(Look Back with Bob Enoch - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

The following are excerpts from appendix XI of Dave McKain and Bernie Allen’s book, “Where It All Began.” The reporter, on a mission to document and share about the oil regions of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, has left the Pennsylvania oil fields and begun his journey to Burning Springs, W.Va. His first entry is July 31, 1865:

“The best way to get to the oil regions of West Virginia from western Pennsylvania is to go by rail from Meadville to Wheeling. … At Wheeling, if you arrive by an evening train, you can either take the Baltimore and Ohio Road at eleven PM and reach Parkersburg at 12 o’clock the next day, if nothing happens, or you can lie over in Wheeling and then the next morning take a packet steamer down the Ohio to Parkersburg. The latter, at this season of the year, is the most pleasant route …

“Parkersburg–Blennerhassett

“Reached the Spencer House at twelve midnight and succeeded in getting a room, although scores were sent away by the indefatigable guardian of the night, [a Mr.] Vasbergt, formerly of New York. In the morning I enjoyed from my room window, a full view of the head of Blennerhassett Island, in the Ohio, the scene of a man Burr’s treacherous, and some say lecherous, intrigue. …

“Parkersburg is situated at the junction of the Little Kanawha and Ohio rivers and has about five thousand inhabitants, with three mostly fine hotels: the Swan, the Spencer and the United States — and several individual rests, and three banks, six churches, five protestant and a catholic sanctuary.

“Though a small town it is quite enterprising and is to become, in time, a business place. The place has been a government supply post during the war and ‘Battery Boorman’ [Fort Boreman] was manned by five companies of volunteers. The battery was on a bluff on the south side of the Kanawha and though never heavily manned, pretty thoroughly commanded the Ohio up and down for several miles. …

“Parkersburg is the residence of Governor Arthur I. Boorman (sic), who has his family connections here. It is the intention to make this the state capital of West Virginia and the reannexing to the old dominion is utterly repudiated. A daily paper is to be immediately started in Parkersburg by James E. Wharton, formerly of the Brooklyn Transcript… .

“Off For Burning Springs

“A gentleman from Parkersburg agreed to accompany me to Burning Springs, but when the time for departure arrived, he told me that he had just heard of the escape of a noted desperado from Wheeling, and was known to be lurking in the vicinity of the Springs, and had sworn to shoot him on sight. He therefore deemed it imprudent to go there at this time. I was fortunate, however, in procuring as a guide Major Caleb Page, of Boston, Mass., who knew something about the region… .

“Incidents On the Way

“About four miles and a half from Parkersburg the eyes of the Union lover will be greeted by the sight of the American flag flying from the top most branch of an apple tree by the roadside. This flag was the first hoisted in West Virginia during the rebellion, and it has been flying ever since, with the exception of the brief interval when some Secessionists tore it down; but it was immediately replaced on a higher branch by the loyal lady who had raised it. This lady’s family reside on the farm, and have been noted as well as hated by the rebels for their staunch loyalty under the most trying circumstances. Continued next week…

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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.