Today in Wheeling History: May 23—West Virginia state officials arrived in Wheeling aboard the steamer "Chesapeake," completing the multi-day transfer of the state capital from Charleston after the Legislature enacted a law temporarily returning the seat of government to Wheeling (1875).
West Virginia's seat of government bounced between two cities during its early history. Wheeling and Charleston each served twice as the state's capital city, and over the years the government occupied five different capitol buildings—two in Wheeling and three in Charleston.
Dissatisfaction with Charleston's inaccessibility—the city then lacked railroad connections and could only be reached from the northern part of the state by stage or boat—drove the Legislature to act. On February 20, 1875, a bill became law without Governor John J. Jacob's signature, temporarily returning the seat of government to Wheeling.
The city of Wheeling chartered the steamer "Emma Graham" at a cost of $1,000 to transport the officials and state property from Charleston. She reached the Charleston wharf at 10:00 a.m. on May 21, 1875. Draymen conveying state property to the wharf were arrested for violating a court injunction secured by Charleston residents, and writs were served upon all state officials. All went aboard the steamer, leaving the public property behind in the custody of the court, and departed at 12:30 p.m.
At Parkersburg, the state officials transferred to the steamer "Chesapeake," bound for Wheeling. When near Sistersville, they were met by a committee of twenty Wheeling citizens who had descended the river on the steamer "Hudson" to conduct the party to the new capital city. The "Chesapeake" arrived at Wheeling at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 23rd.
Since the new Wheeling capitol building had not yet been erected, state officials on Monday morning established their offices in the Linsly Institute building, which had served as the Capitol from 1863 to 1870. The officials were at Wheeling with empty offices—all records, books, and papers remained at Charleston—and nothing could be done until the Supreme Court of Appeals rendered a decision. The Court dissolved the injunction on September 13th, and the state records and archives, placed on two barges towed by the steamer "Iron Valley," arrived at Wheeling on September 25th. The new Wheeling capitol building, financed by the city through $100,000 in bonds, was ready for occupancy on December 4, 1876. Wheeling served as the state capital until May 1, 1885, when Charleston became the permanent seat of government.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/s8ra8y6e) (https://tinyurl.com/4sfzxser) (https://tinyurl.com/8jt5aykv) (https://tinyurl.com/2x8pkt3v); West Virginia Legislature (https://tinyurl.com/4jvkbx23) (https://tinyurl.com/29bh95he), West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History (https://tinyurl.com/57zuddp5) (https://tinyurl.com/5cay8zne), The West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://tinyurl.com/asbaanxp), Flickr - Ohio County Public Library (https://tinyurl.com/vb5tph2w) (https://tinyurl.com/2ah82hhz), West Virginia Culture Center (https://tinyurl.com/5n6bc4sb), West Virginia Public Broadcasting (https://tinyurl.com/zkue7h49), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/26a9fhab)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History; West Virginia History OnView, Cincinnati Public Library
West Virginia's seat of government bounced between two cities during its early history. Wheeling and Charleston each served twice as the state's capital city, and over the years the government occupied five different capitol buildings—two in Wheeling and three in Charleston.
Dissatisfaction with Charleston's inaccessibility—the city then lacked railroad connections and could only be reached from the northern part of the state by stage or boat—drove the Legislature to act. On February 20, 1875, a bill became law without Governor John J. Jacob's signature, temporarily returning the seat of government to Wheeling.
The city of Wheeling chartered the steamer "Emma Graham" at a cost of $1,000 to transport the officials and state property from Charleston. She reached the Charleston wharf at 10:00 a.m. on May 21, 1875. Draymen conveying state property to the wharf were arrested for violating a court injunction secured by Charleston residents, and writs were served upon all state officials. All went aboard the steamer, leaving the public property behind in the custody of the court, and departed at 12:30 p.m.
At Parkersburg, the state officials transferred to the steamer "Chesapeake," bound for Wheeling. When near Sistersville, they were met by a committee of twenty Wheeling citizens who had descended the river on the steamer "Hudson" to conduct the party to the new capital city. The "Chesapeake" arrived at Wheeling at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 23rd.
Since the new Wheeling capitol building had not yet been erected, state officials on Monday morning established their offices in the Linsly Institute building, which had served as the Capitol from 1863 to 1870. The officials were at Wheeling with empty offices—all records, books, and papers remained at Charleston—and nothing could be done until the Supreme Court of Appeals rendered a decision. The Court dissolved the injunction on September 13th, and the state records and archives, placed on two barges towed by the steamer "Iron Valley," arrived at Wheeling on September 25th. The new Wheeling capitol building, financed by the city through $100,000 in bonds, was ready for occupancy on December 4, 1876. Wheeling served as the state capital until May 1, 1885, when Charleston became the permanent seat of government.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/s8ra8y6e) (https://tinyurl.com/4sfzxser) (https://tinyurl.com/8jt5aykv) (https://tinyurl.com/2x8pkt3v); West Virginia Legislature (https://tinyurl.com/4jvkbx23) (https://tinyurl.com/29bh95he), West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History (https://tinyurl.com/57zuddp5) (https://tinyurl.com/5cay8zne), The West Virginia Encyclopedia (https://tinyurl.com/asbaanxp), Flickr - Ohio County Public Library (https://tinyurl.com/vb5tph2w) (https://tinyurl.com/2ah82hhz), West Virginia Culture Center (https://tinyurl.com/5n6bc4sb), West Virginia Public Broadcasting (https://tinyurl.com/zkue7h49), Weelunk (https://tinyurl.com/26a9fhab)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture & History; West Virginia History OnView, Cincinnati Public Library
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