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History of West Virginia
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1606
King James I granted to the Virginia Company of London a vast expanse of land
1607
The first English settlers arrived in Jamestown
1622
Clashes between English settlers and Indians erupted into bloody wars
1660
Exploration in Virginia continued with the restoration of the Stuart monarchs in England
1669
Surge of frontier exploration began Other events that happened on or around 1669 La Salle is first European to visit area while navigating Ohio River, resulting in French claims in Ohio Valley The Shenandoah Valley was explored by John Lederer
1675
English expansion lagged due to troubles with the Susquehannock Indians, Bacon's Rebellion and death of Abraham Wood
1680
Abraham Wood, a leading promoter of expansion, died Other events that happened on or around 1680 Occupation of prehistoric Indians on Blennerhasett Island ended
1706
Louis Michel and Baron Christopher de Graffenreid envisioned a settlement, the first known plans for settlement in present West Virginia; Michel and others established a temporary settlement at Harpers Ferry Other events that happened on or around 1706 Michel examined lands around junction of Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, present Harpers Ferry Christopher Gist was born near Baltimore
1716
Gov. Alexander Spotswood crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains by way of Swift Run Gap, claiming the Shenandoah Valley for England and awarding golden horseshoes to his companions Other events that happened on or around 1716 John Jackson was born
1717
A settlement known as "Potomoke," possible Shepherdstown, is one of first possible settlements in West Virginia
1719
Thomas Lord Fairfax became sole proprietor of the Fairfax lands, one of the largest land grants in American history
1730
Virginia enacted a land law that encouraged movement westward
1731
Earliest recorded settlement by Morgan Morgan near Bunker Hill in present Berkeley County; Morgan Morgan is later credited as the first white settler in present West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 1731 Joist Hite moved to the Shenandoah valley Mary Draper Ingles was born in Philadelphia
1742
First iron furnace in West Virginia was established by Thomas Mayberry at Bloomery near present Harpers Ferry; the Quaker William Vestal erected Vestal's Bloomery near the Shenandoah River in present Jefferson County; iron industry develops Other events that happened on or around 1742 Mad Anne Bailey born Anne Hennis in Liverpool Coal discovered on the Coal River in present Boone County by explorer John Peter Salling
1749
French explorer Celoron de Blainville led Canadian militia and Indian guides down Allegheny and Ohio Rivers to strengthen French claims, burying lead plates along the way
1753
Governor Dinwiddie sent George Washington to upper Ohio to warn French out of Ohio Valley Other events that happened on or around 1753 Settlements in the Allegheny Mountains began Records reveal schoolmasters employed in Romney and Greenbrier settlements Frederick was divided into two counties Robert Files and David Tygart families first settled Beverly Christopher Gist took residence in western Pennsylvania Christopher Gist guided George Washington on his trip to warn the French away from English claimed land Kyashuta accompanied George Washington on his mission to warn the French to withdraw from their forts in the Ohio Valley Ulrich Conrad Sr. from Switzerland settled in Franklin Andrew Culbertson settled near present Hinton John Taylor was born The Potomac River flooded
1754
George Washington and 150 militiamen set out to garrison the new fort at the Forks of Ohio
1755
General Edward Braddock arrived in Virginia with two regiments of British troops
1758
Fort Pitt named Other events that happened on or around 1758 Fort rebuilt at the site of Fort Seybert after the massacre Fort Stanwix was completed Families returned to the area after French defeated in upper Ohio Valley Gen John Forbes captured the Forks of the Ohio and built Fort Pitt at present Pittsburgh William Crawford was militia soldier under Gen. John Forbes Zackquill Morgan fought in Forbes's Expedition George Washington returned to Mount Vernon for a planter's life Three Cherokee leaders, including Ostenaco, operated a pincer campaign against Fort Duquesne
1759
England controlled key positions in North America Other events that happened on or around 1759 Cornstalk led raiders that killed a family in Virginia Occasional Indian raids continued in Virginia Frederick Ice established Ices Ferry on Monongahela River Christopher Gist died from smallpox Edward Jackson was born
Oct 07, 1763
A proclamation by King George III prohibited settlement west of the Alleghenies Other events that happened on or around October 07, 1763 George III forbade settlement west of the Alleghenies
1763
The Treaty of Paris ended French & Indian War Other events that happened on or around 1763 Batts and Fallam exploration used in French & Indian War treaty negotiations to lay claim for England to the Ohio Valley Robert Clendenin was injured in a battle with the Shawnee The French gave up all territories in the Ohio Valley at the end of the French & Indian War Pontiac's Rebellion followed French & Indian War Cornstalk raided Greenbrier settlements during Pontiac's War The French withdrew from North America leaving Ohio a boundary between white and Indian territory John Semple constructed West Virginia's first blast furnace Kyashuta directed war efforts against settlers in Pontiac's Rebellion Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon arrived in America from England The Senecas fought in Pontiac's Rebellion New settlements in Summers County were destroyed during Pontiac's Rebellion Treaty of Paris ended French and Indian War
1769
Waves of pioneers began to sweep into the upper Ohio, Monongahela, Greenbrier and Kanawha valleys Other events that happened on or around 1769 Matthew Arbuckle's first post was gentleman justice of Botetourt County Development of the land called Grand Ohio Company, Vandalia Company and Walpole Company organized John Beckley was sent to Virginia Colonists began returning to the Greenbrier Valley. Families descended the rivers and settled in the bottomlands of the Ohio The first white people settled in present Lewis County The first white settlers in Marshall County were John Wetzel and his family The Zane brothers were the first white men to settle in present Ohio County The Pringle brothers led a small group of settlers back to the Buckhannon Valley to begin a permanent settlement there. John Stuart was a surveyor in the expedition to establish a permanent settlement in Greenbrier Adam Stroud settled in present Webster County as the first white settler
Oct 10, 1774
Virginia militia lead by Andrew Lewis defeated the Indians lead by the Shawnee Cornstalk at the Battle of Point Pleasant
1776
Virginia's original constitution went into effect, favoring east over west Other events that happened on or around 1776 Ohio County was organized at a meeting of the landholders Kentucky was created as a county of Virginia An Apology for Christianity was published in response to Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire William Crawford commissioned colonel Lord Dunmore returned to England Virginia abolished quitrents and excepted Fairfax's proprietary Fort Randolph was constructed at Point Pleasant under Capt. Matthew Arbuckle Daniel Greathouse died of measles John Holliday began operating a trading post at Hollidays Cove Early explorer Stephen Sewell was killed by Indians at his cabin Mad Anthony Wayne joined the continental army The Continental Congress was petitioned to form a new state called Westsylvania An new effort to form a colony like Vandalia began Fort Henry was renamed for Governor Patrick Henry
Sep 01, 1777
Indians and British attack Fort Henry
1779
General Assembly passed a land law that recognized the rights of original settlers Other events that happened on or around 1779 Virginia seized property belonging to British subjects in the state excluding Fairfax Berkeley County Courthouse in Martinsburg was completed Pennsylvania and Virginia agreed that their boundary would be the Mason-Dixon line The Ohio County courthouse was completed in West Liberty
Sep 10, 1782
Second siege of Fort Henry by Wyandot and Delaware Indians, British and Loyalists; Betty Zane fetches gunpowder
Aug 20, 1794
Mad Anthony Wayne's army defeats Blue Jacket's warriors at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in Ohio, ending Indian threat era in West Virginia
1794
The Peter Tarr Furnace was established in present Hancock County, the first iron furnace west of the mountains Other events that happened on or around 1794 Wedding of Dolley Payne Todd and James Madison at Harewood Jesse Bennet performed the first cesarean section in America Harman Blennerhassett married his niece Margaret Agnew Wayne and army advanced into the Maumee Valley of Ohio Battle of Fallen Timbers which defeated Ohio Valley Indians led to disuse of forts Congress authorized the building of two armories for the manufacture of small arms President George Washington received congressional approval to establish armories and arsenals throughout the nation Blaker's Mill water-powered gristmill was constructed in Alderson Kyashuta died in southwestern Pennsylvania The Whiskey Rebellion occurred The General Assembly of Virginia chartered the town of Point Pleasant Joseph Ruffner purchased land from John Dickinson at Charleston Dr. Joseph Spencer permanently settled Vienna The Whiskey Rebellion ended
1812
Industrial development, especially salt and iron, was stimulated by the War of 1812 Other events that happened on or around 1812 Gen. Elisha Boyd built the Martinsburg mansion Boydsville Sinnett Triplett first known white man to occupy present Clay County The first gristmill in Gilmer County was built in Glenville Wilson Cary Nicholas purchased Green Bottom and established an overseer slave plantation The Greenbrier College for Women was founded as the Lewisburg Academy by Dr. John McElhenney The Ices Ferry Ironworks supplied iron for shot used in the Battle of New Orleans and shipped nails and plates for Admiral Perry's Lake Erie squadron The first Western Virginia rolling mill was in operation at Ices Ferry Ironworks Legislature appointed John George Jackson a brigadier general in the Virginia militia during the war John George Jackson emerged as one of the foremost businessmen of the upper Monongahela Valley Joseph Johnson became captain of the Harrison Riflemen Aaron Stockton settled at Kanawha Falls The Kanawha Valley salt industry boomed John Marshall led a 20 man survey party mapping the route across West Virginia between the James and Ohio Rivers Hawks Nest was named Marshall's Pillars Justice Joseph Story delivered the decision to reverse Virginia Court of Appeals in the David Hunter case after John Marshall recused himself from the case Robert Gorrell laid out town lots at present Middlebourne John Marshall boated the New River to asses its navigation potential Organ Cave was mined for saltpeter to manufacture gunpowder Spencer was first settled by the Samuel Tanner and Jonathan Wolfe families Anne Royall moved to Charleston after death of Wm. Royall Henry Ruffner attended Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) John George Jackson began his salt works on the West Fork Salt production quadrupled on 52 furnaces to reach one million bushels Robert Simmons fought in the War of 1812 The "Big Cave" on Cave Mountain was a source of saltpeter for the production of gunpowder Samuel Tanner and Jonathan Wolfe moved into a cave near present Spencer Middle School Western Virginia militias took parts in the Northwest Campaign
1815
Reported 52 salt furnaces were operating along the Kanawha River for a distance of ten miles east of Charleston Other events that happened on or around 1815 Roman Bath house constructed in Morgan County at Berkeley Springs State Park James Otis Watson was born in Fairmont Dr. Richard Ellis Putney set up practice in Malden Claude Crozet ended term with Napoleon at his defeat at Waterloo The stockade at Fort Lee was torn down Patrick Gass returned home to Brooke County after the War of 1812 Stockton's Tavern, later known as the Glen Ferris Inn, was built by two Irishmen A small settlement began to farm near the present day eastern corporate limits of Hurricane Joseph Johnson was elected to the House of Delegates Maps for the Virginia Board of Public Works began being published Daniel Ruffner built Holly Grove mansion in Charleston Asa Shinn laid out town lots in present Shinnston The daughters of Charles Wells laid out town lots for Sistersville Middlebourne became the county seat of Tyler County The first general conference of the clergy of the Church of the United Brethren was held A log House was built in Union Cabell County troops fought at the Battle of New Orleans
1816
Capt. Henry Shreve constructed his steamboat Washington from the timbers of Fort Henry, Wheeling Other events that happened on or around 1816 Swiss Immigrant David Boudon became an artist in Wheeling Buckhannon was established Western representatives called for a constitutional convention John George Jackson was a promoter of the Staunton Convention Dr. James Putney was born in Malden The Staunton Convention failed to meet western demands Middlebourne became the county seat of Tyler County Noah Ludlow bought a 25-foot flatboat The General Assembly passed an act to establish an Internal Improvement Fund and Board of Public Works Charlestown became Wellsburg
Nov 10, 1817
Andrew Donnally and the Steeles created the Kanawha Salt Company
1818
The National Road, the first major highway in the region, was completed to Wheeling Other events that happened on or around 1818 Bens Run earthworks described in the journal of Thom Nuttall Money was earmarked to pay tuition for poor white children to attend schools Commercial coal mining began James Madison Jackson was born Jonathan Jackson and wife Julia Neale moved to Clarksburg Bishop James Madison's maps appeared Mail service on the unfinished National Road began to Wheeling The ferry to present Winfield was established The Runnion family arrived in Spencer George Summers moved to Charleston to live with Lewis Summers
1825
The Staunton Convention failed to meet western demands Other events that happened on or around 1825 Fairfax's plantation, Shannon Hill, was sold by daughter to G. W. Hammond James River & Kanawha Turnpike was completed William H. Cabell sold Green Bottom and its slaves to Capt. William Jenkins Elizabeth Cummins Jackson died James Monroe Jackson was born City of Bolivar was established Robert E. Lee entered West Point Project management of the National Road was passed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Capt. Henry Shreve replaced the first Washington with the George Washington Cedar Lawn was built by John Thornton Augustine Washington Isaiah Welch was born in Doddridge County
1829
The Virginia Constitutional Convention failed to meet western demands Other events that happened on or around 1829 General Assembly authorized each county to establish district school system with limited state aid Monroe County opened free school at Sinks Grove Alexander Clendenin died Charles Faulkner married Mary W. Boyd John Floyd graduated from South Carolina College Felix Grundy was appointed to the U.S. Senate The South Branch Intelligencer was founded The Eclectic Observer was founded in Wheeling Jesse Hughes died at Turkey Run Completion of the James River and Kanawha Turnpike to the Ohio River was authorized by the General Assembly Robert E. Lee graduated second in his class from West Point William Fletcher received 20 acres of land in Welch The state of Virginia began blasting and excavating shoals in the Kanawha River including the Red House shoal. Phillip R. Thompson laid out the town of Phillipi James Stephenson married Agnes Miller Boreman
1844
The Methodists split Other events that happened on or around 1844 Samuel Black was ordained a deacon Jacob Blair was admitted to the bar Wills De Hass acquired the Grave Creek tablet and skull when the Grave Creek Mound Museum closed The first courthouse of Ritchie County was built Weston's first church building was erected The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was created in present West Virginia Four dams were built upstream from Pittsburgh on the Monongahela The Spirit of Jeffersonnewspaper began in Charles Town Philippi was chartered. The city of Smithville was planned The first post office in Roane County was established in Walton John C. Calhoun visited the Salt Sulphur Springs Cedar Grove was built Pruntytown became the county seat of Taylor County Laura Jackson married Jonathon Arnold and settled in Beverly
1846
Salt production in the Kanawha Valley peaked at 3,244,786 bushels Other events that happened on or around 1846 Ephraim G. Squier and Edwin H. Davis documented Salt Rock petroglyphs Heirs of Matthias Bruen of New York City inherited 200,000 acres of land The Point Pleasant lead plate left by Celeron was found by boy playing on riverbank Legislature allowed citizens to petition counties to establish free schools Joseph Diss Debar moved to Parkersburg Legislation authorized school commissioners to use local taxes to supplement state aid for the poor William Edwards traveled to the Amazon River Weston's first newspaper began publishing Joseph Lightburn enlisted in the army as a private Alexander Martin served as principal of Kingwood Academy in Preston County Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis conducted a survey of prehistoric mounds in the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys New Martinsville became the county seat of Wetzel County Jesse Reno graduated from West Point. The Christian Minstrel was published introducing a second system using seven shapes to teach singing Churches in Lewis, Upshur, Barbour, and Gilmer counties merged with those in Braxton County to form the Lewis or Buckhannon Circuit of the United Brethren The administration building at the School for Deaf and Blind was built
1850
The Virginia Constitutional Convention made changes that addressed the political sources of western discontent Other events that happened on or around 1850 1,500 slaves owned by salt barons or rented from owners worked in the Kanawha County salt works Lemuel Chenoweth had finished many bridges on Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike Wills De Hass transferred the Grave Creek tablet and skull to the Smithsonian Martin Delany finished medical school at Harvard Medical College Fugitive Slave Act was passed Western Virginia had 1,300 primary schools Map showed Davidson's Ferry near mouth of Elk River and Goshorn's Ferry crossing the Kanawha River The first courthouse was completed in Glenville The First Baptist Church was organized in Greenville Census reported three slaves in Hancock County Nancy Hart and family were living in Boone County Alexander Campbell supported the Fugitive Slave Law but felt runaway slaves should be provided food, shelter and clothing The Paw Paw Tunnel opened on the C&O Canal Reported number of slaves in Jefferson County was 3,960, 27% of the population Mother Jones and family arrived in Boston The new edition of A History of the Valley of Virginia was published Malden had several hotels, a bank and saloons Trustees offered Marshall Univ. to the Western Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South A reported 21 weeklies and 3 dailies were published in English or German in West Virginia The C&O Canal was built to Cumberland There were 200 residents at Federal Hill Henry Ruffner stopped participating in the emancipation movement in Louisville The last bridges were made on the Staunton Turnpike George Summers was a member of the Constitutional Convention A large seam of bituminous coal was found on Paint Creek Parts of Fayette County were taken to create Raleigh County The Beall-Air Mansion was built by Lewis William Washington Wheeling had a hospital Waitman Willey was a delegate to the VirginiaConstitutional Convention West Virginia had 20,527 slaves
Dec 24, 1852
The B&O Railroad completed from Baltimore to Wheeling Other events that happened on or around December 24, 1852 The last spike was driven to complete the B&O Railroad from Baltimore to the Ohio River
1857
The town of Ceredo founded by Northern abolitionist, Eli Thayer Other events that happened on or around 1857 John Floyd was appointed U.S. Secretary of War B&O Railroad improved transportation in Harrison County The Northwestern Virginia Railroad opened from Grafton to Parkersburg Albert Jenkins became a U.S. Congressman Henry Mathews began practicing law in Lewisburg John McCausland graduated from Virginia Military Institute The Northwestern Virginia Railroad built a station where Oil Spring Run flows into Goose Creek The Ceredo Crescent was established George Summers and wife purchased the Glenwood estate in Charleston A large building and five cottages were built at Sweet Springs Traveller was born The Virginia Conference approved he creation of the United Brethren Parkersburg Conference Peter Van Winkle served as the president of the Northwestern Virginia Railroad Academy Hall was built for West Liberty The Gauley Bridge opened for traffic The old Grafton House was built
Oct 16, 1859
John Brown attempted to seize federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry Other events that happened on or around October 16, 1859 Lewis William Washington became John Brown's hostage at Harpers Ferry
Nov 06, 1860
Abraham Lincoln elected president
Feb 13, 1861
Virginia held a convention to consider secession from the United States Other events that happened on or around February 13, 1861 The Secession Convention, also known as the Virginia Convention of 1861, met in Richmond John Carlile was a delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention Waitman Willey was selected as a delegate to the Virginia Secession Convention George Summer was elected a member of the Virginia secession convention Samuel Price returned to Richmond as a member of the Secession Convention of 1861 Chester Hubbard opposed secession as a delegate to Virginia's secession convention Allen Taylor Caperton voted for secession at the Virginia convention
Jun 03, 1861
The Battle of Philippi occurred, sometimes referred to as the first land battle of the Civil War Other events that happened on or around June 03, 1861 Battle of Philippi took place, considered first battle of the Civil War Benjamin Kelley was severely wounded at the Battle of Phillipi The Logan Wildcats, Company D 36th Virginia Infantry of the Confederate Army created at the Logan Courthouse
Jun 13, 1861
The Second Wheeling Convention began in the Wheeling Custom House
Sep 10, 1861
Battle of Carnifex Ferry occurred on the mountain above the juncture of Meadow River and Gauley River Other events that happened on or around September 10, 1861 The Logan Wildcats were in the Battle of Carnifex Ferry
Oct 24, 1861
Voters of 41 counties approved the formation of a new state Other events that happened on or around October 24, 1861 The Reorganized Government authorized a constitutional convention and elected delegates. Voters in northwestern Virginia approved formation of a new state
Sep 02, 1862
The Jenkins raiders arrived at Spencer
Apr 25, 1863
The Confederates continued with the James-Imboden Raid
Jun 20, 1863
West Virginia entered the Union as the 35th state Other events that happened on or around June 20, 1863 Wheeling first became the state capital Arthur Boreman's inaugural address in Wheeling First West Virginia capitol in Linsly Institute building Fort Logan changed name to Fort Boreman Granville Davisson Hall was elected the first clerk of the House of Delegates The First West Virginia legislature met in Wheeling Legislature made plans to establish a federal land grant college under terms of Morrill Act in Monongalia County West Virginia became a state
Nov 06, 1863
The Battle of Droop Mountain occurred giving Union forces control over most of the territory in West Virginia Other events that happened on or around November 06, 1863 The Battle of Droop Mountain gave Union forces control over most of the territory in Western Virginia John Echols commanded Confederate forces at the Battle of Droop Mountain
1865
Arthur Boreman secured the passage of the voters' test oath law Other events that happened on or around 1865 Martin Delany was commissioned as major in the U.S. Colored Troops Capt. John Y. Beall was convicted and executed as a spy on Governor's Island, NY
1866
The Radical-dominated legislature enacted the Voters' Registration Law Other events that happened on or around 1866 There were 250 churches in West Virginia Capt. John M. Burns established a sawmill at Burnsville Jefferson and Berkeley confirmed as West Virginia by U.S. Congress Henry Gassaway Davis received charter to build the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railway Dickinson-Shrewsbury partnership dissolved by the courts after partners died Private school for black children, in Parkersburg, was converted to a public school J. N. Boyd began publication of Vedette in Fairmont Three men were hanged on the "hanging tree" at Fort Boreman Freedmen's Bureau began operation in West Virginia Grantsville was laid out Grant County was formed from Hardy County Morris Harvey and brother-in-law received a land grant from West Virginia of 1,000 acres on the west side of New River John Joseph Kain was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Richmond The Buckhannon home of George Latham was purchased A new shop complex was built in Martinsburg, with roundhouse Elizabethtown and Moundsville were consolidated under Moundsville Free schools were established in Moundsville The multiflora rose was introduced to the eastern U.S. as rootstock for ornamental roses The North Bend superintendent's residence was built by Christopher Douglas Samuel Price became a director of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. George Lemon died Sumner School became West Virginia's earliest black public school H.M. Calhoun was born Samuel W. Starks was born in Charleston Sumner School became a part of the segregated public school system Ceredo was incorporated The West Virginia Central & Pittsburg Railway was chartered under the name of the Potomac & Piedmont Coal & Railroad Company Archibald Campbell left the Wheeling Intelligencer William H. Davis became a teacher for Malden’s Black children
1870
Henry Gassaway Davis helped lead the Democrats in for their control over the state Other events that happened on or around 1870 Celebration staged in Parkersburg after ratification of the 15th Amendment Railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington located the western terminus of Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in present Huntington Cheat River declared a public highway Claymont Court mansion (Jefferson County) was advertised for sale by Bushrod Corbin Washington's grandson Marmaduke Dent received B.A from WVU Joseph Diss Debar produced The West Virginia Hand-Book and Immigrant's Guide Alexander Donaghho came to Parkersburg Fayetteville population jumped to 6,647 Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler began his map-making trips Camp Straton United Confederate Veterans began controlling Logan County polices German immigration increased during the Franco-Prussian War John Hale started the first steam ferry at Charleston John Hale was a leader in having the state capital moved to Charleston Literary Hall was built in Romney The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind was established in Romney John Henry began working as a steel driver during the construction of the Big Bend (Great Bend) Tunnel The state was reported to have 2,270 schools Investment in manufacturing began increasing Immigrants from Switzerland settled in the area of Holly River George Imboden moved to Fayette County Jacob Jackson became Wood County's prosecuting attorney A proposed waterway between Tidewater Virginia and Rocky Mountains was proposed to Congress by Waitman T. Willey The capital was moved from Wheeling to Charleston Henry Clay Dickinson became president of Kanawha Valley Bank James Kay arrived in Charleston John Kenna was admitted to the bar Crosscut saws replaced the ax as the preferred tool for felling trees Marshall College added a new brick addition at the west end of the existing building John Nuttall bought coal lands on New River The Flick Amendment was introduced Petersburg became the county seat of Grant County Henry Ragland moved to Wayne County. Alexander Reynolds began serving in Egypt Literary Hall was built by the Literary Society in Romney Cecil Clay of Philadelphia began timber purchases in Greenbrier Valley William Stevenson was defeated for second term as governor There were 178 tanneries in West Virginia The Daily Sentinel became the Taylor County newspaper The town of Volcano was founded Wayne County population was at 7,852 WesBanco was founded as German Bank Legislature voted for additional buildings at Weston State Hospital The Potomac River flooded The Shenandoah River flooded
1871
Democrats gained control of West Virginia's government 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 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 The Independent was moved from Winfield to Huntington by O.G. Chase 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
Jan 16, 1872
The constitutional convention met in Charleston
Dec 26, 1872
New constitution expanded support of public education Other events that happened on or around December 26, 1872 Legislature passed West Virginia's first general banking law The present building of Malden's African Zion Baptist Church began after contributions of land, money and materials by Gen. Lewis Ruffner West Virginia's new constitution continued the education of black children in segregation Blacks began forming groups in response to inequality. Commissioners in McDowell County ordered a new courthouse be constructed out of logs Joseph Beury and wife moved to New River Alexander Boteler ran unsuccessfully for Congress Brickyard Bend (New Cumberland) shipped 11 million bricks via Ohio River West Virginia's new constitution abandons the township system and reverts back to the Virginia county government system Democrats gained political supremacy after voting restrictions on former Confederates ceased Joseph Diss Debar supported the Liberal Republicans to come to terms with the ex-Confederates Anne Dudley toured New England with Harpers Ferry Singers to raise funds for Myrtle Hall New constitution changed elections to two-year cycle Secretary of State was made an appointed office Provisions of the Flick Amendment was added to the state constitution John P. Hale purchased Fort Lee's original lot and blockhouse in Charleston Glenville State College began as branch of the State Normal School Noah Speer started the Hancock Works The second courthouse was completed in Glenville Vote by citizens brought the Grant County seat permanently to Petersburg John Hale built the Hale House hotel in Charleston Legislature faced the task of modifying laws to conform to the newly adopted constitution West Virginia Legislature grew to 89 persons Weston's first public school building was erected The McDowell County seat was located at Peeryville (now English) The town of Milton was laid out The hamlet of Mud in Lincoln County, an unincorporated community, said to have been founded Construction began on more refineries in Parkersburg Normal schools were established in Glenville, Athens, and Shepherdstown Pence Springs was developed as a resort. In Charleston, the Presbyterian Church (Southern) and the Kanawha Presbyterian Church (Northern) split. Voters in Greenbrier Country elected Samuel Price as their representative to the West Virginia constitutional convention. Legislature designated Shepherd as one of the state's normal schools Robert Simmons was a delegate to the Republican national convention The cave at Sinks of Gandy was described by David Hunter Strother The Universalist Meeting House at Fork Ridge in Marshall County erected an additional larger building Charles Ward began operating his own pipe and fittings business The Western Maryland Railway extended to Hagerstown I.C. White earned an undergraduate degree at Agricultural College of West Virginia (WVU) Waitman Willey spoke eloquently for suffrage for African-Americans
1877
The great railroad strike, the first nationwide industrial strike, began at Martinsburg Other events that happened on or around 1877 The great railroad strike originated among B&O workers in Martinsburg The national railroad strike began in Martinsburg Romeo Freer and John Kenna traveled West Virginia urging voters to select Charleston as the state capital
1877
The Knights of Labor established a local organization at Paden City Other events that happened on or around 1877 Women were first admitted as students to Bethany College on a provisional basis Bruen agents reappeared in the Jackson County area accompanied by U.S. Deputy Marshal Nathan Cunningham Legislature put place of state capital to vote of people Legislature created a Fish Commission and first game and warden appointments Caroline Dane "Danske" Bedinger married A.B. Dandridge Samuel Dixon emigrated to Fayette County Stephen Elkins and Henry Gassaway Davis became partners in developing land in West Virginia A major flood on the Greenbrier River damaged early settlements Serious flood hit Hardy County Frank Hereford was elected by the state legislature to fill the unexpired U.S. Senate term of Allen Taylor Caperton Voters chose Charleston over Clarksburg and Martinsburg as the permanent seat of government The Ohio Valley Pottery ceased making ironstone china A cadet battalion was formed at Linsly School The normal schools established a three-year term beyond elementary grades The Jackson Democrat became the Jackson Herald The first annual Jackson County Fair was held in Ripley I.C. White returned to WVU to teach geology Emanuel Wilson began serving in the House of Delegates
Jan 12, 1880
The Hawks Nest Coal Company strike was the first of many in which the state called in troops
1885
The move of the capital to Charleston occurred Other events that happened on or around 1885 Parents of Walter Aegerter, Gottfried and Marianna Dubach Aegerter, moved to Helvetia Sumner School in Parkersburg added high school courses to its curriculum for black students. Annie Bartlett married Leonidas Bartlett Belle Boyd married her third husband Nathaniel High Flat Top Coal Company established its headquarters in Bramwell The state song "The West Virginia Hills" written by Ellen Ruddell was put to music by Henry Everett Engle The Hale House burned down in Charleston Jacob Beeson Jackson left office as governor of West Virginia Frances Benjamin Johnston ended her studies in Paris at the Academie Julian One of the state's earliest telephone systems was installed in Weston John H. Lilly planted two or three oak trees that are still standing today John McGraw left as Taylor County prosecuting attorney The Berkeley Castle was built as a summer cottage The capital moved permanently back to Charleston aboard the Chesapeake and Belle Prince The former state capital was used for the Ohio County Courthouse Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly moved its offices to Wheeling Christopher Payne established the West Virginia Enterprise. A new owner resumed mining at Ritchie Mines The Ruffner Hotel was built in Charleston The "West Virginia Mission" was organized under the Ohio conference Morris Shawkey entered business college I.C. White wrote an article in Science asserting his rediscovery of the anticlinal theory in the location of oil and gas Woodlawn was incorporated as a public cemetery
1894
Only about half of state miners participated in a nationwide strike by UMWA 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 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 Telephone switchboards were installed at Fairmont 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
1897
The UMWA began enlisting the support of well-known labor leaders from across the nation 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 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 American Telephone & Telegraph Company extended a long distance line from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, to Charleston through Point Pleasant 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
1898
West Virginia was first in the nation in oil production Other events that happened on or around 1898 Strother Hotel burned down at Berkeley Springs City Hospital preceded Camden-Clark on Wells Avenue Roy Bird Cook family moved to Weston Phoebia G. Moore became first woman to study at WVU Medical School Fred, A. B., and Maurice Brooks began annual naturalist trips Mack Day married Charlotte June Milam Herman Johnson took over the Inter-Mountain at Elkins Homer Laughlin retired and moved to California John D. Rockefeller entered the natural gas business in West Virginia when Standard Oil formed Hope Natural Gas Company The first lock system was completed on the Kanawha River Dependable steamboat schedules established on the Kanawha River Blanche Lazzell received a diploma from West Virginia conference Seminary Mannington was wired for electricity Hu Maxwell wrote a history of Randolph County The Mount Carbon Prehistoric Site was documented by Dr. John P. Hales for the West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society West Virginia's oil production passed that of Pennsylvania William Nelson Page began directing the building of the Virginian Railway Pardee & Curtin purchased a band sawmill at Elizabeth. Mountain State Business College was founded Andrew Rowan was chosen as the carrier for President Wm. McKinley's message to Cuba Nathan Scott was elected to the U.S. Senate The courthouse in Summersville was completed Wm. Trevey and father began a photography studio in Glen Jean The Historical Society suggested the state construct a fireproof building The two national guard regiments were merged into one for the Spanish-American War The courthouse at Winfield was destroyed in a windstorm
1902
The UMWA organized about 7,000 miners in the Kanawha Valley Other events that happened on or around 1902 Harrison Ash became chief of police at Thurmond Baldwin-Felts Agency helped break a strike in the New River Field Rosa Pelham was forced out of the castle by debt Sam Black Church is built Mother Blizzard's family was evicted from their home because of her support of the coal strike Aaron Bloch succeeded his brother, Samuel, as president of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Stephen B. Elkins purchased the Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad James Callahan was appointed chairman of the Department of History and Political Science at WVU Andrew Carnegie donated $33,000 to Lewisburg Female Institute to build Carnegie Hall Cecil B. Highland became a stockholder of Clarksburg Exponent Telegram The Coal & Coke Railway Company sold the Central & Pittsburgh Watson-Fleming-Camden syndicate acquired the Somerset Coal Company Voters amended the constitution making Secretary of State an elected office The Mahan family quit farming the land Edward Franzheim was probably the most successful architect in West Virginia The Greenbrier Military Academy was bought by the Greenbrier Presbytery and renamed the Greenbrier Presbyterial School The Homer Laughlin China Company purchased the Newell Farm and expanded across the Ohio into West Virginia Nancy Hart died The state called troops to mining strikes The state called troops to areas with striking miners The Hazel Atlas Glass Company was created James H. Nash bought Holly Grove Mansion and made changes Albert F. Holden and William H. Coolidge inspected 30,000 acres of land on Coppers Fork of Island Creek Elmer Jacobs designed the parts of Seneca Glass Company building that had fallen to fire A History of the Valley of Virginia was reprinted The C&O Railroad was built along the Guyandotte River Patients other than coal miners were charged $1.59/ day at McKendree Hospital The West Virginia University School of Medicine was founded in Morgantown Samuel Alexander McCoy and G. W McCauley bought the Hardy County News from Capt. J. J. Chipley Matthew M. Neely opened a Fairmont law office John Nugent came to West Virginia as a UMWA organizer Oak Hill's first high school was established by Charles T. Jones and Albert G. Sevy George Rashid migrated to the United States from Syria The Pinch Reunion was established by Judge William W. Wertz The Greenbrier Division of the C&O was completed to Durbin Potomac State College began operation as the West Virginia Preparatory School The Rending of Virginia was originally published in Chicago by Mayer & Miller Frederick Rhead came to America Charles Ritter married Mabel McClinock Benjamin Rosenbloom played on the WVU football team St. Lawrence Boom & Manufacturing Company at Ronceverte began to receive logs from Anthony's Creek by rail Shannondale Springs was sold to H.C. Getzendanner The New River Coal strike occurred The Capitol City Lodge incorporated the Pythian Mutual Investment Fund A constitutional amendment increased the Supreme Court of Appeals justices to five The Interurban streetcar line reached Vienna Vienna opened West Virginia's first country club Ward Engineering Works built the James Rumsey for the U.S. Engineering Corp H. Rus Warne and Charles G. Rabenstein established an architect firm Fairmont Coal Company operated 28 mines and employed 6,067 The community of Addison receives the postal name of Webster Springs A narrow-gauge railroad arrived at Webster Springs Davis sold the West Virginia Central & Pittsburg(h) Railroad to the Gould interests The Medical Society of West Virginia name changed to West Virginia State Medical Association
1903
A compulsory attendance law was enacted Other events that happened on or around 1903 Barger Springs property purchased by company of 30 investors Ambrose Bierce returned to Randolph and Pocahontas counties to revisit locations where he had served in the Civil War The town of Bretz and the mining plant were built by West Virginia Coal Company Camden Park was established Col. E. G. Via became park manager Annex was built across from State Capitol Construction on the new section of the Coal & Coke Railway began Grover Lewis was born in Alabama John Harrington Cox received appointment in English Department of WVU Legislature enacted a uniform teachers' examination law William Edwards produced a book of Edwards family genealogy Fairmont Coal Company was absorbed into Consolidation Coal Company of Maryland William Glasscock was admitted to the bar The Coal & Coke Railroad was completed from Elkins to Durbin. A junction was made at Durbin with the C&O and the Coal & Iron railroads Capt. Greene built the side-wheel packet Greenland Harrison County was fourth in the state in total tons of coal produced The Homer Laughlin Company traded factories with the National China Company The House of Delegates grew to 86 delegates Teddy Weatherford was born in Bluefield Herman Kump attended the University of Virginia law school Carnegie library was established in Huntington Reported 63% of McKendree Hospital's patients were miners Local businessmen bought the Fairmont Electric Light and Power Plant The Morgantown Glass Works employed more than 400 people Oak Hill was incorporated The Owens bottle-making machine was invented by Michael Owens President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Christopher Payne as consul general to the Danish West Indies The Barbour County courthouse was constructed at Philippi Melville Davisson Post married Ann Bloomfield Gamble Schoolfield The West Virginia death rate from smallpox was reported as being from 12 to 20 percent of reported cases A new wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital John G. Knutti became administrator of Shepherd College The Pope Dock Company built the Eisenbarth Henderson Floating Theater-The New Great Modern Temple of Amusement The Parkersburg & Marrietta Interurban was built An interurban railway line was built from Sistersville to New Martinsville The Parkersburg & Ohio Valley Electric Railway was built T. C. Townsend opened a law office in Fayettesville The USS Huntington was constructed at Newport News The West Virginia State Federation of Labor was founded Carter Woodson accepted an administrative and teaching assignment in the Philippines Zane Grey wrote Betty Zane Paul Wissmach and Joseph Reininger began to manufacture stained glass as the Empire Glass Company in Paden City T. G. Nutter opened a law office in Charleston
1906
West Virginia's natural gas production exceed that of any other state Other events that happened on or around 1906 There were 35 churches belonging to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination with 1,002 members in West Virginia Hotel at Barger Springs opened to the public The Carter Opera House, Beckley's first theater, opened Florence Blanchfield graduated from the South Side Training School for Nurses in Pittsburgh Robert Page Sims became president of Bluefield Colored Institute (now Bluefield State University) Stephen B. Elkins acquired Bretz West Virginia Central & Pittsburg Railroad intersected by Coal & Coke Railroad Charleston National Bank moved to Capitol Street J. R. Clifford was chairman of committee on arrangement of the meeting of Niagara Movement Explosion in Parral Mine killed 23 Collins and Whipple mines were sold to New River Company Columbia Corporation formed to construct high pressure pipeline to West Virginia gas fields Fleming-Watson family acquired control of Consolidation Coal Company Wehrle B. Geary opened the Diamond Shoe Store Country club moved to location in Edgewood section of Charleston Fenton Art Glass Company built factory in Williamstown Follansbee became a city The First National Bank of Glenville and Glenville Banking and Trust Company were created H.B. Moore was hired as the Greenbrier Presbyterial School headmaster and reintroduced military curriculum Henry Hatfield was elected to the McDowell County court Hamilton Hatter and much of the Bluefield Colored Institute (now Bluefield Stat College) faculty was replaced The federal Antiquities Act was passed as first legislation aimed at protecting federally owned historic sites The Hitchman Coal & Coke Company began notifying employees they could only be employed if they agreed not to join the UMWA Interwoven Mills had 2,000 domestic accounts Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Wheeling was founded William Leigh took a train excursion to New Mexico Madison was incorporated The Mason College of Music and Fine Arts was founded in Charleston by Dr. William Sandheger "Sandy" Mason Hu Maxwell and Richard E. Fast wrote The History and Government of West Virginia Another courthouse struggle ensued in Mercer County The Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad began running regular trains to Kingwood Virgil A Lewis reported the motto "Montani Semper Liberi" was suggested by Joseph H. Diss Debar The Morgantown News merged with the New Dominion to form the New Dominion-News Calvin Price became the sole owner and editor of Pocahontas Times 19 cases of smallpox were reported in Hampshire County Reported six Salvation Army corps in West Virginia Morris Shawkey became superintendent of Kanawha County Schools William A. MacCorkle founded the Kanawha Land Company The Lewisburg & Ronceverte was built to the C&O John Swint established the Apostolic Mission Band for the Wheeling Roman Catholic Diocese The Ideal Glass Factory opened at West Union West Virginia Wesleyan College name was adopted A line connecting the Western Maryland and West Virginia Central was completed The New River Company bought Fayette County mines including Whipple Carter Woodson travelled around the world
Dec 06, 1907
Worst U.S. mine disaster killed 361 miners in Fairmont Coal Company's interconnected Nos. 6 and 8 at Monongah
1909
Timber production in West Virginia reached its long-time record of 1.5 billion board feet 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 The Herald-Dispatch began with the merger of the Herald and the Huntington Dispatch 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 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
Jun 20, 1913
West Virginia celebrated its 50th year of statehood Other events that happened on or around June 20, 1913 Semi-centennial events took place in Wheeling
1913
Annual coal production exceeded 28 million tons Other events that happened on or around 1913 Commissioner assigned responsibility to regulate farm products The Allegheny Lodge was built Waitman Barbe wrote Great Poems Interpreted Walter Barnes wrote English in the Country School John Peale Bishop entered Princeton Charles F. Millspaugh wrote The Living Flora of West Virginia James Callahan wrote Semi-Centennial History of West Virginia Consolidated Manufactories pottery factory established by Merchants Association of Grafton John Harrington Cox collected his first folk song Henry Gassaway Davis was chairman of Semi-Centennial Commission Alston Dayton made the injunction from the Hitchman Coal & Coke v. John Mitchell case permanent Legislature passed act that provided for the employment of extension agents West Virginia appropriated fire protection funds The Glenville high school received its own building Nathan Goff served in the U.S. Senate The building of the central section of the Greenbrier Hotel and the Old White golf course were completed Legislature created the State Road Bureau Ritter Park in Huntington was fashioned from land originally intended for a city incinerator Louis Johnson was admitted to the bar in Clarksburg Harriet Jones helped to establish Hopemont Sanitarium Teepi Kendrick became the state agent in charge of the corn clubs for boys and canning clubs for girls Keyser was incorporated Supreme Court decisions on State ex rel. Nance v. Mays, Ex parte Jones, and Hatfield v. Graham were decided during the labor rebellion and accorded vast power to the executive branch to use martial law Weston became the southern terminus of regional electric trolley car service The second courthouse in Madison was torn down Redress was allowed under the original workers compensation statue Course work was added to Marshall University to include the equivalent of freshman and sophomore years of college Walter Martens began working as a draftsman in Danville The title was changed from Evening Journal to Martinsburg West Virginia Evening Journal Hu Maxwell co-authored West Virginia and Its People Bill McKell completed his own branch railroad to connect with the Virginian Railway at Pax John McWhorter left office as judge of West Virginia's 12th judicial circuit John McWhorter drafted the Yost Law, providing for enforcement of state prohibition The Mennonites building was moved to Roaring Creek The Minter Homes Corporation was established in Huntington A major refinery was built at St. Marys by Quaker State United States Senate looked into Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike John Nugent was question by the U.S. Senate investigating committee for efforts to import strikebreakers to West Virginia John Nugent left West Virginia for Kentucky The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly fathered the state's first workers compensation bill The Ohio Valley Refining Company was established at St. Marys Livia Poffenbarger sold the State Gazette. Legislature passed the Yost law, under which prohibition was enforced, creating the Department of Prohibition The state's first tuberculosis sanitarium was founded at Hopemont in Preston County The Public Service Commission was created by the legislature Leonard Riggleman passed the uniform teachers exam The first high school opened in Ripley St. Francis Hospital was founded by Patrick J. Donahue The Sacred Heart Hospital opened The Salt Sulphur Springs resort was closed The Star House was acquired by W. B. and Ida Skaggs Flags were unofficially made for the semi-centennial celebration featured a new design Stony River Reservoir was completed by West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company P. D. Strausbaugh graduated from Wooster (Ohio) College P. D. Strausbaugh began teaching at Wooster (Ohio) College A streetcar line between Sistersville and Middlebourne was built Congress passed the 16th Amendment for a federal income tax on corporation The Indian Camp Normal School was established Clarence W. Watson finished his term in the U.S. Senate John S. Bonar graduated from West Liberty "The West Virginia Hills" was published in The West Virginia Singer Legislature changed the name to Weston State Hospital West Virginia House of Delegates passed a state women's suffrage amendment
1914
The West Virginia Federation of Labor reported 152 local craft unions with 31,315 Other events that happened on or around 1914 Akro Agate Company was relocated to Clarksburg Mary Atkeson taught English for a year at the University of Missouri Elkins and Wheeling claimed basketball supremacy Izetta Brown moved to West Virginia as bride to William Gay Brown Pearl Buck graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College Sunday edition was added to Clarksburg Telegram Golden Delicious apple was discovered on Mullens farm Antoine (Tony) and Julien Gaujot earned Congressional Medals of Honor during the Philippine Insurrection and America's invasion of Vera Cruz, Mexico. Phil Conley graduated from WVU Artemus Cox moved to Charleston Doddridge County's first roads were paved Extension home economics agents were placed in certain counties to further efforts Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act for federal funding to develop agricultural extension program State prohibition began Ella Holroyd graduated with honors from the Cincinnati Conservatory The Homer Laughlin Company made semi-vitreous and white granite dinner, hotel and toilet wares Harley Kilgore earned his law degree from WVU Harley Kilgore taught school for a year State's economic focus had shifted to southern West Virginia The local Catholic population built a school in Weston The West Virginia Library Association was organized Duval High School was built in Griffithsville Akro Agate moved to Clarksburg The Marlinton Opera House was sold due to default on deeds of trust Frank McEnteer was appointed to superintend the building of the multi-span concrete arch bridge in Clarksburg Willow Glen, or McKinley's Palace, construction began The Yost Law became effective A hotel building on the hill above Minnehaha Springs was completed Dwight Morrow joined the banking firm J. P. Morgan and Company Leonard "Lynn" Davis was born James H. Boone installed light bulbs in Organ Cave Otter Creek Boom & Lumber Company ceased logging Otter Creak Charles Boldt started manufacturing glass in Huntington The legislature established a minimum age of 10 for incarceration at Pruntytown The Ohio Valley Refining Company began operating in St. Marys There were 40 local offices elected from the Socialist Party Weirton Steel employment was 5,348 A monument to the Confederacy was erected in Hinton The USS Huntington was on the West Coast The Vitrolite factory was fully completed A nursing school was established at what is now Welch Community Hospital The Jones brothers of Red Star Coal & Coke Company donated land to the Baptist State Convention Wheeling Hospital grew to 225 beds
1919
The UMWA began efforts to unionize the mines of southern West Virginia 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 Dave Gideon became the sole owner of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch 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
1920
Chemical firms in the Kanawha Valley began expanding rapidly Other events that happened on or around 1920 Women received the right to vote State apple-packing plant in Inwood was established Walter Barnes wrote Types of Children's Literature 14 West Virginia cities and towns had professional baseball Braxton's population peaked at 23,973 Alonzo Brooks published West Virginia Trees Izetta Brown was first woman to second a presidential nominee, John W. Davis Chauncey H. Browning graduated from Logan High School City Hospital was moved to Camden mansion on Garfield Avenue in Parkersburg Don Chafin was reelected as sheriff Louis Watson Chappell received his M.A. from University of Virginia The Union Carbide Company bought small refinery near Clendenin Matthew Wesley Clair, Sr. was elected bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church Fayette County population jumped to 60,377 Caroline Gentry released The Key to Power, a movie The Glen Ferris Inn was sold to a subsidiary of Union Carbide Voters approved the Good Roads amendment Grafton reached its peak population of 8,517 H. B. Moore and his brothers purchased the school and reorganized it as the Greenbrier Military School Harrison County population rose to 74,783 Sid Hatfield assisted a United Mine Workers campaign to organize Tug Fork miners The Clarksburg factory of the Hazel Atlas Glass Company had 15 acres of floor space, employed 1,200 people and shipped all over the world Census reported 6,260 Hungarians in West Virginia Union organizing led to confrontations at Matewan and Blair Mountain La Belle Ironworks merged with Wheeling Iron and Steel and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation Ann Johnson Gates became the first woman member of the West Virginia legislature The legislator salary was set at $500 High school at Walkersville was constructed John L. Lewis became the president of the UMWA Big Bill Lias started a career in the illegal sale and distribution of liquor Minnie Lowther moved to Washington Jacob Marcus attained his rabbinical ordination William Marsh stopped serving as president of the M. Marsh and Son company Marshall became a four-year college The name was changed from Martinsburg West Virginia Evening Journal to Martinsburg Journal McDowell was the third most populous county in the state Willow Glen mansion, known in the Wheeling area as McKinley's Palace, was completed James Miller ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state James Miller left as judge Additional land for Monongahela National Forest was purchased The B&O leased the Morgantown & Kingwood The National Bank of Commerce moved to Charleston and was renamed the State Street Bank The Parkersburg Daily Sentinel ceased publication. Monongahela National Forest was created. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem Academy. The buildings at Red Sulphur Springs were dismantled and the resort ceased operation. Red Ribble moved to Mount Hope The third courthouse at Ripley was built There were 398 sawmills operating in West Virginia The United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans decided to erect a memorial to Heyward Shepherd W. H. S White became president of Shepherd College Matthew Holt was the Socialist candidate for governor James Weldon Johnson was responsible for publishing Anne Spencer's " Before the Feast at Shushan" P. D. Strausbaugh received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Howard Sutherland made a bid for presidency of United States Union Carbide purchased a small refinery at Clendenin C. W. Ferguson III was born Webster County population was 11,000 Weirton population was at 8,000 Welch population was at 3,232 West Liberty's first dorms were built Riley Wilson ran unsuccessfully for Congress Carter G. Woodson left Howard University Carter G. Woodson began Dean of the West Virginia Collegiate Institution (now West Virginia State University)
1924
The UMWA had lost half of its members in West Virginia and was nearly bankrupt 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 Colonel Joseph Long bought a corner lot in Huntington to erect a building for his paper, the Herald-Dispatch 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
1925
Reported 233 high school were open in the state 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 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 Dial service was introduced in Huntington The United Carbon Company was formed Berkerly Countian Benjamin Snyder built his home reflecting aspects of the Sears, Roebuck and Company's Sheridan house The Virginian Railway began electrification of its trains Only 134 students were enrolled at West Liberty State Normal School (now West Liberty University) Legislature created another West Virginia Historical Society with an appointive body Legislation passed to have the state historian and archivist to publish a quarterly history magazine A new administration building was completed at West Virginia Collegiate Institute (now West Virginia State University) The Greek fraternal system replace earlier literary societies at West Virginia Wesleyan College Whitaker-Glessner subsidiary, the Principio Company ceased production of pig and bar iron in Maryland T. G. Nutter lobbied against the Charleston premiere of D.W. Griffith’s Birth of a Nation
1928
Reported 88 junior high schools were open in the state Other events that happened on or around 1928 The Raleigh Register became a daily newspaper William Thomas Bland died Ernest Farrow was born in Huntington The Jones Diamond was found by Grover Jones and William "Punch" Jones in Monroe County An edition of Samuel Kerchival's A History of the Valley of Virginia incorporating editorial notes was printed Fiddler Clark Kessinger began recording The Kimball War Memorial was dedicated Waitman Linger relocated his family-run chair business to the French Creek William A. MacCorkle published The Recollections of Fifty Years of West Virginia William A. MacCorkle published The Recollections of Fifty Years of West Virginia Minnie Lowther wrote Friendship Hill, Home of Albert Gallatin Louis Marx & Company introduced the yo-yo The Concrete Steel Bridge Company of Clarksburg encountered unexpected difficulties with Pennsylvania bridge project A record 31.6 million board feet was sawed by the Meadow River Lumber Company Margaret Montague's Tony Beaver tales were published as Up Eel River
1929
The Great Depression began Other events that happened on or around 1929 Republican supremacy in West Virginia ended with the Great Depression
1932
Franklin D. Roosevelt campaigned, promising a "New Deal" in handling the nation's economic problems Other events that happened on or around 1932 Democratic Party considered Newton Diehl Baker for presidential nomination
1932
The construction of the Hawks Nest Tunnel, diverting waters of the New River, showed the dangers of underground work outside the coal industry Other events that happened on or around 1932 William "Coin" Harvey was nominated for president by the Liberty Party Legislature abolished the State Bridge Commission Ella Holroyd was asked by the president of Concord College to create a music department Frank Hutchison moved to Ohio Howard B. Lee first wrote The Story of the Constitution Vitro Agate began operation Herschel Ogden led the state's tax reform Okey Patteson lost his feet in a hunting accident The Shenandoah National Forest was renamed the George Washington National Forest A group called Save the Children began sending food and other necessities to children of miners in West Virginia Cole Porter performed at Bricktop's club Grace Martin Taylor was the president of the Allied Artists of West Virginia Charles Ward Engineering closed Cassville's name changed to Fort Gay President FDR's New Deal favored the growth of the labor movement Hack Wilson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers
1933
County unit plan for school systems was adopted Other events that happened on or around 1933 West Virginia counties had to reduce term length Doddridge County High School was created The flat-spired three-toothed land snail was discovered Legislature established the Conservation Commission The Greenbrier College for Women was chartered as Greenbrier College Perry Gresham received a bachelor of divinity degree from Texas Christian University West Virginia erected a replica cabin and stone memorial at the birthplace of Nancy Hanks A great trial was held against the contractor of the Hawks Nest Tunnel by those who contracted silicosis Legislative act put every public road in West Virginia under direct state control The Democrats regained control of the governorship Charles Hodel was instrumental in developing the Beckley-Mount Hope Airport The radical West Virginia Mine Workers Union and the West Virginia Labor Party both collapsed Act replaced game protectors with conservation officers The West Virginia World's Fair exhibit was housed at Jackson's Mill The Charles Town Racetrack opened in Jefferson County Frances Benjamin Johnston began photographing early architecture of the American South William C. Kelly died Kumbrabow State Forest was created in response to the Civilian Conservation Corps Act The National Industrial Recovery Act guaranteed workers the right to collective bargaining and outlawed yellow-dog contracts Democrats took control of the West Virginia Senate The progressive Roosevelt administration secured passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act Melvin Goins was born Pare Lorentz conceived, edited and published The Roosevelt Year, 1933 West Virginia acquired the land for Lost River State Park Master Marble and Bridgeport Marble exhibited millions of marbles at the World's Fair in Chicago The Gallipolis Locks and Dam began construction The Civilian Conservation Corps first became active in Monongahela National Forest Prohibition ends Cacapon State Park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps The National Recovery Administration was created with the passing of the National Industrial Recovery Ac Legislation passed establishing the Conservation Commission of West Virginia Camp Woodbine and Camp Cranberry were established by Civilian Conservation Corps in Richwood Ruth Rohde served as U.S. Minister to Denmark Eleanor Roosevelt convinced FDR to use congressionally approved federal funds to establish the first national subsistence homestead in Arthurdale Lynnside Manor, Monroe County, the traditional home of the Lewis family, burned down William Smith O'Brien became West Virginia secretary of state H. M. Calhoun died Buddy Starcher became popular performer at WCHS Charleston State Police field structure shrank to two companies State Police Criminal Investigation Bureau was organized Mel Moore and Billy Long led a strike at Weirton Steel Employees bought the Wheeling Traction Company and re-named it Cooperative Transit Company Festus Summers finished his doctorate at WVU The Braxton Democrat newspaper in Sutton compiled and reprinted the Wm. Byrne tales of Elk River West Virginia property tax revenue was at $27 million Fred Torrey created the "Lincoln Walks at Midnight" sculpture W. W. Trent became superintendent of Schools UMWA unionized the West Virginia coalfields Camp Watoga was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps Fred E. Brooks died WOBU changed to WCHS WCHS stopped sharing time with WSAZ in Huntington Wheeling Bank & Trust Company merged with Dollar Saving & Trust to form the Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust Company The Athenaeum became the Daily Athenaeum Clyde O. Law became board chairman of West Virginia Wesleyan College The WWVA's Wheeling Jamboree country music show began A new central portion of Wheeling Hospital was constructed WHIS increased to 250 watts A strike at Widen occurred The Coal House was built in Williamson of bituminous coal Edwin S. Maclin became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology
1935
The Wagner Act revived many parts of the NIRA relating to labor after the Supreme Court ruled the NIRA unconstitutional Other events that happened on or around 1935 Roy Bird Cook became president of Cook Drug Company Civilian Conservation Corps established Camp Price Families began moving into their new homes in Eleanor The Myers brothers filmed One Room Schoolhouses Susanne Fisher sang with the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra School of Forestry was established at WVU Cheat Mountain salamander was discovered on White Top Mountain Howard Mason Gore served as director of the federal rural rehabilitation program for Harrison County West Virginia bought the park lands of Hawks Nest State Park and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made improvements The National Industrial Recovery Act was declared unconstitutional Joseph Hodges was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Richmond Fanny Johnson's story "The Dinner Set" was published in Weird Tales Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) moved to Charleston from Barboursville UMWA President John L. Lewis challenged the American Federation of Labor by initiating campaign to organize workers by industry rather than craft Governor Kump declared he wanted to see a library within reach of every citizen 89 percent of all families in Lincoln County regularly accepted government relief Tom Kromer wrote Waiting For Nothing Tom Kromer wrote Waiting For Nothing Logan Banner became an afternoon daily
1940
Electric power production increased by 2,000 percent Other events that happened on or around 1940 Number of farms in West Virginia began dropping West Virginia Baptist Historical Society formed Tony Boyle became president of UMWA District 27 Extensive remodeling and expansion of the Cabell County courthouse was completed Calhoun County population peaked at 12,455 First building was completed at Camp Washington-Carver Flip left the country music trio group of "Cap, Andy, and Flip" Clay County population peaked at 15,206 Rose Cousins learned how to fly Easton Roller Mill, near Morgantown, was closed W.E.R. Byrne's Tale of the Elk was published Population of Gilmer County peaked Construction began for Grandview Park G. D. McNeill wrote The Last Forest, whose main character was inspired by Edden Hammons Matthew M. Neely won the Democratic nomination for governor while still serving the U.S. Senate Tom Kromer gave up writing Logan's population peaked at 5,166 Reported 11,000 miners in Logan County Martinsburg had four movie houses Bumgardner Hall was built at Beckley College (now Mountain State University) DuPont put four million pairs of nylon stockings on sale nationally Molly O'Day's brothers moved to Beckley Population of Ohio County peaked at 73,115 It was decided to establish a state forest in the Panther Creek area. Parsons population was 2,077. Pendleton County population peaked at 10,884. Ida Reed published her last book, Songs of the Hills A demonstration site for farm electrification was built at the Jackson's Mill state 4-H camp The Hardy County Light and Power Association served 142 members Hubert Skidmore published Hill Doctor Eleanor Steber won the Metropolitan Opera radio auditions Taylor County population peaked at 19,919 The Tomlinson Run dam was built by the federal Works Progress Administration Wm. Trevey left glass plate negatives in his Glen Jean studio Vienna had five glass factories, a canning company and a silk mill Webster County population peaked at 18,080 Weirton population was 18,000 The West Virginia Historical Society was formed The State Fair ceased operation on Wheeling Island Timber in the Williams River watershed stopped being taken out by log train The West Virginia Conservation Bulletin began quarterly publication with a newspaper format Coonskin Ridge was selected for location of the Charleston airport The Gravens' cabin, located at the Youghiogheny Forest Colony, was designed by Thomas Hood Justice Chambers was called to active duty.
1944
The GI Bill of Rights provided generous educational benefits to WWII veterans Other events that happened on or around 1944 West Virginia had purchased 311 acres for Audra State Park Lew Burdette learned to pitch with American Viscose Rayon Company Team A community board, which helped raise funds to build Charleston Memorial Hospital, was formed in home of Mr. and Mrs. William Ziebold Sr. Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation established by Michael and Sarah Benedum Committee began searching for church camp site to honor the Peterkins Pete Everest was assigned to China-Burma-India region Smokey Bear was introduced by the Wartime Advertising Council "Biggie" Goldberg served in the U.S. Army for two years Davis Grubb's first published story was "The Lollipop Tree" in Good Housekeeping The Jones Diamond was first displayed at the Smithsonian Jean Lee Latham received a Silver Wreath for her work training Signal Corps inspectors for the War Department The first meeting of the West Virginia League of Women Voters was held Ned Cline died Kermit McKeever became superintendent of Watoga State Park A summer youth camp began at Minnehaha Springs The Monongahela Power & Railway Company was completely out of the streetcar business Eleanor Steber sang at the Democratic National Convention Increasing pressure to install a black administration at Storer College led to the forced retirement of President Henry T. McDonald Institute produced 131,000 tons of butadiene W.W. Trent was reelected state superintendent of Schools The government began selling the Tygart Valley Homesteads to settlers The United Carbon Building appeared on the cover of Pencil Points architectural magazine The nursing school at Welch Community Hospital ceased operation Only 118 students enrolled at West Liberty State College Cornelius Charlton moved with his family to New York City
1946
United Mine Workers of America established a Welfare and Retirement Fund Other events that happened on or around 1946 Ashford General Hospital closed Wood County Airport, Parkersburg, built Greater Cumberland Regional Airport, at Wiley Ford, built The Bailes Brothers moved to KWKH Shreveport Bluefield joined the Appalachian Rookie League in baseball Van Bittner directed the abortive drive to organize southern industrial workers Everett Ferguson sold Browns Island to Weirton Ice and Coal Supply Company Lew Burdette signed his first professional contract with the New York Yankees Col. E. G. Via died Camden Park was sold to James P. Boylin Jim Comstock founded the Richwood News Leader Samuel Cooper attended the World Zionist Congress in Basle, Switzerland Bruce Crawford founded the West Virginia Advertising Company Phyllis Curtin appeared at Tanglewood Music Center Davis & Elkins College received full accreditation Dolores Dowling left the Army Nurse Corps as a first lieutenant Joanne Dru starred in her first film, Abie's Irish Rose Proposed amendment to make the Board of Education a constitutional body First consulting forester in West Virginia began work Patrick Gainer became professor of English at WVU Joseph C. Gluck, eventually dean of students, vice president for student affairs and special counselor to students, began work at WVU The third floor of the Governor's Mansion was added Alberta Pierson Hannum's book Spin a Silver Dollar was released as a radio play Governor Meadows reappointed Roy Lee Harmon as poet laureate of West Virginia Hawkshaw Hawkins began working on the Wheeling Jamboree broadcast from WWVA Johnnie Johnson began performing in Chicago The village of Lilly was razed due to construction of the Bluestone Dam Pare Lorentz was awarded the Legion of Merit A new dining hall was constructed at Marshall College (now University) Jack Maurice returned to the Charleston Daily Mail Arnold Miller returned home from WWII The UMWA Health and Retirement Funds were created Ruth Ann Musick began teaching mathematics and English at Fairmont State College (Fairmont State University) Eldora Nuzum was made managing editor of the Grafton Sentinel Molly O'Day was signed to Columbia Records contract by Fred Rose American Cyanamid established plant at Willow Island The West Virginia Broadcasters Association was organized Louis Jordan made "Salt Pork, West Virginia" a best-selling recording The Secondary Schools Activities Commission appointed a full-time executive secretary to the board Raymond Hayes made a trip to Fayette County Meredith Sue Willis was born Sam Snead won the British Open Buddy Starcher cut his first recordings on Four Star An appropriation of $60,000 was obtained for the West Virginia State Police Academy during the legislative session Storer College was accredited as a baccalaureate institution A constitutional amendment providing educational reforms was defeated Joe Stydahar won another championship with the Chicago Bears Festus Summers became a full-time professor at WVU The rubber plant at Institute was closed DuPont's Belle Works ceased production of nylon Frank Thomas built Fayette Airport The United Brethren merged with the Evangelical Association forming the Evangelical United Brethren Church There were 261 United Brethren churches in West Virginia Hobert Skidmore died The current West Virginia Historical Society was incorporated The West Virginia Review was sold again There were 6,000 students enrolled in WVU Irvin Stewart became president of WVU George Smith died WJLS added an FM affiliate American neurologist Walter Freeman adapted a variation of the surgery called the transorbital lobotomy Artist Helen Chilton was born in Pennsylvania
1950
West Virginia population peaked at 2,005,552 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 Statewide coal employment peaked at 127,000 The Veterans Administration Medical Center was built in Harrison County Dave Gideon died 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
May 17, 1954
U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregated schools unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education
1960
The state population fell to 1,860,421 Other events that happened on or around 1960 Chauncey H. Browning's unexpired term in the Supreme Court ended The Conference of Appalachian Governors was formed The President's Appalachian Regional Commission, PARC created, led by FDR Jr. The position of state archeologist was created by state legislature Tony Boyle became vice president of the UMWA Chauncey H. Browning was Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court Clay County was producing 900,000 tons of coal Jack Fleming became general manager of WAJR radio in Morgantown Construction on the Summersville Lake and Dam began. Construction on the Summersville Lake and Dam began Greer Lime Company was formed The Greer Lime Company began production at Key The Glen Rogers Mine was closed by the Old Ben Coal Corporation Partner D. Ray Hall sold Gravely Motor Plow and Cultivator Company to Studebaker Weirton had highest population in Hancock County at 28,201 Vera Andrews Harvey replaced Roy Lee Harmon as poet laureate The campus of Storer College was added to the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The United Hospital Center was erected Frank Hutchison's "Alabama" became a major county hit for Cowboy Copas Storer College buildings were added to the Harpers Ferry National Park Kanawha County peak population at 252,925 Governor Smith was the Democratic state chairman Tom Kromer returned to Huntington from Albuquerque John L. Lewis retired as the president of the UMWA Arden Cogar Sr. started the Webster County Wood Chopping Festival D. K. Shroyer became president of Beckley College (now Mountain State University The City-County Building in Ohio County was dedicated Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area purchased by the West Virginia Conservation Commission The N&W operated its last steam equipment The Chesapeake & Ohio and the Baltimore & Ohio began a gradual consolidation that eventually included Western Maryland Otis Rice received a Ph.D. in history at Univ. of Kentucky Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company was sold to the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Jay Rockefeller returned from the International Christian University in Tokyo Rocket boys Homer Hickam, Roy Lee Cooke, Willie Rose, Jim O'Dell Carroll, Quentin Wilson and Sherman Siers won top prize at the National Science Fair for their exhibit "A Study of Amateur Rocketry Techniques" Reported 110,000 Catholics in West Virginia St. Marys population peaked at 2,442 Fred Schaus left as basketball coach at WVU Mary Lee Settle wrote Know Nothing The Preston Railroad line was abandoned South Charleston's population peaked at 19,180 Weirton population peaked at 28,201 Jerry West was unanimous choice for first-team All-American Jerry West co-captained the undefeated U.S. Olympic team West Liberty State College enrollment exceeded 1,000 for the first time The West Virginia Music Educators Association began the movement to adopt "The West Virginia Hills" as the state song Wheeling Steel plants stretched for 30 miles along the Ohio River Henry Aaron was appointed conductor of the Wheeling Symphony There were 1,000 students enrolled at West Virginia Institute of Technology Patrice Harris was born in Bluefield John McKay became head coach at University of Southern California
1965
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was established Other events that happened on or around 1965 Development of West Virginia's Appalachian Corridor highways began Appalachian Regional Commission established by Congress President Johnson's War on Poverty began Charleston joins Morgantown and Huntington as alternating site of state high school basketball tournament George Hodel became president of Beckley Newspapers Bens Run Earthworks officially recorded by the Archeology Section of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey W. E. Blackhurst published Of Men and A Mighty Mountain E. J. Scrafford became interim president of Bluefield State College (now University) Weldon Boone wrote A History of Botany in West Virginia Maurice Brooks published The Appalachians Harry F. Byrd retired from the Senate Governor Smith signed bill to end death penalty in West Virginia Franklin Cleckley earned a J.D. from Indiana University Arden Cogar exhibited his wood chopping at New York World's Fair Diamond Department Store built a $1 million addition to its Charleston building Pete Everest became brigadier general African-American State Farm and Homemakers Council voted to join the West Virginia Homemakers Council Gertrude Humphrey left WVU Extension work One-volume edition of Flora of West Virginia was published Ruth Ann Musick published The Telltale Lilac Bush Ruel Foster wrote Jesse Stuart Per capita personal income in West Virginia was 76% of national average The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation made its first discretionary grant, to Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) State Route 150, the Highland Scenic Highway, began construction Hope Natural Gas Company and New York State Natural Gas Corporation merged to form Consolidated Gas Supply Corporation Hopemont Sanitarium became a personal care center Blasingame Report recommending improved library service was completed The West Virginia Library Commission launched an ambitious library construction project A joint committee was created to study and survey matters of government, finance, and claims against the state and make recommendations to the full legislature The Logan Banner was sold to a Tennessee publishing company Marco mascot first began showing up at Marshall University events Dan Maroney was elected a vice president in the Amalgamated Transit Union Paul Marshall stopped working at Libbey-Owens-Ford in Kanawha City Morgantown Glassware Guild was purchased by Fostoria Glass Mount Storm Lake was built to supply water for steam generation at coal-fired power plant Mylan Pharmaceuticals moved to Morgantown The last coke-making operation in the New River Gorge closed at Sewell Delf Norona became the first recipient of the Sigfus Olafson Award for his outstanding contributions to the West Virginia archeology E. Lewis Case became president of Ohio Valley College (now Ohio Valley University) Ohio Valley College (now University) was accredited by the state of West Virginia Congress created the 100,000 acre Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Jack Rollins moved to Cincinnati The Soupy Sales Show first debuted nationally Burl Sawyers resigned as state roads commissioner under indictment Charles Town Race Track installed lighting Smoke Hole became part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area Red Sovine wrote "Giddyup Go" Miles Stanley was selected as personal assistant to AFL-CIO President George Meany Fred Torrey made a bust of John F. Kennedy U.S. combat troops first deployed in the Vietnam War The War on Poverty was scaled back due to the escalation of the Vietnam War Don West came to West Virginia and established the Appalachian South Folklife Center Charles Schiff became conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Nov 20, 1968
Gas and dust explosion occurred in Consolidation Coal Company's No. 9 mine at Farmington killing 78 miners
1968
The Modern Budget Amendment made the governor responsible for preparation of the state budget 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 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 The WAJR facilities moved to the Greer Building 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
1969
The federal government recognized pneumoconiosis, black lung, as an occupational disease Other events that happened on or around 1969 Colors antique gold, turf green (avocado) mango red and original red were introduced in fiestaware Francis Ford Coppola filmed The Rain People Davis Grubb published Fools' Parade The Overseas National Airway acquired the Greene Line packet service Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote memoir, Look Back with Love: A Recollection of the Blue Ridge Logan Grade School was constructed on Hatfield Island William Hoffman wrote The Dark Mountains Legislature enacted a new Municipal Code that modernized regulation of cities and towns Ivor Boiarsky helped pass a reorganization of the higher education system Island Creek Coal Company was sold to Armand Hammer of Occidental Petroleum Company John Knowles wrote Phineas: Six Stories Howard B. Lee wrote Bloodletting in Appalachia Maryat Lee published Four Men and a Monster State legislation was passed to allow the Library Commission to make direct grants for operating expenses to libraries complying with its administrative rules James G. Linger sold the Linger Chair factory to the Upshur County Chair and Craft Cooperative Hobert Skidmore died Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company stopped painting new barn signs Jack Maurice became editor-in-chief of the Charleston Daily Mail The Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College began as a branch of Marshall University Greasy Neale was inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame Treasure Mountain Festival was inaugurated The U.S. Navy began operating a major communications center at Sugar Grove An 18-hole golf course opened at Pipestem Resort State Park Public television stations began broadcasting The American Public Health Association conferred its Presidential Award on Donald Rasmussen for exceptional service in the fight against black lung The nursing school at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg closed A new dormitory was completed at the state police academy A P.E. Building was built at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Adjutant General Department estimated West Virginia suffered an estimated 2.75 death rate per 10,000 citizens due to the Vietnam War WCHS-FM went on the air Robert B. Erwin was name director of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company changed its name to Westvaco Harness racing at Wheeling Downs resumed The Luther Elkins Petroglyph was studied Warren McGraw was elected to the House of Delegates Frankie Yankovic was one of the first two people inducted into the International Polka Association Hall Of Fame in Chicago Virginia Mae Brown was named chairman of the ICC, the first woman to head an independent administrative agency of the federal government Nick Saban graduated from Monongah High School Clyde Ware's first novel, The Innocents was published
1970
Governor's Succession Amendment ratified, allowing two successive terms Other events that happened on or around 1970 Congress passed the National Passenger Railroad Act, creating Amtrak Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The West Virginia Department of Public Institutions (now Division of Corrections) leased the Anthony Correctional Center for use as a correctional center for juvenile males Dr. Edward V. McMichael, state archeologist, left the Geological Survey Lincoln County attracted many back-to-the-land settlers Catholic Workers farm established in Lincoln County Gray Barker published The Silver Bridge The historic Berkeley Springs spa was transferred to the Department of Natural Resources Maurice Brooks received the Order of Vandalia from WVU Chauncey H. Browning Sr. was Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court Cabin Creek Quilts began as a self-help quilting cooperative Clay County population dropped to 9,330 Bernard Coffindaffer suffered from mental and physical breakdown Legislative Improvement Amendment ratified Dennis Harrah was an all-state center on the Stonewall Jackson High School football team George Daugherty took the stage name "The Earl of Elkview"
1970
Every Ohio River county except Jackson had at least one chemical plant Other events that happened on or around 1970 Muriel Dressler published "Appalachia" Easton Roller Mill was willed to the Monongalia Historical Society Ann Flagg died in Illinois Jack Fleming became sports director of WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh Jack Fleming became announcer for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association Ruth Ann Musick published Green Hills of Magic Fort Ashby was listed on the National Register of Historic Places Population of Grant County was at 8,607 Alberta Pierson Hannum's book Spin a Silver Dollar radio play was published as The Blue House by U.S. Information Agency The National Park Service opened the Harpers Ferry Center, to serve National Park units nationwide Frank Haymond received the American Bar Association's ABA Medal Henry Clay Furnace was added to the National Register of Historic Places James Dickey's novel, Deliverance, made the term "hillbilly" sinister Sam Huff ran unsuccessfully for Congress Alice Moore was elected to the Kanawha County Board of Education as an opponent of sex education Kanawha Records stopped recording Kenova population peaked at 5,000 Maryat Lee moved to Powley Creek Everett Lilly moved back to Raleigh County following son's death Alex Mahood died Joe Manchin graduated from WVU with a bachelor's in business administration The tannery in Marlinton closed Paul Marshall became a registered architect Irene McKinney received her master's from WVU The Meadow River Lumber Company was sold to Georgia-Pacific Arnold Miller was forced to retire from mining by black lung disease and arthritis Alan Mollohan began a Fairmont law firm Ona presented four NASCAR Grand National races Mylan Pharmaceuticals incorporated in Pennsylvania as Mylan Laboratories Justin B. Roberts became president of Ohio Valley College (now University) Squire Parsons graduated from West Virginia Institute of Technology The Penn Central Railroad corporation entered bankruptcy Frank Beyer purchased the Philippi mummies The first VHF non-commercial station in the state, WSWP-TV, started in Grandview Rock Springs Park shut down and was purchased by the Department of Highways. The first indication of Jay Rockefeller's intention to run for governor came when he spoke out against strip mining The Ruffner Hotel closed and was demolished for a parking lot David Selby earned a doctorate in drama from Southern Illinois University The Meadow River Lumber Company closed Jim Comstock republished Hubert Skidmore's Hawks Nest Ada "Bricktop" Smith recorded her only recording, "So Long, Baby," with Cy Colemen The South Charleston Mound was placed on the National Register of Historic Places State Police department headquarters relocated to new facilities Jerry West led the NBA in scoring The Folklore Society met at WVU The Highlands Conservancy worked to make cranberry backcountry a federal wilderness area Federal Highway Act passed allowing tolls to be retained Bob Wise received a B.A. from Duke University Bill Withers moved to Los Angeles WSAZ changed to WGNT An addition was added to the Kanawha (now Yeager) Airport
1973
The Energy Crisis occurred Other events that happened on or around 1973 Happy Retreat was added to the National Register of Historic Places The original Fiestaware was discontinued Chuck Howley retired from the Dallas Cowboys football team at the end of the season West Virginia Library Commission expanded its construction project to include the Instant Libraries building program The Buffalo Creek Memorial Library was the first Instant Library The Supreme Court of Appeals held that the system of funding justice of the peace courts from fines was unconstitutional in State ex rel. Reece v. Giles, J.P. An additional 2,500 acres were acquired for Kanawha State Forest Maryat Lee founded EcoTheater in Hinton A program was established between the Library Commission and Marshall University to train library personnel in small and remote libraries The Lilly Brothers toured Japan Chuck Kinder wrote Snakehunter Governor Moore names A. James Manchin head of the Rehabilitation Environmental Action Program (REAP) Dan Maroney served as international president of the Amalgamated Transit Union The Palace of Gold began construction in the Hare Krishna community M. Blane Michael operated a solo law practice in Petersburg Mildred Mitchell-Bateman became the vice president of the American Psychiatric Association The Mountain Artisans Quilting Book was published by Macmillan Publishing Molly O'Day and Lynn Davis started a gospel record program at WEMM-FM Huntington Allegheny Wood Products was formed Congress created Conrail through the Regional Rail Reorganization Act Joe Powell directed the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education. The Prato Rio house was added to the National Register of Historic Places Dallas Bailey became president of Salem International University Mary Lee Settle wrote Prisons The Shepherdstown historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places Harold M. McNeill became president of West Virginia State College (now University) John D. Rockefeller IV became president of West Virginia Wesleyan College Jeff Holland Cook became conductor of the Wheeling Symphony WVU at Parkersburg Jackson County Center opened Clyde Ware directed the West Virginia-set film, When the Line Goes Through
1988
The state budget was $3.3 billion Other events that happened on or around 1988 South Charleston Stamping and Manufacturing Company took over the VW plant at Charleston Ordnance Center Stephen Coonts wrote Final Flight Ken Joseph of Ashland, Kentucky bought the Edwards Moonlight to renovate it as a restaurant Daniel Boyd released the movie Chillers The Stonewall Jackson Dam was completed A report stated that 78% of the state was forested Henry Louis Gates wrote The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of Afro-American Literary Criticism Mrs. Ailes retired as assistant editor of the Hampshire Review The first woman, Bessie Horn, was admitted to the He-Man Club The state's original interstate system was completed William Hoffman wrote By Land By Sea Kaiser Aluminum plant was sold to Ravenswood Aluminum Corporation Girls were again admitted to Linsly school Lee Maynard published the novel Crum Louise McNeill published The Milkweed Ladies Louise McNeill published TheMilkweed Ladies Richard Osborne was promoted to publisher of the Logan Banner West Virginia became a charter member of the multi-state "Lotto America" game Irene McKinney published a collection of poetry, Quick Fire and Slow Fire The section of the Midland Trail from White Sulphur Springs to Charleston was designated as West Virginia's first state scenic highway
1994
Farm acreage was less than 35% of what it was in 1900
1997
The state budget rose to $7 billion
2000
The U.S. Census reported the state's population at 1,808,350 Other events that happened on or around 2000 Ceredo had 1,675 residents Charleston population fell to 53,421 Clay Foundation assets at $67 million Reported 44 chapters of the state society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Northern Panhandle and southeastern part of the state had highest median ages Eastern Panhandle and southwestern part of the state had lowest median ages Doddridge population reached 7,403 Dunbar had a population of 8,154 Charleston ranked 167th out of 318 Metropolitan Statistical Areas West Virginia's official poverty rate sat at 17.9% Elizabeth's population was 994 Fairmont had population of 19,097 People 65+ represented 15.3% of population in West Virginia Follansbee's population reported at 3,115 Forestlands of West Virginia reported at 78% of states' area Franklin population reported at 797 Grafton population stood at 2,489 Population of Grant County rose to 11,299 Greenbrier County had a population of 34,453 people Reported population of 32,667 in Hancock County Hardy County reported a population of 12,669 Harpers Ferry was reported with a population of 307 Harrisville held a population of 1,842 The population of Hurricane was reported at 5,222 Census reported 3,606 Indians living in West Virginia Jackson County's population was 28,000 Ripley's population stood at 3,263 Ravenswood's population stood at 4,301 Kanawha County population was the largest in the state at 200,073 Kenova population remained the largest in Wayne County at 3,485 Keyser's population was 5,303 Keystone's population had fallen to 453 City of Logan population was 1,630 Logan County population reported at 37,710 Population of Madison was 2,677 Mannington population was 2,124 Reported 142,728 manufactured homes in West Virginia West Virginia had the third-highest home-ownership rates in the U.S. at 75.2% Marion County population stood at 56,598 Population of Marlinton was 1,204 Marshall County's population was 35,519 Martinsburg population was 75,905 The population of Mason county was 25,957 Census reported African-Americans were 11.9% of McDowell's population Population of McDowell County was 27,329 West Virginia had the country's highest median age at 38.9 years Mercer County population was 62,980 Reported 125,336 members of 1,341 United Methodist churches in West Virginia Middlebourne's population was 870 Milton's population was 2,206 Monongalia County had a population of 81,866 Monroe county had a population of 14,583 Morgan County had a population of 14,943 Morgantown population was 26,809 Moundsville had a population of 9,978 Population of New Cumberland was 1,099 Nicholas County had a population of 26,562 Census reports 141,060 people living in the Northern Panhandle Oak Hill population was 7,589 Population of Ohio County was 47,427 Eleven Orthodox Christian churches were listed in a church survey with 4,310 adherents Paden City's population was 2,860 Parkersburg's population was 33,099 The population of Paw Paw was 524 Franklin had 797 residents The population of Petersburg was 2,423 The population of Philippi was 2,870 Piedmont's population was 1,014 The population of Pineville was 715 The population of Pleasants County was 7,514 The population of Pocahontas County was 9,131 Richwood had a population of 2,477 Ritchie County's population was 10,343 Roane County population was 15,446 Reported 100,000 Catholics in West Virginia Romney had a population of 1,940 The population of St. Albans was 11,567 St. Marys population was at 2,017 Reported 3,060 second homes in Pocahontas County Shinnston's population was 2,295 South Charleston had a population of 13,390 Spencer had a population of 2,352 Sternwheel Regatta festivities were scaled back to an extended weekend Hinton's population was 2,880 Summersville population was 3,294 Sutton had a population 1,011 Taylor County population was 16,089 Tucker County population was 7,321 Union had a population of 548 Upshur County population was 23,404 Vienna had a population of 10.861 Wayne had a population of 1,105 Wayne County population was 42, 903 Webster County population was 9,719 Webster Springs had a population of 808 Weirton population was 20,411 Welch population was 2,683 Wellsburg population was 2,891 West Union had a population of 806 Weston's population was 4,317 Westover had a population of 3,941 Wetzel County had a population of 17,693 Wheeling population was 31,419 Population of White Sulphur Springs was 2,315 Williamson population was 3,414 Winfield population was 1,858 Wirt County had a population of 5,873 Wood County had a population of 87,986 View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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