New Deal Projects at Oglebay Park Anna Cipoletti January 20, 2021 As a staple institution in the Wheeling community, Oglebay Park serves as a place for entertainment, recreation, history, and celebration. While many people are familiar with the history of Earl W. Oglebay and ...
The Giant Wheeling Tabernacle Built in Only Four Days Emma Wiley January 11, 2021 In only four days between January and February of 1912—over a century ago—hundreds of Wheeling residents came together to build an enormous low-roofed building on the eastern side of 26th Street in Center Wheel...
The Era of the Ironmen, Wheeling’s Semi-Pro Football Team Rich Wooding December 29, 2020 It was a chance encounter. A Columbus, OH attorney who had just launched a mid-west semi-professional football league came to Wheeling, WV for a federal court matter and saw Wheeling Island Stadium. The s...
10 Fast Facts About Wheeling’s Doughboy Provided December 26, 2020 Wheeling’s Doughboy monument is back and better than ever. After a longer than expected stay at Venus Bronze Works in Detroit due to COVID-19, the 89-year-old monument has been returned to its home at Wheeling ...
Ringing in a Vaccine Emma Wiley December 22, 2020 Imagine all of the church and school bells ringing and all of the factories and trains whistling in Wheeling all at the same time. Incredibly loud right? That cacophony of noise lasted two long minutes at no...
Seafood Traditions: Coleman’s Fish Market and the Feast of the Seven Fishes Emma Wiley December 17, 2020 This time of the year is usually one of celebration, good will, spending time with family and friends, and shopping. But, few places get as busy as Coleman’s Fish Market in Centre Market, Wheeling. At first ...
The History and Tradition of Holiday Cards Miranda Tharp December 15, 2020 Many families have a tradition of sending out holiday cards every year. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza, we all love receiving holiday mail. But have you ever considered when or who sen...
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...
No Rest for the Dead: The History of Moving Bodies in Wheeling’s Cemeteries Emma Wiley November 30, 2020 Wandering around some of Wheeling’s graveyards, you might see some gravestones with dates older than the cemetery itself. How can that be? Answer: For many residents of Wheeling’s existing cemeteries, thi...
Cultural Appropriation in Wheeling: History of the Improved Order of Red Men Emma Wiley November 27, 2020 Editors Note: Weelunk, as a subsidiary of Wheeling Heritage, is committed to telling diverse, nuanced, and difficult histories, especially when those narratives occur in our own backyard. The line between cultu...
Reexamining Wheeling’s Mingo Statue Emma Wiley November 16, 2020 The Mingo statue has long been a recognizable landmark on Wheeling’s landscape. It has been featured on the cover of tourism brochures and included in the Smithsonian Art Inventory. Recently, it has even been u...
The Green Book: Navigating Wheeling During Segregation Emma Wiley November 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 reach a local audience; in fact, it was part ...
How a Wheeling Pastor Helped Catch a Serial Killer Will Wallace November 4, 2020 Reverend Herman Haas barely acknowledged what he saw that spring day in 1895. His parishioner, the newlywed Caroline Huff, had become severely ill and he was visiting her to lend some comfort. When he saw Carol...
The Forgotten Wheeling Suffragist: May Hornbrook Emma Wiley November 3, 2020 When Wheeling residents think of a local suffragist, their minds probably jump to Dr. Harriet B. Jones, the first woman licensed to practice medicine in West Virginia in addition to her extensive suffrage activ...
The People of Power, WV Emma Wiley November 2, 2020 Connections to place are powerful. The former residents of Power, West Virginia know this all too well. What do you do when your childhood village no longer exists? While abandoned or “ghost” towns are not u...
The History and Modern Application of Witchcraft and Crystals Jessica Broverman October 27, 2020 “Witchcraft is the practical application of magic.” We have all heard mystical tales of witches, warlocks and paganism. The spells that have been told, the ritual-based offerings and magical stones casting o...
10 Silly Suffrage Snippets from The Wheeling Intelligencer Emma Wiley September 29, 2020 On March 10th, 1920, West Virginia became the 34th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that recognized every citizen’s right to vote, regardless of sex. Women’s suffrage would offi...
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...
DOC AND CHICKIE WILLIAMS: Wheeling’s Pioneers on the Country Music Trail (Part 2) Kyle Knox August 25, 2020 Author’s note: Much of the information in this two-part article is sourced from Doc Williams’ own accounts of his life in his biography, “A Country Music Legend — Doc Williams — Looking Back.” (Published by Jam...
DOC AND CHICKIE WILLIAMS: Wheeling’s Pioneers on the Country Music Trail (Part 1) Kyle Knox August 24, 2020 Author’s note: Much of the information in this two-part article is sourced from Doc Williams’ own accounts of his life in his biography, “A Country Music Legend — Doc Williams — Looking Back.” (Published by Jam...
Next People’s University Celebrates Centennial of Women’s Right to Vote Seán Duffy August 17, 2020 The Ohio County Public Library’s free six-part People’s University course, “The Struggle for Women’s Rights,” kicks off on Thursday, Aug. 20. Adult programming coordinator, Seán Duffy, provides us with a preview of each upcoming class and details on how to attend.
HILLS AND HOLLOWS: Raising a Pint to West Virginia’s Moonshine Heritage Kyle Knox July 31, 2020 In the deep woods, along the cool creek (pronounced crick), the moon rises over the sugar maples, locusts, elms and sycamores of West Virginia and bounces off the copper twisting tubes of a still. That’s when a...
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.
Bottled Treasure: Discovery Leads to Investigation Alex Warren July 14, 2020 The Stratford Springs Bottling Company may have been closed for over 50 years, but their glass bottles can still be found. One Wheeling family discovered a massive collection in their own backyard.
April 1865: A Burst of Historic Events Barb Pirhalla July 13, 2020 April 1865, was a month long remembered in history. Richmond, Virginia, fell; April 9, Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. U.S. Grant; April 15, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated; April 26, John Wil...
Talking With Elders: ‘The Closest Thing to Time Travel’ Phyllis Sigal July 7, 2020 We can learn a lot from our elders; that’s something we’ve always heard. Wheeling Park High School social studies teacher Ryan Stanton decided to put that into practice with his students during the pandemic....
Wheeling’s Twentieth Man: 250 Years of Race Relations in the Northernmost Southern City of the Southernmost Northern State Seán Duffy July 6, 2020 Writer’s note: It's 2020, and we find ourselves still fighting the same injustices that a prior generation fought more than half a century ago. Why? If we really knew our history, we might understand. But...
McCarthy-Wheeling Connection Explored in a New Book Stacey Miller Sacco July 4, 2020 On Feb. 9, 1950, Sen. Joseph McCarthy arrived in Wheeling to give a speech at the annual Republican Lincoln Day Dinner celebration at the McLure Hotel. But which speech? He had two in hand that day.&nb...
Mount Wood Overlook: A Community Treasure Ellen Brafford McCroskey July 3, 2020 If you have driven up Mount Wood Road to bypass the recent interstate construction project, you’ve likely noticed the unique property. It appears to be the foundation of a castle-like structure, mysteriously le...
Time Travel From Home With Historic Postcards Alex Warren June 30, 2020 Summer usually means beach vacations and traveling to exciting new destinations. This year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, travel has been drastically affected. While it may not be advisable to fly off to far-away...
Wheeling Heritage Trail: From Railroad to Walking Trail Alex Warren June 26, 2020 Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, getting out of the house for fresh air has become a necessity and, of course, Wheeling Heritage Trail has become a popular spot for walking, running and biking. This newfound p...
The West Virginia Snakes Club and its Historic Location Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 24, 2020 First of all, where in the world did the name “West Virginia Snakes Club” come from? And is “Snake” singular or plural? Although most people today refer to it as the Snake Club, the sign on the building at 923 ...
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...
American Legion Post 89 Making Community Proud NIck Musgrave June 7, 2020 Editor’s note: This week, Weelunk will pause our normally scheduled programming to highlight stories that feature Black narratives. We have chosen to take this time to amplify those voices that are so often sil...
We Wish You a ’70s Christmas Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 6, 2020 Editor’s note: This week, Weelunk will pause our normally scheduled programming to highlight stories that feature Black narratives. We have chosen to take this time to amplify those voices that are so often sil...
Wheeling Steel’s Roots Still Run Deep in the Ohio Valley Ellen Brafford McCroskey June 1, 2020 Wheeling Steel opened in 1921 & during its time in Wheeling, WV its name changed several times leaving a history that runs deep throughout the OH valley.
Female Rollers: The Great Depression and the Infiltration of Women in Production Alex Warren May 29, 2020 The Great Depression (1929-1941) is commonly thought of as a time of doom and gloom, with high unemployment, reduced wages and “Hoovervilles” (crude houses built on the outskirts of a city typically populated b...
Wheeling’s Doughboy: A Monument to Peace in Remembrance of Conflict NIck Musgrave May 25, 2020 For nearly 90 years a silent guardian has kept watch over Wheeling Park. Originally dedicated on Memorial Day of 1931, Wheeling’s Doughboy statue has withstood weathering and vandalism to remain an enduring mon...
Victory Gardens: Then and Now Laura Jackson Roberts May 18, 2020 There’s nothing new about the idea of victory gardens in the United States. Since World War I, Americans have taken it upon themselves during times of crisis to manage their own food supply. This monumental eff...
Wheeling’s Women Are Slam Dunks Stacey Miller Sacco May 4, 2020 Wheeling loves sports. This is evident by the high participation in every Ohio Valley Athletic Conference event. You know it when you see the hundreds of people who come to Wheeling for Super Six weekend or Bea...
Wheeling on the Forefront: Fighting Fires for Over 200 Years Alex Warren April 29, 2020 Essential. Lifesaving. Game-changers. First responders and emergency preparation in Wheeling date back to the city’s founding, and their significance to our current society is undeniable. Specifically,...
The Alpha: Ye Olde Memories Phyllis Sigal April 14, 2020 At Weelunk, we’re all about keeping you connected to your community. Because that looks a little different right now, we’re bringing you ways to engage while staying safe and healthy. We hope Weelunk can contin...
Wheeling’s Pets Then and Now Betsy Sweeny April 11, 2020 Editor's note: At Weelunk, we’re all about keeping you connected to your community. Because that looks a little different right now, we’re bringing you ways to engage while staying safe and healthy. We hope Wee...
WOMEN IN HISTORY: These Wheeling Women Made Music History Stacey Miller Sacco March 31, 2020 Throughout March — Women’s History Month — Weelunk will feature stories about women who have made history and women who are making history. Read our other Women in History features. Music lovers in Wheeling ...
WOMEN IN HISTORY: A Nun’s Life — Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Nora Edinger March 24, 2020 Editor’s note: Of all the forms of spirituality practiced in Wheeling, perhaps the least understood is that of the various orders of nuns who have served in the city since the 1840s. The Sisters of St. Joseph, ...
WOMEN IN HISTORY: Wheeling Nurses Share Tales From Their Military Days Kelly Strautmann March 17, 2020 Editor's note: Throughout March — Women's History Month — Weelunk will feature stories about women who have made history and women who are making history. Two women, born and raised in Wheeling, West Virgini...
Radical Ratification: Wheeling’s Role in the 19th Amendment Kelly Strautmann March 10, 2020 The right to vote is something many of us may take for granted — until it is time to get to the polls. And 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. One hundred years ago today, Ma...
South Wheeling Historic District Listed on National Register of Historic Places Wheeling Heritage Media March 9, 2020 South Wheeling was added to the National Register of Historic Places last week as a historic district. The new district — which includes more than 200 historic properties — joins the ranks among others in Wheel...
WOMEN IN HISTORY: Wheeling Women Rewrite History Books Christina Fisanick March 6, 2020 Editor's note: Throughout March — Women's History Month — Weelunk will feature stories about women who have made history and women who are making history. “Libraries are full of ideas — perhaps the most dang...
HIDDEN GEMS: Inner Sanctums of Peace, History and Beauty Nora Edinger February 18, 2020 Editor’s note: This is the second in an ongoing series of stories about beautiful spaces in Wheeling that are rarely seen. Today’s post features two tiny chapels, one located inside the city’s oldest standing c...
