​Today in Wheeling History: January 26—Nick Mumley, a professional football player and Wheeling native who excelled in football, basketball, and track at Wheeling High School, was born (1937).
 
Nick Mumley, born on January 26, 1937, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a prominent professional football player known for his time with the New York Titans in the American Football League (AFL). Mumley attended Wheeling High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track, earning the title of West Virginia’s Mr. Basketball. He later attended Purdue University, playing as a tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers football team from 1956 to 1957 and 1959. His outstanding performance earned him a spot on the 1957 College Football All-America Team. Mumley was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 1959 NFL Draft but chose to play for the New York Titans instead. He appeared in 42 games, 36 as a starter, from 1960 to 1962. After retiring from professional football, Mumley worked for Reis Equipment Company and the Kroot Corporation as Sales Director. He was a member of the NFL Players Association, John Purdue Club, and First United Methodist Church in Columbus, Indiana. Mumley passed away on September 22, 2022, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the age of 85. He was survived by his daughters, Tamara and Jody, and several grandchildren. Mumley's legacy as a talented athlete and dedicated family man continues to be remembered by those who knew him.
 
To learn more: Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/47d9bfwx), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3xyutke9), The Republic News (https://tinyurl.com/86zuuvuv), Pro Football Archives (https://tinyurl.com/34uw82kt)
 
Photo credits: eBay, Legacy

​Today in Wheeling History: January 25--Elm Grove United Methodist Church dedicates educational addition and renovated sanctuary (1959).
 
Elm Grove United Methodist Church, located at 125 Kruger Street, has been a cornerstone of the Elm Grove community in Wheeling since 1896. Originally established as a Methodist Mission meeting in Hands Hall above a store, the congregation initially gathered in homes and schools. In 1906, two lots were purchased for $1,400, becoming the church's permanent location. The first structure, known as "The Tabernacle Church," was a modest wooden building completed in 1908. By 1911, growth necessitated a new building, with the cornerstone laid on October 22, containing a Bible, New Testament, Wheeling Intelligencer copy, and member names. The church experienced significant growth, reaching 536 members by 1929 and 1,018 by 1962. A major milestone was reached on January 25, 1959, when the church dedicated its new educational wing and renovated sanctuary, a project that had begun with groundbreaking in 1953. Another significant expansion occurred in 1984 with the addition of Newmeyer Hall and new Sunday School rooms. The church has been instrumental in community outreach, establishing an Epworth League for young people in 1908 and a Boy Scout troop in 1913. Throughout its history, the church has undergone several renovations and modernizations, including sanctuary updates in 1936 and 1973, while maintaining its mission of love, understanding, compassion, and community service.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/2s4futyf); Elm Grove United Methodist Church (https://tinyurl.com/27ju92nx)
 
Photo caption and credit: Elm Grove United Methodist Church, 125 Kruger Street (2002). (Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV)

Today in Wheeling History: January 24--The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston held a ceremony honoring the legacy of Blessed Martin School, a former segregated Catholic school for African American students, by blessing a restored statue of St. Martin de Porres and dedicating a commemorative plaque in Wheeling Central Catholic High School's gymnasium, with some former Blessed Martin alumni in attendance (2023).
 
Blessed Martin School operated from 1942-1955 at the northeast corner of 13th and Jacob Streets in East Wheeling, where Wheeling Central Catholic High School's gymnasium now stands. The school was established during Bishop John J. Swint's tenure after persistent advocacy from local African American Catholics. Initially facing low enrollment and community resistance, the school opened successfully on its third attempt. Under principal Sister Anne Patricia Whalen and a dedicated faculty including Sister Gabriella Wagner, the school earned a Class A rating from the state board of education in 1948. Despite limited resources, Blessed Martin excelled academically and athletically, notably playing in one of the northern panhandle's first integrated basketball games against Cameron High School in 1954. The school closed in 1955 following the Brown v. Board of Education decision, with many students integrating into Central Catholic High School and Cathedral Grade School. The 2023 ceremony featured former students including Ruth Stinson sharing memories and singing the school fight song, while Bishop Mark Brennan blessed a restored statue of St. Martin de Porres, replacing an original lost to time.
 
To learn more: Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/36ksn89d), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://rb.gy/5cegio) (https://rb.gy/bk5np4), Weelunk (https://rb.gy/i4ntgp)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Sisters of St. Joseph, Wheeling, WV; Archives of the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston, Wheeling Intelligencer, Weelunk

Today in Wheeling History: January 23--J.C. Penney held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of their newly remodeled store in downtown Wheeling (1958).
 
The J.C. Penney store in Wheeling, located in the historic McFadden Building at 1122-24 Market Street, underwent a significant transformation in late 1957 and early 1958. Following a devastating fire that swept through the store on September 20, 1957, the building underwent an extensive three-and-a-half-month renovation. Under the leadership of store manager Lee Hintz, every department was enlarged and modernized. The remodeled store featured expanded departments across multiple floors, including a new sub-teen shop, women's ready-to-wear section, and an enlarged housewares department. The renovation introduced modern fixtures designed to maximize space efficiency and improve the shopping experience. J.C. Penney himself, then 82 years old, attended the grand reopening, arriving in Wheeling on January 22 and participating in various community events, including a luncheon hosted by the Ohio Valley Board of Trade at the Windsor Hotel. The following day, January 23, Penney cut the ribbon at 9:30 AM, joined by Mayor Jack Adams, OVBT President John C. McConnell, and building owner George McFadden. The store served downtown Wheeling until 1978, when it relocated to the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville. After nearly 30 years at the mall location, J.C. Penney closed its doors there on October 21, 2007, and moved to a new standalone facility at The Highlands in Triadelphia, West Virginia, with its grand opening on November 2, 2007.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV  (https://shorturl.at/Nul0C), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://shorturl.at/ZAMuZ) (https://shorturl.at/sdPNX) (https://tinyurl.com/2s46cj4j), The Times Leader (https://tinyurl.com/4f3v4d8x), Visit Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/3k8hk44d), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2ttm9j9t) (https://tinyurl.com/3jyt87pw)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer, National Portrait Gallery, Google Maps

​Today in Wheeling History: January 22—Anne Elstner, renowned radio actress and graduate of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, was born (1899).
 
Anne Elstner, born on January 22, 1899, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, was a prominent American actress best known for her role in the radio soap opera "Stella Dallas." Elstner's family moved frequently during her childhood, eventually settling in Wheeling, West Virginia, where she attended Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, a private Catholic all-girls school. At Mount de Chantal, Elstner excelled in school performances and plays, graduating in 1918. She later moved to New York City, where she worked various jobs and enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her breakout role came in the 1923 Broadway production of "Sun-Up." Elstner transitioned to radio in the early 1930s, performing in numerous radio programs. Her most notable role was as the title character in "Stella Dallas," a serial that ran from 1937 to 1955. Elstner's portrayal of Stella Dallas earned her widespread acclaim and recognition. She continued to work in radio until the mid-1950s. Anne Elstner passed away on January 29, 1981, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, at the age of 82.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/kgIaL), Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/HaXWX)
 
Photo caption and credit: Anne Elstner and Vivian Smolen, the actors who played Stella Dallas and her daughter Laurel on the radio serial "Stella Dallas" (National Broadcasting Company via Wikimedia Commons)

​Today in Wheeling History: January 20--Frederick Charles Shrady, creator of Wheeling's Cathedral of Saint Joseph's courtyard sculpture "Saint Joseph," passed away in Easton, Connecticut (1990).
 
Frederick Charles Shrady, born on October 22, 1907, in East View, New York, was a distinguished American artist known for his religious sculptures. After studying at The Choate School and the Art Students League in New York City, he furthered his education at Oxford University. His artistic journey began as a painter in Paris, where he studied under Yasushi Tanaka and earned recognition at the 1937 Paris Exposition. During World War II, Shrady served with the Monuments Men, protecting and recovering art treasures. His artistic focus shifted dramatically after his 1948 conversion to Catholicism, when he turned primarily to sculpture. Among his notable works is the bronze "Saint Joseph" sculpture (1970), originally commissioned for St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Vienna, West Virginia, and later relocated to the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Wheeling. Shrady achieved international recognition when he became the first American artist commissioned by the Vatican, creating the "Our Lady of Fatima" statue for the Vatican Gardens in 1982. His religious sculptures, characterized by their dignified portrayal of sacred figures, can be found in numerous churches and religious institutions across America. Shrady passed away on January 20, 1990, leaving a legacy of artworks that continue to inspire religious contemplation and artistic appreciation.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/7m2rp), Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/9e9VO), Monuments Men and Women (https://shorturl.at/Cyqmk), Stone World (https://tinyurl.com/5n6e588c)

​Today in Wheeling History: January 19--Lou Palmer, renowned motorsport broadcaster from Wheeling, passed away in Indianapolis, Indiana (2008).
 
Lou Palmer, born Louis A. Perunko Jr. on July 26, 1932, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was a prominent American broadcaster best known for his work at the Indianapolis 500 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network. Raised in Syracuse, New York, Palmer moved to Indianapolis in 1953. Shortly after joining the news department of WIBC in Indianapolis, he received an invitation from the "Voice of the 500," Sid Collins, to join the IMS Radio Network for the 1958 Indianapolis 500. As a rookie on the network, Palmer was assigned to the remote location of turn three of the track, where he reported on a massive 15-car pileup on the opening lap. Palmer moved from turn 3 to become a pit reporter for race day in 1963, a position he held through 1987. He traditionally covered the south pits and interviewed the winning driver in victory lane. In 1988, Palmer moved into the booth, replacing Paul Page as the chief announcer of the 500. His tenure as chief announcer lasted only two years (1988-1989). Palmer later anchored the CART radio network. He passed away on January 19, 2008, in Indianapolis at the age of 75.
 
To learn more: Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/nsmhB), Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/S2HYk), Autoblog (https://shorturl.at/WQMib)
 
Photo credits: Autoblog, Find a Grave

​Today in Wheeling History: January 18--James Edward Young, an African American physicist, was born in Wheeling and became a pioneering scientist (1926).
 
James Edward Young was born on January 18, 1926, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He attended Lincoln High School in Wheeling, graduating in 1941. Young pursued higher education at Howard University, where he studied physics. He was appointed as a physics instructor at the Hampton Institute while simultaneously completing a master's degree in acoustical engineering at Howard University. In 1949, Young moved to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as a research assistant and earned a Doctorate in Science in 1953. His early research focused on the propagation of noise in pipes. Young became the first black tenured faculty member in the Department of Physics at MIT in 1969. He was a founding member of the National Society of Black Physicists and served as a mentor to notable physicists such as Shirley Ann Jackson and Sylvester James Gates. Young's research and teaching at MIT centered on theoretical particle physics, critical phenomena, and nuclear physics. He contributed to several textbooks and was involved in significant research on intermediate structures in nuclear reactions. Young married E. Elaine Hunter, and they had one child, James E. Young III. James Edward Young's contributions to physics and his role as a mentor have left a lasting impact on the scientific community.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/vOGTH), MIT Black History (https://shorturl.at/wTV9H)
 
Photo caption and credit: James Edward Young, 1983 (MIT)

Today in Wheeling History: January 16--William F. Peterson, a highly respected and influential businessperson known for his contributions to Wheeling's economic development, passed away suddenly at his brother's home in Woodsdale (1896).
 
William F. Peterson was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1826. He was the son of William Fairfield Peterson, Sr., who had moved to Wheeling from Vermont at the beginning of the 19th century. William F. Peterson grew up in Wheeling and followed in his father's footsteps, becoming an influential figure in the city's business community. He initially worked in the insurance industry, where he and his brother operated one of the most important general insurance agencies in West Virginia. In 1885, Peterson transitioned to the iron roofing business, partnering with F. G. Caldwell to form Caldwell & Peterson. The firm gained national recognition and was later incorporated as the Caldwell & Peterson Manufacturing Company. Peterson was active in the management of the company until he and his brother sold their interests a year before his death. He was known for his dedication to public affairs and his contributions to the economic development of Wheeling. Peterson never married and lived with his brother's family in Woodsdale, a neighborhood east of the city. He passed away suddenly on January 16, 1896, at the age of 70, and was found dead in bed at his brother's home. An autopsy revealed that he died from heart failure. Peterson's legacy as a respected businessperson and active citizen remains a significant part of Wheeling's history.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/arZoB); Peterson Family History (https://shorturl.at/vcWh9), Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/h5TN7n)
 
Photo credits: Wheeling Register, Find a Grave

​Today in Wheeling History: January 17--Alvan Macauley, automotive pioneer, patent attorney, inventor of an early cash register, president of the Packard Motor Car Company, head of the American Arithmometer Company, and Time magazine cover subject, was born in Wheeling (1872).
 
James Alvan Macauley, who preferred to be called Alvan, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, to James Alexander Macauley and Rebecca Jane Mills. His father was a Civil War veteran who became West Virginia's first state treasurer after spending nine months in a Confederate prison camp. After the Macauley family moved to Washington D.C. in the 1880s, Alvan began a remarkable career trajectory. He started as a patent attorney at National Cash Register Company, where he secured multiple patents, including US Patent No. 587042 for an innovative cash register design. In 1901, he became head of American Arithmometer Company in St. Louis, where he showed his bold leadership by secretly moving the entire factory to Detroit overnight when faced with local political opposition. The company later became Burroughs Adding Machine Company, which he led for five years. In 1910, he joined Packard Motor Car Company as general manager, becoming president in 1916. He served as president of both the American Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce. Under his leadership, Packard became the leader in the luxury car market and later contributed to the war effort by producing the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine for P-51 Mustang fighters. Macauley died on January 16, 1952, in Clearwater, Florida, just one day before his 80th birthday.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/UKo2a), History-Computer (https://shorturl.at/HBFWr)
 
Photo credits: Time, Inc. (via Wikimedia Commons), Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden, History-Computer