jeffcovey.net -- wheeling, west virginia

my brother jim was married at the mcmurray family reunion (my mother's family) at oglebay park in wheeling, west virginia, on 7/14/2007. i went for the weekend and enjoyed time with members of the extended family i hadn't seen for many years.

the family is camera-mad, and since the wedding consisted of a 15-minute ceremony and 45 minutes of photo taking, i didn't need to take any there myself. i'll be seeing far more than eyes can handle as soon as everyone gets home and starts emailing.

on the way from the park to the interstate, however, i drove a little further into town to see if i could find a place fill the tank with cheaper gas, and before i knew it, i was climbing the hill that leads to my uncle tom's house. i stopped at the overlook at the crest of the hill leading down to the ohio river, and snapped a few frames.

i was sad at how run-down wheeling looks these days, full of burned-out and falling-in buildings and out-of-businesses. the overlook was no exception, crumbling and covered with graffiti, and with trees and weeds so high that it only offers a good view in the winter.

click on any photo to see a larger version of it.
	i saw barges headed down the river and hoped i might get a good shot of the scene, but i'm afraid my camera's not good enough at that range. comments (0)
	a wider view. i was only able to get above the trees in the foreground by standing precariously on the overlook wall. comments (0)
	the overlook, looking toward the wall i was standing on. comments (0)
	looking toward the stairs going to the base of the overlook. it's a shame the city's let the weather and vandals bring it to this point of decay. comments (2)
	passing through town on my way back to i-70, i stopped to snap a photo of this baltimore connection, wheeling's b&o building, now the main campus of west virginia northern community college. comments (0)