The History of OTR

The first recorded, 'O-ficial' Old Timers Reunion was held on Labor Day, 1950, at the Worden Hotel in Davis, West Virginia. Besides providing the opportunity for caving in the area, the event had been organized to honor Felix Robinson who had recently recovered from a prolonged illness. Forty-five cavers attended the gathering, and explored eight caves. From the September, 1950, NSS NEWS: "...the weekend proved such a huge success that the group unanimously voted to repeat it every Labor Day as an NSS Pilgrimage to Davis..."

By 1952, attendance was up to 65, and an annual trek to the Sinks of Gandy Creek was instituted. All those who went the whole way were inducted into the "IBINTHRUTHESINKS CLUB", a forerunner of the Ohio Grotto of the NSS. Rappelling demonstrations were held from the garret of the hotel, the Davis VFD gave rides to cavers on the fire truck, and square dancing in the street was popular for several years.

In 1955, OTR moved to Dahmer's Hotel in Franklin, WV (later the Franklin Hotel) where partying went from room to room. Registration was $1.00, and NSS members with numbers under 100 were given special privileges. A highlight in 1957, was a treasure hunt in Schoolhouse Cave. McCoy's Mill hosted the 1958, OTR, but the 1959-60, OTR's were moved to the Kelley Hotel in Marlinton, WV with camping at Watoga State Park and the Sugar shack.

1961 saw OTR moved back to McCoy's Mill for over a decade of gatherings in the Franklin area. Here many traditions were made and others broken. Several awards which were given then include "The Little Brown Jug" to the biggest, continuous lush; the "Party-Pooper-of-the-Year" to the former partier gone sober; "the Granny-of-the-Year" to a lady who had appeared to have stopped caving; and the "Life-of-the-Party" which needs no explanation. After all the awards had been given, the OTR chairman always called out: "....so let's have a BRANEWPARDY!".

Some of the fun activities at the Mill included a rescue contest organized by PSC members with a "dummy" victim of coveralls stuffed with newspapers and rocks, a road rally around the Sites/Sinnett Cave roads, a pulley swing from high rocks down into Thorn Creek, and matching names with baby pictures. There was always a fried chicken picnic dinner on Saturday night, and the annual banquet Sunday night catered by the ladies of the Legion Post. We had the whole use of the Mill with dancing upstairs and folk songs and hollering downstairs. PSC brought their club store so cavers could replace equipment and buy Carbide. We thought OTR was really getting crowded when the Sunday night banquet at the Mill had to be held in two shifts! The next year we had the banquet at the Thorn Spring Pavilion.

Do you remember Don Cournoyer and his whistle? The Canadian bag pipers playing at 6:00 AM? The rescue at Hell Hole? Doing the limbo? Dancing a polka? "Something for everyone and a little for me"? The Mill stuffed with balloons one Sunday night? Turning watches back so we wouldn't have to close up the dancing and frolicking a 2:00 AM?

The 1971, OTR chairman claims to be responsible for making the party the highlight of OTR. He was the first to use black lights, strobe lights, color wheels, and posters. From then on the party was the big event. We thought we'd made the big time when 500 people attended in 1971, and a few of them came from as far away as the Windy City Grotto!

The 1976, OTR was moved to a 4-H Camp near Petersburg, WV and although entry was restricted, there were too many non-cavers present. It was obvious that something was needed to bring OTR back to being a gathering for cavers. We figured moving it to another site would do it, but the first year at Alpine Shores attendance soared to more than 1300!

In early 1978, the past chairmen of the Old Timers Reunion met together to form the Robertson Association, named after the founder of the event, G. Alexander Robertson. TRA was incorporated, and the Reunion was cited as the group's annual meeting: members were required to pay $1.00 for lifetime membership. The first year that TRA was instituted only 11OO came; many were turned away because they were not cavers. In the last few years, 1979-1982, attendance has averaged about 1150. In 1984 we set an all-time attendance record when 1417 people showed up! This type of over crowding caused the TRA Board to purchase a 24+ acre tract of land, where OTR has been held since 1986.

All Records Broken at Old Timers Reunion at Davis W.Va.

N.S.S. News October 1952

In West Virginia the Labor Day weekend, so far as cavers are concerned, belongs to G. Alexander Robertson. This year, Robbie and his committee put on the biggest and best reunion ever to be associated with this event.

Arriving in Davis we soon saw the Worden Hotel which while not new is ample in size, plenty comfortable and one of the homiest places our spelunkers have ever stayed. Mrs. Robertson, who worked just as hard as Robbie throughout the affair to see that everyone had a good time, spied us immediately and hustled us off to see Robbie. Our presence was announced by a good loud yell up the stairs of the hotel.

Outside the Hotel, Oldtimers began appearing from all directions. What a pleasure it was to see Midge Lawson, Earl Thierry, Al Lewis, George Dare, "Casey" Schugt, Alden Snell, Petrie, Jack Preble (and Florence), Alice Williams, Sam Allen, "Shy" Matchett and finally Felix Robertson, in whose honor this event was first held two years ago. Sixty-five oldtimers and newtimers had assembled by Friday Afternoon, the first day of the big weekend.

It was good to see Tommy and Emmons Graham, Emmons being just about completely recovered from his neck injury. Bob Wrisley had driven from Harlem, Ga. and Sam and Gertie Allen had motored from Culver, Ind., each of these Latter having to make round trips of over 1200 miles to be present. Another traveler was "Tank" Gorin of Tenn. and Mexico. In all the visitors were from eleven states and the District of Columbia.

Being too late for the Hotel, we were assigned to one of the "Stone Cabins", excellent accommodations. As we dove up to our cabin, Bill Blaha of Cleveland, Ohio hailed as from a neighboring unit. With him were wife, Anne and daughter, Carol Anne, Betty Joe and Julius Kovacs. Other Clevelanders were camping at the special campsite which had been provided two blocks from the Hotel (running water provided courtesy of the town). In all 30 from Cleveland were there, the largest number from any one locality.

Trip to Mystic Cave

Although Saturday Afternoon was left open for cave trips of one's own choosing, about 12 carloads descended upon mystic Cave at Teterton. The cave is on the property of Luther Raines and this fine family had virtually opened up their home and pasture to cavers.

A Philly Grotto group was camped in the Raines' pasture. Oldtimer Bob Lewis was included in this group. With 25 from Philly we ran Cleveland good second.

CONCERT AND CAKEWALK. Back at Davis the next event was a concert staged for the Spelunkers by the Davis and Thomas High School bands. This was followed by a cakewalk in which we participated with the townspeople.

BANQUET

Next came the banquet at the Hotel. Unfortunately, not all could attend this because of limited space but those who did had a real treat. The Cleavers served us an excellent roast beef dinner with seven vegetables and dessert all for $1.50 per plate. The vegetables were freshly picked - everything was prepared to perfection.

SQUARE DANCE

After the banquet came the square dance The Davis Fire Dept went into action closing off the Hotel corners and floodlighting the area. Mountain music was supplied by fiddler and guitar player seated on a large flatbed wagon amid an excellent display of stuffed native wild animals and bales of hay. A mountaineer with his trusty shootin' iron completed the picture.

Fire Chief Sponaugle welcomed the group, Jack Preble started things moving and from time to time invited the spelunkers to contribute to expenses by dropping donations in the barrel provided for that purpose; Hubert Crosland of the Davis Fire Dept. called the figures.

When everybody was danced out, the whole gang lined up for a chance to ride around town (at 25 cents per trip) on the fire engines. As Robbie says "Where else can you do that?" For some time, the fire engines raced through town with bells ringing and siren screaming.

With the fire engines tucked in for the night, Florence Preble led the spelunkers in some vocalizing such as never heard at the Metropolitan. Afterward, Jack Preble counted the contents of the barrel - carefully supervised by Belmont Cleaver and Chief Sponagle. After deducting expenses the sum of $51 was turned over to the Fire Dept., compliments of the NSS.

Sunday morning breakfast at the hotel was a rather late affair. Nobody was in a hurry to get up. Petrie was energetically recruiting members for a trip to Hell-Hole. He reports that he let down 14 and pulled out the same number to keep his record intact.

SINKS-OF-GANDY TRIP

The big event on Sunday was a pilgrimage to the Sinks-of-Gandy. Bob Lutz guided the large party to the spot without mishap At the Sinks, "Casey' Schugt gave everyone a numbered tag and checked each person in. George Dare, "Casey",And "Shy" Matchett then shepherded the party through the underground stream passage. About midway through the cave Bob Wrisley halted each caver and punched his tag. The group then proceeded to the exit where the tags were taken up by Jack Preble. Fifty-one persons made the trip, the largest number in the known history of the cave!

Back at the Worden that evening after another of Kitsy Cleaver's fine dinners (fried chicken this time), Pappy Dare was asked to pick the winning tag number of those who had gone through the Sinks. This turned out to be No.16 held by Mrs. Dorothy Franks of Bedford, Ohio. She was awarded a framed oil painting of the entrance to the Sinks of Gandy, the presentation being made by the artist "Art" Hertig.

According to an old tradition, everyone making A trip through the Sinks is entitled to become a member of the mystical IBINHRUTHESINKS CLUB. Upon payment of 25 cents to cover life membership, every qualified person is entitled to receive a printed membership card. From this source, $9.75 has been collected to date and donated to the General fund of the NSS. All costs in connection with the printing was generously borne by Jack Preble.

After dinner Pete entertained a large group with a showing of some of his excellent Kodachromes.

Lastly that evening the party collected in the apartment of Kitsy and Belmont Cleaver to witness a real talent show. Belmont and Chris Schnabel (Jack Preble's son-in-law) were the outstanding vocalists. Jack's sister, Marion Sandblade, and Felix Robinson were the pianist. Two highlights of the evening (or was it early morning?) were Miggs Dare's hula and Felix's pantomiming a matador.

While the larger party was going through the Sinks on Sunday Jerry Bloch of Philly Grotto led a party of about 13 cavers clear to the back room of Schoolhouse Cave. This is purported to be one of the largest parties ever to get to the rear part of the cave and the entire trip took some 22 hours until all had safely been returned to the surface.

Ellen Pietach also reports that she took part in another Philly group trip to a new discovery in Blowhole Cave after a very wet crawl, sometimes almost completely submerged, down a stream passage, the party reached the part of the cave having beautiful white formations.

The NEWS Editor believes he speaks for all who attended the affair when he avers that too much praise cannot be given Kitsy and Belmont Cleaver in making the whole Reunion such a huge success, Belmont attending to the numerous out-door details and Kitsy dishing out the finest vittles coupled with the swiftest service. For food served deliciously, copiously, promptly, and economically we rise to a vote of thanks to KITSY And BELMONT.

Finally, and with that sincerest appreciation that comes only from the heart, the warmest thanks from all of us to Davis, West Virginia the little town possessing the rare charm of being able to play and to make strangers feel at home, to its Mayor, Hon. H. A. Meyer, Fire Chief Pete Sponaugle, for his cooperation and tolerance and to the many townspeople who may have lost a little sleep but surely made a lot of friends.