School. The names shown were provided to Dick Duez by Bob Faris years ago. Pictured, from left, in front row are Bob Woofter, Darrell Orr, Benny Swartz, unknown, Bill Swiger, Jim White, and Paul Shrader; middle, from left, are Junior Slaughter, Manuel Ovies, Bill Dunn, Eugene McEldowney, Harry Green, Calvin Harrington, and James Anderson; standing are, from left, Dale White, manager, Jimmy Cook, manager, Bob Faris, Charlie Kinney, Gene Cottrill, Dominick Fragmin, Art Rutter, Bill Hood, Cris Fernandez, Tony Raffelo (John Kanduff Jr.) and Coach Neil Sappington.
This photo from the West Virginia Regional and History Center shows the Clarksburg Baptist Church that is still in business today in downtown Clarksburg. Although the Esso Station shown is no longer there as the area serves as a parking lot for the church and for the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center. The photo is believed to be from 1960. The church was organized in 1848. It was for many years called First Baptist Church of Clarksburg and services were held in the courthouse until a church building was dedicated in 1853, according to the History Center.
Editor's Note: This ongoing photo feature of pictures from Bridgeport and throughout the Mountain State is part of local historian Richard "Dick" Duez's collection. Duez, the unofficial historian of Bridgeport, would appreciate any scanned photos emailed to him for use here or to include in his ongoing efforts to preserve local history. You can email photos, or let him know how to acquire copies of photos you may have in your possession, to Duez at at dick@duez.ws
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