#16thstreet

16th St NW, Washington, DC | June 5th, 2020

On September 17, 1787, as the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia finished its vital and contentious work, Ben Franklin was asked whether the delegates had created a monarchy or a republic. “A republic,” Franklin famously replied, “if you can keep it.” Franklin’s words remind us that self-government is fragile and difficult and must be guarded diligently, especially by the governed. In recognition of these existential truths and in the glow of our nation’s Semiquincentennial, the Ohio County Public Library (OCPL), will offer a multifaceted celebration and critique of our relatively young experiment in keeping a republic, exploring 250 years of successes and failures, beginning with an amazing Main Exhibit that will feature period artifacts (including documents signed by Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and other Founders) and information. On Tuesday, July 7 at Noon, the Lunch With Books program will welcome Founding Mother Phyllis Wheatley, “the poet laureate of the American Revolution.” An enslaved person, Wheatley was also the first published African American poet and writer. After she dedicated a poem to George Washington, the general was impressed enough to visit her in Boston. Dr. Daisy Century, also a published author, portrays Ms. Wheatley. Further expanding on this theme, the new summer 2026 edition of the Upper Ohio Valley Historical Review will explore the theme: “America 250: Wheeling and the Ohio Valley in the National Story.” This volume will delve into areas in which our Valley has had a national impact in the 250 years since Independence was declared, including a fresh look at the Sieges of Fort Henry and local skirmishes to the extent that they had an impact on the war at large by history educator Mike Giorgianni; an essay on two military leaders that visited the Ohio Valley area after the American Revolution: The Marquis de Lafayette in Wheeling and James Varnum, a founding member of the Ohio Company, which established Marietta, Ohio, by historian Phillip Greenwalt; Wheeling as an early Gateway West- a river, road, and rail transportation hub also by Giorgianni; a look into what extent the Wheeling Conventions and West Virginia Statehood may have impacted the outcome of the Civil War by Muskingum University history professor William Kerrigan; and Landmark Cases: The legal cases with local origins and national significance by attorney Patrick Cassidy. Two of the authors of articles for the Review, Wheeling native Phillip Greenwalt and Pittsburgh native Michael Giorgianni will lead an impressive roster of instructors for the new People’s University Series, “America 250: Revolution and Constitution.” Attendees of this 8-part series will learn about the Revolutionary War, the Enlightenment ideals and grievances that led to the Declaration of Independence, and origins of the new American government that unfolded over several fitful years in a struggle to turn abstract ideas about self-government into a viable structure, with important lessons for twenty-first-century Americans. The series will conclude on August 13 at noon, as members of our community participate in public readings of selections from our most cherished documents: the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. See the full schedule below. People's University: America 250, Revolution & Constitution Full Class Schedule (All Thursdays) Class 1: June 25 @ 7PM: The Meaning of Freedom (1763-1775) At the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War, known in North America as the French and Indian War, Great Britain had become the dominant empire. Yet, the coffers in London sat bare and money needed to be raised to repay loans, station troops, and administer the empire. Parliament and the prime ministers under King George III enacted a series of taxes. The British also set a figurative line down the Appalachian Mountains as part of the Proclamation of 1763. How would the colonists, jubilant in their part of defeating the French, pushing back the Native American presence, and promised land for their prior service? How about the bevy of new taxies levied on them? What ensued in the twelve years, from 1763 to the first shots in a Massachusetts town in April 1775, provides the answer. Instructor Phillip S. Greenwalt is the co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War and a full-time historian with Emerging Civil War. He is the author or co-author of seven books on the American Revolution and Civil Wars. He is a 2008 graduate of Wheeling Jesuit University with a degree in history. He also holds graduate degrees in American history from George Mason University and International Affairs and Leadership from Arizona State University. A current resident of Baltimore, Maryland, he has worked for the National Park Service in various roles for the last 19 years. And, yes, being from Baltimore, he is an avid Orioles baseball fan. Facebook Event Library Calendar Class 2: July 2 @ 7PM: Independence Declared (1775-1776) “A dear bought victory” A gathering of respected prominent colonists in Philadelphia, and the arrival of George Washington to head the transformation from New England militia gathered around Boston to a Continental Army, all took place within a few short months of late spring into summer 1775. An entire year before that Congress, the Second Continental Congress, convening in Philadelphia’s hall, declared independence. Between spring 1775 and summer 1776, what Lexington and Concord ushered in, grew in momentum, from a patriot victory at Breed’s Hill—best known in history as the Battle of Bunker Hill—to the announcement of George Washington as commander-in-chief, to the American invasion of Canada. Men died. The cause of the colonists expanded. The Siege of Boston won. The war moved south in 1776. On July 9, General Washington read the Declaration of Independence to his troops in New York City. They were declaring independence from Great Britain, but the mother country was in the process of sending the largest armada of troops and transport in the western hemisphere to date. Washington would lose New York, escape across New Jersey, during the “times that tried men’s souls” but rally before the calendar year flipped to 1777. These two years were remarkable. Instructor: Phillip Greenwalt Facebook Event Library Calendar Class 3: July 9 @7 PM,  "The Double Sevens" (1777): Princeton to Valley Forge In the war for our nation’s independence, all of the years were significant in many ways. One year, 1777, stands out as exceptionally pivotal with its high and low points that would shape the remainder of the war. Our class will examine how the year begins with the Battle of Princeton as the Americans expand on Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River. Other major events discussed will range from the British campaign to take Philadelphia leading to the winter encampment at Valley Forge and the American siege and weighty victory at Saratoga. The Fall of 1777 would also bring action to the upper Ohio Valley as the first siege and defense of Wheeling’s own Fort Henry opened the month of September. We will discuss Major Samuel McCulloch’s famous leap to escape capture and the often overlooked fighting in the western frontier region. Interesting roles of individuals and various accounts will be discussed as we explore “The Double Sevens”. Instructor Mike Giorgianni is a lifelong western Pennsylvania resident with a deep passion for American history, particularly the Civil War and the role of Pittsburgh in our nation’s development. He has taught middle school social studies in the Hempfield Area School District for over 25 years, inspiring generations of students with his enthusiasm for the past. Michael is especially drawn to human interest stories found throughout history and is excited to share his research and meet fellow history enthusiasts. He has also seen his research extend beyond presentations with several articles published onto the website Emerging Civil War. Michael earned his Bachelors in Secondary Education, Social Studies  from Clarion University of PA  in 1998 and his Masters in Education, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002. Facebook Event Library Calendar Class 4:  July 16 @ 7PM: The Year of the French (1778) This program will explore 1778 as "The Year of the French," a pivotal turning point in the American Revolution when France formally entered the war on the side of the American cause. Attendees will examine how French military and naval support, through leaders such as the General Rochambeau, Admiral de Grasse, and the Marquis de Lafayette, reshaped the course of the conflict and strengthened the prospects for American independence. The program will also highlight the broader Franco-American alliance and the enduring legacy of these key French figures in the Revolutionary story. Instructor Robert Kelly graduated from Old Dominion University in 2009 with a B.A. in History and has fifteen years of public history experience. He began his career as a Historian at Fort Monroe National Monument in 2011, focusing on African American and Franco-American histories, and published “Humanizing the Enslaved of Fort Monroe’s Arc of Freedom” in Yale's Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies (2019). Since 2020, Robert has been Director of the Gloucester Museum of History, near Yorktown, Virginia, the site of the 1781 Battle of the Hook, a major Franco-American victory in the American Revolution. He also serves as Vice President of the American Friends of Lafayette, and co-directed the recent Lafayette Bicentennial. Robert’s accomplishments include the 2024 Médaille d'Honneur du Souvenir Français for strengthening U.S.-France relations, selection for Old Dominion University's “40 under 40” (2023), and recognition as a Virginia Humanities Scholar (2020). Active throughout southeastern Virginia, Robert is President of the Fort Monroe Historical Society, President of the Peninsula Museums Forum, and Co-chair of the Gloucester250 Committee. He resides at Fort Monroe, the largest masonry fort in North America, designed by French engineer Simon Bernard and visited by General Lafayette in 1824. Facebook Event Library Calendar Class 5: July 23 @ 7PM: “All That Can Be Expected: The Battle of Camden and the British High Tide in the South" (1779 -1780) The Battle of Camden was one of the worst military defeats in American history. On the heels of the surrender of Charleston, American prospects for victory in the south were never dimmer. This talk will review the events of summer 1780 leading up to the battle and the decisions and field situations that led to a overly confident Horatio Gates fleeing the field.  Instructor Robert Orrison received his Bachelor’s Degree in Historic Preservation at Longwood University and received his Master’s Degree in Public History from George Mason University. Currently Rob serves as the Director for the Prince William County Office of Historic Preservation. Rob also serves on the Board of Directors of the Frontier Culture Museum, Stafford County (VA) Historic Commission and serves as the Past President of the Virginia Association of Museums. His published works include several articles and books focus on the Civil War and the American Revolution including A Want of Vigilance: The Campaign and Battle of Bristoe Station, October 14, 1863; Last Road North: Guide to the Gettysburg Campaign; To Hazard All: Guide to the Maryland Campaign of 1862; The Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Beginning of the American Revolution, April 19, 1775 and All That Can Be Expected: The Battle of Camden and the British High Tide in the South, August 16, 1780.  Rob lives near Fredericksburg, VA with his wife Jamie and sons Carter and Grayson. Facebook Event Library Calendar Class 6: July 30 @7 PM, "Siege and Surrender" (1781-1782), The Articles of Confederation; Siege of Yorktown, and Cornwallis Surrenders  As the Revolutionary War continued, our leaders developed and implemented our first national government, The Articles of Confederation. Replaced in less than a decade, a discussion on the strengths, weaknesses, and most importantly, lessons learned is still valuable in understanding the time period. Analyzing the consequential siege and battle of Yorktown, Virginia must be addressed when examining 1781. Our discussion will look closely at various accounts of the surrender and roles of individuals such as Alexander Hamilton and General Cornwallis. Effects of this American victory will be seen in both England and in America for many years to come as we discuss “the world turned upside down”. Instructor: Mike Giorgianni Facebook Event Library Calendar Class 7: August 6 @7 PM, Foundations of Freedom, Building a National Government (1783-1789)  Once peace was secured through treaty negotiations with European nations in 1783, Americans still faced a very uncertain future. Citizens needed to build a government that could protect their young country’s independence and fulfill revolutionary principles. The origins of the federal government unfolded over several fitful years. Deeply divided citizens argued, compromised, and persevered in this challenging struggle to turn abstract ideas about self-government into a viable structure. This week’s class explores the push toward the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, the contentious ratification debates of 1787-1788, and the 1789-1791 conflicts over creating a Bill of Rights. Far from a single “original” design, these enduring foundations of freedom emerged from a deeply divided country, more like our own than we usually remember, with important lessons for twenty-first-century Americans.   Instructor Lorri Glover is the Bannon Endowed Professor in the History Department at Saint Louis University. Her books include The Fate of the Revolution: Virginians Debate the Constitution (2016), and Eliza Lucas Pinckney: An Independent Woman in the Age of Revolution (2020). Glover has served as president of the Southern Association for Women Historians and the Southern Historical Association. Facebook Event Library Calendar Finale: August 13 @ Noon: A Republic — If you can keep it. On September 17, 1787, as the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia came to a close, Ben Franklin was asked whether the delegates had created a monarchy or a republic. “A republic,” Franklin famously replied, “if you can keep it.” Franklin’s words remind us that self government is fragile and difficult and must be guarded diligently, especially by the governed. In recognition of these existential truths and in the glow of our nation’s Semiquincentennial, OCPL will feature a main exhibit celebrating our relatively young experiment in keeping a republic, exploring 250 years of successes and failures, and, on August 13 at noon, we will invite members of our community to participate in public readings of selections from our most cherished documents: the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Facebook Event Library Calendar Read the full article

This talk by award-winning writer and photographer, Scott Wallace, accompanied by the author’s photographs, offers a gripping frontline view of a war reporter’s quest for truth amid a landscape of death and deception, rich in storytelling and abiding relevance in today’s world. Scott Wallace is an award-winning writer and photographer who covers armed conflict, the environment, and vanishing cultures in volatile frontier regions around the world. Formerly a correspondent in Latin America for CBS News, "Newsweek," and "The Guardian," he is the author of the award-winning photographic and narrative memoir, "Central America in the Crosshairs of War: On the Road from Vietnam to Iraq," and the "New York Times" bestseller, "The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon’s Last Uncontacted Tribes," based on his firsthand experiences trekking through the land of an uncontacted Indigenous group deep in the Brazilian jungle. His written work has also appeared in "National Geographic," "National Geographic Adventure," the "New York Times," "Washington Post," "Harper’s," and "Smithsonian," among many others. His photography is represented by Getty Images and has been published in newspapers and magazines throughout the world. Currently an associate professor of journalism at the University of Connecticut, he is a graduate of Yale University and the University of Missouri School of Journalism. “Scott Wallace’s 'Central America in the Crosshairs of War; on the Road from Vietnam to Iraq' is really several books at once that cohere into a magnificent whole. It is the evocative, at times nostalgic, at others harrowing, personal account of a young journalist’s coming of age during his first foreign journalism assignment, always keenly observant and thoughtful.” — "ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America" Read the full article

Angelo Cipriani was a loyal and trusted member of the Fortunato crime family for more than four decades, and a hitman without peer. But times have changed. Robin Yocum is the Edgar-nominated author known for his fiction set in the Ohio River Valley. His latest novel, The Last Hitman, is set to be released in December 2025, by Crooked Lane Books. Read the full article

“We have to come together on this.”

“We have to come together on this.”

He grew up with rules. The laws on the books and the ones known as common courtesy. And he followed orders, too, so he’d stay out of trouble as a kid, as an adult, and as a professional in the work world. That’s how Wheeling’s mayor, Denny Magruder, was raised in Center Wheeling, and he and his bride, Barbara, had rules, too, for their two daughters and son when they were kids in Woodsdale. That’s what Magruder knows, and the same is true for his six council colleagues, the members of the city’s administration, and for the residents of the Friendly City. The law is the law, rules are the rules, and fully funded law enforcement agencies are in place throughout the Upper Ohio Valley to keep the peace. But too often, that peace has been disrupted and complaints have been registered, and those concerns represent the reasons why Magruder has labeled the exempted homeless camp in Wheeling a “failure." The issues are also why five of six council members agreed with him to close the grounds to the unsheltered on December 1 and to continue enforcing the city’s ban on camping on public property. Several wooded areas in Wheeling once served as locations for homeless encampments before Wheeling Council approved a camping ban on public property nearly two years ago. Magruder sat down last Thursday as a guest on the “Novotney Now” radio program on River Talk 100.1 FM, and he discussed the 6-1 vote by Wheeling Council to close the city’s exempted homeless camp, and why he’s referred to the encampment as a “failure.” The interview was an hour in length, a number of topics were covered, and it was as public as public could be. “Let me be very clear - our goal as a city is to help get these folks back on their feet and get them back into mainstream society, and we feel that has to be the same goal that our social services have while working with the homeless population,” the mayor said. “But we have to have rules, and the camp doesn’t have any rules and there are homeless individuals who won’t go to some shelters because they don’t want to obey the rules that are in place. “The Salvation Army in Wheeling runs a terrific shelter, and it’s considered a ‘high-barrier’ shelter because they have rules like no drugs or alcohol. And they often have empty beds because people don’t want to follow the rules,” he said. “During my entire life, we’ve had rules that everyone has had to follow in school, in church, in hospitals, everywhere. I understand there’s mental illness and addiction involved here, and that’s why we have to help these individuals so they can follow the rules so they can go inside and be safe this winter.” Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder and the six members of Wheeling's Council have discussed several ways to improve the city's homeless situation. All but one council member supported closing the exempted camp. The exact number of individuals that will be impacted by the exempted camp’s closure is unknown because of the anonymous nature of Wheeling’s homeless community. While overnight guests do register at the Life Hub WV Shelter on 16th Street in downtown Wheeling, no one signs in or out at the exempted camp. Business owners and residents, however, have not hesitated when identifying issues. “We’ve heard a lot of complaints from the neighbors and businesses near the camp in the Fulton and East Wheeling area, and we’ve heard some real horror stories, too,” Magruder shared. “One resident told (East Wheeling) Councilor (Connie) Cain that she had to go out and buy heavy-duty padlocks to put on the gates to her yard because too many things kept disappearing. “Damage has been happening. Thefts, too. People don’t feel safe in their homes,” he reported. “The same lady told Councilor Cain that she’s not sleeping much these days because she’s scared, and no one should be scared in their own home because of this issue.  We have businesses telling us that they’re considering new locations, too. That’s just not fair to them.” Far too often, used needles are left behind in Wheeling's neighborhoods, prompting calls to first-responder agencies for removal. Plus, the mayor reported, some residents who have complained insist their concerns have fallen on deaf ears for years. “And the vast majority of our residents have lived their lives being good citizens who have taken care of their properties and they’ve paid their taxes, and now those residents are looking at us because they’ve been waiting for the City to do more. Several residents have told me we’ve totally ignored them,” Magruder said. “Listen, there’s no reason for a business to have its dumpsters turned upside-down, and there’s no reason for copper to get stolen or a vehicle to get vandalized. “It hasn’t all come from the camp, but there’s evidence that a lot of criminal activity can be tracked back to it,” he said. “Before we made this decision to close it down, we consulted the police department, and there has definitely been an increase in criminal activity in Fulton and East Wheeling between 2024 and 2025.” A number of homeless encampments have been removed by the city during the past decade after complaints were received about criminal activity. Done Deal Youth Services System operated a winter “low barrier” shelter for more than a decade, initially on the top floor of the organization’s headquarters in East Wheeling, and then, beginning in 2020, on the third floor of the former Hillcrest structure for two years and then for one winter in the ballroom of Catholic Charities administration building on Main Street in Center Wheeling. Beginning in 2023, the former First English Lutheran Church on 16th Street has been utilized as the “freeze” shelter after it was purchased and renovated by the Life Hub WV.  For several summers, homeless encampments formed at various locations along the city’s Heritage Trails, across Wheeling Creek from the Tunnel Green complex on the dirt “maintenance” trail utilized by City employees, and on the eastern hillside above East Wheeling’s Nelson Jordan Center and the nearby neighborhood. In reaction to a rash of complaints and a high number of criminal reports that tracked back to the camps, City Council approved a camping ban that went into effect in January 2024. The same ordinance also allowed for an exempted homeless camp, and initially it was located along the “maintenance” trail before it was moved to the same area along Peninsula Street that will become off limits on December 1st. Only councilor Ty Thorngate, the representative for Ward 5 (parts of Woodsdale and Springdale, and all of Edgwood, Pleasanton, Dimmeydale, and the Oakmont neighborhoods) voted against closing the encampment. In a 6-1 vote on October 21st, the majority of Wheeling Council approved the closure of the exempted homeless camp that's been in operation since January 2024. “Going into this discussion, there were a number of reasons (for closing it), to be dead honest with you,” Magruder said. “My comment at the time was that the exempted camp has been a ‘failure’. It’s been in place for about two years, and I do think it’s been a failure because it hasn’t produced the results everyone hoped for. “First, I want to go on the record saying that all our city councilors are very compassionate people, and that the members of our city administration are very compassionate,” he said. “We all saw what happened at the camp last winter in sub-zero temperatures. It was despicable. People suffered frostbite, people didn’t take care of the camp, and it became a health issue. We don’t want to see people live through that again.” The mayor repeated often during the radio interview that, “We know that not all crimes that’s reported in Wheeling have been committed by people living in the exempted homeless camp,” but he readily admits he’s aware much of the reported activity is connected. “And that’s because of the data that’s been compiled over the past few years. Plus, we have a lot of residents telling us that they won’t use our walking trails anymore because they don’t feel safe. That’s not OK. Now that homeless individuals have lived in shelters and in tents in the city of Wheeling for more than a decade, several people - including Dr. Norman Wood of Marshall County - have been researching how to offer recovery to those suffering from mental illness and drug addiction. “When you go to the library, there's a distinct lack of younger kids, and you start to ask why, and parents say, ‘Oh, I don't want to take my kids into that environment,’” he said. “Well, we have to do something about that.” That’s why Mayor Magruder has come to believe that while Wheeling doesn’t have a homeless problem, there is a homeless problem in Wheeling. “What would make it better for everyone is if everyone starts working together,” Magruder said. “Now, I don’t think we’re open to revoking the closing of the camp on December 1st. That’s done. We intend to do that, and we will make it clear to our residents that we have to make some changes here. The camp has not been a success. “I know that questions have been asked about where people will go once the camp is closed. Last year, there were only about 15 individuals who insisted on staying in the camp, but now it’s been said there are 70 there now. That tells me we’re all failing and that there’s been a great influx of people coming here from outside the area,” he said. “And that’s because people are being invited here. We know that to be true.” Panhandlers used to frequent this dangerous intersection near Perkin's Restaurant and National Road in Wheeling until members of Wheeling Council approved an ordinance that increased the safety in the area. Do. Better. The mayor believes mistakes have been made. A lot of them. The opioid crisis was caused by manipulative marketing, overprescription, next-to-zero regulatory oversight, and a troublesome lack of options for those in need of pain relief, and, at the same time, government leaders on all levels have failed to recognize the epidemic’s impact on the nation’s collective mental health and on the nation’s sharp increase in homelessness over the past 10 years. The biggest blunder, though, could have been made more than 60 years ago when the federal government passed the Community Health Act in 1963. That’s the legislation that ultimately led to the deinstitutionalization of mentally ill patients by redirecting funding away from the states’ hospitals and to community services. Those who oppose the closure of the exempted camp have planned to meet in front of the Ohio County Courthouse before today's regular meeting of Wheeling's City Council. “Many years ago, the decision was made to close our mental health institutions and treatment centers because we wanted to mainstream everyone with a belief that it would help,” he recalled. “But it hasn’t. We sent them out on the streets, and it was the wrong move to make. That’s why we have to try something different. We just have to step up and figure out as a community so we can help the people who want help while also taking care of our residents and businesses. “Do we have all the answers. No, we don’t, and we readily admit that, but what we’ve been doing has not worked and it’s time for everyone to admit it,” Magruder said. “That’s why we have reached out to our social services and said, ‘Let’s figure this out.’” Although Ward 2 Council member Ben Seidler had mentioned the possible closure during a couple of radio interviews over the summer, the vote to shutter the exempted homeless camp took place without much warning. But, in 28 days, the encampment will close. Magruder and his wife, Barbara, have three kids - all of whom now live in Wheeling. “It's just time that we speak up. Number one, we've announced we're closing the camp. Number two, we've got to be aggressive in how we manage our downtown and what we allow to happen as a community,” the mayor explained. “I ask the citizens, when you see something that you know is wrong, when you see somebody that you believe is up to no good, please, call the police department, give a location, and a description. “We have to remove the criminal element first, and that doesn’t mean that everyone who is homeless is a criminal. Let’s not confuse that. I’m not suggesting that at all,” Magruder added. “But there is an element that is criminal, and that's not the kind of reputation Wheeling wants. That's not the way we rebuild our city, so it’s important to address it while working with everyone to do better. “We have to come together on this.” Read the full article