A priceless local relic has landed in the hands of the county's erstwhile World War II archivist, Jerry Puff who is also a retired Armco plant manager.

A February 2018 article in the Butler Eagle has resulted in a priceless World War II artifact being saved.

John Brough of Valencia said he read an Eagle story last year on retired Armco plant manager Jerry Puff's effort to distribute pictures of mill employees who served in World War II to the veterans in the photos or their families.

Brough immediately thought of a huge black book at his home that had languished, mostly unopened, since the early 1970s.

“I probably would still have it if I didn't read the newspaper,” Brough said.

He explained that his late father, Bob Brough of Center Township, was a World War II veteran in the Navy who began his career in 1947 at Armco, now AK Steel.

Brough said he thinks that at some point before his death in 1974, his father noticed someone at Armco was preparing to get rid of a large black book with the Armco logo and “Armco at War, March 1942-Aug. 1945” hand painted on the front in yellow.

The professionally bound book contains a full-size page in order from each Thursday edition of the Butler Eagle during the years written on the front.

During that time, Armco bought a page in each Thursday's Eagle to print photos, writings and updates on its employees serving overseas as soldiers, sailors, WACs and WAVEs.

Brough believes his father intervened and said he would take the book if it were destined for the trash.

This is an excerpt — pick up Sunday's Butler Eagle or subscribe online to read the full article.