The Birth of a Friendly City

180 Years of Cityhood

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On this day 180 years ago — March 11, 1836 — the town of Wheeling, Virginia was made the city of Wheeling, Virginia by an Act of Incorporation passed by the state’s legislative body, the General Virginia Assembly and signed into law by Governor Littleton Waller Tazewell.

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Dates of Significance for Wheeling

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• 1769: Founded by the Zane brothers

• 1795: Established as the Town of “Wheeling”

• 1806: Incorporated as a Town

• 1836: Incorporated as a City

One hundred years later, in August of 1936, Wheeling commemorated this event with an elaborate, citywide, week-long centennial celebration.

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The Centennial Celebration of 1936

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Highlights of the 1936 Centennial Celebration:

• Historical and Industrial Exhibits at the Market Auditorium and displays in every store window downtown
• Golf and tennis tournaments and a River Regatta
• Dodson World’s Fair Carnival at the Fairgrounds
• Coronation of the “Queen of the Centennial”
• “Nationality Night” featuring Polish, Italian, and Ukrainian music with dancers in ethnic attire
• “On Wings of Time” Pageant — a “Mammoth Spectacle” at Wheeling Island Stadium featuring a cast of more than 1000 portraying Wheeling’s History “from the beginning of time,” with a 150 piece band, “dazzling costumes,” dozens of horsemen, oxen, covered wagons, and “Trains of 1848”

View the entire program.

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Images from the Centennial Program

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Images from Thomas Bloch’s scrapbook:
(courtesy Ryan Stanton)

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Who is “Pa Wheeling”?

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“Pa Wheeling” was a recurring cartoon character who appeared in newspapers and magazines, beginning in the early part of the 20th Century.

The earliest appearance of “Father Wheeling” so far found, was in a 1906 newspaper political cartoon. Presumably based on Ebenezer Zane, “Pa” became a popular symbol of a long-suffering city in Progressive Era cartoons. He also did some recruiting during the First World War, reminding men to register for the draft.

By the early 1930s the Chamber of Commerce was using “Pa” as a mascot for progress in their “Forward Wheeling” publication.

And in 1936, “Pa” started appearing in slightly more modern attire for the Centennial celebration (with “Ma,” of course).

Here’s a look at “Pa” (and “Ma”) Wheeling through the years:

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Wheeling 180 Birthday Bash

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On March 8, 2016, a celebration of the 180th birthday of Wheeling as a city, hosted by Wheeling’s historian, Margaret Brennan, was held at Lunch With Books at the Ohio County Public Library. “Pa Wheeling” made a rare appearance, Stuart Bloch, son of the 1936 Chairman Thomas Bloch, offered remarks, current Wheeling Mayor Any McKenzie read a proclamation, and local music legend Yodeling Dick Brooks led a sing-along. 105 people attended, all enjoyed the show and most enjoyed some birthday cake.

 

 

Some birthday party pictures:

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So please join us in saying,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WHEELING!