1. On October 8, 1869, the first football game played in West Virginia took place in Morgantown between West Virginia University and Marietta College. WVU won the game 24-0. This was the beginning of a longstanding football tradition in the state which culminates every year with the “Backyard Brawl” between WVU and regional rival, University of Pittsburgh.

2. On October 8, 1880, the first issue of the Wheeling Daily Intelligencer was published in Wheeling, West Virginia. This newspaper is still in publication today, making it one of the oldest continually running newspapers in the United States.

3. On October 8, 1965, a massive flood struck the southwestern part of the state, causing widespread damage and resulting in the loss of many lives. The towns of Rainelle, Rupert, and Quinwood were particularly hard hit, with several dozen people losing their lives.

4. On October 8, 1898, the first bridge spanning the Ohio River between Wheeling, West Virginia and Bellaire, Ohio was completed. This bridge, now known as the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, was considered an engineering marvel of its time and is still in use today.

5. On October 8, 1957, West Virginia native Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier, flying an experimental plane at over 700 miles per hour. Yeager was born in Myra, West Virginia and is one of the state’s most celebrated aviators. His feat paved the way for many advancements in aviation technology.