Wheeling and Matchbooks: The Perfect Match with Tony Paree

June 23, 2026
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Tony G. Paree’s fascinating journey began with a rediscovery of a basement bowl teeming with eye-catching matchbooks and their covers from places visited as a customer and tourist or procured as a collector. These tiny works of art promoting long-forgotten Wheeling restaurants, bars, banks, factories, other local businesses remind us of a once bustling Upper Ohio Valley. Tony is a native of Wheeling who spent 45 years working at Crone's Clothiers and became collector of local memorabilia with a commitment to saving the history that is found all around us. His other books include Victorian Trade Cards of Wheeling ( 2014) and Real Photo Postcards of Wheeling (2019).

Lunch With Books Livestream starts at noon on Facebook and YouTube.

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"Lunch With Books" is the library’s flagship program for adult patrons. These lunchtime programs feature authors, poets, musicians, historians, and more every Tuesday at noon. Bring lunch (to your computer), feed your brain!