1976 image by William Barrett, HAER [Historical American Engineering Record]
The Deckers Creek Coal & Coke Co. built these beehive coke ovens at Richard, WV, on the outskirts of Morgantown, in 1903. Unfortunately, they have been demolished since this photo was taken.
Mar. 2003 image by author
These company-built houses at Richard, WV still exist, however. The Richard mine closed in 1951.
Circa 1977 WV SHPO image
The Richard coke ovens were really well preserved at the time of this photo. It's a shame that
they were demolished.