Author Emma Wiley

How Wheeling Almost Lost its Suspension Bridge

Emma Wiley January 27, 2025

For over 175 years, the Wheeling Suspension Bridge has been an iconic symbol of the city and its crucial place...

A Wheeling Icon Celebrates 50 Years as a National Historic Landmark

Emma Wiley November 4, 2024

One of the most iconic structures in the Wheeling skyline is celebrating 50 years as a National Historic Landmark: the...

QUIZ: Which Historic Wheeling Building Are You?

Emma Wiley May 1, 2024

Wheeling has a plethora of outstanding historic buildings in various stages of preservation and redevelopment—take this quiz to learn which historic building you are!

The Green Book: Navigating Wheeling During Segregation

Emma Wiley February 20, 2024

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on Nov. 6, 2020. In commemoration of Black History Month, Weelunk continues to...

Century-Old Trademark Illustrations Provide a Glimpse into Wheeling’s Advertising Past

Emma Wiley November 16, 2023

Look around your house or town…what types of brands can you recognize solely from their trademark? What brands scream Wheeling? ...

QUIZ: What Should You Carve on Your Pumpkin?

Wheeling Heritage Media and Emma Wiley October 17, 2023

Don’t know what to carve into your pumpkin this year? Weelunk has you covered with Wheeling inspired designs that will make your creations the talk of the town this fall!

Three Random Patents and Inventions that Started in Wheeling

Emma Wiley October 16, 2023

Ever have an idea for an invention? The first patent law in the US was the US Patent Act in...

13 Things to do on Friday the 13th

Emma Wiley October 13, 2023

Are you ready for a Friday the 13th filled with chills, thrills, and adventure? We have you covered with 13...

History in Reverse: The Day the Bicentennial Wagon Train Came to Wheeling

Emma Wiley September 5, 2023

Almost 50 years ago, in 1976, an unlikely sight appeared on the Ohio River at Wheeling—a barge carrying an old-fashioned...

Can You Identify These 10 Wheeling Architectural Details?

Emma Wiley August 25, 2023

Wheeling has thousands of interesting, unique, and funky details around town…but how often have you taken the time to look...

From Tea Rooms to Pitas: Four Menus from Historic Wheeling Restaurants

Emma Wiley August 18, 2023

Can you imagine the menu from your favorite childhood restaurant? Does it conjure up memories and have your go-to order?...

Celebrate West Virginia Day With These 10 Fun Facts

Emma Wiley June 20, 2023

1. West Virginia is the only state to be created by a Presidential Proclamation. On June 20th, 1863, now celebrated...

Kicking Off Black History Month

Emma Wiley February 1, 2023

Black History Month was created by the famous African American historian, Carter G. Woodson, in 1926. Originally known as “Negro...

Marvelous Maps of Wheeling

Emma Wiley January 23, 2023

Originally published Sept. 8.,2021 Can you find the coolest/weirdest/strangest detail on a map? Hint: You have to look closely…it’s all...

How a Wheeling Company Became One of the Country’s Largest Pharmaceutical Giants

Emma Wiley September 28, 2022

Originally published July 19, 2021 Taking a first pass through Wheeling’s history, you would certainly notice the prevalence of industries...

Census Curiosity: What the 1950 Census Means for Wheeling

Emma Wiley March 30, 2022

On April 1, 2022—after 72 years—the National Archives will release the 1950 census records to the general public! Even though...

The Blacksmith Shop You’ve Missed While Sitting in Traffic on National Road

Emma Wiley December 31, 2021

Originally published August 30, 2021 If you’ve driven down National Road recently, you may have noticed a bit of history...

Pre-Civil War Ledger Found in Downtown Wheeling Building…Here Are Some of the Names Inside

Emma Wiley December 27, 2021

Originally published July 30, 2021 In April 2020, while many people were working from home and shutting down shops and...

How a Stolen Statue Ended Up in Wheeling During the Civil War

Emma Wiley November 8, 2021

On July 2, 1864, George Washington arrived in Wheeling—65 years after his death. Well…his statue did. During the Civil War,...

What’s So Funny?: Political Cartoons from Wheeling’s Past

Emma Wiley September 27, 2021

Many of us have fond childhood memories of enjoying “the funny papers”—silly colorful comics often published in the Sunday morning...

The Many Lives of the 1400 Block of Market Street

Emma Wiley September 6, 2021

The historic 1400 Block of Market Street has seen many businesses over the years, from restaurants and saloons to car...

Help Us Solve History’s Mysteries: Landscape Edition

Emma Wiley August 24, 2021

Do you recognize any of these people? These are all historic photos of Wheeling people, places, and things that need...

The 13-Year-Old McLure Hotel Bellboy Who Became America’s “Hotel Man of the Half-Century”

Emma Wiley August 18, 2021

Walking or driving down Market Street recently, you may have noticed some new activity at the McLure Hotel, including a...

The Young Wheeling Doctor Who Captured WWI Through Photography

Emma Wiley August 9, 2021

Dr. Raymond A. Tomassene was only 24 when he departed New York City on the ocean liner, La Touraine, bound...

Help Us Solve History’s Mysteries: Patriotic WWII Workers Edition

Emma Wiley July 28, 2021

Do you recognize any of these people? These are all historic photos of Wheeling people, places, and things that need...

How a Warwood Medical Couple Became Internationally Decorated Floriculturists

Emma Wiley July 5, 2021

Over the years, Wheeling has been home to numerous award-winning people in various fields—from singers to actors to artists and...

Help Us Solve History’s Mysteries: Summer Edition

Emma Wiley June 29, 2021

Do you recognize any of these people? These are all historic photos of Wheeling people, places, and things that need...

The Mysteries of Mabel: Journalist, Working Woman, and Mother

Emma Wiley June 28, 2021

Mabel Hull first became a mystery due to a collection of her scrapbooks at the Ohio County Public Library. The...

Wheeling, Westsylvania?: The Forgotten History of the “Almost” West Virginias

Emma Wiley June 16, 2021

West Virginia Day is almost upon us and it is the 158th anniversary of West Virginia officially becoming a state....

This Wheeling Bridge is the Oldest Surviving Bridge in West Virginia

Emma Wiley June 2, 2021

The Elm Grove Stone Arch Bridge has become part of many Wheeling residents’ daily routines, connecting commuters to downtown and...

Dozens of Wheeling Individuals Identified Through History’s Mysteries Project

Emma Wiley May 21, 2021

In February 2021, Weelunk, Archiving Wheeling, and the Ohio County Public Library teamed up to reach out to the Wheeling...

Wheeling’s Real Life M*A*S*H Couple

Emma Wiley May 17, 2021

While many people have undoubtedly watched the wildly popular 70s sitcom, M*A*S*H, most probably don’t realize that Wheeling has its...

Solving History’s Mysteries: Nurses Edition

Emma Wiley May 11, 2021

Do you recognize any of these people? These are all historic photos of Wheeling people, places, and things that need...

The Day All of Wheeling’s Street Names Changed

Emma Wiley May 10, 2021

Can you imagine the chaos if all of the street names and house numbers changed in Wheeling? The confusion, the...

Help Us Solve History’s Mysteries!: Baseball Edition

Emma Wiley April 28, 2021

A Partnership Between Weelunk, Archiving Wheeling, and the Ohio County Public Library Archives Do you recognize any of these people?...

Three of the Funkiest Contests in Wheeling’s History

Emma Wiley April 26, 2021

What is the weirdest contest that you’ve ever competed in? Throughout Wheeling’s history, there have been some funky contests—from twin-matching...

How an Ohio Valley Resident Became Black Baseball’s First Historian

Emma Wiley April 23, 2021

Baseball is back in full swing for the season, and many of us are ready to take to the field...

Spring Cleaning? How the Clean Blockers of the 1940s Can Inspire Today’s Volunteers

Emma Wiley April 19, 2021

As flowers are blooming, seasonal allergies are flourishing, and warmer weather is in the air…so is spring cleaning. Today, members...

All Aboard!: The Streetcar Trolleys that Changed Wheeling

Emma Wiley April 14, 2021

Seventy-one years ago, on April 14, 1948, the last streetcar of Wheeling made its final trip—its last day overshadowed by...

These Vintage Easter Ads Provide a Glimpse Into Wheeling’s Past

Emma Wiley April 3, 2021

Easter dresses…Easter bonnets…For those who celebrate Easter, you know that your attire is important. Spring is in the air, a...

Wheeling’s Historic Female Doctors

Emma Wiley April 1, 2021

“Doctress”…“Lady Doctor”…“Girl Doctor”…These are just a few of the peculiar titles that have been given to some of the historic...

Help Us Solve History’s Mysteries!: Women’s History Month Edition

Emma Wiley March 26, 2021

A Partnership Between Weelunk, Archiving Wheeling, and the Ohio County Public Library Archives. Do you recognize any of these people?...

The Many Madonnas (of the Trail)

Emma Wiley March 23, 2021

A Pioneer Woman The “Madonna of the Trail” statue on the edge of Wheeling Park along Route 40 is hard...

Adventures in the Archives: The YWCA Blue Triangle Collection

Emma Wiley March 19, 2021

Wheeling and the greater Ohio County area has centuries of history…and therefore thousands of historical documents and other ephemera. So...

Boiled Tongue and Pine Apple Cheese?: A 1852 McLure House Dinner Menu

Emma Wiley March 8, 2021

Food is an integral part of human life. Not only is it what fuels and energizes our day, but food...

Help Us Solve History’s Mysteries!

Emma Wiley February 26, 2021

A Partnership Between Weelunk, Archiving Wheeling, and the Ohio County Public Library Archives Do you recognize any of these people?...

The Blue Triangle Branch of the YWCA

Emma Wiley February 25, 2021

The local Wheeling branch of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) is well-known around the city for its services and...

The First Wheeling Wedding?

Emma Wiley February 13, 2021

“I do hereby Certify that I have this day solemnized the Right of marriage between Mr. John McIngtur (McIntyre properly)...

A Tennis Giant: Arthur Ashe at Oglebay

Emma Wiley February 8, 2021

In July 1960, Wheeling had a 16-year-old visitor to the tennis courts of Oglebay. Few knew that this young African...

Uncovered in Photographs: The Children Who Worked Wheeling’s Factories

Emma Wiley January 26, 2021

While Wheeling has a rich and proud history of organized labor, the issue and history of child labor is often...