West Virginia University History

Documenting the history of West Virginia University through historical photos of the university, campus, and Morgantown, W. Va. This blog is currently a project of Jason Neal, a two-time recent graduate.

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Christmas Parade, Morgantown, W. Va. (1957)

Two people pull a float in the parade.

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High Street at Christmas Time, Morgantown, W. Va. (1967)

People walking in the crosswalk as cars are stopped at a red light. Christmas decorations are on the lamp posts, Morgantown, W. Va.

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Book Exchange, Morgantown, W. Va. (1967)

Christmas shoppers are shopping at the Book Exchange in Morgantown, West Virginia. 

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Elizabeth Moore Hall, West Virginia University (1928)

Picture is on the front of a Christmas card sent out by WVU President and Mrs. James G. Harlow .

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Stansbury Hall (First Known as the WVU Fieldhouse) (1928-2019)

“Stansbury Hall was a building on the Downtown Campus of West Virginia University. It was named after Harry Stansbury (died 1966), a former WVU Athletic Director.[1] Opened in 1929 as the WVU Field House, just to the southwest of “Old” Mountaineer Field, this was the home of WVU basketball until 1970, when the WVU Coliseum was opened. This was the home floor during the days of Hot Rod Hundley and Jerry West. It hosted the Southern Conference men’s basketball tournament in 1953. While the home venue of WVU basketball, the team compiled a record of 370-81 (.820) when playing there. In October 1973, it was renamed to honor Stansbury.[2] Prior to demolition, the building was the home of the Philosophy Department, the Statistics Department, the Program for Humanities, the Program for Religious Studies, the Center for Service and Learning, and the Office of International Programs. Army and Air Force ROTC programs were also housed here.[3] Stansbury’s use prior to demolition also retained some vestige of its athletic history; the remaining arena floor was often used by intramural and “pickup” soccer and basketball games, while a gymnasium offering personal-training services was housed elsewhere in the building. On February 10, 2017, WVU announced plans to demolish Stansbury Hall and replace it with a new building for the WVU College of Business and Economics.[4] Demolition began in August of 2019. The building to take its place, Reynolds Hall, is scheduled to be completed June 2021, and is going to be a new facility for WVU’s John Chambers Business and Economics College.[5]” - Per Wikipedia

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Stansbury Hall (First Known as the WVU Fieldhouse) (1928-2019)

“Stansbury Hall was a building on the Downtown Campus of West Virginia University. It was named after Harry Stansbury (died 1966), a former WVU Athletic Director.[1] Opened in 1929 as the WVU Field House, just to the southwest of "Old" Mountaineer Field, this was the home of WVU basketball until 1970, when the WVU Coliseum was opened. This was the home floor during the days of Hot Rod Hundley and Jerry West. It hosted the Southern Conference men's basketball tournament in 1953. While the home venue of WVU basketball, the team compiled a record of 370-81 (.820) when playing there. In October 1973, it was renamed to honor Stansbury.[2] Prior to demolition, the building was the home of the Philosophy Department, the Statistics Department, the Program for Humanities, the Program for Religious Studies, the Center for Service and Learning, and the Office of International Programs. Army and Air Force ROTC programs were also housed here.[3] Stansbury's use prior to demolition also retained some vestige of its athletic history; the remaining arena floor was often used by intramural and "pickup" soccer and basketball games, while a gymnasium offering personal-training services was housed elsewhere in the building. On February 10, 2017, WVU announced plans to demolish Stansbury Hall and replace it with a new building for the WVU College of Business and Economics.[4] Demolition began in August of 2019. The building to take its place, Reynolds Hall, is scheduled to be completed June 2021, and is going to be a new facility for WVU’s John Chambers Business and Economics College.[5]” - Per Wikipedia 

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Mast of the U.S.S. West Virginia

Picture of the Mast of the U.S.S. West Virginia pictured in front of Elizabeth Moore Hall at Friday noon, March 17, 1961.

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First Football Team, West Virginia University (1891)

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Welcome Back

My name is Jason Neal and I am the owner of this “West Virginia University History” picture blog at wvu-wv.tumblr.com. This blog started over six years ago back in the summer of 2013 as a pet project while I was in undergrad and was abandoned for awhile until a brief revival in 2017 and then ceased again. Life (and the rest of my schooling) got in the way.  I began this endeavor, however, out of a deep, earnest interest in history, the way we see history, and how it has been documented over the years on the campus of West Virginia University and the greater Morgantown area.  Most posts have only garnered a few notes, but some strange things happened along the way. People started liking and sharing the posts, and some even gave feedback or comments. In fact, this blog only has 90 posts at the moment but has amassed hundreds of followers over the years, even when it was dormant. It’s a neat thing!  With my schooling now finished and some additional time on my hands, I am hoping to post more pictures again - in honor of the rich tradition and heritage that our home among the hills has. I am unsure how long I will keep the blog active this “go-around,” but you can always keep a little West Virginia in your heart through the memories you make here too.  Finally, while I have pulled photos from a number of sources, the vast majority of the blog content comes from the wonderful folks at the WVU Libraries, and the West Virginia & Regional History Center. In fact, the Center is the “largest archival collection housing documents and manuscripts involving West Virginia and the surrounding central Appalachian region.” And it is at least partially responsible for my WVU Bachelor of Arts in History degree.  So, thanks again for following. And let’s get back to the show. 

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Front left: Engineering building II and behind it is the Physics building. Back left to right: President's home, Administration, Law School, Chemistry building.

1960s- WVU Downtown Campus

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Colson Hall, West Virginia University

(Former College of Law Building)

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Jerry West (1959)

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Texas Tech vs West Virginia University at the Sun Bowl (1938)

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WVU Athletic Field, Morgantown, W. Va.

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College Grounds, WVU, W. Va.

Buildings: Armory, Commencement Hall, Mechanical Hall II and Stewart Hall -- 1907

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West Virginia State Police Barracks, Morgantown, W. Va. 

The West Virginia State Police Barracks inMorgantown, West Virginia is decorated for Christmas. -- 1960s

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Aerial View of West Virginia University Campus, Morgantown, W. Va.

View of the main downtown campus in the foreground includes Mechanical Hall II, Stewart Hall and Commencement Hall also known as Reynolds Hall. In the center, behind Chitwood Hall is old Mountaineer Field and to the far left is the steel beam foundation of Armstrong Hall under construction. Upper right corner of the photograph, on the top of the hill is the Morgantown Country Club where the College of Law is now located. -- 1949