Most likely, you don’t know Ben Turvey, and he’s OK with that.
He takes care of him and his, works in security, and he keeps to himself. But Ben’s silence doesn’t mean he doesn’t have stories to tell. He does, and that’s why he’ll be a guest this afternoon at 5 p.m. on River Talk 100.1FM and AM 1290. Mr. Turvey wants to talk about what he knows.
He was born in the early 1960s at a time when his hometown was still swelled with the hustle and bustle of prosperity and when a job in the local steel mill secured the American Dream, but then he had to watch the dreaded decline. The loss of industrial jobs caused population decline throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, and retailers vacated downtown districts because consumers wanted something called a mall.
The economic ripple effects unfortunately caused “Main Street USA” to transform to ghost towns within a wide swath of the country now known as the Rust Belt, and Turvey witnessed it all in Wheeling. He remembers Ziegenfelder’s before the Twin Pops, Mail Pouch before Swisher, the Downs before the casino, the trains in downtown, Saturday afternoon Christmas parades, and when an ICEE from Hill’s Department Store down in Benwood made everything right in the world.
But, see, it’s not that Ben wants to live in the past. And if you forget him once his radio fame is over, he won’t care. The 62-year-old just hopes some of his favorite memories will become new realities for new folks in his hometown.
Why have you chosen to be a resident of Wheeling, W.Va.?
I was born here, but I’ve actually lived away from Wheeling several times and moved home each time.
One time I moved to Uniontown, Pa. from 2011 until 2016, but I was having a rough time there. I remember consciously thinking at one point that if I became homeless, I’d rather it be at home in Wheeling where I knew the area and what it offered.
Also, I live here for family, my aunt and uncle along with my five cousins who I consider my siblings. At one point, my youngest daughter and granddaughter were actually living in the Wheeling area, too.
In which neighborhoods of Wheeling have you lived, and which did you enjoy the most?
I’ve lived in Warwood, Center Wheeling, North Wheeling, East Wheeling on 14th Street, and Wheeling Island. I liked living in North wheeling the most in the 1980’s. Moose’s Bar was my home away from home back in my drinking days, and I also felt a good sense of community there.
During your lifetime, what has gone away from the area that you wish would make a comeback?
Elby’s, of course. The Big Boy sandwich was always my favorite with their amazing strawberry milkshake. Also, I wish we at least one movie theater in downtown Wheeling, too.
One of your photos is of you as a boy (in stripes) in front of the former Court Theatre. Tell us the story about that photograph.
“Fool’s Parade,” a movie filmed in Moundsville, was premiering at the Court Theater. I remember looking down Chapline Street to see if the parade was coming. At one point that day, my mother and I were standing near the corner of Market Street and the alley by Stone & Thomas, and Jimmy Stewart and Strother Martin were coming by in an older 1940s-style car.
Strother Martin said, “Howdy ma’am,” in his southern drawl to my mom. She was all excited and I remember her telling everyone who said hi to her.
What kind of future do you see for the city of Wheeling?
What kind of future do I see for wheeling? To me, that’s a very hard question because I haven’t thought about it much.
As far as downtown Wheeling, I believe it’s had its day. When the voters turned down the idea of a downtown mall idea, I think that was the beginning of the end. And then the mall in St. Clairsville was built about a decade later, and that was it for the downtown.
There needs to be a big industry not far from downtown to employ regular people. Ziegenfelder’s is a fine place. I’ve actually worked there a couple of times, but it’s not all that big. I think if there was a big employer closer than The Highlands or Ohio Valley Mall to downtown Wheeling, the downtown area would finally grow again.
