By registering for your own account, you'll get instant access to member benefits:
|
|
WAJR
Go back to WAJR
Dec 07, 1940
WAJR began broadcasting
1948
WAJR-FM (now WVAQ) began broadcasting in Morgantown Other events that happened on or around 1948 Peak production of coal in West Virginia Clair Bee wrote Touchdown Pass Charles Town Opera House was closed Westvaco Chemical Corporation became part of FMC Oliver Chitwood published the second volume of A Short History of the American People President Irvin Stewart approved Earl Core's proposal to found WVU arboretum Five floors were added to the 1941 addition of the Diamond Department Store Little Jimmy Dickens signed with Columbia Records Joanne Dru appeared in Red River The Edwards Moonlight was rehulled K. K. Hall was elected mayor of Madison Roy Lee Harmon wrote Up the Creek Virgil Carrington Jones wrote The Hatfield and McCoys, published by University of North Carolina Press The music department of Concord College awarded the first degree in music education Louis Johnson chaired President Truman's finance committee The federal government charged Big Bill Lias with income tax evasion The Lilly Brothers moved to WWVA Wheeling where they worked with Red Belcher The appointment of a separate dean for the Marshall College graduate school began An addition was built to Louis Marx & Company facility for plastic toys Bernard McDonough bought the Kanawha Sand & Gravel company Herbert Chester Greer died John Nash entered the doctoral program at Princeton University The Spirit of Jefferson newspaper merged with the Farmers' Advocate The last case of smallpox in West Virginia was reported Jack Rollins joined music publishers Hill and Range in New York West Virginia State College romped through an undefeated basketball season, winning the regular season and tournament championships Construction began on the state police academy Eleanor Steber sang at the Republican National Convention Eleanor Steber commissioned and premiered Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Stone & Thomas opened a new store in downtown Charleston P. D. Strausbaugh retired from WVU The Federal Communications Commission granted approval for the construction WSAZ television in Huntington Andre Van Damme settle in Charleston The West Virginia Review ceased publication WVU enrollment at 8,069 A physical therapy department was opened at Wheeling Hospital WHIS radio increased to 5,000 watts The Shott brothers made a premature effort at an FM station Frankie Yankovic was voted “America’s Polka King” by an 8-to-1 margin at a contest sponsored by record companies
1949
WAJR-AM in Morgantown became the flagship station for statewide network distribution of WVU football and basketball games Other events that happened on or around 1949 Appalachian Electric Power provided electricity in 21 counties Clyde Beale pardoned by Governor Patteson Walter Barnes wrote The Teacher Speaks West Virginia Conservation Commission constructed Baker Lake The Berkeley Woolen Company closed its operations in Martinsburg Pearl S. Buck founded the international adoption agency, Welcome House, based in Pennsylvania Lew Burdette married Mary Ann Shelton The state's first television station WSAZ-TV went on air West Virginia chose electric chair over hanging for capital punishment Northern cardinal became the state bird William E. Davies published first full report on West Virginia caves The beginnings of the Cedar Lakes Conference Center originated in an act of the legislature B'nai Jacob congregation moved to new synagogue Little Jimmy Dickens joined the Grand Ole Opry at WSM Henry Hazelwood retired as principal The Booth family sold the Dreamland to group of Huntington businessmen Joanne Dru appeared in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Bishop Strider announced his retirement Forestlands of West Virginia covered 60 % of state Major flood brought devastation to Grant County Capt. Mary B. Greene, wife of Capt. Gordon Greene, died Carroll High School in Hamlin was destroyed by fire Alberta Pierson Hannum's book Roseanna McCoy was released as a motion picture The Health Department shifted its emphasis from communicable diseases to chronic illnesses and other public health issues. Cam Henderson resigned as the Marshall football coach The Huntington Publishing Co. started WSAZ-TV Channel 3, first TV station in West Virginia and one of earliest in the country The construction of Bluestone Dam on the New River was completed Rush Holt changed his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican William Flannery became speaker of the House of Delegates Hayes Picklesimer succeeded John L. Dickinson as president of Kanawha Valley Bank Kelly Axe and Tool Company changed its name to True Temper Larry Richardson and Bob Osborne joined the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers Berry Pink and Sellers Peltier founded the Marble King Company Clarence Meadows opened a law office in Charleston Morgantown annexed Suncrest and Sabraton West Virginia Mountain State Gospel Singers Corporation invited groups from Greenbrier and Fayette counties to participate in Nicholas County homecoming of Mount Nebo Gospel Sings Marble King Factory moved to St. Marys DuPont plant built at Washington Bottom Alfred Knobler created the Pilgrim Glass Corporation Mole Hill changed its name to Mountain Jack Rollins wrote the lyrics to "Peter Cottontail" Fred Schaus made All-American in basketball at WVU Union Carbide developed its technical center above its South Charleston plant Red Sovine began recording with MGM, Decca, and eventually Starday Marshal played in the Tangerine Bowl Buddy Starcher's "I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand" became a hit Weldon Cook and Robert Livingston Russell formed the Cook-Russell Theater Corp The sugar maple became the state tree of West Virginia The West Virginia State Police Academy began operation Commercial television cable installation began operating at Piedmont and Cameron The second USS Huntington was decommissioned after three tours to the Mediterranean Land was donated to the state for the Watters Smith Memorial State Park Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust acquired National Exchange Bank The State Education Association changed its name to the West Virginia Education Association Riley Wilson became seriously ill at the inauguration of President Truman Virginia Mae Brown became executive secretary of the West Virginia Judicial Council Sam Jones signed with the Cleveland Indians Elizabeth Harden married Virgil Gilmore, a future two-term Charleston city councilman Toni Stone played for the San Francisco Sea Lions, then joined the New Orleans Creoles
1957
Beckley radio station WAJR increased to 5,000 watts Other events that happened on or around 1957 Emile Hodel became editor of the Beckley Post-Herald Michael Benedum built the Bridgeport Civic Center Reorganization transferred state mental health and penal institutions to Department of Mental Health and the Commissioner of Public Institutions Weirton Steel purchased Browns Island for $40,000 S. Maude Kaemmerling willed 3,135 acres of land in Canaan Valley to West Virginia for recreational use FMC developed new source of brine at Bens Run City National Bank opened its doors under President Donald Shonk Bishop mine explodes again Jim Comstock founded the weekly West Virginia Hillbilly Deer restocking program ended Roy Bird Cook received the Award of Merit from the West Virginia Library Association Little Jimmy Dickens left the Grand Ole Opry Irvin Dugan retired as newspaper artist Donald Duncan's sons took over the Duncan Yo-Yo Company Fairfax Stone dedicated as state historic monument and became state park Gunner Gatski played football one year for Detroit The Knights of the South Branch was organized to revive medieval jousting Roy Lee Harmon wrote Unto the Hills Logan High School and its field house and athletic fields were constructed on Hatfield Island Ken Hechler moved to West Virginia to teach at Marshall College (now University) The first interstate highway construction contract in the state was awarded on I-64 for a bridge across a road in Cabell County Jean Lee Latham was awarded the Boys' Clubs of America Junior Book Award for Trail Blazer of the Seas The McClains were approached by WVU professors who feared that early West Virginia histories would be lost if not reprinted Kyle McCormick wrote The Story of Mercer County John Norman served on the aircraft carrier Saratoga A group from West Virginia and Ohio purchased land to establish a college with an independent board of trustees, now Ohio Valley University Marbon Chemical is built The announcement of plans to merge the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central System was made Filippo Colasessano's son began selling pepperoni rolls in his Fairmont lunch spot The Division of Disease Control began a statewide polio vaccination program The Kanawha River bridge was opened in Winfield Red Ribble stopped photographing southern West Virginia Otis Rice began teaching at West Virginia Institute of Technology The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company company stores were sold The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company coal reserves were leased to the Island Creek Coal Company Jay Rockefeller went to the International Christian University in Tokyo Shenandoah Downs purchased land north of Charles Town Race Track for night harness racing WVU Rod Hundley became All-American in basketball Jim Sprouse began practicing law Ernest T. Weir died The last high school basketball was played under the African-American West Virginia Athletic Union Benjamin Starks founded the Beacon Journal in Charleston The Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council agreed to combine as the West Virginia Labor Federation, AFL-CIO West Virginia State College lost its federal land-grant status Stanley H. Martin became president of West Virginia Wesleyan College The Whipple mine shut down and the company store closed The Winfield bridge was completed WSAZ radio switched affiliation to NBC
1968
The WAJR facilities moved to the Greer Building Other events that happened on or around 1968 Frederick M. Staunton, publisher of the Charleston Daily Mail, retired Chief Logan State Park gained state park status Denomination adopted the name Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Orval Brown was released from the state mental hospital at Weston Stephen Coonts earned a B.A. at WVU George Crumb was award the Pulitzer Prize for Echoes of Time and the River: Four Processionals for Orchestra Phyllis Curtin sang with the Charleston Symphony Opera Phyllis Curtin was named West Virginian of the year with George Crumb by the Charleston Sunday Gazette Mail Home Demonstration clubs changed name to Extension Homemaker Clubs National attention was brought to the issue of mine safety Fesenmeier sold its brewery to Little Switzerland Brewing Company Two-year associate degree in forestry was developed at Glenville State College Five high schools were consolidated into Gilmer County High School The last Gravely tractor rolled off the Dunbar assembly line Charles Haden served on the Monongalia County Board of Education Roy Lee Harmon wrote Rhymes of a Mountaineer The Modern Budget Amendment made the governor responsible for preparation of the state budget West Virginia's first spring gobbler season began Sonny Hyde transferred to the state Department of Natural Resources to work on Outdoor West Virginia (now Wild Wonderful West Virginia) The Jones Diamond left the Smithsonian to be on exhibition at the State Fair Linsly School relocated to Banes Hall in Wheeling The present entrance to the Lost World Cavers was dug through a hill Joe Manchin's family shoe store burned A new academic building was constructed at Marshall University Enrollment at Marshall University reached 8,177 Irene McKinney received her bachelor's from West Virginia Wesleyan College M. Blane Michael graduated from New York University M. Blane Michael began working at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York R. E. Fisher died leaving the Moorefield paper to Pheobe Fisher Heishman and husband David Mountain Artisans was founded John W. Saunders became president of Beckley College (now Mountain State University) replacing D. K. Shroyer The National Bank of Commerce built a new building known as Commerce Square in Charleston New Vrindaban began as a project of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness The New York Central System merged with the Pennsylvania Railroad to create the ill-fated Penn Central The annual Nature Wonder Weekend was first held in North Bend State Park Nylon precursor chemical stopped being produced at Belle Works Logging on Otter Creek began again Pilgrim Glass Corporation plant manager Karel Konrad introduced cranberry glass Radio station WVWC, licensed to West Virginia Wesleyan College, went on air The last case of polio in West Virginia was reported James Rexrode's works were displayed at the Shenandoah Valley Folklore Society at the Harrisonburg Arts and Crafts Festival Spanky Roberts retired from McClellan Air Force Base The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey conducted another extensive excavation on the St. Albans archeological site David Selby appeared in Dark Shadows James A Butcher became president of Shepherd College (now University) Governor Hulett Smith proposed $150 million bond issue for school construction and state facilities improvement. Grace Martin Taylor retired from Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Norman L. Fagan suggested a Theater West Virginia show based on the Hatfield-McCoy Feud The Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the Methodists forming the United Methodists, becoming West Virginia's biggest denomination There were 240 Evangelical United Brethren Churches in West Virginia, at the time of their merger with the Methodists Kendall Vintroux retired from the Charleston Gazette VISTA volunteers had streamed into rural and hard-pressed areas of West Virginia West Virginia counties reasserted their control over economic opportunity commissions and community action programs, as local officials react to War on Poverty WesBanco was incorporated Wheeling Downs reopened Jon Dragan founded Wildwater Expedition Unlimited at Thurmond Bill Withers was discharged from the U.S. Navy in San Jose Runway expansion for jet airliners began at Kanawha Airport Chuck Yeager became a brigadier general Keith Ham leased 130 acres in Marshall County for the establishment of a rural retreat Nick Saban led the Monongah High School football team to a state championship victory over Paden City High Helen Chilton graduated from Denison University Charleston Section of the National Council of Jewish Women undertook “Appalachian Corridors,” the first exhibition to expressly curate the work of Appalachian artists
1976
Control of the WAJR company was transferred to the Greer family heirs Other events that happened on or around 1976 A craft sales shop was established at the Culture Center in Charleston Ruth Ann Musick published Coffin Hollow It was discovered that Friars Hole Cave connected with Snedegars Cave Glade Creek Mill was dedicated Excavation at Grave Creek Mound by the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey identified a moat surrounding the mound K. K. Hall granted injunctions against a wildcat coal strike The Raleigh Register and Post-Herald of Beckley were sold to Clay Communications Recorded 26 instant libraries serving the residents of West Virginia Corridor E (now I-68) was completed as part of the Appalachian Development Highway system Kanawha Valley Bank moved into the new One Valley Square building Logan County began production of the drama, The Aracoma Story Harley Warrick painted a Mail Pouch sign in the State Museum Three new justices were seated on the five-member court after the general election Kathy Mattea entered WVU Irene McKinney published her first book of poems, The Girl with the Stone in Her Lap New Mennonite Congregation started in Monroe County The Midwives Alliance of West Virginia was founded Alan Mollohan married Barbara Whiting Morgan Morgan's log house was restored by the Berkeley County Historical Society The Morgantown Dominion Post began publishing once a day Two cougars were captured in Pocahontas County The Greenbrier Historical Society moved its museum from the city library to the North House Breece D'J Pancake entered the creative writing program at University of Virginia Jayne Anne Phillips enrolled in the University of Iowa's Writers Workshop A stone was dedicated in Lewisburg to honor Dick Pointer's heroism Pricketts Fort State Park opened during the 1976 Bicentennial Elinor Horwitz wrote Contemporary Folk Artists Otis Rice became book review editor of West Virginia History Soupy Sales hosted ABC's Junior Almost Anything Goes Chris Sarandon was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and a Best Acting Debut Golden Globe Award for Dog Day Afternoon Red Sovine wrote the song "Teddy Bear" Anne Spencer's Lynchburg home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The West Virginia State Farm Museum was started by Walden Roush The Stifel family deeded the Edemar estate to Oglebay Institute for a fine arts center Boyd Stutler's John Brown materials were acquired by the State Archives The Ohio Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation was chartered by the Unitarian Universalist Association Uncle Homer Walker performed at the Smithsonian Institution Festival of American Folklife Charles W. Ferguson II died WesBanco became a bank holding company The Archives and History moved to the Culture Center The West Virginia Department of Culture and History was created by legislature Jim Comstock first tried to sell the West Virginia Hillbilly newspaper Wheeling Downs began dog racing The WVSSAC reestablished the girls state basketball tournament The Graham House was added to the National Register of Historic Places Barry Vance moved permanently to West Virginia John Chambers went to work for IBM John McKay became coach of Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1985
WAJR launched the Metronews Radio Network Other events that happened on or around 1985 The Pocahontas Times became one of the first papers in West Virginia to switch completely to the use of computers Pruntytown Correctional Center reopened Mary Lou Retton was inducted to the U.S. Olympic Committee Hall of Fame Otis Rice became a member of the editorial board of Filson Club Quarterly Rock Lake Pool was closed by its owner Cynthia Rylant wrote The Relatives Came Revival of the Sagebrush Roundup radio show was first held The Old Salt Sulphur Springs resort was added to the National Register of Historic Places Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel filed for bankruptcy Blakers Mill was moved to Jackson's Mill Frederick A Reichle purchased property at Timberline Predecessor banks were renamed United National Bank Robert Phalen became president of UMWA District 17 Melvin Lentz became wood chopping champion The Pence Springs prison closed and all inmates were transferred to the Alderson Federal Prison for women Meredith Sue Willis wrote Only Great Changes Ellie Schaul was was awarded the 1985 West Virginia Juried Exhibition Governor’s Award
1999
WAJR-FM at Salem went on the air Other events that happened on or around 1999 The Buffalo Toyota plant manufactured its first V-6 engine Jay Rockefeller provided funding for the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute Additional repairs on the Wheeling Suspension Bridge occurred The Caperton Center for Applied Technology was dedicated at WVU at Parkersburg A bridge in Fayette County was renamed the Charles C. Rogers Bridge View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
West Virginia Humanities Council | 1310 Kanawha Blvd E | Charleston, WV 25301 Ph. 304-346-8500 | © 2024 All Rights Reserved
About e-WV | Our Sponsors | Help & Support | Contact Us The essential guide to the Mountain State can be yours today! Click here to order.