Wheeling and Mail Pouch Tobacco: A Brief History

[K.E. Powell]

This brief but excellent video dives into some of the history of the Mail Pouch Tobacco imagery seen all throughout rural Appalachia, particularly in my neck of the woods, Wheeling, WV. The subject of the video, Harley Warrick, was one of the men who made some of his living painting barns and advertising Mail Pouch tobacco.

The old Wheeling Stogie factory has been unoccupied and for sale for some time, a reminder of a time gone by. It's a piece of history that in some ways, can induce a little bit of melancholy to me. I can't say it is a past I am nostalgic for; I was of age around the time the factory shut down. Seeing the Wheeling Stogie sign and the building gradually but surely atrophy with time, however, is still jarring, a reminder of more prosperous times.

Still, even as a kid, I remember seeing these barns all the time, and one can still see them if they drive out to the country. It's great to learn why they are so ubiquitous. Hope you guys enjoy this video as much as I did.

 

[BCF]

Great video. Thank you for sharing.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Cool video, thanks for posting it. I remember smoking Marsh Wheeling Stogies years ago. I kind of liked the history they represented going all the way back to the Civil War days. Maybe it's time to look for another box of them.

 

[anotherbob]

This brief but excellent video dives into some of the history of the Mail Pouch Tobacco imagery seen all throughout rural Appalachia, particularly in my neck of the woods, Wheeling, WV. The subject of the video, Harley Warrick, was one of the men who made some of his living painting barns and advertising Mail Pouch tobacco.

The old Wheeling Stogie factory has been unoccupied and for sale for some time, a reminder of a time gone by. It's a piece of history that in some ways, can induce a little bit of melancholy to me. I can't say it is a past I am nostalgic for; I was of age around the time the factory shut down. Seeing the Wheeling Stogie sign and the building gradually but surely atrophy with time, however, is still jarring, a reminder of more prosperous times.

Still, even as a kid, I remember seeing these barns all the time, and one can still see them if they drive out to the country. It's great to learn why they are so ubiquitous. Hope you guys enjoy this video as much as I did.

yeah we had a few barns with those paintings around here. One in walking distance from the house I grew up in.

 

[condorlover1]

Marsh-Wheeling are one of the few cigars I really love and you don't see them around as much these days. I may be wrong but I think these were the preferred cigar smoked by General Grant if I am not mistaken.

 

[yanoJL]

Great share Mr. Powell. Thank you!