Wilbert H. "Webb ” Grubb & the story of “Wilbert Grubb Lane"

Wilbert H. "Webb ” Grubb and the story of “Wilbert Grubb Lane". May 17, 2017. , Wilbert H. Grubb is the only City of Buckhannon police officer ever killed in the line of duty. Officer Grubb was born in Upshur County on February 19, 1894, the son of Columbus Lee and Malinda Elizabeth Zickefoose Grubb. Officer Grubb was a proud military veteran who served as a private in the U.S. Army during World War I. He further served as Buckhannon's American Legion Post Commander for 15 years. He further had served as a Buckhannon police officer for two and a half years., On the evening of April 21, 1940, Officer Grubb was summoned to a home on Camden Avenue in response to a reported, attempted rape by a suspect upon his own mother. As Officer Grubb, then aged 46, approached the front door of the suspect's house- Byzantine Hartman fired a shotgun blast through the door striking Officer Grubb in the left shoulder knocking him to the ground. While Officer Grubb lay wounded, Hartman executed him by placing his shotgun into Officer Grubb's ear and firing again at point-blank range. These facts were recounted by the murderer's neighbor, eye witness Ben Thompson, who also was shot and seriously wounded during this attack. The murderer then stole the city police cruiser fleeing the scene. Moments later, Hartman wrecked the cruiser as he turned from the Florida Street Bridge on to Island Avenue, striking a tree and rolling the cruiser down the river bank only three blocks from this very site. The murderer then fled afoot proceeding through downtown shouting for police while making his way to the county jail. Hartman then confronted the jail keeper, Mrs. Grace Miller Grubb, demanding a gun and a knife. Bizarrely, the jail keeper was the wife of Officer Grubb, and she and the murderer apparently then were strangers unto each other. Mrs. Grubb was unaware that the man shouting for weapons had just murdered her beloved husband. Mrs. Grubb hid at the jail. Hartman was apprehended on Franklin Street by West Virginia State Police troopers shortly thereafter., Hartman who had previously been convicted of attempted rape and jail break, and had served sentences at the State Penitentiary, was promptly charged with and tried for murder. Circuit Court Judge John H. Brown appointed attorney J.D. Jennings to represent Hartman. The prosecuting attorney was A. Jerome Dailey. Following his apprehension and while awaiting trial, the murderer twice attempted to set fire to the Buckhannon jail. Hartman subsequently was moved to the Lewis County jail in Weston since Mrs. Grubb was the sole Buckhannon jail keeper, and community sentiment weighed heavily against the murderer while awaiting trial. During his incarceration, Hartman reportedly taunted police telling them that if he hadn't run out of shells he would have killed all of them, too. Dr. I.F. Hartman testified at trial that the second shotgun blast was the one that took the life of Officer Grubb. Justice was swift in 1940, as Hartman was tried on May 6, 1940. Hartman was convicted of first degree murder and during sentencing Judge Brown described the murder as "one of the most brutal in the annals of West Virginia history," before pronouncing the death sentence. Hartman was hanged at the Moundsville State Penitentiary on June 28, 1940, being the first Upshur County resident ever executed., In addition to his wife, Grace (1901-86), Officer Grubb was survived by his six year-old son, Charles Ray (1933-72), his parents, four brothers, and three sisters. Officer Grubb's service was conducted at the Whitescarver Funeral Home before one of the largest funeral congregations in Buckhannon's history. The Reverend E.L. Arnold, pastor of the Central Methodist Church, was in charge of the services, and Dr. W.H. Barlow, pastor of the Baptist Church also spoke. Members of the Frank B. Bartlett Post No. 7 of the American Legion assisted with the funeral. Officer Grubb's six pallbearers were all past commanders of the American Legion. Wilbert H. Grubb's remains were interred at the Lorentz United Methodist Church Cemetery atop the hill to the left of U.S. Route 33 as one drives east toward Buckhannon, where he continues to rest in peace beside his wife and son. Our community will always remember Officer Grubb's supreme sacrifice, and the Lane around our City's Public Safety Complex shall forever be dedicated in his honor and to his memory., Wilbert Grubb Lane serves as our community's permanent testament and reminder to us all of the perils confronted by our first responders, and the uncertainty they are subjected to during each call to which they respond as they serve and protect us. This "Lane" is established as a lasting tribute to and in appreciation of each of them as well., Dedicated by the City of Buckhannon during our community’s inaugural Police Officer Recognition Day celebration.