Grafton High School - Re Echo Yearbook (Grafton, WV)

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The Baltimore and Ohio machinists as they appeared with their tools in 1889. Their working uniform is quite a contrast to those worn by the present day machinists. The B. O. Bridge was built in 1884 and demolished in 1890. A freight train jumped the track knocking out its supports, causing an oil tank to explode. Someone threw a lighted broom into the river setting the surface ablaze from Grafton to Fetterman. The Memorial Day Parade on Main Street May 30, 1884. Horses and carriages were prominent in the parades of that time. This scene in front of Love's Grocery Store is typical of 1889. It was located on the site of the present Wolfe's Tire Shop. Mr. Love is the gentleman with the long whiskers standing in front of the store.

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The second U. S. Post Office in Grafton was located on St. John's Street at the rear of the present Masonic Building. Daniel Wilson was the postmaster. At that time St. John's Street was one of Grafton's principal streets. The Grafton Brass Band was prominent in 1887. It furnished music for entertainment for the town folk playing for many festivals, celebrations, and weddings. The fire of 1887 started in an ice cream parlor operated by Mrs. William Martin. It took thirty-three buildings in its course on both sides of Latrobe Street and some on . Main Street. The Bradshaw Building was located at the site of the present First National Bank. It contained Yokum's Gallery which was a photography shop, the first telephone office, and the office of the Grafton Sentinel. The occasion is the I.O.O.F. Decoration for the funeral of Brother Frank Crawford who died in Baltimore in 1884 and was buried in Bluemont Cemetery. The flood of 1884 flooded many parts of the city causing considerable damage. Communication by rail and road was cut off from Grafton. 11

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pMM The first football team of Grafton High School was This is the freshman class of 1894 in Grafton High organized in 1904. The coach was W. Merle Watkins, at School. At that time the high school was located in the present judge of the Taylor County Circuit Court. old Central Building on Wilford Street. It is now used for the machine and welding shops. The first horseless carriage, hence the automobile, to be driven down the Main Street of Grafton in 1893 was owned by Mr. Nestor, a job printer. At that time Main Street was paved with cobble stones. The first streetcar in Grafton made its initial run on February I, 1908. The city council granted a franchise to the Grafton Street, Railway, and Light Company to provide transportation and electricity for the city. Colonel McGrow built the line. The car barn and shops were located at the site of the present Grafton Hotel. 13