The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-06-20
OLD TINE WHEELING.

OLD TINE WHEELING.
Reminisesnees Of Ferty.ays Years ago.
Some Old Landmarks.
EFittea Jor tht Iate.llgneE.
The history Of important local inshtn-
tons and industries, excites little interest,
50 long as the originators and projectors
Of these enterprises areliying factors in
the community. Let generations Of men
pass away, and few, II any, remain to tell
the story Of Improvement aud progress, or
supply the missing linksot history; then
everything associated with pioneer effort
becomes Of tenfold value. Watching, for
a score and a half Of years, from another
STATE, the rapid and wonderful growth Of
your city. the remarkablead in edu.
cational and reformatory institutions, and
philosophizing over itsiuture possibilities,
nv thoughts have gone back, almost half
a century, TO time when, as little child,
i wandered up and down Its partially de-
serted streets, peered into the many
empty houses that could be tenanted
simply by caring for the premises, and
listened, In vain, Nor the echo Of Its para
lived machinery; never dreaming that,
eyen then, tile solid foundation Of Wheel.
ing's prosperity was being .laid, by the
cunniug hands and brave hearts OF q few
hardy thinkers and skilled mechanics.
Passing up Monroe street recently, Q
stranger In the city, met a distinguished
minister from another State whom / had
known In boyhood days. II AIN glad to
see you,n he remarked; "when We were
children in misplace, knew three-tourths
Of tho people who lived here. i have
been on the streets Of Wheeling, now, for
two days and you are the fifth person, OF
INV old acquaintance ! have met and. IT
occurred 70 him, doubtless, as It did to me,
that we belonged to generation that had
almost passed of the stage OF extstance.
Iatterly / have been impressed with the
idea Of giving publicity, through your col;
umns. 10 some personal recollechons and
remin,scenees, which relate TO one Of the
most important decades inthe history Of
Wheeling. from 1880 to 1850. Twill not
attempt 10 follow chronological lines, as
memory is the storehouse from which ]
\ shall obtain most OF the material used In
these sketches. Events, localities and
persons, OF which have doubtful Snowl-
edge will be avoided.
The only departure from this period,
will be in Q paper was 80 fortunate as TO
be able to prepare through Information re-
ceiyed from most reliable source, being
a sketch OF the founding Of the Top mill
with tho names Of the few men who start
ed the first engine, toiled before its one
heating furnace, and manipulated the rolls
vet, "building far better than they knew"
| laid the foundations for future success,
prosperity and wealth.
The old landmarks deserve more than
passing notice, prominent among them
being the great National Road. at once the
pride and salvation OF Wheeling. II was
the main artery that literally brought lille
To the city, The echo OF wheels, tho
tramp of horses and the sound Of the ham:
mer, were constantly heard on the Pike"
The rival sstape companies, the Good In
| tent, the Ohio and the National sent out
their lines Of coaches East and West every
morning and evening; and often 1t was
necessary to secure tickets days in adj
vance, especially II the "haek seat was
desired, as was usually the case with ladies'.
One person today will often travel with
more baggage than ten or dozen passen-
gers would then have, fastened securely
| In the 'tboot" OF tho stage. Uncle Sam
had no poetoiiices on wheel, and nearly all
mails went by the coaches Wheeling
was distributing Office for large terrific
nv. and old.timers can recall the immense
mails left in the city for distribution over
parts Of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
tJonprcssmen from the South and West,
with their families, often journeyed from
their homes to Washington in their own
carriages, and one OF the events OF theyear
was the great company OF "Quakers" that
came from Baltimore, Philadelphia and
"ayay down East" to attend the yearly
meeting OF Friends at Mt. Pleasant. A
prominent feature Of the Pike was the
'tStape House." with Entertainments for
man and beast" where tired horses were
changed for fresh ones; and what hungry
traveller viii ever forget the delicious, ap-
petizing repasts at these old;tine tayerns?
The United States Hotel, where now
stands the st. James, Virginia Hotel, re-
Gently the Grant House, and MCCourt-
ney's farmers hostelrie, onithe northeast
corner OF Main and Quincy streets, the
Powhattan House on Monroe street, were
the hotels OF the period. McCourtney's
was the favorite resort OF droyers and cat
| lie men, as there were ample accommoda-
tons for the great droves OF horses, sheep,
cattle and even turkeys, that were driven
lover the mountains" via the great
thoroughfare. On these premises, right
in the present center Of the city, where
the iNTRLLIGEScER Office is now located,
we're the circus grounds, where Dan Rice,
Stickney and other pioneers Of the saw
dust ring, delighted gray haired men and
women, who are still living, in those hap
by days, "lang syne," to q greater degree
than a more pretentious Forepaugh or
Barnum-the e&acting Juveniles Of third
generation.
The only Methodist church in tho city
was historic Fourth Street, with its spac-
ioas galleries, running round three sites;
the choir Immediately facing the gallery.
One OF the pleasant memories oil child
hood is OF this old gallery, where have
delighted to look and listen, while my. old
friend, Bobby" Hamilton, led the sing.
ing with his tuning fork. Another vivid
recollection, Is OF the old.time custom Of
watching "the Old Year out and the New
Year in, and listening to the eloquent
sermons OF Cooke, Kenney, Babcock and
others, longsince vanished, lights OF the old
Methodist itineracy. Aiittie, dingy school
house on the site Of the North Street NJ.
E. church will be remembered by some
old citizens as their Alma Mater. Here /.
attended Sunday School for years with
Uncle Billy Wilson Superintendent, and
John Irwin Librarian. Here The word
was sometimes preached, a prayer meeting