Today in Wheeling History: December 22—Wheeling’s Schmulbach Building, West Virginia's first high-rise office building, was reported in the Manufacturers’ Record (1904).
The Schmulbach Building, located on Market Street in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, was reported in the Manufacturers Record on December 22, 1904, as the state's first high-rise office building. Designed by Wheeling architect Frederick F. Faris for brewer Henry Schmulbach, construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1907. The twelve-story structure was considered West Virginia's largest office building upon completion and remains the tallest building in Wheeling.
On December 22, 1904, the Manufacturers’ Record reported: “Giesey & Faris have prepared plans for [a] 12-story 100 × 127 office building for Henry Schmulbach, to cost $500,000.” The Columbus, Ohio, firm of Caldwell and Drake served as the general contractor, and Wheeling's own Riverside Bridge Company supplied structural steel for the frame. The Martin Brick Company of Pittsburgh provided face brick, L. Schrieber and Sons of Cincinnati supplied ornamental iron, and Otis furnished the elevators.
The Schmulbach Building was constructed with heavy granite and gray brick walls, featuring roomy corridors, artistic decorations, and modern conveniences such as hydraulic passenger elevators and a freight elevator. The building's dimensions are 100 by 127 feet, with twelve stories above street level, reaching a height of 167 feet and three inches. It was equipped with the latest steam heat and ventilation systems, ensuring comfort and safety for its tenants.
Initially, the building served as the headquarters for the Schmulbach Brewing Company. In the 1940s, it was purchased by Wheeling Steel Corporation and became the company's headquarters. The building was later renamed the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Building after Wheeling Steel merged with Pittsburgh Steel in 1968. Despite being empty since 2013, the Schmulbach Building remains a significant landmark in Wheeling's historic district.
Today, the Schmulbach Building is undergoing renovations to transform it into a residential high-rise with loft apartments and street-level retail options. The building's rich history and architectural significance make it a beloved landmark in Wheeling.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/prXgt) (https://shorturl.at/jgabx); West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://shorturl.at/U2BWd), SAH Archipedia (https://shorturl.at/jHbqS)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
The Schmulbach Building, located on Market Street in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, was reported in the Manufacturers Record on December 22, 1904, as the state's first high-rise office building. Designed by Wheeling architect Frederick F. Faris for brewer Henry Schmulbach, construction began in 1904 and was completed in 1907. The twelve-story structure was considered West Virginia's largest office building upon completion and remains the tallest building in Wheeling.
On December 22, 1904, the Manufacturers’ Record reported: “Giesey & Faris have prepared plans for [a] 12-story 100 × 127 office building for Henry Schmulbach, to cost $500,000.” The Columbus, Ohio, firm of Caldwell and Drake served as the general contractor, and Wheeling's own Riverside Bridge Company supplied structural steel for the frame. The Martin Brick Company of Pittsburgh provided face brick, L. Schrieber and Sons of Cincinnati supplied ornamental iron, and Otis furnished the elevators.
The Schmulbach Building was constructed with heavy granite and gray brick walls, featuring roomy corridors, artistic decorations, and modern conveniences such as hydraulic passenger elevators and a freight elevator. The building's dimensions are 100 by 127 feet, with twelve stories above street level, reaching a height of 167 feet and three inches. It was equipped with the latest steam heat and ventilation systems, ensuring comfort and safety for its tenants.
Initially, the building served as the headquarters for the Schmulbach Brewing Company. In the 1940s, it was purchased by Wheeling Steel Corporation and became the company's headquarters. The building was later renamed the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Building after Wheeling Steel merged with Pittsburgh Steel in 1968. Despite being empty since 2013, the Schmulbach Building remains a significant landmark in Wheeling's historic district.
Today, the Schmulbach Building is undergoing renovations to transform it into a residential high-rise with loft apartments and street-level retail options. The building's rich history and architectural significance make it a beloved landmark in Wheeling.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://shorturl.at/prXgt) (https://shorturl.at/jgabx); West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://shorturl.at/U2BWd), SAH Archipedia (https://shorturl.at/jHbqS)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
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