William Leighton, Jr. (1833–1911) came to Wheeling to work as a chemist at Hobbs Glass Works. A graduate of Harvard, he was known for writing poetry. In fact, whenever a glass formula failed, Hobbs workers joked that there was “too much poetry in the batch.”
In 1883, Leighton wrote the Soldiers and Sailors Monument Poem, titled, “THE PRICE OF THE PRESENT, PAID BY THE PAST,” that he then read at the dedication of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument at “Capitol Square” in front of the old state capitol (city building) at 16th and Chapline Streets.
In the spirit of Leighton’s poem and the dedication of the Soldiers and Sailors monument, the Ohio County Public Library Archives presents a new exhibit saluting Ohio Valley veterans through artifacts.
Featured in this exhibit are artifacts on loan from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and the National American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Museum, Wellsburg, WV, including a chaplain’s uniform, two military nurse uniforms, various helmets, weapons, and medals, and numerous photographs. Also featured is a WWII memorial board from Wheeling Central and another from the Sacred Heart Church.
The exhibit also contains numerous images from the library’s Memories in Hand Veterans Project. U.S. military veterans from the Ohio Valley area or those with a relative or close friend who served can participate. Just contact the library at 304-232-0244.
The “Price of the Present, Paid By the Past” exhibit, along with the “Little Museum of Wheeling History,” will be in place for the summer months and can be viewed during regular library hours. To learn more about the details and content of the exhibit, visit www.ArchivingWheeling.org.
