Huntington, WV, Newspaper – January 28, 1966
Written by Charles Collett
Submitted by: Robert Kingrey
That television commercial about razor blades reminds me that I never shaved with a sword, that highly advertised English product, but I have marched with a saber, carrying a sword.
Many readers can recall the men in uniform with plumes in their white helmets that took part in the Memorial Day parades before the First World War, known as Arnold Company, No. 23, Knights of Pythias.
John Sherman was captain for many years starting in time for the entire lodge to volunteer their services to President William McKinley when the Marines went down. Mr. Sherman was a grocer, his last place of business was on Second Street near the D. T. & I. Depot where he featured coffee by Mr. Chase and Mr. Sanborn, whom they sing about today on television, and also seal-shipped oysters a new sanitary way of shipment, 50 years ago.
The uniformed degree wore knee-length coats and carried their highly polished swords while wearing white gloves. Arnold Company was named for Dr. Otto Arnold, a dentist whose office was on Second Street between Center and Railroad Street at the time the Masonic Temple burned in 1888.
Recalling the Memorial Day parade 50 years ago, marching in the rear rank with my friends Leo Brumberg and Howard Keiser, the tall men in the front rank were George Brammer, co-owner of the old Olive Hotel; Waite Russell, a young attorney who was Captain of the Ironton’s Co. I was when the National Guard unit bivouacked at Lawrence Street School in 1917.
Others in the front rank where tall men marched were Averill Russell, an insurance agent, widely known as “Windy”; Billy Pease, an engineer at the electric light plant who worked all night but always got up in time to take part in a parade; Al Humphrey, an engineer at the Iron Co. furnace, and Charles Disterdick of Schweickart Lumber Co. remembered as living on the main corner in Hanging Rock all his life.
Others keeping step in the ranks were John E. Bingaman, of Bingaman & Jones, funeral directors; Johnny Brownstead of Ward Lumber Co., who carried the bugle; Frank Boice of Central Hardware Co., who was secretary of the mother lodge Knights of Pythias more than 60 years.
I am sorry more names of the fine citizens who practiced the teachings of Damon and Pythias, which during my youth was one of the largest and most active lodges in the city, escape memory. Recalling the membership would mention names of almost all the important businessmen in the city including Col. H. A. Marting for whom the hotel is named, the “number one” all-time citizen.
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