GRANT TOWN, WV

The coal mine at Grant Town, Marion County, West Virginia was built by Federal Coal and Coke Company in 1901. Grant Town was named after Federal's vice president Robert Grant. Circa 1916 Federal Coal & Coke sold Federal No. 1 to New England Fuel and Transporation Company, which was headquartered in Boston Mass. Even at the bottom of the Great Depression, in 1931 and '32, this firm shipped over 1,000,000 tons of coal annually. New England Fuel advertised Federal No. 1 coal as being a 14,300 BTU coal "suitable for the manufacture of illuminating gas, for use in by-product ovens, steel, cement, and brick plants, and for locomotive use; in fact, for all purposes where a strong long flame gas coal is desired." Later, from 1934 until 1947, Koppers Coal Company (at this mine Koppers Coal & Transportation Co.) operated the Federal No. 1 mine. Koppers coal was affiliated with the Koppers company, who specialized in the by-products captured when burining coal into coke. Koppers's mines in West Virginia and Pennsylvania were purchased by Eastern Fuel and Gas Associates in 1947. This firm later morphed into Eastern Associated Coal Co. In 1967 Federal No. 1 produced over 3 millon tons of Pittsburgh seam coal. Federal No. 1 mine was finally closed in 1985 after a whopping 84 years of production.

The original tipple and coke ovens at Grant Town as it looked in the early 1900s.

The tipple, power house, and the rest of the colliery circa 1920s.

Nov. 2004 image by author This concrete shell was part of the preparation plant or blending bins.

Nov. 2004 image by author Former Koppers Company store.

June 1946 image from "A Medical Survey of the Bituminous Coal Industry" The company store in its prime. Apparently, Koppers updated the original store by superimposing an attractive art deco entrance onto the front. This must have been store no. 23.

Nov. 2004 image by author General view of the company-built coal camp at Grant Town.

Nov. 2004 image by author An "authentic" coal company house. I would venture to say that the siding and porch railing are just as they appeared in the early 20th Century when the house was newly constructed.

Nov. 2004 image by author The coal company would build these garages for residents who owned automobiles.

Nov. 2004 image by author A remant of the Federal No. 1 coal mine.

Mar. 2017 image by Mark Phillips Former "Koppers Grill," which was a restaurant for the coal miners and their families.

June 1946 image from "A Medical Survey of the Bituminous Coal Industry" Actual photo of inside the Koppers grill.

Mar. 2017 image by Mark Phillips Nice view of the railroad curving around the remains of the Grant Town prep plant, with the red brick company store in the background.

Mar. 2017 image by Mark Phillips These large coal camp homes look more like ones that would be found in Pennsylvania.

Mar. 2017 image by Mark Phillips Another view of the Grant Town coal company housing.

Mar. 2017 image by Mark Phillips This Grant Town house, which looks like it was built for a coal company official, still retains its outhouse in the back yard.