Definitely not a coal camp, Bramwell is an independent town in western Mercer County that was also home to more than a dozen millionaire coal barons in the early 20th Century. It seems that these coal operators knew just what they were doing when they decided to build their homes in Bramwell - not only is it on a nice, flat spot along the Bluestone River, it's also just beyond the edge of the coal, thus sparing these coal millionaires the experience of living next to their dusty and noisy coal mines. However, the coal trains coming from Pocahontas and Boissevain did rumble through the town constantly.
Apr. 2014 image by authorScene at the reconstructed railroad depot.Apr. 2014 image by authorView of Main Street of Bramwell from the depot.Apr. 2014 image by authorThe stone building, built in 1893, was a very important structure in a town of wealthy coal barons - it was the Bank of Bramwell.Apr. 2014 image by authorDetail of iron fence at the rear of the bank.Apr. 2014 image by authorThe Presbyterian church with Bramwell's Main Street in the background. The church was financed by Issac T. Mann, wealthy Bramwell resident and Pocahontas Fuel Co. officer. The coal company town of Itmann in Wyoming County was named for him.Apr. 2014 image by authorLooking from the front of the Presbyterial church toward two historic homes.Apr. 2014 image by authorThe blue home is known as the Goodwill House because it was constructed for the president of Goodwill Coal and Coke Co. - Phillip Goodwill.Apr. 2014 image by authorAnother view over the Bluestone River of the Goodwill House. The mansion on the left was built for coal baron W.H. Thomas.Apr. 2014 image by authorStreetscape of Bramwell. Other Bramwell residents made wealthy by the coal industry included J.C. Pack, and also Jarius Collins, brother of coal baron Justus Collins (owned coal mines at Winding Gulf and Whipple).Apr. 2014 image by authorView of the rear of the Cooper House from behind the Presbyterian Church.Apr. 2014 image by authorThe Cooper House was named for Edward Cooper. His father operated nearby mines at the Coopers coal camp. The roof is made from copper, and there is supposed to be an indoor swimming pool on the property.Apr. 2014 image by authorThe building at left was once the offices of the Pocahontas Company (affiliate of the mighty Pocahontas Fuel Co.). It is now known as the local Masonic Lodge.Apr. 2014 image by authorOther sections of Bramwell are more typical of small Appalachian towns.Apr. 2014 image by authorOn the left is the unused railroad that once ran up to coal mines at Freeman, Goodwill, McComas, and other coal camps.Apr. 2014 image by authorBramwell's Main Street still has several open establishments.Dec. 2015 image by authorEvery Christmas season there is a tour of some of the homes at Bramwell.Dec. 2015 image by authorInside the home built for Issac T. Mann - one time president of Pocahontas Fuel Co., and namesake of the coal town of Itmann, W.Va.Dec. 2015 image by authorLeather wall covering (imported from Venezuela) in the Mann house.Dec. 2015 image by authorStained glass chandelier in the Mann house.Dec. 2015 image by authorDetail of the Issac Mann home showing a light fixture mounted on a wooden banister.Dec. 2015 image by authorThis was once the home of coal baron Jarius Collins, who from Bramwell administered his nearby Goodwill and Greenbrier coal mines.Dec. 2015 image by authorLiving room in the former residence of Jarius Collins. He was the brother of coal baron Justus Collins, who had big mines at Winding Gulf, Whipple, and Glen Jean.Dec. 2015 image by authorStained glass window in the Collins house.Dec. 2015 image by authorCollins house bathroom.Dec. 2015 image by authorThis bedroom is on the second floor of the Collins home.Dec. 2015 image by authorAnother upstairs room.Dec. 2015 image by authorOn the night of the Christmas Tours this guy was busy at the soda fountain.
