It’s been close to a year since the last “Changing Face” was published, and that suspension was allowed so the progress of the infamous streetscape project could develop beyond orange barrels while a plethora of other improvements could be completed in several areas of the city.
Sometimes, because we look at where we live every day, we miss the beauty provided by the rolling hills of northern Appalachia, and by the past and by recent visions for our downtown. We also forget just how special and talented our people are, too.
In this collection of photographs, we see a different downtown, we see changes we thought would never take place, and we witness what we’ve created and what’s evolved.
The 2025 Heritage BluesFest attracted large crowds and beautiful views during the three-day event, and it was announced this year that the event was sold to Dan Milleson, the owner of the nearby Waterfront Hall.
The summer season brought flooding, warm temperatures, the haze of humidity, and the green hillsides all natives recall.
Eli Lambi is an educator, a car and golf enthusiast, an ultra-talented musician and composer, and the leader of Eli & The Mojo Kings.
TJ’s Sports Garden was a popular restaurant for more than three decades, but now “The Wheel” is starting to take shape as the three new owners continue working on the transformation.
An important portion of the Interstate 70 project was the reconstruction of the piers of the Fort Henry Bridge along Interstate 70.
Pam Ewusiak loves to attend events throughout the Upper Ohio Valley, especially those that involve live and local entertainment. This West Virginia swing is located on Heritage Port in downtown Wheeling.
Since late 2019, local residents have seen more orange barrels and “Road Closed” signs than ever before thanks to the $37 million streetscape and the $238 million project on I-70, but finally, they are starting to vanish.
This community mural along Heritage Trail in downtown Wheeling will continue to grow in the future.
A few different roadways – including National Road from Woodsdale to Elm Grove – now feature banners that celebrate local American veterans thanks to volunteer John Larch, Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder, and local families.
The new splashpad near Wesbanco Arena was enjoyed by all this summer. The cost for the fountain, built by Savage Construction, was approximately $362,000 and was paid for by utilizing federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.
These views have been available in downtown Wheeling ever since Wesbanco’s headquarters was constructed and opened in the late 1970s.
Steve Novotney has been a professional journalist for 33 years, working in print for weekly, daily, and bi-weekly publications, writing for a number of regional and national magazines, host baseball-related talks shows on Pittsburgh’s ESPN, and as a daily, all-topics talk show host in the Wheeling and Steubenville markets since 2004. Novotney is the co-owner, editor, and co-publisher of LEDE News, and is the host of “Novotney Now,” a daily program that airs Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m. on River Talk 100.1 & 100.9 FM.
