Dec. 2, 1924: The Charles Town Racetrack opened shortly after West Virginia legalized horse race betting. In its first year of operation, the track included 12 stables.
The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia online at www.wvencyclopedia.org.
Nov. 26, 1952: A blaze on the evening of the 26th broke out on the third floor of a Huntington hospital, with more patients later dying from their injuries than in any other fire in the state.
Nov. 26, 2001: The actress Dagmar was hired to be on NBC’s “Broadway Open House.” She nearly shut down the phone system and stopped traffic in New York City when it was announced she would answer the phone calls from viewers.
Nov. 27, 1953: Politician Shelley Moore Capito was born in Glen Dale. She is the daughter of former governor Arch Moore and is the first Republican from West Virginia elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a regular election since her father was reelected in 1980.
Nov. 27, 1849: African-American educator Daniel B. “D.B.” Williams was born into slavery in Virginia. He was one of the first Black people to attend the University of Chicago, the only Black person to be honored with an honorary degree by the West Virginia State University and was the first Black person to sit on the West Virginia University board of governors.
Nov. 28, 1890: Colonel Hubbard W. MacDonald, chief game and fish warden, was born in Louisville, Kentucky. MacDonald, was a conservationist pioneer.
Nov. 29, 1921: Writer John Knowles was born in Fairmont. He was the author of A Separate Peace, a popular novel set during World War II.
Nov. 29, 2001: The writer John Knowles died in Florida at age 75. A film version of his novel, A Separate Peace, was released in 1972.
Nov. 29, 1961: The Lymnaesidae family of freshwater snails was established by the state legislature as the official state shell.
Nov. 30, 1864: Union Gen. George Crook attacked the Confederate 18th Virginia Cavalry at Moorefield. Rumsey’s Confederate cavalry, commanded by his brother, was defeated in the battle.
Dec. 1, 1859: John Brown was hanged in Charles Town for murder, treason, and inciting a slave insurrection.
Dec. 1, 1945: Betty Ireland was born in Charleston. She was the first woman in state history elected to the executive branch.
e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia is a project of the West Virginia Humanities Council. For more information, contact the West Virginia Humanities Council, 1310 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25301; (304) 346-8500; or visit e-WV’s website at www.wvencyclopedia.org.