Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-02-03

Wheeling has long been proverbial
and celebrated for its fine coasting
tracks.
Our hillside streets have for gen.
erations afforded the proper facilities,
and the city side of the National road
on Fulton hill, Seventh street, Eighth
street, Ninth street, Eleventh street,
Twelfth street, Fourteenth street, and
sundry others on the South Side, have
been for many winters the delight of
the young folks of both sexes.
Thirty years ago the National road
was famous coasting ground. The
'sleds' would make start at the top
of the hill, where the Mt. Wood road
branches off to the left, and not only
make run to Market street, but turn
down Seventh to Main. Eighth and
Ninth streets were modest coasting
tracks in days gone by, but Tenth
street required more nerve and ex-
perience, for the start at Chapline
street was a dangerous one because
of the steep grade down to alley c.
Experienced youths, however, delight
ed in the danger, and took many a
risk. t.-.s.
Ohapline street, from Tenth to Elev-
enth, and Eleventh street-old Union
were in the old days the Mecca of the
coasters. The usual start was at the
old Sutton coal bank, at the intersec-
ton of Morrow street; but OCCASION
ally the initial point was at Eoff
street. In exceptional times the sleds
started far UP Eoff street, and the turn
was made into Eleventh, ~ and then
there was a clear run to Market street,
with the necessity for looking out on
that street for wagons and the old lum-
bering horse street cars. The boy who
could, upon this track, run his sled
across Market street and bring up
against the west curb without going
foul of a wagon or street car, was
something of hero. AT times, gen
orally at night, this famous, ccasting
ground was crowded by hundreds,
girls and boys mixed UP indiscrimin-
ately, and the fun was royal and
healthful. Many a man now far ad-
vanced in the years of maturity and
filled with business responsibilities, will
recall the old Union street sled track
with a sigh, and will have an inward
wish that he might in these mid
winter days, he the boy of thirty years
ago.
The south sidewalk of Twelfth
street, also, was for long time fay
orite resort for coasters, from which
North Wheeling and Second ward boys
were generally barred by reason Of
that sectional prejudice which resulted
in an East Wheeling boy being
run OUT every time he made an ap-
pearance in North Wheeling" and
vice versa. Fourteenth street had a
limited reputation in the old days for
''sleders the sidewalk, for the
street proper was unpaved, but of late
years the brick pavement has made
the street favorite resort, and Elev-
enth street and the others have lost
their ancient reputation. In the old
days Twenty street was a fav-
orite resort for the young in the win
ter season, and there yet linger memoir
les of riders starting far up the old
Chapline hill "cut road" and ending
up at Main street. Most of these once
famous champions are dead, however.
To-day the big 'bob-sled' is decided
ly in evidence, and the fast single cut
ter is relegated to the background.
There were hobs" in the old days,
be it not forgotten-sleds that would
hold a dozen people, and required the
united exertions of half a dozen half
grown men to drag back up hill,
but the single Sled of home manufact-
ure, shod with "half-rounds" at the
nearest blacksmith shop, the bill paid
out of the proceeds of sales of old iron
and other junk, were the fayorites
and many such a snow sled has been
run from the pike to below the creek,
manufactured, save for the iron run
ner, by the boys who used them
Many boy now grown to mans es-
tate, has ''swiped" an oak or poplar
board, stolen a store box for a seat"
and sequestered enough scrap iron to
pay for the irons, and then had fun.
Fourteenth street is probably now
the best sled track" in the city, but
still there are others, and while the
sport is, in the opinion of the old
timers, not what it used to be, it still
affords a large amount of wholesome
and healthful outdoor recreation.