The Romney Literary Society, established on January 30, 1819, as the Polemic Soc

iety of Romney, was the first literary society in what is now West Virginia, and
one of the first in the United States. It was founded by nine prominent Romney
men with the objectives of advancing literature and science, purchasing and main
taining a library, and improving educational opportunities. The society debated
a range of scientific and social topics, and often violated its own rules bannin
g religious and political subjects. The society's library began in 1819 and grew
to contain around 3,000 volumes in 1861. The organization also sought to establ
ish an institution for "the higher education of the youth of the community". Dur
ing the Civil War the contents of the library were plundered by Union Army force
s. The society was reorganized in 1869 and took a leading role in Romney's civil
development. In 1870 the group built the Literary Hall (pictured) and offered i
ts former campus to the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind. The Litera
ry Hall housed the library and group meetings until their last recorded meeting
in 1886. (Full article...)
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