​Today in Wheeling History: November 1—J.C. Penney Department Store opens as one of the original anchor tenants at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, serving the Wheeling area (1978).
 
On November 1, 1978, J.C. Penney officially opened its new 155,000-square-foot department store at the Ohio Valley Mall near St. Clairsville, Ohio, marking a significant retail shift for the Wheeling area. The opening ceremony featured Max Coats, the store manager who formerly supervised the downtown Wheeling location, and Miss Ohio 1978, Sher Patrick, sharing scissors for the ribbon-cutting before hundreds of shoppers. District Manager Karl Scheffer joined other company dignitaries for the celebration that began at 9:45 a.m.
 
The new store represented J.C. Penney's 85th location in Ohio and was considered one of the chain's most complete department stores due to its extensive size and offerings. Built on two levels with a freestanding 12,000-square-foot auto center, the facility featured the fullest collection of fashion apparel available in the nationwide 1,500-store chain, along with appliances, furniture, sporting goods, a restaurant, and a beauty salon.
 
J.C. Penney's presence at the Ohio Valley Mall resulted from the failed Fort Henry Mall proposal in downtown Wheeling. After Wheeling voters rejected the urban renewal project in 1973, the company—along with Sears and Montgomery Ward—shifted their commitments to the Belmont County location. The store had operated in Wheeling's McFadden Building at 1122-24 Market Street since 1937, remaining downtown for over four decades before the mall relocation.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling WV; J.C. Penney Officially Opens New Mall Store - Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/2uyemkfd), Ohio Valley Mall History – Times Leader (https://tinyurl.com/3vz4k7aj), Remembering Retail – Ohio Valley Mall Opening (https://tinyurl.com/3b5hfys4), Lede News – Changing Face of a Hometown (https://tinyurl.com/49uy5wrv), Archiving Wheeling – Fort Henry Mall & Urban Renewal (https://tinyurl.com/mr3r4bwj), Ohio County Public Library Flickr page  (https://tinyurl.com/mry2nehf)
 
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling WV; Wheeling News-Register

​Today in Wheeling History: October 31--Captain R. C. Marshall and Captain V. E. Clark of the aviation department of the War Department inspect Kyle Smith's patented airplane in Wheeling, declaring it better than any Curtiss airplane and among the lightest, strongest, and most perfectly adjusted and constructed machines in the country (1916).
 
S. Kyle Smith was born in February 1889 in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Harry M. Smith and Carrie Smith. His grandfather, Philip Christopher Smith, was born in Baden-Baden, Germany, in 1835 and immigrated to America, settling in Wheeling's 3rd Ward where he worked as a barber. Kyle Smith became a pioneering aviator, inventor, and aircraft manufacturer who founded the Kyle Smith Aircraft Company in 1916, making him a leader in West Virginia's early aviation industry. Smith met legendary flier Glenn Curtiss in 1908 and thereafter built his own Blue J Monoplane, designing and constructing his aircraft entirely by hand, fabricating even the smallest components himself. The company maintained offices in Wheeling (Box 273) and operated a manufacturing facility in Huntington. On October 21, 1916, professional aviator Harmon J. Norton of the Curtiss Aviation School in Buffalo, New York, flew Smith's newly constructed monoplane over Warwood, performing loops and spiral glides before landing on Upper Sister's Island, praising it as one of the finest machines he had ever piloted. Ten days later, on October 31, 1916, War Department aviation officials Captains R.C. Marshall and V.E. Clark inspected Smith's aircraft and declared it superior to any Curtiss airplane. Smith's company advertised its "Only Original All-American Monoplane" with land models priced at $3,000 and water models at $3,100. The company was formally incorporated on May 28, 1917. Beyond aviation, Smith invented the "Terralite" lens, widely used by automobile owners. Kyle Smith died on September 2, 1987, at age 98 on the dance floor at Mountain Jack's in Akron, Ohio, and was buried at Rose Hill Burial Park in Fairlawn, Ohio.
 
To learn more: Aviastar.org (https://tinyurl.com/2u6rhc46), Wheeling Daily Register (https://tinyurl.com/5f2btum5), The Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/2s32wsx5) (https://tinyurl.com/4fjdhe8a) (https://tinyurl.com/mrxem5sn), Historic Wheeling Aviation Wiki (https://tinyurl.com/3x4bn876), Bizapedia Company Record (https://tinyurl.com/beujepx3), Facebook - West Virginia Heritage, History, and Memories (https://tinyurl.com/yf7jrzak), WorthPoint  (https://tinyurl.com/4s48ykdw), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/mtxbw3u7) (https://tinyurl.com/yhchk3tb)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; West Virginia Heritage, History, and Memories Facebook page, Wheeling Daily Register, Wheeling Intelligencer, WorthPoint

​Today in Wheeling History: October 30—Francis J. Love, former U.S. Representative and Warwood High School principal, dies in Wheeling (1989).
 
Francis Johnson Love was born January 23, 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio, to Ulysses and Laura Johnson Love. After graduating from Cadiz High School, he earned his A.B. degree from Bethany College in 1924. Love served as principal of Warwood High School in Wheeling from 1926 to 1929, also coaching an AAA baseball team. He obtained his J.D. from West Virginia University Law School in 1932 and immediately began practicing law in Wheeling.
 
Love served as Republican U.S. Representative for West Virginia's 1st Congressional District from 1947 to 1949, losing his 1948 reelection bid to Democrat Robert L. Ramsay. He unsuccessfully sought the seat again in 1950 and 1952. Love attended six consecutive Republican National Conventions (1952-1976) as a delegate, gaining national attention when he recommended President Ford choose a woman running mate eight years before Geraldine Ferraro's historic nomination. In 1966, he challenged Senator Jennings Randolph but lost 60-40 percent, vigorously opposing Vietnam War policies during the campaign.
 
Love championed reduced EPA regulations on coal usage and authored "Mend Your English" (1969). His wife Pearl died in 1945. Love resided at Good Shepherd Nursing Home before dying October 30, 1989, at age 88. He is buried at Union Cemetery in Cadiz, survived by daughter Sally Love Rochlin.
 
To learn more: Francis J. Love – Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4d494hce), Infoplease Biography (https://tinyurl.com/mumfa76c), Biographies.net (https://tinyurl.com/3v85zdvf), Political Graveyard – WV Delegation 1964 (https://tinyurl.com/msunrz7c), DBpedia Entry (https://tinyurl.com/yt7e9mba), Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/48ya3f7z) (https://tinyurl.com/4xpm4j2c) (https://tinyurl.com/2nv6nbsc), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/bdekubfs) (https://tinyurl.com/4ep54yzs)
 
Photo credits: Wheeling News-Register, Wheeling Intelligencer, Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps

​Today in Wheeling History: October 29 — Assistant Fire Chief Robert Howard Foster Sr. of the Wheeling Fire Department dies in the line of duty while responding to a fire (1991).
 
Assistant Chief Robert H. Foster Sr., age 54, was a respected veteran of the Wheeling Fire Department whose life was tragically cut short on October 29, 1991, during a fire response. On that day, Foster radioed that he was entering a burning building through an overhead garage door. When fellow firefighters lost contact with him, they began a search and found him inside the garage near a vehicle. Despite rescue efforts, Foster succumbed to the conditions inside the structure.
 
His death marked a profound loss for the department and the Wheeling community. Foster’s badge number, 4, was retired in his honor and now appears on a commemorative plaque at the Fallen Firefighter Memorial in Heritage Port. Each year on October 29, the Wheeling Fire Department holds a remembrance ceremony to honor Foster and other firefighters who have died in the line of duty. The event includes a bell-ringing tribute, readings of fallen names, and reflections on the sacrifices made by first responders.
 
Foster’s legacy continues to inspire generations of firefighters in Wheeling and beyond. His service exemplifies courage, dedication, and the enduring bond among those who risk their lives to protect others.
 
To learn more: Wheeling Fallen Firefighter Memorial (https://tinyurl.com/mvjb2yc7), The Intelligencer – Wheeling Firefighters Honor Robert Foster (https://tinyurl.com/mrx2h4jj), WTRF – Annual Memorial Ceremony Honors Foster (https://tinyurl.com/3bxtj7nf), River News – Wheeling Firefighters’ Ceremony (https://tinyurl.com/yfevyhs6), Fire Service Line of Duty Deaths – Facebook Post (https://tinyurl.com/yhfy5jdu), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/4n3k7mfz)
 
Photo credits: Find a Grave, City of Wheeling

​Today in Wheeling History: October 28--Judge Arthur M. Recht passed away in Wheeling at age 80 (2018). 
 
Born on February 4, 1938, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Arthur Mark Recht was a product of the city’s civic and cultural fabric. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law in 1962. Recht began his legal career in Wheeling and was appointed Circuit Judge for Ohio County in 1981. His most enduring legacy came in 1982 with the “Recht Decision,” a sweeping ruling that declared West Virginia’s public school funding system unconstitutional and mandated equitable resources for all students statewide.
 
Recht served on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals from 1995 to 1996 and returned to the First Judicial Circuit until his retirement in 2012. Known for his commanding courtroom presence and intellectual rigor, Recht was also deeply involved in Temple Shalom and local civic life. He mentored young attorneys and was remembered for his warmth, wit, and love of classical music—especially Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.”
 
Judge Recht died on October 28, 2018, after suffering a stroke. He is buried in Jewish Memorial Park in Ohio County, WV. His impact on education equity and judicial integrity continues to shape West Virginia’s legal landscape.
 
Arthur M. Recht – Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/4wtbskx6), Find a Grave – Arthur M. Recht (https://tinyurl.com/ywj83a6v), Judge Recht Tribute – Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/4a6k6b2f)
 
Photo credits: Weelunk, Find a Grave

​Today in Wheeling History: October 27 — Annie Sinclair Cunningham, future Wheeling religious reformer and founder of the West Virginia Home for Aged and Friendless Women, is born in the West Highlands of Scotland (1832).
 
Annie Campbell Fraser Sinclair Cunningham (b. October 27 or October 29, 1832 – d. February 17, 1897) was a pioneering religious and social reformer whose legacy in Wheeling, West Virginia, endures through her charitable work and leadership. Born in the West Highlands of Scotland, Annie was the fifth of nine children of Rev. John C. Sinclair and Mary Julia MacLean, a descendant of the noble Duart and Lochbuy clans. Her family emigrated to Nova Scotia and later Prince Edward Island, where her father served as a missionary. Annie received a robust education, including studies in Boston and Philadelphia, and developed a strong commitment to religious and social causes.
 
After marrying Rev. David Ayers Cunningham, pastor of Wheeling’s First Presbyterian Church, Annie became a central figure in the city’s religious and philanthropic life. She co-founded the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church and led the Washington Presbytery Mission Society. Her most enduring local contribution was founding the West Virginia Home for Aged and Friendless Women in 1890 at 37 Thirteenth Street, where she served as its first president and was hailed as its “best friend.”
 
Annie died in Wheeling in 1897 and is buried at Greenwood Cemetery. Her work exemplified the power of faith-driven civic engagement and women’s leadership in 19th-century America.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library – Wheeling Hall of Fame: Annie Sinclair Cunningham (https://tinyurl.com/3774694f), Wikipedia – Annie Sinclair Cunningham (https://tinyurl.com/mryc693e), Wikisource – Woman of the Century: Annie Sinclair Cunningham (https://tinyurl.com/muupukta), Find a Grave (https://tinyurl.com/uexbxxhs)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Wikimedia Commons

​Today in Wheeling History: October 26 — B. Walker Peterson, future Wheeling civic leader and financier, is born in Wheeling (1851).
 
Benjamin Walker Peterson was born on October 26, 1851, in Wheeling, West Virginia, into a family of means and civic engagement. He graduated from Bethany College in 1870 and earned a degree in engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1873. Returning to Wheeling, Peterson became a prominent businessman and philanthropist. He served as president of the Wheeling Dollar Bank and was instrumental in supporting local industry and civic development. Known for his generosity, he never turned away a local enterprise seeking financial backing. Peterson lived in Wheeling for 74 years, and his impact was so profound that on the day of his funeral—January 3, 1925—trolley cars stopped, foundry whistles blew, flags were lowered, and businesses closed in mourning. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Wheeling, in a private mausoleum. His legacy includes contributions to education, finance, and civic life, and he was posthumously inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 1994. Peterson’s family, including his son Walker Fairfield Peterson, continued his tradition of civic involvement. His life exemplifies the spirit of industrial progress and community stewardship that shaped Wheeling in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Hall of Fame Entry (https://tinyurl.com/574a3fnp), Find a Grave Memorial (https://tinyurl.com/2n4mn6br), Archiving Wheeling – Hall of Fame Feature (https://tinyurl.com/57r777sp), Peterson Family History PDF (https://tinyurl.com/jj4yswfc)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave, Ohio County WVGenWeb

​Today in Wheeling History: October 25—Mollie O’Brien, acclaimed Americana and folk singer, was born in Wheeling (1952).
 
Mollie O’Brien, born October 25, 1952, in Wheeling, West Virginia, is a celebrated singer known for her work in Americana, bluegrass, folk, and R&B. The fourth of five children of attorney Frank and Amy O’Brien, Mollie grew up immersed in Wheeling’s cultural and musical landscape. She attended Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, graduating in 1970, and later studied at West Virginia University and Bethany College. Despite Wheeling’s limited musical opportunities at the time—especially for genres outside rock—Mollie nurtured her passion for performance. After two years of college, she moved to New York City with aspirations of Broadway but found herself working in the garment district. She returned to Wheeling briefly before relocating to Colorado in 1980 to join her brother, Grammy-winning musician Tim O’Brien.
 
Together, the siblings recorded several acclaimed albums, and Mollie contributed vocals to the Grammy-winning "True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe." She later formed a musical duo with her husband, guitarist Rich Moore, releasing albums such as "Saints and Sinners" and "900 Baseline." Mollie’s voice—described as smoky, powerful, and bold—has earned her recognition as one of roots music’s finest interpreters. She continues to perform nationally and has appeared on "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Mountain Stage."
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/mwypra6k), Ohio County Public Library – Wheeling Hall of Fame PDF (https://tinyurl.com/4ff3xjhv), Mollie O’Brien Official Website (https://tinyurl.com/436t96t8),Weelunk Feature (https://tinyurl.com/2pjjhww9)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons

​Today in Wheeling History: October 23--Wheeling native Constance Cornell Stuart was appointed staff director and press secretary to First Lady Pat Nixon, becoming one of the highest-ranking women in the Nixon White House (1969).
 
Constance "Connie" Cornell Stuart was born in Wheeling on July 15, 1938, to Vernon Everett Cornell and Ada Kathleen Bellis Cornell. She grew up on Howard Place with her three sisters and graduated as valedictorian from Triadelphia High School in 1956. In 1959, she was crowned Queen Sylvia at the Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins.
 
Stuart attended the University of Maryland, graduating magna cum laude in 1960 with a degree in speech and theater. She pursued graduate work in television and joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. After college, she worked in New York City for public relations firms and AT&T, producing training films. In 1967, she married Charles E. Stuart, an advance man for Richard Nixon's presidential campaign.
 
In October 1969, First Lady Pat Nixon appointed Stuart as staff director and press secretary, a $30,000-per-year position she held until 1973. Stuart managed press relations, correspondence, and social events for the Nixon family. She later directed the State Department's International Visitors Program (1973-1977) and served as press secretary at the Department of Energy (1981-1985). Stuart also served on the University of Maryland Board of Regents from 1980-1988. She died of natural causes on August 27, 2016, at her home, Rose Hill, in Port Tobacco, Maryland.
 
To learn more: Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/4j5mtvwa), Penn State Libraries Biography (https://tinyurl.com/mpkhabtm), Obituary from Arehart-Echols Funeral Home (https://tinyurl.com/3zjm92st), White House Historical Association (https://tinyurl.com/5n6n7k3d), UPI Archives (https://tinyurl.com/ynavufrh)
 
Photo credits: PennState University Libraries, The White House Historical Association, Wheeling Intelligencer

Today in Wheeling History: October 22—The "Wheeling Intelligencer" reported on a federal investigation by the Bureau of Labor into the enforcement of child labor laws in Wheeling's factories (1908).
 
In the early 20th century, Wheeling, West Virginia was a bustling industrial hub, home to glassworks, nail factories, and tobacco plants. On October 22, 1908, the "Wheeling Intelligencer" reported that the Bureau of Labor had launched a federal investigation into the enforcement of child labor laws in the city’s factories. This inquiry was part of a broader national movement led by the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC), which sought to expose the exploitation of children in industrial settings. Wheeling’s factories, like many across the country, employed children as young as eight, often in dangerous and grueling conditions. Investigative photographer Lewis Hine visited Wheeling during this period, capturing haunting images of child workers—some barefoot, others operating heavy machinery. These photographs, now preserved by the Library of Congress, became powerful tools in the campaign for reform. The investigation highlighted the lack of enforcement of existing labor laws and helped galvanize public support for stricter regulations. Although meaningful federal protections wouldn’t arrive until the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, Wheeling’s inclusion in this early probe marked a pivotal moment in the city’s labor history and contributed to the national reckoning with child labor abuses.
 
To learn more: Weelunk article on Lewis Hine’s Wheeling photographs (https://tinyurl.com/2thw5sc6), Library of Congress: National Child Labor Committee Collection (https://tinyurl.com/49rrrtyb)
 
Photo credits: Weelunk, Library of Congress, Wheeling Intelligencer