Randolph County barn goes pink to raise breast cancer, tobacco u - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Randolph County barn goes pink to raise breast cancer, tobacco use awareness

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Photo Courtesy the Randolph Co. Family Resource Network Photo Courtesy the Randolph Co. Family Resource Network

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A barn in Harman is flipping the script on the area's well-known Mail Pouch Tobacco barns.

Randolph County will unveil the nation's first pink barn Oct. 19 as a partnership with the West Virginia Division of Tobacco Prevention and Community Connections Inc.

West Virginia Quitline Program Manager Kathy Danberry said the barn offers a chance to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Mail Pouch barns were created nearly 100 years ago by the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Co. from Wheeling to advertise its tobacco, and advertising by barn gained popularity.

The first "tobacco prevention" barn appeared in West Virginia in 2009 in Monroe County, and the pink barn in Randolph County will be the Mountain State's fifth barn converted to raise awareness for tobacco prevention.

The barn, located on Whitmer Road, belongs to Phil Cooper, which once was painted with a Robin Hood Flour advertisement.