|
By George Dalton
Times-News Correspondent
Wednesday, December 10, 1969
Bakers Will Celebrate 68th Anniversary
BIG STONE GAP, Va. — Mr. and Mrs. Calvin B. Baker of Fourth Ave., had a good reason to remember that it rained on
December 25, 1901. It was their wedding day.
The Bakers are looking forward to celebrating their 68th Wedding Anniversay Christmas day. They don't expect all their
five children to be home; however, some will be able to help them celebrate.
CALVIN B. BAKER, son of the late Jeff and Julie Baker was born on May 10, 1880, at Black Creek near Norton. He
attended Norton schools and later tried his hand at teaching, a profession he cared little for. Mrs. Baker attended school at
Black Creek.
He lived near Miss Cora Jane Wells, daughter of the late Aaron and Mary Elizabeth Wells who was born at White Oak Gap, Aug. 29, 1880.
After a three year courtship, they were married.
The couple recalled that on Christmas day in 1901, the Rev. Billy Robinette performed the wedding ceremony at her home at
White Oak Gap. They started housekeeping at Black Gap and moved to Artemus, KY., in 1904, where he worked at the mines for the
next three years. He remembers that, as a foreman, he worked for 20 cents an hour or $2.00 a day for 10 hours.
In 1908, the Bakers moved back to Wise County to what was then known as "Preacher Creek" and is now Andover. He helped
build the mining camp of Arno and was employed by the Stonega Coke and Cole Co. which is now the Westmoreland Coal Co., Stonega Division.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker moved to Big Stone Gap in 1922 and are still living at the same location on Fourth Ave. He retired
from the Stonega Company while serving as a coal inspector in 1952.
To the Bakers were born six children, three boys and three girls. They are, Wilford Baker, Elizabethton; Mrs. J. L. Noe
and Mrs. Hiram Smith, both of Kingsport; Mrs. Neal Manis, Big Stone Gap; Sherman Lee Baker, deceased; and Fred Baker, Big
Stone Gap.
THE BAKERS have 20 grand-children, 35 great grand-children and five great-great grandchildren.
Asked if he preferred the "good old days" to these modern times, Mr. Baker said he preferred the modern conveniences of
today. He said that there were some things he liked about his younger days, but altogether, he prefers modern living.
He said he never thought they would ever put a man on the moon, but they did. He said that the next few years would
bring many unusual discoveries.
— Wednesday, December 10, 1969
|