SUMMERS COUNTY W.Va. (Hinton News) – I recently acquired several original early 1900s photographs taken by an early Summers County photographer, Oscar Hutchison. Hutchinson had a photography studio in Hinton around 1900, but it is unknown where it was located.
Making a living as a photographer in these parts during that time was difficult. For that reason, he ended up owning the Dodge Brothers car dealership in Ronceverte. He passed away at 49 years old from a sudden stroke. His family inherited his vast archives of historical photography from this area.
Both of the photographs in this article came from his grandson, retired Summers County High School teacher Tom Hutchison. One is of a steam-powered well drill located somewhere in the county in the 1910s.
The other is of a steam tractor in the Forest Hill community in 1924. It is hard to believe now that seeing steam-powered well drills and large iron-wheeled tractors was so rare at that time it was photo-worthy, which is why there is such a large gathering of people in photos of this nature. Yes, neighbors helped their neighbors then, but getting your picture taken was a special treat for them too.
Writing this piece reminded me of another piece of Summers County history with a family connection Richard Leftwich told me. Richard’s son, James, and I had always been good friends throughout college. It wasn’t until I came home with him once from school and his Uncle Steve and I were talking that I realized we had a family connection.
My Great-Grandfather, Earl Jones, whom I never got to meet, had married his mother’s sister Ruth Smith in the 1920s. Earl and Ruth moved to Charleston where he drove and retired from having driven, a Greyhound bus. I have a large 1940s Greyhound bus line poster that belonged to him, his little Greyhound dog tie pin and his Greyhound lighter. I am not a hoarder as my family calls me I promise.
According to the story, during World War II, Grandpa Earl obtained used tires from a Greyhound bus. One weekend, while visiting family in Summers County, he brought these tires and installed them on an iron-wheeled tractor with the help of his brother-in-law, Malcolm Smith.
Thus creating one of if not the first rubber-wheeled tractors in Summers County. This took place in the Judson community. I am an “old soul” I know, but you do not hear of things like this happening anymore. I must have been born during the wrong time because I have always been more interested in things like this than those other people my age were and are interested in.
I should add that Tom Hutchison has his Grandfather, Oscar’s, antique camera and tripod that he used to take these historic photos. Tom like me, loves antiques and preserving history. It always amazes me to uncover connections with people or in this case, “your family” that you never connected the dots about.
If you have a story from the area’s history to share, send an email to news@hintonnews.com.
