Fredrick Faris was the architect for the Wheeling High School building. Wheeling High school operated in a couple places while the building many of us knew was being built.

The new building was opened in 1911, and a fire resulted in a rebuild, the school reopened in 1915. The Maxwell family mansion served as a temporary place for the school to operate while the rebuild was in progress.

I personally have a collection of yearbooks that were donated to me by the late Jack Kravanyak called The Record, from 1912 until the last year of operation. The building was demolished in 1984.

The following are a few images from the well-known high school.

Passion for History

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 my Gone Forever series, I will be able to show the large amount of industry and businesses that thrived here in the early 30’s and 40’s, attracting people from many countries and all walks of life, who all 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 photo of a large public high school.
The former Wheeling High School was a grand building that never should have become gone forever.
A black and white photo from the 1930s.
Wheeling High was a very crowded high school, and was one of four public high schools in Wheeling during the 1930s.
A color postcard of a public high school.
This postcard shows the former Wheeling High from the north of the structure.
A photo of fire damage.
Wheeling High did close down after a fire damaged the structure.
Another photo of fire damage.
While Thornton is unaware of what the writing on the photo really indicates, the fire damage to the high school appears to have been extensive.
A photo of the side of an old school building.
The former Wheeling High School was located close to Ohio Valley General Hospital and to the market houses in Center Wheeling.
A black and white photo of a large house.
The Maxwell Mansion was used on a few occasions by the administration of Wheeling High.
A football team from the 1930s.
Wheeling High student/athletes competed in all the major sports before the consolidation took place in 1976.
A photo of several students in a car.
These Wheeling High students crowded into this car for a parade in the downtown.
A class photo for a century ago.
These students posed for this photo for an unknown reason, but it displays the style of the mid 1900s.
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.mcast.net or visit the Creative Impressions website.

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