Information with print includes electric mining, rope and electric haulage, capacity 2000 tons. The collection includes production records, inventory, shipping book, payroll sheets, a daybook, and a letter book. Aug 12, 2019 a coalminer walks through the morning fog before going underground in a mine less than 40in high in welch, west virginia. Plymouth the putnam county connection is a pictorial look into the communitys coal and river history and heritage from 1887 to 1943 and its connection.
King coal is a wellillustrated overview of coal mining in the mountain state. Popular coal mining books meet your next favorite book. A must read for anyone who cares about the economic injustice of today and the future of our democracy as a native west virginian and coauthor of west virginia usa, a bicentennial book published in 1976, i have read dozens of books and countless articles about the coal wars of west virginia and the courageous lives of the laboring class across america who fought against economic injustice. The austinville lead and zinc mine in wythe county, virginia operated in the 18th century and was important in the revolutionary war in the production of bullets. Donald trump yet to deliver promise to end barack obamas war on coal but locals hopeful the worst is far behind them. 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.
A day in the life of a west virginia coal miner literary hub. A state mine inspector was appointed to inspect all mines for adequate safety conditions. Coal zoom west virginia man writes book about coal town. Those coal towns disappeared just as quickly as they appeared, though, leaving the ruins of the towns to be reclaimed by nature. The original campbells creek book has been sold out for more than twenty years. Like most of west virginia, the new river gorge area has a rich history of coal mining. Important dates in west virginias mining history 1742 first discovery of coal by john peter salley in the area now comprising west virginia. 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. It was the basic energy source that fueled the industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th. West virginia coal mining history the pop history dig. For additional stories at this website on the history of coal and coal mining, see for example, the following.
The fossil fuel resource, present in all but two of west virginias 55 counties, began to thrive as a commercial industry in the late 19th century. This book discusses and illustrates the basics of mining methods and operations, the geology of the state, life in a coal town, the unrest in the coalfields and more. See explanation of types of coal mines on this page. The regions first coal miners primarily were african americans, both enslaved and free. Browsing west virginia history onview wvu libraries. West virginia has been of more or less importance as a coal producing state since it was formed in 1863. Press babysitters club author martin to headline 2020 wv book festival charleston gazette, 02212020 putting the word out. Apr 25, 2017 child coal miners with mules in gary, west virginia in 1908. Its predominant use has always been for producing heat energy. Campbells creek a portrait of a coal mining community. In west virginias marion county, an explosion in a network of mines owned by the fairmont coal company in monongah kills 361 coal miners. Sep 02, 2019 west virginia man writes book about coal town september 2, 2019 todd a.
King coal describes the living conditions of the miners, and some of the state s worst mining disasters. The year 1883 is an important year in west virginia s coal history. In a west virginia town, residents and the industry fight over a mountains fate. Working conditions were brutal for coal miners, and unionization was violently suppressed. The first reported discovery of coal occurred in 1742, more than a century before west virginia became a state. Secondly, the trade association is determined to preserve the dwindling number of coal jobs. In 1890, the state union of united mine workers of america was organized in wheeling to push for better conditions. A history of coal in west virginia friends of coal. Worst mine disasters in west virginia history tiano odell. A portrait of a coal mining community campbells creek. The west virginia geological and economic survey provides an interactive map of underground and surface coal mining activity in west virginia. Dana of kanawha county, west virginia, engaged in coal mining and general merchandise.
Post card, miners house, pemberton coal and coke company, affinity. 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. As a native west virginian and coauthor of west virginia usa, a bicentennial book published in 1976, i have read dozens of books and countless articles about the coal wars of west virginia and the courageous lives of the laboring class across america who fought against economic injustice during the most ruthless periods of the american. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The poor conditions in the mines brought about the first west virginia coal mining legislation in 1883. The industrys most striking growth, however, has been made since the year 1893. Recruitment of immigrants west virginia department of arts. West virginia office of miners health safety and training. Box 15 100 kelly ave oak hill, wv 25901 855 9822625 contact us site map. Plymouth the putnam county connection is a pictorial look into the communitys coal and river history and heritage from 1887 to 1943 and its connection to campbells creek in kanawha county.
Coal mining, extraction of coal deposits from the surface of earth and from underground. The west virginia archives and history web site offers detailed information on the states history, outlines the documents available in the state archives, and provides assistance in conducting genealogical research. Early mining in virginia began with the retrieval of flint and stone by american indians for use as tools, and with the mining of bog iron ore near jamestown in 1619. Coal age handbook of coal surface mining 1978 isbn 0070114587. Carter coal company was incorporated on january 18,19.
Jun 20, 2017 the poor conditions in the mines brought about the first west virginia coal mining legislation in 1883. Interactive map of coal mines in west virginia american. West virginia had only a few active coal mines during the us civil war, with fewer than 1,600 miners in the whole state. Child coal miners with mules in gary, west virginia in 1908.
The history of coal mining in west virginia is a story of exploitation, explosions, murders, and struggle, but above all, its a story of hard work. A brief history first appeared in 1963, a little book by a man with no training as either a writer or a historian. Users can zoom in on mining areas and retrieve information for individual mines, including historical. March 16, 2015 paramont coal company virginia, llc rib fall. In its first year as a state, the total production was 444,648a short tons. 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. Mining the mountains explosives and machines are destroying appalachian peaks to obtain coal. Throughout history, coal booms have been underlined by the deaths of hardworking miners stuck in the wrong place at the wrong time. The fossil fuel resource, present in all but two of west virginias 55 counties, began to thrive as a commercial industry in the late 19th century, when the completion of. Congress granted statehood to west virginia on june 20, 1863. Get a glimpse of west virginias mining history in these 12. Between 1880 and 1920, southern west virginias population grew from 93,000 to 446,000, due almost entirely to the coal industry. January 11, 2012 consolidation coal company exploding vessel. The mining your history foundation was formed in april 1995 by a committee of west virginians with three goals in mind.
The coal industry was essentially the states sole source of work, and massive corporations built homes, general stores, schools, churches and recreational facilities in the remote towns near the mines. Watson in the development of the coal and railroad industry in the monongahela valley. The modern practice of coal mining 1907 chirons, nicholas p. By 1850, approximately half of kanawha countys slaves worked in the salt industrymany mined coal to fuel the furnaces. Coal history birth of the coal industry railroads coal miners company towns king coal from shovels to machines united mine workers coal camp baseball end of an era. West virginia coal facts west virginia coal mine disasters from 1884 west virginia mine map archives mining in west virginia. In fact, during the industrial period, more than 50 coal towns sprung up there, bringing thousands of people to the gorge. With the growth of the industry the first mine safety laws were passed by the west virginia legislature on february 22, 1883. Get a glimpse of west virginias mining history in these.
The map shows areas of active and historical coal mining in both underground and surface mines, with separate colors for auger and highwall mining. 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. West virginia is known around the world for coal mining. There are scattered papers, including several hundred sermons of. Users can zoom in on mining areas and retrieve information for individual mines. Coal mining would flourish, however, between 1880 and 1900, after competing railroad companies began carving routes through the mountains of appalachia. The coal is extracted through drift and slope mines. Dana was also one of the organizers of the campbells creek coal co. See more ideas about west virginia, history and virginia. While the industry serves as a source of work and income, its a highrisk job.
The major rail lines were completed that year and production totaled nearly 3 million tons. The west virginia town of harpers ferry was the site of john browns illfated 1859 raid on the federal armory there. Historic mining in virginia virginia department of mines. John sayles, writer and director of matewan on september 1, 1912, the largest, most protracted, and deadliest workingclass uprising in american history was waged in west virginia. A strong, skilled coal loader might fill five or more cars in a day. In west virginias colliers, miners were paid 49 cents per ton of clean coal, compared with 76 cents in the unionized mines of ohio. This might explain why from 1932 until recently the legislature in the state was controlled by democrats. For miners, the system resembled something like feudalism.
It was the worst mining disaster in american history. Mountain warrior profile of kentucky author and coalfield activist, harry caudill, noted for his famous book. This book relates the coal mine wars in west virginia from the late 1800s until the new deal gave the unions the right to organize in 1933. Since then, this volume has become an essential sourcebook, consulted and quoted in nearly every study of coal field history. Coal was used to heat homes, generate cheap electricity, and produce steel. Small publishers enable wvs storytelling, literary pursuits charleston gazette, 11282019. Virginias abandoned mine land aml program, administered by the division of mined land reclamation, was established in the late 1970s to correct prefederal act 1977 coal mine related problems adversely impacting public health, safety, general welfare, and the environment the division of gas and oil administers the orphaned well fund, established july 1, 1990, for the purpose of plugging. See more ideas about west virginia, virginia and coal mining. In west virginia, coal mining has a long and complex history. The most comprehensive and comprehendible history of the west virginia coal war ive ever read.
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