Charleston WV – The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history. To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.
Nov. 19, 1895: Sculptor Gladys Tuke was born in Linwood, Pocahontas County. Tuke was a member of the original artist colony at The Greenbrier.
Nov. 19, 1921: William “Bill” Blizzard, a leader of the United Mine Workers, was tried for treason and murder in the Jefferson County courthouse. After a sensational trial, Blizzard was acquitted, and similar charges against his fellow defendants were eventually dropped.
Nov. 20, 1900: William Page Pitt was born in Martinsburg. A left-handed pitcher, Pitt is considered the great unknown of West Virginia pitchers and one of the best players ever to come from Marshall College. In his 45-year career in professional baseball, he was a player, manager, and scout, working with thousands of students. Marshall University’s baseball field was named in his honor.
Nov. 20, 1907: The Lincoln County courthouse was destroyed by a suspicious fire, and gas and timber booming arm was unable to save it. Records kept in the courthouse were salvaged and moved to a temporary office building until a new courthouse was built in 1908.
Nov. 20, 1921: The USS West Virginia was commissioned. It was one of two of the newest and most modern battleships in the Pearl Harbor attack on the morning of December 7, 1941. It survived the attack and was one of the ships present in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered.
Nov. 20, 1894: Eight men were killed in an explosion at the Bluestone Mine near Bramwell. The mine was considered one of the safest in the state, and the cause of the explosion was never determined.
Nov. 20, 1917: Robert C. Byrd was born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1958, he held the seat for more than half a century and became the longest-serving individual in congressional history.
Nov. 20, 1948: Longtime football coach at West Virginia University, Bill Stewart was born in New Martinsville. Stewart never had a losing season in his three years at WVU and remained a popular figure until his death from a heart attack on May 21, 2012.
Nov. 20, 1968: An explosion at Consolidation Coal Company’s No. 9 mine near Farmington killed 78 miners. This disaster brought national attention to the issue of mine safety and led to the passage of the landmark 1969 Coal Mine Health and Safety Act.
Nov. 21, 1905: Athlete John Zontini was born in Monroe County. Caperton native became a legend at Marshall College (now University), where he starred from 1931 to 1934.
Nov. 22, 1878: The courthouse in Hamlin was destroyed by fire. The county records were saved, but they had to be housed in various private homes until a new courthouse could be built.
By the next morning, community leaders were raising money for a new building.
Nov. 24, 2015: For her accomplishments in the field of mathematics and science, Katherine Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Johnson worked for NASA calculating trajectories for the first men in space.
Nov. 25, 1926: Athlete Walter “Babe” Vrable was born in Athens.
Nov. 25, 1996: Athlete Lewis “Lew” Burdette died in Winter Garden, Florida. He was a right-handed pitcher with an outstanding professional baseball career. Burdette is remembered for his performance in the 1957 World Series to help defeat the New York Yankees.
Nov. 26, 1962: Roman Catholic Bishop John Joseph Swint died. He was consecrated bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling in 1922.
Nov. 26, 1900: Gaston Caperton was born in Charleston. As Underwood, West Virginia’s 25th and last governor, Caperton served two terms from 1989 to 1997 and was the state’s chief executive.
Nov. 26, 1896: Athlete Clinton Cyrus Thomas was born. He was so talented that he was considered lucky. He starred for various teams in the old Negro League. When his playing days ended, Thomas settled in Charleston after his wife’s death.
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 at www.wvencyclopedia.org.
