The Doddridge County Historical Society is saying goodbye to two charter members of the organization.

Freda Cox and Bill Calhoun have been members since 1976. Cox is the caretaker of the Smithton Depot Museum while Calhoun served as president of the group. This Saturday, the society threw a surprise retirement part for the two at the senior center in West Union.

Calhoun said the organization started more than three decades ago after "some of the other counties had historical societies". He continued, "but of course, we had people here interested in history in genealogy. We even had people fighting over their relatives!"

Proclamations were made for Calhoun and Cox by West Union's mayor and the Doddridge County Commission.