WE lived in Charleston in the 40s and 50s and moved into Orchard Manor when it first opened , we were very poor, what a great lesson we learned I have two brothers and two sisters we all joined the U S Army when we got out of school except one sister. I still love Charleston,after the military I became a Texas lawman and retired after 47 years in Tyler, Texas. My Question is do you know the history of the murder on summer street by two drunks of a cab driver ? One of the killers was named Painter,he got the electric chair he lived at meadowbrook I think this happen in the late 40s .  If you do please send infor. THANKS What a great infor. page

I have sent you the entire story on the murder. 

Thanks...

Jerry

Jerry, I can never praise you enough for the site and the fact that you strive to have the best quality in your pictures and photos. I look at the site at least a couple of times a month. Please keep up the tremendous work and thank you.

Awesome web site.  Also, your radio show was excellent.  My dad and I miss it.  Why was it stopped?  Thanks again

I was born and raised in Montgomery but spent many days in and around Charleston in the late 50's and 60's.  I have really enjoyed looking at these pictures and reading the stories.  I am still browsing the site, I love the Rock Lake stories as it was a favorite during my teen years...the best years of your life!!!

This has been a wonderful journey. I grew up on the west side and your photos have refreshed many memories and images. I cannot say thank you enough. Great seeing photos from before my time that show the history of my home.

 Jerry, I really enjoyed the school photos. There is one I didn't see of a school I attended, Zogg Odell. It was located in South Charleston where the interstate is now. If anyone has a photo I would like to see it. Thanks again for the site it is great for a Florida transplant.  Dusty

Sorry Dusty, But I only post Charleston Schools.

The jet plane crash happened at Gripp just across Big Coal River from our Barker family homeplace. Grandma said the noise scared the horses so bad that they ran to the head of Thomas Branch to get away.

  I am afraid you made a mistake in your article about Joy Land Amusement Park.  It was a boy that died as a result of an accident in the park.  I was researching a bit of family history and found it was a cousin of mine.  You can find the death certificate at the WV Cultural Center website.  The boy in question was William Andrew Slate and he died June 16, 1957 at 7 years old.  He died after running in front of the miniture train at Joyland.  He is buried at Ward Cemetery.  I hope this helps fix any problems.  any questions contact me any time

Thanks very much for the info!  I searched for hours on the death but couldn't pin it down. Now, maybe I can.

However, there was no mistake on the website as I stated: "although by the time that news trickled down to us kids,  it was a little girl who was run over instead of a boy."

That wasn't a mistake. That's how it came down to us kids.

Ive only made a few trips to Charleston in past 47 yrs...its grown a lot but still the same familiar feelings when there. I would love to see a picture of the old Ruffner Hotel ,also any pictures pretaining to Abraham Lilly 'Honest Abe'. He was very prominent there around the 40's I think.Loved seeing this and will keep watching as long as I can.Thank you so much.

Great site!  This brings back a lot of memories.  I was born in Huntington and visited Charleston frequently.  Two of my uncles lived in Charleston.  Went swiming at Rock Creek Park many times.  My uncles owned to two Copper Drug Stores, one near the capitol (Francis Copper) and the other in South Charleston-(Bill Copper).  Francis Copper later became a judge in Charleston.

i hung around summer st. in the early 60"s......does anybody remember the peppermint lounge?....the empire diner..omg they had the best hamburgers ~

Owens.

JERRY,  DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS BROUGHT TO YPUR ATTENTION THAT IN YOUR FIRST PICTURE INSIDE OF LUNA PARK THAT THE 5 LADIES LOCATED IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF THE FRAME ALSO APPEAR IN THE LEFT CORNER. THE GIVE AWAY IS THE WIDE BRIMED HAT OF THE ONE WOMAN. JUST NOSEY BUT DO YOU THINK THIS PICTURE WAS ALTERED FOR SOME REASON?
THANKS, CLYDE  

Thanks so much for creating this! It was a pleasure going through it all...very interesting!

I was wondering if for the 50th Anniversary of the floods on Garrison Ave I lost a Grandmother i never met and a cousin in the flooding. There was a story in the Daily Mail today.   Thanks and I love your site...

Oh what great days the 50s were, I was a teen and I sure remember the Kearse,met my first love there.The GoldDome   by the Kanawha city bridge had the best hot dogs , my brother would take me there as a very young girl, loved the curb service,Wish I could go back to those days, life was so simple, thank you

Hey Jerry, now that you have come back to the GB I want to point out something on your Smith St page, the east view is Baines St, as you can see the steps to the Court where Jack Mease lived that went through from Baines St to Smith St. Also Douglas Williams lived in the middle large house. This was pointed out to me by Jerry L who had that view from his bedroom window! Seems like in these photos paint was a rarity huh? Thanks and keep up the good work. Eddie

I wondered about that when I placed the photo up.  But I SWEAR I dont remember Smith Street fronting the industry section back then. And while I remember this Court, I dont remember it being on Baines Street..

I'm not sure I have the  right place to send this E-mail about the site My WV home. I so much enjoy looking at the old pictures. Some of them bring back so many memories. I am interested in seeing pictures of OJ Morrison's in Charleston, WV. I found a picture of Capitol ST. showing it. Saying look elsewhere on site to see more picture of OJ Morrison's but I can't find them. Could you help me out by telling me where to go on the site to find them

 Thank You
  Phyllis Cooper

Having rec'd this just yesterday   considerable time has been spent reliving memories aroused by these photographs along with your written commentaries. Thank you very much for the time and efforts you spent compiling this masterful piece. I graduated from Mercer in 1943, Thomas Jefferson '46 and CHS in '49.  I  lived on Smith St at the corner of Shrewsberry St where my family owned and operated a restaurant circa 1934, on Morris St. directly across from Charleston Milling Co. around '36/37 and on Capital Hill  until leaving Charleston in '49. My wife, Dolores (nee) Stewart attended Stonewall Jackson. We have been returning 'home' for two weeks each year to visit what has become a jewel in the valley and to explore our beautiful WV. We now reside in FL. and regardless of having been gone from 'the hills' for almost 60 years still consider Charleston our home.

Interesting!  I lived near the corner of Smith & Shrewsbury, right on the alley near Jimbos Eggs. Was YaYahs Cafe on Smith Street when you lived there?

Jerry

Outstanding!! I grew up in Charleston - (all state trombonist in the CHS band - '64-66)  By the way do you have access to some of the wonderful music played on WTIP? And is there a recording of the Diamond Department Store Theme Song?  I learned the song on the piano from listening to it on radio and TV. I performed it at Laury's Restaurant from 2002 to 2007. I still perform it. I also still  perform some of the music I heard on WTIP. I'm just trying to find the original music. I also remember the George Washington and the Fast Flying Virginian? I remember those great trains that came through Charleston. More later.

Sorry, not at this time.  WTIP was just a block from where I lived, and it's what got me involved in a radio career.

Jerry

Thanks Jerry, This is a fantastic website you have shared with us. My Parents & Grandparents told me about alot of these places. Your photos are great. I was a SCHS grad in '69, so I reconize alot of it. Thanks so much for posting all of this. Very interesting... I will tell my friends to look you up...

Thanks!

Jerry

Jerry: I do not recall that story, I`m guessing you and "YOUR FRIEND JH" were in 2nd grade, because I`m in front of you in the 3rd grade pic and JH is there also. As Mrs. Stewart had such a presence, had I been dragged in her office for that I would remember. Great story on the Sugarplums, I saw that about a month ago looking through some old papers online. Recall that little house, scaled down? I always wanted to go in it, never did. Did you get whacked by Mrs. Stewart like a public execution on the front steps at the end of noon hour, as we all had our place to stand and march in to Mercer,and watch, I swear I remember that. Plan to get on FB soon, and off the message board. Have you heard from your friend in a while as I found his work phone number, need to give him a call, I think his wife`s family is here and he comes into town on occasion, talked to him about 5-6 years ago. Would like to get the 3 of us together. Wouldn`t have traded the Mercer exprience for anything, it was like basic training for life!

You are correct, many a day at that address huh?

I forgot to mention, as the photo of the Hub I sent shows Guaranty S&L where Canton is, to the left of The Hub, which I think the Jacob`s family owned by then. Behind the drugs sign was Turners Record Shop, the drugstore became the Char-House run by ex-CPD Chuck Berkley(RIP), then Reeve`s had become the WV State ABC (LIQUOR) store, as these were on my paper route, which later was my CPD walking beat, LOVE QUARRIER ST. Eddie- What was 1108 Quarrier Jerry? As I lived at 1108 Lee!

Mercer School.