Charleston WV – The following events happened on these dates in West Virginia history.
To read more, go to e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia at www.wvencyclopedia.org.
June 27, 1897: Musician Maceo Pinkard was born in Bluefield. The co-writer of “Sweet
Georgia Brown,” Pinkard was one of the most successful songwriters of the 1920s Jazz Era.
June 27, 1961: Honey in the Rock was first performed at Grandview near Beckley. The
play by Kermit Hunter depicts the founding of the Mountain State in 1863.
June 28, 1936: Athlete Chuck Howley was born in Wheeling. A standout in college at
WVU, Howley played linebacker for 12 seasons for the Dallas Cowboys. The six-time All-Pro
was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
June 28, 2010: Robert C. Byrd died at the age of 92. He was first elected to the U.S.
Senate in 1958, and he served until his death.
June 29, 1845: George W. Atkinson was born in Charleston. In 1896, Atkinson was
elected governor in an upset victory over Cornelius C. Watts of Charleston, ending 26 years of
Democratic rule.
June 29, 1952: Writer Breece D’J Pancake was born in South Charleston and grew up in
Milton, Cabell County. Many of Pancake’s stories are set in Milton, fictionalized as “Rock
Camp.”
June 29, 2012: A violent storm called a derecho raced across West Virginia, leaving
downed trees and damaged homes in its wake. About 688,000 homes and businesses lost power for a week during a widespread heat wave.
June 30, 1914: Statewide prohibition of alcohol sales became law years before it was
enacted for the whole nation.
June 30, 1929: The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert at Oglebay
Park.
June 30, 1944: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park was authorized as a national
monument, the first in West Virginia.
July 1, 1861: Francis Pierpont, governor of the Reorganized Government of Virginia,
called the legislature into session. The general assembly re-established governmental functions,
provided for the raising of military units, and elected new U.S. senators and representatives.
July 1, 1937: Watoga State Park was opened to the public. The Pocahontas County park
is the largest of the state parks and among the oldest.
July 1, 1971: Southern West Virginia Community College was formed by joining the
Marshall University branch campuses at Logan and Williamson. In 1995, the name changed to
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.
July 2, 1829: Potter and businessman Alexander Polk Donaghho was born. He began a
pottery operation in Parkersburg, creating hand-thrown, salt-glazed crocks, jars and other pottery that are avidly collected today.
July 3, 1863: At Gettysburg, Union troops in the 1st West Virginia Cavalry took part in a
fruitless charge against Confederate infantrymen during the waning moments of that historic
battle.
