This was a large coal camp on the edge of Mount Hope that was a constructed by McKell Coal and Coke Co. Coal mining here lasted
until at least the 1940s. The New River Company owned the town and coal mine in it's final incarnation. The mine had two portals into the 48-66-inch Sewell seam, the second one known as "North Kilsyth".
While many of the company houses have been destroyed, Kilsyth still features many original coal camp homes and a portion of the mine/railroad complex.
Image source forgotten
This vintage picture shows the tipple, powerhouse, shops, and company housing at Kilsyth when the mine was going full steam.
Dec. 2005 image by author
These days a few mine shop buildings still stand behind the coal camp houses. The two large smokestacks actually don't come out of the shops, but
are freestanding behind them. These buildings also played a part in the maintenance and repair of locomotives for the Kanawha, Glen Jean, and Eastern Railway. This was a short line railroad constructed by
Thomas McKell, president of McKell Coal & Coke, and his son and heir apparent, William McKell, because they were dissatisfied with the service they had been receiving at their coal mines from the C&O railroad.
Image courtesy of Walter Caldwell
William McKell, president of McKell Coal and Coke Company after the death of his father and founder Thomas McKell. After William
died in 1940 the McKell coal mines and properties were sold to their crosstown rival New River Company. Part of the K,GJ, & E railroad was absorbed into the C&O, while some tracks and rolling stock were
removed or scrapped.
Dec. 2005 image by author
Side view of the former mine and railroad shop buildings.
Dec. 2005 image by author
Detail on backside of shop building depicts ancient stonework.
Image courtesy of Walter Caldwell
Another vintage view of Kilsyth shows a portion of the coal camp in the bottom land, the mine complex in the center background, and homes of company officials on the hill.
Railroad tracks are visible on both sides of the valley. The one running through the mine complex is actually the main K,GJ,&E track heading up to mines at Tamroy and Oswald, while the track on
the lower left of the picture leads to the Price Hill mine.
Image source forgotten
The original coal tipple at Kilsyth; shop building in the background.
Image source forgotten
Engineering plan view of the original tipple.
Image courtesy of Walter Caldwell
Early photo of the company store at Kilsyth. Unfortunately this structure is no longer existing.
Dec. 2005 image by author
Some of the company houses are still in existence.
Dec. 2005 image by author
This row of houses is particularly authentic.
Dec. 2005 image by author
A few people still call Kilsyth home. Many of the old company houses have been demolished since these photos were taken due to being in a designated flood hazard zone.
Image courtesy of Walter Caldwell
The title of this picture is "McKell Coal and Coke Company - Kilsyth, W.Va. - 1902." If true, then they didn't have a very fancy
mine portal when the mine was new. Perhaps it was improved later. Smoke is coming from one of the miner's "sunshine lamp" on his hat. I'm not an animal expert, but that looks like
a horse and not a mule. Other mines sometimes used oxen or even dogs.
Dec. 2005 image by author
This mine portal next to Kilsyth is actually not from
the Kilsyth mine, but from the New River Company's Siltex coal mine. Note the large coal outcrop next to the portal.
Feb. 2001 image by author
Photo of the Siltex drift portal before it was cleared of vegetation. Like Kilsyth, this was originally a McKell Coal & Coke mine.
By the time it exploded in the 1960s, it was owned by the New River Co., which was fitting since their headquarters were just down the street. The Siltex mine operated until 1984, and was one
of the last major operations of the New River Company, and probably the last mine in the Mount Hope area.
