William Wallace Atterbury
William Wallace Atterbury was a brigadier general in the United States Army during World War I, who began his career with the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in 1886 and rose through the ranks to become its tenth president (1925–1935). As director-general of transportation in France during the war, the New Albany, Indiana, native and Yale University graduate was instrumental in reorganizing railroad traffic for more efficient transportation of troops and supplies for the American Expeditionary Forces. He was also known as "The Railroad General". Under his leadership after the war, the Pennsylvania Railroad undertook a $250 million project to electrify major portions of its main line that ran between New York City and Washington, D.C. He also assisted in development of the company's first M1-class steam locomotive.
Atterbury circa 1913
General John J. Pershing decorating Brigadier General William W. Atterbury with the Army DSM at the headquarters of the Services of Supply at Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France, January 18, 1919.
Atterbury on the cover of Time Magazine in 1933.
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River, opposite Louisville, Kentucky. The population was 37,841 as of the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Floyd County. It is bounded by I-265 to the north and the Ohio River to the south, and is considered part of the Louisville, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. The mayor of New Albany is Jeff Gahan, a Democrat; he was re-elected in 2023.
New Albany as seen from the Ohio River.
View of Pearl Street in Downtown New Albany.
Downtown New Albany The 160 feet tall Town Clock Church was built in 1852 as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
New Albany National Cemetery opened in 1862