​Today in Wheeling History: March 1--Clarence Virgil Slack Jr., Korean War hero and namesake of the USAF Captain Virgil Slack, Jr. Memorial Bridge, located near Kroger supermarket and Perkins restaurant, born in Wheeling (1925).
 
Clarence Virgil Slack Jr. was born on March 1, 1925, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Clarence Virgil Slack Sr. and Elizabeth Gehring Slack. At the time of the 1930 census, the family resided on North 21st Street in Warwood and his father was employed as an accountant at a dairy, working at Cloverdale Dairy for decades. Growing up in Wheeling, Clarence attended Warwood Elementary School and graduated from Warwood High School in 1942. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1945, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force.
 
During the Korean War, Captain Slack served as a pilot with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 8th Fighter-Bomber Group. On March 14, 1951, while flying in an element of four F-80C Shooting Star aircraft, Captain Slack was on a combat mission to provide top cover for the lead element, which was reconnoitering the railroad between Pyongyang and Simiju, Korea. His role was to protect the lead element from enemy fire. During the mission, intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered near the Sunan railroad yards. Captain Slack sighted the gun emplacements and, with complete disregard for his own safety, began a dueling attack with the enemy gun positions. By drawing the concentrated fire upon himself, he enabled the lead element to evade the devastating ground fire. Unfortunately, his aircraft was hit, and he was listed as Missing in Action. He was presumed dead on December 31, 1953, and his name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Captain Slack was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Purple Heart.
 
Captain Slack's legacy is remembered for his bravery and service to his country. In recognition of his sacrifice, the USAF Captain Virgil Slack, Jr. Memorial Bridge, located near Kroger supermarket and Perkins restaurant in Wheeling, was named in his honor.
 
To learn more: West Virginia GenWeb (https://tinyurl.com/bfpyssuc), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/2hhc8uuu), Military Hall of Honor (https://tinyurl.com/4suzsx8f), West Virginia Veterans Memorial (https://tinyurl.com/5ccjnftw), West Virginia Legislature (https://tinyurl.com/3e77936w), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/ewrm5bkh), American Battle Monuments Commission (https://tinyurl.com/39h537cs)
 
Photo credits: Find a Grave, West Virginia Veterans Memorial, Google Maps, West Virginia GenWeb, U.S. Air Force

​Today in Wheeling History: February 28--William B. Ebbert, Union Army officer, Colorado legislator, newspaper publisher, author, farmer, businessperson, poet, and community leader, was born in Wheeling (1846).
 
William Baltzell Ebbert was born on February 28, 1846, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to John Van Kirk Ebbert and Charlotte D. (Baltzell) Ebbert. He grew up in Wheeling, where he received his early education. During the American Civil War, Ebbert enlisted in the Union Army and served as an officer and adjutant in the 1st Regiment West Virginia Infantry Volunteers. After the war, he briefly lived in Covington, Kentucky, and the Cincinnati, Ohio area. On Christmas Day, 1866, he married Cornelia Blanche Hall in Wheeling. Following Cornelia's death in 1881, Ebbert moved to Pueblo, Colorado, with his three children. In Colorado, he established himself as a community leader, author, and politician. He married Catherine Scheutle in 1884, and they had three more sons, all of whom died prematurely. Ebbert served in the Colorado Legislature, representing Dolores, Otero, Pueblo, and Montezuma counties. He was also a newspaper publisher, author, farmer, businessman, and poet. Ebbert authored the landmark meat inspection legislation in Colorado in 1889 and played a significant role in the Montezuma Valley Irrigation District. He passed away on February 27, 1927, in Cortez, Colorado, and was buried in Sunnyside Cemetery, Lewis, Montezuma County, Colorado.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/ytfwdn7x), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/2c3tx5ux), Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias (https://tinyurl.com/yvum84xr), lindapages.com (https://tinyurl.com/3czz3ve5)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, lindapages.com

​Today in Wheeling History: February 27--Frank Buckles, last surviving American World War I veteran and member of Wheeling's Osiris Shriners known as "the oldest Shriner in Shrinedom," dies at age 110 (2011).
 
Frank Woodruff Buckles, born Wood Buckles on February 1, 1901, in Bethany, Missouri, grew up in Oklahoma. In August 1917, at age 16, he enlisted in the U.S. Army after lying about his age. He served with the 1st Fort Riley Casual Detachment, driving ambulances and motorcycles near the front lines in England and France during World War I. After the Armistice, he escorted German prisoners back to Germany. For his WWI service, he received the World War I Victory Medal, four Overseas Service Bars, and the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal. During World War II, while working as a civilian shipping executive in Manila, Philippines, he was captured by Japanese forces in January 1942. He spent three years and two months as a civilian prisoner in the Santo Tomas and Los Baños prison camps, both in the Philippines, where he endured severe malnutrition, dropping below 100 pounds and developing beriberi. Despite his condition, he led fellow captives in calisthenics and maintained a small garden to help feed imprisoned children. He was freed in a dramatic raid by Allied forces on February 23, 1945. A Freemason and longtime Shriner, he was a member of the Osiris Shriners of Wheeling, West Virginia, and became known as "the oldest Shriner in Shrinedom." He lived an extraordinarily long life, passing away at age 110 years and 26 days on February 27, 2011, at his Gap View Farm near Charles Town. Following his death, he was honored with a funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, where he was buried in Section 34, near General John J. Pershing.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/3rvsysp9), Martinsburg Journal (https://tinyurl.com/3d3v46pd), Masonry Today (https://tinyurl.com/5ydmudvk), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/yt364wb3)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Soldiers Media Center via Wikimedia Commons, U.S. Army, Find a Grave

Today in Wheeling History: February 26--Matthew McCloskey, U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, prominent builder of structures such as the Rayburn House Office Building, and leader in constructing concrete ships during World War II, was born in Wheeling (1893).
 
Matthew Henry McCloskey Jr. was born on February 26, 1893, in Wheeling, West Virginia. His family moved to Philadelphia when he was two years old. At the age of 15, McCloskey left school and began working in construction. He quickly rose through the ranks and eventually founded his own construction company, McCloskey & Company. The company became well-known for building significant structures such as the Rayburn House Office Building, the Philadelphia Convention Hall, the Philadelphia Sheraton Hotel, and the District of Columbia Stadium (now RFK Stadium).
 
During World War II, McCloskey & Company contributed to the war effort by building ships at their shipyard in Tampa, Florida. Notably, the shipyard was known for constructing ships using concrete, which were made from concrete hulls reinforced with steel bars.
 
McCloskey was an active member of the Democratic Party and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention multiple times. In 1955, he became the Treasurer of the Democratic National Committee, a position he held until 1962. He is credited with inventing the $100-a-plate fundraising dinners. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy appointed McCloskey as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, a role he held until 1964. McCloskey passed away on April 26, 1973, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
 
To learn more: Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/ejmyxm4y), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/ratebm7t), FamilySearch (https://tinyurl.com/5n833zyz), The Crete Fleet (https://tinyurl.com/56ykc8yj)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave, United States National Archives and Records Administration

​Today in Wheeling History: February 25--Dr. Albert M. Blatnik, beloved educator and coach, passed away in Wheeling, WV (2011).
 
Albert Michael Blatnik was born on May 2, 1923, in Bridgeport, Ohio. He graduated from Bridgeport High School and went on to earn his undergraduate degree from West Liberty University. Blatnik furthered his education with a Master's Degree in Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a Doctorate of Education from West Virginia University. During World War II, he served as an Army veteran, participating in the Battle of the Bulge and the Korean Conflict.
 
Blatnik began his professional career as a teacher and coach at Bridgeport High School and St. Clairsville High School in Ohio. He later became a professor, coach, Athletic Director, and Chairman of the School of Health and Physical Education at West Liberty University. His dedication to sports and education led to his induction into the West Liberty Sports Hall of Fame, the West Liberty University Academy, and the West Virginia University School of Physical Education Hall of Fame.
 
Blatnik was also a member of the Ohio County Board of Education for 12 years, serving as its president. He was deeply involved in the community, opening the Hole 'n Run fitness center in 1979 with his son Floyd. Blatnik passed away on February 25, 2011, in Wheeling, West Virginia, and is remembered for his lasting impact on education and sports in the region.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/c4unuwn2), The Times Leader (https://tinyurl.com/3x44kfk3), West Liberty University (https://tinyurl.com/bdf2wzta)
 
Photo credits: Altmeyer Funeral Homes, Google Maps  

​Today in Wheeling History: February 24--Mary Louise Butler Reed, philanthropist, missionary leader, founder of the King's Daughters Nursery, and president of the Wheeling Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) who led the construction of the current YWCA building at Eleventh and Chapline Streets, was born in Richmond, Virginia (1861).
 
Mary Louise Butler Reed (1861-1939) was a prominent philanthropist and missionary leader who made significant contributions to both her local community in Wheeling, West Virginia, and internationally. Born on February 24, 1861, in Richmond, Virginia, she moved to Wheeling with her family at a young age. She became known for her extensive work with the International Order of King's Daughters and Sons, serving as its president from 1918 to 1924. During her tenure, she oversaw the construction of the medical wing of Isabella Thorburn College in Lucknow, India, and expanded the organization's reach to six Oriental colleges. Reed was also deeply involved in local Wheeling organizations, including the founding of the King's Daughters Nursery and serving as president of the Wheeling Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) for ten years. Her leadership led to the construction of the current YWCA building at Eleventh and Chapline Streets. Reed's dedication to service and her ability to organize and lead various charitable initiatives left a lasting impact on both her community and the broader world.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/36xy2twk); Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/amp5m5mn)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV

Today in Wheeling History: February 23--Irene Schroeder, former Wheeling resident and notorious criminal, became the first woman to be executed by electrocution in Pennsylvania (1931).
 
Irene Schroeder, born Irene Crawford on February 17, 1909, in Benwood, West Virginia, was the youngest of eight surviving children. Growing up in a large, working-class family presented many challenges. Her parents, struggling to make ends meet, provided a difficult and unstable environment. When Irene was eight, her mother Martha died, and she subsequently lived with several relatives, including her older sister Ruby (Crawford) Shrader. Irene's early years were marked by poverty and hardship, contributing to her rebellious nature.
 
At 15, she married Homer Shrader, and they had a son named Donald. The marriage was short-lived, and Irene soon found herself working as a waitress in Wheeling. It was here she met Walter Glenn Dague, a married man and World War I veteran. The two began a tumultuous relationship that led them down a path of crime.
 
On December 27, 1929, Irene, Dague, and her brother Tom Crawford were involved in a robbery in Butler, Pennsylvania, resulting in the fatal shooting of a police officer. A receipt for a red scarf purchased in Wheeling linked Irene to the crime. On December 31, 1929, local investigators arrived at the home of Ray and Ruby Shrader in Bellaire, Ohio, where Schroeder’s father had since taken her son Donnie. Officials were astonished when Donnie said, “Mommy shot a cop just like you!” indicating his Uncle Tom and “Papa” (Walter Glenn Dague) were involved.
 
After a nationwide manhunt, Irene and Dague were captured by Arizona sheriff's deputies in Florence, Arizona, on January 17, 1930. Irene and Dague were sentenced to death. Irene Schroeder was executed by electrocution on February 23, 1931, at Rockview Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, becoming the first woman to be electrocuted in the state. Walter Glenn Dague was also executed by electrocution. Irene is buried in an unmarked grave.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/33db9dwp), Lawrence County Memoirs (https://tinyurl.com/4kk3c4kr), Blue Ridge True Crime (https://tinyurl.com/4w4pz23f), RootsWeb (https://tinyurl.com/336r2djk)
 
Photo credits: Lawrence County Memoirs

​Today in Wheeling History: February 22--Rhoda Wise, a Catholic mystic and stigmatist, was born in Cadiz, Ohio, and raised in Wheeling (1888).
 
Rhoda Greer Wise was born on February 22, 1888, in Cadiz, Ohio, to Eli and Anna Greer. When she was two years old, her family moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, where she was raised as a Protestant. Rhoda's early life in Wheeling was marked by her father's work as a bricklayer and her upbringing in a large family. She attended local schools and grew up in a close-knit community. In 1915, Rhoda married Ernest Wissmar and moved to Canton, Ohio. Tragically, Ernest died six months later. Rhoda then married George Wise in 1917, and they adopted two daughters. Rhoda's life was filled with hardship, including severe health issues and financial struggles. In 1939, she converted to Catholicism and began experiencing visions of Jesus Christ and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Rhoda became known for her mystical experiences and reported healings, including the healing of Mother Angelica, the founder of EWTN. Rhoda Wise passed away on July 7, 1948, in Canton, Ohio, and is buried at St. Peter's Cemetery in Canton. In 2016, Bishop George V. Murry of the Diocese of Youngstown declared Rhoda Wise a Servant of God, marking the beginning of the process for her potential canonization.
 
To learn more: Rhoda Wise House and Grotto (https://tinyurl.com/45berywf), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/5a2u97xt), Canton Repository (https://tinyurl.com/bd4858wh)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, TheBlinkster via Wikimedia Commons  

​Today in Wheeling History: February 21--Albert Joyce Riker, Wheeling-born plant pathologist and National Academy of Sciences member, died in Tucson, Arizona (1982).
 
Albert Joyce Riker was born in Wheeling, West Virginia on April 3, 1894, to Albert Birdsall Riker, a Methodist minister who later became president of Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, and Mary Edith (Davis) Riker. He later attended public school in Alliance, Ohio, and completed his high school education in Moundsville, West Virginia. After high school, Riker worked various jobs, including positions at the Royal Three Barrel Gun Company, as an automobile repairman and salesman, and helping build greenhouses. He attended Oberlin College, earning his A.B. degree in botany in 1917. During World War I, he served as a bacteriologist in an Army hospital in France (1918-1919). Following his military service, he earned his M.A. in botany and bacteriology from the University of Cincinnati in 1920 and his Ph.D. in plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin in 1922. He spent most of his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, becoming a leading authority in plant pathology, particularly in forest diseases and crown gall research. Riker was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1951 and received numerous prestigious awards. He married three times: Regina Stockhausen (1922), Helen Burgoyne (1953), and Adelaide Evenson. He died on February 21, 1982, in Tucson, Arizona.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2erjhrbx), apsnet.org (https://tinyurl.com/497dzpa5), National Academies Press (https://tinyurl.com/2hjtu9xs), University of Wisconsin-Madison (https://tinyurl.com/mr3sk52u)
 
Photo caption and credit: Albert Joyce Riker (National Academies Press)  

​Today in Wheeling History: February 20--Centre Wheeling Market, a historic public market, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1975).
 
Centre Wheeling Market, located at 2200 Market Street in Wheeling, West Virginia, is a historic public market that has been a vibrant part of the community since its construction in 1853. Designed by architect Thomas Pope, the market was originally an open-air market with neo-classical style, featuring Doric order columns and a gable roof. In 1890, the market was expanded with a neo-Romanesque section designed by Wheeling architect Edward B. Franzheim. The market also includes the Centre Wheeling Fish Market, which was added in 1900.
 
Over the years, Centre Wheeling Market has evolved from a hub of commerce to a cultural destination, offering a unique shopping and dining experience. Visitors can explore a variety of shops, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants, all housed in charming historic buildings. The market is known for its locally-made crafts, antiques, specialty foods, and fresh produce. It hosts numerous events, festivals, and art exhibitions, making it a must-visit destination in Wheeling.
 
Centre Wheeling Market was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 20, 1975, recognizing its architectural and historical significance. Today, it continues to be a beloved part of the community, attracting both locals and tourists with its unique blend of history and modern culture.
 
To learn more: Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau (https://wheelingcvb.com/shopping/centre-market/) (https://tinyurl.com/ydvf3wxd), City of Wheeling (https://centremarket.org/) (https://tinyurl.com/ycy643ha), Wikipedia (https://historic-wheeling.org/wiki/Centre_Market_Square) (https://tinyurl.com/39spu8rz)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Bwsmith84 at en.wikipedia, Library of Congress