Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-09-29
THE ARK"
The Old Building Rapidly Fading
From View.

Its HistOry---Lafayette's Visit Recalled
The Various Owners Of the edifce---
Incidents and "reminiscences.
The old ARK is about gone. The work
Of demolishing the building has been push
ed theoretically, and in a day or two more
the last brick and stick of timber will have
been removed, and nothing but the founda
ton walls will remain to mark the location
Of what, in its day and generation, was one
Of the handsomCst buildings in the city.
Many scenes, ranging from grave and
solemn 10 ray and hilarious, have been en-
acted within the walls now being so ruth
lessly demolished, and
"REMINISCENCES WITHOUT NUMBER,
and Of great interest are recalled by our
older citizens as they pause on their way up
or down Market street 10 watch the progress
OF the work.
One who was an eyewitness stated to 8
REGISTER reporter, yesterday, that the cor,
uer stone of the building was laid on thu
9th of June, 1924. The building wa
reared by the Masonic fraternity, and the
second story was set apart for the exclusive
use of the Lodge, while the lower part was
rented out for parties, dances and totheatri
cal troupes.
In 1924
THE NATIONS GUEST
the Marquis De Lafayette, visited our city.
he came up the river on the steamer
Herold and landed at Beamers Landing, a,
the foot OF Ninth street. He was there re
ceiyed by some of our most distinguished
citizens, among whom were General Moses
W. Chapman and John Mcclure. The Wis
itor, riding in an open carriage with the
lat er gentleman, was e . rt,d BY the Wheel
ing Light Infantry, whose Captain at thai
tue was Henry Helm, to the Virginia
Hotel, star6ing on the corner OF Tenth sno
Main streets. 1t was at that time one Of
the leadiug hotels of the town, but it sooE
afterwards burned down. In connec
ton with these facts a gentlemaD
who, among other things, may De Justly
proud Of his knowledge of local history
states that he ls certain the old city build
ing was the scene of Gen. Lafayette's recep
ton on the night following his arrival. Mr.
Morgan Nelson delivered the address o
welcome. 1t is propert to say, however, tha
where the General stopped and where tn
rand reception was held
IS A NATTER OF DISPUTE.
What has been stated, however, seems to bt
the most generally accepted view Of the
matter. Another gentleman states that he
al. eud,d school at this building in lS27
az ramed Vim. Slcum being the
,sGther.
In 3 deed book in the archives Of the
r,u,t house il ia found that on the ,Sth Of
Ncy,moer 1928, Samuel Sprigg and Peter
Yam all, the former owning tae south hall
of the lot which is nov the site OF
THE RUINS or THE ARK
ard the latter the north halt, sold the same
to the Masonic Hall Association for $500.
The inference drawn from the deed a.
there recorded is that this building was not
erected by the Masons until after this pur
chase. If this be true, certainly some o.!
the current opinions concerning its early
history are incorrect as a likely result Of It,
being so long ago.
DIFFERENT OWNERS.
The official records show that the build
ing continued to be owned by the NJ sson
until the 10Th Of September, lS4S, when /
was sold at commissioners sale by u. ".
Mitchell. The sale "a made pursuant t.
q decree OF the Circuit Court made on tn
9Th of February, 1874. 1t was sold
for $3.50 to Dorrance McGinnls
who was at that time b
member Of the City Council
On the 9TH OF NAV, 1856, Mr.. McGinnis
sold it to Robert McGregOr for $4,000, who
seven years afterwards sold it to the city o
Wheeling for $1,000. Last Thursday the
city sold the building alone to Joseph Bell
l. Co., for the sum Of 81. In a few
lays the displacement Of the corner stone
w. disclose
ASMALL SqrARE GON
containing information that will doubles
correct some Of the many errors adoat,
Some express it as their opinion that on th-
site Ct the ruins Of he Arb" there formerl,
stood a house in which school was held
and which also wa the scene Of balls ana
parties, and that in this old house the re
cep;ion OF General Lafayette occurred
There seems to be no conflicting opinion.
concerning the uses made of the building
In ISL such a thing ss a raj.
road was a curiosity as far a
Wheeling was concerned. One Of gu
prominent citizens narrate3 that in n
above mentioned year q circular track va
lid on the floor Of the first story and that 8
little engine accompanied By a single ca
va placed on 1t aud run at u tortoise spec
n e d. 20 illustrate
TuE MODERN oNDsR
Mar Ct the spectators thought that tn
| ting OF railroads would never amount :
ml,n They thought hat he "naliona
boroughisre' would forever keep out a
! .aiiroads as stages could be run muc.
/ ,te.pfr and were about as comfortable.
Among Wheelings many distinguish
visitors at that time were Henry Clay an
Thomas Benton. These were rendered
reception at the Ark Among the prom
ineut Zen of our own city were Thoma
Hughes. member Of Council, John Laugh
lin. Samuel Irwin, DR.. Crumbacker a.
Richard Mcclure. who was then and to
mar Y years atterwsrd postmaster.
In 1910 q pedagogue named Sheets
OPENED A SCHOOL
in this ancient building. He labored vii
gaa and tongue for four years. Atterward
he cha, ed his vocation from improyin
the minds of the well to healing the bodle
of the sick. Graduating at Philadelphia l
medicine be practiced at Steubenville unt
his death. Among others who attended h
.chool w,re Moses ChspIine, Wm. Clemen
Wm FORSYTH, jas. H. Forsyth, HenryC Mo
GAP. Morgan S. OFT, Jacob Rob, Asa \
Johnson, Geo. McMurry, n. Wilson, !
Baird ard Geo. Baird.
About the year 1850, Mrs. Hoge rente
this building for
A BOARDING HOUSE,
aid it was thus occupied for six years. Z
tbs time the temperance question vs.
greatly agitsted Henry Echols, who We
hen q member Of Council, was one Of Il
chamTiou leaders OF the movement.
Brady was Mayor and J. S. Wheat Gil