Below is a letter we received from one of our
new members:
Hopefully some of our members can help Roger
with his quest. He can be contacted at:
310 Hawthorne Avenue, Haddenfield, NJ 08033,
or contact Bob Enoch.
Roger Blackburn's music career did not end
when he graduated from PHS; in fact, graduation
was just the beginning. For 34 years Roger has
played the trumpet in the Philadelphia Orchestra
and is now the senior member of the brass section.
Dr. Blackburn Preserved Early History
Roger's father was Dr. Howard R. Blackburn, a
1937 PHS graduate. Dr. Blackburn made a 16mm
film of the Parkersburg trolley system which has
since been transferred to DVD and will hopefully,
soon be available for our viewing. Additionally,
Roger is sending the WCHPS a DVD of trolley
pictures that were taken by his father. Our program
for June will be these seldom seen photos.
We were saddened to hear that Dr. Blackburn
passed away in September of 2006.
H & P Page 5
Blackburn Seeks History of Big Red Band
"I recently received my first quarterly
of 08', I am becoming a life member of
the WCHPS! I was so impressed with all
the projects going on in my hometown and
I always look forward to my return to
Parkersburg. I owe my career to the disciplines
and musicianship I learned in
the Big Red Band under Frank Schroeder
and also to George Dietz who started me
on coronet in 1953! I am presently
working on a history of the Big Red Band
after having copied all the articles and
pictures from George Dietz' s personal
scrapbook via Doug Hess. Please do all
you can to help me find early records
(78 RPM) of the Big Red Band under Mr.
Dietz. Thanking you,
VIDEO-TAPING CAN NOW BEGIN!
Adding about $100 to an anonymous donation
of $400, the society can now add a great video
camera and tripod to its list of assets.
This much needed "tool" will help us preserve
many of our projects and local history for future
generations. We thank the donor and the society
for this addition.
The Parkersburg/Wood County Library
Needs Parkersburg South Year Books!
Yearbooks can be a great help for those doing
family research. Unfortunately, the main library
on Emerson Avenue only has two yearbooks from
Parkersburg South High School. Do you or a family
member have a South yearbook that you'd like
to donate to the library? If so, please contact the
genealogy section of the library by calling:
420-4587
RUSS ROY,
HISTORY HERO 2008
At the recently held History Day at the State
Capital, the WCHPS's nominee for a History Hero
Award was Russ Roy. Russ received the award in
a ceremony at the Cultural Center from Dr. Robert
Conte, chairman of the Archives and History Commission.
Congratulating Russ as he received the
award were Anna Border (wife of Delegate Larry
Border), Senator Frank Deem and Delegate Tom
Azinger
Russ received the honor for the valuable work
that he has accomplished in recording vital birth
and death information.
KOHLER RECEIVES
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.
Do you have one? Produced in 2006 by the
West Virginia Humanities Council and edited by
Ken Sullivan, the WCHPS has several volumes of
the large book to offer at a reduced price. The
book normally sells for $45. Buy one from your
historical society for $35. Contact Bob Enoch or
any board member. They make great gifts!
Wood County Historical and Preservation Society
OF WEST VIRGINIA
More WCHPS News and Views
Roger Blackburn
The NEW West Virginia Encyclopedia!
Gerry Kohler, 1 st vice-president of our historical
society was among twelve, state-wide recipients
of the 2008 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement
Awards. Each recipient received a trophy, a classroom
plaque and a $2,500 cash prize, which were
awarded by Governor Manchin at a ceremony in
the State capital.
The Arch Coal Achievement Award is the longest
running, privately sponsored teacher recognition
program in the state.
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