[Nfbwv-talk] Information About Wheeling and the McLure House
David Andrews
dandrews at visi.com
Tue Aug 3 02:39:53 UTC 2010
Yes, lots of memories -- I used to love the smell
of the Marsh Wheeling factory -- the cigars
aren't that good, but the tobacco smells great.
There used to be a sign that said "blind loading
zone," by the seeing hand. One night when my
friends had had a few, they stole it and hung it in my kitchen.
It had a double meaning -- as at that time a
common expression at Bethany College, where we
all had gone was to load, (be lazy lay about,) or
to be a "load,) a lazy person. So the blind
loading zone sign had lots of meanings to us.
Dave
At 07:35 AM 8/2/2010, you wrote:
>Hi Dave. Talk about memories. Before losing my
>sight, I did heating and a/c work. I remember
>the building and sign you are referring
>too. Yes, we have moved, but not far. The old
>address was 737 Market Street. If you went out
>the back door of that building and diagonally
>across the alley behind, you would be at the
>back door of the present address, 750 Main
>Street. We are on the corner of 8th and
>Main. They moved in 1997. I started here in
>2000. The member of the Sightless Workers Guild
>have told me that you used to live on the hill
>above us. The Guild still meets in the Seeing
>Hand building(the new one! Grub Construction
>originally built this building for IBM and West
>Virginia Job Services was in here for years).
>Best regards,
>
>Bob Hicks
>Access Technology Specialist
>Seeing Hand Association, Inc.
>304-232-4810
><bob at seeinghandassociation.com>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "David Andrews" <dandrews at visi.com>
>To: "NFB of West Virginia Discussion List" <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 10:28 PM
>Subject: Re: [Nfbwv-talk] Information About Wheeling and the McLure House
>
>
>Bob -- this sure brings back memories. I used to
>live right up the street from your place, unless
>you have moved -- in a building used for storage,
>and with one apartment owned by Hitt Heating and
>Air conditioning, as you went up the hill.
>
>Dave
>
>At 07:17 AM 7/30/2010, you wrote:
>>Hi Charlene. The directions on the McClure are
>>not current. The I-70 tunnel west is
>>closed. The directions for downtown are also
>>incorrect. There is no need to go to 14th
>>Street to turn left(east), you can turn left on
>>12th Street and go one block. I believe there
>>are doors on Market and 12th Street, but the
>>12th Street entrance to the McClure is the main
>>entrance. You must exit at exit 2, Oglebay
>>Park and take US Rt. 40 west to go to downtown;
>>or, take WV Rt. 2 south to the 16th Street exit
>>to get into downtown Wheeling from I-70(coming
>>from the east, the directions coming from the
>>west are correct). If you take the 16th Street
>>exit, you can turn right on Market
>>Street(north) and go two stop lights and you
>>are at the McClure. If you take US Rt. 40 west,
>>you will go up and over Wheeling Hill into
>>historic(Victorian) North Wheeling, past the
>>Seeing Hand into downtown. At the top of
>>Wheeling Hill, if you go to the left of the
>>large bronze Indian, you will come right down
>>Chaplain Street to 12th Street just one block
>>east of the McClure(by the parking garage and
>>near the main entrance). Everything else looked accurate at first glance.
>>
>>Best regards,
>>
>>Bob Hicks
>>Access Technology Specialist
>>Seeing Hand Association, Inc.
>>304-232-4810
>><bob at seeinghandassociation.com>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "charlene" <cs.nfbwv at verizon.net>
>>To: "NFB of West Virginia Discussion List" <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2010 12:32 PM
>>Subject: [Nfbwv-talk] Information About Wheeling and the McLure House
>>
>>
>>For those planning on attending the 2010 state
>>convention of the National Federation
>>of the Blind of West Virginia, I got on the
>>internet and gathered the following information
>>that I thought you might find interesting and/or useful:
>>McLure Hotel Summary
>>1200 Market Street
>>Wheeling, WV 26003
>>McLure House Hotel is located on US 40 in
>>downtown Wheeling, WV, one-fourth mile
>>south of I-70. Free wireless Internet access.
>>Lounge and guest laundry. 170 rooms
>>on 8 floors. Opened 1857 and renovated 1998.
>>Hotel Description
>>The McLure House Hotel is located in Wheeling,
>>W.Va., along the Ohio River in West
>>Virginia's northern Panhandle, between Ohio and
>>Pennsylvania. The property is one
>>block from the Victoria Vaudeville Theater. The
>>Children's Museum and West Virginia
>>Northern Community College are within one-half
>>mile of the hotel. The Wheeling Island
>>Racetrack is two miles away.
>>The McLure House Hotel is located in historic
>>downtown Wheeling and was originally
>>built in 1852. The front desk is open 24 hours
>>a day. The hotel features on-site
>>event facilities. Complimentary wireless
>>Internet access is available in public areas
>>of the hotel. Laundry facilities are available on site.
>>The McLure House Hotel houses 170 guestrooms
>>are equipped with dial-up Internet access
>>and coffeemakers.
>>Area Attractions
>>Wheeling Symphony Mull Center - 1.0 mile
>>Wheeling Island Racetrack - 2.0 miles
>>Victoria Vaudeville Theater - 1 block
>>West Virginia Northern Community College - 0.3 miles
>>Children's Museum - 0.1 miles
>>West Virginia Independence Hall - 0.1 miles
>>Oglebay's Good Children's Zoo - 4.6 miles
>>Victorian Wheeling Landmarks - 0.4 miles
>>Women's History Museum - 8.1 miles
>>Information
>>Pet fee charged at hotel/condo
>>Minimum check-in age 21
>>Caters to families
>>Check-in time is 3 PM
>>Check-out time is Noon
>>170 rooms on 8 floors.
>>Meeting rooms
>>Fitness facility
>>Pets allowed
>>Policies and Disclaimers
>>You must present a photo ID when checking in.
>>Your credit card is charged at the
>>time you book. Bed type and smoking preferences
>>are not guaranteed. Your reservation
>>is prepaid and is guaranteed for late arrival.
>>The New Office Grill House
>>Breakfast Served Daily 7 am - 11 am
>>Lunch Monday - Saturday 11 am - 3 pm
>>Dinner Daily 3:30 pm - 10:30 pm in the lounge
>>McLure House Hotel offers complementary parking
>>in our attached covered parking garage.
>>Free parking for all hotel guests.
>>McLure House
>>Hotel & Conference Center
>>Considered one of Wheeling's prominent
>>landmarks, The McLure House Hotel has been
>>the lodging choice of US presidents, West
>>Virginia governors, Civil War generals,
>>entertainers and other notable figures since 1852.
>>The McLure offers 170 spacious and well
>>appointed guest rooms. Wheeling's largest
>>professional conference facility and banquet
>>space highlighted by our newly renovated
>>Grand Ballroom and executive board room.
>>The McLure Hotel's professional staff is
>>available 24 hours a day to ensure your
>>stay is enjoyable and successful whether your
>>visit is for business or pleasure.
>>Your complete satisfaction is not only our goal, but our PROMISE.
>>We are proud of our unique place in Wheeling's
>>history and invite you to discover
>>the exciting and fascinating blend of past and
>>present that is The McLure House Hotel.
>>Walls Surrounding History
>>Constructed in 1851 and opened in 1852, the
>>McLure House Hotel has been a mainstay
>>of the city of Wheeling and has been the scene
>>of several events that shaped the
>>country or at least the city itself.
>>Over the years, there have been many changes
>>within the walls but nothing can change
>>the historical events that occurred at
>>Wheeling's oldest functioning hotel. Originally,
>>built in a doughnut shape, the Hotel contained
>>a watering trough and hitching posts
>>for horses and carriages. The registration
>>desks and offices were located on the
>>second floor due to the muddy mess that was
>>made in the open lobby. However, this
>>was not the fascinating feature of the McLure
>>House. The 12th Street entrance was
>>marked 'Ladies' and was built with a wider door
>>that made room for the cumbersome
>>yet fashionable wide hoop skirts that were worn by the women of the time.
>>At one point, the McLure was the largest hotel
>>in the state with 315 rooms, 65 bathrooms,
>>and 50 showers. The hotel was usually busy
>>Monday through Thursday due to the business
>>travelers arriving from Pittsburgh and returning home at the end of the week.
>>E.M. Statler, founder of the Hilton and
>>Sheraton Hotel dynasties, was once an employee
>>of the McLure. He started out as a bell-boy
>>and eventually worked his way up to
>>manager. After gaining the attention of a few
>>very prominent businessmen in Wheeling,
>>Statler finally raised the money to begin his
>>endeavor. Since that time, the McLure
>>has hosted several dignitaries and entertainers
>>that remain as the most famous or
>>infamous of their times. Dignitaries who have
>>stayed at the McLure include General
>>Ulysses S. Grant, Benjamin Harrison, William
>>Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow
>>Wilson, William McKinley, James A. Garfield,
>>Chester A. Arthur, Harry S. Truman,
>>Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and many of
>>their first ladies. In fact, if it
>>had not been for the raid on Harper's Ferry,
>>Abraham Lincoln might have made his
>>inaugural speech at the McLure.
>>During the civil war, the McLure was host to
>>several generals and served as headquarters
>>of Union General William Rosecrans. In fact,
>>it has been said that West Virginia's
>>founding fathers ventured to the McLure for
>>refreshment when they needed a break
>>from dealing with the issues of West Virginia statehood.
>>As the years passed, many more of America's
>>mover and shakers came and went from
>>inside the walls of the McLure. Senator Joseph
>>McCarthy delivered his famous McCarthyism
>>speech, in which he claimed to have a list of
>>communist sympathizers in the U.S.
>>state department. It was also at the McLure
>>where Dwight D. Eisenhower met with
>>Richard Nixon and reinstated him as his running
>>mate for the 1952 campaign. The
>>long list could go on for days and one would
>>recognize names such as John D. Rockefeller
>>Sr., William A. Wrigley, and even Marilyn Monroe.
>>The McLure House has had its share of historic
>>events; however, it has also had its
>>share of renovations. Starting with the first
>>addition of 90 rooms in 1910, the
>>structure has been ever changing. In 1978, a
>>$10 million renovation plan had been
>>launched and finally gave the McLure the
>>exterior look it has today. Phase I, completed
>>in 1981, was a six level 220 car garage
>>allowing guests to exit and enter sleeping
>>rooms directly from the garage. Work
>>transforming the 133-year-old hostelry into
>>one of the area's most modern hotels and
>>meeting centers was completed in early 1985.
>>Finally, in 1996, Lane Hospitality was
>>contracted by Wesbanco, Inc. to manage the
>>McLure property. Since the takeover, Lane and
>>Wesbanco have completed several renovations
>>including the new executive boardroom that can
>>accommodate groups up to 15 comfortably.
>>Amenities featured in the room consist of a
>>speaker phone, audio visual equipment,
>>television and VCR, dry erase board, and coffee
>>service. The hotel's conference
>>space has a capacity to seat up to 700 using
>>the entire ballroom, it can also be
>>broken down into two to five separate rooms,
>>allowing for meeting space as well as
>>breakout rooms. 2007 brought on new
>>renovations in the hotel including the refurbishing
>>of all guest rooms with new beds, furniture,
>>décor, iron and ironing board, hair
>>dryers, individual coffee pots, cable
>>television including Showtime and ESPN and
>>a keyed entrance to ensure security and
>>privacy. The latest addition is the fabulous
>>WIFI Internet throughout the hotel. The Office
>>Lounge & Grillhouse Restaurant, along
>>with Vito's Deli are open to serve our guests.
>>As one can see, the past history, present
>>status, and future possibilities have combined
>>to make the McLure House Hotel the premiere
>>hotel in the city of Wheeling and an
>>historic landmark that has and will withstand the test of time.
>>The Tupsey Waltz was played during the railroad supper.
>>The waltz was composed for and dedicated to Dr.
>>John D.M. Carr, who based on notations
>>in a Wheeling City Directory from that era, was
>>a resident of the McLure at the time
>>of the banquet, said Wheeling historian Beverly Fluty.
>>During its early years, the McLure House was
>>the site of strategy planning by West
>>Virginia and Pennsylvania officials who were
>>fighting a legal battle over the Wheeling
>>Suspension Bridge's existence, and it was a
>>favorite place of both Union and Confederate
>>soldiers during the Civil War, the archives articles said.
>>It is said that the Mountain State's founding
>>fathers, among them Francis H. Pierpoint
>>and Arthur L. Boreman ventured to the McLure
>>for refreshment when they needed a break
>>from dealing with the important issues of West Virginia's independence.
>>The McLure was well known for its menu which
>>included such items as venison, calves'
>>feet, St. Louis hams, oysters prepared to
>>order, and ample number of wines, champagne
>>and cognacs and a wide selection of fruits and nuts.
>>Wheeling Hall of Famer & hotel magnate
>>Ellsworth M. Statler- who built a famed hotel
>>empire, which, when sold to Conrad Hilton in
>>1954, represented the largest transaction
>>in hotel industry history- was responsible for
>>instituting several innovations, including
>>hot and cold running water, adopted by major
>>hotel owners, received his start as
>>a bell hop at the McLure.
>>The list of dignitaries who have stayed at the
>>McLure is long and includes U.S. presidents
>>U.S. Grant, Benjamin, Harrison, William Howard
>>Taft, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow
>>Wilson, William McKinley, James Garfield,
>>Chester A. Arthur, Harry S. Truman, Dwight
>>D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy and many of
>>their first ladies; Civil War generals
>>William T. Sherman and John C. Fremont; Old
>>West figures Frank James, Cole Younger
>>and Buffalo Bill Cody; entertainers Jenny Lind,
>>Sarah Bernhardt and Marilyn Monroe;
>>businessman John D. Rockefeller Sr., United
>>Mine Workers founder John L. Lewis and
>>William Wrigley before he became the chewing gum mogul.
>>Wheeling, a city of history and pleasure
>>The Northern Panhandle, is a cross roads of
>>history and modern pleasures in the northern
>>most tip of West Virginia. In Wheeling,
>>Independence Hall, Centre Market and the
>>rows of Victorian homes make history come
>>alive. At Wheeling Downs play the slots
>>and place your bet on the best greyhound and
>>thoroughbreds from across the United
>>States. Tap your toes, clap your hands to the
>>beat of the best in the field of country
>>music at Jamboree USA located in the Capitol
>>Music Hall. Come catch that Wheeling
>>Feeling, for you belong in Wheeling!
>>History of Wheeling
>>Echart House, Victorian Home Tour- The crown
>>jewel of Victorian opulence. Magnificently
>>restored. Tours Saturdays in April, November
>>and December. Open all year by appointment.
>>Grave Creek Mound- was constructed in two
>>stages between 250-150 BC. The Woodland
>>period of man, known by the general term
>>"MoundBuilder" began about 1000 BC and lasted
>>until about 700 AD. The Culture made
>>significant settlements in what is now West
>>Virginia.
>>The Museums of Oglebay Institute- unique
>>collections of historic Wheeling artifacts,
>>the museums preserve the area's heritage and is
>>a true symbol of community pride.
>>Old Main at Bethany- A National landmark
>>located at Bethany College is the earliest
>>example of collegiate Gothic in America.
>>Construction began in 1858 using local timber,
>>stone, slate and bricks kilned on the site.
>>Five U.S. Presidents have spoken in the
>>Commencement Hall.
>>West Virginia Independence Hall- journey bay to
>>1862 when Wheeling was in Virginia,
>>a state ripped apart by the American Civil War.
>>West Virginia was born in this building,
>>now a National Historic Landmark. This was the
>>only territorial change resulting
>>from this great conflict. Open daily from 10
>>a.m. to 4 p.m., closed on Sundays in
>>January and February and all state holidays.
>>West Virginia Penitentiary- experience the
>>history behind the towering walls of the
>>Civil War era facility that served as a maximum
>>security prison for 120 years. Glimpse
>>"life on the inside". Listed on the National
>>Register of Historic Places. Open Tuesday
>>through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April to
>>November. December to March by appointment.
>>Let's meet in Wheeling
>>By Airplane: The Pittsburgh International
>>Airport is 60 miles from downtown Wheeling.
>>Directions:
>>Follow Business Rt. 60 toward Pittsburgh to I-79 South.
>>Follow I-79 South toward Washington, PA. To I-70 West.
>>Follow I-70 West toward Wheeling.
>>After Wheeling Tunnel, take Exit 1 Main Street (Bare Right).
>>Make a left on to Main Street South to 14th Street.
>>Left on 14th Street, follow one block to Market Street.
>>Left on Market Street to 12th Street.
>>Hotel located on the right.
>>Via Bus: Nationwide service is provided by
>>Greyhound Bus Lines 1-800-231-2222.
>>Driving Directions traveling I-70 from the East:
>>Stay in the right lane through the Wheeling Tunnel on I-70.
>>Take first Main Street, Exit 1.
>>Left on Main Street South to 14th Street.
>>Left on 14th Street one block to Market Street.
>>Left on Market Street to 12th Street.
>>Hotel located on the right.
>>Directions traveling I-70 from the West:
>>Take I-70 Exit 1A to Main Street.
>>Turn right on Main Street South and follow to 14
>>th Street.
>>Left on 14th Street one block to Market Street.
>>Left on Market Street to 12th Street.
>>Hotel located on the right
>>Driving Distances
>>Baltimore 300 miles
>>Boston 651 miles
>>Buffalo 290 miles
>>Charleston 179 miles
>>Charlotte 450 miles
>>Chicago 460 miles
>>Cincinnati 240 miles
>>Cleveland 177 miles
>>Columbus 123 miles
>>Detroit 330 miles
>>Indianapolis 315 miles
>>Lexington 320 miles
>>Louisville 340 miles
>>Montreal 710 miles
>>Nashville 525 miles
>>New York 425 miles
>>Norfolk 490 miles
>>Philadelphia 350 miles
>>Roanoke 370 miles
>>Richmond 405 miles
>>Rochester 330 miles
>>Syracuse 380 miles
>>Toledo 270 miles
>>Washington 300 miles
>>
>>
>>__________ Information from ESET NOD32
>>Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5323 (20100729) __________
>>
>>The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>>
>>http://www.eset.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>__________ Information from ESET NOD32
>>Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5324 (20100729) __________
>>
>>The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>>
>>http://www.eset.com
>>
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>
> David Andrews: dandrews at visi.com
>Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920
>
>
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David Andrews: dandrews at visi.com
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920
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