Wheeling in the 20th Century

Many cities in West Virginia and across the country helped themselves economically in the 1930s by taking advantage of federal grants that were available as part of Roosevelt’s New Deal program. The city of Wheeling, however, largely did not participate. We have seen that the Wheeling Park Commission, showing more drive and responsibility than the city council, secured federal grants for a swimming pool, golf and tennis courts, cabins, a campground, and other projects. The city of Wheeling’s inaction in successfully pursuing Public Works Administration and Works Progress Administration grants contrasts sharply with the city of Charleston whose energetic mayor secured large capital grants for the construction of a municipal auditorium, bridges, street widening, a sewage treatment plant, fire stations, and the largest of all, the Kanawha River Boulevard project. Wheeling had needs similar to those of Charleston, which if fulfilled not only would have been beneficial immediately by putting individuals to work, but once completed would have been assets to the city for decades.

Once the federal grants became available, it appeared that the city would pursue a fair share. The Wheeling Chamber of Commerce in 1933 formed a Federal Projects Association, chaired by Edward W. Stifel, and began researching a number of projects needed by the city. Specifically the chamber committee urged the city to apply for funds for:  (1) a sewage treatment plant for the National Road area, (2) a new market house for Centre Wheeling, and (3) the replacement of the slum area in Centre Wheeling at Main Street and 22d and 23rd streets with modern apartments. Other projects that would have met federal guidelines included a bridge over Wheeling Creek at Chapline Street, a new bridge to replace the “S” bridge at Elm Grove, a new highway from 29^th Street south to Mozart, widening the River Road to Warwood, and resurfacing Route 2 in South Wheeling. For its top priorities, the association had estimated cost figures of $987,000 for the sewage treatment plant, $850,000 for 170 apartment units, which would include quarters for the fire department, and $150,000 for a new market house.  Incredibly the city got none of these needed projects. For the most part, the city administration lacked the energy of the Chamber of Commerce and failed to properly apply for the grants, although it did make an application for a sanitary sewer plant.