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1879
West Virginia's first telephone line was strung in Wheeling Other events that happened on or around 1879 Thomas Anshutz painted Farmer and His Son Harvesting Aaron and Samuel Bloch ran a small grocery and dry goods store in Wheeling and began producing chewing tobacco Anne Dudley moved to New York to marry Rev. L. E. Bates William Edwards published a three-volume work on butterflies, The Butterflies of North America A log Catholic Church was erected in Summers County Jacob Jackson was elected mayor of Parkersburg James Kay returned to Quinnimont to construct coke ovens at Hawks Nest The B&O Railroad connected Weston to Clarksburg Virgil Lewis was admitted to the bar William MacCorkle graduated from Washington and Lee University James Miller graduated from Concord Normal School (Concord University) William L. "Billy" Mitchell was born Seventh-Day Adventist teachings first appeared in West Virginia in pamphlets The U.S. Supreme court first used the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment in Strauder v. West Virginia William O. Trevey was born in Virginia Oscar Nelson was born A disastrous fire occurred in Volcano Booker T. Washington returned to Hampton Institute as a teacher
May 15, 1880
The state’s first telephone exchange was placed in service in Wheeling with about 25 subscribers
1880
West Virginia's first telephone exchange was placed in service in Wheeling Other events that happened on or around 1880 Thomas Anshutz painted The Ironworkers' Noontime Main building of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum at Weston was completed Thomas Anshutz painted Ironworkers' Noontime Raleigh County Index established by Edwin Prince Joseph Beury and brothers began to buy tracts of coal land Preston County Brookside Resort was built Jimmy D. Johnson established water-powered mill at Brush Creek Falls William Edwin Chilton passed the bar The International Sunday School Association was organized in West Virginia U.S Census published the first statistical compilation on West Virginia forests Two-thirds of West Virginia still covered by old forest Fairmont State had more students than any normal school Post No. 1 of Guard Army of the Republic was organized in Martinsburg Devil Anse Hatfield led the armed party rescuing Johnse Hatfield from the brothers of Rose Anna McCoy Hinton was incorporated Reported only 250 people lived in Hollidays Cove Jedediah Hotchkiss began publishing a monthly magazine, The Virginias: a Mining, Industrial and Scientific Journal Devoted to the Development of Virginia and West Virginia Census listed 8 Irish families totaling 43 persons occupying Irish Mountain Jews lived in most of the developed areas of the state George Latham was appointed as supervisor of the census for West Virginia's First District William Leigh began studying under Hugh Newell at Maryland Institute William MacCorkle was elected prosecuting attorney of Kanawha County Hu Maxwell graduated from Weston Academy John McGraw entered the practice of law Agnes Reeves Greer was born Orthodox Christians from Russia, Greece and Ottoman Empire began to settle in coalfields of West Virginia St. Mary Carpatho-Russian Orthodox church was founded in Bluefield There were 400 sawmills in West Virginia Nathan Scott was elected to the Wheeling City Council The Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Wheeling was erected by the Soldiers Aid Society The Funkhouser barn was built in Hardy County Charles Ward began working full time at his own business The National Guard was activated for service in areas of labor unrest, specifically to quell a strike of coal miners at Hawks Nest Construction began at a point on the B&O Railway The mental hospital at Weston was completed Wheeling had 30,737 people Emanuel Wilson was elected speaker of the House of Delegates
1882
Telephone switchboards were installed in Parkersburg Other events that happened on or around 1882 First women served on faculty at Bethany College Norfolk & Western Railway located its Pocahontas Division headquarters in Bluefield Chesapeake & Ohio Railway line constructed from Richmond to Tidewater at Newport News J. R. Clifford founded, edited, and published the Pioneer Press Coal River locks and dams abandoned West Virginia adopted a minimum salary law for teachers M. Lizzie Dickey, one of the first women to hold a high post in education, left as acting principal at what is now known as Fairmont State University Law was passed prohibiting the hunting, chasing or wounding of deer between January 15 and September 1 The Old German Baptist Brethren sect was founded The Hatfield and McCoy Feud began Milton Humphreys was elected president of the American Philological Association Welded-steel pipe was first introduced to Wheeling Jacob Jackson called the legislature into special session to re-codify the state's laws John Quincy Dickinson became president of Kanawha Valley Bank after William Dickinson's death James Miller became superintendent of Summers County School James Miller married Jane Tompkins Miller The Smithsonian Institution established the Division of Mound Studies The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly was founded in Aetnaville, Ohio The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad decided to extend down the Ohio from Wheeling to Parkersburg. J.W.M Appleton revived the Salt Sulphur Springs resort Henry Schmulbach purchased the Nail City Brewery The West Virginia Classical and Normal Academy was established in Upshur County Wayne was incorporated as Fairview William Wilson was selected as president of WVU
1884
Telephone switchboards were installed at Huntington Other events that happened on or around 1884 B&O operated 1,700 miles of railroad Joseph Beury and others opened Mill Creek Coal & Coke, first mine in Mercer County Arthur Boreman organized a relief effort to assist victims of Ohio River flood Belle Boyd divorced Swainston W.E.R. Byrne was admitted to the bar The Kanawha & Michigan Railway was completed on north side of Kanawha River in Charleston Moses W. Donnally bought the Chronicle Charleston National Bank founded as a national bank Sydenham Herford died William and Tom Anderson stopped running the Easton Roller Mill William Edwards published another volume in his three-volume work on butterflies, The Butterflies of North America Stephen Elkins was elected executive chairman of the National Republican Committee Glenville High School moved into a house The Hampshire Review was started by C.F. Poland The American Ancient Order of Hibernians had groups in Rowlesburg, Clarksburg, Parkersburg, Coal Valley and Charleston The Quinnimont iron furnace was closed Other mills were destroyed by floods on the Jug of the Middle Island Creek James Kay returned to West Virginia The Lincoln County Feud began when Paris Brumfield killed Boney Lucas The first multistate gazetteer including West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware appeared Hu Maxwell wrote a history of Tucker County Mennonites erected their first meetinghouse in West Virginia in Pendleton County James Miller left as superintendent of Summers County schools James Miller became Summer County prosecuting attorney C. F. Millspaugh published the first section of American Medicinal Plants New Cumberland became the permanent county seat of Hancock County Earl Oglebay started working in a Cleveland iron ore firm Large flood occurred on the Ohio Democrat Emanuel Willis Wilson mounted a populist campaign that challenged monopolies and railroads Samuel and Violet Bryant came to America from England The Ohio River Railway was built through Sistersville The first golf club in America was organized at Oakhurst at White Sulphur Springs Telephone switchboards were installed at Moundsville The West Virginia Central & Pittsburg was extended to Tucker County The Ohio River Railroad reached Vienna The first West Virginia Historical Society ceased I.C. White began working for the U.S. Geological Survey Emanuel Willis Wilson succeeded into the governorship The Ohio River Railroad was completed The Ohio River flooded at Wheeling
1886
Telephone switchboards were installed at Martinsburg Other events that happened on or around 1886 Park was built on the upper end of Blennerhassett Island Railroad line was built through the area of New Cumberland by Pennsylvania Railroad William Edwin Chilton ran unsuccessfully for state senate Aretas Fleming's fortunes were joined with U.S. Sen. Johnson Newlon Camden Millard F. Giesey opened his own architecture office in Wheeling John P. Hale produced book, Trans-Allegheny Pioneers John P. Hale produced book, Trans-Allegheny Pioneers A "substantial brick jail" was added to the courthouse in Hamlin A referendum was unsuccessfully proposed to make Ravenswood the new county seat of Jackson County Harriet Jones opened a private practice in Wheeling Marlin's Bottom changed its name to Marlinton John McGraw was appointed collector of internal revenue for West Virginia by President Cleveland A branch of the B&O reached Morgantown A permanent Mormon presence in West Virginia began with the creation of the West Virginia Conference The first public high school for blacks, Sumner High, was established in Parkersburg. The Ravenswood, Spencer, & Glenville Railroad was established. A referendum confirmed Ripley as county seat of Jackson County Anne Spence and mother moved to Bramwell A fire burned much of the Valley Falls area Clarence W. Watson graduated from Fairmont State Normal School James O. Watson and Aretas B. Fleming started the Montana mine Henry Everett Engle copyrighted the music to "The West Virginia Hills" The drilling of the first gas well in Hundred Frank Reeves was born in Fairmont
1889
All telephone exchanges in northern West Virginia were interconnected Other events that happened on or around 1889 Sensational articles of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud by Theron C. Crawford published in New York B&O hauled 31% of nation's Tidewater-bound soft coal Bluefield incorporated as a town Bank of Bramwell opened Matthew Clair graduated from Morgan College in Baltimore Downtown streets of Clarksburg lit up by electricity Cribs and booms located to direct logs into Coal River's main channel Elkins was founded Jack Glasscock managed Indianapolis Hoosiers baseball team for part of the year The membership of Post No.1 of General Army of the Republic peaked at 3,161 The first major outbreak of the gypsy moth occurred The Weekly Advertiser became a daily publication as the Advertiser Harold Houston graduated from Charleston High School Kenova founded by L. T. Peck The West Virginia Bureau of Labor was created by state legislature Daniel Lucas began serving as a justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals William MacCorkle left prosecuting attorney's office I.T. Mann had an apprenticeship at Greenbrier Valley Bank Alexander Martin left DePauw University Hu Maxwell wrote Idyls of the Golden Shore The first oil was discovered in Monongalia County Navigable slack water was extended to the Morgantown area Anticlinal theory of oil and gas location was developed by I. C. White of WVU The anticlinal theory of oil and gas location was first tested in Mannington Pennzoil was founded An iron truss bridge was built over the New River West Virginia apple production was at 4.5 million bushels William Nelson Page was president of Gauley Mountain Coal Charles Ritter moved to West Virginia Sheltering Arms Hospital saw its first patient The legislature renamed the militia the West Virginia National Guard William Luke opened a pulp mill and incorporated the West Virginia Paper Company Albert White was appointed as internal revenue agent Emanuel Wilson advocated antitrust legislation and increased immigration into the state Major timbering began in Wyoming County Carrie Edwards married Abraham L. Williams
1890
Telephone switchboards were installed at Grafton 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 The McKinley Tariff passed including duties on tin plate Howard Sutherland moved to Washington as an official in the Census Bureau 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
1891
Telephone switchboards were installed at Clarksburg Other events that happened on or around 1891 State Board of Agriculture set up by legislature Legislature created a state banking department There were 49 state banks and 22 national banks in West Virginia Collection of Ambrose Bierce's Civil War stories, Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (also known as In the Midst of Life) was published Fannie Cobb Carter earned teaching degree from Storer College in Harpers Ferry WVU Mountaineers played first football game against University of Pittsburgh First bridge built across the Kanawha River, in Charleston Clarksburg investors acquired the Telegram First principal of present Concord University Capt. James Harvey French died James Dye graduated from Starling Medical College in Cincinnati William Dawson became chairman of Republican state committee Alexander L. Wade's education graduating system was made compulsory statewide Stephen Elkins was appointed secretary of war by President Harrison George Peterkin built the Church of the Good Shepherd in Parkersburg Town of Ansted was incorporated, named for David T. Ansted The Central City brewery was built by American Brewing Company Fostoria Glass Company relocated to Moundsville Construction on Graceland began in Elkins John P. Hale wrote History of the Great Kanawha Valley Hamilton Hatter became a member of the college board of trustees George Imboden was elected the first mayor of Ansted The "Australian" or standardized printed ballot was adopted in West Virginia Paris Brumfield was murdered by his son Charley in the wake of the Lincoln County Feud The "government lock" was built on Little Kanawha River near Burning Springs The federal government built a fifth lock and dam near burning springs The Moundsville Daily Echo was established as a weekly newspaper C. F. Millspaugh arrived at WVU The Mount Carbon Prehistoric Site was investigated by Col. P. W. Norris for the Smithsonian Institution's Bureau of American Ethnology John T. McGraw purchased the land at Marlinton. Pruntytown was originally established as the Industrial School for Boys Pruntytown was originally established as the Industrial School for Boys. Postmaster General John Wanamaker conducted a limited experiment with rural free delivery in the Eastern Panhandle Labor organization lobbied for the law regulating scrip The Seneca Glass Company opened in Fostoria, Ohio James David Shaw became editor of the Moundsville Daily Echo The Martinsburg Mining, Manufacturing and Improvement Company developed a subdivision for workers McDowell County seat located to Welch The Norfolk & Western Railway Company extended its line into McDowell County The Historical Society asked the West Virginia legislature for funding Harriet Lyon became the first woman to receive a degree from WVU The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway was completed to Martin's Ferry Ohio Emanuel Wilson authored a new election law
1893
Telephone switchboards were installed at Bluefield Other events that happened on or around 1893 Robert A. Spencer acquired the paper and renamed in the Raleigh Register. Bluefield had two newspapers, the Bluefield Telegraph and the Daily Journal The Journal ceased daily publication F.R. Swann began published Charleston Evening Mail Clarence Wayland Watson founded the Briar Hill Coal Company Justus Collins opened Collins Colliery and the Greenbrier Coal & Coke William Conley earned a law degree from WVU John Dickinson moved to Charleston from Malden Samuel Dixon and partner organized the MacDonald mine The first Douglass High School graduated its first high school class Legislature provided for two levels of teacher certificates Aretas Fleming returned to practicing law Henry Harrison Hunter won blue ribbon at World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago for quality of sand he mined and processed Graceland was completed The Great Bend Tunnel was lined with brick arching Joseph Harvey Long arrived in Huntington to buy the Herald John Jeremiah Jacob died and was buried in Indian Mound Cemetery Chicago World's Fair has a West Virginia state exhibit John Joseph Kain left the Diocese of Wheeling to become Archbishop of St. Louis John Q. Dickinson moved Kanawha Valley Bank into a substantial new building Virgil Lewis was awarded an M.A. in history from WVU The N&W Railroad built its main line along the Big Sandy River Joseph Long moved to Huntington to buy the Herald Daniel Lucas left the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Uncle Jack McElwain won a fiddle contest at the Chicago World's Fair Bill McKell built his home at Glen Jean Johnson Camden McKinley moved to Wheeling C. F. Millspaugh left WVU to become curator of botany at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago High-quality semibitumious coal from Davis' Big Vein was displayed at the Chicago World's Fair Sistersville became the nation's premier oil-field boom town Henry Schmulbach opened his Wheeling inclined railway to riders William Edwin Chilton became secretary of sate Pittsburgh's William Flaccus and Son bought a tannery along the Buckhannon River The city of Parsons was incorporated Charles Ward's boilers were showcased at the Chicago World's Fair Ward Engineering Works built the Mascot for the U.S. Engineering Corp Clarence W. Watson joined his father and brothers in the mining enterprises Chitwood Hall was completed at WVU The earliest Whipple Company Store was constructed in Glen Jean for Collins Colliery Company The country began an economic depression The Woodson family moved to Huntington
1894
Telephone switchboards were installed at Fairmont Other events that happened on or around 1894 Broaddus Female College (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) accepted its first male students Cyrus Thomas published Report on the Mound Explorations of the Bureau of Ethnology. Newton Diehl Baker received law degree from Washington and Lee University New bridges were constructed in Harpers Ferry and some of the remaining Bollman trusses were converted to highway use Evening Mail became morning paper after George Warren sold to John B. Floyd Democratic Supremacy in West Virginia ended John Cornwell passed the bar exam John Dickinson became the first director of the West Virginia Bankers Association John Hardy was hanged at Welch for killing a man in a card game Pennsylvania Glass Sand Company began mining Oriskany sand in the same geological formation in Pennsylvania about 80 miles north of Morgan County, West Virginia The Easton Roller Mill replaced buhrs with steam power and rollers A high school was established in Harrisville Only about half of state miners participated in a nationwide strike by UMWA The American Ancient Order of Hibernians peaked in West Virginia with 647 men in 12 Hibernian divisions Elmer Jacobs set up practice in Morgantown John Dickinson became cashier of the Kanawha Valley Bank Kenova was incorporated as a town The city of Welch was incorporated John McWhorter received a law degree from WVU law school The B&O branch in Morgantown extended to Connellsville, Pennsylvania The first two nurses at Wheeling City Hospital Training School received their diplomas Livia Simpson Poffenbarger married George Poffenbarger. The first Presbyterian Church was formed in Williamson. Rt. Rev. Patrick J. Donahue was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling The Big Moses gas well was drilled Clarence W. Watson married Minnie Lee Owings Kenova was chartered The Historical Society was given larger quarters for its museum and library at the Capitol The National Guard was activated for service in areas of labor unrest Westvaco opened headquarters in New York City Albert White managed the U.S. Senate campaign of Stephen B. Elkins
1896
Telephone switchboards were installed at Morgantown Other events that happened on or around 1896 Thomas Anshutz painted Steamboat on the Ohio B&O Railroad only hauled four percent of Tidewater-bound soft coal Elk River Coal & Lumber Company began buying land in West Virginia George Sturdevant and John W. Johnson purchased the factory at Brush Creek Falls in Mercer County Michael Benedum married Sarah Lantz "Athens" name of new post office and village William Coley founded the Parsons Advocate newspaper John William Davis began teaching law at Washington & Lee Democrats slipped into minority status in West Virginia According to legend, underground Elk (River) was formed when a hole opened in the stream bed and simply swallowed the river Thaddeus Fowler first visited West Virginia Edward Bates Franzheim designed the Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church in Wheeling The Trinity United Methodist Church was organized in Glenville Grantsville was incorporated The H.K. Bedford began Pittsburgh-Charleston service William Jennings Bryan was defeated as free silver presidential candidate Hamilton Hatter became the first principal of Bluefield Colored Institute (Bluefield State College) Homer Laughlin incorporated as Homer Laughlin and Company The original Seneca Glass Company building was built William Leigh painted his portrait of Sophie H. Colston The Moundsville Daily Echo became a daily publication Louis Marx was born John McGraw first served as a member of the Democratic National Committee James Miller served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention The Seneca Glass Company moved from Ohio to Morgantown The South Branch Intelligencer merged with the Hampshire Review Lawrence Nuttall and C. F. Millspaugh published Flora of West Virginia Melville Davisson Post's short story collection The Strange Schemes of Randolph Mason made him immensely popular. The second period of Republican dominance began The Webster Springs Hotel was built Agnes Westbrook Morrison was admitted to the bar WVU hires its first full-time coach Matthew Whittico graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania Matewan challenged Williamson as county seat of Mingo County Carter Woodson graduated from Douglass High School Hurry-up Yost played tackle on the WVU football team The Shenandoah River flooded
1897
The American Telephone & Telegraph Company extended a long distance line from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to Charleston through Point Pleasant Other events that happened on or around 1897 Newton Diehl Baker returned to Martinsburg Nathan Brackett retired from Storer College presidency James Callahan received his Ph.D. from John Hopkins University Donnally Publishing Company sold it to Gazette Company William Edwin Chilton formed law firm with his brother and William A. MacCorkle J. R. Clifford elected charter member of the American Negro Academy Blacks began to capitalize on using their political influence under Republican administration John W. Davis left teaching to open his own practice William Dawson served as West Virginia's secretary of state Dow Chemical Company started in Midland, Michigan William Edwards published another volume in his three-volume work on butterflies, The Butterflies of North America Fish and Game Warden Office was created to replace Board of Fish Commissioners Legislature passed legislation that provided for appointment of state game and fish warden The UMWA began enlisting the support of well-known labor leaders from across the nation The Huntington State Hospital was established by the legislature as an insane asylum called the Home for Incurables Legislature reactivated the position of Immigration Commissioner Fanny Kemble Johnson moved to West Virginia Mother Jones joined Eugene Debs's Social Democracy and the Unite Mine Workers of America national strike in Pittsburgh John P. Hale visited the cave where the Kanawha Madonna was found Hu Maxwell wrote a history of Hampshire County Ephraim Morgan earned a law degree from WVU John Brooks Cottle was born Matthew M. Neely enrolled at WVU John Nuttall died in Fayette County Otter Creek Boom & Lumber Company began logging Otter Creek Research on poultry began at West Virginia University. Reported 82 routes in operation for the Rural Free Delivery Samuel Starks was elected as supreme chancellor at the Charleston's Capitol City Lodge No. 1 The Parkersburg Conference of United Brethren was renamed the West Virginia Conference Coal operators of Central Competitive Field agreed to peace with UMWA insisting organizing West Virginia too Volcano oil boom diminished A disastrous fire occurred in Volcano The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey was established by legislature I. C. White began serving as first director of the West Virginia G&ES Women were permitted to enter all departments and schools except the military Jerome Hall Rapmond became president of WVU Consolidation formed the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company Albert White was appointed as internal revenue agent Josiah Keely became principal of Montgomery Preparatory School Hurry-up Yost began coaching at Ohio Wesleyan Laura Jackson Arnold was named an honorary member of the Society of the Army of West Virginia
1901
Another long distance telephone line was constructed through West Virginia 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 The Fairmont & Clarksburg Traction streetcar company began 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
1916
The Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company of West Virginia was incorporated 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 Charleston Interurban Railroad was built to Cabin Creek The earliest recorded instance of surface mining in West Virginia occurred 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
1925
Dial service was introduced in Huntington 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 The Sistersville to New Martinsville streetcar line ceased operation 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
1956
Direct distance telephone dialing was introduced in Wheeling and Moundsville Other events that happened on or around 1956 The end of private education at Storer College in Harpers Ferry New campus for Appalachian Bible Institute opened in Bradley Gray Barker wrote his best-known book, They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers Blackwater Lodge opened at Blackwater State Park Boundary dispute between West Virginia and Virginia involving Monroe, Giles, and Alleghany Counties Chauncey H. Browning was Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court Cabell Huntington Hospital first opened for business Lodge at Cacapon State Park was completed with a restaurant and banquet hall The "golden" trout was spawned with regular rainbow trout at state fire hatchery Charles Town Opera House was condemned City National Bank was organized in Charleston Roy Clarkson joined Department of Biology at WVU Mine at Bishop exploded Chapman Revercomb last Republican to be elected to the Senate in West Virginia Associated Dry Goods bought the Diamond Department Store Elizabeth Drewry helped pass constitutional amendment allowing women to serve on juries in West Virginia Pete Everest graduated from Armed Forces Staff College Pete Everest flew the X-2 at Mach 3 Ruel Foster wrote Elizabeth Madox Roberts, American Novelist Charleston's Garnet High School closed The state Board of Education authorized the construction of the student center, Pioneer Center, at Glenville State College Joseph C. Gluck became pastor of the Forks-of-Cheat Baptist Church The U.S. Government approached the C&O with proposal to build an "emergency relocation center" at the Greenbrier for reassembly of Congress Davis Grubb wrote Shadow of My Brother Minnie Buckingham Harper's second husband John B. Paterson died Hazel Atlas Company operated 12 plants across the U.S. Chuck Howley was named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Year Sam Huff played with the New York Giants to win a championship game The peak patient population at the Huntington State Hospital was 1,460 The federal Interstate Highway Act was passed Jean Lee Latham won the Newbery Award for Carry On, Mr. Bowditch Jean Lee Latham won the Newbery Award for Carry On, Mr. Bowditch The Library Services Act by Congress enabled the Library Commission to acquire federal funding for public libraries in West Virginia Clagg and Britton produced an atlas of West Virginia emphasizing historical factors and statewide economic data Camden Eli "Cam" Henderson died William Marland tried to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat G. Ogden Nutting started his newspaper career as a reporter and news editor for the Martinsburg Journal Mason College of Music and Fine Arts merged with Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Thomas Miller graduated from the WVU College of Law The West Virginia Mountain State Gospel Singers Corporation was chartered Alfred Knobler opened the new Pilgrim Glass plant on Walker Branch Road in Ceredo The community of Port Amherst received that name The Pruntytown Industrial School for Boys was reintegrated The N&W was West Virginia's last steam powered railroad Mary Lee Settle wrote O Beulah Land The Mann's Creek Railroad line closed Planning for Sutton Dam continued The Greenbrier art colony was reopened with the work of Gladys Tuke and Jeanne Eleanore Coyne Cecil Underwood became a leading spokesman for the Republican Party A silicones products plant was built in Sistersville Andre Van Damme founded the Charleston Ballet Jerry West led East Bank High School to the state basketball championship The West Virginia Publishing Company changed name to West Virginia Education Foundation The timber flooring of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge was replaced with open steel grid West Virginia Institute of Technology was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Katherine Johnson's first husband died of a brain tumor Ellie Schaul moved to West Virginia
1984
Charleston became the first city in U.S. to be able to chose long-distance carriers other than AT&T Other events that happened on or around 1984 Holt, Rinehart, and Winston published a paperback edition of the stories of Beece D'J Pancake Henry Payne graduated from Princeton University Pence Springs was studied by scholars from the University of Kentucky Jayne Anne Phillips published her first of three novels, Machine Dreams William Pierce established his headquarters in a compound near Hillsboro Cynthia Rylant wrote Waiting to Waltz Henry Schmulbach's Wheeling house was added to the National Register of Historic Places The Shott family endowed the Hugh I. Shott Jr. Foundation Union Carbide had a tragic industrial accident at its Bhopal, India facility E. M. Statler was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame Railroads ceased operation in Tucker County The golf course at Twin Falls State Park was expanded to 18-hole AT&T broke up C. W. Ferguson III stopped serving as circuit judge A renovation on Welch Community Hospital was completed West Virginia History began annual publication The School of Osteopathic Medicine started a postdoctoral training program Thomas Conlin became conductor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra WVU Hospitals became a separate nonprofit corporation, affiliated with West Virginia University Meredith Sue Willis wrote Personal Fiction Writing The American Cyanamid decided to settle the Willow Island sterilization suit out of court Warren McGraw stopped serving as state senate president John Zontini was inducted into the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame Helen Holt retired Coach John McKay retired
2003
Verizon West Virginia received the Federal Communications Commission's approval to offer long-distance service in West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 2003 New Hall dormitory at University of Charleston was completed The Virginian Railway rail yards at Princeton were added to the National Register of Historic Places Jason Wynyard won the wood chopping championship The Coal Association founded Friends of Coal A major expansion was completed at Wheeling Downs Joseph R. Hacala S.J. became president of Wheeling Jesuit University West Virginia was one of nine states that collectively produced 95% of nation's wind-generated electricity The Yeager Airport terminal was named for Jay Rockefeller Nick Saban coached Louisiana State University to a national championship
Oct 26, 2004
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