Today in Wheeling History: April 30--The Wheeling Green Stockings defeated the Pittsburgh Bells 9-8 in a thrilling 10-inning baseball game at the Island Park in Wheeling (1887).
 
On April 30, 1887, the Wheeling Green Stockings played a thrilling game against the Pittsburgh Bells at the Island Park in Wheeling, West Virginia. The game remained scoreless until the seventh inning, when the Green Stockings took a commanding 6-0 lead. However, the Bells staged a remarkable comeback in the ninth inning, scoring six runs to tie the game. In the tenth inning, the Green Stockings managed to score three more runs, while the Bells could only muster two, resulting in a hard-fought 9-8 victory for the home team. The game featured impressive performances from players like Dunn, who had three hits, and Mallory, who struck out seven batters.
 
The Wheeling Green Stockings were a prominent baseball team in the late 19th century, known for their distinctive cream-colored uniforms with bright green trimmings and stockings. One of the team's most notable players was Sol White, an African American infielder who played third base for the Green Stockings in 1887. White's impressive batting average of .370 and slugging percentage of .502 made him a standout player. However, when the Ohio State League renamed itself the Tri-State League and banned black players during the off-season, White and other African American players were affected. Despite this setback, White went on to have a remarkable career in baseball, playing for and managing various teams, and becoming the first historian of black baseball with his 1907 book, "Sol White's Official Base Ball Guide." In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Sol White was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.
 
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Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV

Today in Wheeling History: April 29--Reverend Laverty Grier, who had served as pastor of the Old Stone Church in Elm Grove (now part of Wheeling) from 1861 to 1897, passed away in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his body was brought back to the church for impressive ceremonies before being laid to rest in the cemetery (1907).
 
The Old Stone Church in Elm Grove, Wheeling, West Virginia, was founded in 1787, making it the first Presbyterian organization in the area. The early pioneers gathered under a large oak tree to worship, led by Rev. John Brice, who received his theological training from Rev. Joseph Smith of Upper Buffalo. Rev. Brice served as pastor until his death (date unknown). He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Stevenson, who was ordained and installed in June 1809. In 1814, Rev. James Hervey began his 47-year pastorate, which continued until his death on September 13, 1859.
 
Rev. Laverty Grier then served from 1861 until his resignation in 1897 due to the infirmities of age. He passed away on April 29, 1907, at the home of his son in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His body was brought back to the "Old Stone Church," where impressive ceremonies were held before he was laid to rest in the cemetery, mingling his dust with that of the congregation gone before. Rev. Grier was remembered as a man of strong conviction, a conscientious preacher, and a faithful pastor. Rev. W. E. Allen followed, whose pastoral relation continued into the early 1900s (exact dates unknown).
 
The original church structure was built in 1807 on a hill in the Elm Grove cemetery. It was demolished in 1913 and replaced by a larger Gothic-style stone structure at the foot of the hill in 1914. The cemetery remains an active burial place, but the church building adjacent to it was later torn down to make way for Interstate 70. The congregation now worships at a new church structure on East Cove Avenue, where they continue the legacy of the historic Old Stone Church.
 
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Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Google Maps

​Today in Wheeling History: April 28--119 miners were killed in an explosion at the Benwood mine of the Wheeling Steel Corporation (1924). (https://rb.gy/ao5k5)

​Today in Wheeling History: April 28--Two explosions at the Wheeling Steel & Iron Corporation's coal mine in Benwood, West Virginia, claimed the lives of 119 miners, making it the third worst mining disaster in the state's history (1924).
 
On April 28, 1924, two devastating explosions occurred at the Benwood coal mine operated by the Wheeling Steel & Iron Corporation in Benwood, West Virginia. The disaster, caused by the ignition of methane gas and coal dust, claimed the lives of 119 miners, most of whom were recent immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe. There were no survivors, making it the third worst mining disaster in West Virginia history. Rescue efforts were hampered by collapsed roofs, debris, and the presence of deadly afterdamp. Many of the victims were buried in mass graves at local cemeteries, with the largest burial taking place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling. In 2014, the Benwood Mine Disaster Memorial was dedicated to honor the memory of the lost miners, thanks to the efforts of the Benwood Mine Disaster Memorial Committee and the local community.
 
Among the victims were several Wheeling residents, including Antoni Hamill (43, Wood Street), John Galembieuski (3924 Jacob Street), John Malyska (4728 Eoff Street), Joe Hayda, Feliz Lisak, Mike Paradise, Gust Gannokos, Peter Simos, Karmierice Kar, Wasil Beily, Mike Koziemka, Nick Podola, George McGill, Hugh McGill, William Webster, Alexander Snedden, James D. Gouci, Stanley Golmbivsky, and Llewelyn Joseph. These men, along with their fellow miners, lost their lives in one of the worst industrial accidents in the region's history, leaving behind devastated families and a community in mourning.
 
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Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer

Today in Wheeling History: April 27--The steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River, killing over 1,700 people, including several Union soldiers from the Wheeling area who were returning home after being released from Confederate prison camps at the end of the Civil War (1865).
 
On April 27, 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River, killing over 1,700 people in the worst maritime disaster in United States history. Many of the passengers were Union soldiers, including several from the Wheeling area, who had recently been released from Confederate prison camps and were making their way home at the end of the Civil War. The Sultana was severely overloaded, carrying over 2,000 passengers on a boat designed for only 376. Despite the tragic loss of life, the disaster was overshadowed in the press by other historic events in April 1865, such as the fall of Richmond, Lee's surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln's assassination, and the killing of John Wilkes Booth. Several Wheeling soldiers are known to have been aboard the ill-fated Sultana, some perishing in the disaster while others survived the explosion and frigid waters of the Mississippi.
 
Among the Wheeling area survivors were:
 
Henry Foster, originally from Wheeling, West Virginia (1st West Virginia Infantry), was rescued clinging to the top of a tree after hours in the Mississippi. He returned to Wheeling and is buried at Mount Wood Cemetery.
 
Theophilus W. Richardson, originally from Wheeling, West Virginia (1st West Virginia Infantry), who had previously escaped from Andersonville Prison, survived the Sultana disaster and was taken to the Soldiers' Home in Memphis. He died nine years later and is buried in Sardis, Ohio.
 
George C. Loy, originally from Wheeling, West Virginia (Carlin's Battery), jumped into the icy Mississippi when the explosion occurred. After waiting hours to be rescued, he was taken unconscious to Washington Hospital in Memphis. Loy died at age 35 and is buried at Mount Wood Cemetery.
 
George Smith, originally from Wheeling, West Virginia (Carlin's Battery), suffered a skull fracture in the disaster. After spending several hours in the Mississippi River, he was sent to a hospital and then transferred to the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Memphis. Smith later lived at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home in Adams County, Illinois, and is buried at Woodland Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois.
 
Thomas Moore and DeMarquis Lafayette (Lafe) Githens, both originally from Ohio (50th Ohio Infantry), survived and settled in Wheeling after the war. Moore, whose hands were scalded and feet burned, operated a grocery store on Wheeling Island. Githens, who seized a window shutter and leaped into the water, was rescued and taken to Overton Hospital in Memphis. Moore is buried at River View Cemetery in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and Githens at Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling.
 
Their stories offer poignant glimpses into this often forgotten tragedy at the end of the Civil War that directly impacted many Wheeling families.
 
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Photo credits: Wikipedia, Find a Grave

​Today in Wheeling History: April 26--Captain Michael Cresap called a council in the settlement of "Zanesburg" (later known as Wheeling), where he read a letter from Fort Pitt's commander John Connolly, leading the assembly to declare war against the Indians, marking a pivotal moment in the escalation of tensions that led to Dunmore's War (1774).
 
In the spring of 1774, rising tensions between Native Americans and settlers in the Ohio Country led to the outbreak of Dunmore's War. George Rogers Clark and his group, waiting at the mouth of the Little Kanawha River to move downriver and settle in Kentucky, invited Captain Michael Cresap to join them after hearing reports of hostile Indian attacks on travelers along the Ohio River. Cresap suggested they return to Ebenezer Zane's settlement, "Zanesburg" (later Wheeling), to wait out the hostilities. Upon arriving, they found the frontier settlers in a panic, and a message from John Connolly, the garrison commander at Fort Pitt, indicated that local tribes intended war. On April 26, Cresap called a council and read Connolly's letter, leading to a declaration of war against the Indians. The following day, a battle occurred at Pipe Creek, and Clark's party retreated with Cresap to Redstone Old Fort.
 
The conflict escalated on April 30, 1774, with the Yellow Creek Massacre, where Virginian settlers led by Daniel Greathouse attacked and killed several Mingo Indians near present-day New Cumberland, Hancock County, West Virginia. As tensions rose, the construction of Fort Fincastle (later Fort Henry) began in June 1774 in Wheeling, about 30 miles south of the massacre site, under the supervision of Colonel William Crawford and with the approval of Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia. The fort provided protection for settlers during the ongoing conflict between Native American tribes and Virginian colonists.
 
The war continued until the defeat of the Shawnee at the Battle of Point Pleasant on October 10, 1774, marking a significant turning point in the struggle for control of the Ohio Country between Native Americans and colonial settlers.
 
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Photo credits: Wikipedia  

Today in Wheeling History: April 25--The cornerstone of the new Market Auditorium building in Wheeling, West Virginia, was laid, replacing the demolished Second Ward Market House (1912).
 
The Second Ward Market House, built in 1822 on the west side of Market Street between 10th and 11th Streets in Wheeling, West Virginia, served as a town hall and market, and was also a site where enslaved persons were sold prior to the Civil War. In 1911, the original building was demolished and replaced by the larger Market Auditorium in 1912, which housed both market space and an auditorium with a capacity of 3,500 people. The Market Auditorium, located on Market Street spanning the space from 10th to 11th Street, played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement, hosting meetings and speeches by prominent advocates such as Annie Caldwell Boyd, Dr. Harriet B. Jones, Ellen Douglas Hoge, and Antoinette Funk. The building also served as a venue for political events, including the West Virginia Republican Party's state delegate convention in 1916. The Market Auditorium remained in use until its demolition in 1964, and the site is now occupied by Market Plaza Park.
 
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Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; The Clio

Today in Wheeling History: April 24--The first regular communication of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), commenced at Odd Fellows' Hall in Wheeling, West Virginia, with representatives from twenty-six Lodges in attendance to discuss the state of the organization and conduct important business (1866).
 
The first regular communication of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), commenced on April 24, 1866, at Odd Fellows' Hall on Fourth Street in Wheeling, West Virginia. The meeting was attended by J. M. Bickel, Most Worshipful Grand Master, Thomas G. Steele, Right Worshipful Grand Secretary, and representatives from twenty-six Lodges throughout the state. In his annual report, the Grand Master invoked God's blessings upon their deliberations and addressed the condition of several disorganized Lodges, noting that dispensations had been granted to twenty-five Lodges. He recommended measures to revive and resuscitate the disorganized Lodges where brothers no longer met. The Grand Master also acknowledged the fraternal kindness of the Grand Master of Virginia, who had made honorable mention of the institution of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia in his last communication. After appointing the usual committees, the Grand Lodge adjourned at 4 o'clock, P. M., with plans to reconvene the following morning at 8:30 to conduct important business.
 
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) has a long and rich history in Wheeling, West Virginia, dating back to 1834 when the Grand Lodge of the United States established Virginius Lodge 3 in the city. In 1847, Wheeling Lodge 59 was chartered, which later became Wheeling Lodge 9 in 1865 when the Grand Lodge of West Virginia was established. The lodge met in the Odd Fellows Building at the corner of 12th and Chapline streets from 1859 to 1925, and the building even served as temporary quarters for Linsly Military Institute cadets from 1863 to 1870.
 
The Odd Fellows Building housed several businesses on its street level floor, including Henderson's Restaurant in the corner location, owned by lodge member Cambell Henderson, Fahey's Florist in the next space, and the 12th Street News Stand in the final space.
 
On March 19, 1950, a devastating fire broke out in the Odd Fellows Building, completely destroying the three upper floors and the businesses on the first floor. The lodge temporarily met at the Moose hall until a new building was constructed at the same location, with the first meeting held there in January 1956. Despite facing membership challenges, Wheeling Lodge 9 remains active in the community, participating in various events and fundraisers.
 
The lodge continues to operate from its location at the corner of 12th and Chapline streets, with the ground floor now occupied by Elle & Jack's restaurant. Previously, the corner space was home to Elby's Restaurant for many years, followed by Lanos and Kraus Delicatessen. The building next to the Odd Fellows Building was also home to Kraus Delicatessen and Gallaher's Candy Store at the time of the fire in 1950.
 
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Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling, WV; Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Google Maps

Today in Wheeling History: May 1--The luxurious Stratford Springs Hotel opened in Woodsdale near natural mineral springs believed to have healing properties (1907).
 
The Stratford Springs Hotel was a luxurious spa resort in Woodsdale, West Virginia (now part of Wheeling) that opened on May 1, 1907, near natural mineral springs believed to have healing properties. The sprawling wooden hotel featured elegant accommodations and hosted high society events. It also bottled and sold the spring water through the Stratford Springs Bottling Company.
 
On January 13, 1918, the hotel tragically burned down in a massive fire, though all guests escaped. The springs and bottling operation survived and continued for decades after, though the hotel was never rebuilt. Today, the Stratford Arms Apartment Complex stands on the former site of the Stratford Springs Bottling Company. Hundreds of the company's old glass bottles were recently discovered buried in the yard of a nearby home, offering a glimpse into this bygone era of Wheeling history when the opulent Stratford Springs Hotel briefly shined as a gem of the city's social scene.
 
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Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Weelunk, Google Maps

​Today in Wheeling History: April 23--American actress and comedian Joyce Dewitt born in Wheeling (1949).
 
Joyce DeWitt is an American actress and comedian best known for her role as Janet Wood on the sitcom Three's Company from 1977 to 1984. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1949, she grew up in Speedway, Indiana. After earning a theater degree from Ball State University and a master's degree from UCLA, she began her acting career. In addition to her work on Three's Company, DeWitt has appeared in various stage productions and TV shows, and has been involved in charity work related to hunger and homelessness. (https://rb.gy/xqcy5)