PARIS S. BELCHER ~ BLUESTONE, W. VA.
Pictured is Paris S. Belcher at work in the N&W Bluestone Signal Tower, Bluestone, Mercer County, W. Va. Photo is 1920's. Paris was telegraph operator and served in other functions here from 1924-1950. After leaving here Paris worked the Bluefield, VA Tower. His oldest son, DOYLE BELCHER, worked the N&W Station at NEMOURS, W. Va. 1942-1943 at which time he entered the Armed Forces and served in World War 2. Another son, CURTIS BELCHER, worked the N&W Station at RODERFIELD, W. Va. 1944-1945 and also entered the Armed Forces. A third son, TROY BELCHER, worked the N&W Station at ITMAN, W. Va. before entering college. TROY and his middle brother, CURTIS, were in the Bluestone Tower the night the building containing the POST OFFICE and GENERAL STORE BURNED DOWN. The GENTRY FAMILY lived in the upstairs of the building. Mr. GENTRY was first shift at the Bluestone Tower, PARIS BELCHER was second shift and Mr. PATTON third shift.
TROY BELCHER furnished the photo and information. TROY was born 1930 in Bluestone and grew up there. Attended NEMOURS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WADE JUNIOR HIGH in Bluefield, W. Va. and graduated 1947 from BEAVER HIGH in Bluefield, W. Va. He then attended BLUEFIELD COLLEGE. TROY was a radio operator in the USAF during the Korean War. After discharge TROY served as an AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER for 30 & 1/2 years. He retired in 1983 and went into real estate and building houses.
I would like to add that I was born 1938 on SHINBRIER HILL. Had I fallen off the back side of the hill I would almost have landed in BLUESTONE's SIGNAL TOWER. Hats off to the N&W RAILROADING BELCHER FAMILY of BLUESTONE, WEST VIRGINIA!
E. L. Harris
1305 Dodge Dr NW
Warren, OH 44485
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