Editor’s note: The Ohio County Public Library has launched its 26th People’s University, an eight-week series featuring weird, wild, wacky, whimsical stories from Wheeling, including: Native-American oddities, frontier follies, Civil War conundrums, Victorian unconventionalities, Progressive Era incongruities, political peculiarities, hotel hijinks, morbid mysteries and more! Let Weelunk give you just a little insight into these programs — but don’t miss the expanded presentations at the library! Here are some teasers for Week Two of the series.
Dr. David Javersak will present a program titled “Victorian Era Mayhem & Murder” at this week’s People’s University at the Ohio County Public Library. Find out the answers to these questions and more, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16.
1. Why was Henry Schmulbach tried for murder?
2. Why did Mrs. Leslie shoot her husband in April 1892?
3. What activities went on in Alley C and along 17th Street?
4. What was the Committee of 100?
5. What were “fake” hotels?
6. According to the city officials in 1910, what was the leading cause of death in Ohio County?
7. How violent was the America of the period, 1865-1901?
8. Was there a drug culture in late 19th century Wheeling?
9. Why was Alice Bradford put on trial in 1904?
10. Why did writers with knowledge of the ancient world compare Wheeling with Cornith?
• Dr. David Javersak grew up in Weirton, West Virginia, and was educated at West Liberty State College, the University of Hawaii and West Virginia University. He is dean emeritus of liberal arts and professor emeritus of history at West Liberty University.
