Stifel Family Stewards of Property for Decades

WHEELING — Edward W. Stifel III of Wheeling represents the third generation of his family to watch over land in one of Appalachia's most treasured canyons. The property, said Stifel, was worked and enjoyed by his father and his grandfather before him.

Stifel

 The family's first stake in the property was purchased in 1926 by Stifel's grandfather, Edward W. Stifel Sr. Now retired, Stifel III is seeking to sell the property — and his well-known Smoke Hole Lodge — to a prospective buyer. A new agreement with the Nature Conservancy, however, will ensure that the land remains as well-preserved as it was under Stifel's care.

 Stifel was born in Wheeling in 1934 to Edward W. Stifel Jr., a businessman, and Elizabeth Waterhouse Stifel. His mother, now Elizabeth Miner, also resides in Wheeling.
He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and then spent two years in the Army from 1956 to 1958. From 1960 to 1980, Stifel worked in data processing for various companies, and it was in 1960, he said, that he began to visit Smoke Hole frequently on the weekends.
 In 1977, he assumed partial ownership of the Smoke Hole property and soon purchased the remaining land from his relatives. In 1980, he began to operate the property commercially, taking in guests and raising cattle. In 1986, Stifel oversaw the construction of the Smoke Hole Lodge, which hosted guests during the summer months until it closed in 2000.

Smoke Hole Canyon deep in West Virginia's untouched territory Conservancy protects world's natural diversity Stifel family stewards of property for decades Island donated to conservation effort Nature Conservancy enforces rules for visiting preserves Stifel reflects on rustic Smoke Hole wilderness retreat Preserves across West Virginia Volunteers help preserve, maintain W.Va. sites Conservancy's mission is to protect America's wilderness heritage Conservancy works to protect diversity of lands, plants, animals worldwide A sample of Nature Conservancy areas throughout the nation

 Now retired, Stifel has been able to spend his time on another passion: restoring, showing and touring with old cars. He said his hobby started in 1954 when he purchased a 1932 Packard convertible.
 With four such automobiles of high sentimental value, Stifel enjoys driving locally, as well as traveling across the country to visit different car shows. He is a member of nine different car clubs, he said.

 His grandfather, Stifel Sr., spearheaded the movement to build a local airfield, which is now part of the Ohio County Airport. Stifel Sr. also worked in the J.L. Stifel & Sons calico plant that was once located on Main Street in North Wheeling, between Third and Fourth streets.

 The company was founded by Stifel Sr.'s grandfather, Johann Ludwig Stifel, who emigrated from Germany in 1832. The Wheeling-based company became one of the largest calico producers in the United States, shipping its product throughout the world.

 Stifel Sr.'s former home on National Road has since been converted into the site of the Oglebay Institute's Stifel Fine Arts Center. Stifel called the house "Edemar," for his children Edward, Emily and Mary.