Elverton is on the "south side" of the New River. The Chapman Coal and Coke Co. built Elverton in 1898. The mine was a drift mine in the 48-inch Sewell seam. Elverton was a full blown
town, replete with a company store, a theatre, a pool room, and two schools for the white and black children. Branch Coal and Coke Co. were the final owners of Elverton. The mine closed in 1951, as did the white school.
Today, it's difficult to imagine that the handful of foundations at Elverton were once a thriving coal town.
From a private collection
A miner's tag from Elverton.
Image source forgotten
Ancient, smoky, murky picture of the coke ovens at Elverton in blast.
Dec. 2000 image by author
Remains of one of the larger buildings in Elverton. I have wondered if it was the company store. During a violent union strike in 1914, over 200 rounds of
ammunition were fired at the Elverton company store.
Dec. 2000 image by author
Foundations of the school for white children.
Dec. 2000 image by author
The coke ovens at Elverton were unusual in that they were perpendicular to the mountain side. There are four banks of them, once totalling 58 ovens.
Dec. 2000 image by author
Detail of the rapidly deteriorating coke ovens.
Dec. 2000 image by author
End view of the Elverton beehive coke ovens.
Dec. 2000 image by author
Ruins of the tipple. The flat spot was the side track of the railroad.
Dec. 2000 image by author
You don't know what I had to walk through to get this picture of the headhouse foundations.
Image courtesy of Walter Caldwell
