James E. Casto
Local History Room

About James E. Casto

The local history room was named in honor of James E. Casto in the autumn of 2006, recognizing the author's long-time devotion to history and to the Cabell County Public Library. Casto, senior public information specialist for the Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing and retired associate editor of The Herald-Dispatch, was instrumental in establishing the Friends Division of the West Virginia Library Association. His books include "Huntington: An Illustrated History," "Towboat on the Ohio," "West Virginia Mountain Majesty," "Cabell County," "Southern West Virginia: Coal Country," "Marshall University" and "The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway." His newest book, due for release in early 2009, covers the 1937 flood. He also contributed to the West Virginia Encyclopedia and has written histories for St. Mary's Medical Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital and numerous magazine articles.