Posted in West Virginia
December 06, 2016
These 12 Rare Photos Show West Virginia’s Mining History Like Never Before
December 6 is officially designated as Miner’s Day in the state of West Virginia. Take a look at these historic photos for a glimpse of the hard work, risk, and dedication from coal miners and their families throughout our state’s history. West Virginia wouldn’t be the same without them.
The town of Welch in McDowell County was thriving in 1946. It was once called "The Heart of the Nation's Coal Bin."
Welch had a baseball field where mining towns would compete.
This was the company store in Grant Town, Marion County. Koppers Coal Division owned the mine here. Company stores sponsored social events and provided everything for the mining families, however, they were also prone to exploitation of the workers.
The Kingston-Pocahontas Coal Company's Warwick Mine had segregated churches and communities. This was a meeting at the Black church.
This picture shows survivors being rescued after the Farmington mine explosion of 1968.
Child miners worked underground at the Gary coal mine.
This photo was taken in Scotts' Run.
This photo was taken at the Turkey Knob Mine in 1908.
This miner's wife lived at the Bradshaw Mine in McDowell County.
Miners pose with an unexploded bomb that was dropped on them by the U.S. Government during the bloody battle of Blair Mountain in 1921.
Rather than sitting to relax, the miners in this picture "hunker down" as they do in the narrow mine shafts. This photo was taken in Coal City in 1974.
These miners are waiting to check out after work at the Kopperston Mine in Wyoming County.
For an up close look at West Virginia’s coal history, take a ride in a coal car at the Beckley Exhibition Mine.
