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Putnam County
Go back to Putnam County
1798
Coal was discovered on the Pocatalico River Other events that happened on or around 1798 A visitor to Wheeling described Moses Shepherd's new building Harman and Margaret Blennerhassett settled on Blennerhassett Island The Shrewsburys settled in the landt present Belle An industrial site was built at Harpers Ferry Samuel Hanway established the Fock Forge on Deckers Creek near Morgantown The Davis furnace was in operation in Monongalia County Joseph Tomlinson laid out lots named Elizabethtown John Myers married Catherin Everhart Shepherdstown was named after Thomas Shepherd Robert Gorrell founded Middlebourne
1818
The ferry to present Winfield was established Other events that happened on or around 1818 Bens Run earthworks described in the journal of Thom Nuttall Money was earmarked to pay tuition for poor white children to attend schools Commercial coal mining began The National Road, the first major highway in the region, was completed to Wheeling James Madison Jackson was born Jonathan Jackson and wife Julia Neale moved to Clarksburg Bishop James Madison's maps appeared Mail service on the unfinished National Road began to Wheeling The Runnion family arrived in Spencer George Summers moved to Charleston to live with Lewis Summers
1833
Buffalo was laid out and incorporated Other events that happened on or around 1833 Dr. Sydenham Herford graduated from Jefferson Medical College A high school was established in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Glenville The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal came to Harpers Ferry Harrisville's first post office opened Samuel Kercheval published A History of the Valley of Virginia in Winchester Point Pleasant was incorporated The Red Sulphur Springs property was purchased by Dr. William Burke The town of Solus (present Harrisville) became known by that name John Stuart's book Memoir of Indian Wars and Other Occurrences was published Sam Vinson was born Waitman Willey began law practice in Morgantown
Mar 11, 1848
A bill was passed by the General Assembly to form Putnam County from portions of Kanawha, Mason, and Cabell
1848
Bancroft was settled Other events that happened on or around 1848 Report of Salt Rock petroglyphs included in Smithsonian Institution's "Contributions to Knowledge" Bids authorized on the Beverly-Fairmont Turnpike Rebecca Davis graduated from the Washington (Pennsylvania) Female Seminary William Eagle died First county and circuit courts of Wirt County met in "Old Red Brick" The Giles, Fayette and Kanawha Turnpike was completed John Floyd was elected governor German immigration increased from desire to escape persecution during European Revolutions The first German newspaper was established in Wheeling The Giles, Fayette & Kanawha Turnpike was completed Joseph H. Gill surveyed the Guyandotte River from its mouth to Gilbert Creek The Ellicott Brothers business failed C. P. Huntington went to California with the gold rush to sell supplies to miners A Catholic Church was established at Sand Fork John Jay Jackson Jr. served as prosecuting attorney of Wirt County Daniel Lamb became the cashier of the Northwestern Bank of Virginia at Wheeling A single lock and dam was built on the Elk River Ephraim Squier and Edwin Davis published Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy was founded Francis Pierpont began an association with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. A massive fire and flood doomed Creel's village to an early death Samuel Price was reelected to the House of Delegates Henry Ruffner resigned as president of Washington College (Washington and Lee University) James Stephenson left the House of Delegates Henry St. George Tucker, Sr. died Cabell, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties provided infantry regiments for service in the Mexican-American War
1874
The town of Hurricane was established as Hurricane station after the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad was completed. Other events that happened on or around 1874 Alexander Boteler ran unsuccessfully for Congress Col. George Imboden bought the house known as Contentment in Ansted Rebecca Davis wrote John Andross William Dawson was elected chairman of the Preston County Republican committee Alexander Donaghho started a pottery operation Congress ordered a survey of the Guyandotte River The first courthouse was replaced in Ritchie County William Harvey began practicing law in Huntington Hinton was laid out and lots sold Investors erected a coke-fueled blast furnace along the C&O railway William C. Kelly began making axes in Kentucky John Birch became principal of Linsly School Steamboats began travel from Parkersburg upriver to Palestine (Wirt County) on the Little Kanawha The U.S. Congress authorized a survey of the Big Sandy and Tug and Levisa forks to determine the feasibility of building locks and dams Henry Clay Ragland arrived in Logan Henry Ragland moved to Logan. Shepherd University had 160 students A group of shotgun cottages were built for workers of the Central Glass Company and the Wheeling & Elm Grove Railroad Alexander Wade implemented the a plan for the rural elementary education James O. Watson's coal mine partnership with Francis H. Pierpont was dissolved The West Virginia Baptist Association was formed The Education Association's first recorded constitution and bylaws were drafted and adopted The Wheeling Diocese claimed 46 churches 7 chapels, 9 schools seminary, hospital 31 priests and 109 women religious Four locks and dams were completed by the Little Kanawha Navigation Company The first public high school diplomas issued in the state were awarded to Parkersburg High School graduates City of Huntington purchased the property from the Central Land Company, owned by Collis P. Huntington
1895
A timber company began extensive operations on the waters of Pocatalico which added to Poca's growth. Other events that happened on or around 1895 The Bluefield DailyJournal closed Land purchased for $24,757 for Cabell County Courthouse Huntington established Chamber of Commerce Reuben Gold Thwaites edition of Chronicles of Border Warfare was published, which provides corrections to some errors of fact or interpretation Clay was incorporated $20,000 appropriated for new academic building at what is now known as Concord University John William Davis (originally from Clarksburg) graduated from law school at Washington and Lee Bethany Chapter of Delta Tau Delta ceased activity Distinct historic courthouse was built in Fayetteville Jack Glasscock returned to Wheeling to manage and play for Wheeling Base Ball Club Harrisville, the county seat of Ritchie County, was named in honor of Thomas Harris The Montgomery Preparatory School (West Virginia University Institute of Technology) was founded Lewis County's first high school was established Joseph Long sold the Herald West Virginia passed a law preventing railroad from engaging in the business of buying and selling coal A formal community of Orthodox Christians was founded in Bluefield Michael Owens had perfected machinery for blowing tumblers, light bulbs and lamp chimneys Extensive timbering began along the Pocatalico River Morris Shawkey came to West Virginia as professor of education at West Virginia Wesleyan College E. M. Statler left the McLure House for Buffalo, New York Ephraim Wells opened the Wells Hotel in Sistersville The Virginia was built in Cincinnati Ralph Weinberg was born in Baltimore The McDowell County courthouse at Welch was constructed Welch population was at 300 Agnes Westbrook Morrison was the first woman to graduate from College of Law at WVU Agnes Howard Hall, now on the Register of Historic Places, was built as a residence for women at West Virginia Wesleyan College Williamson became the county seat of Mingo County William Wilson became postmaster general under President Cleveland's cabinet Hurry-up Yost played tackle on the WVU football team A.S. Withers wrote an early report of Betty Zane's save of Fort Henry in Chronicles of Border Warfare
1918
The town of Nitro was completed. Other events that happened on or around 1918 Walter Barnes wrote An Easy Primer Claude Worthington Benedum, the only child of Michael L. and Sarah Benedum, died of influenza at Camp Meade Robert C. Byrd's mother died and he was sent to live with his aunt and uncle Anne Camden died in Parkersburg, leaving the Camden mansion to the heirs which in turn donated the house to the city for use as a hospital J. Howard Holt published Crime and Punishment, a pamphlet opposing the death penalty Chamber of Commerce established in Wheeling Fire destroyed Charleston Gazette newspaper plant located at the South Side Bridge DuPont Company plant closed at end of WWI John W. Davis ended his time as solicitor general John W. Davis became ambassador to England John W. Davis was a member of the American delegation to the Geneva conference Construction began on the High Level Bridge in Fairmont Fairmont Times began publishing Sunday editions West Virginia Farm Bureau Federation was created Homer Holt graduated from Washington and Lee University The Spanish Influenza epidemic became one of the world's deadliest and swiftest pandemics Weirton Steel Corporation was formed Fanny Johnson's story "They Both Needed It" was among the best short stories of the year Hayes Picklesimer first came to work at Kanawha Valley Bank The United Zinc Smelting Corporation began operation in Marshall County Williamson Memorial Hospital was founded The Morgantown Post-Chronicle was renamed the Morgantown Post The Weekly New Dominion, a Morgantown newspaper, ceased publication The National Bank of Commerce was founded Owens-Illinois Glass Company purchased a Huntington glass factory A large brick hotel was constructed by the Pence family at Pence Springs Board of Public Works acquired constitutional status by ratification of an earlier amendment The Bryants built the Bryants New Showboat The Parkersburg & Ohio Valley Electric Railway ceased operation Boyd Stutler rose to the rank of sergeant and served with distinction in the American offensives Eighteen of Melville Davisson Post's stories were published in Uncle Abner: Master of Mysteries by Appleton The German Bank changed its name to the Wheeling Bank & Trust Company A Romney hospital at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind proved vital during influenza epidemic Oglebay Hall was completed for the College of Agriculture at WVU Plans for the West Virginian Hotel began with the Bluefield Rotary Club West Virginians participated in the Italian Campaign Lenna Yost became the legislative representative for the national Women's Christian Temperance Union
1928
A devastating fire destroyed one of the main blocks in the town of Winfield Other events that happened on or around 1928 Phoeba Parsons married and stopped playing banjo The St. Marys factory making buttons from river mussel shells closed The state built the first public campground in Seneca State Forest The first state tree nursery was established at Seneca State Forest Meadow River Lumber Company of Rainelle, built Meriluco, a cottage on the State Fair Grounds Wheeling Steel completed work on its strip mill The Tri-City Traction streetcar line was built between Princeton and Bluefield Festus Summers became professor of history and political science at Morris Harvey College, now University of Charleston West Virginia property tax revenue was at $52 million Charles W. Ferguson II became circuit judge Paul N. Elbin became an English professor at West Liberty The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra first met at the home of Eleanor Caldwell Patty Willis exhibited her work at the Society of International Artists in New York WSAZ moved to 580kHz T. G. Nutter represented a group of African-American plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Charleston Public Library
1934
Eleanor was built as a federal project to relocate displaced families. Other events that happened on or around 1934 Peach production was at 200,000 bushels The first West Virginia State Poultry Association meeting was held in Morgantown. West Virginia repealed state prohibition Sam Snead became a golf professional The Fairmont & Clarksburg Traction merger became Monongahela West Penn Service Company Another legal case concerning the Swan lands Grace Martin Taylor quit serving as president of the Allied Artists of West Virginia W. W. Trent oversaw implementation of the county unit system of public schools Land was acquired at Dailey and Valley Bend for the Tygart Valley Homesteads Eleanor Roosevelt first visited the Tygart Valley Homesteads Union Carbide produced 80 chemicals and plastics Camp Seebert was established by the Civilian Conservation Corps Watoga was changed from a state forest to a state park The Highway historical marker program began Paul H. Price was appointed director and state geologist of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Antonio Modarellio took over as conductor of the Wheeling Symphony
1936
The Winfield locks and dam were constructed on the Kanawha River Other events that happened on or around 1936 The Home Rule Amendment provided that municipalities may adopt their own charters, consistent with state law Homer Laughlin China Company introduced Fiestaware The tradition of annual homecomings was initiated at Job's Temple Three new locks and roller-type dams replaced the old system on the Kanawha River Tom Kromer got married Ray Goins was born Joseph Long became the president of Huntington Chamber of Commerce Minnie Lowther wrote Blennerhassett Island in Romance and Tragedy Redress was restricted due to a court decision State Route 2 was completed as an important north-south highway Mason School of Music and Fine Arts changed its name to Mason College of Music and Fine Arts William L. "Billy" Mitchell died Katherine and Ralh E. Fisher took over the Moorefield Weekly Examiner's management Mountain lion tracks in vicinity of Kennison Mountain were reported by workers from the National Museum of Natural History Hedrick Hall was built The Mountain honorary society selected the first official buckskin-clad Mountaineer from the WVU student body Standard Oil closed its Parkersburg refinery William Revercomb served as chairman of the State Judicial Convention Ruth Bryan Owen married Borge Rohde The Alley Agate Manufacturing Company began making glass marbles and dishes in St. Marys The last effort to operate Salt Sulphur Springs resort ended The Dry Fork railroad line ended Hubert Skidmore published I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes State Police field structure grew to four companies The Highway Safety Bureau and Forensic Chemistry Laboratory were added to the State Police FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover cited the West Virginia State Police as one of the nation's four leading law enforcement agencies Boyd Stutler began managing editor of the American Legion magazine The Sunrise mansion and adjoining mansion were sold by Wm. MacCorkle's heirs There were 158 houses for 750 people at Tygart Valley Homesteads The AFL suspended from its membership the unions that affiliated with the CIO H. C. Ogden merged the News with the Register to form the Wheeling News-Register "Game breeding ground areas" within the Monongahela National Forest were established The magazine Wonderful West Virginia started as the West Virginia Conservation Bulletin Federal investigation occurred for charges of political interference with the WPA
1957
The Kanawha River bridge was opened in Winfield Other events that happened on or around 1957 Emile Hodel became editor of the Beckley Post-Herald Michael Benedum built the Bridgeport Civic Center Reorganization transferred state mental health and penal institutions to Department of Mental Health and the Commissioner of Public Institutions Weirton Steel purchased Browns Island for $40,000 S. Maude Kaemmerling willed 3,135 acres of land in Canaan Valley to West Virginia for recreational use FMC developed new source of brine at Bens Run City National Bank opened its doors under President Donald Shonk Bishop mine explodes again Jim Comstock founded the weekly West Virginia Hillbilly Deer restocking program ended Roy Bird Cook received the Award of Merit from the West Virginia Library Association Little Jimmy Dickens left the Grand Ole Opry Irvin Dugan retired as newspaper artist Donald Duncan's sons took over the Duncan Yo-Yo Company Fairfax Stone dedicated as state historic monument and became state park Gunner Gatski played football one year for Detroit The Knights of the South Branch was organized to revive medieval jousting Roy Lee Harmon wrote Unto the Hills Logan High School and its field house and athletic fields were constructed on Hatfield Island Ken Hechler moved to West Virginia to teach at Marshall College (now University) The first interstate highway construction contract in the state was awarded on I-64 for a bridge across a road in Cabell County Jean Lee Latham was awarded the Boys' Clubs of America Junior Book Award for Trail Blazer of the Seas The McClains were approached by WVU professors who feared that early West Virginia histories would be lost if not reprinted Kyle McCormick wrote The Story of Mercer County John Norman served on the aircraft carrier Saratoga A group from West Virginia and Ohio purchased land to establish a college with an independent board of trustees, now Ohio Valley University Marbon Chemical is built The announcement of plans to merge the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central System was made Filippo Colasessano's son began selling pepperoni rolls in his Fairmont lunch spot The Division of Disease Control began a statewide polio vaccination program Red Ribble stopped photographing southern West Virginia Otis Rice began teaching at West Virginia Institute of Technology The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company company stores were sold The Wm. M. Ritter Lumber Company coal reserves were leased to the Island Creek Coal Company Jay Rockefeller went to the International Christian University in Tokyo Shenandoah Downs purchased land north of Charles Town Race Track for night harness racing WVU Rod Hundley became All-American in basketball Jim Sprouse began practicing law Beckley radio station WAJR increased to 5,000 watts Ernest T. Weir died The last high school basketball was played under the African-American West Virginia Athletic Union Benjamin Starks founded the Beacon Journal in Charleston The Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council agreed to combine as the West Virginia Labor Federation, AFL-CIO West Virginia State College lost its federal land-grant status Stanley H. Martin became president of West Virginia Wesleyan College The Whipple mine shut down and the company store closed The Winfield bridge was completed WSAZ radio switched affiliation to NBC View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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