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Steel Industry
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Jun 11, 1884
The state's first Bessemer converter began operation at the Riverside Iron Works
1890
The McKinley Tariff passed including duties on tin plate Other events that happened on or around 1890 George Atkinson wrote Prominent Men of West Virginia Harry Bandholtz graduated from West Point Electricity came to Martinsburg Many Bloch Brothers employees joined the Tobacco Workers Union Marshall University started botany classes Charles Frederik Millspaugh suggested need for an arboretum at WVU John J. Cornwell and brother William purchased the Hampshire Review Stephen Elkins built his home, Halliehurst, in Elkins Jack Glasscock won the National League batting title, hitting .336 William Glasscock became the clerk of the county circuit court Nathan Goff Jr. bought the Clarksburg Telegram The Lewisburg Academy changed its name to Greenbrier Military Academy Capt. Gordon C. Greene bought the steamboat H.K. Bedford John P. Hale helped and Virgil Lewis found the West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society The Herald began publication Thomas Lovett built the Hilltop House in Harpers Ferry Reported 236 native Hungarians in West Virginia Congress enacted the McKinley tariff to stimulate the domestic production of tin plate Jehovah Witnesses built the New Light church The original line of the Norfolk & Western from Kenova to Mingo County was completed Construction on municipal water and sewer systems began in Weston Virgil Lewis began long career of historical writing The Lincoln County Feud ended during the winter The Hatfield and McCoy Feud ended Joseph Long and partner founded the Wheeling News The Middlesex Knitting Company was established in Martinsburg Federal building in the Richardsonian Romanesque architecture style was built in Martinsburg A Mennonite meetinghouse was built near Lost River Commercial mining in Mingo County began with arrival of the N&W A post office was established at Minnehaha Springs Fairmont Electric Light and Power began operating a plant on the Monongahela River A vast tank field was established in southeast Morgantown due to rapid expansion of oil and gas industry A coal mine opened at Beechwood along the B&O line Michael L. Benedum entered the industry as an employee of Standard Oil The N&W acquired the Scioto Valley Railway Herschel Ogden founded the Wheeling Daily News Herschel Ogden married Mary Frances Moorehouse Earl Oglebay, John D. Rockefeller and David Z Norton formed partnership, Oglebay Norton Co. Pardee & Curtin Lumber Company erected a band sawmill at Sutton. Parsons population was 84. Daniel Purinton left WVU to become president of Denison College. William Ritter began a logging operation in Mercer county The statue of Patrick Henry at Monongalia Courthouse was moved indoors Howard Sutherland moved to Washington as an official in the Census Bureau Telephone switchboards were installed at Grafton Aretas B. Fleming became governor of West Virginia A springhouse was constructed at Webster Springs C. F. Millspaugh published Agricultural Experiment Station bulletins on West Virginia's Weeds Midway and Lazearville were annexed to Wellsburg Weston had electric lights The site of Williamson was still farmland There were 6,247 residents in Wyoming County
1909
A steel strike in Wheeling failed Other events that happened on or around 1909 R. D. Bailey graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana Waitman Barbe wrote Famous Poems Explained Broaddus Institute (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) moved from Clarksburg to Philippi Broaddus Institute (now Alderson-Broaddus College) moved from Clarksburg to Philippi Rosa Pelham returned to the castle The Birch Boom & Lumber Company built a sawmill near the mouth of Birch River West Virginia legislature created the Board of Control which consolidated management and fiscal control over West Virginia's institutions The Bluefield Daily Telegraph dubbed Bramwell the "Coalfield Capital" Sturdevant and Johnson's partnership ended, factory ceased operation and buildings torn down Camp Dawson was established Elegant seven-story Waldo Hotel opened West Virginia legislation prepared way for establishment of National Forest Reserve in Monongahela Legislature authorized the governor to appoint a Forest, Game and Fish Warden Consolidation Coal, Fairmont Coal and Somerset Coal companies combined into the Consolidation Coal Company Danske Dandridge wrote George Michael Bedinger, a Kentucky Pioneer Huntington annexed Central City Legislation called for forest protection and research and provided fines and imprisonment for owners who intentionally or carelessly set fires Sunday hunting and fishing was prohibited by legislature Michael Owens began his own company to manufacture bottles in Fairmont and Clarksburg Legislature appropriated funds to purchase Grave Creek Mound A receiving vault was built at Greenwood Cemetery Lincoln County destroyed by fire City of Weirton was founded by Weirton Steel Ernest T. Weir established Weirton Steel The broad-gauge Harrisville Southern Railroad began to run to Cornwallis The Herald-Dispatch began with the merger of the Herald and the Huntington Dispatch Only two county seats in West Virginia were connected by paved highways Legislature established the State Road Fund and the position of state commissioner of public roads Timber production in West Virginia reached its long-time record of 1.5 billion board feet The Jackson Iron & Tin Company relocated to Holiday Cove in Hancock County Garland Wilson was born in Martinsburg Dr. Hugh G. Nicholson leased the Barber Sanatorium and added a nursing school James Kay opened mines on Campbells Creek Keystone was incorporated George Kossuth opened his own photography studio Howard B. Lee began to practice law in Bluefield The Morgantown Republican merged with the New Dominion-News The first congregation of the Church of the Nazarene in West Virginia appeared in Martinsburg Pardee & Curtin opened a double-band sawmill at Hominy Falls. Princeton was chartered as a city The Virginian Railway was completed, the last entry into West Virginia's coalfields. Ritchie Mines were abandoned A second sawmill for St. Lawrence was built for Neola The hotel in Shannondale Springs burned down again Thomas C. Miller became administrator of Shepherd College The Pope Dock Company built Goldenrod A stone sculpture of a frontiersman was dedicated in memory of the Battle of Point Pleasant Ernest Weir expanded the Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Company from Clarksburg West Virginia tobacco production peaked at 14,400,000 pounds Fred Torrey enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago T. C. Townsend first served as the state tax commissioner The name changed from Education Association of West Virginia to the State Education Association Byrd Prillerman became president of West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) The Western Maryland Railway company was organized White Sulphur Springs was incorporated as a town The Wirt County courthouse in Elizabeth burned down Completion of the Virginian Railway sparked an industrial boom in Mullens
1914
Weirton Steel employment was 5,348 Other events that happened on or around 1914 Akro Agate Company was relocated to Clarksburg Mary Atkeson taught English for a year at the University of Missouri Elkins and Wheeling claimed basketball supremacy Izetta Brown moved to West Virginia as bride to William Gay Brown Pearl Buck graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College Sunday edition was added to Clarksburg Telegram Golden Delicious apple was discovered on Mullens farm Antoine (Tony) and Julien Gaujot earned Congressional Medals of Honor during the Philippine Insurrection and America's invasion of Vera Cruz, Mexico. Phil Conley graduated from WVU Artemus Cox moved to Charleston Doddridge County's first roads were paved Extension home economics agents were placed in certain counties to further efforts Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act for federal funding to develop agricultural extension program State prohibition began The West Virginia Federation of Labor reported 152 local craft unions with 31,315 Ella Holroyd graduated with honors from the Cincinnati Conservatory The Homer Laughlin Company made semi-vitreous and white granite dinner, hotel and toilet wares Harley Kilgore earned his law degree from WVU Harley Kilgore taught school for a year State's economic focus had shifted to southern West Virginia The local Catholic population built a school in Weston The West Virginia Library Association was organized Duval High School was built in Griffithsville Akro Agate moved to Clarksburg The Marlinton Opera House was sold due to default on deeds of trust Frank McEnteer was appointed to superintend the building of the multi-span concrete arch bridge in Clarksburg Willow Glen, or McKinley's Palace, construction began The Yost Law became effective A hotel building on the hill above Minnehaha Springs was completed Dwight Morrow joined the banking firm J. P. Morgan and Company Leonard "Lynn" Davis was born James H. Boone installed light bulbs in Organ Cave Otter Creek Boom & Lumber Company ceased logging Otter Creak Charles Boldt started manufacturing glass in Huntington The legislature established a minimum age of 10 for incarceration at Pruntytown The Ohio Valley Refining Company began operating in St. Marys There were 40 local offices elected from the Socialist Party A monument to the Confederacy was erected in Hinton The USS Huntington was on the West Coast The Vitrolite factory was fully completed A nursing school was established at what is now Welch Community Hospital The Jones brothers of Red Star Coal & Coke Company donated land to the Baptist State Convention Wheeling Hospital grew to 225 beds
1919
Weirton Steel added a blast furnace Other events that happened on or around 1919 There were 33 churches belonging to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination with 1,325 members The position of State Supervisor of Negro Schools and an appointed Negro Board of Education were created by the state 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 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
1920
La Belle Ironworks merged with Wheeling Iron and Steel and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation Other events that happened on or around 1920 Women received the right to vote State apple-packing plant in Inwood was established Walter Barnes wrote Types of Children's Literature 14 West Virginia cities and towns had professional baseball Braxton's population peaked at 23,973 Alonzo Brooks published West Virginia Trees Izetta Brown was first woman to second a presidential nominee, John W. Davis Chauncey H. Browning graduated from Logan High School City Hospital was moved to Camden mansion on Garfield Avenue in Parkersburg Don Chafin was reelected as sheriff Louis Watson Chappell received his M.A. from University of Virginia The Union Carbide Company bought small refinery near Clendenin Matthew Wesley Clair, Sr. was elected bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church Fayette County population jumped to 60,377 Caroline Gentry released The Key to Power, a movie The Glen Ferris Inn was sold to a subsidiary of Union Carbide Voters approved the Good Roads amendment Grafton reached its peak population of 8,517 H. B. Moore and his brothers purchased the school and reorganized it as the Greenbrier Military School Harrison County population rose to 74,783 Sid Hatfield assisted a United Mine Workers campaign to organize Tug Fork miners The Clarksburg factory of the Hazel Atlas Glass Company had 15 acres of floor space, employed 1,200 people and shipped all over the world Chemical firms in the Kanawha Valley began expanding rapidly Census reported 6,260 Hungarians in West Virginia Union organizing led to confrontations at Matewan and Blair Mountain Ann Johnson Gates became the first woman member of the West Virginia legislature The legislator salary was set at $500 High school at Walkersville was constructed John L. Lewis became the president of the UMWA Big Bill Lias started a career in the illegal sale and distribution of liquor Minnie Lowther moved to Washington Jacob Marcus attained his rabbinical ordination William Marsh stopped serving as president of the M. Marsh and Son company Marshall became a four-year college The name was changed from Martinsburg West Virginia Evening Journal to Martinsburg Journal McDowell was the third most populous county in the state Willow Glen mansion, known in the Wheeling area as McKinley's Palace, was completed James Miller ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state James Miller left as judge Additional land for Monongahela National Forest was purchased The B&O leased the Morgantown & Kingwood The National Bank of Commerce moved to Charleston and was renamed the State Street Bank The Parkersburg Daily Sentinel ceased publication. Monongahela National Forest was created. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem Academy. The buildings at Red Sulphur Springs were dismantled and the resort ceased operation. Red Ribble moved to Mount Hope The third courthouse at Ripley was built There were 398 sawmills operating in West Virginia The United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans decided to erect a memorial to Heyward Shepherd W. H. S White became president of Shepherd College Matthew Holt was the Socialist candidate for governor James Weldon Johnson was responsible for publishing Anne Spencer's " Before the Feast at Shushan" P. D. Strausbaugh received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Howard Sutherland made a bid for presidency of United States Union Carbide purchased a small refinery at Clendenin C. W. Ferguson III was born Webster County population was 11,000 Weirton population was at 8,000 Welch population was at 3,232 West Liberty's first dorms were built Riley Wilson ran unsuccessfully for Congress Carter G. Woodson left Howard University Carter G. Woodson began Dean of the West Virginia Collegiate Institution (now West Virginia State University)
1923
Weirton Steel added another sheet plant Other events that happened on or around 1923 Evangelist Billy Sunday stayed at Aracoma Hotel Shepherd Field, Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, opened Walter Barnes wrote New Democracy in the Teaching of English The Beckley Register began publishing a Sunday issue Son William H. and wife joined William J. Blenko in Milton at his first factory Maurice Brooks graduated from WVU with a B.A. West Virginia's first commercial radio station WRVC began broadcasting in the Huntington area Thomas Carr retired from Carr China Company First baccalaureate degrees were awarded at Concord State Normal School (now Concord University) Phil Conley founded the West Virginia Publishing Company The last Democratic majority until 1930 The beaver was extirpated for its fur John Harrington Cox received his Ph.D. from Harvard Julia Davis married William McMillan Adams Rev. Robert Edward Lee Strider was consecrated bishop coadjutor of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Wheeling Fairmont State was authorized for four-year program but must confine to training teachers Cooperative agricultural marketing law was passed U.S. Coal Commission report awarded Gary 90 out of 100 points for cleanliness, urban amenities and safety consideration The current courthouse was completed in Glenville School name was changed from Lewisburg Seminary to Greenbrier College for Women Lost Creek was the largest cattle shipping point on the B&O system The present Ritchie County courthouse was completed Homer Holt received a law degree from Washington and Lee University Construction of the large Itmann Company Store began Ella Mae Turner published compilation Stories and Verses of West Virginia Herman Kump left office as mayor of Elkins The State Hospital for the Colored Insane and the State Industrial School for Colored boys were established in Lakin Hu Maxwell wrote A Tree History of the United States Margaret Montague published Deep Channel Herbert Chester became publisher of the Morgantown Post Huntington First (Church of the Nazarene) was established in the Charleston-Huntington corridor and is the oldest congregation in that area Henry Ford built the world's largest incline tipple Herschel Ogden bought the Martinsburg Journal Okey Patteson married Lee Hawse. Maceo Pinkard helped set up Duke Ellington's first recording session. The first land for the Monongahala National Forest in Pocahontas County was acquired Jennings Randolph was elected to Salem College's board of trustees. The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company acquired the Red Jacket Consolidated Coal and Coal company Walton High School was established Thomas Reynolds built the Majestic showboat P. D. Strausbaugh became head of the department of botany at WVU Festus Summers earned an A.B. at WVU Howard Sutherland's term in the U.S. Senate ended Clint Thomas began a stint with the Philadelphia Hillsdale Giants baseball team W. W. Trent became editor of the West Virginia School Journal The West Virginia State Wildlife Center was established at French Creek Ralph Weinberg married Ida Effron Wheeling Bank & Trust Company acquired the Bank of the Ohio Valley The Northern Teachers' Association ended The Game and Fish Commission purchased property in Upshur County The West Virginian Hotel was built in Bluefield Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Corcoran Gallery School of Art in Washington, DC Lenna Yost represented the U.S. at international congresses against alcoholism in Denmark Hack Wilson began playing for the New York Giants
1926
Weirton Steel contracted for the construction of a continuous sheet steel mill Other events that happened on or around 1926 There was a total of 64 African Methodist Episcopal churches and 2,298 members Harry R. Wyllie purchased the Allegheny Lodge for use as a private estate American Gas & Electric Power Company consolidated a dozen smaller companies including Appalachian Power Dr. Maggie Ballard graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine The backers of the Beckley Post bought the Raleigh Herald, naming it the Post-Herald "Billy Richardson's Last Ride" was written by Carson J. Robinson Chear River dam, built to generate electricity, was completed Start of the new DuPont plant at Belle Earl Core joined biology department at WVU Hallie Elkins made gift of Halliehurst to Davis & Elkins College New campus developed surrounding the Elkins mansion Wehrle B. Geary and A. W. Cox merged resources to begin building Fairmont Times moved to the building of West Virginian Donald R. Gaudineer became district ranger for the Greenbrier Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest Governor's Mansion added servant quarters above the garage The High Gate mansion was sold to the Sisters of St Joseph after the death of J. E. Watson The Lovett family sold the Hilltop House in Harpers Ferry to Fred McGee The Hinton News building was constructed by H. C. Ogden The House of Delegates impeached Auditor John C. Bond Milton Humphreys published a Civil War memoir, Military Operations 1861-1863 The Kanawha route became part of the transcontinental Midland Trial highway The Louis Glass company was established John Matheus's short story "Swamp Moccasin" won first prize in the Crisis magazine short story contest Additions were built at the Mount St. George mansion in Wellsburg Karl Myers compiled a poetry collection, The Quick Years Wheeling accepted Waddington Farm and renamed it Oglebay Park The Nurses Residence was built at City Hospital Training School for Nurses in Wheeling to house the large classes of nurses The mill, shops, and Shay locomotives at Curtin were moved to Bergoo. Potomac State was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The Sunset News began publication in Bluefield Ada "Bricktop" Smith opened a Paris club called the Music Box The Smoot Theater was built by the Smoot Amusement Company Spring Hill Cemetery acquired large tracts from the Wehrle and Jefferies farms P. D. Strausbaugh initiated a summer field course called botanical expedition at WVU The Wellsburg, Bethany & Washington Railroad streetcar line ceased operation The First Regiment was designated as the 201st Infantry A first tower was built in Watoga State Park The Webster Springs Hotel was destroyed by fire The road through Winfield was paved Paul Wissmach died Hack Wilson started playing for the Chicago Cubs
1928
Wheeling Steel completed work on its strip mill Other events that happened on or around 1928 Phoeba Parsons married and stopped playing banjo A devastating fire destroyed one of the main blocks in the town of Winfield The St. Marys factory making buttons from river mussel shells closed The state built the first public campground in Seneca State Forest The first state tree nursery was established at Seneca State Forest Meadow River Lumber Company of Rainelle, built Meriluco, a cottage on the State Fair Grounds The Tri-City Traction streetcar line was built between Princeton and Bluefield Festus Summers became professor of history and political science at Morris Harvey College, now University of Charleston West Virginia property tax revenue was at $52 million Charles W. Ferguson II became circuit judge Paul N. Elbin became an English professor at West Liberty The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra first met at the home of Eleanor Caldwell Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Society of International Artists in New York WSAZ moved to 580kHz T. G. Nutter represented a group of African-American plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Charleston Public Library
1929
Ernest Weir formed the National Steel corporation with Weirton Steel as its flagship Other events that happened on or around 1929 Homer Holt began working with Governor Kump on the state's finances following the stock market crash Homer Laughlin China Company suspended operations in East Liverpool, Ohio Frank Hutchison had recorded about 32 songs for the OKeh Record Company The stock market crash hurt the profits of Interwoven Mills Weirton Steel Corporation merged with Michigan Steel of Detroit and M.A. Hanna Steel of Cleveland to form National Steel Corporation The McWhorter cabin was moved to Jackson's Mill Stock market crash forced the James Produce Company into bankruptcy John L. Dickinson moved Kanawha Valley Bank into new building at the former site of the capitol building Tom Kromer began traveling the country by freight train Cousin Abe Lilly organized the Lilly Reunion Association The Logan County coal industry began to decline The Citizen's National Bank was absorbed by the Charleston National Bank I. T. Mann's business empire collapsed at the onset of the Depression Walter Martens completed the work for Homeland, a skillfully designed Colonial-revival residence in Lewisburg Bernard McDonough specialized in building gas stations in the greater Parkersburg area The Department of Mines had 25 inspectors and three inspectors at large Bath Square became Berkeley Springs State Park The Owens Bottle Company merged with Illinois Glass Company to become Owens-Illinois Glass Company Maceo Pinkard enlisted blues diva Bessie Smith for Pansy Ruth Rohde represented Florida's Fourth District St. Joseph's administrators decided to build a new hospital The Raine Lumber Company ceased logging in Seneca State Forest Ada "Bricktop" Smith married Peter Duconge Grace Martin Taylor visited Blanche Lazzell in Provincetown, Massachusetts Commercial mining in Webster County produced approximately 100,000 tons of coal The railroad at Webster Springs was discontinued The Archives and History library, state archives and museum moved to the new state capitol WSAZ was purchased by the Huntington Publishing Company The property of the Youghiogheny Forest Colony was purchased by Frank Reeves John Zontini rushed an average per carry of 27 yards A chapel that also functioned as the superintendent’s office was built at Woodlawn T. G. Nutter filed a lawsuit regarding a restrictive covenant that prohibited African-Americans from purchasing a lot in a Huntington subdivision.
1933
Mel Moore and Billy Long led a strike at Weirton Steel Other events that happened on or around 1933 County unit plan for school systems was adopted West Virginia counties had to reduce term length Doddridge County High School was created The flat-spired three-toothed land snail was discovered Legislature established the Conservation Commission The Greenbrier College for Women was chartered as Greenbrier College Perry Gresham received a bachelor of divinity degree from Texas Christian University West Virginia erected a replica cabin and stone memorial at the birthplace of Nancy Hanks A great trial was held against the contractor of the Hawks Nest Tunnel by those who contracted silicosis Legislative act put every public road in West Virginia under direct state control The Democrats regained control of the governorship Charles Hodel was instrumental in developing the Beckley-Mount Hope Airport The radical West Virginia Mine Workers Union and the West Virginia Labor Party both collapsed Act replaced game protectors with conservation officers The West Virginia World's Fair exhibit was housed at Jackson's Mill The Charles Town Racetrack opened in Jefferson County Frances Benjamin Johnston began photographing early architecture of the American South William C. Kelly died Kumbrabow State Forest was created in response to the Civilian Conservation Corps Act The National Industrial Recovery Act guaranteed workers the right to collective bargaining and outlawed yellow-dog contracts Democrats took control of the West Virginia Senate The progressive Roosevelt administration secured passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act Melvin Goins was born Pare Lorentz conceived, edited and published The Roosevelt Year, 1933 West Virginia acquired the land for Lost River State Park Master Marble and Bridgeport Marble exhibited millions of marbles at the World's Fair in Chicago The Gallipolis Locks and Dam began construction The Civilian Conservation Corps first became active in Monongahela National Forest Prohibition ends Cacapon State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps The National Recovery Administration was created with the passing of the National Industrial Recovery Ac Legislation passed establishing the Conservation Commission of West Virginia Camp Woodbine and Camp Cranberry were established by Civilian Conservation Corps in Richwood Ruth Rohde served as U.S. Minister to Denmark Eleanor Roosevelt convinced FDR to use congressionally approved federal funds to establish the first national subsistence homestead in Arthurdale Lynnside Manor, Monroe County, the traditional home of the Lewis family, burned down William Smith O'Brien became West Virginia secretary of state H. M. Calhoun died Buddy Starcher became popular performer at WCHS Charleston State Police field structure shrank to two companies State Police Criminal Investigation Bureau was organized Employees bought the Wheeling Traction Company and re-named it Cooperative Transit Company Festus Summers finished his doctorate at WVU The Braxton Democrat newspaper in Sutton compiled and reprinted the Wm. Byrne tales of Elk River West Virginia property tax revenue was at $27 million Fred Torrey created the "Lincoln Walks at Midnight" sculpture W. W. Trent became superintendent of Schools UMWA unionized the West Virginia coalfields Camp Watoga was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps Fred E. Brooks died WOBU changed to WCHS WCHS stopped sharing time with WSAZ in Huntington Wheeling Bank & Trust Company merged with Dollar Saving & Trust to form the Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust Company The Athenaeum became the Daily Athenaeum Clyde O. Law became board chairman of West Virginia Wesleyan College The WWVA's Wheeling Jamboree country music show began A new central portion of Wheeling Hospital was constructed WHIS increased to 250 watts A strike at Widen occurred The Coal House was built in Williamson of bituminous coal Edwin S. Maclin became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology
1937
The National Labor Relations Board charged Weirton Steel with unfair labor practices 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 The Harrison Rural Electrification Association was established 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 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
1941
The National Labor Relations Board found Weirton Steel guilty of unfairly promoting its company union Other events that happened on or around 1941 UMWA eliminated the traditional wage differences between northern and southern coalfields Cleve Bailey appointed director of the state budget Main structure of the Buckhannon Highways Garage was built by prison labor The administration building was built at Buckhannon Highways Garage Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper were married Rose Cousins went to Tuskegee Institute to try out for the Air Force training program for black combat pilots West Virginia: A Guide to the Mountain State was published An extension was added to the original 1927 Diamond Department Store building Joanne Dru married Dick Haymes West Virginia Farm Bureau Service Company was sold to Southern States Cooperative Ruel Foster joined the faculty of WVU Earle T. Andrews became general manager of operations of the Berkeley Glass Sand Mining Plant in Morgan County Governor Neely appointed Howard Gore to the state's three-man Public Service Commission Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote The Gods and One Roy Lee Harmon wrote Around the Mountains Homer Holt began practicing law in Charleston Another Textile Workers of America strike occurred at Interwoven Mills It's Wheeling Steel radio program moved to the NBC Blue Network Johnnie Johnson left West Virginia The first funds were allocated by legislature for libraries Hubert Skidmore wrote Hawks Nest Hubert Skidmore wrote Hawks Nest The Little Beaver Lake was created with the damming of Little Beaver Creek Joseph Long left office as president of Huntington Chamber of Commerce The electric railway from McMechen and Moundsville were replaced by buses Walter Martens began a partnership with his son Robert Martens Sandy Mason died Matilda Mason became the president of Mason College of Music and Fine Arts Labor leader Joe Powell began work as a glass cutter for Roland Glass Company in Clarksburg. Attorney General Abraham A. "Cousin Abe" Lilly resided in the penthouse at the Ruffner Hotel An article by Clay Perry in the Saturday Evening Post describes four cavers trapped in the Sinks of Gandy for five hours Col. H. Clare Hess was appointed superintendent at the State Police Academy The Stone & Thomas department store chain came to Charleston The butadiene plant at Institute had capacity of 80,000 tons/year Morris Harvey College became a self-governing independent college The Navy named a light cruiser the U.S.S. Huntington Volkmar Wentzel enlisted in the Air Force A mine strike at Widen occurred WSAZ radio began fulltime operation and assumed frequency of 930 kHz New River State College was renamed the West Virginia Institute of Technology (now WVU Institute of Technology) Chuck Yeager enlisted in the Army Air Corps Hurry-up Yost retired as Michigan's athletic director Helen Froelich married Rush Holt
1950
The Weirton Independent Union was declared a violation of federal labor law Other events that happened on or around 1950 More than 19,000 black youth, grades 1-12, were provided education by the West Virginia public school system 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 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
1968
Wheeling Steel and Pittsburgh Steel merged to form Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corporation
1981
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel began construction of continuous caster Other events that happened on or around 1981 State legislature passed and county residents endorsed Sunday racing at Mountaineer Race Track A baccalaureate degree in Bible was added at Ohio Valley College (now University) William Price McNeel became editor of the Pocahontas Times State ex rel. Board of Education v. Rockefeller changed the financing of public schools Union Carbide headquarters moved to Danbury, Connecticut The elecro-metallurgical plant at Alloy was sold to the Elkem Company Legislature gave the governor the authority to appoint the director of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Jim Comstock sold the West Virginia Hillbilly to South Charleston Publishing Company Mike Shott became general manager of WHIS radio Meredith Sue Willis wrote Higher Ground Margaret Workman was appointed to an unexpired term on the Kanawha Circuit Court by Governor Rockefeller WVMR began broadcasting on 1370 AM
1983
Weirton Steel workers approved the employee stock ownership plan
1985
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel filed for bankruptcy Other events that happened on or around 1985 The Pocahontas Times became one of the first papers in West Virginia to switch completely to the use of computers Pruntytown Correctional Center reopened Mary Lou Retton was inducted to the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame Otis Rice became a member of the editorial board of Filson Club Quarterly Rock Lake Pool was closed by its owner Cynthia Rylant wrote The Relatives Came Revival of the Sagebrush Roundup radio show was first held The Old Salt Sulphur Springs resort was added to the National Register of Historic Places Blakers Mill was moved to Jackson's Mill Frederick A Reichle purchased property at Timberline Predecessor banks were renamed United National Bank Robert Phalen became president of UMWA District 17 WAJR launched the Metronews Radio Network Melvin Lentz became wood chopping champion The Pence Springs prison closed and all inmates were transferred to the Alderson Federal Prison for women Meredith Sue Willis wrote Only Great Changes Ellie Schaul was was awarded the 1985 West Virginia Juried Exhibition Governor’s Award
1998
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel, Weirton Steel and steel unions lobbied to curb imports Other events that happened on or around 1998 Robert W. Stephens Jr. became president of Ohio Valley College (now University) Blind Alfred Reed's complete recordings appeared on compact disc on the Document label. Chris Sarandon cited the influence of WVU Professor Patrick Ward Gainer David Selby received the first Life Achievement Award from WVU's Creative Arts College Michael Smith's song "Friends" was named the number-one song of all time by Christian music magazine, CCM Management of Spring Hill Cemetery was placed in the hands of a board of commissioners "Troop" designations replaced former companies in reorganization of State Police Stone & Thomas was sold to the Elder-Beerman Company The Huntington Tobacco Warehouse closed its doors Tobacco lawsuit was settled with $1.8 billion in 25 years The Universalist Meeting House in Marshall County congregation disbanded WesBanco acquired the Hunter Insurance Agency The name was changed from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra The Doc Williams Country Store in Wheeling closed The modern courthouse at Winfield was completed Basketball player Vicky Bullett helped a Brazilian team win a league championship in 1998. Fayette Station Bridge was renamed the Tunney Hunsaker Bridge
Nov 16, 2000
Wheeling-Pittsburgh filed again for bankruptcy
May 19, 2003
Weirton Steel declared bankruptcy
2004
Weirton Steel ceased to be an employee-owned company Other events that happened on or around 2004 The speaker of the House of Delegates was Robert "Bob" Kiss Literacy West Virginia was formed from the merger of the Literacy volunteers of America and Lauback Literacy Action William Drennen and Kojo Jones wrote Red, White, Black & Blue: A Dual Memoir of Race and Class in Appalachia Plans were made to consolidate Iaeger and Big Creek high schools in McDowell County Chuck Kinder wrote The Last Mountain Dancer which includes the Mothman The Mountain State University Cougars won the NAIA Division I national basketball championship Mylan Laboratories announced plans to acquire non-generic drug maker King Pharmaceuticals Huntington Banks became the third-largest bank holding company in West Virginia The National Bank of Commerce became SunTrust The New River Community and Technical College was made independent of Bluefield State College The U.S. 60 bridge connecting Cabell and Wayne counties was named the Colonel Justice M. Chambers Memorial Bridge. View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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