During coal s heyday, west virginia was called the most unionized state and it voted solidly. Between 1880 and 1920, southern west virginia s population grew from 93,000 to 446,000, due almost entirely to the coal industry. December 6 is officially designated as miners day in the state of west virginia. Watch the mine wars american experience official site.
Like most of west virginia, the new river gorge area has a rich history of coal mining. The conditions of the coal miners and their treatment by the mine owners and the gun thugs employed to keep them in their place with the support of the elected officials owned by the mine owners was as brutal as any chapter in american history. Dana was also one of the organizers of the campbells creek coal co. Coal companies had to build towns and houses for their miners in some of the most isolated areas of the region. About 25 percent of coal mined is shipped to foreign markets and used mainly in steel manufacturing. James greens the devil is here in these hills the new york times. 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 s coal mines had a higher death rate than any other state in the union in the first decade of the 20th century. In fact, during the industrial period, more than 50 coal towns sprung up there, bringing thousands of people to the gorge.
A history of coal in west virginia friends of coal. The regions first coal miners primarily were african americans, both enslaved and free. By 1922, nearly 80 percent of west virginia miners lived in company houses. Dana of kanawha county, west virginia, engaged in coal mining and general merchandise. Its predominant use has always been for producing heat energy. West virginia mining american experience official site. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Western maryland railway in west virginia our price. Overview papers of aretas brooks fleming 18391923, 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. The few safety laws on the books were rarely enforced. This book discusses and illustrates the basics of mining methods and operations. Books and some articles relating to coal mining, especially historical. Grand forks herald north dakota a captivating new book. A coalminer walks through the morning fog before going underground in a mine less than 40in high in welch, west virginia.
Robert brennan was the head of yst coal operations retained by lykes as a consultant and floyd and harry ran the coal mine operations and, i understand, they were very good at it. Featured in the text are articles, speeches, and discussions between union leaders such as samuel gompers. The monongalia county deed books show an aggressive, sustained effort by cochran. West virginia history celebrated labor historian james green tells the story of west virginia and coal like never before.
The main attraction is an underground tour, led by a veteran coal miner. 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. Coal mining was expanding at such a fast pace in west virginia that mine operators needed to recruit from places as far away as new york city, often offering family homes to prospective employees. Get a glimpse of west virginias mining history in these. West virginia has been of more or less importance as a coal producing state since it was formed in 1863. Coal mining, extraction of coal deposits from the surface of earth and from underground. Please put wv coal mines in the subject field, so it wont get lost in all my email.
The case of the west virginia coal mine wars, 19201921 west virginia history, vol. No county in the appalachian region was more severely distressed by these losses than mcdowell county. A history and record of the protestant episcopal church in the diocese of west. Those coal towns disappeared just as quickly as they appeared, though, leaving the ruins of the towns to be reclaimed by nature. Visitors travel 1500 feet beneath the hillsides of new river park, riding in authentic shuttle cars from the mine entrance, to old working areas of the. See more ideas about west virginia, virginia and coal mining. In its first year as a state, the total production was 444,648a short tons. The map shows areas of active and historical coal mining in both underground and surface mines, with separate colors for auger and highwall mining. West virginia s coal miners and their battle for freedom. The beckley, west virginia, exhibition coal mine portrays the history, culture and character of this coal mining region. March 16, 2015 paramont coal company virginia, llc rib fall. The west virginia geological and economic survey provides an interactive map of underground and surface coal mining activity in west virginia. He received his phd in history from the university of maryland and lives in annapolis.
The earliest coal mining in west virginia was in this coalfield, when it was still part of virginia. Watson in the development of the coal and railroad industry in the monongahela valley. Monacans and miners sheds new light on the indigenous and immigrant communities of southern appalachia by comparing the political, economic, and social experiences of the monacans, a historically significant native american group in amherst county, virginia, with those of scottish and irish settlers who made their home in wyoming county, west virginia, in the late eighteenth century. Gray mountain by john grisham, fall of giants by ken follett, faith, hope, and ivy june by phyllis reynolds naylor, how gre.
Bituminous coal mining spread throughout the newly formed state of west virginia in the years following the civil war. More information on the coal mines of west virginia is one of the most frequent requests made. The history of the 20th century conflict between coal companies and miners looks at the tumultuous fight on both sides of the lines. The battle of lewisburg featured on civil war books and authors blog civil war books and authors, 11172017 featured titles. So begins mary legg stevensons latest book, coal towns of west virginia. Message boards topics occupations mining united states west virginia coal miners.
Coal companies stripped down the forests to erect simply designed houses, schools and churches, all within close proximity of the mines. Even though the ohio valley was full of steel mills, the coal in the panhandle coalfield is not a metallurgical coal, though wheeling steel corp. A pictorial heritage of west virginia coal mining stan cohen on. 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. The coal mining industry has brought a lot of life. Green relates west virginias coal business to the human history, especially the amazing mine wars before and after. The first workers strike, in west virginia, was the cabin creek and paint creek strike of 191219. With help from mary mother jones harris jones, an important figure in unionizing the mine workers, the miners. This was the memory of carl meredith, a foreman on the the fairmont mine in west virginia of the worst mining disaster in american history which happened at monongah, west virginia on december 6, 1907. Excerpts from a 1921 book that lists all the coal mines in. A chilling account of the long war to unionize the coal mines of west virginia. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the west virginia mine wars like never before, in no time at all.
The first century and a quarter of the american coal industry 1942. January 11, 2012 consolidation coal company exploding vessel. Matewan dvd goldenseal book of the west virginia mine wars western maryland railway in west virginia. The north american coal company opened its maidsville mine on the. It was the basic energy source that fueled the industrial revolution of the 18th and 19th. In 2011, west virginia coal mines produced 3 million tons. West virginias coal miners and their battle for freedom. In west virginia, coal mining has a long and complex history.
James greens history of the coalmining uprisings in west virginia in. Get the best deals on collectible mining paper items when you shop the largest online selection at ebay. The collection includes production records, inventory, shipping book, payroll sheets, a daybook, and a letter book. An anthology and the author of life, work, and rebellion in the coal fields. If you have information you would like to share with others, please send it to gracie stover. A native of the west virginia coalfields, stevenson has compiled a marvelous group of historical photographs, which document the history and ways of life of many west virginia coal camps. Excerpts from a 1921 book, civil war in west virginia, written at the end of the west virginia mine wars by lane winthrop. The west virginia coal wars 191221, also known as the mine wars, arose out of a dispute. Aside from telling riveting stories of labor battles, green also dissects how the mine. Goldenseal book of the west virginia mine wars our price. Interactive map of coal mines in west virginia american. A short history of mining and its decline in west virginia mar 30, 2017 mar 30, 2017. West virginia s coal miners and their battle for freedom green, james on. James green is the author of five books, including death in the haymarket.
West virginia office of miners health safety and training. Campbells creek a portrait of a coal mining community. The first reported discovery of coal occurred in 1742, more than a century before west virginia became a state. The west virginia coal wars 191221, also known as the mine wars, arose out of a dispute between coal companies and miners. King coal is a wellillustrated overview of coal mining in the mountain state. Telling the powerful story of the west virginia coal mining rebellions of the early 20th century, this book collects material from the leaders, the miners, and the journalists sent to report on the 1912 and 1921 west virginia mine warsexplosive examples of strikes and union battles. Constitutional government overthrown in west virginia, by john.
By 1850, approximately half of kanawha countys slaves worked in the salt industrymany mined coal to fuel the furnaces. Excerpts from a program by minnesota public radio about how unions are portrayed in movies. Make offer united states bureau of mines certificate 1937 first aid training west virginia. State of west virginia governor jim justice west virginia department of commerce ed gaunch, secretary office of miners health, safety and training eugene white, director. The original campbells creek book has been sold out for more than twenty years. The rest of the coal mined in west virginia is used to generate electric power. Today, most of the mines have closed, and many of the towns are gone. Another 15 percent is used by the domestic steel industry. The industrys most striking growth, however, has been made since the year 1893.
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