West virginias coal miners and their battle for freedom. Take a look at these historic photos for a glimpse of the hard work, risk, and dedication from coal miners and their families throughout our states history. Logan co mine town story west virginia born, i was. Government officials blamed the inexperience of a crew constructing a ventilation passage, whose work diverted the airflow and allowed explosive gas to accumulate. As a coal miners daughter, i recall how the black dust embedded in my fathers fingerprints left sooty smudges on every birthday card and paycheck. Excerpts from a 1921 book that lists all the coal mines in west virginia. Grand forks herald north dakota a captivating new book. It gives a written description of the accidents and at the end is a list of miners names and nationalities. Users can zoom in on mining areas and retrieve information for individual mines. Matewan dvd goldenseal book of the west virginia mine wars western maryland railway in west virginia. Author to discuss book about public hanging parkersburg news and sentinel, 062019 paradise park is coming. Image from the out of print book the new river companymining coal and making history 19061976 southern west virginia coalfields. Aug 05, 2016 the hobet mine was born in 1974 under a man named fil nutter part of a west virginia prospecting family that controlled a construction company, limestone pit and smalltime coal mines.
Books and some articles relating to coal mining, especially historical. A history of coal in west virginia friends of coal. Humphrey, historical summary of coal mine explosions in the united states, 18101958 washington, dc. They died for king coal by lucy a dillon i do not know much about this book but i believe it continues the information found in the first book. Green relates west virginias coal business to the human history, especially the amazing mine wars before and after. A portrait of a coal mining community campbells creek. Oct 02, 2015 scores of articles and books have now been published on the history of west virginias coal industry from the perspective of these coal mining families. Miners today can see the same stone patterns that their fathers and grandfathers saw decades ago as they dug into the mountains of west virginia many appalachian families trace their roots to migrants who fled tenantfarming abuse in ireland or. In this authoritative book spanning the whole of that history, from the midnineteenth century to present, noted rail author brian solomon explores the railroads and hardware that have transported the fossil fuels that made america work. His brown eyes, lined with kohl, live in my memory. Important dates in west virginias mining history 1742 first discovery of coal by john peter salley in the area now comprising west virginia. Effective date august 28, 2015 wv board of coal mine health and safety 2014. Get a glimpse of west virginias mining history in these.
Dmr handbooks wv department of environmental protection. Stuart mcgehee coal has a rich heritage in west virginia and has contributed significantly to the progress and wellbeing of west virginians since it was first discovered in what is now boone county in 1742 by peter salley, more than a century before west virginia became a state. James greens history of the coalmining uprisings in west virginia in. Dec 03, 2019 in west virginias marion county, an explosion in a network of mines owned by the fairmont coal company in monongah kills 361 coal miners. In west virginias marion county, an explosion in a network of mines owned by the fairmont coal company in monongah kills 361 coal miners. United mine workers journal, 15 july 1942, hereafter referred to as umwj. The roofs of coal mines are often lined with the fossils of ancient forests, the outlines of plants and trees buried for millions of years. A book about a young doctor in the west virginia coal camps. West virginias drift mines were cut into the mountains horizontally and its. A methane gas explosion november 6, 1923, inside the illfated glen rogers coal mine killed 27 men, the worst accident of any kind in wyoming county history. Campbells creek a portrait of a coal mining community. Government officials blamed the inexperience of a crew constructing a ventilation passage, whose work diverted the.
The resulting flood unleashed approximately 2 million us. Marilynn evans did that with the awardwinning 2015 documentary blood on the mountain, directed by evans and jordan freeman, an unflinching look. Some of the most famous strike episodes in the history of the american coal industry occurred in west virginia between 1910 and 1933, including the paint creekcabin creek strike of 1912. True story about the coal miners versus the coal companies and the armed thugs they send to do their. An estimated 95,000 miners died in the nations coal mines from 1900 to 1950, according to mine safety and health administration records. The poor conditions in the mines brought about the first west virginia coal mining legislation in 1883. Green received his phd in history from yale university and is a professor of. Nov 15, 2018 important dates in west virginias mining history 1742 first discovery of coal by john peter salley in the area now comprising west virginia. In 1890, the state union of united mine workers of america was organized in wheeling to push for better conditions. The hobet mine was born in 1974 under a man named fil nutter part of a west virginia prospecting family that controlled a construction company, limestone pit and smalltime coal mines. A short history of mining and its decline in west virginia. West virginia history celebrated labor historian james green tells the story of west virginia and coal like never before.
According to swains 1916 book history of logan city, rossmore mine was opened in 1915, originally owned by the logan mining company which also owned the mona mine at monaville and several other logan county mines. Charleston gazette popcult blog, 05162018 writer, illustrator detail creation of wvthemed mountain christmas childrens book charleston gazette, 12152017. It is worth noting that photo has a note on it stating the mine was a west virginia coal and coke operation at that time. Apr 25, 2017 child coal miners with mules in gary, west virginia in 1908. According to the energy information agency eia, an office of the federal department of energy, west virginia coal production yeartodate is up 20 percent over the same period last year, and we appear on target to possibly cross the 100 million ton level for the full year. Scores of articles and books have now been published on the history of west virginias coal industry from the perspective of these coal mining families.
Get a glimpse of west virginias mining history in these 12. Ever wondered what life was like in the west virginia coalfields during the take a look. The beginnings of coal development from the semicentennial history of west virginia, by james callahan, 19 mining the mountains series from the charleston gazette online mining industry accident, injuries, employment, and production data from the department of labor, mine safety and health administration msha. Wv board of coal mine health and safety 2015 contact. Aside from telling riveting stories of labor battles, green also dissects how the mine wars are interpreted today. High school majorettes and band is one of many included in todd hansons book campbells creek. These 12 rare photos show west virginias mining history like never before december 6 is officially designated as miners day in the state of west virginia.
The 25th anniversary edition of campbells creek a portrait of a coal mining community is a special reprint that holds the original content intact, just as it appeared when first released in october 1989. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. It was the worst mining disaster in american history. The original campbells creek book has been sold out for more than twenty years. Marilynn evans did that with the awardwinning 2015 documentary blood on the mountain, directed by evans and jordan freeman, an unflinching look at the history and impact of coal mining in. Box 15 100 kelly ave oak hill, wv 25901 855 9822625 contact us site map. Eugene mcauliffe, certain aspects of coal mine safety, coal mine modernization year book, 1941 washington, dc. Watson in the development of the coal and railroad industry in the monongahela valley. Excerpts from a 1921 book that lists all the coal mines in west. Working conditions were brutal for coal miners, and unionization was violently suppressed. Jun 20, 2017 the poor conditions in the mines brought about the first west virginia coal mining legislation in 1883. Montana mine, fairmont coal company, marion county, w.
Employment, which exceeded 800,000 in the 1920s, has fallen below 66,000. Users can zoom in on mining areas and retrieve information for individual mines, including historical. Blood on the mountain mining documentary to screen on. A photo in the rossmore mine photo gallery on this logan, wv history and nostalgia website is of the tipple and surrounding area in the 1930s.
Stuart mcgehee coal has a rich heritage in west virginia and has contributed significantly to the progress and wellbeing of west virginians since it was first discovered in what is now boone county in 1742 by peter salley, more. Dmr handbooks the department of mining and reclamation handbooks are provided for a comprehensive guide to understanding the processes of our various departments. Thomas merges into coketon, which was completely a coal company town, and i dont know exactly where one ends and the other begins. The rise and demise of a west virginia coal mine reuters. The people using the coal wanted it to be cheap, the miners wanted to earn enough money. The west virginia town of harpers ferry was the site of john browns illfated 1859 raid on the federal armory there. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Other subjects include the morgantown and kingwood railroad, pierces coal. James greens the devil is here in these hills the new york times.
A day in the life of a west virginia coal miner literary hub. Tonnage, usually above 1 billion, dropped to 749 million tons in 2016. Tomorrow night at 9pm pbss american experience will broadcast the mine wars, based on the book. Overview papers of the eighth governor of west virginia, 18901893, who was an attorney in marion county, 18631867, a member of the house of delegates, 18721875, a circuit judge, 18781888. Author releases updated version of campbells creek history book. This book covers mining disasters between 1886 and 1968 in wv. See more ideas about mingo county, west virginia, mingo.
Author releases updated version of campbells creek history. The regions first coal miners primarily were african americans, both enslaved and free. Without government regulation or labor rights, miners worked 16hour days. Print published in a book titled, properties owned and controlled by the consolidated coal company west virginia properties inspected by directors and their guests aug. The west virginia geological and economic survey provides an interactive map of underground and surface coal mining activity in west virginia. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. By 1850, approximately half of kanawha countys slaves worked in the salt industrymany mined coal to fuel the furnaces. Two books shed light on wv coal history news register. Congress granted statehood to west virginia on june 20, 1863.
Looking towards the future of coal mining communities means remembering our past and realizing the truths of our present. The first century and a quarter of the american coal industry 1942. Between 1880 and 1920, southern west virginias population grew from 93,000 to 446,000, due almost entirely to the coal industry. Not by choice here in 1951 living in a company town we call hollers, no town. A state mine inspector was appointed to inspect all mines for adequate safety conditions.
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