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H i s t o r i c a l Fa c t s & Fa m o u s P e o p l e

PARKERSBURGG R E A T E R

The Man Who Made Stamps Stick Victor G. Bloede, the Baltimore chemist who developed the gum

used on all government postage stamps, began his career in

Parkersburg.

Parkersburg Rig & Reel The trade name “Parkersburg” on rig and reel equipment was

once as common a sight to oil men as the oil itself. Oil field

equipment manufactured at Parkersburg Rig & Reel and other

local manufacturers could be found in petroleum producing

centers throughout the world.

“Savings Bond Capital of America” Parkersburg could be called the “Savings Bond Capital of

America.” Since 1957, when the U.S. Treasury Department’s

Bureau of Public Debt was moved here, every U.S. Savings

Bond bought or redeemed has passed through Parkersburg for

processing.

The First Free School for African Americans The first free school for African Americans south of the Mason

Dixon line opened in Parkersburg in 1862.

Graveyard of the Ohio The Ohio River between Blennerhassett Island Historical

State Park and Parkersburg has long been regarded by

rivermen as one of the most dangerous sections of the entire

river to maneuver a craft through. So many boats sank there

that it gained the dubious title “Graveyard of the Ohio.” The

addition of the B&O Railroad Bridge further complicated this

hazardous bend.

The Shovel That Built America The largest shovel plant in the world, the Ames Company,

resided in Parkersburg until the mid-1990s. Ames shovels

are said to have been used to dig the trenches at the Battle of

Bunker Hill. The company was founded in the early 1770s.

The World’s Largest Rayon MillAt one time, Parkersburg was the site of the world’s first and

largest rayon plant, American Viscose, on the City’s southside.

“Better Than Marble” One of two plants in the world to manufacture Vitrolite, the

colored glass billed as “Better Than Marble,” was operated in

Vienna by Libby- Owens-Ford Company. Vitrolite was widely

used in homes and public buildings, including the Empire State

building in New York City.

It Floats Floating soap, later sold by Procter & Gamble as “Ivory,” was

first developed at Parkersburg’s Upson Oil & Soap Works, also

the home of world-famous French Process Laundry Soap.

Silk for Stockings Out of the Parkersburg Silk mill came real silk that made its

way to the hosiery mills of the nation. Japanese cocoons were

used in the local mills.

Free City Delivery The Parkersburg Post Office was one of the first in the country

to offer free city mail delivery beginning in 1887.

American Viscose

350 7th Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101304.428.1130 or 800.752.4982 GreaterParkersburg.com

Convent ion & Visi tors Bureau

William Batten – former chairman of the New York Stock Exchange and president of JC Penney Company.

Harman Blennerhassett – exiled Irish aristocrat. Built a lavish estate in the wilderness on an Ohio River island that bears his name. Stood trial for and was acquitted for his part in Aaron Burr’s Southwest conspiracy (1807).

Margaret Blennerhassett – Harman’s wife and West Virginia’s first poet. Brought a high level of culture to the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Arthur I. Boreman – first governor of West Virginia (1863-69).

Aaron Burr – former U.S. vice president. Hatched his ill-fated plot for Southwest conquest on Blennerhassett Island (1805-06).

Joseph H. Diss Debar – An artist, Debar was asked by the state legislature to prepare drawings for the official State Seal of West Virginia, which was approved and has never been changed. Debar created the seal in a carriage house residence that remains in Parkersburg’s Julia-Ann Square Historic District.

Paul Dooley – actor. His films include “Breaking Away,” “Popeye” and “Run

Away Bride.”

Alvaro F. Gibbens – author. Founded Daughters of American Pioneers.

Linda Goodman – popular astrology writer. Wrote best sellers “Sun Signs” and “Love Signs.”

Leonard D. Heaton – U.S. Army surgeon general. Served as Dwight Eisenhower’s personal physician and surgeon.

Moses Hewitt – frontier scout. His captivity by the Indians is one of the best recorded in the annals of Ohio Valley frontier history.

Andrew Delmar Hopkins – eminent horticulturalist and etymologist.

Bernard McDonough – internationally known industrialist, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Earle “Greasy” Neal – coach at Yale and of the Philadelphia Eagles football team.

Market Street

Third Street

Felix Stump – commander-in-chief of the Pacific Fleet after World War II.

Peter G. Van Winkle – U.S. senator. Cast deciding vote in impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson (1867).

Gill Robb Wilson – Served as an American pilot, Presbyterian minister, and military advocate. Wilson is regarded as the founder of Civil Air Patrol (December 1941) and served as CAP’s first executive officer.