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A story in this weekend’s Herald-Dispatch from Huntington, W.Va., profiles the history of West Virginia Electric Supply and the involvement of various members of the Colker family in building the business and keeping it going through countless challenges ranging from an historic flood to the Great Depression and WWII to a catastrophic fire and the demolition of a nearby bridge that forced a move to its present location.
In an interview with Jared Colker, president of the company today, the story traces the firm’s colorful history and engagement in its home town, including heroic action to supply a hospital during a major flood in 1937.
"My grandfather received an order from St. Mary's Medical Center for electric heaters, flashlights and batteries," Jared Colker said. "He took the items to them in a row boat and swam down to open up a window to unload the items from the row boat."
The order that resulted gave the struggling distributor the funds it needed to keep the doors open in the depths of the Depression: $400.
Read: West Virginia Electric Supply: A family business with a unique history