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Huntington Herald-Dispatch
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1871
The Independent was moved from Winfield to Huntington by O.G. Chase Other events that happened on or around 1871 Peter Cline Buffington was elected Huntington's first mayor Edward Jefferson Willis founded the Winchester Female Institute in Winchester B&O lines reached Columbus, Lake Erie and Pittsburgh Commencement Hall added as a wing to Old Main at Bethany Democrats gained control of West Virginia's government Jefferson County seat moved back to Charles Town after being in Shepherdstown The Jefferson County seat moved back to Charles Town after temporarily being relocated to Shepherdstown Waitman Willey's service in the U.S. Senate ended Voters approved both a constitutional amendment eliminating the loyalty requirement for voting and a call for a new constitutional convention Joseph Diss Debar ended his work of recruiting labor and landowners from abroad Hyre D. Clark of Buckhannon was the first graduate of Fairmont State John P. Hale became mayor of Charleston Morris Harvey married Rosaltha Dickinson Frank Hereford began the first of three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad purchased the land on which Hinton was built The Flick Amendment was passed which ended political restriction on ex-Confederates in West Virginia Jedediah Hotchkiss explored the extended Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Huntington was founded by Collis P. Huntington John J. Allen died James Madison Jackson died John Jay Jackson Sr. served as a member of the commission to ascertain West Virginia's share of the Virginia debt The Great Fire in Chicago burned up Mother Jones' dressmaking business and her possessions The KKK virtually disappeared in West Virginia after voting privileges were restored to former Confederates Daniel Lamb unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate The Flick Amendment was passed restoring voting rights for ex-Confederates Mannington was chartered as a town by the legislature The federal government conducted a survey of the river
1889
The Weekly Advertiser became a daily publication as the Advertiser 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 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 All telephone exchanges in northern West Virginia were interconnected 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
The Herald began publication 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 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 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
1893
Joseph Harvey Long arrived in Huntington to buy the Herald 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 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 Telephone switchboards were installed at Bluefield 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
1904
The Huntington Dispatch began Other events that happened on or around 1904 Charles Ambler received an A.B. in social sciences J. G. Bradley came to West Virginia Sturdevant and Johnson constructed new buildings Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad was built Name changed from Thomas Hospital to Charleston General Hospital Barber Sanatorium constructed by Dr. Timothy L. Barber Sr. Railroad from Greenbrier Valley to Bartow completed Roy Bird Cook graduated from high school John Cornwell was Democratic nominee for governor Davis & Elkins College founded by Southern Presbyterians Rebecca Davis wrote autobiography Bits of Gossip William M. O. Dawson ceased to be chairman of West Virginia Republicans John Dickinson became the first director of the Kanawha Coal Operators Association Chestnut blight introduced to America Fairmont West Virginian became daily Millard Giesey and Frederic Faris designed the West Virginia Building at the St. Louis World's Fair Pennsylvania investors opened a second glass sand plant on the east side of Warm Springs Ridge The Glenville Democrat was first published Capt. Greene acquired the Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Big Sandy & Pomeroy Packet Co. Railroads reached the Guyandotte River area The National Carbon Company began operating a graphite plant in Anmore Frankie Masters was born in Pleasants County Cousin Abe Lilly was elected prosecuting attorney of Raleigh County The C&O Railroad was constructed from Huntington to city of Logan The Logan County coal industry began its boom Gannett's gazetteer was the first to be devoted exclusively to West Virginia place names and locations Wheeling Metal and Manufacturing Company opened in Glen Dale Sandy Mason moved back to Charleston to start the Mason School of Music and Fine Arts John McGraw became chairman of state Democratic party Thomas Gaylord McKell died John McWhorter became a judge of West Virginia's 12th judicial circuit James Miller was elected as a judge of the Circuit Court of the Ninth West Virginia Circuit A fifteenth dam was built on the Monongahela The daily edition Morgantown Evening Post stopped publication The Morgantown Chronicle was founded by Hu Maxwell The Mount St. George mansion was completed John Nugent was elected president of UMWA District 17 Herschel Ogden purchased the Wheeling Intelligencer Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly spearheaded a drive that defeated a proposal to built a Carnegie Library in Wheeling Pence Springs water was presented the highest award in its class. Benjamin Rosenbloom was admitted to the West Virginia bar Henry Schmulbach built the Schmulbach Building in Wheeling Official addressed the question of a flag for the West Virginia building at the St. Louis World's Fair John Swint was ordained to the priesthood William P. Tams went to work for Samuel Dixon in the New River coalfield Henry Gassaway Davis built the Coal & Coke Railway Sam Vinson died John T. McGraw expanded the Webster Springs Hotel A president who was not the state superintendent of school was elected to head of the West Virginia Education Association Charles Frederick Tucker Brooke was elected to be in the first group of Rhodes Scholars Matthew Whittico renamed his paper the McDowell Times J. G. Bradley came to Clay County Hurry-up Yost's University of Michigan team defeated WVU 130-0 Romeo Freer returned to Ritchie County and was appointed Harrisville postmaster Paul Wissmach reorganized his company as Ohio Valley Glass Company
1909
The Herald-Dispatch began with the merger of the Herald and the Huntington Dispatch Other events that happened on or around 1909 R. D. Bailey graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana Waitman Barbe wrote Famous Poems Explained Broaddus Institute (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) moved from Clarksburg to Philippi Broaddus Institute (now Alderson-Broaddus College) moved from Clarksburg to Philippi Rosa Pelham returned to the castle The Birch Boom & Lumber Company built a sawmill near the mouth of Birch River West Virginia legislature created the Board of Control which consolidated management and fiscal control over West Virginia's institutions The Bluefield Daily Telegraph dubbed Bramwell the "Coalfield Capital" Sturdevant and Johnson's partnership ended, factory ceased operation and buildings torn down Camp Dawson was established Elegant seven-story Waldo Hotel opened West Virginia legislation prepared way for establishment of National Forest Reserve in Monongahela Legislature authorized the governor to appoint a Forest, Game and Fish Warden Consolidation Coal, Fairmont Coal and Somerset Coal companies combined into the Consolidation Coal Company Danske Dandridge wrote George Michael Bedinger, a Kentucky Pioneer Huntington annexed Central City Legislation called for forest protection and research and provided fines and imprisonment for owners who intentionally or carelessly set fires Sunday hunting and fishing was prohibited by legislature Michael Owens began his own company to manufacture bottles in Fairmont and Clarksburg Legislature appropriated funds to purchase Grave Creek Mound A receiving vault was built at Greenwood Cemetery Lincoln County destroyed by fire City of Weirton was founded by Weirton Steel Ernest T. Weir established Weirton Steel The broad-gauge Harrisville Southern Railroad began to run to Cornwallis Only two county seats in West Virginia were connected by paved highways Legislature established the State Road Fund and the position of state commissioner of public roads Timber production in West Virginia reached its long-time record of 1.5 billion board feet The Jackson Iron & Tin Company relocated to Holiday Cove in Hancock County Garland Wilson was born in Martinsburg Dr. Hugh G. Nicholson leased the Barber Sanatorium and added a nursing school James Kay opened mines on Campbells Creek Keystone was incorporated George Kossuth opened his own photography studio Howard B. Lee began to practice law in Bluefield The Morgantown Republican merged with the New Dominion-News The first congregation of the Church of the Nazarene in West Virginia appeared in Martinsburg Pardee & Curtin opened a double-band sawmill at Hominy Falls. Princeton was chartered as a city The Virginian Railway was completed, the last entry into West Virginia's coalfields. Ritchie Mines were abandoned A second sawmill for St. Lawrence was built for Neola The hotel in Shannondale Springs burned down again Thomas C. Miller became administrator of Shepherd College The Pope Dock Company built Goldenrod A stone sculpture of a frontiersman was dedicated in memory of the Battle of Point Pleasant A steel strike in Wheeling failed Ernest Weir expanded the Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Company from Clarksburg West Virginia tobacco production peaked at 14,400,000 pounds Fred Torrey enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago T. C. Townsend first served as the state tax commissioner The name changed from Education Association of West Virginia to the State Education Association Byrd Prillerman became president of West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) The Western Maryland Railway company was organized White Sulphur Springs was incorporated as a town The Wirt County courthouse in Elizabeth burned down Completion of the Virginian Railway sparked an industrial boom in Mullens
1919
Dave Gideon became the sole owner of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch Other events that happened on or around 1919 There were 33 churches belonging to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination with 1,325 members The position of State Supervisor of Negro Schools and an appointed Negro Board of Education were created by the state White mob lynched two black miners at Chapmanville Alderson Baptist Academy became Alderson Baptist Academy and Junior College (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) Mary Atkeson competed a PhD in Literature at Ohio State University George Atkinson wrote Bench and Bar of West Virginia First state tournament for girls' high school basketball was held at Spencer John Peale Bishop was hired at Vanity Fair magazine after being stationed in Europe Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the Bretz property Don Chafin was shot when entering UMWA District 17 offices American chestnut trees provided West Virginia with 118 million board feet of lumber The normal school at Athens became independent as Concord State Normal School (now Concord University) National coal and steel strikes Governor John Cornwell supported the Red Flag legislation and Constabulary legislation in creating the State Police John Warren Davis became president of West Virginia Collegiate Institute (now West Virginia State University) Clarence Donnelly began his ministry Dunbar was laid out by Dunbar Development Company Legislature abolished first board and created a seven-member Board of Education Gertrude Humphrey began work in WVU extension system West Virginia enacted legislation that made it unlawful for livestock to be on the railroad right of way Harrison Ferrell was stricken with polio Nathan Goff married Katherine Penney The West Virginia Good Roads Federation campaigned for amendment to make road improvements under slogan "Help Pull West Virginia Out of the Mud" Greenwood Cemetery, on the National Road in Wheeling, became a nonprofit corporation Mayor C. C. Testerman named Sid Hatfield Matewan's police chief The Board of Children's Guardians was established The UMWA began efforts to unionize the mines of southern West Virginia The problem of sharing Virginia's debt was finally settled A large stone monument was erected at Jackson's Mill in the memory of Stonewall Jackson Mother Jones joined the steelworkers' organizing drive in Pittsburgh Joseph Joy won a patent for his design of a mechanical coal loader Frank Keeney announced his intention to unionize the remainder of southern West Virginia coal mines Teepi Kendrick helped found the West Virginia 4-H All Stars Lakin State hospital was established by an act of the Legislature Walter Martens began working for architect L. F. W. Stuebe of Danville Louis Marx established Louis Marx & Company Legislature provided for the establishment of mine rescue station to train personnel in rescue and first-aid work Margaret Montague's story "England to America" won the O. Henry Award Ephraim Morgan ran for governor Howard Sloan organized a congregation in Grafton Greasy Neale played in the World Series for the Cincinnati Reds The Nuttallburg mine was sold to Henry Ford The Owens Bottle Machine Company changed to the Owens Bottle Company Mateo Pinkard wrote his first hit, "Mammy 'o Mine" after moving to New York. 125 acres of land was purchased for the operation of the agriculture program. A poultry extension program was started in West Virginia The state received a federal grant for the control of venereal disease. The West Virginia Department of Prohibition began William Revercomb earned a law degree from the University of Virginia Red Ribble moved to Prince Rat Rodgers was named to the All-American teams Rat Rodgers was the leading scorer in the nation St. Mary's Glass opened S. Orestes Bond became president of Salem College Thomas C. Miller was designated president instead of principal of Shepherd College The Twin Mountain & Potomac railroad line ended WVU's football team amassed an 8-3 record Weirton Steel added a blast furnace Weirton Steel employees jumped to 11,630 Clint Thomas returned to Columbus after army service W. W. Trent became secretary of the West Virginia Education Association Tucker County's school enrollment peaked at 4,144 students Attempts to unionize southern West Virginia occurred West Virginia legislature created a Virginia Debt Sinking Fund to settle the Virginia Debt Byrd Prillerman left as president of West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) I. C. White received an honorary law degree from WVU Carter G. Woodson began Associated Publishers Company Carter G. Woodson began serving as Dean of Liberal Arts at Howard University West Virginians participated in the Russian Expedition, a military fiasco C. H. Mead completed the first commercial gas well in Wyoming County Lenna Yost became the Washington correspondent for the National WCTU's Union Signal West Virginia held a state basketball tournament for girls for the first time T. G. Nutter became the first African-American to represent Kanawha County in the House of Delegates
1924
Colonel Joseph Long bought a corner lot in Huntington to erect a building for his paper, the Herald-Dispatch Other events that happened on or around 1924 Elementary school and junior high schools numbered 453 for African-American students and teachers Mary Atkeson wrote The Woman on the Farm The number of banks in West Virginia peaked at 225 state banks and 125 national banks Walter Barnes wrote The Children's Poets The Evening Post, Beckley's first daily newspaper, was established UMWA President Keeney and Secretary Treasurer Mooney were forced to retire Izetta Brown seconded Davis again for nomination Izetta Brown again defeated for U.S. Senate, this time by William Edwin Chilton Chauncey H. Browning graduated from WVU John W. Davis Democratic candidate for president Matthew Wesley Clair Sr. returned to Washington for a visit Association changed its name to West Virginia Council of Churches and Christian Education Democratic presidential candidate John W. Davis failed to carry home state West Virginia Huntington's Frederick Douglass Junior and Senior High School was built Patrick Gainer recorded folk songs and lore of West Virginia's people Construction of the Governor's Mansion began Major flood brought devastation Record floods hit Hardy County Another school was built in Harrisville The Concord College He-Man Club began as picnic to honor retiring college president Christopher Columbus Rossey The hemlock wooly adelgid was first reported in the Western United States The UMWA had lost half of its members in West Virginia and was nearly bankrupt The Huntington Post-Herald became a daily newspaper Homer Holt married Isabel Wood of Charlottesville, Virginia Rush Holt graduated from Salem College Cheat Lake construction began, created primarily for the production of electricity Carmine Pelligrino of Rosemont held record of mining 66 tons of coal in 24 hours The Jackson's Mill property was donated to the state of West Virginia Ray Wetzel was born in Parkersburg Mother Jones called on Governor Morgan for pardons for miners imprisoned after the Logan March Out-of-state KKK publication carried reports from several West Virginia location The Ku Klux Klan marched through Hinton Howard B. Lee left office as Mercer County prosecuting attorney Carnegie library was established in Hinton Howard M. Gore became assistant secretary of agriculture Mountain lions were declared extinct Walter Martens designed the Science and Liberal Arts halls of Davis & Elkins College Clarence Cameron White was named director of music at West Virginia State College The Concrete Steel Bridge Company of Clarksburg had 52 separate construction teams in the field The Metropolitan Theater in downtown Morgantown opened Fred Mooney left as secretary-treasurer of UMWA District 17 The first Mountaineer Field opened The Clarke-McNary law was passed by Congress authorizing the purchase of forested, cut-over, or denuded lands for the production of timber in addition to the flow regulation of navigable streams Records of chicken production began. The West Virginia Public Health Association was organized. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem College. Walter Reuther began work as apprentice tool and die maker at Wheeling Steel Leonard Riggleman accepted a pastorate in Milton William Ritter made headline for sharing $3 million in company stock with his employees Money from the John B. Crowley estate paid for a new addition to St. Francis Hospital A second wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital The state built a fire tower in Seneca State Forest A merger agreement between Sheltering Arms Hospital and Charleston General Hospital fell through Ada "Bricktop" Smith performed in Paris West Virginia Wesleyan defeated Navy, Syracuse, Kentucky in football The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference began Seneca State Forest became the first state forest in West Virginia P. D. Strausbaugh and colleagues collected, mounted and filed the nucleus of a new plant collection for WVU The Blackwater Boom & Lumber Company closed All lumber operations in Tucker County closed due to depletion of original forest Membership in the United Brethren Parkersburg Conference was 10,337 Frank Keeney and Fred Mooney resigned from the UMWA Ward Engineering built the Greenbrier, a sternweel towboat
1949
The Huntington Publishing Co. started WSAZ-TV Channel 3, first TV station in West Virginia and one of earliest in the country 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 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 WAJR-AM in Morgantown became the flagship station for statewide network distribution of WVU football and basketball games 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
1950
Dave Gideon died Other events that happened on or around 1950 More than 19,000 black youth, grades 1-12, were provided education by the West Virginia public school system 123rd Fighter Group called to duty in Korean War and moved to Goodman Air Force Base Pastor Richard E. Shearer assumed presidency of Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) Ernest Bavely died The National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement was approved Sigus Olafson began publishing articles on petroglyphs, the painted trees, Gabriel Arthur and more A caretaker for Audra State Park was hired Walter Barnes helped revive the Folklore Society with help from Ruth Ann Musick Bear Rock Lakes area was opened to fishing Clair Bee wrote Hoop Crazy Raleigh Coal & Coke ceased operations About 25,000 people lived in Bluefield Everett Lilly appeared on classic bluegrass recordings Betsy Byars graduated from Queens College in Charlotte, NC Governor Patteson gave state funds to improve Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park Walter Eli Clark died Phil Conley ended his term as president of the West Virginia Publishing Company and founded West Virginia Education Foundation Name was shortened to West Virginia Council of Churches Virginia Ruth "Dagmar" Egnor was hired to be on NBC's Broadway Open House Julius DeGruyter wrote West Virginia: Its Charters and Municipal Affairs West Virginia's median age was below national average at 26.3 years Joanne Dru appeared in Wagon Master Ellis Dungan returned to Hollywood Fairmont population peaked at 29,346 Fayette County population peaked at 82,443 Floodwall in Parkersburg was completed Patrick Gainer organized the West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville Fostoria manufactured 8 million pieces of glass West Virginia population peaked at 2,005,552 Statewide coal employment peaked at 127,000 The Veterans Administration Medical Center was built in Harrison County Mechanization and automation in coal mining reduced the number of miners and a decline in UMWA membership The gates to the Home for the Incurables (now Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital) were removed The Cedar Lakes Conference Center was established as a state FFA-FHA camp Keystone's population was at 2,500 The National Labor Relation board recognized the Employees Security League as the legitimate bargaining agent for Weirton employees The Linger chair factory moved to Rock Cave The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers recorded for Cozy Records Louis Wohinc died Catherine Marshall published Mr. Jones, Meet The Master A new science building was constructed at Marshall College (now University) Jack Maurice became editor of the Charleston Daily Mail A fourth of McDowell population was black McDowell population peaked at 98,887 Mine mechanization led to widespread job loss Major coal companies formed the Bituminous Coal Operators Association The UMWA and Bituminous Coal Operators Association agreed that the union would not resist mechanization in exchange for a share of the proceeds Birth rate in West Virginia declined and pace of out-migration accelerated Traditional coal miners' vacation became formalized with the establishment of Bituminous Coal Operators Association Mingo County population peaked at 47,409 The National Hillbilly News switched to a smaller format Molly O'Day and Lynn Davis gave up show business to serve the Lord Port Amherst Ltd. was acquired by the Amherst Fuel Company Jack Rollins wrote "Frosty the Snow Man" Charleston's St. Francis Hospital had 130 beds Soupy Sales left Huntington The West Virginia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists consisted of 2,000 members Shepherd College was accredited by the North Central Association Jim Sprouse studied international law at the University of Bordeaux The Weirton Independent Union was declared a violation of federal labor law West Virginia steelworkers numbered 22,596 Joe Stydahar was named head coach of the L.A. Rams Leon Sullivan began ministry at Zion Baptist church in Philadelphia Hinton's population was 5,780 West Virginia tobacco production was at 4,000,000 pounds Richard Talbott stopped serving as state treasurer Riggleman Hall was constructed at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Welch population peaked at 6,603 Walter Barnes, Patrick Gainer and Ruth Ann Musick revived the West Virginia Folklore Society Helen Thompson became the Charleston Symphony Orchestra's first full-time executive secretary Weston's population peaked at 8,945 An outpatient department was opened at Wheeling Hospital Wildlife biologist tried trapping wild turkeys in the eastern mountains and moving them into other counties Williamson population peaked at 8,624 Wyoming County population was 37,540 Mullens had a population of 3,544 Hurry-up Yost was inducted to the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Morgantown obtained the Tibbs Run Reservoir President Eisenhower appointed Helen Holt to a new program in the Federal Housing Administration
1963
The widows of Edward and Walker Long and William D. Brike took charge of Huntington Newspaper Publishing Other events that happened on or around 1963 The Centennial year closed and virtually all elements of the program had been successfully completed Patch Adams spent two weeks in a psychiatric facility for depression President's Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC) recommendations sent to President Johnson Appalachian Hospital network saved by the Board of National Missions of the United Presbyterian Church Appalachian Volunteers organized Only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles could be found in the U.S. W. E. Blackhurst published Sawdust in Your Eyes W. E. Blackhurst was the first commentator for the Cass Scenic Railroad Florence Blanchfield received the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal A new student union building was built at Bluefield State College (now University) Tony Boyle was elected president of the UMWA Ruby Bradley retired from the army Elk River Coal & Lumber Company sold its sawmill at Swandale to Georgia-Pacific Expansion of Cabell Huntington Hospital increased the size to 280 beds and 48 bassinets Centennial Golden Trout received first widespread stocking Mower Lumber Company purchased Cheat Mountain Club Jim Comstock ran for unsuccessfully for Congress Phyllis Curtin sang at the meeting of the Music Educators National Conference in Charleston Julius DeGruyter wrote A Brief History of Kanawha County and the Kanawha Region Dolores Dowling became secretary and administrative assistant of the Veterans Administration regional office in Huntington Thomson Newspapers of Canada purchased all three Fairmont papers Ann Flagg returned to teaching at Evanston Consolidated School District and Southern Illinois University The department led the effort to organize a crafts fair at Cedar Lakes The book, Mountain Heritage was published Patrick Gainer published The West Virginia Centennial Song Book of 100 Songs Patrick Gainer recorded Folk Songs of the Allegheny Mountains for Folk Heritage Recordings Earl Andrews became president of the Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corporation at Berkeley Springs Legislature authorized counties to cooperate with local governments and the federal government Land on Maryland Heights was added to the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Charles Hodel was named to the West Virginia Press Association's Hall of Fame The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals who ruled in State ex rel. Slatton v. Boles that the state policy is to "protect and reclaim juveniles" and will be treated as delinquents rather than criminals Kanawha Records began to record authentic indigenous mountain music as performed by contemporary West Virginia musicians Reynolds Memorial Hospital opened a new facility in Glen Dale The National Youth Science Camp was founded in Pocahontas County The West Virginia Chapter of Nature Conservancy was founded by volunteers The Greenbrier Historical society re-formed after disbanding during the Civil War New buildings of the Ohio Valley College (now University) were occupied on a permanent campus The Libbey-Owens-Ford glass bottle plant closed in Charleston Jim Comstock found a preserved baby and the two female mummies in a barn in Philippi. The West Virginia Centennial showboat, Rhododendron, plied the Kanawha, Ohio and Monongahela Rivers Spanky Roberts was assigned to Griffis Air Force base The St. Albans Archeological Site was first identified by Samuel D. Kessel Salem College received full accreditation by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges Devid Selby married Claudeis "Chip" Newman WVU Rod Thorn became All-American in basketball Boyd Stutler published West Virginia in the Civil War Legislation to protect the environment from surface mining was enacted Rod Thorn became the second pick in the first round of the NBA draft and went to Baltimore Bullets The Unitarian Universalist church in Morgantown was built The VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) began Geoffrey Hobday left the Charleston Symphony Orchestra The Charleston Symphony Orchestra was led by a season of guest conductors The first Water Festival was held at Hinton Billy Edd Wheeler recorded "Coal Tattoo" Wheeling Hospital set up the first intensive care unit in West Virginia The Shott brothers revived their WHAJ-FM The Widen mine and railroad ceased operation WVU at Parkersburg became the first of WVU's Appalachian Centers A naval radio station was established at Sugar Grove Ellie Schaul helped decorate the Centennial Showboat Rhododendron
1971
Huntington newspapers sold to the owners of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin Other events that happened on or around 1971 Robert C. Byrd was elected majority whip in U.S. Senate
1979
The Huntington Advertiser ceased publication and merged into the Herald-Dispatch Other events that happened on or around 1979 Governor Rockefeller gave Roy Lee Harmon emeritus status s poet laureate Boar hunting began in West Virginia The Allegheny Indian Council and Cultural Center was founded in Phillipi The court ruled that unequal per pupil funding among West Virginia counties violated the state constitution's mandate for a "thorough and efficient" school system in Pauley v. Kelly Maryat Lee wrote John Henry The military program was discontinued at Linsly School Jack Maurice became a contributing editor and columnist to the Charleston Daily Mail Jon McBride became an astronaut Louise McNeill was appointed poet laureate by Governor Rockefeller Arnold Miller resigned as president of UMWA State Supreme Court ruled on Morningstar v. Black and Decker, which held that the court had the ability to create common law State Supreme Court ruled on Bradley v. Appalachian Power Co., where the court abolished the comparative negligence rule A second Mormon "stake" was organized in Fairmont Deadly riots prompted Arthur Recht to place Moundsville Penitentiary under judicial control The WVU Personal Rapid Transit system was completed Jayne Anne Phillips published Black Tickets Gov. Jay Rockefeller persuades legislature to gradually eliminate the 3% sales tax on food Jim Sprouse was appointed a judge of the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals by President Jimmy Carter Building C was added to the state police academy Sam Church Jr. became president of UMWA Marshall Buckalew was elected president of the West Virginia Historical Education Foundation The West Virginia Historical Society ceased publication of West Virginia History West Virginia Independence Hall was opened as a museum by the Department of Culture and History (now Arts, Culture & History) The West Virginia Juried Exhibition was first held at the Cultural Center Mack Samples began serving as festival president of the West Virginia State Folk Festival The Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Meredith Sue Willis wrote A Space Apart Tom Wolfe published The Right Stuff, celebrating Chuck Yeager Virginia Maw Brown left the Interstate Commerce Commission Actor Bob Denver married Dreama Perry of Bluefield
2005
The Herald Dispatchof Huntington had a circulation of 37,000 Other events that happened on or around 2005 Only 16 bald eagles observed in West Virginia There were 66 commercial banks and 6 savings institutions in West Virginia Charleston Daily Mail's circulation was about 25,000 The Gazette's daily circulation was 50,737 City National was the fifth largest bank in West Virginia About 700 registered part-time students at Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College The circulation of the Elkins Inter-Mountainn was 10,483 Circulation of Times West Virginian was 12,500 25,138 permits were issued to trail users for the Hatfield-McCoy Trail The Hinton News circulation was reported at 4,200 Enrollments at Marshall University exceeded 16,000 The circulation of the Martinsburg Journal was 21,500 Only three mine fatalities occurred in West Virginia, the lowest number in history The Moorefield Examiner had a circulation of 4,600 State Police reported 629 uniformed members and 325 civilian employees The textile industry employed fewer than 500 people The sale of raw fur exceeded $1 million in West Virginia The Tri-State Racetrack had 1,757 video lottery machine 100 VISTA workers were active in West Virginia The West Virginia Archeological Society had 200 members The Beacon Digest had a circulation of 30,000 About 50 companies accounted for more than 80% of the state coal production The number of papers in the state had declined to 24 dailies and 61 weeklies Enrollment at Schools for Deaf and Blind was 180 There were 362 students enrolled at the School of Osteopathic Medicine The West Virginia State Medical Association had more than 2,800 members There were 28 species of mammals, reptiles, fish and birds at French Creek Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel employed about 3,400 people WVU at Parkersburg enrollment was 3,800 West Virginia University Tech had a total of 2,003 full-time students Yeager Airport served 325,000 passengers annually with 80 flights daily View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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