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
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
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