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Chemical Industry
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1915
The Belle Alkali Company started a plant near Belle Other events that happened on or around 1915 Harry Stansbury contacted high schools across the state to participate The Warner-Klipstein Chemical Company started A Clarksburg newspaper became the Exponent-American First land for the Monongahela National Forest acquired Legislation gave authority to Forest, Game and Fish Warden to establish refuges for protection of wild game and birds Reinforced concrete began with C.A.P Turner Monument erected at Fort Lee site to mark the beginnings of Charleston Fostoria Glass's popular "American" pattern was fist designed and patented West Virginia Bureau of Mines reported 1,479 hand-loading miners employed at Gary The Mother's Pension Law was enacted The Board of Health was replaced by the Department of Health Local timbering brought a narrow-gauge railroad to Helvetia The word "hillbilly" appeared in the title of a Harper's Monthly travel article, "Hobnobbing with Hillbillies" A 5-acre tract of land at Jackson's Mill was purchased by the Monongahela Power Company William "Keg" Purnell was born in Charleston Ann Baker was born Mother Jones testified before another congressional committee The New River & Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Company operated a series of drift mines at Layland, Fayette County Legislature passed bill to empower cities and towns to levy taxes for public libraries and reading rooms A monument to General Joseph Lightburn was placed at Vicksburg National Battlefield Park The Marcus family relocated to Farmington Marietta Manufacturing Company began operation in Point Pleasant The Concrete Steel Bridge Company built the Alderson bridge across the Greenbrier River Legislation called for provision for preventing underground mine fires and requiring foremen and fire bosses to pass state examination and receive state certification Margaret Montague published Closed Doors Ephraim Morgan was appointed to the Public Service Commission by Governor Hatfield Descendents of Hunter John Myers left the Sleepy Creek Mountain area A member of the Church of Nazarene moved to Mannington and started a church in his house Greasy Neale graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College Greasy Neale played with the Canton (Ohio) Bulldogs Herschel C. Ogden became the owner of the Parkersburg News The legislature removed Workmen's Compensation from the Public Service Commision Dr. Burke offered the state of West Virginia property for use as a tuberculosis sanatorium Frederick Rhead received a gold medal at the San Diego Exposition for his design of mirror black pottery glaze Rat Rodgers lettered in football Benjamin Rosenbloom served as state senator from Wheeling The state legislature passed a primary law that made it difficult for third parties to be on the ballot The West Virginia legislature first imposed the corporate excise tax Charles Ward died H. Rus Warne designed the West Virginia Building at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco H. Rus Warne designed a Masonic Temple Building Walter B "Watt" Powell moved to Charleston The West Virginia Coal Association was formed Legislation changed the name of West Virginia Colored Institute to West Virginia Collegiate Institute (now West Virginia State university) State women's suffrage amendment was reintroduced Carter G. Woodson published The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861 Lenna Yost became the state legislative chair of the West Virginia Federation of Women's Clubs Thomas Davis resigned from National Guard Vernon Johnson was elected the youngest Speaker of the House of Delegates
1917
U.S. government hired DuPont Company to build new nitrocellulose plant Other events that happened on or around 1917 Charles Ambler's last year teaching history and political science at Randolph-Macon College Hotel built by Harvey Ghiz in Logan West Virginia Folklore Society became inactive Louis Bennett Jr. graduated from Yale First book of poetry, Green Fruit,was published by John Bishop Florence Blanchfield enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps Pearl Sydenstricker married John Lossing Buck Louis Watson Chappell received his B.A. from Wake Forest William Edwin Chilton completed his term as U.S. Senate and became publisher 89.4 million tons of coal produced in West Virginia The Shenandoah (George Washington) National Forest was created U.S. Supreme Court supported Alston Dayton's "yellow dog" contracts ruling Legislature established the West Virginia State Colored Tuberculosis Sanitarium Diamond Shoe and Garment Co. received full department store status Natural gas peaked at 309 billion cubic feet Marion County in the Making was published Study of German in schools dropped due to the entrance of America in WWI Henry Hatfield entered the army medical corps as Captain West Virginia launched a series of highway improvements with creation of the State Road Commission The State Road Bureau was replaced by the State Road Commission The U.S. Supreme Court sustained the lower court ruling prohibiting UMWA from seeking to influence workers from breaking yellowdog contracts The House of Delegates grew to 94 delegates Itmann began mining the Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam in Wyoming County Billy Moore was born in Parkersburg Fanny Johnson and Vincent Costello moved back to Charleston Fanny Johnson's story "The Strange Looking Man" was included in a best short stories collection Mother Jones returned to West Virginia to hold meetings and seek union recognition in the Fairmont and Winding Gulf coalfield Frank Keeney became president of UMWA District 17 Harley Kilgore was commissioned a second lieutenant The town of Nitro was established by the U.S. War Department for the manufacture of munitions for WWI Fred Mooney became secretary-treasurer of UMWA District 17 Regents began to abolish high school courses in normal schools The U.S. government acquired the majority of land on Otter Creek for Monongahela National Forest The Owens Bottle Company opened a plant in the upper end of Kanawha City William Nelson Page moved to Washington. Pruntytown Correctional Center, near Grafton, offered eight years of education, providing a full grade-school education Denmar Sanitarium for black tuberculosis patients was established in Pocahontas County. The Division of Vital Statistics was established by the West Virginia Legislature. Short lines, including the Coal & Coke Railway, became part of the B&O. The Reymann Memorial Farm was donated to WVU as two separate farms Rat Rodgers was named to the All-American teams Samuel Craig Shaw became editor of the Moundsville Daily Echo Capt. Thomas J. Reynolds built his first real showboat and named it America Five companies merged to form the Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation The USS Huntington was equipped for early experiments in naval aviation Commercial mining had started in Webster County The Montgomery Preparatory School was renamed the West Virginia Trades School (now WVU Institute of Technology) Lenna Yost became the president of the West Virginia Equal Suffrage Association Mordecai Johnson became pastor of Charleston’s First Baptist Church
1918
DuPont Company plant closed at end of WWI Other events that happened on or around 1918 Walter Barnes wrote An Easy Primer Claude Worthington Benedum, the only child of Michael L. and Sarah Benedum, died of influenza at Camp Meade Robert C. Byrd's mother died and he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle Anne Camden died in Parkersburg, leaving the Camden mansion to the heirs which in turn donated the house to the city for use as a hospital J. Howard Holt published Crime and Punishment, a pamphlet opposing the death penalty Chamber of Commerce established in Wheeling Fire destroyed Charleston Gazette newspaper plant located at the South Side Bridge John W. Davis ended his time as solicitor general John W. Davis became ambassador to England John W. Davis was a member of the American delegation to the Geneva conference Construction began on the High Level Bridge in Fairmont Fairmont Times began publishing Sunday editions West Virginia Farm Bureau Federation was created Homer Holt graduated from Washington and Lee University The Spanish Influenza epidemic became one of the world's deadliest and swiftest pandemics Weirton Steel Corporation was formed Fanny Johnson's story "They Both Needed It" was among the best short stories of the year Hayes Picklesimer first came to work at Kanawha Valley Bank The United Zinc Smelting Corporation began operation in Marshall County Williamson Memorial Hospital was founded The Morgantown Post-Chronicle was renamed the Morgantown Post The Weekly New Dominion, a Morgantown newspaper, ceased publication The National Bank of Commerce was founded Owens-Illinois Glass Company purchased a Huntington glass factory A large brick hotel was constructed by the Pence family at Pence Springs Board of Public Works acquired constitutional status by ratification of an earlier amendment The town of Nitro was completed. The Bryants built the Bryants New Showboat The Parkersburg & Ohio Valley Electric Railway ceased operation Boyd Stutler rose to the rank of sergeant and served with distinction in the American offensives Eighteen of Melville Davisson Post's stories were published in Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries by Appleton The German Bank changed its name to the Wheeling Bank & Trust Company A Romney hospital at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind proved vital during influenza epidemic Oglebay Hall was completed for the College of Agriculture at WVU Plans for the West Virginian Hotel began with the Bluefield Rotary Club West Virginians participated in the Italian Campaign Lenna Yost became the legislative representative for the national Women's Christian Temperance Union
1920
The Union Carbide Company bought small refinery near Clendenin 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 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 Chemical firms in the Kanawha Valley began expanding rapidly 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)
1921
The Viscose Company established a plant in Nitro Other events that happened on or around 1921 Newton Diehl Baker served as a director of the Cleveland Trust Company and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Walter Barnes became president of the West Virginia Education Association The Beckley Register began publishing twice a week Bluefield became the second city in the nation to adopt the city manager form of local government via charter International Nickel Company plant opened Blenko Glass established in Milton State Capitol Commission was created Louis W. Chappell received appointment in English Department at WVU Drs. Romie and W. F. Walker's stately home on Virginia Street in Charleston became the Mountain State Hospital West Virginia legislature enacted anti-lynching legislation The Game and Fish Commission was created by the legislature John W. Davis resigned as ambassador to England John W. Davis began law practice in New York Levi Dean became the 19th architect licensed under the West Virginia licensing law Dunbar was incorporated John Easton became VP of West Virginia State Federation of Labor Governor Morgan appointed first woman, Lenna Lowe Yost, to serve on the state Board of Education William H. "Teepi" Kendrick established and directed the first state 4-H camp in the U.S. at Jackson's Mill Fairmont High Level Bridge was open for traffic The Glen Rogers Mine opened as one of the state's largest Legislature expanded the state road commission to three members and classified all roads as state or county roads Howard Gore was hired by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a plan for government marketing of livestock and livestock products Federal Highway Act directed each state to recommend for federal designation a connected road system Frank Keeny and 550 others were indicted for murder and treason after the Miners' March on Logan Harold Houston represented the UMWA leaders who were accused of treason during the Battle of Blair Mountain Interwoven Mills had opened branch plants in Hagerstown, Maryland, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and Berkeley Springs Jackson's Mill became the location of West Virginia's state 4-H Camp Musa Kaleem was born Orlando Wright in Wheeling Herman Kump was elected mayor of Elkins Supreme Court ruling Ex parte Lavinder moderately tempered the power of the executive branch to use martial law Reported 99 out of 124 members of the West Virginia Legislature were Republicans Clarence Frey came to Logan County Ned Cline was born Joseph Long left the Huntington postmaster position Occupation of the present courthouse in Madison began Mannington was incorporated as a city Marshall College awarded its first baccalaureate degrees Walter Martens moved to West Virginia and opened an architecture practice in Charleston Louis Marx & Company acquired toy manufacturing facilities of its own John Matheus received an A.M. degree from Columbia Annie Brake of Valley Head began midwifery The Fairmont Electric Light and Power Plant changed its name to Monongahela Power and Railway Company Sawmill at Hominy Falls was moved to mouth of Deer Creek. The West Virginia Preparatory School (now Potomac State) became a junior college and began offering the first two years of the baccalaureate programs and certain vocational programs Funding for maternal and child health began in West Virginia Benjamin Rosenbloom began representing the First Congressional District The Franciscan Sisters of St. Francis Hospital in Charleston were recalled to New York Morris Shawkey became superintendent of Beaver Pond School District of Bluefield Spruce Knob was acquired by the U.S. Forest Service The West Virginia State Fair was founded by the Shorthorn Association as Greenbrier Valley Fair Greenbrier Valley Fair was first held State police helped defend Logan County in the Miner's March State Police field structure grew to four companies West Virginia replaced the corporate excise tax with a business gross receipts tax Clint Thomas joined the Lincoln Giants baseball team in New York T. C. Townsend was hired by the UMWA to defend miners and union leaders in the March on Logan W. W. Trent received an A.M from Columbia University St. Joseph's Hospital (Upshur County) was founded by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters Architect H. Rus Warne established a partnership of Warne, Tucker and Patterson was established The Watoga Land Association was organized Huntington expanded corporate limits into Wayne County Phil Conley began working with the American Constitutional Association The Engineering Experimental State was established at WVU The Schmulbach Building building was taken over by the Wheeling Steel Corporation Wheeling Steel began providing company housing for its coke plant workers Williamstown was incorporated The West Virginia Trades School became the New River State School (now WVU Institute of Technology) Cyrus H. Martin became president of New River State School (now WVU Institute of Technology) Lenna Yost represented the U.S. at international congresses against alcoholism in Switzerland Hack Wilson started his pro career playing for the Martinsburg Blue Sox
1925
Union Carbide moved to Rollin Chemical site in So. Charleston 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 John Harrington Cox's dissertation published as Cox presided over founding of West Virginia Folklore Society Folk-Songs of the South by Harvard Univ. Press Levi Dean built the Ricketts house in Huntington Henry Davis Hazelwood was appointed the principal of Douglass High School Dreamland pool in Kenova opened as a private business DuPont built the Belle plant Alpha Psi Omega, an international collegiate honor society for drama students, was founded at Fairmont State College (now Fairmont State University) West Virginia Farm Bureau Service Company was organized Stage Struck starring Gloria Swanson was filmed in New Martinsville A fire destroyed nearly all of the Greenbrier Military School's buildings John Harrington Cox documented nine version of "John Hardy," confusing Hardy and Henry as the same person in Folk-Songs of the South Federal board unveiled national system of interstate routes and uniform highway signs Reported 233 high school were open in the state The Itmann Company Store opened John L. Dickinson became president of Kanawha Valley Bank after the death of John Q. Dickinson Kanawha Valley Hospital bought the Barber Sanatorium and Hospital facility Tom Kromer first attended Marshall College Jean Lee Latham graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College A new building on Linsly's campus was built Pare Lorentz moved to New York Minnie Lowther wrote Marshall Hall The "Thundering Herd" nickname was first used after Marshall defeated Glenville State Jacob Marcus received his Ph.D. from the University of Berlin The Governor's Mansion was completed John Matheus' short story "Fog" won first place in the Opportunity magazine short story contest Bernard McDonough left Georgetown University Howard B. Lee became attorney general Governor Morgan pardoned John Wilburn Morgantown citizens made a failed attempt to remove Zackquill Morgan's remains from Prickett's Fort to his hometown of Morgantown The first Mountaineer Field was completed William Page Pitt graduated from Muskingum College Pocahontas Coal & Coke Company moved to Bluefield William Revercomb married Sara Hughes A scrip law was written by coal company lobbyists making scrip non-transferable The Sistersville to New Martinsville streetcar line ceased operation 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
1926
Start of the new DuPont plant at Belle Other events that happened on or around 1926 There was a total of 64 African Methodist Episcopal churches and 2,298 members Harry R. Wyllie purchased the Allegheny Lodge for use as a private estate American Gas & Electric Power Company consolidated a dozen smaller companies including Appalachian Power Dr. Maggie Ballard graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine The backers of the Beckley Post bought the Raleigh Herald, naming it the Post-Herald "Billy Richardson's Last Ride" was written by Carson J. Robinson Chear River dam, built to generate electricity, was completed Earl Core joined biology department at WVU Hallie Elkins made gift of Halliehurst to Davis & Elkins College New campus developed surrounding the Elkins mansion Wehrle B. Geary and A. W. Cox merged resources to begin building Fairmont Times moved to the building of West Virginian Donald R. Gaudineer became district ranger for the Greenbrier Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest Governor's Mansion added servant quarters above the garage The High Gate mansion was sold to the Sisters of St Joseph after the death of J. E. Watson The Lovett family sold the Hilltop House in Harpers Ferry to Fred McGee The Hinton News building was constructed by H. C. Ogden The House of Delegates impeached Auditor John C. Bond Milton Humphreys published a Civil War memoir, Military Operations 1861-1863 The Kanawha route became part of the transcontinental Midland Trial highway The Louis Glass company was established John Matheus's short story "Swamp Moccasin" won first prize in the Crisis magazine short story contest Additions were built at the Mount St. George mansion in Wellsburg Karl Myers compiled a poetry collection, The Quick Years Wheeling accepted Waddington Farm and renamed it Oglebay Park The Nurses Residence was built at City Hospital Training School for Nurses in Wheeling to house the large classes of nurses The mill, shops, and Shay locomotives at Curtin were moved to Bergoo. Potomac State was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The Sunset News began publication in Bluefield Ada "Bricktop" Smith opened a Paris club called the Music Box The Smoot Theater was built by the Smoot Amusement Company Spring Hill Cemetery acquired large tracts from the Wehrle and Jefferies farms Weirton Steel contracted for the construction of a continuous sheet steel mill P. D. Strausbaugh initiated a summer field course called botanical expedition at WVU The Wellsburg, Bethany & Washington Railroad streetcar line ceased operation The First Regiment was designated as the 201st Infantry A first tower was built in Watoga State Park The Webster Springs Hotel was destroyed by fire The road through Winfield was paved Paul Wissmach died Hack Wilson started playing for the Chicago Cubs
1927
The DuPont plant at Belle began making synthetic wood alcohol Other events that happened on or around 1927 Alderson Federal Prison Camp opened as the Federal Industrial Institution for Women Mary Meek Atkeson wrote The Shining Hours Wertz Field Charleston area's first airport near Dunbar constructed Fokker Aircraft of America opened in Glen Dale Union Carbide company bought Blaine Island Historical novel, The Scout of the Buckongehanon, was written by J. C. McWhorter Charleston Daily Mail moved quarters to new building at 1001 Virginia Street East Clarksburg's Exponent and Telegram newspapers merged under Clarksburg Publishing Company North Central Association fully accredited the West Virginia Collegiate Institute (now West Virginia State University)
1937
American Viscose built new rayon fiber unit in Nitro industrial park Other events that happened on or around 1937 Mary Atkeson wrote Pioneering in Agriculture Death of Thomas L. Felts Mary Behner married David Christopher Blackwater Falls State Park was established Jesse Bloch succeeded his father as president of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company Louis W. Chappell purchased one of few portable disk recording machines Circulation of Charleston Gazette exceeded 50,000 The Cherry River Navy organized Extension of Route 39 started in fall Julia Davis wrote No Other White Men Belle began making clear plastic called Lucite John Easton led the West Virginia State Federation of Labor out of the American Federation of Labor
Aug 31, 1941
The U.S. Defense Plant Corporation authorized Union Carbide to build a butadiene plant at Institute Other events that happened on or around August 31, 1941 Rex Parker married Eleanora Niera.
Mar 31, 1943
First rubber made at Union Carbide's Institute plant Other events that happened on or around March 31, 1943 Herschel C. Ogden died
1947
American Cyanamid built plant near Willow Island Other events that happened on or around 1947 Federal government sold Arthurdale homes and community building to the homesteaders West Virginia Aeronautics Commission formed Florence Blanchfield retired Jesse Bloch's son, Thomas, became president of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company Bluefield State College (now University) was fully accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Business affairs for WVU and state colleges was transferred to WVU Board of Governors and State Board of Education Tony Boyle was brought to Washington as assistant to UMW President John L. Lewis Harry Brawley won an award for the "School of the Air" series Carter Coal Company sold to Youngstown Sheet & Tube Western Maryland Railroad took possession of the Cheat Mountain Club Levi Johnson Dean had 139 architectural commissions Coal production peaked with 174 million tons Jack Fleming began announcing for WVU sports Harry B. Heflin became the third president of Glenville State College "Biggie" Goldberg led the Chicago Cardinals to the NFL Championship The Greene Line acquired the Delta Queen Louis W. Chappell recorded Edden Hammons at Richwood Hotel Voters approved a city charter for the Weirton Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote Roseanna McCoy Ken Hechler began teaching at Princeton University Marshall won the NAIB national basketball tournament in Kansas City Homer Holt became general counsel for the Union Carbide company in New York City The Huttonsville Correctional Center became a separate institution from the state penitentiary at Moundsville The West Virginia Conservation Commission constructed a dam and bridge at the Jug of Middle Island Creek, restoring water to the original channel Wertz Field in Institute received modern facilities at Kanawha (Yeager) Airport Supreme Court ruling West Virginia-Pittsburgh Coal Company v. Strong limited surface mining The West Virginia League of Women Voters was recognized by the national office Operation of all locks and dams except Lock and Dam No 1 on the Big Sandy was discontinued Elli Mannette had perfected a steel drum with two octaves of a diatonic scale Jacob Rader Marcus established the American Jewish Archives Dan Maroney became a bus driver for the Charleston Transit Company Mildred Mitchell married William L. Bateman Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was accepted a position as staff physician at Lakin State Hospital Morgantown annexed part of Evansdale The Pence Springs property containing the original spring, hotel and fields were purchased by the state of West Virginia for use as a state prison for women Women prisoners from Moundsville Penitentiary were transferred to women's penitentiary in Pence Springs The Nazarene Camp and Conference ground was established at Summersville WPDX Clarksburg began competing with WMMN Fairmont for country music audience Alex Schoenbaum opened the Parkette Drive-In and Bowling Alley in the west side of Charleston Oliver S. Ikenberry became president of Shepherd College Hulett Smith began serving on the state Aeronautics Commission. Marshall College (now University) won the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball Championship Miles Stanley became the president of his steelworkers union local An additional appropriation of $60,000 to build the State Police Academy was obtained from legislature Edward W. Stifel Sr. died The Co-operative Transit Company ceased streetcar operations in Wheeling area City Lines of West Virginia ceased streetcar operations in north-central West Virginia Surface mining production reached 18.4 million tons Union Carbide purchased the Institute butadiene, styrene and support facilities to convert to chemical plants Reported 14,510 people were employed in textile-related jobs in West Virginia The University of Hard Knocks was conceived by Jim Comstock Andre Van Damme and family moved to America Vitrolite ceased production Enrollment at West Virginia State College was 1,785 students The West Virginia Turnpike Commission was created by legislature The Nickel Plate Railroad purchased a majority of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Henry Mazer became conductor of the Wheeling Symphony Doc Williams had a major hit, "Beyond the Sunset" Florence Blanchfield ceased as superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps Sam Jones joined the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro American League Buck Harless became part owner of a lumber company Toni Stone played for the semi-pro Twin Cities Colored Giants
1948
Westvaco Chemical Corporation became part of FMC Other events that happened on or around 1948 Peak production of coal in West Virginia Clair Bee wrote Touchdown Pass Charles Town Opera House was closed Oliver Chitwood published the second volume of A Short History of the American People President Irvin Stewart approved Earl Core's proposal to found WVU arboretum Five floors were added to the 1941 addition of the Diamond Department Store Little Jimmy Dickens signed with Columbia Records Joanne Dru appeared in Red River The Edwards Moonlight was rehulled K. K. Hall was elected mayor of Madison Roy Lee Harmon wrote Up the Creek Virgil Carrington Jones wrote The Hatfield and McCoys, published by University of North Carolina Press The music department of Concord College awarded the first degree in music education Louis Johnson chaired President Truman's finance committee The federal government charged Big Bill Lias with income tax evasion The Lilly Brothers moved to WWVA Wheeling where they worked with Red Belcher The appointment of a separate dean for the Marshall College graduate school began An addition was built to Louis Marx & Company facility for plastic toys Bernard McDonough bought the Kanawha Sand & Gravel company Herbert Chester Greer died John Nash entered the doctoral program at Princeton University The Spirit of Jefferson newspaper merged with the Farmers' Advocate The last case of smallpox in West Virginia was reported Jack Rollins joined music publishers Hill and Range in New York West Virginia State College romped through an undefeated basketball season, winning the regular season and tournament championships Construction began on the state police academy Eleanor Steber sang at the Republican National Convention Eleanor Steber commissioned and premiered Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Stone & Thomas opened a new store in downtown Charleston P. D. Strausbaugh retired from WVU The Federal Communications Commission granted approval for the construction WSAZ television in Huntington Andre Van Damme settle in Charleston WAJR-FM (now WVAQ) began broadcasting in Morgantown The West Virginia Review ceased publication WVU enrollment at 8,069 A physical therapy department was opened at Wheeling Hospital WHIS radio increased to 5,000 watts The Shott brothers made a premature effort at an FM station Frankie Yankovic was voted “America’s Polka King” by an 8-to-1 margin at a contest sponsored by record companies
1954
Monsanto and Bayer built polyurethane foam plant in New Martinsville Other events that happened on or around 1954 Appalachian Bible Institute had a student body of 40 and needed more space Walter Barnes retired as president of the West Virginia Folklore Society West Virginia physician Joseph E. Martin Jr. insisted black lung was a progressive, terminal disease associated with exposure to coal dust. W. E. Blackhurst published Riders of the Flood Improved amplifiers made it possible to offer as many as five cable television channels by the end of the year J. R. Clifford remains re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery Explosion at Jamison No. 9 mine killed 16 Life magazine dedicated 3 pages of photos to Phyllis Curtin's "dance of the seven veils" Farm Women's Clubs changed names to Home Demonstration clubs West Virginia State's land grant college status was transferred to WVU Fairmont State College opened the campus to black students for the first time Deadly explosion in Consolidation Coal Company's Farmington Mine The Follansbee steel mill was sold to the Louis Berkman Company Davis Grubb wrote A Dream of Kings John T. Willet became commissioner of the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Harold Hayslett established Hayslett Violins in South Charleston The West Virginia Turnpike was completed from Princeton to Charleston The federal government transferred the deed of the Holly River State Park to the state Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation built a large aluminum plant in Ravenswood Garland Wilson died in Paris Joy Manufacturing Company reported that 72% of all coal loaded mechanically was loaded by Joy loaders Lakin State Hospital was integrated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation unconstitutional Harts High School was built at Harts Marshall College named its buffalo mascot "Marco" Governor William Marland implemented his no-nonsense policy of public school desegregation following the U.S. Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision Minter Homes Corporation began concentrating on custom millwork, finished lumber, windows, doors and other items for building contractors Public school districts in Morgantown desegregated John Norman received an M.D. from Harvard Medical School The Oak Hill Saturday Night Wrestling television show first aired Peach production was at 900,000 bushels The Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative purchased Hardy County Power and Light Fred Schaus began coaching basketball at WVU Shepherd College admitted African-American students for the first time Red Sovine joined the Grand Ole Opry Morris Harvey College football team participated in the Cigar Bowl in Tampa Miles Stanley was elected president of the Kanawha Valley Industrial Council A Turnpike Division was added to the State Police The Statler hotel chain was purchased by Conrad Hilton Boyd Stutler left the American Legion magazine Pope Pius XII bestowed the honorary title of archbishop ad personam on John Swint Clint Thomas became messenger for the state Senate The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Morgantown was founded WCHS-TV Channel 8 was launched The Press Association was revived under its original name The West Virginia State Wildlife Center began evolving as a zoo Geoffrey Hobday began leading the Charleston Symphony Orchestra West Virginia dedicated the Charlton Memorial Bridge on the West Virginia Turnpike
1957
FMC developed new source of brine at Bens Run Other events that happened on or around 1957 Emile Hodel became editor of the Beckley Post-Herald Michael Benedum built the Bridgeport Civic Center Reorganization transferred state mental health and penal institutions to Department of Mental Health and the Commissioner of Public Institutions Weirton Steel purchased Browns Island for $40,000 S. Maude Kaemmerling willed 3,135 acres of land in Canaan Valley to West Virginia for recreational use City National Bank opened its doors under President Donald Shonk Bishop mine explodes again Jim Comstock founded the weekly West Virginia Hillbilly Deer restocking program ended Roy Bird Cook received the Award of Merit from the West Virginia Library Association Little Jimmy Dickens left the Grand Ole Opry Irvin Dugan retired as newspaper artist Donald Duncan's sons took over the Duncan Yo-Yo Company Fairfax Stone dedicated as state historic monument and became state park Gunner Gatski played football one year for Detroit The Knights of the South Branch was organized to revive medieval jousting Roy Lee Harmon wrote Unto the Hills Logan High School and its field house and athletic fields were constructed on Hatfield Island Ken Hechler moved to West Virginia to teach at Marshall College (now University) The first interstate highway construction contract in the state was awarded on I-64 for a bridge across a road in Cabell County Jean Lee Latham was awarded the Boys' Clubs of America Junior Book Award for Trail Blazer of the Seas The McClains were approached by WVU professors who feared that early West Virginia histories would be lost if not reprinted Kyle McCormick wrote The Story of Mercer County John Norman served on the aircraft carrier Saratoga A group from West Virginia and Ohio purchased land to establish a college with an independent board of trustees, now Ohio Valley University Marbon Chemical is built The announcement of plans to merge the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central System was made Filippo Colasessano's son began selling pepperoni rolls in his Fairmont lunch spot The Division of Disease Control began a statewide polio vaccination program The Kanawha River bridge was opened in Winfield Red Ribble stopped photographing southern West Virginia Otis Rice began teaching at West Virginia Institute of Technology The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company company stores were sold The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company coal reserves were leased to the Island Creek Coal Company Jay Rockefeller went to the International Christian University in Tokyo Shenandoah Downs purchased land north of Charles Town Race Track for night harness racing WVU Rod Hundley became All-American in basketball Jim Sprouse began practicing law Beckley radio station WAJR increased to 5,000 watts Ernest T. Weir died The last high school basketball was played under the African-American West Virginia Athletic Union Benjamin Starks founded the Beacon Journal in Charleston The Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council agreed to combine as the West Virginia Labor Federation, AFL-CIO West Virginia State College lost its federal land-grant status Stanley H. Martin became president of West Virginia Wesleyan College The Whipple mine shut down and the company store closed The Winfield bridge was completed WSAZ radio switched affiliation to NBC
1959
Goodyear plant built near Apple Grove Other events that happened on or around 1959 Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) achieved accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Three-class format based on school size, each class having eight teams was created for the state high school basketball tournament Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area began J. G. Bradley sold the Widen Mine to Clinchfield Coal Company Owners of Maryland's Pimlico Race Course bought Charles Town Race Track Name changed from Barber Sanatorium to Kanawha Valley Memorial Hospital There were 47 covered bridges still in existence in West Virginia Donald Duncan sold the Duncan Parking Meter Corporation Ellis Dungan Productions produced Wheels to Progress Medium green was introduced for fiestaware Hal Greer advanced to the National Basketball Association after graduation from Marshall Perry Gresham wrote Sage of Bethany Four Boone County businessmen opened the first Heck's department store in Charleston Dixie Kilham bought the Hilltop House William Hoffman wrote Days in the Yellow Leaf Homer Laughlin China Company began producing restaurant china John Knowles wrote his first novel, A Separate Peace John Knowles wrote his first novel, A Separate Peace Catherine Marshall married Leonard E. LeSourd Kyle McCormick wrote The New-Kanawha River and the Mine War of West Virginia Charlie McCoy moved to Nashville New Mennonite congregation started in Pocahontas County The Mill Point Prison Camp closed Moncove Lake was created by the damming of Devil Creek Size of the Moundsville prison doubled John Forbes Nash was hospitalized for schizophrenia The first radio telescopes were in operation at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank The historic Reber Radio Telescope moved to Green Bank Warden M. Lane outline a proposal for reorganization of the Conservation Commission to correct an overlapping of duties Lewis Keller, Sr. purchased the Oakhurst Links property from Cary Montague Don Gardner became the first president of Ohio Valley College (now University) Rex and Eleanor Parker had a conversion experience and thereafter performed only sacred music Rebel Records was founded in Maryland Nat Reese returned to West Virginia to work for the State Road Commission ABC-TV first aired Lunch with Soupy Sales WVU basketball team lost 71-70 to California in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament final Reported 2,843 schools in West Virginia Shenandoah Downs opened in Charles Town Agnes Smith published An Edge of the Forest Hulett Smith left the state Aeronautics Commission Blaze Starr met Louisiana Gov. Earl Long while performing in New Orleans Jerry West was named most valuable player of the NCAA tournament Jerry West was unanimous All American first-team choice Patrick Gainer became president of the West Virginia Folklore Society The Mountaineers went to the national basketball championships Water ski shows failed to draw a crowd William F. Troy, S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) Katherine Johnson married Lt. Colonel James A. Johnson Tunney Hunsaker fought Ernie Terrell The Special Forces (Green Berets) were created in the Army National Guard
1986
Most of Union Carbide Institute plant sold to French company, Rhone-Poulenc Other events that happened on or around 1986 Appalachian Regional Hospitals changed its name to Appalachian Regional Healthcare Pinckney Benedict received B.A. from Princeton University Jennings Boyd was president of the McDowell County Board of Education The East Huntington Bridge connecting Huntington and Proctorville won the Federal Highway Administration's award for design excellence Clay Foundation was established Stephen Coonts published Flight of the Intruder Hazel Dickens released It's Hard to Tell the Singer from the Song Electioneering was prohibited within 300 feet of the polls Production of Fiestaware began again with white, pink (rose), black. Cobalt blue, and apricot were introduced Fostoria Glass plant in Moundsville closed Per capita personal income in West Virginia rose to 86% of national average A study estimated that as many as 764 men died from silicosis from the Hawks Nest Tunnel Homer Laughlin China Company revived Fiestaware A complete restructuring of the prison system was required by the Crain v. Bordenkircher court decision Kanawha Valley Memorial Hospital merged with Charleston Area Medical Center John Knowles wrote The Private Life of Axie Reed State Supreme Court ruling Crain v. Bordenkircher found that conditions at the state penitentiary failed to meet constitutional standards and led to the construction of a new prison Louie Glass shipped $24 million worth of glass and employed 525 people The pygmy shrew was first reported in Canaan Valley
1999
Rhone-Poulenc plant at Institute was sold to Aventis Other events that happened on or around 1999 The film Four Days premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival The Bluestone Dam celebrated its 50th anniversary Lodge at Cacapon State Park was expanded Camden-Clark Hospital in Parkersburg opened an Outpatient Physical Therapy Building Gaston Caperton was chosen for president of the College Board Wilson Douglas died Construction began on Clay Center Contemporary American Theater Festival received Governor's Award for Outstanding Cultural Organization Stephen Coonts wrote Cuba State acquired rights to use "Country Roads" to promote tourism West Virginia rated 4th lowest crime rate CSX and Norfolk Southern absorbed Conrail Jacob Beard's conviction for the Rainbow Family murders was overturned
Feb 06, 2001
The Dow Chemical Company acquired Union Carbide
2004
Flexsys closed the Monsanto plant Other events that happened on or around 2004 Appalachian Power Company reverted to that name while remaing part of AEP 16 active bald eagle nests observed in West Virginia With the creation of New River Community and Technical College, the community college component was separated from Bluefield State College (now University) A park was opened at Burning Springs Nanya Friend named publisher of the Charleston Daily Mail Bank One purchased by JP Morgan Chase Mayflower vehicle systems was purchased by Union Stamping and Assembly Hampshire County celebrated its 250th anniversary Fairmont State College became Fairmont State University Win a Date with Tad Hamilton was filmed in Fayetteville A professorship was established in the name of Charles Haden at WVU law school View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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