Gallery: Do you remember? -- March 20, 2011

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - The old C&O passenger station in the 900 block of 7th Avenue was built in 1912-1913. The building is now occupied by CSX Transportation. The Collis P. Huntington statue in front is the work of internationally known sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who is best know as the creator of the colossal heads of the four presidents carved in the face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The statue was dedicated Oct. 23, 1924, while a crowd of more than 7,000 looked on as it was unveiled and presented to the city and the C&O Railway. The statue was given by the late Mrs. H.E. (Arabella) Huntington, who was Collis Huntington's second wife and his widow, who herself died just six weeks prior to the dedication. In May 1977, the statue was moved to a new home in Heritage Village in downtown to stand near a vintage steam locomotive, a coal tender and a refurbished Pullman car. In the fall of 1999, the statue was again moved to stand in front of the CSX building on 7th Avenue.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - A boy and his dog. The date is unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - A boy and his dog. The date is unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - A Huntington Publishing Co. bowling team. Date is unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - A Huntington Publishing Co. bowling team. Date is unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Taken in front of The Herald-Dispatch, 946 5th Ave., Huntington. Subject and date are unknown. In the middle of the back row is Jake Brackman. At right in the front row is his father, Howard Brackman. Thanks to Lucinda Brackman for the identifications.

The Herald-Dispatch

Taken in front of The Herald-Dispatch, 946 5th Ave., Huntington. Subject and date are unknown. In the middle of the back row is Jake Brackman. At right in the front row is his father, Howard Brackman. Thanks to Lucinda Brackman for the identifications.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Church window. Location and date are unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Church window. Location and date are unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Political cartoonist Irvin Dugan joined the Huntington Publishing Company as a staff artist in 1927. His work appearing mainly in the Huntington Advertiser and the Sunday combined edition, The Herald Advertiser. His alter-ego in the cartoons was "Adam Goodfellow," who was easily recognizable by his glasses, corn-cob pipe and flowing white mustache. He retired from the Huntington Publishing Company in 1957. This photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Subject and date are unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Harry Pockras was Chief Engineer of the Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, from about 1935 until his retirement in 1957. “My grandfather had had military training in the World War I equivalent of ROTC, the Student Army Training Corps, while he was an engineering student down at the University of Cincinnati,” said his grandson, Phil Pockras. “When he received a commission in the WWII era, it was first as a Major. He was later promoted; first to Lieutenant Colonel and then to full Colonel.” Richard McCoy of Huntington said the Chief Engineer was different in those days. “He was given and assumed complete authority in the execution of the Huntington Engineer District's mission. During (Pockras’) time, the Great Kanawha River Navigation System was constructed, Bluestone Dam was designed and constructed, Huntington Floodwall system and the design of Greenup Locks and Dam. Many wartime designs and construction projects, including a POW camp at the Greenbrier. In the Cold War, designs included support facilities for Strategic Air Command bases. Steam power houses, hospitals, fueling pads and runways, to name a few facilities. As you may surmise, Harry Pockras was a man who got his way.” Grandson Phil Pockras said as well as District work, his grandfather served our country overseas during the end of World War 2. “He commanded a Special Service Battalion of Army construction engineers as part of the reconstruction of Manila after its horrific destruction by Japanese forces. For his work, he received the Army Commendation Medal and the Legion of Merit. Those who have served in the military know that these are not lightly given, particularly the Legion of Merit.” After Pockras’ retirement, he and his wife, Sue, moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. There they lived until his death in 1969 in a car wreck near Miami. Sue Pockras, an active Red Cross volunteer, died in 1971 in Cincinnati.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Subject and date are unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Subject and date are unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - This is Catherine Bliss Enslow, an Advertiser society editor who walked up to the Duke of Windsor at the Greenbrier Inn and interviewed him, according to Ken Reffeitt.

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Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Subject and date are unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

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Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Possibly Capt. Phil Elsie. Date is unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - William C. Estler was an artist, collector and patron of the arts from Barboursville. He died Aug. 9, 1981, at age 69 in Palo Alto, Calif. A native of Chattaroy, W.Va., he graduated from Marshall College and joined The Herald-Dispatch in 1934. After serving in World War II, he was a public relations freelance counselor in New York City. Later he went to Palo Alto, where he was employed in the public relations department of Stanford Research Institute. A painter for many years, he studied art in New York, Mexico and France. He gained national recognition when his work was shown at the National Art Show in New York City in the 1940s. He was a frequent contributor to the Huntington Museum of Art. Date is unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Sweet potato that looks like a rat. Date is unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.

The Herald-Dispatch

Herald-Dispatch photo archive - Sweet potato that looks like a rat. Date is unknown, though the photo is likely from the early 1950s.