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Streetcar Lines
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1865
The Wheeling interurban system began operation Other events that happened on or around 1865 Virginia legislature repealed laws consenting to the admission of Berkeley and Jefferson counties to West Virginia Storer College in Harpers Ferry, begun by the Freewill Baptist Church, to educate black teachers 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 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
1887
Electric streetcars began to be used in Wheeling Other events that happened on or around 1887 Babcock Lumber Company founded in Pittsburgh Fourth capital building was finished and legislature moved in Cheat Mountain Club built by Cheat Mountain Sportsmen's Association C&O Railroad forced into receivership again Clarksburg laid first 6 miles of water lines J. R. Clifford became first black admitted to practice law before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justus Collins organized Louisville Coal & Coke Company in Mercer County Dan Cunningham was part of group that murdered Rev. Tom Ryan Fostoria Glass Company began in Fostoria, Ohio William Glasscock became superintendent of schools The seat of Cabell County was moved to Huntington from Barboursville Waitman T. Linger started making chairs at Beans Mill Daniel Lucas was nominated as U.S. Senator by Governor Wilson Perry Cline persuaded the governor of Kentucky to prosecute the Hatfields for murdering three of Randolph McCoy's sons C.F. Millspaugh published the last section of American Medicinal Plants The first West Virginia mining law was passed and regarded as the nation's weakest State laws were strengthened following the Mountain Brook mine disaster that claims 39 lives George Peterkin founded the Sheltering Arms Hospital. Legislature authorized building of Spencer State Hospital to relieve overcrowding at Weston State Hospital Sumner School graduated its first class of four students, the first high school diplomas in West Virginia issued to blacks The original stone structure at Tray Run was replaced by a viaduct The West Virginia Wesleyan College was established in Buckhannon Helvetia built its first steam sawmill Western Maryland Railway was completed to Cumberland
1900
Interurban railway operations began in Huntington Other events that happened on or around 1900 West Virginia had 100,000 farms on 8.9 million acres Charles Ambler served as sheriff of Pleasants County for two years B&O added the Monongahela River Railroad (Fairmont to Clarksburg) There were 600 Baptist churches in West Virginia Raleigh County Republicans launched the Raleigh Herald Berkeley County population was 19,469 First women on the Bethany College board of trustees Jesse Bloch entered the family Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company Alonzo Brooks completed a business course at West Virginia Wesleyan College Capon Springs developer William H. Sale died Cass was founded by West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company West Virginia Pulp & Paper built paper mill at Covington, Virginia The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) completed its Greenbrier Division into Pocahontas County to harvest red spruce on Cheat and Back Allegheny mountains Moses Donnally sold the Charleston Gazette Davis Child Shelter, an orphanage, was established in Charleston First sewer lines were installed in Clarksburg Coal production had doubled Little evidence of the Coal River locks and dams remained West Virginia chapter of the Colonial Dames of America was organized Only remnant populations of deer and turkey were noted West Virginia's median age was below national average at 20.3 Doddridge County population was 13,689 William Edwards wrote a book on the authorship of Shakespeare's plays Fairmont Times was first published by Gen. C. L. Smith and O. S. McKinney Thaddeus Fowler returned to West Virginia Garnet High School was founded with a class of 12 black students Howard Gore graduated from WVU with a degree in agriculture Harrison County held a population of 27,690 Nancy Hart and husband Joshua Douglas settled in Webster County Morris Harvey founded the Fayette National Bank William "Coin" Harvey moved to Arkansas to begin building a retreat and vacation resort The population of Helvetia reached 500 people The first time the word "hillbilly" was used in print, in a New York newspaper Reported 1,062 native Hungarians in West Virginia Water power began being used for the production of electricity in West Virginia, at Kanawha Falls Census reported 2,458 Indians living in West Virginia There were 18 farms of the settlers on the Irish Tract Jackson County's population rose to 19,000 Don Redman was born in Piedmont The Kanawha Falls were augmented by a low dam Oil and natural gas in high quantities was found in Lewis County Cousin Abe Lilly received a law degree from the Southern Normal University, Tennessee Railroad replaces streams as the chief means of transporting logs to sawmills The Benwood Ironworks grew into a large steel mills James Miller ceased to be Summers County prosecuting attorney James Miller ran unsuccessfully for state auditor Steam and electric fans made larger mines possible The completion of the C&O Railway's Greenbrier Division to Marlinton put the Minnehaha Springs within reach of travelers Fairmont's first electric streetcar line built Morgantown population was at 1,895 The Morgantown Glass Works began production A developer began selling oceanfront lots for $25 in Myrtle Beach The anticlinal theory of oil and gas was applied along Sand Fork of the Little Kanawha The Toledo & Ohio Central gained control of the Kanawha & Michigan and the Kanawha & West Virginia Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad began purchasing the N&W stock E.M. Carney purchased the Pence Springs property Kanawha County had the largest population with 54,696 residents. The largest city in the state was Wheeling with a population of 38,878. The Lilly family began ownership of the Ruffner Hotel St. Joseph's Hospital was founded by Patrick J. Donahue Samuel and Violet Bryant got their first jobs on showboats James H. Brown's obelisk was erected at Spring Hill Cemetery Tyler County's oil and gas boom peaked Wayne County population was at 23,619 Wings were added to Woodburn Hall at WVU Weston had municipal water plant, sanitary and storm sewer systems and brick paved streets West Virginia Pulp & Paper began constructing a sawmill in Cass A nursing school was founded at Wheeling Hospital The Collins Colliery company store burned Matthew Whittico moved to Keystone Buffalo, elk, gray wolf and passenger pigeon had all disappeared from West Virginia The second courthouse at Winfield was built Wirt County's population peaked at 10,284 Carter G. Woodson became principal of Douglass High School The first record of the ballad "The Wreck on the C&O" came out
1901
The Fairmont & Clarksburg Traction streetcar company began Other events that happened on or around 1901 Emma Alderson founded the Alderson Baptist Academy (now Alderson-Broaddus College) in Alderson Emma Alderson founded the Alderson Baptist Academy (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) in Alderson Charles Ambler went to school at WVU Morris Harvey donated $10,000 to Barboursville College, now University of Charleston Branch of the C&O reached Beckley Matthew Clair earned his PhD from Bennette College in Greensboro, NC Thomas G. McKell built the Dun Glen Hotel West Virginia oil production peaked at 16 million barrels Deadly explosion in Consolidation Coal Company's No. 9 occurred Aretas Fleming and Clarence W. Watson merged coal companies into the Fairmont Coal Company Legislature decreed state game and fish warden would be paid from state treasury and could appoint deputy wardens J. P. Morgan interests began construction on works in Gary The Little Kanawha Valley Bank was incorporated The Barboursville Seminary changed its name to Morris Harvey College, now University of Charleston Harold Houston began practicing law in Parkersburg The Cabell County Courthouse was dedicated The Home for the Incurables changed its name to West Virginia Asylum James Monroe Jackson died Teepi Kendrick married Olive Garrison A constitutional amendment required voter registration I. T. Mann visited financier J. P. Morgan in New York Mifflin Marsh died The United State Stamping Company began operations Alexander McVeigh Miller won a seat in the West Virginia Senate Morgantown annexed Greenmont, Seneca, and South Morgantown The N&W acquired the Cincinnati, Portsmouth & Virginia Earl Oglebay sold his iron ore interests to U.S. Steel Earl Oglebay bought a mansion between Wheeling and Bethany, Waddington Farm George Peterkin helped erect a monument on Valley Mountain to memorialize the deaths of Confederate soldiers The Flat-top Coal Land Association was reorganized as the Pocahontas Coal & Coke Company Livia Poffenbarger established a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Potomac State College was founded The West Virginia University band was founded by Walter Mestrezat. Daniel Purinton returned to WVU to become president. Richwood was incorporated Charles Ritter brought the offices of Tug River Lumber Company to Huntington William M. Ritter Lumber Company was incorporated Benjamin Rosenbloom played on the WVU football team The board of directed voted to establish a nursing school at Sheltering Arms Hospital The Pope Dock Company built New Grand Floating Palace The first local branch of West Virginia Socialist Party was established in Wheeling Samuel Starks was appointed as the first black in U.S. to serve as state librarian Another long distance telephone line was constructed through West Virginia The first coal in Upshur County was commercially mined Ward Engineering Works built the Unique for the U.S. Engineering Corp The Historical Society began publishing The West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly Albert Blakeslee White became governor Hurry-up Yost became coach at University of Michigan James E. Taylor died in New York City
1903
The Parkersburg & Marrietta Interurban was built Other events that happened on or around 1903 Barger Springs property purchased by company of 30 investors Ambrose Bierce returned to Randolph and Pocahontas counties to revisit locations where he had served in the Civil War The town of Bretz and the mining plant were built by West Virginia Coal Company Camden Park was established Col. E. G. Via became park manager Annex was built across from State Capitol Construction on the new section of the Coal & Coke Railway began Grover Lewis was born in Alabama John Harrington Cox received appointment in English Department of WVU Legislature enacted a uniform teachers' examination law William Edwards produced a book of Edwards family genealogy Fairmont Coal Company was absorbed into Consolidation Coal Company of Maryland William Glasscock was admitted to the bar The Coal & Coke Railroad was completed from Elkins to Durbin. A junction was made at Durbin with the C&O and the Coal & Iron railroads Capt. Greene built the side-wheel packet Greenland Harrison County was fourth in the state in total tons of coal produced A compulsory attendance law was enacted The Homer Laughlin Company traded factories with the National China Company The House of Delegates grew to 86 delegates Teddy Weatherford was born in Bluefield Herman Kump attended the University of Virginia law school Carnegie library was established in Huntington Reported 63% of McKendree Hospital's patients were miners Local businessmen bought the Fairmont Electric Light and Power Plant The Morgantown Glass Works employed more than 400 people Oak Hill was incorporated The Owens bottle-making machine was invented by Michael Owens President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Christopher Payne as consul general to the Danish West Indies The Barbour County courthouse was constructed at Philippi Melville Davisson Post married Ann Bloomfield Gamble Schoolfield The West Virginia death rate from smallpox was reported as being from 12 to 20 percent of reported cases A new wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital John G. Knutti became administrator of Shepherd College The Pope Dock Company built the Eisenbarth Henderson Floating Theater-The New Great Modern Temple of Amusement An interurban railway line was built from Sistersville to New Martinsville The Parkersburg & Ohio Valley Electric Railway was built T. C. Townsend opened a law office in Fayettesville The USS Huntington was constructed at Newport News The West Virginia State Federation of Labor was founded Carter Woodson accepted an administrative and teaching assignment in the Philippines Zane Grey wrote Betty Zane Paul Wissmach and Joseph Reininger began to manufacture stained glass as the Empire Glass Company in Paden City T. G. Nutter opened a law office in Charleston
1906
The Lewisburg & Ronceverte was built to the C&O Other events that happened on or around 1906 There were 35 churches belonging to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination with 1,002 members in West Virginia Hotel at Barger Springs opened to the public The Carter Opera House, Beckley's first theater, opened Florence Blanchfield graduated from the South Side Training School for Nurses in Pittsburgh Robert Page Sims became president of Bluefield Colored Institute (now Bluefield State University) Stephen B. Elkins acquired Bretz West Virginia Central & Pittsburg Railroad intersected by Coal & Coke Railroad Charleston National Bank moved to Capitol Street J. R. Clifford was chairman of committee on arrangement of the meeting of Niagara Movement Explosion in Parral Mine killed 23 Collins and Whipple mines were sold to New River Company Columbia Corporation formed to construct high pressure pipeline to West Virginia gas fields Fleming-Watson family acquired control of Consolidation Coal Company Wehrle B. Geary opened the Diamond Shoe Store Country club moved to location in Edgewood section of Charleston Fenton Art Glass Company built factory in Williamstown Follansbee became a city The First National Bank of Glenville and Glenville Banking and Trust Company were created H.B. Moore was hired as the Greenbrier Presbyterial School headmaster and reintroduced military curriculum Henry Hatfield was elected to the McDowell County court Hamilton Hatter and much of the Bluefield Colored Institute (now Bluefield Stat College) faculty was replaced The federal Antiquities Act was passed as first legislation aimed at protecting federally owned historic sites The Hitchman Coal & Coke Company began notifying employees they could only be employed if they agreed not to join the UMWA Interwoven Mills had 2,000 domestic accounts Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Wheeling was founded William Leigh took a train excursion to New Mexico Madison was incorporated The Mason College of Music and Fine Arts was founded in Charleston by Dr. William Sandheger "Sandy" Mason Hu Maxwell and Richard E. Fast wrote The History and Government of West Virginia Another courthouse struggle ensued in Mercer County The Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad began running regular trains to Kingwood Virgil A Lewis reported the motto "Montani Semper Liberi" was suggested by Joseph H. Diss Debar The Morgantown News merged with the New Dominion to form the New Dominion-News West Virginia's natural gas production exceed that of any other state Calvin Price became the sole owner and editor of Pocahontas Times 19 cases of smallpox were reported in Hampshire County Reported six Salvation Army corps in West Virginia Morris Shawkey became superintendent of Kanawha County Schools William A. MacCorkle founded the Kanawha Land Company John Swint established the Apostolic Mission Band for the Wheeling Roman Catholic Diocese The Ideal Glass Factory opened at West Union West Virginia Wesleyan College name was adopted A line connecting the Western Maryland and West Virginia Central was completed The New River Company bought Fayette County mines including Whipple Carter Woodson travelled around the world
1908
The Wellsburg, Bethany & Washington interurban railway was built Other events that happened on or around 1908 Charles Ambler received a doctorate in social sciences Virginian Railway began building a new line Louis Bennett Sr. unsuccessfully ran for governor Legislature authorized the purchase of land to serve as training base Fannie Cobb Carter organized teacher-training department at West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) William Conley was appointed to unexpired term as West Virginia attorney general Forest fires destroyed 1.7 million acres Congress prepared way for establishment of National Forest Reserve in Monongahela Legislature replaced the Board of Examiners with state Board of Education 4-H movement in West Virginia began in Monroe County The German Dunkards changed their name to the Church of the Brethren William Glasscock resigned as internal revenue collector to run for governor Henry Hatfield became a member of the West Virginia Senate Herman Kump elected prosecuting attorney in Randolph County Clark W. May died William Alexander MacCorkle wrote Some Southern Questions I. T. Mann served as a delegate to the Republican national convention Johnson Camden McKinley became a millionaire coal operator The Mercer Healing Springs Corporation was bought out by Rufus G. Meador James Miller published History of Summers County Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller divorced her husband and moved to Boston after discovering his infidelities West Virginia legislature rejected every mine safety law proposed President Teddy Roosevelt advocated the formation of a federal agency to investigate mine accidents, teach accident prevention and conduct mine safety research Margaret Montague published In Calvert's Valley The Morgantown Weekly Post and the Morgantown Chronicle merged Anna Jarvis founded Mother's Day The Church of the Nazarene was established as a national body Matthew M. Neely was elected mayor of Fairmont There were 2,592 normal school-students Oak Park opened Poles became the third-largest immigrant group working in the West Virginia coal mines Responding to a worldwide epidemic, the Board of Health recommended that West Virginia make provision for the care and treatment of tuberculosis Ritter Park was originally purchased by the city of Huntington The last log drive of the St. Lawrence Boom and Manufacturing Company The West Virginia Socialist Party spread to Huntington E. M. Statler opened the Buffalo Statler William P. Tams launched the Gulf Smokeless Coal Company in the new Winding Gulf coalfield An act of Congress provided for a battlefield monument at Point Pleasant Sistersville General Hospital was founded A. Fremont Gold and W. Alfred Gold built twin houses in Mason Vitrolite was manufactured by the Meyercord-Carter Company in Vienna Fire destroyed the building of the Baptist State Convention I.C. White wrote an extensive report on the coal resources of Brazil I.C. White was invited by the Teddy Roosevelt administration to speak at the first White House Conference on conservation Lenna Yost became the state president of WCTU Credit unions began appearing in the United States
1912
The Charleston Interurban Railroad was built to St. Albans Other events that happened on or around 1912 J. A. Viquesney and H. M. Lockridge organized the Allegheny Sportsmen's Association Baldwin-Felts Agency attempted to end the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike Olgebay Hall, now Kirkpatrick Hall, added as a wing at Bethany College John Bishop published poem "To a Woodland Pool" in Harpers Weekly Alonzo Brooks received a B.A. in agriculture from WVU The Bull Moose Special armed train began operation Union Bank building finished in Clarksburg William Conley ran unsuccessfully for congressional 2nd district William Dawson embraced Theodore Roosevelt's Bull Moose presidential candidacy Diamond Shoe became the Diamond Shoe and Garment Co., later Diamond Department Store Samuel Dixon was purged from the New River Company by management from outside Clarence W. Alvord and Lee Bidgood concluded that the Batts and Fallam group only traveled to Peters Falls U.S. Supreme Court confirmed North Branch as Potomac main stream Fairmont State began adopting college curriculum The Golden Delicious Apple was discovered by Anderson Mullins in Clay County A Gasoline engine was placed in Howell's Gristmill Rimfire Hamrick was appointed Webster County game and fish warden Record floods hit Hardy County The state called troops to mining strikes Charles Hodel established himself in Beckley as editor and general manager of the Raleigh Register Holidays Cove incorporated Harold Houston returned to Charleston A large Celtic cross was erected in Coalburg by William S. Edwards to honor the Irish mine workers Thomas Moore Jackson died Hubert "Bumps" Myers was born in Clarksburg Regular services at Job's Temple were suspended Mother Jones returned to West Virginia to aid union miners on Paint Creek and Cabin Creek Dr. George A. MacQueen took over the lease and changed Barber Sanatorium to Barber Sanatorium and Hospital A new double-track tunnel at Kingwood Tunnel was opened High school at Jane Lew was constructed Luna Park was built by J. B. Crowley in Charleston I. T. Mann was a candidate for the U.S. Senate The Apollo Theater was built in Martinsburg Harry F. Bryd sold the Martinsburg Journal to Max von Schlegell Louis Marx began working for Ferdinand Strauss John McGraw was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention John McGraw's Bank of Grafton failed Prohibitionist John McWhorter served as chairman of the West Virginia Ratification Federation John Raine became president of the Meadow River Lumber Company The Minnehaha Springs Improvement Company was formed The Minter Lumber Company was founded by William E. Minter The Monongahela Railroad was completed to Pittsburgh Margaret Montague published Linda Matthew M. Neely left the office of clerk of House of Delegates Reported 223 different newspapers were publishing in West Virginia Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly supported Eugene V. Debs for president Ogden's company had acquired the Parkersburg Daily Sentinel Ida Reed published her autobiography My Life Story The Pallottine Missionary Sisters came to West Virginia William MacCorkle became active in the Salvation Army Edward Stifel built Edemar mansion The Huntington tobacco warehouse opened T. C. Townsend was elected as Kanawha County's prosecuting attorney Pittsburgh's flood commission called for a dam on the Tygart Miners Hospital No. One changed its name to Welch Hospital No. One The College of Physicians and Surgeons became an independent program at WVU WVU had 46,500 books in the library Carter Woodson received a doctorate at Harvard Tibbs Run Reservoir began providing water to city of Morgantown
1913
A streetcar line between Sistersville and Middlebourne was built Other events that happened on or around 1913 Commissioner assigned responsibility to regulate farm products The Allegheny Lodge was built Waitman Barbe wrote Great Poems Interpreted Walter Barnes wrote English in the Country School John Peale Bishop entered Princeton Charles F. Millspaugh wrote The Living Flora of West Virginia James Callahan wrote Semi-Centennial History of West Virginia Consolidated Manufactories pottery factory established by Merchants Association of Grafton John Harrington Cox collected his first folk song Henry Gassaway Davis was chairman of Semi-Centennial Commission Alston Dayton made the injunction from the Hitchman Coal & Coke v. John Mitchell case permanent Legislature passed act that provided for the employment of extension agents West Virginia appropriated fire protection funds The Glenville high school received its own building Nathan Goff served in the U.S. Senate The building of the central section of the Greenbrier Hotel and the Old White golf course were completed Legislature created the State Road Bureau Annual coal production exceeded 28 million tons Ritter Park in Huntington was fashioned from land originally intended for a city incinerator Louis Johnson was admitted to the bar in Clarksburg Harriet Jones helped to establish Hopemont Sanitarium Teepi Kendrick became the state agent in charge of the corn clubs for boys and canning clubs for girls Keyser was incorporated Supreme Court decisions on State ex rel. Nance v. Mays, Ex parte Jones, and Hatfield v. Graham were decided during the labor rebellion and accorded vast power to the executive branch to use martial law Weston became the southern terminus of regional electric trolley car service The second courthouse in Madison was torn down Redress was allowed under the original workers compensation statue Course work was added to Marshall University to include the equivalent of freshman and sophomore years of college Walter Martens began working as a draftsman in Danville The title was changed from Evening Journal to Martinsburg West Virginia Evening Journal Hu Maxwell co-authored West Virginia and Its People Bill McKell completed his own branch railroad to connect with the Virginian Railway at Pax John McWhorter left office as judge of West Virginia's 12th judicial circuit John McWhorter drafted the Yost Law, providing for enforcement of state prohibition The Mennonites building was moved to Roaring Creek The Minter Homes Corporation was established in Huntington A major refinery was built at St. Marys by Quaker State United States Senate looked into Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike John Nugent was question by the U.S. Senate investigating committee for efforts to import strikebreakers to West Virginia John Nugent left West Virginia for Kentucky The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly fathered the state's first workers compensation bill The Ohio Valley Refining Company was established at St. Marys Livia Poffenbarger sold the State Gazette. Legislature passed the Yost law, under which prohibition was enforced, creating the Department of Prohibition The state's first tuberculosis sanitarium was founded at Hopemont in Preston County The Public Service Commission was created by the legislature Leonard Riggleman passed the uniform teachers exam The first high school opened in Ripley St. Francis Hospital was founded by Patrick J. Donahue The Sacred Heart Hospital opened The Salt Sulphur Springs resort was closed The Star House was acquired by W. B. and Ida Skaggs Flags were unofficially made for the semi-centennial celebration featured a new design Stony River Reservoir was completed by West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company P. D. Strausbaugh graduated from Wooster (Ohio) College P. D. Strausbaugh began teaching at Wooster (Ohio) College Congress passed the 16th Amendment for a federal income tax on corporation The Indian Camp Normal School was established Clarence W. Watson finished his term in the U.S. Senate John S. Bonar graduated from West Liberty "The West Virginia Hills" was published in The West Virginia Singer Legislature changed the name to Weston State Hospital West Virginia House of Delegates passed a state women's suffrage amendment
1916
The Charleston Interurban Railroad was built to Cabin Creek Other events that happened on or around 1916 Kanawha Park was built in Charleston for baseball Kanawha Park was built for baseball Beckley street paving began Newton Diehl Baker was appointed Secretary of War by President Wilson John T. Harris produced the first volume of the West Virginia Blue Book Izetta Brown took over management of Preston County farm and established modern dairy operation after husband's death Elk River Coal & Lumber Company built a sawmill at Swandale Col. E. G. Via bought the Camden Park George Carter moved to Coalwood The first fire towers were erected Fairmont High School class wrote Marion County in the Making Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company located one of its main plants in Clarksburg Letter from former Governor MacCorkle to state archivist Henry S. Green confuses John Hardy with John Henry The West Virginia Asylum name changed to Huntington State Hospital The company town of Itmann was built Fanny Johnson published her only novel, The Beloved Son Libbey-Owens-Ford built its large plate glass plant in Kanawha City Herman Kump was defeated for prosecuting attorney Blanche Lazzell began working in the method of single block color print Howard B. Lee began serving as Mercer County prosecuting attorney William Alexander MacCorkle wrote The White Sulphur Springs Joseph Long became the postmaster of Huntington Sam Mallison became city editor of the Clarksburg Telegram Publication of the Market Bulletin began when James H. Stewart was agriculture commissioner The Tilton family regained ownership of the Marlinton Opera House John McGraw was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention Six passenger trains a day operated from Charleston to Blakeley on Kellys Creek 12 passenger trains a day were scheduled into Charleston The Point Pleasant Register became a daily Michael Owens launched a Charleston glass factory Paden City was incorporated Pendleton Land Company took over Paden City Pottery The Wyoming County courthouse was built Rat Rodgers was named to the All-American teams Socialists controlled both District 29 and District 17 of the UMWA The earliest recorded instance of surface mining in West Virginia occurred The Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia was incorporated The USS Huntington was on the West Coast The National Guard was activated after a call for troops to pursue Pancho Villa on the Mexican border The National Guard was activated in call for troops to pursue Pancho Villa on the Mexican border Statewide constitutional referendum for women's suffrage passed Carter G. Woodson began publication of the Journal of Negro History A courthouse at Pineville was built Frank Reeves received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University
1918
The Parkersburg & Ohio Valley Electric Railway ceased operation Other events that happened on or around 1918 Walter Barnes wrote An Easy Primer Claude Worthington Benedum, the only child of Michael L. and Sarah Benedum, died of influenza at Camp Meade Robert C. Byrd's mother died and he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle Anne Camden died in Parkersburg, leaving the Camden mansion to the heirs which in turn donated the house to the city for use as a hospital J. Howard Holt published Crime and Punishment, a pamphlet opposing the death penalty Chamber of Commerce established in Wheeling Fire destroyed Charleston Gazette newspaper plant located at the South Side Bridge DuPont Company plant closed at end of WWI John W. Davis ended his time as solicitor general John W. Davis became ambassador to England John W. Davis was a member of the American delegation to the Geneva conference Construction began on the High Level Bridge in Fairmont Fairmont Times began publishing Sunday editions West Virginia Farm Bureau Federation was created Homer Holt graduated from Washington and Lee University The Spanish Influenza epidemic became one of the world's deadliest and swiftest pandemics Weirton Steel Corporation was formed Fanny Johnson's story "They Both Needed It" was among the best short stories of the year Hayes Picklesimer first came to work at Kanawha Valley Bank The United Zinc Smelting Corporation began operation in Marshall County Williamson Memorial Hospital was founded The Morgantown Post-Chronicle was renamed the Morgantown Post The Weekly New Dominion, a Morgantown newspaper, ceased publication The National Bank of Commerce was founded Owens-Illinois Glass Company purchased a Huntington glass factory A large brick hotel was constructed by the Pence family at Pence Springs Board of Public Works acquired constitutional status by ratification of an earlier amendment The town of Nitro was completed. The Bryants built the Bryants New Showboat Boyd Stutler rose to the rank of sergeant and served with distinction in the American offensives Eighteen of Melville Davisson Post's stories were published in Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries by Appleton The German Bank changed its name to the Wheeling Bank & Trust Company A Romney hospital at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind proved vital during influenza epidemic Oglebay Hall was completed for the College of Agriculture at WVU Plans for the West Virginian Hotel began with the Bluefield Rotary Club West Virginians participated in the Italian Campaign Lenna Yost became the legislative representative for the national Women's Christian Temperance Union
1925
The Sistersville to New Martinsville streetcar line ceased operation Other events that happened on or around 1925 Izetta Brown married Hugh Miller Everett Ferguson acquired Browns Island in its entirety Fannie Cobb Carter's husband Emory Carter died Union Carbide moved to Rollin Chemical site in So. Charleston John Harrington Cox's dissertation published as Cox presided over founding of West Virginia Folklore Society Folk-Songs of the South by Harvard Univ. Press Levi Dean built the Ricketts house in Huntington Henry Davis Hazelwood was appointed the principal of Douglass High School Dreamland pool in Kenova opened as a private business DuPont built the Belle plant Alpha Psi Omega, an international collegiate honor society for drama students, was founded at Fairmont State College (now Fairmont State University) West Virginia Farm Bureau Service Company was organized Stage Struck starring Gloria Swanson was filmed in New Martinsville A fire destroyed nearly all of the Greenbrier Military School's buildings John Harrington Cox documented nine version of "John Hardy," confusing Hardy and Henry as the same person in Folk-Songs of the South Federal board unveiled national system of interstate routes and uniform highway signs Reported 233 high school were open in the state The Itmann Company Store opened John L. Dickinson became president of Kanawha Valley Bank after the death of John Q. Dickinson Kanawha Valley Hospital bought the Barber Sanatorium and Hospital facility Tom Kromer first attended Marshall College Jean Lee Latham graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College A new building on Linsly's campus was built Pare Lorentz moved to New York Minnie Lowther wrote Marshall Hall The "Thundering Herd" nickname was first used after Marshall defeated Glenville State Jacob Marcus received his Ph.D. from the University of Berlin The Governor's Mansion was completed John Matheus' short story "Fog" won first place in the Opportunity magazine short story contest Bernard McDonough left Georgetown University Howard B. Lee became attorney general Governor Morgan pardoned John Wilburn Morgantown citizens made a failed attempt to remove Zackquill Morgan's remains from Prickett's Fort to his hometown of Morgantown The first Mountaineer Field was completed William Page Pitt graduated from Muskingum College Pocahontas Coal & Coke Company moved to Bluefield William Revercomb married Sara Hughes A scrip law was written by coal company lobbyists making scrip non-transferable Dial service was introduced in Huntington The United Carbon Company was formed Berkerly Countian Benjamin Snyder built his home reflecting aspects of the Sears, Roebuck and Company's Sheridan house The Virginian Railway began electrification of its trains Only 134 students were enrolled at West Liberty State Normal School (now West Liberty University) Legislature created another West Virginia Historical Society with an appointive body Legislation passed to have the state historian and archivist to publish a quarterly history magazine A new administration building was completed at West Virginia Collegiate Institute (now West Virginia State University) The Greek fraternal system replace earlier literary societies at West Virginia Wesleyan College Whitaker-Glessner subsidiary, the Principio Company ceased production of pig and bar iron in Maryland T. G. Nutter lobbied against the Charleston premiere of D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation
1926
The Wellsburg, Bethany & Washington Railroad streetcar line ceased operation 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 Weirton Steel contracted for the construction of a continuous sheet steel mill P. D. Strausbaugh initiated a summer field course called botanical expedition at WVU 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
The Tri-City Traction streetcar line was built between Princeton and Bluefield 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 Wheeling Steel completed work on its strip mill 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
1930
The Sistersville and Middlebourne streetcar line ceased operation Other events that happened on or around 1930 A major drought lowered the Monongahela's water lever significantly The New Dominion and Morgantown Post began sharing plant facilities The name of Morgantown's New Dominion newspaper was changed to Dominion-News Reported nearly 2,500 Mormons in West Virginia Dwight Morrow resigned as ambassador to Mexico The Bank of Commerce became a national bank Delf Norona moved to West Virginia Oak Park in Preston County closed WVU Experiment Farm was established at Kearneysville Pinecrest, a TB sanitarium, opened in Beckley Leonard Riggleman was elected vice president of Morris Harvey College, now University of Charleston William A. MacCorkle left his Charleston mansion, Sunrise, to the Salvation Army The Seneca Caverns were opened to the public Shepherd College was designated as a four-year teachers college The West Virginia Midland Railroad closed The first improved road was built into the southern half of Smoke Hole Warner Brothers took over the Smoot Theater in Parkersburg Hinton's population was 6,654 Summers County population was 20,468 Sweet Springs went into receivership Thurmond population peaked at 462 A severe drought on the Tygart Valley River nearly shut down navigation on Monongahela Ward Engineering built the Scott Walter Fredericks sold WCHS Welch population was at 5,376 There were 22 basketball teams in the WVAU tournament The Sutton suspension bridge closed for traffic Population of Wheeling peaked at 61,659 Wyoming County population was 20,926 Commercial air service to Charleston started Lenna Yost directed the Women's Division of the National Republican Party The Tavern at Youghiogheny Forest Colony was built Justice Chambers enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. Hack Wilson hit a National League record 56 home runs and knocked in 191 runs, a Major League Baseball record that still stands today
1933
Employees bought the Wheeling Traction Company and re-named it Cooperative Transit Company 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 Mel Moore and Billy Long led a strike at Weirton Steel 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
1934
The Fairmont & Clarksburg Traction merger became Monongahela West Penn Service Company Other events that happened on or around 1934 Peach production was at 200,000 bushels The first West Virginia State Poultry Association meeting was held in Morgantown. Eleanor was built as a federal project to relocate displaced families. West Virginia repealed state prohibition Sam Snead became a golf professional Another legal case concerning the Swan lands Grace Martin Taylor quit serving as president of the Allied Artists of West Virginia W. W. Trent oversaw implementation of the county unit system of public schools Land was acquired at Dailey and Valley Bend for the Tygart Valley Homesteads Eleanor Roosevelt first visited the Tygart Valley Homesteads Union Carbide produced 80 chemicals and plastics Camp Seebert was established by the Civilian Conservation Corps Watoga was changed from a state forest to a state park The Highway historical marker program began Paul H. Price was appointed director and state geologist of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Antonio Modarellio took over as conductor of the Wheeling Symphony
1935
The property of the Charleston Interurban Railroad was bought by Charleston Transit Company Other events that happened on or around 1935 Pare Lorentz was contracted by the U.S. Resettlement Administration to create a motion picture about the New Deal James Allen took over as president of Marshall College (now University) Walter Martens designed the Cavalier and Belvedere Apartments in Charleston Walter L. "Bill" Hart became editor of the Dominion-News The National Historic Landmarks program was authorized The Social Security law was passed Nylon was invented in DuPont laboratory in Delaware The Wheeling Daily News merged with Wheeling Register to form the Wheeling News-Register Potomac State College was placed under the management of the Board of Governors of West Virginia University The law was amended to give the PSC more control over utility expansion, construction, and self-dealing The Elkins-Randolph County Airport was completed Nat Reese's family moved to Princeton The showboat Omar was originally launched by the Ohio River Company of Cincinnati Benjamin Rosenbloom began serving as Wheeling's vice mayor The Buckhannon tannery burned down The U.S. Rivers and Harbors Act was passed Construction on the Tygart Dam began The First National Bank of Parkersburg was one of the largest national bank in West Virginia Arthur B. Waugh won the Pulitzer Prize in journalism Vienna was incorporated as a city Libbey-Owens-Ford bought the Vitrolite Company Camp Will Rogers was opened by the Civilian Conservation Corps Pennsylvania Central Airlines began service at Wertz Airport Paul N. Elbin became president of West Liberty State College Innis C. Davis became state historian and archivist Supporters of industrial unionism organized the Committee for Industrial Organization WHIS increased to 500 watts WMMN increased to 1,000 watts and became an important outlet for country and western music performers Portuguese neurologist Egas Moniz pioneered the leucotomy, a radical form of brain surgery
Jun 29, 1939
The Charleston Transit Company converted the Charleston Interurban Railroad to a bus system
1947
The Co-operative Transit Company ceased streetcar operations in Wheeling area Other events that happened on or around 1947 Federal government sold Arthurdale homes and community building to the homesteaders West Virginia Aeronautics Commission formed Florence Blanchfield retired Jesse Bloch's son, Thomas, became president of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company Bluefield State College (now University) was fully accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Business affairs for WVU and state colleges was transferred to WVU Board of Governors and State Board of Education Tony Boyle was brought to Washington as assistant to UMW President John L. Lewis Harry Brawley won an award for the "School of the Air" series Carter Coal Company sold to Youngstown Sheet & Tube Western Maryland Railroad took possession of the Cheat Mountain Club American Cyanamid built plant near Willow Island Levi Johnson Dean had 139 architectural commissions Coal production peaked with 174 million tons Jack Fleming began announcing for WVU sports Harry B. Heflin became the third president of Glenville State College "Biggie" Goldberg led the Chicago Cardinals to the NFL Championship The Greene Line acquired the Delta Queen Louis W. Chappell recorded Edden Hammons at Richwood Hotel Voters approved a city charter for the Weirton Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote Roseanna McCoy Ken Hechler began teaching at Princeton University Marshall won the NAIB national basketball tournament in Kansas City Homer Holt became general counsel for the Union Carbide company in New York City The Huttonsville Correctional Center became a separate institution from the state penitentiary at Moundsville The West Virginia Conservation Commission constructed a dam and bridge at the Jug of Middle Island Creek, restoring water to the original channel Wertz Field in Institute received modern facilities at Kanawha (Yeager) Airport Supreme Court ruling West Virginia-Pittsburgh Coal Company v. Strong limited surface mining The West Virginia League of Women Voters was recognized by the national office Operation of all locks and dams except Lock and Dam No 1 on the Big Sandy was discontinued Elli Mannette had perfected a steel drum with two octaves of a diatonic scale Jacob Rader Marcus established the American Jewish Archives Dan Maroney became a bus driver for the Charleston Transit Company Mildred Mitchell married William L. Bateman Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was accepted a position as staff physician at Lakin State Hospital Morgantown annexed part of Evansdale The Pence Springs property containing the original spring, hotel and fields were purchased by the state of West Virginia for use as a state prison for women Women prisoners from Moundsville Penitentiary were transferred to women's penitentiary in Pence Springs The Nazarene Camp and Conference ground was established at Summersville WPDX Clarksburg began competing with WMMN Fairmont for country music audience Alex Schoenbaum opened the Parkette Drive-In and Bowling Alley in the west side of Charleston Oliver S. Ikenberry became president of Shepherd College Hulett Smith began serving on the state Aeronautics Commission. Marshall College (now University) won the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball Championship Miles Stanley became the president of his steelworkers union local An additional appropriation of $60,000 to build the State Police Academy was obtained from legislature Edward W. Stifel Sr. died City Lines of West Virginia ceased streetcar operations in north-central West Virginia Surface mining production reached 18.4 million tons Union Carbide purchased the Institute butadiene, styrene and support facilities to convert to chemical plants Reported 14,510 people were employed in textile-related jobs in West Virginia The University of Hard Knocks was conceived by Jim Comstock Andre Van Damme and family moved to America Vitrolite ceased production Enrollment at West Virginia State College was 1,785 students The West Virginia Turnpike Commission was created by legislature The Nickel Plate Railroad purchased a majority of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Henry Mazer became conductor of the Wheeling Symphony Doc Williams had a major hit, "Beyond the Sunset" Florence Blanchfield ceased as superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps Sam Jones joined the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro American League Buck Harless became part owner of a lumber company Toni Stone played for the semi-pro Twin Cities Colored Giants View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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