The National Road - The Fall - Rise- and 2nd Fall?

The Decline of the National Road
The opening of the B.O. Railroad in Wheeling occurred on January 11, 1853. People of all ages came to Wheeling by steamboat, stagecoach, and foot to witness the train’s arrival, quite an historic event to observe. Spectators were forced to wait on the train’s arrival because of a minor accident. An axle-tree had broken and needed to be repaired, there were no injuries. The delay did not dampen spirits in Wheeling for the town was festively decorated and the famous Suspension Bridge across the Ohio River was lit with over a thousand lights. Finally, at 8:30 P.M. the first locomotive rolled into Wheeling carrying fifty passengers, most from Baltimore. While the city of Wheeling was celebrating this new and exciting technology of steam travel; stagecoach drivers, wagoners, and tavern owners were in complete dismay.

“We hear no more of the clanging hoof,

And the stage coach rattling by;

For the steam king rules the traveled world,

and the old pike’s left to die.”

These lines represent the feelings of many who made a living off of the National Road. Soon after the railroad came to Wheeling there was a rapid drop in traffic along the National Road. Stagecoaches and wagoners became non-existent. There was simply no need for them because travelling and shipping through the railroad was cheaper and of course much quicker. Taverns along primarily railroad stops still remained popular but the old Taverns connected with stagecoach lines quickly went out of business. Traffic along the National Road would not advance again until the age of the automobile and car touring.

The National Road Rises Again

Albert, Lucia, and Betsy on the National Road

On August 5, 1909 the extra session of the 61^st. Congress adjourned and most congressmen had bought railroad tickets to make the journey back home. Albert Douglas and his wife had originally planned to do the same until Douglas suggested to his wife Lucia that instead of shipping their Model-T Ford home they should ride home in it across the National Road. Both thought it was a splendid idea, hired a driver, and were soon on their way. After a few hours of travel they stopped at a roadhouse called “The Eagle”. Throughout their travel log they refer to their Model-T as “Betsy” and comment on its “good humor” as the motor car chugged happily along the “hilly” and “rough” National Road.
For the night they lodged at Hancock, Maryland. According to Douglas, “The less said about the Maryland-Inn at Hancock, the better and we were sorry not to leave bedtimes in the morning.” Although their visit at this particular inn appeared to be dissatisfactory, Betsy received a “satisfactory breakfast of oil and gasoline” and again they were on their way. Occasionally Douglas and his wife walked ahead of Betsy along the road to gather blackberries, pick flowers, and drink from a roadside spring that were at one time used by the wagoners to water their horses. Throughout their travel they take advantage of roadside attractions such as “Big Crossings”, a massive stone bridge constructed in 1818 and Washington and Jefferson College located in Washington P.A. Here they phoned ahead to the next town, Claysville (named after Henry Clay) to have lunch ready in an hour. Sadly, they took a wrong turn between Washington and Claysville and spent an extra hour trying to get back on the National Road. There was hardly any mention of driving through Wheeling and eventually they made it safely to their destination of Chillocothe, Ohio by way of the Zanesville and Maysville turnpike.
Douglas’s vivid description of the National Road provided insight to what early car touring was like and is the beginning of its rebirth. Some of the annoyances described by Douglas such as bumps and loose pavement would soon be improved as the National Road became plentiful with horseless carriages. Douglas speaks of the roads possible future:
Our children may see its glories revive, its way repaved, with modern metal, its broken and defaced old mile-post repaired or replaced, its toll houses rebuilt or re-occupied, its iron gates once more threatening the “joy-rider,” [but] its sides lined with colossal advertising signs, darkening the view, and its old taverns renovated, rebuilt, and re- established – but with “soft drinks” perhaps subsisted for the “fifteen-cent-a-gallon” [whiskey] of other days. Douglas was correct with his predictions of the National Road’s future. With the mass production of automobiles the National Road was revitalized and used once again during the early nineteenth century. All along its route hotels, diners, gas stations, and truck stops sprung up. Once again the National Road was playing an important economic roll in westward expansion, tourism, and commerce.

Although some of the original taverns were torn down or abandoned after the coming of the railroad, inns such as the Stone House in Triadelphia remained open. Just behind the Stone House opened a hotel where travelers could pull in a garage, and their room was located above the garage showing the bond tourists were having with their automobiles. Throughout the early and mid 21^st. century the National Road enjoyed a rebirth that would soon end because a much quicker form of transportation was being developed.

I think this is the cutest set up ever. Sadly the construction didn’t appear to be that great and upkeep was little. Today as you can see it’s just used to store junk, but I still think it’s charming.

The 2nd Fall?

This time it would be the interstate highway system. The plan for a massive highway expansion program began when Dwight D Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act in 1956. By the late 1970’s the National Road found itself in another state of decline. Just as the taverns found themselves in trouble after the railroads arrived, Interstate 70 left the National Road in the current state of decline it has been suffering for the last twenty five years. Certain exceptions remain, for example the Elm Grove section remains active and a few miles ahead one will find a miniature suburb of Wheeling. Elm Grove and Wheeling aren’t the only exception, but the one’s I happen to be most knowledgeable about.
As Orvar Löfgren suggest in his book On Holiday: A History of Vacationing the history of tourism is dependent on mobility. More importantly the creation of new methods in transportation develop new tourist demands such as taverns, restaurants, gas stations, and many other accommodations. Any type of new technology will ultimately mean the fall of something else. Wagoners could not compete with the railroad just as the National Road could not compete with Interstate 70. As we have seen throughout the history of tourism, spurts of revitalization have occurred. The National Road is a prime example of this with its stages of prosperity and decline which has been present in other regions and parts of the world as well. With the current trends in tourism, the main ingredient is speed. The thought of stopping, or walking along side of a country road as Mr. Douglas and his wife Lucida did in 1909 would seem foolish in today’s world of constant acceleration.

“Celebration of the Opening of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,” Wheeling Intelligencer, 12 January, 1853.
Hulbert, Archer Butler. “The Old National Road.” (Columbus : F. J. Heer, 1901).
Ireley, Merritt. “Traveling the National Road” (The Overlook Press 1990).
Searight, Thomas B. “The Old Pike: A History of the National Road.” (Heritage Books INC. 1990)

Wheeling, WV - May 12, 1904

It’s true; I have way too much time on my hands, because I thought it would be interesting to look up what was happening on my birthday, say a hundred years ago. So on a trip to the public library I got crazy and signed my name up for the micro film machine, but then couldn’t decide what year to actually look up. So I closed my eyes, reached towards those hideous metal gray cages they store the micro film in, and picked 1904, so here we go. In 1904 Wheeling’s population consisted of about 40,000 people. It would be described as a bustling industrial river town. These events will help provide insight into what one could find in a early 20^th century town. These news articles have been taken from the Wheeling Intelligencer and Wheeling Register. Trying to get your students to get the feel for a particular time period? Newspapers never fail.

Pure luck that I was able to find images of Wheeling from 1904. Notice the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, the bridge to the left was used for rail.

Accidents
A dominant feature in the news was accidents, in most cases resulting in death. Harry Gilham, a young coal miner was stealing a ride on a B & O Railroad box car heading towards St. Clairsville, Ohio. Gilham was riding on top of the box car and somehow the train skipped off the track. Officials suggest that when Gilham saw the train was going to wreak, he leaped off, and was killed. Gilham died about one half hour after the accident. No other injuries were reported from the train skipping the track.

Another accident involving a train occurred in Wellsburg. Patrick Deegan was heavily intoxicated with another man and was standing on the tracks when a passenger train from the Panhandle Railroad came by and ran him over. His partner attempted to help him off the tracks, but failed. Deegan was a gateman in Wellsburg and had worked for the Panhandle Railroad as a brakeman.

The next accident involved a child, seven months old. Its mother had laid the child on a bed for its nap. The bed was up against a wall, but not all the way. The baby rolled over towards the wall, fell, and became stuck between the wall and the bed. The child accidentally hung itself and by the time the mother checked on her baby, it was already dead.

Another accident occurred when Bryant Sullivan and Guiseppe Pergantius fell from scaffolding while making repairs to the B&O tunnel that runs through Wheeling hill. Both men looked to have serious injuries and were taken to the “North Wheeling institution” where they were diagnosed that their injuries were not so bad after all. The men were working on scaffolding that was erected about ten feet in the air when they slipped and fell. The one man was referred to as “the Italian” when describing his injuries.

I believe that these accidents which occurred all in the same day reflect heavily upon what life was like in the early 20^th century. It was very dangerous and it was quite important that one stay alert. The safety standards that we have today were not present in this time period. Industrial cities such as Wheeling could be a dangerous place if one was not used to its many hazards. Being intoxicated doesn’t help.

Mr. Foley Visits the Fort Henry Club
A complimentary dinner was held for T.J. Foley, “the first superintendent of the newly created Wheeling division of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.” The evening was described as pleasant and festivities started around 7 p.m. and did not end until after midnight. Guest chanted “Mister Foley-oley-o” as he prepared to give his speech. Foley focused his speech on what improvements were being made to the Wheeling area regarding the B & O Railroad. The B & O would immediately start spending $17,000,000 in improvements. The reason revolved around the areas rich mineral resources which would allow the mines to be more productive. Foley also expected an increase in trade; therefore it was vital that Wheeling have its own division to properly manage affairs. After Mr. Foley’s speech the band played “Mister Dooley” but suddenly changed it to “Mr. Foley”. Next Mr. George Hook stated that Wheeling needed to work with the railroad during the West Virginia Sate Fair season because Wheeling received about 14,000 passengers a day coming to the city for the fair. Many were left stranded waiting for cars because of poor car service, Mr. Foley promised to come up with a remedy to fix the problem.

Birdseye view of Wheeling - 1904.

Spring Time on Wheeling Island
There was a brief article describing Wheeling Island during the spring and how the trees were near full bloom and descriptions of the beautifully maintained lawns on the island. Many that have been visiting Wheeling make an effort to take a walk on the island the view the “garden spot” of Wheeling. Wheeling citizens and visitors a like could leave the city’s industrial atmosphere without leaving the city because the island at one time was separate place to enjoy nature and the river font. Flooding prompted many of the island residents to leave, and in return lower class families moved on the island as property values fell. Today, in my opinion the island is more of a crime haven than garden spot.

Sports
During the springtime baseball was Wheeling’s biggest sport. The Wheeling Stogies (Wheeling was famous for making stogies) were already eleven games into their season, but their record was a disappointing 3-8. The Wheeling Stogies were in a league with seven other teams. Some of the more distant teams included South Bend, Indiana and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bowling was also a huge sport in the town. Teams such as the Rough Riders and Lunch Grabbers competed on a weekly basis, each persons score printed in the paper the next day. Bowlers from Pennsylvania would also visit the Wheeling area for chicken dinners and competition.

Cocaine Ordnance Mailed to Druggist
A anti cocaine ordinance passed in Wheeling and all druggist were notified not to prescribe any prescriptions that contained cocaine or 1% opium. If customers had a prescription from a doctor, they were allowed to sell that particular drug. If pharmacist were caught distributing these drugs illegally, they could be arrested.

Colored Citizens Form Association
Colored citizens of Wheeling formed an association to gain “mutual advancement, social enjoyment, and cementing of stronger ties of good will and friendship.” Political discussion was not allowed at these meetings. Forty five members joined for the first meeting and membership was expected to double. The group of young back men met at 1024 Market street and although their group was new, they were enthusiastic and avidly recruiting new members. The article puts strong emphasis on the point that these men will only be engaging in “social enjoyment” and nothing else. This reflects upon the bigotry of nation.

This reminds me of a Fred Sanford quote. Fred was asked if the man that robbed him was “colored” …(of course Fred faked the robbery to cover up the fact that he broke Lamont’s fine porcelain collection)… Fred replied, “yeah, white!” I can’t stand the term “colored” because as Fred clearly states, everyone has “color.”

This is Wheeling’s main street a few years later - 1906

Robbery
Harvy Keller, a crippled boy, and two other crippled men were drinking at a saloon located between 10^th and 11^th street when one of the two men robbed Keller. Keller was eighteen years of age and was crippled because he lost a leg in a train accident. Oddly enough Keller was robbed once before, while he was in the hospital receiving treatment after the train accident.

Retailers Have a Free Excursion
Trade excursions came to Wheeling by way of the Ohio River. The event was conducted by the Retail Merchants Association. It was described as being very successful with a plentiful amount of shoppers on hand. Shoppers were quite excited by these trade excursions and asked for more to be brought to Wheeling at a larger scale. The Retail Merchants Association was pleased with the results and was considering making the trade excursions a permanent event for Wheeling residents.

Wheeling Gets Large Contract
The Wheeling Mold and Foundry Company was awarded the contract to make the Iron Castings for the Hudson River Tunnel project. The Tunnel was for the Pennsylvania railroad. Wheeling was to make 32,000 tons of castings while the other half of the contract was given to the New York Car Wheel company in Buffalo, New York. The pig iron value for Wheeling’s part of the contract was worth an estimated $400,000.

Wheeling’s river front - 1904.

The Society Section
This section of the paper featured wedding descriptions and announcements, people leaving and visiting town, illnesses, and descriptions of various social events that had taken place in Wheeling. Most of these descriptions were quite detailed with a guest list and all of the events that transpired for that particular event. For example there was a large game of euchre played by twenty four participants who played fifteen games of euchre. The article goes on to list who won prizes and what particular prize they won.

“As They Come and Go” would list people on vacation out of town, people that were out of town on business, people that were ill or other various announcements. In today’s world this may seem unimaginable, announcing to the town that your “ill with typhoid” but one must remember during this time period there were no forms of mass communication as we have today. The newspaper served as an important communication tool.

Wheeling Public Schools
The superintendent of Wheeling public schools, David E. Cloyd wrote a statement to readers declaring what needed to be done to improve the areas schools. According to his studies Wheeling was lacking in school enrollment by as much as 3,500 students when compared to other cities with Wheeling’s population. Cloyd challenged Wheeling citizens to be aware of how important an education for a child is rather than how much a child is worth in “dollar and cents”.

Next, Cloyd commented on how schools in Wheeling are “overshadowed by industrial institutions. Cloyd says, “she (Wheeling) has subordinated education to the making of money.” He goes on to say that people come from all over the world to study Wheeling’s commerce, one day he hopes they will come to study our education system. Cloyed closed this segment by stating, “There comes a time when a community can not continue to prosper financially without further development of mind and character.”

Cloyd goes on to state how much money other school districts are spending per capita. For example per capita in Parkersburg was $7.30, Philadelphia 9.05, and Indianapolis $11.33. Cloyd does not state what Wheeling was spending per capita but did say Wheeling was spending less these these other school districts and “she (Wheeling) has more wealth per capita of school enumeration than other cities have.” Cloyd claims that if more money was spent, enrollment would increase, and this would ultimately be in the highest interest of the city.

I feel this look into the past has provided an insightful, first hand account about life in the early 20^th century. One can read books about the time period, but actually reading the news that the people of the period were reading and experiencing helps define what life was like during this particular generation when the newspaper was a vital tool in their lives.

The Wheeling river front today, Suspension Bridge (National Road) and Fort Henry Bridge (Interstate 70). When I took this picture I was standing near the location of where passengers would board the river boats in the 1904 river front picture.

The Old National Road and Early Politics

The National Road has played an important part in the development of the United States. For one hundred and ninety-five years the road has been building a nation while introducing tourists from all over the world to the sublime of America. The National Road has gone through various stages such as conception, westward expansion, competition from railroads, automobile rebirth, and again competition from faster interstate highways. In 1806 a group of prominent statesman set out to influence congress about the need for better roads. Statesmen such as Henry Clay observed this importance through his travels from Kentucky to Washington D.C. while serving in the House of Representatives and later in the Senate. Other leading citizens such as Moses and Lydia Shepherd who resided just a few miles outside of Wheeling, WV recognized the importance of a major road. Although everyone had different motivations for building the road, almost everyone was in favor of having better transportation to Washington D.C. whether it was for political reasons, to shop, visit the theatre, or to mingle among other distinguished citizens and businessmen. During the early nineteenth century it was believed that the federal government should stay out of building roads, but men such as George Washington, who knew the Appalachian region well, and Thomas Jefferson considered the mercantile aspects that a road could bring. If the United States were to expand, efficient transportation would be needed. After much deliberation Jefferson authorized the building of the road on March 29, 1806. Actual construction of the road began in 1811 the road and reached Wheeling on August 1, 1818. Throughout the construction of the road there were numerous debates about where the route should be placed. For example, Pittsburgh lobbied for the road to run through the city. One of the most controversial decisions regarding the building of the road and was the route National Road follows through the section of Elm Grove, just outside of Wheeling, WV. Moses and Lydia Shepherd had constructed a stone mansion there in 1789. On this property they managed a large plantation, owned a mill, and general store. Over all, the Shepherd’s were considered to be very influential because of their substantial wealth and for the mansion they had constructed which was by far the most extravagant house in the tri-state area. Senator Henry Clay was a frequent guest and friend of the Shepherds. The Shepherd’s wealth and power also landed Moses the job of building many of the bridges that were needed to maneuver around the numerous creeks and streams that crisscross the region. Many of the men working on the construction of the road were Irish immigrants and people that lived along the road. This was long before the age of eminent domain and many of the farmers that resided along the chosen route for the road were delighted to see it travel through their farms. The road was away to bring prosperity. It also meant they could be employed by contractors such as Moses by clearing land, cutting and hauling stone, or building bridges. Economically the road was beneficial because it provided farmers with more income and the surrounding communities with vital links to larger cities. While passing through Elm Grove the road was originally designed to run north of Big Wheeling Creek. Although this section of land did not have the best bed for a road it was the cheapest and the construction of only one bridge was needed. Because the Shepherd’s were in control of building this section of road, Lydia convinced her husband to alter the road so it would run directly in front of their house, make a sharp right at their front gate, and then proceed to Wheeling. The Shepherd’s consulted their good friend Henry Clay about the matter and he had no objections because the Shepherd’s used the argument that the roadbed would be much better on the south side of Big Wheeling Creek. Although this is true the motivation behind the Shepherd’s altering the plan was clearly greed.

The road was supposed to go straight, instead it takes a sharp left onto this S Bridge built by Moses Shepherd.

This bridge was also built by Moses. While traveling west on National Road travelers made a sharp right to head towards Wheeling, and when they looked left they saw the Shepherds mansion, just as they had planned. Today it’s still the same. This bridge is still used today; except they have surfaced concrete over much of the stone work.

This greed was noticeable when looking at what they did to the Feay family. The Feay’s, cousins of Moses, had built a stone tavern somewhere north of Peters Run Road, where the road was originally supposed to be routed. When many people along the designated route heard the National Road was coming, some made investments in building taverns because they knew of the income it could bring. When Moses and Lydia considered the hardships this would cause the Feay’s they still routed the road away from their tavern. To counter Feay’s tavern the Shepherd’s built one of their own which was run by Mrs. Gooding. Apparently Moses did feel guilty about what he had done because he hired many of the Feay’s as workers on the bridges, but this did not stop the rumors that were spread throughout Wheeling about what the Shepherd’s had done. When the road was finally completed the government owed Moses approximately one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for his construction for that section of road. Sixty thousand dollars was extra cost that was needed for the two bridges where the road crossed the creek which the government refused to pay. This money was not heavily sought from Moses, he saw what he had done as immoral, and therefore he did not mind paying for these expenses himself. Lydia did not feel this way and always tried to persuade government officials to re-open the payment she claimed they rightfully deserved. The litigious allegations towards the Shepherd’s did not alter their influence in Washington but left many of the residents in Wheeling suspicious of the Shepherd’s fraudulent moving of the road for their own prosperity.

A monument that was erected for Henry Clay. Sadly, years ago it crumbled and was torn down. It used to stand near the stone bridge near the Shepherds home. Of course Lydia was responsible for the monument. She was always trying to keep up appearances. Later on there will be a blog dedicated to the Shepherds.

Wheeling Denies Andrew Carnegie

After spending much of this last semester researching and lesson planning about the Progressive Era, I came across some old information that I had learned about Andrew Carnegie. I reside in the Rest Belt and have watched companies such as Wheeling Steel disappear, and I’ve witnessed first hand how evil outsourcing can be. Keep in mind not only how it effects those who are left unemployed, but those who are being exploited for their labor too. I also live near Pittsburgh and the Carnegie name seems to be just about everywhere. To be brief, Carnegie was a man who was viewed as friend of the worker, but if this is so, why did he hire Henry Clay Frick to manage Carnegie Steel? Frick was one of the biggest anti union people around during the time period. An event that exposed the baneful philosophy that was so dominant before, during, and after the Progressive Era was the Homestead strike.
Homestead, Pennsylvania was home of the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel and Tin Workers. In 1892 their contract had expired and the union expected a rather easy negation to renew the contract with Carnegie. Just before contract expired Carnegie set sail for Scotland which meant that Frick was to supervise Carnegie’s empire. Frick’s first assignment was to handle talks with the Amalgamated Association, but little negation occurred. Frick’s first move was to cut wages which did not sit well with plant workers. He strung barbed wire around the plant and hired Pinkerton detectives to guard the plant. Workers thought even less of these actions and decided to strike on July 1; a few days later Frick brought in scabs to work the plant who were protected by Pinkerton deceives. Scabs and Pinkerton detectives set the stage for July 6th which resulted in a clash between Pinkerton deceives and the striking workers that left many dead and wounded. Frick seemed un-phased by the events and kept the scabs working in the plant and finally the union called off the strike on November 20th. Although the strike failed, Carnegie’s reputation was ruined and nearly all steel unions left the Pittsburgh area. Carnegie said, “Nothing…wounded me so deeply. No pangs remain of any wound received in my business career save that of Homestead.” One can only imagine what would have happened if Frick would have been left out of negation’s. Carnegie by all means was a businessman first, but I would like to think that he would not have let bloodshed tarnish his reputation. But the Homestead strike turned out to be something that would haunt Carnegie for the rest of his life, and it would be an event that the town of Wheeling, WV would never forget.What does Wheeling have to do with this? Well during this time period it was the “premier city” and the center of iron, steel, glass, pottery, calico, and tobacco manufacturing; and the most unionized city in the state of West Virginia. To make up for many of the crude things that he had put many of his workers through, Carnegie became a pubic philanthropist. To me it seems odd because many of his factories were unfit to work in, but Carnegie believed in helping the poor by way of bettering themselves. Institutions such as hospitals, parks, libraries and concert halls were built with his fortune. Well Wheeling was in need of a library, so they looked to the acquire one of the prestigious Carnegie libraries. On January 26, 1904 Wheeling voters were to vote on a bond levy for $50,000 that would be used to obtain a building site, books, and general upkeep. As long as 60% of the voters approved the levy, Wheeling would be the beneficiary of a Carnegie Library as so many other local towns already where. One obstacle that stood in the way was the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly. The Trade Assembly represented workers in a radical, progressive nature. For example the group became a major lobbyist in the West Virginia legislature which in return resulted in progressive action for workman’s compensation rights. So when the Trade Assembly spoke out against Carnegie and the library, the people of Wheeling listened, because it was the Trade Assembly that fought for their rights, not Carnegie. And the Homestead Strike was still fresh in the mind of Wheeling residents. Many local leaders throughout Wheeling were in support of the library, maybe not so much Carnegie, but they felt that it would be foolish to deny his generosity. But the Trade assembly resumed its campaign against Carnegie and his library and members made their real feelings known. Mike Mahoney summed up the Assemblies disposition best when he said, “We don’t want a monument to Carnegie” and “God forbid that one of my children should ever bring home a book from a Carnegie library.” Was the Trade Assembly expressing prejudice attitudes or valid arguments? The greater Pittsburgh area had already built Carnegie library’s with not problems, including Homestead. The Trade assembly would spend $500 and much of their time in South Wheeling where many of the working class families resided in Wheeling, and to them it was time and money well spent. Wheeling has become known as the first American city to to turn down a Carnegie grant. In 1909 the Carnegie library plan resurfaced, but it was shot down by the Trade Assembly before it could even get started. In 1910 Wheeling decided to build it’s own library with it’s own resources and opened it’s doors to residents in 1911. No matter how evil Carnegie and his corporation seemed he did manage to make an effort to help those who needed it most during his later years. This bit of local history fits well into any classroom because it allows students to see the influences of organizations such as the Trade Assembly and the issue also relates well to election day. It prepares students to think about levy’s, grants, or something that is now common in the Wheeling area, table gaming. The story of Wheeling and it’s desire to stand up for the working man is one that should be retold and used as an example in the classroom. Once that has been done, students can examine, discuss, and form their own opinions about Wheeling, the Trade Assembly, and Carnegie’s Gospel of Wealth.
The Wheeling Public Library. Although it’s not longer used as a library it still remains as a reminder of Wheeling’s glory days. Also, a special thanks to Dr. David Javersak for his scholarly insight on the topic.

The Greenwood and West Liberty Cemetery’s

Throughout the upper Ohio Valley, one will find numerous cemeteries that serve as monuments to the regions history.One of the more famous cemeteries in the area is the Greenwood Cemetery which is located along the historic National Road between Elm Grove and Wheeling, WV. Greenwood Cemetery was incorporated in 1866 and is the resting ground for some of Wheeling’s most prominent residents. Greenwood Cemetery was established first as a walking cemetery; a park where people could walk, sit, and relax among their friends and relatives. Today the thought of doing this is unthinkable. While on a field trip to the Greenwood Cemetery for my history of Wheeling class my classmates shuddered as we walked through the crunchy leaves and light mist while I had my eyes wide open to observe the special tombs that told stories of the dead. For example, Jacob C. Thomas stated in his will that he “wanted a suitable granted monument at a cost of not less than $15,000 to be first paid by him out if his estate.” That’s close to $300,000 in today’s dollars. Thats old Jacob above and his “suitable granted monument.” He’s been standing like that for nearly 110 years. Jacob C. Thomas was founder the famous Stone & Thomas Department stores. Hundreds, possibly thousands of people drive by the gates the Greenwood Cemetery everyday without knowing little gems like this exist. This is one of the uglier monuments (sorry Jacob), but an interesting example. These days we don’t rely on the cemetery for recreation, but it’s a shame we don’t pay tribute to these neighborhoods of the deceased. One of the lesser known cemeteries in the area is the West Liberty Cemetery. Perhaps it’s because of its location. Aside from the point that West Liberty, WV is located in rural Ohio County, the cemetery is also hidden behind a few houses. I only wish that it was in a better location so it’s stunning iron gate could be enjoyed by passer byers. On the day I visited the West Liberty Cemetery my dad happened to be with me and I said since we were in the area, lets stop and look around. His reply was something like, “But … why… it’s a cemetery.” I jested and said, “Don’t worry; the Munster family wouldn’t be caught there in the daylight, and besides their friendly.” So as we parked along side the road and nervously walked through someone’s yard to reach the cemeteries gates, we entered one of the most famously unknown cemeteries in the United States. Unfortunately I can’t verify this (yet), I’ve only heard this through word of mouth, but The West Liberty Cemetery is one of the few cemeteries in the United States that contains veterans from American Revolution, defenders of Fort Henry (remember Fort Henry days blog?), and the Civil War. It would take a little more research, but it’s possible there’s a veteran from the War of 1812 also buried at the site which would set it apart from many of the others. With a search on the web I expected to find some more information on the West Liberty Cemetery, but I failed to find a documented history. The true information most likely rest in a book that was written about the town; West Liberty Yesterday and Today by CC Regier (1939). It’s a rare book that can be purchased on the web, and it may be my Christmas gift to myself hehe. Anyway, besides being the resting grounds for our countries veterans it also severed as the burial ground from some of West Liberty’s early residents, some quite young. One can only imagine what it would have been like to follow a horse drawn wagon to the cemetery to lay your loved one to rest. The cemetery was in no means meant to be an elaborate walking cemetery such as Greenwood, but instead a simple place for the small towns deceased to rest in peace. Except for the fact that the cemetery hasn’t been used for burials in nearly a hundred years, it still remains a simple place, but sadly a forgotten place by many.On this particular day the sight of beer bottles and cans was present throughout the yard. The cemetery is maintained by a group of volunteers who cut the grass every few weeks and do their best to maintain the headstones. As you can see from the photographs, many of the stones are either broken, illegible, or dislocated from their original resting place.

One will notice there are no statues of angels or anything of the sort because graveyard bandits have already taken them if any existed. This raises the question of preservation. With the historical West Liberty State College located just a mile away it’s a shame that more isn’t done to link to the storied grounds together in a joint effort for preservation. Without volunteers it’s hard to tell what would happen to the West Liberty Cemetery. Without the preservation of small cemeteries we’re destroying a past that others, whether it be history buffs or relatives will want to uncover. The role of the cemetery is an interesting angle to teach from when investigating social studies. Just the simple observation of headstones and their way of words in comparison to contemporary headstones is liable to catch the attention of students. Where did these people come from? What brought them to the wilderness of West Liberty? These are some of the questions that I asked myself while walking along the sunken rows of the West Liberty Cemetery. These people seem like their gone, but they’re not. Their stories still live through their headstones that tell a brief history of their lives. Even if the only thing that represents their life is decayed, just the presence of it is something for us to build off of, to document, and preserve. Part of educating about the social studies is teaching about your own community and its history, and one place to start is by examining the forgotten monuments that tell the personal histories of so many.

Preserves - In One Form Or Another

Well, it’s that time of year again… football, school, sweaters (finally), haunted houses (ugh..), Indian corn, pumpkins, and don’t forget canning! Yes, that lost art of preserving goods grown in the family garden! Now, I’m one of the most selective eaters to ever walk this earth (some say picky, I prefer selective), and I’m not that into garden foods. Maybe some corn on the cob, and that’s about it. Although if you have some green beans, I’ll play with them, I make canoes out of the pod. Anyway, our garden is filled with tomatoes for the most part, eww. We also have a grape patch, which is highly ignored. As I would cruise by on the riding lawnmower, though, I noticed it seemed to be coming along rather nicely this year. Of course I don’t like grapes, but I thought my parents would be interested to know, and the next thing I know their stinking up our kitchen with grapes, steam, and what are they doing? Yeah, canning the grapes for grape juice. Why? Just go to super Wal-Mart and buy some Welches. In the kitchen I discovered the tools of trade. Then I went back to watching football.
With that said, anyone who takes on the task of canning should be admired. As I say, it’s a lost art form. Kids today know nothing of canning or how it’s done. And people defiantly don’t have time for a garden, or canning, so they think. What I find interesting, is the canning jars. Did you know that most early canning jars were made in nearby Washington P.A. by the Hazel Atlas Company? It’s true. Hazel Atlas headquarters were in Wheeling, West Virginia, and it’s also where a lot of the glass lids were made. Aside from canning jars they made a DELIGHTFUL assortment of glass containers that today are highly collectable. Most of these pieces are quite charming, Americana at it’s best. In 1956 Hazel Atlas was purchased by the Continental Can Company, and soon after that glass containers were history. The canning jars have also become collectibles. If you find one, and it has a certain blue tint to the glass, you’ve found a gem. When it comes to the blue tint jars, each has it’s own personality. The small bubbles and imperfections give them a certain aura. What’s even more important is they’re not being made anymore (at least ones with personalities!). Each one is a treasure! It’s also become popular to fill canning jars with buttons or marbles. That’s ok I guess. Buttons and marbles are cool too. Besides the jars, Hazel Atlas also produced miniature canning jars and sold them as banks. Quite cute. I’ll probably stay away from the grape juice when it’s opened, but I will admire the effort that was put into canning process. If you’re an avid reader of my page, you know that I help with the removal of estates. When we handle a house that’s been lived in for 70+ years, in the basement it’s always common to find a box of the family’s canning jars. If they’re not of the blue tint type, then they usually don’t even sell at our actions. Sadly, my short tempered boss doesn’t even try to sell the clear glass canning jars anymore. Most times they are taken to the dump and broken, not even recycled! Tragic! But that’s what canning has become to many people, a mere act of the past that’s unimportant in today’s world of Super Wal-Marts. Although canning seems to interfere with football season, and fruits & vegetables are gross, I will at least pay tribute to the jars that once helped feed families during the winter months.

Fort Henry’s 225th Anniversary

I took a break this weekend and journeyed out on a scenic drive to the famous Oglebay Park, located in the hills just outside of Wheeling, West Virginia. Out-of-towners cringe when they see the windy road that leads to the historic estate of a one time shipping tycoon who was from Cleveland OH, but built an elaborate summer home here in the latter part of the 19th century. I love those roads, even the weeds that grow along side that make me sneeze. Mr. Oglebay’s estate was later established into a park/resort for the social elite who golf, dine, and vacation in these hills. It’s open to ALL, however, sadly quite expensive, but the sublime view and walking trails are free. The main attraction this weekend was the Fort Henry Days. The Fort Henry Days take time to depict and reenact what life was like for the early settlers of the region. Fort Henry was a safe haven for early Wheeling residents because the area was susceptible to Indian attacks. Fort Henry is also famous because it was where the last battle of American Revolution occurred. It’s referred to as the 2^nd siege of Fort Henry, the first occurring in 1777; locals call it the year of the bloody sevens. Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia, ordered the construction of a garrison near the Wheeling settlement, so in 1774 Fort Henry was built on the banks of the Ohio River. Fort Henry was defended by the local settlers who were responsible for the fort. On September 11, 1782 scouts located a mixed militia of Indians and Butlers Rangers (whatever they are) from Detroit across the Ohio River (on the Ohio side, Wheeling is obviously the W.V. side). By 3:00 p.m. 260 warriors and 40 Rangers had arrived at the Fort and demanded the immediate surrender of Fort Henry. Silas Zane, the forts leader refused and the enemy attacked. For the most part, the fort was well armed and even had in its possession a swivel gun. At midnight the Indians made an attempt to storm the fort, but they failed. Throughout the night and early morning the gun fire resumed, but Fort Henry was starting to run low on ammunition. Legend has it that 16 year old Betsy Zane made a heroic dash to a cabin located near the fort for more gun powder through enemy fire. Once in the cabin, her apron was loaded with gun powder and she made yet another dash back to the fort. The below photo shows what this moment may have looked like. This sounds too good to be true, and the locals love to glorify it, but from private journals and such, there appears to be truth to it. On the third day of the siege the enemy made one more attempt to take the fort, but failed. At about that time reinforcements had arrived at Fort Henry, but their help was not needed, the settlers had held off the enemy. Although forgotten by most, it was the last battle of the American Revolution. In November of 1882 an agreement was established between Britain and newly formed United States of America to end the Revolution.

The Fort Henry Days is mostly a family event for the kids. At the tents they can buy little wooden guns, swords, games; basically junk – all of which has little to do with what really happened in my opinion. I was bored by the war reeanactors tent’s, it was like a flee market. Once you’ve seen one reproduction of a wooden box, you’ve seen them all. The crowd was also filled with people who thought they knew everything about riffles, Betsy Zane, and the celebrated Fort Henry. Some did, and others were just “historians” for the day. As a future social studies teacher I found their conversations quite interesting. Some parents seemed to care about their children’s questions, while others made up anything that would get them quiet. Sometimes they even resorted to buying the overpriced food that was served to keep their bundles of joy hushed. This was the first time I’ve ever made any attempt to really investigate the numerous historical festivals that the Ohio Valley has to offer. Being the bachelor/lone ranger that I am, I ventured to the Fort Henry days alone. I got the annoying comments, “are you alone” – “What grade are you in?” – “Wow you’re 23, you look so young.” I must say, aside from the goofy looks that I got, (I’m not kidding about this, I thought I had a “kick me” sign on my back or something) the battle reenactment was spectacular. Yes, when the first gunshot was fired, I jumped. It took a little imagination, but I gave an extra round of applause for those who took place in the event. They deserve a lot of credit for devoting their weekend to the history of Wheeling. Even if it’s just for a day, I hope people looked past the stale pop corn and overpriced soft drinks to appreciate their towns past.

Biography in the Classroom

Henry Schmulbach was born on November 12, 1844 in Hessedarmstadt, Germany. In 1852 the Schmulbach family immigrated to the United States and settled in the town of Wheeling, Virginia. Immigration from Germany during this time period was widespread and Wheeling was known for its large German population. From ages ten to sixteen Schmulbach worked as a cabin boy with his uncle, George Fuller. Around the age of seventeen Schmulbach became involved in the grocery business with Fuller. Fuller would retire in 1870 leaving the business to Henry. Soon after this Schmulbach added the wholesale liquor business to his list of entrepreneurial efforts.
During the early years of his life Schmulbach became well known in Wheeling and was regarded as hard working, shrewd businessman. But, what happened on the night of August 14, 1878 at approximately 10 o’clock p.m. would cause a brief time of anxiety in Schmulbach’s life. “Tragedy on the Pike” was how the Daily Intelligencer described the event between Henry Schmulbach and Hamilton R. Foraythe. It seems that Foraythe was racing a team of horses past Stamn’s Four Mile House, a prominent tavern along the National Road. According to the testimony provided by John Fendt, Fednt stopped Foraythe for fear he would cause a wreck on the pike, but Foraythe responded, “I can drive this team.” and proceeded towards Elm Grove. Fendt and another man, Ed Mendel realized the danger of Foraythe’s actions and quickly both men got in a buggy to make an attempt to take the team away from Foraythe. In the opinion of both Fendt and Mendel, Foraythe was intoxicated and driving the team of horses too rapidly. Fendt and Mendel successfuly gained control of Foraythe’s team and returned back to the Four Mile House, when they arrived, Henry Schmulbach was there.
What happened next is what makes this story a tragedy. Schmulbach approached Foraythe and said, “I want this team.” Foraythe replied, “You can have them.” Foraythe jumped out of the carriage, and as he did, Schmulbach grabbed him, they fell and Schmulbach got on top of Foraythe and struck him in the head several times with his fist. According to Mendel Schmulbach was very drunk at the time. Next, Schmulbach reportedly left the scene with his team of horses that Foraythe had apparently stolen. Foraythe was conscious for about twenty minuets after the altercation but when the owner of the Four Mile House, Mr. Stamn took his pulse, there was none. Stamn then immediately drove a wagon with Foraythe’s corpse in it to the court house in Wheeling where he was pronounced dead and testimonies were taken. After the body was examined Dr. L.D. Wilson concluded that Foraythe died of a concussion. This question remained for the jury, was it from Foraythe jumping off the carriage, or was it from Schmulbach striking him? The jury would acquit Schmulbach of any wrong doing because of Foraythe’s fraudulent actions. Schmulbach’s prominent status in Wheeling likely contributed to the verdict.
Schmulbach continued to build up his wealth and in 1881 he acquired a large share of stock in the Nail City Brewing company, one year later he took over the company and transformed it into the Schmulbach Brewing Company. Schmulbach left the grocery and wholesale liquor business to become president of his own company. Located at the east end of Thirty-third street The old Nail City Brewing Company was capable of producing 6,000 to 8,000 barrels of beer per year. Schmulbach saw major room for improvement with his new company and after his acquisition added new buildings and improved equipment. By the spring of 1890 Schmulbach was brewing 50,000 barrels a year and eventually that would be increased to 200,000 barrels a year. Schmulbach’s bottles of brewed beer could be found in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

During its heyday, Schmulbach Brewing was the largest brewery in West Virginia and its facilities were the best around. On the brewery site one could find buildings for keg washing, fermenting, a ice factory, warehouse, boiler room, copper shop, garage, and bar.

Besides brewing, Schmulbach was well known in Wheeling for other business ventures. Schmulbach was co-owner of the James Hotel located on Water Street from 1870’s to 1888. He served as director and president of the German Bank of Wheeling. Schmulbach was involved in numerous iron and steel companies throughout the tri-state area such as Top Mill, Mingo Iron Company (later Carnegie Steel Company), Junction Iron and Nail Company, Aetna Iron and Nail Company, Wheeling Bridge Company, the Fairmont and Clarksburg Railroad, and the Hobbes Glassworks. Schmulbach was responsible for building the first skyscraper in West Virginia which was completed in 1907.

One of Schmulbach’s more unique business ventures came in 1893 with the Mozart Park Incline. Mozart Park was located on top of a hill that overlooked South Wheeling. Schmulbach had already erected several buildings on top of the hill, but access to the park was a problem. Some of the facilities offered at the park were: a casino, bowling alley, restaurant, outdoor stage, and bicycle track. Schmulbach also made sure there was an abundance of alcohol served. There were no available street car lines at this time to access the hill and the only way to get to the park was to walk. Schmulbach consulted a company from Pittsburgh to build an incline that could carry passengers up the hill in a car through a machine called an incline railway that would incline two hundred and five yards Mozart Park. This was a small version of the incline that Pittsburgh has today.
When the project was completed it cost Schmulbach $100,000 and was ready for use in October of 1893. The incline turned out to be very profitable for Schmulbach. Cars ran up and down the hill every two minuets and the fee was 15 cents per person which included admission to the park. It was estimated that incline carried 1,200 persons every hour. The Mozart park became a unique part of Wheeling’s social life. For example, the dancing pavilion could hold up to 5,000 people and was the largest in the state. There were plans to build a zoo, but nothing more ever materialized. The Mozart Incline would remain successful until the Mozart Street Car Line opened and became accessible to the hill. Gradually Schmulbach sold off portions of the park and the park itself closed in 1917. All that remains of Mozart Park is a small playground. Although the parks incline was short lived, it represents the ingenuity of a Wheeling businessman.

One aspect that displeased a lot of people was the alcohol that was served at Mozart Park. Many citizens in Wheeling despised Schmulbach and his promotion of alcohol. The reform group, Committee of One Hundred (there was not 100 members) was formed to stop the debauchery of alcoholic beverages among other activities such as prostitution, gambling, and drug use. Many referred to Schmulbach’s brewery and Mozart Park as “Schmulbachism”. Most people believed that as long as Schmulbachism was present in Wheeling, its reputation as a gaming center would remain. Early spurts of prohibition hurt Schmulbach’s business and by June of 1914 prohibition became a reality in West Virginia. Schmulbach brewing was forced to close its doors and soon after that Henry Schmulbach became ill.

According to Schmulbach’s obituary in the Wheeling Register he had become ill, and seven weeks before his death he had taken to bed, only to remove himself twice during that time period. Schmulbach died on Thursday August 12, 1915 at his estate at Roneys Point Road. Schmulbach’s funeral occurred two days later at his estate. Schmulbach was a member of the Bates Lodge No. 33 and the Knights Templar; these two groups were present at the funeral to pay respects to their deceased member. Friends and family wishing to pay their last respects to Schmulbach could take a special car from the West Virginia Traction & Eclectic company which departed Wheeling at 1:15 p.m. to take mourners to Roneys Point.

The next day the Wheeling News Register reported the funeral as the largest ever in the rural district of Ohio County. The paper estimated that a thousand people were present at the Shcmulbach estate and at least a hundred automobiles were parked in the fields surrounding the estate (take a moment to imagine this). People from all walks of life were described as being present to pay their last respects to one of Wheeling’s prominent financial leaders.
Schmulbach was laid to rest on Monday at the famous Greenwood cemetery. To honor Schmulbach’s life the German Bank of Wheeling closed on Monday out of respect for their deceased president. Schmulbach’s funeral procession would be very different than others held in Wheeling. No horse drawn carriages would be used during the procession, only automobiles, making it the first funeral in the tri-state area to only use automobiles. The Masons were in charge of the funeral at Greenwood cemetery and they conducted their funeral ritual at the grave. Schmulbach had been an active member of the Masons since 1867.
Henry Schmulbach is a prime example of a poor immigrant moving to the United States and rising over time to become one of the community’s great financial leaders. One must consider the help and guidance that Schmulbach received from his uncle George Fuller. Also, Schmulbach’s actions at the Four Mile House, and the philosophy of Schmulbachism were an important feature to Wheeling and its illegal activity. Although Schmulbach did not avidly promote Schmulbachism, some of his business ventures represented the gaming life Wheeling was known for. In closing Schmulbach will ultimately be remembered for his contributions to Wheeling business community

In the near future I will most likely be creating some lesson plans on West Virginia history. A great way to learn about that history is to incorporate the lives of those who make the history. Schmulbach became an interest of mine last fall when I learned about him in the History of Wheeling. I was already rummaging through microfilm for another class, so I thought I’d look up some information on old Henry while I was at it. Most of my information was obtained from the Daily Intelligencer and Wheeling Register.
The photos are not mine. Here’s where they came from:
1) Schmulbach - http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvwags/bioschmupic.jpg
2) Schmulbach Brewry - http://www.huntingtonbeercans.com/schmulbach%20brewery2.JPG
3) Schmulbach Bottle (I’m on a frantic search for one) - www.huntingtonbeercans.com/schmulbach01.jpg
4) Mozart Incline - http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvmarsha/incline.htm
5) Schmulbach’s elaborate grave which is located in the famous Greenwood cemetery - http://wheeling.weirton.lib.wv.us/history/landmark/Cemeteries/Schmulbach.htm

Well, in my previous blog I couldn’t help myself, and I went into that mini lecture about the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge. While driving back home for the weekend I thought it might make sense if I shared some more information about the bridge, and showed the world an example of something that I purchased at one of our auctions. What you see above is a print of a painting which is titled “Wheeling in Virginia” (for those of you who don’t know, West Virginia is a state, it’s not simply “Western Virginia”). While sorting through some junk one day I found this. It was originally a page out of a book, and for some unknown reason someone ripped it out. I found it while sorting through some papers. Instantly, I hoped that I would be able to buy it, but items such as this are not sold alone. We of course throw it in with a bunch of other similar “junk” and call it a “lot. ” Anyway, on the day of the auction I kept a close eye on this particular lot and I bought it. I went well over my budget, but when I bid, I’m a wild man. So once I got it home I purchased a frame and gave it a new home, basically I rescued it.
The print depicts what early Wheeling looked like. Sadly, I’m not sure when the original was painted, I’m guessing the 1850’s. During its heyday, Wheeling thrived off of the Ohio River and the commerce that it brought. During this time period, Wheeling was the gateway to the west, and before those settlers entered the then “wilderness” - they crossed the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. Even before the suspension bridge, the completion of the National Road through Wheeling in 1818 made it the transportation hub of the state. Later, Wheeling would become well know for its glass production, china, steel, and tobacco (i.e. cigar manufacturing, we’re too far north for growing). Today Wheeling is a dwindling town that is trying to find it’s identity. First the suburbs, then the interstates, then the exits, then the strips malls… patterns such as this have left the downtown district of Wheeling idle. Sadly, the manufacturing jobs are gone, skilled trades that are forgotten by most. So if you ever come across a piece of Warwick china at a yard sale, buy it, you’re buying a piece of Wheeling (plus it’s usually rather valuable.)

P.S. Aside from the amazing photo of Fred Sanford and his loving son Lamont, the others are RPS originals (me), so like, don’t steal them or anything. Be cold… ah.. I mean cool, be cool.