Gallery: Do you remember? -- July 2, 2012

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The 900 block of 4th Avenue at night during Christmastime. The bottom of the Keith-Albee Theater sign is visibile at left. In the background is the lighted sign for the Tipton Theater (which opened March 15, 1947, and burned Oct. 21, 1950). The M.D. Angel Co. sign also is visible. At right is the Hotel Frederick.

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The First United Methodist Church of Huntington traces its roots to Alonzo B. Palmer, in whose carpentry shop the congregation first met in 1872. The congregation next met in a 300-seat chapel near the southwest corner of 9th Street close to 4th Avenue. The chapel was dedicated Jan. 25, 1875. The location of the church was deemed a valuable site, and officials of the First National Bank offered $55,000 for the building, with the provision that the property be vacated by April 15, 1912. For two years, services were conducted in the Carnegie Library, which is now the Huntington Junior College at 9th Street and 5th Avenue. The building of the current church at 1124 5th Ave. was impeded by the default of the construction company and the damage of the partially complete foundation caused by the 1913 flood. On Easter Sunday, April 12, 1914, the congregation assembled in the current church building. The building is noted for its gray stone towers, the domed sanctuary and its art glass windows depicting the life and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The church has four names since 1872: First Methodist Episcopal Church, North; First Methodist Episcopal Church; First Methodist Church; and First United Methodist Church.

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The old Sixth Street Bridge was Huntington's only Ohio River bridge from 1926 until 1968. The old two-lane Ohio River span continued to carry traffic until 1994, when it was replaced by the four-lane Robert C. Byrd Bridge.

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Subject unknown.

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A Chamber of Commerce float for a Band Festival parade. The festival in Huntington was started in 1936 by Henry Shadwell of Huntington High School, Charles Gorby of South Charleston and Carl McElfresh of Logan High School. Jack Dennis says the lady on the far right is his wife, Patty Pancake, who is now deceased. The lady second from right is Clara Spangler. "This week's pictures caused me to notice the easily identified Huntington East High majorettes Highlander outfits (far right two majorettes in first float picture)," said Frank Booth. "Those stylish uniforms were designed and hand-crafted by Huntington's best tailor Ernesto DePascale. Mr. DePascale taught tailoring at the East High Trade School, worked as the master tailor at Robert A. Kopp men's store just down from the Keith-Albee and was a tailor/consultant for the Corbin Limited pants factory in the West End. Mr. DePascale's son Ernie was my classmate and remains my great friend. He now resides in Athens, Ga., where he is a lawyer, having served as Athens/Clarke County city/county attorney. He and I plan to be in Huntington the weekend of July 14 for the HHS 50th Reunion."

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A Chamber of Commerce float rides in the 900 block of 4th Avenue during a Band Festival parade. Storefronts include Lawrence Drugs, Walgreen Drugs (in the first floor of the West Virginia Building) and Gallaher Drugs. The festival in Huntington was started in 1936 by Henry Shadwell of Huntington High School, Charles Gorby of South Charleston and Carl McElfresh of Logan High School.

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According to www.SteamLocomotive.com, C&O Streamlined Hudson #490 is the sole surviver of only four streamlined Hudson type (4-6-4) locomotives owned by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. Because of their colors, they were sometimes called "Yellowbellies." It was rebuilt by the C&O in 1946 from a Pacific type (4-6-2) locomotive. The original Pacific was built by the Richmond division of the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in 1926. 490 was donated to the Baltimore & Ohio Museum in Baltimore, Md., in 1971 from the C&O Historical Collection. It is also the only surviving streamlined (shrouded) Hudson.

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The Hotel Prichard at 6th Avenue and 9th Street was built in 1926 by Frederick C. Prichard. It was designed by architect Henry Ziegler Dietz of Indianapolis. At 13 stories, the Hotel Prichard boasted it had "300 rooms" and "300 baths." It also had 14 private dining rooms, a ballroom and a public dining room. It was converted into an apartment building around 1970.

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Ritter Park opened Sept. 11, 1913. The park was fashioned from land originally bought by the city as a site for an incinerator. Neighbors understandably objected to the idea. When lumberman C.L. Ritter offered to donate additional land if the total tract was used for a park, the city took him up on the offer.

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Possibly a Chamber of Commerce banquet. This is the Prichard Hotel ballroom, according to Joe Amsbary.

Photo by Thomas Studio

Huntington City Hall, at 5th Avenue and 8th Street, was designed by Verus T. Ritter, who also designed the old Huntington High School and Huntington National Bank buildings. The building has changed little since construction was completed in 1915.

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American Car & Foundry Company in the 2300 block of 3rd Avenue is a sprawling rail car plant that once had many as 1,600 employees with an annual payroll of $30 million. In recent years, it's employed only a handful of workers.

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The 14-story Coal Exchange Building at 4th Avenue and 11th Street was built in the mid-1920s by Coal Exchange Co. The Coal Exchange Bank occupied the ground floor of the building in its early years, but the Depression closed its doors and forced bankruptcy on the building's owners. The property was sold at auction at the Cabell County Courthouse in about 1933. It is thought that that's when the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway bought the building and housed its engineering department and other offices there.

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On Nov. 6, 1924, the Sisters of the Pallottine Missionary Society opened a small, 35-bed hospital called St. Mary's Hospital (now St. Mary's Medical Center). Early on, the missionaries did everything from nursing the sick and injured to cooking, washing and cleaning. The facility has seen many changes through the years.

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This historical home for the elderly at 700 Madison Ave., Huntington, was originally completed in 1925 with funds from B.W. Foster, one of Huntington's founding fathers. The home was built as a memorial to his late wife, the niece of Collis P. Huntington. It has been named Foster Memorial Home, Regency Park and Madison Manor. It is now called Madison Park.

Photo by the U.S. Engineer Office

Construction on Huntington's floodwall began in August 1938. It was turned over to the city for operation and maintenance in December 1943. This photo was taken Sept. 20, 1939, from the old Sixth Street Bridge.

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In August 1949, construction began on the Veterans Memorial Field House at 2590 5th Ave., Huntington. The grand opening ceremony was conducted in 1950. The Field House was home to Marshall University basketball from 1950 until the Cam Henderson Center was built in 1981. The facility also has hosted concerts, boxing events and more. It was demolished in June 2012 to make way for a $5.4 million soccer stadium complex for Marshall University.

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In August 1949, construction began on the Veterans Memorial Field House at 2590 5th Ave., Huntington. The grand opening ceremony was conducted in 1950. The Field House was home to Marshall University basketball from 1950 until the Cam Henderson Center was built in 1981. The facility also has hosted concerts, boxing events and more. It was demolished in June 2012 to make way for a $5.4 million soccer stadium complex for Marshall University.

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Future Farmers of America.

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A crowd gathers among Christmas decorations in front of the First Huntington National Bank at 4th Avenue and 10th Street to wait for a parade.

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A parade makes its way on 3rd Avenue in Huntington. Visible store fronts are the Anderson-Newcomb Co., Lerner Shops and F.W. Woolworth.

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Adel Fasteners at 1444 Washington Ave. closed in the 1990s.