Peerless Coal and Coke Company store in Vivian, WV. Peerless must have purchased the Vivian operations from Bottom Creek Coal Co. (April 2006 photo)
A closer view of the company store in Vivian. One wonders why the residents of Vivian chose to damage the structure instead of preserving it as a community center - a lost opporunity to create a source of pride and heritage for the community. (April 2006 photo)
Coal camp of Coalwood, domain of the Carter Coal Co. The No. 2 mine was a drift into the Sewell seam, as was the Nora mine, and the Olga mine was a shaft down into Pocahontas No. 4. (November 2001 photo)
One of the last wooden company stores in WV is was one in Maybeury. Allowed to fall into ruin, it has been demolished.(March 2005 photo)
Tipple foundations at Switchback, WV. (November 2000 photo)
Venilated tunnel near Maybeury (November 2000 photo)
Dilapidated tipple as viewed from across Dry Fork (November 1999 photo)
A closer view of the tipple shows it's wood framed construction. (October 2005 photo)
Detail of a collapsing bin on the tipple along Dry Fork. Despite efforts of the Coal Heritage Authority to save it, the structure has been razed. (October 2005 photo)
Upland, WV coal camp (March 2004 photo)
Company store at Algoma (March 2004 photo)
Downtown Northfork, where companies such as Fortune Hunter Coal Co. and Elk Ridge Coal Co. have mined. (November 2000 photo)
African-American Soldiers Memorial in Kimball (November 2000 photo)
When I saw the Greek lettering on the sign of this store in Kimball, I had to go in it. I was so pleased to find a Greek immigrant lady and her daughter
running the store and deli, and actually selling a few greek foods. How amazing it is to still find a bit of the immigrant culture in McDowell County after all these years. (March 2004 photo)
Coke ovens in blast at Eckman during the 1920s (Thanks to Buddy)
Scant remains of coke ovens near Maybeury (Courtesy of Mick) (2002 photo)
Coal mining in McDowell County continues to this day. Here's a recent shot of the train loading at the Virginia Crews mine. (2001 photo)
Downtown Leckie, WV, where Col. Leckie's West Virginia Pocahontas Coal Co. operated the mine. (April 2006 photo)
Red brick company-built houses in Kingston-Pocahontas Coal Company's
Hemphill coal camp. This is one of the few coal camps I have found in Southern West Virginia that has brick company houses. (Feb. 2005 photo)
The preparation plant at Beartown, WV (Nov. 1999 photo)
The former Empire Coal and Coke Co. clubhouse at Landgraff is indicative of the wealth that was once found in the Flat Top-Pocahontas Coalfield. The structure now serves as a bed and breakfast. (Dec. 2006 photo)
An old loadout, probably dating from the 1940s or 1950s, is between Pageton and Gary. It was probably built by Nassau Coal Co., which opened a nearby mine in 1948 and operated it until 1966. (April 2006 photo)
United States Coal and Coke Company store at Ream, which was the No. 6 works for U.S. C. and C. As of 2006 the store has been demolished. (March 2004 photo)
Reenactment of the assassination of Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers by Baldwin-Felts detectives on the McDowell County courthouse steps. This was to promote Jean Battlo's drama "The Terror of the Tug." (August 2007 photo)