Today in Wheeling History: February 2--Walter J. Burke Sr., pioneer Wheeling streetcar driver and transportation worker, was born in Ireland (1841).
Walter J. Burke Sr. was a pioneering figure in Wheeling's public transportation history. Born in Ireland on February 2, 1841, he immigrated to America in 1865 at the age of 29. Two years after arriving, Burke began his remarkable career as one of Wheeling's first horse car drivers with the Citizens Street Railway Company, which had received its charter from the Virginia General Assembly in 1863. He was known for his strong work ethic, operating streetcars along a four-mile route from South Wheeling through Market Street to Bridgeport. Burke earned recognition for his principled stance when he once ejected company president William Woodard from a car for refusing to pay his fare - an incident that surprisingly led to his promotion. He married Bridget Murphy in 1873, and together they raised eight children: Thomas, Lawrence, Ella, John, Walter Jr., Joseph, Mary Ann, and Richard. Burke continued working for the Wheeling Traction Company well into his seventies, maintaining his position at the West Wheeling barns. He lived on Thirteenth Street in Wheeling and was known for his Irish wit and inspiring presence among his co-workers. Burke died on November 14, 1923, at age 82 from chronic myocarditis and was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/Xv0jg); Wheeling Intelligencer (https://shorturl.at/3vatc), Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/ezOog)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer
Walter J. Burke Sr. was a pioneering figure in Wheeling's public transportation history. Born in Ireland on February 2, 1841, he immigrated to America in 1865 at the age of 29. Two years after arriving, Burke began his remarkable career as one of Wheeling's first horse car drivers with the Citizens Street Railway Company, which had received its charter from the Virginia General Assembly in 1863. He was known for his strong work ethic, operating streetcars along a four-mile route from South Wheeling through Market Street to Bridgeport. Burke earned recognition for his principled stance when he once ejected company president William Woodard from a car for refusing to pay his fare - an incident that surprisingly led to his promotion. He married Bridget Murphy in 1873, and together they raised eight children: Thomas, Lawrence, Ella, John, Walter Jr., Joseph, Mary Ann, and Richard. Burke continued working for the Wheeling Traction Company well into his seventies, maintaining his position at the West Wheeling barns. He lived on Thirteenth Street in Wheeling and was known for his Irish wit and inspiring presence among his co-workers. Burke died on November 14, 1923, at age 82 from chronic myocarditis and was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/Xv0jg); Wheeling Intelligencer (https://shorturl.at/3vatc), Find a Grave (https://shorturl.at/ezOog)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer
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