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1884
The first golf club in America was organized at Oakhurst at White Sulphur Springs 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 Samuel and Violet Bryant came to America from England The Ohio River Railway was built through Sistersville 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
1891
WVU Mountaineers played first football game against University of Pittsburgh 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 First bridge built across the Kanawha River, in Charleston Clarksburg investors acquired the Telegram First principal of present Concord University Capt. James Harvey French died James Dye graduated from Starling Medical College in Cincinnati William Dawson became chairman of Republican state committee Alexander L. Wade's education graduating system was made compulsory statewide Stephen Elkins was appointed secretary of war by President Harrison George Peterkin built the Church of the Good Shepherd in Parkersburg Town of Ansted was incorporated, named for David T. Ansted The Central City brewery was built by American Brewing Company Fostoria Glass Company relocated to Moundsville Construction on Graceland began in Elkins John P. Hale wrote History of the Great Kanawha Valley Hamilton Hatter became a member of the college board of trustees George Imboden was elected the first mayor of Ansted The "Australian" or standardized printed ballot was adopted in West Virginia Paris Brumfield was murdered by his son Charley in the wake of the Lincoln County Feud The "government lock" was built on Little Kanawha River near Burning Springs The federal government built a fifth lock and dam near burning springs The Moundsville Daily Echo was established as a weekly newspaper C. F. Millspaugh arrived at WVU The Mount Carbon Prehistoric Site was investigated by Col. P. W. Norris for the Smithsonian Institution's Bureau of American Ethnology 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
1913
The building of the central section of the Greenbrier Hotel and the Old White golf course were completed Other events that happened on or around 1913 Commissioner assigned responsibility to regulate farm products The Allegheny Lodge was built Waitman Barbe wrote Great Poems Interpreted Walter Barnes wrote English in the Country School John Peale Bishop entered Princeton Charles F. Millspaugh wrote The Living Flora of West Virginia James Callahan wrote Semi-Centennial History of West Virginia Consolidated Manufactories pottery factory established by Merchants Association of Grafton John Harrington Cox collected his first folk song Henry Gassaway Davis was chairman of Semi-Centennial Commission Alston Dayton made the injunction from the Hitchman Coal & Coke v. John Mitchell case permanent Legislature passed act that provided for the employment of extension agents West Virginia appropriated fire protection funds The Glenville high school received its own building Nathan Goff served in the U.S. Senate Legislature created the State Road Bureau Annual coal production exceeded 28 million tons Ritter Park in Huntington was fashioned from land originally intended for a city incinerator Louis Johnson was admitted to the bar in Clarksburg Harriet Jones helped to establish Hopemont Sanitarium Teepi Kendrick became the state agent in charge of the corn clubs for boys and canning clubs for girls Keyser was incorporated Supreme Court decisions on State ex rel. Nance v. Mays, Ex parte Jones, and Hatfield v. Graham were decided during the labor rebellion and accorded vast power to the executive branch to use martial law Weston became the southern terminus of regional electric trolley car service The second courthouse in Madison was torn down Redress was allowed under the original workers compensation statue Course work was added to Marshall University to include the equivalent of freshman and sophomore years of college Walter Martens began working as a draftsman in Danville The title was changed from Evening Journal to Martinsburg West Virginia Evening Journal Hu Maxwell co-authored West Virginia and Its People Bill McKell completed his own branch railroad to connect with the Virginian Railway at Pax John McWhorter left office as judge of West Virginia's 12th judicial circuit John McWhorter drafted the Yost Law, providing for enforcement of state prohibition The Mennonites building was moved to Roaring Creek The Minter Homes Corporation was established in Huntington A major refinery was built at St. Marys by Quaker State United States Senate looked into Paint Creek-Cabin Creek strike John Nugent was question by the U.S. Senate investigating committee for efforts to import strikebreakers to West Virginia John Nugent left West Virginia for Kentucky The Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly fathered the state's first workers compensation bill The Ohio Valley Refining Company was established at St. Marys Livia Poffenbarger sold the State Gazette. Legislature passed the Yost law, under which prohibition was enforced, creating the Department of Prohibition The state's first tuberculosis sanitarium was founded at Hopemont in Preston County The Public Service Commission was created by the legislature Leonard Riggleman passed the uniform teachers exam The first high school opened in Ripley St. Francis Hospital was founded by Patrick J. Donahue The Sacred Heart Hospital opened The Salt Sulphur Springs resort was closed The Star House was acquired by W. B. and Ida Skaggs Flags were unofficially made for the semi-centennial celebration featured a new design Stony River Reservoir was completed by West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company P. D. Strausbaugh graduated from Wooster (Ohio) College P. D. Strausbaugh began teaching at Wooster (Ohio) College A streetcar line between Sistersville and Middlebourne was built Congress passed the 16th Amendment for a federal income tax on corporation The Indian Camp Normal School was established Clarence W. Watson finished his term in the U.S. Senate John S. Bonar graduated from West Liberty "The West Virginia Hills" was published in The West Virginia Singer Legislature changed the name to Weston State Hospital West Virginia House of Delegates passed a state women's suffrage amendment
Jun 17, 1916
The West Virginia High School Athletic Association was organized in Charleston (now Secondary Schools Activities Commission)
1919
WVU's football team amassed an 8-3 record Other events that happened on or around 1919 There were 33 churches belonging to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination with 1,325 members The position of State Supervisor of Negro Schools and an appointed Negro Board of Education were created by the state White mob lynched two black miners at Chapmanville Alderson Baptist Academy became Alderson Baptist Academy and Junior College (now part of Alderson Broaddus University) Mary Atkeson competed a PhD in Literature at Ohio State University George Atkinson wrote Bench and Bar of West Virginia First state tournament for girls' high school basketball was held at Spencer John Peale Bishop was hired at Vanity Fair magazine after being stationed in Europe Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the Bretz property Don Chafin was shot when entering UMWA District 17 offices American chestnut trees provided West Virginia with 118 million board feet of lumber The normal school at Athens became independent as Concord State Normal School (now Concord University) National coal and steel strikes Governor John Cornwell supported the Red Flag legislation and Constabulary legislation in creating the State Police John Warren Davis became president of West Virginia Collegiate Institute (now West Virginia State University) Clarence Donnelly began his ministry Dunbar was laid out by Dunbar Development Company Legislature abolished first board and created a seven-member Board of Education Gertrude Humphrey began work in WVU extension system West Virginia enacted legislation that made it unlawful for livestock to be on the railroad right of way Harrison Ferrell was stricken with polio Nathan Goff married Katherine Penney The West Virginia Good Roads Federation campaigned for amendment to make road improvements under slogan "Help Pull West Virginia Out of the Mud" Greenwood Cemetery, on the National Road in Wheeling, became a nonprofit corporation Mayor C. C. Testerman named Sid Hatfield Matewan's police chief The Board of Children's Guardians was established Dave Gideon became the sole owner of the Huntington Herald-Dispatch The UMWA began efforts to unionize the mines of southern West Virginia The problem of sharing Virginia's debt was finally settled A large stone monument was erected at Jackson's Mill in the memory of Stonewall Jackson Mother Jones joined the steelworkers' organizing drive in Pittsburgh Joseph Joy won a patent for his design of a mechanical coal loader Frank Keeney announced his intention to unionize the remainder of southern West Virginia coal mines Teepi Kendrick helped found the West Virginia 4-H All Stars Lakin State hospital was established by an act of the Legislature Walter Martens began working for architect L. F. W. Stuebe of Danville Louis Marx established Louis Marx & Company Legislature provided for the establishment of mine rescue station to train personnel in rescue and first-aid work Margaret Montague's story "England to America" won the O. Henry Award Ephraim Morgan ran for governor Howard Sloan organized a congregation in Grafton Greasy Neale played in the World Series for the Cincinnati Reds The Nuttallburg mine was sold to Henry Ford The Owens Bottle Machine Company changed to the Owens Bottle Company Mateo Pinkard wrote his first hit, "Mammy 'o Mine" after moving to New York. 125 acres of land was purchased for the operation of the agriculture program. A poultry extension program was started in West Virginia The state received a federal grant for the control of venereal disease. The West Virginia Department of Prohibition began William Revercomb earned a law degree from the University of Virginia Red Ribble moved to Prince Rat Rodgers was named to the All-American teams Rat Rodgers was the leading scorer in the nation St. Mary's Glass opened S. Orestes Bond became president of Salem College Thomas C. Miller was designated president instead of principal of Shepherd College The Twin Mountain & Potomac railroad line ended Weirton Steel added a blast furnace Weirton Steel employees jumped to 11,630 Clint Thomas returned to Columbus after army service W. W. Trent became secretary of the West Virginia Education Association Tucker County's school enrollment peaked at 4,144 students Attempts to unionize southern West Virginia occurred West Virginia legislature created a Virginia Debt Sinking Fund to settle the Virginia Debt Byrd Prillerman left as president of West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) I. C. White received an honorary law degree from WVU Carter G. Woodson began Associated Publishers Company Carter G. Woodson began serving as Dean of Liberal Arts at Howard University West Virginians participated in the Russian Expedition, a military fiasco C. H. Mead completed the first commercial gas well in Wyoming County Lenna Yost became the Washington correspondent for the National WCTU's Union Signal West Virginia held a state basketball tournament for girls for the first time T. G. Nutter became the first African-American to represent Kanawha County in the House of Delegates
1924
West Virginia Wesleyan defeated Navy, Syracuse, Kentucky in football Other events that happened on or around 1924 Elementary school and junior high schools numbered 453 for African-American students and teachers Mary Atkeson wrote The Woman on the Farm The number of banks in West Virginia peaked at 225 state banks and 125 national banks Walter Barnes wrote The Children's Poets The Evening Post, Beckley's first daily newspaper, was established UMWA President Keeney and Secretary Treasurer Mooney were forced to retire Izetta Brown seconded Davis again for nomination Izetta Brown again defeated for U.S. Senate, this time by William Edwin Chilton Chauncey H. Browning graduated from WVU John W. Davis Democratic candidate for president Matthew Wesley Clair Sr. returned to Washington for a visit Association changed its name to West Virginia Council of Churches and Christian Education Democratic presidential candidate John W. Davis failed to carry home state West Virginia Huntington's Frederick Douglass Junior and Senior High School was built Patrick Gainer recorded folk songs and lore of West Virginia's people Construction of the Governor's Mansion began Major flood brought devastation Record floods hit Hardy County Another school was built in Harrisville The Concord College He-Man Club began as picnic to honor retiring college president Christopher Columbus Rossey The hemlock wooly adelgid was first reported in the Western United States Colonel Joseph Long bought a corner lot in Huntington to erect a building for his paper, the Herald-Dispatch The UMWA had lost half of its members in West Virginia and was nearly bankrupt The Huntington Post-Herald became a daily newspaper Homer Holt married Isabel Wood of Charlottesville, Virginia Rush Holt graduated from Salem College Cheat Lake construction began, created primarily for the production of electricity Carmine Pelligrino of Rosemont held record of mining 66 tons of coal in 24 hours The Jackson's Mill property was donated to the state of West Virginia Ray Wetzel was born in Parkersburg Mother Jones called on Governor Morgan for pardons for miners imprisoned after the Logan March Out-of-state KKK publication carried reports from several West Virginia location The Ku Klux Klan marched through Hinton Howard B. Lee left office as Mercer County prosecuting attorney Carnegie library was established in Hinton Howard M. Gore became assistant secretary of agriculture Mountain lions were declared extinct Walter Martens designed the Science and Liberal Arts halls of Davis & Elkins College Clarence Cameron White was named director of music at West Virginia State College The Concrete Steel Bridge Company of Clarksburg had 52 separate construction teams in the field The Metropolitan Theater in downtown Morgantown opened Fred Mooney left as secretary-treasurer of UMWA District 17 The first Mountaineer Field opened The Clarke-McNary law was passed by Congress authorizing the purchase of forested, cut-over, or denuded lands for the production of timber in addition to the flow regulation of navigable streams Records of chicken production began. The West Virginia Public Health Association was organized. Jennings Randolph graduated from Salem College. Walter Reuther began work as apprentice tool and die maker at Wheeling Steel Leonard Riggleman accepted a pastorate in Milton William Ritter made headline for sharing $3 million in company stock with his employees Money from the John B. Crowley estate paid for a new addition to St. Francis Hospital A second wing was added to St. Joseph's Hospital The state built a fire tower in Seneca State Forest A merger agreement between Sheltering Arms Hospital and Charleston General Hospital fell through Ada "Bricktop" Smith performed in Paris The West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference began Seneca State Forest became the first state forest in West Virginia P. D. Strausbaugh and colleagues collected, mounted and filed the nucleus of a new plant collection for WVU The Blackwater Boom & Lumber Company closed All lumber operations in Tucker County closed due to depletion of original forest Membership in the United Brethren Parkersburg Conference was 10,337 Frank Keeney and Fred Mooney resigned from the UMWA Ward Engineering built the Greenbrier, a sternweel towboat
1947
Marshall College (now University) won the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball Championship Other events that happened on or around 1947 Federal government sold Arthurdale homes and community building to the homesteaders West Virginia Aeronautics Commission formed Florence Blanchfield retired Jesse Bloch's son, Thomas, became president of Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company Bluefield State College (now University) was fully accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education Business affairs for WVU and state colleges was transferred to WVU Board of Governors and State Board of Education Tony Boyle was brought to Washington as assistant to UMW President John L. Lewis Harry Brawley won an award for the "School of the Air" series Carter Coal Company sold to Youngstown Sheet & Tube Western Maryland Railroad took possession of the Cheat Mountain Club American Cyanamid built plant near Willow Island Levi Johnson Dean had 139 architectural commissions Coal production peaked with 174 million tons Jack Fleming began announcing for WVU sports Harry B. Heflin became the third president of Glenville State College "Biggie" Goldberg led the Chicago Cardinals to the NFL Championship The Greene Line acquired the Delta Queen Louis W. Chappell recorded Edden Hammons at Richwood Hotel Voters approved a city charter for the Weirton Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote Roseanna McCoy Ken Hechler began teaching at Princeton University Marshall won the NAIB national basketball tournament in Kansas City Homer Holt became general counsel for the Union Carbide company in New York City The Huttonsville Correctional Center became a separate institution from the state penitentiary at Moundsville The West Virginia Conservation Commission constructed a dam and bridge at the Jug of Middle Island Creek, restoring water to the original channel Wertz Field in Institute received modern facilities at Kanawha (Yeager) Airport Supreme Court ruling West Virginia-Pittsburgh Coal Company v. Strong limited surface mining The West Virginia League of Women Voters was recognized by the national office Operation of all locks and dams except Lock and Dam No 1 on the Big Sandy was discontinued Elli Mannette had perfected a steel drum with two octaves of a diatonic scale Jacob Rader Marcus established the American Jewish Archives Dan Maroney became a bus driver for the Charleston Transit Company Mildred Mitchell married William L. Bateman Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was accepted a position as staff physician at Lakin State Hospital Morgantown annexed part of Evansdale The Pence Springs property containing the original spring, hotel and fields were purchased by the state of West Virginia for use as a state prison for women Women prisoners from Moundsville Penitentiary were transferred to women's penitentiary in Pence Springs The Nazarene Camp and Conference ground was established at Summersville WPDX Clarksburg began competing with WMMN Fairmont for country music audience Alex Schoenbaum opened the Parkette Drive-In and Bowling Alley in the west side of Charleston Oliver S. Ikenberry became president of Shepherd College Hulett Smith began serving on the state Aeronautics Commission. Miles Stanley became the president of his steelworkers union local An additional appropriation of $60,000 to build the State Police Academy was obtained from legislature Edward W. Stifel Sr. died The Co-operative Transit Company ceased streetcar operations in Wheeling area City Lines of West Virginia ceased streetcar operations in north-central West Virginia Surface mining production reached 18.4 million tons Union Carbide purchased the Institute butadiene, styrene and support facilities to convert to chemical plants Reported 14,510 people were employed in textile-related jobs in West Virginia The University of Hard Knocks was conceived by Jim Comstock Andre Van Damme and family moved to America Vitrolite ceased production Enrollment at West Virginia State College was 1,785 students The West Virginia Turnpike Commission was created by legislature The Nickel Plate Railroad purchased a majority of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Henry Mazer became conductor of the Wheeling Symphony Doc Williams had a major hit, "Beyond the Sunset" Florence Blanchfield ceased as superintendent of the Army Nurse Corps Sam Jones joined the Cleveland Buckeyes of the Negro American League Buck Harless became part owner of a lumber company Toni Stone played for the semi-pro Twin Cities Colored Giants
1948
West Virginia State College romped through an undefeated basketball season, winning the regular season and tournament championships Other events that happened on or around 1948 Peak production of coal in West Virginia Clair Bee wrote Touchdown Pass Charles Town Opera House was closed Westvaco Chemical Corporation became part of FMC Oliver Chitwood published the second volume of A Short History of the American People President Irvin Stewart approved Earl Core's proposal to found WVU arboretum Five floors were added to the 1941 addition of the Diamond Department Store Little Jimmy Dickens signed with Columbia Records Joanne Dru appeared in Red River The Edwards Moonlight was rehulled K. K. Hall was elected mayor of Madison Roy Lee Harmon wrote Up the Creek Virgil Carrington Jones wrote The Hatfield and McCoys, published by University of North Carolina Press The music department of Concord College awarded the first degree in music education Louis Johnson chaired President Truman's finance committee The federal government charged Big Bill Lias with income tax evasion The Lilly Brothers moved to WWVA Wheeling where they worked with Red Belcher The appointment of a separate dean for the Marshall College graduate school began An addition was built to Louis Marx & Company facility for plastic toys Bernard McDonough bought the Kanawha Sand & Gravel company Herbert Chester Greer died John Nash entered the doctoral program at Princeton University The Spirit of Jefferson newspaper merged with the Farmers' Advocate The last case of smallpox in West Virginia was reported Jack Rollins joined music publishers Hill and Range in New York Construction began on the state police academy Eleanor Steber sang at the Republican National Convention Eleanor Steber commissioned and premiered Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 Stone & Thomas opened a new store in downtown Charleston P. D. Strausbaugh retired from WVU The Federal Communications Commission granted approval for the construction WSAZ television in Huntington Andre Van Damme settle in Charleston WAJR-FM (now WVAQ) began broadcasting in Morgantown The West Virginia Review ceased publication WVU enrollment at 8,069 A physical therapy department was opened at Wheeling Hospital WHIS radio increased to 5,000 watts The Shott brothers made a premature effort at an FM station Frankie Yankovic was voted “America’s Polka King” by an 8-to-1 margin at a contest sponsored by record companies
1949
Marshal played in the Tangerine Bowl Other events that happened on or around 1949 Appalachian Electric Power provided electricity in 21 counties Clyde Beale pardoned by Governor Patteson Walter Barnes wrote The Teacher Speaks West Virginia Conservation Commission constructed Baker Lake The Berkeley Woolen Company closed its operations in Martinsburg Pearl S. Buck founded the international adoption agency, Welcome House, based in Pennsylvania Lew Burdette married Mary Ann Shelton The state's first television station WSAZ-TV went on air West Virginia chose electric chair over hanging for capital punishment Northern cardinal became the state bird William E. Davies published first full report on West Virginia caves The beginnings of the Cedar Lakes Conference Center originated in an act of the legislature B'nai Jacob congregation moved to new synagogue Little Jimmy Dickens joined the Grand Ole Opry at WSM Henry Hazelwood retired as principal The Booth family sold the Dreamland to group of Huntington businessmen Joanne Dru appeared in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Bishop Strider announced his retirement Forestlands of West Virginia covered 60 % of state Major flood brought devastation to Grant County Capt. Mary B. Greene, wife of Capt. Gordon Greene, died Carroll High School in Hamlin was destroyed by fire Alberta Pierson Hannum's book Roseanna McCoy was released as a motion picture The Health Department shifted its emphasis from communicable diseases to chronic illnesses and other public health issues. Cam Henderson resigned as the Marshall football coach The Huntington Publishing Co. started WSAZ-TV Channel 3, first TV station in West Virginia and one of earliest in the country The construction of Bluestone Dam on the New River was completed Rush Holt changed his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican William Flannery became speaker of the House of Delegates Hayes Picklesimer succeeded John L. Dickinson as president of Kanawha Valley Bank Kelly Axe and Tool Company changed its name to True Temper Larry Richardson and Bob Osborne joined the Lonesome Pine Fiddlers Berry Pink and Sellers Peltier founded the Marble King Company Clarence Meadows opened a law office in Charleston Morgantown annexed Suncrest and Sabraton West Virginia Mountain State Gospel Singers Corporation invited groups from Greenbrier and Fayette counties to participate in Nicholas County homecoming of Mount Nebo Gospel Sings Marble King Factory moved to St. Marys DuPont plant built at Washington Bottom Alfred Knobler created the Pilgrim Glass Corporation Mole Hill changed its name to Mountain Jack Rollins wrote the lyrics to "Peter Cottontail" Fred Schaus made All-American in basketball at WVU Union Carbide developed its technical center above its South Charleston plant Red Sovine began recording with MGM, Decca, and eventually Starday Buddy Starcher's "I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand" became a hit Weldon Cook and Robert Livingston Russell formed the Cook-Russell Theater Corp The sugar maple became the state tree of West Virginia The West Virginia State Police Academy began operation Commercial television cable installation began operating at Piedmont and Cameron The second USS Huntington was decommissioned after three tours to the Mediterranean WAJR-AM in Morgantown became the flagship station for statewide network distribution of WVU football and basketball games Land was donated to the state for the Watters Smith Memorial State Park Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust acquired National Exchange Bank The State Education Association changed its name to the West Virginia Education Association Riley Wilson became seriously ill at the inauguration of President Truman Virginia Mae Brown became executive secretary of the West Virginia Judicial Council Sam Jones signed with the Cleveland Indians Elizabeth Harden married Virgil Gilmore, a future two-term Charleston city councilman Toni Stone played for the San Francisco Sea Lions, then joined the New Orleans Creoles
1952
WVU's Mark Workman became All-American in basketball Other events that happened on or around 1952 Raleigh County Memorial Airport built Charleston baseball joined the American Association, class AAA Henry Lake Dickason retired as president of Bluefield State Teachers College (now University) The Lilly Brothers of Raleigh County relocated to Boston Widen was scene of fatal labor confrontation Consolidated Bus Lines traveled 5,873,468 miles Virginia Ruth "Dagmar" Egnor began own variety show, Dagmar's Canteen John W. Davis argued for the continuation of racial segregation in South Carolina before the U.S. Supreme Court Briggs v. Elliot, later Brown v. Board of Education John Warren Davis accepted a U.S. government appointment in Liberia A wing to the Denmar Hospital building was completed Fairmont State College president George W. Hand lost his position by refusing to fire Luella Raab Mundell Ann Kathryn Flagg resigned her teaching position at Dunbar High School in Fairmont and became director of Children's Theater in Cleveland U.S. Forest Service published reports on West Virginia Forests Report stated that 64% of the state was forested Gunner Gatski earned All-Pro honors in football The Health and Physical Education Building at Glenville State College was dedicated Original Mound Museum opened at Grave Creek Mound K. K. Hall became circuit judge of West Virginia's 25th Judicial Circuit Joseph Hodges was made an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Richmond Johnnie Johnson moved to St. Louis and hired Chuck Berry to be in the Johnnie Johnson Trio The 167th Fighter Squadron returned to West Virginia The current number of members was established for the House of Delegates The Wheeling Downs racetrack and other assets of Big Bill Lias were seized by the federal government Library service was improved with creation of regional library systems Hobert Skidmore wrote The Years Are Even Lock No. 1 on the Big Sandy was closed Walter Martens became a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a distinctive honor The Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad was merged into the New York Central System Walter Reuther was elected president of the Congress of Industrial Organizations Jack Rollins wrote "Smokey the Bear" Jim Sprouse began serving with the Central Intelligence Agency Spruce Knob Lake was constructed as a fishing lake P. D. Strausbaugh published Part One of Flora of West Virginia Planning for Sutton Dam was suspended because of Korean War WSAZ-TV in Huntington became channel 3 S. A. Abram began redevelopment of the old seminary grounds at Hilltop, near Oak Hill in Fayette County The Bluestone Dam and Lake was completed A strike at Widen occurred Virginia Mae Brown was named West Virginia’s first woman assistant attorney general
1953
WVU played in the Sugar Bowl Other events that happened on or around 1953 Southern tract of present Calvin W. Price State Forest was sold to the state by New River Company Carr China Company went out of business Statewide circulation of the Charleston Gazette peaked at 86,000 Consolidated Bus Lines employed 337 individuals and operated 100 buses Phoebia Moore died Phyllis Curtin made her debut with New York City Opera John Warren Davis retired as president of West Virginia State Julius DeGruyter wrote The Kanawha Spectator: History of the Kanawha Valley The Dunbar-South Charleston Bridge opened as a toll bridge Gunner Gatski earned All-Pro honors in football Perry Gresham became president of Bethany College Perry Gresham wrote Disciples of the High Calling John Ailes became editor of the Hampshire Review, Hampshire County Hardy County Heritage Weekend began at Mill Island Another 400 acres was added for the Harpers Ferry National Monument Ken Hechler became the associate director of the American Political Science Association Jean Lee Latham wrote The Story of Eli Whitney The Library Commission moved to Charleston from Morgantown The Lonesome Pine Fiddlers left West Virginia A fire damaged the Martinsburg Journal building "Speedy" Estep was killed racing a stock car in Columbus, Ohio Davis Grubb wrote Night of the Hunter A trail at the WVU Arboretum was named in honor of Lawrence Nuttall Eldora Nuzum joined the Elkins Inter-Mountain The West Virginia State Poultry Association annual meeting moved to Moorefield Distribution of Salk polio vaccine Chuck Ripper moved to Huntington as art director for the Standard Printing & Publishing Co. Rat Rodgers was admitted to the College Football Hall of Fame Eleanor Roosevelt stopped serving as U.S. representative to the United Nations Alex Schoenbaum's restaurant chain was named Shoney's West Virginia became one of the first sates to finance development of park facilities by selling bonds WKNA TV when on air in Charleston as channel 49 The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Kanawha Valley was established Oscar Nelson died The initial accreditation attempt for Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) failed The Baptist State Convention began to meet at Hilltop William J. Wallace became president of West Virginia State College Enrollment at West Virginia State College was at 837 students WJLS-FM Beckley became WBKW-FM William B. Axtell became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology Katherine Johnson began working with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics as a “computer” doing complex analysis and calculations Toni Stone joined the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League
1954
Morris Harvey College football team participated in the Cigar Bowl in Tampa Other events that happened on or around 1954 Appalachian Bible Institute had a student body of 40 and needed more space Walter Barnes retired as president of the West Virginia Folklore Society West Virginia physician Joseph E. Martin Jr. insisted black lung was a progressive, terminal disease associated with exposure to coal dust. W. E. Blackhurst published Riders of the Flood Improved amplifiers made it possible to offer as many as five cable television channels by the end of the year Monsanto and Bayer built polyurethane foam plant in New Martinsville J. R. Clifford remains re-interred at Arlington National Cemetery Explosion at Jamison No. 9 mine killed 16 Life magazine dedicated 3 pages of photos to Phyllis Curtin's "dance of the seven veils" Farm Women's Clubs changed names to Home Demonstration clubs West Virginia State's land grant college status was transferred to WVU Fairmont State College opened the campus to black students for the first time Deadly explosion in Consolidation Coal Company's Farmington Mine The Follansbee steel mill was sold to the Louis Berkman Company Davis Grubb wrote A Dream of Kings John T. Willet became commissioner of the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park Harold Hayslett established Hayslett Violins in South Charleston The West Virginia Turnpike was completed from Princeton to Charleston The federal government transferred the deed of the Holly River State Park to the state Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation built a large aluminum plant in Ravenswood Garland Wilson died in Paris Joy Manufacturing Company reported that 72% of all coal loaded mechanically was loaded by Joy loaders Lakin State Hospital was integrated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled segregation unconstitutional Harts High School was built at Harts Marshall College named its buffalo mascot "Marco" Governor William Marland implemented his no-nonsense policy of public school desegregation following the U.S. Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education decision Minter Homes Corporation began concentrating on custom millwork, finished lumber, windows, doors and other items for building contractors Public school districts in Morgantown desegregated John Norman received an M.D. from Harvard Medical School The Oak Hill Saturday Night Wrestling television show first aired Peach production was at 900,000 bushels The Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative purchased Hardy County Power and Light Fred Schaus began coaching basketball at WVU Shepherd College admitted African-American students for the first time Red Sovine joined the Grand Ole Opry Miles Stanley was elected president of the Kanawha Valley Industrial Council A Turnpike Division was added to the State Police The Statler hotel chain was purchased by Conrad Hilton Boyd Stutler left the American Legion magazine Pope Pius XII bestowed the honorary title of archbishop ad personam on John Swint Clint Thomas became messenger for the state Senate The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Morgantown was founded WCHS-TV Channel 8 was launched The Press Association was revived under its original name The West Virginia State Wildlife Center began evolving as a zoo Geoffrey Hobday began leading the Charleston Symphony Orchestra West Virginia dedicated the Charlton Memorial Bridge on the West Virginia Turnpike
1955
West Virginia State and Bluefield State integrated the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Other events that happened on or around 1955 167th moved to Martinsburg Huntington's Memorial Field House hosted the state boys basketball tournament Bluestone State Park joined state park system Clarksburg constructed Buffalo Lake Legislature considered declaring TV cable companies to be public utilities subject to regulation by Public Service Commission Sutton Dam completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cedar Creek State Park joined state park system Petersburg fish hatchery noticed different color trout in hatchery's rainbow trout Judge Ben Moore ruled against racial discrimination at Sky Chief Restaurant at Kanawha (now Yeager) Airport The black bear became the state animal Croatian Cultural Club founded in Benwood Mutation of normal-colored rainbow trout was discovered Lester Hayes Jr. caught a 52.5 inch, 43 pound muskie in the Elk River Gunner Gatski earned All-Pro honors in football The Night of the Hunter was adapted to film Elizabeth Hallanan became a member of the State Board of Education Storer College was closed William Hoffman wrote his first novel, The Trumpet Unblown All institutions of higher learning in West Virginia except Glenville State had enrolled African-American students Coach Cam Henderson left Marshall College (now University) Bernard McDonough bought the O. Ames Company in Parkersburg Logan County surpassed McDowell County as the leading coal producing county in the nation Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was invited to return to Lakin State Hospital after leaving to further studies Green Bank was chosen for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory Pardee & Curtin built the first all-electric single-band sawmill in the state at Curtin, Webster County. Otis Rice served as president of the West Virginia Historical Society Leonard Riggleman became the Charleston Gazette's West Virginia Man of the Year West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission adopted its current name Sumner School closed after the Brown v. Board of Education decision William P. Tams retired Theatre West Virginia was founded as the West Virginia Historical Drama Association Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) built its first dormitory The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations combined as AFL-CIO Billy Edd Wheeler received a B.A. in English from Berea College Lawrence R. McHugh, S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) George Wolfe was discharged from the army The 130th Troop Carrier Squadron (130th Airlift Squadron) was formed The West Virginia Lobotomy Project ended The Sugar Grove site was selected for a radio telescope Tunney Hunsaker moved to Fayetteville
1957
WVU Rod Hundley became All-American in basketball 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 Shenandoah Downs purchased land north of Charles Town Race Track for night harness racing 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
1958
Jerry West was a second-team All-American in basketball Other events that happened on or around 1958 Reorganization changed name from AG&E back to Appalachian Power Leroy Allen became president of Bluefield State College (now University) Ruby Bradley became a colonel Elk River Coal & Lumber Company was sold to Clinchfield Coal Company Clarksburg Park Board developed Buffalo Lake into a public recreation area Dale Brooks released "The Ambridge Boogie" on Cozy Records Phyllis Curtin sang Susannah at the Brussels World's Fair Phyllis Curtin sang with the Charleston Symphony Opera Ellis Dungan returned to the Ohio Valley, settling in Wheeling State superintendent of schools became a Board of Education appointee National Radio Quiet Zone surrounding Green Bank observatory was established by the Federal Communications Commission Jack Fleming became announcer for the Pittsburgh Steelers Follansbee rolling and annealing facilities were sold to Wheeling Steel "Biggie" Goldberg was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame and the West Virginia Sports Writers Hall of Fame Davis Grubb wrote The Watchman Alberta Pierson Hannum wrote Paint the Wind Chuck Howley was drafted by the Chicago Bears The school year was interrupted by an anti-integration school bombing at Osage near Morgantown A new dormitory was constructed at Marshall College (now University) The need for local graduate education was articulated by officials at Union Carbide Corporation and other Kanawha Valley chemical concerns, and Kanawha Valley Graduate Center was founded John Matheus retired from West Virginia State College (now University) Jack Maurice won the Sigma Delta Chi award for editorial writing The McClain Printing Company was incorporated McClain Printing Company published its first book, Chronicles of Border Warfare by Alexander Scott Withers Mildred Mitchell-Bateman became superintendent of the Lakin State Hospital Moncove Public Hunting and Fishing area was purchased by the West Virginia Conservation Commission Ohio Valley Speedway was built Construction on the National Radio Astronomy Observatory began at Green Bank Marble King Factory moved to Paden City Jennings Randolph flew from Morgantown to Washington on a plane fueled with gasoline made from West Virginia coal William Revercomb left U.S. Senate, defeated by Robert C. Byrd Leonard Riggleman led Morris Harvey to accreditation Fred Schaus guided WVU's basketball team to a No. 1 national ranking at the end of the regular season Festus Summers co-authored with Charles Ambler the second edition of West Virginia: The Mountain State Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) was accredited by the North Central Accreditation Agency Jerry West played on the WVU team that finished No.1 in the nation West Virginia Yesterday and Today was adopted as a state textbook The West Virginia turnpike was included in the Interstate highway system A water ski show moved from Tennessee to Hinton Aunt Jennie Wilson was discovered by Patrick Gainer Elizabeth Gilmore helped organize the Charleston chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
1959
WVU basketball team lost 71-70 to California in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament final 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 Reported 2,843 schools in West Virginia Shenandoah Downs opened in Charles Town Agnes Smith published An Edge of the Forest Hulett Smith left the state Aeronautics Commission Blaze Starr met Louisiana Gov. Earl Long while performing in New Orleans Jerry West was named most valuable player of the NCAA tournament Jerry West was unanimous All American first-team choice Patrick Gainer became president of the West Virginia Folklore Society The Mountaineers went to the national basketball championships Water ski shows failed to draw a crowd William F. Troy, S.J. became president of Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) Katherine Johnson married Lt. Colonel James A. Johnson Tunney Hunsaker fought Ernie Terrell The Special Forces (Green Berets) were created in the Army National Guard
1962
WVU Rod Thorn became All-American in basketball Other events that happened on or around 1962 Citizens in Grafton formed the International Mother's Day Shrine Commission. C&O and B&O merger continues John Hodel became editor of the Beckley Register Clair Bee wrote Comeback Cagers, the last of the Chip Hilton series Betsy Byars published her first book, Clementine Fannie Cobb Carter returned to Charleston West Virginia purchased 11 miles of logging railroad and established Cass Scenic Railroad State Park Charleston's population peaked at 85,796 Franklin Cleckley earned B.A. from Anderson College James Dent began writing the Charleston Gazette's "Gazetteer" column Duncan Yo-Yo Company hit its peak sales with 18 million yo-yos The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation was organized Construction of the government bunker and the simultaneous addition of a new hotel wing were completed at the Greenbrier Davis Grubb wrote Voices of Glory Hawkshaw Hawkins returned to King Records and recorded "Lonesome 7-7203" The state purchased and planned restoration of the former logging town of Cass Joseph Hodges succeeded John Swint as the fifth bishop of the diocese of Wheeling William Hoffman wrote A Place For My Head Interwoven Mills ownership changed Kaymoor mine closed The original Kingwood Tunnel was closed and sealed John Knowles wrote Morning in Antibes William Marland took a job as a Chicago taxi driver to "compose his character" A new dormitory was constructed at Marshall University West Virginia Archeological Society members Delf Norona, Oscar Mairs and Bob White described the May Moore Mound as the third largest in West Virginia J. Kemp McLaughlin was appointed assistant adjutant general with promotion to brigadier general J. Kemp McLaughlin served as Kanawha County commissioner Mildred Mitchell-Bateman was appointed the director of the Department of Mental Health by Governor Barron Plum Orchard Lake was constructed Donald Rasmussen came to West Virginia as associate chief of internal medicine at Miners Memorial Hospital in Beckley Nat Reese was hired as a photographic silk-screen printer at Rockwell International's aviation plant in Princeton Eleanor Roosevelt stopped serving as U.S. representative to the United Nations The C. Z. Ruth Memorial Annex at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg was built to accommodate major services The Sheriff's Succession Amendment was first rejected by legislation Catholic population in West Virginia was 110,000 There were 100 Catholic churches, a new cathedral five hospitals 43 elementary and secondary schools, one college and a preparatory seminary in West Virginia Cyrus Vance became secretary of the army Jerry West set the record for guards with 63 points in one game Dr. Herbert Warden performed the first open-heart surgery in West Virginia A fire ended racing at Wheeling Downs Wheeling College (now Wheeling University) received national accreditation Chuck Yeager became commander of the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base Billy Cox moved to Nashville and formed the King Kasuals with Jimi Hendrix
1963
WVU Rod Thorn became All-American in basketball Other events that happened on or around 1963 The Centennial year closed and virtually all elements of the program had been successfully completed Patch Adams spent two weeks in a psychiatric facility for depression President's Appalachian Regional Commission (PARC) recommendations sent to President Johnson Appalachian Hospital network saved by the Board of National Missions of the United Presbyterian Church Appalachian Volunteers organized Only 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles could be found in the U.S. W. E. Blackhurst published Sawdust in Your Eyes W. E. Blackhurst was the first commentator for the Cass Scenic Railroad Florence Blanchfield received the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal A new student union building was built at Bluefield State College (now University) Tony Boyle was elected president of the UMWA Ruby Bradley retired from the army Elk River Coal & Lumber Company sold its sawmill at Swandale to Georgia-Pacific Expansion of Cabell Huntington Hospital increased the size to 280 beds and 48 bassinets Centennial Golden Trout received first widespread stocking Mower Lumber Company purchased Cheat Mountain Club Jim Comstock ran for unsuccessfully for Congress Phyllis Curtin sang at the meeting of the Music Educators National Conference in Charleston Julius DeGruyter wrote A Brief History of Kanawha County and the Kanawha Region Dolores Dowling became secretary and administrative assistant of the Veterans Administration regional office in Huntington Thomson Newspapers of Canada purchased all three Fairmont papers Ann Flagg returned to teaching at Evanston Consolidated School District and Southern Illinois University The department led the effort to organize a crafts fair at Cedar Lakes The book, Mountain Heritage was published Patrick Gainer published The West Virginia Centennial Song Book of 100 Songs Patrick Gainer recorded Folk Songs of the Allegheny Mountains for Folk Heritage Recordings Earl Andrews became president of the Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corporation at Berkeley Springs Legislature authorized counties to cooperate with local governments and the federal government Land on Maryland Heights was added to the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park The widows of Edward and Walker Long and William D. Brike took charge of Huntington Newspaper Publishing Charles Hodel was named to the West Virginia Press Association's Hall of Fame The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals who ruled in State ex rel. Slatton v. Boles that the state policy is to "protect and reclaim juveniles" and will be treated as delinquents rather than criminals Kanawha Records began to record authentic indigenous mountain music as performed by contemporary West Virginia musicians Reynolds Memorial Hospital opened a new facility in Glen Dale The National Youth Science Camp was founded in Pocahontas County The West Virginia Chapter of Nature Conservancy was founded by volunteers The Greenbrier Historical society re-formed after disbanding during the Civil War New buildings of the Ohio Valley College (now University) were occupied on a permanent campus The Libbey-Owens-Ford glass bottle plant closed in Charleston Jim Comstock found a preserved baby and the two female mummies in a barn in Philippi. The West Virginia Centennial showboat, Rhododendron, plied the Kanawha, Ohio and Monongahela Rivers Spanky Roberts was assigned to Griffis Air Force base The St. Albans Archeological Site was first identified by Samuel D. Kessel Salem College received full accreditation by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges Devid Selby married Claudeis "Chip" Newman Boyd Stutler published West Virginia in the Civil War Legislation to protect the environment from surface mining was enacted Rod Thorn became the second pick in the first round of the NBA draft and went to Baltimore Bullets The Unitarian Universalist church in Morgantown was built The VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) began Geoffrey Hobday left the Charleston Symphony Orchestra The Charleston Symphony Orchestra was led by a season of guest conductors The first Water Festival was held at Hinton Billy Edd Wheeler recorded "Coal Tattoo" Wheeling Hospital set up the first intensive care unit in West Virginia The Shott brothers revived their WHAJ-FM The Widen mine and railroad ceased operation WVU at Parkersburg became the first of WVU's Appalachian Centers A naval radio station was established at Sugar Grove Ellie Schaul helped decorate the Centennial Showboat Rhododendron
1964
Bill Campbell beat Ed Tutwiller in golf in the U.S. Amateur Championship Final Other events that happened on or around 1964 Pearl Buck founded the Pearl S. Buck Foundation French Carpenter record, Old-Time Songs and Tunes from Clay County, West Virginia, released Ted Cassidy secured television role on The Addams Family Maryland Pimlico Race Course installed lighting to compete with newer tracks C&O acquired the Western Maryland Railroad Swimming pool at Chief Logan State Park opened Congress passed the Civil Rights Act Roy B. Clarkson published Tumult on the Mountains: Lumbering in West Virginia, 1770-1920 Legislature enacted law that authorized election of delegates to a state constitutional convention Work began at Parkersburg to make U.S. 50 a four-lane highway Ellis Dungan married Elaine Runner North Hall was completed at Fairmont State College Part four of Flora of West Virginia was published The Food Stamp Act was passed, making the program permanent U.S. Forest Service published reports on West Virginia forests, stating that 74% of the state was forested Harry B. Heflin retired as president of Glenville State College An addition to the Pioneer Center at Glenville State College was completed The Hazel Atlas Corporate Headquarters in Wheeling was donated to the West Liberty State College Homer Hickam graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. in industrial engineering Ella Holroyd was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music by Concord College Sam Huff began his career with the Washington Redskins Schools in West Virginia were considered fully desegregated The Better Roads Amendment was voted on in the general election to provided money for the "building and construction of state roads and highways" Don Redman died A radiocarbon date estimated the Kanawha Madonna to be around 350 years old Elizabeth Kee retired from Congress John Knowles wrote Double Vision: American Thoughts Abroad Supreme Court ruling State ex rel. Smith v. Gore required equal apportionment in the election of delegates to a constitutional convention and derailed a move to draft a new state constitution The number of state senators was set at 34 The U.S. Library Services Act was amended to provide funds for library education and library construction Hartman Hall was built at Beckley College (now Mountain State University) The National Bank of Commerce purchased the old Kanawha County library property in Charleston The N&W acquired the Nickel Plate in a merger that included the Wabash Railroad, the Wheeling & Lake Erie, the Akron, Canton & Youngstown and the Pittsburgh & West Virginia John Norman joined the surgical team at Boston City Hospital Oscar Mairs and Hillis Youse recorded the Luther Elkins petroglyph site. Joe Powell became state director of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. Leonard Riggleman retired as president of Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) Chuck Ripper quit Standard Printing & Publishing Co to be full-time freelance artist The Rock Lake Pool remained racially segregated after the Civil Rights Act Jay Rockefeller came to West Virginia as a poverty volunteer with Action for Appalachian Youth The West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey first began extensive excavation on the St. Albans archeological site The Soupy Sales Show weekday morning show debuted in New York Lawmakers created a 17th state senate district in Kanawha County Miles Stanley organized the AFL-CIO Appalachian Council Western Pocahontas Corporation and Pocahontas Land Corporation donated land for Twin Falls State Park Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) began offering an associate degree in nursing The Valley Falls State Park area was acquired by the state Cyrus Vance became deputy secretary of defense under Robert McNamara The federal Economic Opportunity Act was signed into law Wheeling Dollar Saving & Trust acquired South Wheeling Bank and Trust The state purchased the old Wheeling Custom House and leased it to the West Virginia Independence Hall Foundation. Charles Gabor became conductor of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Henry Aaron left Wheeling
1972
Title 9 federal legislation mandated school and college athletic programs for girls and women 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) The Shenandoah Corporation bought the Charles Town Race Track 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
1980
Don Nehlen came to coach football at WVU Other events that happened on or around 1980 Camp Washington-Carver was placed on National Register of Historic Places Third program for ex-cons to rejust to community life and address matters concerning criminal justice system West Virginia crime rate peaked Richard Currey published collection of poetry, Crossing Over: A Vietnam Journal Harrison H. Ferrell Administration Building was dedicated at West Virginia State Reckless was filmed in Weirton The R. D. Bailey Dam was completed Increase in festivals, recordings and craft outlets showed awareness of folk heritage was firmly established The Greenbrier River Trail State Park was created Perry Gresham wrote With Wings as Eagles Hancock County population peaked at 40,418 Harold Hayslett was awarded the gold medal for cello tone Forbes Magazine ranked Heck's third nationally in profitability and growth The homestead exemption was increased to $10,000 and expanded to include owners who are permanently and totally disabled T. D. Jakes started his first church, Greater Emmanuel Temple of Faith in Montgomery Supreme Court ruled in State ex rel. Barker v. Manchin, regarding separation of powers among different branches of government Maryat Lee wrote The Hinton Play The Libertarian Party fielded its first candidate for statewide office, Jack K. Kelley for governor Keith Mailard wrote Alex Driving South Much of Malden was listed as a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places Catherine Marshall wrote Meeting God at Every Turn College of Graduate Studies administrative offices were located on the campus of West Virginia State College Irene McKinney received her Ph.D. from the University of Utah M. Blane Michael stopped serving as special counsel to Gov. Rockefeller Fairmont No. 3 Mine closed Mildred Mitchell-Bateman helped develop the Mental Health Systems Act The Fairmont State College (now University) Library was renamed the Ruth Ann Musick Library Walter Dean Myers received the Coretta Scott King Award for his books Nicholas County population peaked at 28,126 Chris Sarandon starred as Jesus Christ in The Day Christ Died Mary Lee Settle wrote The Scapegoat Sam Snead joined the Senior PGA Tour Don Blankenship joined Rawl Sales & Processing Company, an A. T. Massey Coal Company subsidiary
Jul 30, 1984
Ed Etzel won gold medal in Olympic rifle competition
1988
Randy Barnes won a silver medal in the shot put at the Olympic Games
1992
James Jett was a member of the U.S. sprint relay team that won a gold medal at the Olympic Games Other events that happened on or around 1992 Michael Smith received an honorary doctorate of music degree from Alderson-Broaddus College Snowshoe purchased Silver Creek Marshall University football team defeated Youngstown in the national championships Samuel Starks home was place on the National Register of Historic Places Reported 130 outdoor sculptures in 36 West Virginia counties Rod Thorn was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame The Linde Division of Union Carbide was spun off to form Praxair The New River Fellowship purchased a meeting house West Virginia Radio Corporation acquired WCHS-FM James Rowley was elected president of the West Virginia Historical Education Foundation West Virginia State College (now University) received full accreditation from the North Central D. Ray White was featured in Talking Feet Columbia West Virginia facility was built in Craigsville WVU at Parkersburg awarded its first BS degrees in business administration John P. Carrier became president of West Virginia Institute of Technology (now WVU Tech) Alex Mooney ran unsuccessfully for New Hampshire legislature Tunney Hunsaker retired from the police force Conchata Ferrell was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
1996
Randy Barnes won a gold medal at the Olympic Games
1996
Marshall University defeated Montana for the NCAA 1-AA football championship Other events that happened on or around 1996 Arden Cogar Jr. cut a 13-inch vertical white pine log in 15.01 seconds Joe Manchin first decided to run for governorship A floodwall was built at Matewan to protect the town from the Tug River Governor Gaston Caperton's family bought Seely Pine Furniture The boarding-house prison that held Mother Jones was demolished by its owners Phyllis Reynolds Naylor was awarded the West Virginia Children's book Award for Boys Start the War Bhaktipada (Keith Gordon Ham) was imprisoned Bishop T. D. Jakes relocated to Texas to head a church and national media ministry The Sisters of Saint Joseph entered into a joint venture with Columbia HCA Jim Sprouse served as state chairman of Charlotte Pritt's campaign The Sweet Springs resort was sold to private hands Tamarack opened Construction on an expansion on the Tolsia Highway began
Dec 15, 1997
Marshall moved from Division 1 AA to Division 1 A Other events that happened on or around December 15, 1997 S. L. Jones died A second structure was added to West Virginia Graduate College at its new location in South Charleston The West Virginia Graduate College became Marshall University College of Graduate Studies Kenneth E. Smith became the third generation to run the McClain Printing Company when George Smith retired Attorney General Darrell McGraw was involved in a suit against the tobacco industry that settled the state to $41.5 billion over 25 years An additional 626 acres was added to Moncove Lake State Park to provide more hunting lands The Sporting News named Randy Moss college football's top receiver The Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center was built at the College of West Virginia (now Mountain State University) Walter Dean Myers received the Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Book Award for Harlem The National Conservation Training Center was completed Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's book Shiloh was adopted for film Phyllis Reynolds Naylor was awarded the Appalachian Medallion by the University of Charleston Joe Powell retired as president of the West Virginia Labor Federation. The Pride of West Virginia received the Sudler Trophy as the nation's No. 1 college marching band The Shavers Fork Coalition was formed The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown Meriluco was placed on the National Register of Historic Places The first female trooper resigned from the State Police Stone & Thomas closed the Charleston store Anna Marsh caught a 50.37-inch 49.75 lb muskellunge in Stonecoal Lake, setting state record for weight Toyota built an engine plant at Buffalo Robert C. Byrd was awarded the West Virginia Distinguished Service Medal The West Virginia National Guard was activated in support of the peacekeeping mission to Bosnia Major renovations took place at Yeager Airport
2000
Don Nehlen retired from coaching at WVU
2004
The Mountain State University Cougars won the NAIA Division I national basketball championship Other events that happened on or around 2004 The speaker of the House of Delegates was Robert "Bob" Kiss Weirton Steel ceased to be an employee-owned company Literacy West Virginia was formed from the merger of the Literacy volunteers of America and Lauback Literacy Action William Drennen and Kojo Jones wrote Red, White, Black & Blue: A Dual Memoir of Race and Class in Appalachia Plans were made to consolidate Iaeger and Big Creek high schools in McDowell County Chuck Kinder wrote The Last Mountain Dancer which includes the Mothman Mylan Laboratories announced plans to acquire non-generic drug maker King Pharmaceuticals Huntington Banks became the third-largest bank holding company in West Virginia The National Bank of Commerce became SunTrust The New River Community and Technical College was made independent of Bluefield State College The U.S. 60 bridge connecting Cabell and Wayne counties was named the Colonel Justice M. Chambers Memorial Bridge.
2005
Marshal University joined Conference USA Other events that happened on or around 2005 Frank Jezioro was the director of the Division of Natural Resources Don Nehlen entered the College Football Hall of Fame Ohio Valley College changed its name to Ohio Valley University James A. Johnson became president of Ohio Valley University Time Well Wasted album released by Brad Paisley Congressman Nick Rahall was the top Democrat on the Committee on Resources and second most-senior Democrat on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Jay Rockefeller was vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Michael J. Bransfield became Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston The Harrison Rural Electrification Association served 5,500 customers St. Francis Hospital was bought by LifePoint Hospitals of Tennessee R. John Reynolds became president of Salem International University Salem Education LLC assumed control of Salem International University View Articles by Existing Key Dates or Specify Your Own Date Range |
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