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Men post photos of old Wood County

For several years Roger Mackey has provided a glimpse of old-time Parkersburg and Wood County through the photographs he posts on his websites and Facebook pages.

Recently, Dan Kemper has joined Mackey in displaying photographs of Parkersburg scenes from a bygone era on the Internet.

Mackey and Kemper use the word “memories” when describing why they scan and place old photographs on social media.

“I want to bring back memories of people,” said Mackey, 67, of Parkersburg, who has seven websites and 17 Facebook groups, for sharing old photographs and discussing local and state history.

“I want to spark old memories in folks,” said Kemper, 65, a Parkersburg native who lives in Ravenswood. Kemper believes the photographs he posts on Facebook are especially attractive to Wood County natives who now live outside the region.

Kemper has shared photographs of Parkersburg with Mackey.

Late last year, Kemper began scanning photographs shot by his late uncle, longtime Parkersburg Sentinel photographer Dave Ferrell, and placing them on his Facebook page. Ferrell’s photos depict street scenes and businesses in Parkersburg from the late 1950s through the early 1960s.

Ferrell’s photos also show the stunning beauty of West Virginia’s mountainous regions. One of Ferrell’s favorite places to photograph in West Virginia was the gristmill at Babcock State Park, Kemper said.

Mackey has scanned thousands of old photographs and more than 100 school yearbooks for people to enjoy on his websites and Facebook pages. He credits Gary Traugh of Parkersburg with providing many of the photographs he displays.

Some of Mackey’s websites containing old photos are Tygart School Reunion, Marrtown Reunion, Parkersburg Viscose, Wood County History, Photography and Scenery and Mackeysclockrepair.com.

Besides his collection of old photographs, Mackey is also known for his clock collection and clock repair business, Mackey’s Antiques and Clock Repair, in Parkersburg.

Mackey said his Facebook group “I Support Parkersburg Police, Wood County & WV Area Law Enforcement” has 3,655 members and he displays many photographs of former area law enforcement officers.

Former residents tell Mackey they enjoy seeing photographs of Parkersburg and Wood County from the time they were growing up.

In 2015, Mackey was named a History Hero by the West Virginia Archives and History, part of the state Division of Culture and History, for his work in helping historical groups and preserving and disseminating West Virginia’s history and historical resources.

When asked if there were any scenes of old Parkersburg he would like to obtain, Mackey replied, “I would love to have photos of Jimbo’s Drive-in along W.Va. 95 (DuPont Road) near Division Street,” where Napoli’s is now situated.

A few minutes later, Mackey revealed he would also like to have an old photograph or two of the former Thorn’s market at Ninth Avenue and Division Street in south Parkersburg.

Mackey noted that his newest Facebook group, which he started on Jan. 15, is 200 Years of American History From 1776 to 1976 And Beyond.

The site already has 1,332 members.

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Smooth jazz performer David Wells of Vienna wants to revive his Rib & Jazz Festival in Wood County this year.

Wells is now looking for a venue to host the festival.

The festival, featuring vendors, national jazz artists and Wells playing the trumpet and flugelhorn, was held in Vienna for three years before being canceled last year. The festival most recently took place in Spencer Park.

Wells is coordinating and promoting the third annual Rib & Jazz Festival in Nashville on Aug. 5.

“Why not here?” Wells says of bringing back the Rib & Jazz Festival to Wood County.

Wells is meeting with local officials in an attempt to resurrect the Rib & Jazz Festival.

Wells is the chief executive officer and founder of Chocolate Jazz Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization that brings an anti-bullying message to school assemblies. He can be contacted at 304-295-4088.

Contact Paul LaPann at plapann@newsandsentinel.com

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