The Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling is asking for help from the local community in building a new museum exhibit for Spring/Summer 2023.
To be titled “On Every Corner,” the new exhibit will pay homage to Wheeling’s old neighborhood mom-and-pop corner grocery stores, confectionaries, hardware stores, etc, such as Pop Coury’s, Lash’s Drug Store, Salvatori’s, Wickham’s, Visnic’s, McNamara’s Pharmacy, and so on.
“Those old corner stores are remembered fondly as community gems and social centers,” said Sean Duffy, Library director of adult programs and local history specialist. “Every neighborhood had them. A few are still around, but most are long gone. “
Now, as part of our Neighborhood Nostalgia Community Exhibit Series, the Ohio County Public Library is inviting Wheelingites (wherever they might live now) to loan memorabilia from these neighborhood stores. “We will be installing a new display in the main exhibit area of the Little Museum of Wheeling History at the Library. ” Duffy said. “And the community’s items will be featured. So if you have anything with a store’s name on it, from bags or pencils, to matchbooks, mugs, glasses, rulers, letter openers, or whatever it might be, or if you have photographs of these largely lost treasures, please get in touch by phone at 304-232-0244 (ask for Sean) or email (lucnhwithbooks@yahoo.com), or Facebook Messenger, and let us know if you’re willing to do some show and tell.”
All items will be displayed in the Library’s locked cases for spring (starting April)/summer 2023, and everyone who loans an item or item(s) will receive a loan document to ensure the safe return when our exhibit ends. The Library will also host a related program this summer.
Check out the Library’s website at ohiocountylibrary.org or call 304-232-0244 for more information.
