West Virginia

Name: Bethany College
Brand: Brnet Carney
SKU: 9780738516608
Price: 18.74 USD
Availability: InStock

The remote valleys of West Virginia resound with the echoes of history. The Mountain State was birthed by the cataclysm of a Civil War, a disunion presaged by John Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry. The earliest twangs of country music sound from hills and hollers that eavesdropped on ten-thousand years of unrecorded speech. Read the transcript of West Virginia history, from the inauguration of Mother’s Day in Grafton to the aftershocks of the Silver Bridge disaster in our catalogue of West Virginia history books. [View all West Virginia books]

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Bethany College

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McDowell County Coal and Rail

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Charleston

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Cabell County

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Wheeling in Vintage Postcards

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Lewis County

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Beckley

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Blennerhassett Island

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Guyandotte

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Shepherdstown

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Historic Inns of Southern West Virginia

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Yeager Airport and Charleston Aviation

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Around Shinnston

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Wayne County

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Wheeling Jesuit University

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Shepherd University

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Catholic West Virginia

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African Americans of Jefferson County

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Potomac State College

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Mason County

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Summers County in Vintage Postcards

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Pleasants County

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West Virginia National Guard:

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Legendary Locals of Wheeling

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West Liberty State College

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Wheeling

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Tucker County

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Parkersburg in Vintage Postcards

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African-American Life in Preston County

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Hancock County

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A History of the West Virginia Capitol: The House of State

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Bethany College

9780738516608

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Harbored in the halls of ivy-covered buildings, the rich history of Bethany College has inspired thousands of students to pursue higher education amidst the scenic Allegheny foothills. Those who have studied here have come to find that this picturesque, 1,600-acre campus has provided them with more than just a diploma-it has enriched their lives.

Founded on March 2, 1840, by Alexander Campbell, Bethany College is the oldest degree-granting institution in West Virginia. Emphasizing intellectual freedom, diversity, personal growth, leadership, and a close academic community capable of cultivating eager minds, Bethany College is dedicated to providing a well-rounded education and producing free-thinking students. In these pages, readers will discover the Bethany of the past-including the vision of founder Alexander Campbell, the inspiration of the Christian Church that supports Bethany's mission, the beautiful historic architecture, the athletic moments that rallied school pride, and the great legacy of alumni and faculty. Accompanied by informative captions, vintage photographs collected from the Archives and Special Collections of the T.W. Phillips Memorial Library capture the Bethany experience, offering readers a unique opportunity to celebrate this institution's vibrant history.

McDowell County Coal and Rail

9781467121927

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Over 200 fascinating postcard images show early coal mining in McDowell County and how it progressed throughout the years.

Coal was discovered in McDowell County, located in the Billion Dollar Coalfield of southern West Virginia, in 1748, but it was not explored or mined until the early 1800s. Mill Creek Coal & Coke Company shipped the first railroad car of coal in March 1883 via the Norfolk & Western Railway. By the early 1900s, hundreds of mining companies dotted the county's landscape. The coal from McDowell County fueled the nation's home heating and steelmaking businesses and both world wars. As the coal industry developed, the local population grew; by 1950, the county had grown from a few hundred people to more than 100,000. .

Cabell County

9780738514000

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Established in 1809, Cabell County is located in West Virginia's Mid-Ohio Valley. When rail tycoon Collis P. Huntington pushed the tracks of his Chesapeake & Ohio Railway across the mountains from Virginia into Cabell County, he founded the town that would become the county's great metropolitan center. Business and industry soon began to rise, and Cabell grew into one of the Mountain State's busiest, most populous regions. This dramatic history of Cabell County begins with the arrival of the area's first settlers and continues into the 21st century. Introduced are James Holderby, Peter Cline Buffington, John Hunt Oley, and the other venturesome souls who set in motion the forces that made Cabell County the thriving place it is today. An informative text and 200 vintage photographs recreate key historical events, including the day when the James Gang robbed the Bank of Huntington, the sagas of Barboursville and Milton, the early days of Marshall University and its spectacular growth and success, and the strange but true story behind the creation of Ritter Park. Readers also gain a feel for life in past eras as they witness the paddlewheelers that plied yesterday's Ohio River and the steam locomotives that chugged their way through the county's history.

Wheeling in Vintage Postcards

9780738515328

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The history of Wheeling and Ohio County is both eclectic and engaging. Beginning in the colonial era when the legendary Betty Zane saved Fort Henry from an Indian attack by hiding gunpowder in her skirt, Wheeling eventually emerged as an important link between Eastern cities and the rest of the United States. The Wheeling Suspension Bridge, the Old National Road, and the B&O Railroad all passed through the bustling Ohio County. Over the years, Wheeling has been labeled everything from "Victorian Wheeling" to "Sintown USA," and these monikers represent the diverse qualities of a town molded and shaped by the steel, coal, tobacco, and transportation industries. Whether residents and visitors frequented the impressive Victorian mansions or Wheeling's infamous brothel district, they always had something to write home about. The incomparable collection showcased in this book spans five decades and was begun and continued by the Carney family.

Lewis County

9780738585857

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Since the first documented arrival of white men in its borders in 1769, Lewis County has morphed from a howling wilderness known simply as West Augusta, Virginia, to a major player in a hub of interstate highway transportation and a recreational area with a number of tourist destinations. Formed from Harrison County in 1816, Lewis County and its 17,003 citizens represent the best of central West Virginia. The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Jackson's Mill, Stonecoal Lake, and Stonewall Jackson Lake define the county by their unique place in history. The county's native sons and daughters have been industrialists, U.S. senators, Civil War generals, and nationally recognized athletes. They have been the fabric that makes America the great country it is today: the ordinary, everyday citizen who lives life to its fullest potential while enduring whatever struggle fate sets before them.

Beckley

9780738592053

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A fork in the road was all Alfred Beckley found in 1836 when he arrived in a wilderness that was to be chartered as Beckley in 1850. Aptly named, Beckley means Becca's wood or clearing. Farming and timbering were the primary occupations in Raleigh County until 1900, when coal became a major industry, bringing immigrants from Europe and the Deep South. Prosperity continued for half a century until the coal mines were worked out. Many miners moved to the Midwest, where steel mills and factories were booming. Beckley struggled through the 1950s and 1960s. Then came the interstates, which created tremendous growth in health care, banking, housing, education, shopping, restaurants, tourism, culture, and recreation. However, downtown became a vacant reminder of its nostalgic past as shopping centers took over. The 21st century has brought a new face to Beckley, as it is rapidly becoming a government center.

Blennerhassett Island

9780738518497

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Images of America: Blennerhassett Island reveals for the first time the pictorial past of the Ohio River's most famous island. Located one-and-a-half miles west of Parkersburg, West Virginia, it sprang into national fame two centuries ago as the headquarters of Aaron Burr's 1806-1807 conspiracy to create an empire in the Southwest. The island also was renowned as the site of the American West's most beautiful home: the legendary Blennerhassett Mansion, completed in 1800 only to be destroyed by fire 11 years later. This
volume's more than 200 fascinating pictures--most never published before--will take the reader on an exciting adventure through time, beginning with the island's glamorous Burr/Blennerhassett years; through its 19th century steamboat era; and into the 20th century, when it became the playground of the Mid-Ohio Valley. The final images portray the 1980 creation of Blennerhassett Island as a popular West Virginia state park with the reconstructed
Blennerhassett Mansion as its centerpiece.

Guyandotte

9781467121361

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Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Guyandotte Rivers, Guyandotte's first industries were logging and steamboat travel. In 1911, after the Civil War's Battle of Guyandotte resulted in most of the town being burned, Guyandotte's residents officially voted to become a part of the newer and larger city of Huntington. Today, Guyandotte is a historic neighborhood with several antebellum homes and landmarks that still stand proudly. Despite floods that ravaged the area in 1907, 1913, and 1937, the community hosts two major industries--Special Metals Corporation, maker of nickel alloys, and Grief Brothers Corporation, a producer of shipping containers. Along with images of the Guyandotte United Methodist Church congregation and the ever-popular Moore's Hardware, which dates from 1947, Guyandotte shares stories of the people and places that have shaped this historic Huntington neighborhood.

Shepherdstown

9780738541808

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In the mid-1700s, a man named Thomas Shepherd divided 50 acres of his land into 8 streets and 96 lots, establishing the community of Mecklenburg. The town was named for the birthplace of Queen Charlotte, wife of England's King George III. On December 23, 1762, the Virginia General Assembly granted a charter for Mecklenburg. The residents dubbed the community "Shepherd's Town," in tribute to its founder. That title endured and was bestowed upon Shepherd College, which evolved into Shepherd University in 2004. Containing more than 200 vintage photographs of Shepherdstown, this volume gives the casual observer and serious scholar an idea of what the town, businesses, houses, and people looked like in earlier days.

Historic Inns of Southern West Virginia

9780738552859

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Southern West Virginia possesses great natural beauty and a rich history in which lodging has played a significant role. This book traces the evolution of lodging in the area from the late 1700s to the present. The various types of accommodations included log cabins; lodging in rail, coal, and lumber communities; picturesque stagecoach stops; state parks; bed-and-breakfasts; and opulent mineral springs hotels. During the Civil War, many of the springs hotels and stagecoach stops were used for army hospitals and headquarters. This volume provides glimpses of quaint towns such as Bramwell, Fayetteville, Union, and Lewisburg, as well as the more commercial towns of Princeton, Bluefield, Hinton, Beckley, Glen Jean, Gary, Cass, Ronceverte, Marlinton, Coalwood, Rainelle, and Glen Rogers.

Around Shinnston

9781467123723

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Surrounding the West Fork River and its tributaries, the communities in northern Harrison County are rich in both history and pride. With an abundance of natural resources, such as coal and oil, the areas featured in Around Shinnston developed into industries that brought growth and commerce. Many of these towns were named for the coal companies that established mines there, including Gypsy and Owings. Viropa was named for Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, while Wyatt, previously called Goosetown, was renamed to honor a local physician. Big Elm once carried the roots of the largest water elm tree on record, and Enterprise was a large Indian territory. Shinnston is the largest community in Clay District (third largest in Harrison County) and is home to the oldest structure in this part of the state. These areas were the heart of the Bituminous Coal Fields and today take pride in their history.

Wayne County

9781467134231

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Wayne County, West Virginia, was established on January 18, 1842, from part of Cabell County and named for Gen. Mad Anthony Wayne. The state's westernmost county, it lies at the juncture of two rivers: the Ohio and Big Sandy. The town of Wayne is the county seat. Although the southern half of the county was first to be settled, it was slow to develop. In contrast, the northern part bordering Cabell County grew rapidly. The city of Huntington ultimately expanded westward into Wayne County, an area now known as Westmoreland. In addition to Wayne and Huntington, the county has three other incorporated communities: Ceredo, Kenova, and Fort Gay. In the 19th century, timbering and farming were the county's economic mainstays. The southern end of the county experienced a growth spurt when, in 1890, the Norfolk & Western Railway was completed to Kenova. Today, many residents commute to Huntington or nearby Ashland, Kentucky. The county is the birthplace of gospel singer Michael W. Smith, major league pitcher Donnie Robinson, and Fannie Belle Fleming, better known as stripper Blaze Starr.

Wheeling Jesuit University

9780738592213

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The 60-acre campus of Wheeling Jesuit University is located in the eastern suburbs of Wheeling, West Virginia. Originally named Wheeling College, it is the youngest of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. John Swint, bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, and the Jesuits founded Wheeling College as a traditional, coeducational, liberal arts institution. In time, faculty and students became quite diverse, and programs of study proliferated. The institution added "Jesuit" to its name in 1988 to become Wheeling Jesuit College and, eight years later, became a university and modified its name accordingly. In 1994, the board of directors approved a mission statement that calls on Wheeling Jesuit University to educate men and women for life, leadership, and service with and among others.

Shepherd University

9780738599137

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Today, Shepherd University is recognized for its outstanding programs in liberal arts, business administration, computer and natural sciences, and professional studies. In 1871, the school opened its doors to 42 students who were guided under the leadership of its first principal, Joseph McMurran. The West Virginia Legislature passed an act in February 1872 to establish a branch of the state normal school for teacher training at Shepherd. Teacher education remained the cornerstone of Shepherd University for more than a century. This pictorial history presents how academics, athletics, and student life transformed over the decades to educate a diverse student body in more than 60 undergraduate programs and five graduate programs.

Catholic West Virginia

9780738586397

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Overcoming its tumultuous beginnings, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has matured into a distinguished and active voice for West Virginians. One of the most unique aspects of the diocese's 160-year history is the diversity of the landscape, culture, ethnicity, and dialect that characterizes the state's identity. From Wheeling to Beckley and Martinsburg to Parkersburg, the story of our diocese comes from the individuals who established and nurtured the Catholic faith in their local communities. Without generations of the dedicated faithful, the diocese would not have thrived. Through a variety of images, this book tells the story of the generations that continued striving to give a voice to this unique Catholic community. In addition, professional researchers and local readers alike will find this volume's rare perspective of history through the lived experience of the subjects refreshing.

African Americans of Jefferson County

9780738567877

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Jefferson County can proudly claim a large number of firsts when it comes to African Americans in national history. The raid to free slaves that served as a catalyst for the Civil War was led by abolitionist John Brown in Harpers Ferry. The first man wounded in the rebellion was Heyward Shepherd, a free African American and a Jefferson County resident. Pres. Abraham Lincoln appointed Jefferson County native Martin Robison Delany as the first African American field officer of the Civil War. In 1906, the Niagara Movement, forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), held its first meeting on American soil on the Storer College campus. The first woman to become the coach of a men's college basketball team was also an African American from Jefferson County. Additionally, the Colored Horse Show held in Charles Town was the first of its kind for African Americans.

Potomac State College

9780738506210

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Founded in 1901 as West Virginia Preparatory School to address a need in the area for quality secondary education, Potomac State College has since become a regional campus of West Virginia University. Throughout its one hundred years of excellence, the school has shaped the hearts and minds of countless students, faculty, and staff, and become an integral and beloved part of the local community of Keyser in eastern West Virginia. In Potomac State College, vintage photographs and other visual memorabilia tell the story of this developing institution, from sororities and sports teams to homecomings and bonfires, May Courts and graduations to clubs and, of course, classes. Noteworthy alumni such as Henry L. Gates Jr. and Admiral Joseph Lopez are featured, as well as important figures in the college's history such as Coach "Horse" Lough, Dr. Elizabeth Atwater Alexander, "Ikey" Dayton, and Ernest E. Church. With a century of success behind them, the men and women of Potomac State College move into the next century with a continuing commitment to face new challenges and achieve personal goals.

Mason County

9780738566627

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In the 1770s, George Washington surveyed the land comprising Mason County as part of a grant from the king of England to veterans of the French and Indian War. As a former officer in that war, Washington laid claim to part of Mason County and began a settlement there in 1775. The decades that followed brought other important historical figures to the county. Daniel Boone started a trading post near the banks of the Kanawha River. Samuel B. Clemens, the grandfather of Mark Twain, lived in Mason County. Entering the 20th century, Mason County thrived on industries utilizing its natural resources. River towns dotted the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers; coal mines flourished along the northern River Bend area; salt works and power plants added to the unique characteristics of the townships. Mason County is a land hewn by history, culture, nature, and time, all of which etches a unique portrait of a vibrant community.

Summers County in Vintage Postcards

9780738541518

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Summers County was created in 1871 from parts of surrounding counties. The community's history is based in industry, as the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad was routed through Hinton, the county seat, and booming coal mines fueled the thriving economy. The flourishing homes and businesses of yesterday have been largely preserved through the effort and determination of citizens, allowing residents and visitors to learn the county's history and appreciate its roots. Summers County in Vintage Postcards is a tribute to the founders of Summers County, to its influential residents, and to anyone who has visited and enjoyed the area's natural beauty. In this volume, readers will explore the county's most historically significant structures, such as the Graham House at Lowell, the Summers County Courthouse, the Great Ben Tunnels at Talcott, and Bluestone and Pipestem State Parks.

Pleasants County

9780738568164

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Formed from portions of Wood, Tyler, and Ritchie Counties, Pleasants County was founded in 1851 and was named after Gov. James Pleasants Jr. of Virginia. Residents of Pleasants County fondly recall many of the buildings that no longer exist today, such as the button factory, blacksmith shop, marble factory, and the Quaker State Oil Refinery, all of which are preserved in the photographs that are showcased throughout Images of America: Pleasants County. Taking a step back in time, these photographs illustrate how the town and county looked more than 100 years ago, exploring a variety of the county's activities and historic scenes and offering a colorful insight into the past as well as the present.

West Virginia National Guard:

9780738568003

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The formation of what would eventually become the West Virginia National Guard has its roots intertwined in the "Old" Virginia Militia system of the early and mid-1700s. This militia system spanned the Indian hostilities of the French and Indian War, American Revolutionary War, 1780s and 1790s Indian Wars, and Civil War. Images of America: West Virginia National Guard covers the time span between 1898 and 1919. This period of guard history was chaotic, to say the least, and was typified by turbulent social, economic, and political unrest.

Legendary Locals of Wheeling

9781467100625

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From its founding as a frontier outpost through its role as the birthplace of a new state during the Civil War and its evolution into a manufacturing center, Wheeling has been home to a fascinating array of personalities. The old legends feature Betty Zane's bold dash to save Fort Henry and Samuel McColloch's daring leap on horseback from Wheeling Hill. Businessmen like Henry Schmulbach and Michael Owens contributed to Wheeling's industrial rise, while Augustus Pollack and Walter Reuther earned fame as friends of labor. And even as notorious men like "Big Bill" Lias capitalized on Wheeling's wide-open ways, community leaders like James "Doc" White worked quietly for racial justice. On local ball fields built in the shadows of steel mills, Wheeling's gritty sports heroes, like Chuck Howley and Rose Gacioch, demonstrated their athletic prowess. Notoriety in the arts was earned through the music of Doc and Chickie Williams and opera star Eleanor Steber as well as the works of writers like Keith Maillard and Marc Harshman, the current West Virginia Poet Laureate.

West Liberty State College

9780738506975

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Located in a charming community in West Virginia's northern panhandle is West Liberty State College, the oldest institution of higher learning in the Mountain State. The school was chartered by the State of Virginia as an academy in 1837 and has seen its share of changes since that time. Arguably the foremost change arrived in 1863 when West Virginia became the 35th state in the Union, thereby making the college older than the state. The school took its name from the community in which it resides, which, at the time of the American Revolution, was the frontier settlement farthest west of the Appalachian Mountains and therefore appropriately
named West Liberty. Since that time, West Liberty State College has been organized and reorganized as a normal school, a state teacher's college, and, finally, a state college. It has maintained its stated mission to launch our graduates into community, work, and academic environments ready to
be viable contributors with skills and knowledge needed to meet future opportunities and challenges. West Liberty State College celebrates the history and traditions of the school, spotlighting academic, social, and athletic events over the past 163 years.

Wheeling

9780738585932

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From a booming crossroads to a quiet town, follow author Seán Duffy and photographer Paul Rinkes as they tour Wheeling, WV through the ages.

The convergence of the Ohio River, the National Road, a remarkable bridge, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad transformed Wheeling into a transportation hub. Fed by an influx of immigrant labor, the city prospered, adding industrial muscle. But global economic changes brought the machine to a sudden halt. In Then & Now: Wheeling author Seán Duffy and photographer Paul Rinkes explore a city still recovering from that trauma, a city with a proud past and an uncertain but hopeful future.

Tucker County

9780738518008

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This volume tells the story of Tucker County's history through the visual records of its communities, families, and industries. Carved out of Randolph County, Virginia, in 1856, Tucker County's early history played out in the farming communities of the Cheat River Valley. Beginning
in 1884, the shrill whistle of industrialist Henry Gassaway Davis's railroad, the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg, woke the area to dramatic changes. New towns like Davis, Thomas, and Parsons grew up and prospered in response to the developing nation's demand for lumber and coal. The collection features the visual evidence of how the political, economic, and natural landscape of Tucker County changed from 1880 to 1960.

Parkersburg in Vintage Postcards

9780738518176

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Historically, Parkersburg's rapid development can be attributed to its position at the junction of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers. Steamboats and, later, rail transportation sealed the area's destiny as a successful community. In 1896, Parkersburg resident Gustavus Edward Smith produced images of Parkersburg on a newly developing novelty, the picture postcard. The first in West Virginia, these picture postcards were created two years before the cards were even legally recognized by the United States Postal Service. At the turn of the 20th century, as citizens were enjoying Parkersburg's business, political, and social atmosphere, the postcards industry was thriving on the public's demand for likenesses of interesting buildings,
streets, parks, events, and even disasters.

African-American Life in Preston County

9780738501338

$24.99 $18.74 Save 25%

Preston County, an area nestled in the northern corner of West Virginia, is bounded on the north by
Pennsylvania and the Mason-Dixon line and on the east
by the state of Maryland. This scenic Appalachian region is primarily a farming community, though mining, timber, recreation, and tourism have also been vital contributors to the county's economy. The small yet vibrant African-American community of Preston County, whose story is told here through family photographs, documents, and memories, is a vital part of the county's heritage. For generations, these families have worked on the land and in the mines; they have raised their children and built their homes in Preston County. Vintage images from as early as the 1860s preserve the
African-American story of the mothers and fathers and
the mine workers and farmers who have played and
continue to play an important role in the history of this beautiful part of the world.

Hancock County

9780738543314

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Hancock County, West Virginia, located in the Upper Ohio Valley, was first settled during the Revolutionary War. Over the next century, it transformed from a frontier forest into rolling fields, pastures, and orchards. In the 1830s, investors began building brickyards in New Cumberland, which would become the county seat. Hancock County was still primarily home to farmers and brickhands until the construction of potteries (including the world's largest pottery, Homer Laughlin China), which gave birth to the towns of Chester and Newell. The location of a steel mill near Hollidays Cove created the town of Weirton. The new industries tripled the county's population and provided employment to three and four generations of county residents. Recently tourism and recreation have become increasingly important to the local economy, evolving from the bygone days of Rock Springs Park to the ever-expanding Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort of the present.

A History of the West Virginia Capitol: The House of State

9781609496913

$14.99 $11.24 Save 25%

Even though the West Virginia Capitol deviated from the design of legendary architect Cass Gilbert, the iconic building is still considered a masterpiece. The full story of the Capitol is filled with twists and turns, from the fortunate fire that burned its predecessor to the tug of war between Wheeling and Charleston for the designation of state capital. Revisit the to-gild-or-not-to-gild debate that raged around the construction of the Capitol's signature crown, which once was in danger of collapsing on itself or toppling in heavy winds. Join Charleston author Jim Wallace for this captivating account of West Virginia's architectural jewel.