Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 18 In West Virginia History
1. In 1859, abolitionist John Brown and his followers raided the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, hoping to incite a slave rebellion. The raid failed and Brown was captured, tried, and executed, but his actions helped fuel tensions that eventually led to the Civil War. 2. In 2020, West Virginia...
5 Fun Facts About October 17 In West Virginia History
1. On October 17, 1861, Union General William Rosecrans led his troops to victory over Confederate forces in the Battle of Dranesville. While the battle was relatively small, it marked an important early victory for the Union in the Civil War and helped secure control of northern Virginia. 2. On...
5 Fun Facts About October 16 In West Virginia History
1. On October 16, 1856, the town of Harpers Ferry in West Virginia became a focal point of the national debate over slavery when abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory in an attempt to start a slave revolt. The raid ultimately failed, but it heightened tensions...
5 Fun Facts About October 15 In West Virginia History
1. Birth of Augusta Jane Evans: On October 15, 1835, Augusta Jane Evans, a beloved southern novelist, was born in Columbus, Georgia. She is best known for her book "St. Elmo," which was incredibly popular when it was released in 1866. 2. West Virginia Statehood: On October 15, 1861, West...
5 Fun Facts About October 14 In West Virginia History
1. On October 14, 1929, the first bridge connecting the towns of Nitro and St. Albans was opened. The bridge was a major transportation link for the Kanawha Valley and helped to spur economic growth in the region. 2. In 1863 on this day, Confederate General John Imboden led a...
5 Fun Facts About October 13 In West Virginia History
1. In 1930, famed author and literary critic V.L. Parrington was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Parrington went on to become a professor of English at the University of Washington and is best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning book "Main Currents in American Thought," a three-volume study on the development...
5 Fun Facts About October 12 In West Virginia History
1. On October 12, 1892, the first football game was played between West Virginia University and Bethany College. The game ended in a 10-10 tie. 2. In 1911, four years after the state of West Virginia was admitted to the U.S., the West Virginia Capitol building was completed in Charleston....
5 Fun Facts About October 11 In West Virginia History
1. In 1864, during the Civil War, the Battle of Tom's Brook took place in Shenandoah County, Virginia (now West Virginia). Union General Philip Sheridan led a cavalry force in a surprise attack against Confederate General Jubal Early's troops, resulting in a decisive victory for the Union. 2. On October...
5 Fun Facts About October 10 In West Virginia History
1. In 1906, the first class of 53 students graduated from West Virginia University's law school. This milestone marked the beginning of a long legacy of legal education in the state. 2. On October 10, 1933, the town of Richwood was incorporated in Nicholas County. Located in the heart of...
5 Fun Facts About October 9 In West Virginia History
1. John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry: On October 9, 1859, abolitionist John Brown led a raid on the federal armory at Harper's Ferry with the goal of arming slaves and starting a slave rebellion. The raid failed, with Brown being captured and later executed, but it intensified tensions leading...
5 Fun Facts About October 8 In West Virginia History
1. On October 8, 1869, the first football game played in West Virginia took place in Morgantown between West Virginia University and Marietta College. WVU won the game 24-0. This was the beginning of a longstanding football tradition in the state which culminates every year with the “Backyard Brawl” between...
5 Fun Facts About October 7 In West Virginia History
1. West Virginia officially became a state on October 7, 1863, after breaking away from Virginia during the Civil War. This made it the 35th state to join the Union. 2. On October 7, 1913, the first concrete was poured for the construction of the Hawks Nest Tunnel, a major...