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Fayette County
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1755
Mary Draper Ingles was carried from Virginia into captivity in Ohio Other events that happened on or around 1755 Mary Ingles was captured and held by Shawnees Fort Ashby was built on John Sellers' farm Settlers were killed by Indians along Patterson Creek Evan Watkins farm began serving as outpost and depot for Virginia Regiment Christopher Gist served as scout for the Virginia military commanded by Washington John Hale's great-grandmother escaped from the Shawnees Mary Draper Ingles was taken captive by the Shawnee Killbuck left the settlers in South Branch Valley with the commencement of hostilities Kyashuta replaced Half-King as the primary representative of the Six Nations Revised versions of the Fry-Jefferson maps appeared George Washington ordered a stockade and fort built in Mineral County The massacre at Baughman's Fort on the Greenbrier River occurred killing a schoolmaster The Senecas allied themselves with the French at the Battle of the Monongahela All settlements in Summers County area were erased during the French & Indian War Thomas Walker was at Braddock's defeat George Washington became colonel of the Virginia Regiment
1825
James River & Kanawha Turnpike was completed Other events that happened on or around 1825 Fairfax's plantation, Shannon Hill, was sold by daughter to G. W. Hammond William H. Cabell sold Green Bottom and its slaves to Capt. William Jenkins The Staunton Convention failed to meet western demands Elizabeth Cummins Jackson died James Monroe Jackson was born City of Bolivar was established Robert E. Lee entered West Point Project management of the National Road was passed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Capt. Henry Shreve replaced the first Washington with the George Washington Cedar Lawn was built by John Thornton Augustine Washington Isaiah Welch was born in Doddridge County
Feb 28, 1831
Fayette County was formed by General Assembly
1837
Fayette County seat moved from New Haven to Vandalia (Fayetteville) Other events that happened on or around 1837 Exchange Bank of Virginia in Norfolk established Organ Cave described Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company formed by act of Ohio General Assembly Henry Harvey died in Buffalo Claude Crozet was reappointed as state engineer of Virginia Marshall Academy (Marshall College, then Marshall University) was established St. John's Episcopal Church was established in Charleston Judge Isaac R. Douglas bought Happy Retreat David E. Jackson died Mary Harris "Mother" Jones was born in Ireland Daniel Lamb was admitted to the bar The Monongahela Navigation Company was formed to improve the river for navigation David Hunter Strother painted a portrait of Hunter John Myers from memory Samuel Price married Jane Stuart Mercer County was formed with Princeton as the county seat Alfred Beckley settled in Beckley with his family W.W. Fetterman built a saw mill in Valley Falls
1840
Fayette County's first census recorded 3,924 residents Other events that happened on or around 1840 Management at Sweet Springs opened a new hostelry Gordon Battelle received a B.A. from Marietta Collegiate Institute (Marietta College) John Carlile was admitted to the bar Castlerock community began 90 furnaces produced a million bushels of salt annually Eli Moore graduated from Jefferson College William Howe given patent for the Howe truss system G. W. Hammond demolished Ferdinando Fairfax's plantation, Shannon Hill, and built the present dwelling in Jefferson County Two communion cups from this year are among the antiques of the Forks-of-Cheat Baptist Church John Hale moved to the Kanawha Valley Mill Island was built as a private house John H. Hall invented the first working interchangeable firearms manufacturing system for breechloading rifle at Hall's Rifle Works Chester Hubbard graduated as valedictorian from Wesleyan University of Connecticut The first church was built in the Jackson County area Jackson County's population was 4,890 Construction of the James River & Kanawha Canal was completed between Richmond and Lynchburg Joseph Lightburn moved to Lewis County Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church was constructed Mifflin Marsh began selling stogies to steamboat crews and passengers for four for a penny John Chapman erected the first house in New Cumberland All bridges on the Northwestern Virginia Turnpike were completed William P. Rathbone and his sons purchased 12,000 acres at Burning Springs Run in Wirt County. Census provided numerical proof that the white population of the Trans-Allegheny exceeded that of the rest of the state Benjamin Stickley was licensed as a United Brethren evangelist German members of the United Brethren in Baltimore migrated to Braxton County The Rathbones purchased land at Burning Springs Female Academy in Union (Monroe County) started Locust Hill was built by Lucy Elizabeth Washington The Wine family first settled in Braxton County
1848
The Giles, Fayette and Kanawha Turnpike was completed 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" 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 Bancroft was settled 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
1850
Parts of Fayette County were taken to create Raleigh County Other events that happened on or around 1850 1,500 slaves owned by salt barons or rented from owners worked in the Kanawha County salt works Lemuel Chenoweth had finished many bridges on Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike Wills De Hass transferred the Grave Creek tablet and skull to the Smithsonian Martin Delany finished medical school at Harvard Medical College Fugitive Slave Act was passed Western Virginia had 1,300 primary schools Map showed Davidson's Ferry near mouth of Elk River and Goshorn's Ferry crossing the Kanawha River The first courthouse was completed in Glenville The First Baptist Church was organized in Greenville Census reported three slaves in Hancock County Nancy Hart and family were living in Boone County The Virginia Constitutional Convention made changes that addressed the political sources of western discontent Alexander Campbell supported the Fugitive Slave Law but felt runaway slaves should be provided food, shelter and clothing The Paw Paw Tunnel opened on the C&O Canal Reported number of slaves in Jefferson County was 3,960, 27% of the population Mother Jones and family arrived in Boston The new edition of A History of the Valley of Virginia was published Malden had several hotels, a bank and saloons Trustees offered Marshall Univ. to the Western Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South A reported 21 weeklies and 3 dailies were published in English or German in West Virginia The C&O Canal was built to Cumberland There were 200 residents at Federal Hill Henry Ruffner stopped participating in the emancipation movement in Louisville The last bridges were made on the Staunton Turnpike George Summers was a member of the Constitutional Convention A large seam of bituminous coal was found on Paint Creek The Beall-Air Mansion was built by Lewis William Washington Wheeling had a hospital Waitman Willey was a delegate to the VirginiaConstitutional Convention West Virginia had 20,527 slaves
1860
Fayette County population at 5,997 Other events that happened on or around 1860 Psi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi was established Archibald Campbell's paper The Intelligencer only paper in Virginia to endorse Abraham Lincoln's presidency Archibald Campbell's paper The Intelligencer was the only paper in Virginia to endorse Abraham Lincoln's presidency 25 independent coal companies were organized Bethany College was the only institution of higher education in Western Virginia Allegheny College opened in Blue Sulphur Springs Stephen Elkins graduated from University of Missouri Daniel Farnsworth was elected to abortive term in House of Delegates of General Assembly Another German newspaper was established in Wheeling John Hale became the owner of a large salt works Hancock County reported only 2 slaves in population of 4,445 First railroad in Hancock County received its charter Nancy Hart and family moved to Roane County Morris Harvey left his service as Fayette County sheriff The Ices Ferry Ironworks closed due to lack of adequate transportation and the depletion of iron ore and fuel resources Reported 28 charcoal iron furnaces had been constructed in West Virginia Reported four Wheeling ironworks produced cut nails John Jacob left the University of Missouri to study and practice law Four short stone piers were placed under Jefferson Rock to stabilize it Joseph Johnson served as a member of the electoral college George Latham opened his practice in Grafton McDowell County had a population of 1,533 The Monongalia Academy, Morgantown Female Academy and Woodburn Female Seminary educated white students Summersville was incorporated The Rathbone Well, West Virginia's first major oil well, was drilled. Reported 174 baptisms at St. John's Chapel, Monroe County Rezin Davis Shepherd built a building for Shepherdstown's use Traveller took top prizes at the Lewisburg fair Census counted 1,428 residents in Tucker County Virginia chartered six new western turnpikes Webster County population was 1,555 The first permanent settler of Webster Springs was Polly Arthur Wheeling had 14,083 people Samuel D. Karnes leased an acre from the Rathbones
1861
Robert E. Lee commanded in Fayette County Other events that happened on or around 1861 Robert E. Lee established headquarters at the top of Sewell Mountain
Apr 30, 1862
Union troops left Fayetteville and marched south. Other events that happened on or around April 30, 1862 A Union advance guard was attacked near Camp Creek, but their Confederate attackers were driven back Four additional counties opted to go with West Virginia in a referendum on the constitution
1870
Fayetteville population jumped to 6,647 Other events that happened on or around 1870 Celebration staged in Parkersburg after ratification of the 15th Amendment Railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington located the western terminus of Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad in present Huntington Cheat River declared a public highway Claymont Court mansion (Jefferson County) was advertised for sale by Bushrod Corbin Washington's grandson Henry Gassaway Davis helped lead the Democrats in for their control over the state Marmaduke Dent received B.A from WVU Joseph Diss Debar produced The West Virginia Hand-Book and Immigrant's Guide Alexander Donaghho came to Parkersburg Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler began his map-making trips Camp Straton United Confederate Veterans began controlling Logan County polices German immigration increased during the Franco-Prussian War John Hale started the first steam ferry at Charleston John Hale was a leader in having the state capital moved to Charleston Literary Hall was built in Romney The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind was established in Romney John Henry began working as a steel driver during the construction of the Big Bend (Great Bend) Tunnel The state was reported to have 2,270 schools Investment in manufacturing began increasing Immigrants from Switzerland settled in the area of Holly River George Imboden moved to Fayette County Jacob Jackson became Wood County's prosecuting attorney A proposed waterway between Tidewater Virginia and Rocky Mountains was proposed to Congress by Waitman T. Willey The capital was moved from Wheeling to Charleston Henry Clay Dickinson became president of Kanawha Valley Bank James Kay arrived in Charleston John Kenna was admitted to the bar Crosscut saws replaced the ax as the preferred tool for felling trees Marshall College added a new brick addition at the west end of the existing building John Nuttall bought coal lands on New River The Flick Amendment was introduced Petersburg became the county seat of Grant County Henry Ragland moved to Wayne County. Alexander Reynolds began serving in Egypt Literary Hall was built by the Literary Society in Romney Cecil Clay of Philadelphia began timber purchases in Greenbrier Valley William Stevenson was defeated for second term as governor There were 178 tanneries in West Virginia The Daily Sentinel became the Taylor County newspaper The town of Volcano was founded Wayne County population was at 7,852 WesBanco was founded as German Bank Legislature voted for additional buildings at Weston State Hospital The Potomac River flooded The Shenandoah River flooded
Feb 27, 1871
Summers County was created from parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe and Raleigh Other events that happened on or around February 27, 1871 Legislature approved an act incorporating Huntington
1888
Fayette County became West Virginia leading coal producing county Other events that happened on or around 1888 Waitman Barbe wrote "The Song of the Centuries," his first important poem Arthur Boreman was elected to a circuit judgeship again Bramwell was incorporated as a town Sheltering Arms Hospital opened Kanawha Gazette began regular daily publication Danske Dandridge wrote Joy and Other Poems Henry Gassaway Davis supported Benjamin Harrison for president Salem College was founded Devil Anse Hatfield moved his family from Tug Valley to Main Island Creek Hamilton Hatter received a bachelor's degree from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine Frank Hereford served as presidential elector The town of Hurricane was incorporated John Jacob left circuit judge to return to practicing law Harriet Jones became assistant superintendent of the state hospital in Weston Kanawha County became the state's second largest coal producer The Logan Banner was founded by Henry Clay Ragland Roger Saad became the first Lebanese immigrant to settle in Wheeling The Martinsburg & Potomac railroad was extended to Frederick County, Virginia The Kanawha & Ohio Railway completed a line from Charleston to Point Pleasant The Elkhorn Tunnel through Flat Top Mountain was completed Oakhurst Links was the home of the first regularly played golf tournament in the U.S. The Fetterman Mill was destroyed by a flood. Christopher Payne became first African American elected to represent West Virginia at the Republican national convention. Graham Hamrick preserved two female corpses as Phillipi mummies Livia Poffenbarger demanded the right to speak in support of a candidate at the state Democratic convention. Electricity generate from natural gas brought streetlights to Parkersburg Nathan Scott became a member of the Republican National Committee Senate president Robert Carr tried to assert the right to become governor after a disputed election Thomas J. Reynolds was born at Point Pleasant Callie Leach French became the first woman to obtain a pilot's license The Monongahela River flooded William Luke founded the Piedmont Pulp & Paper Company, later Westvaco H. C. Ogden came to Wheeling as a reporter for the Wheeling News H.C. Ogden came to Wheeling as a reporter for the News Albert White served as president of the National Editorial Association Mountain State Business College was established William H. Davis was nominated as an independent candidate for governor
1891
Town of Ansted was incorporated, named for David T. Ansted 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 The Central City brewery was built by American Brewing Company Fostoria Glass Company relocated to Moundsville Construction on Graceland began in Elkins John P. Hale wrote History of the Great Kanawha Valley Hamilton Hatter became a member of the college board of trustees George Imboden was elected the first mayor of Ansted The "Australian" or standardized printed ballot was adopted in West Virginia Paris Brumfield was murdered by his son Charley in the wake of the Lincoln County Feud The "government lock" was built on Little Kanawha River near Burning Springs The federal government built a fifth lock and dam near burning springs The Moundsville Daily Echo was established as a weekly newspaper C. F. Millspaugh arrived at WVU The Mount Carbon Prehistoric Site was investigated by Col. P. W. Norris for the Smithsonian Institution's Bureau of American Ethnology John T. McGraw purchased the land at Marlinton. Pruntytown was originally established as the Industrial School for Boys Pruntytown was originally established as the Industrial School for Boys. Postmaster General John Wanamaker conducted a limited experiment with rural free delivery in the Eastern Panhandle Labor organization lobbied for the law regulating scrip The Seneca Glass Company opened in Fostoria, Ohio James David Shaw became editor of the Moundsville Daily Echo Telephone switchboards were installed at Clarksburg The Martinsburg Mining, Manufacturing and Improvement Company developed a subdivision for workers McDowell County seat located to Welch The Norfolk & Western Railway Company extended its line into McDowell County The Historical Society asked the West Virginia legislature for funding Harriet Lyon became the first woman to receive a degree from WVU The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway was completed to Martin's Ferry Ohio Emanuel Wilson authored a new election law
1895
The Montgomery Preparatory School (West Virginia University Institute of Technology) was founded Other events that happened on or around 1895 The Bluefield DailyJournal closed Land purchased for $24,757 for Cabell County Courthouse Huntington established Chamber of Commerce Reuben Gold Thwaites edition of Chronicles of Border Warfare was published, which provides corrections to some errors of fact or interpretation Clay was incorporated $20,000 appropriated for new academic building at what is now known as Concord University John William Davis (originally from Clarksburg) graduated from law school at Washington and Lee Bethany Chapter of Delta Tau Delta ceased activity Distinct historic courthouse was built in Fayetteville Jack Glasscock returned to Wheeling to manage and play for Wheeling Base Ball Club Harrisville, the county seat of Ritchie County, was named in honor of Thomas Harris Lewis County's first high school was established Joseph Long sold the Herald West Virginia passed a law preventing railroad from engaging in the business of buying and selling coal A formal community of Orthodox Christians was founded in Bluefield Michael Owens had perfected machinery for blowing tumblers, light bulbs and lamp chimneys Extensive timbering began along the Pocatalico River A timber company began extensive operations on the waters of Pocatalico which added to Poca's growth. Morris Shawkey came to West Virginia as professor of education at West Virginia Wesleyan College E. M. Statler left the McLure House for Buffalo, New York Ephraim Wells opened the Wells Hotel in Sistersville The Virginia was built in Cincinnati Ralph Weinberg was born in Baltimore The McDowell County courthouse at Welch was constructed Welch population was at 300 Agnes Westbrook Morrison was the first woman to graduate from College of Law at WVU Agnes Howard Hall, now on the Register of Historic Places, was built as a residence for women at West Virginia Wesleyan College Williamson became the county seat of Mingo County William Wilson became postmaster general under President Cleveland's cabinet Hurry-up Yost played tackle on the WVU football team A.S. Withers wrote an early report of Betty Zane's save of Fort Henry in Chronicles of Border Warfare
Nov 01, 1896
Christopher Payne of Montgomery was first black elected to state legislature Other events that happened on or around November 01, 1896 George Atkinson was elected governor
Nov 04, 1902
James M. Ellis was elected to state legislature Other events that happened on or around November 04, 1902 First election that required voter registration
Mar 18, 1905
A mine car came over loose explosives which ignited coal dust suspended in the air, causing an explosion at Red Ash Mine
1906
Explosion in Parral Mine killed 23 Other events that happened on or around 1906 There were 35 churches belonging to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination with 1,002 members in West Virginia Hotel at Barger Springs opened to the public The Carter Opera House, Beckley's first theater, opened Florence Blanchfield graduated from the South Side Training School for Nurses in Pittsburgh Robert Page Sims became president of Bluefield Colored Institute (now Bluefield State University) Stephen B. Elkins acquired Bretz West Virginia Central & Pittsburg Railroad intersected by Coal & Coke Railroad Charleston National Bank moved to Capitol Street J. R. Clifford was chairman of committee on arrangement of the meeting of Niagara Movement Collins and Whipple mines were sold to New River Company Columbia Corporation formed to construct high pressure pipeline to West Virginia gas fields Fleming-Watson family acquired control of Consolidation Coal Company Wehrle B. Geary opened the Diamond Shoe Store Country club moved to location in Edgewood section of Charleston Fenton Art Glass Company built factory in Williamstown Follansbee became a city The First National Bank of Glenville and Glenville Banking and Trust Company were created H.B. Moore was hired as the Greenbrier Presbyterial School headmaster and reintroduced military curriculum Henry Hatfield was elected to the McDowell County court Hamilton Hatter and much of the Bluefield Colored Institute (now Bluefield Stat College) faculty was replaced The federal Antiquities Act was passed as first legislation aimed at protecting federally owned historic sites The Hitchman Coal & Coke Company began notifying employees they could only be employed if they agreed not to join the UMWA Interwoven Mills had 2,000 domestic accounts Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Wheeling was founded William Leigh took a train excursion to New Mexico Madison was incorporated The Mason College of Music and Fine Arts was founded in Charleston by Dr. William Sandheger "Sandy" Mason Hu Maxwell and Richard E. Fast wrote The History and Government of West Virginia Another courthouse struggle ensued in Mercer County The Morgantown & Kingwood Railroad began running regular trains to Kingwood Virgil A Lewis reported the motto "Montani Semper Liberi" was suggested by Joseph H. Diss Debar The Morgantown News merged with the New Dominion to form the New Dominion-News West Virginia's natural gas production exceed that of any other state Calvin Price became the sole owner and editor of Pocahontas Times 19 cases of smallpox were reported in Hampshire County Reported six Salvation Army corps in West Virginia Morris Shawkey became superintendent of Kanawha County Schools William A. MacCorkle founded the Kanawha Land Company The Lewisburg & Ronceverte was built to the C&O John Swint established the Apostolic Mission Band for the Wheeling Roman Catholic Diocese The Ideal Glass Factory opened at West Union West Virginia Wesleyan College name was adopted A line connecting the Western Maryland and West Virginia Central was completed The New River Company bought Fayette County mines including Whipple Carter Woodson travelled around the world
1920
Fayette County population jumped to 60,377 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 Caroline Gentry released The Key to Power, a movie The Glen Ferris Inn was sold to a subsidiary of Union Carbide Voters approved the Good Roads amendment Grafton reached its peak population of 8,517 H. B. Moore and his brothers purchased the school and reorganized it as the Greenbrier Military School Harrison County population rose to 74,783 Sid Hatfield assisted a United Mine Workers campaign to organize Tug Fork miners The Clarksburg factory of the Hazel Atlas Glass Company had 15 acres of floor space, employed 1,200 people and shipped all over the world Chemical firms in the Kanawha Valley began expanding rapidly Census reported 6,260 Hungarians in West Virginia Union organizing led to confrontations at Matewan and Blair Mountain La Belle Ironworks merged with Wheeling Iron and Steel and Whitaker-Glessner Company to form Wheeling Steel Corporation Ann Johnson Gates became the first woman member of the West Virginia legislature The legislator salary was set at $500 High school at Walkersville was constructed John L. Lewis became the president of the UMWA Big Bill Lias started a career in the illegal sale and distribution of liquor Minnie Lowther moved to Washington Jacob Marcus attained his rabbinical ordination William Marsh stopped serving as president of the M. Marsh and Son company Marshall became a four-year college The name was changed from Martinsburg West Virginia Evening Journal to Martinsburg Journal McDowell was the third most populous county in the state Willow Glen mansion, known in the Wheeling area as McKinley's Palace, was completed James Miller ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state James Miller left as judge Additional land for Monongahela National Forest was purchased The B&O leased the Morgantown & Kingwood The National Bank of Commerce moved to Charleston and was renamed the State Street Bank The Parkersburg Daily Sentinel ceased publication. Monongahela National Forest was created. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem Academy. The buildings at Red Sulphur Springs were dismantled and the resort ceased operation. Red Ribble moved to Mount Hope The third courthouse at Ripley was built There were 398 sawmills operating in West Virginia The United Daughters of the Confederacy and Sons of Confederate Veterans decided to erect a memorial to Heyward Shepherd W. H. S White became president of Shepherd College Matthew Holt was the Socialist candidate for governor James Weldon Johnson was responsible for publishing Anne Spencer's " Before the Feast at Shushan" P. D. Strausbaugh received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago Howard Sutherland made a bid for presidency of United States Union Carbide purchased a small refinery at Clendenin C. W. Ferguson III was born Webster County population was 11,000 Weirton population was at 8,000 Welch population was at 3,232 West Liberty's first dorms were built Riley Wilson ran unsuccessfully for Congress Carter G. Woodson left Howard University Carter G. Woodson began Dean of the West Virginia Collegiate Institution (now West Virginia State University)
1950
Fayette County population peaked at 82,443 Other events that happened on or around 1950 More than 19,000 black youth, grades 1-12, were provided education by the West Virginia public school system 123rd Fighter Group called to duty in Korean War and moved to Goodman Air Force Base Pastor Richard E. Shearer assumed presidency of Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) Ernest Bavely died The National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement was approved Sigus Olafson began publishing articles on petroglyphs, the painted trees, Gabriel Arthur and more A caretaker for Audra State Park was hired Walter Barnes helped revive the Folklore Society with help from Ruth Ann Musick Bear Rock Lakes area was opened to fishing Clair Bee wrote Hoop Crazy Raleigh Coal & Coke ceased operations About 25,000 people lived in Bluefield Everett Lilly appeared on classic bluegrass recordings Betsy Byars graduated from Queens College in Charlotte, NC Governor Patteson gave state funds to improve Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park Walter Eli Clark died Phil Conley ended his term as president of the West Virginia Publishing Company and founded West Virginia Education Foundation Name was shortened to West Virginia Council of Churches Virginia Ruth "Dagmar" Egnor was hired to be on NBC's Broadway Open House Julius DeGruyter wrote West Virginia: Its Charters and Municipal Affairs West Virginia's median age was below national average at 26.3 years Joanne Dru appeared in Wagon Master Ellis Dungan returned to Hollywood Fairmont population peaked at 29,346 Floodwall in Parkersburg was completed Patrick Gainer organized the West Virginia State Folk Festival in Glenville Fostoria manufactured 8 million pieces of glass West Virginia population peaked at 2,005,552 Statewide coal employment peaked at 127,000 The Veterans Administration Medical Center was built in Harrison County Dave Gideon died Mechanization and automation in coal mining reduced the number of miners and a decline in UMWA membership The gates to the Home for the Incurables (now Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital) were removed The Cedar Lakes Conference Center was established as a state FFA-FHA camp Keystone's population was at 2,500 The National Labor Relation board recognized the Employees Security League as the legitimate bargaining agent for Weirton employees The Linger chair factory moved to Rock Cave The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers recorded for Cozy Records Louis Wohinc died Catherine Marshall published Mr. Jones, Meet The Master A new science building was constructed at Marshall College (now University) Jack Maurice became editor of the Charleston Daily Mail A fourth of McDowell population was black McDowell population peaked at 98,887 Mine mechanization led to widespread job loss Major coal companies formed the Bituminous Coal Operators Association The UMWA and Bituminous Coal Operators Association agreed that the union would not resist mechanization in exchange for a share of the proceeds Birth rate in West Virginia declined and pace of out-migration accelerated Traditional coal miners' vacation became formalized with the establishment of Bituminous Coal Operators Association Mingo County population peaked at 47,409 The National Hillbilly News switched to a smaller format Molly O'Day and Lynn Davis gave up show business to serve the Lord Port Amherst Ltd. was acquired by the Amherst Fuel Company Jack Rollins wrote "Frosty the Snow Man" Charleston's St. Francis Hospital had 130 beds Soupy Sales left Huntington The West Virginia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists consisted of 2,000 members Shepherd College was accredited by the North Central Association Jim Sprouse studied international law at the University of Bordeaux The Weirton Independent Union was declared a violation of federal labor law West Virginia steelworkers numbered 22,596 Joe Stydahar was named head coach of the L.A. Rams Leon Sullivan began ministry at Zion Baptist church in Philadelphia Hinton's population was 5,780 West Virginia tobacco production was at 4,000,000 pounds Richard Talbott stopped serving as state treasurer Riggleman Hall was constructed at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Welch population peaked at 6,603 Walter Barnes, Patrick Gainer and Ruth Ann Musick revived the West Virginia Folklore Society Helen Thompson became the Charleston Symphony Orchestra's first full-time executive secretary Weston's population peaked at 8,945 An outpatient department was opened at Wheeling Hospital Wildlife biologist tried trapping wild turkeys in the eastern mountains and moving them into other counties Williamson population peaked at 8,624 Wyoming County population was 37,540 Mullens had a population of 3,544 Hurry-up Yost was inducted to the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Morgantown obtained the Tibbs Run Reservoir President Eisenhower appointed Helen Holt to a new program in the Federal Housing Administration View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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