Gallery: Do you remember? -- Sept. 5, 2011

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"An inspector examines a large lens assembly," said Richard McCoy. "It was probably made only one place in the world -- Huntington, West Virginia. The photo collection shows lots of what looks like homemade equipment, instead of fancy machinery. The reason being, Zenith/Polan was at the forefront, and they designed, made and developed on-site." Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"An inspector examines a large lens assembly," said Richard McCoy. "It was probably made only one place in the world -- Huntington, West Virginia. The photo collection shows lots of what looks like homemade equipment, instead of fancy machinery. The reason being, Zenith/Polan was at the forefront, and they designed, made and developed on-site." Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"This trough had several rotating tables with a lens blank mounted with pitch," says Richard McCoy. "Above each lens was an arm with a second blank. Between the two blanks was a grinding compound. The lower blank rotated, and the blank above went back forth. Course grinding compound was used to give the lens below a spherical shape. Finer grit produced the polished surface. The half complete lens was flipped over, and the opposite side was ground/polished. The people applied the grinding material as required out of the cans with brush handles sticking out. It was very labor intensive." Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"This trough had several rotating tables with a lens blank mounted with pitch," says Richard McCoy. "Above each lens was an arm with a second blank. Between the two blanks was a grinding compound. The lower blank rotated, and the blank above went back forth. Course grinding compound was used to give the lens below a spherical shape. Finer grit produced the polished surface. The half complete lens was flipped over, and the opposite side was ground/polished. The people applied the grinding material as required out of the cans with brush handles sticking out. It was very labor intensive." Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"If the lens passed inspection, then the lens edges were machined to fit in a frame or mounting ring," said Richard McCoy. Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"If the lens passed inspection, then the lens edges were machined to fit in a frame or mounting ring," said Richard McCoy. Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"The lenses were now coated to enhance optical characteristics. The lenses were placed in a vacuum chamber, and some metal was heated/evaporated inside the chamber settling on the lens surface," said Richard McCoy. "Once the correct thickness was attained, the lenses were flipped and the process repeated to coat the other side." Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"The lenses were now coated to enhance optical characteristics. The lenses were placed in a vacuum chamber, and some metal was heated/evaporated inside the chamber settling on the lens surface," said Richard McCoy. "Once the correct thickness was attained, the lenses were flipped and the process repeated to coat the other side." Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"This man is using a spectrascope to confirm optical characteristics," said Richard McCoy. Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"This man is using a spectrascope to confirm optical characteristics," said Richard McCoy. Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"A worker appears to be cleaning parts," said Richard McCoy. Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

"A worker appears to be cleaning parts," said Richard McCoy. Founded in 1934, Polan Industries employed more than 2,000 people during World War II. The company, which had a few divisions, specialized in the manufacturing of lenses and specialized gun sights used by the military; remanufacture, rehabilitation and packing of defense equipment and making cargo kits for packaging military hardware. The company president was Lincoln M. Polan. Through most of the 1960s, the company employed fewer than 200 people. It was sold in February 1969 to a California firm, which then resold it to a New York firm in 1970. The company closed in 1972. It resumed operations in July 1985, with Polan coming out of retirement to lead it. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1987. These photos were published in the Aug. 14, 1954, Huntington Advertiser. They were taken at Polan Optical on the northeast corner of 8th Street and 2 1/2 Alley.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

Tom Taylor Baker (born March 31, 1908, and died Dec. 21, 1963) practiced law in Huntington, served as a city judge and was elected to the W.Va. House of Delegates, according to his son Tom T-Bone Baker. The son of Rawlins M. Baker and Lady (Taylor) Baker, he married Betty Berry Chadwick on Feb. 3, 1934.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

Tom Taylor Baker (born March 31, 1908, and died Dec. 21, 1963) practiced law in Huntington, served as a city judge and was elected to the W.Va. House of Delegates, according to his son Tom T-Bone Baker. The son of Rawlins M. Baker and Lady (Taylor) Baker, he married Betty Berry Chadwick on Feb. 3, 1934.

Herald-Dispatch photo archives -

Chief Justice Fred Vinson was born Jan. 22, 1890, in Louisa, Ky. He died Sept. 8, 1953, in Washington, D.C. This plaque was erected in 1950 and dedicated July 11, 1951, during "Fred Vinson Day." This white building at Water Street and Vinson Avenue in Louisa, Ky., was Vinson's homeplace. It now serves as Louisa's Welcome Center, and can be toured. Vinson had served in all three branches of U.S. government. According to the Oyez Project, "Fred Vinson was the son of a rural Kentucky county jailer and his wife. He worked his way through college and law school and entered the practice of law in Kentucky at the age of 21. Vinson was a congressman for 8 terms and served on the influential Ways and Means Committee during much of the New Deal. He resigned his House seat to accept an appointment by Roosevelt to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. After five years on the bench, Vinson resigned to accept an appointment in the Roosevelt administration as head of the Office of Economic Stabilization. Vinson later succeeded former justice James Byrnes as head of the Office of War Mobilization. Vinson became a trusted advisor to President Harry Truman, who appointed him Secretary of the Treasury. Truman later nominated Vinson to the position of Chief Justice. Vinson avoided the announcement of sweeping constitutional principles. He resisted overturning prior decisions. Though he helped chip away at the 'separate but equal' doctrine of racial separation, he resisted a head-on confrontation of the issue in Brown v. Board of Education. Vinson's sudden death from a heart attack in 1953 paved the way for the unanimous opinion crafted by Vinson's successor, Earl Warren." Vinson is buried at Pinehill Cemetery in Louisa, Ky.