Retired Hope-Consolidated employees and their families enjoy fish fry

The old Hope-Consolidated retirees gathered for their annual fish fry and dinner at the Calhoun County Park last night, with a less than usual number of folks attending from the region.

A considerable number of the retirees have passed on.

The group enjoyed a great meal, including selected items from Jim Bell's Pickle and Fish Company, plus taters and a lot of "covered" dishes.

Retirees Bill McHenry of Smithville and Bill Gherke of Grantsville

The old Hope Natural Gas Company, which rolled over into CNG and later Dominion Gas, was once a major employer in Calhoun County.

Once you got a job for the Hope, you likely stuck around awhile.

Some worked for well over 40 years, a retention unheard of in this new century, where most people change jobs every few years.

Retired Hope employees and longtime friends Ernie
Hartshorn (L) and Jim Bell (R) enjoy the meal