POWHATAN, WV
Yet another in the string of coal mining towns along Elkhorn Creek, Powhatan (POW-hatan, emphasis on the first syllable) was named after a Native American tribe that resided in Virginia.
This seemed to go along with the Pocahontas, Hiawatha, Algonquin, Cherokee, etc. theme of this coalfield. Powhatan Coal & Coke Co. mined coal here from 1897 until 1937.
The original Powhatan tipple must have been quite a sight.
The only thing remaining from the picture above is this ruined building. It
is to the right of the tipple in the antique picture.
I also found this remnant at the former Powhatan tipple location.
Apparently the tipple was later rebuilt to more modern standards.
This style of coal camp house is called "Salt Box." It originated in the coal towns of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church and rectory in Powhatan. When the Sacred Heart parish was founded in 1914 this valley would have been
packed with Catholic immigrants newly-arrived from Europe. (The church structure itself may date to the 1890's.) Now this parish serves only 36 families according to the Diocese, probably descendants
of the original immigrants from Poland, Italy, Hungary, etc.
View of the Powhatan coal camp from the Sacred Heart porch.
This was probably the superintendent's house. Apparently, no one lives
in it anymore.
Original windows are still in place in the old superintendent's house.
The squared-off section on the side may have been an addition.
This Powhatan structure was once a tavern and Texaco service station.
History of coal mining. History of West Virginia. History of McDowell County West Virginia. History of Coal. Research history.
History of Welch WV. Pocahontas Coal Seam. Historic Pictures. Historic Photographs. Genealogy research. Railroad books.
Historic books. Historic Maps. Bluefield History. Beckley history publications. History. Polish immigrants. Slovak immigrants. Italian immigrants.
West Virginia immigrants. Appalachian music. Appalachian culture. Ghost towns pictures. Geneology. Archaeology.
Historic architecture. Historic buildings. Historic towns. Organized labor. Unions. United Mine workers. Archives.
Thanks to Alan Cathead Johnston
Mar. 2022 image by author
Mar. 2022 image by author
Courtesy VT ImageBase, housed and operated by Digital Library and Archives, University Libraries; scanning by Digital Imaging, Learning Technologies, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Apr. 2014 image by author
Apr. 2014 image by author
Apr. 2014 image by author
Mar. 2022 image by author
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Mar. 2022 image by author
Feb. 2017 image by author