Proceeding on.
Wellsville, OH is one of those either/or places. The old homes and Wellsville River Museum sitting atop the high bank seem inviting, but the road through its business district is sided by worn and shuttered buildings. From 1832-1852, Wellsville was a buzzing river town. In 1852 influenced by Pittsburgh businessmen, Wellsville became a terminus for the railroad connecting Lake Erie and the Ohio River generating more buzz. Wellsville’s position as both a rail and river transportation center was a blow to Wheeling’s ambitions. However, as river commerce diminished, Wellsville declined. Its population has sloped downward in every census since 1920.
Wellsville, OH 1915 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)
Postcard of Wellsville, OH 1915 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)
I did not stop at Wheeling across the river from Bridgeport, OH,, although it looked good and I needed a “pick-me-up” – a beer or maybe a just a coffee. Perhaps there was a remnant steamboat tavern I missed? The downtown was much larger than I remembered. The Wheeling connection to Georgetown begins with the defense of the frontier during the Revolutionary War and the post-revolution Indian Wars. The officers at Fort Henry were summoned to Georgetown for a strategic meeting to plan the defense of the frontier from Indian attacks. See The Lost Frontier Fort for more details.
Next I was headed to Moundsville and Sistersville. Moundsville has a rich history. It derives its name from the Indian burial mounds constructed more than one thousand years ago. Until recently the historical site was maintained by prisoners from the WV penitentiary. Not much to see at the waterfront.
Sistersville was named to honor two daughters (18 and 19) of the twenty-two children of Charles Wells. Whew! The stately Victorian era homes are result of wealth produced by the discovery of oil in 1891 rather than river commerce. The town grew to a peak of 15,000 with the influx of oil men, drillers, wild-catters, and laborers. After the boom, the stilled community has maintained a steady population of about 1,500. Like other river towns, Sistersville has witnessed considerable decline. One good thing is that Sistersville maintains its connection to the river via the Sistersville Ferry which claims to be the oldest ferry on the Ohio River, and the only ferry in WV.