People

Weelunk at 10: How Two Friends Built a Platform to Celebrate Wheeling’s Story

Kai Harris October 30, 2024

Ten years ago, childhood friends Jason Koegler and Steve Burke recognized a problem in their hometown of Wheeling, WV. The...

How Meet Me in the Alley Reflects Wheeling’s Growth

Alex Panas May 31, 2024

A lot can change in 10 years. Looking back to what Downtown Wheeling was like in 2014, it’s impossible not...

Investing in Creativity: Meet the Creative Entrepreneurs Who are Shaping Wheeling’s Future

Alex Panas May 24, 2024

When thinking about what makes Wheeling special, I’ve noticed three common themes come up in conversations with friends, colleagues, and...

Wheeling Made Music: Ananga Martin Releases New Album

Makayla Carney May 17, 2024

For those who have found themselves enjoying a courtyard music night at Later Aligator, or lounging at the Purple Fiddle...

From Stained Glass to Stone Carvings Belmont College Students Preserve History

Makayla Carney May 14, 2024

It’s Historic Preservation Month, and in a town like Wheeling with such a rich history, there are so many ways...

WEERock: Waterfront Hall

Crin Joy May 1, 2024

Since the summer of 2023, Waterfront Hall has been bringing the tunes, good vibes, and joy to Water Street in...

Meet the Artists-in-Residence at Stifel Fine Arts Center

Ellen Brafford McCroskey April 25, 2024

“Art… is the transmission of feeling that the artist has experienced.” – Leo Tolstoy Oglebay Institute is offering several talented...

Why Wheeling: Dr. Kim Wiley

Sarah Clark March 27, 2024

With 25+ years of experience as a colorectal surgeon practicing in Wheeling, Dr. Kim Wiley has built relationships with folks...

Wheeling’s Mount de Chantal and Its Famous Alumni

Anna Griffith March 26, 2024

One of Wheeling’s most well-known educational institutes was the historic all-girls school Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy. The school was...

WEEREAD: If You Keep Making That Shame Face

Makayla Carney March 25, 2024

C.J. Farnsworth has spent her life steeped in words. With more than twenty years as an English literature educator, she’s...

Rebecca Harding Davis: Wheeling’s Famous Author

Anna Griffith March 20, 2024

While Wheeling has many notable residents throughout its history, there is a woman in particular who stands out from the...

The Wheeling Maestro Who Became the First Black Conductor on Broadway

Makayla Carney February 16, 2024

It’s 1945. You are sitting down, in your best formalwear, clutching a playbill that reads “On The Town.” The show...

Why Wheeling: Mark Goodwin

Jessica Broverman January 30, 2024

In October of 2023, Mark Goodwin and his wife Stephanie decided to say goodbye to the Mississippi River and plant...

The Wheeling-Raised Detective Who Became a True Crime Legend

Makayla Carney January 10, 2024

Ann Rule is the undisputed leader of true crime books. Her rise to fame began with her 1980 book, The...

SMART Center Finds a New Home Downtown

Wheeling Heritage Media November 3, 2023

Earlier this year, Libby and Robert Strong made a life-changing decision. After more than a decade of operating their science...

Why Wheeling: Logan Schmitt

Adam Payne September 6, 2023

If you have been to any gift shop, art studio or coffee shop around the state, then you have probably...

WHEELING SCENE: Pride on the Plaza

Wheeling Heritage Media June 16, 2023

The Friendlier City Project hosted its inaugural Pride on the Plaza event on Saturday, June 10, 2023. With hundreds of...

Wheeling’s “Jewelers of Integrity” Celebrate 100 Years

Haley Steed June 2, 2023

If you’ve driven around town recently, you’ve surely passed the billboards marking 100 years of the Posin family’s legacy as...

For These Two People, The Wheeling Hall of Fame is a Family Tradition

Ellen Brafford McCroskey May 22, 2023

In many families, good genes are passed down through generations like great-granddad’s pocket watch. If you’re lucky, they might bestow...

QUIZ – How Much Do You Know About These Noteworthy Wheelingites?

Haley Steed May 17, 2023

Last month, eleven new Wheelingites were inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame. How much do you know about these people? Take our quiz to put your knowledge to the test!

Meet the Metal Artist Behind These Iconic Wheeling Sculptures

Ellery McGregor March 21, 2023

If you live in Wheeling, you have probably heard his name. Jeffrey Forster is a unique metalworker and artist who...

Behind the Scenes at Waterfront Hall: Wheeling’s Newest Waterfront Development

Weelunk Staff March 15, 2023

The announcement of the newest mixed-use, waterfront development in Wheeling has been met with excitement. But for many lifelong residents,...

Jeanne Carter: A Legacy of Service in Wheeling

Karin Butyn March 10, 2023

Editor’s Note: As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s important to recognize the contributions of women throughout our community. In...

6 Women in Wheeling History That You Should Know

Alex Walton March 1, 2023

As communities gear up for Women’s History Month celebrations, many reminisce about influential women who have graced their lives. From...

Why Wheeling: Jeffrey “Jay” Johnson

Diana Bell February 27, 2023

Jeffrey “Jay” Johnson II is a man on a mission. His passion for real estate and community development through empowerment...

Jason Koegler To Lead Grow Ohio Valley as New Executive Director

Jason Koegler December 20, 2022

Editor’s Note: In January 2023, Grow Ohio Valley will enter a new era, as co-founder and Executive Director Danny Swan...

Grow Ohio Valley Enters New Era, Danny Passes Torch to Jason Koegler

Danny Swan December 19, 2022

Editor’s Note: In January 2023, Grow Ohio Valley will enter a new era, as co-founder and Executive Director Danny Swan...

This Man is Making Plaster Restoration Accessible to Historic Homeowners

Haley Steed December 9, 2022

Maybe you don’t know Sarel, but if you’ve been to the Capitol Theatre, the First State Capitol Building, the Scottish...

These Three Wheeling Women Are The Definition of Intergenerational Creativity

Molly Sovich December 2, 2022

Wheeling has long been known as an industrious city thanks to the people who have had the creative vision to...

Wheeling’s Beloved Science Center Is On The Move!

Hanna Perry November 18, 2022

If you’re familiar with Centre Market, then you’ve probably paid a visit to Libby and Robert Strong at the SMART...

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...

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...

Q and A: Denny Magruder, General Manager of Wesbanco Arena

Steve Novotney September 30, 2022

Originally published November 23, 2014 Sammy Hagar played Wheeling in the early 1980s. So did Sha Na Na. Kansas, .38...

Centre Market’s New Manager Has Big Plans For Its Future

Jessica Broverman September 21, 2022

This year has offered nothing but growth and positive change throughout Wheeling. From the new construction of downtown housing complexes,...

Faces of Pride: New Photo Project Features Wheeling’s LGBTQ+ Community

The Friendlier City Project and Mikaya Green July 22, 2022

Editors Note: Our goal as an online publication is to provide readers with stories and content that allows them to...

Wheeling’s Men of Change Reflect on Fatherhood

Alex Panas June 19, 2022

This year, both Juneteenth and Father’s Day will be celebrated on June 19, providing a unique opportunity to reflect on...

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...

These Six Women Are Revitalizing Wheeling One Building at a Time

Alex Panas and Shannon Kolkedy May 25, 2022

May is designated as National Preservation Month, a time to recognize and celebrate historic places on the local, state, and...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

Local Artist Shares His Work With First In-Person Exhibit

Jessica Broverman February 18, 2022

Vondel Bell, a Wheeling Park High School graduate and standout athlete, has a lot more to him than what meets...

The Eccentric Celebration That Honored a Dead Poet

Kate Wietor January 25, 2022

On a cold January night in 1900, a crowd of revelers gathered at the Hotel Windsor to toast a dead...

Why Wheeling: Tyler and Jack

Rosemary Ketchum December 29, 2021

Originally published April 6, 2021  We’ve all picked up a few hobbies over the past year, and scrolling listings on...

Wheeling Heritage Names New Executive Director

Provided November 16, 2021

Wheeling Heritage announced today that Scott Schenerlein has been named Executive Director of the nonprofit organization. He will assume the...

These Vintage Dance Cards Provide a Glimpse Into Wheeling’s Social Scene in the Late-1800s

Kate Wietor November 5, 2021

What was your 18th birthday like? Maybe it was a mad dash to the convenience store for lottery tickets. Perhaps...