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.  Continuously evolving under the Bowers Stewardship, the Estate had its last major facelift during the Arts and Crafts influence of the 30s and 40s. It continues to be lovingly restored and preserved today as an example of Mannington WV's vibrant importance to America virtually from the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence! Actually, there is a body of evidence that a very advanced Indian Civilization circa B.C. were the area's first inhabitants which will be linked here as research continues. Currently, however, this page will begin with the American Revolutionary War and the State in which, literally, the very first and the very last shots were fired... . So, of the Bowers Mansion, the town which became a city twice, and their origins... These are this page's Bookmarks for convenient navigation. According to the Genealogical and Personal History of the UPPER MONOGAHELA VALLEY West Virginia, vol. I, by James Morton Callahan, 1912, the City of Mannington stands on the site of a clearing first made in 1786 at the fork of Warrior and Pyles, becoming Buffalo Creek. The clearing was given by Governor Patrick Henry to Robert Rutherford of Winchester, Virginia via a patent for the lands on which Rutherford settled. It is located near the old Shawnee Indian trail made memorable by the Indian attacks along Buffalo Creek in 1774 1786 and 1787. To the Native Americans, including the Adena Indians, this area was known as the Forks of Buffalo. Its houses were [sic] a dwelling built by Wesley Clayton in 1843 and a tavern and store built by Samuel Koon soon thereafter. By 1845, then known as Koontown, it became a center for mercantile transactions. In 1852, Koontown was renamed Mannington, in honor of the civil engineer, James Manning, who designed the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s path west of the Monongahela River through the mountains to the State of Ohio. The railroad provided transportation for passengers and products from trappers, hunters, farmers of fertile fields, and lumbermen. From 1853, Mannington had a tannery and a good trade in timber products and farm products. The Virginia Assembly incorporated the Town of Mannington in 1856. The Burt family acquired the tannery and greatly improved it until the tannery was the town’s largest employer.
The Cival War was one of the most pivotal events in the history of these United States. It both decided the question of legal slavery and strengthened the role of a Federal Government. For Virginians, the 1861 - 1865 conflict was pivotal for yet an additional reason. The State of Virginia was rendered into two parts: east and west, with the formation of a new state called "West Virginia." With the cessation of the US Civil War, Mannington was re-incorporated in 1871 as a Town of West Virginia. Mannington may well be one of the few towns incorporated twice: once in Virginia and again in West Virginia.
Against this venerable backdrop, George W. Bowers (1878-1943) significantly secured the transition of the City of Mannington, and Marion, Monongalia, Ohio, and Taylor Counties WV, through a substantial industrial evolution, including World Wars and the Great Depression. Anyone who talks for long about Mannington's history must speak of the Honorable George W. Bowers, who moved from Wheeling to Mannington in 1904. Bowers opened a sanitary pottery – the Homewood Pottery Co. which had been constructed but never opened for business. When he was age 10 in Wheeling, according to the West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, "the Mannington Oil Field had become one of the largest in the State, with the largest well producing about 1,600 barrels per day." But the decline of the oil industry in WV was to begin in 1900, and the WV decline of natural gas production was to begin in 1917. Clay, an important resource in the pottery and brick industries, was different, especially from coal. Sand was also different, and WV-Ohio Valley Sand was the best resource in America for the production of the finest quality American Glass and Crystal. It was from Clay and Sand that George would build a magnificent foundation for the City of Mannington and for the quality of life there, especially including the coal miners. George would make a difference. He both created and empowered positive change. Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, September 6, 1878, son of Frank W. and Margaret (Williams) Bowers (both natives of Wheeling) and the grandson of George Bowers and Catherine (Walters) Bowers, George in 1907 married Sara George of Wellsburg, youngest daughter of Samuel George, a banker and manufacturer in that city, and Eliza (Kimberland) George also of Wellsburg, West Virginia. For 10 years, starting in 1894, George studiously applied himself to learn all he could about the pottery business from books, magazines, and co-workers at the Wheeling Pottery Company. In addition to helping advance that American Pottery Tradition, he also honed a keen analytical mind and insight into human nature. Before the age of 25, he served as a member of the Ohio County, WV, Republican Executive Committee, served as a member of the Congressional Committee, and had already held the appointment of WV Commissioner of the U.S. Committee of Fish and Fisheries prior to the New Century in 1900 (before age 22). From 1894, his interest in political participation impelled him to travel the area now known as North Central WV. The 'Gay 90s' had already brought national fame and unusal prosperty to Mannington. A former Mayor of the city is cited by the Philippi Plain Dealer in 1901: "Mannington is the first town in the state to get an automobile. It is owned by Mr. Charles R. Phillips of the Phillips Machine Works." Manningtonians, as they coupled pleasure with work, at the turn of the century looked forward to continuing prosperity in the days that lay ahead. It would be a long time before they could forget the tumultuous decade that had brought such far-reaching changes in their community and in their way of life. In George's travels, he made many friends also seeking the betterment of their communities. Some of his future influential friends who, as a team, would present many 'firsts' to the town included Fred W. Bartlett, L. S. Schwenck, Marsh Barrick, William Furbee, and more.
In 1904, George decided to go into business for himself, and the opportunity presented itself in Mannington, sixty miles to the south of Wheeling, where a small four-kiln pottery had been built in Mannington's Jericho section by M. L. Benedrum but never operated. At that time, the Homewood Pottery was a mile from the center of town.
The Arthur Prichard Family and several investors succeeded in establising the Mannington Electric Light Company generating plant on Howard Street and brought electricity to Mannington in 1898. Now that George had experienced first hand the ill effects of the oil field wagons on the unpaved streets and roads, he wanted a better way of reaching the Pottery than walking either on the B&O Railroad ties or stirring up summer's heavy dust (or through the mud). The town of Homewood, just east of the Pottery, had just become a new addition to Mannington. Clearly, not only the new Homewood Addition residents more than the mile further east, but also the Pottery's employees needed better and more reliable transportation. George and the men named above conceived a streetcar line idea.
In 1905, George's newly organized Mannington Electric and Power Company reached an agreement with the Mannington Electric Light Company. Streetcar track was laid and the Electric Light Company was purchased. The streetcar line never made it to Homewood. The B&O Railroad would not agree to the streetcar line crossing their railroad tracks. Homewood residents were transported as near to Homewood as possible and then walked the remaining distance. The Mannington 'Dinkey' was more gracious and generous: youngsters rode for free. Young people used it evenings and Sundays for picnics, outings, or just for the ride.
In 1908, another streetcar had its debut. The Fairmont-Mannington Electric Railway reached the Pottery. Via the necessary transfers, Mannington and Homewood residents could now travel in comfort as far as Clarksburg and all points in between. By 1911, one could travel north to Rivesville and Fairview. By approximately 1915, the Fairmont-Mannington line reached Main Street, Mannington and the 'Dinkey' phased out its 'Mannington only' operation in favor of the inter-urban expansive network. But this expansion also allowed the Pottery to expand and employ more persons. To keep Mannington in pace with the rapidly expanding times, especially its horse trading grounds adjoining the business section, Mrs. Sara G. Bowers made a gift to the City of a part of the 'Old Trading Ground" to be used as free parking space for automobiles. This area is behind the cinema and the Red Dot Pharmacy.,
Under George Bowers’ skillful management, the small pottery became one of the largest sanitary potteries in the United States and the World. George brought a unique view to this type of business. Mannington made all their pottery of vitreous china. That meant it was to be made from molds, which was a radical departure from placing a porcelain finish on a cast iron sink, bath, etc. The fact that these sinks, bathtubs, and commodes could be molded gave arichitects a brand new freedom. For the first time they could specify the exact size and shape for built-in designs instead of designing around what was commercially available.
The firm concentrated on the manufacture of a line of high-grade sanitary pottery and prospered – greatly. Some of the examples on display in the town’s museum are what war years could spare: seconds goods which would never be offered for sale or shipment to customers. The roadbeds of the often flooded city streets, by George's decree, were lined with seconds quality pottery shards to keep the streets useable during rainy conditions. This gave an exceptionally sturdy foundation when the streets became brick lined avenues. Nine years after opening the previously defunct business, in 1913, George changed the name from Homewood Pottery to Bowers Pottery, expanded the plant’s capacity, and greatly expanded the workforce which employed over 300 employees, operating out of eight (8) offices globally. Mannington’s truly first multi-national global corporation sold plumber's earthenware to every state in the United States, to island possessions, and to the world at large. Concentrating on the manufacture of a line of high-grade sanitary pottery, the company prospered and, at the height of its production, operated 20 kilns (up from 4) in a factory occupying about six acres of floor space, which gave it an annual capacity of 330,000 pieces. The Bowers Pottery for many years reigned as the nation's largest producer of bathroom fixtures and other products. George was portrayed as a "profound industrial, financial, and political leader" by authors Thomas J. Koon and Oce Smith of "Marion County, West Virginia - a pictorial history (IBSN 0-89865-948-5) who also portray the Mannington factory as "one of the world's largest sanitary potteries." Author Thomas J. Koon wrote in his book "Images of America: Marion County" (IBSN 0-7385-0694-X) that while Mannington had fame for its many 'firsts,' "Bowers Pottery put Mannington on the map."
The spirit of prosperous enthusiam which dominated the town led Albert Guy Heck to share programs received over his home-made radio (Albert was a local telegraph operator) with his neighbors. Within a few years, the Heck Radio System had a cable line stretching several miles. This is credited to be the first community radio cable system in the United States, and yes, George the early adopter of all things beneficial and new had four rooms in his now mansion fitted with baseboard outlets to receive Heck Radio programming.
The war years and the depression years which followed did not affect George’s extended family of employees, their families – His neighbors. His loyalty, generosity, belief in the value of a good education for all stood as a beacon of hope during difficult times. Not contented simply to employ families, he challenged and rewarded their children. Each year to the three highest achieving students in town he gave personally a $10, $5, and $1 solid gold coin to each valedictorian and their best competitors. . But George did more; his lasting legacy to the City, Counties, the State of WV and the world are truly astonishing. Active in public affairs for years in both Ohio and Marion counties and serving on the Wheeling City Council, he was elected to the Senate of West Virginia in November 1920 from the 11th District composed of Marion, Monongalia, and Taylor counties by a majority of 8,087 votes. Three years later, the Town of Mannington was finally Incorporated its second time as a City in 1923. Registered as a Republican, he did more good for the ‘everyday working man,’ the sick and dying, and children orphaned, neglected, abused, or physically and/or sensory challenged than some of our most celebrated Democrats in the latter twentieth and current twenty first century. To glean just a small amount of his gracious humanitarianism, this link will take you to a summary of what George, now age 45, was concerned with in just the 1923 WV State Senate Session, which includes establishing the heretofore neglected Office of Lieutenant Governor of WV. The Homewood Glass Company, also known as Mannington Glass, began operation in 1919, after the Mannington Glass Works' factory was destroyed by a major fire on April 19, 1909. Glass was needed for the many bottling companies needs, building construction, and finer glass creations from bevel edged window and door panes to glass eggs.
Some of this glasswork's fame can be traced to the 1885 patented improvement on the Mason Jar, the Lightning Jar. The Lightning Jar was an important advancement in the history of home canning. They became popular because the glass lids prevented food contact with metal; the metal clamps were inexpensive to manufacture ant the lids themselves were much easier to seal and remove. There were two glass companies in Canada which made them; there were nine (9) companies in the USA. Yes, Mannington Glass of Mannington, WV was one of the nine. Their popularity spread as far as Australia.
Proclaiming at one point its milk bottles were used by one third of milk dealers and it was the largest milk bottle manufacturer in the United States, Mannington Glass Works registered an "M" as their Mass seal which would have looked like this "L" seal
 To rebuild and expand, Homewood Glass commenced the issue of both Preferred and Common Stock on September 11, 1930, perhaps a happier remembrance of 911 events. The last stock certificates issued and signed by George W. Bowers were on August 8, 1935. Mannington was contributing to America’s Finest Glass, another ‘green industry’ with GW at the helm. During the first Great Depression, Mannington was creating jobs for its citizens, not losing them.
On February 16, 1931, George, his wife Sarah, and others incorporated the Bowers Realty Company.
During the depression years, Mannington's three banks merged; the institution that came out of those hard times was the First Exchange Bank. The bank was chartered by the State of West Virginia on June 25, 1932. The first president of the bank was George W. Bowers From its incorporation in 1932 under Senator Bowers, the First Exchange Bank has made a conscious decision to remain independent and to assist in the Marion County communities it serves. To this day, it’s Board and their Officers and staff are encouraged to participate in non-profit and service organizations to make a positive community impact. As of 2007, the bank now has a total of seven offices located in Mannington, Hundred, Fairview, Barrackville, Fairmont, and Morgantown. Only the Morgantown branch is outside of Marion County. The FEB’s management philosophy still remains true to the philosophies and ethical guidelines of its Founding President, a fitting tribute to the legacy of the Honorable George W. Bowers. On February 18, 1927, George was a duly inducted member of the Member of the West Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. That honor was reciprocated. It is the SAR's mission statement to maintain and expand the meaning of patriotism, respect for our national symbols, the value of American citizenship, and the unifying force of "e pluribus unum" that was created from the people of many nations -- one nation and one people. A patriot by lineage, George soon became President of the West Virginia Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and served well into the 1940's. He served as a 1st District Delegate for the West Virginia Delegation to the 1936 Republican National Convention. Business holdings ultimately would include the Bowers Pottery Company, Mannington WV ; Homewood Glass Company, Mannington WV; Bowers Realty Company, Mannington WV ; First Exchange Bank, Mannington WV; Warwick (USA) China Company, Wheeling WV; S. George Company, Wellsburg WV, and the Canonsburg China & Pottery Companies, East Palestine, OH. Bowers served as President and General Manager of the Bowers Pottery Company, President and General Manager of the Homewood Glass Company, President of the S. George Company, Director of Wheeling Title Company, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Warwick China Company, during which time in 1934 that company took over the building that had housed FOKKER {q.v.} Aircraft Corporation, the company which during World War II switched from making toys to making artillery shells. Advancing culture as well as the arts and sciences, George was an extremely well-read and avid collector, humanitarian, philanthropist, and naturalist. The American Numismatic Association lists George W. Bowers as having joined in September 1926 from West Virginia as Member #3,042 and then becoming Life-Member #27 in February 1928. Whenever a youngster returned one of his errant, rollicking dogs, George removed from the glass jar on his desk a five cent coin, the then price of admission to Mannington’s Cinema. When the admission escalated to seven cents, a second jar of one cent coins was added to insure rewards for good deeds kept pace with inflation. Some sixty years later, a personal letter from Helen Keller signed by her which related to the relief of the doubly-challenged both sightless and deaf, whose plight only she could so eloquently plead, was found among some vintage stockings purchased apparently on or for a trip to New York. Ms. Keller’s typed letter to George evidences his acts of kindness were not restricted to the Midlantic United States or his own WV Senate Bills protecting the young, blind, deaf, dumb, deformed, or orphaned. An accomplished virtuoso on several instruments and skilled concert pianist, George and Sara’s youngest daughter, Margaret, studied under world masters at the Julliard School in New York. Is it any wonder Mannington had a vibrant Opera House, which had hosted George M Cohen and Paderewski, in addition to its Cinema. Mannington’s first four wheeled, highly versatile ladder fire cart was a personal gift to the town from George, circa 1920. This cart was provisioned numerous ladders and a scaling ladder with a large hook at one end. Perhaps better known as a hook and ladder truck, for the first time firemen could climb up a multi-storey building with the appropriate equipment. The cart had removable lanterns, leather buckets, axes. and pikepoles to complement the array of ladders. While the family were members of the Mannington Methodist Church, years later, wife Sara would insure the Mannington Episcopal Church had a fully modern, furnished kitchen to complement the Church’s new parish hall upon learning it had been built entirely by volunteer labor. Even later in her life, after her husband had passed on, Sara donated consistently to be the betterment of Mannington. Sara's donation to the City of East End Park in 1956 is documented in the 1956 Mannington District Fair programme. An avid, eclectic man with a passion for books of all description, he came to be a collector in a number of areas of interest, not the least of which were his esteemed libraries of books; first editions if he could get them. In the days before any formal public library of the sort Americans have come to expect as a part of any city, town, or village, George opened Mannington's first public library. He opened his considerable personal library at his home to the youth of Mannington with the sole stipulation that a new book could not be borrowed until the first borrowed book had been returned. The library was documented by the West Virginia University television program West Virginia Journal via two videos (Video 1 and Video 2) produced and broadcast over three weeks on WV-PBS in 2001 of some highlights of the Sale of the Century: The Bowers Estate Auction. The well over 20,000 volumes in the Bowers Personal Library included many numismatic rarities as well as histories (particularly Virginian and West Virginian), political items, collected works of fiction (principally of the 1920s to 1940s), autographed first editions of all kinds, and journals. Of the six day extended estate auction, the largest in the history of the State of West Virginia, one entire day had to be devoted only to the books. When the purchaser of the rare Stickney coin returned home and opened it for its provenance, three pages of hand written notes detailing the arrival of Halley’s Comet in 1910 were found. George W. Bowers was also an amateur astronomer, and, yes, a very nice brass telescope was among the auction items. George and Sara Bowers had three daughters, none of whom ever married. Between the growth in size of his family as well as his eclectic collections and libraries, renovation, innovation, and remodeling were continually imposed upon his home and in and around his estate park grounds. People in Mannington knew the Bowers family were well off. Few however, if any, realized just what treasures were contained inside the walls of the ever-expanding House on High Street. A signed 1st edition of The Book Of Mormon and a page of The Guttenberg Bible were among the unique world treasures in Mannington. After George died on October 28, 1943 and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery at Wheeling, although the family remained in their Mannington home, their home became frozen in time, frozen in 1945. George’s last surviving daughter, Frances, provided in her will that her family’s personal possession be auctioned off, thus creating the George W Bowers Family Charitable Trust.
Grants from the Trust are reserved for public and non-profit projects which benefit the citizens of Mannington and Marion County.
Said one of the attendees and observers of the week long estate auction, "Businessman George Bowers amassed over a museum’s worth of stuff in his 28-room home. These effects could fill San Simeon, publisher William Randolph Hearst’s massive mountaintop California retreat."
The George W. Bowers Family Charitable Trust established The George W. Bowers Family Charitable Trust Scholarship in support of student scholarship at Fairmont State University.
The Marion County Board of Education, awarded $25,860 for Second Graders, has purchased a cross-curricular library for each elementary school in Marion County.
Mylan Park, begun in 1999, has grown from vision to reality in part assisted by the Trust.
Theatre flourishes. Scholarships and Scholastic Endowments abound. WV Culture and Arts have been championed, including a renovation gift and endowment of the Fort Henry Room at the Olglebay Foundation in Wheeling.
Hospital Gift Shops, particularly the one in Fairmont General Hospital which received a check of $97,000 from Francis Bowers upon learning the building project had run short of cash and deleted the proposed gift shop to balance the construction budget again, have been made possible by the Bowers Family in addition to hospital expansion itself.
George would have liked being named a charter member in the Fairmont State University President's Circle of Wisdom.
It is fitting that NASA is so close to the Bowers House. Mannington's Bowers family continues to be recognized as an active industry partner investing in innovation.
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