Former Wheeling Blessed Martin School Honored This Week Haley Steed January 27, 2023 “This ceremony, it wasn’t born from complaints. There weren’t protests demanding this happened. It’s happening right now because it’s the right thing to do and it’s long overdue. These events make sure we under...
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 in the details. A map’s secrets depend on when the map was drawn, ...
West Virginia’s First Trade School Was Located Right Here in Wheeling Rosemary Ketchum January 20, 2023 The very first vocational school in West Virginia was located right here in Wheeling - South Wheeling to be exact. The McKinley Trade and Vocational school first opened its doors in 1927, welcoming new stude...
The Heartwarming Story Behind the YWCA’s Latest Capital Campaign Alex Panas and Wheeling Heritage Media January 12, 2023 How many of us go through old paperwork and documents, begrudgingly discarding them to make way for what will ultimately become more junk to sort through next year? It can be a vicious cycle, but every so often...
The Curious Life of the Spic & Span Dry Cleaners Building Kate Wietor January 11, 2023 The closure of Spic & Span Dry Cleaners at 841 National Road is truly the end of an era. The dry cleaning business and laundromat had a good 95-year run, and saw three generations of family leadership. ...
Wheeling Recognized Nationally for Outstanding Flag Design Provided January 9, 2023 Those of us who live in or have visited Wheeling know that it is an incredible city with plenty of character and history. Recently, Wheeling's flag has been gaining quite a bit of attention for being one of the...
Funky Found Items From the Former Goodwin Drug Company Ellen Brafford McCroskey January 6, 2023 SMART Centre Market is moving to a new, bigger space in downtown Wheeling early in 2023. And their business’s move forward came with an unexpected trip backward in time. SMART Centre Market owners Libby and ...
The Weird and Wonderful Holiday Acts of Theatre Past Haley Steed December 18, 2022 The holiday season brings with it feelings of nostalgia. This nostalgia of Christmas past led me on a hunt for examples of how the people of Wheeling spent their days leading up to the holidays. And I am thrill...
This Defunct Newspaper Column Will Inspire Your Holiday Baking Kate Wietor December 6, 2022 Let’s go back, way back. Before food blogs, Pinterest boards, and having infinite knowledge at our fingertips at all times. Where were we getting our recipes? We’d probably have a cookbook or two, mayb...
These Popular Toys Were Made Right Here in Glen Dale, W.Va. Candace Nelson November 11, 2022 If you’ve ever pedaled around your neighborhood on a red, yellow and blue plastic Big Wheel, you know the joy of a Marx toy. Or, maybe you’ve bobbed and weaved during a game of Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots...
Wheeling Haunts Episode Four: Eerie East Wheeling Wheeling Heritage Media October 24, 2022 Are you ready for another episode of Wheeling Haunts? This week, Cassie and Alex stick around in East Wheeling to visit another home whose owner has a hair-raising story to tell. We also learn that this home wa...
The Time an Eccentric Art Collector Visited Sears Roebuck & Co. in Wheeling Kate Wietor October 18, 2022 When was the last time you had an opportunity to purchase artwork? Living in Wheeling, it’s a pretty easy thing to do. From gallery shows to student art exhibitions to craft fairs, it seems like there is always...
Wheeling Haunts Episode Three: Music at the McLain Wheeling Heritage Media October 17, 2022 If you haven’t listened to the previous episodes of our new podcast Wheeling Haunts, then be sure to go check it out! Happy Monday! It’s time for another episode of Wheeling Haunts, a new podcast produc...
Wheeling Haunts Episode Two: Fulton Frights Wheeling Heritage Media October 10, 2022 If you haven't listened to episode one of our new podcast Wheeling Haunts, then be sure to go check it out! This week on the Wheeling Haunts podcast, Cassie and Alex head to Fulton to learn more about some f...
Wheeling Haunts Episode One: Haunting on the Island Wheeling Heritage Media October 3, 2022 Are you ready for some spooky history? Weelunk and Wheeling Heritage Media are proud to present the first episode of Wheeling Haunts. Episode One: Haunting on the Island features the Phillips-McLure House, loca...
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 such as glass, nails, stogies, and steel. Dozens of books have been ...
Library Announces New Program Focusing on Civic Empathy Through History Seán Duffy September 20, 2022 The Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling, WV is pleased to announce the recent installation of an extremely important new exhibit and project. Titled “Civic Empathy Through History,” the project has been crea...
Laughlin Memorial Chapel Celebrates 150 Years of Service Ellery McGregor September 12, 2022 This September marks the 150th anniversary of the historic Laughlin Memorial Chapel on 18th St. in East Wheeling! The Chapel is celebrating the occasion with a fundraising event being held at the Scottish Rite ...
A Brief Look at Wheeling’s Boating History Ellery McGregor September 7, 2022 As we approach the end of a long, hot Wheeling summer, the Ohio River is seeing a surge in people out on the water. Dragon boat and vintage racing boat races, steamboats making late-summer trips, and final week...
Wheeling’s Sweet Contribution to the Ice Cream Industry Kate Wietor August 22, 2022 These days, it’s easy to get your hands on something cold and sweet. However, 100 years ago if you wanted a fix, you’d have to go to a bar – or a counter, to be more specific. Before the dawn of at-home electri...
These Dedicated Parishioners Are Keeping Ukrainian Traditions Alive in Wheeling Adam Marquart August 12, 2022 After the war broke out in Ukraine in February of 2022, the country quickly received international attention and an outpouring of support. As this devastating war continues overseas, parishioners at Our Lady of...
Preserve WV AmeriCorps Positions Open in Wheeling – Weelunk’s Outgoing AmeriCorps Member Reflects on Her Experience Kate Wietor August 10, 2022 It’s bittersweet to write this, but my time in Wheeling is coming to a close. Just one year ago, I came to Wheeling to serve as an AmeriCorps member with Wheeling Heritage. I had just graduated from James Madis...
Weird and Wonderful Town Names from Across West Virginia Kate Wietor August 3, 2022 Driving around West Virginia, you’re sure to come across some unique names. Places could be named after families, after far away places, to describe the local conditions, or simply because it sounds nice. Place...
The Victoria: Wheeling’s Last Remaining Vaudeville Theater Ellery McGregor July 26, 2022 If you've driven up Market Street recently, then you may have noticed that Wheeling’s iconic Victoria Vaudeville Theater, known colloquially as the Victoria, has received a little facelift! Being the sole survi...
Wheeling’s Cool History of Air Conditioning Kate Wietor July 12, 2022 If you were filling out the 1960 census, you would have been asked questions about freezers, flush toilets, and air conditioning. Today, these objects seem essential to our everyday lives, but the 1960 census r...
These Explosive Regulations Date Back to the 1900s Kate Wietor July 5, 2022 Nights can be noisy in the summer. From wild critters moving about to folks staying out late to take advantage of the nice weather, there are a lot of things that go bump in the night. In the days that lead up ...
This is Why Wheeling’s Juneteenth Celebration is Held at Market Plaza Kate Wietor and Betsy Sweeny June 17, 2022 This weekend, Wheeling will come together as a community to celebrate Juneteenth National Independence Day. Juneteenth, a word created from the combination of June and nineteenth, represents the day (June 19, 1...
Faris and Giesey: A Dynamic Duo Who Made Their Mark on Wheeling Through Architecture Kate Wietor June 13, 2022 Throughout the years, Wheeling has been home to several well-known architects. We've previously covered some of the iconic buildings designed by Charles W. Bates and Edward Bates Franzheim and today two more Wh...
Vintage Gardening Tips from Wheeling’s Past Kate Wietor June 6, 2022 It’s not too late to start a garden this growing season! Yes, some gardeners have been out in their gardens since March, seeding peas, carrots, and arugula, but there’s still plenty of time to get things growin...
Why Were There Water Fountains On This Wheeling Monument? Kate Wietor May 27, 2022 There is a secret hiding among the monuments at Heritage Port. Discerning eyes may have noticed that the Riverside Park monument has two half-bowl reservoirs on each side. Looking closer, one will see the metal...
Celebrate Preservation Month With These Five Franzheim Buildings Kate Wietor May 17, 2022 You don’t have to be a student of architecture to appreciate the wealth of historic buildings in Wheeling. While the skyline has changed a bit over the years, many of these gems remain intact and are home to bu...
This Architect Designed Many of Wheeling’s Iconic Buildings Kate Wietor May 16, 2022 What do the Wheeling Clinic, Capitol Theatre, and Twelfth Street Parking Garage have in common? Bricks? Terracotta? Cartouches? Well yes, but in addition, they are three of the many buildings designed by the ar...
The Mystery of Wheeling’s Gambrinus Club Kate Wietor May 10, 2022 Looking through the Ohio County Public Library’s Flickr page is a treat. There are photographs from nearly every era of Wheeling’s history and range from family snapshots to professional portraits to after-disa...
The Rise and Fall of Wheeling’s First Labor Newspaper Kate Wietor May 6, 2022 In the early 1900s, the United States was in the midst of the second industrial revolution. People flocked to cities like Wheeling to find employment in the many mines, mills, and factories. This work held the ...
The Trash and Treasure of Wheeling’s Privies Kate Wietor April 29, 2022 There are many different ways to find windows to the past. Some take advantage of the genealogical resources in the Wheeling Room at the Ohio County Public Library, others may just sit by the river and imagine ...
Hancher Clock Has Kept Wheeling on Time for Over 130 Years Rich Wooding April 13, 2022 Did you know that the Hancher Clock in Downtown Wheeling is one of only a handful of two-sided E.Howard & Co. street clocks left in the world? This clock has been ticking for more than 130 years, and it has...
The Backyard Chicken Keepers of Wheeling’s Past Kate Wietor April 11, 2022 The arrival of spring complicates visits to the feed store. Routine trips to pick up pet food, seeds, or a new pair of pants are suddenly made fraught by the cutest seasonal offering: chickens. The siren song o...
The South Wheeling Woman Who Became A Baseball Legend Kate Wietor April 4, 2022 Rose Gacioch, a groundbreaking athlete from South Wheeling is well known for her time in the All American Girls Baseball League as a member of the Rockford Peaches. Yes, the same team featured in the 1992 film,...
South Wheeling Residents Hoping to Save the Historic Hobbs House from Demolition Provided April 1, 2022 South Wheeling residents are banding together in an effort to spare the historic Hobbs House from demolition. One of the oldest residential structures in South Wheeling, The Hobbs House was once the home ...
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 country already has a lot of general information and data from each census, the ...
COMIC: Celebrating WSO Founder Eleanor Caldwell Natalie Kovacs March 23, 2022 In honor of Women's History Month, today we are celebrating one of Wheeling's leading ladies in the arts: Eleanor Caldwell. Her love and devotion to the arts, particularly classical music, were instrumental in ...
This Whimsical Musician Gives Us A Glimpse Into Wheeling’s Past Kate Wietor March 18, 2022 Wheeling has always had a colorful cast of characters: local celebrities, eccentric businesspeople, infamous persons. They become household names and become part of the local lore. Like friendly ghosts, their e...
History In Their Own Words: Memories from the Black Community Weelunk Staff March 1, 2022 Special thanks to Valtricia Manns-Stradwick, James “Choo Choo” Webb, and Anthony Williams for inviting us into your homes and sharing your memories with us. Thank you to Ron Scott and the YWCA Wheeling for part...
Wheeling’s “Donut Dance” Was Once The Hottest Ticket In Town Kate Wietor February 28, 2022 This time of year, the women of St. Ladislaus parish in South Wheeling would begin gathering ingredients. For their project, they needed approximately 200 pounds of flour, 30 pounds of butter, 45 pounds of suga...
The Green Book: Navigating Wheeling During Segregation Emma Wiley February 25, 2022 Originally published on Nov. 6, 2020 “Write for Reservations—Moderate Rates.”1 This 1956 listing for lodging at the Wheeling Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Blue Triangle Branch did not just...
Songs About Wheeling: Part 2 Kate Wietor February 23, 2022 Wheeling has long been a place with a lot going on. Rivers, roads, and railways have allowed folks to both breeze into town as well as venture away with ease. Some songs about West Virginia are well known (look...
Why Was This Danish Immigrant in California Looking for Love in Wheeling? Kate Wietor February 12, 2022 “A SOBER, cultured, industrious merchant of age 40 desires the acquaintance of respectable lady, object marriage. No objection to widow with one or two small children. Must be a lady I can love and respect. I a...
Send Your Sweetheart An Old-Fashioned Valentine Alex Panas February 9, 2022 With Valentine’s Day just five days away, you’ve likely already secured a special gift for your sweetheart - but have you thought about how you might deliver that gift? The folks at West Virginia Independence H...
From the Desk of Wheeling Heritage’s AmeriCorps Researcher: Valentine’s Day Edition Kate Wietor February 8, 2022 Ah February, the heart of winter. The weather in Wheeling has been especially brisk this year, with layer after layer of snow blanketing these fair streets. It’s tempting to hunker down and keep your eyes fixed...
Black History Month Programs at the Ohio County Public Library Provided February 4, 2022 The Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling is offering a full slate of programs celebrating Black History Month throughout February. All of the programs are part of the library's adult series, "Lunch With Books...
