Volume 30, Number 3

On the cover: A loaded coal train bound for Grafton crosses the “65 Bridge” on May 4, 1998. Photograph by Jay Potter. Our article about Jay and his railroad photography begins on page 16.

Published by the
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

Bob Wise, Governor

Kay Goodwin, Secretary
Department of Education and the Arts

Troy Body, Commissioner
Division of Culture and History

John Lilly, Editor

Gordon Simmons
Editorial Assistant

Cornelia Crews Alexander
Circulation Manager

A.C. Designs
Publication Design

Fall 2004

2 Letters from Readers
6 Current Programs*Events*Publications
9 GOLDENSEAL Good-Byes
10 Grafton’s B&O Station

Revisiting a Railroad Treasure
By Bob Withers

16 Forever Trains

Railroad Photographer Jay Potter
By John Lilly

24 The BC&G and the Last Stand of Steam

By Cody A. Burdette

30 Close Call at Altman

By Warren Vance

32 John W. Davis and the

1924 Presidential Campaign

By Rod Rogers

38 Claude R. Linger

West Virginia’s Other Presidential Candidate
By James Wilson Douglas

40 Ritchie County Cellar Houses

By Katherine Roberts

46 “I Like to Make People Happy”

Connie Mantini and His Accordion
By Norman Julian

52 Accordion in My Genes

By Norman Julian

54 Echoes of a Mountain Preacher

Recalling Laban Richmond of Summers County
By John Eric West

60 Jack Dempsey Comes to Huntington

By Joseph Platania

62 The Murder of Snowden Crane

By Charles Cohenour

68 West Virginia Back Roads

Old Glory on Haystack Hill
By Carl E. Feather

70 Back Issues Available