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West Virginia University
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1862
Congress enacted the Morrill Act Other events that happened on or around 1862 Jacob Blair and his two congressional colleagues met at the White House to discuss West Virginia admission into the Union with President Lincoln President Lincoln decided in favor of statehood George Imboden rose to the rank of colonel and took command of the of the 18th Virginia Calvary The first school for black children, Sumner School, opened in Parkersburg. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson based his forces in Berkeley Springs during his attack on Hancock, Maryland Belle Boyd carried news of Union plans to Stonewall Jackson during the Shenandoah Valley campaign John Carlile turned against statehood, which he had favored John Echols served in the Kanawha Valley John Hale served as a surgeon in the Civil War A Natural gas well was first drilled in Hancock County Nancy Hart was captured a second time as a rebel spy in Summersville Collis P. Huntington persuaded Congress to designate the Central Pacific as the western half of the transcontinental railroad Stonewall Jackson led a successful campaign in the Shenandoah Valley Albert Jenkins was elected to the First Confederate Congress Jacob Cox and men were driven out of the Kanawha Valley by Confederate advance led by Brig. Gen William W. Loring U.S. troops were maneuvering from Western Virginia toward Tennessee Joseph Lightburn was ordered to Charleston City of Logan was occupied and burned by Union forces under Col. Edward Siber Company 1, 12th Regiment, West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was organized in New Cumberland The Point Pleasant Register was founded as a weekly John Nugent was born in Wales Federal troops occupied Raleigh County. The Confederate Thurmond's Parisan Rangers raided in Fayette, Greenbrier and Monroe counties Peter Van Winkle represented Wood County in Constitutional Convention The Reorganized Government of Virginia added $40,000 for Weston State Hospital
Feb 07, 1867
WVU was founded as West Virginia Agricultural College
Jun 01, 1867
Alexander Martin was first president of WVU
1867
WVU opened its doors Other events that happened on or around 1867 Romney's Indian Mound Cemetery became site of early monument for fallen Confederate soldiers
1873
The Woodburn Seminary at WVU burned Other events that happened on or around 1873 The Mountain Boy steamboat was destroyed by river ice at Cincinnati Joseph Beury shipped the first coal from the New River Coalfield The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway arrived on the south side of Kanawha River in Charleston Chesapeake & Ohio Railway arrived on south side of Kanawha River Charles B. Webb started the weekly Kanawha Chronicle C&O forced into default from national depression The legislative act to esbablish a "branch state normal school" in the Mercer County community of Concord was amended and stipulated that the school would be transferred to Princeton if arrangements for land and a building were not completed within one year William Dawson moved to Kingwood Marmaduke Dent received M.A. from WVU Three acres of property was donated to the state and ready for use in the fall by Glenville State College East Liverpool, Ohio, raised $5,000 for the Laughlins to start a pottery to make white ware The House of Delegates had 65 delegates Legislature exempted certain businesses from taxes because of the economic panic German Jews arrived in Charleston and formed a congregation Other mills were destroyed by floods on the Jug of the Middle Island Creek Kanawha Valley Bank was the only bank in Charleston to survive the financial panic The first West Virginia atlas appeared The eastern and western section of the C&O main line were joined near Hawks Nest A city waterworks was established in Martinsburg Natural gas was put in many of downtown buildings in Martinsburg The Martinsburg & Potomac railroad came to Martinsburg from Williamsport, MD Sandy Mason was born in Charleston The C&O Railroad was completed opening the New River Gorge to the coal and timber industry The Pardee & Curtin Lumber Company was formed. Daniel Purinton received a B.A. degree from WVU An explosion caused the Ritchie Mines to be closed The C&O was completed at Thurmond William Thurmond was commissioned to survey land on the north side of New River Isaiah Welch came to McDowell County to evaluate natural resources Isaiah Welch surveyed the mineral reserves of the Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam The Western Maryland Railway extended to the C&O Canal Separate rooms for black patients were added at Weston State Hospital Archibald Campbell repurchased the Wheeling Intelligencer Lilly Freer died in Nicaragua Date of the first official burial at Spring Hill
1876
Originally called "New Hall," Woodburn Hall was completed at WVU Other events that happened on or around 1876 Booker T. Washington graduated from Hampton Normal Institute in Virginia and returned to teach Sunday school at the African Zion Baptist Church Edward Willis moved the Broaddus Female College (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) to Clarksburg Cumberland Valley Railroad reached Martinsburg Joseph Beury left Quinnimont Benjamin C. Criswell won the Congressional Medal of Honor at the Battle of Little Big Horn James Putney died Henry Koontz died and Easton Roller Mill was taken over by the Anderson family The Grange had 378 lodges and 10,700 members in West Virginia Jedediah Hotchkiss' Virginia: A Geographical and Political Summary was published for the Virginia legislature The impeachment trial of John Burdett in the Senate removed him from office of Treasurer Maurice Sullivan sold his land atop Irish Mountain to J. J. Kane for a church and cemetery Jackson's Mill was sold outside the Jackson family after the death of Catherin Jackson White Kudzu was first introduced in the U.S. at Philadelphia trade exposition as an ornamental George Wesley Atkinson wrote The History of Kanawha County George Wesley Atkinson wrote The History of Kanawha County The new Berkeley Hotel opened in Martinsburg John McGraw received a law degree at Yale University The New Dominion was established by Julian Fleming and William Jacos The second courthouse in Elizabethtown was built New Cumberland's first newspaper, The Independent began publication Samuel Price unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate. Daniel Purinton married Florence A. Lyon. William MacCorkle came to West Virginia to teach in Pocahontas County. Nathan Scott became the president of Central Glass Company Robert Simmons was a delegate to the Republican national convention The Wheeling firm, Wheeling Centre Tannery, became known as J. G. Hoffman and Sons Alexander Wade held his first exams A cabin built by "Uncle Doc" Smith replaced the original Watters Smith cabin in southern Harrison County I.C. White began working for the Pennsylvania Geological Survey
1878
WVU created a "chair of law and equity" establishing the College of Law Other events that happened on or around 1878 C&O sold at foreclosure, reorganized, and renamed C&O Railway Alston Dayton graduated from WVU Stephen Elkins became a citizen of West Virginia Aretas Fleming was appointed judge of the second judicial circuit Congress provided money to have the remnants of the old dams cleared on the Guyandotte River The hog-stealing incident and trial between the Hatfields and McCoys occurred Hamilton Hatter completed the teacher training program at Storer College The Irish had cleared the land on Irish Mountain and built a small log church Virgil Lewis became the principal of the Buffalo Academy in Putnam County Herbert Chester Greer was born Lawrence Nuttall moved to Nuttallburg Russell Montague moved from Boston to Greenbrier County The property containing the spring was sold to Andrew S. Pence. Taylor County seat was moved to Grafton The West Virginia Baptist State Convention was first held Albert White graduated from Marietta College
Nov 30, 1887
The first issue of the Athenaeum was published at WVU Other events that happened on or around November 30, 1887 Philip Mallory "Phil" Conley was born in Charleston
1889
WVU admitted the first women
1891
WVU Mountaineers played first football game against University of Pittsburgh Other events that happened on or around 1891 State Board of Agriculture set up by legislature Legislature created a state banking department There were 49 state banks and 22 national banks in West Virginia Collection of Ambrose Bierce's Civil War stories, Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (also known as In the Midst of Life) was published Fannie Cobb Carter earned teaching degree from Storer College in Harpers Ferry First bridge built across the Kanawha River, in Charleston Clarksburg investors acquired the Telegram First principal of present Concord University Capt. James Harvey French died James Dye graduated from Starling Medical College in Cincinnati William Dawson became chairman of Republican state committee Alexander L. Wade's education graduating system was made compulsory statewide Stephen Elkins was appointed secretary of war by President Harrison George Peterkin built the Church of the Good Shepherd in Parkersburg Town of Ansted was incorporated, named for David T. Ansted The Central City brewery was built by American Brewing Company Fostoria Glass Company relocated to Moundsville Construction on Graceland began in Elkins John P. Hale wrote History of the Great Kanawha Valley Hamilton Hatter became a member of the college board of trustees George Imboden was elected the first mayor of Ansted The "Australian" or standardized printed ballot was adopted in West Virginia Paris Brumfield was murdered by his son Charley in the wake of the Lincoln County Feud The "government lock" was built on Little Kanawha River near Burning Springs The federal government built a fifth lock and dam near burning springs The Moundsville Daily Echo was established as a weekly newspaper C. F. Millspaugh arrived at WVU The Mount Carbon Prehistoric Site was investigated by Col. P. W. Norris for the Smithsonian Institution's Bureau of American Ethnology John T. McGraw purchased the land at Marlinton. Pruntytown was originally established as the Industrial School for Boys Pruntytown was originally established as the Industrial School for Boys. Postmaster General John Wanamaker conducted a limited experiment with rural free delivery in the Eastern Panhandle Labor organization lobbied for the law regulating scrip The Seneca Glass Company opened in Fostoria, Ohio James David Shaw became editor of the Moundsville Daily Echo Telephone switchboards were installed at Clarksburg The Martinsburg Mining, Manufacturing and Improvement Company developed a subdivision for workers McDowell County seat located to Welch The Norfolk & Western Railway Company extended its line into McDowell County The Historical Society asked the West Virginia legislature for funding Harriet Lyon became the first woman to receive a degree from WVU The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway was completed to Martin's Ferry Ohio Emanuel Wilson authored a new election law
1893
Chitwood Hall was completed at WVU Other events that happened on or around 1893 Robert A. Spencer acquired the paper and renamed in the Raleigh Register. Bluefield had two newspapers, the Bluefield Telegraph and the Daily Journal The Journal ceased daily publication F.R. Swann began published Charleston Evening Mail Clarence Wayland Watson founded the Briar Hill Coal Company Justus Collins opened Collins Colliery and the Greenbrier Coal & Coke William Conley earned a law degree from WVU John Dickinson moved to Charleston from Malden Samuel Dixon and partner organized the MacDonald mine The first Douglass High School graduated its first high school class Legislature provided for two levels of teacher certificates Aretas Fleming returned to practicing law Henry Harrison Hunter won blue ribbon at World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago for quality of sand he mined and processed Graceland was completed The Great Bend Tunnel was lined with brick arching Joseph Harvey Long arrived in Huntington to buy the Herald John Jeremiah Jacob died and was buried in Indian Mound Cemetery Chicago World's Fair has a West Virginia state exhibit John Joseph Kain left the Diocese of Wheeling to become Archbishop of St. Louis John Q. Dickinson moved Kanawha Valley Bank into a substantial new building Virgil Lewis was awarded an M.A. in history from WVU The N&W Railroad built its main line along the Big Sandy River Joseph Long moved to Huntington to buy the Herald Daniel Lucas left the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Uncle Jack McElwain won a fiddle contest at the Chicago World's Fair Bill McKell built his home at Glen Jean Johnson Camden McKinley moved to Wheeling C. F. Millspaugh left WVU to become curator of botany at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago High-quality semibitumious coal from Davis' Big Vein was displayed at the Chicago World's Fair Sistersville became the nation's premier oil-field boom town Henry Schmulbach opened his Wheeling inclined railway to riders William Edwin Chilton became secretary of sate Pittsburgh's William Flaccus and Son bought a tannery along the Buckhannon River Telephone switchboards were installed at Bluefield The city of Parsons was incorporated Charles Ward's boilers were showcased at the Chicago World's Fair Ward Engineering Works built the Mascot for the U.S. Engineering Corp Clarence W. Watson joined his father and brothers in the mining enterprises The earliest Whipple Company Store was constructed in Glen Jean for Collins Colliery Company The country began an economic depression The Woodson family moved to Huntington
1895
The Montgomery Preparatory School (West Virginia University Institute of Technology) was founded Other events that happened on or around 1895 The Bluefield DailyJournal closed Land purchased for $24,757 for Cabell County Courthouse Huntington established Chamber of Commerce Reuben Gold Thwaites edition of Chronicles of Border Warfare was published, which provides corrections to some errors of fact or interpretation Clay was incorporated $20,000 appropriated for new academic building at what is now known as Concord University John William Davis (originally from Clarksburg) graduated from law school at Washington and Lee Bethany Chapter of Delta Tau Delta ceased activity Distinct historic courthouse was built in Fayetteville Jack Glasscock returned to Wheeling to manage and play for Wheeling Base Ball Club Harrisville, the county seat of Ritchie County, was named in honor of Thomas Harris Lewis County's first high school was established Joseph Long sold the Herald West Virginia passed a law preventing railroad from engaging in the business of buying and selling coal A formal community of Orthodox Christians was founded in Bluefield Michael Owens had perfected machinery for blowing tumblers, light bulbs and lamp chimneys Extensive timbering began along the Pocatalico River A timber company began extensive operations on the waters of Pocatalico which added to Poca's growth. Morris Shawkey came to West Virginia as professor of education at West Virginia Wesleyan College E. M. Statler left the McLure House for Buffalo, New York Ephraim Wells opened the Wells Hotel in Sistersville The Virginia was built in Cincinnati Ralph Weinberg was born in Baltimore The McDowell County courthouse at Welch was constructed Welch population was at 300 Agnes Westbrook Morrison was the first woman to graduate from College of Law at WVU Agnes Howard Hall, now on the Register of Historic Places, was built as a residence for women at West Virginia Wesleyan College Williamson became the county seat of Mingo County William Wilson became postmaster general under President Cleveland's cabinet Hurry-up Yost played tackle on the WVU football team A.S. Withers wrote an early report of Betty Zane's save of Fort Henry in Chronicles of Border Warfare
1896
Agnes Westbrook Morrison was admitted to the bar Other events that happened on or around 1896 Thomas Anshutz painted Steamboat on the Ohio B&O Railroad only hauled four percent of Tidewater-bound soft coal Elk River Coal & Lumber Company began buying land in West Virginia George Sturdevant and John W. Johnson purchased the factory at Brush Creek Falls in Mercer County Michael Benedum married Sarah Lantz "Athens" name of new post office and village William Coley founded the Parsons Advocate newspaper John William Davis began teaching law at Washington & Lee Democrats slipped into minority status in West Virginia According to legend, underground Elk (River) was formed when a hole opened in the stream bed and simply swallowed the river Thaddeus Fowler first visited West Virginia Edward Bates Franzheim designed the Vance Memorial Presbyterian Church in Wheeling The Trinity United Methodist Church was organized in Glenville Grantsville was incorporated The H.K. Bedford began Pittsburgh-Charleston service William Jennings Bryan was defeated as free silver presidential candidate Hamilton Hatter became the first principal of Bluefield Colored Institute (Bluefield State College) Homer Laughlin incorporated as Homer Laughlin and Company The original Seneca Glass Company building was built William Leigh painted his portrait of Sophie H. Colston The Moundsville Daily Echo became a daily publication Louis Marx was born John McGraw first served as a member of the Democratic National Committee James Miller served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention The Seneca Glass Company moved from Ohio to Morgantown The South Branch Intelligencer merged with the Hampshire Review Lawrence Nuttall and C. F. Millspaugh published Flora of West Virginia Melville Davisson Post's short story collection The Strange Schemes of Randolph Mason made him immensely popular. The second period of Republican dominance began Telephone switchboards were installed at Morgantown The Webster Springs Hotel was built WVU hires its first full-time coach Matthew Whittico graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania Matewan challenged Williamson as county seat of Mingo County Carter Woodson graduated from Douglass High School Hurry-up Yost played tackle on the WVU football team The Shenandoah River flooded
1897
Women were permitted to enter all departments and schools except the military 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 UMWA began enlisting the support of well-known labor leaders from across the nation 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 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
1900
Wings were added to Woodburn Hall at WVU Other events that happened on or around 1900 West Virginia had 100,000 farms on 8.9 million acres Charles Ambler served as sheriff of Pleasants County for two years B&O added the Monongahela River Railroad (Fairmont to Clarksburg) There were 600 Baptist churches in West Virginia Raleigh County Republicans launched the Raleigh Herald Berkeley County population was 19,469 First women on the Bethany College board of trustees Jesse Bloch entered the family Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company Alonzo Brooks completed a business course at West Virginia Wesleyan College Capon Springs developer William H. Sale died Cass was founded by West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company West Virginia Pulp & Paper built paper mill at Covington, Virginia The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) completed its Greenbrier Division into Pocahontas County to harvest red spruce on Cheat and Back Allegheny mountains Moses Donnally sold the Charleston Gazette Davis Child Shelter, an orphanage, was established in Charleston First sewer lines were installed in Clarksburg Coal production had doubled Little evidence of the Coal River locks and dams remained West Virginia chapter of the Colonial Dames of America was organized Only remnant populations of deer and turkey were noted West Virginia's median age was below national average at 20.3 Doddridge County population was 13,689 William Edwards wrote a book on the authorship of Shakespeare's plays Fairmont Times was first published by Gen. C. L. Smith and O. S. McKinney Thaddeus Fowler returned to West Virginia Garnet High School was founded with a class of 12 black students Howard Gore graduated from WVU with a degree in agriculture Harrison County held a population of 27,690 Nancy Hart and husband Joshua Douglas settled in Webster County Morris Harvey founded the Fayette National Bank William "Coin" Harvey moved to Arkansas to begin building a retreat and vacation resort The population of Helvetia reached 500 people The first time the word "hillbilly" was used in print, in a New York newspaper Reported 1,062 native Hungarians in West Virginia Water power began being used for the production of electricity in West Virginia, at Kanawha Falls Census reported 2,458 Indians living in West Virginia There were 18 farms of the settlers on the Irish Tract Jackson County's population rose to 19,000 Don Redman was born in Piedmont The Kanawha Falls were augmented by a low dam Oil and natural gas in high quantities was found in Lewis County Cousin Abe Lilly received a law degree from the Southern Normal University, Tennessee Railroad replaces streams as the chief means of transporting logs to sawmills The Benwood Ironworks grew into a large steel mills James Miller ceased to be Summers County prosecuting attorney James Miller ran unsuccessfully for state auditor Steam and electric fans made larger mines possible The completion of the C&O Railway's Greenbrier Division to Marlinton put the Minnehaha Springs within reach of travelers Fairmont's first electric streetcar line built Morgantown population was at 1,895 The Morgantown Glass Works began production A developer began selling oceanfront lots for $25 in Myrtle Beach The anticlinal theory of oil and gas was applied along Sand Fork of the Little Kanawha The Toledo & Ohio Central gained control of the Kanawha & Michigan and the Kanawha & West Virginia Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad began purchasing the N&W stock E.M. Carney purchased the Pence Springs property Kanawha County had the largest population with 54,696 residents. The largest city in the state was Wheeling with a population of 38,878. The Lilly family began ownership of the Ruffner Hotel St. Joseph's Hospital was founded by Patrick J. Donahue Samuel and Violet Bryant got their first jobs on showboats James H. Brown's obelisk was erected at Spring Hill Cemetery Interurban railway operations began in Huntington Tyler County's oil and gas boom peaked Wayne County population was at 23,619 Weston had municipal water plant, sanitary and storm sewer systems and brick paved streets West Virginia Pulp & Paper began constructing a sawmill in Cass A nursing school was founded at Wheeling Hospital The Collins Colliery company store burned Matthew Whittico moved to Keystone Buffalo, elk, gray wolf and passenger pigeon had all disappeared from West Virginia The second courthouse at Winfield was built Wirt County's population peaked at 10,284 Carter G. Woodson became principal of Douglass High School The first record of the ballad "The Wreck on the C&O" came out
1904
Charles Frederick Tucker Brooke was elected to be in the first group of Rhodes Scholars Other events that happened on or around 1904 Charles Ambler received an A.B. in social sciences J. G. Bradley came to West Virginia Sturdevant and Johnson constructed new buildings Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad was built Name changed from Thomas Hospital to Charleston General Hospital Barber Sanatorium constructed by Dr. Timothy L. Barber Sr. Railroad from Greenbrier Valley to Bartow completed Roy Bird Cook graduated from high school John Cornwell was Democratic nominee for governor Davis & Elkins College founded by Southern Presbyterians Rebecca Davis wrote autobiography Bits of Gossip William M. O. Dawson ceased to be chairman of West Virginia Republicans John Dickinson became the first director of the Kanawha Coal Operators Association Chestnut blight introduced to America Fairmont West Virginian became daily Millard Giesey and Frederic Faris designed the West Virginia Building at the St. Louis World's Fair Pennsylvania investors opened a second glass sand plant on the east side of Warm Springs Ridge The Glenville Democrat was first published Capt. Greene acquired the Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Big Sandy & Pomeroy Packet Co. Railroads reached the Guyandotte River area The National Carbon Company began operating a graphite plant in Anmore The Huntington Dispatch began Frankie Masters was born in Pleasants County Cousin Abe Lilly was elected prosecuting attorney of Raleigh County The C&O Railroad was constructed from Huntington to city of Logan The Logan County coal industry began its boom Gannett's gazetteer was the first to be devoted exclusively to West Virginia place names and locations Wheeling Metal and Manufacturing Company opened in Glen Dale Sandy Mason moved back to Charleston to start the Mason School of Music and Fine Arts John McGraw became chairman of state Democratic party Thomas Gaylord McKell died John McWhorter became a judge of West Virginia's 12th judicial circuit James Miller was elected as a judge of the Circuit Court of the Ninth West Virginia Circuit A fifteenth dam was built on the Monongahela The daily edition Morgantown Evening Post stopped publication The Morgantown Chronicle was founded by Hu Maxwell The Mount St. George mansion was completed John Nugent was elected president of UMWA District 17 Herschel Ogden purchased the Wheeling Intelligencer Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly spearheaded a drive that defeated a proposal to built a Carnegie Library in Wheeling Pence Springs water was presented the highest award in its class. Benjamin Rosenbloom was admitted to the West Virginia bar Henry Schmulbach built the Schmulbach Building in Wheeling Official addressed the question of a flag for the West Virginia building at the St. Louis World's Fair John Swint was ordained to the priesthood William P. Tams went to work for Samuel Dixon in the New River coalfield Henry Gassaway Davis built the Coal & Coke Railway Sam Vinson died John T. McGraw expanded the Webster Springs Hotel A president who was not the state superintendent of school was elected to head of the West Virginia Education Association Matthew Whittico renamed his paper the McDowell Times J. G. Bradley came to Clay County Hurry-up Yost's University of Michigan team defeated WVU 130-0 Romeo Freer returned to Ritchie County and was appointed Harrisville postmaster Paul Wissmach reorganized his company as Ohio Valley Glass Company
1911
Wings were added to Woodburn Hall at WVU Other events that happened on or around 1911 Bill to create the Department of Agriculture and Commissioner of Agriculture was passed Alderson Academy's name was changed to Alderson Baptist Academy (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) Walter Barnes received an M.A. from Harvard Van Bittner joined the UMWA The Board of Control was given responsibility to manage the state tuberculosis sanitarium at Terra Alta and the West Virginia Colored Orphans Home in Huntington A. B. Brooks wrote Forestry and Wood Industries Fire destroyed the Mountain House 155,092 pounds of chestnuts shipped from one railroad station in West Virginia William Edwin Chilton was elected U.S. senator by state legislature Goff Building was finished in Clarksburg Danske Dandridge wrote American Prisoners of the Revolution The elective Office of Agriculture Commissioner was created Population of postal communities on Flat Top Mountain was 300 Reported 83 band mills and 900 circular mills in operation Thaddeus Fowler returned to West Virginia Berkeley Glass Sand Company was incorporated Benjamin Franklin Gravely began designing a power-driven plow After changing to Lewisburg Female Institute the name changed to Lewisburg Seminary (later Greenbrier College for Women) The citizens of Guyandotte voted to become part of Huntington A new courthouse in Hamlin was constructed The Anti-Tuberculosis League of West Virginia lobbied a bill through legislature to build a sanitarium Charles Laws graduated from Leonard Medical College in North Carolina Governor Glasscock gave Joseph Long the title colonel Minnie Lowther published The History of Ritchie County The earliest known road map of West Virginia was produced by a state agency The Marlinton Opera House began use Frank McEnteer moved to Clarksburg Rufus G. Meador constructed a hotel at Mercer Healing Springs Explosion at No. 20 Mine in Elk Garden killed 23 miners Congress enacted the Weeks law which authorized the federal government to cooperate with the various states to purchase land for the protection of the watersheds of navigable streams The name of the Morgantown newspaper was changed to Weekly New Dominion The Blue Creek oil field was discovered along the Elk River Matthew M. Neely was elected clerk of the House of Delegates Paden City Pottery was established Pre-engineering and agriculture programs were added at West Virginia Preparatory School (now Potomac State) The legislature approved the submission of another prohibition amendment to the people The Story of a Song: What It Means to Belong to the King was published. Rat Rodgers started at Bethany College A streetcar line extension from Charleston to St. Albans was established A deadlock occurred in the senate when members had to chose the U.S. Senators The Seneca Glass Company opened a second factory in Star City The Pythians erected an obelisk at Samuel W. Starks's grave in Spring Hill Cemetery Clarence W. Watson began serving in the U.S. Senate Fairview changed its name to Wayne The West Virginia Press Association became inactive Westover was incorporated Widen was built as a coal company town Willard Hotel was built in Grafton Vernon Johnson began serving in the House of Delegates
1912
The College of Physicians and Surgeons became an independent program at WVU Other events that happened on or around 1912 J. A. Viquesney and H. M. Lockridge organized the Allegheny Sportsmen's Association Baldwin-Felts Agency attempted to end the Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike Olgebay Hall, now Kirkpatrick Hall, added as a wing at Bethany College John Bishop published poem "To a Woodland Pool" in Harpers Weekly Alonzo Brooks received a B.A. in agriculture from WVU The Bull Moose Special armed train began operation Union Bank building finished in Clarksburg William Conley ran unsuccessfully for congressional 2nd district William Dawson embraced Theodore Roosevelt's Bull Moose presidential candidacy Diamond Shoe became the Diamond Shoe and Garment Co., later Diamond Department Store Samuel Dixon was purged from the New River Company by management from outside Clarence W. Alvord and Lee Bidgood concluded that the Batts and Fallam group only traveled to Peters Falls U.S. Supreme Court confirmed North Branch as Potomac main stream Fairmont State began adopting college curriculum The Golden Delicious Apple was discovered by Anderson Mullins in Clay County A Gasoline engine was placed in Howell's Gristmill Rimfire Hamrick was appointed Webster County game and fish warden Record floods hit Hardy County The state called troops to mining strikes Charles Hodel established himself in Beckley as editor and general manager of the Raleigh Register Holidays Cove incorporated Harold Houston returned to Charleston A large Celtic cross was erected in Coalburg by William S. Edwards to honor the Irish mine workers Thomas Moore Jackson died Hubert "Bumps" Myers was born in Clarksburg Regular services at Job's Temple were suspended Mother Jones returned to West Virginia to aid union miners on Paint Creek and Cabin Creek Dr. George A. MacQueen took over the lease and changed Barber Sanatorium to Barber Sanatorium and Hospital A new double-track tunnel at Kingwood Tunnel was opened High school at Jane Lew was constructed Luna Park was built by J. B. Crowley in Charleston I. T. Mann was a candidate for the U.S. Senate The Apollo Theater was built in Martinsburg Harry F. Bryd sold the Martinsburg Journal to Max von Schlegell Louis Marx began working for Ferdinand Strauss John McGraw was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention John McGraw's Bank of Grafton failed Prohibitionist John McWhorter served as chairman of the West Virginia Ratification Federation John Raine became president of the Meadow River Lumber Company The Minnehaha Springs Improvement Company was formed The Minter Lumber Company was founded by William E. Minter The Monongahela Railroad was completed to Pittsburgh Margaret Montague published Linda Matthew M. Neely left the office of clerk of House of Delegates Reported 223 different newspapers were publishing in West Virginia Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly supported Eugene V. Debs for president Ogden's company had acquired the Parkersburg Daily Sentinel Ida Reed published her autobiography My Life Story The Pallottine Missionary Sisters came to West Virginia William MacCorkle became active in the Salvation Army Edward Stifel built Edemar mansion The Charleston Interurban Railroad was built to St. Albans The Huntington tobacco warehouse opened T. C. Townsend was elected as Kanawha County's prosecuting attorney Pittsburgh's flood commission called for a dam on the Tygart Miners Hospital No. One changed its name to Welch Hospital No. One WVU had 46,500 books in the library Carter Woodson received a doctorate at Harvard Tibbs Run Reservoir began providing water to city of Morgantown
1918
Oglebay Hall was completed for the College of Agriculture at WVU 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 DuPont Company plant closed at end of WWI 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 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
1921
The Engineering Experimental State was established at WVU 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 The Viscose Company established a plant in Nitro 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 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
1933
The Athenaeum became the Daily Athenaeum Other events that happened on or around 1933 County unit plan for school systems was adopted 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 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
1938
WVU had 3,500 students and 150 faculty Other events that happened on or around 1938 The Short Ballot Amendment was rejected by voters Jazz singer Jennie Smith was born Report by Paul A. T. Noon and Mildred W. Sandoe showed 88% of West Virginia were without library services The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers began at WHIS radio in Bluefield Pare Lorentz was appointed head of the U.S. Film Service by President Franklin Roosevelt Upton Sears made a special crosscut saw to cut the famous Mingo Oak Jack Maurice joined the staff of the Charleston Daily Mail as a reporter Howard Gray became president of the Meadow River Lumber Company The federal prison camp at Mill Point opened Congress approved construction of flood-control reservoir on the Mud River Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was incorporated The New York Central merged with the K&M, K&WV and other railroads The Greenbrier County Museum Committee was created The wooden deck of the Philippi Covered Bridge was removed and replaced with a concrete deck supported by steel girders and new intermediate concrete piers Pinnacle Rock State Park opened The first annual "Feast of the Ramson" was held in Richwood Ruth Rohde served on the advisory board of Alderson's Federal Reformatory for Women Hubert Skidmore published Heaven Came So Near Ada "Bricktop" Smith made radio broadcast in France The West Virginia Department of Mines first reported production figures for surface mining The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the Tygart Dam Clint Thomas suffered an ankle injury An area for an arboretum was set aside in Watoga State Park The dental hygiene department opened at West Liberty State College A West Liberty State College branch campus opened in Wheeling The state was divided into four regions for the West Virginia Athletic Union basketball tournament Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Society of International Artists in New York Joe L. Smith Jr applied for a broadcast license Fairmont radio station WMMN increased to 5,000 watts Grote Reber confirmed that radiation at radio wavelengths was reaching the earth from outer space
1941
WVU granted a degree to its first known African-American student, Kenneth Jones Other events that happened on or around 1941 William "Wally" Barron received law degree from WVU Ann Flagg graduated from Garnet High School Chuck Yeager graduated from Hamlin High School John McKay graduated from Shinnston High School
1945
Victorine Louistall became the first African-America female to earn a graduate degree from WVU Other events that happened on or around 1945 Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) established the first baccalaureate nursing program in West Virginia William "Wally" Barron was discharged from the army as a sergeant Normantown won unclassified basketball tournaments against all Florence Blanchfield received the Distinguished Service Medal Bill Blizzard was appointed president of UMWA District 17 Harry Brawley became director of political affairs at Charleston radio WCHS Bill approved for a city-county hospital in Huntington Fannie Cobb Carter became dean of women at National Trade and Professional School for Women and Girls in Washington Extension of Route 39 linking Richwood to Marlinton was finished Oliver Chitwood published the first volume of A Short History of the American People George W. Hand became the president of Fairmont State College Ann Flagg graduated from West Virginia State College (now University) U.S. Forest Service reports 8.7 billion board feet of timber volume Gunner Gatski played at Auburn University General Dwight D. Eisenhower vacationed at the Greenbrier resort hospital upon returning from Europe Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote Spin a Silver dollar: The Story of a Desert Trading Post The name Happy Retreat was restored after being named Mordington by Isaac Douglas The West Virginia Health Department assumed advisory medical supervision of state hospitals Joseph Hodges began serving as director of the Roman Catholic Diocesan Mission Band in Richmond, VA Italian POWs were repatriated, and many returned to America Maryat Lee graduated from Wellesley College in religious studies Big Bill Lias purchased Wheeling downs racetrack on Wheeling Island Dora Ruth Parks became the executive secretary of the Library Commission The United Zinc Smelting Corporation ceased operations in Marshall County Bernard McDonough began a concrete business in Houston The UMWA proposed a royalty to 10 cents per ton of coal to be paid to the union to provide medical services in the coalfields The Monongahela Power & Railway Company changed to Monongahela Power Company, discontinuing street car business The first issue of the bi-monthly National Hillbilly News appeared Otis Rice received an M.A. in education at WVU Eleanor Roosevelt began serving as U.S. representative to the United Nations Louis Jordan composed "Salt Pork, West Virginia" The one-room Cave School located in Germany Valley, Pendleton County, closed Julia Davis published The Shenandoah Julia Davis published The Shenandoah The Strayer Report recommended basic reforms in the delivery of public education in West Virginia The Sunrise mansion and adjoining mansion were acquired by the Salvation Army Legislation to protect the environment from surface mining was enacted The state of West Virginia purchased the Sweet Springs property and established the Andrew S. Rowan Memorial Home Clint Thomas began working in the state capitol as messenger for the Department of Mines Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) enrollment was at 2,000 students There were 225 students enrolled at West Liberty Kelly Miller was hired to coach at West Virginia State Reported 6,000 wild turkeys in West Virginia M.J. Horsch became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology John Ross Eakin suffered a stroke, ending his National Park Service career
1946
There were 6,000 students enrolled in WVU Other events that happened on or around 1946 United Mine Workers of America established a Welfare and Retirement Fund 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 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
1948
WVU enrollment at 8,069 Other events that happened on or around 1948 Peak production of coal in West Virginia Clair Bee wrote Touchdown Pass Charles Town Opera House was closed Westvaco Chemical Corporation became part of FMC Oliver Chitwood published the second volume of A Short History of the American People President Irvin Stewart approved Earl Core's proposal to found WVU arboretum Five floors were added to the 1941 addition of the Diamond Department Store Little Jimmy Dickens signed with Columbia Records Joanne Dru appeared in Red River The Edwards Moonlight was rehulled K. K. Hall was elected mayor of Madison Roy Lee Harmon wrote Up the Creek Virgil Carrington Jones wrote The Hatfield and McCoys, published by University of North Carolina Press The music department of Concord College awarded the first degree in music education Louis Johnson chaired President Truman's finance committee The federal government charged Big Bill Lias with income tax evasion The Lilly Brothers moved to WWVA Wheeling where they worked with Red Belcher The appointment of a separate dean for the Marshall College graduate school began An addition was built to Louis Marx & Company facility for plastic toys Bernard McDonough bought the Kanawha Sand & Gravel company Herbert Chester Greer died John Nash entered the doctoral program at Princeton University The Spirit of Jefferson newspaper merged with the Farmers' Advocate The last case of smallpox in West Virginia was reported Jack Rollins joined music publishers Hill and Range in New York West Virginia State College romped through an undefeated basketball season, winning the regular season and tournament championships Construction began on the state police academy Eleanor Steber sang at the Republican National Convention Eleanor Steber commissioned and premiered Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Stone & Thomas opened a new store in downtown Charleston P. D. Strausbaugh retired from WVU The Federal Communications Commission granted approval for the construction WSAZ television in Huntington Andre Van Damme settle in Charleston WAJR-FM (now WVAQ) began broadcasting in Morgantown The West Virginia Review ceased publication 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
1959
The Mountaineers went to the national basketball championships 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 Goodyear plant built near Apple Grove 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 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
1962
Dr. Herbert Warden performed the first open-heart surgery in West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 1962 Citizens in Grafton formed the International Mother's Day Shrine Commission. C&O and B&O merger continues John Hodel became editor of the Beckley Register Clair Bee wrote Comeback Cagers, the last of the Chip Hilton series Betsy Byars published her first book, Clementine Fannie Cobb Carter returned to Charleston West Virginia purchased 11 miles of logging railroad and established Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Charleston's population peaked at 85,796 Franklin Cleckley earned B.A. from Anderson College James Dent began writing the Charleston Gazette's "Gazetteer" column Duncan Yo-Yo Company hit its peak sales with 18 million yo-yos The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation was organized Construction of the government bunker and the simultaneous addition of a new hotel wing were completed at the Greenbrier Davis Grubb wrote Voices of Glory Hawkshaw Hawkins returned to King Records and recorded "Lonesome 7-7203" The state purchased and planned restoration of the former logging town of Cass Joseph Hodges succeeded John Swint as the fifth bishop of the diocese of Wheeling William Hoffman wrote A Place For My Head Interwoven Mills ownership changed Kaymoor mine closed The original Kingwood Tunnel was closed and sealed John Knowles wrote Morning in Antibes William Marland took a job as a Chicago taxi driver to "compose his character" A new dormitory was constructed at Marshall University West Virginia Archeological Society members Delf Norona, Oscar Mairs and Bob White described the May Moore Mound as the third largest in West Virginia J. Kemp McLaughlin was appointed assistant adjutant general with promotion to brigadier general J. Kemp McLaughlin served as Kanawha County commissioner Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was appointed the director of the Department of Mental Health by Governor Barron Plum Orchard Lake was constructed Donald Rasmussen came to West Virginia as associate chief of internal medicine at Miners Memorial Hospital in Beckley Nat Reese was hired as a photographic silk-screen printer at Rockwell International's aviation plant in Princeton Eleanor Roosevelt stopped serving as U.S. representative to the United Nations The C. Z. Ruth Memorial Annex at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg was built to accommodate major services The Sheriff's Succession Amendment was first rejected by legislation WVU Rod Thorn became All-American in basketball Catholic population in West Virginia was 110,000 There were 100 Catholic churches, a new cathedral five hospitals 43 elementary and secondary schools, one college and a preparatory seminary in West Virginia Cyrus Vance became secretary of the army Jerry West set the record for guards with 63 points in one game A fire ended racing at Wheeling Downs Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) received national accreditation Chuck Yeager became commander of the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base Billy Cox moved to Nashville and formed the King Kasuals with Jimi Hendrix
1966
Victorine Louistall returned to WVU to teach library science Other events that happened on or around 1966 Davis Grubb published Shadow of My Brother Questions were raised on the authenticity of the birthplace of Nancy Hanks William Hoffman wrote Yancey's War Walt Shupe became superintendent of the Holly River State Park The West Virginia Human Rights Commission reported that "blatant racial discrimination" was over Reported that Kanawha State Forest holds 574 species from 292 genera representing 93 families of fauna Clark Kessinger was a guest artist on the Grand Ole Opry radio program John Knowles wrote Indian Summer The Library Commission adopted a plan for implementing the Blasingame Report proposals Curly Ray Cline joined the Stanley Brothers Bill Hart retired as editor of the Dominion News Breece D'J Pancake argued that Mothman was a California condor in a letter in the Huntington Herald Dispatch Mylan Pharmaceuticals began manufacturing its generic version of penicillin G James Marvin Powell became president of Ohio Valley College (now University) Radio station WVBC, licensed to Bethany College, began broadcasting. James Rexrode's wife died Mary Lee Settle wrote All the Brave Promises A controversy involving State Road Commission purchasing practices arose. Congressman Harley Staggers became chairman of the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee Buddy Starcher recorded "History Repeats itself" for Boone Records Eleanor Steber quit singing with the Metropolitan Opera The Carr China Factory building burned Three more dormitories were built at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) A student union building was built at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) The Stonewall Jackson Lake was authorized Gary District became the first black high school to win the WVSSAC state basketball championship Williamson Liberty lost the WVSSAC A separate organization began representing the interests of West Virginia's surface mining operators Harrison Ferrell left as dean of West Virginia State College (now University) Edwin D. Hoffman was appointed dean as the first white administrator at West Virginia State College (now University) Wesley Chapel opened at West Virginia Wesleyan Wheeling Hospital set up the first coronary care unit in West Virginia Frank R. Haig, S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) The Mingo County Courthouse was built in Williamson
1971
The Coliseum basketball arena was completed at WVU Other events that happened on or around 1971 Wild boars were released by the Department of Natural Resources as a game species for reclaimed surface mines M. Blane Michael served as assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York A $30 state clothing allowance reached about 44,000 welfare children Morgantown Glassware Guild closed John Norman was named the Charleston Sunday Gazette-Mail West Virginian of the Year Phase I of the WVU Personal Rapid Transit project was completed William Page Pitt retired Nick Rahall graduated from Duke University Cecil Roberts began working at Carbon Fuel's No. 31 mine in Winifrede C. Donald Robertson was indicted on federal charges of taking kickbacks on FHA low-income housing assistance An extended care facility was added to St. Francis Hospital Alex Schoenbaum and Ray Danner merged their companies to form Shoney's Big Boy Enterprises The first permanent building of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College was dedicated in Williamson Leon Sullivan was appointed to the board of directors of General Motors Both Honey in the Rock and Hatfields and McCoy were performed by Theatre West Virginia The woolen mill in Parsons closed ACTION became the federal agency that oversaw VISTA and the Peace Corps Charleston returned to the International League in baseball An editorial advisory board for the West Virginia History was created Robert Kreis instituted Wheeling Symphony's first concert tours Bill Withers released his first album, Just As I am WVU at Parkersburg separated from WVU to the state's first community college Chuck Yeager was assigned as U.S. defense representative to Pakistan John Zontini was inducted into the West Virginia Sports Writers' Hall of Fame Barry Vance began spending summers painting in the Shenandoah Valley Clyde Ware's second novel, The Eden Tree, was published
Sep 06, 1980
WVU's Mountaineer Field opened in Morgantown Other events that happened on or around September 06, 1980 John Denver opened Mountaineer Field in Morgantown with "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
1984
WVU Hospitals became a separate nonprofit corporation, affiliated with West Virginia University Other events that happened on or around 1984 Holt, Rinehart, and Winston published a paperback edition of the stories of Beece D'J Pancake Henry Payne graduated from Princeton University Pence Springs was studied by scholars from the University of Kentucky Jayne Anne Phillips published her first of three novels, Machine Dreams William Pierce established his headquarters in a compound near Hillsboro Cynthia Rylant wrote Waiting to Waltz Henry Schmulbach's Wheeling house was added to the National Register of Historic Places The Shott family endowed the Hugh I. Shott Jr. Foundation Union Carbide had a tragic industrial accident at its Bhopal, India facility E. M. Statler was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame Charleston became the first city in U.S. to be able to chose long-distance carriers other than AT&T Railroads ceased operation in Tucker County The golf course at Twin Falls State Park was expanded to 18-hole AT&T broke up C. W. Ferguson III stopped serving as circuit judge A renovation on Welch Community Hospital was completed West Virginia History began annual publication The School of Osteopathic Medicine started a postdoctoral training program Thomas Conlin became conductor of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Meredith Sue Willis wrote Personal Fiction Writing The American Cyanamid decided to settle the Willow Island sterilization suit out of court Warren McGraw stopped serving as state senate president John Zontini was inducted into the Marshall University Athletics Hall of Fame Helen Holt retired Coach John McKay retired
1986
WVU Mountaineer Field football stadium expanded to 63,175 seats Other events that happened on or around 1986 Kathy Mattea's song "Walk the Way the Wind Blows" became her first major hit McCoy's Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places Congressman Alan Mollohan was appointed to the House Appropriations Committee Mount St. George was added to the National Register of Historic Places Regular national broadcasts of Mountain Stage began on National Public Radio Zebra mussels were introduced from Europe to the Great Lakes by commercial barge traffic Henry Payne was runner up for the Pulitzer Prize. The Peter Tarr furnace was partially restored. A new division was created within the PSC to provide assistance to public water and wastewater providers. Otis Rice became vice chairman of the Kanawha County Bicentennial Commission The Smoot Theater stopped serving as a movie theater The State Supreme Court ruled on Cook v. Heck's regarding the firing of workers United National Bank joined with Intermountain Bankshares and Kanawha Banking and Trust The Education Foundation changed its name to West Virginia Historical Education Foundation Pence Springs Resort property was purchased and renovated as a hotel Thomas W. Cole left as president of West Virginia State College (now University) Roomier pens making use of natural features were installed at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center at French Creek The West Virginia Turnpike accommodated about 5 million cars A master's degree in business administration was first offered at West Virginia Wesleyan College Rachael Worby became music director of Wheeling Symphony The Henderson Hall historic district was added to the National Register Robert C. Gillespie became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology Katherine Johnson retired from NASA Conchata Ferrell married Arnie Anderson, a sound mixer
1989
Ruby Memorial Hospital was designated the state's first level one trauma center Other events that happened on or around 1989 Henry Payne became the first editorial cartoonist to make his work available via computer Cecil Roberts played a key role in the UMWA successful strike against Pittston Company Bernard W. Schmitt became bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston The Harrison Rural Electrification Association had 4,713 customers The Smoot Theater was rescued by a citizen group headed by Felice Jorgeson The Crain v. Bordenkircher case changed state policies regarding the prison system The Jewell v. Manard case required legislature to redesign the system for compensating court-appointed attorneys Union Carbide and Indian government reached a settlement for the Bhopal plant incident The Ohio Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation built a church near Wheeling The Pittston Company tried to abrogate commitments to the UMWA welfare and retirement fund Weirton Steel stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra celebrated 50 years Construction of a Ronald McDonald House began in Morgantown New owners led Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel out of bankruptcy WVU at Parkersburg was re-affiliated with WVU Don Blankenship became president of Massey Coal Services Dennis Harrah was inducted into the Miami University Sports Hall of Fame
1996
David C. Hardesty Jr. became president of WVU Other events that happened on or around 1996 Five Uncle Abner stories were published in Old Land, Dark Land, Strange Land by University of Charleston Press District 29 of UMWA was eliminated WesBanco acquired Universal Mortgage Company A second cardiac catheterization laboratory was opened at Wheeling Hospital Wheeling Jesuit assumed university status Meredith Sue Willis wrote Marco's Monster
1999
Jay Rockefeller provided funding for the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute Other events that happened on or around 1999 The Buffalo Toyota plant manufactured its first V-6 engine WAJR-FM at Salem went on the air Additional repairs on the Wheeling Suspension Bridge occurred The Caperton Center for Applied Technology was dedicated at WVU at Parkersburg A bridge in Fayette County was renamed the Charles C. Rogers Bridge
2007
David C. Hardesty, Jr., stepped down after 12 years as president of WVU
Oct, 2007
Michael Garrison became president of WVU
Sep 01, 2008
Michael Garrison resigned as president Other events that happened on or around September 01, 2008 Thomas McHugh appointed to Supreme Court to serve during the illness of Justice Joseph Albright
Jun 30, 2009
James P. Clements became WVU's 23rd president
Nov 29, 2010
WVU dedicated the WVU-NASA Robotics Center
Dec 31, 2013
James Clements left WVU to become president of Clemson University
Mar 10, 2014
E. Gordon Gee was confirmed as 24th president of WVU View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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