HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 17
(By Delegate Pethtel)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 52-20/14-
0.80 on Main Street in Pine Grove, Wetzel County, the "Freda
Bell Bridge."
Whereas, Freda Bell was born and raised in Pine Grove, West
Virginia and graduated from Pine Grove High School in 1936; and
Whereas, Freda married Angell Bell in 1940 and they moved to
Cleveland, Ohio during World War II, where they worked in a
munitions plant for the federal government; and
Whereas, After returning from Cleveland after the war, Freda
and Angel built and began operating Bell's Grocery in 1948. The
building still stands today and is operated as a restaurant at the
end of the Main Street bridge in Pine Grove; and
Whereas, Freda and Angell had two children, Jane and John, both
of whom graduated from West Virginia University; and
Whereas, While her children were in local public schools, Freda
became an active member of the PTA, a band patron, 4-H leader and
an active supporter of the local FFA, where she was given an
honorary membership plaque; and
Whereas, Freda was active in other civic affairs too, as she served on the Pine Grove town council for many years, was a member
of the Wetzel County Democrat Committee, the Wetzel County Hospital
Board, the 911 Emergency Services Board, the Wetzel County
Democratic Women Society, and a member of the American Legion
Auxiliary since 1945; and
Whereas, Freda is a passionate and active advocate for women in
politics, and during the 2008 presidential campaign Freda traveled,
at the tender age of 90, to Fairmont, West Virginia to hear Hillary
Clinton speak; and
Whereas, It is only fitting and proper that Freda Bell's many
good deeds and a life-time of service to the community of Pine
Grove and to Wetzel County be remembered and acknowledged;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name
bridge number 52-20/14-0.80 on Main Street in Pine Grove, Wetzel
County, the "Freda Bell Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested
to have made and be placed, signs identifying the bridge as the
"Freda Bell Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a copy of this resolution to the family of Freda Bell and
the Secretary of the Department of Transportation