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Norfolk & Western Railway
Go back to Norfolk & Western Railway
1881
The Norfolk & Western Railway was a result of a merger between the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad and Shenandoah Valley Railroad Other events that happened on or around 1881 Booker T. Washington married his first wife, Fannie Smith, at the African Zion Baptist Church West Virginia contracted with Storer College in educating African-American teachers Congress gave $5,000 to Smithsonian to conduct excavations relating to prehistoric Mound Builders George Atkinson wrote After the Moonshiners West Virginia's first general banking law repealed Legislature elected Johnson N. Camden to the U.S. Senate Nathan Goff Jr. served as secretary of navy under President Hayes The West Virginia Board of Health was established West Virginia Board of Health was established George Imboden became the president of the Fayette County Commission Jacob Beeson Jackson began service as governor John Jacob was appointed Ohio County circuit judge The lock and dam on the Elk River was removed Joseph Long moved to Wheeling William MacCorkle married Belle Goshorn Henry Mathews returned to Lewisburg C.F. Millspaugh received a medical degree from the New York Homeopathic Medical College Daniel Purinton became vice-president and acting president of West Virginia University. William Rosecrans served in Congress from California Johann Stifel died Frederick Douglass spoke on the campus of Storer College The current Monroe County courthouse was built in Union Alexander Wade published A Graduating System for Country Schools West Union was incorporated The first West Virginia State Fair was held at Wheeling Island Albert White moved to Parkersburg Emanuel Wilson finished his service in the House of Delegates Thomas Davis moved with his family to Huntington
Mar 17, 1883
The first carload of Pocahontas coal arrived in Norfolk
1888
The Elkhorn Tunnel through Flat Top Mountain was completed Other events that happened on or around 1888 Waitman Barbe wrote "The Song of the Centuries," his first important poem Arthur Boreman was elected to a circuit judgeship again Bramwell was incorporated as a town Sheltering Arms Hospital opened Kanawha Gazette began regular daily publication Danske Dandridge wrote Joy and Other Poems Henry Gassaway Davis supported Benjamin Harrison for president Fayette County became West Virginia leading coal producing county Salem College was founded Devil Anse Hatfield moved his family from Tug Valley to Main Island Creek Hamilton Hatter received a bachelor's degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine Frank Hereford served as presidential elector The town of Hurricane was incorporated John Jacob left circuit judge to return to practicing law Harriet Jones became assistant superintendent of the state hospital in Weston Kanawha County became the state's second largest coal producer The Logan Banner was founded by Henry Clay Ragland Roger Saad became the first Lebanese immigrant to settle in Wheeling The Martinsburg & Potomac railroad was extended to Frederick County, Virginia The Kanawha & Ohio Railway completed a line from Charleston to Point Pleasant Oakhurst Links was the home of the first regularly played golf tournament in the U.S. The Fetterman Mill was destroyed by a flood. Christopher Payne became first African American elected to represent West Virginia at the Republican national convention. Graham Hamrick preserved two female corpses as Phillipi mummies Livia Poffenbarger demanded the right to speak in support of a candidate at the state Democratic convention. Electricity generate from natural gas brought streetlights to Parkersburg Nathan Scott became a member of the Republican National Committee Senate president Robert Carr tried to assert the right to become governor after a disputed election Thomas J. Reynolds was born at Point Pleasant Callie Leach French became the first woman to obtain a pilot's license The Monongahela River flooded William Luke founded the Piedmont Pulp & Paper Company, later Westvaco H. C. Ogden came to Wheeling as a reporter for the Wheeling News H.C. Ogden came to Wheeling as a reporter for the News Albert White served as president of the National Editorial Association Mountain State Business College was established William H. Davis was nominated as an independent candidate for governor
1890
The N&W acquired the Scioto Valley Railway 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 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 Telephone switchboards were installed at Grafton Aretas B. Fleming became governor of West Virginia A springhouse was constructed at Webster Springs C. F. Millspaugh published Agricultural Experiment Station bulletins on West Virginia's Weeds Midway and Lazearville were annexed to Wellsburg Weston had electric lights The site of Williamson was still farmland There were 6,247 residents in Wyoming County
1895
West Virginia passed a law preventing railroad from engaging in the business of buying and selling coal Other events that happened on or around 1895 The Bluefield DailyJournal closed Land purchased for $24,757 for Cabell County Courthouse Huntington established Chamber of Commerce Reuben Gold Thwaites edition of Chronicles of Border Warfare was published, which provides corrections to some errors of fact or interpretation Clay was incorporated $20,000 appropriated for new academic building at what is now known as Concord University John William Davis (originally from Clarksburg) graduated from law school at Washington and Lee Bethany Chapter of Delta Tau Delta ceased activity Distinct historic courthouse was built in Fayetteville Jack Glasscock returned to Wheeling to manage and play for Wheeling Base Ball Club Harrisville, the county seat of Ritchie County, was named in honor of Thomas Harris The Montgomery Preparatory School (West Virginia University Institute of Technology) was founded Lewis County's first high school was established Joseph Long sold the Herald A formal community of Orthodox Christians was founded in Bluefield Michael Owens had perfected machinery for blowing tumblers, light bulbs and lamp chimneys Extensive timbering began along the Pocatalico River A timber company began extensive operations on the waters of Pocatalico which added to Poca's growth. Morris Shawkey came to West Virginia as professor of education at West Virginia Wesleyan College E. M. Statler left the McLure House for Buffalo, New York Ephraim Wells opened the Wells Hotel in Sistersville The Virginia was built in Cincinnati Ralph Weinberg was born in Baltimore The McDowell County courthouse at Welch was constructed Welch population was at 300 Agnes Westbrook Morrison was the first woman to graduate from College of Law at WVU Agnes Howard Hall, now on the Register of Historic Places, was built as a residence for women at West Virginia Wesleyan College Williamson became the county seat of Mingo County William Wilson became postmaster general under President Cleveland's cabinet Hurry-up Yost played tackle on the WVU football team A.S. Withers wrote an early report of Betty Zane's save of Fort Henry in Chronicles of Border Warfare
1900
The Pennsylvania Railroad began purchasing the N&W stock 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 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 Interurban railway operations began in Huntington 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 N&W acquired the Cincinnati, Portsmouth & 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 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 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
1959
The Virginian Railway merged into the Norfolk & Western Railroad Other events that happened on or around 1959 The first West Virginia whitewater rafters were defeated at an attempt on the Gauley River Robert Drasnin released the album Voodoo
1964
The N&W acquired the Nickel Plate in a merger that included the Wabash Railroad, the Wheeling & Lake Erie, the Akron, Canton & Youngstown and the Pittsburgh & West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 1964 Pearl Buck founded the Pearl S. Buck Foundation French Carpenter record, Old-Time Songs and Tunes from Clay County, West Virginia, released Ted Cassidy secured television role on The Addams Family Maryland Pimlico Race Course installed lighting to compete with newer tracks C&O acquired the Western Maryland Railroad Swimming pool at Chief Logan State Park opened Congress passed the Civil Rights Act Roy B. Clarkson published Tumult on the Mountains: Lumbering in West Virginia, 1770-1920 Legislature enacted law that authorized election of delegates to a state constitutional convention Work began at Parkersburg to make U.S. 50 a four-lane highway Ellis Dungan married Elaine Runner North Hall was completed at Fairmont State College Part four of Flora of West Virginia was published The Food Stamp Act was passed, making the program permanent U.S. Forest Service published reports on West Virginia forests, stating that 74% of the state was forested Harry B. Heflin retired as president of Glenville State College An addition to the Pioneer Center at Glenville State College was completed The Hazel Atlas Corporate Headquarters in Wheeling was donated to the West Liberty State College Homer Hickam graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in industrial engineering Ella Holroyd was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by Concord College Sam Huff began his career with the Washington Redskins Schools in West Virginia were considered fully desegregated The Better Roads Amendment was voted on in the general election to provided money for the "building and construction of state roads and highways" Don Redman died A radiocarbon date estimated the Kanawha Madonna to be around 350 years old Elizabeth Kee retired from Congress John Knowles wrote Double Vision: American Thoughts Abroad Supreme Court ruling State ex rel. Smith v. Gore required equal apportionment in the election of delegates to a constitutional convention and derailed a move to draft a new state constitution The number of state senators was set at 34 The U.S. Library Services Act was amended to provide funds for library education and library construction Hartman Hall was built at Beckley College (now Mountain State University) The National Bank of Commerce purchased the old Kanawha County library property in Charleston John Norman joined the surgical team at Boston City Hospital Oscar Mairs and Hillis Youse recorded the Luther Elkins petroglyph site. Joe Powell became state director of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. Leonard Riggleman retired as president of Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Chuck Ripper quit Standard Printing & Publishing Co to be full-time freelance artist The Rock Lake Pool remained racially segregated after the Civil Rights Act Jay Rockefeller came to West Virginia as a poverty volunteer with Action for Appalachian Youth The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey first began extensive excavation on the St. Albans archeological site The Soupy Sales Show weekday morning show debuted in New York Lawmakers created a 17th state senate district in Kanawha County Bill Campbell beat Ed Tutwiller in golf in the U.S. Amateur Championship Final Miles Stanley organized the AFL-CIO Appalachian Council Western Pocahontas Corporation and Pocahontas Land Corporation donated land for Twin Falls State Park Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) began offering an associate degree in nursing The Valley Falls State Park area was acquired by the state Cyrus Vance became deputy secretary of defense under Robert McNamara The federal Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust acquired South Wheeling Bank and Trust The state purchased the old Wheeling Custom House and leased it to the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation. Charles Gabor became conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Henry Aaron left Wheeling
1982
The N&W and Southern Railway System merged and became the Norfolk Southern Corporation Other events that happened on or around 1982 New Mennonite Congregation started in Barbour County The Minter Homes Corporation closed its doors A third Mormon stake was organized, in Huntington Don Nehlen's Mountaineers beat Oklahoma at Norman The British Broadcasting Corporation filmed Sylvia O'Brien at her home Paw Paw was the site of the first branch bank in West Virginia. David Selby appeared in Falcon Crest Mary Lee Settle wrote The Killing Ground The Smoot Theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places The South Charleston Recreation Center opened The Killen v. Logan County case changed policy regarding property tax assessment and appraisal methods Richard Trumka became president of UMWA Melvin Lentz became wood chopping champion Branch banking was legalized in West Virginia Don West published In a Land of Plenty: A Don West Reader Thomas W. Cole became president of West Virginia State College (now University) Thomas Acker S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) Bill Withers won a Grammy for "Just The Two Of Us" Arnout "Sonny" Hyde became editor of the Wonderful West Virginia The Luther Elkins Petroglyph was claimed to be of Irish origin with ancient markings Major renovations took place at Kanawha (now Yeager) Airport Ellie Schaul began serving as gallery director at The Art Store in Charleston View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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