Our Organization
The Tyler County Museum
is operated entirely by
volunteers. Those members
who live in the area volunteer
their time to clean, organize,
repair, transcribe, and do
whatever is necessary to keep the
museum current and operational.
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Our Programs
The Tyler County Museum tries to present an
educational program every year. In the past we
have held a Heritage Skills Days; a Civil War
Re-Enactment; a lecture by Encil McCullough,
NASA Photographer; and a World War II lecture
by Ken Hechler and David LeMasters, just to name a
few.
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Our Officers
Ruth Moore - President
Terry Tingler - Vice President
Becki Ferrebee - Secretary/TreasurerBoard of
Directors
Anna Mae Brown
Richard Smith
Buss Delancey
Kermit Long
Heritage Windows Staff
Dorene Carse
Ruth Moore
Becki Ferrebee
Peggy Shields |
Membership
Your membership dues will help to pay for the upkeep on
the museum itself, as well as its collections.
All members receive our newsletter, printed four times
per year, filled with updates and Historical Society
news.
Annual membership dues are are
due by January 31 & expire on December 31.
$10.00 per year (per family)
$30.00 for non-profit organizations
$50.00 for business
$150.00 for lifetime membership
Visit the "Contact us" page to see how to send your
information to become a member |
History of
Tyler County & the Museum
"BECAUSE THEY CAME"
In 1784, Jacob Duckett Ankrom settled in
Tyler County. Ankrom settled on what is known as the
old County Infirmary Farm. His cabin and
a larger second house remained there for many years.
Two brothers, Thomas & John Williamson
came down the Ohio River from Wheeling in a canoe to
the site of Friendly in 1785. In 1785
there were only about 7 houses between Friendly and New
Martinsville. The Williamsons and their
descendants have been involved in education and public life
since John W. taught the first school in
the Union district in 1812. James W. was a delegate to the
Wheeling Convention that formed the state
of West Virginia.
William Wells came to southern part of
Ohio County, now Tyler County in 1880, took up his abode on
Middle Island Creek at the mouth of
McElroy where he built the first and only stone house in
Tyler County. He was connected with the building of
the first mill of this area - "The Jug Handle".
William Wells was appointed as Squire or Justice of the
Court by the Governor of Virginia, James Barbour, in 1808.
Charles Wells, along with part of his
family, which consisted of 22 children, settled in Tyler
County in
1802. He came from Wellsville, Ohio and
settled in the area where the town of Sistersville not
stands. He built a log cabin and set up the first
horse-powered mill in the vicinity, which ground
grain for the early settlers. The first
store was established in a room at the Wells home.
Robert and Benjamin Gorrell, twin
brothers, came to Tyler County in the early 18th century,
settled in the Wilderness, and traded with the Indians.
Records indicate that their children were grown when they
arrived in Tyler County before 1813. They settled in the
area of Gorrells Run and Middlebourne.
FROM HIGH SCHOOL......
"Because They Came" is no better
demonstrated then in the dedication of the people of Tyler
County to secure the best for their friends, neighbors,
family and of course, their children. The first high school
erected in Tyler County was the building of a two story,
four classroom structure on the corner of Main and Hill
Streets in Sistersville in 1897. The High School was
reorganized during the term, of 1900 - 1901 from a two year
high school course to a three year. In 1903 the high school
course was raised to four years accredited to the WV
University. In 1906 voters of the Independent School
District voted in favor of a new building to be used for
high school purposes.
In 1908, again dedicated Tyler County
Citizens were called upon for an experiment in education.
Tyler County High School began classes as the first county
high school in West Virginia. Through the dedication of
Benjamin Hill to educate Tyler County on the benefits of
establishing a county High School; this dream became
reality.
TO MUSEUM
In 1993 a dream of Tyler County people
became reality, when the need of a consolidated High
School; and once again the people elected to have the two
historical high schools to come together and become one
"Tyler Consolidated High School".
In 1993 the Tyler County Heritage &
Historical Society saw the opportunity to preserve history
that could never be duplicated and preceded to purchase the
Tyler County High School, the new home of the Tyler County
Museum. All of the people of Tyler County can come together
to preserve their love, heritage and history of their Tyler
County.
Today, the Tyler County Museum houses 16
rooms of Tyler County history. From early American
furniture to precious family heirlooms. There is also a
Genealogy Room which houses various records from around
Tyler County and other Counties to help aide in ones
research their family trees.
Directions to the Museum
The Tyler County Museum is located on Dodd Street in
Middlebourne, WV
If
you are approaching from Sistersville, WV follow Rt. 18
South to Middlebourne. Continue on Rt. 18 through
Middlebourne until you reach the Tyler County
Courthouse. Turn right onto Court / Dodd Street. Union
Bank and the Post Office are on the right. The Museum is
on the left.
If you are approaching from West Union, WV follow Rt. 18
North to Middlebourne, until you reach the Tyler County
Courthouse. Turn left onto Court / Dodd Street. Union
Bank and the Post Office are on the right. The Museum is
on the left.
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