Military operations in jefferson county west virginia, during the american civil war, stephen douglas engle, charleston, wv. Clay county vital records can be found at the west virginia office of vital records which has copies of birth and death records from january 1917 to present. From bloody skirmishes with indians on the early frontier to the logan county mine war, the story of west virginia is punctuated with episodes as colorful and rugged as the mountains that dominate its landscape. Arcadia publishing has released a new title, on this day in west virginia civil war history. By 1850, approximately half of kanawha countys slaves worked in the salt industrymany mined coal to fuel the furnaces. West virginia mountains, 1861, awardwinning historian and west virginia native michael graham presents an engrossing exploration of. Along the appalachians of west virginia, as michael shnayerson shows in this heartbreaking book, the. Life on the new river a pictorial history of the new river gorge. Jun 20, 2017 history of west virginia mineral industries coal. Stuart mcgehee coal has a rich heritage in west virginia and has contributed significantly to the progress and wellbeing of west virginians since it was first discovered in what is now boone county in 1742 by peter salley, more than a century before west virginia became a state.
Learn more about the history, the events, the people and counties of west virginia with our west virginia books series at arcadia publishing. How a few brave americans took on a powerful companyand the federal. Along with them were jennys brother, john duvall, the. New river in virginia west virginia history onview wvu. Still, this book is a history lesson worth heeding, even though most of. Local author releases new book on putnam county coal town. A journal of regional studies will have two issues a yearin the spring and falland will continue to cover the political, social, economic, and cultural history of the state and its regional context. Though the coal river district was opened up for large scale shipment much later, the same seams of coal coalburg, eagle, cedar grove, powellton, winifrede were mined in both areas, and the.
History of west virginia, old and new, in one volume, and. Coalton, west virginias white pages, demographics, major event ticketing, community calendar, interactive map of coalton, west virginia classified ads, history and trivia, community forums, photo galleries. Originally named walhondecepe by the delaware indians, the three rivers that make up the coal river watershed, big, little and coal river were renamed in the 18th century by explorer john peter salling for the coal deposits found along its banks since humans first arrived in the region the three rivers that make up the coal river watershed have served as a vital transportation link. A history of coal in west virginia friends of coal. The coal mining massacre america forgot the mountains of southern west virginia are riddled with coaland bullets child coal miners with mules in gary, west virginia in 1908. July 2008 image by author a rare photo of the inside of the scarbro company store as it looked in the 1930s.
A history is widely considered one of the finest books ever written about our state. Oak hill, west virginia, new river gorge national river, 1986. West virginia history abebooks shop for books, art. A bloody battle took place that sparked a war for better conditions for coal miners. About the book the three rivers that make up the coal river valleybig, little and coal were named by explorer john peter salling or salley.
Hanson, author of campbells creek a portrait of a coal mining community, this book explores plymouths coal and river transportation history along with its. Now published in a new series by the west virginia university press, west virginia history. Image from the out of print book the new river companymining coal and making history 19061976 photo from the mid 1990s showing the company store and the movie theatre beside it. Read each book description for publication and condition details and price. A history and record of the protestant episcopal church in the diocese of west virginia, and, before the formation of the diocese in 1878, in the territory now known as the state of west virginia 1902, by geo. A map of historic towns and mines from the new river gorge national river website. The coal river valley in the civil war west virginia in. The coal river is a tributary of the kanawha river in southern west virginia. The three rivers that make up the coal river valleybig, little and coal were named by explorer john peter salling or salley for the coal deposits found along its banks. Rivesville, marion county wv history at the beginning.
The three rivers that make up the coal river valleybig, little and coalwere named by explorer john peter salling or salley for the coal deposits found along its banks. Queries forums general discussion roane county, wv history book, 1989. A history of jefferson county, west virginia, millard kessler bushong, west virginia. The history press publishing company has released a new title, the coal river valley in the civil war by michael b. West virginia, 19071933 archon books, 1979, on labor conflicts of the early 20th century. Albans historical books available at the village sampler and the coal river coffe company. This project is a pictorial look into this communitys coal and river heritage. It is formed near the community of alum creek by the confluence of the big and little coal rivers, and flows generally northward through western kanawha county, past the community of upper falls and into the kanawha river at st. In his clear, eminently readable style, williams organizes the tangled strands of west virginias past around a few dramatic eventsthe battle of point pleasant, john browns insurrection in harpers ferry, the paint creek labor movement, the hawks nest and buffalo. A collection of the best books by west virginia writers or about west virginia. Company storewv beckley west virginia, virginia hill.
Between 1880 and 1920, southern west virginias population grew from 93,000 to 446,000, due almost entirely to the coal industry. He received his phd in history from the university of maryland and lives in annapolis. Counties in virginia and west virginia formed out of the territory of augusta and frederick, and how or for whom named. The coal river valley in the civil war west virginia. The site features primary and secondary source documents, photographs, and databases. The area where the shootout took place is known as the matewan historic district today. Matewan, west virginia has a bloody history this quiet little town played an important role in the mine wars. More than one hundred years later, the picturesque valley was witness to a multitude of bloody skirmishes between. It is a portion of our history that has nearly escaped into time, since. More than one hundred years later, the picturesque valley was witness to a multitude of bloody skirmishes between confederate and union forces in the civil war. West virginia history archives university of pennsylvania. The west virginia archives and history web site offers detailed information on the states history, outlines the documents available in the state archives, and provides assistance in conducting genealogical research. Whether studying for the golden horseshoe exam, researching your family lineage, or looking for information on the history of west virginia, the archives and history website is the premier online resource. Stuart mcgehee coal has a rich heritage in west virginia and has contributed significantly to the progress and wellbeing of west virginians since it was first discovered in what is now boone county in 1742 by peter salley, more.
Hidden history weekend spans across west virginia, bringing together 3 historical organizations and 5 state parks to explore and share state history, sept. Put faces to the names of your loved ones at ancientfaces. This is the story michael shnayerson tells in coal river, a narrative of outrage. In 1742, john peter salley took an exploratory trip across the allegheny mountains and reported an outcropping of coal along a tributary of the kanawha river. Corbin is the editor of the west virginia mine wars. The regions first coal miners primarily were african americans, both enslaved and free.
West virginia history is an annual journal on the history of west virginia and the appalachian region, published by the west virginia division of culture and history publication history. A large portion of the events are concentrated in the new river gorge. West virginia was a major seat of union organization in the u. A history for beginners by john alexander williams and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Prudence coal company, minute book, board of directors meetings, 192034. Page 364 the children of slaves born within the limits of this state after the fourth day of july, eighteen hundred and sixtythree, shall be free. Gray mountain by john grisham, fall of giants by ken follett, faith, hope, and ivy june by phyllis reynolds naylor, how gre. West virginia was important on the other side of the industrialization issue as well. The great depression brought widescale unemployment, with thousands of people reduced to penury, and proved to be a watershed in american and west virginia history.
Box 15 100 kelly ave oak hill, wv 25901 855 9822625 contact us site map. Most of these but not all are county history books that combine history and biographies of families within the county. Pate, who made their mark on history, for better or for worse. Dig a little deeper and discover the lesserknown side of the new river gorges past. Few events in civil war history are more overlooked and plain forgotten. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the west virginia mine wars like never before, in no time at all.
The rivers west branch, known as the little coal, extends southward for about 20 miles to madison, where it splits into its main tributaries, spruce and pond forks. Uncover hidden history in the new river gorge, wv new. Albans historical society has printed thirteen local history books. West virginia mountains, 1861, awardwinning historian and west virginia native michael graham presents an engrossing exploration of the struggle between the armies of the north and south in the mountains. Matewan historic district in mingo county, west virginia. In this first modern comprehensive history, otis rice and stephen brown balance these episodes. New river coal company collection west virginia division of. The working conditions in mines and factories were one of the most significant political issues of the early 1900s.
Conley combined the coal river field and the kanawha field into one big kanawha field, but many consider it to be a distinct coalfield in its own right. Republican administrations in west virginia during the 1920s were conservative, and the laissezfaire philosophy of government and economic affairs was the order of the day. An anthology and the author of life, work, and rebellion in the coal fields. The history of the 20th century conflict between coal companies and miners looks at the tumultuous fight on both sides of the lines. Section of coal mining town near welch, west virginia and other family and vintage photos from the past. Albans history the battle of scary 1932 a historical sketch of st. The coal river valley in the civil war arcadia publishing. West virginia is the only state formed by seceding from a confederate state.
A history of the middle new river settlements and contiguous territory. An essential resource for scholars, students, and all lovers of the mountaineer state. History of braxton county and central west virginia. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Fayette county history sources west virginia department. History of braxton county and central west virginia by sutton, john davison, 18441941.
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