CENTURY NO. 1 & NO. 2
The Century Coal Company built two mines and coal camps in southern Barbour County, WV and named
them Century No. 1 (a shaft mine) and Century No. 2 (a slope mine). Apparently Century No. 2 was constructed later. An article in a
1918 issue of The Black Diamond stated that coal was
first shipped from the Century mines in 1897, but state mining records don't show Century Coal Company mining coal
before 1916. The magazine also wrote about how Redstone seam coal was mined at Century (~14,800 BTU); how there was also Pittsburgh coal on the lease; that the daily
capacity was 3,000 tons; that there were six electric locomotives and electric underground mining equipment; and the 30+ horses and mules used in the mines. Coal was shipped to market on
a spur built by the B&O Railroad. Later, from the 1950's through the 1970's, the Century mines were owned and operated by Bethlehem Mines Corp.,
a coal mining subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel. In the early 2000's the mine complex at Century No. 1 was idle, but
coal mining activity at Century No. 2 was observed at that time.
Image from The Black Diamond via Google Books
The original Century tipple, head frame, and power house.
April 2002 image by author
Here is how the abandoned coal preparation plant complex at Century No. 1 looked in 2002.
April 2002 image by author
The other side of the prep plant.
April 2002 image by author
Century, WV coal camp, showing company built houses.
April 2002 image by author
Company housing on the hillside behind the UMWA hall.
April 2002 image by author
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church was probably built for all of the Italian, Polish, and Slovak immigrants in the Century, WV coal camp.
This parish is now defunct.
Image from The Black Diamond via Google Books
Century No. 1 coal mine and company town as it looked in the 1910's.
Photo courtesy of Pete and Mike
Pete emailed in this photo of the truck dump at Century and writes, "This is something that most people miss at this site. There is a
truck unloading tipple at the one end. There is a steel retaining
wall but if you take a close look the wall was constructed using the
'old' steel mine cars stacked up. I estimate at least 60-70 cars were used."
Photo courtesy of Pete and Mike
Detail of the retaining wall consisting of old mine cars
Image from The Black Diamond via Google Books
This was the Century No. 2 tipple.
Google Street View image
A 1918 article in The Black Diamond states that the Century, WV company town
served both No. 1 and No. 2 mines. But the coal company also built these houses at Century No. 2. Perhaps they were constructed after the
article was written. If I remember correctly, the green sign along the road near here reads, "Century No. 2 - Unincorporated."
April 2002 image by author