For more than a century, the B&O Building has stood in Wheeling, first as a center of travel, now as a center of education. It’s importance can’t be understated.

And it’s importance was made evident Tuesday with the rededication of the building on the campus of West Virginia Northern Community College. Both local and state officials, including Gov. Patrick Morrisey, were in attendance to celebrate more than $2 million in renovations to the historic structure.

“This building represents more than just bricks and mortar,” WVNCC President Daniel Mosser said to the assembled crowd. “It stands as a symbol of the connection between our past and our future, and between opportunities and those who come here seeking it.”

Getting to this day was a team effort, with the West Virginia government lending a hand by placing the building among the deferred maintenance projects passed in 2024. The work done ensures the building, the epicenter of the community college’s Wheeling campus, stays strong.

And it must. WVNCC is an important part of education in West Virginia, providing avenues for people to achieve college degrees, as well as certifications for careers like construction, healthcare and public safety, where workers are sorely needed.

The project was a commitment to the city of Wheeling, revitalizing a historical building to its former glory, and a commitment to higher education. It was money well spent on an integral part of our community, and will benefit us for a long time.