(Publisher’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series that reviews the development of ideas concerning the corner of 10th and Main streets in downtown Wheeling and the organizations and individuals who are participating in the process thanks to the explanations provided the executive director of Wheeling Heritage, Mr. Scott Schenerlein. Part Two will be published later next week.)
Knocking Off the Rust
Something happened here. Something important; something that altered the course of the country and its ever-evolving social science. Something very special.
There were sieges and battles and a Civil War camp on Wheeling Island, and men built boats and metal pipe and families crossed here for the riches to the West. Females and males of diverse origins constructed the towns and neighborhoods, and there were steelworkers and glassmakers and toy builders and beer brewers, too.
The nation’s very first federal highway carved through Wheeling, the only municipality in America to serve as the capital city for two different states, and first-floor retail operation with the family on the second level was a very popular way of life in local downtown districts. And when it came time for President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s interstate system to stretch across America, this valley region was included once again.
“That’s why this area, right here in our backyard, has been designated by our Congress as an area where something really, really important happened,” explained Scott Schenerlein, executive director of Wheeling Heritage. “It was special once, and it’s still special, and that’s been officially recognized and it’s because of all of the industry that once lined the Ohio River for a lot of years, and because of the innovations that were invented right here.
“So, Congress called us out and called us ‘special,’ and that’s a big deal. And that’s why it’s our job to take care of it, of that heritage, and I believe that’s a very important job,” he said. “We’re under the National Parks Service and there is a management plan that we refer to and follow, but the people here are the most important part of what we do.”
The Wheeling National Heritage Corp., known as Wheeling Heritage since 2016, was founded in 1994 with federally funded mission to redevelop the city’s economy through entrepreneurial interaction, historical preservation, revitalizing the downtown, and utilizing the riverfront. The list of successes is long and impressive, and each of the non-profit’s six executive directors adopted their own angles to the job. That, of course, includes Schenerlein.
“Well, I think each person in this position has their own take on what they want to do, and for me, I had a lot to learn before I started to put my own spin on it. But our main mission is to be a catalyst for the revitalization of Wheeling,” Schenerlein said. “I always say we’re the quiet catalyst.
“If you look around Wheeling, though, we have our hands on at least half of the projects that are taking place right now in same way, shape, or form, and that means we’re invested in some way,” he explained. “It could be our time, our money, or that we’re helping with some kind of grant funding in some way. But we look at our heritage area every day, and I believe it’s important for all of us to realize we are one of only 62 heritage areas in this country. That’s a big deal.”
Reclamation of History
“Show of Hands” is a terrific example of the organization’s purpose of instigating entrepreneurs to take the leap into Wheeling’s business community by offering thousands of dollars through crowd funding and community scholarships.
Many of the event’s past winners own successful operations today, and Wheeling Heritage will host the next “Show of Hands” on May 15 at 6 p.m. at the Wheeling Artisan Center.
Four contestants have four minutes to make their case for the cash, and then audience members are given the chance to ask questions before they cast votes for their preferred project. Euphoric Doughnuts owner Cameron Mitchell won $10,000 on January 31 and officially opened his East Wheeling shop on March 10, and those wishing to apply for the May forum can do so online.
“It’s been a very good event for our community,” Schenerlein said. “It brings a lot of people together, and when that happens, good things take place.”
He used the same logic when he reassembled a group of civic leaders that, in 2008-09, negotiated with Live Nation so the Wheeling Convention & Visitors Bureau could purchase the dilapidated and darkened Capitol Music Hall. They then applied for grants and raised funds to renovate and update the venue back into code, and then the leaders of the Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority managed the theatre back into consistent use.
“One of the first goals I had was to bring back the group that saved the Capitol Theatre more than 10 years ago. We figured out why the group disbanded and decided we should regroup and start meeting again because of the goals on our list,” Schenerlein explained. “I’m sure we all can agree the Capitol Theatre has been a great success since.
“That’s why we figured we would give some projects a shot and the first one we talked about was the Artisan Center because it’s a hub of activity because of its proximity to Wesbanco Arena and it’s in the heart of downtown Wheeling,” he said. “Now that we have pretty much completed the Artisan Center, we’re moving forward with the Gateway Center project and the survey that was conducted proved to us that there’s a lot of interest in the future of that property.”
The former dining room side of River City Restaurant is now where two retail stores, the Artisan Shop and the Prodigal Daughter, operate and the eatery now is completely on the bar side of the establishment. The atrium area now will be used for galleries and social functions.
A “Gateway Center” has long been on Wheeling Heritage’s list of goals, but not until January 2023 did the Wheeling CVB finally acquire the necessary downtown parcels on the corner of 10th and Main streets. Since 1956, a hotel rested on the property, but the former Knights/Wheeling Inn was deemed a nuisance and was shuttered in 2022.
Since, Wheeling Heritage, the Regional Economic Development Partnership, and the CVB have teamed up with the City of Wheeling, Tipping Point Development, the State of West Virginia, and a number of different civic leaders to procure the ideas registered by more than 4,000 individuals who completed an online survey, and the opinions presented by local residents during a recent forum at the Capitol Theatre concerning the future of 10th and Main.
Step One, Schenerlein confirmed, is the upcoming demolition of the building and the remediation of the land. But then what?
“What was great about the survey is that it allowed us to hear about what local residents want there, and we also heard from visitors about what they want, too. And a lot of people questioned us about sustainability, too,” Schenerlein said. “Well, there will be other things there besides a heritage and welcome center.
“The people want to hear and see Wheeling’s history, so that will be a part of it. The other piece is that people want to be able to gather and sit and have an overlook of the beautiful river and our historic bridge,” the executive director reported. “And it should be something that pulls people off of Interstate 70 because Wheeling looks like a place to go, and that way we can show them what else we have here.”
