​Today in Wheeling History: January 7--Archbishop Gaetano Bedini, Titular Archbishop of Thebes on a special diplomatic mission from Pope Pius IX, attended services and a reception at St. James Cathedral in Wheeling, where a mob of Know-Nothing protestors and German Freemen assaulted the Cathedral with stones, smashing windows and threatening violence while Bishop Richard Whelan's pre-assembled force of 100 armed Irish and German Catholic defenders protected the church, its property and the Archbishop, culminating in the angry mob burning Bedini in effigy before dispersing without further bloodshed (1854).
 
Archbishop Gaetano Bedini's visit to Wheeling in January 1854 marked a contentious moment in the city's religious and social history. As Titular Archbishop of Thebes on a special diplomatic mission to the United States for Pope Pius IX, Bedini stopped in Wheeling during his controversial tour of American cities. His arrival sparked tensions between Wheeling's Catholic and Protestant communities, particularly among German immigrants. Bishop Richard Whelan of the Diocese of Wheeling invited Bedini to visit St. James Cathedral (predecessor to today's Cathedral of St. Joseph). On January 7, 1854, an angry mob of Know-Nothings (members of a nativist, anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant political movement of the 1850s) and German Freemen (German socialist immigrants who fled to America after the failed 1848 European revolutions, organized as the "Wheeling League of Freemen" promoting democratic reforms and secular government) attacked the Cathedral, throwing stones and breaking windows. Bishop Whelan had anticipated trouble and assembled approximately 100 armed Irish and German Catholic men to protect Bedini and church property. The mob burned Bedini in effigy but was deterred from further violence by the armed Catholic guard. Bedini stayed at Bishop Whelan's residence during the visit. He narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when boarding his train to depart Wheeling on January 9 - one of the would-be assassins had a change of heart and informed authorities but was later stabbed to death by a conspirator. The visit highlighted the deep divisions between Wheeling's immigrant Catholic and Protestant communities during the pre-Civil War period.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/H5UoH), West Virginia University (https://shorturl.at/haz5C) (https://shorturl.at/4IRgZ) (https://shorturl.at/LfWuI), Nothing is Written (https://tinyurl.com/d6w9d3fz)
 
Photo caption and credit: This illustration by an unknown artist shows how it might have looked when armed men guarded a church from a nativist attack. (Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV)

​Today in Wheeling History: December 31--The Wheeling Historic District, encompassing 205 contributing buildings and significant landmarks like the United States Custom House and West Virginia Independence Hall, was added to the National Register of Historic Places (1979).
 
The Wheeling Historic District, also known as the Wheeling Central Business District, is a national historic district located in Wheeling, Ohio County, West Virginia. The district encompasses 205 contributing buildings in the central business district of Wheeling. It includes the site of the original location of Fort Henry, a significant historical landmark. The buildings within the district represent a variety of popular architectural styles from the early 19th century through the present, including Greek Revival and Late Victorian.
 
The district was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 1979. Notable buildings within the district include the United States Custom House (1859), the Federal Building and United States Courthouse (1907), St. Matthew's Church and Rectory (c. 1892), the Thomas Paull House (c. 1835), the English Lutheran Church (1897), the First United Presbyterian Church (1825), the City Bank Building (c. 1890), the Bank of Wheeling (1892), the Capitol Theatre (1928), the Medical Tower Building (1915), and the Joseph Speidel & Company Building. The district also includes the West Virginia Independence Hall and the Baltimore and Ohio Passenger Terminal (1907-1908), both of which are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
 
The Wheeling Historic District is a testament to the city's rich architectural and historical heritage. It serves as a reminder of Wheeling's significance as a commercial and cultural hub in the region. The district's preservation efforts highlight the community's commitment to maintaining its historical integrity while fostering growth and development.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/7n3Uw), West Virginia Division of Culture and History (https://shorturl.at/JzxbQ) (https://shorturl.at/hpnoe)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons

​Today in Wheeling History: December 29--Marilyn Hughey Phillis, a renowned watermedia artist and educator who made significant contributions to the Wheeling arts community and was known nationwide for her innovative techniques and workshops, passed away (2022).
 
Marilyn Hughey Phillis was born on February 1, 1927, in Kent, Ohio. She attended Kent Public Schools and later earned bachelor's degrees in bacteriology and chemistry from The Ohio State University in 1949. After graduation, she worked as an analytical chemist at Battelle Laboratories in Columbus, Ohio, focusing on national defense matters. Phillis had a lifelong passion for art, which she pursued alongside her scientific career.
 
In 1984, Phillis moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, with her late husband, Richard. She quickly became a prominent figure in the local arts community. Phillis was a founding member and former president of the Ohio Watercolor Society, and she received the Jim Brower Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the field. Her work as a watermedia artist earned her national recognition, and she was an elected member of the American Watercolor Society.
 
Phillis authored the best-selling book "Watermedia Techniques for Releasing the Creative Spirit" and led numerous workshops across the country, sharing her expertise and creative vision with students. Her art is displayed in many homes and establishments nationwide. Phillis passed away on December 29, 2022, in Northbrook, Illinois, at the age of 95. She left behind a legacy of artistic excellence and generosity, having inspired countless students and colleagues throughout her career.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/cYKYD), Cleveland.com (https://shorturl.at/5T216), Tribute Archive (https://tinyurl.com/yck47akp)
 
Photo caption and credit: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Amazon

​Today in Wheeling History: December 30--Kevin Salvadori, a former NBA player and Wheeling native who made significant contributions to basketball, was born (1970).
 
Kevin Michael Salvadori was born on December 30, 1970, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He developed a passion for basketball from a young age. Salvadori attended Seton-La Salle Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he excelled in basketball and earned a reputation as a talented player. His skills on the court earned him a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where he played college basketball from 1990 to 1994.
 
During his time at North Carolina, Salvadori was a key player on the team that won the NCAA Championship in 1993. Despite going undrafted in the 1994 NBA Draft, he managed to carve out a professional basketball career. Salvadori played for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA from 1996 to 1998, appearing in 39 games and scoring a total of 42 points. He also played for various teams in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and overseas, including the Florida Sharks, Florida Beachdogs, Rockford Lightning, and Spirou Charleroi.
 
After retiring from professional basketball, Salvadori transitioned into coaching. He served as an assistant basketball coach at Belmont Abbey College, a Division II program near Charlotte, North Carolina. Salvadori's contributions to basketball, both as a player and coach, have left a lasting impact on the sport.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/TqqrA), Basketball-Reference (https://shorturl.at/xWql8), Articlebio (https://shorturl.at/DX6NK)
 
Photo caption and credit: 1994-95 Classic Draft #45 Kevin Salvadori North Carolina Tar Heels (ebay)

Today in Wheeling History: December 28--Kate Rolla, a renowned opera singer who hailed from Wheeling, passed away (1925).
 
Kate Rolla, born Katherine Doane Wheat on June 16, 1859, in Wheeling, West Virginia, was the daughter of George Keiter Wheat, a banker and businessman, and Fannie Josephine Doane Wheat, a suffragist and clubwoman. Growing up in Wheeling, she was influenced by her mother's activism and her father's business acumen. Rolla's early education included local schools in Wheeling, where she developed a passion for music and singing.
 
After an early marriage to Oscar Rammelsberg, which ended in divorce, Rolla moved to Paris to pursue her dream of becoming an opera singer. She studied under the renowned vocal teacher Mathilde Marchesi and made her operatic debut at the Teatro Carcano in Milan, performing the title role in Donizetti's "Linda di Chamounix." Rolla's career flourished as she performed in major European cities, including Dublin, Moscow, and London. She sang at London's Covent Garden in 1888 and 1891, and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1896.
 
Rolla's voice was described as pure and bell-like, though some critics noted a metallic timbre. Despite mixed reviews, she continued to perform and later transitioned to teaching voice in New York City during World War I. Rolla passed away on December 28, 1925, in Paris, France, from an infection following an appendectomy. She left behind a legacy as a talented opera singer and dedicated teacher.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/agdic), GS Archive  (https://shorturl.at/uDSHB), Wikiwand (https://shorturl.at/NnJz9)
 
Photo caption and credit: "Kate Rolla (born Kate Wheat), American opera singer" (The Marie Burroughs Art Portfolio of Stage Celebrities, Chicago: A. N. Marquis & Company, 1894)

​Today in Wheeling History: December 26--Dr. Jacob Schwinn, a renowned surgeon and humanitarian who made significant contributions to the medical community in Wheeling, passed away (1941).
 
Dr. Jacob Schwinn was born on December 10, 1854, in Switzerland. He was the youngest of ten children and grew up on a family farm near Schaffhausen. His mother encouraged him to pursue a career in medicine, leading him to study at several prestigious universities, including Heidelberg, Zurich, Würzburg, Berlin, and Bern. Schwinn earned his medical degree at the University of Bern, where he studied under the famed surgeon Dr. Kocher.
 
In 1884, Schwinn moved to the United States and initially practiced in Chicago and Des Moines. He eventually settled in Wheeling, West Virginia, at the invitation of his friend and former roommate, Dr. Gregory Ackermann. Schwinn quickly established himself as a skilled surgeon and a compassionate physician. He was known for his charity work, particularly with the Wheeling Rotary Club, where he provided medical services to crippled children.
 
Dr. Schwinn was a prominent figure at Ohio Valley General Hospital and Wheeling Hospital, where he served on the surgical staff and headed the research department. In 1938, at the age of 83, he made headlines by supervising his own operation for a strangulated hernia under local anesthesia. Schwinn passed away on December 26, 1941, after suffering a stroke on Christmas Eve. He left behind a legacy of medical excellence and humanitarian service.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/ykQOG), Wheeling Hall of Fame (https://shorturl.at/ONbac), Dr. Jacob Schwinn Remembered (https://shorturl.at/JHqGm)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV  

​Today in Wheeling History: December 27--Michael Joseph Owens, the inventor of the automatic glass bottle-blowing machine and a former glassblower in Wheeling, passed away (1923).
 
Michael Joseph Owens was born on January 1, 1859, in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to Joseph and Mary Owens, Irish immigrants from County Wexford. His father was a coal miner, and the family faced financial hardships. At the age of 10, Owens left school to start a glassware apprenticeship at J. H. Hobbs, Brockunier and Company in Wheeling, West Virginia. By the age of 15, he had become a skilled glassblower, working alongside craftsmen much older than himself.
 
In 1888, Owens moved to Toledo, Ohio, to work for the Toledo Glass Factory owned by Edward Drummond Libbey. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a foreman and then a supervisor. Owens' innovative spirit led him to invent a mould-opening device that significantly reduced the cost of glass bulbs, making them more accessible to the public. In 1895, he patented a completely automatic glass bottle-blowing machine, revolutionizing the glass industry by automating the production process and reducing labor costs.
 
Owens founded the Owens Bottle Machine Company in 1903 and later established the Libbey-Owens Sheet Glass Company in 1916. His inventions helped eliminate child labor in the glass industry and earned him numerous accolades, including the Elliott Cresson Medal in 1915. Owens passed away on December 27, 1923, in Toledo, Ohio, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Toledo.
 
To learn more: Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/J87Ff), Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/3utVw), West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://shorturl.at/RlUMl)
 
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Library of Congress, Find a Grave

Today in Wheeling History: December 26--The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer reports that Bill Turner, Renaissance man known for being a brawler, bartender, bouncer, barber, baseball player, coach, umpire, drummer, singer, Republican Party activist, and Wheeling's first black police officer, had defeated wrestler Dennis Gardner in a fight (1885).
 
William Alexander "Bill" Turner was born on November 25, 1865, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Alexander and Amelia Mason Turner. Growing up in Ward 2 on the Chapline Street block between 10th and 11th Streets, Turner lived in an area that would long remain Wheeling's black neighborhood. He attended local schools and became well-known in the community for his various roles and activities.
 
As early as age 20, Turner had already established a reputation in Wheeling. On December 26, 1885, the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer reported that "Bill Turner, the well known colored youth yesterday got into a fight with Alex Gardner, the colored wrestler, and Alex came out second best, or rather second worst, if reports are reliable, for they say Alex was pretty badly used up." The newspaper later corrected that it was actually Dennis Gardner, not Alex, whom Turner had fought.
 
Turner was a true Renaissance man, working as a brawler, bartender, bouncer, barber, baseball player, coach, umpire, drummer, and singer in a quartet. He was also a Republican Party activist and a member of several fraternal societies. Most notably, Turner became Wheeling's first black police officer around 1899. His first stint as a police officer lasted until 1902 or 1903, and he returned to the force in 1919, serving until his death in 1928.
 
Turner was known for his bravery and dedication to public service. He once saved a man from burning to death, earning him local recognition. Despite the challenges of enforcing laws that rendered him a second-class citizen, Turner remained committed to his role as a police officer. He passed away on September 27, 1928, at his home at 114 Twelfth Street in Wheeling. Turner was honored by the Fraternal Order of Police for his 20 years of "faithful and conscientious" service.
 
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/WUuNS)
 
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV

Today in Wheeling History: December 25--The Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company experienced such rapid business growth that employees, who typically enjoyed a week off for Christmas, were limited to only Christmas Day due to the high demand for their popular Mail Pouch chewing tobacco (1890).
 
During 1890, the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company, founded by brothers Aaron and Samuel Bloch in 1879, experienced rapid growth. The company, known for its Mail Pouch chewing tobacco, saw a significant increase in demand, leading to steady work and long hours for its employees. To keep up with orders, it was frequently necessary for workers to stay until 10:30 at night. As a result, the traditional week off for Christmas was limited to only Christmas Day that year.
 
The Bloch Brothers' innovative approach to using leftover cigar clippings to create flavored chewing tobacco revolutionized the industry. Their product, Mail Pouch, became widely popular and was advertised on over 20,000 barns across the rural Ohio River Valley. The company's success led to the incorporation of the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company in December 1890, with a capital stock of $2 million.
 
The business continued to expand, and in 1890, the employees organized Wheeling's Tobacco Workers' Union, No. 4087, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. This union played a crucial role in advocating for workers' rights and improving labor conditions.
 
The Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company remained a significant part of Wheeling's industrial landscape for many years, contributing to the city's economic growth and development.
 
Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/p813Q); Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/ugcVR)
 
Photo caption and credit: Mail Pouch barn ad (Pollinator at English Wikipedia, transferred to Wikimedia Commons)

​Today in Wheeling History: December 24--WTOV-TV, a television station serving the Wheeling, West Virginia–Steubenville, Ohio market, first went on air, marking a significant milestone in the region's broadcasting history (1953).
 
WTOV-TV, Channel 9, is a television station licensed to Steubenville, Ohio, serving the Wheeling, West Virginia–Steubenville, Ohio market. The station first went on air as WSTV-TV on December 24, 1953. It was initially owned by Rust Craft Broadcasting along with WSTV radio (1340 AM) and 103.5 FM (now WOGH). The station's call letters stood for "We're Television for the Ohio Valley."
 
WTOV-TV began as a CBS affiliate but also carried a secondary affiliation with ABC, sharing programming with NBC affiliate WTRF-TV. In 1979, the station changed its call letters to WTOV-TV after Rust Craft merged with Ziff Davis and sold off the radio stations. The call letters had previously been used for a TV station in Portsmouth, Virginia.
 
In 1980, WTOV-TV and WTRF-TV swapped affiliations, with WTOV-TV becoming an NBC affiliate. The station has since added a secondary affiliation with Fox on its digital subchannel. WTOV-TV is currently owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group and operates from studios and transmitter facilities on Burr Avenue in Mingo Junction, Ohio.
 
WTOV-TV has been a significant source of local news, weather, sports, and entertainment programming for the Ohio Valley area. The station's commitment to community service and quality broadcasting has made it a trusted and respected media outlet in the region.
 
To learn more: Wikipedia (https://shorturl.at/9LHM3), PBRTV (https://shorturl.at/Q3CLH), WTOV-TV (https://tinyurl.com/4vvx2a69)
 
Photo credit and caption: "WTOV's News SUV in Pittsburgh on 4/29/18 covering the Pittsburgh Pirates." (Bbabybear02 at English Wikipedia)