​Today in Wheeling History: August 31—The “Wheeling Register” reports the Virginia Apartments are completed and ready for occupancy after September 1st (1902).
 
According to the “Wheeling Register”, the Virginia Flats on North Main Street, were one of the finest apartment buildings in this part of the country at the time, and would be ready for occupancy immediately after September 1, 1902. The building was expected to have a café, which was expected to be very popular. The “Wheeling Register” felt promoters of the scheme deserved credit for succeeding in securing something that the public had wanted for a long time. (https://tinyurl.com/55fzur3p) (https://tinyurl.com/yech8e5v)

Today in Wheeling History: August 31--Reverend Namatallah El-Hayek, pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon in Wheeling from 1967 to 1974, was born in Bejje, Gabail District near the ancient city of Byblos, Lebanon (1928).

Reverend Namatallah El-Hayek was born on August 31, 1928, in Bejje, Lebanon. He was educated at the Patriarchal Seminary in Ain Wahrah and was ordained a priest on June 8, 1952. He served in many parishes in Lebanon, including Beirut, Baabda, and Djunie.

In August 1965, Father Hayek came to the United States to serve at St. Elias Church in Roanoke, Virginia. In early 1967, he was transferred to St. Georges Church in San Antonio, Texas.

On October 5, 1967, Father Hayek arrived in Wheeling to take over as pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon Church. During his tenure, he liquidated all outstanding debts, sold the old rectory, converted the parish school into a new rectory, built a parking lot, expanded the church hall, built a new kitchen, and refurbished the church. The parish remained debt-free throughout his time there.
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Father Hayek was transferred to St. Ann's Church in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in October 1974. (https://tinyurl.com/yf9yk6t9)

Today in Wheeling History: August 30--Natural gas was introduced in Wheeling, West Virginia with great public excitement and celebration. Civic leaders hailed it as bringing prosperity, growth, and competitiveness to Wheeling's manufacturing industries. The event marked the beginning of a new era for the city (1886).
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In August 1886, natural gas was introduced in Wheeling, West Virginia to great fanfare and public celebration. The event was marked by illumination from multiple gas standpipes erected around the city, including at 14th and Market Streets, Main and 8th Streets, the Crescent, and Hobbs, Brockunier & Co.'s glass works. Thousands gathered in the streets to witness the event. Prominent speakers included William Flinn and Thomas A. Gillespie of the Wheeling Natural Gas Company, as well as C.W. Brockunier of the Manufacturers' Natural Gas Company. Civic leaders hailed natural gas as bringing prosperity, growth, and competitiveness to Wheeling's manufacturing industries like glass and iron. The occasion marked the beginning of a new era for Wheeling. (https://tinyurl.com/42ru4bm2) (https://tinyurl.com/yc33p6s7) 

​Today in Wheeling History: August 30--Justice Thomas B. Miller, West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice, retires (1994).
 
Justice Thomas B. Miller of Wheeling served on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals from 1977-1994, where he was known for fair and scholarly opinions. He graduated from UVa and WVU Law, served in the Korean War, and practiced law at Schrader, Byrd & Companion in Wheeling before joining the Supreme Court. Miller received numerous honors including awards from the American Trial Lawyers Association and WV Education Association. He retired in 1994 but continued serving as counsel at Schrader, Byrd & Companion.
 
Miller resided in Wheeling with his wife, Vaughn Nolte Miller, whom he met while studying in Morgantown. They had four sons, George in Greenville, South Carolina; Ken, in Charleston, West Virginia; and Brad and Brian in Wheeling. Miller passed away, August 12, 2008 and is interred in Greenwood Cemetery. 

​Today in Wheeling History--August 29: The Greek Orthodox Community of Wheeling organized the inaugural Tri-State Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Choirs,  totaling 500 members, under the guidance of Reverend Geranios and supported by the Greek Ladies Philoptochos Society and the choir, at Oglebay Park, where they were joined by priests and His Eminence Athenagoras, the then Archbishop of North and South America, to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, accompanied by organist Phyllis Monroe Waldo from the Wheeling Choir (1948). (https://tinyurl.com/yt8ee5s2) (https://tinyurl.com/42ru4bm2) 

​Today in Wheeling History: August 29--Construction begins on the Downtowner Motor Inn at Tenth and Market Streets in Wheeling (1962).
 
In August 1962, construction began on the Downtowner Motor Inn in Wheeling, West Virginia at the corner of 10th and Main Streets. The $750,000 project was completed by the owner Motor Inn, Inc., a local company headed by James M. Hawley. It was developed in partnership with Downtowner Corp. of Memphis, headed by L.F. Matthews. The architect was George A. Thomason. General contractor was Sexton & Dillon of Salem, Virginia. The 5-story, 78-unit facility with restaurant, pool, and parking was expected to be completed in 10 months. (https://tinyurl.com/3tnew2km) (https://tinyurl.com/2s3sjd4k)

Today in Wheeling History: August 28—James McHenry Jones, principal of Wheeling’s Lincoln School from 1882 to 1900, was born in Gallipolis, Ohio (1859).
 
James McHenry Jones (August 28, 1859 – September 22, 1909) was a prominent American educator, school administrator, businessman, and minister. He served as the principal of Lincoln School in Wheeling, West Virginia, and later became the third principal (considered the third president) of the West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University). Jones was influential in advancing African-American education and civil rights in the region, and his efforts were recognized with honorary degrees from Wilberforce University and Rust College. He was also involved in the founding of one of the first African American-owned fossil fuel companies in the United States, the Wilgera Oil and Gas Company. Jones's legacy lives on, and the West Virginia State University honors him with Jones Hall, a building on their campus named in his memory. (https://tinyurl.com/m8jv8pcz) (https://tinyurl.com/4uafzpdf) (https://tinyurl.com/mr35566y) 

Today in Wheeling History: August 27--Horseracing began 9 days before the September 6th start of the West Virginia State Fair (1931).
 
The West Virginia State Fair, held annually in Wheeling, was set to begin its fifty-first exhibition on September 6th, 1931. Despite challenging economic times, the fair aimed to uphold its motto of being "bigger and better than ever." The fair had a rich history dating back to 1881, with dedicated leaders like Anton Reymann and George Hook guiding its growth. Civic in nature, the fair was focused on community betterment and educational advancement. It supported agricultural progress, vocational training for youth, and hosts 4-H Club activities. Alongside its educational offerings, the 1931 fair provided a diverse range of entertainment, including a spectacular U.S. cavalry display, night shows with all-star attractions, racing events, and a thrilling high dive act into a flaming pool. The fair was committed to living up to its legacy as it offered a mix of education and entertainment for its visitors.
 
The fair in Wheeling was known by different names, including the West Virginia State Fair and the West Virginia Exposition and State Fair. However, it seems that the fair in Wheeling was eventually halted due to the recurring issue of flooding on the Island where it was held. (https://tinyurl.com/2mxfefsa) (https://tinyurl.com/4eucvykh) 

​Today in Wheeling History: August 26—Veterans of the Union Army refused to walk beneath a Market Street banner that displayed the likeness of President Grover Cleveland. (1887).

In 1887, the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) held its 11th annual reunion in Wheeling, West Virginia. President Grover Cleveland was unpopular with the G.A.R. because of his vetoes of pension bills and his support for returning battle flags to their states of origin.

During the parade, a banner with Cleveland's likeness was hung in front of the “Wheeling Register” newspaper office. Some of the G.A.R. posts refused to march under the banner, veering off the street and onto the sidewalk. The incident was picked up by newspapers all over the country and became a national political scandal.

Some people criticized the G.A.R. marchers for being disrespectful and unpatriotic, while others defended their actions, saying that the banner was deliberately placed in their path as a political trick and an insult to veterans.

The incident is known as the "Grover Cleveland Banner Incident" and is a reminder of the political divisions that existed in the United States during the late 19th century. 

​Today in Wheeling History: August 25--Harlan J. Smith, astronomer and director of McDonald Observatory of the University of Texas at Austin for 26 years, was born in Wheeling (1924).
 
Harlan James Smith was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1924. He was the son of Paul and Anna McGregor Smith of Wheeling Island. He was interested in astronomy from a young age, and his interest was furthered by the donation of a 6-inch reflecting telescope to the Wheeling public in 1935. He graduated from Wheeling High School in 1942 and went on to earn his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in astronomy from Harvard University.
 
After a brief stint in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Smith joined the faculty of Yale University in 1953. He moved to the University of Texas at Austin in 1963, where he served as the first Texas-based director of the McDonald Observatory and chairman of the university's astronomy department. Under his leadership, the McDonald Observatory grew to become an international scientific attraction and the university's astronomy department became the largest in the nation.
 
Smith made significant contributions to astronomy in the areas of pure research and public outreach. He discovered the optical variability, and thus small size, of quasars; studied the influence of solar wind on radio emissions from Jupiter; and discovered the existence of a class of variable stars known as dwarf Cepheids, or Delta Scuti stars. He also helped create "StarDate," a two-minute syndicated daily radio broadcast about planetary happenings, and wrote and produced the award-winning "Story of the Universe" educational film series.
 
Smith was a recipient of the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the space organization's highest civilian award. He died in 1991 at the age of 67. (https://tinyurl.com/229rkvnw) (https://tinyurl.com/4ej5nf46)