In 1830, Noah Zane sold the property on which the current building stands to James Caldwell, who then transferred it in 1839 to Anne Caldwell “in trust for her son William James Chalmers.” In 1864, James Dalzell purchased the property from William James Chalmers for $5000. Deeds indicate that Anna McLain purchased the property in 1888 for $5500. The residence of John McLain, (Jr.), Anna McLain’s husband, in the 1886 City Directory was at 1116 Chapline Street. It was 83-12th Street in the 1888 directory. A two-story building with a slightly smaller footprint than the current structure appears on the 1890 Sanborn map. These dates, along with the 1888 purchase of the property by Anna McLain, suggest that a portion of the current building at 83 12th Street was built around 1888.

 

A Wheeling Register newspaper article dated June 6, 1915, describes substantial changes that were made to the building at that time by contractor Henry W. Fair. By comparing Sanborn maps from 1890 and 1902 to the 1921 map[1], it can be seen that the building was lengthened and a third story was added during the 1915 remodeling. The article states, “Work has been started on the remodeling and building of the McLain apartments…The building that occupied the site of the new building was the McLain homestead. Portions of the old building will be used in the construction of the new building, that is some of the walls, but the interior of the building will be changed entirely. There will be much new work added to the interior also, the building extending to the limits of the lot.”

 

The article continues, “The plans, which were drawn by Architect Fred Faris, provide for six apartments, two on each floor, each containing six rooms and bath. There will be a living room, two bedrooms, each opening into the bathroom, a servant’s room, dining room, and kitchen, in addition to a butler’s pantry.” Fourteen windows on each side were installed to allow for an “abundance of light.” Plans called for floors to be of hard wood woodwork painted white. Other features included solid porcelain plumbing fixtures, vapor heating system, a well-equipped laundry, and “a toilet and bath in the basement for the benefit of servants. A storage cellar is also arranged for each apartment. The exterior of the building will be of brick, plastered… On the Twelfth Street side, the front of the building, there will be a large double French window to each apartment opening upon a balcony, which will be closed in by an iron balustrade… In the rear there will be a porch, leading off from each apartment kitchen. On the east as well as on the west side, there will also be two large bay windows. The building will be 34 x 96 feet.”

 

The 1888 City Directory states that John G. McLain was employed at McLain Brothers, “John G. and Thomas B. McLain[2] - wholesale and retail druggists, also importers and dealers in parrots and singing birds, gold and silver fish, fine toilet articles, etc.,” located on the southwest corner of 12th and Market Streets.

 

John Gemmell McLain, Jr. (1834-1914) was called a “pioneer citizen” in his obituary. He was born in Warren, Ohio, but moved to Wheeling with his family when he was ten years old. He first entered the drug business with his brothers in the former Washington Hall, which was located on the northeast corner of 12th and Market Streets. A branch of McLain Brothers was located in Ritchietown (now known as South Wheeling). Later, their downtown business was located diagonally across the street from its first location, on the southwest corner of 12th and Market Streets

 

The 1880 Ohio County Census lists John G. McLain (merchant, age 46) and his wife Anna M. McLain (age 36), along with son Lawrence P. (age 14), daughter Katie (age 8), son William H. (age 6), and son Charles B. (age 2). “In 1890, John McLain retired from the firm and purchased the right to manufacture and sell in the United States the celebrated Todd’s Pills[3].” He reportedly had “an extensive trade, maintaining a laboratory at his home and office at the corner of 12th and Eoff Streets.” He is said to have conducted “exclusively wholesale business” selling in all parts of the United States. It was reported that he also purchased the right of manufacture of Laughlin Brothers[4], paying $50,000[5] for that privilege.

 

John G. McLain and his wife Anna Hay McLain spent most of the year in Wheeling and in their later years spent the summer at Mt. Lake Park, Maryland, where John died in 1914. It was after his death that the extensive remodeling described above was done to the building. Anna McLain (1845-1929) lived in the residence until her death 15 years after the death of her husband. Their children, many of whom lived or had offices in the building, included Dr. William Hay McLain, Dr. C. Bates McLain (dentist), Miss Katherine, and Margaret (Mrs. Charles F. Wilson). William Hay McLain (1874-1953) was a distinguished surgeon during World War I, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He later served as head of the city-county health department. A 1913 picture of members of the city’s health department[6] probably includes Dr. McLain, who is listed as the health commissioner at that time.

 

Various Wheeling City directories indicate the following residents:

• 1890-91: John G. McLain and R. Lawrence McLain (both with John G. McLain & Son) and student William H. McLain.

• 1892-93: John G. McLain (John G. McLain and Son) – residence, and Miss Catherine McLain, Miss Katherine McLain, R. Lawrence McLain (John G. McLain and Son) and William H. McLain (student).

• 1894-95: John G. McLain (John G. McLain and Son[7]) – residence, and Miss Katherine McLain, R. Lawrence McLain (John G. McLain and Son), and William H. McLain (student).

• 1896: John G. McLain (John G. McLain and Son[8]) – residence, and Dr. William H. McLain (physician and surgeon) – residence.

• 1901-02: John G. McLain (John G. McLain & Son[9]) - residence and Dr. William Hay McLain (physician and surgeon) - office and residence.

• 1903-04: John G. McLain (residence), Dr. W.H. McLain (physician), Dr. C. Bates McLain (dentist), and Miss Katherine McLain.

• 1904-05 and 1905-06: John G. McLain (retired), Miss A. Margaret McLain, Dr. C. Bates McLain (dentist), Miss Katherine C. McLain – all as residents, and Dr. William Hay McLain (physician and surgeon) – office and residence.

• 1907-09 and 1911-12: John G. McLain and Dr. W. H. McLain (physician). [Note, Dr. McLain was also listed as the city health officer in the 1911-12 directory.]

• 1917-18: McLain Flats. Mrs. Anna McLain, 2nd floor (widow of John G. McLain); Dr. W.H. McLain, physician (office and residence); George E. Hopkins, 3rd floor (secretary-treasurer of Hopkins Motor Co.); Burrows H. Tulle, 3rd floor (sales manager); Katherine McLain, 2nd floor; Clyde Tule.

• 1919-20: McLain Flats/McLain Apartments. Mrs. Anna McLean (sic), 2nd floor; Dr. W. H. McLain (physician); William H. Schaffer, 3rd floor; Joseph P. Wells, 3rd floor (secretary, Wheeling Can Company); Albert Schairer (vice president, Weimer Packing Company); Alfred B. Nay (A.E. Nay &Son); Katherine McLain.

• 1921-22: McLain Apartments. 1st floor: Mrs. Fanny Platt, M. Crumford Sherlock; 2nd floor: John W. Carpenter, George Shafer; 3rd floor: Alfred B. Nay, W.H. McLain, physician.

• 1923-24: McLain Apartments. Mrs. Anna McLain, George W. Mullins, Marcus Bachenheimer, W. H. McLain (physician), Alfred B. Nay.

 

Five or six people resided in the apartments from the mid 1920s up until and including the 1957-58 city directory. On August 16,1958, the McLain family descendants sold the property to the 12th Street Corporation. The 1959 directory lists the occupants as the law firm of Curl, Keefer, Schafer, & McKay (Joseph R. Curl, W. Frank Keefer, Sam E. Schafer, and E. Douglas McKay). Subsequent directories list various combinations of lawyers in the building until 2013. Other attorney names included Ben Honecker; John Bippus; and Hanlon, Estadt, and McCormick. Second and third floor apartments were shown as being occupied until 1985. After that date, directories indicate that the apartments were vacant.

 

Subsequent owners were: Betty Woods Nutting (1969), Historical Restoration Investment Assn (1972), Eoff Street Realty (1978), James B. McCluskey (1979), City of Wheeling (1982), and N. WV Land Title Company (1995). In 2009 Paul M. and Deborah McKay purchased the property for $40,000.

 

Current owners Heather and Ryan Slack, plan to rehabilitate the property. The Friends of Wheelng tour was a "before" look at the property.

 

Prepared by Jeanne Finstein for Friends of Wheeling

October 4, 2014

 

Sources:

• Cranmer, Hon. Gibson Lamb. "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902. pp 815-819.

• Obituaries of John G. McLain, Anna Hay McLain, and William H. McLain.

• Ohio County Census - 1880

• Ohio County Deed Records

• Ohio County Public Library

• Wheeling City Directories – various years

• Wheeling Register, June 6, 1915

 

Photos by Joanne Sullivan

 

 

[1] Although the three Sanborn maps all show the address of the property as 85 12th Street, it is obvious that they show the building currently listed as 83 12th Street.

 

[2] Thomas B. McLain built a house at 115 14th Street around 1892. That house is being rehabilitated by Brian Wilson.

 

[3] Todd’s Pills were a “cathartic” invented by Dr. Archibald S. Todd (1798-1883) of Wheeling.

 

[4] Laughlin’s advertized “Worm Syrup, the perfect vermifuge” and “Laughlin’s Infant Cordial – the child’s cure when teething.”

 

[5] Counting for inflation, $50,000 in 1890 is the equivalent of over $1.27 million today.

 

[6] Ohio County Public Library: http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/wheeling-history/wheeling-health-department-officials-and-employees-1913/4000

 

[7] Manufacturers of Dr. A.S. Todd’s Liver Pills, room K, McLain Block.

 

[8] Proprietors of McLain’s New Pharmacy, also manufacturers of Dr. A. S. Todd’s Liver Pills and Laughlin’s Infant Cordial, southwest corner of 11th & Market.

 

[9] Manufacturers of Dr. A.S. Todd’s Liver Pills and Laughlin’s Infant Cordial, 83 12th Street.