​Today in Wheeling History: June 13—Sister Roberta Elam, a young woman preparing to take her final vows as a nun, was tragically murdered on a secluded hillside behind Mount Saint Joseph, just outside Wheeling, West Virginia (1977).
 
Sister Roberta "Robin" Elam was a 26-year-old postulant preparing to take her final vows with the Sisters of St. Joseph in Wheeling, West Virginia. Born in 1949, she was known for her love of poetry, running, and community service. She had chosen the name "Sister Robin" as part of her spiritual journey.
 
On June 13, 1977, Sister Robin was on a silent retreat at Mount Saint Joseph, the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph, located near Oglebay Park, just outside Wheeling. That morning, she walked to a secluded hillside behind the convent to pray and meditate. Hours later, her body was discovered, having been raped and strangled. Her belongings were scattered, and an overturned bench marked the scene. The crime shocked the Wheeling community, leading to an intensive investigation.
 
Despite numerous leads—including DNA evidence preserved from the crime scene—her murder remains unsolved. Investigators have compared DNA samples to serial killers and local suspects, but no match has been found. The case was reopened in 2002, and authorities continue to search for answers. Sister Robin’s poetry reflected themes of life and death, leaving a lasting legacy of her introspective spirit.
 
To learn more: The (https://tinyurl.com/ytwm79bb), Oxygen Crime Report (https://tinyurl.com/yh2h759e), WTRF (https://tinyurl.com/u4uwsvzv); YouTube--The Murder of Sister Robin Elam (https://tinyurl.com/ykybmvkx)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer, The Clio

​Today in Wheeling History: June 12--WOMP, a longtime radio presence serving Wheeling and the Ohio Valley, changed its call sign to WLEJ, marking a shift to classic country programming (2017).
 
WOMP (1290 AM) was a longstanding radio station serving the Wheeling, West Virginia, and Bellaire, Ohio areas. Originally launched as WTRF in 1947, it transitioned to WTRX in 1955 before adopting the WOMP call sign in 1959. The station became a fixture in local broadcasting, known for its news, talk, and sports programming. Over the decades, WOMP adapted to changing trends, shifting formats multiple times.
 
On June 12, 2017, WOMP officially changed its call sign to WLEJ, marking a transition to classic country programming under the brand "Lejends 100.1/1290". This shift was part of a broader effort to rebrand and appeal to a new audience. Later that year, the station changed its name again to WYLY in September 2017, followed by WLIE in 2019, before settling on WLYV in 2021.
 
Today, the station operates as WLYV, a local and conservative talk radio station, simulcasting WEIR 1430 AM under the "River Talk" brand. It continues to be a voice for the Wheeling and Bellaire communities, offering discussions on local issues, politics, and sports.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3j6zcesn), WOMP FM (https://tinyurl.com/4xkdzjf8), TuneIn (https://tinyurl.com/2ywj7u86), Radio Lineup (https://tinyurl.com/a63uh6zr)
 
Photo caption and credit: Caption: Located at 56325 High Ridge Road in Bellaire, Ohio, this site once housed WOMP 1290 AM, a longtime Ohio Valley radio station serving Wheeling and the surrounding areas. Today, the property is occupied by Ohio Midland Newsgroup, LLC - The River Network, continuing its legacy in broadcasting and telecommunications. (Google Maps)

​Today in Wheeling History: June 11—William Crawford, frontiersman and Revolutionary War officer who helped establish Fort Henry in Wheeling, was tragically executed by Native Americans (1782).
 
William Crawford (September 2, 1722 - June 11, 1782) was a frontiersman, soldier, and surveyor who played a significant role in early American history. Born in present-day Jefferson County, West Virginia, Crawford became a close associate of George Washington, serving as his land agent and chief surveyor. His military career began during the French and Indian War, where he fought under General Edward Braddock and later participated in the capture of Fort Duquesne in 1758. 
 
Crawford’s connection to Wheeling stems from his involvement in Dunmore’s War (1774), during which he directed the construction of Fort Fincastle, later renamed Fort Henry, a key defensive structure in Wheeling. During the American Revolution, he fought in major battles, including Long Island, Trenton, and Brandywine, before leading a militia expedition against Native American forces in Ohio in 1782. Unfortunately, the campaign ended in disaster—Crawford was captured by the Delaware Indians, who mistakenly blamed him for the Gnadenhutten Massacre. He was tortured and burned at the stake, marking a tragic end to his life.
 
Crawford’s legacy remains tied to Wheeling’s frontier history, reflecting the turbulent conflicts of early America. His surveying work helped shape land ownership in the region, and his military service contributed to the defense of settlers in the Ohio Valley.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/y735en6z) (https://tinyurl.com/2v77ue5p), West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://tinyurl.com/3dwxu85r), YouTube--Exploring the American Frontier (https://tinyurl.com/2u5a4tve)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons

​Today in Wheeling History: June 10--The science fiction thriller film "Super 8," featuring scenes filmed in Wheeling and Weirton, was released (2011).
 
"Super 8" is a 2011 science fiction thriller film written and directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. The movie is set in the summer of 1979 and follows a group of young friends in a small Ohio town who witness a mysterious train crash while making a Super 8 movie. As strange events unfold, they discover that something otherworldly has escaped from the wreckage. While the primary filming location for "Super 8" was Weirton, West Virginia, some scenes were also filmed at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport in Wheeling, WV. The airport provided an authentic backdrop for the film's setting, contributing to the movie's nostalgic 1970s atmosphere. The film was praised for its homage to classic Spielberg films and its blend of suspense, adventure, and heartfelt storytelling. "Super 8" was released on June 10, 2011, and received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, becoming a box office success. The movie's connection to Wheeling highlights the city's appeal as a filming location, showcasing its unique charm and historical significance.
 
To learn more: IMDB (https://tinyurl.com/3rr3npe6), LocationsHub (https://tinyurl.com/nhjyea75), Top of WV CVB  (https://tinyurl.com/3ymmarms), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/23sv3m38) (https://tinyurl.com/29w44dsh)
 
Photo caption and credit: Super 8 movie poster (IMP Awards via Wikimedia Commons)

​Today in Wheeling History: June 10--The science fiction thriller film "Super 8," featuring scenes filmed in Wheeling and Weirton, was released (2011).
 
"Super 8" is a 2011 science fiction thriller film written and directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. The movie is set in the summer of 1979 and follows a group of young friends in a small Ohio town who witness a mysterious train crash while making a Super 8 movie. As strange events unfold, they discover that something otherworldly has escaped from the wreckage. While the primary filming location for "Super 8" was Weirton, West Virginia, some scenes were also filmed at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport in Wheeling, WV. The airport provided an authentic backdrop for the film's setting, contributing to the movie's nostalgic 1970s atmosphere. The film was praised for its homage to classic Spielberg films and its blend of suspense, adventure, and heartfelt storytelling. "Super 8" was released on June 10, 2011, and received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, becoming a box office success. The movie's connection to Wheeling highlights the city's appeal as a filming location, showcasing its unique charm and historical significance.
 
To learn more: IMDB (https://tinyurl.com/3rr3npe6), LocationsHub (https://tinyurl.com/nhjyea75), Top of WV CVB (https://tinyurl.com/3ymmarms), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/23sv3m38) (https://tinyurl.com/29w44dsh)
 
Photo caption and credit: Super 8 movie poster (IMP Awards via Wikimedia Commons)

​Today in Wheeling History: June 9--Rosemary Ketchum, community organizer and advocate, is elected to Wheeling City Council’s Ward 3 seat, becoming the first openly transgender person elected to political office in West Virginia (2020).
 
Rosemary Ketchum was born around 1993 in East Liverpool, Ohio. Her early life was marked by challenges, including a period of homelessness after her family’s home burned down. She moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, with her parents, where she pursued higher education. Ketchum earned degrees in psychology from West Virginia Northern Community College and Wheeling Jesuit University in 2019. 
 
A dedicated community organizer, Ketchum served as the associate director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Wheeling. She also became a member of the Wheeling Human Rights Commission and served on the board of the West Virginia American Civil Liberties Union. In 2019, she announced her candidacy for Wheeling City Council’s Ward 3 seat. On June 9, 2020, she won the non-partisan municipal election, making history as the first openly transgender person elected to political office in West Virginia. 
 
Ketchum’s election was widely celebrated, with praise from former Houston Mayor Annise Parker and organizations like GLAAD. She was the subject of the 2020 West Virginia Public Broadcasting documentary "Rosemary". In 2024, she ran for mayor of Wheeling but was unsuccessful. Her work continues to focus on mental health, LGBTQ+ rights, and social justice. 
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/mv7prphb); Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/yj3bzpch), West Virginia Watch (https://tinyurl.com/43zbfhez)
 
Photo caption and credit: Rosemary Ketchum (Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV)

​Today in Wheeling History: June 8—Samuel Mason, captain of the Ohio County Militia, Virginia State Forces, and later a notorious river pirate, wrote a letter from Wheeling's Fort Henry to Brigadier General Edward Hand detailing the challenges faced by the fort's defenders (1777).
 
Samuel Mason, born in 1739 in Norfolk, Virginia, was a complex figure in American history, known both as captain of the Ohio County Militia, Virginia State Forces, and a notorious river pirate. Mason's early life saw him serving as a militia officer during the American Revolutionary War. He was assigned to the western frontier post of Fort Henry, located in present-day Wheeling, West Virginia. On June 8, 1777, Mason wrote a letter from Fort Henry to Brigadier General Edward Hand at Fort Pitt, detailing the challenges faced by the fort's defenders. Mason's leadership was tested during a Native American attack on Fort Henry on August 31, 1777, where he narrowly escaped death and continued to command the fort for several years. After the war, Mason's life took a darker turn. He moved to the Ohio River Valley and became involved in criminal activities, including river piracy. Mason and his gang operated along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, preying on flatboats and travelers. His criminal career came to an end in 1803 when he was captured and killed by Spanish authorities in New Madrid, Missouri. Mason's legacy is a blend of heroism and infamy, reflecting the turbulent times in which he lived. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, West Virginia.
 
To learn more: Lincoln Herald (https://tinyurl.com/3x3xnk9m), Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Mason)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons

​Today in Wheeling History: June 8--Mike Florio, sportswriter and founder of ProFootballTalk.com, was born in Ohio and grew up in Wheeling (1965).
 
Mike Florio, born June 8, 1965, in Ohio, was raised in Wheeling, West Virginia. He attended Wheeling Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1983. Florio pursued higher education at Carnegie Mellon University, earning degrees in metallurgical engineering and engineering and public policy. He later obtained a law degree from West Virginia University in 1991.
 
Florio initially practiced labor law in Clarksburg, West Virginia, for 18 years before transitioning into sports journalism. In 2001, he founded ProFootballTalk.com, a website dedicated to NFL news and analysis. His work gained traction, leading to a partnership with NBC Sports in 2009, where he became a contributor to Football Night in America. He also hosts PFT Live on Peacock.
 
Beyond sports journalism, Florio authored Playmakers: How the NFL Really Works (And Doesn't) in March 2022. In 2023, he released Father of Mine, a novel inspired by his experiences growing up in Wheeling, focusing on organized crime in the city.
 
Florio is married to Jill Florio, and they have a son, Alex. He currently resides in Bridgeport, West Virginia.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/mr398y4a), The Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/3p9skfv6), WTRF News (https://tinyurl.com/tvksm3rw)
 
Photo caption and credit: Sportswriter and ProFootballTalk founder Mike Florio pictured in 2014. (Photo by Atlanta Falcons, originally sourced from YouTube via Wikimedia Commons)

Today in Wheeling History: June 7—Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer of Illinois, was born in Wheeling (1949).
 
Maria Pappas, a prominent Greek American attorney and politician, was born on June 7, 1949, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She grew up in the Warwood neighborhood of Wheeling. Pappas was raised in a deeply religious environment and attended church daily. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from West Liberty State College and a master's degree in counseling from West Virginia University. Pappas later moved to Chicago, where she worked at the Adler Institute and earned her Ph.D. from Loyola University in 1976. Her early career involved working with mothers at Altgeld Garden Homes and teaching at Governors State University before transitioning to law, graduating from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1982.
 
Pappas's political career began in 1990 when she was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners. She served two terms, first as one of ten members elected from Chicago and then as the member from the 10th district after the board moved to single-member constituencies. During her tenure, she was known for her fiscal responsibility and efforts to make government entities more efficient. In 1998, she was elected Cook County Treasurer, a position she has held since, being re-elected multiple times. As Treasurer, she uncovered a scam run by her predecessor and implemented significant technological updates to the office.
Pappas's contributions to public service include the Cook County Debt Disclosure Ordinance, passed in 2009, which requires taxing districts to publicly report their finances, including pension debt. She also ran for the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate in 2004 but lost to Barack Obama. Pappas has considered running for Mayor of Chicago on multiple occasions but ultimately chose not to pursue the position. Her career is marked by her dedication to transparency, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility in government.
               
Maria Pappas's journey from Wheeling’s Warwood neighborhood to a significant political figure in Chicago highlights her commitment to public service and her ability to navigate and reform complex governmental systems. Her work has had a lasting impact on Cook County's financial transparency and efficiency, making her a notable figure in both Wheeling and Chicago's histories.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/ycf6v8wh), Loyola University Chicago (https://tinyurl.com/4tcfr956), Chicago Magazine (https://tinyurl.com/3kzm8nnj)
 
Photo credits: Maria Pappas (Cook County Government)

​Today in Wheeling History: June 6—Charles Ellet Jr., civil engineer who designed and built the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, led the United States Ram Fleet to victory at the First Battle of Memphis during the American Civil War and was wounded in the battle, later dying from his injuries (1862).
 
Charles Ellet Jr. was born on January 1, 1810, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. A brilliant civil engineer, he studied at the École nationale des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris, where he honed his expertise in suspension bridge design. His most famous achievement was the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, completed in 1849, which was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world at the time. 
 
Ellet’s engineering career extended beyond bridges—he conducted the first federal survey of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and published influential works on flood control, transportation, and economic theory. His innovative ideas led him to propose the use of steam-powered rams in naval warfare. 
 
During the American Civil War, Ellet was commissioned as a colonel and placed in charge of the United States Ram Fleet, a group of converted steamboats designed for combat. His fleet played a decisive role in the First Battle of Memphis on June 6, 1862, where Union forces secured a major victory. However, Ellet was wounded in the battle and succumbed to his injuries on June 21, 1862, in Cairo, Illinois. He was buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. 
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/mr2zsjwm); Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/ycnwcadn) (https://tinyurl.com/yuvduwvx), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/wtensred)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave