In 1998, Mary Ellen Beam was selected as the first History Hero for Marshall County. Every organization needs a mentor. This is how the Marshall County Historical Society views Mary Ellen Beam. Mary Ellen remembered when the building we purchased for our museum and meeting place located at 301 13th Street in Moundsville had been the Hughes Mission church, and she encouraged us in the renovation work.

In 1987, through the efforts of Mary Ellen, “Kirkside” (also known as the Ferrel-Holt House) built in 1877 in Moundsville was placed on the National Historic Register.

Even at the age of 92, Mary Ellen still wrote a weekly column “Let’s Take Time” for the Moundsville Echo in which she championed the preservation of our county.