Christmas Greetings and articles from three Wheeling legends.
REBECCA HARDING DAVIS
Born June 24, 1831 in Washington, PA, Rebecca Harding Davis moved with her family to Wheeling in 1836. As an adult, she joined the staff of the Intelligencer, and in 1861, wrote Life in the Iron Mills which is regarded by many critics as a pioneering document marking the beginning of realism in American literature.
A prolific writer of her time, tackling such tough subjects as social change for blacks, women, Native Americans, immigrants, and the working class, Rebecca Harding Davis is credited with over 500 published works.
This collection of Christmas stories by Davis appeared in the December 3rd, 1904 edition of the Saturday Evening Post.
ELEANOR STEBER
Born in Wheeling in 1914, Eleanor Steber studied piano as a child in Wheeling and also studied voice with her mother. After graduation from Warwood High School, she attended and was graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and when she sang for the 1940 Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air, a star was born. Her triumph in the auditions launched a glorious career in Grand Opera and she became one of the first totally American-trained singers to become a headliner at The Met.
The Wheeling soprano went on to sing more than 50 leading roles at the world famous opera company in New York and holds the honor of having sung more premieres at The Metropolitan than anyone else. Steber enjoyed a wide international following throughout her enduring career and is still regarded as one of the most eminent American sopranos to have sung on the stage.
These holiday items signed by Steber were graciously left to the library by Rosemary Front, a Woodsdale resident, and lifelong friend of Steber.
Hear Eleanor sing White Christmas.
GEORGE KOSSUTH
The gift of a box camera at age 12 sparked the imagination of a young Wheeling resident, George J. Kossuth. A year later, in 1899, he entered a 10-year apprenticeship in the studio of J. E. Giffin in Wheeling. In 1909, Kossuth established his own studio and went on to become one of the most noted portrait photographers in the country during his time.
The host to many famous figures in American life, Kossuth took portrait of countless notables of the stage and public life including Clarence Darrow, Richard Nixon, Carl Sandburg, Richard Strauss, John Philip Sousa, and Wheeling’s own celebrity opera diva, Eleanor Steber, to whom one of these Kossuth Studios holiday postcards was sent.
In 1950, Kossuth restored the amazing collection of photographic prints that were donated to the library by W. C. Brown.
These Christmas themed items from the archives and special collections are currently on display in the main display case at the Ohio County Public Library. Merry Christmas from Archiving Wheeling.
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I have a picture of my grandfather, John Winchcoll, done by George Kossuth. My grandfather was “The Old Timer” of the Wheeling Steel program. It would be wonderful if he could be included in the Wheeling Legends.
Hi Susan. If and when a second volume of Legendary Locals of Wheeling is created, we will certainly consider your grandfather. Meanwhile, with your help, we can add a bio for him to the library’s web site. Please send us an email using this link: http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/contact/email-ocpl/103