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1813
Buffalo Creek Farmer's Library of Monongalia County was established Other events that happened on or around 1813 Barboursville charted and named for governor James Barbour John George Jackson supported nationalistic policies in Congress The first glass factory in Western Virginia was built at Wellsburg Alexander Withers took over management of his mother's plantation
1826
Wheeling, Morgantown, Romney, Harpers Ferry, Lewisburg and Martinsburg had libraries Other events that happened on or around 1826 Capt. William Jenkins moved to Green Bottom with his family Edward Brake Jackson died Jonathan Jackson died John Jeremiah Jacob gave his account of Dunmore's War Anne Royall wrote Sketches of History, Life, and Manners in the United States The first steamboat arrived in Morgantown School sessions were held regularly in Moundsville Holly Grove was opened as a house of public entertainment The General Assembly changed end of Staunton Turnpike to be Parkersburg George Summers graduated from Ohio University
1859
A library company in Wheeling was chartered by Virginia Other events that happened on or around 1859 The African Methodist Episcopal Church aided slaves in Western Virginia after John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry Gordon Battelle moved to a church in Wheeling Charles James Faulkner Sr. was appointed minister to France by President Buchanan Alexander Boteler was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Whig Boyds moved to 500 block of South Queen Street, Martinsburg Meshach Browning died First oil-producing well drilled in Pennsylvania Construction of stone-filled timber crib dams and timber-crib locks were completed on the Coal River Claude Crozet became principal of Richmond Academy Henry Koontz bought a 600-acre farm in Easton, near Morgantown Weston College was sold at public auction Granville Davisson Hall moved to Wheeling Morris Harvey began his service as Fayette County sheriff George Imboden married Mary Franes Tyree Martin Robison Delany and 34 others met with John Brown in Canada to develop a provisional constitution for the liberated slaves Mother Jones began teaching in a convent school in Michigan George Latham was admitted to the bar Construction of Weston Hospital began Linsly Institute built a new three-story building Martin Delany wrote Blake: or, The Huts of America Daniel Lucas was admitted to the practice of law Michael J. Owens was born The Weston & Gauley Bridge Turnpike was completed The Greenbrier Historical Society begun Frederick Lemon sold the Ritchie Mines Nathan Scott travelled to Leavenworth Kansas Traveller took top prizes in the Lewisburg fair Only 94 of 162 state chartered turnpike companies operated within West Virginia The U.S. Customs House was built A new U.S. Custom House was completed at Wheeling Waitman Willey was defeated as a candidate for lieutenant governor of Virginia The three-story front section of Henderson Hall was completed
1883
The Wheeling Public Library was created Other events that happened on or around 1883 William Edwin Chilton appointed to an unexpired term as Kanawha County prosecutor Legislature established the West Virginia Department of Mines and fatality records began to be kept Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company acquired the Ohio Fuel Supply Company Henry Gassaway Davis left the U.S. Senate Fayetteville was incorporated under its name The Calhoun Chronicle was first published John P. Hale published a pamphlet on Daniel Boone's years in the Kanawha Valley James Edward "Blind Ed" Haley was born William "Coin" Harvey went to Colorado to work as silver prospector and miner The Lovett family began ownership of the Lockwood House in Harpers Ferry William Howells retired from Ohio politics The James Produce Company was started by Charles H. James Frances Benjamin Johnston began her studies at the Academie Juilian in Paris State legislature elected John Kenna to the U.S. Senate William Leigh left Maryland Institute to begin studying at the Royal Academy in Munich, Germany The Norfolk & Western Railway arrived in Mercer county Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller wrote The Bride of the Tomb The first mine safety laws in West Virginia were enacted English immigrants settled in the Linwood-Mingo area of Randolph County A prohibition amendment passed in the House of Delegates but was defeated in the Senate. Ripley's population was at 614 Lewis Ruffner died The Salvation Army opened its first West Virginia "corps" in Wheeling Seventh-Day Adventist churches were organized in Wood and Kanawha counties The West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Railroad first entered Upshur County Dr. John J. Moorman stopped doctoring the crowds at White Sulphur Springs
1903
Carnegie library was established in Huntington Other events that happened on or around 1903 Barger Springs property purchased by company of 30 investors Ambrose Bierce returned to Randolph and Pocahontas counties to revisit locations where he had served in the Civil War The town of Bretz and the mining plant were built by West Virginia Coal Company Camden Park was established Col. E. G. Via became park manager Annex was built across from State Capitol Construction on the new section of the Coal & Coke Railway began Grover Lewis was born in Alabama John Harrington Cox received appointment in English Department of WVU Legislature enacted a uniform teachers' examination law William Edwards produced a book of Edwards family genealogy Fairmont Coal Company was absorbed into Consolidation Coal Company of Maryland William Glasscock was admitted to the bar The Coal & Coke Railroad was completed from Elkins to Durbin. A junction was made at Durbin with the C&O and the Coal & Iron railroads Capt. Greene built the side-wheel packet Greenland Harrison County was fourth in the state in total tons of coal produced A compulsory attendance law was enacted The Homer Laughlin Company traded factories with the National China Company The House of Delegates grew to 86 delegates Teddy Weatherford was born in Bluefield Herman Kump attended the University of Virginia law school Reported 63% of McKendree Hospital's patients were miners Local businessmen bought the Fairmont Electric Light and Power Plant The Morgantown Glass Works employed more than 400 people Oak Hill was incorporated The Owens bottle-making machine was invented by Michael Owens President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Christopher Payne as consul general to the Danish West Indies The Barbour County courthouse was constructed at Philippi Melville Davisson Post married Ann Bloomfield Gamble Schoolfield The West Virginia death rate from smallpox was reported as being from 12 to 20 percent of reported cases A new wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital John G. Knutti became administrator of Shepherd College The Pope Dock Company built the Eisenbarth Henderson Floating Theater-The New Great Modern Temple of Amusement The Parkersburg & Marrietta Interurban was built An interurban railway line was built from Sistersville to New Martinsville The Parkersburg & Ohio Valley Electric Railway was built T. C. Townsend opened a law office in Fayettesville The USS Huntington was constructed at Newport News The West Virginia State Federation of Labor was founded Carter Woodson accepted an administrative and teaching assignment in the Philippines Zane Grey wrote Betty Zane Paul Wissmach and Joseph Reininger began to manufacture stained glass as the Empire Glass Company in Paden City T. G. Nutter opened a law office in Charleston
1905
Carnegie library was established in Parkersburg Other events that happened on or around 1905 Charles Ambler received an M.A. in social sciences Waitman Barbe wrote The Study of Poetry Company constructed a three-story wooden hotel near the spring at Barger Springs Walter Barnes graduated from WVU Jesse Bloch married Jessie Thornton Moffat C&O absorbed the Hocking Valley Railroad William Edwin Chilton and others bought Charleston's electric streetcar system Oliver Chitwood received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins Coal & Coke Railway reached Clay Alston Dayton was appointed judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia Legislature created a four-member Board of Examiners to issue teaching certificates Charles Town Academy ceased Fenton Art Glass Company opened in Martins Ferry, Ohio Thaddeus Fowler returned to West Virginia The Frederick Hotel was built in downtown Huntington William Glasscock was appointed internal revenue collector for the District of West Virginia by President Theodore Roosevelt The C&O Greenbrier Division extension to Winterburn was completed The original Grimes Golden apple tree blew down Ella Holroyd entered the Cincinnati Conservatory Earnest T. Weir purchased the Jackson Iron & Tin Company tin mill at Clarksburg John Jay Jackson Jr. retired as judge Tommy Benford was born in Charleston Blanche Lazzell received an art degree from WVU St. George Orthodox Church of Charleston was established Howard B. Lee graduated from Marshall College (now University) Sarah Ann Legg went on trial for murder of Jay Legg Oil and gas business began in Griffithsville The entire Little Kanawha River system was acquired by the federal government The electric streetcar service arrived in Mannington Martin Christensen invented the marble-making machine Frank McEnteer graduated from Harvard Engineering School Jim Sellers and J.W Grimm bought a brick-making machine The West Virginia Department of Mines was created Matewan opened its first hospital Margaret Montague published The Poet, Miss Kate, and I The West Virginia State Museum was founded The B&O Beaux Arts-style station in Wheeling was built John Nugent was elected president of the state Federation of Labor Pardee & Curtin Lumber Company expanded operations by buying a sawmill on Cherry River at Coal Siding. The Western Maryland Railroad arrived in Paw Paw A commercial department was added to Potomac State College The Virginian Railroad developed a shop and yards in Princeton. Teddy Roosevelt walked Eleanor Roosevelt down the aisle to marry FDR St. Joseph's Hospital opened a nursing school The Pope Dock Company built Sunny South The Morgan Museum began in Putnam County by Sidney Morgan The Sunrise mansion was built by William MacCorkle Ernest T. Weir founded Phillips Sheet & Tin Plate in Clarksburg The West Virginia Archives and History was created by legislature The West Virginia Central & Pittsburg(h) became part of the Western Maryland Railway Company The Historical Society ceased publication of The West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly The Historical Society collections were moved to the Capitol Annex West Virginia Wesleyan College awarded its first five degrees Albert White left office as governor The Elk River Coal & Lumber Company organized Timber in the Williams River watershed began being taken out by log train Williamson was incorporated A bridge at Williamstown was built Laura Jackson Arnold was named "Mother of the Regiment" by the 5th West Virginia Cavalry
1914
The West Virginia Library Association was organized Other events that happened on or around 1914 Akro Agate Company was relocated to Clarksburg Mary Atkeson taught English for a year at the University of Missouri Elkins and Wheeling claimed basketball supremacy Izetta Brown moved to West Virginia as bride to William Gay Brown Pearl Buck graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College Sunday edition was added to Clarksburg Telegram Golden Delicious apple was discovered on Mullens farm Antoine (Tony) and Julien Gaujot earned Congressional Medals of Honor during the Philippine Insurrection and America's invasion of Vera Cruz, Mexico. Phil Conley graduated from WVU Artemus Cox moved to Charleston Doddridge County's first roads were paved Extension home economics agents were placed in certain counties to further efforts Congress passed the Smith-Lever Act for federal funding to develop agricultural extension program State prohibition began The West Virginia Federation of Labor reported 152 local craft unions with 31,315 Ella Holroyd graduated with honors from the Cincinnati Conservatory The Homer Laughlin Company made semi-vitreous and white granite dinner, hotel and toilet wares Harley Kilgore earned his law degree from WVU Harley Kilgore taught school for a year State's economic focus had shifted to southern West Virginia The local Catholic population built a school in Weston Duval High School was built in Griffithsville Akro Agate moved to Clarksburg The Marlinton Opera House was sold due to default on deeds of trust Frank McEnteer was appointed to superintend the building of the multi-span concrete arch bridge in Clarksburg Willow Glen, or McKinley's Palace, construction began The Yost Law became effective A hotel building on the hill above Minnehaha Springs was completed Dwight Morrow joined the banking firm J. P. Morgan and Company Leonard "Lynn" Davis was born James H. Boone installed light bulbs in Organ Cave Otter Creek Boom & Lumber Company ceased logging Otter Creak Charles Boldt started manufacturing glass in Huntington The legislature established a minimum age of 10 for incarceration at Pruntytown The Ohio Valley Refining Company began operating in St. Marys There were 40 local offices elected from the Socialist Party Weirton Steel employment was 5,348 A monument to the Confederacy was erected in Hinton The USS Huntington was on the West Coast The Vitrolite factory was fully completed A nursing school was established at what is now Welch Community Hospital The Jones brothers of Red Star Coal & Coke Company donated land to the Baptist State Convention Wheeling Hospital grew to 225 beds
1915
Legislature passed bill to empower cities and towns to levy taxes for public libraries and reading rooms Other events that happened on or around 1915 Harry Stansbury contacted high schools across the state to participate The Belle Alkali Company started a plant near Belle 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 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
1924
Carnegie library was established in Hinton Other events that happened on or around 1924 Elementary school and junior high schools numbered 453 for African-American students and teachers Mary Atkeson wrote The Woman on the Farm The number of banks in West Virginia peaked at 225 state banks and 125 national banks Walter Barnes wrote The Children's Poets The Evening Post, Beckley's first daily newspaper, was established UMWA President Keeney and Secretary Treasurer Mooney were forced to retire Izetta Brown seconded Davis again for nomination Izetta Brown again defeated for U.S. Senate, this time by William Edwin Chilton Chauncey H. Browning graduated from WVU John W. Davis Democratic candidate for president Matthew Wesley Clair Sr. returned to Washington for a visit Association changed its name to West Virginia Council of Churches and Christian Education Democratic presidential candidate John W. Davis failed to carry home state West Virginia Huntington's Frederick Douglass Junior and Senior High School was built Patrick Gainer recorded folk songs and lore of West Virginia's people Construction of the Governor's Mansion began Major flood brought devastation Record floods hit Hardy County Another school was built in Harrisville The Concord College He-Man Club began as picnic to honor retiring college president Christopher Columbus Rossey The hemlock wooly adelgid was first reported in the Western United States Colonel Joseph Long bought a corner lot in Huntington to erect a building for his paper, the Herald-Dispatch The UMWA had lost half of its members in West Virginia and was nearly bankrupt The Huntington Post-Herald became a daily newspaper Homer Holt married Isabel Wood of Charlottesville, Virginia Rush Holt graduated from Salem College Cheat Lake construction began, created primarily for the production of electricity Carmine Pelligrino of Rosemont held record of mining 66 tons of coal in 24 hours The Jackson's Mill property was donated to the state of West Virginia Ray Wetzel was born in Parkersburg Mother Jones called on Governor Morgan for pardons for miners imprisoned after the Logan March Out-of-state KKK publication carried reports from several West Virginia location The Ku Klux Klan marched through Hinton Howard B. Lee left office as Mercer County prosecuting attorney Howard M. Gore became assistant secretary of agriculture Mountain lions were declared extinct Walter Martens designed the Science and Liberal Arts halls of Davis & Elkins College Clarence Cameron White was named director of music at West Virginia State College The Concrete Steel Bridge Company of Clarksburg had 52 separate construction teams in the field The Metropolitan Theater in downtown Morgantown opened Fred Mooney left as secretary-treasurer of UMWA District 17 The first Mountaineer Field opened The Clarke-McNary law was passed by Congress authorizing the purchase of forested, cut-over, or denuded lands for the production of timber in addition to the flow regulation of navigable streams Records of chicken production began. The West Virginia Public Health Association was organized. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem College. Walter Reuther began work as apprentice tool and die maker at Wheeling Steel Leonard Riggleman accepted a pastorate in Milton William Ritter made headline for sharing $3 million in company stock with his employees Money from the John B. Crowley estate paid for a new addition to St. Francis Hospital A second wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital The state built a fire tower in Seneca State Forest A merger agreement between Sheltering Arms Hospital and Charleston General Hospital fell through Ada "Bricktop" Smith performed in Paris West Virginia Wesleyan defeated Navy, Syracuse, Kentucky in football The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference began Seneca State Forest became the first state forest in West Virginia P. D. Strausbaugh and colleagues collected, mounted and filed the nucleus of a new plant collection for WVU The Blackwater Boom & Lumber Company closed All lumber operations in Tucker County closed due to depletion of original forest Membership in the United Brethren Parkersburg Conference was 10,337 Frank Keeney and Fred Mooney resigned from the UMWA Ward Engineering built the Greenbrier, a sternweel towboat
1929
Legislature created the West Virginia Library Commission Other events that happened on or around 1929 The legislature changed the name of Bluefield Colored Institute to Bluefield Institute (now Bluefield State University) The State Bridge Commission was created by the legislature The legislature added forestry back to the agency, creating the West Virginia Game, Fish and Forestry Commission
1935
Governor Kump declared he wanted to see a library within reach of every citizen Other events that happened on or around 1935 Roy Bird Cook became president of Cook Drug Company Civilian Conservation Corps established Camp Price Families began moving into their new homes in Eleanor The Myers brothers filmed One Room Schoolhouses Susanne Fisher sang with the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra School of Forestry was established at WVU Cheat Mountain salamander was discovered on White Top Mountain Howard Mason Gore served as director of the federal rural rehabilitation program for Harrison County West Virginia bought the park lands of Hawks Nest State Park and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made improvements The National Industrial Recovery Act was declared unconstitutional The Wagner Act revived many parts of the NIRA relating to labor after the Supreme Court ruled the NIRA unconstitutional Joseph Hodges was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Richmond Fanny Johnson's story "The Dinner Set" was published in Weird Tales Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) moved to Charleston from Barboursville UMWA President John L. Lewis challenged the American Federation of Labor by initiating campaign to organize workers by industry rather than craft 89 percent of all families in Lincoln County regularly accepted government relief Tom Kromer wrote Waiting For Nothing Tom Kromer wrote Waiting For Nothing Logan Banner became an afternoon daily
1938
Report by Paul A. T. Noon and Mildred W. Sandoe showed 88% of West Virginia were without library services Other events that happened on or around 1938 The Short Ballot Amendment was rejected by voters Jazz singer Jennie Smith was born 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 WVU had 3,500 students and 150 faculty 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
The first funds were allocated by legislature for libraries Other events that happened on or around 1941 UMWA eliminated the traditional wage differences between northern and southern coalfields Cleve Bailey appointed director of the state budget Main structure of the Buckhannon Highways Garage was built by prison labor The administration building was built at Buckhannon Highways Garage Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper were married Rose Cousins went to Tuskegee Institute to try out for the Air Force training program for black combat pilots West Virginia: A Guide to the Mountain State was published An extension was added to the original 1927 Diamond Department Store building Joanne Dru married Dick Haymes West Virginia Farm Bureau Service Company was sold to Southern States Cooperative Ruel Foster joined the faculty of WVU Earle T. Andrews became general manager of operations of the Berkeley Glass Sand Mining Plant in Morgan County Governor Neely appointed Howard Gore to the state's three-man Public Service Commission Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote The Gods and One Roy Lee Harmon wrote Around the Mountains Homer Holt began practicing law in Charleston Another Textile Workers of America strike occurred at Interwoven Mills It's Wheeling Steel radio program moved to the NBC Blue Network Johnnie Johnson left West Virginia Hubert Skidmore wrote Hawks Nest Hubert Skidmore wrote Hawks Nest The Little Beaver Lake was created with the damming of Little Beaver Creek Joseph Long left office as president of Huntington Chamber of Commerce The electric railway from McMechen and Moundsville were replaced by buses Walter Martens began a partnership with his son Robert Martens Sandy Mason died Matilda Mason became the president of Mason College of Music and Fine Arts Labor leader Joe Powell began work as a glass cutter for Roland Glass Company in Clarksburg. Attorney General Abraham A. "Cousin Abe" Lilly resided in the penthouse at the Ruffner Hotel An article by Clay Perry in the Saturday Evening Post describes four cavers trapped in the Sinks of Gandy for five hours Col. H. Clare Hess was appointed superintendent at the State Police Academy The National Labor Relations Board found Weirton Steel guilty of unfairly promoting its company union The Stone & Thomas department store chain came to Charleston The butadiene plant at Institute had capacity of 80,000 tons/year Morris Harvey College became a self-governing independent college The Navy named a light cruiser the U.S.S. Huntington Volkmar Wentzel enlisted in the Air Force A mine strike at Widen occurred WSAZ radio began fulltime operation and assumed frequency of 930 kHz New River State College was renamed the West Virginia Institute of Technology (now WVU Institute of Technology) Chuck Yeager enlisted in the Army Air Corps Hurry-up Yost retired as Michigan's athletic director Helen Froelich married Rush Holt
1942
Gordon L. Bennett was the first executive secretary of the Library Commission Other events that happened on or around 1942 West Virginia State Board of Education adopted flag-salute regulations Florence Blanchfield was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel Construction on the Bluestone Dam began Alonzo Brooks returned to French Creek Log lodge, two framed dormitories, swimming pool and bathhouse constructed at Camp Washington-Carver Brandon Hass sold the property now known as Cathedral State Park to the state The Charleston Ordnance Center received the coveted Army-Navy "E" production award Carl Rutherford learned to play in same tunings as others Julia Davis wrote The Sun Climbs Slow U.S. Farm Security Administration came to an end Ken Hechler was drafted as an infantry private Two separate groups of Italian POWs were imprisoned in West Virginia The first and largest contingent of Italian POWs arrived to build Camp Ashford Andrew Gardner Jackson died The Linsly School became known as the Linsly Military Institute The Lost World Caverns cave was discovered as the Grapevine Cave Frank McEnteer arrived in the Middle East Kermit McKeever became superintendent of Lost River State Park J. Kemp McLaughlin was assigned to the 92nd heavy bombardment group of the Eighth Air Force Mercer County's miners produced 3,500,000 tons of coal Arnold Miller joined the army Okey Mills enlisted in the army as paratrooper The Civilian Conservation Corps was terminated Calvin W. Price received an honorary law degree from West Virginia University. Dyke Raese coached the West Virginia University men's basketball team to a major sports national championship. The Schoolhouse Cave survey was completed Hugh Shott served in U.S. Senate Hubert Skidmore wrote Hill Lawyer Sam Snead had won 29 tournaments President of UMWA District 17 Van Bittner resigned CCC Camp Watoga was closed Wertz Field Airport closed Only 212 students enrolled at West Liberty State College Phil Conley re-acquired the West Virginia Review Antonia Modarelli became director of the Charleston Civic Orchestra The Works Progress Administration ceased operation
1943
Clara Johnson became the executive secretary of the Library Commission Other events that happened on or around 1943 William "Wally" Barron enlisted in the U.S. Army Great Britain recognized black lung as compensatory injury Blakeley was purchased and rehabilitated by Raymond J. Funkhouser Florence Blanchfield succeeded Col. Julia Flikke as Colonel The legislature changed the name of Bluefield State Teachers College to Bluefield State College (now University) Work suspended on Bluestone Dam because of WWII Sawmill at Cass sold to Mower Lumber Company of Charleston James B. Griffin described the Clover Archiological Site in The Fort Ancient Aspect Name changed from Concord State Teachers College to Concord College Artemus "A.W." Cox began serving as president of the board of trustees of Morris Harvey College Fairmont State Teachers College became Fairmont State College Floodwall in Huntington was completed Construction of the Science Hall at Glenville State College was completed Legislature changed the name from Glenville State Teachers College to Glenville State College Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote The Mountain People James Lowell McPherson succeeded Roy Lee Harmon as poet laureate of West Virginia The Concord College He-Man Club did not meet during the war years Standard Oil combined its gas subsidiaries under Consolidated Natural Gas Jehovah's Witnesses won the U.S. Supreme Court decision in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette Johnnie Johnson entered the Marines as one of the first African-Americans admitted to the Corps Howard B. Lee retired from law practice Jack Maurice served in the U.S. Navy Reserve Ken and Faith Reynolds McClain bought the Parsons Advocate Newspaper Frank McEnteer was made chief engineer of the construction division of the U.S. armed forces in the Middle East Clarence Meadows was elected to a full term as 10th Circuit judge Arch A. Moore Jr. served as an army infantryman Raleigh County experienced its peak output of coal production during World War II. Alex Schoenbaum settled in Charleston Legislature authorized a return to the name Shepherd College Joe Stydahar joined the navy Festus Summers became president of the West Virginia Historical Society Construction began on Thomas Memorial Hospital in South Charleston Navy assigned the name Huntington to another cruiser Legislature changed the name of West Liberty State Teachers College to West Liberty State College Florence Blanchfield became superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps WSAZ radio affiliated with the Blue Network Frankie Yankovic enlisted in the Army Jonah Edward Kelley was drafted into the army
1945
Dora Ruth Parks became the executive secretary of the Library Commission 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 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 Victorine Louistall became the first African-America female to earn a graduate degree from WVU 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
1952
Library service was improved with creation of regional library systems Other events that happened on or around 1952 Raleigh County Memorial Airport built Charleston baseball joined the American Association, class AAA Henry Lake Dickason retired as president of Bluefield State Teachers College (now University) The Lilly Brothers of Raleigh County relocated to Boston Widen was scene of fatal labor confrontation Consolidated Bus Lines traveled 5,873,468 miles Virginia Ruth "Dagmar" Egnor began own variety show, Dagmar's Canteen John W. Davis argued for the continuation of racial segregation in South Carolina before the U.S. Supreme Court Briggs v. Elliot, later Brown v. Board of Education John Warren Davis accepted a U.S. government appointment in Liberia A wing to the Denmar Hospital building was completed Fairmont State College president George W. Hand lost his position by refusing to fire Luella Raab Mundell Ann Kathryn Flagg resigned her teaching position at Dunbar High School in Fairmont and became director of Children's Theater in Cleveland U.S. Forest Service published reports on West Virginia Forests Report stated that 64% of the state was forested Gunner Gatski earned All-Pro honors in football The Health and Physical Education Building at Glenville State College was dedicated Original Mound Museum opened at Grave Creek Mound K. K. Hall became circuit judge of West Virginia's 25th Judicial Circuit Joseph Hodges was made an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Richmond Johnnie Johnson moved to St. Louis and hired Chuck Berry to be in the Johnnie Johnson Trio The 167th Fighter Squadron returned to West Virginia The current number of members was established for the House of Delegates The Wheeling Downs racetrack and other assets of Big Bill Lias were seized by the federal government Hobert Skidmore wrote The Years Are Even Lock No. 1 on the Big Sandy was closed Walter Martens became a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a distinctive honor The Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad was merged into the New York Central System Walter Reuther was elected president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations Jack Rollins wrote "Smokey the Bear" WVU's Mark Workman became All-American in basketball Jim Sprouse began serving with the Central Intelligence Agency Spruce Knob Lake was constructed as a fishing lake P. D. Strausbaugh published Part One of Flora of West Virginia Planning for Sutton Dam was suspended because of Korean War WSAZ-TV in Huntington became channel 3 S. A. Abram began redevelopment of the old seminary grounds at Hilltop, near Oak Hill in Fayette County The Bluestone Dam and Lake was completed A strike at Widen occurred Virginia Mae Brown was named West Virginia’s first woman assistant attorney general
1953
The Library Commission moved to Charleston from Morgantown Other events that happened on or around 1953 Southern tract of present Calvin W. Price State Forest was sold to the state by New River Company Carr China Company went out of business Statewide circulation of the Charleston Gazette peaked at 86,000 Consolidated Bus Lines employed 337 individuals and operated 100 buses Phoebia Moore died Phyllis Curtin made her debut with New York City Opera John Warren Davis retired as president of West Virginia State Julius DeGruyter wrote The Kanawha Spectator: History of the Kanawha Valley The Dunbar-South Charleston Bridge opened as a toll bridge Gunner Gatski earned All-Pro honors in football Perry Gresham became president of Bethany College Perry Gresham wrote Disciples of the High Calling John Ailes became editor of the Hampshire Review, Hampshire County Hardy County Heritage Weekend began at Mill Island Another 400 acres was added for the Harpers Ferry National Monument Ken Hechler became the associate director of the American Political Science Association Jean Lee Latham wrote The Story of Eli Whitney The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers left West Virginia A fire damaged the Martinsburg Journal building "Speedy" Estep was killed racing a stock car in Columbus, Ohio Davis Grubb wrote Night of the Hunter A trail at the WVU Arboretum was named in honor of Lawrence Nuttall Eldora Nuzum joined the Elkins Inter-Mountain The West Virginia State Poultry Association annual meeting moved to Moorefield Distribution of Salk polio vaccine Chuck Ripper moved to Huntington as art director for the Standard Printing & Publishing Co. Rat Rodgers was admitted to the College Football Hall of Fame Eleanor Roosevelt stopped serving as U.S. representative to the United Nations Alex Schoenbaum's restaurant chain was named Shoney's WVU played in the Sugar Bowl West Virginia became one of the first sates to finance development of park facilities by selling bonds WKNA TV when on air in Charleston as channel 49 The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Kanawha Valley was established Oscar Nelson died The initial accreditation attempt for Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) failed The Baptist State Convention began to meet at Hilltop William J. Wallace became president of West Virginia State College Enrollment at West Virginia State College was at 837 students WJLS-FM Beckley became WBKW-FM William B. Axtell became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology Katherine Johnson began working with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics as a “computer” doing complex analysis and calculations Toni Stone joined the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League
1956
The Library Services Act by Congress enabled the Library Commission to acquire federal funding for public libraries in West Virginia Other events that happened on or around 1956 The end of private education at Storer College in Harpers Ferry New campus for Appalachian Bible Institute opened in Bradley Gray Barker wrote his best-known book, They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers Blackwater Lodge opened at Blackwater State Park Boundary dispute between West Virginia and Virginia involving Monroe, Giles, and Alleghany Counties Chauncey H. Browning was Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court Cabell Huntington Hospital first opened for business Lodge at Cacapon State Park was completed with a restaurant and banquet hall The "golden" trout was spawned with regular rainbow trout at state fire hatchery Charles Town Opera House was condemned City National Bank was organized in Charleston Roy Clarkson joined Department of Biology at WVU Mine at Bishop exploded Chapman Revercomb last Republican to be elected to the Senate in West Virginia Associated Dry Goods bought the Diamond Department Store Elizabeth Drewry helped pass constitutional amendment allowing women to serve on juries in West Virginia Pete Everest graduated from Armed Forces Staff College Pete Everest flew the X-2 at Mach 3 Ruel Foster wrote Elizabeth Madox Roberts, American Novelist Charleston's Garnet High School closed The state Board of Education authorized the construction of the student center, Pioneer Center, at Glenville State College Joseph C. Gluck became pastor of the Forks-of-Cheat Baptist Church The U.S. Government approached the C&O with proposal to build an "emergency relocation center" at the Greenbrier for reassembly of Congress Davis Grubb wrote Shadow of My Brother Minnie Buckingham Harper's second husband John B. Paterson died Hazel Atlas Company operated 12 plants across the U.S. Chuck Howley was named the Southern Conference Athlete of the Year Sam Huff played with the New York Giants to win a championship game The peak patient population at the Huntington State Hospital was 1,460 The federal Interstate Highway Act was passed Jean Lee Latham won the Newbery Award for Carry On, Mr. Bowditch Jean Lee Latham won the Newbery Award for Carry On, Mr. Bowditch Clagg and Britton produced an atlas of West Virginia emphasizing historical factors and statewide economic data Camden Eli "Cam" Henderson died William Marland tried to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat G. Ogden Nutting started his newspaper career as a reporter and news editor for the Martinsburg Journal Mason College of Music and Fine Arts merged with Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Thomas Miller graduated from the WVU College of Law The West Virginia Mountain State Gospel Singers Corporation was chartered Alfred Knobler opened the new Pilgrim Glass plant on Walker Branch Road in Ceredo The community of Port Amherst received that name The Pruntytown Industrial School for Boys was reintegrated The N&W was West Virginia's last steam powered railroad Mary Lee Settle wrote O Beulah Land The Mann's Creek Railroad line closed Planning for Sutton Dam continued Direct distance telephone dialing was introduced in Wheeling and Moundsville The Greenbrier art colony was reopened with the work of Gladys Tuke and Jeanne Eleanore Coyne Cecil Underwood became a leading spokesman for the Republican Party A silicones products plant was built in Sistersville Andre Van Damme founded the Charleston Ballet Jerry West led East Bank High School to the state basketball championship The West Virginia Publishing Company changed name to West Virginia Education Foundation The timber flooring of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge was replaced with open steel grid West Virginia Institute of Technology was accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Katherine Johnson's first husband died of a brain tumor Ellie Schaul moved to West Virginia
1964
The U.S. Library Services Act was amended to provide funds for library education and library construction Other events that happened on or around 1964 Pearl Buck founded the Pearl S. Buck Foundation French Carpenter record, Old-Time Songs and Tunes from Clay County, West Virginia, released Ted Cassidy secured television role on The Addams Family Maryland Pimlico Race Course installed lighting to compete with newer tracks C&O acquired the Western Maryland Railroad Swimming pool at Chief Logan State Park opened Congress passed the Civil Rights Act Roy B. Clarkson published Tumult on the Mountains: Lumbering in West Virginia, 1770-1920 Legislature enacted law that authorized election of delegates to a state constitutional convention Work began at Parkersburg to make U.S. 50 a four-lane highway Ellis Dungan married Elaine Runner North Hall was completed at Fairmont State College Part four of Flora of West Virginia was published The Food Stamp Act was passed, making the program permanent U.S. Forest Service published reports on West Virginia forests, stating that 74% of the state was forested Harry B. Heflin retired as president of Glenville State College An addition to the Pioneer Center at Glenville State College was completed The Hazel Atlas Corporate Headquarters in Wheeling was donated to the West Liberty State College Homer Hickam graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in industrial engineering Ella Holroyd was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by Concord College Sam Huff began his career with the Washington Redskins Schools in West Virginia were considered fully desegregated The Better Roads Amendment was voted on in the general election to provided money for the "building and construction of state roads and highways" Don Redman died A radiocarbon date estimated the Kanawha Madonna to be around 350 years old Elizabeth Kee retired from Congress John Knowles wrote Double Vision: American Thoughts Abroad Supreme Court ruling State ex rel. Smith v. Gore required equal apportionment in the election of delegates to a constitutional convention and derailed a move to draft a new state constitution The number of state senators was set at 34 Hartman Hall was built at Beckley College (now Mountain State University) The National Bank of Commerce purchased the old Kanawha County library property in Charleston The N&W acquired the Nickel Plate in a merger that included the Wabash Railroad, the Wheeling & Lake Erie, the Akron, Canton & Youngstown and the Pittsburgh & West Virginia John Norman joined the surgical team at Boston City Hospital Oscar Mairs and Hillis Youse recorded the Luther Elkins petroglyph site. Joe Powell became state director of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. Leonard Riggleman retired as president of Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Chuck Ripper quit Standard Printing & Publishing Co to be full-time freelance artist The Rock Lake Pool remained racially segregated after the Civil Rights Act Jay Rockefeller came to West Virginia as a poverty volunteer with Action for Appalachian Youth The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey first began extensive excavation on the St. Albans archeological site The Soupy Sales Show weekday morning show debuted in New York Lawmakers created a 17th state senate district in Kanawha County Bill Campbell beat Ed Tutwiller in golf in the U.S. Amateur Championship Final Miles Stanley organized the AFL-CIO Appalachian Council Western Pocahontas Corporation and Pocahontas Land Corporation donated land for Twin Falls State Park Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) began offering an associate degree in nursing The Valley Falls State Park area was acquired by the state Cyrus Vance became deputy secretary of defense under Robert McNamara The federal Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust acquired South Wheeling Bank and Trust The state purchased the old Wheeling Custom House and leased it to the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation. Charles Gabor became conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Henry Aaron left Wheeling
1965
Blasingame Report recommending improved library service was completed Other events that happened on or around 1965 Development of West Virginia's Appalachian Corridor highways began Appalachian Regional Commission established by Congress President Johnson's War on Poverty began Charleston joins Morgantown and Huntington as alternating site of state high school basketball tournament George Hodel became president of Beckley Newspapers Bens Run Earthworks officially recorded by the Archeology Section of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey W. E. Blackhurst published Of Men and A Mighty Mountain E. J. Scrafford became interim president of Bluefield State College (now University) Weldon Boone wrote A History of Botany in West Virginia Maurice Brooks published The Appalachians Harry F. Byrd retired from the Senate Governor Smith signed bill to end death penalty in West Virginia Franklin Cleckley earned a J.D. from Indiana University Arden Cogar exhibited his wood chopping at New York World's Fair Diamond Department Store built a $1 million addition to its Charleston building Pete Everest became brigadier general African-American State Farm and Homemakers Council voted to join the West Virginia Homemakers Council Gertrude Humphrey left WVU Extension work One-volume edition of Flora of West Virginia was published Ruth Ann Musick published The Telltale Lilac Bush Ruel Foster wrote Jesse Stuart Per capita personal income in West Virginia was 76% of national average The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation made its first discretionary grant, to Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) State Route 150, the Highland Scenic Highway, began construction The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was established Hope Natural Gas Company and New York State Natural Gas Corporation merged to form Consolidated Gas Supply Corporation Hopemont Sanitarium became a personal care center The West Virginia Library Commission launched an ambitious library construction project A joint committee was created to study and survey matters of government, finance, and claims against the state and make recommendations to the full legislature The Logan Banner was sold to a Tennessee publishing company Marco mascot first began showing up at Marshall University events Dan Maroney was elected a vice president in the Amalgamated Transit Union Paul Marshall stopped working at Libbey-Owens-Ford in Kanawha City Morgantown Glassware Guild was purchased by Fostoria Glass Mount Storm Lake was built to supply water for steam generation at coal-fired power plant Mylan Pharmaceuticals moved to Morgantown The last coke-making operation in the New River Gorge closed at Sewell Delf Norona became the first recipient of the Sigfus Olafson Award for his outstanding contributions to the West Virginia archeology E. Lewis Case became president of Ohio Valley College (now Ohio Valley University) Ohio Valley College (now University) was accredited by the state of West Virginia Congress created the 100,000 acre Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Jack Rollins moved to Cincinnati The Soupy Sales Show first debuted nationally Burl Sawyers resigned as state roads commissioner under indictment Charles Town Race Track installed lighting Smoke Hole became part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area Red Sovine wrote "Giddyup Go" Miles Stanley was selected as personal assistant to AFL-CIO President George Meany Fred Torrey made a bust of John F. Kennedy U.S. combat troops first deployed in the Vietnam War The War on Poverty was scaled back due to the escalation of the Vietnam War Don West came to West Virginia and established the Appalachian South Folklife Center Charles Schiff became conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra
1966
The Library Commission adopted a plan for implementing the Blasingame Report proposals 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 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) Victorine Louistall returned to WVU to teach library science 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
1969
State legislation was passed to allow the Library Commission to make direct grants for operating expenses to libraries complying with its administrative rules Other events that happened on or around 1969 Colors antique gold, turf green (avocado) mango red and original red were introduced in fiestaware Francis Ford Coppola filmed The Rain People Davis Grubb published Fools' Parade The Overseas National Airway acquired the Greene Line packet service Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote memoir, Look Back with Love: A Recollection of the Blue Ridge Logan Grade School was constructed on Hatfield Island The federal government recognized pneumoconiosis, black lung, as an occupational disease William Hoffman wrote The Dark Mountains Legislature enacted a new Municipal Code that modernized regulation of cities and towns Ivor Boiarsky helped pass a reorganization of the higher education system Island Creek Coal Company was sold to Armand Hammer of Occidental Petroleum Company John Knowles wrote Phineas: Six Stories Howard B. Lee wrote Bloodletting in Appalachia Maryat Lee published Four Men and a Monster James G. Linger sold the Linger Chair factory to the Upshur County Chair and Craft Cooperative Hobert Skidmore died Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company stopped painting new barn signs Jack Maurice became editor-in-chief of the Charleston Daily Mail The Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College began as a branch of Marshall University Greasy Neale was inducted into the National Football League Hall of Fame Treasure Mountain Festival was inaugurated The U.S. Navy began operating a major communications center at Sugar Grove An 18-hole golf course opened at Pipestem Resort State Park Public television stations began broadcasting The American Public Health Association conferred its Presidential Award on Donald Rasmussen for exceptional service in the fight against black lung The nursing school at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg closed A new dormitory was completed at the state police academy A P.E. Building was built at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Adjutant General Department estimated West Virginia suffered an estimated 2.75 death rate per 10,000 citizens due to the Vietnam War WCHS-FM went on the air Robert B. Erwin was name director of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company changed its name to Westvaco Harness racing at Wheeling Downs resumed The Luther Elkins Petroglyph was studied Warren McGraw was elected to the House of Delegates Frankie Yankovic was one of the first two people inducted into the International Polka Association Hall Of Fame in Chicago Virginia Mae Brown was named chairman of the ICC, the first woman to head an independent administrative agency of the federal government Nick Saban graduated from Monongah High School Clyde Ware's first novel, The Innocents was published
1971
Dora Ruth Parks retired Other events that happened on or around 1971 West Virginia crime rate became the lowest in the nation George Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children won the Koussevitzky and UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers awards The old Fesenmeier Brewery was closed Clyde Ware filmed No Drums, No Bugles David Lindsay caught a 9lbs 12oz smallmouth bass Marie Boette published Singa Hipsy Doodle and Other Folk Songs of West Virginia Founder Marian Herndon McQuade was elected vice-chairman of the West Virginia Committee on Aging and was a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging Davis Grubb wrote The Barefoot Man Chuck Howley was named Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl V, the only player on a losing team ever to win this award John Knowles wrote Paragon Ownership of the Linger Chair Factory went back to James G. Linger Bob Addis set a Guinness World Record for "stalagmite sitting"
1972
Reported 80% of states population had some sort of library service Other events that happened on or around 1972 Patrick Gainer retired as professor at WVU Glenville State College celebrated its centennial The Greenbrier Military Academy closed Perry Gresham wrote Campbell and the Colleges Deliverance was made into a movie, furthering hillbilly stereotypes William Hoffman wrote A Walk to the River S. L. Jones' work was discovered at Pipestem State Park by folk art collector Herbert Wade Hemphill Jr. Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital was completed in Lewis County Harold Harvey and others began work to promote a state Libertarian Party Frederic J. Glazer became executive secretary of the West Virginia Library Commission Little Beaver State Park was established The Louie Glass Company was sold by Margaret Wohinc Arden Cogar Sr. cut a 10x10 vertical white pine in 14.45 seconds Louise McNeill published her second collection of poems M. Blane Michael was appointed special U.S. assistant attorney, Northern District of West Virginia A $30 state clothing allowance reached about 44,000 welfare children Agnes Reeves Greer died The Coty American Fashion Critics' Award recognized Mountain Artisans as helping to spur the American crafts movement The Mountain Institute was founded as the Woodlands Institute O'Dell Hall was built at Beckley College (now Mountain State University) The Mountaineer mascot figure was first used in commerce Milan Puskar left Mylan Pharmaceuticals The Mystery Hole became a Fayette County roadside attraction John Norman went to the Texas Heart Institute Logging in Otter Creek ceased when an effort began to have the area designated a wilderness area A state highway marker was erected to commemorate the Pinch Reunion Aerial tramway began operation at Pipestem Resort State Park Former Attorney General C. Donald Robertson pleads guilty to charges involving kickbacks on federal housing assistance Pricketts Fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places Announcer Jack Fleming first referred to the West Virginia University marching band as the "Pride of West Virginia" during the Peach Bowl broadcast Legislation authorized the state Department of Education to create Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs) The Shenandoah Corporation bought the Charles Town Race Track Title 9 federal legislation mandated school and college athletic programs for girls and women Stonecoal Lake was built Mel Street recorded "Borrowed Angel" The Wells Hotel building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Cecil Underwood was named president of Bethany College Grand Central Mall, West Virginia's first shopping mall, was built at Vienna Uncle Homer Walker was featured in the documentary film Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival Jerry West was named most valuable player in NBA all-star game Jerry West played in the NBA championship West Liberty lost its Wheeling and Weirton branch campuses The West Liberty branch campus in Wheeling became West Virginia Northern Community College Warren S. Lewis led the major updating of the old seminary grounds at Hilltop Baptist Center A new hospital opened in Weston Charles L. Currie S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) Robert Kreis left Wheeling Symphony leading way to guest conductors Bob Wise became involved in community redevelopment from the Buffalo Creek disaster Bill Withers won a Grammy for "Ain't No Sunshine" Carol Miller graduated from Columbia College
1973
A program was established between the Library Commission and Marshall University to train library personnel in small and remote libraries Other events that happened on or around 1973 Happy Retreat was added to the National Register of Historic Places The Energy Crisis occurred The original Fiestaware was discontinued Chuck Howley retired from the Dallas Cowboys football team at the end of the season West Virginia Library Commission expanded its construction project to include the Instant Libraries building program The Buffalo Creek Memorial Library was the first Instant Library The Supreme Court of Appeals held that the system of funding justice of the peace courts from fines was unconstitutional in State ex rel. Reece v. Giles, J.P. An additional 2,500 acres were acquired for Kanawha State Forest Maryat Lee founded EcoTheater in Hinton The Lilly Brothers toured Japan Chuck Kinder wrote Snakehunter Governor Moore names A. James Manchin head of the Rehabilitation Environmental Action Program (REAP) Dan Maroney served as international president of the Amalgamated Transit Union The Palace of Gold began construction in the Hare Krishna community M. Blane Michael operated a solo law practice in Petersburg Mildred Mitchell-Bateman became the vice president of the American Psychiatric Association The Mountain Artisans Quilting Book was published by Macmillan Publishing Molly O'Day and Lynn Davis started a gospel record program at WEMM-FM Huntington Allegheny Wood Products was formed Congress created Conrail through the Regional Rail Reorganization Act Joe Powell directed the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education. The Prato Rio house was added to the National Register of Historic Places Dallas Bailey became president of Salem International University Mary Lee Settle wrote Prisons The Shepherdstown historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places Harold M. McNeill became president of West Virginia State College (now University) John D. Rockefeller IV became president of West Virginia Wesleyan College Jeff Holland Cook became conductor of the Wheeling Symphony WVU at Parkersburg Jackson County Center opened Clyde Ware directed the West Virginia-set film, When the Line Goes Through
1996
State per-capita funding of libraries raised to $4 Other events that happened on or around 1996 Virginia Ruth "Dagmar" Egnor moved from Connecticut to Ceredo Democrats reported voter registration advantage of 16-1 in Logan County Robert Gates and Bob Webb released a film about Kanawha County cello maker Harold Hayslett Ruel Foster was voted "most effective teacher" at WVU by Alumni Vandals destroyed the old tower at Hanging Rock Observatory The He-Man Club merged with Concord's Mountain Lion Club The Highlands Scenic Highway was designated a National Scenic Byway The congregation of T. D. Jakes' church was 1,000 Reported 178 libraries in West Virginia The Library Commission removed Frederic Glazer as executive secretary
1997
David Price was hired as Library Commission executive secretary Other events that happened on or around 1997 The Night of the Hunter was adapted for television Arnout "Sonny" Hyde resumed editorship of the Wonderful West Virginia under a private contract Jackson County was reported with the second-highest number of farms in West Virginia D-Mac Industries bought the nail plant and began operating it as Wheeling-La Belle Nail Company The Robert C. Byrd Clinic opened at the School of Osteopathic Medicine Phyllis Reynolds Naylor published Saving Shiloh, the last of the Shiloh trilogy Richard Curry wrote Lost Highway The International Documentary Association created the Pare Lorentz Award to honor the best documentary film of the year Video slot machines began operating at Charles Town Racetrack The West Virginia Graduate College in South Charleston merged with Marshall University Robert Drasnin recorded an album of standards titled The Blue Dahlias Butch Miles rejoined the Count Basie Orchestra Vicky Bullett began playing for the Charlotte Sting in the Women's National Basketball Association.
2001
David Price resigned as executive secretary of Library Commission Other events that happened on or around 2001 The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation had assets exceeding $100 million Cam Henderson's win-loss record for Marshall football was beat Homer Hickam published Sky of Stone: A Memoir Bill Hopen married Ai Qiu Chen The 80-megawatt power station on the Summersville Dam went into use The Midland Trail (U.S. 60) from Charleston to Kenova became a State Scenic Byway John O'Brien wrote At Home in the Heart of Appalachia The Official Marx Toy Museum opened in Moundsville The state Board of Education took over administration of the McDowell County school system
2002
J. D. Waggoner became executive secretary of West Virginia Library Commission Other events that happened on or around 2002 Glen Ferris ceased generating hydroelectric energy Few descendants of the original settlers lived on Irish mountain Stonewall Jackson Lake State park opened William W. Clem was reelected Jefferson County surveyor The Lilly Brothers and Don Stover were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor Meredith Sue Willis published Oradell at Sea The West Virginia-Western Maryland Snod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America claimed 15,488 baptized members in 62 congregations Excel Homes built a factory at Ghent with plans to build more than 1,000 modular homes West Virginia legislature legalized the cultivation of hemp under tightly controlled circumstances A doctorate of psychology was added to Marshall University
2002
Public libraries in West Virginia owned 5,02,976 books, 143,499 audios, 143,392 videos and maintained 7,567 periodical and newspaper subscriptions Other events that happened on or around 2002 Thirteen bald eagle nests were reported in West Virginia Bank One West Virginia's 4th largest banking institution There were 17 covered bridges still in existence in West Virginia West Virginia ranked 39th in gross state product West Virginia's per capita income was $21,274 Division of Natural Resources had 120 law enforcement officers Reported 1,789 full-time equivalent (FTE) students enrolled at Glenville State College Coal accounted for 98% of fuel for electric generation in West Virginia Hydroelectricity accounted for 1,065,736 out of 94,761,752 megawatt hours of electricity produced in West Virginia Reported 57 farms produced maple sap in West Virginia The Midwives Alliance of West Virginia had 11 members There were 53 certified nurse-midwives licensed Fall enrollment at Mountain State University was 2,619 West Virginia produced about 180 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year Only 25 presses printed all the newspapers operating in West Virginia Shoney's had 935 locations in 28 states There were 2,450 Seventh-day Adventists with 34 churches in West Virginia West Virginia tobacco production was at 1,874,110 pounds West Virginia had 23.9 million visitors There were five Unitarian Universalist congregation with 230 members in West Virginia
2003
West Virginia had 97 public library systems serving from 175 facilities and 7 bookmobiles Other events that happened on or around 2003 Circulation of the Blues Revue was 31,000 West Virginia Chamber of Commerce has more than 1,400 member companies Charlest Town Racing expanded to 3,500 video slots West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals had 132 member events statewide Davis & Elkins College enrollment hit 603 Dow had annual sales of $33 billion and employed 46,000 people Harold Hayslett was reported to have made a total of 65 violins, 1 viola, 61 cellos, 1 double bass, and 6 bows Reported 73,345 marijuana plants destroyed in West Virginia Mylan Pharmaceuticals was ranked third nationally when more than 200 million Mylan prescriptions were filled The Morgantown Mylan Pharmaceutical facility employed more than 1,500 people West Virginia North and West Virginia South districts and the Nazarene congregation in the Eastern Panhandle reported a total of 121 congregations, 14,500 members The value of West Virginia tobacco crop dropped to $3,710,000 Reported 27.4% of adults in West Virginia smoked View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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