An Oral History of Wheeling's Black Community - Sessions 1 and 2

In partnership with Wheeling Heritage and the YWCA Wheeling, the OCPL was the venue for a session of oral history memories shared by members of Wheeling's Black community. A collaborative history project with the Ohio County Public Library, YWCA Wheeling, and Wheeling Heritage.

Session 1 Summary: Speakers include: Thomas Miller; Darlene Stradwick; Ron Scott, Jr.; Sean Duffy.

This oral history conversation focuses on growing up as a member of the Black community of Wheeling, WV, reflecting on everyday life under segregation, the slow shifts of integration, and the tight-knit nature of their neighborhoods from the mid-20th century onward. Thomas Miller and Darlene Stradwick share memories of being barred from restaurants, theaters, swimming pools, skating rinks, and playgrounds except on designated days or in inferior spaces (like a coal-dust-covered playground by railroad tracks) while also recalling community resilience through church groups, family networks, and local gathering spots. They discuss how urban renewal projects and new construction displaced much of Wheeling’s historic Black community, the limited but meaningful presence of Black-owned businesses and boarding houses (including places listed in the Green Book), and the role of schools like Lincoln in fostering strong community ties before integration brought both opportunity and new experiences of racism. A key takeaway is how recent this history is, and how deeply it shaped identity and community life.

Watch Video of Session 1:

Download Transcript Session 1

Session 2 Summary: Speakers include: Thomas Miller; Darlene Stradwick; Brenda J. Sparksman; Linda J. Scott; Ron Scott, Jr.; Sean Duffy.

This oral history session captures a memory-rich conversation from members of Wheeling’s Black community. They are using historic photographs to reflect and reconstruct stories of everyday life across generations. As participants identify people, streets, and landmarks, they weave together stories of neighborhoods like Morrow Street, Chapline Street, and Center Wheeling, recalling institutions such as Lincoln School, Clay School, local churches, along with community hubs like the Pythian Building with its barbershop, drugstore, and restaurant. The dialogue blends humor, nostalgia, nicknames, and childhood mischief, that sit alongside memories of urban renewal, demolished buildings, illness, and even the loss of some neighbors. Collectively, the discussion reveals how tightly knit the community was and how deeply place, relationships, and shared experiences shaped identity, underscoring the project’s goal of preserving the voices and history of Wheeling’s Black community.

Watch Video of Session 2: