Note: All of the spellings of Pittsburgh as Pittsburg are correct for the items mentioned. In the late 1800s and early 1900s there was confusion surrounding the spelling of the famous Pennsylvania city.
Four States, WV is a coal camp located in the back of an isolated hollow in southern Marion County. It was constructed in 1910 and opened in 1911 by Four States Coal & Coke Co., a subsidiary
of the Pittsburg and Buffalo Co. from Pennsylvania. The company used its own clay mine and brick plant on site to construct the masonry structures of the community / colliery, since
they had previous experience with brick making in Pennsylvania. At the time the mine and mining town were called Annabelle, named after Annabelle Jones, daughter of Pittsburg-Buffalo co-owner Thomas Jones. At first the land and coal reserves were purchased
under the name Annabelle Coal & Coke Co., but the company name was soon changed to Four States. Annabelle No. 1 Mine was
a shaft mine. Four States operated the Annabelle mine
continuously until 1932. In 1926 this mine produced 384,113 tons of coal, which Four States rated at 14,100 BTU/lb and only 0.82% sulfur (which seems low for the Fairmont Field coal). The lump, nut, pea, and slack coal was
marketed for use in by-product coke ovens, coal gas manufacture, and the New England/East Coast industrial and residential markets. In 1933, '34, & '35 the Annabelle mine is listed in state mining records as being operated
in receivership by A.R. Atwood. Bank of Pittsburg.
After being closed a few years it was put back into production in 1938 and 1939 by the
similarly named Four States Coal Co. The mine was reopened by Consolitation Coal Co. from 1969 to 1984.
Nov. 2004 image by authorThe company housing consists of two story red brick homes, and supposedly had indoor plumbing from the start. The coal preparation complex would have been located in the land at the bottom of the hill, but it and the related B&O rail spur have been demolished.
These homes were built with bricks made at a brick plant Pittsburg-Buffalo had on the site. That company had previous experience manufacturing bricks at their large brick plant at Johnetta, PA.Image source forgottenVintage photo of the coal camp housing on the other side of the hollow at Four States. These were simpler, wood framed company houses. I believe that this photo was actually taken on the other side of the hollow from where the brick homes
are located. There are only a few of these homes remaining now. In the lower part of the photo are gondola rail cars loaded with coal.Pittsburg-Buffalo image via Google BooksAnother old photo of the simpler frame company houses.Pittsburg-Buffalo image via Google BooksThe colliery under construction.Pittsburg-Buffalo image via Google BooksPower house being built. The company housing has already been erected in the
background.Pittsburg-Buffalo image via Google BooksLining the vertical mine shaft with concrete.Pittsburg-Buffalo image via Google BooksPittsburg-Buffalo image via Google BooksNov. 2004 image by author
A few years ago I found a nice website at www.fourstateswv.com by Stephanie Morgan. Recently I went back to look at it and see if there were any updates, and I found that it was defunct. So, using
the Wayback Machine, I rescued the following pictures:
1968 image courtesy of Stephanie MorganThe newly-constructed coal preparation plant. Since this is a shaft mine, the head frame for the shaft is in the center of the picture.1980 image courtesy of Stephanie MorganAerial view of the prep plant and red brick mine repair shop. A little bit of the coal camp is visible in the lower right of the photo.Early 1980s image courtesy of Stephanie MorganIn this view of the prep plant the head frame for the shaft is at the left of the picture. Behind that is what is probably the
mine office with a sign reading, "Mountaineer Coal Co. Consol Mine No. 20." Mountaineer was the subsidiary that Consol operated this mine under, like they did
at other nearby mines, such as Loveridge.Early 1980s image courtesy of Stephanie MorganI really like this picture showing a coal stacking tube and part of the prep plant, with the coal company houses in the background.1980 image courtesy of Stephanie MorganFour States company store.Early 1980s image courtesy of Stephanie MorganThe Annabelle School at Four States was no longer being used at the time of this photo. The school was for grades 1 through 8 until 1961, and through
grade 6 until being closed 1978.1995 image courtesy of Stephanie MorganThe "recreation center" that once housed a tavern and the union hall.1995 image courtesy of Stephanie MorganThe "Bosses Row" of company houses for management.1995 image courtesy of Stephanie MorganNot every W.Va. coal camp featured brick company houses like these.2017 image courtesy of Stephanie MorganThis part of Four States is known as "Brick Hill."
The following photographs were contributed by Mark Phillips:
July 2016 image by Mark PhillipsThe company store, which had probably stood empty for years, burned in 2014.July 2016 image by Mark PhillipsA small style of coal miner housing at Four States.July 2016 image by Mark PhillipsFour States, W.Va. post office.July 2016 image by Mark PhillipsJuly 2016 image by Mark Phillips
Sources:
West Virginia State mining records
www.fourstateshistorywv.weebly.com (now defunct) by Stephanie Morgan. Accessed here through the Wayback Machine
