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West Virginia at the 1893 World's Fair

Wheeling Intelligencer
June 21, 1893


OUR STATE BUILDING

At the World's Fair Formally and Appropriately Dedicated.

THE THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY

Of the State Celebrated at Chicago. The Exercises in the Assembly Hall Followed by a Reception - Oration of the Day by Hon. A. W. Campbell. Two Thousand People Visit the Building - The Pleasant Home for World's Fair Visitor From This State.

Special Dispatch to the Intelligencer.

CHICAGO, June 20. - The West Virginia state building was dedicated to-day, it being the thirtieth anniversary of the admission of the state into the union. Governor MacCorkle was down for a speech, but he found it impossible to be present and participate, much to the disappointment of many. The building was not decorated and the exercises were simple, but appropriate. The building was crowded all day with West Virginians and people from other states, fully 2,000 visitors calling during the day. When the ceremonies opened assembly hall was packed. It presented a handsome appearance, being draped with flags of all nations, and bunting.

The Iowa state band furnished the music and placed a number of selections while the guests were assembling. The programme as originally prepared was as follows:

Overture - Serenade.................................................................................Rosini
Presentation of the Building to the Governor by Hon. W. N. Chancellor, President of the West Va. World's Fair Commission. Music - National Aria.................................................................................Byer
Acceptance....................................................................Gov. W. A. MacCorkle
Music - Cornet Solo.....................................................................W. B. Kenney
Oration...........................................................Hon. A. W. Campbell, Wheeling
Music - Ballad Selections.........................................................................Albert
Oration.................................................................................Gen. J. W. St. Clair
Music - Home of Our Mountains........................................................Trovorota
Musical Recitation...........................................Miss Kinuie Smith, Parkersburg
Music - American March.........................................................................Reeves

In the absence of the governor Col. St. Clair represented him and accepted the building in his behalf. In consideration of this fact Col. St. Clair's oration was omitted from the programme, and Hon. A. W. Campbell, of Wheeling, was the orator of the day.

After the opening overture, Col. W. N. Chancellor, president of state commission, in a short address formally tendered the building to the state for the use of World's Fair visitors. He said that the commission had spared no labor to make the building a home for West Virginia people. The money appropriated had been economically used in the erection and furnishing of the building.

National Commissioner St. Clair then accepted the building with a speech full of eloquence and patriotism. The speech was a characteristic one. He congratulated the people of West Virginia on the wonderful advancement of the state, and upon their representation in the various departments of the World's Fair.

Following the cornet solo by W. B. Kenny and a medley by the band came the event of the occasion, the historical and patriotic address by Hon. A. W. Campbell. Mr. Campbell reviewed the history of the formation of the state, and its steady progress to the present day. No man is more competent than Mr. Campbell to handle the subject, for none is more familiar with the history of which he took so prominent a part in forming. It was a splendid and instructive address, and listened to with profound attention.

Mr. Campbell gave a review of the development of the state since its admission into the union, paying particular attention to the railroad building, and the great coal and timber interests, as well as petroleum, also the government improvement of the rivers and the progress of school education, all of which was listened to with the closest attention by the large and appreciate audience. He also gave some account of the settlement of the land of the state.

After the conclusion of Mr. Campbell's address a series of short extemporaneous addresses, interspersed with music, were delivered by Captain Dovener, Presidents Palmer and Higginbotham, Judge Massey, of Delaware, and Governor Wyman, of Delaware, all highly eulogistic in tone of West Virginia and conceived in the happiest view.

Miss Kurnie Smith, of Parkersburg, contributed one of the most pleasing features of the programme. It was a whistling recitation, "The Mocking Bird," and delighted the large audience beyond expression. This concluded the programme and a reception followed in the main parlor on the first floor. Hundreds of West Virginians and former citizens now residents of other states attended. The ball which was to be held to-night was postponed until another time.

A large number of the West Virginians from different parts of the state were present. From Wheeling there were quite a delegation, among them J. S. Naylor, N. B. Scott, Walker Peterson, Cecil Robinson, O. C. Dewey, W. F. Stifel, John Lakin, Dr. Eugene Hildreth, Miss Mary Dickey, Mr. and Mrs. Riheldaffer, John P. Glass and wife, Charles Hall, and others.

From Parkersburg there were the family of President Chancellor. Mrs. Judge Jackson, Miss Lillie Jackson, Editors Horner and Smith and Mr. and Mrs. Yeaton. Others where [sic] Mrs. J. G. Jacob, of Wellsburg, Hon. H. G. Davis, wife and daughter, of Mineral county, Mrs. W. N. Lynch and Mr. George Bowers, of Martinsburg.

Quite a number of West Virginia residents of Chicago, among them members of the family of G. D. Hall and Augustus Wincher, were present.

The West Virginia building has already been described in the INTELLIGENCER. It is built of West Virginia material in colonial style, and cost the state the sum of $20,000. There are no exhibits in it of the state's resources, the building being erected with an especial view of furnishing a headquarters to West Virginians while visiting the fair. It is a pleasant home, and all citizens of the state will be heartily welcomed within its walls, where they will find pleasant resting places and polite attendants to look after their wants and furnish information. There are a number of interesting relics to be found in the building, among which are the chair and safe used by Lee in writing his terms of surrender to Grant, and several John Brown relics. The state's industrial exhibits will be found in the main buildings of the fair.


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