The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.
Dec. 22, 1928: Radio station WMMN of Fairmont began operations as one of West Virginia’s pioneer stations. For nearly two decades beginning in 1935, WMMN was an important outlet for country and western music performers. The highlight of this era was the Sagebrush Roundup, a Saturday-night live-audience show that began in December 1938 and was broadcast weekly for nearly 10 years.
Dec. 22, 1953: An empty gasoline barge tied to the Marietta Manufacturing dry dock in Point Pleasant exploded, killing six men. During World War II, Marietta Manufacturing had received the prestigious Army-Navy “E” Award for wartime production.
Dec. 23, 1987: Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme escaped from the Federal Prison Camp in Alderson. Fromme, who was serving a life sentence for trying to kill President Gerald Ford, was captured two days later near the prison.
Dec. 24, 1852: The last spike was driven on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad between Baltimore and the Ohio River. The event occurred at Rosbys Rock near Moundsville. To mark the spot where the final spike was driven the following words were carved upon the rock: Rosbbys [sic] Rock Track Closed Christmas Eve 1852.
Dec. 24, 1942: The Committee on Fair Employment Practices ordered that Jehovah’s Witnesses be reinstated to their jobs at Pittsburgh Plate Glass in Clarksburg. The workers had been fired for refusing to participate in union-sponsored flag-salute ceremonies at the plant.
Dec. 25, 1887: Folk artist James Tyree Rexrode was born in Pendleton County. He created a visual record of rural West Virginia life in the early 20th century. He died in 1976.
Dec. 26, 1917: Instrument maker Harold M. Hayslett was born in Putnam County. Hayslett’s violins, violas and cellos have received awards for tone and workmanship, and are cherished by collectors and players alike.
Dec. 27, 1797: The county seat of Ohio County was moved from West Liberty to Wheeling.
Dec. 27, 1923: Businessman and Point Pleasant native Michael Owens, who revolutionized the glass industry through automation, died at age 64.
Dec. 28, 1879: Brigadier General Billy Mitchell was born in France. As chief of the Army Air Service, Mitchell ordered aircraft of the 88th Squadron to perform reconnaissance during the 1921 Miners’ March on Logan.
Dec. 28, 1978: The last trains ran on the Greenbrier Division, a branch line of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. Unlike most C&O branches in West Virginia, the Greenbrier Division was not a coal-hauling line but served the valley’s timber industry.
