# data[].attributes.headline
Wood County Schools offers Pre-K for 4 year olds - 2007

# data[].attributes.subject
Wood County Schools offers Pre-K for 4 year olds - 2007

# data[].attributes.body
Two Sisters of St. Joseph arrive to take over the school from lay teachers.

# data[].attributes.body
Relocated to PCJ convent and brought under the umbrella of Parkersburg Catholic Schools.

# data[].attributes.body
Kindergarten relocated to Fairview Ave.

# data[].attributes.body
First mention in a city directory; name changes to St. Ann's and St. Micahel's over the years.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sumner School, the First Public (Free) School for African Americans located south of the Mason-Dixon Line opens - 1862

# data[].attributes.subject
Sumner School, the First Public (Free) School for African Americans located south of the Mason-Dixon Line opens - 1862

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sumner School - Almost Heaven - West Virginia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sumner High School in Parkersburg, established in January 1862, was reputedly the first free school south of the Mason-Dixon Line and was established two years before West Virginia had a public school system. The school was sponsored by several members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, then standing on the hillside above Green Street.

# data[].attributes.headline
First Public High School Diplomas in WV issued to Parkersburg High School graduates - 1874

# data[].attributes.subject
First Public High School Diplomas in WV issued to Parkersburg High School graduates - 1874

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Named for James Wood, Virginia's governor from 1796 to 1800, Wood County was established by the Virginia General Assembly on December 21, 1798, a little over 13 years after the first permanent white settlement (Neal's Station) had been founded in the county. The county seat is Parkersburg.

Reduced in size between 1831 and 1863 by the creation of Jackson, Roane, Ritchie, Wirt, and Pleasants counties, Wood's remaining 377 square miles is divided almost equally into northern and southern sectors by the Little Kanawha River. The county was in 1863 the home of four of the founders of West Virginia: Arthur Ingraham Boreman (the state's first governor), William Erskine Stevenson (the first president of the state senate), Peter Godwin Van Winkle (one of the state's first two U.S. senators), and Jacob Beeson Blair (a member of the U.S. House of Representatives). It was also the home of the state's first federal judge, John Jay Jackson Jr.

Population increased steadily in the antebellum period, due to the completion of internal improvements and several important discoveries. Wood is located at the confluence of the Ohio and the Little Kanawha, and the introduction of the steamboat on the Ohio in 1811 increased trade through the county. The local economy was boosted by the completion of two turnpikes by 1847 and the Northwestern Virginia Railroad to Parkersburg a decade later. The discovery of petroleum in the area gave an additional spark to the economy. As a result of these developments, Wood County attracted a diverse population, including the largest Irish Catholic, German, Jewish, and African-American settlements between Wheeling and Huntington.

Within two months of the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, federal forces were stationed in the county to protect the railroad. Later, three hospitals were established. In 1863, Fort Boreman was constructed, an installation built on a hill overlooking the point where the Little Kanawha and the Ohio meet.

After the war's end in 1865, the number of Wood County's residents increased every decade until the 1980s when the population peaked at 93,648. Its population in 2012 was an estimated 86,701. Its growth in 1865-1900 was fueled by the large reserves of oil and natural gas in the Mid-Ohio Valley, the construction of refineries, the completion of the Ohio River Railroad in 1884, and the development of a vigorous timber processing industry. Growth has been sustained by economic diversification and education.

Present major employers include DuPont, the U.S. Department of Treasury, Wal-Mart, the Wood County Board of Education, West Virginia University, Camden Clark Medical Center, and the Coldwater Creek mail order center.

The county ranks near the top in the state in educational leadership. In Parkersburg the first free school south of the Mason-Dixon line was established in 1862 for African-Americans, the first public high school diplomas issued in the state were awarded to Parkersburg High School graduates in 1874, and the first high school diplomas to be issued to African-Americans were granted at Sumner School in 1887. Wood has four high schools: three public and one private. It has two baccalaureate degree-granting colleges ( Ohio Valley University, established in 1957, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg, founded in 1961), as well as Mountain State College, which was established in 1888.

Most Wood Countians live to the west of Interstate 77, which divides the county from east to west, in Parkersburg, Vienna, Williamstown, and North Hills, the county's four incorporated communities. The county's Parks and Recreation Commission oversees several parks, including Mountwood Park, situated in the eastern section of the county adjacent to what was once the county's number one oil field boom town, Volcano, and within a mile of the county's highest point, which is 1,328 feet above sea level. Wood County has six islands, the largest of which is Blennerhassett, a part of the West Virginia state park system.

Within the county are some of the state's finest examples of Victorian Age architecture. There are six National Register historic districts and several individual National Register historic properties.

The county's weather is generally moderate. However, on July 18, 1889, more than 19 inches of rain fell on Limestone Hill, at the southern tip of the county, in about two hours. Devastating floods hit the county almost annually before the completion of a floodwall in Parkersburg in 1950 and the construction of locks and dams on the Ohio, including one at Belleville.

Wood County has been the home of many prominent personalities. Among them are capitalists Johnson Newlon Camden, John M. Crawford, Monroe Jackson Rathbone Jr., Bernard Patrick McDonough, and Charlie O. Erickson; three governors between 1868 and 1900; U.S. diplomat William Kahn Leonhart; Admiral Felix Budwell Stump; pro-football hall of famer Alfred Earle ''Greasy'' Neale; college football hall of famer Floyd Schwartzwalder; the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia, George William Peterkin; educator Waitman T. Barbe; entomologist Andrew Delmar Hopkins; and steamboat captain Anton Meldahl.

This Article was written by Bernard L. Allen
Last Revised on June 04, 2013
Sources

Matheny, H. E. Wood County W. Va. in Civil War Times. Parkersburg: Trans-Allegheny Books, 1987.

Allen, Bernard L. Parkersburg: A Bicentennial History. Parkersburg Bicentennial Commission, 1985.

Black, Donald F. History of Wood County. Marietta, OH: Richardson Printing, 1975.

Libbey, Marie M., ed. West Virginia Statistical Abstract 1995-1996. Morgantown: College of Business & Economics, West Virginia University, 1995.

Fisher, Francis P. PHS Class of 1874 to be Memorialized. Echoes from the Hills. Charleston: West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees, 1976.

Paul Liston, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey. Interview by author. 1998.

Cite This Article

Allen, Bernard L. "Wood County." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 04 June 2013. Web. 20 November 2020.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Named for James Wood, Virginia's governor from 1796 to 1800, Wood County was established by the Virginia General Assembly on December 21, 1798, a little over 13 years after the first permanent white settlement (Neal's Station) had been founded in the county. The county seat is Parkersburg.

# data[].attributes.body
Pre-K program for 3 year olds begins.

# data[].attributes.body
Pre-K program for 4 year olds begins.

# data[].attributes.headline
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1992

# data[].attributes.subject
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1992

# data[].attributes.body
School closes. Convent follows as sisters move to other convents for retirement.

# data[].attributes.headline
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1977

# data[].attributes.subject
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1977

# data[].attributes.body
High School closes. Montessori through 6th grades remain.

# data[].attributes.headline
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1974

# data[].attributes.subject
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1974

# data[].attributes.body
Boarding school closed.

# data[].attributes.headline
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1968

# data[].attributes.subject
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1968

# data[].attributes.body
First Montessori program in WV is started for preschool students.

# data[].attributes.headline
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1900

# data[].attributes.subject
DeSales Heights Visitation Academy - 1900

# data[].attributes.body
New convent and school open at 1600 Murdoch Ave., with both female boarders and female day students. Elementary program begins.

# data[].attributes.body
Due to enrollment boom, a new high school was built on Fairview Ave., under duress of much controversy.

# data[].attributes.body
Named a central high school; still located at 9th and Juliana streets.

# data[].attributes.body
9th grade was added to existing school. Additional grades added each year.

# data[].attributes.body
St. Francis Xavier and St. Margaret Mary Parish Schools Merge to form Parkersburg Catholic Elementary School, located in St. Francis Xavier building.

# data[].attributes.headline
St. Margaret Mary and St. Francis Xavier Parish Schools -1924

# data[].attributes.subject
St. Margaret Mary and St. Francis Xavier Parish Schools -1924

# data[].attributes.body
Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus arrive in Parkersburg to teach at both parish schools.

# data[].attributes.headline
St. Margaret Mary and St. Francis Xavier Parish Schools -1923 

# data[].attributes.subject
St. Margaret Mary and St. Francis Xavier Parish Schools -1923 

# data[].attributes.body
Parish schools open for boys and girls through 8th grades.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The dream of a new parish in the Parkersburg area became closer to a reality in 1910 when Miss Sara Tracy left a $50,000 bequest to the Most Reverend Patrick Donahue, D.D., for the construction of a church in the Wheeling Diocese as a memorial to her brother, Edward Tracy. With a growing Catholic population in the Parkersburg area, Bishop Donahue recognized the need for a second Catholic parish. St. Francis Xavier Church has been serving the religious needs of the Catholic families in this area for over seventy years. To that end, Bishop Donahue sent Rev. John W. Werniger to Parkersburg to assess the possibilities in the area. Much enthusiasm greeted Rev. Werniger's arrival in Parkersburg to lay the groundwork for the proposed parish, a need the people in North Parkersburg had felt for some time. The deaths of both Rev. Werniger and Bishop Donahue stalled plans for the formation of a new parish, but when, in 1923, the succeeding Bishop, the Most Reverend John J. Swint, D.D., quickly appointed Father Patrick Browne as pastor, the dream of a new parish was finally realized.

Father Browne led the parish in the planning and implementation of a four-stage construction project. A small frame structure, a school, a permanent rectory, and finally a church were to be constructed on the Dudley Avenue property purchased from the molly Dudley Bacon Estate. The first Masses were celebrated in the temporary rectory until the completion of the small structure, which then served as a temporary chapel. The first Mass was celebrated in the chapel on Palm Sunday, 1923.

The school was completed next and opened for its first students in the fall of the same year. Originally staffed by two Sisters of St. Joseph and two lay teachers and then by Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus, the school began a 48-year tradition of education, closing in 1971.

Construction continued the following year with the rectory being completed in the spring of 1924. The generous response of the first one hundred families to Father Browne's request for additional funds to change the plans for the exterior from brick to Indiana limestone enabled the parish to erect the stone church in which the people of St. Margaret Mary Parish worship to this day. The church was dedicated on Sunday morning, December 21, 1924, by the Most Reverend John J. Swint, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling.

The parish chose the name 'St. Margaret Mary' in honor of Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun of the Order of the Visitation, who was canonized in 1920. The Sisters of the Visitation at DeSales Heights Monastery and Academy were so gratified they sent word to all Visitation convents in the United States and abroad. The convents responded with gifts of altar items, vestments, and liturgical articles to celebrate the first parish in the Wheeling Diocese to be named after a saint of the Order of the Visitation. The stone statue of St. Margaret Mary in the niche above the entrance was a gift from the Sisters at DeSales Heights.

Since 1923, the parish has been served faithfully by many priests, including seven pastors. In 1933, the Rev. Francis P. Scheuermann succeeded Father Browne and remained at St. Margaret Mary until his retirement in 1966. The Rev. Leo R. Fohl served the parish for four years until his transfer in 1972. Rev. Joseph O'Reilly arrived in October, 1972 to become the fourth pastor of St. Margaret Mary. During Father O'Reilly's pastorate, the parish grew in numbers due to the large influx of workers for local industries. When Father O'Reilly left in 1979, Father John O'Connell was appointed to the position. The Very Rev. Edward M. Bell arrived September 3, 1980 and served until his retirement in June 2004. Rev. Msgr. Joseph L. Peterson arrived in June 2004, and was transferred in June 2016. Our present Pastor, Rev. Stephen Vallelonga has served with us since his arrival in June 2016.

Associate Pastors who served the parish are Fathers Stephen Wolan, John McDonnell, Carl Bauer, Samuel Sacus, Patsy Iaquinta, Russell Grogg, Robert Pecka, Thomas Grennan, James Offenberger, Stephen Vallelonga, James Chetock, Neil Buchlein, Benedict Kapa, John Rice, Bekeh Ukelina Utietiang, Douglas Ondeck, Arok Sundar, and Andrew Switzer.

The Parish is also grateful for the contributions of the many deacons, religious, and lay ministers who have served the people of St. Margaret Mary. Deacons: Rev. Mr. Russell Grant, Rev. Mr. Harry Higgs, Rev. Mr. Gerry Goetemann, Rev. Mr. John Showalter, and currently Rev. Mr. Jerry Showalter, Rev. Mr. John Maher, and Rev. Mr. Steve Wharton. Pastoral Associates: Sr. Teresita Nolden, MSC, Sr. Colleen Birmingham, MSC, Sr. Theresa Molchanow, MSC, Sr. Carolyn Ackerman, MSC, Sr. Linda Ann Greenberg, IHM, Sr. Lillian Sleight, Sr. Gertrude Lacki, OSF and currently Deacon John Maher. Directors of Religious Education: Sr. Dennis O'Leary, SSJ, Sr. Rose Ann Krantz, CDP, Sr. Mary Clancy, RSM, Mrs. Catherine Wharton, Alysia Pasternak-Post, and Sr. Placida Shumba, SJI. Music Directors: Gordon Miller, Sr. Judith Minear, SSJ, Sr. Eileen O'Connor, SSJ, and currently Mr. J. D. Benson.

During the past eighty years, the parish of St. Margaret Mary has experienced tremendous growth and witnessed many changes. Throughout these changes, the people of St. Margaret Mary Parish have continued to celebrate and rise to the demands of a growing congregation, one that is now almost ten times larger than it was in 1923. The parish has seen their first church societies grow in number from their inception under Father Browne to become important ministries within the parish.

Major renovations and additions have been required and graciously supported by the congregation. On December 7, 1980, a fire caused an estimated $75,000 damage to parts of the church. Liturgies were again celebrated in what would become a renovated Parish Hall while repairs were made to the church.

The most extensive renovations began in 1982 soon after Father Bell's arrival. Like Father Browne before him, Father Bell elected to begin his plan of renewal with the small frame structure that has served the parish so well over the last eighty years. The renovation included stripping the interior, adding 900 square feet of space, bricking the exterior, and adding a large window where the entrance had once been. Since its rededication in October, 1982 the Parish Hall has hosted parish socials, Boy and Girl Scout troops, youth activities, school plays, a nursery, and wedding receptions. In 1992 the structure once again served as a temporary chapel while major renovations began on the church.

The construction of an addition and renovation of the church was two years in the planning stage and required over a year to complete. The architect, Al Vargo of Marietta, Ohio, sought in his design to recapture the church's original Romanesque details. The barrel-vaulted ceiling, tiled aisles, two-tiered windows, and arches and columns all repeat architectural elements planned by the original architect, Edward Weber of Pittsburgh. The new space successfully integrated a new design with many of the fine details of the original area, while increasing seating by half and doubling interior space. The mosaic "Christ the Vine and the Branches," designed by parishioner, Marcella Blomberg, in the late 1960's and finished by fellow parishioners, still graces the Church's interior as it has for many years. Mrs. Blomberg also created the sculpted art pieces that enhance the worship area. There was a special dedication for the completed addition and renovation on May 23, 1993.

Stage three of the parish's construction plan culminated in 2001 with the completion of the Parish Office Building on the corner of 25th Street and Dudley Avenue. The building houses six offices for the Parish Staff, a conference room, a reception area, and a kitchen. The second floor provides a two-bedroom apartment for use by the staff. In addition, there is a large storage area and parking facilities in the rear. The new structure allows the staff to function in a more efficient, cohesive, and coordinated manner than the close, cramped quarters of the former offices in the Rectory.

In July, 2008 the parish purchased the YWCA property directly across Dudley Avenue from the church. The property occupies nearly 7 acres of land and has 43,000 sq.ft. of building space including a gym, several meeting rooms, many classrooms and two large kitchens. It houses our Parish School of Religion, a Parish Library and Media Resource Center, Adult Education programs and hosts many special parish and community events.

Although St. Margaret Mary Church has experienced many changes during its history, we continue to worship in the original church, the original frame building is now our Parish Hall and provides a gathering space for Parish functions. May the parish continue to celebrate and give thanks for our history for many years to come.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The dream of a new parish in the Parkersburg area became closer to a reality in 1910 when Miss Sara Tracy left a $50,000 bequest to the Most Reverend Patrick Donahue, D.D., for the construction of a church in the Wheeling Diocese as a memorial to her brother, Edward Tracy.

# data[].attributes.headline
St. Francis Xavier School for Boys - 1909

# data[].attributes.subject
St. Francis Xavier School for Boys - 1909

# data[].attributes.body
School Closes.

# data[].attributes.headline
St. Francis Xavier School for Boys - 1881

# data[].attributes.subject
St. Francis Xavier School for Boys - 1881

# data[].attributes.body
School for young boys is established.

# data[].attributes.body
School reverts to original mission of serving girls.

# data[].attributes.headline
St. Francis Xavier/St. Joseph Benevolent School - 1866

# data[].attributes.subject
St. Francis Xavier/St. Joseph Benevolent School - 1866

# data[].attributes.body
School opens for boys and girls with approximately 60 students; Teachers were Visitation Sisters, called to town by Father Parke. Located in frame building beside St. Francis Xavier parish.

# data[].attributes.body
School for girls only opens at 5th and Avery Streets.

# data[].attributes.headline
Compulsory Education begins in WV - 1897

# data[].attributes.subject
Compulsory Education begins in WV - 1897

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The first schools in Western Virginia emerged in the Eastern Panhandle, Greenbrier Valley, and the South Branch region. A 1748 survey team, with young George Washington as a member, mentioned ''the School House'' in the Moorefield area, suggesting the site of one of our state's earliest schools. Records of 1753 reveal schoolmasters employed in Romney and in a Greenbrier settlement. Shepherdstown had both German and English schools in 1762. Most early schools were staffed by itinerant schoolmasters who varied in their effectiveness and training. Known as ''private subscription schools'' since parents paid tuition, these schools-located in private homes, barns, and other available spaces- still left large expanses of present West Virginia without schools of any kind.

With the demise of the established church after the Revolution, the state of Virginia assumed responsibility for educating poor farmers' children. An alderman system, authorized in 1796, provided for the dividing of counties into districts, with schools to be established in each district.

In the northwestern region, children of the wealthiest families attended secondary private academies. Many of these academies offered upper-level courses in classical languages, theology, philosophy, science, grammar, and declamation, preparing graduates for college. In 1778, Brooke Academy opened, making it the earliest institution of its kind in trans-Allegheny Virginia. Randolph Academy in Clarksburg, the earliest regularly incorporated secondary school, counted among its first trustees Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Patrick Henry. Other early academies included the Potomac Academy in Romney, Northwestern Academy at Clarksburg, and Lewisburg Academy. Marshall Academy, later Marshall College and now Marshall University, was established in present Huntington in 1837. Linsly Institute in Wheeling, which continues as a private school today, was founded in 1814 under a bequest from Noah Linsly.

Virginia established a ''Literary Fund'' for the support of education in 1810, but funds were not reliably available to meet educational needs. In 1818, money was earmarked to pay tuition for poor white children to attend schools. Since parents were reluctant to be labeled as paupers, these funds were often left unused.

Governor Thomas Jefferson had proposed to the state legislature in 1779 a statewide system of free public schools, but eastern and western sections disagreed on the plan's implementation. Most of the eastern upper class believed it necessary to train an intellectual elite for leadership and therefore favored higher education, while western leaders, placing a premium on practical skills, supported a program of free elementary education. The east prevailed. Virginia established a fine university in 1819 but provided little for schools at the primary and secondary level.

The 1840 Census revealed that illiteracy among Virginians was increasing regardless of place of residence. Aroused by Governor Campbell, conferences met statewide to examine educational issues. The first of these, held at Clarksburg in September 1841, was a pivotal event. Henry Ruffner proposed the establishment of free schools ''good enough for the rich . . . [and] fit for the poor.'' Contentiousness between eastern and western counties grew, with westerners critical of the University of Virginia, which they believed to be populated by sons of wealthy landowners at the expense of other citizens. Few Western Virginia residents attended college at all, and those who did typically enrolled in institutions in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. The education of western leaders outside Virginia weakened allegiances and contributed to the eventual division of the state.

Legislation in 1846 authorized school commissioners to use local taxes to supplement state aid for the poor. Under this system schools arose in Kanawha, Ohio, and Jefferson counties, the only counties in present West Virginia providing free public schooling before the Civil War. Marshall and Mason counties, while approving the plan, did not have functioning schools until after the war. Funds continued to support the poor attending ''old field'' schools where the academic emphasis was basic-reading, writing, and arithmetic. By 1850, Western Virginia had 1,300 primary schools.

By 1860, Western Virginia had only one institution of higher learning, Bethany College, founded by Alexander Campbell and chartered in 1840. Baptist-affiliated Rector College had opened in 1839 but was destroyed by fire in 1855. Weston College, chartered in 1858, was sold at public auction in 1859. Allegheny College at Blue Sulphur Springs opened in 1860 but suspended operation later that year, and its buildings were burned by Union troops in 1864. Marshall College was established from Marshall Academy in 1858 but achieved true collegiate status only after its reorganization in 1867.

In 1863, the first constitution of West Virginia established a public free school system. Counties were to be subdivided into townships and townships into sub districts where school affairs were to be handled in mass meetings. Locally controlled one-room schoolhouses soon dotted the state.

Rev. William Ryland White, a Methodist minister and principal of Fairmont Male and Female Seminary, became the first state superintendent of schools (1864-65). The legislature authorized a state levy for schools and required townships having more than 30 eligible Negro children to educate them in buildings separate from white children. A private school for black children, opened in Parkersburg in 1862, was converted to a public school in 1866, and a year later one opened in Clarksburg. The U.S. Freedmen's Bureau established over a dozen private schools, most of which later became public schools. Storer College was founded in Harpers Ferry in 1867 by Freewill Baptists from the North. Its purpose was to educate former slaves.

The average school term, 2.7 months in 1865-66, increased to 4.1 months in 1869-70. In 1870, 2,405 teachers (including 641 women) staffed 2,257 schools. Two hundred sixty of the 495 new school buildings constructed in 1869-70 were log structures.

The constitution of 1872 expanded support of public education while continuing the segregation of white and black students. The state superintendent was named a member of the executive branch of government, making the office political. Even during the earliest years of statehood, inequalities in taxable wealth caused great variations in educational opportunities among the counties.

By 1910, West Virginia schools had fallen behind national averages. That year, the average school term in West Virginia was 125 days, compared to 150.3 days nationally, and the average teacher's monthly salary in the state was $36.70, versus $47.08 in the United States.

Progress was evident in some areas, however. Alexander L. Wade, superintendent of Monongalia County, devised a graduating system with set criteria of grades, promotions, and graduation. The system was used as a model nationally and made compulsory statewide in West Virginia in 1891. Teachers' associations, institutes, and journals became important in training teachers.

A normal school, whose purpose was to train school teachers, was established in 1867 at Marshall College, renamed the State Normal School, and in 1869 the Fairmont State Regency Normal was renamed the Fairmont Branch Normal (now Fairmont State University). Normal schools soon opened in West Liberty, Athens, Glenville, and Shepherdstown. Provisions were made for the training of African-American teachers with the opening of West Virginia Colored Institute (now West Virginia State University) in 1892, and Bluefield Colored Institute (now Bluefield State College) in 1895.

Changes were also made in teacher preparation and certification. The 1893 legislature provided for two levels of teacher certificates. The legislature enacted a uniform teachers' examination law in 1903, ending corruption in the granting of certificates by local boards.

School finance and geographic inequity continued to be a problem. When the state property levy was eliminated in 1907, the minimum district levy rates were reduced with a local option to increase their levy. West Virginia adopted a minimum salary law for teachers in 1882, believed to be the first in the country. Unequal school terms and pay scales existed across the state, however, with discrepancies even within counties.

High schools gained importance during this time. With only 12 fully accredited high schools in 1910, State Superintendent Morris P. Shawkey created a high school division in the state Department of Education, highlighting the need for improved secondary education and increasing curriculum requirements. By 1925, the number of high schools burgeoned to 233, and the old academies had all but ceased to function. The number of junior high schools also increased dramatically.

Not surprisingly, public education suffered during the Depression. Schools closed, school terms were cut, and teachers sometimes went unpaid. A 1932 constitutional amendment cut tax rates on real property, reducing local school funding. Legislation approved in 1933 created the county unit plan, replacing 398 local school districts with 55 county systems, each administered by a five-member board. State aid increased substantially. By 1939, all counties had a nine-month term.

The 1940s and 1950s brought free textbooks for elementary students and the non-partisan election of school boards. The legislature created a nine-member non-partisan state Board of Education in 1947, vesting it with control over public schools and state colleges, with the exception of West Virginia University and its branch, Potomac State School (now Potomac State College). The state superintendent of schools became a state Board of Education appointee in 1958, retaining membership on the budget-making state entity, the Board of Public Works.

The U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 desegregation decision in Brown v. Board of Education brought changes to West Virginia as elsewhere. Governor William Marland ordered full compliance, and the integration of West Virginia schools soon began. Twelve counties integrated their schools during the 1954-55 school year, 13 partially integrated, 18 waited for more instructions, 11 had no black students, and one rescinded an integration order when residents protested it.

As the state's population dropped after 1950, so did school enrollment. Between 1950 and 1970, there was a 22 percent decline in elementary school enrollment. Public kindergartens, mandated in 1973, helped balance the overall loss, as did lower drop-out rates in high schools.

Federal programs and shifting educational philosophies dramatically affected schools in the 1960s and 1970s. Important federal programs included Head Start, for preschool children from low-income families; Upward Bound, a college-type summer experience for economically disadvantaged youth; remedial reading and math programs; Title IX, banning sexual discrimination in schools; and the placement of teacher aides in classrooms. Ungraded primary school classrooms, open classrooms, and more freedom and responsibility for high school students all contributed to the changing character of schools.

In 1969 the legislature created two governing bodies for education. The Board of Education continued as the governing body for elementary and secondary schools, and the Board of Regents was established to govern the state's colleges and universities. The state superintendent was an ex officio member of the Board of Regents, and the Board of Regents chancellor was an ex officio member of the state Board of Education.

As schools changed, public support varied. The 1974 Kanawha County textbook controversy, at times violent, called attention to citizens' clashing viewpoints. Reform efforts in West Virginia, spurred by a back to the basics movement and the publication of ''A Nation at Risk,'' a federal report criticizing the nation's schools, triggered increased graduation standards, testing programs for teachers, and more comprehensive student testing. Church-related and nondenominational private schools, some founded before the state itself, continued to grow in size and numbers. School consolidation, with roots in the 1930s, continued into the 21st century. The 4,551 one-room schools in 1930-31 decreased to one, located in Auburn, Ritchie County, by 1978-79. The School Building Authority, created in 1989 by Governor Caperton, provided a strong impetus to consolidation with policies favoring the creation of large schools. In 2004 Governor Wise indicated that the state would reconsider consolidation.

The West Virginia Education Association, founded in 1865 at the behest of the state superintendent, evolved into a forceful union, winning large gains in the strike of 1990. Politicians opposed to WVEA proposals were targeted for defeat, often successfully. The West Virginia Federation of Teachers, a rival group, gained a solid foothold.

Judge Arthur M. Recht handed down a major decision in 1982 attempting to narrow the financial gap among school districts. The results were mixed and after more than 20 years, the court ended its oversight of the public school system. Statistics for the 2008-2009 school year reveal that 281,908 preschool through grade 12 students attend West Virginia's approximately 740 public schools and are taught by about 19,700 teachers. Nearly 11,200 additional children attend 118 private schools.

This Article was written by Debra K. Sullivan
Last Revised on May 09, 2013
Sources

Ambler, Charles H. & Festus P. Summers. West Virginia: The Mountain State. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1958.

Rice, Otis K. & Stephen W. Brown. West Virginia: A History. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1993.

Ambler, Charles H. A History of Education in West Virginia: From Early Colonial Times to 1949. Huntington: Standard Printing & Publishing, 1951.

Cite This Article

Sullivan, Debra K. "Education." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 09 May 2013. Web. 18 November 2020.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The first schools in Western Virginia emerged in the Eastern Panhandle, Greenbrier Valley, and the South Branch region. A 1748 survey team, with young George Washington as a member, mentioned ''the School House'' in the Moorefield area, suggesting the site of one of our state's earliest schools.

# data[].attributes.body
School Closes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Among the historical records of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are documents that illustrate the important role Congress plays in the creation of states. For West Virginia, the road to statehood was a unique one.

Disputes over the borders of Virginia began in the early 17th century with conflicting royal charters that granted overlapping territory to multiple entities. It was not until the Virginia Constitution was ratified in 1776 that the borders solidified. However, clarifying the borders did not resolve long-standing regional tensions within the state. Voting rights in Virginia were based on property holdings and many residents of western Virginia felt underrepresented as most did not own enough property to vote. In 1861 the tensions between eastern and western Virginians came to an impasse following the secession of many southern states from the Union, the battle of Fort Sumter, and President Abraham Lincoln's call for troops from each state. The Virginia state legislature passed the Order of Secession on April 17, and Virginians voted to ratify secession on May 23. Less than a month later, Pro-Union Virginians voted to form a second government, the Restored Government of Virginia, on June 17. In August, the Restored Government of Virginia voted to approve the creation of a new state, West Virginia. According to Article IV, Section III of the U.S. Constitution, no new state can be formed from the territory of an existing state without the latter's consent.

The West Virginia Constitution was ratified by voters on November 26, 1861. In May 1862, Senator Waitman T. Willey (Unionist-VA) submitted a bill, S. 365, to Congress for the admission of West Virginia to the Union. He then proposed an amendment to the bill calling for West Virginia to amend their constitution to include the gradual emancipation of slaves in the state. On July 14, the Senate approved West Virginia's admission to the Union, with statehood conditioned on its approval of the Willey Amendment. The House approved the bill in December. Lincoln signed the bill admitting West Virginia to the Union, on December 31. On March 26, 1863, West Virginia ratified the revised constitution to include the gradual emancipation of slaves. President Lincoln proclaimed that West Virginia would officially be recognized as a state on June 20, 1863.

Although the issue of statehood had been settled, the status of Berkeley and Jefferson Counties continued to pose a challenge. The citizens of these counties voted to join West Virginia on February 4, 1863, as permitted in the West Virginia state constitution and approved by the Restored Government of Virginia. However during Reconstruction, Virginia contested the transfer of the counties and argued that Union troops stationed at the polls in 1863 had influenced the vote. On December 5, 1865 the Virginia Assembly repealed the legislation that transferred the counties from Virginia to West Virginia. In an attempt to resolve the debate, Congress passed H.J. Res. 17 on March 10, 1866 to officially recognize the transfer of the counties to West Virginia. The debate continued and finally ended in 1871 with the U.S. Supreme Court case Virginia v. West Virginia in which the Court affirmed that the counties were part of West Virginia.
Report from the House Committee on Public Lands regarding Virginia Land Claims, 1844 Constitution of the State of West Virginia, November 26, 1861 H.J. Res 17, Transferring the Counties of Berkeley and Jefferson to the State of West Virginia, February 19, 1866 Memorial of Citizens from Frederick County in Favor of the Transfer of their County to West Virginia, January 6, 1866 Petition of Citizens from Berkeley and Jefferson Counties in Favor of the Transfer of the Counties to West Virginia, ca. 1865 Petition of Citizens from Jefferson County against Transfer of County to West Virginia, endorsed December 12, 1865
If you have problems viewing these images please contact legislative.archives@nara.gov.
More Featured Documents

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Among the historical records of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are documents that illustrate the important role Congress plays in the creation of states. For West Virginia, the road to statehood was a unique one.

# data[].attributes.body
School opens for elementary aged boys and girls; lay teachers. The school is housed in the rectory and later in a frame building next to the church.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Prior to 1785, Virginia (which then included present West Virginia) had a state church, the Protestant Episcopal. Roman Catholic immigrants were barred from the state. Priests had to sneak in at night, ever alert of danger, to minister to the few Catholics who had cloaked their religious affiliation and settled in the state.

Shortly after 1815 the first Catholic family, the Josephs, arrived in the area and settled in the southern part of Wood County near Belleville. They became the nucleus of a small Catholic settlement, which developed along the North Fork of Lee Creek.

Around 1836 an Irish priest Father James Reid began making regular missionary visits to the faithful at Lee Creek. Father Reid of the Diocese of Cincinnati had as his mission the entire area along the Ohio River from Cambridge, Ohio to Wood County.

According to census figures there were no Catholic families residing in the town of Parkersburg until the early 1840's.

1841 - In September 1841, the new Bishop of Richmond Richard V. Whelan pays his first visit to the Catholics in Wood County.

1844 - Bishop Whelan dispatches Father Joseph Plunkett on a missionary journey through the western portion of the diocese. He visits as far as Parkersburg.

1845 - Bishop Whelan on June 1, 1845, appoints the Rev. Austin Grogan, the great "Pioneer Priest of West Virginia", to minister to the Catholics in Parkersburg and several surrounding counties. He serves until 1849.

1846 - On April 28, 1847, Bishop Whelan purchases the present church lot on Market Street from Beverly and Catherine Smith for $306.00 to be paid over a three-year term.

1849 - The scattering of Catholics along the Ohio River have until now been ministered from Wheeling. Father Robert J. Lawrence is appointed to serve this area. Bishop Whelan decides to make Parkersburg a center of missionary activity. The bishop states in a diocesan report for 1849, that "a neat brick chapel is being erected at this point, which many circumstances indicate as one likely to become prominent on the Ohio River." A notation in the archives of the diocese states that the cornerstone for this first church was laid on October 27th, 1849. Father Lawrence moves his missionary headquarters to Parkersburg and becomes the first resident pastor.

1850 - The small brick mission church measuring 30 X 60 is completed at a cost of $1,600.00. When built the parish consists of six families residing in Parkersburg and six families in the surrounding countryside. On occasion, the 30 Catholics in neighboring Pleasants County swell their number. On July 19th, the Diocese of Wheeling is created, being partitioned from the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia.

1851 - The parish boundaries include the entire area from St. Mary's to Charleston and as far east as West Union. Visits are also made to the Catholics in neighboring Washington County, Ohio.

1857 - On May 1, the railroad line from Grafton to Parkersburg is completed, drawing a huge influx of railroad workers who are predominately Irish-Catholic immigrants. The Catholic Church in Parkersburg is given the name St. Mary's Rev. Thomas Sheehan is pastor.

1858 - Additional lots adjoining the church are purchased for the erection of a school and rectory, which are built in the early 1860's. Bishop Whelan appoints Rev. Henry Parke as pastor. A parish census taken August 1, 1858 shows a total of "303 souls".

1859 - The parish is officially named in honor of St. Francis Xavier.

1863 - June 20, 1863, the state of West Virginia is born.

1864 - On August 6, eight Sisters of the Visitation arrive at the invitation of Father Parke to begin an academy for girls. The "Visitation Academy" would later become known as DeSales Heights. In the parish the sisters teach Sunday school and organize sodalities.

1865 - The Civil War ends.

1867 - In August, Father Parke and the congregation begin construction of a new church to replace the old church which had become inadequate to meet the needs of the growing Catholic population. Patrick Charles Keely of New York is selected as the architect. Lysander Dudley of Parkersburg is awarded the contract for the construction. Meanwhile, at Lee Creek the faithful there begin construction of a small frame church. With financial help from the European community through the Propagation of Faith Society the church is completed and dedicated to the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and named the "Church of the Immaculate Conception." It becomes a mission church in the care of St. Francis Xavier.

1869 - On May 9, the new cornerstone is laid for the present church edifice.

1870 - On October 2, the substantially completed church is dedicated. The final cost of its construction is $59,930.05.

1871 - An associate pastor of St. Xavier, Father Thomas Quirk, begins publication of "The Catholic Messenger" the first Catholic newspaper in the state.

1872 - St. Xavier Catholic Cemetery is established at 14th and Dilloway Streets.

1895 - New stained glass windows and skylight are installed to replace those damaged by nitroglycerin blast.

1896 - First major renovation program on church is completed by Father Hickey. Church re-opened on July 19.

1901 - In the spring of this year a group of Pittsburgh business parties make an offer of $170,000 for the church and rectory. Father Hickey purchases options on property at 9th and Avery Street to build a new St. Xavier's. The church is spared the wrecking ball however when the deal fails to go through.

1915 - Bell tower is domed and a bell is installed. This bell, dedicated to St. Catherine weighs over 3,000 pounds. The bell tower dome is designed by Dietrich Kruger and built by Joseph Simpson Higgs.

1917 - Two more bells are added to tower. They are consecrated in honor of Saints Brigid and Patrick.

1924 - The Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus come to Parkersburg to reestablish the parish school.

1930 - New Stations of the Cross installed.

1948 - Second major renovation program commences and is completed by Father John O' Reilly. Much of the renovation program is devoted to structural reinforcement of the church. (Completed in 1949)

1951 - The parish community builds a new parish school at 9th and Juliana Streets and establishes Parkersburg Catholic High School.

1956 - The Canadian organ builder Casavant builds and installs a new pipe organ in the church at a cost of $27,000.

1957 - Ordinations of priests are generally held at the diocesan Cathedral in Wheeling but two native sons of the parish, Robert Park, and Ed Sadie are ordained on June 1 by Bishop McDonnell at St. Xavier. Both will go on to do exemplary work in the diocese in the fields of youth work education and social ministry.

1964 - On November 29 the first of many changes in the liturgy begins as the directives of Vatican II are implemented. A new altar that faces the congregation is placed in the sanctuary and the Latin Mass gives way to a liturgy predominately in English. The Council would usher in a series of reforms in virtually every area of the Church for the next several years. The Council concluded in December 1965.

1970 - Parish celebrates centennial of the church on October 8th.

1978 - Massive restoration program begun by pastor, Auxiliary Bishop James Michaels to restore church to original grandeur. Church is added to National Register of Historic Places.

1988 - Father Thomas Rafferty, a native son of the parish, celebrates his Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary) as a priest with a special Mass with his parish family. Father Rafferty distinguished himself as chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital for many years.

1988 - A new vehicle of bringing converts into the faith is begun in the parish called the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). This process, used in the ancient days of the Church, better prepares candidates for Catholicism. The highly successful program also serves parishioners as a continuing religious education program.

1994 - A new slate roof is installed on the church by the Tri-State Roofing Co. The slates, imported from Spain, are complimented with all new copper flashing and guttering.

1995 - Father Michael O'Reilly commissions for the most extensive and elaborate restoration work ever on the church ceiling decorative artwork and murals. The two-year project, which costs in excess of $300,000.00, brings together a host of art conservators, restorers and building preservationists. Their work and skill brings the famed interior decorations of our church back to their original vibrant hues and clarity.

1997 - Parish purchases additional property lots up 6th and Market Streets for future parish needs.

1998 - The former Kresge building located at 609 Market St. is purchased by the parish for use as a parish hall.

1999 - Beverly Hoffman, a parishioner, takes her vows as a Sister of Charity in Kentucky.

2000 - The Great Jubilee and the 150th Anniversary of the erection of the Diocese of Wheeling are celebrated. Due to St. Xavier's significance in the history of the Diocese, Bishop Schmitt selects the church as a pilgrimage site for the faithful of the Diocese bestowing special graces to all who visit and pray at the church.

2002 - The parish advances technologically. In May, the parish website (www.stx-pburg.org) goes on-line. The website contains parish information, schedules, pictures, history, and links to other church-related websites. E-mail is used to notify parishioners of news and upcoming events.

2003 - Renovation work on the parish center, which began in 1998, is completed. Among the improvements are a new facade and sidewalk that greatly improve the front appearance of the building. Across from the center, three dilapidated buildings are demolished and a concrete parking lot for the use of the parish is constructed. Renovations to the church are made to improve accessibility. A wheelchair ramp and entry are added at the rear entrance behind St. Joseph's altar. Accessible restroom facilities are added to the sacristy area and in the right front vestibule area of the church.

2004 - Father Casey Mahone is appointed pastor.

2005 - Father Mahone begins a series of lectures on the Catholic faith at the Parish Center beginning in May. The popular lectures attract a wide audience of both Catholics and non-Catholics. The topics include "Separated Brethren" which examines various Protestant denominations. "The Gospel of John" and "The Book of Revelation" complete the lecture series.

April 2, 2005 Pope John Paul the Great dies and is succeeded by Benedict XVI.

2006 - The Children's Liturgy of the Word begins during the 10:30 a.m. mass. This catechistical program introduces young children to the importance of God's message in the Scriptures.

2007 - On May 25, Father Soosai Arokiadas is appointed associate pastor. He is a member of a Indian missionary order the "Heralds of the Good News". This era would see many priests from this order coming to the diocese and receiving their initial training at St. Xavier.

2008 - Additional property on Market Street is purchased for a planned expansion of the church parking lot.

Bishop Michael Bransfield appoints Father R. Eric Hall as pastor of St. Xavier and St. Monica's parishes.

On October 26th, Father Tim Grassi celebrates a Tridentine Mass for a capacity crowd at St. Xavier's. This form of the Mass was used prior to 1965 and Vatican II.

2009 - On March 25th, the funeral Mass of West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Joseph Albright, a life-long, active member of the parish, is broadcast state-wide via television and internet. It is the first broadcast ever of a service at St. Xavier.

A downtown soup kitchen, "Stone Soup Kitchen" is opened at the Parish Center to meet the needs of many displaced persons in Parkersburg.

As part of the ongoing capital improvements, additional property is purchased by Father Eric Hall to augment expansion of the church parking lot, and a major overhaul to the decades-old wiring of the church is completed.

2012 - Father Hall commissions a new altar of sacrifice, which was hand crafted by parishioner Michael McKay. The first Mass on this new altar was celebrated on April 25.

2013 - Father John Rice is appointed pastor. A Franciscan missionary from India, Father Vincy Illickal, is appointed associate pastor.

2014 - The parish is instrumental in bringing a new evangelization/educational tool to the area. Catholic Radio WOUX FM 105.3 begins broadcasting on September 18th. Affiliated with St. Paul Radio and EWTN the station offers 24/7 programming to a wide are in both West Virginia and Ohio.

2015 - Father John "jump starts" the church renovation plans which had begun in 2007 as part of Father Casey's "Preserving our Past, Preparing our Future Campaign". He unites parishioners behind an ambitious makeover of the church. In January a temporary worship area is arranged in the parish center as work begins on the long awaited floor replacement of the church. New porcelain tiles with intricate designs and craftsmanship are installed throughout the church, vestibule and sacristy areas. The church floors are taken down to the joists, leveled and rebuilt complete with new and improved fiberglass insulation underneath. More than 100 parishioners physically help in the renovation at one point or another. The renovation becomes a stunning transformation with a refurbishing of the interior chandeliers, a new Children's gathering space, improved wheelchair access, and a state of the art speaker system with audio/visual capabilities is installed. In addition, sacristy areas were remodeled and the vestibules painted. Parishioners "go rejoicing to the house of the Lord" on Pentecost Sunday.

Architecture - Elements of Gothic architecture are present in the building however these are subordinate to the dominant Romanesque order of design. The church was built during a time when the Romanesque design was a prominent design of churches. The beauty of the church building provides for a direct and sensory spiritual encounter with God. Entering the church one experiences a space and time different from ordinary life.

Holy Water Fonts - Upon entering the interior of the church, one notices the small marble holy water fonts near the doors. Catholics dip their right hand in the holy water and themselves with the sign of the cross, as a reminder of their baptism, their faith in the Trinity, and the saving death and resurrection of Jesus.

Gathering Space - The design of the wall that now encloses the worship space and sets apart an area for a gathering space, as well as mothers and children who need a place during Mass, was taken from the existing doors and walls. Each of the aisle doors mimics the original door behind it, and the center arched door holds a round stained glass window, just as those in the sanctuary. The gathering place has audio-visual components that broadcast Mass and other liturgical ceremonies that are taking place.

Reconciliation Room - In this room off to your left, Catholics receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (or Confession as it was formerly called). Catholics are obliged to confess to a priest if they know they have committed a serious sin by which they have deliberately cut themselves off from God.

Statues - St. Francis contains several beautiful statues. Our church statuary includes the Blessed Virgin Mary, her husband St. Joseph, Saint Anthony, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and our parish patron St. Francis Xavier. Statues are like photographs; they remind us of people we love.

Tile Floor - The 2015 Renovation to St. Francis Xavier was undertaken to replace the red carpet that was installed in the late 1970's. David Gardiner of Gardiner Hall Associates was the Liturgical Design Consultant who collaborated with the parish to design the floor, taking the color scheme from the murals overhead. In these renovations, every attempt was made to be faithful to the original design of the church, with the mantra that we were merely completing the work that was begun 150 years ago. As you enter the church from the Market Street entrance, earth tones dominate, using cappuccino tile representing our early pilgrimage, that the church is made up of human beings. This where our journey begins. At the North entrance, the Baptismal font stands in a sea of white marble tile, representing our path to holiness. The Altar of Sacrifice stands amid a blue field, the heavenly banquet which is our hope. It is studded with pure white diamonds, to represent the stars of heaven, the saints who are already with God. (Sirach 43:9; Dan 3:63; Flowing from the altar, we see lines of tile that speak of the overflowing nature of God's grace, and his desire to reach out to all people. This overflow forms the border of the center aisle and is most evoked by Chapter 47 of Ezekiel. To get to the altar, one travels as a pilgrim down the center aisle through five crosses, the five wounds of Christ. At the foot of the altar lies the emblem of the Jesuit order in honor of Saint Francis Xavier who was a founding father of the Jesuits along with Ignatius of Loyola. The emblem features the letters IHS in the center - the first three letter of the name of Jesus in Greek, with a cross and the nails to represent the crucifixion of his human form. A sunburst in which the emblem rests is symbolic of the Divinity of Jesus, that he is the Son. Wood plank tiles were selected for under the pews to imitate the tongue and groove wood that they replaced. As human beings, we tend to want to stay in our humanity, this is the place where we listen for the voice of God to speak to us, but it is only when we journey outside of the pews that our path to God is active. The work of leveling the floor and installing the 22 tons of porcelain tile fell to Ollom Tile of Beverly, Ohio. In the process of replacing floor, it was completely rebuilt from the floor joists up. HVAC vents were moved, insulation installed, electric wiring upgraded and asbestos was removed as part of this renovation. The net result is that the floor, and entire building, has been stabilized for the next 100 years.

Stations of the Cross - Along the walls, one notices the painted copper plates marking the fourteen Stations of the Cross - the journey of Christ from His condemnation to Calvary, his death and burial. Thus one is able to visit in spirit the places where these events took place in the Holy Land, and devoutly recall the Passion and death of our Lord. Persons can go from station to station privately, or join with the congregation at times of public reflection on the Stations. This devotion is particularly popular during Lent. The current Stations of the Cross, though not original to the church itself, were hand-painted on copper plates by Anton Figel in Munich, Germany, in 1929 and installed in the church in 1930, a gift of the Crotty family.

Old Confessionals - Midway up the side aisles you will notice a white confessional. Prior to changes implemented by Vatican Council II, the parishioners to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation used these intricately carved confessional "boxes".

Stained Glass Windows - Like the stations, the stained glass windows are not original to the Church. On June 1, 1895 a boat-carrying nitroglycerin exploded on the Little Kanawha River destroying the original windows. The only windows not destroyed were those that face Market Street. The present stained glass windows were made and installed by the G. C. Riordan Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Many of the windows have various religious and Christian symbols incorporated in them.

Murals - The murals of St. Francis Xavier Church have been called "the most significant examples of ecclesiastical art in West Virginia today" by the WV Dept. of Culture and History. The three-dimensional, bas-relief style also known as tromp l'oeil painting or "fool-the-eye" make the murals most noteworthy. Daniel Muller of Munich, Germany, who came from New York City, painted the murals and vaulted ceiling of the church in 1870 for the sum of $3,500,00. The term fresco is also sometimes used, improperly, to describe the paintings. They are, in fact, tempera paintings or "distemper". The artist applied watercolor mixed with egg or other adhesive substances directly to the dry plaster surface to create the murals. Muller intended for his paintings to imitate sculpture. The five center murals depict scenes from the life of Christ. The mural on the left side shows the Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven. The mural on the right side depicts our patron saint Francis Xavier at his death on the Island of Cancian in the Japanese Sea where he had gone to do missionary work. Other paintings are of the 12 apostles and various religious emblems.

Sanctuary - As you walk to the front center of the church, you will see the sanctuary. As in any Catholic Church, the focal point of honor is the altar, or table of the Lord, at which Eucharist is celebrated. The ornate white Gothic altar was used prior to Vatican II for the celebration of Mass. In its center is the tabernacle where the consecrated bread - or Blessed Sacrament - is reserved after mass to be taken as communion for the sick and as focus of special devotion. Suspended from the sanctuary ceiling is a red votive light that burns constantly. This "eternal light" denotes that the Lord Jesus, who is the light of the world, is present in the tabernacle. Located behind the sanctuary are the sacristy areas where the priest and liturgical ministers vest for services.

Woodwork - Joseph Daris, a German carver of wood, handcrafted much of the interior and exterior woodwork. This master carpenter, whose work we continue to admire with awe today, crafted the original altars, the confessionals, communion rail, and exterior millwork.

Baptismal Font - This beautiful metal font is original to the church. Located to the left of the sanctuary, the top of the font depicts the Baptism of the Lord by John the Baptist. Around the font are symbols and depictions of the other sacraments of the catholic Church. At the foot are statues of the four Evangelists, to show the importance of Sacred Scripture in the Catholic's life.

The Pipe Organ - As you start down the center aisle you will notice the choir loft above you. St. Xavier's pipe organ is an instrument of 23 1/2 ranks. This Casavant organ was built and installed in 1956. The console and pipes are located in the center of the loft. It is considered by many to be the finest organ in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The current replacement value is $350,000.

Accessibility - A wheelchair accessible entrance is located at the right rear entrance of the church behind St. Joseph's altar. Accessible restrooms are located at this entry and also in the right front vestibule area of the church. Accessible parking is available behind the church and rectory and in the parish lot on the corner of 6th street.

Bells of St. Xavier's - Rising 100 feet above the center vestibule is the bell tower, which was completed in 1915. The largest bell, dedicated to St. Catherine was hung at that time. The other bells, added in 1917, are consecrated to the honor of Saint Patrick and Saint Brigid. These bells have a chime-effect, which is most pleasing to hear. The MacShane Bell Foundry cast the bells in bronze in Baltimore, Maryland. Our late bishop, Bernard Schmitt, best summed up the power of bells when he said, "Bells are the voice of God calling men to prayer".
Special thanks to Roger Nedeff for gathering all this information!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
History of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Prior to 1785, Virginia (which then included present West Virginia) had a state church, the Protestant Episcopal. Roman Catholic immigrants were barred from the state. Priests had to sneak in at night, ever alert of danger, to minister to the few Catholics who had cloaked their religious affiliation and ...

# data[].attributes.body
School closes as Parkersburg Communtiy College takes over nursing programs from SJ and Camden Clark.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
PARKERSBURG - The St. Joseph's School of Nursing, Class of 1968, learned by hands-on training, graduates said Saturday.

And the Parkersburg school of nursing students were ready to work when they graduated on Aug. 25, 1968, the graduates said as they met for lunch at the Blennerhassett Hotel.

St. Joseph's School of Nursing students attended classes and worked at St. Joseph's Hospital, where the nursing school was located.

Marietta College professors and master level nurses were among the instructors at the school of nursing.

The school of nursing students attended for 36 months, year-round, and paid $1,800 for room and board in the dormitory at the time, a graduate said. The students wore starched uniforms at the school of nursing.

Fifty-one students started in the Class of 1968 and 29 graduated in August 1968 from the St. Joseph's School of Nursing.

The St. Joseph's School of Nursing opened in 1905 and closed after the 1969 class graduated.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
st. joseph’s nurses celebrate 50th  graduation reunionlocal news

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
st. joseph’s nurses celebrate 50th  graduation reunionnews

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
st. joseph’s nurses celebrate 50th  graduation reunion

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
St. Joseph's nurses celebrate 50th graduation reunion

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PARKERSBURG - The St. Joseph's School of Nursing, Class of 1968, learned by hands-on training, graduates said Saturday. And the Parkersburg school of nursing students were ready to work when they graduated on Aug. 25, 1968, the graduates said as they met for lunch at the Blennerhassett Hotel. St.

# data[].attributes.body
School opens - 36 month program for boarders.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 1996, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling used funds from the half-sale and joint venture between St. Joseph's Hospital and Columbia HCA, a national healthcare company, to establish the Sisters Health Foundation (formerly the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund). Through grantmaking, collaboration, and leadership, the Foundation works to continue and expand the health ministry of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Since 1996, the Sisters Health Foundation has awarded over $19 million in grants.

Early Beginnings

In 1853, six Sisters of St. Joseph journeyed from Carondelet, Missouri, to Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), to come to the aid of a Catholic bishop who asked for their help with his young diocese. These first Sisters immediately began to care for the sick and underserved at Wheeling Hospital. They planted the seed that would become the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling.

Just before the turn of the century, editors of Parkersburg newspapers strongly advocated for the establishment of a hospital that would serve all people regardless of their ability to pay. Because many poor citizens and immigrants were excluded from receiving adequate medical care, an urgent request was made that the Sisters of St. Joseph provide a new hospital. Once again responding to those in need, several Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling traveled by boat to Parkersburg, West Virginia, to establish St. Joseph's Hospital in 1900. The new 21-bed facility gave residents of Parkersburg a choice regarding the quality of their health care.

In 1996, the Sisters planted another new seed: the Sisters Health Foundation (formerly the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund), an endowed fund that supports initiatives to improve the health of those living in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Transition

In 2011, St. Joseph's Hospital was purchased by the West Virginia United Health System, which created a two-campus medical center under the Camden Clark umbrella. When Camden Clark Medical Center closed St. Joseph's Campus in 2014, the Charitable Fund's Board of Directors-after careful consideration with key community partners-voted to rename the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund as the Sisters Health Foundation. In doing so, the rich connection with the Sisters is maintained, the health focus of our work is more prominent, and our work as a philanthropic entity serving the Mid-Ohio Valley continues.

1996

The Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund is established by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling after St. Joseph's Hospital enters into a joint venture with Columbia/HCA.

1997

Three large charter grants are awarded.

1998

First competitive, responsive grants are awarded as part of two grantmaking cycles per year (spring and fall).

2002

Health Ministry Initiative is created to promote holistic health through health ministries in faith-based congregations.

2007

10th year of service to the Mid-Ohio Valley is celebrated.

2011

Over 70 community partners participate in focus groups as part of a strategic planning process. The Board approves strategic framework with oral health, healthy lifestyles, and health equity as grantmaking priority areas.

2013

The Health Ministry Initiative is integrated into foundation's priority areas instead of being a stand-alone initiative. The Basic Needs/Direct Service grant program-in addition to the existing Responsive grant program-is launched to provide material aid to organizations in the form of food, personal needs items, and emergency assistance.

2015

The organization launches a new era as the Sisters Health Foundation.

2019

The organization becomes a founding member of the Congregation of St. Joseph Mission Network. The deep connection to the Congregation of St. Joseph's mission of unity is maintained.

2020

The Board approves the strategic framework with healthy eating, active living; thriving neighborhoods; and mental health and addiction as our grantmaking priority areas.
Heritage of the Sisters of St. Joseph - a 370-Year-Old Mission

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 1996, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling used funds from the half-sale and joint venture between St. Joseph's Hospital and Columbia HCA, a national healthcare company, to establish the Sisters Health Foundation (formerly the Sisters of St. Joseph Charitable Fund).

# data[].attributes.body
Total of 120 students from DWC, Stuebenville and other dioceses.

# data[].attributes.body
School Closes.

# data[].attributes.body
Opens to male students from Diocese of Steubenville and others.

# data[].attributes.body
Opens for Diocesan male students.