Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-01-13
Interesting Facts About the Capitol.

Yves, Virginia's capitol building
which was burned at Charleston last
week was the States fourth capitol. The
building was first occupied by the State
government in 1885, but was not &C
cepted as completed by the Board OF
Public Works until July I, 1899. At
that time it had cost S3Se,923.5S.
1t was a gala occasion when the
goyernmclt was finally moved from
Wheeling 20 the new structure which
! was its sea- until last week. Early in
the morning Of May 2, 1885, after days
of strenuous work packing the public
archives and paraphernalia in the cap
itol at Wheeling, two steamboats,, the
Chesapeake and the Belle Prince, &C
companed by tn model barge, Nick
Crawly, cast off at Wheeling and began
the voyage down the Ohio river. The
river boats carried the entire tangible
State government, including the State
officials and records.
They hove in sight OF the Charles
ton landing at 7 O'Clock on the even
ing OF Sunday, May 3. TIL population
OF the own lined the banks OF the river.
Whistles OF the many boats at the
Charleston wharf shrieked 4 welcome
| as the boats came into view. The gaily
decorated and festooned vessels which
bore the temporary government answer
ed in kind. AS they steamed up to the
landing the Belle Prince lred 4 salute
to the new capital city and the new
State house.
A small brass cannon on its fore
deck spoke time after time as the gun
ners rammed fresh charges down its
heating throat. Thus Charleston for
the second time became the Capital
City Of West Virginia, and with its
fine new capital building seemed in
fair way really to become the perma-
nent seat Of government. 1t has been
the capital for thirty-fve years and
some months now.
The election that resulted in the
permanent location of the capital in
Charleston was held in August, 1877,
but the government was not TO be
transferred from Wheeling until 1885.
SO the Board of Public Works had plen-
ty of time 10 procure the necessary site
and erect the capitol building. The
board was authorized to accept anv
donations in land or money to be used
toward obtaining suitable capitol
building, ami a sum Of $4,000 was ap-
propriated from the State treasury
The State-house company still owned
the capito! building in Charleston
which it had erected for the State in
1870, when Charleston was the CAPT.
to for five years prior to the second
removal to Wheeling
This property was conveyed to the
Board of Public Works by deed bear
ing the date Of August 10, 1873, and
then the State came into posses :Ion o.
land fol which the Sta.c-hcus. Gem
pany had paid $1,000, and n building
thereon, the erection of which had cost
S'7l, 900, iliC total cost of The land and
building aggregatng 5000 This
building had to be demolished and up
on its site was erected the new State
house
The Board of Public Works employ
el {. G. Temple and A Peoples as
architects to prepare specifications and
plans for the completed bdildine. and
On Nay p, 1880, the contract for its
e'fCtion was let 10 4. II. ST. phard, uf
Meadville, Pa, the same contractor
who had erected the State capitol at
Wreeling.
Things did not run smoothly, how
ever, and Sheppard failed 10 complete
his contract, the time was drawing
close for the removal of the govern
ment to Charleston and in June, 1884.
the Board of Public Works emplovcd
). w. Howard as architect ard super
intendent and let the contract for the
completion of the work to Henry d
Kuffner and James Grady, of Charles
ton. Their bid was S65,lOO. Zones
and Kelly of Pittsburg, whose upn-
tract was signed August 10, 1884, oil,
in the heating apparatus, ventilating
gas fitting and elevators at a cost of
9"4'ooo. Then came the painting,
carving frescoing, metal ceiling and
SURROUNDING, which brought the total
cost of the building up to S3s9,9235s.
at the time it was formally received
oy the Board of Public Works on July
7, 1888.
Architecturally, the building was
combination Of modern, Roman, Gre