Today in Wheeling History: January 23--J.C. Penney held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of their newly remodeled store in downtown Wheeling (1958).
The J.C. Penney store in Wheeling, located in the historic McFadden Building at 1122-24 Market Street, underwent a significant transformation in late 1957 and early 1958. Following a devastating fire that swept through the store on September 20, 1957, the building underwent an extensive three-and-a-half-month renovation. Under the leadership of store manager Lee Hintz, every department was enlarged and modernized. The remodeled store featured expanded departments across multiple floors, including a new sub-teen shop, women's ready-to-wear section, and an enlarged housewares department. The renovation introduced modern fixtures designed to maximize space efficiency and improve the shopping experience. J.C. Penney himself, then 82 years old, attended the grand reopening, arriving in Wheeling on January 22 and participating in various community events, including a luncheon hosted by the Ohio Valley Board of Trade at the Windsor Hotel. The following day, January 23, Penney cut the ribbon at 9:30 AM, joined by Mayor Jack Adams, OVBT President John C. McConnell, and building owner George McFadden. The store served downtown Wheeling until 1978, when it relocated to the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville. After nearly 30 years at the mall location, J.C. Penney closed its doors there on October 21, 2007, and moved to a new standalone facility at The Highlands in Triadelphia, West Virginia, with its grand opening on November 2, 2007.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/Nul0C), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://shorturl.at/ZAMuZ) (https://shorturl.at/sdPNX) (https://tinyurl.com/2s46cj4j), The Times Leader (https://tinyurl.com/4f3v4d8x), Visit Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/3k8hk44d), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2ttm9j9t) (https://tinyurl.com/3jyt87pw)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer, National Portrait Gallery, Google Maps
The J.C. Penney store in Wheeling, located in the historic McFadden Building at 1122-24 Market Street, underwent a significant transformation in late 1957 and early 1958. Following a devastating fire that swept through the store on September 20, 1957, the building underwent an extensive three-and-a-half-month renovation. Under the leadership of store manager Lee Hintz, every department was enlarged and modernized. The remodeled store featured expanded departments across multiple floors, including a new sub-teen shop, women's ready-to-wear section, and an enlarged housewares department. The renovation introduced modern fixtures designed to maximize space efficiency and improve the shopping experience. J.C. Penney himself, then 82 years old, attended the grand reopening, arriving in Wheeling on January 22 and participating in various community events, including a luncheon hosted by the Ohio Valley Board of Trade at the Windsor Hotel. The following day, January 23, Penney cut the ribbon at 9:30 AM, joined by Mayor Jack Adams, OVBT President John C. McConnell, and building owner George McFadden. The store served downtown Wheeling until 1978, when it relocated to the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville. After nearly 30 years at the mall location, J.C. Penney closed its doors there on October 21, 2007, and moved to a new standalone facility at The Highlands in Triadelphia, West Virginia, with its grand opening on November 2, 2007.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/Nul0C), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://shorturl.at/ZAMuZ) (https://shorturl.at/sdPNX) (https://tinyurl.com/2s46cj4j), The Times Leader (https://tinyurl.com/4f3v4d8x), Visit Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/3k8hk44d), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/2ttm9j9t) (https://tinyurl.com/3jyt87pw)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wheeling Intelligencer, National Portrait Gallery, Google Maps
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