Logging and Lumbering, Likely Webster County, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
A group of men and women balance on large logs. Behind them are stacks of lumber. In the center of the photograph is saw mill, with a pipe that leads out into the forest and has created a mountain of sawdust.
School Children of School Union No. 7 Playing Football at Old Post Farm, Good Hope, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
A group of boys play football while their classmates watch from behind. The school was a one room school located on the Post family farm in Harrison County, W. Va.
A man in the center of the photograph stands beside a pile of logs, resting his ax against it. Another man on the right of the photograph props his leg on top of a log. The area that surrounds them is covered by logs--the ground is barely visible and the trees that remain standing are in the background.
A group of mean are scattered across the rail tracks. On the left is a train engine. On the right appears to be a long rail cart designed to transport logs.
Junior Order of the United American Mechanics Good Hope Council Member No. 153, Good Hope, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
An unidentified man sits in front of a hanging quilt. The ribbon fastened to his jacket collar indicates he is the 153rd Good Hope Council member for the Junior Order of the United American Mechanics, an American fraternal order. It began as a youth affiliation of the Order of United American Mechanics, but seceded to become its own organization and eventually absorbed its parent order. Originally, it was an Anti-Catholic, Nativist group, but eventually abandoned this position and became a general fraternal benefit society open to people regardless of creed, race or sex.
A Performance Group in Costume likely in Harrison County, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
Nine unidentified individuals pose in costume. Three of them sit on horses. Five of them stand on a carriage drawn by those horses, two of which wear large pots against their bellies. The man in the forefront, dressed in two, vertical striped colors, holds what appears to be a jousting rod.
Grand Army of the Republic Gun Exhibition, Clarksburg, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
The Grand Army of the Republic, or G.A.R., was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Union Navy, Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War for the Northern/Federal forces. Its peak membership, at more than 490,000, was in 1890, a high point of various Civil War commemorative and monument dedication ceremonies. It was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, composed of male descendants of Union Army and Union Navy veterans.The G.A.R. was organized into "departments" at the state level and "posts" at the community level. This old artillery gun monument was dedicated by the G.A.R. Department of West Virginia, Custer Post No. 8.The plaque beneath the gun reads, "This gun was cast at Sevilla Spain, May 9th 1795, is 12 ft. in length, Caliber 6 3/8 inches weighs 6283 lbs. It was captured from the Spanish by Admiral Dewey, at Cavite Arsenal, near Manila, P.I. [Philippines] in May 1898, brought to N. Y. Navy Yard in the U. S., S. Buffalo [South Buffalo, New York]. Loaned by the Navy Department to Custer Post No. 8 G.A.R. was Mounted on Platform June 23rd, 1899. On July 4th, 1899, the Gun was unveiled by members of Custer Post with suitable ceremonies."
Horse-Drawn Mower Harvesting Hay likely in Lewis County, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
A man stands on top of a giant heap of hay, while another lifts hay onto the heap. A third man sits at behind the mower, holding the reigns of the horses that are pulling the large mowing machine across the field.
Children Holding American Flags, likely Preston County, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
Two unidentified children pose together as they hold up small American flags, perhaps in celebration of Independence Day. The flags appear to have 45 stars, indicating that this photo was taken between 1896 and 1907.
Members of Patriotic Order Sons of America, Albright, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
The organization, one of the oldest fraternal societies in America, was established in 1847 as the Junior Sons of America. In 1868, the organization was renamed the Patriotic Order Sons of America. Members are all native-born or naturalized American male citizens, 16 years and older, wishing to create brotherhood.
Christmas at O. Z. Gibson Residence, Valley Point, W. Va.
Date:
ca. 1900-1920
Description:
A decorated Christmas tree stands in the corner of the house with presents sorted beneath it. The home likely belongs to Orvis Zacheus "Oz" Gibson, a brother of the photographer, Scott Gibson.
On the left is a Geiser Manufacturing Company steam tractor engine, also known as road locomotives, which likely pulled these farmers ploughs behind them. In the center is likely a threshing machine for the separation of grain from stalks and husks. On the right, a group of men sit with tightly bound bags, likely holding the grain seed.
Home of Dr. Preston Boggs in Franklin, W. Va., located on what is now North Main Street. The home was included when Franklin's historic district was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
![The Grand Army of the Republic, or G.A.R., was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Union Navy, Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War for the Northern/Federal forces. Its peak membership, at more than 490,000, was in 1890, a high point of various Civil War commemorative and monument dedication ceremonies. It was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, composed of male descendants of Union Army and Union Navy veterans.The G.A.R. was organized into "departments" at the state level and "posts" at the community level. This old artillery gun monument was dedicated by the G.A.R. Department of West Virginia, Custer Post No. 8.The plaque beneath the gun reads, "This gun was cast at Sevilla Spain, May 9th 1795, is 12 ft. in length, Caliber 6 3/8 inches weighs 6283 lbs. It was captured from the Spanish by Admiral Dewey, at Cavite Arsenal, near Manila, P.I. [Philippines] in May 1898, brought to N. Y. Navy Yard in the U. S., S. Buffalo [South Buffalo, New York]. Loaned by the Navy Department to Custer Post No. 8 G.A.R. was Mounted on Platform June 23rd, 1899. On July 4th, 1899, the Gun was unveiled by members of Custer Post with suitable ceremonies."](/thumb/052295.jpg "Grand Army of the Republic Gun Exhibition, Clarksburg, W. Va.")
