Trending
Editor, News-Register:
The article in the April 30th edition of The Intelligence about the train car being found buried at Main and 16th streets was more than interesting.
An old pamphlet titled "Leading Events," giving wheeling history from 1800 to 1908, lists several B&O train accidents.
On May 9, 1881, an engine and cars plunged through the bridge near the city station.
Also on June 2, 1893, an engine jumped the tracks at Main Street, plunging into the Higgins building.
Another accident happened on July 6, 1896, when the trestle bridge was swept away by the flooding of Wheeling Creek, A gentleman by the name of R. Caldwell was mayor of Wheeling, and it was probably easier to bury the cars where they landed that morning than elsewhere.
Mr. Caldwell served as mayor from 1893 to 1897.
History can be fascinating.
Lyda Cox
Wheeling