Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-18
OUR MARKET HOUSE.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF SsVBNIl
PIygYsARS AGO
Fold BY an Old Citizen The Building Of the
Market Houss-It Went Up in Sections
Prominent Butchers Of That Day.
I'm @. l.. Ctanmer.l

Bu n. J.. JTuH"'''I
Shortly after the organization oi 'ne
town government of Wheeling IN the year
1904 one among the numerous improve
ments then agitated was the necessity oi
} taxing measures to erect building for q
market house. In the course OF events the
proiect was realized by the erection oil one
regardless of any particular style oil arcni-
lecture. AZ this latter consideration did
not enter into the calculation. Hence
while the one erected did not tickle the
nrids of tina inhabitants in the character oil
its design and the display Of beauty In It's
nroportions vet for all practical purposes
i answered the end for which it was in
tended.
II WAS located near the brow of the blum
on the river bank at the east end OF the
nresent suspension bridge which spans The
river at that point, on Tenth street, In
the snacs between the Zlnn property ana
Logan's drug store, and between Main
street and the terminus of the bridge. III
wss a small frame building containing
three or four stalls for meat, aud was q
much sought and coveted loGuglng pace
for the numerous cows and hogs which
at that early DAY we're permitted TO roam
through the embryo city and which night
Iy rendezvoused there, enlivenipg the
n.ighborbood with stertorous grant and
monotonous bawling, causing many
wooer of the sleepy god TO utter-dire lm-
precations upon the heads of his porcine
and bovine neighbors, which thus innocent
lv INDUCED their natural propensities at
his expense.
In its architectural proportions, 1t re-
sembled an ordinary shed, the root OF
which on one side projected to such an
extent as 10 provide generous shelter to
any number OF people who might seek its
overhanging protection, provided 1t was
not preoccupied by the before mentioned
quadrupeds.
The principal butcher Of That day was
German by tine name of Henry Sockman-
2 thrifty and industrious individual, who
subsequently removed to a farm IN Mar
shall county in this State, which he had
purchased with the procee of business
/ IN Wheeling. he WAS noted for his eccen-
tricties. bn. wiihal WAS person oil cheer
full disposition and kindly instincts, and
Was onsfquently held in high estimation
! nv his fellow tOwnsmen.
His slaughter house was located upon
the brow of the hill north OF the water
works building and in the rear OF the
present residence of Charles Rawllngs,
ESQ on Main street.
Whether the inhabitants were prompted
to change the location OF the market house
by reason OF the nuisance Occasloned ny
the four-footed beasts of the town. or by
reason of its too limited accommodations
10 meet the growing demands OF the peri
cd. We are unable 10 cay, but st all events
in the year 1922, the suggestion that a
more commodious building was needed
in a different location was acted upon,
and il was determined to erect a new
one. and hence 10 this last-0amed year the
authorities enteI cd into a concract with
well-knogn builder and contractor OF that
day-George PaBnell, Esq, the father OF
the late Andrew J. Pannell, Esq..-for the
erection of more suitable oBe, better
adapted to the purposes for which II was
intended, to be located on Market street,
north of Union. now Eleventh street. Its
dimensions were TO be ninety-elght feet IN
length, divided into eight stalls on each
side. with two passages on each side, and
seventeen feet in The clear between the pill
lars. and roof projecting over The plers
on each side seven feet and y halt, with
An arch extending the whole length of the
building. large space was lett ut Its
Ifrnn ufW
which was paved with broke around which
on the outer edges locust posts were plant
ed to prevent the passage of horses and We
hicles.
In aid of the erection of the same, certain
inhabitants of the town and vicinity agreed
and bound themselves to pay to the corpo-
ration u sum of money amounting IN all to
six hundred and ninety dollars in INSTALL
ments. For this purpose paper had been
circulated in the community for subscrip-
tions to the enterprise, which was signed
generally and the requisite amount was
soon occurred. The following terms
were incorporated in this subscription
paper-Mr. Pannell was to undertake the
collection OF the same and pay himself
thersout the sum of 5000, and the balance
thereof he was to pay into the town treas
ury, with this understanding, however
that if the persons eigniug said subscrip
ton are bound to psy the several sums by
them subscribed, and are now solvent, the
said incorporation Gown shall not he
bound for the payment of said sum OF
5000, OF any part thereof, otherwise TO be
held accountable"
The terms were satisfactory to the par
ties. and Psnnell undertook to, and did
iiuish il on OF before the first day OF Au-
gust. 1922, according to his contract and
the subscribers paid the money rs they had
agreed to 90, and thus relieved the town
from all responsibility.
The opening of the. new msrket house
WAS an event in the history of the town,
and WAS regarded a. an uncommon enter
prize and a great stride in the prosperity OF
the place. 1t was not alone a convenience
to the inhabitants, but II proved to be an
inducement to the farmers in the vicinity
to bring in their surplus produce. There
were no hucksters at this early period who
controlled the prices, but the farmers then
brought in their produce and sold 1t at
prices which were moderate, but remuner-
alive and Just
That some idea may be had as to the
prices then paid for the necessities OF life,
we quote few as follows:
Cleaned chickens from six and fourth
TO eight cents each. Butter three pounds
for twenty-five cents, each pound being
neatly printed with some appropriate de-
vice on it, snch rs a shesf of wheat, a COW,
&c. Eggs were sold at three cents per
dozsn and fresh and newly laid, too.
Hickory cured hams sold at six and a
fourth cents per pound. The best cuts of
beefsteak at four cents per pound. Corn
meal brought twenty-five cents per bushel,
and potatoes were drug at from eighteen
and three iourths to twenty-five cents per
bushel Thus it will be perceived it did
not require long purse 10 procure the
eatables of life as compared with the pres
ent day.
In addition to Henry Sockman, here
tofore named, among others who were
prominent butchers of that day, were
Neil McNaughten aud Louis Bayhs, all of
whom have passed away,
In the year 1923 an addition to the
market house was determined upon and
accordingly, 10 September of this last