It happens in every small city in the United States, and when a business closes or a building is torn down, the names, faces, and the experiences of the people that lived and worked within those walls are gone forever.
It has been a passion of mine to showcase and preserve Wheeling’s rich history. I would like to start a series of historic photographs that highlight a business or a building that is gone forever from the fabric of life in Wheeling.
If you have suggestions on a favorite business or location that has vanished, ,please submit it to me at cre8m@comcast.net I will do my best to search out and tell that story.
What’s Gone That Made Wheeling the Greatest”
I hope with this series, “Gone Forever,” I will be able to show what made Wheeling the greatest city in West Virginia, and the large amount of businesses and industries that was here in the early 30’s and 40’s that attracted all walks of life from everywhere.
My first choice for this series is a view of the south side corner of 16th and Market streets in a flood from the early 1900s. There are many businesses shown here – bars, restaurants, and that is a hotel on the corner. It’s remarkable how many businesses are on the block, and later when I grew up, there were many other businesses including a car lot, two taxi companies, restaurants, and bars.
The identifying factor of the photograph is the Boury Lofts building in the background.
And here is a second photo showing the Community Bank on the corner.
The present keeper of this block is the West Virginia Northern Community College Student Union complete with a Starbucks and a Barnes and Noble book store.
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.
