Photograph of Workers in front of Pennsylvania Railroad Handcar House

This photograph shows a group of nine men posing for the picture in front of the Pennsylvania Railroad Handcar House at the Worthington station on the Sandusky Branch near Granville Road, east of Worthington around 1917 to 1918. In 1902 the Pennsylvania Railroad purchased the Sandusky & Columbus Short Line that had orignally been built in 1893, and called it the Sandusky Branch. It was primarily used for hauling of coal, and offered some passenger service as well.

The men are identified from left to right, back row: Howard Black, John Comstock, Joe Huskey, Dobbs, Dobbs and front row: Lewis Eaton, Fred Denig, Henry Denig, George Black. Based on census records, it is probable that the two Dobbs men were brothers Bert and Alexander.

George Black (b. 1886, d. 1941) and his brother, Howard Black (b. 1878, d. 1948), were lifelong Worthington residents. George lived on Proprietors Road at the time of his death and served as the head of garbage disposal and did street cleaning for the Village of Worthington in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Before that he worked for sixteen years for Worthington Coal & Supply, and the Pennsylvania Railroad before that. In the notice of Howard Black's death in the September 30th, 1948 Worthington News, it is stated that he "was formerly employed for many years at the Methodist Children's Home and was later watchman at the J. & L. Snouffer Stone Quarries." Both George and Harold Black are buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery.

According to a notice in the Worthington News upon his death, Henry Denig (b. 1868, d. 1940) lived in Worthington for several years before moving to Columbus. He was the the sexton of Walnut Grove Cemetery from 1930 to 1940, just before his death. His son, Fred Denig (b. 1901, d. 1956), is also identified in this image. After high school, Fred worked for the Federal Tile Company for seven years before eventually becoming a jeweler. He opened a jewelry shop at 691 High Street, where his son Jack also worked. Both Henry and Fred Denig are buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery.

John Comstock (b. 1867, d. 1948) lived in Flint during the 1930s and was known as a fish dealer who ordered fish from Lake Erie that he sold in the community. He is buried in Walnut Grove.

Bert Dobbs (b. 1889, d. 1966) lived in Worthington in the 1910s. His brother, Alexander Dobbs (b. 1884, d. 1957) is listed on his World War I draft card as living in Worthington and employed as a laborer for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Both brothers are buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery.

Lewis Eaton (b. 1872, d. 1955) was listed in the 1920 census for Worthington living on North Hartford Street and working as a laborer doing odd jobs. His draft card for World War I indicates he had a stout frame and black hair.

Joseph Huskey registered for the draft in 1917 in Delaware, Ohio and listed his occupation as track manager for the Pennsylvania Railroad.