Look Back: Happenings around Parkersburg
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Home again
The wild west is again saved from an inundation of young Parkersburg talent. On Sunday night three young boys, whom we will call Will, Pete and Ez., started for the West to grow up with the country, shoot Indians, etc. They had fifteen cents worth of crackers as the basis of their commissary stores and their plans had a year's careful maturing. It was even said that farewell notes were written to parents and dear ones, in which the boys bade an everlasting good bye to home and past associations. At midnight last night a freight train dumped two of the boys in Belpre who made tracks at an early hour this morning for home and grub! The other is expected along at an early date, if his shoes hold out! The fatted calf was not killed at home, but several calves were well "basted."
The Parkersburg Daily State Journal
March 8, 1887
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Shot himself
Saturday night a twelve-year-old son of Mr. Samuel Black, of Tavennerville, shot himself in the thigh with a 32 calibre revolver. The weapon was discharged while he was taking it from his pocket. Dr. C.J. Scott was called and successfully extracted the ball.
The Parkersburg Daily State Journal
March 12, 1887
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O.L. Rogers returned last night from Orlando, Florida, where he had been in search of health. We are very sorry to say that he is worse instead of better than when he went away. He spent last night at Mr. Rittenhouse's and this afternoon went to his home in Wirt county.
The Parkersburg Daily State Journal
April 5, 1887
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Sand Plains Pointers [North Parkersburg]
Messrs. O.S. Jones and J.W. Vandervort, who have purchased land from J. B. Johnson, to be laid off in building lots, propose to give ten feet of it to widen the public road in front of premises, thereby making it forty feet. This is a very commendable action which has the sanction of the traveling public. Our roads are all too narrow, and especially those leading into Parkersburg, which should be forty feet, at least, if not fifty. Surveyor Neale has announced his intention of having all the roads within his jurisdiction widened to the full extent called for by the law (thirty feet).
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Our band
There have been several anxious inquiries lately in regard to the Sand Plains band. We hasten to make the announcement that our band, which is in rather a comatose condition at present, will, like the organ grinder, come out in the spring fresher than ever.
[Signed] Me Too.
The Parkersburg Daily State Journal
April 6, 1887
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Swimming exhibition
A great crowd of people -- men, women, children and babies -- collected on the bridge over the Kanawha, on the banks of the river and on the boats anchored along the shore, to witness the swimming feats of E.M. Allen. His most daring performance was diving head long from the bridge twenty-seven feet above the water. He also illustrated a number of difficult and interesting strokes, among them being an imitation of Capt. Paul Boynton in his rubber life preserver; bicycle stroke; pin wheel whirl; aquatic waltz; serpentine wriggle; porpoise roll; one leg scull; eating a banana under water; drinking a bottle of tea under water; smoking under water; the "Monte Cristo" sack performance, in which he was tied hand and foot, and cast into the water.
The Parkersburg Daily State Journal
May 12, 1887
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.