West Virginia Independence Hall - Wheeling, WV
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
West Virginia Independence Hall - Wheeling, WV
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Known today as West Virginia Independence Hall, Wheeling was still part of Virginia when this building was completed in 1858. At the time, it was the Custom House and Post Office.
Before the Civil War and after Virginia voted to join the Confederacy in 1861, the Northwestern Virginia delegates returned home from the Richmond convention session so vehemently against secession that plans were already being made to “secede from the secession.” By May 1861, a hastily planned convention of about 430 prominent citizens from nearby counties was called to meet in Washington Hall. Other than to voice their indignation against the Secession, nothing was accomplished at that first convention. A second convention was planned for the next month.
Needing a better location for the convention, they were given permission to use the United States Courtroom on the upper floor of the Custom House.
About 100 people from 14 counties attended the June Convention, and a “Declaration,” as it was called then, was drawn up. This Declaration demanded the reorganization of the Virginia state government and adopted ordinances to reorganize it. It would later become known as West Virginia’s Bill of Rights or as West Virginia’s Declaration of Independence. It was adopted and signed a week later, on June 20, 1861, with a vote of 56-0 for reorganizing.
Now a state divided, this was the government of Virginia that remained loyal to the Union. Called the Restored Government of Virginia, Francis H. Pierpont was elected governor.
As provisions were made to carve this new state out of Virginia, the Assembly of the Restored Government met in the courtroom on the third floor of the Customhouse while the new state officers used the second floor. The constitutional convention met here from 1861 to June 1863.
In February 1862, West Virginia was selected as the state’s name, and it formally became a state on June 20, 1863. At this time, the Linsley Institute building was chosen as the capital building of West Virginia, and Arthur I. Boreman was elected as the first Governor of West Virginia.
The Custom House building then reverted to the post office and the US district courtroom. After the large Federal building was built, this building was sold and known for years as the Conservative Life building.
It wasn’t until 1958 when a writer for the West Virginia Centennial appeared before the Centennial Commission and pointed out that the building was the birthplace of West Virginia. The building’s history had been lost to time, and no one, including its owner, had any inkling of its importance.
On April 20, 1963, the 100th anniversary of the date Abe Lincoln issued his proclamation that West Virginia would become a state sixty days hence, a special meeting was held on the second floor with Governor W.W. Barron recommending that the state acquire the building because of its historical importance. Accordingly, funds were appropriated, and the building was purchased in 1964.
Copyright 2023 Susan Rissi Tregoning
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March 2nd, 2023
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