It’s All In The (Architectural) Details
Details. It struck me as I was sitting in the recently restored Capitol Theatre one night, admiring the gilded griffins and festoons; the stenciled ceilings; the majestic female statues flanking either side of the stage, standing crossed legged and eternally offering their wares to the heavens. Details. Wheeling is full of them. And it’s part of what’s kept me coming back to this wonderful city. Read More
The Origins of Memorial Day
Frozen in Time: May 30, 1911 at Mt. Zion Cemetery
Now known as Memorial Day, the first “Decoration Day” was held on May 30, 1868. Created by proclamation of General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.), it was originally intended to be a day to honor the memory of those who died in the Civil War. Congress made “Memorial Day” an official, national holiday in 1971.
Wheeling played host to reunions of Civil War veterans of the G.A.R. numerous times in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The J. W. Holliday Post, No. 12, of Wheeling was usually front and center during these activities. Read More
Eddie Martin – The Collector
– article by Jon-Erik Gilot, Director of Archives at the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
Since coming to the Diocese in 2012, I’ve been fascinated by the many hundreds of photographs comprising the Eddie Martin Collection. Recently highlighted in the Winter 2014 issue of Goldenseal magazine, Martin’s photos appear to at long last be reaching a wider audience.
Read More
Library Archives to be Featured on C-SPAN
Wheeling to be in National Spotlight
C-SPAN to reveal Wheeling history and highlight authors during week-long visit
The Ohio County Public Library Archives and Special Collections, as well as the Wheeling Room, will be part of an upcoming C-SPAN broadcast all about Wheeling. Read More
The Great Unrolling of the USS Wheeling
Earlier this year, we discovered among our many items stashed away here at the library, a tightly rolled photo labeled “USS Wheeling.” The photograph could be unrolled safely only a few inches, revealing just a few lonely crewmen. Being able to unroll only the first three crewmen left so many questions: Where was this photograph taken? When was it taken? What lie beyond these first crewmen? Can you see the USS Wheeling in the background? Are you curious what else is inside? So were we. Read More
Archiving Wheeling: the Evolution of a Local History Collection
Many people in our community are familiar with the Ohio County Public Library’s Wheeling Room which houses a large local history collection and many genealogical resources. Fewer people, however, are aware of the Ohio County Public Library’s substantial archival collection.
Read More
Happy Thanksgiving!
A facsimile of a Proclamation for the Thanksgiving day in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, June 29, 1676. From the book “The Fast and Thanksgiving Days of New England,” written by William DeLoss Love in 1895 (in the collection of the Ohio County Public Library).
