Today in Wheeling History: September 3--Pike Island Locks and Dam dedicated (1965).
The Pike Island Locks and Dam, a monumental $56 million infrastructure project, was officially dedicated on September 3, 1965, with West Virginia Governor Hulett Smith leading a distinguished gathering of federal and state officials. The ceremony, held at 2:30 p.m., marked the completion of one of the most significant navigation improvements on the Ohio River near Wheeling. Lt. Gen. William F. Cassidy, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, called the facility "another monument to continued progress in this great valley," while Senator Robert C. Byrd emphasized its role in enhancing commerce efficiency and creating new recreational opportunities.
Located just north of Wheeling's Warwood district along West Virginia Route 2, the facility features two locks: a primary commercial lock measuring 1,200 feet long by 110 feet wide, and an auxiliary lock of 600 feet by 110 feet. Construction began in 1959, with the locks opening in November 1963 and the dam completed in 1965. This modern engineering marvel replaced the outdated Locks and Dams 10 and 11, which had smaller chambers and manually operated wooden wicket dams.
The project dramatically improved river traffic efficiency, reducing lock passage time from over 90 minutes to approximately 30 minutes for large barge operations. The dedication coincided with Wheeling's Heritage Holidays celebration, featuring boat parades, military displays at Wheeling Downs, and community festivities that showcased the city's industrial heritage and optimistic future.
To learn more: Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/2ka8dans) (https://tinyurl.com/pmwxz5k3) (https://tinyurl.com/ycxtwxxy), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Pike Island Locks and Dam (https://tinyurl.com/2sztmxsa), Waymarking.com – Pike Island Locks and Dam (https://tinyurl.com/y9f52skp), Visit Belmont County (https://tinyurl.com/ezd6r976), Birding Hotspots – Pike Island Locks and Dam (https://tinyurl.com/mrx3bfwm), Industrial History (https://tinyurl.com/382p7t67), YouTube - Drone view of barge lock through at Pike Island Dam, Ohio River (https://tinyurl.com/nu9y5jpc), Facebook - Pike Island Locks and Dam Fishing (https://tinyurl.com/3th6t8rf)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waymarking, Industrial Scenery, Visit Belmont County, Wikimedia Commons, Birding Hotspots, Google Maps
The Pike Island Locks and Dam, a monumental $56 million infrastructure project, was officially dedicated on September 3, 1965, with West Virginia Governor Hulett Smith leading a distinguished gathering of federal and state officials. The ceremony, held at 2:30 p.m., marked the completion of one of the most significant navigation improvements on the Ohio River near Wheeling. Lt. Gen. William F. Cassidy, chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, called the facility "another monument to continued progress in this great valley," while Senator Robert C. Byrd emphasized its role in enhancing commerce efficiency and creating new recreational opportunities.
Located just north of Wheeling's Warwood district along West Virginia Route 2, the facility features two locks: a primary commercial lock measuring 1,200 feet long by 110 feet wide, and an auxiliary lock of 600 feet by 110 feet. Construction began in 1959, with the locks opening in November 1963 and the dam completed in 1965. This modern engineering marvel replaced the outdated Locks and Dams 10 and 11, which had smaller chambers and manually operated wooden wicket dams.
The project dramatically improved river traffic efficiency, reducing lock passage time from over 90 minutes to approximately 30 minutes for large barge operations. The dedication coincided with Wheeling's Heritage Holidays celebration, featuring boat parades, military displays at Wheeling Downs, and community festivities that showcased the city's industrial heritage and optimistic future.
To learn more: Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/2ka8dans) (https://tinyurl.com/pmwxz5k3) (https://tinyurl.com/ycxtwxxy), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Pike Island Locks and Dam (https://tinyurl.com/2sztmxsa), Waymarking.com – Pike Island Locks and Dam (https://tinyurl.com/y9f52skp), Visit Belmont County (https://tinyurl.com/ezd6r976), Birding Hotspots – Pike Island Locks and Dam (https://tinyurl.com/mrx3bfwm), Industrial History (https://tinyurl.com/382p7t67), YouTube - Drone view of barge lock through at Pike Island Dam, Ohio River (https://tinyurl.com/nu9y5jpc), Facebook - Pike Island Locks and Dam Fishing (https://tinyurl.com/3th6t8rf)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waymarking, Industrial Scenery, Visit Belmont County, Wikimedia Commons, Birding Hotspots, Google Maps
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