Mary B. Greene: The Ohio River’s Leading Lady (Part 2) Taylor Abbott March 4, 2021 By 1946, Mary was in her late 70s but still very much an active presence on the Gordon C. Greene. Only two years prior, her son Captain Chris Greene, who had taken the reigns of the Greene Line following the de...
Mary B. Greene: The Ohio River’s Leading Lady (Part 1) Taylor Abbott March 3, 2021 “When you marry a riverman, you marry the river too. That’s the code of steamboatin’.” -Mary B. Greene Owning steamboats and being a river captain in the late 1800s was not the most glamorous of lifestyle...
Cumberland W. Posey: The Millionaire Industrialist You Probably Haven’t Heard Of Taylor Abbott February 2, 2021 Wheeling’s long association with the steel and coal industries is one of the defining parts of its storied history. The reasons for their early success can easily be attributed to its exceptional location along...
A River Runs Through It: Making a Houseboat into a Home Taylor Abbott December 1, 2020 “Cozy, isn’t it?” “Cozy?!... A good fart would give you a concussion!” That hilarious exchange came from none other than Walter Matthau’s and Jack Lemmon’s characters in the 1997 movie Out to Sea upon ent...
How One Couple Turned a $1 Church Into Their Dream Home Taylor Abbott October 14, 2020 Who doesn’t love a good project? Regardless of the size, I more often than not have something on my plate to keep me busy. I love a challenge but even that wasn’t enough to prepare my then soon-to-be-wife Alex ...
A River Runs Through It: The Thomas Family Taylor Abbott September 28, 2020 Author’s Note: It is an honor to be invited and share this story of my ancestral journey with our Weelunk readers to mark the milestone occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Wheeling Area Genealogical Society...
Wheeling Man’s Hobby Proves ‘It’s a Small World’ Taylor Abbott August 19, 2020 The world today is a small one. Just think about it. With a few connecting flights you can literally find yourself on the other side of the planet in less than 24 hours. Have an urge to talk to that friend who’...
A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT: Steamer Disaster on the Ohio on July 4, 1882 Taylor Abbott July 20, 2020 On July 4th, 1882, the steamboat Scioto would make its final journey down the Ohio River. Taylor Abbott, a descendant of the boat's captain, tells the story of the disaster that would grip the nation.
A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT: A Tale of Two Capitals Taylor Abbott June 20, 2020 Editor's note: Throughout Wheeling's history, one aspect has remained a constant — the Ohio River. From the birthplace of the first western-style steamboat to laying claim to the Ohio River's first suspension b...
