Today In History
5 Fun Facts About April 29 In West Virginia History
1. On April 29, 1863, Confederate troops under General William E. "Grumble" Jones attacked the town of Fairmont, West Virginia, during the American Civil War. The town was defended by Union soldiers and local militia, and after a short battle, the Confederates were forced to withdraw. 2. On April 29,...
5 Fun Facts About April 28 In West Virginia History
1. In 1863, Union troops under General William Averell defeated Confederate forces at the Battle of White Sulphur Springs, which took place in present-day Pocahontas County. This victory helped secure Union control over the region and prevent Confederate forces from advancing further into West Virginia. 2. April 28, 1930, marked...
5 Fun Facts About April 27 In West Virginia History
1. On April 27, 1859, the Northwestern Virginia Railroad was completed, connecting Wheeling, West Virginia with Parkersburg, and providing an important transportation link for the state's growing economy. 2. In 1897, the West Virginia State Board of Agriculture was created on April 27, tasked with promoting and developing the state's...
5 Fun Facts About April 26 In West Virginia History
1. On April 26, 1937, the worst industrial disaster in American history occurred in West Virginia. A massive explosion at the Consolidation Coal Company mine in Monongah killed 362 miners, including many Italian immigrants. 2. On April 26, 1922, the West Virginia State Capitol building was dedicated in Charleston. It...
5 Fun Facts About April 25 In West Virginia History
1. West Virginia became the 35th state in the United States on April 25, 1863, during the American Civil War. It was formed from Virginia, which had seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy. 2. On April 25, 1899, the first state flag for West Virginia was adopted. It...
5 Fun Facts About April 24 In West Virginia History
1. American civil rights activist Crystal Lee Sutton was born on April 24, 1940, in Roanoke, Virginia. Sutton's story inspired the book and film "Norma Rae," which chronicles her efforts to organize labor unions in cotton mills in North Carolina. 2. On April 24, 1809, the Virginia General Assembly created...
5 Fun Facts About April 23 In West Virginia History
1. On April 23, 1861, Virginia voted to secede from the Union, leading to the creation of the separate state of West Virginia. The decision to secede was controversial among Virginians, and those living in the western region of the state, which would become West Virginia, were especially opposed to...
5 Fun Facts About April 22 In West Virginia History
1. In 1861, the Governor of Virginia issued a proclamation designating April 22nd as the date for the vote on secession from the Union. West Virginia, which was part of Virginia at the time, voted against secession, paving the way for its eventual statehood. 2. On April 22, 1970, millions...
5 Fun Facts About April 21 In West Virginia History
1. In 1863, Confederate General William E. Jones led his troops in a surprise attack on the Union garrison at Summersville, in what is now Nicholas County. The Confederates were able to capture the town and its supplies, but were forced to retreat the next day after an unsuccessful attempt...
5 Fun Facts About April 20 In West Virginia History
1. On April 20, 1863, West Virginia officially became the 35th state of the United States of America. After years of tension and conflict between the Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War, West Virginia was able to secure statehood to become its own entity within the country. 2....
5 Fun Facts About April 19 In West Virginia History
1. The Battle of Salem took place on April 19, 1863, during the Civil War. Union soldiers under the leadership of General William Rosecrans defeated Confederate troops and effectively secured control of northwestern Virginia. 2. On April 19, 1907, the West Virginia Legislature passed a law prohibiting the use of...
5 Fun Facts About April 18 In West Virginia History
1. In 1775, the First Virginia Convention met in Williamsburg and elected delegates to the Continental Congress, including three from present-day West Virginia, George Rogers Clark, Andrew Lewis, and Adam Stephen. 2. On April 18, 1861, Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee seized the U.S. Arsenal at Harpers Ferry,...