ROBERT KINSTREY

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 597
Kanawha

ROBERT KINSTREY. During the past ten years Charles-
ton has been one of the most rapidly growing cities in the
country, increasing several fold in population and spread-
ing out over an unprecedented area, with new streets, trans-
portation lines, and the inclusion of industrial and resi-
dential subdivisions. All of this means building and con-
struction, and one of the leading men supplying the tech-
nical and constructive facilities in this program has been
Robert Kinstrey, president of the Mason Contractors Asso-
ciation of Charleston.

Mr. Kinstrey was born at Richmond, Virginia, son of
Robert Kinstrey, a native of the Old Dominion. His mother
was a daughter of Robert Blount, the contractor who built
the first sewer system at Richmond.

Robert Kinstrey was educated in Richmond, learned the
brick layer's trade there, and after becoming a journey-
man he remained there fifteen years. In all that time he
held just two positions, one as superintendent of construc-
tion for W. L. Ragland & Company, and the other as
superintendent for C. S. Oliver, these being two of the
most prominent building contractors in the city.  Mr.
Kinstrey's work has always been in building construction,
and in that field he has mastered all the technique and
has shown great ability in assembling men and facilities
required for success in prompt and thorough fulfillment of
contracts.

When he left Richmond he sought a place where he
could go into business independently as a general con-
struction contractor, and in 1914 located at Charleston.
Since coming here some of the large contracts he has handled
has included the C. U. Young flats, the Sarver flats, the
Cassidy flats, the Haywood Building, Black residence on
Quarrier Street, and a number of other brick residences,
including his own handsome home at 506 Grant Street.
He was also awarded the contract and built the Junior
High School Building in Charleston, one of the most mod-
ern and complete structures of its kind in the state. Dur-
ing the war period he did much construction work for the
Government at South Charleston.

Mr. Kinstrey was one of the organizers of the Mason
Contractors Association of Charleston, of which he is presi-
dent. He has been twice married. He ia a member of the
Charleston Chamber of Commerce and the order of Elks.

Submitted by:  vfcrook@earthlink.net (Valerie Crook)

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