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MINDEN

Coal baron Paddy Rend opened the mine and mining town at Minden in 1899. The town was named Rend at that time. The mines were supposed to be in the Fire Creek seam of coal. State mine records show coal production under "W.P. Rend" for Rend No. 1 through No. 5 mines from 1900 until 1904. Later Berwind interests purchased the Minden operations, mining coal under the name New River & Pocahontas Consolidated Coal Co. At this time the No. 2, 3, and 4 mines in the Sewell seam at Minden were some of the most productive in the New River Field. There was also a No. 5 mine, though I'm not sure what seam it was in. NR&PCC's Minden operations ceased in 1959. Coal was mined in the area from 1961 until 1968 by Minden Sewell Coal Co.

Aug. 2003 image by author

These coal camp houses are still inhabited at Minden.

Aug. 2003 image by author

A good example of the vertical plank construction of the company-built homes at Minden.

Aug. 2003 image by author

Many of the houses are now abandoned.

Aug. 2003 image by author

This one is almost completely overgrown.

Aug. 2003 image by author

The ruins of the Minden powerhouse.

Aug. 2003 image by author

This cut stone structure was also part of the Minden coal processing facility.

Aug. 2003 image by author

My guess is that this was an air shaft and the fan has been removed.

Image courtesy of Rick Burgess

Rick took this picture of what he calls "an abandoned structure in Minden." It could have been a motor barn, I think.

Image source forgotten

I don't remember where I got this vintage photo of the Minden company store.