1. In 1844, the first train arrived in Wheeling, West Virginia, making it the first city in the state to have railroad access. This played a significant role in the city's growth as a thriving industrial center.

2. On October 23, 1928, the first bridge across the Ohio River in Parkersburg, West Virginia, opened to traffic. The structure, known as the Veterans Memorial Bridge, is still in use today and is an important transportation link for the region.

3. On this day in 1950, Hurricane King hit the West Virginia region with heavy rain and strong winds. The storm caused significant damage to the state's infrastructure, including roads and bridges. At least 22 people were reported dead, and the damage was estimated to be around $30 million (in 1950 dollars).

4. In 2009, Debbie Green, a professional basketball player from West Virginia, was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Green played for the West Virginia University Mountaineers and went on to play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

5. On October 23, 2014, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, dedicated a statue of former football player Byron Leftwich, who had led the program to its first Mid-American Conference championship in 1999. The statue was unveiled on the 15th anniversary of the championship game.