On July 7, 1928, the Madonna of the Trail monument was dedicated in Wheeling, one of 12 statues honoring pioneering women along the National Road. On July 8, 1894, Walter Aegerter, an amateur photographer from Helvetia, was born and left behind a collection of glass plate negatives capturing life in the German Swiss settlement. Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Johnnie Johnson, known for collaborating with Chuck Berry on hits like “Johnny B. Goode,” was born in Fairmont on July 8, 1924.
Tragedy struck on July 9, 1942, when an explosion at the Pursglove No. 2 Mine in Scotts Run killed 20 men. Treasurer A. James Manchin resigned on July 9, 1989, after being impeached for losses in state investments. Dr. Jesse Bennett, known for the first successful caesarian section in America, was born on July 10, 1769.
Extreme heat hit Martinsburg on July 10, 1936, reaching 112 degrees. July 11 marks the anniversary of the Battle of Rich Mountain in 1861, a Union victory securing northwestern Virginia for the North. Governor John Jacob Cornwell, born on a farm in Ritchie County on July 11, 1867, served as the 15th governor of West Virginia.
On July 11, 1976, Governor Arch Moore dedicated the West Virginia Culture Center to showcase the state’s heritage. The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences in Charleston opened on July 12, 2003, offering a modern performing arts center, visual arts museum, and interactive science center. Finally, on July 13, 1861, the Battle of Corricks Ford in Tucker County resulted in the first Confederate general killed during the Civil War.
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