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‘The Saga of South Wheeling’ Documents Neighborhood’s Rich History

By ERIC AYRES 4 min read

"The Saga of South Wheeling" is no longer just an oral history of what some consider the Friendly City’s most overlooked and underappreciated blue-collar neighborhood. It’s now a book that officially documents the rich history of the southernmost riverside stretch of town.

Members of the South Wheeling Preservation Alliance have been working to gather photos, information and important details about the history of the neighborhood for the long-awaited book.

"I’ve been collecting information about South Wheeling for probably about 20 years, but over the past two years during the pandemic, we’ve really had a chance to sit down and work on the book," Ginger Kabala, president and co-founder of the South Wheeling Preservation Alliance.

Kabala and SWPA Vice President Br. John Byrd, F.M.S., worked on the book with South Wheeling native Donna Shrader Freter, who now resides in Cleveland. The trio spearheaded the effort to research, write and edit the detailed, comprehensive book.

"We received two grants of $1,000 each from Wheeling Heritage, and we were able to collect $1,950 in contributions - almost a match to the grant funds," Kabala said.

The end result of the years of hard work gathering and organizing details of South Wheeling’s history was an impressive 134-page book titled "The Saga of South Wheeling," which was just finished and made available this month. The book contains many historic and present-day photographs, as well as the first known detailed history of South Wheeling.

Several local people contributed to the book, and 300 copies were produced. They are now available for purchase.

"There was no other book like this before that we know of," Kabala said. "Nothing has been written specifically on South Wheeling until now. It’s important, because people aren’t really taught local history. We’ve done a lot of research, and some of it is really amazing. As far as South Wheeling goes, we’ve never had so much information consolidated in one place before."

Often given less consideration in the public eye compared to other Wheeling neighborhoods, South Wheeling is commonly viewed as the city’s most rust-belt area, peppered with former industrial buildings and shuttered businesses, as well as empty old store fronts and abandoned properties.

But beyond cracks in the pavement are an array of pre-Civil War homes and structures, new multimillion-dollar investments and developments, thriving businesses both old and new, and a rich history bolstered by the people who lived and worked there over the decades. The book "highlights the struggles, accomplishments and contributions that the people who lived and worked in South Wheeling left future generations," according to the full-color book’s introduction.

"We’ve been fighting a perception that’s been in place here for a long, long time," Kabala said. "There should be so much pride in this neighborhood. Not everything that is historic is ‘fancy.’ We’ve been committed to getting all of this information out and to make sure people know about South Wheeling."

And the book does exactly what the SWPA’s mission statement describes. It seeks to "identify, preserve and promote the unique spirit and character of South Wheeling" and "to encourage a deeper appreciation of our neighborhood’s role in the city of Wheeling’s industrial, economic and cultural development in order to foster the stability and vitality of our neighborhood."

This weekend, the SWPA will be holding a book signing from noon to 1 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church at 3536 Eoff St. The public is welcome and encouraged to come check it out. Copies of the book will be available for sale for $30 each. Those who already purchased copies can bring them back for signatures.

For additional information about "The Saga of South Wheeling" or the South Wheeling Preservation Alliance, call 304-233-8917 or 304-232-3618.

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