Today in Wheeling History: July 30--Weelunk, a nonprofit online magazine covering Wheeling, published a story about the discovery of a pre-Civil War ledger found in The Outdoor Store on Main Street in downtown Wheeling (2021).
On July 30, 2021, the story of the pre-Civil War ledger's discovery was originally published in Weelunk, a nonprofit online magazine that covers news, events, stories, and things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia.
In April 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, April and Jay Arritt discovered a pre-Civil War ledger while cleaning out their shop, The Outdoor Store, on Main Street in Wheeling, West Virginia. The ledger, dating from February 1852 to January 1854, contains records of purchases made at what was likely a wholesale dry goods business. This historical artifact offers a unique glimpse into the community interactions of Wheeling residents during the mid-19th century.
Several notable individuals appear in the ledger's pages. Andrew J. Sweeney, who later served multiple terms as mayor of Wheeling (1855, 1861-63, 1865-68, and 1875-81), is recorded as a patron. Sweeney is particularly famous for bringing electricity to Wheeling in 1882 after seeing electric arc lighting at the Paris Exposition in 1878.
The Sisters of Visitation, a Catholic religious order that arrived in Wheeling in April 1848, also made purchases recorded in the ledger. These nuns founded the Wheeling Female Academy (later renamed Mount de Chantal Academy) in 1848, which was incorporated in April 1852.
Dr. Simon P. Hullihen, known as the "Father of Oral Surgery," appears in the ledger as well. Hullihen, along with Bishop Whelan and the Catholic Diocese, founded Wheeling Hospital in 1850, which was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph and was the only hospital between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati at the time.
Sherrard Clemens, a Wheeling lawyer and cousin to Mark Twain, is another notable name in the ledger. Clemens was elected to the U.S. Congress as a representative from Virginia in late 1852 and served multiple terms. Despite being an enslaver, he opposed secession during the Virginia Convention at the start of the Civil War.
John McLure, owner of the famous McLure Hotel in Wheeling, is also mentioned in the ledger's entries.
The ledger was found on an old bookshelf in The Outdoor Store, mixed in with jewelry the Arritts used to sell. It had remained in a constant, undisturbed environment for decades, which contributed to its excellent preservation. The Arritts contacted Jeanne Finstein at Friends of Wheeling, who researched some of the people mentioned in the ledger.
This unexpected find provides valuable insights into the lives and connections of Wheeling's residents in the years leading up to the Civil War, showcasing the rich history of this West Virginia city. The publication of this story in Weelunk exemplifies the magazine's commitment to sharing unique local narratives that connect Wheeling's past with its present.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/Lw7kv)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Weelunk, Library of Congress
On July 30, 2021, the story of the pre-Civil War ledger's discovery was originally published in Weelunk, a nonprofit online magazine that covers news, events, stories, and things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia.
In April 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, April and Jay Arritt discovered a pre-Civil War ledger while cleaning out their shop, The Outdoor Store, on Main Street in Wheeling, West Virginia. The ledger, dating from February 1852 to January 1854, contains records of purchases made at what was likely a wholesale dry goods business. This historical artifact offers a unique glimpse into the community interactions of Wheeling residents during the mid-19th century.
Several notable individuals appear in the ledger's pages. Andrew J. Sweeney, who later served multiple terms as mayor of Wheeling (1855, 1861-63, 1865-68, and 1875-81), is recorded as a patron. Sweeney is particularly famous for bringing electricity to Wheeling in 1882 after seeing electric arc lighting at the Paris Exposition in 1878.
The Sisters of Visitation, a Catholic religious order that arrived in Wheeling in April 1848, also made purchases recorded in the ledger. These nuns founded the Wheeling Female Academy (later renamed Mount de Chantal Academy) in 1848, which was incorporated in April 1852.
Dr. Simon P. Hullihen, known as the "Father of Oral Surgery," appears in the ledger as well. Hullihen, along with Bishop Whelan and the Catholic Diocese, founded Wheeling Hospital in 1850, which was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph and was the only hospital between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati at the time.
Sherrard Clemens, a Wheeling lawyer and cousin to Mark Twain, is another notable name in the ledger. Clemens was elected to the U.S. Congress as a representative from Virginia in late 1852 and served multiple terms. Despite being an enslaver, he opposed secession during the Virginia Convention at the start of the Civil War.
John McLure, owner of the famous McLure Hotel in Wheeling, is also mentioned in the ledger's entries.
The ledger was found on an old bookshelf in The Outdoor Store, mixed in with jewelry the Arritts used to sell. It had remained in a constant, undisturbed environment for decades, which contributed to its excellent preservation. The Arritts contacted Jeanne Finstein at Friends of Wheeling, who researched some of the people mentioned in the ledger.
This unexpected find provides valuable insights into the lives and connections of Wheeling's residents in the years leading up to the Civil War, showcasing the rich history of this West Virginia city. The publication of this story in Weelunk exemplifies the magazine's commitment to sharing unique local narratives that connect Wheeling's past with its present.
To learn more: (https://shorturl.at/Lw7kv)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Weelunk, Library of Congress
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