By:

Howard R. Gain

June 29, 2005

Betty and I stopped by my old home place and farm in West Virginia on our return trip from the 2005 "GAYP" checker tournament that was held in Dublin, OH during 17-24 June 2005. While there I visited our local town, Salem, WV, and strolled awhile on the sidewalks. Old memories returned as I focused for a few minutes on Ancle's Newsstand in the middle of town. I recalled my dad and me visiting Ancle in his newsstand many times in the early 1940's for a few games of checkers. Ancle was stricken with polio in his younger days I was told that affected his speech, and crippled his legs. He relied on his "horseshoe" counter in his newsstand to support him as he moved about. He was a terrific checker player though and he really loved the game. Ancle passed away a few years ago, but his newsstand remains in the same location, preserved as a historic site by the city of Salem. Below is a photograph of his newsstand as it appears today.