Quinwood was founded in 1919 by Quin Morton and Walter Wood, hence Quinwood. Their company was Imperial Smokeless Coal Co. In 1947, Quinwood became one of the few coal camps to be incorporated. They also opened the Quinwood No. 2 mine just over the line in Nicholas County. Both mines were in the Sewell seam of coal.
In the book "The Layland Mine Explosion," Dennis Deitz gives a first-hand account of vintage coal mining at Quinwood (not Layland) that is interesting even to those who know nothing about coal mining.
An old tipple at Quinwood, but not the one belonging to Imperial Smokeless. One resident of the area told me this tipple belonged to the mayor of Rainelle. Another said it was owned by John Brown Harris.
The coal camp section of Quinwood is fairly well maintained.
These old buildings at Quinwood have housed, among other things, a shoe store and a restaurant.
Mick Vest contributed this picture of the now demolished company store at Quinwood. It was the white part of the building.
Bill Richmond sent this picture of the Miners' Memorial park in Quinwood. He writes, "The memorial is on the same spot where the company used to stand. As you can see I tried to take the picture where you stood to show you the different then and now."
A closer look at the Miners' Memorial, again by Bill Richmond. For a closer look at one of the monuments click here.
Bill Ricmond photographed another mining memorial in Quinwood that reads, "Memorialization of coal miners from Quinwood and surrounding areas who took coal from these mountains
and hauled it throughout this great land."
The last photo by Bill Richmond, of the Hill Top Restaurant, he describes as "...one of few popular places left in Quinwood with some of the best hot dogs around!"
John B. writes, "I have one question that you might be able to help me with. I have a piece of coal scrip from the IMPERIAL SMOKELESS COAL CO. that the token maker shipped to McClungs, WV however Quinnwood, WV is on the token. I found the coal company listed in an old 1921 Dun & Bradstreet book at McClungs, WV, but the next year the town was gone and the coal company was now listed at Quinnwood, WV along with 3 merchants with the last name McClung. The question - Do you know if McClungs was an early name for Quinnwood and thus they were the same place?"
Loretta S. writes, "I came across this question that you have about McClungs, WV. I work with a lady who is decendant of the McClungs, WV family. There was indeed a post office and school. It was in the area we know as Bingham and I may not have spelled that right. She has old postcards with the McClung, WV address on it. The McClung farm was sold to the coal operator named John Brown Harris and I believe the home, the little school house and possibly the cemetery was dozed over."
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