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Rural Electrification
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1888
Electricity generate from natural gas brought streetlights to Parkersburg Other events that happened on or around 1888 Waitman Barbe wrote "The Song of the Centuries," his first important poem Arthur Boreman was elected to a circuit judgeship again Bramwell was incorporated as a town Sheltering Arms Hospital opened Kanawha Gazette began regular daily publication Danske Dandridge wrote Joy and Other Poems Henry Gassaway Davis supported Benjamin Harrison for president Fayette County became West Virginia leading coal producing county Salem College was founded Devil Anse Hatfield moved his family from Tug Valley to Main Island Creek Hamilton Hatter received a bachelor's degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine Frank Hereford served as presidential elector The town of Hurricane was incorporated John Jacob left circuit judge to return to practicing law Harriet Jones became assistant superintendent of the state hospital in Weston Kanawha County became the state's second largest coal producer The Logan Banner was founded by Henry Clay Ragland Roger Saad became the first Lebanese immigrant to settle in Wheeling The Martinsburg & Potomac railroad was extended to Frederick County, Virginia The Kanawha & Ohio Railway completed a line from Charleston to Point Pleasant The Elkhorn Tunnel through Flat Top Mountain was completed Oakhurst Links was the home of the first regularly played golf tournament in the U.S. The Fetterman Mill was destroyed by a flood. Christopher Payne became first African American elected to represent West Virginia at the Republican national convention. Graham Hamrick preserved two female corpses as Phillipi mummies Livia Poffenbarger demanded the right to speak in support of a candidate at the state Democratic convention. Nathan Scott became a member of the Republican National Committee Senate president Robert Carr tried to assert the right to become governor after a disputed election Thomas J. Reynolds was born at Point Pleasant Callie Leach French became the first woman to obtain a pilot's license The Monongahela River flooded William Luke founded the Piedmont Pulp & Paper Company, later Westvaco H. C. Ogden came to Wheeling as a reporter for the Wheeling News H.C. Ogden came to Wheeling as a reporter for the News Albert White served as president of the National Editorial Association Mountain State Business College was established William H. Davis was nominated as an independent candidate for governor
May 11, 1935
President Franklin Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration under the New Deal
1937
The Harrison Rural Electrification Association was established Other events that happened on or around 1937 Turquoise color was introduced for Fiestaware Louis W. Chappell began field recording of folksongs Garnet was classified as first-class high school Glenville State College received admission to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education "Biggie" Goldberg lead University of Pittsburgh to the national football championship The Model L Gravely tractor was introduced Benjamin Gravely retired from the day-to-day management of the company The National Park Service conducted a survey of the Jefferson County site for the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The U.S. Department of Agriculture began purchasing property in Randolph County to reforest the land and reclaim streams to create Holly River State Park U.S. Army Corp of Engineers constructed a floodwall to protect Huntington from the Ohio The Huttonsville Correctional Center was founded as part of the West Virginia penitentiary system Monsignor Thomas Quirk died Louis Johnson served in the Roosevelt Administration as assistant secretary of war Kenova experienced a disastrous flood The State Labor Federation joined the CIO's new West Virginia state organization Blanche Lazzell returned to Provincetown to study with Hans Hofmann Pare Lorentz shot and edited The River Lost River State Park opened Sam Mallison was hired as head of public relations for the Benedum-Trees Company The Marshall College centennial brought descendants of John Marshall to the campus for the unveiling of a bust of the chief justice Walter Martens completed the Riverview Terrace apartments in Charleston The Appalachian Trail was established The Reber Radio Telescope was originally built by Grote Reber The PSC was given jurisdiction over motor carriers of goods and passengers. Walter Reuther represented 30,000 workers in 76 shops for the United Auto Workers The original 440 sites designated by the Commission on Historic and Scenic Highway Markers were erected Recreation facilities were opened to the public in Seneca State Forest Flood waters rose in the lower section of the Smoot Theater Sam Snead joined the Professional Golf Association tour Harley Staggers was elected Mineral County sheriff The National Labor Relations Board charged Weirton Steel with unfair labor practices The United Steelworks signed a contract at Wheeling Steel Joe Stydahar was first named to the All-National Football League team DuPont's Belle Works began world production of nylon A large wood mill was built in the Tygart Valley Homesteads The trade center building in Tygart Valley Homesteads was completed The women of Friendly seated an all-female municipal government CCC Camps Seebert and Will Rogers were closed Volkmar Wentzel became a writer and photographer for National Geographic Phil Conley sold the West Virginia Review Harrison Ferrell became dean of West Virginia State College (now University) West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company built a bleached paperboard mill in South Carolina Wheeling Downs opened for harness racing Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Society of International Artists in New York Carter G. Woodson began the publication of The Negro History Bulletin Joseph Newman Alderson became the national WPA director Grote Reber built a telescope with a 31.4-foot diameter parabolic dish in his backyard Katherine Johnson graduated from West Virginia State College with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and French Sam Jones won the state marble-shooting championship
1940
A demonstration site for farm electrification was built at the Jackson's Mill state 4-H camp Other events that happened on or around 1940 Number of farms in West Virginia began dropping West Virginia Baptist Historical Society formed Tony Boyle became president of UMWA District 27 Extensive remodeling and expansion of the Cabell County courthouse was completed Calhoun County population peaked at 12,455 First building was completed at Camp Washington-Carver Flip left the country music trio group of "Cap, Andy, and Flip" Clay County population peaked at 15,206 Rose Cousins learned how to fly Easton Roller Mill, near Morgantown, was closed W.E.R. Byrne's Tale of the Elk was published Population of Gilmer County peaked Construction began for Grandview Park G. D. McNeill wrote The Last Forest, whose main character was inspired by Edden Hammons Electric power production increased by 2,000 percent Matthew M. Neely won the Democratic nomination for governor while still serving the U.S. Senate Tom Kromer gave up writing Logan's population peaked at 5,166 Reported 11,000 miners in Logan County Martinsburg had four movie houses Bumgardner Hall was built at Beckley College (now Mountain State University) DuPont put four million pairs of nylon stockings on sale nationally Molly O'Day's brothers moved to Beckley Population of Ohio County peaked at 73,115 It was decided to establish a state forest in the Panther Creek area. Parsons population was 2,077. Pendleton County population peaked at 10,884. Ida Reed published her last book, Songs of the Hills The Hardy County Light and Power Association served 142 members Hubert Skidmore published Hill Doctor Eleanor Steber won the Metropolitan Opera radio auditions Taylor County population peaked at 19,919 The Tomlinson Run dam was built by the federal Works Progress Administration Wm. Trevey left glass plate negatives in his Glen Jean studio Vienna had five glass factories, a canning company and a silk mill Webster County population peaked at 18,080 Weirton population was 18,000 The West Virginia Historical Society was formed The State Fair ceased operation on Wheeling Island Timber in the Williams River watershed stopped being taken out by log train The West Virginia Conservation Bulletin began quarterly publication with a newspaper format Coonskin Ridge was selected for location of the Charleston airport The Gravens' cabin, located at the Youghiogheny Forest Colony, was designed by Thomas Hood Justice Chambers was called to active duty.
1954
The Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative purchased Hardy County Power and Light Other events that happened on or around 1954 Appalachian Bible Institute had a student body of 40 and needed more space Walter Barnes retired as president of the West Virginia Folklore Society West Virginia physician Joseph E. Martin Jr. insisted black lung was a progressive, terminal disease associated with exposure to coal dust. W. E. Blackhurst published Riders of the Flood Improved amplifiers made it possible to offer as many as five cable television channels by the end of the year Monsanto and Bayer built polyurethane foam plant in New Martinsville J. R. Clifford remains re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery Explosion at Jamison No. 9 mine killed 16 Life magazine dedicated 3 pages of photos to Phyllis Curtin's "dance of the seven veils" Farm Women's Clubs changed names to Home Demonstration clubs West Virginia State's land grant college status was transferred to WVU Fairmont State College opened the campus to black students for the first time Deadly explosion in Consolidation Coal Company's Farmington Mine The Follansbee steel mill was sold to the Louis Berkman Company Davis Grubb wrote A Dream of Kings John T. Willet became commissioner of the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Harold Hayslett established Hayslett Violins in South Charleston The West Virginia Turnpike was completed from Princeton to Charleston The federal government transferred the deed of the Holly River State Park to the state Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation built a large aluminum plant in Ravenswood Garland Wilson died in Paris Joy Manufacturing Company reported that 72% of all coal loaded mechanically was loaded by Joy loaders Lakin State Hospital was integrated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation unconstitutional Harts High School was built at Harts Marshall College named its buffalo mascot "Marco" Governor William Marland implemented his no-nonsense policy of public school desegregation following the U.S. Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision Minter Homes Corporation began concentrating on custom millwork, finished lumber, windows, doors and other items for building contractors Public school districts in Morgantown desegregated John Norman received an M.D. from Harvard Medical School The Oak Hill Saturday Night Wrestling television show first aired Peach production was at 900,000 bushels Fred Schaus began coaching basketball at WVU Shepherd College admitted African-American students for the first time Red Sovine joined the Grand Ole Opry Morris Harvey College football team participated in the Cigar Bowl in Tampa Miles Stanley was elected president of the Kanawha Valley Industrial Council A Turnpike Division was added to the State Police The Statler hotel chain was purchased by Conrad Hilton Boyd Stutler left the American Legion magazine Pope Pius XII bestowed the honorary title of archbishop ad personam on John Swint Clint Thomas became messenger for the state Senate The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Morgantown was founded WCHS-TV Channel 8 was launched The Press Association was revived under its original name The West Virginia State Wildlife Center began evolving as a zoo Geoffrey Hobday began leading the Charleston Symphony Orchestra West Virginia dedicated the Charlton Memorial Bridge on the West Virginia Turnpike
1989
The Harrison Rural Electrification Association had 4,713 customers Other events that happened on or around 1989 Henry Payne became the first editorial cartoonist to make his work available via computer Cecil Roberts played a key role in the UMWA successful strike against Pittston Company Bernard W. Schmitt became bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston The Smoot Theater was rescued by a citizen group headed by Felice Jorgeson The Crain v. Bordenkircher case changed state policies regarding the prison system The Jewell v. Manard case required legislature to redesign the system for compensating court-appointed attorneys Union Carbide and Indian government reached a settlement for the Bhopal plant incident The Ohio Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation built a church near Wheeling The Pittston Company tried to abrogate commitments to the UMWA welfare and retirement fund Weirton Steel stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra celebrated 50 years Ruby Memorial Hospital was designated the state's first level one trauma center Construction of a Ronald McDonald House began in Morgantown New owners led Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel out of bankruptcy WVU at Parkersburg was re-affiliated with WVU Don Blankenship became president of Massey Coal Services Dennis Harrah was inducted into the Miami University Sports Hall of Fame
1994
The Rural Electrification Administration was abolished Other events that happened on or around 1994 Ohio Valley College expanded The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake was published in Brazilian Portuguese Jayne Anne Phillips published Shelter Jayne Anne Phillips published Shelter Chris Sarandon married Joanna Hall Gleason Michael Smith founded Rocketown Ministries West Virginia became the third state to file suit against the tobacco industry to recover costs for smoking-related illnesses The Tri-State Racetrack installed 400 video lottery slot machines Hinchcliff Lumber Company added a scragg mill Union Carbide's silicones products plant at Sistersville was sold The present Unitarian Universalists building in Charleston was dedicated The United Carbon Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Melvin Lentz became wood chopping champion Ginny Hawker began serving as president of West Virginia State Folk Festival The West Virginia Lottery Commission approved the first 400 video slot machines at Wheeling Downs The first open heart surgery in the area was performed at Wheeling Hospital The Howard Long Wellness Center opened at Wheeling Hospital Jesco White was featured in a brief cameo on Roseanne Meredith Sue Willis wrote The Secret Super Powers of Marco Meredith Sue Willis wrote In The Mountains of America Tommy Thompson left the Red Clay Ramblers A bridge on U.S. 19 south of Summerville was renamed the Ralph Eugene Pomeroy Memory Bridge.
2005
The Harrison Rural Electrification Association served 5,500 customers Other events that happened on or around 2005 Frank Jezioro was the director of the Division of Natural Resources Don Nehlen entered the College Football Hall of Fame Ohio Valley College changed its name to Ohio Valley University James A. Johnson became president of Ohio Valley University Time Well Wasted album released by Brad Paisley Congressman Nick Rahall was the top Democrat on the Committee on Resources and second most-senior Democrat on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Jay Rockefeller was vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Michael J. Bransfield became Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston St. Francis Hospital was bought by LifePoint Hospitals of Tennessee R. John Reynolds became president of Salem International University Salem Education LLC assumed control of Salem International University Marshal University joined Conference USA View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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