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Pocahontas County
Go back to Pocahontas County
1749
Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sewell, first white residents of the Greenbrier Valley, arrived in what is now Marlinton Other events that happened on or around 1749 The Eman Bowen map was published Archibald Clendenin died Lord Fairfax and Joist Hite engaged in a lawsuit The French expedition under Celeron de Blainville landed at Wheeling Celoron de Blainville buried a lead plate at the Tu-Endie-Wei Christian Newcomer, United Brethern church founder in Northern Panhandle, was born
1761
Settlement in Pocahontas County resumed Other events that happened on or around 1761 William Renick began tracking his younger brother who had been taken captive by the Shawnees Proprietors of Pennsylvania and Maryland asked the Royal Astronomer to recommend surveyors to fix their common boundary, resulting in Mason-Dixon Line Wilson Cary Nicholas was born
Dec 21, 1821
The act creating Pocahontas County was passed by the General Assembly
1842
The General Assembly chartered three academies in Pocahontas County for the preparation of students for the University of Virginia, at Green Bank, Hillsboro, and Huntersville Other events that happened on or around 1842 B&O line completed to Cumberland Baltimore & Ohio Railroad came to Martinsburg Jacob Blair began to study law under his uncle John Jay Jackson, Sr. Western Virginians met in Clarksburg and Lewisburg and demanded a Constitutional Convention Henry Gassaway Davis became brakeman for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Joseph Diss Debar came to the U.S. William Edwards graduated from Williams College John Gallaher became a state senator Chester Hubbard married Sarah Pallister John Jay Jackson Sr commanded a brigade in the Virginia militia Stonewall Jackson entered West Point Joseph Lightburn sought admission to West Point Fairmont became county seat at creation of Marion County The B&O Railroad arrived in Mineral County William Rosecrans graduated from West Point Wayne was founded as a town Kellian Whaley moved to Wayne County
1847
A group of Dutch immigrants arrived in Pocahontas County Other events that happened on or around 1847 "Ruffner Pamphlet" published in Kanawha County Gordon Battelle was ordained a Methodist minister John Carlile was elected to the Virginia Senate William Edwards was admitted to the New York bar William Edwards published A Voyage on the River Amazon John Floyd was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates The Presbyterian Church was organized in Greenville The Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike was completed Cummins Jackson left Jackson's Mill to search for gold in CA Joseph Johnson was elected again to the House of Delegates Citizens of Parkersburg, Elizabeth, and Glenville organized the Little Kanawha Navigation Company Alexander Martin graduated from Allegheny College, Pennsylvania Mining began in West Columbia, Mason County Large flood occurred on the Ohio River The Staunton to Parkersburg Turnpike was completed Pocahontas County was formed Samuel Price was again elected to the Virginia legislature as a Whig from Greenbrier Count. Henry Ruffner published the Address to the People of West Virginia anti-slavery pamphlet The first Stone & Thomas Department Store opened in Wheeling The first permanent United Brethren church was built in Sand Hill The Buckhannon Male and Female Academy was established A grist mill was built at Valley Falls by Bradshaw and William Whitescarver Charles Ellet Jr. secured contracts for the Wheeling and Niagara Falls suspension bridges Two Dutch families settled near the headwaters of the Williams River Two turnpikes were completed in Wood County
1861
Pocahontas County suddenly became part of the front line of the Civil War Other events that happened on or around 1861 Convention changed the name to West Virginia and added five counties Two large rooms on the second floor of the Atheneum Prison were rented by the government for use as winter quarters for secessionist prisoners held at Camp Carlile on Wheeling Island There were six Baptists associations in West Virginia with almost 7,000 members Jacob Blair was an ardent Unionist when the Civil War broke out Navigational improvements made to the Coal River in the late 1850s were largely lost in the great flood Some of first troop movements of the Civil War originated at Camp Carlile Presidency Lincoln appointed Archibald Campbell postmaster of the Wheeling Post Office Ceredo became Union stronghold At the start of Civil War, Confederate attempts to secure the Kanawha Valley failed Nearly all parts of the present state were fully occupied by the filling out of the county settlement pattern Martin Delany published Blake: or, The Huts of America Bethany's Delta Tau Delta founding members graduated or left for service William Dickinson Jr. came to Kanawha John Echols was commissioned lieutenant colonel in the Confederate Army Daniel Farnsworth served in Second Wheeling Convention to create the Reorganized Government of Virginia Charles Faulkner delivered his last report to Secretary of State William Seward Granville Davisson Hall returned to record the proceedings of the Wheeling Convention Hancock County voters rejected the Virginia secession ordinance Harpers Ferry Armory and Arsenal was destroyed Nancy Hart was captured as a rebel spy in Braxton County Devil Anse Hatfield married Levicy Chafin John Imboden commanded a light battery at the initial capture of Harpers Ferry William Thomas Bland was born John Jay Jackson Jr. took a strong stand for the Union in the decision over secession Mudwall Jackson engaged the Wood County militia colonel in a fist-fight at Parkersburg's Jail House Riots Stonewall Jackson sided with Virginia in secession Job's temple was constructed The Civil War came to Keyser with the building of Fort Fuller George Latham's Company B. 2nd Virginia Infantry was ordered to stay in Grafton to vote against Virginia's Ordinance of Secession before leaving for battle Joseph Lightburn went to Wheeling A flood destroyed the locks and dams on the Guyandotte River Daniel Lucas served Confederate Gen. Henry A Wise in the Kanawha Valley campaign John McCausland organized and took command of the 36th Virginia when Virginia seceded A group of Moccasin Rangers captured Ripley and looted the town The Union Academy was closed Allen Taylor Caperton first served as senator to the Confederate States of America Anna Jarvis' home was headquarters for Union Gen. George B. McClellan The first refinery was built in Parkersburg Camp Carlisle became a major army recruiting and training center Z. D. Ramsdell became captain of the 5th Virginia Regiment. Randolph County voted in favor of secession when Virginia left the Union Johnson Newlon Camden and John Jay Jackson Sr. brought in "The Eternal Center" well Jesse Reno was called east to command a brigade. William Starke Rosecrans drove Confederate forces from West Virginia William Stevenson represented Wood County at the first constitutional convention Peter Van Winkle served in the Second Wheeling Convention Peter Van Winkle was a member of the Governor's Council of the Reorganized Government of Virginia Peter Van Winkle represented Wood County in West Virginia's Constitutional Convention James O. Watson served as a delegate to the Second Wheeling Convention The constitutional convention for West Virginia met at the Wheeling Custom House. Voters west of the Allegheny Mountains rejected Virginia's secession from the U.S. Alexander Withers moved to Parkersburg Federal forces were stationed in Wood County
1869
A Chesapeake & Ohio Railway branch was completed into Greenbrier County Other events that happened on or around 1869 West Virginia had 40,000 farms in 8.6 million acres Split between the Northern and Southern Baptists mended Belle Boyd married again to John Swainston Second governor of West Virginia, Daniel D.T. Farnsworh lived in Buckhannon Johnson Newlon Camden entered the refining business at Parkersburg Coke replaced anthracite as the leading blast furnace fuel in America Peter G. Van Winkle term as West Virginia's first U.S. senator ended Fairmont State Regency normal was renamed the Fairmont Branch Normal (Fairmont State University) Trinity Church in Huntington held its first services at Cabell County Courthouse West Virginia passed its first game laws The survival of the White Sulphur Springs resort was ensured by the arrival of the C&O Railway Cooper's Mill was built in Summers County Helvetia was settled by German-speaking Swiss immigrants George Imboden married Angi M. Dickinson The Kanawha Valley Bank built a two-story bank at the intersection of Kanawha Blvd and Capitol St in Charleston James Kay migrated to America Another boundary shift occurred in Lincoln County Stogie makers were among the first trades in Wheeling to unionize The C&O railway had begun construction in Milton Johnson Newlon Camden established one of the country's first oil refineries in Parkersburg. George Peterkin was ordained as an Episcopal priest. An arsonist burned the Preston County courthouse destroying most of the county records from 1818-69 Spring Hill Cemetery was dedicated as the Charleston municipal cemetery Edward W. Stifel Sr. was born The Laurel Fork & Sand Hill Railroad was constructed in Volcano The first West Virginia Historical Society began The West Virginia Press Association was formed Emanuel Wilson was admitted to the bar Susan Dew married James Hoff
1883
English immigrants settled in the Linwood-Mingo area of Randolph County 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 Wheeling Public Library was created 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 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
Dec 08, 1891
Voters approved Marlinton as the new Pocahontas County seat.
1891
John T. McGraw purchased the land at Marlinton. 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 WVU Mountaineers played first football game against University of Pittsburgh 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 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
1900
Construction on the C&O Greenbrier Division was completed Other events that happened on or around 1900 Mother Jones was sent to survey the West Virginia coalfields reporting conditions "worse than those in Czarist Russia"
1902
The Greenbrier Division of the C&O was completed to Durbin Other events that happened on or around 1902 Harrison Ash became chief of police at Thurmond Baldwin-Felts Agency helped break a strike in the New River Field Rosa Pelham was forced out of the castle by debt Sam Black Church is built Mother Blizzard's family was evicted from their home because of her support of the coal strike Aaron Bloch succeeded his brother, Samuel, as president of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Stephen B. Elkins purchased the Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad James Callahan was appointed chairman of the Department of History and Political Science at WVU Andrew Carnegie donated $33,000 to Lewisburg Female Institute to build Carnegie Hall Cecil B. Highland became a stockholder of Clarksburg Exponent Telegram The Coal & Coke Railway Company sold the Central & Pittsburgh Watson-Fleming-Camden syndicate acquired the Somerset Coal Company Voters amended the constitution making Secretary of State an elected office The Mahan family quit farming the land Edward Franzheim was probably the most successful architect in West Virginia The Greenbrier Military Academy was bought by the Greenbrier Presbytery and renamed the Greenbrier Presbyterial School The Homer Laughlin China Company purchased the Newell Farm and expanded across the Ohio into West Virginia Nancy Hart died The state called troops to mining strikes The state called troops to areas with striking miners The Hazel Atlas Glass Company was created The UMWA organized about 7,000 miners in the Kanawha Valley James H. Nash bought Holly Grove Mansion and made changes Albert F. Holden and William H. Coolidge inspected 30,000 acres of land on Coppers Fork of Island Creek Elmer Jacobs designed the parts of Seneca Glass Company building that had fallen to fire A History of the Valley of Virginia was reprinted The C&O Railroad was built along the Guyandotte River Patients other than coal miners were charged $1.59/ day at McKendree Hospital The West Virginia University School of Medicine was founded in Morgantown Samuel Alexander McCoy and G. W McCauley bought the Hardy County News from Capt. J. J. Chipley Matthew M. Neely opened a Fairmont law office John Nugent came to West Virginia as a UMWA organizer Oak Hill's first high school was established by Charles T. Jones and Albert G. Sevy George Rashid migrated to the United States from Syria The Pinch Reunion was established by Judge William W. Wertz Potomac State College began operation as the West Virginia Preparatory School The Rending of Virginia was originally published in Chicago by Mayer & Miller Frederick Rhead came to America Charles Ritter married Mabel McClinock Benjamin Rosenbloom played on the WVU football team St. Lawrence Boom & Manufacturing Company at Ronceverte began to receive logs from Anthony's Creek by rail Shannondale Springs was sold to H.C. Getzendanner The New River Coal strike occurred The Capitol City Lodge incorporated the Pythian Mutual Investment Fund A constitutional amendment increased the Supreme Court of Appeals justices to five The Interurban streetcar line reached Vienna Vienna opened West Virginia's first country club Ward Engineering Works built the James Rumsey for the U.S. Engineering Corp H. Rus Warne and Charles G. Rabenstein established an architect firm Fairmont Coal Company operated 28 mines and employed 6,067 The community of Addison receives the postal name of Webster Springs A narrow-gauge railroad arrived at Webster Springs Davis sold the West Virginia Central & Pittsburg(h) Railroad to the Gould interests The Medical Society of West Virginia name changed to West Virginia State Medical Association
1903
The Coal & Coke Railroad was completed from Elkins to Durbin. 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 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 Carnegie library was established in Huntington Reported 63% of McKendree Hospital's patients were miners Local businessmen bought the Fairmont Electric Light and Power Plant The Morgantown Glass Works employed more than 400 people Oak Hill was incorporated The Owens bottle-making machine was invented by Michael Owens President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Christopher Payne as consul general to the Danish West Indies The Barbour County courthouse was constructed at Philippi Melville Davisson Post married Ann Bloomfield Gamble Schoolfield The West Virginia death rate from smallpox was reported as being from 12 to 20 percent of reported cases A new wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital John G. Knutti became administrator of Shepherd College The Pope Dock Company built the Eisenbarth Henderson Floating Theater-The New Great Modern Temple of Amusement The Parkersburg & Marrietta Interurban was built An interurban railway line was built from Sistersville to New Martinsville The Parkersburg & Ohio Valley Electric Railway was built T. C. Townsend opened a law office in Fayettesville The USS Huntington was constructed at Newport News The West Virginia State Federation of Labor was founded Carter Woodson accepted an administrative and teaching assignment in the Philippines Zane Grey wrote Betty Zane Paul Wissmach and Joseph Reininger began to manufacture stained glass as the Empire Glass Company in Paden City T. G. Nutter opened a law office in Charleston
1905
The C&O Greenbrier Division extension to Winterburn was completed 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 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 Carnegie library was established in Parkersburg 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
1920
Monongahela National Forest was created. Other events that happened on or around 1920 Women received the right to vote State apple-packing plant in Inwood was established Walter Barnes wrote Types of Children's Literature 14 West Virginia cities and towns had professional baseball Braxton's population peaked at 23,973 Alonzo Brooks published West Virginia Trees Izetta Brown was first woman to second a presidential nominee, John W. Davis Chauncey H. Browning graduated from Logan High School City Hospital was moved to Camden mansion on Garfield Avenue in Parkersburg Don Chafin was reelected as sheriff Louis Watson Chappell received his M.A. from University of Virginia The Union Carbide Company bought small refinery near Clendenin Matthew Wesley Clair, Sr. was elected bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church Fayette County population jumped to 60,377 Caroline Gentry released The Key to Power, a movie The Glen Ferris Inn was sold to a subsidiary of Union Carbide Voters approved the Good Roads amendment Grafton reached its peak population of 8,517 H. B. Moore and his brothers purchased the school and reorganized it as the Greenbrier Military School Harrison County population rose to 74,783 Sid Hatfield assisted a United Mine Workers campaign to organize Tug Fork miners The Clarksburg factory of the Hazel Atlas Glass Company had 15 acres of floor space, employed 1,200 people and shipped all over the world Chemical firms in the Kanawha Valley began expanding rapidly Census reported 6,260 Hungarians in West Virginia Union organizing led to confrontations at Matewan and Blair Mountain La Belle Ironworks merged with Wheeling Iron and Steel and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation Ann Johnson Gates became the first woman member of the West Virginia legislature The legislator salary was set at $500 High school at Walkersville was constructed John L. Lewis became the president of the UMWA Big Bill Lias started a career in the illegal sale and distribution of liquor Minnie Lowther moved to Washington Jacob Marcus attained his rabbinical ordination William Marsh stopped serving as president of the M. Marsh and Son company Marshall became a four-year college The name was changed from Martinsburg West Virginia Evening Journal to Martinsburg Journal McDowell was the third most populous county in the state Willow Glen mansion, known in the Wheeling area as McKinley's Palace, was completed James Miller ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state James Miller left as judge Additional land for Monongahela National Forest was purchased The B&O leased the Morgantown & Kingwood The National Bank of Commerce moved to Charleston and was renamed the State Street Bank The Parkersburg Daily Sentinel ceased publication. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem Academy. The buildings at Red Sulphur Springs were dismantled and the resort ceased operation. Red Ribble moved to Mount Hope The third courthouse at Ripley was built There were 398 sawmills operating in West Virginia The United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans decided to erect a memorial to Heyward Shepherd W. H. S White became president of Shepherd College Matthew Holt was the Socialist candidate for governor James Weldon Johnson was responsible for publishing Anne Spencer's " Before the Feast at Shushan" P. D. Strausbaugh received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Howard Sutherland made a bid for presidency of United States Union Carbide purchased a small refinery at Clendenin C. W. Ferguson III was born Webster County population was 11,000 Weirton population was at 8,000 Welch population was at 3,232 West Liberty's first dorms were built Riley Wilson ran unsuccessfully for Congress Carter G. Woodson left Howard University Carter G. Woodson began Dean of the West Virginia Collegiate Institution (now West Virginia State University)
1923
The first land for the Monongahala National Forest in Pocahontas County was acquired Other events that happened on or around 1923 Evangelist Billy Sunday stayed at Aracoma Hotel Shepherd Field, Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, opened Walter Barnes wrote New Democracy in the Teaching of English The Beckley Register began publishing a Sunday issue Son William H. and wife joined William J. Blenko in Milton at his first factory Maurice Brooks graduated from WVU with a B.A. West Virginia's first commercial radio station WRVC began broadcasting in the Huntington area Thomas Carr retired from Carr China Company First baccalaureate degrees were awarded at Concord State Normal School (now Concord University) Phil Conley founded the West Virginia Publishing Company The last Democratic majority until 1930 The beaver was extirpated for its fur John Harrington Cox received his Ph.D. from Harvard Julia Davis married William McMillan Adams Rev. Robert Edward Lee Strider was consecrated bishop coadjutor of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Wheeling Fairmont State was authorized for four-year program but must confine to training teachers Cooperative agricultural marketing law was passed U.S. Coal Commission report awarded Gary 90 out of 100 points for cleanliness, urban amenities and safety consideration The current courthouse was completed in Glenville School name was changed from Lewisburg Seminary to Greenbrier College for Women Lost Creek was the largest cattle shipping point on the B&O system The present Ritchie County courthouse was completed Homer Holt received a law degree from Washington and Lee University Construction of the large Itmann Company Store began Ella Mae Turner published compilation Stories and Verses of West Virginia Herman Kump left office as mayor of Elkins The State Hospital for the Colored Insane and the State Industrial School for Colored boys were established in Lakin Hu Maxwell wrote A Tree History of the United States Margaret Montague published Deep Channel Herbert Chester became publisher of the Morgantown Post Huntington First (Church of the Nazarene) was established in the Charleston-Huntington corridor and is the oldest congregation in that area Henry Ford built the world's largest incline tipple Herschel Ogden bought the Martinsburg Journal Okey Patteson married Lee Hawse. Maceo Pinkard helped set up Duke Ellington's first recording session. Jennings Randolph was elected to Salem College's board of trustees. The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company acquired the Red Jacket Consolidated Coal and Coal company Walton High School was established Thomas Reynolds built the Majestic showboat Weirton Steel added another sheet plant P. D. Strausbaugh became head of the department of botany at WVU Festus Summers earned an A.B. at WVU Howard Sutherland's term in the U.S. Senate ended Clint Thomas began a stint with the Philadelphia Hillsdale Giants baseball team W. W. Trent became editor of the West Virginia School Journal The West Virginia State Wildlife Center was established at French Creek Ralph Weinberg married Ida Effron Wheeling Bank & Trust Company acquired the Bank of the Ohio Valley The Northern Teachers' Association ended The Game and Fish Commission purchased property in Upshur County The West Virginian Hotel was built in Bluefield Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Corcoran Gallery School of Art in Washington, DC Lenna Yost represented the U.S. at international congresses against alcoholism in Denmark Hack Wilson began playing for the New York Giants
1955
Green Bank was chosen for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory Other events that happened on or around 1955 167th moved to Martinsburg Huntington's Memorial Field House hosted the state boys basketball tournament Bluestone State Park joined state park system Clarksburg constructed Buffalo Lake Legislature considered declaring TV cable companies to be public utilities subject to regulation by Public Service Commission Sutton Dam completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cedar Creek State Park joined state park system Petersburg fish hatchery noticed different color trout in hatchery's rainbow trout Judge Ben Moore ruled against racial discrimination at Sky Chief Restaurant at Kanawha (now Yeager) Airport The black bear became the state animal Croatian Cultural Club founded in Benwood Mutation of normal-colored rainbow trout was discovered Lester Hayes Jr. caught a 52.5 inch, 43 pound muskie in the Elk River Gunner Gatski earned All-Pro honors in football The Night of the Hunter was adapted to film Elizabeth Hallanan became a member of the State Board of Education Storer College was closed William Hoffman wrote his first novel, The Trumpet Unblown All institutions of higher learning in West Virginia except Glenville State had enrolled African-American students Coach Cam Henderson left Marshall College (now University) Bernard McDonough bought the O. Ames Company in Parkersburg Logan County surpassed McDowell County as the leading coal producing county in the nation Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was invited to return to Lakin State Hospital after leaving to further studies Pardee & Curtin built the first all-electric single-band sawmill in the state at Curtin, Webster County. Otis Rice served as president of the West Virginia Historical Society Leonard Riggleman became the Charleston Gazette's West Virginia Man of the Year West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission adopted its current name West Virginia State and Bluefield State integrated the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Sumner School closed after the Brown v. Board of Education decision William P. Tams retired Theatre West Virginia was founded as the West Virginia Historical Drama Association Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) built its first dormitory The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations combined as AFL-CIO Billy Edd Wheeler received a B.A. in English from Berea College Lawrence R. McHugh, S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) George Wolfe was discharged from the army The 130th Troop Carrier Squadron (130th Airlift Squadron) was formed The West Virginia Lobotomy Project ended The Sugar Grove site was selected for a radio telescope Tunney Hunsaker moved to Fayetteville
1959
The first radio telescopes were in operation at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank 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 historic Reber Radio Telescope moved to Green Bank Warden M. Lane outline a proposal for reorganization of the Conservation Commission to correct an overlapping of duties Lewis Keller, Sr. purchased the Oakhurst Links property from Cary Montague Don Gardner became the first president of Ohio Valley College (now University) Rex and Eleanor Parker had a conversion experience and thereafter performed only sacred music Rebel Records was founded in Maryland Nat Reese returned to West Virginia to work for the State Road Commission ABC-TV first aired Lunch with Soupy Sales WVU basketball team lost 71-70 to California in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament final Reported 2,843 schools in West Virginia Shenandoah Downs opened in Charles Town Agnes Smith published An Edge of the Forest Hulett Smith left the state Aeronautics Commission Blaze Starr met Louisiana Gov. Earl Long while performing in New Orleans Jerry West was named most valuable player of the NCAA tournament Jerry West was unanimous All American first-team choice Patrick Gainer became president of the West Virginia Folklore Society The Mountaineers went to the national basketball championships Water ski shows failed to draw a crowd William F. Troy, S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) Katherine Johnson married Lt. Colonel James A. Johnson Tunney Hunsaker fought Ernie Terrell The Special Forces (Green Berets) were created in the Army National Guard
Jul 01, 1960
The Cass sawmill closed Other events that happened on or around July 01, 1960 The logging railroad at Cass was abandoned
1963
The National Youth Science Camp was founded in Pocahontas County Other events that happened on or around 1963 The Centennial year closed and virtually all elements of the program had been successfully completed Patch Adams spent two weeks in a psychiatric facility for depression President's Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC) recommendations sent to President Johnson Appalachian Hospital network saved by the Board of National Missions of the United Presbyterian Church Appalachian Volunteers organized Only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles could be found in the U.S. W. E. Blackhurst published Sawdust in Your Eyes W. E. Blackhurst was the first commentator for the Cass Scenic Railroad Florence Blanchfield received the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal A new student union building was built at Bluefield State College (now University) Tony Boyle was elected president of the UMWA Ruby Bradley retired from the army Elk River Coal & Lumber Company sold its sawmill at Swandale to Georgia-Pacific Expansion of Cabell Huntington Hospital increased the size to 280 beds and 48 bassinets Centennial Golden Trout received first widespread stocking Mower Lumber Company purchased Cheat Mountain Club Jim Comstock ran for unsuccessfully for Congress Phyllis Curtin sang at the meeting of the Music Educators National Conference in Charleston Julius DeGruyter wrote A Brief History of Kanawha County and the Kanawha Region Dolores Dowling became secretary and administrative assistant of the Veterans Administration regional office in Huntington Thomson Newspapers of Canada purchased all three Fairmont papers Ann Flagg returned to teaching at Evanston Consolidated School District and Southern Illinois University The department led the effort to organize a crafts fair at Cedar Lakes The book, Mountain Heritage was published Patrick Gainer published The West Virginia Centennial Song Book of 100 Songs Patrick Gainer recorded Folk Songs of the Allegheny Mountains for Folk Heritage Recordings Earl Andrews became president of the Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corporation at Berkeley Springs Legislature authorized counties to cooperate with local governments and the federal government Land on Maryland Heights was added to the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The widows of Edward and Walker Long and William D. Brike took charge of Huntington Newspaper Publishing Charles Hodel was named to the West Virginia Press Association's Hall of Fame The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals who ruled in State ex rel. Slatton v. Boles that the state policy is to "protect and reclaim juveniles" and will be treated as delinquents rather than criminals Kanawha Records began to record authentic indigenous mountain music as performed by contemporary West Virginia musicians Reynolds Memorial Hospital opened a new facility in Glen Dale The West Virginia Chapter of Nature Conservancy was founded by volunteers The Greenbrier Historical society re-formed after disbanding during the Civil War New buildings of the Ohio Valley College (now University) were occupied on a permanent campus The Libbey-Owens-Ford glass bottle plant closed in Charleston Jim Comstock found a preserved baby and the two female mummies in a barn in Philippi. The West Virginia Centennial showboat, Rhododendron, plied the Kanawha, Ohio and Monongahela Rivers Spanky Roberts was assigned to Griffis Air Force base The St. Albans Archeological Site was first identified by Samuel D. Kessel Salem College received full accreditation by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges Devid Selby married Claudeis "Chip" Newman WVU Rod Thorn became All-American in basketball Boyd Stutler published West Virginia in the Civil War Legislation to protect the environment from surface mining was enacted Rod Thorn became the second pick in the first round of the NBA draft and went to Baltimore Bullets The Unitarian Universalist church in Morgantown was built The VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) began Geoffrey Hobday left the Charleston Symphony Orchestra The Charleston Symphony Orchestra was led by a season of guest conductors The first Water Festival was held at Hinton Billy Edd Wheeler recorded "Coal Tattoo" Wheeling Hospital set up the first intensive care unit in West Virginia The Shott brothers revived their WHAJ-FM The Widen mine and railroad ceased operation WVU at Parkersburg became the first of WVU's Appalachian Centers A naval radio station was established at Sugar Grove Ellie Schaul helped decorate the Centennial Showboat Rhododendron
1983
Silver Creek ski area opened Other events that happened on or around 1983 Roger Howdyshell bought Marble King John Sayles and Maggie Renzie arrived in West Virginia to produce a film about the Matewan Massacre Kathy Mattea got a record contract with Mercury Records Willow Glen "McKinley's Palace" was added to the National Register of Historic Places No known granny-midwives were practicing in West Virginia State Supreme Court ruled on La Rue v La Rue, which created the concept of equitable distribution of marital assets Main Street Morgantown was organized West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Mountain Stage began as a radio show hosted by Larry Groce and George Daugherty Waterford Park (later Mountaineer) racetrack closed The "Big John" dragline scoop came to the Hobet 21 surface mine in Boone and Lincoln counties The Stories of Breece D'J Pancake was published by Atlantic Monthly Press/Little Brown The major northern and southern branches of American Presbyterianism reunited Ronald Ohl became president of Salem College The Seneca Glass Company closed Ada "Bricktop" Smith published her autobiography Michael Smith recorded his first album, the Michael W. Smith Project Silver Creek ski area opened down the mountain from Snowshoe Tobacco was the second most valuable farm crop in West Virginia Stephen and Deborah Starks continued publication of the Beacon Journal under the name West Virginia Beacon Digest A continuous-care and kidney dialysis center was dedicated at Wheeling Hospital Additional repairs were made to the Wheeling Suspension Bridge Winterplace ski area opened WSAZ music changed from program format to country music The Diamond department store closed "Diamond Teeth" Mary McClain appeared in the documentary Free Show Tonight Marc Harshman's first book of poetry, Turning Out the Stones, was published The Charleston Gazette-Mail named Buck Harless West Virginian of the Year George Daugherty and Larry Groce hosted Mountain Stage
Nov 04, 1985
The largest flood of the century hit Pocahontas County Other events that happened on or around November 04, 1985 Large area of rain began to form from western Carolina north to southern West Virginia The Smoke Hole Lodge was lost in the flood The section of Cass Scenic Railroad from Cass to Durbin was destroyed by the floods that devastated West Virginia
Jan 19, 1996
Major flood caused great damage to Marlinton and Pocahontas County Other events that happened on or around January 19, 1996 A large flood caused major damage along the Greenbrier River
2000
The population of Pocahontas County was 9,131 Other events that happened on or around 2000 Ceredo had 1,675 residents Charleston population fell to 53,421 Clay Foundation assets at $67 million Reported 44 chapters of the state society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Northern Panhandle and southeastern part of the state had highest median ages Eastern Panhandle and southwestern part of the state had lowest median ages Doddridge population reached 7,403 Dunbar had a population of 8,154 Charleston ranked 167th out of 318 Metropolitan Statistical Areas West Virginia's official poverty rate sat at 17.9% Elizabeth's population was 994 Fairmont had population of 19,097 People 65+ represented 15.3% of population in West Virginia Follansbee's population reported at 3,115 Forestlands of West Virginia reported at 78% of states' area Franklin population reported at 797 Grafton population stood at 2,489 Population of Grant County rose to 11,299 Greenbrier County had a population of 34,453 people Reported population of 32,667 in Hancock County Hardy County reported a population of 12,669 Harpers Ferry was reported with a population of 307 Harrisville held a population of 1,842 The U.S. Census reported the state's population at 1,808,350 The population of Hurricane was reported at 5,222 Census reported 3,606 Indians living in West Virginia Jackson County's population was 28,000 Ripley's population stood at 3,263 Ravenswood's population stood at 4,301 Kanawha County population was the largest in the state at 200,073 Kenova population remained the largest in Wayne County at 3,485 Keyser's population was 5,303 Keystone's population had fallen to 453 City of Logan population was 1,630 Logan County population reported at 37,710 Population of Madison was 2,677 Mannington population was 2,124 Reported 142,728 manufactured homes in West Virginia West Virginia had the third-highest home-ownership rates in the U.S. at 75.2% Marion County population stood at 56,598 Population of Marlinton was 1,204 Marshall County's population was 35,519 Martinsburg population was 75,905 The population of Mason county was 25,957 Census reported African-Americans were 11.9% of McDowell's population Population of McDowell County was 27,329 West Virginia had the country's highest median age at 38.9 years Mercer County population was 62,980 Reported 125,336 members of 1,341 United Methodist churches in West Virginia Middlebourne's population was 870 Milton's population was 2,206 Monongalia County had a population of 81,866 Monroe county had a population of 14,583 Morgan County had a population of 14,943 Morgantown population was 26,809 Moundsville had a population of 9,978 Population of New Cumberland was 1,099 Nicholas County had a population of 26,562 Census reports 141,060 people living in the Northern Panhandle Oak Hill population was 7,589 Population of Ohio County was 47,427 Eleven Orthodox Christian churches were listed in a church survey with 4,310 adherents Paden City's population was 2,860 Parkersburg's population was 33,099 The population of Paw Paw was 524 Franklin had 797 residents The population of Petersburg was 2,423 The population of Philippi was 2,870 Piedmont's population was 1,014 The population of Pineville was 715 The population of Pleasants County was 7,514 Richwood had a population of 2,477 Ritchie County's population was 10,343 Roane County population was 15,446 Reported 100,000 Catholics in West Virginia Romney had a population of 1,940 The population of St. Albans was 11,567 St. Marys population was at 2,017 Reported 3,060 second homes in Pocahontas County Shinnston's population was 2,295 South Charleston had a population of 13,390 Spencer had a population of 2,352 Sternwheel Regatta festivities were scaled back to an extended weekend Hinton's population was 2,880 Summersville population was 3,294 Sutton had a population 1,011 Taylor County population was 16,089 Tucker County population was 7,321 Union had a population of 548 Upshur County population was 23,404 Vienna had a population of 10.861 Wayne had a population of 1,105 Wayne County population was 42, 903 Webster County population was 9,719 Webster Springs had a population of 808 Weirton population was 20,411 Welch population was 2,683 Wellsburg population was 2,891 West Union had a population of 806 Weston's population was 4,317 Westover had a population of 3,941 Wetzel County had a population of 17,693 Wheeling population was 31,419 Population of White Sulphur Springs was 2,315 Williamson population was 3,414 Winfield population was 1,858 Wirt County had a population of 5,873 Wood County had a population of 87,986 View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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