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Shenandoah Downs
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1957
Shenandoah Downs purchased land north of Charles Town Race Track for night harness racing 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 The Kanawha River bridge was opened in Winfield 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 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
1959
Shenandoah Downs opened in Charles Town Other events that happened on or around 1959 Alderson-Broaddus College (now University) achieved accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Three-class format based on school size, each class having eight teams was created for the state high school basketball tournament Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area began J. G. Bradley sold the Widen Mine to Clinchfield Coal Company Owners of Maryland's Pimlico Race Course bought Charles Town Race Track Name changed from Barber Sanatorium to Kanawha Valley Memorial Hospital Goodyear plant built near Apple Grove There were 47 covered bridges still in existence in West Virginia Donald Duncan sold the Duncan Parking Meter Corporation Ellis Dungan Productions produced Wheels to Progress Medium green was introduced for fiestaware Hal Greer advanced to the National Basketball Association after graduation from Marshall Perry Gresham wrote Sage of Bethany Four Boone County businessmen opened the first Heck's department store in Charleston Dixie Kilham bought the Hilltop House William Hoffman wrote Days in the Yellow Leaf Homer Laughlin China Company began producing restaurant china John Knowles wrote his first novel, A Separate Peace John Knowles wrote his first novel, A Separate Peace Catherine Marshall married Leonard E. LeSourd Kyle McCormick wrote The New-Kanawha River and the Mine War of West Virginia Charlie McCoy moved to Nashville New Mennonite congregation started in Pocahontas County The Mill Point Prison Camp closed Moncove Lake was created by the damming of Devil Creek Size of the Moundsville prison doubled John Forbes Nash was hospitalized for schizophrenia The first radio telescopes were in operation at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank The historic Reber Radio Telescope moved to Green Bank Warden M. Lane outline a proposal for reorganization of the Conservation Commission to correct an overlapping of duties Lewis Keller, Sr. purchased the Oakhurst Links property from Cary Montague Don Gardner became the first president of Ohio Valley College (now University) Rex and Eleanor Parker had a conversion experience and thereafter performed only sacred music Rebel Records was founded in Maryland Nat Reese returned to West Virginia to work for the State Road Commission ABC-TV first aired Lunch with Soupy Sales WVU basketball team lost 71-70 to California in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament final Reported 2,843 schools in West Virginia 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
1965
Charles Town Race Track installed lighting Other events that happened on or around 1965 Development of West Virginia's Appalachian Corridor highways began Appalachian Regional Commission established by Congress President Johnson's War on Poverty began Charleston joins Morgantown and Huntington as alternating site of state high school basketball tournament George Hodel became president of Beckley Newspapers Bens Run Earthworks officially recorded by the Archeology Section of the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey W. E. Blackhurst published Of Men and A Mighty Mountain E. J. Scrafford became interim president of Bluefield State College (now University) Weldon Boone wrote A History of Botany in West Virginia Maurice Brooks published The Appalachians Harry F. Byrd retired from the Senate Governor Smith signed bill to end death penalty in West Virginia Franklin Cleckley earned a J.D. from Indiana University Arden Cogar exhibited his wood chopping at New York World's Fair Diamond Department Store built a $1 million addition to its Charleston building Pete Everest became brigadier general African-American State Farm and Homemakers Council voted to join the West Virginia Homemakers Council Gertrude Humphrey left WVU Extension work One-volume edition of Flora of West Virginia was published Ruth Ann Musick published The Telltale Lilac Bush Ruel Foster wrote Jesse Stuart Per capita personal income in West Virginia was 76% of national average The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation made its first discretionary grant, to Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) State Route 150, the Highland Scenic Highway, began construction The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) was established Hope Natural Gas Company and New York State Natural Gas Corporation merged to form Consolidated Gas Supply Corporation Hopemont Sanitarium became a personal care center Blasingame Report recommending improved library service was completed The West Virginia Library Commission launched an ambitious library construction project A joint committee was created to study and survey matters of government, finance, and claims against the state and make recommendations to the full legislature The Logan Banner was sold to a Tennessee publishing company Marco mascot first began showing up at Marshall University events Dan Maroney was elected a vice president in the Amalgamated Transit Union Paul Marshall stopped working at Libbey-Owens-Ford in Kanawha City Morgantown Glassware Guild was purchased by Fostoria Glass Mount Storm Lake was built to supply water for steam generation at coal-fired power plant Mylan Pharmaceuticals moved to Morgantown The last coke-making operation in the New River Gorge closed at Sewell Delf Norona became the first recipient of the Sigfus Olafson Award for his outstanding contributions to the West Virginia archeology E. Lewis Case became president of Ohio Valley College (now Ohio Valley University) Ohio Valley College (now University) was accredited by the state of West Virginia Congress created the 100,000 acre Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Jack Rollins moved to Cincinnati The Soupy Sales Show first debuted nationally Burl Sawyers resigned as state roads commissioner under indictment Smoke Hole became part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area Red Sovine wrote "Giddyup Go" Miles Stanley was selected as personal assistant to AFL-CIO President George Meany Fred Torrey made a bust of John F. Kennedy U.S. combat troops first deployed in the Vietnam War The War on Poverty was scaled back due to the escalation of the Vietnam War Don West came to West Virginia and established the Appalachian South Folklife Center Charles Schiff became conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra
1972
The Shenandoah Corporation bought the Charles Town Race Track Other events that happened on or around 1972 Patrick Gainer retired as professor at WVU Glenville State College celebrated its centennial The Greenbrier Military Academy closed Perry Gresham wrote Campbell and the Colleges Deliverance was made into a movie, furthering hillbilly stereotypes William Hoffman wrote A Walk to the River S. L. Jones' work was discovered at Pipestem State Park by folk art collector Herbert Wade Hemphill Jr. Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital was completed in Lewis County Harold Harvey and others began work to promote a state Libertarian Party Reported 80% of states population had some sort of library service Frederic J. Glazer became executive secretary of the West Virginia Library Commission Little Beaver State Park was established The Louie Glass Company was sold by Margaret Wohinc Arden Cogar Sr. cut a 10x10 vertical white pine in 14.45 seconds Louise McNeill published her second collection of poems M. Blane Michael was appointed special U.S. assistant attorney, Northern District of West Virginia A $30 state clothing allowance reached about 44,000 welfare children Agnes Reeves Greer died The Coty American Fashion Critics' Award recognized Mountain Artisans as helping to spur the American crafts movement The Mountain Institute was founded as the Woodlands Institute O'Dell Hall was built at Beckley College (now Mountain State University) The Mountaineer mascot figure was first used in commerce Milan Puskar left Mylan Pharmaceuticals The Mystery Hole became a Fayette County roadside attraction John Norman went to the Texas Heart Institute Logging in Otter Creek ceased when an effort began to have the area designated a wilderness area A state highway marker was erected to commemorate the Pinch Reunion Aerial tramway began operation at Pipestem Resort State Park Former Attorney General C. Donald Robertson pleads guilty to charges involving kickbacks on federal housing assistance Pricketts Fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places Announcer Jack Fleming first referred to the West Virginia University marching band as the "Pride of West Virginia" during the Peach Bowl broadcast Legislation authorized the state Department of Education to create Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs) Title 9 federal legislation mandated school and college athletic programs for girls and women Stonecoal Lake was built Mel Street recorded "Borrowed Angel" The Wells Hotel building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Cecil Underwood was named president of Bethany College Grand Central Mall, West Virginia's first shopping mall, was built at Vienna Uncle Homer Walker was featured in the documentary film Morris Family Old-Time Music Festival Jerry West was named most valuable player in NBA all-star game Jerry West played in the NBA championship West Liberty lost its Wheeling and Weirton branch campuses The West Liberty branch campus in Wheeling became West Virginia Northern Community College Warren S. Lewis led the major updating of the old seminary grounds at Hilltop Baptist Center A new hospital opened in Weston Charles L. Currie S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) Robert Kreis left Wheeling Symphony leading way to guest conductors Bob Wise became involved in community redevelopment from the Buffalo Creek disaster Bill Withers won a Grammy for "Ain't No Sunshine" Carol Miller graduated from Columbia College
1976
Shenandoah Downs closed Other events that happened on or around 1976 Glade Creek gristmill completed The spring pavilion was renovated at Barger Springs Girls' state high school basketball tournament revived after dying off in the 1920s Beckley Newspapers Corporation was sold to Clay Communications J. Wade Gilley became president of Bluefield State College (now University) Jennings Boyd named West Virginia Coach of the Year Cabell Huntington Hospital expanded for the second time Gaston Caperton was elected president of the McDonough-Caperton-Shepherd insurance company Shelley Moore Capito earned M.A. from University of Virginia Lou Austin died French Carpenter record Elzic's Farewell is released Buildings of McMillan Hospital were demolished in Charleston Picnic shelters, restrooms, restaurant and amphitheater were added at Chief Logan State Park Bernard Coffindaffer married June Woodrum Cogar Arden set the world record for standing chopping a 10-inch yellow poplar in 16.2 seconds Merger of Bluefield State College and Concord College ended The Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) was created Phyllis Curtin was invited to White House to sing for West German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt Julius DeGruyter wrote a second volume of the Kanawha Spectator George Snyder received a MFA from University of North Carolina
1978
Kenton Corporation bought Charles Town and Shenandoah Downs racetracks Other events that happened on or around 1978 The authority to end the Greenbrier Division line was granted Charles Town Opera House added to National Register of Historic Places J. D. Maurice retired as publisher of the Charleston Daily Mail New Davis Child Shelter established in South Charleston Arden Cogar set the world record for underhand chopping a 12-inch block of yellow polar in 15.15 seconds Delta tau Delta renovated its original house on Bethany College campus The Dunbar wine cellars were added to the National Register of Historic Places The DuPont Belle Works plant stopped producing ammonia Easton Roller Mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places John Knowles wrote A Vein of Riches dealing with Fairmont history John Knowles wrote A Vein of Riches dealing with Fairmont history Robert Gates released the film, In Memory of the Land and People Francis Ford Coppola filmed the Deer Hunter in the Northern Panhandle U.S. report stated that 75% of the state was forested Gauley Bridge became an incorporated municipality The Delf Norona Museum opened at Grave Creek Mound The General Albert Gallatin Jenkins house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places Huntington renamed 16th Street as Hal Greer Boulevard Roy Lee Harmon wrote Roses in December Morris Harvey College became the University of Charleston The Hinton Daily News became the weekly Hinton News William Hoffman wrote Virginia Reels Marshall University School of Medicine admitted its first class The Job's Temple Association was incorporated View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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