Kimball was named for Frederick Kimball, who was president of the Norfolk & Western Railway. It was a small commercial, residential, and railroading community that served the surrounding coal mines and coal camps. Earlier names included Totten, Norwood, and West Vivian. The town was incorporated in December 1906.
From 1914 until 1966, a segregated school for black children existed at Kimball: Browns Creek District High School. It was later known as Kimball Negro High School and Kimball High School. After 1966, this school became a junior high school. Another segregated facility was the Harrison Memorial Hospital that served the black community. This hospital was not a large affair, and resembled one of Kimball's general stores.
Many years ago Kimball featured a bank (Bank of Kimball), general stores, grocery stores, drug stores, bowling alley, movie theater, and small hotels. A utility company known as Kimball Light and Water Co. provided potable water and electricity to the community.
Nov. 2000 image by author
The African-American Soldiers Memorial in Kimball has been restored since this picture was taken of it.
Mar. 2004 image by author
When I saw the Greek lettering on the sign of this store in Kimball, I had to go in it. I thought it was interesting to find a Greek-American lady and her daughter running the store and deli, and actually selling a few greek foods. I thought, "How amazing it is to still find a bit of the immigrant culture in McDowell County after all these years." McDowell County was teeming with immigrants from Greece, Poland, Russia, Italy, and Hungary in the 1910's and 20's.
Update - While passing through Kimball in 2017 I stopped again at Ya'sou Restaurant. I had a delicious gyro and Greek salad. If I lived in Kimball I would eat there once a week.
Nov. 2024 image by author
Paraphernalia related to Greek heritage on an interior wall of Ya'sou Deli.
Nov. 2024 image by author
The former Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church still stands in the middle of Kimball.
Nov. 2024 image by author
A beautifully maintained home restored to its early 20th century glory.
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Homes at Kimball range from the well-maintained to recently vacated to long-abandoned and decaying.
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Note the homes with terraced front yards to accomodate the sloping terrain.
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Houses on the back row of Kimball. Since space is at a premium, the garage was constructed under the yard.
Nov. 2024 image by author
This is Coe Street.
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Looking at the restored African-American War Memorial from in front of the rail tunnel.
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Time, floods, and economic decline have taken a toll on Kimball's once-bustling commercial district. This is only a fraction of the store buildings that once existed there.
Nov. 2024 image by author
I have no idea what this startling and random display beside the main road is about.
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This tunnel at the edge of Kimball is known as the West Vivian Tunnel. It is not too long and curved. The former Norfolk & Western Railway is now the Norfolk-Southern Railroad.
Nov. 2024 image by author
An area at the eastern edge of Kimball used to be an important rail yard known as West Vivian (and also Petroleum). Now most of the rails have been removed and it is N-S's Kimball Track Maintenance area.
Nov. 2024 image by author
Rail and other rail infrastructure items stored at Norfolk-Southern's Kimball Track Maintenance area.
Sources:
Schust, Alex P. Billion Dollar Coalfield. Two Mule Publishing, 2010.
