Urban Decay Hits Wheeling, WV

To my surprise and shock while driving toward the ramp to I-70 a few weeks ago, I glanced over at East Wheeling.  I then did one of those comical, textbook double takes which caused my mouth to drop open and a near collision to occur in my space.  Immediately, I thought on my feet and swerved to the left-hand lane headed for McColloch Street and a direct connection to that part of Wheeling.  I drove through a two-three block area of 15th and 16th Streets not believing what my eyes were so reluctantly showing me.  Having been absent from my home town for close to 25 years, man and the elements had been working like driven beavers in Spring turning once elegant, historical, functional and purposeful homes and businesses into deserted, skeleton-like, weeping buildings.  I took shots of the scene before me with no thought to art or creativity or the fact that some of these places were built prior to the Civil War.  I simply documented my disbelief.  Once I had recorded the varying stages of decay, I began talking to residents of Wheeling and doing some research.  It seems that the city owns the majority of the buildings and wants to construct a ball park.  For their own reasons, there are a handful of residents who refuse to sell but will ultimately be displaced due to eminent domain.  Historical preservation?  There is potential, as you will see in the photographs.  This situation didn't develop over night.  Some homes appear truly decayed, while others could have held families just yesterday.  My heart aches.

There are many, many documentary photographs to choose for you to see.  Narrowing will be difficult because there is "the whole picture" to absorb.

   

This is the side of Clay Elementary School where the entrance/exit for shop once was alive with learning, discipline, and character building.

Clay School below ground floor as seen through a broken window.

Again, there are far too many telling photos to show you here.  My website has more, but still there is not enough space to give you the full, sickening story.  May our children's children not live with regret when all of this is nowhere to be found.