​Today in Wheeling History: June 1--Clyde Thomas became the first African American elected to Wheeling City Council in the modern era (1971).
 
Clyde Thomas was a trailblazer in Wheeling’s political and athletic history. Born on April 5, 1940, he excelled in sports at Bellaire High School, earning All-State honors in both basketball and football. His athletic prowess led him to Ohio University, where he played as a running back on the undefeated 1960 Mid-American Conference Championship team. His talent earned him recognition in Sports Illustrated, and he later played professionally for the Wheeling Ironmen and briefly for the Philadelphia Eagles before an injury ended his NFL career.
 
After retiring from football, Thomas transitioned into public service. In 1971, he made history by becoming the first African American elected to Wheeling City Council under the non-partisan City-Manager Government. He served four consecutive terms, advocating for community development and infrastructure improvements. His leadership extended to his role as vice-mayor, where he played a key part in getting the Wheeling Civic Center built and proposing a downtown shopping mall.
 
Thomas was inducted into the American Football Association’s Minor Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He passed away on October 12, 2006, leaving behind a legacy of athletic excellence and civic leadership.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/2zpstz7x), Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/3ccevety), West Virginia Archives & History (https://tinyurl.com/yumejz76)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV

​Today in Wheeling History: May 31—Todd Bullard, educator and academic administrator who served as director of education at the West Virginia Penitentiary and later as president of Bethany College, was born in Wheeling (1931).
 
Todd Hupp Bullard was born on May 31, 1931, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to L. Todd Bullard and Katharine Virginia Netting Bullard. He attended West Liberty State College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1953. During his time there, he served as student body president and founded the Chi Nu fraternity. He continued his education at West Virginia University, earning a master's degree in political science in 1956, followed by a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1964.
 
Bullard’s career in education was distinguished. He began as director of education at the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville in 1953. He later served as president of Parkersburg Community College (1961–1963), Potomac State College (1964–1970), and Bethany College (1980–1988). Additionally, he was the first provost of the Rochester Institute of Technology (1970–1980). His leadership extended beyond administration, as he contributed to higher education policy and accreditation efforts.
 
Bullard passed away on January 1, 2009, in Charlottesville, Virginia, after battling diabetes. He was buried in Campbell Cemetery in Bethany, West Virginia.
 
To learn more: Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/yjvp637t), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/37dabwus), Legacy Obituary (https://tinyurl.com/3rhhbysz)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave

​Today in Wheeling History: May 30--Allan Connolly, dedicated educator and administrator, was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame for his outstanding contributions to education (2015).
 
Allan Connolly, born in 1944, dedicated his life to education in Ohio County Schools, beginning his career in 1965 as an English and Social Studies teacher at Clay Junior High School. A self-made man, he worked his way through Bluefield State College as a clerk and meat cutter, earning his bachelor's degree in secondary education in 1965. He later obtained his master's degree in education administration from West Virginia University in 1969, eventually completing an additional 30 graduate hours.
 
At Clay Junior High, Connolly served as department chairperson for English and Social Studies while coaching basketball for ten years, earning three freshman championships. In 1976, he moved to the newly opened Wheeling Park High School, where he taught Social Studies and assisted with the basketball program during their state championship year. The following year, he was appointed assistant principal, serving in that role for 22 years until his retirement in 1999, completing 34 years in education.
 
Beyond his professional duties, Connolly has been deeply involved in community service. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Simpson Methodist Church, heads their Education Committee awarding scholarships, and participates in the NAACP Education Committee for Ohio County. In 2011, he was inducted into the West Virginia All-Black Schools Sports Association Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement, and received the Martin Luther King Jr. award from the Upper Ohio Valley Clergy in 2013.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/ycny344y); Archiving Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/436myz25), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/bdkns7j7), City of Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/pj2cd2bz) (https://tinyurl.com/2wt34mm9)
 
Photo caption and credit: Allan Connolly (Wheeling Hall of Fame via Weelunk)

​Today in Wheeling History: May 29--James M. Baird of Wheeling was granted a patent for his innovative "Water Cooler and Purifier," designed to provide clean, cool drinking water year-round (1866).
 
James M. Baird, a resident of Wheeling, West Virginia, received U.S. Patent No. 55,037 on May 29, 1866, for his ingenious "Water Cooler and Purifier." This invention addressed the common problem of providing clean, cool drinking water throughout all seasons by utilizing three fundamental principles: the earth's consistent underground temperature, the natural settling of cold water to the bottom, and gravity's effect on sediment settlement.
 
Baird's apparatus consisted of a vertical tank buried several feet underground, connected to the existing water supply via an induction pipe. The tank featured a cone-shaped bottom head that collected sediment, while the discharging pipe at the apex allowed the system to self-clean by first expelling settled impurities before delivering clear, cool water. The underground placement ensured consistent cooling regardless of surface temperature variations.
 
Beyond this water purification system, Baird proved to be a prolific inventor. On July 22, 1873, he co-patented with James C. Orr an innovative furniture leg design featuring detachable two-part construction secured by interlocking blocks and buttons. Local newspapers praised Baird's inventive genius, noting his development of detachable tool handles, furniture fastenings, sewing machine accessories, and extension tables. The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer commended his ability to combine "lightness with strength, taste and durability" while reducing manufacturing costs through simplified construction methods.
 
To learn more: Google Patents (https://tinyurl.com/dsr464cu) (https://tinyurl.com/m4awhddc), Wheeling Daily Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/3x6hkxtm) (https://tinyurl.com/yf47p6zs)
 
Photo credits: Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, U.S. Patent Office

​Today in Wheeling History: May 28—Bill Stobbs, professional football player and coach, was born in Wheeling (1896). 
 
Thomas William "Bill" Stobbs Jr. was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, on May 28, 1896. He attended Wheeling High School and the Linsly Military Institute, both in his hometown, before playing college football at Washington & Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. Stobbs had a brief professional football career, playing as a blocking back for the Detroit Tigers in 1921, a team that competed in the American Professional Football Association (APFA), which later became the National Football League (NFL). 
 
Beyond his playing career, Stobbs made a lasting impact as a coach. He began coaching football at Linsly Military Institute in 1919 and later served as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina in 1920. He returned to Wheeling High School as a football and basketball coach from 1922 to 1925 before heading back to Linsly as head coach. His most notable coaching tenure was at Wittenberg College (now Wittenberg University) in Ohio, where he led the football team from 1929 to 1941 and the basketball team from 1932 to 1942. 
 
Stobbs passed away on November 14, 1968, in Norfolk, Virginia, at the age of 72. Though his later years took him away from Wheeling, his impact on the city's sports scene remained profound. He was laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, ensuring his legacy as a dedicated coach and athlete continues to be honored in his hometown.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/y3wjzs73), Pro-Football Reference (https://tinyurl.com/34z7xbsa), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/ydxnmf9u)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave

Today in Wheeling History: May 27—Dr. Eliza Hughes, a Wheeling native and one of the first female M.D.s in Virginia and West Virginia, passed away (1882).
 
Dr. Eliza Clark Hughes (1817–1882) was one of the first female medical doctors in Virginia and West Virginia. Born in Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), she was raised in a family that valued education and commerce. Her father, a successful merchant, provided her with a strong academic foundation. Inspired by her brother, Dr. Alfred Hughes, she pursued medicine despite societal opposition to women in the field.
 
Hughes began studying medicine in 1855 and attended the Homoeopathic Medical College of Cleveland, Ohio, before graduating from Pennsylvania Medical College in Philadelphia in 1860. She returned to Wheeling, where she specialized in treating women and children. During the Civil War, she and her family supported the Confederacy, leading to her arrest in 1862 for refusing to take the oath of allegiance. She later resumed her practice but faced ostracization due to her political stance.
 
In the 1880s, she moved to Baltimore but returned to Wheeling before passing away in Portland, Ohio, in 1882. She was buried in Mt. Wood Cemetery in Wheeling. Hughes was not only a physician but also a writer, contributing literary works to local publications.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/jefxcf46), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2rnjax55), WVGW.net (https://tinyurl.com/5k4acmpz), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/4c4m5mwv), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/mpm8ct37)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV

​Today in Wheeling History: May 26—Warwood officially becomes an incorporated town (1911).
 
On May 26, 1911, Warwood officially became an incorporated town following a final election and census conducted earlier that year. The incorporation was approved by a majority of ninety votes, and Judge Frank W. Nesbitt signed the Certificate of Incorporation, marking Warwood’s transition from a developing industrial neighborhood to an independent municipality.
 
Before Warwood was formally named, the land was part of the Richland Magisterial District and included several distinct areas. These included “Glenova”, named after Thomas Glenn, one of the area’s earliest settlers; “Richland”, sometimes referred to as Warwood or Center Warwood; and “Loveland”, which was developed by the Loveland Improvement Company in 1905. The Warwood Land Company, founded by R.J. McCullagh in 1903, played a crucial role in consolidating these areas under the name Warwood, which was first officially used in a real estate plat submitted in 1904.
 
Warwood’s growth was largely driven by industrial expansion, particularly the Warwood Tool Company, which relocated to the neighborhood in 1907. The town remained independent until 1919, when it was annexed by Wheeling as part of the “Greater Wheeling Movement.” Today, Warwood continues to be a vital part of Wheeling’s history, with efforts to preserve its industrial heritage and community identity.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/58w8nxk8); Warwood Walking Tour - Wheeling Heritage (https://tinyurl.com/2s37zcd2)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; John Roth

​Today in Wheeling History: May 25—Bill Moore, professional football player from Wheeling, West Virginia, passed away in Montgomery, Pennsylvania (1973).
 
William Julius Moore, known as Bill Moore, was born on February 4, 1912, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He spent his early years in Wheeling before attending The Kiski School, a preparatory school in Pennsylvania. Moore later played college football at the University of North Carolina from 1932 to 1935, where he developed his skills as an end.
 
Moore’s football career took him to the National Football League (NFL), where he played for the Detroit Lions during the 1939 season. He appeared in nine games, recording six receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown. Before joining the Lions, he also played for the Los Angeles Bulldogs in 1938, a team in the early professional football leagues.
 
After his football career, Moore lived in Oreland, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he passed away on May 25, 1973, at the age of 61. His contributions to football, particularly as a player from Wheeling, remain part of the city’s sports legacy.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4mh7vaj3), Pro Football Reference (https://tinyurl.com/m3wpvjak), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/cmant2dh)
 
Photo credits: Loodibee Logos, Retroseasons

Today in Wheeling History: May 24--Wheeling native Chris Stirewalt joined NewsNation as its political editor (2022).
 
Chris Stirewalt is a political analyst and journalist known for his work in national media. Born on November 17, 1975, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Stirewalt spent his formative years in the city. He attended The Linsly School, graduating in 1993. His early interest in journalism led him to begin his career at The Wheeling Intelligencer, where he wrote baseball box scores at the age of 17.
 
After high school, Stirewalt attended Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, earning his degree in 1997. He later worked as a politics editor at the Charleston Daily Mail and West Virginia Media Holdings before moving into national media. He gained prominence as a political editor at Fox News, where he co-hosted the podcast "Perino & Stirewalt: I'll Tell You What" and contributed to election coverage. His role at Fox News ended in January 2021.
 
Following his departure from Fox, Stirewalt joined The Dispatch as a contributing editor and later became the political editor for NewsNation in May 2022. In 2024, he launched The Hill Sunday, a public affairs program. His career reflects a deep engagement with political journalism, shaped by his early experiences in Wheeling.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/5djh94mb), WTRF (https://tinyurl.com/fvxycnwd), Biographypedia (https://tinyurl.com/w2rt96m9)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons

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