Gone Forever – The Heart of Main Street

This building was located on the east side of Main Street and was big enough to house three businesses. Over the years, many businesses were located at this location, 1052 Main St. 

A fire destroyed that building. When the new building was built, West Virginia Business College existed for many years until a new business came along. Thrive is an alternative wellness spa, and is now in that building. Some of these Gone Forever stories have happy endings.

It has been a passion of mine to showcase and preserve Wheeling’s rich history with this series of historic photographs that briefly highlight a business or building that is “Gone Forever” from the fabric of Wheeling life and the Ohio Valley.

I hope with this series, I will be able to show the large amount of industry and businesses that thrived here in the early 1930’s and 1940’s, attracting people from many countries and all walks of life, all of whom helped to make Wheeling the greatest city in West Virginia.

If you have suggestions on a favorite business or location that is gone please submit that to me at cre8m@comcast.net I will do my best to search out and tell that story.

A historic photo of a downtown district.
Downtown Wheeling was once filled with a plethora of retail businesses.
A trolly in a downtown.
Trolleys were popular in downtown Wheeling, and the tracks remain under the roadways.
A view of a downtown street.
Many of the building in this photo have since been demolished because of fire of decay.
A photo of a business in a downtown district.
Thrive is located in the buildings where West Virginia Business College operated for more than two decades.
A photo of a man with grey hair.
James Thornton

James Thornton has published several volumes of history on the city of Wheeling, and those interested in purchasing one of them can do so by contacting him at cre8m@comcast.net or visit the Creative Impressions website. The books can be purchased at the Wheeling Heritage Center, Kroger on Mount de Chantal Road, Miklas Meat Market, Nail City Records, the UPS Store in the Washington Avenue Plaza, VC Wares at Centre Market, Bower’s Decorating at The Highlands, and on the website www.wheelinghistory.net.

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