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Showboats
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1816
Noah Ludlow bought a 25-foot flatboat Other events that happened on or around 1816 Swiss Immigrant David Boudon became an artist in Wheeling Buckhannon was established Western representatives called for a constitutional convention John George Jackson was a promoter of the Staunton Convention Dr. James Putney was born in Malden Capt. Henry Shreve constructed his steamboat Washington from the timbers of Fort Henry, Wheeling The Staunton Convention failed to meet western demands Middlebourne became the county seat of Tyler County The General Assembly passed an act to establish an Internal Improvement Fund and Board of Public Works Charlestown became Wellsburg
1831
William Chapman Sr.'s Chapman Floating Theater floated down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh Other events that happened on or around 1831 Alexander Scott Withers wrote and Joseph Israel published Chronicles of Border Warfare Alexander Scott Withers wrote and Joseph Israel published Chronicles of Border Warfare Martin Delany moved to Pittsburgh Harpers Ferry Free Press became the Virginia Free Press Ripley, the county seat of Jackson County, was laid out by Jacob Starcher George Jackson died Julie Neale Jackson died Terra Salis became Malden when David Ruffner laid out lots, streets and alleys Daniel Lamb was elected city clerk of Wheeling A state law library was established in Lewisburg The Western Virginian and People's Press was established in Elizabethtown The trustees of Monongalia Academy established Morgantown Female Collegiate Institute Anne Royall established Paul Pry newspaper in Washington Construction began at Staunton on turnpike Wheeling was declared an inland port of entry Richard Whelan was ordained to the priesthood Waitman Willey graduated from Madison College in Pennsylvania
1836
William Chapman acquired a small steamboat to tow the Floating Theater upstream Other events that happened on or around 1836 John D. Sutton gave one acre of ground for a public square in Sutton Monroe County discontinued the system Rebecca Davis family moved to Wheeling The Winchester & Potomac Railroad opened line to Virginius Island at Harpers Ferry The Virginia Geological Report noted the county's rich coal deposits Henry Clay Furnace was built on Clay Run The Henry Clay Furnace was built to supply pig iron to Ices Ferry Ironworks The city of Ravenswood was laid out Benjamin Kelley moved to Wheeling Joseph Martin produced the only gazetteer of Virginia before the state split Alexander Martin moved to Jefferson County, Ohio The first courthouse in Elizabethtown (present Moundsville) was built The first public building, a jail, was completed in present Moundsville A new building was authorized to be built in Wheeling for the Ohio County courthouse The C&O canal company began to carve through Sorrel Ridge Samuel Price moved to Wheeling and became prosecuting attorney for Braxton County. Anne Royall began publishing The Huntress newspaper Henry Ruffner became president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) Braxton County was formed The United Brethren Virginia Conference sent Michael Moses to New Haven Wheeling was incorporated as a city The rear wing of Henderson Hall was built
1884
Samuel and Violet Bryant came to America from England Other events that happened on or around 1884 B&O operated 1,700 miles of railroad Joseph Beury and others opened Mill Creek Coal & Coke, first mine in Mercer County Arthur Boreman organized a relief effort to assist victims of Ohio River flood Belle Boyd divorced Swainston W.E.R. Byrne was admitted to the bar The Kanawha & Michigan Railway was completed on north side of Kanawha River in Charleston Moses W. Donnally bought the Chronicle Charleston National Bank founded as a national bank Sydenham Herford died William and Tom Anderson stopped running the Easton Roller Mill William Edwards published another volume in his three-volume work on butterflies, The Butterflies of North America Stephen Elkins was elected executive chairman of the National Republican Committee Glenville High School moved into a house The Hampshire Review was started by C.F. Poland The American Ancient Order of Hibernians had groups in Rowlesburg, Clarksburg, Parkersburg, Coal Valley and Charleston The Quinnimont iron furnace was closed Other mills were destroyed by floods on the Jug of the Middle Island Creek James Kay returned to West Virginia The Lincoln County Feud began when Paris Brumfield killed Boney Lucas The first multistate gazetteer including West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware appeared Hu Maxwell wrote a history of Tucker County Mennonites erected their first meetinghouse in West Virginia in Pendleton County James Miller left as superintendent of Summers County schools James Miller became Summer County prosecuting attorney C. F. Millspaugh published the first section of American Medicinal Plants New Cumberland became the permanent county seat of Hancock County Earl Oglebay started working in a Cleveland iron ore firm Large flood occurred on the Ohio Democrat Emanuel Willis Wilson mounted a populist campaign that challenged monopolies and railroads The Ohio River Railway was built through Sistersville The first golf club in America was organized at Oakhurst at White Sulphur Springs Telephone switchboards were installed at Huntington Telephone switchboards were installed at Moundsville The West Virginia Central & Pittsburg was extended to Tucker County The Ohio River Railroad reached Vienna The first West Virginia Historical Society ceased I.C. White began working for the U.S. Geological Survey Emanuel Willis Wilson succeeded into the governorship The Ohio River Railroad was completed The Ohio River flooded at Wheeling
1888
Thomas J. Reynolds was born at Point Pleasant 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 Fayette County became West Virginia leading coal producing county 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 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
1900
Samuel and Violet Bryant got their first jobs on showboats Other events that happened on or around 1900 West Virginia had 100,000 farms on 8.9 million acres Charles Ambler served as sheriff of Pleasants County for two years B&O added the Monongahela River Railroad (Fairmont to Clarksburg) There were 600 Baptist churches in West Virginia Raleigh County Republicans launched the Raleigh Herald Berkeley County population was 19,469 First women on the Bethany College board of trustees Jesse Bloch entered the family Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company Alonzo Brooks completed a business course at West Virginia Wesleyan College Capon Springs developer William H. Sale died Cass was founded by West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company West Virginia Pulp & Paper built paper mill at Covington, Virginia The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) completed its Greenbrier Division into Pocahontas County to harvest red spruce on Cheat and Back Allegheny mountains Moses Donnally sold the Charleston Gazette Davis Child Shelter, an orphanage, was established in Charleston First sewer lines were installed in Clarksburg Coal production had doubled Little evidence of the Coal River locks and dams remained West Virginia chapter of the Colonial Dames of America was organized Only remnant populations of deer and turkey were noted West Virginia's median age was below national average at 20.3 Doddridge County population was 13,689 William Edwards wrote a book on the authorship of Shakespeare's plays Fairmont Times was first published by Gen. C. L. Smith and O. S. McKinney Thaddeus Fowler returned to West Virginia Garnet High School was founded with a class of 12 black students Howard Gore graduated from WVU with a degree in agriculture Harrison County held a population of 27,690 Nancy Hart and husband Joshua Douglas settled in Webster County Morris Harvey founded the Fayette National Bank William "Coin" Harvey moved to Arkansas to begin building a retreat and vacation resort The population of Helvetia reached 500 people The first time the word "hillbilly" was used in print, in a New York newspaper Reported 1,062 native Hungarians in West Virginia Water power began being used for the production of electricity in West Virginia, at Kanawha Falls Census reported 2,458 Indians living in West Virginia There were 18 farms of the settlers on the Irish Tract Jackson County's population rose to 19,000 Don Redman was born in Piedmont The Kanawha Falls were augmented by a low dam Oil and natural gas in high quantities was found in Lewis County Cousin Abe Lilly received a law degree from the Southern Normal University, Tennessee Railroad replaces streams as the chief means of transporting logs to sawmills The Benwood Ironworks grew into a large steel mills James Miller ceased to be Summers County prosecuting attorney James Miller ran unsuccessfully for state auditor Steam and electric fans made larger mines possible The completion of the C&O Railway's Greenbrier Division to Marlinton put the Minnehaha Springs within reach of travelers Fairmont's first electric streetcar line built Morgantown population was at 1,895 The Morgantown Glass Works began production A developer began selling oceanfront lots for $25 in Myrtle Beach The anticlinal theory of oil and gas was applied along Sand Fork of the Little Kanawha The Toledo & Ohio Central gained control of the Kanawha & Michigan and the Kanawha & West Virginia Railroad The Pennsylvania Railroad began purchasing the N&W stock E.M. Carney purchased the Pence Springs property Kanawha County had the largest population with 54,696 residents. The largest city in the state was Wheeling with a population of 38,878. The Lilly family began ownership of the Ruffner Hotel St. Joseph's Hospital was founded by Patrick J. Donahue James H. Brown's obelisk was erected at Spring Hill Cemetery Interurban railway operations began in Huntington Tyler County's oil and gas boom peaked Wayne County population was at 23,619 Wings were added to Woodburn Hall at WVU Weston had municipal water plant, sanitary and storm sewer systems and brick paved streets West Virginia Pulp & Paper began constructing a sawmill in Cass A nursing school was founded at Wheeling Hospital The Collins Colliery company store burned Matthew Whittico moved to Keystone Buffalo, elk, gray wolf and passenger pigeon had all disappeared from West Virginia The second courthouse at Winfield was built Wirt County's population peaked at 10,284 Carter G. Woodson became principal of Douglass High School The first record of the ballad "The Wreck on the C&O" came out
1901
The Pope Dock Company built New Grand Floating Palace Other events that happened on or around 1901 Emma Alderson founded the Alderson Baptist Academy (now Alderson-Broaddus College) in Alderson Emma Alderson founded the Alderson Baptist Academy (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) in Alderson Charles Ambler went to school at WVU Morris Harvey donated $10,000 to Barboursville College, now University of Charleston Branch of the C&O reached Beckley Matthew Clair earned his PhD from Bennette College in Greensboro, NC Thomas G. McKell built the Dun Glen Hotel West Virginia oil production peaked at 16 million barrels Deadly explosion in Consolidation Coal Company's No. 9 occurred Aretas Fleming and Clarence W. Watson merged coal companies into the Fairmont Coal Company Legislature decreed state game and fish warden would be paid from state treasury and could appoint deputy wardens J. P. Morgan interests began construction on works in Gary The Little Kanawha Valley Bank was incorporated The Barboursville Seminary changed its name to Morris Harvey College, now University of Charleston Harold Houston began practicing law in Parkersburg The Cabell County Courthouse was dedicated The Home for the Incurables changed its name to West Virginia Asylum James Monroe Jackson died Teepi Kendrick married Olive Garrison A constitutional amendment required voter registration I. T. Mann visited financier J. P. Morgan in New York Mifflin Marsh died The United State Stamping Company began operations Alexander McVeigh Miller won a seat in the West Virginia Senate Morgantown annexed Greenmont, Seneca, and South Morgantown The N&W acquired the Cincinnati, Portsmouth & Virginia Earl Oglebay sold his iron ore interests to U.S. Steel Earl Oglebay bought a mansion between Wheeling and Bethany, Waddington Farm George Peterkin helped erect a monument on Valley Mountain to memorialize the deaths of Confederate soldiers The Flat-top Coal Land Association was reorganized as the Pocahontas Coal & Coke Company Livia Poffenbarger established a local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Potomac State College was founded The West Virginia University band was founded by Walter Mestrezat. Daniel Purinton returned to WVU to become president. Richwood was incorporated Charles Ritter brought the offices of Tug River Lumber Company to Huntington William M. Ritter Lumber Company was incorporated Benjamin Rosenbloom played on the WVU football team The board of directed voted to establish a nursing school at Sheltering Arms Hospital The first local branch of West Virginia Socialist Party was established in Wheeling Samuel Starks was appointed as the first black in U.S. to serve as state librarian The Fairmont & Clarksburg Traction streetcar company began Another long distance telephone line was constructed through West Virginia The first coal in Upshur County was commercially mined Ward Engineering Works built the Unique for the U.S. Engineering Corp The Historical Society began publishing The West Virginia Historical Magazine Quarterly Albert Blakeslee White became governor Hurry-up Yost became coach at University of Michigan James E. Taylor died in New York City
1903
The Pope Dock Company built the Eisenbarth Henderson Floating Theater-The New Great Modern Temple of Amusement Other events that happened on or around 1903 Barger Springs property purchased by company of 30 investors Ambrose Bierce returned to Randolph and Pocahontas counties to revisit locations where he had served in the Civil War The town of Bretz and the mining plant were built by West Virginia Coal Company Camden Park was established Col. E. G. Via became park manager Annex was built across from State Capitol Construction on the new section of the Coal & Coke Railway began Grover Lewis was born in Alabama John Harrington Cox received appointment in English Department of WVU Legislature enacted a uniform teachers' examination law William Edwards produced a book of Edwards family genealogy Fairmont Coal Company was absorbed into Consolidation Coal Company of Maryland William Glasscock was admitted to the bar The Coal & Coke Railroad was completed from Elkins to Durbin. A junction was made at Durbin with the C&O and the Coal & Iron railroads Capt. Greene built the side-wheel packet Greenland Harrison County was fourth in the state in total tons of coal produced A compulsory attendance law was enacted The Homer Laughlin Company traded factories with the National China Company The House of Delegates grew to 86 delegates Teddy Weatherford was born in Bluefield Herman Kump attended the University of Virginia law school 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 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 Pope Dock Company built Sunny South Other events that happened on or around 1905 Charles Ambler received an M.A. in social sciences Waitman Barbe wrote The Study of Poetry Company constructed a three-story wooden hotel near the spring at Barger Springs Walter Barnes graduated from WVU Jesse Bloch married Jessie Thornton Moffat C&O absorbed the Hocking Valley Railroad William Edwin Chilton and others bought Charleston's electric streetcar system Oliver Chitwood received his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins Coal & Coke Railway reached Clay Alston Dayton was appointed judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia Legislature created a four-member Board of Examiners to issue teaching certificates Charles Town Academy ceased Fenton Art Glass Company opened in Martins Ferry, Ohio Thaddeus Fowler returned to West Virginia The Frederick Hotel was built in downtown Huntington William Glasscock was appointed internal revenue collector for the District of West Virginia by President Theodore Roosevelt The C&O Greenbrier Division extension to Winterburn was completed The original Grimes Golden apple tree blew down Ella Holroyd entered the Cincinnati Conservatory Earnest T. Weir purchased the Jackson Iron & Tin Company tin mill at Clarksburg John Jay Jackson Jr. retired as judge Tommy Benford was born in Charleston Blanche Lazzell received an art degree from WVU St. George Orthodox Church of Charleston was established Howard B. Lee graduated from Marshall College (now University) Sarah Ann Legg went on trial for murder of Jay Legg 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 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
1909
The Pope Dock Company built Goldenrod Other events that happened on or around 1909 R. D. Bailey graduated from Valparaiso University in Indiana Waitman Barbe wrote Famous Poems Explained Broaddus Institute (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) moved from Clarksburg to Philippi Broaddus Institute (now Alderson-Broaddus College) moved from Clarksburg to Philippi Rosa Pelham returned to the castle The Birch Boom & Lumber Company built a sawmill near the mouth of Birch River West Virginia legislature created the Board of Control which consolidated management and fiscal control over West Virginia's institutions The Bluefield Daily Telegraph dubbed Bramwell the "Coalfield Capital" Sturdevant and Johnson's partnership ended, factory ceased operation and buildings torn down Camp Dawson was established Elegant seven-story Waldo Hotel opened West Virginia legislation prepared way for establishment of National Forest Reserve in Monongahela Legislature authorized the governor to appoint a Forest, Game and Fish Warden Consolidation Coal, Fairmont Coal and Somerset Coal companies combined into the Consolidation Coal Company Danske Dandridge wrote George Michael Bedinger, a Kentucky Pioneer Huntington annexed Central City Legislation called for forest protection and research and provided fines and imprisonment for owners who intentionally or carelessly set fires Sunday hunting and fishing was prohibited by legislature Michael Owens began his own company to manufacture bottles in Fairmont and Clarksburg Legislature appropriated funds to purchase Grave Creek Mound A receiving vault was built at Greenwood Cemetery Lincoln County destroyed by fire City of Weirton was founded by Weirton Steel Ernest T. Weir established Weirton Steel The broad-gauge Harrisville Southern Railroad began to run to Cornwallis The Herald-Dispatch began with the merger of the Herald and the Huntington Dispatch Only two county seats in West Virginia were connected by paved highways Legislature established the State Road Fund and the position of state commissioner of public roads Timber production in West Virginia reached its long-time record of 1.5 billion board feet The Jackson Iron & Tin Company relocated to Holiday Cove in Hancock County Garland Wilson was born in Martinsburg Dr. Hugh G. Nicholson leased the Barber Sanatorium and added a nursing school James Kay opened mines on Campbells Creek Keystone was incorporated George Kossuth opened his own photography studio Howard B. Lee began to practice law in Bluefield The Morgantown Republican merged with the New Dominion-News The first congregation of the Church of the Nazarene in West Virginia appeared in Martinsburg Pardee & Curtin opened a double-band sawmill at Hominy Falls. Princeton was chartered as a city The Virginian Railway was completed, the last entry into West Virginia's coalfields. Ritchie Mines were abandoned A second sawmill for St. Lawrence was built for Neola The hotel in Shannondale Springs burned down again Thomas C. Miller became administrator of Shepherd College A stone sculpture of a frontiersman was dedicated in memory of the Battle of Point Pleasant A steel strike in Wheeling failed Ernest Weir expanded the Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Company from Clarksburg West Virginia tobacco production peaked at 14,400,000 pounds Fred Torrey enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago T. C. Townsend first served as the state tax commissioner The name changed from Education Association of West Virginia to the State Education Association Byrd Prillerman became president of West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) The Western Maryland Railway company was organized White Sulphur Springs was incorporated as a town The Wirt County courthouse in Elizabeth burned down Completion of the Virginian Railway sparked an industrial boom in Mullens
1917
Capt. Thomas J. Reynolds built his first real showboat and named it America Other events that happened on or around 1917 Charles Ambler's last year teaching history and political science at Randolph-Macon College Hotel built by Harvey Ghiz in Logan West Virginia Folklore Society became inactive Louis Bennett Jr. graduated from Yale First book of poetry, Green Fruit,was published by John Bishop Florence Blanchfield enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps Pearl Sydenstricker married John Lossing Buck Louis Watson Chappell received his B.A. from Wake Forest William Edwin Chilton completed his term as U.S. Senate and became publisher U.S. government hired DuPont Company to build new nitrocellulose plant 89.4 million tons of coal produced in West Virginia The Shenandoah (George Washington) National Forest was created U.S. Supreme Court supported Alston Dayton's "yellow dog" contracts ruling Legislature established the West Virginia State Colored Tuberculosis Sanitarium Diamond Shoe and Garment Co. received full department store status Natural gas peaked at 309 billion cubic feet Marion County in the Making was published Study of German in schools dropped due to the entrance of America in WWI Henry Hatfield entered the army medical corps as Captain West Virginia launched a series of highway improvements with creation of the State Road Commission The State Road Bureau was replaced by the State Road Commission The U.S. Supreme Court sustained the lower court ruling prohibiting UMWA from seeking to influence workers from breaking yellowdog contracts The House of Delegates grew to 94 delegates Itmann began mining the Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam in Wyoming County Billy Moore was born in Parkersburg Fanny Johnson and Vincent Costello moved back to Charleston Fanny Johnson's story "The Strange Looking Man" was included in a best short stories collection Mother Jones returned to West Virginia to hold meetings and seek union recognition in the Fairmont and Winding Gulf coalfield Frank Keeney became president of UMWA District 17 Harley Kilgore was commissioned a second lieutenant The town of Nitro was established by the U.S. War Department for the manufacture of munitions for WWI Fred Mooney became secretary-treasurer of UMWA District 17 Regents began to abolish high school courses in normal schools The U.S. government acquired the majority of land on Otter Creek for Monongahela National Forest The Owens Bottle Company opened a plant in the upper end of Kanawha City William Nelson Page moved to Washington. Pruntytown Correctional Center, near Grafton, offered eight years of education, providing a full grade-school education Denmar Sanitarium for black tuberculosis patients was established in Pocahontas County. The Division of Vital Statistics was established by the West Virginia Legislature. Short lines, including the Coal & Coke Railway, became part of the B&O. The Reymann Memorial Farm was donated to WVU as two separate farms Rat Rodgers was named to the All-American teams Samuel Craig Shaw became editor of the Moundsville Daily Echo Five companies merged to form the Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation The USS Huntington was equipped for early experiments in naval aviation Commercial mining had started in Webster County The Montgomery Preparatory School was renamed the West Virginia Trades School (now WVU Institute of Technology) Lenna Yost became the president of the West Virginia Equal Suffrage Association Mordecai Johnson became pastor of Charleston’s First Baptist Church
1918
The Bryants built the Bryants New Showboat 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 town of Nitro was completed. 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
1923
Thomas Reynolds built the Majestic showboat 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. The first land for the Monongahala National Forest in Pocahontas County was acquired 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 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 View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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