For nearly 70 years, downtown Wheeling’s 1306 Market Street was known for sparkle. Home to Posin’s Jewelry from 1934 until the early 2000s, it was the place locals went for engagement rings, anniversary gifts, and special-occasion treasures.
After sitting vacant for more than two decades, the building got a fresh start. Purchased and renovated by the Hamilton family beginning in 2020, 1306 officially opened as a new event venue in late summer 2023—bringing new life and energy back to downtown Wheeling.
A Family Project with Local Roots
The transformation of 1306 was led by sisters Brooke Wetmore and Natalie Hamilton, who grew up in Wheeling. With their parents, who own the building, they set out to bring new life to the long-vacant space. Hamilton focused on creating two residential units on the upper floors, while Wetmore designed the venue space on the main floor.
The family tapped into state historic tax credits through the State Historic Preservation Office, ensuring the renovation honored the building’s original details while making it functional for today.
Historic Details Meet Modern Amenities
Step inside and you’ll see reminders of the building’s jewelry-shop past:
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A restored tin ceiling
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Original window woodwork
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The Posin’s Jewelry safe, still in place
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A framed display of receipts from the 1940s
The updates make the space just as practical as it is charming. There’s an open commercial kitchen, a soft seating area, and two ADA-accessible bathrooms—all ready for gatherings of up to 100 guests.
Support from Wheeling Heritage Revitalization Subgrant
The project received a Wheeling Heritage Historic Revitalization Subgrant award, which supports downtown commercial redevelopment and catalytic urban neighborhood projects. This program was created through a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant awarded to Wheeling Heritage by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
Since 2021, Wheeling Heritage has received two such grants totaling $1.5 million, providing funds to support preservation projects like 1306. The grant program aims to rehabilitate historic properties and foster economic development in small communities like Wheeling, including funding for architectural and engineering services as part of the preservation efforts.
A Wheeling Heritage media team also produced a video featuring the 1306 renovation, highlighting the building’s transformation and community impact. Watch it below!
Part of a Bigger Wheeling Story
Hamilton has long wanted to restore a historic building, and she hopes 1306 will encourage others to do the same. As she told The Intelligencer, projects like this can be challenging but have a lasting impact—preserving pieces of Wheeling’s past while creating new opportunities for the future.
Now, 1306 is ready to host everything from birthday dinners to business events—adding a new chapter to a building that’s been part of downtown life for over a century.
