All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

This Week in West Virginia History: Jan. 29 – Feb. 4

Joanne Dru

Charleston, WV – 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.

Jan. 29, 1903: The great rhododendron was designated the official state flower of West Virginia, after being recommended by the governor and voted on by students in the public schools.

Jan. 30, 1818: Nicholas County was created by the Virginia legislature from parts of Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Randolph counties. The county was named for Wilson Cary Nicholas, a Virginia governor and U.S. senator who lived from 1761 to 1820.

Jan. 30, 1895: Mingo County was created from the southern part of Logan County. Mingo is the youngest county in West Virginia.

Jan. 30, 1993: Author Julia Davis died in Charles Town at age 92. The Clarksburg native was a noted author of fiction and nonfiction, including the Shenandoah volume for the Rivers of America series.

Jan. 31, 1878: Educator William Woodson Trent was born in rural Nicholas County. He served as state superintendent of schools from 1933 until 1957.

Jan. 31, 1922: Movie and television actress Joanne Dru was born Joan Letitia Lacock in Logan. Her movie career included more than 40 films. Her brother, singer and TV host Peter Marshall, is also a West Virginia native.

Jan. 31, 1945: Sergeant Jonah Edward Kelley of Mineral County was killed in action while leading his squad against German positions during World War II. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his “superb courage.”

Feb. 1, 1832: Education reformer Alexander Luark Wade was born. Wade reorganized rural Monongalia County schools to require progress through eight prescribed levels with a graduating exercise and receipt of a diploma. Wade’s system worked so well it was copied in other counties and states.

Feb. 1, 1901: Frank Buckles, the last known American veteran of World War I, was born in Missouri. Buckles purchased a farm in Charles Town in 1954 and continued to live there until his death in 2011.

Feb. 2, 1908: Justice Marion Chambers was born in Huntington. Chambers was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the World War II Iwo Jima campaign in February 1945.

Feb. 3, 1825: Confederate General William Lowther Jackson was born in Clarksburg. He was one of at least three Southern officers to bear the nickname “Mudwall.”

Feb. 3, 1845: Gilmer County, located in the heart of West Virginia, was established from parts of Kanawha and Lewis counties. It was named for Thomas W. Gilmer, a governor of Virginia.

Feb. 3, 1923: Broadcast announcer Jack Fleming was born in Morgantown. He was the long-time “Voice of the Mountaineers.”

Feb. 3, 1961: The West Virginia legislature passed a resolution adopting “The West Virginia Hills” as an official state song. “The West Virginia Hills” is the best-known of four official state songs.

Feb. 4, 1845: Doddridge County was formed from parts of Harrison, Lewis, Ritchie, and Tyler counties. It was named for Philip Doddridge, a Western Virginia congressman, state legislator, and member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829–30.

Feb. 4, 1945: The hotel at Minnehaha Springs was destroyed by fire. Built in 1914, it was the first facility in Pocahontas County built strictly for the tourist business and was a forerunner of today’s local tourism economy.

Alexander Wade
Julia Davis
Frank Woodruff Buckles
Jack Fleming
Jonah Edward Kelley
Justice M. Chambers
Mudwall Jackson
Rhododendron – West Virginia State Flower photo by David Fattaleh

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

City of Buckhannon calendar for the week of January 19, 2026

Buckhannon’s week of Jan. 19 includes MLK Day closures (waste collection still on schedule), curbside recycling pickup Tuesday at 6 a.m., and a Consolidated Public Works meeting Thursday with in-person and virtual options.

Upshur County Sports Calendar

This week’s Upshur County sports calendar lists middle and high school basketball, wrestling, and college matchups for Jan. 19–25, highlighted by multiple Buckhannon-Upshur and West Virginia Wesleyan contests.

Basketball ‘Cats gain first win off the year as they beat West Virginia State, 97-91

West Virginia Wesleyan earned its first win of the season, defeating West Virginia State 97-91 behind Jerell Jean-Baptiste’s 32 points, hot three-point shooting, and a 30-of-37 performance from the free-throw line.

Wesleyan women use strong second half to pull away from Yellow Jackets for 86-67 win

Wesleyan erupted for 33 third-quarter points and shot 55.2 percent overall to defeat West Virginia State 86–67, led by Emma Witt’s 31 points, as the Lady Bobcats improved to 8–4 (6–3 MEC).

Buckhannon honors 99-year-old Rosie the Riveter with key to the city

Buckhannon honored 99-year-old Neva Lee Reed Snyder, a WWII Rosie the Riveter who helped keep American aircraft flying, with the city’s highest honor: the key to the city. Unable to attend, family accepted as Mayor Robbie Skinner praised her courage, patriotism and legacy.

This week’s Hank Ellis All-Stars: Olivia Blonn and Xavier Robinette

Olivia Blonn and Xavier Robinette have been named Hank Ellis All-Stars for their outstanding performances in wrestling and basketball.

Upshur County recovers $300,000 in taxes as delinquent property owners beat deadline

Upshur County officials say most delinquent 2024 property tax accounts were paid before the Nov. 1 deadline. Chief Tax Deputy Heather Sparks outlined what was redeemed and how taxpayers can still reclaim property through the State Auditor’s Office.

Westfall reaches 1,000-point milestone as Bucs roll past Wheeling Park, 67-57

Senior Jerin Westfall scored a game-high 34 points, reached the 1,000-point career mark, and hauled in 15 rebounds as Buckhannon-Upshur defeated Wheeling Park 67-57.

Strawberry Festival Queen Kourtney Jones crowned 2026 WV Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen

Wesleyan nursing student and 2025 Strawberry Festival Queen Kourtney Jones was crowned the 2026 West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen on Jan. 10 in Charleston. She’ll serve as the statewide ambassador for fairs and festivals throughout 2026.