NORTHERN PANHANDLE

· African American · Carpatho-Russian · Carpatho-Ruthenian · Croatian · Czechoslovakian · Finnish · German · Greek · Irish · Italian · Jewish · Middle Eastern · Polish · Scottish · Serbian · Ukrainian · Other ·

Map of the region

The Northern Panhandle is perhaps the most culturally diverse region of West Virginia. By some counts, there are 50 ethnic groups in Weirton alone. The region contains six counties: Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler, and Wetzel. The root of much of this diversity can be traced back to the early twentieth century and the arrival of industry to the region. In the decade from 1910 to 1920, many people moved to Weirton and Wheeling which both had reputations for being excellent places to work. Immigrants moved into the area in the early 1900's because of employment offered by the steel mills. This was the period when immigration from approximately 18 countries in southern and eastern Europe was at its peak. Today, numerous activities continue to promote ethnic diversity and bring together people of diverse backgrounds. In Weirton and Wheeling, for example, virtually all of the ethnic Orthodox churches have community dinners, and many also have ethnic festivals which present their culture to the general public. These churches are also involved in activities that encourage respect and understanding among people of different backgrounds. For example, every Thanksgiving there is an ecumenical service hosted by a least eight different churches, and representing people of virtually every religious background in the area. This non-denominational service is usually held Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. The potential exists for extensive further study and documentation of this complex and diverse region and its multicultural heritage.

AFRICAN AMERICAN

In the Northern Panhandle, there are approximately 2,900 African Americans, which represents approximately 5% of the population of African Americans in West Virginia. The larger populations are associated with Wheeling and Weirton. These communities have very long and diverse histories.

Throughout the region, churches play a fundamental role in the black community and have numerous activities which promote the community and black culture. Other organizations play a vital role in the social lives of area blacks, providing valuable forums for all aspects of the local community. These include the NAACP and several lodges and fraternal service organizations which are predominantly black. The African American Jubilee is an event featuring black speakers, cultural programs, bands, singers, and other heritage and artistic activities reflecting both the traditional and contemporary black community. The African American Jubilee committee is an organization that sponsors numerous local activities in addition to the annual Jubilee. The committee places an emphasis on youth-oriented activities.

The rural community of Wellsburg is home to a small but active black community. The only predominantly black church in this area is the Henderson African Methodist Episcopal church, which celebrated its 101st anniversary in 1999. The church has an active choir that performs throughout the area and the state. The Wellsburg area black community holds activities for Martin Luther King Day and Black History Month, as well as numerous cultural diversity programs sponsored by the schools and the sheriff's department, featuring speakers and workshops on cultural issues.

Diane Bell
African American Jubilee
421 N. Wabash Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
232-0511 ext. 38
232-5087 (h)
ywcadiana@aol.com

Rev. Yolanda S. Wright
Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church
1136 Eoff St.
Wheeling, WV 26003
232-3551
revyostarr@aol.com

Church Pastor
St. Peter's AME Church
1050 County Rd.
Weirton, WV 26062-2118
748-7777

Rev. Arthur Peters
Mt. Olive Baptist Church
Weir & Kessel St.
Weirton, WV 26062
748-3115

Church Pastor
Henderson Chapel AME Church
344 Main Street
Wellsburg, WV 26070-1723
737-1243

CARPATHO-RUSSIAN

In the Northern Panhandle, approximately 350 individuals cite Russian as their sole ancestry, and 700 individuals of multiple ancestry claim Russian as their primary heritage. Hancock, Marshall, and Ohio counties account for approximately 20% of the Russian community in West Virginia. The majority of the Russians in West Virginia are ethnic Carpatho-Russians, a culturally related group from the Carpathian Mountain region on the border of the Ukraine. This group does not have a single nationality, and have been defined by as many as 21 different terms in the past 100 years, including Carpatho-Russians, Russians, Hungarians, Ukrainians, and Poles. The communities in the Northern Panhandle represent the largest local enclaves of Carpatho-Russians in West Virginia. These communities date to the late nineteenth century, during the period of major emigration from Eastern Europe.

Church services and activities associated with the church provide the main way in which the community interacts and maintains traditions. The regional congregations of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Weirton and Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Moundsville celebrate high holy days and have picnics associated with various religious holidays. The church choirs sing hymns in Russian and Slavic. The Orthodox communities surrounding these churches are mostly Carpatho-Russian, Czechoslovakian, and Ukrainian. The churches are also attended by people of Romanian, Greek, and other backgrounds. The Moundsville community also participates with the Orthodox community in Wheeling.

Father Theodore Shomsky
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
608 Colliers Way
Weirton, WV 26062
723-3383
frtheos@yahoo.com

Father Michael Zahirsky
Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church
1812 Norton Place
Steubenville, OH 43952
740-282-1753

CARPATHO-RUTHENIAN

Immigrants from the Carpatho-Ruthenian region of the Carpathian Mountains in Preshov and Czechoslovakia form another large ethnic group that is sometimes classified as Russian. The Carpatho-Ruthenian community has roots dating to West Virginia's late industrial period in the early twentieth century. There are several Carpatho-Ruthenian communities in the state, mostly surrounding Russian Byzantine Catholic churches. One such community is in Weirton, associated with St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church. Approximately 250 families attend the church, of which approximately 170 individuals are Carpatho-Ruthenian.

The main ethnic activities in the Carpatho-Ruthenian community surround the services at St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church. The church serves a diverse community of which one component is Carpatho-Ruthenian. The church services reflect an adherence to the customs of the parishioners. Traditional activities include the Holy Suppers for Christmas and Easter, and the blessing of the Easter food baskets. Some of the services are in the Slavonic language. The church celebrated its 70th anniversary in 1999.

Father Ed Lucas
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
3116 Elm St.
Weirton, WV 26062-4692
748-2087

CROATIAN

There were at one time many Croatians throughout West Virginia, and several strong communities exist to the present. In the Northern Panhandle, the larger communities are in the Benwood/Wheeling area, home to approximately 175 Croatian families, and in Weirton which is home to approximately 150 families. The contemporary communities have strong connections with other regional Croatian communities, including Pittsburgh, which has the largest Croatian community in this part of the country.

The Croatian Cultural Club in Benwood, originally organized in 1956 by Mike Perkovic, has kept Croatian traditions alive in the Wheeling area. The club promotes a variety of cultural events in the community, not just Croatian traditions. The Croatian community in the Benwood area holds several activities throughout the year to promote and celebrate their heritage, including holiday festivities with Croatian food, music performances, and dances. The Croatian Christmas party, which includes ethnic food, a sing-along, and traditional circle dancing, is an important event for the local community. Other activities throughout the year include steak fries and corn roasts in the Croatian tradition, an anniversary dance, and a Croatian dinner in the summer. Roast lamb is indigenous to Croatian culture and is a common item at the dinners. The festivals and dinners still include traditional Croatian music provided by the local Velebit tambouritza orchestra. Mike Perkovic organized West Virginia's only Croatian Tambouritza Orchestra which has performed throughout the state, and many years ago released a recording of its music. This music is currently being passed on to younger members of the community through apprenticeship arrangements. The tambouritza orchestra rehearses at the club once a month.

The Croatian Fraternal Union is a club which has over 2,000 lodges nationwide, and provided stability and a meeting place for Croatian families when they first came to America. There are six in West Virginia, including two in Benwood, one in Weirton, and one in Warwood. There is also a lodge in Star City, near Morgantown, and in Bluefield. The organization has meetings once a month and provides a place for Croatian families to come together. The organization sponsors all kinds of events, including basketball, bowling, and golf tournaments and many other events for charitable causes, providing money for people throughout the world.

John Perkovic
Olga Perkovic Ross
Croatian Cultural Club/Velebit Tambouritza Orchestra
41 Roosevelt Avenue
Benwood, WV 26031-4645
232-3926
232-4645 (h)

CZECHOSLOVAKIAN

There are approximately 250 Czechoslovakian families in the Northern Panhandle, mainly in the vicinity of Weirton and in nearby Steubenville, Ohio. The community has roots dating to the early twentieth century and is now mostly second- and third-generation families.

Activities in the Czechoslovakian community are closely tied to the church communities surrounding St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church and St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. The community has a regular radio program, the Czech radio hour, on WOMP 1290 AM.

Father Ed Lucas
St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
3116 Elm St.
Weirton, WV 26062-4692
748- 2087

Father Theodore Shomsky
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
608 Colliers Way
Weirton, WV 26062
723-3383
frtheos@yahoo.com

FINNISH

There is a very small community of Finnish families scattered throughout the Northern Panhandle, predominantly in Brooke and Hancock counties in the vicinity of Weirton, and associated with Trinity Lutheran Church. Much of the community originally settled in Weirton because of the steel mills. At one time the community was much larger.

The small group of individuals remain connected through informal get-togethers and associations with the larger Finnish communities out of state, principally in Pittsburgh. The community is very small now, but represents another aspect of the diversity still found in the Northern Panhandle. Among other traditions, Finnish cooking skills have been maintained and remain strong in the community.

GERMAN

In the Northern Panhandle, approximately 19,700 individuals claim German as their sole ancestry, and 47,900 individuals of multiple ancestry claim German as their primary heritage. Thus, at least 38% of the population of the Northern Panhandle has German ancestry. There was an urban German colony in Wheeling which had its own German-language newspapers published as early as the 1830's. German accents remained common in Wheeling and other parts of West Virginia throughout the nineteenth century. Several churches in Wheeling, including the Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church, were founded by members of the German community. German traditions, however, are no longer central to the church services. German language services were held up until the 1940's. The area called St. Joseph's Settlement in Marshall County was settled by immigrants from Germany in the mid-1880's. This small rural community maintains elements of its German flavor.

In Wheeling, Oktoberfest is a three-day event featuring a traditional German theme, with German music and dancing. There used to be other German events in the Wheeling area, including singing societies associated with classical art songs, but currently the Oktoberfest is the only event related to these traditions in Wheeling. In St. Joseph's Settlement in Marshall County, the Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church has been central to the Germany community for more than 125 years and continues to serve as the hub of the local community. The annual Fourth of July celebration is a local highlight.

Father Francois Gonda
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
Rt 1 Box 203
Proctor, WV 26055
455-4303

GREEK

The Northern Panhandle is home to two large and active Greek communities. Approximately 900 individuals in the Northern Panhandle claim Greek as their sole ancestry, and 1,400 individuals of multiple ancestry claim Greek as their primary heritage. Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, and Ohio counties account for 35% of the Greek population in West Virginia. Many of the original Greek families in the Northern Panhandle immigrated in the period from approximately 1910 up until the 1920's. One of the oldest Greek churches in West Virginia is St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Wheeling. The All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Weirton was started in 1916 to serve the local Greek community.

In Weirton and Wheeling, as throughout the Greek community, the church is central to the religious and cultural life of the Greek community. The Orthodox Easter service plays an important part in keeping the traditions alive within the communities. This holiday is a weeklong event with numerous traditional activities. The churches in these communities have several organizations that are both social and service oriented, and provide a place for the Greek community to meet and interact. These include the Daughters of Penelope and the male organization AHEPA. These are not Greek heritage organizations, but they provide a common ground for the community. Both churches also have active Ladies Philoptochos Societies. In the Wheeling area, there are Greek clubs representing the home places of the members, including the Cretan Club and the Chian Club. These are service and cultural social clubs. Numerous other activities create a strong bond among the members of the community and help to keep Greek heritage alive in the Mountain State. For example, the All Saints Greek Church offers Greek language classes. The Weirton community has a weekly Greek community radio show, which celebrated its 53rd year in 1999. An important event for the Greek communities in the Northern Panhandle and a point of contact with the general population is the All Saints Grecian Festival held every July in Weirton. This event features Greek ethnic food, arts and crafts, and music and dance, including performances by the All Saints Greek Dancers. The festival provides the best connection between the Greek community and the general Weirton population. The Greek community celebrates Greek Independence Day on March 25.

Father Terry Linos
All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
3528 West St.
Weirton, WV 26062-4525
797-9884 or 797-1725

Father Spiro Kehayes
St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church
2215 Chapline Street,
Wheeling, WV 26003-3842
233-0757 (church)
547-4106
stjohnsg@aol.com

IRISH

In the Northern Panhandle, approximately 10,532 individuals claim Irish as their sole ancestry, and 20,390 individuals of multiple ancestry claim Irish as their primary heritage. Thus, at least 17% of the population of the Northern Panhandle has Irish ancestry. The Irish community, and in particular the Irish Catholic community, has been very strong in the Northern Panhandle. At one time, there were numerous predominantly Irish Catholic churches and parochial schools in Wheeling and Weirton. Wheeling has historically been the center for Irish Catholic settlements in West Virginia, while smaller communities were found in most of the railroad towns in the state. Rural Irish Catholic colonies could be found in Lewis, Braxton, Summers, Fayette and Raleigh counties.

Many of the churches and schools originally established by the Irish community remain in the area, though they now serve a mixed population and their Irish connections are no longer prominent. Most of the contemporary Irish heritage activities reflect revival interests in Celtic traditions. The Wheeling Celtic Society hosts a festival celebrating traditional Irish, Scottish, and Welsh cultures. The event includes Irish music and dance, Highland bands, presentations of traditional Celtic skills, and contemporary artists and craftspersons, mainly from West Virginia. The churches in the area, and in particular the Catholic diocese, remain a storehouse of history for the Irish community in West Virginia.

ITALIAN

In the Northern Panhandle, approximately 7,700 individuals claim Italian as their sole ancestry, and 12,000 individuals of multiple ancestry claim Italian as their primary heritage. Thus, at least 11% of the population of the Northern Panhandle has Italian ancestry. Approximately 19% of the West Virginia Italian community resides in Brooke, Hancock, and Ohio counties, mainly in the vicinity of Weirton and Wheeling.

Numerous activities present Italian heritage in the Northern Panhandle and bring the community together. Foremost among these is the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival in Wheeling, an event which attracts the Italian community from the broad region surrounding Wheeling. Held in July, the three-day event includes Italian foods, music, and traditional dance, bocci and morra tournaments, and a variety of other activities celebrating Italian heritage. Numerous year-round activities promote Italian culture and the local Italian community. For example, the Italian Sons and Daughters of America in Wheeling provides an opportunity for families to meet throughout the year. There are two radio programs serving the Italian community in the Weirton area, broadcast on WOMP 1290 AM.

Kim Smith
Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival
RR 2 Box 284
Tridelphia, WV 26059
233-1090/1-800-828-3097
www.italyfest.com

JEWISH

In the past 150 years, six congregations have served the Jewish community in the Northern Panhandle. Although it has gotten smaller in recent years due to many younger persons moving away, the community is still vibrant. The first Jewish community in West Virginia was organized in Wheeling in 1849. A synagogue and Hebrew school was established in the very early days of the community. At one time, Wheeling had two congregations: a reform congregation (the Temple) started by German Jews in the mid-1800's, and an Orthodox congregation (the Synagogue) started mainly by Eastern European Jews. Currently, Wheeling has approximately 120 Jewish families. Weirton has a smaller but active Jewish community of approximately 75 families. The nearby town of Bellaire, Ohio, used to have a synagogue, but currently those members have joined the Wheeling community.

Activities surrounding religious services play a primary role in preserving Jewish traditions and culture in Wheeling and Weirton, as is true throughout West Virginia's Jewish population. The communities attend Temple Shalom in Wheeling. In addition to services, the celebration of Passover, Chanukah, and other holidays bring the community together. Judaism is a family-oriented religion, and many of the holiday services involve home-based celebrations, but community connections are also strong. A community seder brings families together during Passover. Bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah celebrations are also important community events, as is true throughout the Jewish community. Numerous social and service organizations are associated with the congregations. In Wheeling, there is a regional chapter of Hadassah, the National Jewish Women's Organization. The Temple Shalom Sisterhood is a service group dedicated to programs for the synagogue, raising money for Sunday school, for example. Numerous other activities take place throughout the year to raise money for temple activities. Temple Shalom has a very strong archive devoted to the local Jewish community in the Northern Panhandle. The archive is open for visitors. A rabbi teaches Hebrew classes in Wheeling at Temple Shalom.

Grace Pokorney
1269 National Road
No. 1 Georgetown
Wheeling, WV 26003
242-9834
grunie@aol.com

MIDDLE EASTERN

In the Northern Panhandle, approximately 550 individuals claim Arabic as their sole ancestry, and 920 individuals of multiple ancestry claim Arabic as their primary heritage. The Wheeling area is home to approximately 12% of the Middle Eastern community in West Virginia. Many Maronites, or Christian Lebanese, emigrated from Lebanon to North America at the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century. They settled in the Wheeling area for work in the steel mills and coal mines. The first Lebanese immigrants arrived in Wheeling around 1888. By the early 1900's, there were at least 300 individuals in Wheeling. Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church was built in 1922. After the church was destroyed by a fire in 1932, a festival was started to raise money to rebuild the church.

In Wheeling, activities revolve around the Maronite Catholic Church of Our Lady of Lebanon. All Masses are celebrated in English, except for the words of Consecration chanted in Aramaic- the language spoken by Jesus Christ. On Sunday, the choir sings in English, Lebanese, and Aramaic. The church hosts the Lebanese Festival of Mahrajan on the Sunday closest to August 15, which is the Feast of the Assumption. This popular event features an outdoor liturgy, Lebanese bands, Lebanese food, traditional costumes, music, and dancing. Other activities for the community include a Lebanese dinner in March in honor of St. Maron, founder of the Maronite Rite, several community dinners, and Middle Eastern bake sales.

Father Bakhos Chidiac
Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church
2216 Eoff Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
233-1688
www.ololwv.com

POLISH

The Northern Panhandle has a large Polish population with communities in both Wheeling and Weirton. Approximately 4,620 individuals in the Northern Panhandle claim Polish as their sole ancestry, and 8,347 individuals of multiple ancestry claim Polish as their primary heritage. Many in the community still speak fluent Polish and maintain a variety of Polish traditions. Wheeling has a particularly strong Polish community with a keen sense of heritage. There are approximately 200 Polish families in the area. A central focus for the community until recently was the Polish church, St. Ladislaus, which held traditional services, including the Lenten service and the blessing of Polish foods. Weirton also has a vibrant Polish community. Sacred Heart of Mary in Weirton has a strong Polish background. Currently, the congregation includes Polish, Italian, and Slavic families. Approximately 450 people are part of the church community.

The Polish people are very close to church life, and many Polish traditions are maintained through the church. The services often include some hymn singing in Polish. Several special services are traditional to the Polish church, including the Easter food blessing.

Sacred Heart of Mary in Weirton serves a diverse population which includes the local Polish community, and many of the church activities reflect the Polish heritage. The church occasionally has a polka Mass, in which the liturgical music is set to polka rhythm. There is a polka Mass and Mardi Gras celebration associated with Lent. Polish and Italian hymns are sung at Christmastime.

The Polish community in Wheeling has faced difficulties recently with the closing of St. Ladislaus Catholic Church, which was the main predominantly Polish church in the area and was central to many aspects of the community. St. Ladislaus had a choir which would sing Polish hymns. The church has attractive stained glass, illustrating the saints of Poland and North America. Until recently, the Wheeling community also had a Polish street fair, which featured ethnic foods like perogy and cabbage rolls, and live polka music. Once a month, there was a Polish Mass. The community is currently arranging to continue this tradition.

A rosary service is held every Tuesday in the Our Lady of Grace Grotto, an outdoor structure used by the Wheeling congregation for special services. The structure was built 50 years ago by members of the church specifically for special Polish services. Currently, 45-50 people come to the weekly service which often concludes with a social gathering. Polish language is used for part of the service. Another important activity for the Polish community is the Memorial Day service, also held in the Grotto.

In Wheeling, there is a Polish fraternal organization, the Polish American Political Athletic Club, which does charitable work and activities for the community. The local radio station, WOMP from Bellaire, Ohio, has a regular Polish radio show.

Father John Gallagher
St. Alphonsus Church
2111 Market Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
232-4353

Polish American Political Association
4410 Jacob Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
232-1752

SERBIAN

The Northern Panhandle is home to a large and active Serbian community in the vicinity of Weirton and neighboring Steubenville, Ohio. The community includes approximately 400 families representing second- and third-generation descendants of Serbian immigrants who first came to West Virginia for work in the coalfields and the steel mills.

Weirton is home to the only Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church in West Virginia. Many important ethnic and community activities revolve around the church. Modern Serbian, as well as Church Slavonic, is sometimes spoken in the church services, preserving an ethnic flavor. The church hosts several annual picnics for the Serbian community which are major events keeping the community connected and its heritage alive. The Serbian community is also well-connected with the general Weirton population. Every Wednesday in the summer, the church men's club has a huge public picnic at which it roasts chickens for much of Weirton, totaling 400-600 chickens weekly.

Choral music is very important in the Serbian tradition. The church choir, called the Petar Krstich Choir, performs throughout the country and is well-respected and nationally known. The choir has a large repertoire, including Serbian hymns, Serbian folk songs, and contemporary Serbian pieces. In the year 2000, the church hosted the national Serbian Singing Federation's Choral Festival, including choirs from approximately 14 churches from around the United States. The Serbian church in Weirton also has a children's folklore group, the Tambouritzans, a musical group with dancing and singing.

The recently constructed Serbian American Cultural Center was built in 1997, and is the location of numerous cultural activities, including dances, conventions, and presentations of interest to the Serbian community and Weirton in general. The Weirton community also has numerous folk musicians who perform the traditional tamboura music.

Father Rade Merick
Holy Resurrection Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church
528 N. 4th St.
Steubenville, OH 43952
282-4463 or 264-4809
www.hrsoc-steuben.org

George Martich, former president, Serb National Federation
252 Scenery Dr.
Weirton, WV 26062
723-1206

UKRAINIAN

Nearly 55% of West Virginia's Ukrainian community resides in the Northern Panhandle, with approximately 30% in Ohio County, 11% in Hancock, and 8% in Marshall County. Strong communities are found in Wheeling and Weirton, with approximately 25 families each along with many other individuals of Ukrainian heritage. Like other immigrant communities with origins back to the early twentieth century, the Ukrainian community is now mainly second and third generation. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Wheeling has roots as a Ukrainian Catholic church and is now attended by a mixed congregation which also includes Italians, Germans, English, and Poles.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Wheeling has steaks fries and ethnic dinners, featuring traditional foods representing a diverse heritage, including Ukrainian and Polish. The church also has an annual Ukrainian Festival in July, which features ethnic food, costume, and dancing to a live polka band. The church services maintain ethnic traditions, particularly in the Easter and Christmas services, and services for the High Holy Days. The church choir and congregation frequently sing traditional Ukrainian hymns in Slavonic.

Weirton also has an active Ukrainian community. The Ukrainian community joins the Russian (Carpatho-Russian) community in services at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, where Ukrainian, Russian, and Slovak traditions are preserved in the one church. The church has a festival once a year called the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Annual Food Festival, held each October. The event features traditional foods like haluski, perogy, sauerkraut, and other traditional Russian fare. Other ethnic items, including religious items, are available at the festival.

Parish Priest
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
4136 Jacob Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
232-2168

OTHER

The ethnic diversity of West Virginia's Northern Panhandle is one of the state's greatest treasures. Drawn by the pottery, steel, and transportation industries, immigrant families from across Europe set down roots from Newell to Wheeling during the early decades of this century. Many of these groups still retain clear identities. A more thorough examination of this heritage should be a top priority of any further research into West Virginia's ethnic heritage.

Church life remains the cornerstone of ethnic communities in the Northern Panhandle. In addition, there are numerous social groups, festivals, restaurants, folk artists, and ethnic music and dance performers in this region.

Terry A. Sterling, President
Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce
1310 Market Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
233-2575

Mimi Ceglie
Catholic Community Services
1001 Virginia Avenue
Follansbee, WV 26037
527-0103

Mary Zwierzchowski
Mary H. Weir Public Library
3442 Main Street
Weirton, WV 26062
797-8510
748-4795