Whatever Happened to Him?

I received a note from loyal Herald reader Linda Cope this week. She wrote,

In reading the “75 years Ago” section in the Feb. 22, 2020 edition, a question came to mind after reading of Norbert Rhodes, who in 1945 wrote a letter from his POW camp. This caused me to wonder if he came home from the war. If so, did he continue to live in the Cove area?

This often happens when I read the looking-back section. I guess I always want to see how things turn out. I would find it interesting if there was a follow-up column where people could offer their knowledge of someone or some event that was mentioned in this section.

When I first started reading the Herald, it was the “10 Years Ago” section where I had personal knowledge, now I'm up to the 50-year section, which was the year I graduated from college. I lived in the area, taught for 36 years at NBC HS, and after retirement moved to the Reading area, and I enjoy keeping in the know.

Linda, thank you very much for reading the Herald and for your suggestion.

Unfortunately, the Herald does not have the manpower to routinely follow up on Years Ago columns. But we would be happy to tap the power of the Cove’s collective memory. (I believe that these days they call this “ crowdsourcing.” See? I can be hip and cool.)

So, Herald readers, if you see something in a Years Ago column that strikes a chord in your memory, please write to inform us. We will be happy to publish your memory for the benefit of other Herald readers while also celebrating your keen memory.

Send your memory to news@mcheraldonline.com or by the postal service to 113 N. Market St., Martinsburg 16662.

We will publish your memory, give you credit and answer someone’s question, all at once.

John H. Bassler

I’ll be happy to launch the first response.

In the Feb. 6, 2020, edition of the Herald, the “75 Years Ago” column stated that the Herald of Feb. 8, 1945, reported that John H. Bassler of Roaring Spring had won the Combat Infantryman Badge for superior performance of duty in action against the enemy in France and Germany.

The Herald article noted that John H. Bassler, 22, was married to June F. Bassler and had (at that point) been in the service of the U.S. Army for two years.

Back to 2020. I am happy to report that John H. Bassler was awarded a Purple Heart for an injury but did return safely from fighting World War II in Europe. John H. Bassler is the grandfather of me, Allan, the Herald’s current publisher.

John and June built a house on Garver Street in Roaring Spring and lived there for many years. John was a founding member of the Roaring Spring Lions Club and was a proud Lions Club member his entire life.

John worked for many years as the grocery store manager of the Department Store. He retired when the Department Store moved from its location in downtown Roaring Spring, near what was then the Appleton paper mill.

John lived a long and full life and earned the love and respect of many, including his grandson, who would often stay up late with his pap, listening to stories of the war.

Because of his job at the Department Store and his membership in the Lions Club, John was known to many people in the Cove. Although he had a certain reserve, he was always friendly to others and rarely spoke ill of anyone.

In his retirement, he continued his service to his country and his community by serving for several years as Roaring Spring’s zoning officer. He resigned from that job only when physical ailments made it impossible for him to continue.

One of the great sadnesses of my life is that John never knew that his grandson had become the owner of the Herald. John and June were loyal Herald readers their entire lives. I remember that each edition of the Herald would lay on the living room table until it was replaced by the newest edition. For my grandparents, “The Herald” was the baseline of reference for what was going on in the Cove. The rumors might fly and might even be repeated, but if it wasn’t in the Herald, it didn’t actually happen.

John died without illness or warning on Oct. 24, 2006. I was in negotiations to buy the Herald but was bound by a pre-purchase agreement not to tell anyone. As anyone who knows me knows, I am a rule-follower and I followed that rule. Only my wife Karen, who was a co-purchaser, knew that I was in negotiations to buy the Herald.

John died before the purchase contract was signed, so he never knew that his grandson had become the owner and publisher of the Morrisons Cove Herald. He would have been very proud.

June died in 2015, in the month for which she was named. John and June had been married on June 28, 1942, so his death in 2006 marked 64 years of marriage. Yes, June was born in June, married in June and died in June.

They are buried side-by-side at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Their shared tombstone reads, “Together Forever.”

Thanks for reading.