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African-American Education
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1862
The first school for black children, Sumner School, opened in Parkersburg. Other events that happened on or around 1862 Jacob Blair and his two congressional colleagues met at the White House to discuss West Virginia admission into the Union with President Lincoln President Lincoln decided in favor of statehood George Imboden rose to the rank of colonel and took command of the of the 18th Virginia Calvary Confederate General Stonewall Jackson based his forces in Berkeley Springs during his attack on Hancock, Maryland Congress enacted the Morrill Act Belle Boyd carried news of Union plans to Stonewall Jackson during the Shenandoah Valley campaign John Carlile turned against statehood, which he had favored John Echols served in the Kanawha Valley John Hale served as a surgeon in the Civil War A Natural gas well was first drilled in Hancock County Nancy Hart was captured a second time as a rebel spy in Summersville Collis P. Huntington persuaded Congress to designate the Central Pacific as the western half of the transcontinental railroad Stonewall Jackson led a successful campaign in the Shenandoah Valley Albert Jenkins was elected to the First Confederate Congress Jacob Cox and men were driven out of the Kanawha Valley by Confederate advance led by Brig. Gen William W. Loring U.S. troops were maneuvering from Western Virginia toward Tennessee Joseph Lightburn was ordered to Charleston City of Logan was occupied and burned by Union forces under Col. Edward Siber Company 1, 12th Regiment, West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was organized in New Cumberland The Point Pleasant Register was founded as a weekly John Nugent was born in Wales Federal troops occupied Raleigh County. The Confederate Thurmond's Parisan Rangers raided in Fayette, Greenbrier and Monroe counties Peter Van Winkle represented Wood County in Constitutional Convention The Reorganized Government of Virginia added $40,000 for Weston State Hospital
1863
The first West Virginia legislature proposed to educate "free colored children," the proposal was left unfunded. Other events that happened on or around 1863 The decision to have Attorney General elected by popular vote was made B&O Railroad's management influenced people to support West Virginia statehood Union troops shelled the town of Beckley, killing a little girl Virginia's land and water boundaries given to West Virginia Civil War skirmish at Bulltown Historic Area River pirate John Lockwood arrest and tried for murder Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley were commissioned first lieutenants at Camp Piatt Melodrama East Lynne written West Virginia experimented with New England modified township system West Virginia constitution established public free school system William Edwards opened mines at Coalburg West Virginia's first election was conducted Stephen Elkins left the army Constitution stated that the "executive department shall consist of a governor, secretary of state, superintendent of free schools, auditor, treasurer and attorney general." Construction of Fort Boreman began Frederick County citizens voted not to become part of West Virginia John Hale organized the Bank of the West Harrison County was first in West Virginia in the production of beef cattle Devil Anse Hatfield deserted the regular Virginia infantry in the Civil War The state constitution stated that Delegates of the House of Delegates served one-year terms Chester Hubbard became a member of the first West Virginia senate John Jay Jackson Sr supported the move for the creation of a separate state but opposed the abolition of slavery Mudwall Jackson led troops against Union Gen. Thomas Harris The presence of the B&O influenced the decision to include Jefferson County in the new state The state constitution adopted Virginia common law and statutes as the law of West Virginia Daniel Lamb was a member of the first West Virginia legislature West Virginia state government resumed the project for Weston Hospital The Marshall College property was sold at public auction to Salina Hite Mason The Methodist Church claimed the largest number of congregation in West Virginia Reported 250 newspapers had been established Editors changed their mastheads to reflect the name of the new state Hiram Clay first settled in what is know Pineville. Samuel Price was elected lieutenant governor of Confederate Virginia. Beckley was bombarded by federal artillery. The first period of Republican dominance began Mrs. Henry Woods wrote East Lynne The first free school opened in Ripley Lewis Ruffner was appointed a major general of militia for West Virginia Nathan Scott enlisted in the Union army in Ohio The Supreme Court of Appeals sat at Wheeling with three justices Thurmond's Rangers became 44th Virginia Cavalry Battalion Campbell Tarr became West Virginia's first state treasurer The repayment to the state of Virginia was included in the West Virginia constitution Legislature gave official sanction to teachers organization All turnpikes in West Virginia were turned over to the counties through which they ran The name was changed to West Virginia Hospital for the Insane Kellian Whaley was reelected to Congress from West Virginia Confederate forces reoccupied Lewisburg Waitman Willey began serving as U.S. Senator from West Virginia Wirt County was divided into 7 districts Fort Boreman was constructed in Wood County
1865
Storer College in Harpers Ferry, begun by the Freewill Baptist Church, to educate black teachers Other events that happened on or around 1865 Virginia legislature repealed laws consenting to the admission of Berkeley and Jefferson counties to West Virginia Ratification of 13th Amendment by West Virginia John Appleton moved to Kanawha County 13 Banks had become national banks The Baptist General Association of West Virginia (West Virginia Baptist Convention) formed Rosser's Raid occurred on Beverly Belle Boyd wrote Belle Boyd in Camp and Prison in London Waitman T. Willey senate term as first West Virginia senator ended Provision included in Constitution of 1851 calling for the General Assembly to reapportion representation in both houses John Dickinson came to Kanawha County Anne Dudley arrived in West Virginia to teach freed blacks Fairmont State University was formed as West Virginia's first private normal school Aretas Fleming married Carrie M. Watson Joseph Diss Debar appointed an agent in southern Germany Nathan Goff married Laura E. Despard Grafton National Cemetery was established for Civil War dead The Easton Roller Mill replaced overshot water wheel Reckart's Mill was built in Preston county Visitor stated about Harpers Ferry, "all about the town are rubbish, filth, and stench." Chester Hubbard began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives John Jacob returned to Romney George Latham served as congressman for the Second District of West Virginia Joseph Lightburn returned to duty after being wounded in Sherman's advance on Atlanta The Logan Wildcats were active in the Shenandoah Valley campaign The city of Boone Court House changed its name to Madison Booker T. Washington arrived in Malden with his family to work in the salt industry and local coal mines Two additional dams were built on the Monongahela River The army recruiting and training center at Camp Carlisle ceased The Campbell's Creek Coal Company began shipping coal down the Kanawha River from Port Amherst Samuel Price was appointed circuit judge in Lewisburg but declined to take office A narrow-gauge railroad was built to Ritchie Mines Ritchie Mines was bought Union authorities moved Jefferson County seat from Charles Town to Shepherdstown The Wheeling interurban system began operation The National Banking Act was amended to allow state banks to become national banks Jim Vance was suspected in the murder of Harmon McCoy The formal organizing of Webster County took place The state superintendent called a state convention of teachers to meet in Fairmont, founding the West Virginia Education Association
1868
Schools for black children were being built in 18 communities in West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 1868 A construction bid for Clarksburg School, an elementary black school, was accepted A springhouse was built at Barger Springs (Summers County) Jacob Blair was appointed minister to Costa Rica The new Harpers Ferry bridge was completed Thayer sold Ceredo to mortgage holder, Charles B. Hoard Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad was created Gen. William C. Wickham became president of the C&O Railroad The state purchased the institution now known as Fairmont State University Vedette changed name to the West Virginian Freedmen's Bureau ceased operation in West Virginia President Grant appointed Nathan Goff Jr. U.S. district attorney for West Virginia Catherine Jackson White purchased Jackson's Mill John Kenna finished his studies at St. Vincents Academy in Wheeling Lincoln County's borders changed The Agricultural College of West Virginia was renamed West Virginia University at the recommendation of Alexander Martin Dr. H. Stieren of St. Louis established a bromine factory in Mason County The Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration Day, predecessor to Memorial Day The legislature created two public school districts in Morgantown, white and black Anna Maria Jarvis organized Mothers' Friendship Day celebration The steamboat Mountain Boy was built on the Monongahela River at Brownsville, Pennsylvania All refineries except one founded by Johnson Newlon Camden closed due to his partnership with Standard Oil Trust George Peterkin graduated from the Theological Seminary of Virginia. Drilling for oil and gas began in Roane County William Rosecrans served as minister to Mexico John Cunningham acquired the Phillip R. Thompson property, which he had incorporated and named Kanawha City Senator Peter Van Winkle cast the next-to-last vote and only Republican vote that saved President Andrew Johnson from being removed on impeachment charges Fred E. Brooks was born Reported 200 patients were being cared for at Weston State Hospital Winfield was incorporated
Dec 26, 1872
West Virginia's new constitution continued the education of black children in segregation Other events that happened on or around December 26, 1872 Legislature passed West Virginia's first general banking law The present building of Malden's African Zion Baptist Church began after contributions of land, money and materials by Gen. Lewis Ruffner Blacks began forming groups in response to inequality. Commissioners in McDowell County ordered a new courthouse be constructed out of logs Joseph Beury and wife moved to New River Alexander Boteler ran unsuccessfully for Congress Brickyard Bend (New Cumberland) shipped 11 million bricks via Ohio River West Virginia's new constitution abandons the township system and reverts back to the Virginia county government system Democrats gained political supremacy after voting restrictions on former Confederates ceased Joseph Diss Debar supported the Liberal Republicans to come to terms with the ex-Confederates Anne Dudley toured New England with Harpers Ferry Singers to raise funds for Myrtle Hall New constitution expanded support of public education New constitution changed elections to two-year cycle Secretary of State was made an appointed office Provisions of the Flick Amendment was added to the state constitution John P. Hale purchased Fort Lee's original lot and blockhouse in Charleston Glenville State College began as branch of the State Normal School Noah Speer started the Hancock Works The second courthouse was completed in Glenville Vote by citizens brought the Grant County seat permanently to Petersburg John Hale built the Hale House hotel in Charleston Legislature faced the task of modifying laws to conform to the newly adopted constitution West Virginia Legislature grew to 89 persons Weston's first public school building was erected The McDowell County seat was located at Peeryville (now English) The town of Milton was laid out The hamlet of Mud in Lincoln County, an unincorporated community, said to have been founded Construction began on more refineries in Parkersburg Normal schools were established in Glenville, Athens, and Shepherdstown Pence Springs was developed as a resort. In Charleston, the Presbyterian Church (Southern) and the Kanawha Presbyterian Church (Northern) split. Voters in Greenbrier Country elected Samuel Price as their representative to the West Virginia constitutional convention. Legislature designated Shepherd as one of the state's normal schools Robert Simmons was a delegate to the Republican national convention The cave at Sinks of Gandy was described by David Hunter Strother The Universalist Meeting House at Fork Ridge in Marshall County erected an additional larger building Charles Ward began operating his own pipe and fittings business The Western Maryland Railway extended to Hagerstown I.C. White earned an undergraduate degree at Agricultural College of West Virginia (WVU) Waitman Willey spoke eloquently for suffrage for African-Americans
1881
West Virginia contracted with Storer College in educating African-American teachers Other events that happened on or around 1881 Booker T. Washington married his first wife, Fannie Smith, at the African Zion Baptist Church Congress gave $5,000 to Smithsonian to conduct excavations relating to prehistoric Mound Builders George Atkinson wrote After the Moonshiners West Virginia's first general banking law repealed Legislature elected Johnson N. Camden to the U.S. Senate Nathan Goff Jr. served as secretary of navy under President Hayes The West Virginia Board of Health was established West Virginia Board of Health was established George Imboden became the president of the Fayette County Commission Jacob Beeson Jackson began service as governor John Jacob was appointed Ohio County circuit judge The lock and dam on the Elk River was removed Joseph Long moved to Wheeling William MacCorkle married Belle Goshorn Henry Mathews returned to Lewisburg C.F. Millspaugh received a medical degree from the New York Homeopathic Medical College The Norfolk & Western Railway was a result of a merger between the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad and Shenandoah Valley Railroad Daniel Purinton became vice-president and acting president of West Virginia University. William Rosecrans served in Congress from California Johann Stifel died Frederick Douglass spoke on the campus of Storer College The current Monroe County courthouse was built in Union Alexander Wade published A Graduating System for Country Schools West Union was incorporated The first West Virginia State Fair was held at Wheeling Island Albert White moved to Parkersburg Emanuel Wilson finished his service in the House of Delegates Thomas Davis moved with his family to Huntington
1885
Sumner School in Parkersburg added high school courses to its curriculum for black students. Other events that happened on or around 1885 Parents of Walter Aegerter, Gottfried and Marianna Dubach Aegerter, moved to Helvetia Annie Bartlett married Leonidas Bartlett Belle Boyd married her third husband Nathaniel High Flat Top Coal Company established its headquarters in Bramwell The state song "The West Virginia Hills" written by Ellen Ruddell was put to music by Henry Everett Engle The Hale House burned down in Charleston The move of the capital to Charleston occurred Jacob Beeson Jackson left office as governor of West Virginia Frances Benjamin Johnston ended her studies in Paris at the Academie Julian One of the state's earliest telephone systems was installed in Weston John H. Lilly planted two or three oak trees that are still standing today John McGraw left as Taylor County prosecuting attorney The Berkeley Castle was built as a summer cottage The capital moved permanently back to Charleston aboard the Chesapeake and Belle Prince The former state capital was used for the Ohio County Courthouse Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly moved its offices to Wheeling Christopher Payne established the West Virginia Enterprise. A new owner resumed mining at Ritchie Mines The Ruffner Hotel was built in Charleston The "West Virginia Mission" was organized under the Ohio conference Morris Shawkey entered business college I.C. White wrote an article in Science asserting his rediscovery of the anticlinal theory in the location of oil and gas Woodlawn was incorporated as a public cemetery
Mar 17, 1891
The West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) was founded by legislature
Feb 21, 1895
Legislature established Bluefield Colored Institute (Bluefield State College) to train black teachers Other events that happened on or around February 21, 1895 Legislature established Bluefield Colored Institute (now Bluefield State University) to train black teachers
1919
The position of State Supervisor of Negro Schools and an appointed Negro Board of Education were created by the state Other events that happened on or around 1919 There were 33 churches belonging to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination with 1,325 members White mob lynched two black miners at Chapmanville Alderson Baptist Academy became Alderson Baptist Academy and Junior College (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) Mary Atkeson competed a PhD in Literature at Ohio State University George Atkinson wrote Bench and Bar of West Virginia First state tournament for girls' high school basketball was held at Spencer John Peale Bishop was hired at Vanity Fair magazine after being stationed in Europe Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the Bretz property Don Chafin was shot when entering UMWA District 17 offices American chestnut trees provided West Virginia with 118 million board feet of lumber The normal school at Athens became independent as Concord State Normal School (now Concord University) National coal and steel strikes Governor John Cornwell supported the Red Flag legislation and Constabulary legislation in creating the State Police John Warren Davis became president of West Virginia Collegiate Institute (now West Virginia State University) Clarence Donnelly began his ministry Dunbar was laid out by Dunbar Development Company Legislature abolished first board and created a seven-member Board of Education Gertrude Humphrey began work in WVU extension system West Virginia enacted legislation that made it unlawful for livestock to be on the railroad right of way Harrison Ferrell was stricken with polio Nathan Goff married Katherine Penney The West Virginia Good Roads Federation campaigned for amendment to make road improvements under slogan "Help Pull West Virginia Out of the Mud" Greenwood Cemetery, on the National Road in Wheeling, became a nonprofit corporation Mayor C. C. Testerman named Sid Hatfield Matewan's police chief The Board of Children's Guardians was established Dave Gideon became the sole owner of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch The UMWA began efforts to unionize the mines of southern West Virginia The problem of sharing Virginia's debt was finally settled A large stone monument was erected at Jackson's Mill in the memory of Stonewall Jackson Mother Jones joined the steelworkers' organizing drive in Pittsburgh Joseph Joy won a patent for his design of a mechanical coal loader Frank Keeney announced his intention to unionize the remainder of southern West Virginia coal mines Teepi Kendrick helped found the West Virginia 4-H All Stars Lakin State hospital was established by an act of the Legislature Walter Martens began working for architect L. F. W. Stuebe of Danville Louis Marx established Louis Marx & Company Legislature provided for the establishment of mine rescue station to train personnel in rescue and first-aid work Margaret Montague's story "England to America" won the O. Henry Award Ephraim Morgan ran for governor Howard Sloan organized a congregation in Grafton Greasy Neale played in the World Series for the Cincinnati Reds The Nuttallburg mine was sold to Henry Ford The Owens Bottle Machine Company changed to the Owens Bottle Company Mateo Pinkard wrote his first hit, "Mammy 'o Mine" after moving to New York. 125 acres of land was purchased for the operation of the agriculture program. A poultry extension program was started in West Virginia The state received a federal grant for the control of venereal disease. The West Virginia Department of Prohibition began William Revercomb earned a law degree from the University of Virginia Red Ribble moved to Prince Rat Rodgers was named to the All-American teams Rat Rodgers was the leading scorer in the nation St. Mary's Glass opened S. Orestes Bond became president of Salem College Thomas C. Miller was designated president instead of principal of Shepherd College The Twin Mountain & Potomac railroad line ended WVU's football team amassed an 8-3 record Weirton Steel added a blast furnace Weirton Steel employees jumped to 11,630 Clint Thomas returned to Columbus after army service W. W. Trent became secretary of the West Virginia Education Association Tucker County's school enrollment peaked at 4,144 students Attempts to unionize southern West Virginia occurred West Virginia legislature created a Virginia Debt Sinking Fund to settle the Virginia Debt Byrd Prillerman left as president of West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) I. C. White received an honorary law degree from WVU Carter G. Woodson began Associated Publishers Company Carter G. Woodson began serving as Dean of Liberal Arts at Howard University West Virginians participated in the Russian Expedition, a military fiasco C. H. Mead completed the first commercial gas well in Wyoming County Lenna Yost became the Washington correspondent for the National WCTU's Union Signal West Virginia held a state basketball tournament for girls for the first time T. G. Nutter became the first African-American to represent Kanawha County in the House of Delegates
1924
Elementary school and junior high schools numbered 453 for African-American students and teachers Other events that happened on or around 1924 Mary Atkeson wrote The Woman on the Farm The number of banks in West Virginia peaked at 225 state banks and 125 national banks Walter Barnes wrote The Children's Poets The Evening Post, Beckley's first daily newspaper, was established UMWA President Keeney and Secretary Treasurer Mooney were forced to retire Izetta Brown seconded Davis again for nomination Izetta Brown again defeated for U.S. Senate, this time by William Edwin Chilton Chauncey H. Browning graduated from WVU John W. Davis Democratic candidate for president Matthew Wesley Clair Sr. returned to Washington for a visit Association changed its name to West Virginia Council of Churches and Christian Education Democratic presidential candidate John W. Davis failed to carry home state West Virginia Huntington's Frederick Douglass Junior and Senior High School was built Patrick Gainer recorded folk songs and lore of West Virginia's people Construction of the Governor's Mansion began Major flood brought devastation Record floods hit Hardy County Another school was built in Harrisville The Concord College He-Man Club began as picnic to honor retiring college president Christopher Columbus Rossey The hemlock wooly adelgid was first reported in the Western United States Colonel Joseph Long bought a corner lot in Huntington to erect a building for his paper, the Herald-Dispatch The UMWA had lost half of its members in West Virginia and was nearly bankrupt The Huntington Post-Herald became a daily newspaper Homer Holt married Isabel Wood of Charlottesville, Virginia Rush Holt graduated from Salem College Cheat Lake construction began, created primarily for the production of electricity Carmine Pelligrino of Rosemont held record of mining 66 tons of coal in 24 hours The Jackson's Mill property was donated to the state of West Virginia Ray Wetzel was born in Parkersburg Mother Jones called on Governor Morgan for pardons for miners imprisoned after the Logan March Out-of-state KKK publication carried reports from several West Virginia location The Ku Klux Klan marched through Hinton Howard B. Lee left office as Mercer County prosecuting attorney Carnegie library was established in Hinton Howard M. Gore became assistant secretary of agriculture Mountain lions were declared extinct Walter Martens designed the Science and Liberal Arts halls of Davis & Elkins College Clarence Cameron White was named director of music at West Virginia State College The Concrete Steel Bridge Company of Clarksburg had 52 separate construction teams in the field The Metropolitan Theater in downtown Morgantown opened Fred Mooney left as secretary-treasurer of UMWA District 17 The first Mountaineer Field opened The Clarke-McNary law was passed by Congress authorizing the purchase of forested, cut-over, or denuded lands for the production of timber in addition to the flow regulation of navigable streams Records of chicken production began. The West Virginia Public Health Association was organized. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem College. Walter Reuther began work as apprentice tool and die maker at Wheeling Steel Leonard Riggleman accepted a pastorate in Milton William Ritter made headline for sharing $3 million in company stock with his employees Money from the John B. Crowley estate paid for a new addition to St. Francis Hospital A second wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital The state built a fire tower in Seneca State Forest A merger agreement between Sheltering Arms Hospital and Charleston General Hospital fell through Ada "Bricktop" Smith performed in Paris West Virginia Wesleyan defeated Navy, Syracuse, Kentucky in football The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference began Seneca State Forest became the first state forest in West Virginia P. D. Strausbaugh and colleagues collected, mounted and filed the nucleus of a new plant collection for WVU The Blackwater Boom & Lumber Company closed All lumber operations in Tucker County closed due to depletion of original forest Membership in the United Brethren Parkersburg Conference was 10,337 Frank Keeney and Fred Mooney resigned from the UMWA Ward Engineering built the Greenbrier, a sternweel towboat
1933
The appointment of assistant superintendents of Negro education in counties having 50 or more black teachers. Other events that happened on or around 1933 Approved the Appalachian Wage Agreement for UMWA miners Arthurdale Community founded under the National Industrial Recovery Act, first project of the U.S. Resettlement Administration Cleve Bailey appointed as assistant state auditor Great Depression dropped numbers to 103 state banks and 78 national Congress passed the Banking Act of 1933 Tournament was completely reorganized Employees walked out when management refused to recognize the United Textile Workers as bargaining agent John Peale Bishop returned to live in the U.S. after living in France William J. Blenko died Clerk Charles Lively designated the name of the West Virginia Legislative Hand Book and Manual and Official Register be changed to Blue Book
1950
More than 19,000 black youth, grades 1-12, were provided education by the West Virginia public school system Other events that happened on or around 1950 123rd Fighter Group called to duty in Korean War and moved to Goodman Air Force Base Pastor Richard E. Shearer assumed presidency of Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) Ernest Bavely died The National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement was approved Sigus Olafson began publishing articles on petroglyphs, the painted trees, Gabriel Arthur and more A caretaker for Audra State Park was hired Walter Barnes helped revive the Folklore Society with help from Ruth Ann Musick Bear Rock Lakes area was opened to fishing Clair Bee wrote Hoop Crazy Raleigh Coal & Coke ceased operations About 25,000 people lived in Bluefield Everett Lilly appeared on classic bluegrass recordings Betsy Byars graduated from Queens College in Charlotte, NC Governor Patteson gave state funds to improve Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park Walter Eli Clark died Phil Conley ended his term as president of the West Virginia Publishing Company and founded West Virginia Education Foundation Name was shortened to West Virginia Council of Churches Virginia Ruth "Dagmar" Egnor was hired to be on NBC's Broadway Open House Julius DeGruyter wrote West Virginia: Its Charters and Municipal Affairs West Virginia's median age was below national average at 26.3 years Joanne Dru appeared in Wagon Master Ellis Dungan returned to Hollywood Fairmont population peaked at 29,346 Fayette County population peaked at 82,443 Floodwall in Parkersburg was completed Patrick Gainer organized the West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville Fostoria manufactured 8 million pieces of glass West Virginia population peaked at 2,005,552 Statewide coal employment peaked at 127,000 The Veterans Administration Medical Center was built in Harrison County Dave Gideon died Mechanization and automation in coal mining reduced the number of miners and a decline in UMWA membership The gates to the Home for the Incurables (now Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital) were removed The Cedar Lakes Conference Center was established as a state FFA-FHA camp Keystone's population was at 2,500 The National Labor Relation board recognized the Employees Security League as the legitimate bargaining agent for Weirton employees The Linger chair factory moved to Rock Cave The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers recorded for Cozy Records Louis Wohinc died Catherine Marshall published Mr. Jones, Meet The Master A new science building was constructed at Marshall College (now University) Jack Maurice became editor of the Charleston Daily Mail A fourth of McDowell population was black McDowell population peaked at 98,887 Mine mechanization led to widespread job loss Major coal companies formed the Bituminous Coal Operators Association The UMWA and Bituminous Coal Operators Association agreed that the union would not resist mechanization in exchange for a share of the proceeds Birth rate in West Virginia declined and pace of out-migration accelerated Traditional coal miners' vacation became formalized with the establishment of Bituminous Coal Operators Association Mingo County population peaked at 47,409 The National Hillbilly News switched to a smaller format Molly O'Day and Lynn Davis gave up show business to serve the Lord Port Amherst Ltd. was acquired by the Amherst Fuel Company Jack Rollins wrote "Frosty the Snow Man" Charleston's St. Francis Hospital had 130 beds Soupy Sales left Huntington The West Virginia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists consisted of 2,000 members Shepherd College was accredited by the North Central Association Jim Sprouse studied international law at the University of Bordeaux The Weirton Independent Union was declared a violation of federal labor law West Virginia steelworkers numbered 22,596 Joe Stydahar was named head coach of the L.A. Rams Leon Sullivan began ministry at Zion Baptist church in Philadelphia Hinton's population was 5,780 West Virginia tobacco production was at 4,000,000 pounds Richard Talbott stopped serving as state treasurer Riggleman Hall was constructed at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Welch population peaked at 6,603 Walter Barnes, Patrick Gainer and Ruth Ann Musick revived the West Virginia Folklore Society Helen Thompson became the Charleston Symphony Orchestra's first full-time executive secretary Weston's population peaked at 8,945 An outpatient department was opened at Wheeling Hospital Wildlife biologist tried trapping wild turkeys in the eastern mountains and moving them into other counties Williamson population peaked at 8,624 Wyoming County population was 37,540 Mullens had a population of 3,544 Hurry-up Yost was inducted to the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Morgantown obtained the Tibbs Run Reservoir President Eisenhower appointed Helen Holt to a new program in the Federal Housing Administration
1954
West Virginia began dismantling system of black education after the desegregation ruling by Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education Other events that happened on or around 1954 Chuck Howley enrolled at WVU Bill Campbell married the former Joan Dourif
1956
The end of private education at Storer College in Harpers Ferry Other events that happened on or around 1956 New campus for Appalachian Bible Institute opened in Bradley Gray Barker wrote his best-known book, They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers Blackwater Lodge opened at Blackwater State Park Boundary dispute between West Virginia and Virginia involving Monroe, Giles, and Alleghany Counties Chauncey H. Browning was Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court Cabell Huntington Hospital first opened for business Lodge at Cacapon State Park was completed with a restaurant and banquet hall The "golden" trout was spawned with regular rainbow trout at state fire hatchery Charles Town Opera House was condemned City National Bank was organized in Charleston Roy Clarkson joined Department of Biology at WVU Mine at Bishop exploded Chapman Revercomb last Republican to be elected to the Senate in West Virginia Associated Dry Goods bought the Diamond Department Store Elizabeth Drewry helped pass constitutional amendment allowing women to serve on juries in West Virginia Pete Everest graduated from Armed Forces Staff College Pete Everest flew the X-2 at Mach 3 Ruel Foster wrote Elizabeth Madox Roberts, American Novelist Charleston's Garnet High School closed The state Board of Education authorized the construction of the student center, Pioneer Center, at Glenville State College Joseph C. Gluck became pastor of the Forks-of-Cheat Baptist Church The U.S. Government approached the C&O with proposal to build an "emergency relocation center" at the Greenbrier for reassembly of Congress Davis Grubb wrote Shadow of My Brother Minnie Buckingham Harper's second husband John B. Paterson died Hazel Atlas Company operated 12 plants across the U.S. Chuck Howley was named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Year Sam Huff played with the New York Giants to win a championship game The peak patient population at the Huntington State Hospital was 1,460 The federal Interstate Highway Act was passed Jean Lee Latham won the Newbery Award for Carry On, Mr. Bowditch Jean Lee Latham won the Newbery Award for Carry On, Mr. Bowditch The Library Services Act by Congress enabled the Library Commission to acquire federal funding for public libraries in West Virginia Clagg and Britton produced an atlas of West Virginia emphasizing historical factors and statewide economic data Camden Eli "Cam" Henderson died William Marland tried to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat G. Ogden Nutting started his newspaper career as a reporter and news editor for the Martinsburg Journal Mason College of Music and Fine Arts merged with Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Thomas Miller graduated from the WVU College of Law The West Virginia Mountain State Gospel Singers Corporation was chartered Alfred Knobler opened the new Pilgrim Glass plant on Walker Branch Road in Ceredo The community of Port Amherst received that name The Pruntytown Industrial School for Boys was reintegrated The N&W was West Virginia's last steam powered railroad Mary Lee Settle wrote O Beulah Land The Mann's Creek Railroad line closed Planning for Sutton Dam continued Direct distance telephone dialing was introduced in Wheeling and Moundsville The Greenbrier art colony was reopened with the work of Gladys Tuke and Jeanne Eleanore Coyne Cecil Underwood became a leading spokesman for the Republican Party A silicones products plant was built in Sistersville Andre Van Damme founded the Charleston Ballet Jerry West led East Bank High School to the state basketball championship The West Virginia Publishing Company changed name to West Virginia Education Foundation The timber flooring of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge was replaced with open steel grid West Virginia Institute of Technology was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Katherine Johnson's first husband died of a brain tumor Ellie Schaul moved to West Virginia View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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