WHEELING, W.VA. — One year ago, a spark of hope was lit amid the dust of demolition at the former site of OVGH/OVMC. In March 2024, the OVGH/OVMC Preservation Project Fund was opened at the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley (CFOV) with a clear mission: to preserve and honor the legacy of Ohio Valley General Hospital—later Ohio Valley Medical Center—and all the lives it touched.
Now, on the fund’s first anniversary, that spark has grown. Thanks to the passionate efforts of the OVGH History Group, a team of dedicated former staff, nurses, administrators, and community partners led by retired nurses Mary McKinley and Betty Jo Sproull, what could have been a quiet demolition has instead become a preservation movement.
The emotional moment many in the community will never forget occurred when the OVGH letters—installed in 1953 and glowing over Wheeling for more than 70 years—were carefully removed by crane. On that day, many former employees stood shoulder to shoulder at the corner of Chapline and 20th Streets, watching each green letter descend. City of Wheeling employees have also been incredibly helpful, caring for the letters and providing storage space until they are ready to shine again.
But for OVGH History Group members the work was just beginning. With the help of CFOV, the group immediately began raising funds to restore and relight the letters, which are made of steel and green porcelain. Once restored, they will shine again—this time as a tribute to the generations of caregivers, patients, and students who once walked the hospital’s halls.
Preserving more than just lights and steel, the OVGH History Group has also collected more than 400 commemorative bricks, original hospital artifacts, and stories from former staff. The project is an act of love—for a building, a mission, and the community it served. The OVGH/OVMC Preservation Project Fund at CFOV has been instrumental in making these efforts possible.
“The OVGH History Group is especially lucky to have the OVGH/OVMC Preservation Project fund with the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley,” McKinley shared. “Staff have been terrific to work with, are exceptionally knowledgeable, and extremely responsive to our needs. We are forever grateful that we have such a great Foundation available to assist us in our work to preserve the legacy of OVGH/OVMC!”
As the one-year mark is celebrated, CFOV remains grateful for the opportunity to support a project so rooted in memory and meaning. From time capsules, uniforms, letters, and more– the story of OVGH is far from over.
The OVGH/OVMC Preservation Project Fund is accepting tax-deductible donations to ensure the lights—and the legacy—never grow dim. To make a cash gift to this effort, click here. If you wish to donate stocks, make a qualified charitable deduction from your IRA, or give other assets, contact the CFOV at 304-242-3144.
