Today in Wheeling History: May 23--Bertschy Memorial Mortuary, built in Wheeling's historic Linsly Institute building that had served as West Virginia's First State Capitol and featuring innovative funeral service amenities, was dedicated (1926).
 
The Bertschy Memorial Mortuary, dedicated May 23, 1926, represented a revolutionary approach to funeral service in the Ohio Valley. Built within the historic Linsly Institute building at Eoff and Fifteenth Streets, this "Temple of Service" was the culmination of Louis Bertschy's vision to create a modern mortuary facility dedicated to public use without additional cost. Louis Bertschy, born March 15, 1857, began his undertaking career at age 13 with John Arbenz for 25 cents per day, eventually becoming the oldest practical undertaker in the Wheeling district and the first funeral director in West Virginia to perform embalming.
 
The building carried immense historical significance as West Virginia's First State Capitol. Originally built in 1859 as Linsly Institute in Greek Revival style by architect Henry Coen, it served as the state capitol from 1863-1870 upon West Virginia's statehood, and again from 1875-1876 when the government returned from Charleston. Edward Bates Franzheim renovated the structure in the 1920s, adding Italian Renaissance elements and designing spacious chapels with pipe organs, family rooms, modern operating facilities, and a mausoleum with nine crypts.
 
The dedication ceremony featured prominent Wheeling clergy and formally dedicated the chapel and organ to the memory of Mrs. Rena Bertschy (1894-1913), Louis's daughter. The business continued under sons Clarence and Elmer Bertschy. In March 1961, the Medical Arts Corporation purchased the building. Today, it houses law firm Cassidy, Cogan, Shapell & Voegelin, the WALS Foundation, and West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Northern Panhandle Bureau.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/y68t9ydc); West Virginia History OnView (https://tinyurl.com/yzz3jfjn), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/mr2czrzd), West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://tinyurl.com/mwfdza33), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/2d6ypxxw)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; History of West Virginia, Old and New and West Virginia Biography; Wheeling Register, Wheeling Sunday Register, Wheeling Intelligencer, Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps, West Virginia History OnView, History of West Virginia, Old and New and West Virginia Biography

Today in Wheeling History: May 22—Warwood Tool Company holds a groundbreaking ceremony for its new plant in Warwood, West Virginia (1904).
 
On May 22, 1904, the Warwood Tool Company held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new manufacturing facility in what would become the town of Warwood. This pivotal moment marked the relocation of a company founded by English immigrant Henry Warwood. Born February 23, 1823, in Staffordshire, England, Henry Warwood was the son of William Warwood, a skilled toolmaker employed at Brade Steel Works. Henry began working at age nine and attended night school while employed in local factories before emigrating to America in 1848 at age 25.
 
Henry first settled in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, then moved to the Pittsburgh area manufacturing forks before establishing his tool business in Martin's Ferry, Ohio in 1854. His business specialized in wrought iron rakes, hoes, and miners' tools, with his coal picks becoming renowned among miners as "the standard of excellence." Following Henry's retirement in 1892, the company was sold to Daniel L. Heiskell and relocated to Wheeling, initially operating on McColloch Street. In September 1892, Heiskell sold the company to B. Walker Peterson and associates for $10,000.
 
The new factory began operations in 1905, and the surrounding community took the company's name. Warwood incorporated as an independent town on May 26, 1911, but was annexed to Wheeling on January 1, 1920, as part of the Greater Wheeling Movement, despite local opposition. Throughout its nearly 170-year history, American soldiers have relied on Warwood Tool products in every war since the Civil War, including their famous entrenching mattock used extensively in World Wars I and II. Today, the company remains family-owned and operated, having changed ownership only seven times, with President Chris Azur and Chief Operating Officer Rob Taylor continuing the tradition of manufacturing 100% American-sourced hand tools.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/3pyjt78e); Warwood Tool Company Official Website (https://tinyurl.com/3bfnstjx), Historic Structures Database (https://tinyurl.com/mrnazrc5), Wheeling Heritage Warwood Project (https://tinyurl.com/bdjyaues), Library of Congress Historic American Engineering Record (https://tinyurl.com/ybcr5w98)
 
Photo caption and credit: General view of the east front of Warwood Tool Company, foot of 19th Street, Wheeling, Ohio County, WV (Library of Congress)

Today in Wheeling History: May 20—Dick Mehen, a professional basketball player, was born in Wheeling (1922).
 
Richard Peter "Dick" Mehen was born on May 20, 1922, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He attended Wheeling High School before continuing his basketball career at the University of Tennessee. His college years were interrupted by service in the United States Air Force during World War II, where he served alongside his brother Bernie, who was also a basketball player. After the war, Mehen resumed his college career and later transitioned to professional basketball.
 
Mehen played in both the National Basketball League (NBL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). His professional career spanned from 1947 to 1952, during which he played for several teams, including the Toledo Jeeps, Waterloo Hawks, Baltimore Bullets, Boston Celtics, Fort Wayne Pistons, and Milwaukee Hawks. He was recognized for his skills as a power forward and center, earning accolades such as All-NBL First Team in 1949 and Second-team All-American in 1942.
 
Mehen passed away on December 14, 1986, in North Olmsted, Ohio, at the age of 64. He was laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Park in North Olmsted.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/56bz94mp), Basketball Reference (https://tinyurl.com/vkr6244b), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/3cdp7fmm)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Pro Basketball Encyclopedia, Big Blue History

​Today in Wheeling History: May 19--Patent No. 318,352 for "Cap and Anchor for Metallic Roofing" granted to Benjamin F. Caldwell, Wheeling inventor and future mayor (1885).
 
Benjamin Franklin Caldwell, born April 14, 1828, in Little Grave Creek, Marshall County, Virginia (now West Virginia), received U.S. Patent No. 318,352 for his innovative "Cap and Anchor for Metallic Roofing" design on May 19, 1885. This invention solved a critical problem in metallic roofing systems by creating adjustable anchors that could be positioned along metal cap strips to align with roof structural supports. Unlike previous designs where anchors were permanently riveted to caps, Caldwell's innovation allowed anchors to slide along grooved caps until properly positioned over rafters or boards, ensuring every anchor functioned properly.
 
Caldwell began his career as a cabin boy on the steamer Arcade before apprenticing with G.W. Johnson in 1844 to learn the copper, tin, and sheet iron business. After completing his apprenticeship and working as a journeyman, he established his own business in 1853. His expertise in metalworking led to multiple patents and the founding of Caldwell & Peterson Manufacturing Company, which produced metal roofing materials and tools in Wheeling.
 
Beyond his business achievements, Caldwell served his community as county commissioner, board of education member, city councilman, and notably as Wheeling's mayor for two terms beginning in 1893. He was also a prominent member of Franklin Lodge of Odd Fellows and attended the Second Presbyterian Church.
 
Caldwell died on January 1, 1910, at age 81, following injuries from a fall near the Elks' Club on December 11, 1909. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling. At the time of his death, the Wheeling Intelligencer noted that "the entire city unites in deeply regretting his death" and that "the combination of excellent qualities which were his, is indeed rare."
 
To learn more: Google Patents (https://tinyurl.com/yckaxwyt), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/2etax38p), Caldwell & Peterson Manufacturing Company (https://tinyurl.com/yapn6d7z), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/5235ts83)
 
Photo credits: U.S. Patent Office, Find a Grave, Caldwell & Peterson, Wheeling Intelligencer  

​Today in Wheeling History: May 18—Marc Harshman, longtime Wheeling resident and celebrated poet and children’s book author, was named West Virginia’s Poet Laureate (2012).
 
Marc Harshman, born on October 1, 1950, in Randolph County, Indiana, has spent much of his life in West Virginia, particularly in Wheeling. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Bethany College, followed by a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School and a Master of Arts in English from the University of Pittsburgh. Harshman moved to Wheeling in 2001, where he became an integral part of the literary and artistic community. 
 
A prolific writer, Harshman has authored numerous children’s books, including "The Storm", which received a Smithsonian Notable Book for Children award. His poetry has been widely published in journals and anthologies, earning him recognition such as a Pushcart Prize nomination and a Literal Latte Journal award. In 2012, he was appointed West Virginia’s Poet Laureate, becoming the first from the northern part of the state to hold the title since its creation in 1927.
 
Harshman continues to inspire through his poetry, storytelling, and literary workshops. His work reflects themes of nature, community, and Appalachian culture. He has received honorary doctorates from Bethany College and West Liberty University for his contributions to literature. His poetry collection "Green-Silver and Silent" spans 30 years of his work, cementing his legacy in West Virginia’s literary history.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/2yjy4p5b); Marc Harshman’s Official Website (https://tinyurl.com/2ae2efvd), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/24pvn9k6)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Goodreads, Amazon 

​Today in Wheeling History: May 17--Theodore A. Myers of Wheeling was granted a patent for his "Combined Heater and Filter for Boilers," an invention to prevent dangerous boiler incrustations (1881).
 
Theodore A. Myers, a resident of Wheeling, West Virginia, received U.S. Patent No. 241,506 on May 17, 1881, for his innovative "Combined Heater and Filter for Boilers." Born on July 14, 1848, in Steubenville, Ohio, Myers moved to Wheeling approximately 35 years before his death and worked for many years as a stationary engineer at the Whitaker-Glessner plant, giving him practical expertise with industrial equipment.
 
His invention addressed a significant problem facing steam boilers of the era - the buildup of calcareous deposits and sediments that could lead to dangerous incrustations and potential explosions. Myers' device ingeniously combined heating and filtering functions by using exhaust steam to heat incoming water while simultaneously removing impurities. The apparatus featured a sophisticated system where water showered around the exhaust-steam pipe, creating intimate contact that condensed the steam while heating the water. The partially heated water was then pumped into a standpipe and filtering vessel where live steam from the boiler further heated it, causing impurities to precipitate and settle.
 
Myers specifically designed his invention to work with the notoriously muddy waters of rivers, making it particularly valuable for Wheeling's industrial operations. The patent included five claims covering the novel combinations of heater, filter, stand-pipe, and connections to the boiler.
 
Myers was married to Clara T. Clemens on May 12, 1880. He died on April 29, 1921, at age 72, at his residence at 82 Nineteenth Street in Wheeling, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.
 
To learn more: Google Patents (https://tinyurl.com/277m8pd9), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/mwws29z6), Wheeling Daily Register (https://tinyurl.com/2byrenfk)
 
Photo credits: U.S. Patent Office, Wheeling Register, Find a Grave

​Today in Wheeling History: May 16—Alonzo "A.B." Brooks, celebrated conservationist and educator who shaped Wheeling’s environmental landscape through his work at Oglebay Park and the Nature Leaders Training School, passed away (1944).
 
Alonzo Beecher Brooks, known as A.B. Brooks, was born on May 6, 1873, in French Creek, West Virginia. He grew up in a rural setting, where he developed a deep appreciation for nature. Brooks pursued education at West Virginia Wesleyan College, completing a business course in 1900, and later earned a bachelor's degree in agriculture from West Virginia University in 1912. His career spanned various roles, including surveyor, forester, and forest pathologist. He served as West Virginia’s first chief state game warden from 1921 to 1928, advocating for conservation and wildlife protection. 
 
Brooks made a lasting impact in Wheeling as the naturalist at Oglebay Park from 1928 to 1942, where he established the Nature Leaders Training School. His contributions to forestry and natural history include publications such as "Forestry and Wood Industries" (1911) and "West Virginia Trees" (1920). His legacy is honored through the Brooks Bird Club, named in his memory, and Brooks Hall at WVU. Brooks passed away on May 16, 1944, leaving behind a rich legacy in environmental education and conservation. 
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/2nux3vnt) (https://tinyurl.com/4cr57jjc); West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://tinyurl.com/4d8y4kh9), Brooks Bird Club (https://tinyurl.com/32hs93c3), West Virginia Forestry Association (https://tinyurl.com/4uduhzfw)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; West Virginia Forestry Division, Don Altemus

​Today in Wheeling History: May 15—John Joseph "J.J." Owens, renowned artist and illustrator, was born in Wheeling (1887).
 
John Joseph Owens was born on May 15, 1887, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Irish immigrants Thomas and Anna Owens. He grew up in Wheeling, attending parochial grade school and later graduating from Cathedral High School, now known as Central Catholic High School. His childhood home was located at 92-14th Street, across from the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
 
Owens pursued his passion for art at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, completing a four-year course in painting and drawing. Upon returning to Wheeling, he worked as a staff artist for the Wheeling Register newspaper and later established his own artist’s studio, gaining recognition for his portrait paintings.
 
During World War I, Owens enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps, serving as a surgical illustrator at a base hospital in Paris. His anatomical drawings earned him the rank of Sergeant First Class. After the war, he remained in Paris for six months to study at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière.
 
Back in Wheeling, Owens became a prominent figure in the local art scene, founding the Art Club of Wheeling in 1928 and teaching art at Oglebay’s Art Colonies for Young People. He painted portraits of influential leaders, including members of the Fort Henry Club. Owens traveled extensively, working on commissions in Spain, Italy, and France, earning international recognition.
 
Tragically, Owens passed away on August 14, 1931, at the age of 44 due to appendicitis with peritonitis. He was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling. His legacy lives on through his paintings, many of which are displayed at the Ohio County Public Library.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/mrayd7ts) (https://tinyurl.com/2nc6wncx); Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/y5uupyek)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Google Maps

​Today in Wheeling History: May 14--Carl G. Bachmann, U.S. Congressional Representative and Mayor of Wheeling, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia (1890). 
 
Carl George Bachmann was born on May 14, 1890, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He attended Linsly Institute, graduating in 1908, and later studied at Washington and Jefferson College before earning his law degree from West Virginia University in 1915. That same year, he passed the bar and began practicing law in Wheeling. 
 
Bachmann quickly rose in political prominence, serving as assistant prosecuting attorney for Ohio County in 1917 and later as prosecuting attorney from 1921 to 1925. In 1924, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing West Virginia’s 1st District as a Republican. He served four terms (1925–1933) and was the House Minority Whip from 1931 to 1933. After losing reelection in 1932, he ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1940.
 
Bachmann remained active in Wheeling politics, serving on the Wheeling City Council (1939–1941) and later as Mayor of Wheeling (1947–1951). He passed away on January 22, 1980, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/35tvnrb4); Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/3m85vwzy), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/mjzt6bey), WVGW.net (https://tinyurl.com/ydxvxbkv)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave, WVGenWeb (Ohio County)

Today in Wheeling History: May 13—The First Wheeling Convention convened at Washington Hall, bringing together western Virginia delegates to discuss opposition to secession (1861).
 
The First Wheeling Convention, held from May 13 to May 15, 1861, was a pivotal moment in the creation of West Virginia. Delegates from 27 northwestern Virginia counties gathered at Washington Hall in Wheeling to determine their response to Virginia’s Ordinance of Secession, which had been passed on April 17, 1861, but was awaiting a statewide vote on May 23.
 
The convention was chaired by William B. Zinn of Preston County, with George Latham of Taylor County serving as secretary. A heated debate arose over delegate representation, with General John Jay Jackson advocating for broad participation, while John Carlile insisted that only officially appointed representatives should be seated. Ultimately, a compromise was reached, allowing the formation of a committee on representation.
 
Carlile pushed for immediate action, even proposing the creation of a new state called New Virginia, but most delegates favored waiting until the secession vote was finalized. The convention concluded with a resolution to hold a second Wheeling Convention on June 11, 1861, if Virginia officially seceded. This second convention would ultimately lead to the formation of West Virginia.
 
To learn more: West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History (https://tinyurl.com/23sh4e8j), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/34nfv47v), WV Encyclopedia (https://tinyurl.com/5d923y5s)
 
Photo credits: West Virginia State Archives, Culture & History, Wikimedia Commons, The Historical Marker Database